Improvements in Grain and Seed Dressing and Winnowing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 7th July, 1890-Accepted. 20th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grain and Seed Dressing and Winnowing
Machines.
I, JOHN FULTON, of Gortinlieve, Bogay, County Donegal, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of the riddle-
frame and the application of the fan in dressing machines, whereby the usual verticle
distance required for the operations of riddling and winnowing, in such machines,
is so reduced, that the grain or seed can be delivered into sacks at either side of the
machine without the use of an elevator, while the feeding hopper may be sufficiently
low to be conveniently filled by a person standing upon the floor on which the machine
and sacks rest; the sacks can be filled level with the sills of apertures over which the
grain, is discharged, when, by an automatic action, or other means to be explained, the
flow of grain will be diverted to another outlet placed on the same level.
In order that my machine may perform the duties mentioned above, I construct it
as follows:-
A reciprocating frame extends the entire length of the machine, the upper surface
of which for about two-thirds its length is occupied by a riddle, the remaining third
consists of a blank," or spreading board which forms the bottom of the hopper and
serves to convey the grain placed therein to the riddle.
The portion of the said frame occupied riddles, consists of a shallow rectangular
box, and forms, virtually, a prolongation of the blast outlet of a fan placed
underneath.
Across the ends of the said riddle-box, and forming parts of its bottom, are fixed
two inclined boards; between the inner and lower edges of these boards is pivoted a
transverse screen capable of tilting to either side of the machine to such an angle as
will cause the best grain to be discharged over its lower end, and at a sufficient height
from the ground to allow it to fill a sack.
The discharge ends of the screen protrude through the sides of the machine and
are depressed in the middle so as to form an obtuse angle, the oblique under surfaces
of which by acting as inclined planes on grain accumulated at the mouth of a full
sack, cause the screen to tilt and discharge over its opposite and similar end, where
an empty sack may be placed.
The screen may be fixed in either of the positions described above; in which case
a flap is hinged below its protruding end; the act of withdrawing the sack causes the
flap to fall outward and intercept the falling grain, thus diverting it to another
outlet.
Doted this 7th dow of Antahan 1200
· Dotad this 7th
17th day of October 1990.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grain and Seed Dressing and Winnowing
Machines.
I, JOHN FULTON of Gortinlieve Bogay, County of Donegal, Ireland, Gentleman,
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 relates to certain improvements in the construction of the riddle-
frame, and the application of the fan, in winnowing machines, and has for its
object to so reduce the usual verticle distance required for the operations of riddling

page_text: #
and winnowing in such machines, that the finished grain or seed can be delivered
into sacks without the use of an elevator, while the receiving hopper may be
sufficiently low to be conveniently filled by a person of average stature, standing
upon the same floor on which the machine and sacks rest.
My improved machine is constructed as follows:-
In any suitable frame work and casing, but preferably of the form shewn in my
drawings lodged herewith, I mount, upon rock arms and springs, the combined
riddle and screen frame F, which receives a longitudinal reciprocating motion from
the main shaft. About two-thirds of the upper surface of this frame is occupied
by a riddle; the remaining third consists of a blank or spreading board, which
forms the bottom of the hopper H, and serves to convey the grain placed therein
to the riddle. The portion of the said frame occupied by the riddles consists of a
shallow rectangular box, which forms, virtually, a tangential prolongation of a blast
outlet located at the top of the fan casing as shewn.
The fan is placed immediately under the blank portion of the riddle-frame above
mentioned, where it rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, an arrange-
ment which enables the hopper H to be placed at a lower elevation than could
be possible with the fan rotating in the usual direction, and placed in the position
shewn.
Across the riddle box, so as to form parts of its bottom, I fix two inclined
boards, these being for the purpose of guiding the grain &c. into an open screen
case also attached to the under side of the riddle-box. Between, and support by,
the sides B which compose the screen case, I mount upon an axis P, the transverse
screen S, in such a manner that it can be turned or tilted either way so as to form an
inclined surface over which the finished grain or seed can be discharged at either side
of the machine as may be required, and, if desired into sacks attached to the machine
in the position shewn. Either sack can be filled level with sill, or discharge end of
the screen, when, the operator by raising or tilting said end, can divert the flow of
grain into the other sack which may be allowed to fill and a like process there
repeated, or, the latter may be kept as a reserve until the full sack is replaced; and
interchange of sacks can thus be effected without stopping the machine.
The screen is preferably pivoted at a point below its centre of gravity, and so made
to retain either of the inclined positions in which it is shown; or the same object may
be attained by means of a sliding weight, or weights; by suitable springs or catches;
or by the friction of its edges against the sides of the screen case. A plain or
unperforated surface of any suitable material may be substituted for the screen, in
which case the inclined collecting boards above mentioned may be dispensed with and
their places occupied by screens.
The machine may be made of any suitable material and of any convenient form,
the principle of working being essentially the same, and the machine having generally
a resemblance to the drawing furnished herewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what my
claim is.
1st. The transverse screen or tilting frame, mounted, or hung, or otherwise attached
to the riddle frame, and capable of being turned or tilted either way, and retained in
an inclined position,, substantially as shewn and described, and for the purpose above
stated.
2nd. The application of the fan, which is caused to rotate in the direction indicated
by the arrow, and thus apply the blast at a higher level than could be possible with
the fan rotating in the usual direction and placed in the position shewn.
Dated this 5th day of July 1890.