Improvements in Machines for Cleaning or Scouring Grain.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1887
[Communicated from abroad by GILES SLOCUM CRANSON, of Silver Creek, New York,
United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Machines for Cleaning or Scouring Grain.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents.
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :—
This invention relates to that class of grain scourers in which the grain is freed from
the adhering impurities by the attrition of the kernels against each other and against
metallic surfaces; and which consist essentially of a horizontal scouring case through
which the grain passes slowly, and rotating stirrers which move and scour the grain
and cause it to rub against the case as the grain passes from the feed to the discharge
end of the case.
The object of this invention is to improve the devices whereby the grain is scoured,
and to regulate the discharge of the scoured grain from the case; and my invention
consists to that end of the improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved grain scourer.
Figure 2 is a cross section on the line a, a, figure 1, drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is a cross section on line y, y, figure 1.
Figure is a longitudinal section of the discharge end of the scouring case drawn
to an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is a cross-section on the line,, figure 1. drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 6 is an elevation of a portion of the scouring drum.
Figure 7 is a cross section of a portion of one of the pivotted scouring plates.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of one of the stirrers.
Figure 9 is an elevation at right angles to figure S.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

page_text: A represents the stationary main frame of the machine, B the preliminary separating
screen, and C the separating wind trunk through which the grain passes from the
screen B to the feed hopper D.
E represents the horizontal shaft journalled in bearings e, el secured to the frame A,
and carrying near one end the fan blades E', which rotate within a case E. Frepre-
sents the scouring drum or cylinder secured to the shaft E within the perforated
scouring case G, which latter is supported on the main frame A by two frames G¹, G².
H represents the tight casing enclosing the perforated scouring case G, and
represents an air passage formed between the latter and the enclosing casing H.
This passage communicates with one eye of the fan E by means of openings g formned
in the frame G and a passage g¹, and it receives air through openings formed in
the frame G².
The heavier material which passes through the perforations of the scouring case,
drops through slots formed in the lower portion of the enclosing case H into a
hopper 2, from which it is automatically discharged through an opening provided
with a valve . The light dust is removed from the hopper 2 by air currents entering
through openings formed in the upper portions of the hopper.
I represents the discharge chamber arranged at the rear end of the scouring case G,
and separated from the same by a partition or plate, which is provided in its upper
portion with a discharge opening. The inner side of the plate which faces the rear
end of the scouring drum F is provided with an annular row of serrations, against
which the grain is rubbed before it escapes through the opening .
J represents a movable valve or gate arranged on the outer side of the plate to open
or close the opening. The valve is secured to a horizontal shaft which extends
through the rear or outer wall of the discharge chamber I and is provided on the
outer side of the latter with a hand lever by which the shaft can be turned, thereby
adjusting the valve J with reference to the opening . By increasing or reducing
the uncovered portion of the discharge opening the escape of the grain from the
scouring case is accelerated or retarded, whereby the pressure upon the grain in the
scouring case is correspondingly reduced or increased. By this means the grain can
be retained in the scouring case a sufficient length of time to insure the proper cleaning
of the grain. The grain which passes into the chamber I through the opening is
discharged from said chamber through spouts and into the final discharge spout L.
The latter is provided with an air inlet opening 2 which can be opened and closed by
a slide 13, whereby the air current ascending through the spout L, can be regulated.
M represents the stirrers or teeth which are secured to the surface of the scouring
drum F. These teeth are made tapering or wedge shaped in the direction in which
they rotate, and they are arranged with their narrow sides forward, so that they divide
the grain as they pass through it. Each tooth is provided in its sides and crown with
grooves or corrugations m, which increase in depth from the base to the crown of the
tooth and which are separated by plain or blunt surfaces, as clearly represented in
Figures 8 and 9. These teeth seize the kernels of grain and roll them over and
against each other and against the scouring case, as the teeth sweep through the mass
of grain, thereby scouring the kernels and detaching the adhering impurities therefrom
without cutting or breaking the grain.
N represents inclined flights which are secured to the scouring drum so as to propel
the grain from the feed end toward the discharge end of the machine. These Hights
are preferably corrugated or ribbed on their advancing sides to aid in cleaning the
grain, as represented in Figure 6.
O represents curved scouring plates hinged or pivotted to the drum Fon diametri-
cally opposite sides of the same, and in such manner that these plates will be swung
outwardly by the centrifugal force so as to press the grain against the scouring case.
The outward movement of the free end of each plate O is limited by bolts
which are
secured to the drum F, and provided with heads p' against which the plates bear when
the outward limit of the movement has been reached. These bolts are so adjusted on
the drum F by screw nuts that the plates will rub the grain properly against the
scouring case and free the grain from adhering impurities, without, however, crushing,

page_text: or cutting the grain, which would be liable to take place in the absence of these stops.
The outer faces of the pivotted scouring plates O are provided with recesses or
indentations which seize the grain and roll it or turn it over repeatedly so as to
thoroughly clean all parts of the grain. These recesses are cheaply formed by
constructing each plate of two thicknesses of metal, an outer perforated plate, and
an inner imperforated plate secured together, as represented in Figure 7. The
teeth M are arranged upon those portions of the drum F which are not covered by the
hinged scouring plates O and these toothed portions alternate with the scouring plates.
By my improved scouring mechanism the kernels of grain are rolled over or turned
and rubbed or scoured on all sides by a gentle action which thoroughly removes the
impurities adhering to the kernels without breaking or cutting the latter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
First. The combination with a perforated horizontal scouring cylinder provided with
a stationary rear plate having in its upper portion a discharge opening, of a valve
which controls the escape of the grain through said opening, and a scouring drum
provided with grooved stirrer teeth, made tapering or wedge-shaped in the direction of
their motion, and with inclined flights whereby the grain is propelled toward the
discharge opening, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a grain scourer, the combination with a scouring case, of rotating stirrer
teeth M made tapering or wedge-shaped in the direction of their motion and con-
structed in their sides and crowns with grooves running from the base to the crown
of the tooth and separated by plain surfaces, substantially as set forth.
Third. In a grain scourer, the combination with a scouring case, of rotating stirrer
teeth M made tapering or wedge-shaped in the direction of their motion, and
constructed in their sides and crown with blunt corrugations running from the base
to the crown of the tooth and increasing in depth from the crown, substantially as
set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the scouring case, of a scouring drum, a movable
scouring plate, hinged or pivotted to said drum, and a stop whereby the outward
movement of the scouring plate is limited, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with a scouring case, of a scouring drum provided with
hinged scouring plates, having indentations or recesses on their outer sides, and
projecting corrugated stirrers secured to the drum between the scouring plates,
substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.