Improvements in Separating or Collecting Dust and other Impurities from Grain, Middlings, or other Farinaceous Materials, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 18th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1887.
Improvements in Separating or Collecting Dust and other Impurities
from Grain, Middlings, or other Farinaceous Materials, and in
Apparatus therefor.
We JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM and ORSINI STUART, both of 31 Seel Street Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster, Milling Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In semolina and middlings purifiers with silk cloth surface as ordinarily used, the
air rising through the silk cloth takes and carries with it the particles of impurities
which are contained in the semolina and middlings when they enter the machine.
up.
This uprising current of air with its contained impurities is usually carried through
passages or chambers having regulating valves or slides fixed in the upper part of the
imachine, and from thence the air and impurities are carried by air trunks to stive rooms
or dust collectors which are usually placed on the exterior of the machine.
Sometimes the purifiers are arranged with a moving cloth surface in the upper part
of the inside of the machine for the purpose of straining or separating the impurities
from the uprising current of air, these impurities being arranged to be discharged by
the moving cloth to the outside of the machine. Sometimes a portion of the
impurities in the uprising current of air, are caused to be deposited in vibrating
collecting trays placed a little distance above the surface of the silk cloth and these
trays are arranged to discharge the impurities they collect to the outside of the
machine. Sometimes these vibrating collecting trays are used in conjunction with
the travelling or moving cloth strainer, and with the air passages and valves.
The grave defects of the above arrangements are
Firstly where air passages and chambers and valves are used inside the machine,
they become rapidly filled with deposited impurities and the passages thus become
contracted and thereby they are rendered less effective for their work.
Secondly where moving cloth strainers are used, the cloth becomes clogged or
choked, which compels the adoption of cleaning devices, and also reduces the efficiency
of the uprising air current, and compels the use of a greater power of air current,
thus taking more power for a given effect. The increased pressure of the air current

page_text: also prevents that delicacy of adjustment of the uprising air current which is most
essential to the good working of the machine.
Thirdly the use of the vibrating collecting trays adds a complexity to the machine
with the additional disadvantage that they gather an unfinished product consisting of
impurities mixed with good middlings, which must be retreated on a second machine,
thus entailing further and additional operations.
This invention consists firstly in providing air passages with regulating slides or
valves, and in providing a depositing chamber or chambers over the silk cloth in the
upper part of the machine arranged for the purpose of depositing the impurities
contained in the uprising current of air, and in providing an apparatus for continually
and mechanically emptying such depositing chambers to the outside of the machine.
Secondly, in arranging the passages and depositing chambers so that the air impurities
may enter the depositing chamber in a downward direction. Thirdly, arranging the
depositing chamber so that the air may expand therein and then rise in an upward
direction before passing to the air exit from the machine for the purpose of assisting
the depositing of the impurities. Fourthly in combining the above with an apparatus
for the automatic and constant delivery of the impurities from the machine so that the
miller operating the machine may see at any instant the actual impurities being
abstracted by the uprising current of air through the cloth surface. Fifthly, In
apparatus for carrying the operations set forth in the last four heads into effect.
In carrying out the invention, we provide a depositing chamber or chambers, over
the silk bolting cloth in the upper part of the machine, arranged for the purpose of
depositing the impurities contained in the uprising current of air. It is arranged so
that the impurities may enter the depositing chamber in a downward direction; and in
order to assist in depositing them, the chamber is constructed so that the current of air
may expand in sectional area therein, and then rise in an upward direction to the air
passages. In order to assist in the expansion of the air current, whereby the
impurities are caused in great measure to subside, the depositing chamber is preferably
constructed, so that its sectional area is considerably greater than the sectional area
of the air passages leading into it. In combination with the depositing chamber, we
provide a discharging apparatus, preferably a worm, discharging the impurities
continuously to the outside of the machine arranged if desired so that the miller
operating the machine may see at any instant the actual impurities that are being
abstracted.
The lightest of the impurities that are carried off by the air current without being
deposited in the depositing chamber are carried through air passages provided with
valves to the main suction truck, whence they are discharged from the machine.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
& 323, High Holborn, London,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Separating or Collecting Dust and other Impurities
from Grain, Middlings, or other Farinaceous Materials, and in
Apparatus therefor.
We, JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM and ORSINI STUART both of 31 Seel Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Milling Engineers, 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 :-
In semolina and middlings purifiers with silk cloth surface as ordinarily used, the
air rising through the silk cloth takes up and carries with it the particles of impurities
which are contained in the semolina and middlings when they enter the machine.
This uprising current of air with its contained impurities is usually carried through
passages or chambers, having regulating valves or slides fixed in the upper part of
the machine, and from thence the air and impurities are carried by air trunks to
stive rooms or dust collectors which are usually placed on the exterior of the machine.
Sometimes the purifiers are arranged with a moving cloth surface in the upper part
of the inside of the machine for the purpose of straining or separating the impurities
from the uprising current of air, these impurities being arranged to be discharged
by the moving cloth to the outside of the machine. Sometimes a portion of the
impurities in the uprising current of air are caused to be deposited in vibrating
collecting trays placed a little distance above the surface of the silk cloth, and these
trays are arranged to discharge the impurities they collect to the outside of the
machine. Sometimes these vibrating collecting trays are used in conjunction with
the travelling or moving cloth strainer, and with the air passages and valves.
The grave defects of the above arrangements are:-
Firstly where air passages and chambers and valves are used inside the machine,
they become rapidly filled with deposited impurities, and the passages thus become
contracted and thereby they are rendered less effective for their work.
Secondly where moving cloth strainers are used, the cloth becomes clogged or
choked, which compels the adoption of cleaning devices, and also reduces the efficiency
of the uprising air current, and compels the use of a greater power of air current, thus
taking more power for a given effect. The increased pressure of the air current, also
prevents that delicacy of adjustment of the uprising air current, which is most
essential to the good working of the machine.
Thirdly the use of the vibrating collecting trays adds a complexity to the machine
with the additional disadvantage that they gather an unfinished product consisting of
impurities mixed with good middlings, which must be retreated on a second machine,
thus entailing further and additional operations.
This invention consists firstly in providing air passages with regulating slides or
valves, and in providing a depositing chamber or chambers over the silk cloth in the
upper part of the machine arranged for the purpose of depositing the impurities

page_text: contained in the uprising current of air, and in providing an apparatus for continually
and mechanically emptying such depositing chambers to the outside of the machine.
Secondly, in arranging the passages and depositing chambers so that the air impurities
may enter the depositing chamber in a downward direction. Thirdly, arranging the
depositing chamber so that the air may expand therein and then rise in an upward
direction before passing to the air exit from the machine, for the purpose of assisting
the depositing of the impurities. Fourthly, in combining the above with an apparatus
for the automatic and constant delivery of the impurities from the machine, so that
the miller operating the machine may see at any instant the actual impurities being
abstracted by the uprising current of air through the cloth surface. Fifthly, in
apparatus for carrying the operations set forth in the last four heads into effect.
Referring to the drawing
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line Y. Z.
a
A A are the air passages, provided with regulating slides or valves B, B. The
depositing chamber C is placed above the silk cloth D, in the upper part of
the machine, arranged for the purpose of depositing the impurities contained in the
uprising current of air. It is arranged so that the air impurities may enter
the depositing chamber C in a downward direction as shown by arrows in
Figure 2, and in order to assist in depositing the impurities, it is constructed so that the
current of air may expand in sectional area therein, and then rise in an upward direction
to the air passages A. In combination with the depositing chamber C, we provide
discharging apparatus, preferably a worm E discharging continuously through spout L
and valve, the mouth of which is exposed, so that the miller may see at any instant
the actual impurities being abstracted by the current of air uprising through the
cloth surface D. The depositing chamber Cis preferably constructed so that the top
is considerably wider than the bottom, in order to assist in the expansion of the current
of air, and on its bottom is placed the worm E revolving in bearings F of suitable
construction.
A constant current of air is drawn through the machine in the direction
of the arrows by means of a fan or other exhausting apparatus not shewn on the
drawing.
The semolina and middlings or material to be purified is fed into a hopper G having
a valve g provided with a suspended weight g¹ or other suitable contrivance and a feed
roller The weight of the grain and the feed roller, driven as shown in dotted lines,
cause this valve to open more or less, and the grain then falls by its own gravity onto the
silk bolting cloth or sieve D. The silk cloth is placed in a longitudinally sloping position
as shown, so that the grain or middlings may travel with the shaking of the sieve
towards the exit or tail H. The purified material passes through the sieve D into the
lower part of the machine where it is collected in a trough and is carried away by a
worm I. The sieve is kept free from being clogged by means of a brush J which is
caused to travel along the under surface of the silk. The brush is preferably supported
on guides K, and its movement may be effected by securing it to a travelling chain k
passing over rollers. The lightest of the impurities that are carried off by the air
current without being deposited in the depositing chamber C, are carried through the
air passages A into the main suction trunk M.
This trunk is provided with a travelling band or strap N to which movement is
imparted by means of the rollers or pulleys O. The movement of this band or strap
causes the impurities to be discharged from the machine at one end and prevents the
trunk being choked with any deposit.
When the coarsest of the semolina or middlings reach the end of the sieve D, they
fall through an exit H preferably into a trough or channel P, and are discharged from
the machine by means of a worm Q. During their discharge through the exit H,
they are met by an upward aspirating current of air.
The working of the aspirator is as follows:-Air enters at X and passing up through
the falling material, it picks up and carries away the light impurities contained in the
material through the uptake I into one of the air passages A, and from thence into
the trunk M. On its way, the current of air may be given a downward movement

page_text: into the depositing chamber S, where it deposits the heavier impurities; these are
discharged from the machine by a worm T.
A driving shaft U and pulley V are provided for driving the several parts heretofore
described, these being connected by belting or gearing as found most convenient; an
eccentric on the driving shaft by means of connecting rod W attached to the silk
frame shakes the sieve D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1st. The combination of the air passages provided with regulating slides or valves
with a depositing chamber or chambers above the silk cloth arranged for the purpose
of collecting impurities contained in the currents of air, and provided with apparatus
for continuously discharging such impurities at the outside of the machine, substantially
as described.
2nd. The arrangement, substantially as described, of depositing chambers with air
passages leading into them in a downward direction, and out of them in an upward
direction, the entrance passages being unitedly of considerably smaller sectional area
than the sectional area of the chamber, whereby the impurities are caused in great
measure to subside, and to be carried away by the discharging apparatus.
3rd. The apparatus, substantially as described, for effecting the operations set forth
in the two previous claims.
4th. The machine for separating or collecting dust and other impurities from grain
middlings, or other farinaceous materials, combined and arranged substantially as
described and illustrated.