IMPROVEMENTS IN REDUCING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of." IMPROVEMENTS IN
REDUCING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Jean Benjamin Toufflin, of Paris,
in the Republic of France.
ealed the 30th July 1878, and dated the 9th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th February 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REDUCING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND
IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Jean
Benjamin Toufflin, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to apparatus in which the pulverization or reduction to
flour or powder of grain, seeds, or granular substances of any description is effected
by percussion in lieu of by grinding or crushing, that is to say, by means of beaters
acting upon the grain or granular substances while in the act of falling, or while
they are being projected through the apparatus.
In disintigrators or pulverising apparatus of all descriptions (whether with a
vertical or horizontal axis) the same phenomena are always produced when the said
apparatus are caused to rotate in their cases, which are usually of considerable size;
the said phenomina are as follows:-The motion of the plates or discs which carry
the bars or beaters in circular rows, thus forming a series of cages, causes air to be
drawn in through the feeding hopper through the opening for the discharge of the
flour, and in some cases through the hollow shaft on which are mounted the discs
carrying the beaters; this air is then forced out into a passage provided for the pur-
pose and usually placed on the top of the case of the apparatus.
Experience has shown that under these conditions the greater part of the motive
power is absorbed by the mere setting of the beaters in motion, even when the
apparatus is running empty.

page_text: In order to reduce the amount of power thus expended in driving the apparatus,
it is necessary to remove as far as practicable one of the principal causes of this
expenditure of power, that is to say, the resistance of the air to be displaced, which
object this Invention is designed to effect.
In carrying out this Invention, two shafts are employed, placed end to end, and
supported in bearings of a construction enabling the shafts to be regularly and con-
stantly lubricated, even when rotating at high rates of speed. The ends of the
shafts, which are in juxtaposition, carry discs upon which the cages or beaters
are fixed in concentric rows, the discs with their beaters being enclosed in a case
strengthened externally by angle irons, and made to fit as closely as possible over
the said discs. The shafts are passed through stuffing boxes in the side of the case.
The shafts are driven by pulleys which are keyed upon them and caused to rotate
in opposite directions by a belt carried over the main driving shaft.
The case is connected to a hopper for containing the substance to be treated
by means of a tube bifurcated at the end within the case, so as to deliver the
substance at the centre of the cage, and provided with an apparatus for ex-
cluding air at the other end where it is connected to the hopper. This apparatus
consists of a cylinder divided into several approximately air-tight compartments
by radial partitions attached to a shaft passed through the centre of the cylinder,
and caused to rotate by a belt and pulley connected to the main driving shaft.
As each compartment is presented in turn to the aperture at the bottom of the
hopper, it is filled with the grain or other substance to be pulverized or reduced,
and as it continues to rotate, it carries the same round to the aperture on the top of
the feed pipe, into which its contents are discharged, while all air except that which
is contained in the interstices of the grains, or granules is effectually excluded.
A similar arrangement is provided for the discharge of the flour or pulverised
substance through a pipe at the lower part of the case for excluding air at this
point. This apparatus being likewise actuated by a belt and pulley driven by the
main driving shaft.
"
A more or less perfect vacuum is maintained within the case by means of a pump.
on what is known as Greindl's system," connected to the case by a pipe, and
actuated by the main driving shaft, or an ejector provided with a check valve may
be employed for effecting the same object by means of a jet of steam obtained either
direct from the boiler or from the exhaust pipe of the engine.
The air within the case being continually exhausted' and rarefied by the action of
the pump or ejector, the injurious resistance herein-before referred to is considerably
reduced, if not completely obviated.
It is evident that air may be exhausted from the chamber in which the cages
rotate by means of apparatus other than these herein-before specified, such for
example as ordinary air pumps; the air may also be exhausted through hollow shafts,
or the outlet or outlets for the air may be situate at any part of the case which may
be found most convenient, according to circumstances, and the said outlets may be
provided with wire gauze diaphragms in a conical union which will not impede the
passage of the air, whilst the wire gauze prevents the escape of the flour, and for
the same purpose the pipe through which the air is exhausted may be made of a
syphon form, or the apparatus described for the discharge of the flour may be replaced
by a powerful fan exhausting the air within the case, and delivering the flour to a
bolting apparatus which will thus be enabled to work easily and economically under
pressure.
In addition to the advantages obtained of a saving in motive power, the rare-
faction or exhaustion of the air in the chamber in which the cages work has the
effect of considerably reducing the temperature in the said chamber, and in main-
taining it at a very low degree while in the production of flour or meal in general,
and corn
or wheaten flour in particular, is a most important object. This
rarefaction or exhaustion of the air also has the effect of facilitating the free fall or
projection of the grains or granules, also of promoting the evaporation of the water
contained in the grain so as to greatly facilitate its decortication. Dry meal or flour

page_text: may thus be obtained direct from the mill, and consequently in the best possible
condition for its transport or preservation.
The details of the apparatus generally may be varied without departing from the.
principle of this Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
August 1878.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REDUCING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND
IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Jean
Benjamin Touffin, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
The said Invention relates to apparatus in which the pulverization or reduction
to flour or powder of grain, seeds, or granular substances of any description is effected
by percussion, in lieu of by grinding or crushing, that is to say, by means of
beaters acting upon the grain or granular substances while in the act of falling;
or while they are being projected through the apparatus.
In disintegrators or pulverizing apparatus of every description (whether with a
vertical or horizontal axis), the following phenomena are produced when the said
apparatus are caused to rotate in their cases, which are usually of considerable
size, videlicet:-The motion of the plates or discs which carry the bars or beaters in
circular rows, thus forming a series of cages, causes air to be drawn in through
the feeding hopper through the opening for the discharge of the flour, and in
some cases through the hollow shafts, on which are mounted the discs carrying
the beaters, this air is then forced out into a passage provided for the purpose, and
usually placed on the top of the case of the apparatus.
Experience has shewn that under these conditions the greater part of the motive
power is absorbed by the mere setting of the beaters in motion, even when the
apparatus is running empty.
"
In order to reduce the amount of the power thus expended in driving the appa-
ratus, it is necessary to remove as far as practicable one of the principal causes of
this expenditure of power, that is to say, the resistance of the air to be displaced,
which object the said Invention is designed to effect.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed.
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
Figures on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, which illustrate an apparatus
constructed and arranged in accordance with the said Invention, and more particu-
larly applicable to the reduction of corn to the condition of flour.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents a part longitudinal section
and part elevation of the apparatus; and Figure 2 is a transverse section of the
same.
Two shafts B, B', are employed, placed end to end, supported on frames A, A¹,"

page_text: and rotating in opposite directions in bearings C, C', of peculiar construction,
enabling the shafts to be regularly and constantly lubricated, even when rotating
at high rates of speed. The ends of the shafts, which are in juxtaposition, carry
discs D, D¹, upon which the cages or beaters d, d, are fixed in concentric rows
rotating in a case E strengthened externally by angle irons and made to fit as
closely as possible over the said discs. The shafts are passed through stuffing
boxes e, c', in the side of the case.
The shafts are driven by pulleys F, F', which are keyed upon them and caused
to rotate in opposite directions by a belt carried over the main driving shaft.
The case E is connected' to a hopper L for containing the substance to be treated
by means of a tube G bifurcated at the end within the case, so as to deliver the
substance at the centre of the cage, and provided with an apparatus for excluding
air at the other end where it is connected to the hopper. This apparatus consists
of a cylinder H divided into several approximately air-tight compartments by radial
partitions m attached to a shaft n passed through the centre of the cylinder, and
caused to rotate by a pulley O driven by a belt connected to the main driving
shaft.
As each compartment is presented in turn to the aperture at the bottom of the
hopper L, it is filled with the grain or other substance to be pulverized or reduced,
and as it continues to rotate it carries the same round to the aperture on the top of
the feed pipe G into which its contents are discharged, while all air except that which
is contained in the interstices of the grains or granules is effectually excluded.
A similar arrangement is provided for the discharge of the flour or pulverized
substance through a pipe i at the lower part of the case for excluding air at this
point, this apparatus being likewise actuated by a belt and pulley O' driven by the
main driving shaft.
A more or less perfect vacuum is maintained within the case by means of a
pump J, Figure 2, on what is known as Greindl's system, connected to the case by
a pipe and actuated by the main driving shaft; or an ejector K, Figure 2,
provided with a check valve may be employed for effecting the same object by
means of a jet of steam obtained either direct from the boiler or from the
exhaust pipe of the engine.
The air within the case being continually exhausted and rarefied by the action
of the Greindl pump or ejector, the injurious resistance herein-before referred
to is considerably reduced, if not completely obviated..
It is evident that air may be exhausted from the chamber in which the cages
rotate by means of apparatus other than those herein-before specified, such for
example as ordinary air pumps; the air may also be exhausted through hollow
shafts, or the outlet or outlets for the air may be situate at any part of the case
which may be found most convenient according to circumstances, and the said
outlets may be provided with wire gauze diaphragms, as shewn at h, k, Figure 2, in a
conical chamber which will not impede the passage of the air, whilst the wire gauze
prevents the escape of the flour, and for the same purpose the pipe through which
the air is exhausted may be made of a syphon form, as shewn in dotted lines at 1, 1,
Figure 2, or the apparatus described for the discharge of the flour may be replaced
by a powerful fan, exhausting the air within the case, and delivering the flour to a
bolting apparatus, which will thus be enabled to work easily and economically under
pressure.
This improved pulverizing or disintegrating apparatus working in a rarefied
atmosphere possesses other important advantages besides the great saving in motive
power. The rarefaction or exhaustion of the air in the chamber in which the cages
work has the effect of considerably reducing the temperature in the said chamber,
and maintaining it at a very low degree, which in the production of flour or meal
in general, and corn or wheat and flour in particular, is a most important object.
This rarefaction or exhaustion of the air also has the effect of facilitating the free
fall or projection of the grains or granules, also of promoting the evaporation of the
water contained in the grain, so as to greatly facilitate its decortication.

page_text: Moreover, this last-named effect of the rarefaction or exhaustion of the air enables
dry meal or flour to be obtained direct from the mill, and consequently in the best
possible condition for its transport or preservation.
The said Invention is applicable to disintegrators generally constructed upon
the principle of that herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, whether with vertical or horizontal axes, either solid or hollow, and with
any required modifications in the details of construction.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, reducing grain and other substances in a vacuum or partial
vacuum, substantially in the manner and by the means herein-before described.
i
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, the Ninth day of August, One thousand tight
hundred and seventy-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)