Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning or Scouring Grain.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning or Scouring Grain.
I, HEINRICH SECK of Dresden, in the Empire of Germany do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct a vertical grain-cleaning machine
operated by a rotary helix, so as to produce great friction of the particles of grain
against each other at all points.
It is well known that vertical machines operated by a helix are already in use for
sifting flour and the like. In such flour-sifting machines it is however not possible to
clean grain, as the particles of grain are driven by the centrifugal force from the
convolutions of the helix to the casing, and do not return far enough upon the
surface of the helix, but only rise, as it were, between the edge of the helix and the
surface of the casing and thus have no opportunity of coming in energetic contact to
produce the necessary mutual friction against each other. In order to obtain this
friction, one or more vertical rods placed at an angle are inserted in the deepened
convolutions of the helix which convey the grain projected onto a perforated casing
back to the inner part of the convolution of the helix, in order that it shall here
be rubbed against the surfaces of the said convolutions and individually against each
other so as to clean the said grain. The surfaces of the convolutions can be made
smooth or provided with ribs, for increasing the effect of the friction. The angular
position of the vertical rods relatively to the path of motion of the helix is preferably
about 30 degrees, but this angular position can be varied according to requirements.
The said rod can for this purpose be made adjustable.
The upper journal of the shaft of the helix.is supported in a bearing and its lower
journal in a step-bearing and the said shaft receives suitable rotary movement by
means of a pulley. The feed of the grain to the helix is effected through the medium
of an inlet whilst the discharge of the clean grain is effected through an outlet.
Around the perforated casing is placed a second casing thus forming an annular space
through which air is driven by means of an exhauster fixed upon the shaft of the
helix, which air carries away the impurities separated from the grain. The said
exhauster is moreover in connection with the discharge through a channel in order
to separate any impurities that may be carried away by the cleaned grain.
Dated this 5th day of September 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning or Scouring Grain.
I, HEINRICH SECK, of No. 15 Leubnitzerstrasse, Dresden, in the Empire of
Germany 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 relates to that class of vertical grain cleaning apparatus wherein an
axial core having an external helical rib revolves within a surrounding casing and my
said invention has for its object to improve the construction of such grain cleaners
and render them more perfect and efficient in operation.
This object is attained by the construction and combination of devices hereinafter
specified reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure 1 ista vertical sectional elevation of a grain cleaning machine embodying

page_text: Figure 2, is a transverse sectional view taken on the line, x of Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a detail sectional view taken on the line y, y Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a detail transverse sectional view of a part of the axial core or cylinder
and its helical rib showing portions of the perforated casing, the closed external case,
and one of the blades.
Figure 5 is a detail sectional view showing a modification in the form of the
helical rib.
In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my apparatus, I will now
describe the same in detail, referring to the drawing in which a indicates an axial
core preferably of cylindrical form and fixed in any suitable manner upon a vertical
shaft, a', supported in upper and lower bearings a², a³, and having a pulley a* by
which it can be revolved. The axial core or cylinder a is provided with a helical
rib b, extending from the top to the bottom of its periphery, and to the rib at intervals
are secured vertical blades 7, located in positions oblique to the cylinder surface and
extending in the direction of the revolution of the cylinder, such blades being so
supported by the helical rib as to leave spaces between their inner edges and the
surface of the cylinder.
The upper surface of the helical rib may be provided with radial or similar ridges
or ribs for increasing the frictional effect on the grain.
The oblique or angular position of the blades relative to the path of motion of the
helical rib is preferably about thirty degrees, but this may be varied and for this
purpose the blades may be made adjustable.
The cylinder and its helical rib are surrounded by an annular perforated casing d
having at one side of its lower end an inlet e for the grain and at the opposite side of
its upper end a grain outlet and around the perforated casing is located an annular,
imperforate case g, so arranged in relation to the former as to provide an intervening
annular chamber or space through which air is drawn upwardly by an exhaust
or suction fan a' located above the cylinder and mounted on the vertical shaft
thereof.
The casing of the exhaust fan is provided with a downwardly extending channel c
which passes by or communicates with the grain outlet in order to draw up and
remove any impurities that may be carried by the grain in its passage through the
grain outlet and such casing of the fan is in direct communication, by the channel c¹,
with the top portion of the space c between the perforate and imperforate casings to
draw air upwardly therethrough. The lower end of the chamber e is provided with
air inlet penings c².
The grain to be cleaned or scoured is fed into the inlet opening e and is acted on
by the helical rib b which lifts the grain and by centrifugal force projects it against the
perforated casing d. The oblique blades q convey the grain so projected back to and
upon the inner part of the helical rib so that the grain is rubbed against the surface
of said rib while the grains are individually rubbed against each other.
The impurities separated from the grain and passing laterally through the
perforated casing d into the annular space e are drawn upward by the exhauster
or fan.
The helical rib is provided with angular recesses as clearly shown in Figure 4 to
receive the obliquely arranged blades and by the means described the grain is
efficiently scoured and cleaned of all impurities.
The helical rib may be substantially straight in cross section as in Figure 3 or
angular as in Figure 5 to increase its frictional action on the grain.
In grain cleaners comprising a cylinder having a helical rib as heretofore constructed
without the oblique or angular blades the particles of grain are driven by centrifugal
force from the helical rib against the casing and do not return sufficiently far upon
the surface of the rib to produce the necessary scouring action by frictional contact
with the surface of the rib, but by the oblique or angular blades as in my invention
the grain projected against the perforated casing is conveyed back upon the inner
part of the helical rib and the efficiency of the machine is thereby largely increased
and the cleaning operation rendered more satisfactory.

page_text: By the term "imperforate" as applied to the external case 9 it will of course be
understood that it refers to the vertical side wall thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
1 claim is ---
The combination of an upright perforated casing a revolving axial core or cylinder
having a helical rib on its periphery and vertical blades secured to the rib in a position
oblique to the surface of the core or cylinder and in the direction of revolution of the
latter and leaving spaces between them and the surface of the said core or cylinder,
substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of May 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.