AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR PURIFYING MIDDLINGS OR FLOUR
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR PURIFYING
MIDDLINGS OR FLOUR." A communication from abroad by Thomas Burr
Osborne, of New Haven, Connecticut, and Kingsland Smith, of the City and
State of New York, both in the United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lako at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th February 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS OR
MACHINERY FOR PURIFYING MIDDLINGS OR FLOUR." A communication from
abroad by Thomas Burr Osborne, of New Haven, Connecticut, and Kingsland Smith,
of the City and State of New York, both in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to purifying ground grain, such as wheat and the like,
the object being to remove all the particles which depreciate the quality of the
flour, and the said Invention consists in the process and in the construction of
apparatus as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawing,—
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of apparatus constructed according to my
Invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through one of the troughs.
Figure 4 is a transverse section through tho receiver-adjusting device.
A represents the bed or frame of the apparatus or machine, and on which the
operative mechanism is arranged, and B the driving shaft, to which power may be
applied by a crank B' or in any known or convenient manner.
C is a receiver for
the ground material, and is arranged so as to be moved on guides D, and a rapid
reciprocating movement is imparted to it by means of cranks a and pitman-
connections b. The said cranks are arranged on a longitudinal shaft E, to which a
rotary motion is imparted through an intermediate shaft F connected with the
driving shaft by bevel gear-wheels d and with the shaft E by pinions e, f, so that
as the driving shaft is rotated a rapid reciprocating movement is imparted to the
receiver C.
The guides D which support the receiver C are arranged so as to be adjusted
relatively to the rolls by means of screws h, h, and i, i. The bed of the said

page_text: apparatus or machine is placed in an inclined position, or the guides D may be
inclined so as to give the receiver Can inclination downward from the receiving
point G to the discharge H. and so that the grain delivered into the receiver at Ğ
will by the constant agitation or shaking of the receiver work gradually along
until it passes out at the discharge H, see Figure 2.
The method of adjustment is shewn in Figure 3.
Longitudinally over the receiver several rolls I are arranged parallel with each
other, and connected to the driving shaft by bevel gear-wheels K so as to be
revolved in the direction denoted by the arrows, Figure 2; these rolls run near the
surface of the ground material in the receiver, and they are made of or their surfaces
are coated with hard india-rubber or equivalent material capable of being electrified
or to present an electrified surface.
Above each roll or at some point above the receiver is a pad L presenting to each
roll so as to bear upon it a cushion or surface of wool or equivalent inaterial, which
will generate more or less electricity in consequence of the hard rubber rubbing
against the said cushion, and giving to the rolls an electrified surface and an
attractive power which will take from the surface of the ground material the lighter
particles, such particles rising and attaching themselves to the rolls by the attractive
power thus generated, and adhering to the said rolls they ride upon the surface until
they strike the cushion L above or some other obstruction, and then being detached
will drop into troughs N below, which troughs are in such relative position to the
rolls as to catch the particles when they drop therefrom; the said troughs extend
over the receiver parallel with the rolls.
To discharge the material deposited in the troughs, an endless band P is arranged
longitudinally over each of the troughs, the said band running on a pulley P' on the
driving shaft, and over a corresponding pulley P³ on a shaft Ps at the other end of
the machine. These bands are provided with one or more sweeps R, which run in
close contact with the troughs so as to draw or sweep the material collected in the
said troughs to and deliver it from one end.
The cushions L are hung on the shaft S and springs, shewn in the Drawing us
spiral springs T, act upon the cushions with a tendency to raise the same from the
roll. In order to regulate the friction of the cushion on the roll a plate T¹ is
rigidly attached to the shafts and extends therefrom over the cushion, as seen in
Figures 2 and 3, and through these plates T' adjusting screws m, whose number may
be varied, are arranged to bear directly upon the back of the cushion, so that by
turning the screws inward or downward the cushion is made to press upon the roll
to the desired degree, or by turning the screws in the opposite direction will
accordingly relieve the friction.
The springs may be dispensed with, and a positive engagement of the cushion
made with the screws, so that the turning of the screws in one direction will increase
the pressure, and the turning of the screws in the opposite direction will relieve the
pressure.
While the agitation of the receiver will tend to throw the lighter particles which it
is desired to remove to the surface, thence to be removed by the electrified surface, and
while this agitation in some cases may be sufficient, the process is facilitated by a
blast introduced from below which will tend to blow the lighter particles upward
through and above the mass or heavier particles. To this end I make an opening n,
see Figure 2, and cover it with a fine open mesh r, so fine and of such a nature that
the ground material will not sift through it, but so that air may be readily forced
through; below the opening na blast is arranged to discharge air into said
opening. In the Drawing I have shewn a blower or fan t for this purpose arranged
directly below the opening, but the necessary blast may be derived from any other
source. This opening should be arranged near the roll, and so that the particles
raised by the blast will be more readily taken by the roll, that is to say, the blast
brings the lighter particles to the roll or electrified surface where they are caught
and retuined. The blast should be regulated according to the quantity or nature
of the material

page_text: To further aid in bringing to the surface the lighter particles a bar C₁ extends
across the receiver in front of each roll, but so as to leave a slight opening between
the bar and the bottoin of the receiver, as seen in Figure 2; the opening between
the bar and the bottom is less than the depth of the material in the receiver,
hence the constant advancing material will bank up against the bars, as indicated
in Figure 2, and roll over and over against the partition, thereby increasing the
surface upon which the roll may act, the material passing from the division under
one roll through the opening below the bar into the next division, and so on until
finally discharged.
Although I have described the attracting surfaces as revolving rolls it will be
readily understood that these surfaces may be flat or otherwise presented or moved
so as to receive and discharge the particles by their movement.
The number of these attracting surfaces or rolls may be increased to any desirable
extent in one and the same machine, the receiver being accordingly extended.
Instead of a reciprocating receiver other devices may be employed, for instance,
an endless apron, onto which the grain shall be delivered and carried beneath the
rolls; in that case a different agitator would be required, for instance, beaters to
strike lightly upon the underside of the apron.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the inanner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I do not limit myself to the particular construction or arrangement of parts as
shewn in the accompanying Drawing, but I claim,―
First. The process herein described for purifying flour, consisting in passing the
ground material and at the same time agitating it beneath movable electrified
surfaces, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of a receiver arranged and operating to agitate the
ground material passing thereon with one or more movable electrified surfaces
above the surface of the ground material passing in the receiver, substantially as
described.
Third. The combination of a receiver arranged and operating to agitate tho
ground material passing thereon with one or more movable electrified surfaces
above the surface of the ground material passing in the receiver, and a blast
arranged to discharge a current of air through the ground material, substantially as
described.
Fourth. The combination of a receiver arranged and operating to agitate the
ground material passing thereou with one or more movable electrified surfaces
above the surface of the ground material passing in the receiver, and an adjustable
cushion to regulate the power of the attracting surfaces, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of a receiver arranged and operating to agitate tho
ground material passing thereon with one or more movable electrified surfaces
above the surface of the ground material passing in the receiver, and troughs to
receive the particles from the electrified surfaces, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of a receiver arranged and operating to agitate the
ground material passing thereon with one or more movable electrified surfaces
above the surface of the ground material passing in the receiver-troughs to receive
the particles from the electrified surfaces, and moving sweeps to discharge the
material from the troughs, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of February in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred ond night…