and Caning Corn and other Cereais.
Year: 1885

page_text: and Caning Corn and other Cereais.
I, GEORGE MACAULAY CRUIKSHANK of 135 Buchanan Street Glasgow in the
County of Lanark, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by Gustav Adolph
Buchholz of Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, to be as follows: —
This invention relates to improvements in machinery to be employed in
decorticating and cleaning corn and other cereals and it consists in a novel
arrangement or construction of apparatus the operative parts of which are made of
glass, porcelain, earthenware, or their equivalents so as not to give a metallic lustre
to the grain.
The mechanism consists principally of horizontal discs of either of the said
materials these being mounted on metal discs connected with a vertical spindle or
shaft by means of a groove and spring. The discs are constructed with radial
partitions or ribs and the spaces between the radii are covered or enclosed by a lid
so that each space intermediate between two ribs, forms or constitutes a radiating
channel through which the grain is caused to pass by the centrifugal action
consequent upon the rotation of the apparatus. Each pair of discs is surrounded
by a concentric casing the diameter of which should be at least one tenth greater
than that of the discs themselves so as to leave a space between the circumference
of the discs and the casings. The casings which are also made of glass, porcelain
or their equivalents are set in metallic flange rings whereto they are cemented by
plaster of Paris or the like the rings being secured by bolting to flanges or supports
made at the interior of an outer casing or shell enclosing the apparatus.
The discs each communicate with those immediately underneath through a funnel
or shoot preferably of wire gauze the said shoot being frusto-conical in form with
the wider end uppermost, and having at the outside of it midway or other
distance down from its upper part a frusto-conical apron placed narrow end upper-
most and over which the impurities separated from the grain and passing out
through the gauze are conducted away from the apparatus.
D

page_text: The concentric casings above the discs may be conical perpendicular or curved or
these forms may be used alternately as each of them exercises a different effect upon
the grain being treated.
The grain is fed into the machine through a tube consisting of two telescopic
.cylinders the lower one of which is carried in a forked lever so as to be capable of
being lowered down to rest upon the highest disc of the series and by raising and
lowering the said tube the feeding of the machine is regulated.
To adjust the distance which the tube can be raised from the disc a vertical
screw is employed to which one end of the lever is connected by a nut or its
equivalent.
The lower end of the screw has a worm or series of notches on it to engage with
one end of a catch which is kept in gear by a spring and acts to maintain the
screw and with it the feed tube in its adjusted position.
The grain to be cleaned passes into the feeding tube through shoots projecting
above the upper part of the apparatus and to increase the friction and at the same
time keep the acting parts in a state of sharpness I pass through the machine along
with the grain a proportion of clean sharp sand.
When the machine is set in motion by a belt passed round a pulley on the upper
end of the spindle carrying the discs the grain and sand are thrown by centrifugal
action against the walls of the concentric casings the grains striking the casing
on end.
The amount of husks and other particles removed from the grain by this action
of bounding against the casing is in proportion to the sharpness of the walls thereof
and by the rebound of the sand against the walls such a degree of sharpness as
is requisite is maintained. By means of elevators the sand passing out of the
machine with the other impurities can be returned to act over again.
When a large number of discs are used in series it is preferred to carry the
revolving spindle in two or more sleeves or collars to prevent vibration which is
detrimental to the action of the apparatus.
A series of machines constructed as herein before described may·
together so as to constitute one decorticating or cleaning apparatus.
·be grouped
Dated this Furth day of November food.
GEO. M. CRUIKSHANK.

page_text: and Cleaning Corn and other Cereals.
I, GEORGE MACAULAY CRUIKSHANK of 62 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Gustav Adolph
Buchholz, of Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany) and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements. in machinery to be employed in
decorticating and cleaning corn and other cereals and it consists in a novel arrange-
ment or construction of apparatus, the operative parts of which are made of glass,
porcelain, earthenware, or their equivalents so as not to give a metallic colour or
lustre to the grain.
As shewn on the accompanying drawings the mechanism constituting the
Invention consists principally of horizontal discs c, composed of any of the
materials herein before mentioned, these discs being mounted on metal discs or
platforms b formed on or connected to a sleeve or sleeves surrounding a vertical
spindle or shaft a and to which the sleeve or sleeves is or are geared by a groove
and spring. As seen more particularly by figure 2 the discs c, are constructed with
radial partitions or ribs and a lid or cover v, being situated above the ribs each
space intermediate between two ribs, forms or constitutes a radiating channel
through which the grain is caused to pass by the centrifugal action consequent
upon the rotation of the apparatus. Each disc c, and its platform b, is surrounded
by a concentric casing d, which is supported on flanges or seats g, formed on a series
of vertical columns f, surrounding the apparatus and the diameter of each of these
casings d, should be at least one tenth greater than that of the discs themselves so
as to leave a space between the circumference of the discs and the casings. The
casings d, which are also made of glass, porcelain or their equivalents are set
in metallic flange rings e, shown in detail at figures 10 and 11, sheet 1, whereto
they are cemented by plaster of Paris or the like, these rings e, being secured by
bolting to the flanges or seats g. Figures 3 and 4 sheet 1, are detailed views of the
columns f, and seats g.
The discs c, in vertical series each communicate with the one immediately
underneath it through a funnel or shoot h, preferably of wire gauze, the said shoot
being frusto conical in form with the wider end or base uppermost, and having at
the outside of it midway or other distance down from its upper part a frusto-
conical apron i, placed narrow end uppermost over which the impurities separated
from the grain and passing out through the gauze are conducted away from the
apparatus.
The concentric casings d, may as seen in detail at figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, sheet 1,
be conical, perpendicular or curved in vertical section or these forms may be used

page_text: •
alternately as each of them exercises a different effect upon the grain being
treated.
The grain is fed into the machine through a tube consisting of two telescopic
cylinders r, R, the upper and inner one r, of which is hung from the collar S, whilst
the lower and outer one R, is so carried in a forked lever as to be capable of being
lowered down to rest upon the highest disc o of the series and by raising and
lowering the said tube the feeding of the machine is regulated. Figures 13, 14, 15
and 16, sheet 1, are details of the cylinders R, r. Figures 20 and 21 are details of
the lever l, and figures 17, 18 and 19 are details of catches z formed on or secured
to the cylinder R to receive the forked ends of the lever. When the cylinder R is
lowered on to the disc o it is closed and to enable it to be raised from the disc a
vertical screw m, passing downwards through one of the columns f, is employed,
one end of the lever being connected to the screw by a nut m¹, or its equivalent.
The lower end of the screw has a worm or series of notches on it to engage with
one end of a catch which is kept in gear by, a spring n, and acts to maintain the
screw and with it the feed tube in its adjusted position.
The grain to be cleaned passes into the feeding tube through shoots o, o,
projecting above the upper part of the apparatus and to increase the friction and at
the same time keep the acting parts in a state of sharpness I pass through the
machine along with the grain a proportion of clean sharp sand.
When the machine is set in motion by a belt passed round a pulley P, on the
upper end of the spindle a, carrying the discs the grain and sand are thrown by
centrifugal action against the walls of the concentric casings d, the grains striking
the casing on end and the amount of husks and other particles removed from the
grain by this action of bounding against the casing d, is in proportion to the
sharpness of the surface of the walls thereof whilst by the rebound of the sand
against the walls the requisite degree of sharpness is always maintained.
The dust and husks removed from the grain pass through the funnels h, and over
the aprons i, being finally conducted to the tube or shoot h², and thence out of the
machine, the grain itself passing out by the tube or shoot h¹. By means of
elevators the sand passing out of the machine with the other impurities can be
returned to act over again and used as long as the grains are sufficiently large and
sharp to answer the purpose.
When a large number of discs are used in series it is preferred to carry the
revolving spindle in two or more collars to prevent vibration which is detrimental
to the action of the apparatus.
A series of machines constructed as herein before described may be grouped
together so as to constitute one decorticating or cleaning apparatus, as indicated on
sheet 2 of the drawings, figure 1 being an elevation and figures 2 and 3 plans of a
six fold machine, figures 4 and 5 plans of a four fold machine and figures 6 and 7
plans of a three fold machine. On these figures F indicates a central column which
gives additional strength and firmness and affords an additional support to the
casings d. With these arrangements the apparatus is fed from central feeding
hoppers O, O¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
decorticating and cleaning machine hereinbefore described with reference to the
drawings annexed hereto.
2. In a decorticating or cleaning machine for grain a series of horizontal discs
mounted on a vertical spindle and formed or provided with covered radial
partitions or channels in combination with an outer casing of greater diameter
than the discs substantially as and for the purpose described.

page_text: 3. In a decorticating or cleaning machine for grain the combination of conical
funnels h, and aprons i, with a series of discs and outer casings arranged
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a decorticating or cleaning machine for grain the arrangement and
combination of parts constituting the feeding and feed regulating apparatus
herein before described with reference to the annexed drawings.
5. In apparatus for decorticating and cleaning grain the use of clean sharp sand
fed into the machine with the grain as and for the purpose described.
GEO. M. CRUIKSHANK,
Agent.