IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANING AND GRINDING WHEAT
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOEL
SPILLER, of Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of
January (One thousand eight hundred and fifty), in the thirteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joel Spiller, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial license, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Joel Spiller, my exors,
admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joel Spiller, my exors,
admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend. within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CLEANING AND GRINDING WHEAT;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso, that I, the said Joel Spiller, should cause a particular description of
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manuer the same is to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
Large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joel Spiller, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained by the following description thereof, reference at the same time being
had to the annexed Drawings, that is to say:-
My Invention relates, first, to improvements in the construction and appli-
cation of machinery for screening wheat, or separating therefrom foreign matter,
small grains, seeds, &c.
Secondly, to improvements in the construction and application of machinery
for scouring and cleaning wheat, and removing therefrom deleterious matter.
Thirdly, my Invention relates to two improved modes of introducing a con-
tinuous current of atmospheric air between the surfaces of millstones whilst
grinding wheat.
In the annexed Drawing, Number 1, Figure 1 is an elevation of an im-
proved separator; Figure 2 is the plan; Figure 3, an end view; Figure 4, a
transverse section; and Figures 5 and 6, two end views of the same. In all
the Figures the same letters refer to the same parts; a, the frame; b, three
plain cylinders; c, two cylinders with wires twisted round them, forming screws;
d, bearing brasses for cylinders; e, arms projecting from centre brasses; f, con-
necting rods; g, excentric spindle; h, handle for altering the gauge; i, pinions
for combining and giving motion to cylinders; k, filling pieces of wood carrying
hair brushes;, abutment pieces; m, sliding plate and screw for regulating the
feed; a is a frame in which are placed five cylinders, three of them are plain
and marked b, and two have a spiral wire round them and are marked c. At
both ends of the five cylinders proper bearings are formed, which are fitted into
and rotate in the brasses d. These cylinders are all turned to the same dia-
meter, are placed parallel to each other and equidistant, and the spaces be-
tween them, which in this case form the openings for passing or screening the
wheat, are adjustable to suit different sizes of grain. This adjustment is
effected by the form and motion given to the brasses d, see Figure 5, the sides
of which are parallel to each other, the ends are portions of a circle equal
in diameter to the height of the cross groove formed in the end of the frame to
receive the said brasses. The centre brass has a projecting collar on the inside,
larger than the bearing, which is turned and well fitted into a hole bored in the
end of the frame, so that this brass shall turn without moving the centre
cylinder. The spindle g has an excentric pin on its end, connected by the rod f
to the arms on the centre brass, so that by moving the handle h through an
arc of one hundred and eighty degrees, or a half circle, the arme and with it all
the brasses are changed to the position shewn in Figure 6. When all the parts

page_text: are in the position represented by Figure 5 the cylinders are close enough for
screening grain of the smallest size; but when in the position represented by
Figure 6, the cylinders have uniformly opened and are wide enough apart for
screening grain of the largest size, and hence the cylinders may, by the handle
h, be set to screen green of any size, and retain and separate all foreign bodies,
however little in bulk, beyond the size of the grain. This opening and closing
cylinders require that the brasses should be pressed and held together by some
elastic force, and this is accomplished by the piecès 7 and the spiral springs
behind them.
In the above description of the means of altering the guage by the
motion of the cylinders one end only of the separator is mentioned; it must,
however, be understood that the two ends are similarly fitted, so that by
moving the handle h both ends of the said cylinders are acted upon simul-
taneously and uniformly.
Figure 4 is a cross section of the frame and cylinders; the pieces of wood k
are for the purpose of filling the space and holding a row of hairs, so as to
form a packing or joint against the outer cylinders, and prevent any grain
passing in that direction.
In Figure 3 the dotted circles round the ends of the cylinders represent five
pinions, which gear into the four below them, marked i, so as to cause the
five cylinders to turn all in the same direction and at the same velocity.
Having now described my first mode of screening, I shall reserve the descrip-
tion of its action until shewn in combination with the complete machine, of
which it forms but a part, and proceed to describe two others.
Figure 7 is a front, and Figure 8 a side elevation of this machine. A
represents a steel plate, about No. 21 wire guage, perforated with round holes;
B, a plate of the same material, perforated with oblong holes or slits of the
requisite guage to allow of the passage of seeds, &c., but retain the wheat
grains.
Figure 9 shews the two sorts of perforations in the respective plates, full
size. C is a frame, to which the plates are fixed parallel to each other and
four inches apart, open at the top and bottom, and having a clear passage
through it of four inches by eighteen inches. This frame, &c. is suspended by
two cruss bars and the four light links D; to the ends of the said cross bars
two light connecting rods are attached, which give to the said frame a recipro-
cating motion at a speed of about four hundred strokes per minute: The
grain or feed is introduced at the upper end, and as it descends by the power
of gravitation it is thrown from the surface of one perforated plate to that of

page_text: the other with considerable force in a direction favorable to the passage of
the small seeds, dirt, &c. through the perforations, so that while the full good
grains of wheat descend between the plates, the refuse is made to pass through
them, and is separately collected.
.
I will now proceed to describe my other mode, which produces the double
effect of separating both large and small matter from the grain at the same
time. It is represented on the Drawing by Figure 10, which is a front
elevation; and Figure 11, a transverse section. A is a light spindle, placed at
an inclination of about one inch to the foot with the horizon; on it are fixed
three sets of light arms B, which support the hollow cylinder C, the same
arms extend and support another hollow cylinder D. Both these cylinders
are made of thin steel plates, about No. 23 wire guage, and are perforated, as
represented in section Figure 11, and full size at Figure 12. The inner
cylinder projects at the lower end about four and a half inches beyond the
outer one; at the upper end they are enclosed by the end piece E, except that
a hole F is left in the centre about four inches diameter for the introduction
of the grain.
This machine when in operation should make about thirty revolutions per
minute. The grain from the hopper first enters the inner cylinder by the hole
F, and by the rotary motion is raised on the ascending side of the cylinder to
an angle of from forty-five to fifty-five degrees, as represented in section,
Figure 11.
The perforations of the inner cylinder admit of the grain passing through
them into the space between the two cylinders, but retain all matter larger
than the grain, which are delivered at Ġ by the inclination and rotation of
the machine. The outer cylinder has the same kind of perforations, but of a
finer guage, which allow all the matters smaller than the grain to pass through
them into the hopper H, but retains the wheat, which passes down between the
two cylinders, and is delivered ready for scouring and cleaning into the spout I.
Figure 12 represents, by full-size face views and sections, my improvements
in perforating and bending or moulding steel or other metal plates, either with
flat or curved surfaces, for the purposes before described.
My improvements in scouring and cleaning wheat are as follows:-
Figure 18 represents two cast-iron hollow cylinders. The outer one A is
supposed to be fixed against the framework of the machine B; it is corrugated
or fluted on the inside longitudinally, or parallel to its axis, and is enclosed by
a plate at the end C. The inner cylinder D is hollow, with end plates, and is
corrugated or fluted on the outside, at an inclination with its axis of one and a

page_text: half inches in twenty inches. This cylinder is hung on a spindle, and is made
to revolve in and concentric with the outer cylinder about seven hundred times
per minute. The grain enters by the hole F, and is carried out and between
the cylinders by centrifugal force, then forward by the inclination of the flutes,
and is discharged at the spout E. The distance between the most prominent
points of the fixed and revolving cylinders should be about five-eighths of an
inch.
.
Figure 14 is a plain cylinder, about fifteen inches diameter by twenty inches
long, on the circumference of which are riveted twelve light angle irons, form-
ing a screw-like angle of three inches in twenty with the axis of the cylinder.
To these angle irons are riveted, or otherwise securely fixed, twelve slips of
steel plate, each the length of the angle irons, and in thickness about No. 18
wire guage. These slips of steel are made to project from the outside of the
cylinder about one and a half inches, and their outer edges are notched, as
represented. The cylinder just described is adapted to work into a fixed,
fluted cast-iron cylinder like that described in Figure 13, or in a cylinder
composed of my perforated steel plates, as represented in Figure 12. And.
lastly, for still more effectually crushing or otherwise disposing of clods, &c.,
I sometimes employ, instead of either of the revolving cylinders before de-
scribed, what may be called a centrifugal crushing revolver, of which Figure.16
represents an end view, and Figure 17 a plan. A is an outside fixed cylinder,
formed of my perforated steel plate, as represented in Figure 12, so applied as
that the raised part of the plate or perforations is on the outside of such
cylinder; on the spindle B are keyed two cross arms C, to the ends of which.
are jointed two curved plates E, in length corresponding to that of the per-
forated part of the cylinder. These plates are so connected by the rod D that-
by a little adjustment they are perfectly balanced throughout their entire revo-
lution. When in action the spindle and arms make about 700 revolutions per
minute, and nearly the whole of the outer surface of the curved plates are
thereby pressing from the centre to the inner circumference of the cylinder
with considerable power, depending on the weight of the plates and their
velocity, both of which may be regulated so as to crush the earthy matter, &c.,
and scour the grain without breaking it. The outer parts of these curved
plates, facing the cylinder, may be either fluted or covered with perforated
plate. In some cases I employ four such curved plates; when this is the
case, in lieu of arms on the spindle, I use two square plates with a joint at
each corner; but whether two or four be used, it is essential that 'the said
curved plates should be prevented by a stop from coming nearer the inside of
.

page_text: the cylinder than ths of an inch. Figures 18 and 19 are elevations of a
machine, shewing in what manner my improvements herein-before described
are combined and applied to cleaning wheat.
This machine is put in motion by a strap from the first mover passing over
the pulley A on the end of the main horizontal spindle; B is the scouring
part or the cast-iron fluted cylinders. A pulley C on the main spindle gives
motion to one above D, for working the cylinder separator E. On the main
spindle is another pulley G, which by a strap gives motion to the pulley and
shaft H, which by two cranks and two connecting rods I communicate motion
to the reciprocating separator J. On the main spindle will also be seen the
fan blower K.
The grain to be cleaned enters the machine by the spout L and falls direct
upon the cylinders, which are set just wide enough apart to allow of the
passage of the grain. The cylinders move all in one direction, about two
hundred revolutions per minute, causing the grain to pass freely between
them; the spiral wire at the same time takes everything larger than the
grain down the incline and through the large spaces formed at the ends of the
cylinders, whence it is carried off by the spouts M. The other spout N takes
off a few extra large or distorted grains, which pass
of the ends of the cylinders, reduced for that purpose. The feed is regulated
by the plate, screw, and handle O.
'
between a small portion
The screened grain passes down the incline. P, then through the hole Q into
the scourer by the rotation of the vanes R. It is then scoured round between
the cylinders, and by the rotation and angular position of the flutes on the
inner one is carried to the other end and delivered at the leather spout S. It
then enters and passes through the separator J and is delivered at U; the
small seeds, dirt, &c. sifted through the perforated plates are delivered at V.
In order to give a finish to the cleaning, a strong current of air, carrying
with it all dust and light matters, is drawn through the separator J by the
fan K, and forced through the trunk W to the outside of the building.
In order to apply my double separator, represented by Figures 10 and 11,
I remove the cylinder and reciprocating separators from the machine just
described, and fix the said double separator where the upper one, marked E,
is now placed. By this arrangement both the separating operations precede
the scouring, and in such case the spout S delivers the scoured grain into a
simple trunk, through which the air passes to the fan, carrying off the dust,
&c., and completing the cleaning. In order to apply the revolving cylinder,
Figure 14, it is only, necessary to open the end of the machine, slide the fluted

page_text: cylinder off the spindle, and replace it by the one in question. . The centri-
fugal crushing revolver, Figures 16 and 17, may be applied in the same way,
and in order to apply the outside or fixed cylinder of perforated steel plate for
scouring, as shewn in section, Figure 16, the present cast iron one must be
renoved, and the perforated one secured in the same place. My improved
modes of introducing air between the surfaces of millstones are as follows:-
The annexed Drawing, No. 2, shews Figure 1, a section of a pair of mill-
stones fitted with one of my improved modes. Figure 2 is a plan of the
runner for the same, with the disc for enclosing it removed. A is the runner,
perforated with a number of holes about five-eighths of an inch in diameter,
none of which are nearer than eight inches to the edge of the eye, or nearer
than three inches to the skirt; B is a casing, forming an air-tight chamber
on the back of the runner, in the top of which are two openings, to which a
pipe C, like an
inverted letter T, is fitted, the vertical part of it being con-
centric with the millstone spindle; on this there are three projections, which,
as it revolves with the runner, strike the shoe D, and act as an ordinary
damsel. This pipe is jointed at E, the junction being made tight by an
external bandage; the upper part, which is driven by the lower, works in a
stuffing box in the air chest F, which is attached to the hopper, and com-
municates by the fixed pipe G with a blowing apparatus; a short funnel H
is inserted in the eye of the runner, to direct the corn, and prevent its being
scattered by the revolution of the T pipe. When these stoves are in action
air is forced by the blowing machine through the T pipe into the chamber on
the back of the runner, whence it passes through the numerous perforations
to the grinding faces of the stones, distributing itself, and thus absorbing and
carrying off a portion of the heat generated in the act of grinding, thereby
considerably increasing the amount of work performed. Figure 3 shews a
section of a pair of millstones fitted with my other improved mode. Figure
4 is a plan of bedstone of the same. Figure 5, a full-sized section of the
opening through which the air is forced to the faces of the stoves. A is the
bedstone; B ten oblong boxes, about nine inches long and five-eighths of an
inch square, inserted in the bedstone parallel to the master furrows, and sunk
slightly below the grinding surfaces; the ends of these are two inches and a
half from the skirt. These boxes, which I shall call air lips have in one side
a thin parallel slit one-twelfth of an inch wide and running their whole length;
the dotted lines at C represent holes which aro bored through the bedstone,
and form communications between the air lips and the annular chamber D,
attached air-tight to the under side of the bedstone, the elbow pipe E commu-

page_text: nicates with the blowing apparatus. When the stones are in action a current of
air is forced by the blowing machine into the annular chamber D, thence through
the holes C in the bedstone and air lips to the grinding surfaces. In this
arrangement the position of the air lips is such that the air is delivered in a
direction at right angles with the master furrows, so that the air which is forced
in, instead of unduly urging the matter in process of grinding to the skirt of
the stones, forces it against the inclined surfaces of the furrows, and is supplied
coolest where there is the greatest attrition. Figure 6 is a section of a pair
of millstones, shewing my mode of introducing a current of cold water under
the bedstone. A is a cast-iron dish caulked water-tight to the bedstone; B
is the flow pipe which brings in the cold water from a tank or pump; C is the
exit pipe for carrying off the water warmed by contact with the bedstone.
When these stones are in operation, a current of water is passed through the
dish A, by which so much heat is absorbed and carried off as to enable the
stones to perform more work in a given time. .
I claim, first, the peculiar construction of a separator, composed of a series
of equi-distant cylinders, which revolve on bearings so arranged as to open or
close the spaces between them, as before described. I do not confine myself,
however, to the number or proportions of the cylinders or the kind of motion
given them, but I also claim the general employment of slits bounded by
adjustable moving cylinders or edges for the purpose of screening grain.
Secondly, the application of the peculiar perforated metal plates, shewn at
Figure 12, to the purposes before described.
Thirdly, the mode of employing reciprocating upright sieves for the purposes
before described.
Fourthly, the employment of surfaces expanding by centrifugal force in a
cylinder to crush clods and scour grain, as before described.
Fifthly, the mode of introducing air between the surfaces of millstones
through the runner when in action, as before described.
Sixthly, the mode of introducing air between the surfaces of millstones
through the bedstone, and the peculiar form and position of the orifices or air
lips, as before described.
Seventhly, causing the circulation of cold water under the bedstones of mills.
in order to absorb and carry off heat from them when grinding.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joel Spiller, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.
JOEL (L.S.) SPILLER.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-ninth day of July, in
the year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid Joel Spiller came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.