Improvements in Feed-regulators for Roller Mills and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feed-regulators for Roller Mills and the like.
I, WILLIAM GRIBBEN, of Croswell, in the County of Sanilac, and State of
Michigan, United States of America, 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 :-
The invention relates to improvements in feed regulators.
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device
for feeding to roller process flouring mills capable of automatically controlling the
feed according to the bulk of the material within the hopper.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device in which the feed can be
automatically controlled by the material within the hopper or by the operator.
The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrange-
ment of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings
and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a feeder constructed in accordance with this
invention, a portion of the hopper being broken away to illustrate the disposition of
the feeding mechanism.
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 2, the conical distributer
and the deflector being illustrated in clevation.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line - of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line y-y of Fig. 2.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1, designates a hopper of approximately
conical shape and consisting of an upper cylindrical portion 2 and a lower conical
portion 3, having an open circular bottom provided with a collar 4 in which bottom
is secured a conical distributer 5, arranged concentrically with the movable
collar 4, and secured to the bottom 3" is a semi-cylindrical band 6, extending
around and closing the back of the collar and forming a semi-circular feed-
opening 7, at the lower front end of the hopper. The conical distributer extends
upward within the hopper and is constructed of steel and has centrally journaled
within it a vertical shaft 8, provided with downwardly extending radial fingers
arranged to engage the outer face of the conical distributer and cause the material
to pass through the semi-circular feed-opening 7 and the upper ends of the fingers 9
are fastened to a disk 10 rigidly secured to the central vertical shaft 8 and bearing
upon the apex. of the conical distributer. The central shaft is provided above the
disk and within the conical portion of the hopper with radial agitator arms or
wings 11 and 12 and the latter are provided, at their ends with inwardly inclined
portions 13 arranged parallel with the inclined side of the conical portion of the
hopper and adapted to thoroughly stir the material before passing to the conical
distributer and prevent clogging.
A screw 14 provided with inclined blades 15 is secured by splines 16 to the
shaft 8 in the upper portion of the hopper and is adapted to engage the material
and force the same downward and is loosely mounted upon the central shaft and is
adapted to be moved vertically by the material coming in contact with the inclined
blades.
The blades are connected with a sliding sleeve 17 arranged upon the shaft at the
upper end of the hopper and connected with the collar 4 and adapted to partially
close the feed-opening and regulate the discharge of the material so that when there
is a large bulk of material within the hopper, the screw is raised and the discharge-
opening increased in size by the consequent movement of the collar 4, and as the
D
027

page_text: Dunk decreases, the screw descends carrying with it the collar 4 and partially
closing the feed-opening.
It will thus readily be seen that the discharge is automatically regulated by the
bulk of the material within the hopper.
The collar 4 is connected to the lower ends of rods 18 arranged upon opposite
sides of the hopper and conforming to the configuration thereof and having their
upper ends connected by a cross-bar 19 loosely arranged upon the shaft and having
its ends extending through slots 20 of the hopper and pivoted in the bifurcated end
of the rods 18. When it is desired to have the feed controlled by the operator
instead of being automatically controlled by the screw, the ends of the side-rods 18
are released from the cross-bar and connected with set-screws designed to pass
through the cover 21. The conical distributer 5 is provided with lateral
extensions 22 extending downward and forming a continuation of the cone and
having secured at one side of them an inclined deflector 23 which extends beyond
the opposite side of them to direct the material to the rollers and the said extensions
are provided with flanges 24 which direct the material to the deflector and prevent
it falling back of the same.
From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, the construction,
operation and advantages of the invention will be readily understood.
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 I
claim is:
:-
1. In a feeder, the combination of the hopper provided at its lower end with the
band 6 forming a semi-circular opening, the conical distributer, the inclined
flanges 24 arranged-on-the conical distributer and the inclined deflector arranged
beneath the distributer and adapted to direct the material in a sheet, substantially
as described.
2: In a feeder, the combination of the hopper, the band 6, the stationary conical
distributer having lateral extensions-22 forming continuations of it and provided
with flanges 24 arranged along the extension and the inclined deflector secured to
--and connecting the extensions at one side and depending below the extensions at the
other side, substantially-as-described.
3. The combination of the hopper provided at its lower-end with the collar, the
conical distributer-arranged at the bottom of the hopper and secured thereto, the-
band closing the back of the hopper and-forming a semi-circular discharge-opening,
the sliding sleeve arranged upon the collar and adapted to vary the size of the
discharge-opening, the central vertical shaft, the screw arranged upon the shaft and
capable of vertical movement and being connected with and operating the sliding
sleeve, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the hopper having an open bottom and provided with a
collar, the conical distributer arranged concentric with the collar and secured
thereto, the band closing the back of the hopper and forming a semi-circular
discharge-opening, the central vertical shaft, the sliding sleeve arranged upon the
said collar, the screw-vertically movable on the shaft, the cross-bar arranged to be
engaged by the screw and having its ends extending.through the sides of the hopper
and the rods 18 connecting the cross-bar and the sliding sleeve, substantially_as_
described.
5. In a feeder, the hopper, band 6, the stationary conical distributer having its
apex arranged within the bottom of the hopper, the series of rotary inclined fingers
working flat against the exterior face of the apex of the conical distributer, the
inclined flanges 24 at the sides of the distributer and the deflector secured to the
distributer and extending below the same, as set forth.
6. In a feeder, the combination with the hopper the central rotary shaft, the
inclined blades 15 loosely mounted on the shaft so as to rise and fall by the increase
or decrease of the material in the hopper, and the collar 4 connected with the
blades and operated thereby, as set forth.

page_text: 7. In a feeder, the combination with the hopper having a conical distributer 5
arranged in the mouth of the hopper, and the band 6 partially closing the space
between the mouth of the hopper and the distributer so as to provide a semi-
circular feed opening 7, the central rotary shaft, the inclined blades 15 loosely
mounted on the shaft so as to rise and. fall by the increase or decrease of the
material in the hopper and the exterior collar 4, the exteriorly-arranged rods 18
and the cross-bar 19 resting above and operated by the blades, as set forth.
8. The combination of the hopper provided at its lower end with the band 6
closing the back of the hopper and forming a semi-circular discharge-opening the
conical distributer arranged at the bottom of the hopper and secured thereto, the
sliding collar 4 arranged on the band 6 to vary the size of the discharge-opening
and suitable means for controlling the sliding sleeve, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.