IMPROVEMENTS IN MASHING MACHINES, AND IN APPA- RATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Willison, of Broad Street, Alloa, in the County
of Clackmannan, North Britain, Coppersmith, Brassfounder and Plumber,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MASHING MACHINES, AND IN APPA-
RATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 2nd May 1865, and dated the 21st February 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Willison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st
February 1865.
I, ROBERT WILLISON, of Broad Street, Alloa, in the County of Clack-
mannan, North Britain, Coppersmith, Brassfounder, and Plumber, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MASHING
MACHINES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, first, to the mode of and machinery for the proper
mixing or mashing of malt, grist, or other materials with water, or other
liquids.
The second part of my Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for
regulating the quantity or quantities of malt, grist, or other materials and water
or other liquids about to be mixed or mashed.
The improvements under the first head of my Invention consists in mounting
a number of paddles or arms in or on a shaft, which shaft I prefer to be hori-
zontal. These arms or paddles are of a peculiar shape, a cross section of a
portion of an arm or the whole of it resembles the letter V. I sometimes

page_text: make them corrugated, zig-zagged, or vandyked, but I prefer the V-shape.
They may be mounted in rows in or on the shaft, or they may be placed
helically round it. The shaft revolves in bearings formed on or fixed in the
ends of a drum, cylinder, or case. These bearings may be either conical,
screw centre points, or one or both ends of the shaft or spindle may project
through a stuffing box or stuffing boxes formed on, in, or fixed to the end or
ends of the drum, cylinder, or case. The V-shaped arms, whether set helically
or otherwise on the shaft, are so set that the apex or sharp edge of each arm
points forward in the line of motion, and so that each set of arms will follow
each other in the same plane of revolution, or nearly so. I fix diametrically
in the drum, cylinder, or, case of the machine a set of knives or bars, which
bars may or may not be sharp on their edges, and they may be either
straight or bent, and they may be placed in the case either below the shaft or
spindle, or above it. The ends of these knives or bars are secured to the
inner circumference of the case, or their ends may pass out through holes in
the case, and be secured outside. They are so placed in the case that the
arms when revolving will pass through between them, and thoroughly mix the
materials and liquor after their introduction into the case, the mode and manner
of doing which is about to be described. I introduce the malt, grist, or other
materials, and the liquor or liquids, in such a manner that the materials and
liquor acting on the backs of the arms or paddles shall cause these arms or
paddles, and their shaft or spindle to revolve, and thus constitute a self-acting
mashing machine. An aperture or passage is made in or near the under-
most part of the case to allow the materials and liquor to pass out after being
mixed. Above and slightly to one side of the drum, cylinder, or case, a shoot
or spout is fixed, or mounted in the circumferential portion of it for the intro-
duction of the malt, grist, or other materials. Near to the case in the spout
or shoot a regulating shut or stop plate is mounted at an angle (of forty-five
degrees or thereabouts) in grooves. This shut or stop has a pointer or finger
attached to its outer end, which when the shut or stop is moved out or in
slides along a graduated scale which is attached to the shoot or spout, and so
numbered that the shut or regulating stop plate can be put to its |
position at any time easily. This regulating shut or stop plate may be moved
out and in, or opened and shut by means of a rack or racks fixed on its back,
which is or are geared into by a pinion or pinions fixed on a spindle, which
may have a small hand wheel or winch fixed on or mounted on it, or it may
be moved out and in by means of a screw or screws, or by a lever and rod, or
levers and rods. I introduce the water or liquor also near the top of the
machine through a regulating sluice, slide valve, or tap. It is first brought
proper

page_text: by a suitable pipe, duct, or passage to a small chest, case, or distributing box,
fixed to or formed on the top of the casing.. In the face of this small chest
an aperture is formed of such a length that it will coincide with the width
of the case, drum, or cylinder, or nearly so. This aperture may be fitted with
a long revolving plug or tap, through which a port or passage is formed so
as to coincide with the aperture, but I prefer it to be fitted with a suitable
slide valve, shut, or regulating sluice, which is caused to slide on its face, and
so opens or closes the aperture or port. The regulating slide valve, stop, or
sluice is opened and shut, or regulated by means of a screw or screws, the
spindle or spindles of which screw or screws passes or pass through a stuffing
box or boxes, formed on, or fixed on that part of the casing which encloses
the regulating valve or sluice. On the outer end or ends of the screw spindle
or spindles I fix a hand wheel or winch, if I use one screw only, but if I make
use of two screws, I gear the two spindles together in such a manner so that
their action may be simultaneous, and thus raise and lower, or open, shut, or
regulate both ends of the valve, shut, or sluice equally. On the screw spindle, or
on one of the screw spindles I cut or otherwise form a screw thread or worm,
which thread takes into and gives motion to a small worm wheel, pinion, or
quadrant, attached, secured, fixed, or connected to which is a band or index
pointer, which moves along a graduated arc or circle, which is so numbered
that the sluice or valve can always be regulated or set with great exactness.
Instead of opening, closing, or regulating the valve, shut, or sluice by meaus
of a screw or screws, I sometimes effect the same by means of one or more
ratchets, pinions, racks, levers, or rods, but in either case I gear them together
in such manner that both ends of the sluice, valve, or shut shall move simul-
taneously, and to cither appliance I mount a graduated index and pointer,
hand, or finger. In or on the liquor pipe a stop-cock or valve is mounted or
fixed, on this cock or valve a lever is mounted, which lever is also connected
to a stop, shut, or sluice, which is mounted above the regulating shut or
sluice in the shoot or spout through which the malt, grist, or other materials
pass. The action of this lever opens and shuts both the liquor cock or valve,
and the malt or grist stop, shut, or sluice simultaneously when they are made
use of in starting and' stopping the machine. In starting the machine the
lever may be turned so far that the liquor cock or valve, and the malt or grist
stop, shut, or sluice may be fully open. The proper quantities having been
regulated by the regulating liquor valve or tap, and by the malt or grist regn-
lating shut or slide. The malt, grist, or other materials in falling meets the
liquor nearly at right angles, and their resultant force striking or acting on
the paddles or arms causes them to revolve, and thus thoroughly mix the

page_text: whole together, I sometimes cause the liquor (which is under pressure) to
act on the arms or paddles first near to the point where the malt, grist, or
other materials meet the arms, thus causing them to revolve at greater speed
than they will otherwise do if the motion of the liquor is checked by malt or
grist first. I sometimes fix a pulley, pinion, or other gearing on the outer
end of the spindle, and drive the spindle and paddles, or arms at any required
speed by means of a water-wheel, steam engine, manual, or or other power.
I sometimes vary the shape of the casing and working parts to suit the
various places where mashing machines may be required, and I construcţ
these machines and apparatus of any suitable metal or metals, or metallic
alloy, or of wood, or other suitable materials.
To distinguish my machine from all others (for the same purpose) I call it
"Willison's Patent Self-acting Cataract Mashing Machine."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Willison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
May 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WILLISON, of Broad Street, Alloa, in the County of Clackmannan, North
Britain, Coppersmith, Brassfounder, and Plumber, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Willison, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Willison,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Willison, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MASHING
MACHINES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the "condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Robert Willison, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Willison, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is
to say:-
My Invention relates, first, to the mode of and machinery for the proper
mixing or mashing of malt, grist, or other materials with water or other
liquids.
The second part of my Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for
regulating the quantity or quantities of malt, grist, or other materials, and water
or other liquids, about to be mixed or mashed.
The improvements under the first head of my Invention consist in mounting
a number of paddles or arms in or on a shaft, which shaft I prefer to be
horizontal. These arms or paddles are of a peculiar shape, a cross section of
a portion of an arm, or the whole of it resembles the letter V. I sometimes
make them corrugated, zig-zagged, or vandyked, but I prefer the V shape.
They may be mounted in rows, in or on the shaft, or they may be placed
helically round it. The shaft revolves in bearings, formed on or fixed in the
ends of a drum, cylinder, or case. These bearings may be either conical
screw centre points, or one or both ends of the shaft or spindle may project
through a stuffing box, or stuffing boxes formed on, in, or fixed to the end or
ends of the drum, cylinder, or case. The V-shaped arms whether set helically
or otherwise on the shaft, are so set that the apex or sharp edge of each arm points
forward in the line of motion, and so that each set of arms will follow each other
in the same plane of revolution or nearly so. I fix diametrically in the drum,
cylinder, or case of the machine, a set of knives, or bars, which bars may or may
not be sharp on their edges, and they may be either straight or bent, and they
may be placed in the case, either below the shaft or spindle, or above it. The
ends of these knives or bars are secured to the inner circumference of the case,
or their ends may pass out through holes in the case, and be secured outside.
They are so placed in the case that the arms when revolving will pass through
between them, and thoroughly mix the materials and liquor after their intro-
duction into the case, the mode and manner of doing which is about to be
described. I introduce the malt, grist, or other materials, and the liquor or
liquids, in such a manner that the materials and liquor acting on the backs
of the arms or paddles shall cause these arms or paddles, and their shaft or
spindle to revolve, and thus constitute a self-acting mashing machine. An

page_text: aperture or passage is made in or near the undermost part of the case to allow
the materials and liquor to pass out, after being mixed above, and slightly to
one side of the drum, cylinder, or case a shoot or spout is fixed or mounted
in the circumferential portion of it for the introduction of the malt, grist, or
other materials. Near to the case in the spout or shoot a regulating shut or
stop plate is mounted (at an angle of forty-five degrees or thereabouts) in grooves.
This shut or stop has a pointer or finger attached to its outer end which,
when the shut or stop is moved out or in slides along a graduated scale, which
is attached to the shoot or spout, and so numbered that the shut or regulating
stop plate can be put to its proper position at any time easily. This regulating
shut or stop plate may be moved out, and in, or opened and shut by means of
a rack or racks fixed on its back, which is, or are geared into by a pinion
or pinions fixed on a spiudle, which may have a small hand wheel or winch
.fixed on or mounted on it, or it may be moved out and in by means of
a screw or screws, or by a lever and rod, or levers and rods. I
introduce the water or liquor also near the top of the machine, through
a regulating sluice, slide valve, or tap. It is first brought by a suitable
pipe, duct, or passage, to a small chest, case, or distributing box, fixed
to,. or formed on the top of the casing. In the face of this small chest
an aperture is formed of such a length that it will coincide with the
width of the case, drum, or cylinder, or nearly so. This aperture may be
fitted with a long revolving plug or tap, through which a port or passage is
formed so as to coincide with the aperture, but I prefer it to be fitted with a
suitable slide valve, shut, or regulating sluice, which is caused to slide on its
face, and so opens or closes the aperture or port. The regulating slide valve,
stop, or sluice is opened and shut or regulated by means of a screw or
screws, the spindle or spindles of which screw or screws passes or pass through
a stuffing box or boxes formed on or fixed on that part of the casing which
encloses the regulating valve or sluice. On the outer end or ends of the
screw spindle or spindles I fix a band wheel or winch, if I use one screw
only, but if I make use of two screws, I gear the two spindles together in such
a manner so that their action may be simultaneous, and thus raise and lower
or open, shut, or regulate both ends of the valve, shut, or sluice equally. On
the screw spindle, or on one of the screw spindles I cut or otherwise form a
screw thread or worm, which thread takes into and gives motion to a small
worm wheel, pinion, or quadrant attached, secured, fixed, or connected to
which is a band or index pointer, which moves along a graduated arc or
circle, which is so numbered that the sluice or valve can always be regulated
or set with great exactness. Instead of opening, closing, or regulating the

page_text: valve, shut, or sluice by means of a screw or screws, I sometimes effect the
same by means of one or more ratchets, "pinions, racks, levers or rods, but in
either case I gear them together in such manner that both ends of the sluice
valve or shut shall move simultaneously; and to either appliance I mount
a graduated index and pointer, hand or finger. In or on the liquor pipe a
stop cock or valve is mounted or fixed, on this cock or valve a lever is
mounted, which lever is also connected to a stop, shut or sluice, which is
mounted above the regulating shut or sluice in the shoot or spout through which
the malt, grist, or other materials pass. The action of this lever opens and shuts
both the liquor cock or valve, and the malt or grist stop, shut, or sluice simul-
taneously, when they are made use of in starting and stopping the machine.
In starting the machine the lever may be turned so far that the liquor cock
or valve, and the malt or grist stop, shut, or sluice may be fully open. The
proper quantities having been regulated by the regulating liquor valve or
tap, and by the malt or grist regulating shut or slide, the malt, grist, or
other materials in falling meets the liquor, nearly at right angles, and their
resultant force striking or acting on the paddles or arms causes them to
revolve, and thus thoroughly mix the whole together. I sometimes cause
the liquor (which is under pressure) to act on the arms or paddles first.
near to the point where the malt, grist, or other materials meet the arms, thus
causing them to revolve at greater speed than they will otherwise do if the
motion of the liquor is checked by malt or grist first. I sometimes fix.a.
pulley, pinion or other gearing on the outer end of the spindle, and drive the
spindle and paddles, or arms, at any required speed, by means of a water.
wheel, steam engine, manual or other power. I sometimes vary the shape
of the casing and working parts, to suit the various places, where washing
machines may be required, and I construct these machines and apparatus
of any suitable metal, or metals, or metallic alloy, or of wood or other suitable
materials.
To distinguish my machine from all others (for the same purpose), I call
it "Willison's Patent Self-acting Cataract Mashing Machine."
In order to shew clearly the manner in which I carry the same into effect,
I will now proceed to describe the same more fully, and with reference to the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
The first part of my Invention relates to the mode of and machinery for the
proper mixing or mashing of malt, grist, or other materials with water or
other liquids. Figure 1 is a side view of a mashing machine constructed
according to my Invention. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a front elevation, and Figure 4 is a sectional view of the inside of

page_text: the casing taken at right angles to that of Figure 3. Similar letters refer
to similar parts. A, A, are the sides of the casing or drum, in which the
mixing takes place. B, B, are the circumferential portions of the drum or
casing. C is the spindle or shaft which revolves in bearings C¹, C¹, formed in
or on or fixed to the sides A, A, of the casing. On the shaft or spindle any
suitable number of blocks or bosses C2, C3, C2, C3, are firmly secured, In
these blocks or bosses I screw, key, or fix sets of paddles or arms D, D, D, D, D,
placed in rows along the shaft or helically round it. Each set is so placed
that the paddles or arms will revolve in the same plane or nearly so. These
paddles or arms I prefer to be of a V shape in cross section, as shewn in
Fignre 5, which is a cross section on the line a, b, but I sometimes make
them vandyked or corrugated, as shewn in the cross sections Figures 6 and 7,
or twisted, as shewn in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, Figures 10, 11, 12
and 13 being end views or cross sections of Figures 8 and 9. I likewise
sometimes make them flat with ridges, as shewn in Figures 14 and 15. The
sharp angles c of the V-shaped paddles or arms I place so that they shall
point forward in the line of motion. I fix diametrically in the drum, cylinder,
or case of the machine a set of knives or bars E, E, E, E, which bars may or
may not be sharp on their edges, and they may either be bent, as shewn in
full line at E, or straight, as shewn in dotted lines at E', E', and having
notches formed in them to pass up on to the spindle and bosses of the blocks,
but to be sufficiently clear to allow the spindle and bosses to revolve therein
I sometimes make them angled, as shewn by the dotted lines E³, E. The
ends of these knives or bars are secured to the inner circumference of the
case, or their ends may pass out through holes in the case, and be secured
outside, as shewn at F, F. The plates F1, F¹, abut against their ends, and
are fixed there by the set screws d, d, d, d. They are so placed in the case
that the paddles or arms in revolving will pass through between them, and
thoroughly mix the materials and liquor after their introduction into the case.
I introduce the malt, grist, or other materials, and the liquor or liquids, in
such a manner that the materials and liquor acting on the backs of the arms
or paddles D, D, D, D, D, shall cause these arms or paddles and their shaft
or spindle C to revolve, and thus cause the machine to be self-acting. An
aperture or passage G is formed in or near the undermost part of the case B
to allow the mixture to pass out. Above and slightly to one side of the drum
cylinder, or case, an aperture G' is formed in the circumferential part B. To
this aperture a shoot or spout H leads or conveys the malt, grist, or other
materials. After passing into the casing they strike the backs of the paddles
or arms, at the same time a cateract or fall of water from an opening or slit

page_text: also acts on the backs of the paddles, and meets the malt, grist, or other
materials nearly at right angles, and their resultant force acting on the
paddles causes them to revolve, and thus thoroughly mix the whole together.
I sometimes cause the water or liquor (which is under pressure) to act
on the paddles or arms first, near to the point where the malt, grist, or
other materials meet the paddles or arms, thus causing them to revolve at
greater speed than they will otherwise do if the motion of the water or liquor
is checked by malt, grist, or other materials first.
I sometimes mount a fast and loose pulley, pinion, or other gearing, on the
outer end of the spindle, and drive the spindle and paddles or arms at any
required speed by means of manual or other power. In the Drawings I have
shewn pullies only in dotted lines I, I. Although I have shewn a centre
point bearing for one end of the spindle, and a through bearing in the other,
I do not mean to confine myself to these, as either one or other, or both, may
be made use of to the same machine. I also sometimes fix a hand fly wheel' I'
on one end of the spindle to regulate the motion of the same, and also to
move the spindle and paddles by in either direction to clear the machine,
should it ever happen to get clogged up or jammed by any foreign material.
Although the casing of the machine as shown can only have the bearings C¹, C¹,
and their plates or flanges J, J, removed, by loosening the set screws e, e, e, e,
and thus allowing the spindle and bosses to be withdrawn from the case after
the paddles have been taken out of the bosses, I do not confine myself to
that method only, as I sometimes make the cases in such a manner that one
or both of the entire sides can be taken off at pleasure, and so relieve the
whole of the revolving parts at once without taking the paddles out of the
bosses, and thus the machine may be easily taken asunder for repairs.
The second part of my Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for
regulating the quantity or quantities of malt, grist, or other materials, and
water or other liquids which are to be mixed or mashed. To regulate the
quantity of malt, grist, or other materials, I mount a regulating shut, slide, or
stop plate K in the shoot or spout H. This shut slides in and out of the
shoot in grooves, which are formed in two opposite sides of the shoot at an
angle of forty-five degrees or thereabouts, so as to check the grist, but not to
choke it. On the back of the shut, slide, or stop plate K a rack K' is fixed;
this is geared into by a pinion f fixed on a spindle f¹, on which a hand wheel
fis secured. The spindle f¹ revolves in bearings in brackets f³ secured to
the side of the shoot or spout H. The turning of this hand wheel and pinion
in either direction takes the slide or shut K out and in, or opens and closes it.
On the side or hem of the hand wheel f¹ ratchet teeth are formed; into which

page_text: a pawl or click g takes to keep the whole of the moveable parts fixed where
they are set. A sliding block g¹ is fixed on the upper end of the rack; this
block slides in a groove or slot which is formed in a guide piece h for the
purpose of guiding the shut, slide, or stop plate in a parallel manner. In the
sliding block g¹ a small pointer finger i is fixed, which points to a graduated
scale formed on or fixed to the guide piece h. By the scale and pointer the
shut, slide, or stop plate can be set to any known required opening with great
exactness. I sometimes likewise make use of a lever, rod, and pawl or click,
as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1 and in full lines in Figure 3. L is the
lever which has a boss formed on its end, which takes on to the pinion spindle
loosely; L' is the pawl or click which is jointed to the lever by a pin; the
pawl or click L' takes into a set of ratchet teeth formed on the hand wheel f¹.
The pawl or click is kept into the teeth by a spring or by a weight j formed
on its opposite end. By moving the lever backwards and forwards the pawl
or click turns the wheel, and consequently through the spindle, pinion, and
rack the shut, slide, or stop plate K is raised or opened.
Figure 16 shews a front view of a portion of a shoot or spout H, with its
shut, slide, or stop plate K, having two racks K', K', fixed on its back and
geared into by two pinions f, f, which are fixed on the spindle or shaft f¹; fif
are the bearing brackets for supporting the spindle f¹ secured to the shoot H.
The other raising and lowering gear may be the same as that already
described, or a common hand wheel or winch may be mounted on the spindle.
The shut, slide, or stop plate is shewn as kept in its place by a pawl or click g,
which takes into a ratchet rack 9', g', fixed on the back of the shut, slide, or
stop plate K. This pawl or click g is kept in gear with the ratchet rack by
means of a helical spring k, one end of which is attached to the tail of the
pawl or click, and the other is secured in a bracket piece k¹, fixed to the side
of the shoot or spout H. I sometimes make use of rollers, one on each side
of the shut or slide to keep the rack in gear with the pinion. I regulate the
water or liquor by means of a suitable slide valve, shut, stop, or regulating
sluice M. N is a pipe which conveys the water or liquor from the reservoir
to the small chest, case, or distributing box N¹, fixed to or formed on the top
of the casing. In the face of this small chest an aperture is formed of such a
length that it will coincide with the width of the case, drum, or cylinder, or
nearly so. The aperture is opened and closed by means of the sluice M,
which is raised and lowered by a screw formed on the lower end of a spindle l;
is the screw which takes into a tapped hole in a boss l formed on the back
of the sluice. I have shewn projecting ribs or fillets 13 on the back of the
sluice; these bear against the ribs 1* so as to keep the sluice up against the

page_text: face of the aperture. I sometimes effect the same by means of sliding blocks
or studs fixed in the valve or sluice and which pass through guide slots
formed in a plate or piece of framework fixed near the distributing box or
case. Plates or washers are passed across the slots and are fixed to the
sliding blocks or studs by set screws or bolts, but any other means may be
employed for effecting the same. The spindle passes up through a stuffing
l
box m on the top of the casing. A hand wheel m¹ is fixed on the top of the
spindle to turn it by. On the spindle a worm or screw m² is fixed. This
worm or screw gears in a worm wheel n fixed on a spindle n¹ within a small
case n². One end of the spindle projects through the side of the small case n³,
and has a small hand or index pointer fixed on it. This pointer moves over
a circular graduated index or scale, and by these means the sluice is nicely
regulated to any known quantity.
In Figures 17 and 18 I have shewn a small portion of the casing in section
with the backs of the valves in view. These valves are shewn to be opened
and closed by two screws each so that their ends may be lifted simultaneous
and the under edges always kept parallel. As before M, M, are the sluices;
N, N¹, are the distributing boxes; 1, 7, are the spindles; 11, 11, are the screws
which take into the tapped holes in the bosses 12, 12, formed on the backs of
the sluices; 13, 13, are the projecting guide ribs or fillets. The spindles 1, 1,
pass up through the stuffing boxes m, m, on the tops of the casings as before,
but instead of the hand wheel being fixed on the top of the spindles as before,
I fix two pinions o, o, one on each spindle; these pinions are geared together
by an intermediate pinion o² fixed on an intermediate shaft or spindle o³, and
on this shaft or spindle the hand wheel m¹ is secured. The worm or screw m³
which gives motion to the worm wheel and index pointer as before described,
is also fixed on the intermediate spindle or shaft o. This spindle revolves in
a step at its lower end, and in a bearing o' formed in or on the top of a
bracket at its upper end. This arrangement, as shewn in Figure 17, suits for
both screws being right handed or both left-handed screws, but in Figure 18
the arrangement suits for a screw of each sort, that is, for a right and a left-
handed pair. In this case I make the pinions p, p, which are fixed on the
spindles 1, 1, of such a size that they shall gear into each other (without an
intermediate wheel). The spindles 7, 1, after passing up through the pinions p, p,
revolve in bearings formed in in the ends of a small bracket or tie-piece p¹.
One of these bearings is split or notched out so much as to allow the worm or
screw m² to be inserted, fixed on the spindle and revolve therein. As before
this worm or screw gives motion to the worm wheel and index pointer. On
the top of the other spindle the hand wheel m¹ is fixed to turn them by.

page_text: In Figure 19 I have shewn an arrangement of bevel or mitre wheels for
opening and closing the aperture by means of similar screws working the
regulating sluice. The wheels O, O, are fixed on the tops of the spindles 1, 1,
these are geared into by other two wheels O', O', having their faces looking
in the same direction. These wheels are keyed on a horizontal shaft or
spindle O³, which revolves in suitable bearings not shewn. On this shaft the
hand wheel or ratchet wheel and lever, with pawl or click, may be mounted
to turn it by.
In Figure 20 I have shewn an arrangement of a somewhat similar sort
for raising and lowering the sluice or slide, by means of a right and left-
handed screw.
The bevel or mitre wheels P, P, are fixed on the screw
spindles, . These wheels are geared into by two bevel or mitre wheels
P1, P1, placed back to back, and fixed on the spindle or shaft P³. This shaft
revolves in suitable bearings, and has either a hand wheel or lever, with
clicks or pawls, and a ratchet wheel, or a winch mounted on it to give it a
rotatory motion by. In either case I make use of the worm, worm wheel,
pinion or quadrant, and index pointer.
In Figure 21 I have shewn a side view of a sluice regulating arrangement
I sometimes make use of. This is an arrangement of levers, rods, pawl or
click, and ratchet teeth or notches; is the spindle or spindles which is or are
secured to the slide or valve. The rod or rods passes or pass from the
valve or slide through the stuffing box or boxes m on the top of the casing.
The upper end or ends of the valve rod or rods is or are connected to a short
lever or levers Q, Q, by the rod or link or rods and links Q¹. The other end
or ends of the lever or levers Q, Q, is or are mounted and secured on a rock-
ing shaft Q, which oscillates or rocks in suitable bearings Q3, Q³, as seen in
plan in Figure 22. These bearings are formed in bosses in the upper ends of
brackets, the lower ends of which are secured to the top of the casing. R is
is a long pendulous lever also mounted and fixed on the rocking shaft. To
the lower end of this lever a click or pawl R is jointed, the catch of which
takes into notches, or ratchet teeth formed in a circular segment R', which
is fixed to the side of the casing, or any other convenient place. This segment
may be graduated by the teeth, and numbered as shewn. On the rocking
shaft Q an index pointer q is likewise fixed. This pointer points to grada-
tions on a graduated circular arc q¹. By means of these appliances the sluice
or slide may be regulated to the greatest exactness.
In the plan in Figure 22 I have shewn the apparatus applied to lift the
valve or sluice by two spindles, but one spindle only (in the centre) may be
made use of.

page_text: I sometimes make use of notched sluices, slides, or valves, as shewn in
Figures 23 and 24, which are views of the back of the valves, sluices, or
slides, in their places and shewn half open. M, M, are the valves, sluices, or
slides which fit on and cover up the aperture. In Figure 23 I have shewn
the lower edge of the valve or slide as having rectangular notches r, r, r, 1,
formed in it, one notch for each set of revolving paddles or arms, whatever
the number may be. Through each notch a jet of water or liquor issues and
strikes each set of arms, instead of being scattered over both arms and
spaces, the whole width of the casing. In Figure 24 I have shewn the
regulating sluice, slide or valve M, having in its lower edge notches s, s, s, 5,
of a circular shape in full lines. Another shape of notches is shown in the
t.
same Figure in dotted lines t, t, t, These sluices, valves, or slides are lowered.
and raised, or opened and shut by any of the before-described apparatus
through the spindles or rods 1, 1. Although I sometimes make use of notched.
slides, valves, or sluices so as to throw a jet on to each set of arms only, I
prefer the full cataract, waterfall, or full sheet of water the whole width of
the casing or nearly so, so as to make the water or liquor strike the arms;
and malt, grist, or other materials at or nearly the same time. I sometimes
cause the water and grist, or other materials, to strike each other first, so as
to be partially mixed before striking the arms.
Although I prefer to make use of the regulating sluice, slide, or valve, I
also sometimes make use of a long tap, or revolving valve; Figure 25 is a
section of this tap or valve, and Figure 26 is a front view of the saine. As
before, B is the upper circumferential portion of the casing. The tap or
valve S is as long as this portion is wide, or nearly so, and the diameter of
the tap may be of such a size as to form the small distributing chest or
box S. The tap has a port or slot u formed in it, so as to coincide with an
opening (when turned round to it) in the case S, in which the tap S is
mounted. One end of the tap or valve S is open to the pipe N, from which
the water or liquor is led into it. T is a lever for turning the tap or circular
valve S by. The lower end of the lever T has a click or pawl jointed on to
it, and takes into graduated notches in a circular rack or segment as has been
already described and shewn in the Drawings, Figures 21 and 22, but not
shewn in Figures 25 and 26.
Instead of the before-described long, straight, graduated scale for indicating
the opening and closing of the shut and sluice or tap, I sometimes makė use
of a circular scale or index, formed on the side or edge of a spur wheel, which
spur wheel and scale or index are driven by a pinion mounted on a horizontal
shaft which passes through a plate 1, as in Figure 27, which plate may be

page_text: fixed at any required or convenient distance from the machine so as to be
easily within reach. On the outside of the plate 1, and close to it a spur
pinion 2, indicated by dotted lines is fixed on the horizontal shaft 3, on which
shaft likewise the pinion or pinions which gears or gear into the rack or racks
which moves or move the sluce is or are fixed, also a winch 4 to turn it by.
The pinion 2 gears into a spur plate wheel 5 (likewise indicated by dotted lines)
which has a divided index 6 formed on or fixed on it. The wheel and index
revolves on the stud 7, on which a pointer 8 is fixed. In this case the pointer
remains stationary while the index revolves, but the reverse is sometimes
made use of, that is the dial or index is fixed and the hand or pointer revolves.
This is effected by fixing the wheel 5 on the pointer axle behind the plate,
also the pinion, and fixing or forming the index on the plate. The water or
liquid regulating index 9, may also be formed on, or fixed to the same plate
or to another as is most convenient; 10 is the pointer and 11 is the regulating
handle, both of which are mounted on the end of the rod 12 which is connected
to the valve, tap, or sluice, or they may be both formed in one piece. On
the pipe N I mount a stop cock U, for letting on or shutting off the water or
liquor. I also mount a shut or slide V in grooves in the shoot or spout H
for letting on and shutting off the malt, grist, or other materials from the
machine. This cock and shut are seen in views Figures 1 and 3, and in Figure
28, which is a detached view in plan of the same. On the head of the tap I
mount a curved lever W, having a proper handle v formed on or fixed on it.
This lever passes through between two small antifriction pullies w, w, mounted
in a swivelling frame or casting w¹.
stud or pin w is formed or fixed.
or fixed on the stop shut V, and is
holed washer mounted on the stud or pin w.
by means of sliders a', a', fixed to it, and which take on to guide rods x², x³,
which are fixed to the shoot or spout H, H. The handle or lever is so placed
on the tap that the cock and shut are opened and closed simultaneously by
the movements of the lever. The antifriction pullies by being mounted in
the swivelling frame, accommodate themselves to any angle the lever may be
placed in, or the lever may be made of a proper shape to suit a pair of anti-
friction pullies attached to the shut without the swivelling frame or casting, or
a pair of simple studs may take the place of either. The full lines in the
Drawings represent the lever, cock and shut in the position they will be in
when the cock and shut are full open and the dotted lines a³, 3, a³, x³, x³,
the position when they are shut.
On the centre of this frame or casting a
This stud passes through a boss x, formed
there kept in place by a nut and square
The shut V is guided parallel,
In Figure 29 I have shewn in plan another arrangement according to my

page_text: Invention for opening the cock U and shut V at the same time. In this case
I have shewn the lever W straight, and it may be formed or cast in a piece
with the toothed quadrant or segment X, which has its centre coincident with
that of the tap or cock U. The quadrant or segment X gears into a
toothed rack X' (seen in dotted lines) fixed on the shut, and is of such a
length on the pitch line so as to open and close the shut fully when the tap
or stop cock is opened or closed to the same degree. The lever and quadrant
may be made separate if desired to suit circumstances. The shut may be
guided as formerly by means of the sliders x, x, and guide rods a², x². I
sometimes make use of either of the apparatus before-described to open and
close the stop cocks, valves, sluices or shuts for regulating the quantities of
water or liquor, also I make use of either to open and close the stops, slides
or shuts for regulating the quantities of malt, grist, or other materials as
may be required.
To suit the various places where mashing machines may be required, I
sometimes vary the shape of the casing and working parts, and also the shape
of the discharge spout, and fix it to any convenient point, and I construct these
machines and apparatus of any suitable metal or metals or metallic alloy or of
wood or other suitable materials.
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself entirely to
the shape and construction of the machine and various apparatus as set forth
and shewn according to the description and Drawings annexed so long as the
principle of my Invention is not departed from.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the construction of self-acting mashing machines by employing the
weight or gravity of the malt, grist, or other materials, and the weight, gravity,
or pressure of the water, liquor or liquids for propelling the mixing paddles
and various parts of the machines as set forth and described with reference to
the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Second, the making the paddles or arms V shaped, vandyked, or. corrugated
as described and set forth with reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Third, the fixing of knives or bars, bent, angled, or straight, diametrically
in the casings between the paddles or arms as described and shewn in the
Drawings.
Fourth, the regulating the quantities of water, liquor or liquids by means of
a long tap, slide valve, stop or sluice, worked by means of hand wheels, rods,
screws or spindles, either single or double, and geared together by means of
wheels or pinions, or by ratchets and pawls, racks, levers, and rods, and with

page_text: graduated scale or scales, and index pointer or pointers to the same, as set
forth and described with reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fifth, the regulating the quantities of malt, grist, or other materials, by
means of a shut, slide, or stop plate worked by means of a hand wheel or
hand wheels, pinion or pinions, levers, pawls, rods and ratchets, and having a
scale or scales with index pointer or pointers to the same as described and set
forth with reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Sixth, the mounting a second stop cock or valve on the water or liquor
pipe, independent of the regulating tap, slide, valve, or sluice, and in mounting
a second shut, slide, or stop plate in the malt or grist shoot or spout, in-
dependent of the regulating slide or stop plate, and the connecting the second
stop cock and second stop plate together in such manner that they shall be
opened and shut simultaneously, as described and set forth in the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
Seventh, the working of indexes, index pointers, or hands, by worms and
worm wheels, or quadrants, or ratchet and pinions, in combination with
mashing machines, as described with reference to the Drawings.
Eighth, the combination of the various improvements relating to mashing
machines, as berein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Willison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
DAVID GIBSON,
25, Bank Street,
Alloa.
ROBERT WILLISON. (L.S.)