An IMPROVED MODE OR METHOD OF SUPPLYING AIR TO MILLSTONES, AND IN THE
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Higginbottom and Edward Hutchinson, of
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "An
IMPROVED MODE OR METHOD OF SUPPLYING AIR TO MILLSTONES, AND IN THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Higginbottom
and Edward Hutchinson at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 5th October 1874.
WC, JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM and EDWARD HUTCHINSON, of Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OR METHOD OF SUPPLYING AIR TO MILL-
STONES, AND IN THE APPARATUS USED THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to supply air to millstones in a more
perfect manner than has hitherto been attained.

page_text: To the periphery of the stationary millstone near the verge adjacent to
the face we fix an annular casing, kept in air-tight contact with the
millstone.
To the periphery of the revolving millstone near the verge adjacent to
the face we fix an annular flanged rim or frame, kept in air-tight contact
with the millstone. This annular flanged rim, which revolves with the
millstone, carries a number of angular or inclined vanes similar to those
of a turbine, such vanes being intended for the purpose of drawing a
current of air from the eye of the millstone and causing such current to
pass between the faces of the millstones into the annular casing, and
discharging it from thence through an orifice in the periphery of the
annular casing.
To form an air-tight connection between the annular casing and the
annular revolving rim we fix to the annular casing in air-tight contact
the outer part of a ring of india-rubber or other flexible material, and
to the inner part of such flexible ring wee fix a flanged ring, such
flanged ring being in air-tight contact with the revolving annular flanged
rim.
By means of this Invention we purpose to do away with the millstone
casings and covers as now in use, and to work the millstones in all cases
with the upper stone freely exposed to the atmosphere, thus tending to
keep the millstones cool and enabling them to do their work in a moro
efficient manner.

page_text: year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said James Higginbottom and
Edward Hutchinson, Her special license that we, the said James
Higginbottom and Edward Hutchinson, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Higginbottom and
Edward Hutchinson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OR METHOD OF SUPPLYING AIR TO
MILLSTONES, AND IN THE APPARATUS USED THEREFOR," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said James Higginbottom and Edward
Hutchinson, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Higginbottom and Edward
Hutchinson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to supply air to the millstones of mills
in a more perfect manner than has hitherto been attained, and for this
purpose we do away with the millstone casings and covers as now in use,
and work the millstone in all cases with the upper stone freely exposed
to the atmosphere, thus tending to keep the millstones cool and enabling
them to do their work in a most efficient manner.
This Invention will be clearly understood by the following particular
description thereof, reference being had to the figures and letters on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a combined elevation
and section of a pair of millstones to which our improvements are
applied, and Fig. 2 a plan of the same having parts in section.

page_text: .
To the periphery of the stationary millstone a near the verge adjacent
to the face we fix an annular casing b, kept in air-tight contact with the
millstone, and having in its periphery a discharge orifice c.
To the periphery of the revolving millstone near the verge adjacent to
the face we fix an annular flanged rim or frame d, kept in air-tight 5
contact with the millstone, and carrying a number of angular inclined
vanes e similar to those of a turbine, such vanes being intended for the
purpose of drawing a current of air from the eye f of the millstone, and
causing such current to pass between the faces of the millstone into the
annular casing b, and discharging it from thence through the orifice c in 1
the periphery of the annular casing.
To form an air-tight connection between the stationary annular.
casing and the annular revolving rim d we fix to the annular casing b
in air-tight contact the outer part of a ring of india-rubber or other
flexible material, shewn at g, and to the inner part of such flexible ring 1
we fix a flanged ring h, such flanged ring being in air-tight contact with
the revolving annular rim d.
The current of air passing through the orifice c in the annular casing b
carries with it the meal from the millstones, and they are together
discharged in a hopper, such as j. On reaching the point & in such 2
hopper the air separates from the meal and ascends the spout 1, and is
carried from thence in any suitable manner, while the meal is drawn off
from the spout m by any of the usual well-known methods.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Invention,
we desire it to be understood that we claim,-—
First. The use of an annular casing fixed to the wedge of the
stationary millstone, and kept in air-tight connection with the same.
Secondly. The use of an annular rim or frame d fitted with angular
vanes e, the rim or frame being fixed to the verge of the revolving mill-
stone, and kept in air-tight contact with the same,
And, Thirdly. The use of a flexible ring, such as g, with its flanged
ring to form an air-tight connection between the stationary annular
casing and the annular revolving rim or frame d, as such improvements
2

page_text: are herein described and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Higginbottom and Edward
Hutchinson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Second
day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-five.
EDWARD HUTCHINSON. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named James Higgin-
bottom and Edward Hutchinson,
in the presence of
G. SEPTIMUS HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.