IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOE SCOURING, POLISHING, SEPARATING, AND CLEANSING WHEAT
Year: 1876

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOE SCOURING, POLISHING, SEPARATING, AND
CLEANSING WHEAT." A communication from abroad by David Marks
Richardson, of Detroit, Michigan, United States of America, Manufacturer.
Sealed the 30th June 1876, and dated the 7th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1876.
"E
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SCOURING,
POLISHING, SEPARATING, AND CLEANSING WHEAT." A communication.
The first part of this Invention relates to a series of peculiarly serrated spiders
alternatingly mounted on a shaft rotating in bearings in a frame, in combination
with a perforated enclosing case, for scouring and cleansing the grain passing
through the same.
The second part of this Invention relates to the combination with the aforesaid
spiders and casing of a suction and blast fan for removing the dust and other
impurities from the grain; also to a peculiar separating spout and to a peculiar
spider at the end of the casing for discharging the grain therefrom.
The main frame is enclosed by a suitable casing which is open at the bottom.
The main shaft is horizontally journalled in bearings at each end of the frame and
carries a series of cruciform spiders, all of which are alike, except that one nearest
the feed end of the machine, which is provided with segments on one side only, and
the last one at the discharge end. The spiders revolve in a casing of sheet metal
perforated with numerous fine slots, which permit the escape of dust and fine
impurities rubbed off the kernels. The shaft is provided with a pulley, so that it
can be driven at a high speed by a belt from any convenient shaft in the mill, but
preferably from one below the floor. Each arm of the spiders terminates in a T
shaped blade, on each face of which there is a ratchet faced segment, and near the
periphery there are two V shaped and ratchet faced spurs, the outer faces of which
revolve in close proximity to the casing. The said spiders are arranged upon the
shaft in alternating order, that is to say, the arms of the first are set opposite the

page_text: spaces between the arms of the second; those of the second opposite the spaces
between the arms of the third, and so on.
On the top of the casing which encloses the main frame there is located a fan
whose shaft is driven by a belt from a pulley on the main shaft; a portion of the
air supply for this fan is taken by an air trunk from the interior of the outer
casing to suck up the dust coming through the slotted casing, which dust is drawn
into the fan and discharged through the blast pipe. An air box is vertically placed
at the discharge end of the machine into which box the discharge spout is fed.
The air box is led up over the top of the machine, and partially down the other
side terminating in a contracted delivery; in the upper part of the air box there
is a horizontal diaphragm, which extends a little way into the delivery, and from
the
space under it the fan draws its principal supply of air, which is regulated to a
certain extent by a valve in the passage to the fan under the diaphragm, which
valve serves also for carrying off the dust.
prespectiv
CW OL the salt invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 3; Figure 3 is
a transverse section on the line y, y, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the spiders; Figure 5 is a perspective view
of one arm of the same.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the discharging spider; Figure 7 is a perspective view
of one arm of the same.
These last four Figures are drawn to an enlarged scale.
A represents the main frame, which is enclosed by a suitable casing open at the
bottom; B is the main shaft horizontally journaled in bearings at each end of the
frame, and on it a series of cruciform spiders C are mounted; all of which are alike
except that one nearest the feed end of the machine, which is provided with
segments on one side only, and the last one C at the discharge end.
The spiders
revolve in a casing D of sheet metal perforated with numerous fine slots, which
permit the escape of dust and fine impurities rubbed off the kernels. The shaft B is
provided with a pulley, so that it can be driven at a high speed by a belt, from any
convenient shaft in the mill, but preferably from one below the floor. Each arm of
the spider C terminates in a T shaped blade on each face, of which there is a
ratchet faced segment a, and near the periphery there are two V shaped and ratchet
faced spurs a', a¹, the outer faces of which revolve in close proximity to the casing D.

page_text: The spiders are arranged upon the shaft in alternating order, that is to say, the
arms of the first are set opposite the spaces between the arms of the second, those
of the second opposite the spaces between the arms of the third, and so on. The
wheat enters the case through the spout E at one end, in the rapid rotation of the
spiders, the berries are deflected from the faces of the spurs against the segments,
and their movement is reversed by being again deflected to the next spur in
succession, so that each end of the berry is presented alternately to the spurs and
segments, whereby the adherent furze or chit is effectually removed by the friction
of the serrated surfaces of the spurs and segments; the movement of the berry is
very rapid from one series of segments to the next in succession, but their arrange-
ment is such as to avoid all abrupt impingements, which would tend to break and
damage the berry. Thus while the "furze" and "chit" are removed, the cuticle of the
berry is thoroughly scoured and polished by the attrition of the berries upon the
moving parts, and on each other, without in the least injuring the bran` properties,
which result has been the great desideratum in the preparation of wheat for
grinding.
The dust and finer impurities as fast as they are separated from the grain pass
through the slots in the casing, while the grain passes on towards the end of
the machine to be discharged through the outlet spout b, in the side of the casing.
This spout has a down-turned end, from which is suspended a cone c that spreads
out the wheat as it falls thereon. The discharge of the wheat at the elevated point
is effected by the last spider C₁, which has three diagonal blades a², set in. echelon
on the face of the T head at the end of each of its arms. These blades take up the
grain, and carry it around the casing until it finds an outlet at the spout b.
On the top of the casing which encloses the main frame there is located a fan F,
whose shaft G is driven by a belt from a pulley on the main shaft B; a portion of
the air supply for this fan is taken by an air trunk H from the interior of the
outer casing to suck up the dust coming through the slotted casing D, which dust
is drawn into the fan and discharged through the blast pipe F. I is an air box
vertically placed at the discharge end of the machine into which the discharge
spout is led as shewn in Figure 3.
The air box I is led up over the top of the machine and partially down the other
side, terminating in a contracted delivery d. In the upper part of the air box there
is a horizontal diaphragm I' that extends a little way into the delivery d, and from
the space under it the fan draws its principal supply of air, which is regulated to a
certain extent by a valve e in the passage to the fan under the diaphragm, which
valve serves also another purpose. The fan being in operation a strong current of
air flows up the air box, passing through the falling grain, taking up with it all
dust, cockle, and light or shrunken berries, while the clean plump berries fall
down through the end of the air box; the remaining berries pass up over the
diaphragm I, at the end of which the course of the air current is suddenly
reversed; here the light and shrunken berries continue their course with it until
arrested by the valve c, which is so adjusted as to allow a current of air of sufficient
strength and volume to carry over its top edge the cockle, dust, and other light
impurities, while the shrunken and light berries will fall of their own weight into
the inclined end of the air box, and be discharged at d, so that they can be saved
and utilized in the manufacture of low grade flour, or for other purposes.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. The spiders arranged upon the shaft as described in combination with the
perforated casing as and for the purpose herein-before set forth.
Second. The combination of an exhaust fan with the shaft, spiders, and per-
forated casing, and an enclosed supporting frame, as and for the purpose herein-
before set forth.
Third. The spider mounted on the shaft for discharging the grain at an elevated
outlet in the casing as above set forth.

page_text: Fourth. The combination with the casing and fan of the air box, provided with
the diaphragm and valve, in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fifth. A machine for the purposes above specified, consisting of the various parts
constructed and combined as shewn in the accompanying Drawing, and operating as
above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand cight hundred and seventy-six.
W*.
ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)