IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRAINING OR PARTIALLY DRYING CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF WHEAT AND OTHER GRAIN
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Martin, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Rice and Corn Miller, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR DRAINING OR PARTIALLY DRYING CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS
OF WHEAT AND OTHER GRAIN"
Sealed the 4th November 1856, and dated the 16th May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Martin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
May 1856.
I, JOSEPH MARTIN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Rice and
Corn Miller, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS, IN MACHINERY FOR DRAINING OR PARTIALLY DRYING CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS
OF WHEAT AND OTHER GRAIN, to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in an improved centrifugal action machine, which is
particularly applicable for draining or partially drying Egyptian wheat after it
has been washed. This improved centrifugal action machine is constructed of
a flat, disc or concave shell of wire-work or perforated metal, near the centre
of which the wet grain is fed into the machine; this disc or shell revolves
rapidly, consequently a great portion of the moisture adhering to the grain is
discharged in travelling over the disc or concave shell, by which the cen
trifugal motion is imparted to. the grain.
casing, in which the water is collected, and
The machine is surrounded by a
beyond the first casing there is a

page_text: second casing, in which the grain is collected. By this improved machine a
constant stream or supply of wet grain is rapidly drained or partially dried.
This machine is an improvement on the centrifugal drying machine for which
Letters Patent were granted to me on the Sixteenth of November, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty, inasmuch as there is no need of worm or screw,
the grain by the present method travelling up the inclined surface, and
throwing the water through the wire as it passes. The wire or perforated
disc, or concave shell, is not so liable to be put out of working order by
adherence to it of chaff or any other light stuff in the grain as is the case in
my former method. The saving of power by the present plan is very con-
siderable, the wear and tear of the machines is much diminished, and the
draining or drying is better done.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
MARTIN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Rice and Corn Miller,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph
Martin, Her special license that I, the said Joseph Martin, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Martin, 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 MACHINERY FOR DRAINING OR
PARTIALLY DRYING CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF WHEAT AND OTHER GRAIN," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Martin, my executors or
administrators, 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 six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Martin, 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 (that is to say) :-
The nature of this Invention consists in causing a continuous stream of wet
grain to pass over a revolving perforated disc or concave shell, through which
the moisture passes, and over which the grain (which is supplied near the
centre) is carried by its centrifugal action.
And in order that my. Invention may be fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Drawing,
reference being had to the letters marked thereon.
The Drawing, which is made to, a scale of about one inch and a half to a
foot, represents a vertical section of my improvements in machinery for
draining or partially drying certain descriptions of wheat and other grain. a
is a vertical shaft, revolving below in the footstep 6 and above in the bearing ċ;
to the shaft a is fixed the boss d, to which are attached six or other convenient
number of arms for supporting the concave shell or disc e, which is made of
wire-work or perforated sheet metal. The circumference of the concave shell
or disce is attached to a ring of angle iron f, which in revolving just passes
clear of the angle iron g, attached to the circumference of the stationary
concave receiver h, into which the water that passes thro' the shell or disc e is
collected; the lower end of the receiver. is provided with a spout i, by which
the water is carried away. The inside casing guides the grain'to the centre
of the machine; the circumference of the casing j is also provided with an
augle iron, which is attached by brackets and adjustable screw nuts to the
studs 1, fixed in the beams m; these beams and the brackets n support the
receiver h. Near the lower end of this receiver the shaft a is provided with a
washer to prevent the water from running down the lower part of the shaft,
the hole at the bottom of the receiver h being sufficiently large to allow the
shaft to revolve within it. The outer casing o is to guide the drained or
partially dried grain into the requisite receptacle; the space between the
angle-iron and the casing o is closed by the curved plates s. The purpose
to which this improved centrifugal action machine is particularly applicable is
for draining or partially drying Egyptian wheat, and the mode of operation is
as follows: The grain after it has been washed is run into the inside casing ),
and falls on the boss d; the centrifugal action of the concave shell or disc e
then causes the grain to creep up the sides thereof until it arrives at the outer
circumference, over which it is projected, and then it drops into the outer
casing o, and falls in a partially dried state through the orifice p. The water

page_text: thrown off by the wet grain passes through the wire or perforated shell or disc e,
and is collected, as before stated, by the receiver h, it is then-conveyed
away through the spout i. The shaft a and the concave shell or disc e are
put in motion by a strap passing around the pulley q, or by other suitable
means. By this improved machine a continuous stream or supply of .wet
grain is rapidly drained or partially dried. The worm or screw, described in
.the.Specification of Letters Patent granted to me on or about the Sixteenth
of November, One thousand eight hundred and fifty, for carrying forward the
grain, is dispensed with, and the present machinery is not liable to become
choked by chaff or other light stuff combined with the grain. The operation
of draining is effected more rapidly and with less power; there is also less
wear and tear in the machinery, and the grain is more effectually drained or
dried than by the processes hitherto employed.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my Invention, and the
.manner of. performing the same, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I
do not limit myself. to the details herein set forth, as the shape of the concave
shell or disc, e may be considerably varied, and the arrangement of the other
parts may be modified without departing from the peculiar character of my
Invention;. but what I do claim is the centrifugal action machine shewn
and described, or any.. modification thereof, by which a continuous stream of
wet, grain is taken through the machine and drained or partially dried.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Martin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
.
Witness,
H. B. BARLOW;
Manchester.
JOSEPH MARTIN. (L.s.)