New or Improved Device for Mixing Grain or the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: TOST
Complete Specification Left, 21st Aug.. 1395-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Device for Mixing Grain or the like.
I, JOHN LEE BRADSHAW of 25 Shakespeare Street Southport in the County
of Lancaster Hay and Corn Dealer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
It
This invention has for its object a new or improved device for mixing grain or
the like. I will first describe an experimental apparatus constructed by me.
consists of a square hopper or receptacle provided with an outside flange and when
in use said hopper is placed in a similarly shaped trap or opening in a floor which
also forms the roof of the room below, the flange resting on the edge of the
opening.
The hopper is about 2 feet square inside & for about that depth its opposite
sides depend parallel, below which they approach each other to form a sort of
rectangular cone terminating in an exit spout. I provide a series of diaphragms
each capable of being placed & held in the hopper in such manner as to divide its
interior into two or more sections and these diaphragms extend to that portion of
the hopper which forms the entrance to the spout.
Supposing that it is desired to mix two different sorts of grain in equal bulks, a
diaphragm is inserted into the hopper which divides it into two equal sections whose
entrances to the spout are also equal or thereabouts. The two samples of grain are
then fed by hand or otherwise into the two sections respectively whence they
emerge at the spout, their common exit, & may be received in a sack or other
receptacle. If moderate care be taken to have grain in both sides of the hopper
equal, the two will emerge thoroughly mixed & comingled.
If three sorts of grain are to be mixed the hopper is divided into three sections
or if more convenient four sections, three only of which are used: or it one or more
of the ingredients is to exist in a larger proportion in the mixture it is fed, either
through a larger section, or, if the sections are uniform in size, through two or more
as desired.
The diaphragms are held in place by means of grooves or slides in the sides of
the hopper & where subdivision is required the larger diaphragms are provided with
similar means to support & retain the smaller one or ones.
The device may be self contained instead of protruding through a floor.
If desired I may make the hopper circular in cross section and having a central
pillar with grooves or lugs corresponding to those on the inside of the periphery;
or the diaphragms may be pivotted on the central pillar and are then movable
circumferentially, suitable catches or notches being provided to retain them in
desired position. Numbers or marks representing several combinations of pro-
portions for the ultimate mixture may be arranged on the upper edge of the
circular hopper.
Or the hopper may be made of other shape, say hexagonal & suitable diaphragms,
fixed together, or separately applicable, employed.
After a long series of experiments I have found that this device is as effecient as
hand or elevator mixing & with a much less expenditure of power.
I do not limit myself to the details herein described.
Dated this 27th day of November 1904
JNO. L. BRADSHAW.
[Price 8d.]

page_text: New or Improved Device for Mixing Grain or the like.
I JOHN LEE BRADSHAW of 25 Shakespeare Street, Southport in the County
of Lancaster, Hay and Corn Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
33
This invention has for its object a new or improved device for mixing grain or
the like. Hitherto it has been usual to mix different lots of grain together either
by means of "spading or other means. The invention is specially useful for
mixing grain in such situatious where elevator mixing is inconvenient from want of
space or other causes.
In the drawings
Fig. is a vertical section through a device constructed according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1.
The division boards or diaphragms hereinafter described are omitted from Fig. 1
for the sake of clearness.
Figs. 3 and 4 show a modified form of apparatus Fig. 3 being half in elevation
and half in vertical section. Fig. 4 is a plan.
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 which show an experimental device constructed
by me & which I have found by actual trial to give very good results. The
apparatus in this instance is shown composed of wood. I provide a square hopper
or receptacle A provided with an outside flange A', and when in use said hopper is
placed in a similarly shaped trap or recess in a floor B which also forms the roof
of the story below, the flange resting on the edge of the opening. The hopper is
about 2 feet square inside and for that distance the sides depend parallel, below
which they approach each other in the form of a rectangular cone and terminate in
an exit spout C. I provide a series of diaphragms of different sizes D D' D²
capable of being placed and held within the hopper in such manner as to divide
its interior into two or more divisions and these diaphragms extend to that portion
of the hopper which forms the entrance to the spout C. Spout C is preferably
provided with a suitable gate to regulate the exit of the mixed grain therefrom.
Supposing that it is desired to mix two different samples of grain in equal
proportion, one diaphragm D is inserted into the hopper & divides it into two equal
parts whose entrances to the spout C are also equal or thereabouts.
samples of grain are then fed by hand, spade, or otherwise into the two divisions
whence they emerge together at said spout C their common exit, & may be received
in a sack or other receptacle in the story below. If care be taken to constantly
keep sufficient grain in the various sections, to cause a full stream through each
entrance to spout C, the samples will emerge thoroughly mixed and comingled.
The two
If three sorts of grain are to be mixed the hopper is divided into three sections
(or if more convenient four sections, three only of which are used) by the shorter
diaphragms D' D* or if one or more of the ingredients is to exist in a larger pro-
portion in the mixture, it is fed through a larger section; or, if the sections be
uniform in size, through two or more as desired. The diaphragins D are held in
place by means of grooves or strips on the sides of the hopper and where one
main diaphragm D divides the latter it is provided with similar means d' to retain
the inner ends of the narrower diaphragms D₁ in position. The diaphragms
preferably extend upwards a short distance above the flange A, say to the dotted
fine xx.
Referring now to Figs. 3 & 4 which show the device in a modified form. The
hopper A is circular in cross section and it and the diaphragmns are made of
galvanized iron. It has a central pillar a supported by webs a' of plate. These

page_text: webs occupy the vertical portion of the hopper & interfere very little with the
travel of the grain.
The top of the hopper is a flange A' preferably of malleable
iron and provided with split lugs bat regular intervals. These lugs b serve to
retain the outside edge of the diaphragms D in place, their inner edges being
retained by grooves or strips made in, or supported by, the central pillar a. The
mode of action is similar to that already described. In this modification the
diaphragms D are all one size.
If preferred the lugs instead of being cast or formed in one with the body of
the flange, may be separate & removable. Their positions on said flange & their
distances apart are thus variable at will. Set screws, bolts, or other simple
fastenings are employed to hold them where required.
If thought preferable the diaphragms D may be pivotally supported on the
central pillar a their free edges being held at variable distances apart by thumb
screws or catches engaging the flange A¹ which would be plain inside. They are
thus movable circumferentially to divide the hopper into the required number of
parts. Numbers or marks representing several combinations of proportions for the
ultimate mixture may be ari anged on upper edge of flange A' to indicate how
many diaphragms are to be employed and how spaced.
Or the hopper may be made of a different shape, say hexagonal, and suitable
diaphragms fixed together, or separately applicable, employed.
I have found this invention in practise as efficient as hand or elevator mixing
& with much less expenditure of power.
I do not confine myself to the precise details herein before mentioned, the main
idea of the invention consisting in causing the various samples of grain to mix
automatically by travelling into a common exit spout in regulated proportions.
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. A device for mixing grain or the like consisting of a hopper to receive the
grain, a flange to support said hopper, an exit spout and a series of removable
diaphragms by means of which the various samples of grain may be automatically
mixed in desired proportion substantially as described.
2. A device for mixing grain or the like consisting of a hopper to receive the
grain and one or more diaphragms dividing said hopper into two or more parts
having a common exit substantially as described.
3. In a grain mixing device such as described a central pillar having corrugations
or grooves to support the inner edges of a series of uniform diaphragms at desired
distances apart.
4. In a grain mixing device the combination of a circular hopper conical at its
lower end, a central pillar supported therein and a series of diaphragms pivotally
supported by said pillar, substantially as described & for the purposes specified.
Dated this 19th day of August 1895.
CHAS. COVENTRY,
Agent for Applicant.