IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SCREENING OR SIFTING GRAIN OR SEEDS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Handscombe and John Greig, both of Melbourne,
near Royston, in the County of Cambridge, Engineers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SCREENING OR SIFTING GRAIN OR
SEEDS."
Sealed the 11th November 1879, and dated the 7th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Handscombe and
John Greig at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June
1879.
SAMUEL HANDSCOMBE and JOHN GREIG, both of Melbourne, near Royston, in the
County of Cambridge, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SCREENING
OR SIFTING GRAIN OR SEEDS."
Our Invention relating to apparatus for screening or sifting grain or seeds
consists of improvements whereby the operation is greatly facilitated, and the
obstruction of the meshes of the screen or sifter is obviated or removed.
In carrying out our Invention, we employ a screen or sifter consisting of an
elongated cage of wire gauze or perforated material, having the form in transverse
section of a polygon of any suitable number of sides. This screen or sifter is carried
by a shaft or axis which is mounted in bearings in a suitable frame or support, so as
to be capable of rotary motion, and is provided with a pulley or other suitable
appliance for receiving such motion. Over the exterior of the screen or sifter is
loosely placed a chain which is connected at both ends to the frame or support, so
that its intermediate part for a considerable portion of its length is in contact with
the periphery of the screen or sifter. The grain (for example), is introduced into the
interior of the screen or sifter, and rotary motion being imparted to the latter,
the dust, seeds, or other extraneous matters are separared from the grain and dis-
charged through the meshes of the screen or sifter, the polygonal form of the screen
or sifter causing the continuous displacement of the grain, whilst the chain in contact
with the periphery of the screen or sifter has the effect of maintaining the meshes
clear and free from obstruction. The grain thus cleaned is discharged from the end
of the screen or sifter into any convenient receptacle, as will be well understood.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Handscombe and John Greig in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th December 1879.
SAMUEL HANDSCOMBE and JOHN GREIG, both of Melbourne, near Royston, in the
County of Cambridge, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SCREENING
OR SIFTING GRAIN OR SEEDS."
Our said Invention relating to apparatus for screening or sifting grain or seeds
consists of improvements whereby the operation is greatly facilitated, and the
obstruction of the meshes of the screen or sifter is obviated or removed.
In carrying out our said Invention, we employ a screen or sifter consisting of an
elongated cage of wire gauze, perforated metal or wood, having the form in trans-
verse section of a polygon of any suitable number of sides. This screen or sifter is
carried by a shaft or axis which is mounted in bearings in a suitable frame or
support, so as to be capable of rotary motion, and is provided with a pulley or
other suitable appliance for receiving such motion. Over the exterior of the screen
or sifter is loosely placed a chain which is connected at both ends to the frame or
support, so that its intermediate part for a considerable portion of its length is in
contact with the periphery of the screen or sifter. The grain (for example) is
introduced into the interior of the screen or sifter, and rotary motion being imparted
to the latter, the dust, seeds, or other extraneous matters are separated from the
grain and discharged through the meshes of the screen or sifter, the polygonal form
of the screen or sifter causing the continuous displacement of the grain whilst the
chain in contact with the periphery of the screen or sifter has the effect of main-
taining the meshes clear and free from obstruction. The grain thus cleaned is
discharged from the end of the screen or sifter into any convenient receptacle
through a shoot or conduit.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood, we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of our Drawings represents a side clevation of an apparatus for screening
or sifting grain or seeds constructed according to our said Invention, and Figure 2
is an end elevation of the same corresponding to Figure 1, a portion of the frame
being assumed to be broken away or removed in both Figures, in order to expose
the cage, screen, or sifter herein before referred to, and the mesh work of the cage,
screen, or sifter being shewn incomplete in Figure 1, for the sake of clearness.
Figures 3 and 4 represent on a larger scale the cage, screen, or sifter detached;
Figure 3 being a longitudinal section of a portion of the same, and Figure 4 an end
elevation thereof.
A is an elongated cage, screen, or sifter, which in our Drawings is represented as
consisting of a body of perforated metal with partially closed ends, but which may
be composed of a body of wire gauze or wood, also with partially closed ends, and
which is indicated as of an octagonal form in transverse section in the Drawings
(Figures 2 and 4), but may be made of the sectional shape of a polygon of any
other suitable number of sides. This screen or sifter is carried by a shaft or axis B
which is mounted in bearings a, a, in a frame or support C, so as to be capable of
rotary motion, and is provided with a pulley handle or other suitable appliance
(not shewn in our Drawings) for receiving such motion. Over the exterior of the
screen or sifter is loosely placed a chain D which is connected at its ends b, b, to the
frame or support C or attachments thereto, so that the intermediate part c of such
chain for a considerable portion of its length, is in contact with the periphery of
the screen or sifter A. The grain (for example) is introduced into the interior of
the screen or sifter A at one end through a hopper E, having an adjustable slide c',
and a shoot F, and rotary motion being imparted to the screen or sifter, the dust,

page_text: seeds, or other extraneous matters are separated from the grain and discharged
through the meshes of the screen or sifter, and the grain thus cleaned is delivered
by a shoot G from the opposite end of the screen or sifter into any convenient.
receptacle.
By reason of the polygonal form of the screen or sifter, the grain operated upon
by its rotary motion is continuously displaced, whereby the separation of the dust,
seeds, or other extraneous matters mixed with the grain is greatly promoted,
whilst by the use of a chain or chains resting upon the periphery of the revolving
screen or sifter the meshes of the latter are maintained clear and free from
obstruction.
In order to secure the screen or sifter to the shaft B, and at the same time hold
the former rigid and distended so as to maintain its polygonal form, we employ a
spring frame H, which in the example illustrated consists of two rings d, d, secured
concentrically to the shaft B by screws e, and carrying spring wires f, which are
each rivetted at opposite ends to the respective rings, the spring wires being made
longitudinally of a bulged form, as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 3, or of other
suitable shape, so that when the shaft B, with its spring frame H is forced into the
screen or sifter, or the latter forced over the former, the springs will be flattoned or
compressed, and the screen or sifter thereby maintained in a rigid distended con-
dition over the said springs.
The polygonal screen, sifter, or cage may be used in combination with a win-
nowing or dressing machine, as will be well understood. It may also be used
separately from the chain or chains, and the latter may be employed in combination
with a revolving screen, sifter, or cage of any other construction.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The employment in apparatus for screening or sifting grain or seeds of a
revolving screen, sifter, or cage of a polygonal section composed of wire gauze, per-
forated metal, or wood, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.'
Second. The combination with a revolving screen, sifter, or cage, of a chain or
chains in contact with the external periphery of such screen, sifter, or cage, substan-
tially as and for the purpose herein before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Handscombe and John Greig, have
to this our Specification set our hands and seals, this Sixth day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.