IMPROVEMENTS IN ALARM AND STOP APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION WITH MACHINES FOR GRINDING CORN, TREATING FLOUR, AND SIMILAR MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank Wirth at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1881. A communication from
Johann Weber, partner of the Firm of Weber and Company, of Uster, in the
Republic of Switzerland.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ALARM
AND STOP APPARATUS USED IN CONNECTION WITH MACHINES FOR GRINDING
CORN, TREATING FLOUR, AND SIMILAR MACHINES." [A communication from
Johann Weber, partner of the Firm of Weber and Company, of Ustor, in the
Republic of Switzerland.]
This Invention relates to an apparatus or device chiefly designed for application
to machines (such as roller mills and others), in which corn or other substances are
ground, reduced, crushed, or powdered, but which apparatus may also be used in
connection with some kinds of apparatus for the treatment of liquids and the
like.
Wherever corn, granular materials, and the like are reduced or comminuted,
it very frequently occurs that the machine in which such reduction takes place, or
its spout, becomes choked by the material. In most cases the machine is damaged
or the working is otherwise interfered with.
The object of this Invention is to provide an apparatus or device, which, when
the choking or filling of the spout or delivering device of such machines occurs,
will cause a signal to be given which indicates to the miller or attendant that
choking is taking place, or the said apparatus may be connected with suitable
unshipping gear and automatically cause the machine to which it is applied to
stop.
The essential feature of the apparatus constructed according to this Invention is
the provision of an air bag or receptacle made of india rubber or other suitadle
material, and consisting of two parts connected by a tube. One part of the said
air-bag is comparatively large, and has preferably the form of a flattened ball; this
part is placed in the interior of the machine to be provided with my apparatus ;
a tube passes through the side or wall of the machine and connects the inner large
part of the air-bag with the smaller outer part thereof which is preferably

page_text: cylindrical and is formed like a bellows. Over the outer part of the air-bag, that
is to say, on the exterior of the machine, is placed a casing which besides covering
the said air-bag contains the other parts of the apparatus, viz. -On the smaller
part of the air-bag, which may be termed the "bellows," is placed a rigid disc;
this disc when the bellows is expanded as will hereinafter be stated, acts upon a
lug or projection on a small axle or arbor which has bearings in the casing above
mentioned. The said arbor has also an arm upon which a spring bears so as to
prevent rotation of the shaft in the wrong direction. The arm inoreover when the
parts are in their normal position supports a lever. When the lever is supported
upon said arm, as above stated, the intorior part of the air bag is inflated and the
belows collapsed. When however the material passing through the machine
accumulates, say in the spout, it will exert pressure upon the air-bag, the air
contained therein will be forced through the tube connecting the two parts, the
bellows will expand, and by pressure upon the movable disc will cause the shaft to
rotate which releases the lever. This allows or causes a suitable signalling device,
for instance, an electric bell, or a gong, or whistle to act, whereby the attention of
the miller will be attracted, or the lever may be connected with and set in motion
suitable disconnecting or unshipping devices, so as automatically to stop the
machine provided with my apparatus. Instead of connecting the air-bag with a
lever, it may act directly upon a whistle or similar device.