IMPROVEMENTS IN CHURNS OR AGITATING APPARATUS
Year: 1887

page_text: JAMES WOOLDRIDGE of Lye, near Stourbridge in the county of Worcester Churn
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHURNS OR AGITATING APPARATUS and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of churn barrels, and
its object is to provide simple and efficient means, whereby a constant agitation and
concussion of the milk or cream is obtained during the operation of churning, or
other operations requiring agitation of the material or substance to be treated.
My improved churn presents the following advantages, as compared with the
churns heretofore employed; that is to say, a churn constructed according to my
invention creates a greater amount of concussion and agitation of the milk or cream
to be treated. I communicate the necessary agitation, to the cream, by the peculiar
shape of the churn. I construct the body of the churn of an clipse shape in cross
section. A further improvement consists in making the churn of greater diameter
than its width, that is to say, the transverse diameter being greater than the conjugate,
renders them more efficient, the milk or cream being unequally distributed, it will
overbalance the churn, and one side falling, the other side will be raised, whereas
in the ordinary barrel, the cream always tends to lie at the bottom and in the centre
of the churn. The beaters, two or more (hy preference two) are screwed or fixed in
the joints of the staves, longitudinally oblique on the conjugate or flat side of the
churn, (the churn may also be used without beaters) with the object of equilibriating
the cream or butter contained therein, in such manner as to insure, that when the
weight of the cream or butter is ascending in the course of the rotation of the churn,
the beaters, being obliquely fixed across the churn, catch the cream or butter, and
beat it against the ends of the churn; thus in a great measure will overcome the
inertia of the weight of the cream or butter, and at the same time compensate for
the additional labour caused by the increased leverage of the milk or cream at a
greater distance from its working centre. The churn when rotating has an irregular
motion which causes a change in the velocity and direction of motion and simul-
taneously causing a continual agitation and concussion of the cream.

page_text: In order to enable my invention to be clearly understood, I describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents a cross section,
and Fig. 2 a longitudinal elevation of a churn, constructed according to my invention.
Similar letters in both figures represent similar parts. A. Fig. 1 represents the body
of the churn made of oak, or other suitable wood and of an elipse shape in cross
section, by which shape the necessary agitation is communicated to the milk or
cream,
when the churn is rotated. B. B. are the gudgeons or spindles fixed to each
end of the churn, and C. C. are the anti-friction bearings, on which the spindles B. B.
revolve. The said bearings consist of rollers D. D. supported in journals E. E,
mounted on each end of the frame or stand 1. G is a bolt fixed on the top of one
end of the frame or stand F; the said bolt being passed into a rack or socket on
one end of the churn to secure the same in position, when being filled, emptied, or
drained. H. H. are drop handles, fixed to the stand F, as shown, by which the churn
can be easily removed from place to place. I is a valve by which the air is allowed io
escape from the churn. J. is the bunghole, which by the improved shape of the
churn, I am enabled to make much larger than in the ordinary barrel churn, thereby
affording a greater convenience for putting in the milk or cream, and taking out the
butter or other material to be dealt with, and admitting of more light and air for
sweetening and purifying the churn after use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,—
1st. A rotary churn having its body or barrel constructed of an elipse shape (or
round) in cross section. The necessary agitation being communicated to the milk or
cream by reason of the said shape as herein before described.
2nd. A rotary churn having its spindles fixed to the ends, or sides of the barrel, so
that it shall revolve either end over end, or as shewn in the accompanying drawing.
3rd. The use of the said churn for the purpose of churning, or other operations
requiring agitation.
4th. The improved construction of the churn substantially as herein before
described, and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Dated this 19th day of February 1887