A New or Improved Mechanical Device for Separating, Cleaning, and Sorting Barley and other Grain, also applicable for other purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Mechanical Device for Separating, Cleaning,
and Sorting Barley and other Grain, also applicable for other
purposes.
I, CHARLES LAMPITT of Nelson Villa, Bounds Green, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer and Millwright, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new, or improved manner of constructing mechanical
apparatus for sorting, or grading barley, oats, wheat, rye and other grain, peas,
beans, rice and similar vegetable productions, and for dividing and sorting other sub-
stances, such for instance as, coals, stones, crushed, or partly crushed quartz, shots,
sewage and in fact any substance, or material, or combination of substances and
material consisting of large and small particles, sought to be divided and separated
from each other. My invention is also adaptable with certain modifications as an
automatic stoker, for feeding the furnace of a boiler with fuel, and aiding, or per-
fecting the combustion thereof. Or for drying grains after leaving the mash tub of
breweries and the like. My invention may also be adapted for use as an elevator,
or conveyor of solid substances while in use as a sorter, or separator, and the object
of my said invention when in use as a sorter, or separator, and more especially when
used for sorting, or grading cereal substances, and separating therefrom all matter
foreign thereto, is to prevent all possibility of choking, or clogging during the
process, as occurs in all methods hitherto adopted, and by the application of my
invention any substance, or combination of substances, consisting of any number of
degrees of size, or dimensions, may be so separated that each degree of size is
divided from the others by the same machine.
My invention when used as a grader, or sorter of grain, or the like, consists of
any number of solid, or partly solid metallic rolls, or rollers arranged parallel to,
and equa-distant from, each other, the ends of which are reduced in diameter and
are carried, or borne in suitable sliding adjustable bearings provided at each end of
the frame of the machine. Said bearings are constructed to slide, or move laterally
with the rollers, by means of a novel arrangement, for the purpose of extending,
or lessening the distance between the rolls, which must be, and always are, at all
times, equal to each other, and I attain this by means of a transverse rod, or spindle
at each end of the machine. one of which passes freely through each set of bearings,
a hole being provided in each bearing for this purpose; said rod, or spindle is
furnished with a longitudinal slot or groove, and upon each spindle I arrange a series
of sliding metallic blocks, each provided with a hole through which the spindle
passes, said blocks being arranged alternately with the before-mentioned bearings,
that is to say, one between each. Within the hole in each block I form a slot, or
groove corresponding to the groove in the spindle, so that a key may be inserted
in each block engaging with both grooves or a projection may be formed upon each
block in lieu of said key, and by this means cach block is free to slide along the
spindle, and capable of being turned round thereby. Upon one side of each block
is a threaded projection which screws into a threaded recess in the corresponding
bearing. By this means the turning of the spindle turns all the blocks and regulates
the distance between the rolls. The turning of both spindles simultaneously, in
order that both ends of the rolls may be operated alike and together, I achieve by
means of a longitudinal rod at the side of the machine, provided at each end with
a worm, engaging with a worm wheel upon the corresponding end of each spindle.
Upon the outer surface of each roll and extending from end to end thereof, I form
a helicoidal, or spiral projection, either integrally therewith or attached thereto,

page_text: the pitch of which is identical in each roll, and arranged so as to be alternating
with each other. Said rolls may be driven or revolved by any suitable means, but
preferably by means of worm gearing at either, or both ends, arranged so that all
the rolls revolve in the same direction.
A suitable hopper is provided at one end of the machine, above the rolls, into
which is placed the grain, or other substance to be operated upon, and as this falls
upon that end of the rolls from which the receding motion of the helical rolls
commences, the grain or the like is carried along the rolls and turned over and
over thereby, so that such grains or the like as are of lesser diameter than the
space between the rolls, fall therethrough, or therebetween, into suitable shoots, or
receptacles, while the larger is conveyed to the ends of the rolls and falls through
spaces left between the ends of the rolls and the bearings, for that purpose, into
another shoot, or receptacle, and this may be again and again passed over the same
rolls after these have been adjusted to allow the size next larger than the first to
fall there between. Or the grain, or the like that passes to the ends of the rolls in
the first instance, may pass into another similar machine, the rolls of which have
been arranged to perform the second grading, and from this into a third or fourth
machine, similarly adjusted, until the grading is perfected.
The same type of machine may be used for sorting, or grading any substance or
material as set out in the preamble hereof. Or where sewage has to be treated at
pumping stations of suburban sewage works, my invention may be arranged upon
a large scale to extract from said sewage and convey to a distance, all obstructions
likely to choke the pumps, in which case the distance between the rolls may be
gauged to permit the fluid portion to pass down between them, while all solid
matter, such as bones, pieces of wood, cloth, bagging, or any substance too large
to pass through the pump valves, would be carried where desired.
In adapting my invention for automating stoking, and as an economiser of fuel,
I construct the rolls of hollow metal, and arrange them to form the bars of the
furnace, and by means of suitable gearing cause them to revolve periodically, or
continuously as may be desired, and cause a current of air to pass through said
hollow rolls, or bars, which becoming heated in its passage may be caused to pass
through the bridge and mingle with the flame, or pass into a chamber forming said
bridge, and thence through the boiler by means of suitable tubes into the upper
part of the fire box, and so become superheated, and facilitate the combustion of
the fuel. The fuel would be arranged to fall upon one end of said revolving bars
at the commencement of the helix, and be carried to the opposite end and fall
as clinkers, so that stoking could be dispensed with, and choking of the bars
become a matter of impossibility.
In adapting my invention for drying the grains after leaving the mash tub of
breweries and the like, I construct the rolls of hollow metal, and cause steam to
pass through them, so that the grains in passing along the rollers may be drained
and dried during their passage. In this case
may use plain instead of helical
rollers, elevated at their initial end, or if a helix be employed this must be sufficiently
fine to prevent the grains from falling between the rollers.
My invention may also be used for equally distributing the feed to the rolls, or
sieves of purifiers and other machines, it being impossible to choke, or clog the
rolls constructed and operating in the manner described, and by the means herein
set forth, and forming the subject of my invention, I am enabled to sort, or grade
the material acted upon, and convey the residue at the same time, a distance equal
to the length of the rollers.
Dated this th ... CA 1001
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Mechanical Device, for Separating, Cleaning,
and Sorting Barley and other Grain, also applicable for other
purposes.
I, CHARLES LAMPITT of Nelson Villa, Bounds Green, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer and Millwright, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a new or improved manner of constructing a mechanical
apparatus for sorting or grading, barley, oats, wheat, rye and other grain, peas,
beans, rice, and similar vegetable productions, and for dividing and sorting the
same, and other substances, such for instance as, coals, stones, crushed or partly
crushed quartz, shots, sewage, and in fact.any substance or material, or combina-
tion of substances and materials consisting of large and small particles sought to
be divided and separated from each other. My invention may also be adapted for
use in drying and conveying grains after leaving the mash tub of breweries, dis-
tilleries and the like, or may be employed for use as an elevator or conveyor of
solid substances, after the same has been sorted or cleaned or both, and the object
of my said invention when in use as a sorter and separator and more especially in
connection with cereal substances, for separating therefrom all matter foreign
thereto, is to prevent all possibility of choking or clogging during the process as
occurs in all methods hitherto adopted, and by the application of my invention any
substance or combination of substances, consisting of any number of degrees of
size, or varying dimensions or contour, may be so separated that each may be
divided and removed from the others by the same machine.
My invention when used as a grader, or sorter of grain and the like consists of
any number of solid, or partly solid rollers, arranged parallel to, and equidistant
from, each other, the ends of which are reduced in diameter, and carried or borne
in suitable sliding adjustable bearings provided at each end of the frame of the
machine, and arranged to slide laterally with the rollers by the means of a novel
mechanical movement, by which the distance or spaces between the said rollers
The said adjusting
must be, and always are, at all times equal to each other.
mechanical movement is attained by the means of a transverse rod or spindle at
each end of the machine passing freely through each set or series of bearings, a
hole being provided in each bearing for the reception thereof. The said spindles or
shafts are cach furnished with a longitudinal slot, groove or keyway, and passes
freely through and carries a number of metallic blocks, in such a manner that the
blocks occur thereon alternately with the before-mentioned bearings, that is to say
one block for each bearing. Upon the inner periphery of each block I form a
projection which serves as a key for engaging with the keyway in the shaft, and by
this means the blocks and bearings are free to slide along the shaft, but the blocks
only, can be rotated by and with the rotation of the shaft. Upon one side of each
block is a threaded projection which screws into an internally threaded recess in
the companion bearing, and by the rotation of the shaft all the blocks are rotated,
which according to the direction thereof are either screwed into, or out from, the
said bearings, and the distances or spaces therebetween extended or diminished
thereby equally. In order that both the said shafts may rotate simultaneously,
may be
and their respective bearings, and consequently both ends of said' rollers
spaced equally, I provide at one side of the machine a horizontal rod carrying a
worm upon each end thereof which engage with a worm wheel keyed or otherwise
rigidly fixed upon the same end of both of the said shafts so that the turning of
said rod by means of a suitable handle rotates both shafts in the same direction
simultaneously and equally. To the outer surface of each of the before mentioned
rollers, or each alternate roller, or every third roller, or otherwise as may be desired,

page_text: .
is attached, or formed integrally therewith, a helicoidal or spiral projection, the
pitch and direction of which is identical in all the rollers, and so arranged that the
helix of one roller occurs alternately with the helix upon that of its neighbour,
supposing that each succeeding roller is so formed. I do not confine myself to any
particular method of rotating the said rollers, but prefer to drive them by means
of worm gearing in the manner to be hereinafter fully explained, although the same
may be driven by any suitable means whereby they may all be rotated in the same
direction, and at the same speed.
I provide upon one end of the said machine, and above the rollers, a suitable hopper
for the reception of the substances to be operated upon, furnished with sliding doors
for regulating the feed, and as the grain or other substance when placed or shot
into said hopper falls upon the rollers at the end from which the receding motion of
the helix of each commences the same is carried thereby along the rollers and
turned over and over in its passage, by which means the longest dimensions of the
grain or other substances become in line with the rollers so that such grains or the
like whose smallest diameter is less than the space between the rollers must fall
therethrough or there between into suitable shoots or receptacles, while the larger is
conveyed to the ends of the rollers and falls through spaces left between the ends
of the rollers and the bearings for that purpose, into a separate shoot or receptacle,
and may then be conveyed to a second machine whose rollers have been adjusted to
perform the next smallest gradation, or the same may be again passed over the first
machine when the rollers of this have been adjusted for the same purpose, or any
number of machines may be employed arranged in like manner, to continue the
grading process after each other, until the same is perfected.
By a slight modification of the foregoing the same may be employed at the
pumping station of sewage works, in which case the rollers may be extended to
any length, and the sewage in its crude state allowed to flow thereonto, so that
pieces of wood, bones, bagging or other substances likely to choke the pumps may
be conveyed by the revolving rollers where desired, while the fluid portion would
fall between into suitable receptacles to be operated upon by the pumps, and by
reason of the opposing surfaces of each pair of rollers passing each other in
opposite directions choking, or the accumulation of matter could not possibly occur,
but on the contrary the rollers would by the constant passing friction, be always
perfectly bright and clean.
In adapting my invention for drying and conveying grains after leaving the mash
tub of breweries and the like, I construct the said rollers of hollow metal, and
cause steam, or heat from any other source to pass through them, so that the grains
in passing along the rollers may be drained and dried during their passage. In
this case I may use plain instead of helical rollers elevated at their initial ends, or
if a helix be employed this must be sufficiently fine to prevent the grains from
falling between the rollers.
My invention may be adapted for a variety of purposes such as equally dis-
tributing the feed to the rolls or sieves of purifiers, and other machines, it being
impossible to choke or clog the rollers constructed and operating as hereinafter
described, and shewn, and I am enabled thereby to sort or grade the material acted
upon, and convey the residue at the same time a distance equal to the length of
the rollers employed.
In order that my invention and the manner of its operation may be clearly under-
stood I have appended hereunto three sheets of drawings in which
Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet 1 are plan and side elevation respectively of an entire
machine according to my invention, as it would appear when constructed as a
grading medium for cercal and other like substances or materials of similar size
and weight.
Figs. 3 and 4 Sheet 2 are front and back elevations respectively of Figs. 1 and 2.
Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views of a short series of bearings taken
through the centre of the adjusting shaft or spindle, or upon so much of the
line A B Fig. 1 as refers to the bearings only.

page_text: Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the bearings similar to Figs. 5 and 6, shewing
a section of the adjusting shaft illustrating the manner in which the same engages
with the adjusting blocks.
Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are diagrammatic views to be hereinafter fully explained.
Similar letters of reference are used throughout the drawings when indicating
the same or like parts.
In carrying my invention into effect I cast or otherwise construct of iron, wood
or other suitable material, and of any dimensions or contour, a frame A, upon the
ends of which I mount within suitable journals transverse shafts or spindles Band B¹
of sufficient strength to carry the number of bearings C required. The said
bearings may be of any suitable metal cast or wrought solid or otherwise and of
any desired shape at their upper ends, but preferably rectangular in cross section
at their lower ends. In one side of each of these I bore or otherwise form a
circular opening or recess D Figs. 5 and 6 Sheet 2, extending any desired distance
thereinto but preferably one half or thereabouts, and provided with an internal
right handed screw thread. Each bearing C is accompanied by a circular or other
shaped metallic block or disc E, with an extension a formed upon one face thereof,
upon which is cut or otherwise provided an external screw thread corresponding to
the thread in D into which a is loosely screwed until the disc or block E abuts
against C as in Fig. 5. A circular hole is bored through C and E, or cast or
otherwise formed therewith, centrally with the extension a and of a size capable of
permitting the shafts B or B to pass easily therethrough. A longitudinal groove
or keyway is formed in the shafts B and B' for the whole of their length between
the journals, and a projection c formed upon the inner periphery of each of the
discs or blocks E, engages with so that while C and E would be free to slide
along B or B, E only would be rotated if a rotatory motion be given to the shaft,
or two keys and keyways may be used to engage E with B or B', as desired.
Each bearing C is bored, or otherwise formed with a circular opening at its
upper end at right angles with the bore for the reception of the adjusting
shaft B or B, which may be provided with suitable brasses for receiving the
bearing ends of the rollers. The rollers F may be solid or otherwise but preferably
the former, and made of chilled iron or steel or faced with the finest steel, upon
the outer surface of which is provided a single double or treble helical thread,
extending from end to end thereof, and either cut thereon from the solid or fixe.
thereto by any suitable means, or cast or otherwise formed therewith. Each roller
is turned down at both ends to fit the brasses in the bearings C, and sufficiently
to extend therebeyond when pushed home thereinto, for purposes to be hereinafter
explained.
The sides of the frame A may be held rigidly connected to each other by any
suitable means but preferably by that of tie rods d, the length of these
regulating the width of the frame, which would be variable according to the
number of rollers employed. In the accompanying drawings I have chosen to
show a machine having seven rollers, but any number may be employed according
to the desired grading capacity of the machine, such number being preferably odd
in order that each machine may have a central roller. 1 may in certain cases
alternate the helical rollers F, with plain rollers F, or any number of rollers F,
with a plain roller outermost at each side as in Fig. 1 Sheet 1.
The capacity of the machine and the number of rollers it is to carry being
decided upon a like number of bearings C, each accompanied by a disc E, would
be mounted upon the shaft B, so that C and E occur alternately thereon and B be
placed in position upon the frame A. One end of the rollers and F would then
be placed within the bearings C, and a duplicate number of bearings C and discs E
placed in a like manner upon the shaft 13, and this also placed in position
Upon A.
The distance between the first and second, or front and back rows of
bearings would be several inches in excess of the length of the helical or larger
diameter of the rollers. I have before mentioned that the turned down or spindle
ends of the rollers are longer than the diameter of the bearings through which they

page_text: pass, the purposes of which are that, by pushing the rollers close up to the front
bearings C, upon the shaft B, the spindle ends thereof would extend through and
beyond the bearings sufficiently to receive upon each, and keyed or otherwise fixed
thereto a worm wheel e, this arrangement provides a space of several inches
between the ends of the rollers and the back bearings upon the shaft B', as will be
seen by reference to Fig. 1 Sheet 1, the purposes of which will be hereinafter
made understood.
I have previously mentioned that the rollers F and F may be rotated by any
suitable means, and may be driven from either end, but in practice I find it
preferable to rotate them by the means of a worm upon the front end of the
machine, as I make it a sine qua non that the said rollers must all rotate in the same
direction, and at equal rates, and I-regard the worin and wheel method the most
reliable means of attaining and maintaining this, and as I intend the front end to
be that end which carries the shaft B, I fix as aforesaid upon that end of the
projecting spindles of the rollers the worm wheels e, and mount within suitable
bearings a worm G, capable of engaging with and rotating equally all the
wheels e, one end of the spindle of G extends beyond the frame A, and carries
thereon a fast and loose pulley ff, or an equivalent therefor, by which the same
may by suitable power be rotated.
One end of the shafts B B₁ extend beyond the frame A and carry worm
wheels H and H' which gear with worms J, J, upon each end of a horizontal
shaft K, carried within suitable bearings g and g', fixed to the frame A, and upon
one end of said shaft K is mounted a wheel or handle L by which it may be rotated
or partly rotated at will.
Upon the top of the frame A, and above the rollers I provide a suitable
hopper M with adjustable slides h¹ or their equivalents for regulating the feed of
the grain or other substance or material to be graded.
Now presuming that the discs E are each screwed as far as possible into their
bearings C, the rollers F F would be as near to each other as it is possible to get
them and the space between them reduced to its narrowest limits. In the accom-
panying drawings the discs E are abnormally thick to what they would be in
actual practice this being done to prevent the appearance that the helices of the
rollers were in touch with each other, but actually the rollers would be so arranged
before gearing the worm G with the wheels e, that the helix of one roller would
occur alternately with the helix of its neighbour, so that the disc E may be thin
enough to permit the helix of one roller to all but touch the body of its neigh-
bouring roller or rollers, therefore the depth of the helix would represent the
smallest grading capacity of the rollers, or approximately so, but as the said
helical projections serve no purpose other than that of conveyors, the height of
these may be less than the diameter of the smallest oat grown, and as the discs E
are used for adjusting the spaces between the bearings C, and consequently the
rollers and F', the thickness of the largest diameter of said discs may be only
sufficient to prevent actual touch between the helices of one roller and the body of
its neighbour or neighbours, and the manner of operation is as follows.
4
The pulleys and the worm G being driven by suitable means, would be
caused to rotate in such a direction that by reason of the gearing of G and the
worm wheels e, the rollers F and F would rotate so that the helical feed thereof
would be in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1, and the grain or other substances to
be graded would be shot into the hopper M, which falling upon the revolving
rollers, would be conveyed by the agency of the helices there along, and by reason
of the rollers all revolving in the same direction would be turned over and over
thereby and choking or clogging would not be possible since the opposing surfaces
of each pair of rollers pass each other in opposite directions. By this means the
longest dimensions of the grain or other substance would be brought lengthwise
with the rollers and the shortest dimensions with the space between them, so that
the smallest grain or other substances would fall between the rollers into a suitable
shoot or receptacle N while the larger would be conveyed to the ends of the

page_text: rollers and fall between the turned down ends thereof, provided for that purpose
into the shoot or other receptacle P.
Now having extracted by this means the smallest grains or other substances of
the contents of M, to remove the next smallest particles from the contents of P,
the grading spaces between the rollers must be slightly extended, I attain this as
follows.
By turning the wheel or handle L, and consequently the shaft K and worms.J
and J in the direction of the arrow Fig. 4 Sheet 2, the worm wheels H and H',
and the shafts B and B upon which they are mounted would be rotated in the
direction of the arrow Fig. 2 Sheet 1, and as the discs E are only loosely keyed
to B and B these would be rotated thereby in the same direction which would
have the effect of unscrewing each disc E a like distance from its bearing C, at,
both ends of the machine. Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 Sheet 2 in which the three
sectional elevations shown are numbered 1. 2. 3. In Fig. 5 the bearings C and
rollers are as close together as possible without actually touching each other
and the discs E screwed right home into their respective bearings C. Now if the
disc E, No. 1 be rotated by the shaft until it has been unscrewed from its bearing
say of an inch, it would push bearing No. 2 along the shaft a like distance, and
as the disc E of No. 2 would also be simultaneously rotated a like distance by the
shaft it follows that that would also be unscrewed from No. 2 1 of an inch, and
would push No. 3 bearing a like distance along the shaft and so on for the whole
of the series of bearings irrespective of their number as shewn by Fig. 6 which
represents Fig. 5 after the unscrewing described I am thus enabled by this
device to provide an equal adjustment of the space between each roller and its
neighbours by the simple turning of the wheel or handle L and as the movement
of this may be by infinitesimal degrees it follows that the distance between the
rollers may be extended or diminished to the breadth of a hair, and remain in the
position in which they have been placed for an indefinite period, or until L be
again rotated in the direction desired. The contents of P may now be shot into M
and the second degree of grading carried out as before.
To prevent the substances being graded from passing over the outer rollers FI
provide two horizontal vertical plates m and nor their equivalents, arranged to
slide upon the shafts B and B', or by any other suitable means. The plates m and n,
may be kept in close contact with the rollers F by any approved means but
preferably by that of springs o which also serve to press the bearings together
when the space between them is being reduced. It may sometimes occur that it is
necessary that the bearings C when the space between them is being enlarged,
should not all slide along the shaft in the same direction, by making any one
bearing a fixture, the remaining bearings on each side thereof would recede there-
from in opposite directions by the rotating of L as before described, compressing
thereby the springs o at each side of the machine. The manner of adjusting the
spaces between the rollers will now be fully understood.
In order to make it understood the superiority of my system of grading over all
others hitherto employed I may here mention that the method of separating one
sized particle from another has hitherto been attained by the means of horizontally
agitated, or oscillating sieves, or by revolving drums constructed in sieve form, the
meshes of each of which would all be of an equal and given size, and apart from,
or in addition to the inconvenience experienced from clogging by dust and dirt,
and the waste of time and labour needed to fill and empty such apparatus, the fact
exists in such means of grading that if the meshes be round square or polygonal,
the mesh that will pass a hemispherical shaped substance such as the half of a split
pea, or bean, or coffee berry would also pass the whole pea or bean, and although
sieves have been constructed with oblong meshes with a view to overcome this difficulty
they have never performed the work satisfactorily, for the reason that all hemispherical
shaped substances have a flat surface, so that the flat surface of the half pea or bean
would slide over the oblong mesh again and again without passing through. The same
difficulty lias been experienced in separating oats from barley or the like, from the
934

page_text: fact that although the oat is the thinnest it is generally the longest. These and
many other similar difficulties are entirely overcome by the apparatus forming the
subject of my invention, for the reason that, the cereals or the like to be graded are
continually turned over and over in their passage along the rollers until their
smallest dimensions are presented to the space between the rollers as before mentioned.
The diagram Fig. 8 Sheet 3 in so far as regards the whole and split pea or bean
clearly illustrates how my apparatus would separate the one from the other,
while Fig. 9 serves a like purpose with regard to the separating of oats from
barley.
In
I have previously mentioned that my said invention may be adapted for the
grading, sorting and separating of any substances or materials .consisting of large
and small particles, which it is necessary should be divided from each other, and in
large establishments where a great quantity of materials have to be so treated, the
apparatus described could be employed in duplicate or triplicate or more if needed,
each adjusted so as to perform a grading operation following each other.
illustration of this let it be supposed that a large quantity of mixed grain, say oats,
is lying on the top floor of a warehouse, and that the said oats is known or believed
to consist of say five different grades, or qualities that need separating. One of
my apparatus could be placed on said floor and the rollers so adjusted that the
smallest oats only could pass between them. A man could be continually employed
to shoot the said mixed oats into the hopper M, the slides h¹ having been
properly adjusted that the feed may not be in excess of the grading capacity of the
machine. The finest or smallest oats would pass out through the shoot N while
the other four larger sizes would be carried along the rollers into the shoot I', and
this could be arranged to lead to the hopper M of a similar apparatus in the next
lower floor, and so adjusted that the next larger oats would pass through the rollers
thereof, while the remaining three grades of oats could be passed in a like manner
to another apparatus guaged to perform the next degree of grading, and so on.
Thus four machines would divide the five grades of oats with the labour of one
man only, as each of the shoots N could be arranged to lead to suitable bins or
other receptacles. Reference to the diagram Fig. 10 will render this perfectly
clear.
I wish it understood that I may construct the apparatus herein described of any
suitable material or combination of materials, and without limit of dimensions,
and may re-arrange the various parts relatively to each other in any suitable
manner for the purposes stated, so long as no substantial alteration be made
in the construction thereof, without departing from the principle of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In a new or improved mechanical device or apparatus, for separating,
sorting grading and cleaning grain or other substances or materials, or any
combination of substances or materials, or particles of varying dimensions not in
actual adhesive contact with each other, the construction and use of the mechanism
herein described and shewn and the several parts constituting the same, made of
any suitable material or combination of materials, connected, combined and
operating substantially as herein set forth, and for the purposes stated.
2nd. In a new or improved apparatus for the purposes set forth in the preceding
claim, the construction and use of a frame A, carrying shafts B and B₁ each
provided with a keyway b and carrying any number of bearings C, each provided
with an internally threaded bore or its equivalent D, and each accompanied by a
disc E, with externally threaded. projection a, fitting and screwing into D, and
provided internally with a key c for engaging with b. The rollers F and Fi, the
former having a single, double or treble helicoidal or spiral projection formed
thereon or connected thereto, and borne within the bearings C, arranged in series

page_text: at each end of A, and each carrying upon one end a worm wheel e, keyed or
otherwise fixed thereto, in gear with and rotated by a worm G, or its equivalent,
borne within suitable journals upon the frame A, and carrying a fast and loose
pulley ff. The horizontal shaft or spindle K, with worms J and J and wheel
or handle L, operating for the rotation of worm wheels H and H fixed to the
projecting ends of the shafts B and B', for adjusting the spaces between the
bearings C, and the rollers F and F by operating upon both ends thereof simul-
taneously, with plates m and n and springs o or their equivalents. The whole
provided with hopper M and regulating feed slides ', and outlet shoots N and P,
combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of January 1892.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.