IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINERY FOR DRESSING FLOUR, OR FOR WASHING OR DRESSING GRAIN, OR OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthony Stevenson, of Chester, in the County of Chester,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINERY FOR
DRESSING FLOUR, OR FOR WASHING OR DRESSING GRAIN, OR OTHER SIMILAR
SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 16th April 1878, and dated the 18th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthony Stevenson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1877.
ANTHONY STEVENSON, of Chester, in the County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO MACHINERY FOR DRESSING FLOUR, OR FOR WASHING OR DRESSING
GRAIN, OR OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES."
This Invention consists in arranging a nearly or quite a horizontal cylindrical
revolving screen with longitudinal pockets at intervals round the circumference,
and a pendent or stationary brush rubbing against the screen. If it is for washing
purposes it revolves partially in water.
The brush is usually a segment of a cylinder, and hangs loosely from the axis of
the screen, and sometimes has a board placed projecting upwards from the axis, set
at an angle of 45 or 60 degrees with the horizon, to guide the grain to the side of
the screen, meeting the brush; but this is not absolutely requisite.
The mode of action is as follows:-In continuous machines the wheat or other
material to be cleaned is introduced at the upper end of the drum if slightly
inclined, and is carried under the brush by the rotation of the screen, and it is then
carried up by the pockets till it falls over to the other side. At the other end of
the screen it falls into a spout above the shaft, which carries it out through the end
partition.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Anthony Stevenson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th April
1878.
ANTHONY STEVENSON, of Chester, in the County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO MACHINERY FOR DRESSING FLOUR, OR FOR WASHING OR DRESSING
GRAIN, OR OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES."
This Invention consists in arranging a nearly or quite a horizontal cylindrical
revolving screen with longitudinal pockets at intervals round the circumference,
and a pendent or stationary brush rubbing against the screen. If it is for washing
purposes it revolves partially in water.
The brush is usually a segment of a cylinder, and hangs loosely from the axis of
the screen, and sometimes has a board placed projecting upwards from the axis, set
at an angle of 45° or 60 degrees with the horizon, to guide the grain to the side of
the screen, meeting the brush; but this is not absolutely requisite.
The mode of action is as follows:-In continuous machines the wheat or other
material to be cleaned is introduced at the upper end of the screen if slightly in-
clined, and is carried under the brush by the rotation of the screen, and it is then
carried up by the pockets till it falls over to the other side. At the other end
of the screen it falls into a spout above the shaft, which carries it out through the
end partition.
For the purpose of elucidating my said Invention I have annexed the accom-
panying Drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts in all the Figures, in
A is the screen or reel fitted at its ends with band V grooved friction pulleys B,
which are driven by corresponding pulleys C mounted on shaft E, driven from any
convenient power.
I lay no claim to this form of driving reels for the purposes described, and other
forms well known to the trade will do as well. D are the pockets arranged cir-
cumferentially round the cylinder.
If for dressing flour, the reel is covered with silk; but if for washing or cleaning
grain, washing the syrup from crystallized sugar, or like purposes, it is covered with
wire guaze, and revolves in a tank E¹, as shown. The reel is placed in an inclined
position, and through its centre passes the shaft F, to which is secured by set screw,
as shown, or otherwise, the segmental brush G, which can either hang freely,
oscillate on or with the shaft, or be stationary. The end of the shaft projecting
through the top end of the reel carries the pendant arm H, to the lower end of
which is secured the pin I traversing in a semicircular groove or slot in plate J.
The end of the pin is screwed, and a nut or its equivalent secures the pin at any
part of the slot, so that more or less inclination can be given to the brush; or by
Blackening the nut the shaft and brush will be free to oscillate. K shows the
deflecting plate, placed at an angle to the axis of the shaft, which carries the grain
over the brush. The angle of this plate can be made adjustable if desired.
The substance to be treated is delivered through spout L into the end of the reel,
and is operated on by the brush, carried round by the pockets, and then falls down
on to the deflecting plate, and is guided by that to the other side of the brush.
Passing beneath the brush again the operation continues till the material to be
cleaned arrives at the further end of the reel, when it falls into spout M, and is
carried off. The pockets at this point can be so arranged as not to spill their
contents till they come over spout M.
Having now described my Invention, I beg to state that I do not claim broadly
the dressing of flour, or cleansing or washing of grain or other substances in a

page_text: revolving cylinder, but what I believe to be new, and desire to protect under the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
I. The pockets or recesses D when applied to a revolving reel for dressing flour, or
washing or cleaning grain, seeds, and other similar materials, for the purposes
described.
II. The mode described of dressing flour, washing or cleaning grain, or other
similar materials, by subjecting the material to the action of a revolving reel
furnished with pockets or recesses at intervals round the circumference, by which
the material is carried round, in combination with a stationary or oscillating brush
for brushing such material.
III. The combination of reel A furnished with pockets D with the oscillating or
stationary brush G, deflector K, and spouts L and M, substantially as described.
IV. The deflecting board or plate K for deflecting or regulating the passage of
the material to the feed side of the brush, substantially as described.
V. The mode of regulating the angle of the brush relatively to the position of the
reel, substantially as and for the purposes described.
VI. The general arrangement of machinery for dressing flour, washing or cleaning
grain, seeds, and other materials, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anthony Stevenson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord 1878.
Witness,
JOHN O. O'BRIEN,
Clerk to Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Patent Office,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
ANTHONY STEVENSON. (L.S.)