Improvements in Apparatus for Popping or Bursting Barley, Maize, or other Grain.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1893-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Popping or Bursting Barley, Maize,
or other Grain.
I, JAMES WHITE of the firm of T. H. White and Company of Clarendon Flour
Mills, Belfast, Ireland, Millers and Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to apparatus for popping or bursting barley, maize
or other grain and a characteristic feature of the invention is the combination with
a vibrating plate to which the grain to be treated is fed and along which it travels,
of a series of nozzles which discharge hot air directly upon the grain during its
travel. The vibrating plate and the nozzles are enclosed in a hot chamber and the
hot air admitted through the nozzles maintains this chamber at a practically uniform
temperature.
Above
In carrying out my invention I construct a chamber having preferably side flues
leading from its lower part to a chimney. Within this chamber I suspend a plate
grooved longitudinally and capable of receiving a vibrating or jigging motion from
any suitable mechanism worked from the exterior of the chamber. The plate is
slightly inclined and its inclination can be adjusted by any suitable means.
the upper end of the plate is a suitable feed arrangement by means of which the
grain to be treated is supplied thereto and spread across the same. As the plate
vibrates the grain gradually travels along the grooves from the upper to the lower
end where it is discharged into a spout or shoot which is preferably fitted with a
self closing flap or valve. Above the plate I arrange a series of nozzles supplied
with hot air from a blast pipe or duct in communication with convenient source
such as an air heating stove. These nozzles are disposed across the vibrating plate
at suitable intervals a few inches above the plate and deliver the air directly
upon the plate and the grain thereon. The temperature of the air should be
400° Fahrenheit or upwards to ensure the bursting or popping of the grain. After
the hot air has acted upon the upper surface of the plate it passes under the plate
so as to heat the underside of same and it finally escapes through the side flues.
The plate is thus maintained in a hot atmosphere of the desired temperature.
Deted this 2nd dox of June 1802
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Popping or Bursting Barley, Maize,
or other Grain.
1, JAMES WHITE of the firm of T. H. White and Company of Clarendon Flour
Mills, Belfast, Ireland, Millers and Merchants, 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 reference to apparatus for popping or bursting barley, maize
or other grain and a characteristic feature of the invention is the combination with
a vibrating plate to which the grain to be treated is fed and along which it travels,
of a series of nozzles which discharge hot air directly upon the grain during its
travel. The vibrating plate and the nozzles are enclosed in a hot chamber and the
hot air admitted through the nozzles maintains this chamber at a practically uniform
temperature.
In carrying out any invention I construct a chamber having preferably side flues

page_text: Above
leading from its lower part to a chimney. Within this chamber I suspend a plate
grooved longitudinally and capable of receiving a vibrating or jigging motion from
any suitable mechanism worked from the exterior of the chamber. The plate is
slightly inclined and its inclination can be adjusted by any suitable means.
the upper end of the plate is a suitable feed arrangement by means of which the
grain to be treated is supplied thereto and spread across the same. As the plate
vibrates the grain gradually travels along the grooves from the upper to the lower
end where it is discharged into a spout or shoot which is preferably fitted with a
self closing flap o valve. Above the plate I arrange a series of nozzles supplied
with hot air from a blast pipe or duct in communication with a convenient source
such as an air heating stove. These nozzles are disposed across the vibrating plate
at suitable intervals a few inches above the plate and deliver the air directly upon
the plate and the grain thereon. The temperature of the air should be 400° Fah-
renheit or upwards to ensure the bursting or popping of the grain. After the
hot air has acted upon the upper surface of the plate it passes under the plate so as
to heat the underside of same and it finally escapes through the side flues. The
plate is thus maintained in a hot atmosphere of the desired temperature.
The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 being
a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a transverse section of the apparatus.
a is a hot chamber closed at top and having openings bb near its lower part
communicating with side flues cc which lead to a chimney d. e is a longitudinally
grooved plate suspended in the chamber a by means of the rods ff. This plate is
inclined and its inclination can be adjusted by means of the nuts gg which screw on
to threaded parts of the rods ff. The plate e has a vibrating or jigging motion
imparted to it by means of the rods which are worked by an excentric i on a
shaft driven by any suitable power. is a hopper by means of which the grain
to be treated is supplied to the upper part of the plate e; I have not shown any
feeding or regulating device in this hopper but any suitable device such as a
revolving wheel with cups or recesses can be fitted therein if required. m is a
discharge shoot into which the grain falls when it leaves the lower end of the
plate e; this shoot is fitted with a flap or valve n, pp are a series of nozzles
arranged above the plate e and supplied with hot air from a blast pipe or duct q
which is in communication with an air heating stove or other convenient source of
supply. The nozzles are disposed as shown across the plate e at intervals so as to
deliver the hot air directly upon the plate and the grain thereon.
In order to obviate all liability of the grain to get burnt in its travel down the
vibrating plate, jets of steam may be applied to the grain during the travel. I do
not however claim as part of the present invention the use of steam jets for this
purpose as such use is embodied in a subsequent application for Patent No. 21632
of 1892.
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 :-
1. In apparatus for popping or bursting barley; maize or other grain, the com-
bination within a hot chamber, of a vibrating plate to which the grain is supplied
and along which it is caused to travel and a series of nozzles which discharge hot
air upon the grain during the said travel substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The apparatus constructed and operating substantially as herein before
described and shown in the accompanying drawings for popping or bursting barley,
maize or other grain.
Dated this 0-1 1
1 1000
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.