A Centrifugal Grain Sorter.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1891-Accepted, 24th Oct.. 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Centrifugal Grain Sorter.
I Count FRIEDRICH BERG, of Sagnitz Castle in the Province of Livonia, and
Empire of Russia, 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 :-
This invention relates to a centrifugal grain sorter which I will proceed to
describe by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawing, upon which :—
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of my machine and
Figure 2 a plan view of part of same seen from above.
When the slide P is drawn up the grain stored in the receptacle H runs out by
the opening R into the hopper N and through this into the bowl A. This bowl,
preferably made of sheet metal, is the most essential part of the machine: it
consists of a flat bottom which is secured by two disk-like plates J, K and with the
aid of the screw nut E to the upright shaft B, which is of conical shape at the
fixing place B. The plate J prevents any lateral displacement of the bowl A,
the bottom of which is secured to the plate K.
The bowl A has on its obliquely rising walls upright standing cross-pieces or
compartments FF, which are not placed radially but sloping as shown in Figure 2.
C is an adjustable step-bearing on which the shaft stands. The bearing for the
upper end of the shaft B is fixed to beam I' in corresponding height.
G is a cover, which is fixed in the bowl A in about a third of the height above
the bottom; the purpose of same is to limit the jumping about of the grains. The
bowl rotates in the direction of the arrow (Figure 2).
The grains which fall through the hopper N on to the bottom of the bowl, are
thrown first to the periphery by centrifugal force, there they are taken up by the
cross-pieces and obliquely thrown upwards.
The space in which the machine stands must be of such width that the grains do
not bounce against the wall, but fall to the ground according to the curve described
in the air.
The heavy grains fly farther, the lighter ones fall sooner to the ground.
D is a belt-sheave or driving-pulley near the upper end of shaft B. (When
this centrifugal grain sifter and sorter is used in the open field it would be better
to fix this sheave on the lower part of the shaft.)
The sheave D is driven by a belt or a cord from a large crank wheel, or from
any other suitable shaft, it is best placed in the building above the space in which
the machine stands.
The consumption of power is very small, one man can easily turn the machine,
but it is better to let two men turn on opposite handles, so that the rotation is as
uniform as possible.
The superiority of this machine over other known sorting machines consists in
the immense amount of work done (-say, an average of 2 hectolitres in 14 minutes,
or during quicker rotation, if stands in a larger place, in one minute-) and in the
beautifully uniform sorting, according to the weight of the grains, therefore
according to their quality, which is most important both for the farmer and for
the consumer; in this respect also this machine will be found unequalled by any
other known sorting machine. With no other machine can the work be done so
cheaply.
I would further observe that, according to circumstances, the dimensions of the
machine, the number of compartments F, the size of the angle at which the machine
hrows the corn etc., may be correspondingly modified.

page_text: If for instance the grain contains much coarse dirt, ears .tc., fewer cross-com-
partments must be used, that is to say the distance apart of the cross-compartments
must be larger.
If the space is limited the corn must be thrown up more vertically. If the
machine is to be constructed for very large quantities, as for instance for an
elevator-silo-granary, correspondingly larger dimensions are chosen.
If no second board (cover) is above the machine, the feeding cannot be effected
from a box which is situated above the machine, but by means of an elevator and
apron, or a conveyor,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is
A centrifugal grain sorter, characterized by the arrangement of a horizontally
rotating bowl A with obliquely placed compartments F, between which the corn to
be sorted etc., is compelled by the effect of the centrifugal force, to rise above the
outer rim of the bowl and is thrown outwardly, whereby the sorting of the grain is
effected according to the relative weight of the grains.
Dated this Nineteenth day of June 1891.