Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Cleaning Grain or other Seeds, and for Purifying Semolina and Middlings and the like, also for Dressing Flour from Meals, and for Dressing Fine Particles from Coarse Particles in Pulverized or Ground Material from Disintegrators or Grinding Mills.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Cleaning Grain or
other Seeds, and for Purifying Semolina and Middlings and the
like, also for Dressing Flour from Meals, and for Dressing Fine
Particles from Coarse Particles in Pulverized or Ground Material
from Disintegrators or Grinding Mills.
1, JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM of 32 Seel Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Milling Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention is applicable to all forms of vibrating or rotary sieves which are
used for cleaning or separating wheat, or purifying semolina and middlings, and in
which currents of air are used for the purpose of purifying or cleansing the wheat
from dust, chaff, and light inferior wheat, seeds or refuse, or for purifying the
semolina and middlings and the like.
The object of my invention is to more effectively separate the dust, chaff and
light refuse from the wheat, also to more effectively separate the light dust from
the air currents.
A further object is to enable any desired velocity of air current to be used upon
the material passing over the sieve in the machine itself, without causing such
velocity to become communicated either to air entering or leaving the machine.
In carrying out my invention, I cause a current of air to descend through the
grain or semolina, wbich is passing over or being treated upon the sieve surface.
Such current of air passes through the moving material upon one or first portion
of the sieve and through the meshes of the sieve into a chamber below the sieve.
Owing to the downward pressure, such air current causes an increased proportion
of the dust and small impurities to descend through the meshes of the sieve.
I form a first depositing chamber under the sieve in which the dust and small
dirt or seeds become deposited, and I cause the air to leave the first depositing
chamber in an ascending air current through another or second portion of the sieve
and the material moving thereon..
I form a second depositing chamber over such second portion of the sieve and I
cause the light impurities removed by the ascending air current to become deposited
thereon.
1 cause the air leaving the second depositing chamber to descend through the
first portion of the sieve, thus forming an air circuit through the sieve and the
material passing over its surface.
Such air current is kept in motion by means of a fan placed in the circuit, either
above or below the sieve, I prefer to place the fan above the sieve and to exhaust
the air from the second depositing chamber above the second portion of the sieve
and to blow the air downward through the first portion of the sieve.
In some cases, I place a dust collector or apparatus for collecting dust from air,
such as I have described in my as yet unpublished Specification No. 2226 of 1894,
at any point in the air circuit.
When the fan causing the air circuit is placed above the sieve, I then prefer to
place such dust collector between the fan and the first portion of the sieve.
In some cases I use channels or nozzles placed over the second portion of the
sieve for collecting dust and light material as is described in my Patent No. 14,711
of 1888 and as is well understood by millers.

page_text: In some cases I arrange two or more air circuits in connection with the same sieve
or pair of adjacent sieves or I may make one air circuit to pass alternately one or
more consecutive times in downward and upward directions with depositing
chambers between and with one or more fans, also I vary the meshes of the sieve
surface at various points to suit the material to be treated and the refuse to be
removed.
The arrangement of air circuit as described is also applicable for separating or
dressing flour from meals, and at the same time any particles of a less specific gravity
can be removed from the larger particles contained in the meals. In some cases when
dressing flour from meals, or when dressing or separating the material leaving any
description of grinding or pulverizing mills, in which it is not necessary to separate
particles of a less specific gravity, I use a sieve having a downward air current
through the material on the sieve, also. I cause the air which has gone through the
material and the sieve to be again passed through the same sieve in a circuit. In
carrying out such a circuit arrangement I may take the air, from under the sieve to
a fan or to a fan and dust collector, and return the air from such fan or dust
collector to the top of the same sieve, thus establishing an air circuit without
passing the air in an upward direction through the sieve and the material thereon.
In some cases I may send air in a downward direction through the sieve without
the use of an air circuit.
Dated this 27th day of October 1894
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Cleaning Grain or
other Seeds, and for Purifying. Semolina and Middlings and the
like, also for Dressing Flour from Meals, and for Dressing Fine
Particles from Coarse Particles in Pulverised or Ground Material
from Disintegrators or Grinding Mills.
I, JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM, of 32, Secl Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Milling Engineer, 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 is applicable to all forms of vibrating or rotary sieves which are
used for cleaning or separating wheat, or purifying semolina and middlings, and in.
which currents of air are used for the purpose of purifying or cleansing the wheat
from dust, chaff, and light inferior wheat, seeds or refuse, or for purifying the.
semolina and middlings and the like.
The object of my invention is to more effectively separate the dust, chaff and
light refuse from the wheat, also to more effectively separate the light dust from the
air currents.
A further object is to enable any desired velocity of air current to be used upon
the material passing over the sieve in the machine itself, without causing such
velocity to become communicated either to air entering or leaving the machine.
In carrying out my invention, I cause a current of air to descend through.
the grain or semolina, which is passing over or being treated upon the sieve
surface.
Such current of air passes through the moving material upon such first portion
of the sieve and through the meshes of the sieve into a chamber below the sieve.
Owing to the downward pressure such air current causes an increased proportion
of the smaller particles to descend through the meshes in a given area of sieve.

page_text: I form a first depositing chamber under the sieve in which the particles which
pass through such first portion of the sieve become deposited, and I cause the air to
leave such first depositing chamber in an ascending air current through another or
second portion of the sieve and the material moving thereon. By such means I
cause the air to separate material of a lighter specific gravity from the material
which is passing over the second portion of the sieve. I form a second depositing
chamber over such second portion of the sieve and I cause the heaviest of the
particles of such separated material to become deposited thereon upon trays of
nozzles or channels.
I cause the air leaving the second depositing chamber to descend through the
first portion of the sieve, thus forming an air circuit through the sieve and
the material passing over its surface. Such air circuit current is kept in motion by
means of a fan placed in the circuit either above or below the sieve, 1 prefer to
place the fan above the sieve and to exhaust the air from the second depositing
chamber above the second portion of the sieve and to blow the air downward
through the first portion of the sieve.
In some cases I place a dust collector or apparatus for collecting dust from air
at any point in the air circuit, such as the dust collector described and illustrated in
the Specification of my Patent No. 2226".
also
When the fan causing the air circuit is placed above the sieve I then prefer to
place such dust collector between the fan and the first portion of the sieve.
use channels or trays of nozzles placed over the second portion of the sieve for
collecting the material extracted by the uprising air current. 1 also place nozzle
trays of nozzles or channels marked with the letter X on all the figures over the
first portion of the sieve through which the air circuit blows downwards for
the purposes of collecting any dust which may pass through the fan and to distribute
the downward current of air uniformly all over the first portion of the sieve. In
some cases I arrange two or more air circuits in connection with the same sieve or
pair of adjacent sieves. Or I may make one air circuit to pass alternately one or
more consecutive times in downward and upward directions with depositing chambers
between and with one or more fans. The accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3
and 4, show how such object is attained.
Figures 1 and 3 are longitudinal sections of two forms of machines.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of a machine on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of a machine on line 4-4 of Figure 3.
Like letters represent like parts in the drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show arrangements of circulating air currents in
machines each having two sieves S¹ S² placed one above the other; each sieve
being fitted with perforated clothing and with collecting trays over the same.
The frames of the machines are marked F F. The partitions inside the machines
are marked P.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the fans A¹ A² are placed over the sieves S¹
and S*. The fan A sucks air from the compartiment B' and discharges the
same to the compartment B. The air passes through the sieve S¹ into the com-
partment B. The air leaves the compartment B³ and ascends through the sieve S¹
into the exhausted compartment B', thus forming an air circuit. The fan A* and
sieve S are similarly arranged.
It will be noticed that the fan A¹ and sieve S₁ arranged with compartments in
the upper portion of the machine forms one circuit, also that the fan A2, sieve S'
with compartments placed under partition P, in the lower part of the machine forms
a similar and independent air circuit, thus the machine contains two distinct sieve
and air circuits, independent of each other..
It is obvious that three or more sieves and air circuits can be arranged in the
saine frame.
Referring to Figure 3, this arrangement shows an upper sieve S' having a down-
ward current through the whole surface of the sieve S₁, also having a lower sieve S*
through which the air current passes upwards.

page_text: The course of the air in this arrangement is as follows:-
The air leaving the fan A³ passes into compartment C₁, from compartment C¹ the
air passes downwards through sieve S¹ into compartment C2, from compartment C²
the air passes by means of one or more conduits C into compartment C below the
sieve S. The air leaves the compartment C* and passes upwards through the
sieve S² into the compartment C. The air leaves the compartment C by means of
one or more air conduits C into the fan A'. Thus an air circuit is formed between
the two sieves S¹ and S.
It will be seen that two or more sieves S and S' with air compartments, air
conduits and fans may be placed one above another in the same frame.
The collection of the material deposited in the trays of nozzles or channels above
the sieve is done by means of discharge channels H.
The material passing through the sieve is collected by worms or conveyors W
in a manner well understood by millers. The material to be treated enters the
machine by means of the spouts R R. The material from the top sieve S is fed
onto the bottom sieve S by means of the spout R'. The overtails or material from
the sieve S2 is discharged by means of the spout R.
TT are eccentric rods for causing vibration to the sieves S1 and S2. U U are
suspenders for carrying the vibrating sieves S' and S².
In some cases I may cause downward air currents to descend in one part of a
machine through several consecutive sieves placed one below the other, and to
ascend in another part of a machine through consecutive sieves placed one above
another, and I may cause such air currents to circulate by means of one or more
fans placed on the outside of the machine as illustrated in the accompanying
Figures 5, 6 and 7 which show an example of my invention applied to a rotary
sieving machine.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a machine.
Figure 6 is a transverse section of a machine on the bent line 5-5 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a sectional plan of a machine on the bent line 6-6 of Figure 5.
Like figures represent the like parts in the Figures 5, 6, 7.
The machine in Figure 5 is a well known arrangement of superimposed
sieves S S¹, S2, S³ placed one above another in a frame F, which has a rotary
motion given to it by means of the shaft and crank Z. The rotary frame F is
suspended by movable straps or rods Y as is well understood by millers.
The material to be treated enters by the spout A and travels over the sieve S.
The material which passes through the sieve S falls upon the imperforate tray T
and is conducted to the sieve S'. The material passing through the sieve S¹ falls
upon the impervious tray T¹ and is conducted to the sieve S³. The material which
passes through the sieve S³ falls upon the tray T2 and is conducted to the sieve S³.
The material which passes through the sieve falls upon the bottom of the frame F
and is discharged at the outlet T. The material which does not pass through the
sieve S is discharged over the tail of the sieve S, into a spout B and is led from
thence to the outside of the machine. The overtails of sieves S1 S2 and S³ are
similarly discharged through the spouts CD and E.
Over the first portion of the sieve S is arranged a tray of nozzles or
channels X and to enable the arrangement of the nozzles X to be more easily
seen, the hoods X' over the nozzles (see Patent 22,2524) are not shown on the
Figures 5 and 6.
Over the second or tail portion of the sieve S is placed a tray of nozzles O.
Similar trays of nozzles O are placed over the tail portions of the sieves S¹ S
and S on both sides of the machine.
The nozzle trays are each placed in a chamber or compartment N which
communicates with the exhausted air conduits G by means of the orifices 1, 2, 3, 4.
Each of these orifices may be fitted with a slide or valve V to adjust the amount of
air passing through to the fan, thus the air passing upward through the tail portions
of each of the sieves may be separately regulated.

page_text: The action of the machine is as follows :-
The fan F discharges its air through the conduit F¹ into the space F' over the
tray of nozzles X. The dust deposited on the tray of nozzles ✗ is collected and
removed by the channel H and discharged at H³.
The air passes through the tray of nozzles X and the sieve S and it passes
downward and through the consecutive sieves S1 S2 S3, the air then ascends through
the tail portions of the sieves S S'S' S³ and the material which is passing over the
same. In ascending through such material the air carries up material of a lighter
specific gravity and deposits the same upon the nozzle trays O000, the air then
passes through the orifices marked 1, 2, 3, 4 on each side of the machine into the
air conduits G G. The air then passes from the conduits G G into dust depositing
chambers G'G' and from thence to the fan F thus forming an air circuit through the
machine.
Any dust deposited in the dust depositing chambers G¹ G² is discharged through
the discharge spouts and flaps G and G.
The moving air conduits F¹ and G G are connected by air tight flexible
connections F to the stationary chambers G1 G2 and fan F.
Flexible air tight connections having stationary discharge boxes may be attached
to the discharges T, H¹, B, C, D and E to allow the material to be discharged
and to prevent loss of air from the machine as is well understood by millers.
The doors D', Figures 6 and 7 are to enable an examination to be made of the
material extracted by the air currents from each sieve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The application of air currents to a rotary sieve for the separation of the
material passing over the sieve.
2. The improvement in the process of cleaning or separating wheat or purifying
semolina, middlings and the like by means of sieves and air currents in which dust
and lighter particles are separated from heavier particles by air currents circulating
in a downward or in a downward and upward direction through vibrating or rotary
sieves substantially as described.
3. The improved apparatus such as described, whereby any desired velocity of
air current can be used upon the material passing over a vibrating or rotary sieve
in the machine itself without causing such velocity to be communicated either to
air entering or leaving the machine.
4. The improved apparatus taken as a whole for separating dust, chaff and light
refuse from the wheat, and light dust from the air currents substantially as
described and shown on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of August 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.