Substances to an Impalpable Powder.
Year: 1885

page_text: Substances to an Impalpable Powder.
I JAMES RAMSAY WOODBURN of the City of Saint John in the City and County
of Saint John and province of New Brunswick Canada, Confectioner, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for PULVERIZING SUGAR AND OTHER FRIABLE
SUBSTANCES TO AN IMPALPABLE POWDER, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The objects of my invention are First, In a pulverizing mill by means of stationary
and revolving diaphragms, as herein described to cause the material being pulverized
to be so directed in its course through the mill that it may be more thoroughly
brought into continuous and violent contact with the disintegrating mechanism and
thereby more quickly and evenly reduced to an impalpable powder than can be
done in or by pulverizers now in use.
Secondly, In a pulverizing mill by means of numerous blades presenting many ·
hard sharp edges as herein described, to secure a more cheap rapid and thorough
disintegration of the material being pulverized, than can be secured with the
pulverizing mechanisms now in use.
Thirdly, In pulverizing sugar, by means of such blades to lessen the escape of
the saccharine properties of the Sugar.
I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1, is a top view of the machine with the cover thrown back,
Figure 2 is an end view thereof.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof,
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section thereof, shewing in the upper half of the figure
a portion of one of the revolving diaphragms and in the lower part, a portion of
one of the stationary diaphragms.
Figure 5, represents one of the revolving diaphragms detached from the mill.
Figures 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 and 11 are detailed views of the radial blades K and cross-
blades L.
Figure 12 illustrates the development of the periphery of the drum E shewing
the position of each of the radial blades K.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

page_text: The metal shaft A resting in the pillow blocks B passes horizontally through the
centre of the outer case C and terminates in the driving pulley D.
The outer case C consists of two semi-cylindrical parts hinged together, as shewn
. in the drawings; the upper part, having in it, the inlet chute H., forms the cover
of the machine, and, when the mill is worked, it should be securely bolted to the
lower part at h h. These upper and lower parts correspond one to the other in
size and by means of the stationary diaphragms or partitions G. are divided, when
the mill is closed, into three compartments. In the compartment nearest to the
driving pulley is placed the fan X; the other two compartments are pulverizing
chambers. If the material to be pulverized is of a refractory nature the mill may
be lengthened and by the use of additional diaphragms the number of pulverizing
chambers increased.
The stationary diaphragms are semi-annular in shape, and when the mill is closed
they conform to the drum E, sufficient space being left between the outer periphery
of the drum, and the inner edges of the diaphragms to allow the material being
pulverized to pass from the one pulverizing chamber to the other. A space of one
half inch would be sufficient in pulverizing materials of ordinary friability. These.
diaphragms may be fastened to the inner surface of the outer case C by means of
screws, rivets or other fastenings, or they may be cast with the outer case.
I place
a packing of rubber or other suitable substance between the upper and lower parts
of the outer case, and of the stationary diaphragms G whereever they meet one
another, so as to prevent the escape of the material being pulverized, except through
the openings provided for that purpose. The pulverizing chambers, formed by the
diaphragms G are subdivided by the revolving diaphragms J. These are metal
disks annular in shape and are fastened to the outer periphery of the drum E by
means of bolts screws or rivets; or they may be fastened as shewn in the drawing
(Fig. 3) by means of screws through the arms I, which arms I are screwed into the
drum E. There should be a space of say, one half an inch between the outer cir-
cumference of the revolving diaphragmns J. and the inner periphery of the outer
case C to allow the material being pulverized to pass from one part of the pulverizing
chamber to the other part thereof.
The metal blades K project radially from the outer periphery of the drum E.
They are screwed rivetted or otherwise fastened into the drum. The ends of these
blades farthest from the shaft should approach to within say half an inch of the
inner periphery of the outer case. The size of such blades in a mill, the outer case
of which is twenty one inches in diameter, should be as follows say, five-eighths of
an inch square and extending from the outer periphery of the drum, say five inches.
I place in each of the pulverizing chambers formed by the stationary diaphragms G
forty eight of such blades, namely twenty four of such blades in each of the sub-
chambers formed by the revolving diaphragms J. and these blades I arrange on the
outer periphery of the drum at the intervals and in the order of development
indicated in Fig. 12 of the drawing: As shewn in Fig. 12 each pair of parallel
blades is preceeded and followed by two other blades placed as it were in echelon or
diagonally across the subchambers formed by the diaphragms J so that if the blades
so placed in echelon in each series of blades were brought back in straight lines
between the pair of parallel blades next them respectively they would slightly more
than fill the space between such parallel blades.
The cross blades L which are nearly of the same size as the radial blades K are
necessary, only when the material to be pulverized is of an unusually refractory
nature.
They are fastened by means of screws bolts or rivets across each pair of parallel
blades at intervals as follows: Beginning with any pair of parallel radial blades
fasten one of the blades L across them at right angles at the ends of such blades K
nearest to the inner surface of the outer case and on the next succeeding pair of
parallel radial blades fasten another cross blade at right angles but nearer to the
drum say one half an inch nearer, and so, on each succeeding pair of parallel radial
blades in like manner place a cross blade, but in each instance a like distance nearer

page_text: to the drum surface and so do in each subdivision of the pulverizing chambers.
The cross blades may be placed at other angles and intervals than those above
described. In figure 12 the entire periphery of the drum is represented as if it
were spread out on a level plane and having marked on it the position of each of
the radial blades K.
The blades K are preferably, either of steel or of iron case hardened and all the
edges of such blades should be kept well sharpened. The blades K should be
harder at the ends of them most distant from the drum surface, and for say two
thirds of the distance from such ends to the drum, than the remaining one-third,
so that in the event of any hard body finding its way into the mill and coming in.
contact with the blades they may be bent rather than broken. The number of
the blades K and L may be increased or diminished, and they may be arranged at
other intevals than those described and may be fastened into the periphery of
the drum in other ways than those stated, and they may be larger or smaller
or of other shape than those described, as the material to be pulverized, is of a
more or less refractory nature. I describe such blades and so many and so placed
as I deem best for pulverizing sugar and other substances of like friability.
The drum E is a metal cylinder with closed ends, namely the plates pp. It
may be either of iron or of steel, preferably of steel. The shaft A passes through
its centre. The drum is fastened or keyed to the shaft in the usual way. The
end plates pp are fastened by the screws g g into the hub of the drum E. The
plate forming the head of the drum nearest to the inlet chute H should be cupped
so as to give increased room for the admission of the material to be pulverized as
in figure 3.
In a mill such as I am describing the drum E should be say eleven inches long
by eleven inches in diameter, but these proportions may be varied. X Q is an
ordinary exhaust fan; X the arms, Q the paddles rivetted at tt; w is the hub of
the fan; d'd is an annular metal disk which fits closely to the shaft A. and is
screwed to the hub w and the arms X by the screws rr. leaving only the side
of the fan next the mill open.
H is the inlet chute to admit the material to be pulverized. It is fastened to
the outer case C by the screws 8² 81. W is an ordinary shaker operated by the
pulley P driven by a belt from the shaft A. The shaking motion is given by the
pin working in the slot y. The shaker W is hung upon the rod f¹¹ as shewn
in figure 3 and is hinged at D' so that its mouth may be raised or lowered as
required. The feeding apparatus is supported by the bracket U resting on the
shelves V to which they are fastened by the screws b' b¹. The shelves V, upon
which rest the pillow blocks B and the brackets U, are attached to the lower part
of the outer case C at each end of said case, and at that part of it where the upper
part or cover of the case meets the said lower part. It is supported by the
brackets O springing from the foot plates T. These brackets are strengthened by
the cross bar S. The foot plates T should be screwed to the floor, so that the mill
may be kept steady while being operated. I drive the mill by steam power
connected by a belt at D. Other power may be used. The mill except where
otherwise indicated is preferably made of iron, that it may be strong and durable.
The fan paddles may be of galvanized iron.
The mill may be worked as follows: Let the material to be pulverized be fed to
the mill through the inlet chute H by the apparatus described or by any other
suitable feeding mechanism, the particles on entering the mill, by the action of the
exhaust fan and rapidly revolving blades, are in their whirling motion, brought
continuously and violently in contact with the hard sharp edges of such blades,
and so begin to be disintegrated by them; then they are drawn by a current of air
created by the exhaust fan through the opening between the revolving diaphragm J
and the outer case C into the second subdivision of the first pulverizing chamber,
where they are further disintegrated by like contact with the hard sharp edges of
the blades revolving in such second subdivision of the first pulverizing chamber;
then they are drawn by the fan draught through the axial opening between the

page_text: stationary diaphragm G and the drum E into the first subdivision of the second
pulverizing chamber where they are yet further disintegrated by like contact
with the bard sharp edges of the blades in such last mentioned subdivision; and
are then drawn by the fan draught into the next and last subdivision of the
pulverizing chambers, where they are still further reduced by contact with the
blades in such last mentioned subdivision to an impalpable powder; and then
being drawn by the fan draught into the fan chamber are expelled from the mill
through the outlet F in such fan chamber.
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
1. The use in a pulverizing mill of annular revolving diaphragms such as I have
described and for the purposes stated.
2. The combination in a pulverizing mill, with the central annular diaphragms J
and the stationary diaphragms G of the case C and the drum E having the radial
blades K substantially as, and for the purposes described.
3. The combination in a pulverizing mill of the shaft A., the case C., the drum E.,
the stationary diaphragms G., the revolving diaphragms J., the blades K., and the
fan X Q., whereby the material being pulverized is directed in its course through
the mill and continuously and violently brought in contact with the many hard
sharp edges of the swiftly revolving blades K in a series of pulverizing chambers
and subchambers as described and for the purposes stated.
4. The combination in a pulverizing mill of the shaft A the case C, the dia-
phragms G and the fan X Q with the drum E having the blades K and L and the
diaphragms J whereby the material being pulverized, in its course through the
mill, is forced to pass alternately circumferentially and axially from one to another
of a series of pulverizing chambers and subchambers substantially as and for the
purposes described.
5. The combination in a pulverizing mill of an outer case consisting of two
semicylindrical parts constructed and arranged as shewn and divided internally by
corresponding semiannular stationary diaphragms into three or more compartments,
a shaft passing horizontally and centrally through such outer case bearing in the
compartment nearest the driving pulley an exhaust fan, and in the other com-
partments (called "pulverizing chambers") a drum cylinder having set in its
periphery numerous radial blades and having attached to it annular diaphragms,
which subidivide such pulverizing chambers, whereby the material to be pulverized,
in its course through the mill is forced to pass alternately circumferentially, namely,
the between annular diaphragms and the outer case, and axially, namely, between
the stationary diaphragm and the drum from one to another of such chambers and
subchambers substantially as described and for the purposes stated.
Dated this twenty eighth day of August A.D. 1885,