IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND ASSORTING SEMOLINA, MIDDLINGS, CORN, AND OTHER MATTERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Thompson, of Wakefield, in the County of York,
Corn Miller and Merchant, and William Henry Williamson, of Leeds, in the
same County, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND ASSORTING SEMOLINA, MIDDLINGS, CORN,
AND OTHER MATTERS."
Sealed the 14th March 1879, and dated the 17th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Thompson and
William Henry Williamson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 17th October 1878.
FREDERICK THOMPSON, of Wakefield, in the County of York, Corn Miller and
Merchant, and WILLIAM HENRY WILLIAMSON, of Leeds, in the same County,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND
ASSORTING SEMOLINA, MIDDLINGS, CORN, AND OTHER MATTERS."
This Invention relates to machines designed to effect a gradual and complete
cleaning of the matter dealt with, and its assortment when cleaned into different
qualities, the refuse matters abstracted or separated at each successive cleaning
stage being collected and delivered according to kind, so that two, three, or more
kinds of cleaned products and several kinds of refuse may be obtained by passing
material once through the machine. Our improvements are applicable to machines
for the treatment of semolina and middlings, corn, seeds, et cætera.
The matter to be treated is fed into the top of the machine and is allowed to
descend by gravity; at successive stages in its descent it is distributed by centri-
fugal force in showers or thin streams, each shower or thin stream being subjected
to a regulated winnowing process, which eliminates some of the lighter particles,
depositing them in suitable receptacles at each stage according to their specific
gravity, the heavier matters descending after each such shower or thin stream as
aforesaid, being finally assorted into two, three, or more qualities, each of which, as
[Urine 877

page_text: also each of the several assorted kinds of refuse, is delivered from the machine by
separate spouts or shoots.
One arrangement of machine according to our Invention is as follows:-
Several hoppered pans placed concentrically one above another are maintained at
suitable distances apart by their attachment to uprights or pillars, of which three
may be conveniently used. Within each hoppered pan are fixed two, three, or
more inner pans of different sizes, so as to form annular compartments for the
reception of matter; the annular divisions or sides of these compartments are
adjustable in height by belts or extensions able to slide up and down. The outer-
most annular space of each stage or set of pans allows a free passage for matter
under treatment to fall into the hoppered portion below, and spouts are provided
to each of the inner pans for the removal of matter collected in them. The three
uprights are connected together at the top by a "tripod" having a central bearing
for the shaft, and at the bottom by a similar tripod provided with an adjustable
foot step for the central vertical shaft. This shaft passes concentrically through the
whole series of hoppered pans, and through a series of distributors of suitable size
and shape, one of which is fixed upon the shaft a short distance above each hoppered
pan. Each distributor is partly enclosed by the pan next above it. The distri-
butors like the pans have central passages through then, forming together a central
(annular) air chamber surrounding the shaft and extending nearly throughout the
machine. Into this central air chamber air and floating matters are exhausted by
a fan or exhauster, which may be connected with the central chamber at the top or
bottom of the machine. A valve is provided in the fan tube for the regulation of
the current of air. If the fan or exhauster is applied at the bottom of the machine
the central chamber is closed at the top and vice versa. The inouth of each hopper
is fitted with an adjustable belt or extension for regulating the supply to the
"distributors" of the matters to be treated, and the central air chamber is provided
with a belt or extension for regulating the current into the said chamber at each
cleaning stage.
The operation of this machine is as follows:-
The matters after being first sized into various sizes by any suitable sieve or reel,
and each size treated separately in one of the above machines, or successively in the
same machine. The matter is fed into a hopper at the top of the machine, the feed
of the hopper being regulated upon the first "distributor," which in revolving
distributes the falling matter treated in a uniform shower or thin stream, which is
opposed by a current of air drawn towards the central chamber and beneath the
distributor; the current is regulated by the adjustable belt at the entrance to the
central chamber; the portion of light particles winnowed out from the heavy in
this the first cleaning stage is assorted and deposited in the inner annular pans, the
sides of which are adjusted in height to suit the matter. Bran and other very
light particles are carried with the current into the central chamber, thence through
the fan to a stive room. The heavy matter after passing this first cleaning stage
falls through the outer annular space and is collected in the hopper below, the feed
of which is regulated for such matter to fall upon the second "distributor," which
in its turn distributes the matter in a second shower or thin stream, which is
opposed by a current of air drawn towards the central chamber, and which removes
a further portion of the lighter particles from the falling shower according as the
current of air is regulated to the central chamber as previously described, and the
light matters are assorted and deposited in the second series of pans placed within
the hoppers as in the first stage; the falling mass or heavy matter proceeding to the
third and following stages is similarly and successively treated as before described
any number of times (according to the number of stages with which the machine
is constructed) until the matter is as clean as may be desired, the last operation
winnowing out any remaining impurities and assorting the cleaned heavy matter
into two, three, or more kinds according to the number of compartments provided
for them at the bottom of the machine. From the compartments the matters are
swept by sweepers, each sort to its respective spout. The refuse matters collected

page_text: in each of the inner annular pans at each stage of the cleaning are swept out by
similar sweepers, each kind to its respective spout. The bran and less valuable
products are at each stage drawn with the currents of air into the central chamber
and are discharged by the fan or exhauster into a stive chamber. The number of
cleaning operations may be reduced as required to suit any matter by simply
shutting off the communication with the central chamber at one or more of the
cleaning stages, when only those left open will be in operation.
In a modified arrangement of our machine the hoppered pans are enclosed
within an air-tight casing (preferably cylindrical in form), which for convenience of
manufacture may be formed in a number of lengths joined together by metal rings
carried by stanchions or uprights (of which there may be three), suitable air-tight
doors beings fitted to the casing for removal when adjusting the feed upon each
distributor or for raising the adjustable belts or extensions of the inner pans.
The latter are similar in arrangement to those already described except that the
central passage is not continued through them.
By this modification a diversion is caused of the current of air drawn up through
the central passage of the machine, and the top of each distributor is open for the
same purpose; the rings forming part of the outer casing serve also to deflect the
current beneath the distributors.
Pans are provided at the bottom of the machine similar to those already described
for the assortment and delivery of the various qualities of cleaned heavy matter.
The operation of this modification of machine is as follows:-
"
By a fan or exhauster, connected to the central passage of the top or bottom of
the machine a current of air is drawn or forced upwards through the machine, being
repeatedly diverted in its course in order that it may be drawn towards the central
passage at the several cleaning stages and assort and deposit the lighter particles
winnowed out in the innermost pans. The matter to be treated is fed into the
topmost hopper, the feed of which is regulated as before described, on to the first
distributor," which distributes it by centrifugal force upon the inclined ledge of
the outer casing ring, down which it falls by gravity into the outer compartment
of the hoppered pan into the hoppering below; the ascending current of air (being
deflected over the edge of the innermost pans by the casing ring) carries a portion
of the lighter particles from the falling shower or thin stream along with it,
assorting and depositing them according to specific gravity in one or other of the
innermost pans which are each swept out as above described; the falling heavier
matter is then fed from the second hopper on to the next distributor, which
throws it again upon the inclined ledge of another casing ring, down which it falls
through the outer compartment, and the ascending current of air being again
deflected by the casing ring beneath the base of the distributor, eliminates a further
portion of lighter particles and deposits them in the innermost pans of this hopper;
the heavier matters still descending as in the first modification are similarly and
successively treated in this way any number of times and with the same current of
air directed in its course, in order that it may be repeatedly drawn into the central
passages or chambers and deposit the lighter particles suspended in it in the inner
annular pans provided at each stage; the last operation upon the heavy matter
being the same as that described with reference to the first modification.
A regu-
lating valve for the current is provided in the exhausting pipe at the top of the
machine, the current being further regulated at each cleaning stage by adjusting
the sides of the innermost pans to or from the base of each distributor.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Thompson and William Henry Williamson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th April 1879.
FREDERICK THOMPSON, of Wakefield, in the County of York, Corn Miller and
Merchant, and WILLIAM HENRY WILLIAMSON, late of Leeds, in the same County,
but now of Wakefield aforesaid, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING AND ASSORTING SEMOLINA, MIDDLINGS, CORN, AND
OTHER MATTERS."
This Invention relates to machines designed to effect a gradual and complete
cleaning of the matters dealt with and the assortment of the cleaned material and
of the more valuable offals or refuse matters abstracted at each cleaning stage. By
our Invention all the operations are effected during the passage of the material once
through the machine. Our improved machinery is applicable for treating semolina,
middlings, corn, seeds and such matters, etcætera. The principle on which it operates
may be stated thus:-
The material to be treated is fed into the top of the machine and falling by
gravity is, at successive stages in its descent through the machine, subjected to a
regulated winnowing process. At each of these cleaning stages the falling material
is distributed by certrifugal force into a shower or thin stream, through which a
current of air is drawn, which winnows or eliminates the lighter matters from the
falling shower but allows the heavier matters to descend for subsequent treatment
at the successive cleaning stages; or the heaviest matter may be retained and less
perfectly cleaned matters may descend for further treatment in the successive
stages. The several assorted kinds of heavy or light matters are swept from the
receptacles in which they are collected at the several cleaning stages into separate
spouts or shoots, down which they fall from the machine.
The machine is constructed with a series of hoppered pans provided with annular
collecting compartments or trays. The pan and trays composing each set are con-
centric and the several sets are arranged one above another; they are maintained at
suitable distances apart by attachment to uprights or pillars. A central shaft sup-
ported in an adjustable foot step passes through the centres of the entire series of
pans and is caused to revolve by any suitable means. Fixed upon this shaft at
suitable distances apart, and one above another, are a series of distributors, each
having an air passage or thoroughfare through it. The base of each distributor is
situated a short distance above an adjacent set of pans, into which it distributes
material. The upper portion of the distributor is enclosed by the hopper of the set
of pans next above it. The central passages through the distributors and the
central tubular portions of the sets of pans form together a central air chamber or
space which surrounds the shaft and is therefore an annular space; it extends
almost throughout the machine. Into this central air chamber or space air and
matters floating with it are drawn from all the cleaning stages by a fan or exhauster
connected directly to the said central air chamber either at the top of the machine
or (it may be) at the bottom. The fan or exhauster may revolve with or upon the
central shaft of the machine, or the central air chamber or chambers of one or more
machines may be connected to an nir trunk in communication with any ordinary or
other suitable fan or exhauster some distance removed which would exhaust from
the machines so applied. A valve is provided between the fan or exhauster and
the central air chainber for the regulation of the air currents, and where the fan or
exhauster is applied to the bottom of the air chamber the top is closed and vicé
versa. The current of air entering the central air chamber at each cleaning stage is
further regulated by moving the central tubular portions of the pans towards or
from the bases of the distributors. The sides of the annular pans and trays or com-
partments in each set are adjustable in height by means of belts able to slide up or
down, and the matters received in the hoppered portions of the paus may be fed and
regulated upon the distributors by means of an adjustable belt fitted to the mouth of

page_text: the hopper. Sweepers are attached to the base of the distributor, moving with it
and in the annular pans conveying the collected material to spouts or shoots, down
which it falls from the machine.
The matters to be cleaned after being first "sized" or assorted into various sizes
by any suitable sieve or reel may be treated in machines as above, either each size
successively and separately in one and the same machine, or separate machines as
described may be employed for separately treating the several sizes. Where the
different sizes are treated successively in the same machine, its parts can be adjusted
to suit the material dealt with.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings,
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a machine in which the central annular air
chamber is in connection with an air trunk as aforesaid and the trays are
arranged for the descent of the heavier material through successive operations.
Fig. 2 is an outside view of the same machine.
Fig. 2 is a half plan of the X tier of trays.
Fig. 2b is a half plan of the bottom tier.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a modified machine in which the pans are arranged
for the descent of the lighter (less perfectly cleaned) material winnowed out at each
stage and treated through the successive stages, the fan or exhauster being con-
nected direct to the air chamber and its disc revolving with the central machine shaft.
Fig. 4 is an outside view of Fig. 3.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2,—
The sized matter is fed into the hopper a, the mouth of which is fitted with an
adjustable belt as shewn in detail in Fig. 5. Three or more projecting pins fixed
to the inside of the belt slide in a spiral groove or recess b cut in a ring attached to
the mouth of the hopper, which enables the belt when moved round to be adjusted
above the distributor, thus regulating the flow of material thereon. The distributor
c in rotating throws the falling material in a shower or thin stream through which
a current of air is drawn in the opposite direction by the fan or exhauster into the
air chamber at d (Figs. 1 and 2). Fig. 7 shews in detail the mode of adjusting the
central tube or chamber in relation to the base of the distributor for regulating the
air current to suit the material; upon the outside of the tube are fixed three or more
pins which slide in a spiral groove or recess e cut in a metal ring fixed to the pans
which enables the tube to be raised or lowered by turning it round, thus contracting
or enlarging the orifice to the central air chamber. The lighter and less perfectly
cleaned matters winnowed out from this first shower float along with the air current
towards the central air chamber s, and some are deposited in transit in the annular
trays or compartments ƒ and g according to their specific gravity; only the
lightest (and least valuable) portion of these matters passes with the current
into the central chamber s, thence through the fan to a stive room where it is
collected. The heavier matters fall through the outer compartment / into the
hopper of the trays which feeds them upon the second distributor j, which throws
them into a second shower, through which a second current of air is drawn in
opposition to the shower, and a further portion of light and less perfectly cleaned
matters is winnowed out, and a portion is deposited in transit to the centre in
similar annular trays or compartments to those of the first stage; the heavy matters
are allowed to descend and a similar operation takes place at the subsequent several
stages, at the last of which any remaining impurities are winnowed out and the
cleaned matters are deposited in one or more pans k¹, k, k, provided at the bottom
of the machine, according to their specific gravity. The means for regulating the
currents of air, as shewn in detail Fig. 7, are the same for all cleaning stages. The
belts for adjusting the height of the sides of the annular trays may be made to lift
and lower in various ways, one method of doing which is shewn at m, Fig. 1, the
Bottom edge being forined in a series of inclines all of the same level which rest or
slide upon pins n placed upon the same level where in moving round the belt its
inclined lower edges sliding on the pins n will cause the belt m to rise. The
sweepers o attached to the base of each distributor and rotating with it sweep the

page_text: contents of the annular compartments or trays to the spouts p, p, which discharge
the several matters from the machine; a valve 7 placed in the passage Q leading to
the fan and the central air chambers regulates the current of air.
In the machine shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 the annular compartments of each set of
trays are arranged for the collection of the heavier matters. The sized matter is
fed as before into the top hopper a, the mouth of which is regulated as before, or by
means of a screwed mouth-piece shewn in detail at Fig. 10; a hand-wheel t being
cast with the screwed nozzle of the hopper enables the feed to be regulated upon the
first distributor c, which in rotating throws the falling material into a shower or
thin stream which is opposed by a current of air drawn towards the central chamber
at, d, as before described, but the heavier matters drop into the outer compartment
f, Fig. 3, and are delivered from the machine by spouts f' (Figs. 3 and 4). The
lighter (and less perfectly cleaned) matters winnowed out at this stage by the
current of air fall according to their specific gravity, the heaviest portion of these
into the compartment x, Fig. 3 (thence to the hopper i and second distributor).
Another and still lighter portion falls into the tray g, having a spout x. (Fig. 4)
for its delivery, while the third or lightest and least valuable portion is suspended
in the air and floats with it to the central air chamber. The shower thrown from
the second distributor is acted on by a current of air in a similar manner, so that
the heaviest matters are collected or retained in the annular tray or compartment
f; as in the first stage; the more valuable of the less perfectly cleaned light matters
fall into the hopper i below, to be again and again distributed and cleaned, until all
the more valuable or heavier matters are obtained therefrom in the outer annular
compartments at each stage. In this machine the fan or exhauster 1 is shewn to be
operated with the central shaft of the machine; the blades of the fanner are inclined
towards the axis of the shaft or in the form of a helix; when a stronger current of
air is required for coarser material, the fanner may be loose upon the central shaft,
and revolve at a much higher speed by driving it with a separate belt or pulley, as
will be easily understood. We do not limit ourselves to any particular form of
distributor. Several kinds are shewn in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 respectively, but we
prefer in practice to use the distributor formed with a curved exterior shaped to a
cycloidal curve for material of larger size, and to a parabolic curve for that of
smaller size, or approximations to these curves respectively. Sometimes we form a
flat ledge (w, Fig. 3) in combination with such a curved outer surface, on which the
material may fall for distribution on the curved slope of the distributor.
In another modification of machine according to our Invention (shewn in Figs.
11 and 12) the hoppered pans are enclosed within a shell or casing preferably
cylindrical in form, which for convenience of manufacture may be formed in a
number of lengths joined together by metal rings and supported on stanchions or
uprights, of which three may be conveniently used; suitable air-tight doors or
windows are fitted to the casing or shell for access in adjusting the feed upon the
distributors or for adjusting the belts of the annular pans or receptacles.
The central air chamber is not continued through this machine, but the current
of air entering below passes through the centre of the bottom distributor and is
directed in its course by the annular pans above. It passes out of the top of the
distributor and ascends the annular air space next the outer casing until deflected
by one of the metal casing rings; it is drawn transversely inwards to the centre of
the machine, passes up through the next distributor above, and is again diverted in
its course by another set of pans and ascends up a second annular air space next the
outer casing, being again deflected by a casing ring and drawn transversely inwards
towards the centre; it is in this way diverted in its course several times, eventually
passing through the fan or exhauster at the top of the machine and discharged into
a stive chamber.
Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 12 is an outside view of the machine.
The sized material is fed into the hopper a, Fig. 11 (the mouth of which is adjust-
able, as shewn in Fig. 5), and is thrown by the distributor c as it revolves into a
shower which is opposed by the current of air drawn transversely inwards from the

page_text: air space u through the shower of material to the central passage 8 of the distri-
butor, depositing matters winnowed from the shower in the innermost pan V, and
allowing the heavier matters to fall in the outer annular pan w. The sweepers o
which rotate with the distributor sweep out the matters collected in these pans to
their respective spouts, the heavy matters fall through the spout x into the next
hopper below (a¹), and are fed upon the next distributor and thrown into a second
shower, and opposed by a current drawn transversely inward through this second
shower from the air space u¹ to the central passages; the heavier matters collected
in the outer annular pan w' are swept out as before, and fall through the spout x¹
into the next hopper below (a"), the like operation taking place at each stage, the
same current of air being drawn through the falling showers successively at the
several cleaning stages, and freed between each stage from impurities which
gravitate and collect in the depositing pans v, and are swept to the spouts P
whereby they leave the machine. The cleaned material at the last operation falls
into the annular compartment 2, and is swept like the others to a spout y. A valve
for regulating the air current between the central passage and the fan is provided,
and the current may be further regulated for each stage by adjusting the belts of
the annular pan sides m in relation to the bases of the distributors, access to which
is obtained by removing the doors or windows d.
Having described the nature of our said Invention, and explained in what manner
the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, we would
have it understood we are aware that the use of one and the same current of air
repeatedly upon the same semolina, middlings, or other analogous matters is not
per se new, and we therefore do not claim it as of our Invention; and, furthermore,
we hereby declare that we do not claim as of our Invention, or the exclusive use of
any of the mechanical parts hercin-before described and shewn when taken
separately and apart from the combination or application thereof in manner and for
the purposes substantially as herein-before described and as set forth in the following
claiming clauses. What we do consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to us under the Letters Patent herein-before in part
recited is as follows:-
1st. The combining and arranging hoppered pans and collecting compartments or
trays concentrically tier upon tier, as and for the purposes specified, and so that the
central compartment of each tray forms part of a receiving chamber, air space or
passage common to the series, substantially as described.
2nd. Causing currents of air to pass centripetally through or traverse and act
upon falling streams or showers of semolina or other matters thrown centrifugally
by distributors any number of times, all said currents of air entering into one
common central air space, passage, or chamber passing through or surrounded by
said distributors, as herein-before described.
3rd. Constructing distributors substantially as described and shewn.
4th. Causing a current of air to pass centripetally through or traverse in succes-
sion several streams or showers of semolina or other matters thrown centrifugally
by suitable distributors, each formed with an eye hole or central passage through it,
so that after traversing each such shower of semolina or other matter the current of
air enters the eye hole or central passage of the distributor whereby such stream or
shower was centrifugally thrown, substantially as herein-before described with
reference to Figs. 11 and 12 of the accompanying Drawings.
5th. The method substantially as herein-before described with reference to
Figs. 11 and 12 of the accompanying Drawings of collecting the impurities or offals
floating with the air after it has acted upon the centrifugal streams or showers of
semolina or other matters at each stage in pans or vessels arranged under the central
passages of the centrifugal distributors.
6th. The combination of parts constituting the improved machine constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as shewn in and described with reference to
Figs. 1, 2, 2, 2b, of the accompanying Drawings for the purposes specified,
7th. The combination of parts constituting the improved machine constructed,

page_text: arranged, and operating substantially as shewn in and described with reference to
Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings, for the purposes specified.
8th. The combination of parts constituting the improved machine constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as shewn in and described with reference to
Figs. 11 and 12 of the accompanying Drawings for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frederick Thompson and William Henry
Williamson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this 14th day of
April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
nine.
FREDERICK THOMPSON.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM HENRY WILLIAMSON. (L.S.)