Improvements in Middlings Purifiers for Flour Mills.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 8th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Middlings Purifiers for Flour Mills.
JACOB BELL HOLGATE 326 Padiham Road Burnley Flour Mill Operative do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
--
Whereas in machines for purifying middlings and similar substances of flour
mills, it is usual to employ a sieve of gauze which is agitated or inclined or both;
over which is caused to pass the middlings and similar substances containing
impurities.
To remove the aforesaid impurities, it is usual to cause a current of air to pass
through the gauze, so that these impurities may be lifted by it.
However, from the individual shape of most of the impurities it is not possible
to carry them away by the current of air, consequently it is usual to employ a
series of trays which alternately contract and expand the air current resulting in
the impurities being deposited in the aforesaid trays. It is also usual in machines
for purifying middlings to divide the space above the gauze into several
compartments each provided with a valve so that currents of different degrees of
intensity may be used.
The aforesaid valves are in connection with a vacuum or air chamber from
which the air is exhausted by a fan.
Having so far described the purpose of machines for purifying middlings I do
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows.
To place the vacuum or air chamber in direct unbroken communication with a
point in close proximity to the gauze by means of a duct or pipe preferably of the
same width of the gauze and so contracted in its other dimension as to secure the
certain conveyance of the impurities to the vacuum chamber.
The above mentioned duct or pipe I so construct at its lower extremity that its
back edge is extended and curved under and upwards, and afterwards continued in
an angular direction so that the air current may not be too intense on any one
point of the gauze. The aforesaid extremity of air duct or pipe is so constructed
that it may be adjusted either in projection or angularity and its further control is
secured by a valve in any suitable position.
Dated this 17th day of May 1899
JACOB BELL HOLGATE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Middlings Purifiers for Flour Mills.
I, JACOB BELL HOLGATE of 326 Padiham Road, Burnley in the County of
Lancaster, Operative Miller 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 improvements in the method of, and means employed
for purifying
"middlings," "dunst," "semolina" and similar substances in flour
mills. For this purpose it is usual to employ a sieve or gauze which is agitated, or
inclined, or agitated and inclined, and over this sieve is caused to pass the
middlings,'
""semolina "
or other substances to be purified. As the "middlings,"
semolina or other like substances pass over the sieve the impurities are removed
by a current of air passing through such sieve and blowing, or lifting the
impurities out.
66
E
"
From the individual shape of many of the impurities, such as bran cellulose, and
CD 077

page_text: the like, it is impossible to carry them away by the current of air and consequently
it is usual to employ a series of trays which alternately contract and expand the
volume of the air currents and resulting in the impurities being deposited on the
aforesaid trays.
(.
It is also usual in machines for purifying "middlings" and other substances to divide
the space above the sieve into several compartments each provided with a valve so
that currents of various degrees of intensity may be used. The aforesaid valves
are in connection with the ordinary vacuum or air chamber from which the air is
exhausted by fan.
According to this invention I place the vacuum, or air chamber in direct and
unbroken communication, and in close proximity to the sieve or gauze, the air
chamber and sieve having a communication one with the other by means of a series
of ducts or pipes, preferably of the same width as the sieve or gauze, each pipe or
duct being so arranged that its lower extremity is a trap or receptacle for the
impure particles, thus making the removal of the impurities easier and more perfect
than other methods.
The back of each duct or pipe is inclined, or angular and its lower end curved
under and upwards to form a trough, in which is placed an ordinary worm or
conveyor.
The control of the air currents is secured by means of valves placed in suitable
positions within the ducts or pipes.
Such being the nature and object of the said invention the following is a
complete description of same reference being made to the accompanying drawings
in which.
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of air or vacuum chamber, sieve or gauze, and
pipes or duets connecting same, the conveyors also being shewn.
According to this invention at 1 is the air or vacuum chamber above the
ordinary sieve or gauze 2 and communicating therewith by means of a series of
ducts or pipes 3, preferably of the same width as the sieve or gauze 2. The pipes
or ducts are so contracted by the diverting plates 4 that all impurities are
conveyed by the current of air (which passes in the direction indicated by the
arrows) towards the vacuum or air chamber 1 the heavier of such impurities falling
onto the inclined back edges, or plates 5 and being guided thereby into their lower
and curved parts which form trough 6. 6 in which are ordinary conveyors or
worms 7 which deposit their contents into the trough 8 at the side of the apparatus.
The lighter impurities are carried through the passage ways 9. 9, the size of which
can be regulated by the flap valves 10. 10, and these impurities fall on the top of
the inclined diverting plates 4.4 and are guided by such plates to the angles formed
by the plates 4. 4 and the upper part of the plate or edge 5 of the next duct or
pipe 3.
A flap valve 12 is attached to the lower edge of each diverting plate 4
and when quantities of impurities have collected in the angles the valves 12 open,
and the impurities escape and fall onto the plates 5. 5 and so pass to the
conveyors 7. 7. The valves 12 are kept closed by the current of air until a
sufficient weight of impurities collect in the angles.
Each duct or pipe 3 is preferably of the same width as the sieve or gauze 2 and
of such shape and dimensions that the upper part 11 of the plate or edge 5, 5 (the
lower edge of which is extended as shewn at 13) of each duct or pipe 3. is
approximately vertical over the trough 6 of the next succeeding pipe or duct 3 as
shewn in the drawing thus equalizing the action of the air upon the sieve or
gauze 2, and serving as a deflector to the air current. 14 is the hopper. into which
the substances to be purified are fed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. In machines for purifying "middlings" and other substances, apparatus
consisting of a vacuum or air chamber 1 and a series of pipes or ducts 3. each

page_text: constituting a direct and independent communication between the air or vacuum
chamber and the respective portions of the sieve or gauze 2, the pipes or ducts 3
being so constructed that each has within itself means of collecting and discharging
the impurities as herein described and substantially as illustrated by the annexed
drawings.
2. The combination of the ducts or pipes 3 of angular section as shewn, or each
having inclined back plate or edge 5 the lower part of which is curved or forms a
trough 6 for the reception of a conveyor, or means for conveying away the
impurities as herein described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. The construction, arrangement and combination of the ducts or pipes 3
trough 6, conveyors 7, diverting plate 4 regulating valves 10 and flap valves 12 as
and for the purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated by the annexed
drawings.
Dated this 16th day of Fab 1902
JACOB BELL HOLGATE,
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.