IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SIFTING OR SCREENING APPARATUS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Thomas Parlour, of Brooklyn, New York, United
States of America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Shipwright, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SIFTING OR SCREENING
APPARATUS."
Sealed the 22nd August 1879, and dated the 27th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Thomas Parlour at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th February 1879.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America,
now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Shipwright. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO SIFTING OR SCREENING APPARATUS."
My Invention relates chiefly to improvements in apparatus for sifting or screening
ashes, sand, coal, builders' rubbish, mould, flour, seed, and similar materials or sub-
stances, and is designed to provide apparatus for this purpose which will be very
compact in form, convenient for handling, of small cost to construct, and effective in
operation. Moreover, by means of my said Invention a considerable amount of
work may be effected with a small amount of
power.
I carry the said Invention into practice as follows, that is to say :-
When the apparatus is designed for sifting cinders from the fire-places in a house
or otherwise in small quantities I place the working parts within a box of suitable
and convenient shape, which box may be made of wood or metal. A box of
rectangular form is convenient for this purpose, and I provide the same with a
sliding or other lid or cover having a handle by means of which it may be con-
veniently removed and replaced as required. Within the said box, and at the upper
part thereof, I provide a sieve arranged to travel to and fro upon suitable guides.
This sieve is made of such dimensions as to contain a convenient quantity of cinders
and ashes, and is attached at one end to a connecting rod whose other end is
attached to a crank disc or grooved cam upon a shaft or spindle placed at right
angles to the line of motion of the said sieve. This shaft extends outside the box,
and carries a fly wheel to which a handle is affixed for driving the shaft and sieve
attached thereto. This shaft has a bearing in the side of the box through which it
passes, and another bearing in a piece projecting inward from one end of the box,
and in such a position that the shaft will be supported thereby near to the afore-
said crank or disc. The said connecting rod should be so formed that it may be
readily attached to and disconnected from the sieve, the latter being provided with
I Prine Gd)

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Thomas Parlour in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
August 1879.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America,
now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Shipwright. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO SIFTING OR SCREENING APPARATUS."
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for sifting or screening
ashes, sand, coal, 'builders' rubbish, mould, flour, seed, and similar materials or
substances.
For sifting cinders from the fire places in a house or otherwise in small
quantities, I place the working parts within a box. I provide the same with a
sliding or other lid or cover. Within the said box and at the upper part thereof
I provide a sieve arranged to travel to and fro upon suitable guides.
This sieve has loosely attached at one end a connecting rod, whose other end is
attached to a crank disc or grooved cam upon a shaft or spindle placed at right
angles to the line of motion of the said sieve.
I prefer to form the connecting rod with a hooked end and the sieve with a
projecting eye, with which the said hooked end will readily engage. The sieve
rests on supports and is so placed that it may be easily removed from the box
when necessary.
In some instances I make the sieve stationary and provide a blower or fan,
which on being rotated by means of a handle causes a blast of air to pass through
a chaunel provided for it into the mass of cinders and ashes, and effectually blows
the latter into the lower part of the box, leaving the cinders in the sieve.
The sifters above named although described as for sifting cinders may also be
employed for sifting other light or heavy material or substances. For this purpose I
construct the apparatus as follows, that is to say:-I provide a suitable frame fur-
nished with wheels or rollers in order to facilitate its removal from place to place, or
it may be clamped in any position; I construct this frame that it may be adjusted
bigher or lower as desired, and to effect this object the upper part of the frame is made
to slide vertically over or in the lower part thereof, and is capable of being fastened
in any desired position. The frame consists of four or more upright supports with
cross bars, the said supports being made in separate parts and fitted to work
telescopically, the sieve or screen being at the upper part and driven by hand,
steam, or other power.
I connect the sieve to the frame by means of hinges or joints at one side, so that
it may be inclined downward when the coarse material from which the inner
portions have been sifted are required to be discharged.
I provide a travelling band, or apron, or endless chains with metal or other
plates under the sieve to carry away the fine portions which pass through.
A shoot is placed in a convenient position that the fine portions pass through into
carts or any other receptacle that may be provided for the purpose.
This apparatus may be used in connection with an elevator for raising the
material to be sifted from the ground to the sieve or screen. 'The elevator I use for
this purpose consists of endless chains upon which suitable scoops or boxes are
fastened at intervals. These chains pass around toothed wheels working in a frame
which is provided with rollers or wheels, so that it may be moved to any position,
a shoot or hopper being so arranged that as the loaded scoops or boxes turn over,
the material to be sifted is discharged into the sieve or screen.
I may also use in connection with this apparatus a conveyor, for the purpose of
conveying the material from one position to another in a yard or in barges, that it
may be deposited in a convenient position for the aforesaid elevator.
My Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed Drawings,
in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a domestic or household cinder sifter,
as before set forth,

page_text: which on being rotated by means of a handle causes a blast of air to pass through
a channel provided for it into the mass of cinders and ashes, and effectually blows
the latter into the lower part of the box or vessel, leaving the cinders in the
Bievo.
The sifters above named, although described as for sifting cinders, may also be
employed for sifting other comparatively light materials or substances, such slight
modifications being adopted as may be required to suit the special nature of any
particular material or substance.
One very important use of my said Invention is the sifting or screening of sand
and gravel, coal, builders' rubbish, and similar heavy materials, and for this purpose
I construct the apparatus as follows, that is to say :-I provide a suitable frame
which may
be furnished with wheels or rollers, in order to facilitate its romoval from
place to place, or it may be clamped in any position. I construct this frame in such
a manner that it may be adjusted higher or lower as desired, and to effect this
object the upper part of the frame is made to slide vertically over or in the lower
part thereof, and is capable of being fastened in any desired position. The frame
may consist of four or more upright supports with suitable cross bars, the said
supports being made in separate parts and fitted to work telescopically. I place
upon the upper part of the said frame a sieve or screen of suitable dimensions, the
said sieve or screen being driven by means of a shaft provided with a crank or disc
as herein before described, the latter being connected with the sieve or screen by a
connecting rod. Instead, however, of providing for the sieve being lifted away or
removed, as hereinbefore described, I connect it to the frame by means of hinges,
joints, or otherwise, at one side, so that it may be inclined downward, when the
coarse materials from which the inner portions have been sifted are required to be
discharged from the sieve or screen. One of the sides of the sieve or screen is also
hinged, and is so arranged that it opens when the sieve is tilted, and allows the
material to fall out. One end of the sieve or screen frame is provided with studs
which slide in slotted curved guide pieces forming lateral supports for the sieve or
screen as.it is tilted. The sieve or screen is provided with a long arm or lever, or
with chains or other suitable devices, by means of which it is easily tilted when
required.
h
I provide a travelling band or apron, or endless chains with metal or other
plates under the said sieve, and which is designed to carry away the fine portions
which pass through the sieve. A shoot is placed in a convenient position on the
apparatus, and the said fine portions pass through the same from the said travelling
band or other device to the ground or into carts, or any other receptacle that may
be provided for the purpose. In some cases, I may dispense with this travelling
band or similar device, in which cases the fine portions of the material passing
through the sieve may fall directly to the ground through a shoot into a cart, or into
any receptacle placed under the, sieve or screen. Several sieves or screens may be
used in one apparatus if desired.
This apparatus may be used in connection with an elevator for raising the
material to be sifted from the ground to the sieve or screen. The elevator I use
for this purpose consists of endless chains upon which suitable scoops or boxes are
fastened at intervals. These chains pass around toothed wheels working in a frame
which is provided with rollers or wheels, so that it may be moved to any position.
The said chains also. pass around corresponding toothed wheels at the upper part of
the sifting apparatus. Near to the last named toothed wheels there is a shoot or
hopper, so arranged that as the loaded scoops or boxes turn over the said upper
wheels the material to be sifted is discharged through the said shoot or hopper into
the.sieve or screen. The said apparatus is furnished with a fly wheel and handle
in a convenient position, and I place upon the shaft of the fly wheel a toothed
wheel, around which a chain passes communicating with the aforesaid upper
toothed wheels. The rotation of this fly wheel causes the required motion of the
sieve, and at the same time operates the said elevator. The said apparatus may be
driven by steam. hydraulic, or other power,

page_text: • I may also use in connection with this apparatus a conveyor for the purpose of
conveying the material from one position to another in a yard or in bargos for
instance, so that it may be depositied in a convenient position for the aforesaid
elevator.
The conveyor I prefer to use for this purpose is one consisting of a series of open
buckets; each one constructed in two parts, and jointed at the top so as to open at
the bottom when they arrive at the place where their contents are to be discharged.
The two parts are secured together by a spring or catch, which is caused to be
released by coming in contact with a rod, bar, or other device fixed at the desired
place. The said buckets are attached to endless chains passing around toothed
wheels supported in frames, and this conveyor is driven by suitable connection.
with the sifting apparatus.
I may further modify my said Invention in the manner hereinafter described,
that is to say, I construct a round box or cylinder of sheet iron or other suitable"
metal or material, one end of which is provided with a perforated plate, or with
wire gauze through which the finer portions of the substance being sifted will pass
into a suitable receptacle below the same. The said plate or gauze may be made
detachable from the cylinder, in order that different ones may be used in the same
cylinder according to the material to be sifted, or to the degree of fineness required.
The said cylinder is provided at the upper portion thereof with a cover or lid
which may be made entirely removable, or may be attached to the cylinder by
means of a hinge.
: Around the outer circumference of the said cylinder near the lower part of the
latter I place a flange which may be of cast iron or other metal. This flange
projects at right angles from the circumference of the cylinder, and extends
completely around the same, thus providing means for supporting the cylinder upon
the receptacle below. At the upper part of this flange there are teeth projecting
upwards, the said teeth being continued completely around the cylinder. The
lower part of the said cylinder fits into the upper part of a receptacle which is
designed to receive the sifted material, and upon the outside circumference of this
receptacle I provide a bracket or projection, to which are pivoted two gear wheels
designed to furnish means whereby the said cylinder may be rotated. One of
these gear wheels is of small diameter, and engages with the teeth on the aforesaid
flange, and the other gear-wheel is of greater diameter, and has extending from it a
spindle to which is attached a handle by which the last named gear wheel is
rotated, or the handle may be attached directly to the wheel itself. This wheel
gearing with the small wheel causes the latter to rotate, and the small wheel
gearing with the teeth on the flange causes the rotation of the cylinder. The
object of having one of the said wheels of greater diameter than the other is, that
the required speed may be imparted to the cylinder to effect the sifting of the
matters contained therein, and by varying the relative diameters of these two
wheels any desired speed may be given to the cylinder.
I provide upon the upper part of the receptacle ears or lugs so constructed that
they will form guides for the flange of the cylinder, and prevent the cylinder from
coming out of the receptacle when revolving. These ears may be furnished with
clips and screws, to provide for taking the cylinder out when required.
I provide the cylinder and receptacle with suitable handles so that they may be
conveniently lifted and tilted, and the receptacle is furnished with a mouth or lip
so that the sifted material may be readily discharged therefrom.
In order to dispense with the necessity of constructing a special receptacle for
the sifted matters, and to enable me to use the sifter with an ordinary pail or other
article as the receptacle, I modify the construction as follows, that is to say:-I
construct the cylinder with a flange as above described, but I also provide a ring
separate from the said cylinder. This ring is so constructed that the lower part of
the cylinder below the flange thereon fits into the said ring, the flanges on the
eylinder coming.against and resting upon a corresponding flange on the upper part
of the ring. The lower part of the ring. is designed to fit into the top of the pail or

page_text: other article used as a receptacle, and the cylinder thus rests upon the ring, the
latter being supported by the pail or other receptacle. The object of this ring is to
provide a support for the gear-wheels above described, so that the sifting apparatus
may be complete, only requiring to be placed in the top of the article, which is to
serve as the receptacle for the sifted matters.
.
In order to securely attach the apparatus to the pail or other article I provide
projecting ears or lugs which extend downward, and these ears or lugs being
provided with set screws the ring may be temporarily fastened to the said
receptacle, and may readily be removed therefrom when required.
The cinders, flour, or other material to be sifted are placed inside the cylinder at
the top, and the cover being then closed the operator has only to turn the handlo,
driving the large gear wheel a few times when the sifting will have been effected
in a perfect manner. The sifted portion falls into the receptacle, the larger portions.
remaining in the cylinder. The latter may then be readily detached from the
receptacle, and the contents of both may be discharged as desired.
Instead of using the toothed flange as above described, I may in some instances
employ an endless chain with toothed wheels to operate the same, or I may rotate
the cylinder by means of a handle at the top thereof to be operated by the person
using the apparatus without the aid of any gearing, in which case I provide a
spindle in the centre of the sifter projecting through the cover, and through a
supporting piece or frame above the same, the latter being attached to the receptacle
or ring. This vertical spindle may also be connected with gear wheels at the top,
one of which is to be rotated by the operator, and motion will thus be given to the
cylinder.
Instead of using the shaft and crank first herein described for driving the sieve
or screen, I may connect the latter to an arm or handle, which will pass through
the end of the box and be operated to and fro by the person using the apparatus,
thus giving the same motion to the sieve.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Thomas Parlour in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
August 1879.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America,
now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Shipwright. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO SIFTING OR SCREENING APPARATUS."
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for sifting or screening
ashes, sand, coal, builders' rubbish, mould, flour, seed, and similar materials or
substances.
For sifting cinders from the fire places in a house or otherwise in small
quantities, I place the working parts within a box. I provide the same with a
sliding or other lid or cover. Within the said box and at the upper part thereof
I provide a sieve arranged to travel to and fro upon suitable guides.
This sieve has loosely attached at one end a connecting rod, whose other end is
attached to a crank disc or grooved cam upon a shaft or spindle placed at right
angles to the line of motion of the said sieve.
I prefer to form the connecting rod with a hooked end and the sieve with a
projecting eye, with which the said hooked end will readily engage. The sieve
rests on supports and is so placed that it may be easily removed from the box
when necessary.
In some instances I make the sieve stationary and provide a blower or fan,
which on being rotated by means of a handle causes a blast of air to pass through
a channel provided for it into the mass of cinders and ashes, and effectually blows
the latter into the lower part of the box, leaving the cinders in the sieve.
The sifters above named although described as for sifting cinders may also be
employed for sifting other light or heavy material or substances. For this purpose I
construct the apparatus as follows, that is to say:-I provide a suitable frame fur-
nished with wheels or rollers in order to facilitate its removal from place to place, or
it may be clamped in any position; I construct this frame that it may be adjusted
higher or lower as desired, and to effect this object the upper part of the frame is made
to slide vertically over or in the lower part thereof, and is capable of being fastened
in any desired position. The frame consists of four or more upright supports with
cross bars, the said supports being made in separate parts and fitted to work
telescopically, the sieve or screen being at the upper part and driven by hand,
steam, or other power.
1 connect the sieve to the frame by means of hinges or joints at one side, so that
it may be inclined downward when the coarse material from which the inner
portions have been sifted are required to be discharged.
I provide a travelling band, or apron, or endless chains with metal or other
plates under the sieve to carry away the fine portions which pass through.
A shoot is placed in a convenient position that the fine portions pass through into
carts or any other receptacle that may be provided for the purpose.
This apparatus may be used in connection with an elevator for raising the
material to be sifted from the ground to the sieve or screen. The elevator I use for
this purpose consists of endless chains upon which suitable scoops or boxes are
fastened at intervals. These chains pass around toothed wheels working in a frame
which is provided with rollers or wheels, so that it may be moved to any position,
a shoot or hopper being so arranged that as the loaded scoops or boxes turn over,
the material to be sifted is discharged into the sieve or screen.
I may also use in connection with this apparatus a conveyor, for the purpose of
conveying the material from one position to another in a yard or in barges, that it
may be deposited in a convenient position for the aforesaid elevator.
My Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed Drawings,
in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a domestic or household cinder sifter,
as before set forth.

page_text: A is the casing formed with a spout B for the discharge of the ashes when the
lid C is slid back, which can be done by acting upon the handle D; E, E, are rods
projecting from the sides of the casing to serve as guides upon which the sieve F
can be moved to and fro by means of the handle G, through the intermediation of
gearing H, H, crank I, and connecting rod J. The end of the connecting rod J is
hooked that it may be lifted off the stud or pin to enable the sieve to be taken out
of the casing for the cinders to be thrown out; K is the "bail" by which the
apparatus can be carried, and L, L, are hand loops by which the sieve F can be
removed. The sieve is formed like a box with raised sides, and the bottom is so
fitted in, that meshed plates of various diameter, meshes, or perforations may be
inserted. The sieve may be drawn to and fro or the guides by a handled rod
passing through one end of the casing A.
Instead of the apparatus being of rectangular shape as shown, it may be of
circular shape in two pieces, the upper one (to which a rotatory or oscillating
motion may be given) for holding the cinders after the ashes have been shook
through the meshes into the lower one.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of an apparatus
adapted for screening coal, builders' rubbish, earth, gravel, or the like for seeds or
agricultural produce. In this construction the to and fro or reciprocating sieve is
mounted upon rollers M, M, which are kept in position by guide bars E, E, forming
stays of a frame N, N, which can be raised or lowered to suit different heights of
working by the gear wheels P, engaging into the racks Q, pauls R being fitted to
hold the frame securely at any desired elevation.
The screen in this construction is binged at S that it may be tilted as in
dotted lines for discharging the larger or coarse particles, the finer having passed
through the meshes on to and from the shoot T arranged under it for the purpose.
The front part of the screen is provided with a swing flap or "shutter" U, which
can be locked in position during the working of it by a bolt V, the bolt being
released by an action of the lever W when desired.
X is a lever by which the screen can be tilted, and Y is a catch to hold the
screen down while at work, the catch Y being connected to the lever W that both
be released together.
An elevator apparatus may be affixed to the main frame A that the material, fine
or coarse, may be lifted to any desired height above the level from which the screen
is supplied, as will be understood by Z, in Figure 2, or instead of elevating the
material the frame a of the buckets b, b, may be hinged. at c, and its free end
supported by props that the material can be conveyed to a distance by the buckets,
the angles at which the bucket frames can be set being determined preferably be
telescopic supports.
The bucket frame in some cases I purpose making telescopic, that it may be
shortened or lengthened at will, the chains to which the buckets are attached being
capable of disconnection at any portion of it.
If a plain plate be fitted within the side walls of the screen, instead of a meshed or
perforated one, the apparatus is applicable for excavations, particularly if it be
mounted upon bearing wheels d, d, that it may be moved about on tram rails e, e ;
the material excavated can then be thrown on to the plate and discharged by
tilting into vehicles if convenient, or into the elevator buckets, from which by a
distinct shoot the material can be received by carts or otherwise. The frame as
before stated being fixed at any height to be lowered as the excavation progresses,
the frame being steadied by the corner posts N, N, sliding in sockets of the main
frame A.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of another screening or excavating apparatus. In
this the under shoot is hinged or jointed to the one side of the main frame,
that it may when lowered by the hand lever f to adapt the apparatus for a side
delivery.
For which purpose I arrange that the screen F can be let down on one side, the
other side being hinged that the material may run off side ways on to a balanced

page_text: flap or side shoot g, as shown in the part sectional view Figure 5, the balanced side
shoot g being fitted to the main frame to guide the material clear of the apparatus.
The balanced side shoot g acts when set up on edge as a support to the
dropping side of the shoot T when in the position shown in Figure 4.
•
I prefer that the apparatus be provided with a fixed set of buckets h, h, for
lifting the material up to the screen F, each bucket emptying itself as it passes
over the upper axle in a manner well known in dredging machine buckets.
The working of the buckets may be direct or by means of chain gearing from
the crank axle which produces the reciprocating action of the screen as in Figure 4.
The main frame of the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, may be of any
shape in cross section, but I prefer it to be of angle iron at the corner posts, that
the stay or tie bars may be rivetted to them, as shown in Figure 5.
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 combination of appliances shown in Figure 1 of the annexed
Drawings acting in the manner described, and forming an apparatus for sifting
cinders and other material, as set forth.
Secondly. I claim the fan blast method of separating ashes from cinders within
a closed vessel, as described and shown in Figure 1ª.
Thirdly. I claim the apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the annexed'
Drawings, especially the raising and lowering appliances in connection with and
forming part of a screen or machine for the removal of earth, etc., as set forth.
Fourthly. I claim the apparatus shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the annexed
Drawings, especially the hinged shoot and the hinged screen for side delivery when
used in excavations, and with or without the chain of buckets, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Thomas Parlour, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy ninc.
Witness,
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent,
40, Fleet Street,
London.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR. (L.S.)