IMPROVEMENTS IN MARWANDTERING MITISMOWERS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Whitmore, of Wickham Market, in the
County of Suffolk, Millwright, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MARWANDTERING MITISMOWERS "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Whitmore at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd May 1873.
I, WILLIAM WHITMORE, of Wickham Market, in the County of
Suffolk, Millwright, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING AND DRIVING MILLSTONES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention is more particularly applicable to millstones which are
driven by bands or frictional gearing, thereby dispensing with the means
for compressing the band in cases where press pullies, fast and loose
pullies, friction pullies or cones, or such other intermediate means as
have hitherto been employed for that purpose, thus reducing friction,

page_text: saving power, and obtaining more uniform working of the belts with less
wear and tear of the back face of the same; also effecting more easy
working of the stones and machinery by the silent working of the belts,
less wear and tear of machinery and saving in the cost of oil and means
of lubrication.
My improvements are applicable to millstones (arranged so that either
top stone or bottom one is driven), mounted as is usually practiced
within an iron bedding or receptacle (having the proper means fitted
thereto for the proper adjustment of the stones horizontally and
vertically), to the under side of which is attached the requisite framing
and supports for the spindle driving pulley gearing adjustments to feed
gear and meal spout appendages. On the upper side of the iron bedding
or platform, the feeding hopper, kerbing, and casings around stones is also
fitted so as to form on the whole an entirely self-contained arrangement,
to enable the whole to be shifted without disarrangement of any
particular part in order to provide for such movement of the whole.
The iron platform or bedding before mentioned according to my im-
provements is arranged to slide in a parallel seating, formed and framed
in connection with the flooring of the mill (properly supported) in direct
line to or from the driving means, the effect of which is to tighten or
slacken the driving band, and to set in motion or stop the spindle of the
driven stone.
For effecting the movement of the platform or millstone bedding in
accordance with my improvements I employ a rack and pinion with a
hand purchase motion to the same, or a screw or screws with such hand
purchase, or a lever or eccentric purchase with spring or weight or
other suitable mechanical means, connected thereto, or other suitable
mechanical means may be adopted, as may be found most convenient in
carrying out my Invention.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Whitmore, Her special license
that I, the said William Whitmore, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Whitmore, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING
AND DRIVING MILLSTONES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Whitmore, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE that I, the said William Whitmore, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention is more particularly applicable to millstones which are
driven by bands than when driven by gearing, thereby dispensing with
all such means for compressing the band as in cases where press pullies,
fast and loose pulleys, friction pulleys, or cones, or such other inter-
mediate means as have hitherto been employed for that purpose, thus
reducing friction, saving power, and obtaining more uniform working of
the belts with less wear and tear of the back faces of the same, also
effecting more easy working of the stones and machinery by the silent
working of the belts, less wear and tear of machinery and saving in the
cost of oil and means of lubrication.
My improvements are applicable to millstones (arranged so that either
top stone or bottom one is driven), mounted as is usually practiced
within an iron bedding or receptacle (having the proper means fitted
thereto for the proper adjustment of the stones horizontally and

page_text: vertically), to the under side of which is attached the requisite framing
and supports for the spindle driving pulley gearing adjustments to feed
gear and meal spout appendages. On the upper side of the iron bedding
or platform the feeding hopper, kerbing, and casings around stones is also
fitted so as to form on the whole an entirely self-contained arrangement
to enable the whole to be shifted without disarrangement of any
particular part. In order to provide for such movement of the whole,
the iron platform or bedding before mentioned according to my improve-
ments is arranged to slide to and fro in a parallel seating, formed and
framed in connection with the flooring of the mill (properly supported),
in direct line to or from the driving means, the effect of which is to
tighten or slacken the driving band, and to set in motion or stop the
spindle of the driven stone in accordauce with my Invention.
For effecting the movement of the platform or millstone bedding in
accordance with my improvements I employ a rack and pinion with a
hand purchase motion to the same, or a screw, or screws with such hand
purchase, or a lever or eccentric purchase with spring or weight or
other suitable mechanical means connected thereto, or other suitable
mechanical means may be adopted, as may be found most convenient in
carrying out my Invention.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily

page_text: bed stone, and O the runner stone; P, the flooring over girder; and Q a
plate fixed to pan A to prevent dust falling through floor; R, R, is the
locking gear or apparatus to set fast the moveable pan A when required;
S, S, adjustable stay to framing.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing or carrying the same into practice, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein-before
described, so long as the novel features or character of
my Invention is
retained; but what I claim is, the improved method of mounting and
driving millstones by which the necessity for and means hitherto
employed for compressing or tightening the driving band are dispensed
with substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described and shewn with reference to the Drawing hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Whitmore, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
0
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
WILLIAM WHITMORE. (L.S.)
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
W.Ơ.