Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Powdered Materials.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Powdered Materials.
I, JOHN SLINGLUFF DETWILER, a citizen of the United States, residing at
No. 1933 Judson Place, in the City of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia
and State of Pennsylvania, Merchant, 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 :-
.
My invention has relation to apparatus for breaking up, reducing, freeing from
moisture and blending together, different pulverized or powdered substances or
materials.
It is a well-known fact in the manufacture of flour or like substances, that a
certain amount of heat is generated in their reduction to a powdered state and
such heat generated causes the sugar and gummy constituents of the grain, to
become pasty or adhesive, so that when the powdered grain is conducted. from the
reducing roll or millstones, the sticky constituents to a greater or less degree
re-adhere causing fermentation and souring thereof. Another defect in the
practised methods of milling arises from the allowance of a large percentage of
moisture to remain in the ground and bolted grain and as a consequence
fermentation as well as souring resulting, thereby rendering the flour or the like
unfit for use.
The principal objects of my invention are first, to overcome the above mentioned
disadvantageous features and various defects in the treatment of grain
or the like
to adapt the same for use and to provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive and
efficient apparatus for thoroughly breaking up, reducing, freeing moisture from and
intimately blending together the infinitesimal particles of different pulverized or
powdered substances or materials; and second, to provide an apparatus for
subjecting the fresh ground and bolted grain to the influence of mechanical
agitation to cause the thorough breaking up of the different more or less adhering
or lumpy particles of the conglomerate mass and through the aid of air or gas by
suspension of the particles, causing the intimate blending together of the different
infinitesimal particles of the mass and during such agitation and air or gas
suspension of the same, removing heat and moisture therefrom and collecting the
intimately blended together or thoroughly commingled mass in bulk freed from
noxious vapors, heat and moisture in a healthy or purified condition, and free also
from any tendency to fermentation or subsequent souring thereof.
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.
The nature and general features of my invention will be more fully understood
from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings
illustrating apparatus which has been found efficient for the practice of my invention;"
and in which
Figure 1, is a vertical central section through an apparatus designed for the
conduct of my invention.
Fig. 2, is a top or plan view of the apparatus ; and
Fig. 3, is a horizontal section on the line x-x, of Fig. 1.
Referring to the drawings A, is a vertically disposed cylindrical drum or shell
provided as illustrated in Fig. 1, with four internal chambers A', A', A and A*.
The bottoms of the chambers are respectively provided with spider-frames B, B¹, B'
and B. The spider-frame B, in the chamber A', is covered with moderately
coarse wire gauze b, and the spider-frame of each of the other chambers is covered
with wire gauze 61, 6 and 6, but the mesh of each covering is of gradually

page_text: increasing fineness. Travelling over each of these wire gauze bottoms, and in
close contact therewith is a series of brushes designated in each chamber respectively
by the letters C, C, C and C³. These brushes are secured to arms or
frames D, D1, D2 and D³, attached to a vertical shaft E, which is caused to rotate
in the direction of the arrows illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and having its bottom
bearing E', in the centre of the frame B³. This bearing E', is composed of anti-
friction metal, and is self lubricating, and covered in such a manner as that it is
fully protected from dirt or other extraneous matter. The upper end of the
shaft E, is mounted in a clamp bearing E, in order to permit of the free rotation
thereof, as well as a slight vertical movement so as to cause the brushes C, C', C'
and C³, to be brought simultaneously towards the respective gauze covered spider-
frames B, B1, B2 and B, and to compensate for any wear of the brushes arising
from continual use thereof. It will be observed that the shaft E, extends upward
through the hearing E2, and the hub of a pulley E³, which is mounted thereon and
by a key or feather is secured thereto. F, is a washer and F1 and F', are jam-nuts.
The washer F, is faced upon both surfaces, whereof one surface is in contact with
the hub of the pulley, and whereof the other is in contact with the lower jam-
nut F. The jam-nuts F1 and F; are threaded, and engage with a thread upon the
shaft E, and by turning the same, the shaft E, may be readily adjusted to ensure
the requisite bearing to the brushes C, C, C and C³, to and against the gauze
covered spider-frames B, B1, B2 and B'.
The respective brush-frames D, D', D' and D³, have horizontal obiong openings
therein for the free circulation of air or gas for purposes to be presently fully
explained.
"
The top brush-frame D, supports to required position two vertically disposed
brushes G and G¹, baring their bristles projecting outward and in such manner as
to travel across a series of openings H and H', located at suitable distances apart
and provided in the wall or shell A, and covered with fine wire gauze h and '.
The said brushes G and G', are adapted to sweep over the same in the rotation of
the brush-frames by the operation of the shaft E. The openings H and H', are
in direct communication with a series of air or gas separating chambers J, J' and J,
located on the outside surface of the drum or shell A, as illustrated in Fig. 2,
showing the front wall of one of these chambers partially covered with fine
wire gauze J. The other portion of the outer walls of the chambers J, J and J',
are solid and air-tight. These chambers are narrow and long and extend from a
point from nearly the top to the bottom of the shell or drum A, and in connection
with the drum or shell A at K, and K', at or near the bottom thereof. The
openings K and K', are provided with automatic counter-balanced valves K',
hinged in bearings in the surface of the chambers, one bearing extending outward
far enough to carry a lever with a balancing weight K, which is adjustably
supported to said lever and in such manner as to maintain the valve tightly closed,
when required.
In the lower chamber A', is an opening L, inclined slightly in an upward
direction and so as to cause an initial upward movement of air or gas in the
chamber A, introduced from the blower L', having a direct communication with
said chamber by means of a pipe connection. The blower forces the air or gas
into the chamber A', in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, when power
is applied to the blower L', by means of a pulley L, having a band L, surrounding
a pulley L, which is mounted on a shaft M. This shaft being held in bearings Mi
and M, in the main frame of the apparatus. At the extremity of the shaft M,
opposite the pulley L', is a pulley N, having a band N2, passing around the same
and a pulley N'. The pulley N', is secured to the main driving-shaft N, which is
supported in bearings N. On the main driving-shaft N³, is mounted a pulley O,
for communicating motion by means of an endless belt O', to pulleys O, as illus
trated in Figs. 2 and 3, and to the pulley E³, which is mounted on the shaft E.
The pulleys O, are mounted upon a shaft located in swivel bearings O³, so that
they may be free to turn and properly guide the belt O'. These bearings are held

page_text: in position by bolts passing through slots, and are adapted to permit also of the
proper adjustment thereof.
Upon the driving shaft N³, are mounted loose and fast pulleys P and P¹, for
actuating and stopping the machine, when required.
The belt connections arranged in the manner hereinbefore explained are adapted
to simultaneously rotate the shaft E, and the mechanism and brushes connected
therewith and operate in unison with the same and likewise the blower L', for
forcing air or gas into the chamber A', for certain of the purposes of my
invention.
The admission of materials to be treated is made at the top of the machine
through the openings Q and Q', as illustrated in Fig. 1. These openings are
provided with regulating valves Q2 and Q³, to allow a given quantity of materials
to enter continuously therethrough. As the proportion of the material to be treated
must be regulated in proportion to the volume of air or gas presented thereto by
the blower L', there is placed in the pipe L, which connects the blower with the
chamber A, a regulating valve R, adapted to control the required volume of air
or gas in proportion to the materials undergoing treatment in the apparatus.
The material passing through the machine falls by gravity or is collected under
the frame B³, in a funnel-shaped discharge hopper S, which is connected with a
suitable receptacle, and to enable a receptacle to be located beneath the machine,
the same is mounted upon legs T, T', T2 and T', as illustrated in Fig. 1.
The operation of the apparatus hereinbefore described, is as follows:-
Power is applied to the driving shaft N, to cause motion to be imparted to the
moving parts of the machine, for example, the agitating brushes and blower. The
valves in the three separating chambers J, J and J, are closed by the weighted
levers K³, connected with said valves K'. The materials to be treated are admitted
through the openings Q and Q', in small continuous streams or the like and fall
upon the wire gauze covered spider-frame or bottom B, of the chamber A', in a
more or less lumpy or adhering together mass, where by means of the mechanical
agitation permitted therein, the different materials are broken up and reduced to
infinitesimal particles and by the aid of air or gas entering and rising floats as
well as holding in suspension momentarily the said particles of the mass, so as to
cause the same to be thoroughly blended together and by its specific gravity as so
blended together by means of the series of rotary brushes, the mass is forced
through the meshes of the wire gauze of the bottom B, of the chamber A', and
falling into the second chamber A2, in a finely blended state meets with a column
or volume of rising air or gas, which holds the same momentarily in suspension and
with the aid of the rotatable brush arms or frames D', is again thoroughly agitated
in its commingled or blended state freed from moisture and by means of the
rotary brushes of the chamber A³, it is forced through the wire gauze covered
bottum B', thereof into the next chamber A³, where the materials in a still more
finely divided and blended state undergo practically the same treatment and are
again forced by the series of rotary brushes D', from the chamber A³, into the
next chamber A', becoming finer and finer each time, until finally the blended
together mass by gravity falls through the hopper S, into a suitable receptacle in
a purified, dried and perfectly blended together state or condition and entirely
free from any tendency to fermentation or souring thereof.
It may be here remarked that in each chamber the different commingled particles
are more and more intimately blended together, until the mass in bulk is freed from
the machine for use.
The air or gas, when it first enters the chamber A', will endeavour to force its
way in the path of least resistance, which is naturally through the sieve which forms
the top of the chamber A', the bottom of said chamber A, having a finer mesh of
wire
gauze, accumulates more of the blended together materials than the chamber A³.
Consequently such arrangement constitutes a protection to the materials in under-
going treatment and prevents downward movement of the air or gas through the
screen of the chamber A', communicating with the funnel-shaped discharge hopper S,

page_text: into and through which the thoroughly blended or commingled materials in bulk
free from any agitating influence are discharged into a suitable receptacle. As
the air or gas from the blower is forced upward, it retards the falling of the materials
to a degree, proportionate to its force and the quantity of materials having a
tendency to descend by gravity or otherwise. The air or gas is passed from
chamber to chamber in an upward direction, through the different screens or sieves
in the bottoms of the respective chambers of different degrees of fineness, until it
reaches the topmost chamber A', from whence it passes through the openings H
and H, and carrying with it in suspension a certain quantity or proportion of the
materials in a finely divided or comminuted state, and if the air or gas should he
allowed to pass out without making proper provisions for the removal of such
comminuted or finely divided materials, the result would be a serious loss of
matter undergoing treatment. This loss, however, is effectually prevented by
allowing the air or gas and fine particles of the blended together materials to pass
through the series of screened openings H and H', into the respective separating
chambers J, J and J. The materials tending to accumulate about the meshes
of the wire gauze covered openings H and H', are removed from off the same by
the rotary movement of the vertical brushes G and G', and such matter falls in a
downward direction in said chambers. As the screens in the openings H and H',
only partially remove the finely divided substances from the air or gas, the
remainder must be caught and collected, and this is accomplished by permitting
the air or gas and powdered materials to remain in a quiescent state in the
separating chambers J, J' and J. The outer wall of each of these chambers is
by preference partially covered with wire gauze and fine enough to prevent any
of the dust or fine particles from passing through the same. The comminuted
materials and air or gas remaining in these chambers in a quiescent state, under a
slight pressure will separate by gravity and fall to the bottom of the respective
separating chambers, resting upon the hinged valves K and K³, and when
accumulating to a given weight, the valves will be automatically opened and the
comminuted materials conveyed into the chamber A', to be there caused to commingle
or blend with the materials therein, and passing from thence through the screen or
sieve of the chamber A, into the funnel-shaped discharge hopper S, and discharging
therefrom into a suitable receptacle for use.
It will be observed that the quantity of materials treated can be increased or
decreased by the regulation of the air or gas supply as a large volume of air or
gas will retard the progress of the materials through the machine, while a small
quantity of air or gas will allow the same to pass through much more rapidly,
but the quantity can readily be increased, which of course will not require so long a
time to effect the required treatment thereof.
Having thus 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 :-
1. An apparatus for treating powdered materials, comprising a shell divided into
a series of chambers having perforated bottoms, a rotatable shaft provided with
frames having brushes adapted to sweep over the perforated bottoms, outlets in the
wall of one of said chambers leading to separating chambers having valves, an air
or gas inlet in one part of said shell, a blowing engine connected therewith, inlets
connected, with another part of said shell and provided with regulating valves, and
means for actuating said shaft and blowing engine, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. An apparatus for treating powdered materials, comprising a shell divided into
a series of chambers having perforated bottoms and each provided with rotatable
agitating and sweeping devices mounted on a vertical shaft, inlets and outlets in
said shell, a discharge hopper in the bottom thereot, separating chambers connected
with said shell and provided with automatic valves, and actuating means for the
movable parts of the machine, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 3. An apparatus for treating powdered materials, comprising a shell divided into
a series of chambers having spider-frame bottoms respectively covered with wire
gauze of different degrees of fineness, agitating and brushing devices mounted on
an adjustable shaft, inlets in the top with regulating valves for the admission of
materials into said shell, an air or gas blast in the lower part, an outlet hopper
in the bottom, separating chambers arranged around said shell and each connected
therewith and provided with valves for automatically controlling the discharge of
material in mass from said separating chambers into the lower part of said shell,
and means for actuating said shaft and controlling said air or gas blast, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this Sixth day of August A D). 1891
JOHN SLINGLUFF DET WILER,
Per J. G. Lorrain, M. Inst. E.E., M. Inst. M.E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.