Year: 1886

page_text: I, LOUIS GATHMANN, of the Garden City Mill Furnishing Company, Corner of
Clinton and Washington Streets Chicago, in the State of Illinois, one of the United
States of America, Manufacturer, 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 grain cleaning machines and has for its object to
construct the same in such a manner that they will remove the dirt and fuzz from
each kernel or grain more thoroughly than has heretofore been accomplished.
The said invention consists chiefly of a disc of chilled iron placed opposite to a
rotating brush, the said disc being provided with a series of annular ribs for pre-
venting the grain from being discharged too readily by the brush owing to the
centrifugal force; with a number of indentations for retarding and holding the
kernels so that they tumble over and over each other, and allowing no grain to
escape without being brushed and scoured on every part, especially on the ends; and
with slotted, shallow, radial openings for permitting the discharge of the dust, as
soon as detached, by means of an exhaust fan, all as hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 represents a central vertical longitudinal section of a machine con-
structed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the disc and
Figure 3 is a sectional view, drawn to an enlarged scale, of a portion of the disc
and brush.
A is a frame supporting the shaft B in bearings C and C¹; and D is a brush of
disc-shape, having bristles or filaments S preferably of steel wires placed closely and
compactly, and in a slanting position as shown in Figure 3. This brush D is
mounted upon the shaft B and rotates therewith.
E is a disc one side of which is faced with chilled iron plates F, of segmental
shape, secured thereon by screws. Each of these segmental plates is provided with
three curved ribs e, which, when all the plates of the disc are in place, will form
continuous annular ribs. A greater or less number of ribs than three may be
employed if desired. The surface of each plate F is provided with a number of
indentations g of different sizes to accommodate large and small kernels or grains.
The edges of the segments E are chamfered towards their rear ends and are secured

page_text: upon the disc E at slight distances apart to provide openings for the dirt detached
from the grain to be drawn through and off by the air suction.
This disc F is fixed in the frame A in line with and opposite to the brush D, the
shaft B being passed through its central aperture h, through which also enters the
grain fed into the machine through the spout G.
The brush D and disc F are enclosed in a box or housing H, having a forwardly
inclined hopper-bottom with a spout i, and to the bottom of the disc F is fixed a
rearwardly inclined board or plate ; extending to near the inclined hopper bottom,
so as only to leave a narrow opening for the purpose of distributing the grain over
the said inclined hopper for the better separation of the dust by the air suction.
A fan I is mounted upon the shaft B, and is enclosed in a housing K attached
to the front of the housing H and communicating therewith through an opening m..
For the purpose of producing a too direct draught a vertical partition n extends
from the opening m to near the top of the housing H, where by a valve o the air
suction can be regulated.
A pulley J is mounted upon one end of the shaft B, for driving the brush and
fan by a belt.
The shaft B is made laterally adjustable, for regulating the distance between the
brush D and the disc E. For this purpose I secure upon the cap of the bearing C
a V-shaped spring q, one end of which extends through a slot in such cap and
engages with an annular groove in the shaft B. A screw-thread is formed in the
end of the bearing C and is adapted to receive a screw r having a handwheel 8 and
jam-nut t. This screw is adapted to push the shaft forward, thereby compressing
the spring q, and to hold the shaft rigidly in its proper lateral position by tightening
the jam-nut t.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First In a grain cleaning machine, the combination with a rotary brush, of a
stationary disc provided with indentations, as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second-In a grain cleaning machine, the combination with a rotary brush, of a
stationary disc provided with annular ribs and with indentations, as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
Third In a grain cleaning machine, the combination with the rotary brush, of
a stationary disc provided with indentations and slotted openings, as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
Fourth In a grain cleaning machine, the combination with a rotary brush and
a stationary disc having indentations substantially as described, of an exhaust fan,
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fifth In a grain cleaning machine, the combination with a stationary disc
having indentations substantially as described, of a disc shaped brush and an
exhaust fan, both mounted upon the same shaft, as set forth.
Tad this and drown Mauch 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.