IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MEAL AND FLOUR FROM WHEAT AND OTHER CEREALS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Thomson King at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th May 1878. A communication from
abroad by Henry Beaufort Sears, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
JOHN THOMSON KING, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MEAL AND
FLOUR FROM WHEAT AND OTHER CEREALS." A communication from abroad by
Henry Beaufort Sears, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to that class of apparatus in which wheat and other cereals
are reduced into meal and flour between surfaces, one or both of which rotate in a
horizontal or nearly horizontal plane about a vertical or nearly vertical axis. The
main object is to obtain an increased quantity of middlings from a given quality of
grain, and to produce better flour than can be obtained when horizontal stones or
like appliances of ordinary construction are used.
Under the first part of the Invention, with the object of producing a large
quantity of middlings of superior quality in a specially favorable condition for
yielding excellent flour, I employ burr stones, or stones or apparatus of other
suitable material, constructed or formed in the novel manner hereafter described.
The stone through which the grain is fed is made with a larger eye than is usually
the case, such eye being about two-fifths of the diameter of the stone, and the furrows
and lands are constructed or formed as follows:-The furrows are all equal in
breadth, and are at equal distances apart at the circumferences, and all have their
front and back edges parallel, or are of equal breadth throughout their length. The
said furrows, instead of being cut radially or all towards one centre, which would
cause the lands to be all of one size, are cut alternately towards one of two centres
in such manner that one-half of the lands extend from the circumference to the
eye, whilst the other half or alternate lands only extend part of the distance from
the circumference to the eye. The said furrows are also of greater breadth than
the lands are at the circumference of the stone.
The surfaces of the lands for about one-half the distance from the circumference
to the eye are all in one plane, but from that point the surfaces are depressed
towards the eye, so as to make the stone slightly hollow.

page_text: The dress of the bed stone or apparatus, both when stationary or rotating, is the
same as that above described, except that the whole of the surfaces of the lands are
In one plane, and there is no eye to the stone.
In both stones the surfaces of the lands are smooth, but should never be allowed
to glaze.
The above construction of stones or apparatus causes the grain to be subjected to
a movement in its passage through between the stones, which tends rather to
granulate than grind the grain, and so leaves the meal produced in a condition more
suitable for subsequent manipulation.
Either or both of the stones or apparatus above described may be caused to
rotate.
Under the second part of the Invention I employ reducing apparatus constructed
as above described to produce meal from grain in combination with stones or rollers
of ordinary or desired construction to reduce the said meal into flour.