IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING OR REDUCING GRAIN AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES, AND TREATING THE PRODUCE THEREOF
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING OR REDUCING GRAIN AND OTHER
LIKE SUBSTANCES, AND TREATING THE PRODUCE THEREOF." A communication
from abroad by Auguste Fredéric Beyer and Adolphe Gustave Beyer, both of
Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers.
Sealed the 5th April 1878, and dated the 16th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry. Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1877.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING OR
REDUCING GRAIN AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES, AND TREATING THE PRODUCE
THEREOF." A communication from abroad by Auguste Fredéric Beyer and Adolphe
Gustave Beyer, both of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers.
This Invention relates to apparatus which are intended to be employed in substi-
tution for millstones for grinding corn, either entirely or in case of need for special
purposes, such, for example, as for the regrinding of grits, the production of semo-
lina, and the like; and it consists in the use of two or more smooth or fluted
cylinders rotating in the same or in opposite directions, and revolving at the same
or at different speeds.
One pair of cylinders may be employed in each apparatus, or, according to the
description of produce to be obtained, two or more pairs may be used placed one
above the other, or arranged side by side.
The cylinders may be brought together by the pressure of springs, as herein-after
more particularly described, or by counterweights or screws acting independently, or
coupled together so as to exert pressure on both sides at once.
The cylinders may be made of natural hard stone, such, for example, as porphyry,
granite, or millstone; or of artificial compositions, such, for example, as porcelain,
glass, tempered or otherwise, or any suitable cements or conglomerates; or they may
Drine 17

page_text: be made wholly or partially of hard metals, such, for example, as steel, wrought iron,
cast iron, either chilled or not, the same being turned, planed, ground, or rendered
suitable for iminersion or tempering, or for the reception of coatings of white metal
(nickel or the like, having the effect of preventing oxidation and augmenting the
external hardness.
The non-metallic cylinders, when such are employed, are secured upon their
respective shafts by two discs or plates screwed upon the said shafts, which are pre-
viously heated in order that on cooling they may shrink and cause the plates to
exercise considerable pressure upon the ends of the cylinder placed between them.
When metallic cylinders are used they may be fixed in a similar manner if formed
of plain tubes, or the cylinders may be keyed directly on to the shaft.
Each cylinder is provided with one or more scrapers or doctors for the purpose of
detaching the fragments which may adhere to them, or a single doctor may be
employed in conjunction with a brush performing the same functions.
In order to disintegrate the substances under treatment at the same time that the
crushing is effected, one of the cylinders has imparted to it, by the means herein-
after described, a reciprocating motion in the direction of its axis in addition to its
rotatory motion, as before mentioned.,
A bolting apparatus of suitable construction is placed underneath the cylinders,
or underneath the lower cylinders when more than one pair are employed, so as to
act directly upon the produce issuing from the machine.
The shafts of the cylinders, which rotate at a high speed, are carried in self-
lubricating bearings, which prevent any heating from taking place, and are con-
structed in such a manner that the stive cannot enter them.
In order to obviate entirely the shocks which result from the employment of
toothed gearing, it is proposed to drive the cylinders by means of ordinary pulleys
or cone pulleys, serrated friction gear, or friction wheels, either plain on their peri-
pheries or with the engaging wheels respectively convex and concave.
When two pairs of cylinders are employed, arranged one pair above the other, the
upper ones are by preference smooth, and the lower ones fluted.
One cylinder only of each pair is connected to the driving shaft, rotary motion
being imparted to the other cylinders by contact only. The driving shaft, which
receives its motion from pulleys on one end actuated from any suitable prime mover,
is, according to one arrangement, provided at the other end with a pulley which by
means of a belt imparts motion to other pulleys keyed on to the shafts of the posi-
tively driven cylinders.
The cylinders are by preference brought together by a strong spring, the extre-
mities of which bear upon the plummer blocks of the said shafts, the pressure of the
spring being capable of adjustment by means of a screw.
On one end of the shaft of each of the positively driven cylinders there is fitted a
sleeve provided with an inclined flange or collar set at an angle to the axis of rota-
tion; this collar works in a guide placed in the lower part of the plummer block.
By means of this arrangement a reciprocating motion is imparted to the shaft in the
direction of its length, which has the effect of causing the cylinder to move con-
tinually a certain distance to and fro upon the surface of the corresponding cylinder
as it rotates. A collar is also provided for the purpose of distributing oil over the
left-hand extremity of the shaft, such collar working in a cavity formed in the
corresponding bearing.
The grain or other like substance to be ground is introduced into a hopper, and is
distributed by means of a fluted feed roller mounted upon an axis which is provided
at one extremity with a worm wheel driven by an endless screw or worm; this
screw is fast on a spindle driven by a cord and pulleys from one of the cylinders,
which receive their motion by frictional contact, one pulley being mounted loose
upon the spindle, and the other pulley being keyed on the end of the shaft of the
said cylinders.
A clutch is provided for throwing the pulley which is mounted upon the spindle
in and out of gear as required, so as to admit of the working of the feeder being

page_text: suspended in order to prevent the accumulation of produce between the cylinders
when it is desired to stop the machine.
The grain or other like substance is conducted by means of another hopper
between the peripheries of the two cylinders of the upper pair, whilst a third
hopper placed underneath the latter receives the crushed grain and directs it
between the peripheries of the two cylinders of the lower pair, which reduce it to
the required degree; a fourth hopper conducts the ground and disintegrated pro-
duce to a suitable bolting apparatus, situate underneath the machine, a casing being
provided to prevent the produce from escaping except by its proper channel.
When two pairs of cylinders are employed, arranged back to back or in juxta-
position, one driving shaft only may be used, the same being situate at the side,
and a suitable apparatus provided for throwing either pair of cylinders out of gear
when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
April 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING OR
REDUCING GRAIN AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES, AND TREATING THE PRODUCE
THEREOF. A communication from abroad by Auguste Frederic Beyer and Adolphe
Gustave Beyer, both of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers.
"
The said Invention relates to apparatus which are intended to be employed in
substitution for millstones for grinding corn, either entirely or in case of need for
special purposes, such, for example, as bruising or reducing grits, the production of
semolina, and the like; and it consists in the use of two or more smooth or fluted
cylinders, or both, rotating in the same or in opposite directions, and at different
speeds.
The cylinders are brought into proximity by means acting independently, or they
are coupled together so as to exert pressure on both sides simultaneously, or a strong
carriage spring may be employed for the same purpose.
The cylinders may be made of natural hard stone, such, for example, as porphyry,
granite, or millstone; or of artificial composition, such, for example, as porcelain,
glass, tempered or otherwise, or any suitable cements or conglomerates, or composi-
tions of fragments of pebbles, or silex, feldspath, kaolin, and the like; or they may
be made wholly or partially of hard metals, such, for example, as steel, wrought iron,
cast iron, either chilled or not, the same being turned, planed, ground, or rendered
suitable for immersion or tempering.
The non-metallic cylinders, when such are employed, are secured upon their
respective shafts by two discs screwed upon the said shafts, which may be split
longitudinally, so as to form two flat surfaces for imparting flexibility. The disc,
which are cast hollow, are sufficiently thin to render them flexible, and are threaded
with right and left handed screws as well as the shaft, so that the rotation of the
latter tends to bring them into closer proximity.

page_text: When metallic cylinders consisting of plain tubes are used, thick discs may be
employed, and the shaft may be heated so that as it shrinks in cooling it draws the
discs together, and causes them to press forcibly against the ends of the tube or
cylinder placed between them; or, if preferred, the cylinders may be keyed directly
on to the shaft.
Each cylinder is provided with one or more scrapers or doctors for the purpose of
detaching the fragments which may adhere to them, or a single doctor may be
employed in conjunction with a brush performing the same functions.
In order to effect the complete reduction of the substance to be ground or operated
upon by the cylinders, one of the latter has imparted to it, in addition to its rotatory
motion, a longitudinal to-and-fro motion in the direction of its axis. For this pur-
pose there is attached at one end of the shaft in the centre of a bearing an inclined
flange or collar working in a guide, which is supported on a stationary centre in the
bearing, and produces the requisite longitudinal motion.
A bolting apparatus of suitable construction is placed underneath the cylinders,
or underneath the lower cylinders when more than one pair are employed, so as to
act directly upon the produce issuing from the machine.
The shafts of the cylinders, which rotate at a high speed, are carried in self-
lubricating bearings, which obviate undue heating, and are constructed in such a
manner as to prevent the entrance of the stive.
In order to obviate entirely the shocks which result from the employment of
toothed gearing, the cylinders are driven by means of ordinary pulleys or cone
pulleys, serrated friction gear, or friction wheels, either plain on their peripheries or
with the engaging wheels respectively convex and concave.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a transverse vertical section
of a machine with four cylinders, one pair being placed above the other; this section
is taken along the line 4, 5, 6, Figure 2, in order to shew more clearly the con-
struction of the bearings.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken along the line 1, 2, 3, (Figure 1).
Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 7, 8, (Figure 2).
Figure 4 is a plan of part of the apparatus showing a modification of the arrange-
ment for applying pressure to the cylinders.
Figure 5 is a detail drawn to a larger scale shewing in elevation a portion of one
of the shafts carrying the grinding or reducing cylinders, with their bearings and
the guide herein-before referred to, shewn in section.
Figure 6 is a corresponding transverse section.
Figure 7 is a corresponding elevation, partly in section, shewing the mode of
mounting the cylinders on the shafts when cylinders of stone or artificial composi-
tions are employed.
Figures 8 and 9, and Figure 10 illustrate respectively two modifications of gearing
for imparting the requisite differential motion to the cylinders.
The two upper cylinders A, A', Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, are made smooth, and are
mounted upon shafts a, a¹, which turn in self-lubricating bearings E, carried on the
upper part of the main framework H; the lower cylinders B, B¹, alone are made
fluted, and are mounted upon shafts b, b¹, turning in self-lubricating bearings E¹.
The cylinders A and B are driven by serrated friction K1, K2, in gear with
a corresponding wheel K mounted on a shaft k, the latter being also provided
with fast or loose pulleys k¹, k², for receiving motion from any suitable prime
mover. The cylinders A¹, B', are driven by pulleys p², p², and a single belt p³
carried round a pulley p fast on the driving shaft k. This arrangement is intended
to cause the cylinders A, A¹, and B, B¹, to rotate at different speeds.
The cylinders are brought into proximity by means of pressure screws V acting
independently, as shewn in the Drawing with reference to the lower pair of

page_text: cylinders; or, as shewn with reference to the upper pair, they may be connected by
a shaft v operated by a hand wheel R, and carrying endless screws v¹ in gear with
the nuts Vi on the pressure screws. V.
In some cases a strong blade spring may be employed, as shewn at R¹ in Figure 4,
the extremities of which are in contact with the bearings E of the shaft a¹, the
amount of pressure being adjusted by means of a screw r.
A similar arrangement may also be applied to the bearings E' of the shaft b¹.
The reciprocating motion in the direction of the axis is imparted to one of the
cylinders of each pair by means of mechanism, illustrated on a large scale in Figures
5, 6, and 7, and next herein-after described.
On the right-hand extremity of the shaft a¹ there is fitted a sleeve ƒ provided
with an inclined flange or collar F, which is arranged at an angle to the axis of
rotation, and works in a guide G fitted in the lower part of the bearing E. By
means of this arrangement a reciprocating motion is imparted to the shaft in the
direction of its length, which has the effect of causing the cylinder A¹ as it rotates
to move continually a certain distance to and fro upon the surface of the corre-
sponding cylinder A.
A collar F is provided for the purpose of distributing oil over the left-hand
extremity of the shaft a¹, such collar working in a cavity formed in the corre-
sponding bearing E of sufficient width to allow of its partaking of the motion of the
shaft.
The cylinder B' is situated by similar means with a like motion to that imparted
to the cylinder A'.
The cylinders A and B have a rotary notion only, as will be seen on referring
to Figure 2, which shows the construction of the bearings of the shaft b.
Figure 7 illustrates the mode in which cylinders made of any artificial composition
or hard stone are mounted upon their shafts.
The cylinder A', Figure 7, is pressed at both extremeties by discs z, 2¹, screwed on
to the threaded portion a² of the shaft a¹, which, having been previously heated to
the required degree, exerts considerable pressure on the ends of the cylinder by its
contraction on cooling.
The employment of hollow yielding discs 2, 21, Figure 7, renders breakage of the
cylinders impossible. The pressure exerted on the ends of the cylinder by the con-
traction of the shaft acting through the medium of the discs are made sufficiently
thin to render them elastic, is distributed with perfect uniformity over the whole
surface of the ends of the cylinder, without being sufficiently violent to cause a
fracture of the same.
As herein-before stated, the discs at the opposite ends of the cylinders are pro-
vided with right and left handed screw threads respectively, so as to obviate all
liability of their becoming unscrewed while working, the rotation of the shaft by
means of this arrangement having, on the contrary, a tendency to screw up or
tighten the discs.
The complementary parts of this machine for feeding, bolting, and delivering are
arranged in the following manner:-The grain or other like substance to be ground
or reduced is introduced into a hopper T, and is distributed by means of a fluted
feed roller t, which is mounted upon a shaft t¹ provided at one extremity with a
worm wheel v driven by an endless screw or worm v¹; this screw is fast on a
shaft x carrying a pulley y¹, and provided with a clutch x¹ for throwing in and out
of gear the said pulley, the latter being mounted loose upon the shaft x, and having
inotion imparted to it from a grooved pulley y keyed on to the end of the shaft a
of the cylinder A.
The clutch is provided for the purpose of enabling the working of the feeder t
to be suspended, so as to prevent the accumulation of produce between the cylinders
A and A when it is desired to stop the machine.
The grain or other like substance is conducted by means of another hopper U
between the peripheries of the two cylinders A, A', whilst a third hopper T', placed
underneath the latter, receives the crushed grain and directs it between the peri-

page_text: pheries of the two cylinders B, B', which reduce it to the required fine state of
division; a fourth hopper T2 conducts the ground and disintegrated produce to a
suitable bolting apparatus situate underneath the machine, but not shewn in the
Drawing.
Doctors C and C³ and brushes D, D¹, and are provided in contact with the upper
and lower cylinders in order to detach the produce and maintain the said cylinders
in good working condition. The position of these doctors may be varied as required.
A wooden casing S is provided in order to prevent the flour or pulverized sub-
stances from escaping, and, as shown on the Drawing, the bearings are constructed
in such a manner as to prevent the stive from penetrating to their interior, and to
render it impossible for any waste of oil to take place.
When one pair of cylinders only is employed in lieu of a series of cylinders placed
one above the other, or in the case of two pairs being employed side by side, pulleys
a, b, c, Figures 8 and 9, are used. The pulley a is keyed upon the shaft of the
cylinder, which receives the first motion from the motor and transmits the motion
by means of a crossed belt a¹ to the cone pulley b, which is free to rotate upon a
shaft fixed to the lower part of the frame. Another belt b¹, carried round another
part of the cone pulley b, imparts motion through the intervention of the pulley c to
the second cylinder, causing it to rotate at a different speed to the first.
Another arrangement for obtaining different speeds in the cylinders is represented
in Figure 10, in which friction wheels are employed, one of which is usually formed
of a ring a of india-rubber pressed between two discs, and imparts motion by
frictional contact to a wheel b, whilst receiving its own motion from a drum or
pulley c.
The fluted or grooved cylinders may be placed above and the smooth cylinders
below, according to the nature of the substance to be reduced, or one description of
cylinder only may be employed (the cylinders in that case being either all smooth
or all grooved) in one machine.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination and arrangement of two or more smooth cylinders or fluted
cylinders, or both, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Secondly. The mode of mounting the cylinders upon their shafts, substantially as
herein-before described.
Thirdly. The means of imparting a longitudinal to-and-fro or reciprocating motion
to the rotating cylinders from the interior of their self-lubricating bearings, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
Fourthly. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting a
machine or apparatus for grinding or reducing grain or other like substances in con-
junction or not with apparatus for treating the produce thereof, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Twelfth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
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