IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANSING AND HULLING GRAIN AND SEEDS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANSING AND HULLING GRAIN AND
SEEDS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A com-
munication from Charles Theodore Laborey, of Paris, Mechanician.
Sealed the 17th June 1856, and dated the 16th April 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th April 1856.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANSING AND HULLING
GRAIN AND SEEDS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a
communication from Charles Theodore Laborey, of Paris, Mechanician, to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions and arrangements
of machinery or apparatus for cleansing und hulling dry or wet grains and
seeds, and consists, according to one arrangement of mechanism for cleaning
and hulling dry grain, of a suitable wood or iron frame, fitted at the top with
Price 8d1

page_text: a regulating hopper, into which the grain is placed, and from which it falls on
to a vibratory perforated plate, which answers the purpose of a smut machine,
and removes therefrom the small grits or other extraneous matter, which might
injure the hulling portion of the mechanism. The grain after falling through
the perforated plates enters a fixed drum or cylinder, the internal sides of
which are lined with iron or steel plates cut or roughed like a file, the cuts
being V-shaped. Inside this drum rotate a number of curved blades or arms,
also fitted with similar plates, by which means the grain is partly hulled or
deprived of its outer skin or covering. The hulling is still further carried out
in a second huller, similar to the first, which the grain enters after being sub-
jected to the action of the first. On leaving the second huller, the loose skins
or husks are blown off by a ventilator, the blades of which are adjustable
nearer to or further from the centre to give different strengths of blast.
Passing through this current of air, the grain falls on to an endless travelling
belt fitted with brushes, which brush it against a set of roughened plates and
remove entirely the husks therefrom; one or more vibrating sieves serve finally
to separate the loose husks from the grain. In treating moist or wet grain,
the grain should be first well cleaned, and then soaked in warm water, at a
temperature varying from about 86° to 120°, and immediately after removal it
should be submitted whilst still warm to a hulling machine, of the same
general principle to that herein-before described, but slightly modified in
construction.
This machine consists of a revolving drum fitted with roughened or file-cut
plates or bars, similar to those herein-before described, and this drum rotates
inside a fixed cylinder, the interior of which is fitted alternately with file-cut
bars and finely perforated bars, through which latter the small round seeds and
dlust falls through. This fixed cylinder is made adjustable, so as to be brought
nearer to or removed further from the rotating drum by means of adjusting
screws; an outer casing or jacket encloses it, leaving a warm air space all
round, thereby keeping the grain from cooling, and facilitating the operation of
hulling. The grain after leaving this machine is entirely separated from the
now loose husks, by being submitted to the action of a cylinder fitted with
brushes, and acted upon by a fan blower.

page_text: 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
16th October 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and
of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said, John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CLEANSING AND HULLING GRAIN AND SEEDS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication from Charles Theodore
Laborey, of Paris, Mechanician, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions and arrangements
of machinery or apparatus for cleansing and hulling dry or wet grain and seeds,
and consists, according to one arrangement of mechanism for treating dry grain,
of a suitable frame, fitted at the top with a regulating hopper, into which the
grain to be treated is placed, and from which it falls on to a vibrating
perforated plate, which answers the purpose of a smut machine, and removes
therefrom the small grits or other extraneous matter which might injure the
hulling mechanism. The grain after falling through the perforated plate

page_text: enters a fixed drum or cylinder, the internal sides of which are lined with iron
or steel plates, cut or roughed like a file, the cuts being V-shaped or in zig-zags.
Inside this drum rotates a beater, composed of a number of curved blades or
arms, also fitted with similar roughened plates, by the action of which the
grain is partly hulled or deprived of its outer skin or covering. The hulling is
still further carried out in a second huller, similar to the first, into which the
grain enters after being subjected to the action of the first huller. On leaving
the second huller, the grain is winnowed by means of a fan or blower, the
blades of which are adjustable, so that they can be brought nearer to or farther
from the shaft or centre, in order that different strengths of blast may be given.
On passing through the current of air thereby generated, the grain falls through
an opening upon an endless travelling belt fitted with brushes, which brush or
rub it against a set of roughened plates, thereby removing any remaining skin
or husks therefrom which have not previously been removed. One or more
vibrating sieves serve finally to separate the loose husks from the grain. In
treating moist or wet grain, the grain should be first well cleaned, and then
moistened in water, at a temperature varying from about 86% to 120°, and
immediately after removal it should be submitted whilst still warm to a hulling
machine, of the same general principle as that herein-before described, but
slightly modified in construction. This machine consists of a revolving drum
fitted with roughened or file-cut plates or bars, similar to those herein-before
described, and this drum rotates inside a fixed cylinder, the interior of which
may be fitted alternately with file-cut bars and finely perforated plates or
wire gauze, through which latter the small round seeds and dust fall. This
fixed cylinder is made adjustable, so as to be brought nearer to or removed
further from the circumference of the rotating drum by means of adjusting
screws; an outer casing or jacket encloses it, leaving a warm air space all
round, thereby keeping the grain from cooling and facilitating the operation of
hulling. The grain after leaving this machine is entirely separated from any
remaining loose husks, and is dressed or polished by being submitted to the
action of a cylinder fitted with brushes, and by being acted upon by the blast of
a fan blower.
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 I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,. the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a side elevation of my apparatus for
treating dry grain; Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same,

page_text: taken alone the line 1, 2, in Figure 3; and Figure 3 is a plan of the machine.
A is a frame, which supports the various parts of the machine, and may be.
composed of wood or of cast iron, without any important modification of its
form. In suitable bearings, fixed on this framework, are placed the axles b
These
and c, on which are fixed the revolving hullers or beaters B and C.
hullers are composed of a number of curved blades, fitted with roughened or
file-cut plates of iron or steel, similar plates being fitted to the interiors of the
hollow cylinders, or fixed drums D and D.
These cylinders or drums, which in conjunction with the revolving beaters
form the actual hulling mechanism, are composed of two or more segments of
wood or cast iron, united by cross pieces in such a way as to allow of their
being opened at pleasure in order to be cleaned. Above the hulling cylinders
is placed a vibrating perforated plate E, which answers the purpose of a smut
machine. Its object is to remove or separate from the grain any small stones
or other hard bodies, which would injure the surface of the roughened plates,
herein-before referred to.
The vibrating plate E receives its motion from a. small cam or tappet d,
mounted on a shaft, on one extremity of which is fitted a pulley e, driven by
a band and pulley e. The plate E is surmounted by a hopper F, into which
the grain. to be treated is thrown; it is furnished with a door or sliding register
f, which with the assistance of a rack and pinion f regulates the discharge
opening at will. A sector g indicates by means of the arrow g' the degree of
opening allowed for the exit of the grain.
It will be seen that the grain thrown into the hopper F passes down upon
the plate E, and thence by means of the passage G into the first hulling
cylinder D, in which the first decortication is produced, by means of the
revolving blades furnished with the roughened plates, and by means of the
roughened plates which line the interior of the cylinder. These blades rotate
with a rapidity of about 250 revolutions per minute in such a machine as that
represented in my Drawings, but the speed may be made io vary, according
to the dimensions of the machine and the nature of the grain to be treated.
The grain now passes along the passage II, and enters the second cylinder
D', in which the hulling process is still further out.
Z
The bottom of the passage H is composed of a finely perforated sheet of
metal, so as to allow the smallest grain or seeds to pass through it. On leaving
the second hulling cylinder, the grain falls on to the sieve J', passing on its
way between the upper roughened plate j, and certain brushes 'i, fixed upon
traversing bands I. During the descent of the grain the fan blower or win:
nower J drives off through the opening at L so much of the husk or chaff

page_text: as may have been detached, and by the action of the hulling cylinders and their
revolving blades, herein-before referred to. This fan differs but slightly from
those in ordinary use for this purpose, the only difference being that the fan
blades are arranged to slide on their arms towards or from the centre at
pleasure, so as to produce a less energetic or more powerful blast, as found
desirable. The object of the brushes and the roughened plate is to detach
any husk and dust still adhering to the grain which have not been previously
removed. For this purpose the bands carrying the brushes i are mounted on
two pullies, and made to travel so that the brushes are continually rubbing
the grain against the plates j. These plates are roughened on their surface, in
a similar manner to ordinary rasps; they are arranged in a semicircular form,
and are then prolonged underneath in a straight line as far as the commence-
ment of the sieve J¹. This sieve is composed of wire guaze or perforated metal
plates, fitted in a frame and capable of being easily removed and replaced.
Several sieves may be used of various guages, so that the grain may be sifted
to any degree of fineness.
.
In the Drawing I have shewn two sieves, lettered J¹ and J¹¹ respectively.
The frame which carries these sieves J, J", is supported upon four friction
pullies, which allow of a vibrating motion being imparted to it, by which
means the grain is caused to descend to the lower end K, where it is discharged.
The various portions of this apparatus may be driven by gearing or pullies
and bands, as found most convenient. In the apparatus which I have repre-
sented, I have supposed that the motive power is communicated by means of
the pulley L mounted on the intermediate shaft 1. This shaft transmits the
motion to the two rotatory hullers B and C by means of the spur wheel M
and pinions m and m³ (Figure 1), the intermediate pinion n causing both the
hullers to revolve in the same direction. The axle of the pinion n is furnished
with a pulley N, which communicates motion to the fan by means of a band
and pulley N¹.
The second arrangement of apparatus herein-before referred to, and which
may be used for treating moistened grain, is also represented in the annexed
Sheet of Drawings at Figures 4 and 5. When it is required to hull wet grain,
I proceed, as is customary in most mills, where the grain is wetted before being
subjected to the action of the millstones.
It is indispensable that the grain before being hulled should be cleaned, and
that the dirt and dust which adhere to the husk should be removed by the
action of a fan blower, in order that the grain may be quite clean before being
moistened and introduced into the hulling cylinder or machine.
This hulling machine consists of a drum, having its exterior surface fitted

page_text: with plates of metal, roughened or incised in a zig-zag manner, and revolving
in a fixed drum, the whole being surrounded by a wooden casing, so arranged
as to leave a space between it and the fixed hulling drum. The interior of the
fixed drum may, if thought desirable, be fitted alternately with file-cut bars and
finely perforated plates or wire guaze; but I greatly prefer that the interior of
the said fixed drum should not be lined with metal plates, but should consist
simply of wood. The casing is employed with the view of excluding the cold
external air; without this precaution a large portion of the heat generated by
the friction of the grain between the revolving and the fixed drums would
escape. By a slight modification, however, of this machine, it may be used for
treating dry grain, in which case the outer casing is dispensed with, and
the interior of the fixed drum is fitted with roughened and perforated plates
alternately.
Experience has shewn me that in the case of moistened grain a moderate
degree of heat greatly assists the hulling process without having any injurious
effect on the flour. In the moistening process it is advantageous to use water
raised to a temperature of from 86° to 120° Fahrenheit, care being taken to
hull it immediately afterwards. The grain. thus. prepared, is introduced into
the hulling machine, which will be clearly understood on referring to Figures 4
and 5. Figure 4 represents a section taken along the axis of the hulling
drum; and Figure 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 1, 2, in Figure 4.
It will be seen from these Figures that the machine for treating moistened
grain consists of a drum or cylinder B. Figure 6, composed of staves of wood
a, connected with the axle b by the arms or spokes a'. The external circum-
ference of this drum is furnished with roughened plates, alternately cut in the
fashion of a file, or with zig-zags, and in the fashion of a rasp. The fixed
drum D is also formed of wooden staves, and is, when dry grain is treated.
internally furnished with roughened plates d. arranged alternately with
plates of metal d' (Figure 7) of the same thickness, but which, instead of
being roughened, are pierced with small and very closely arranged holes, of
such a diameter that the small grains and dust can alone pass. This fixed
drum, so arranged, is used for hulling dry grain, but when the wet process is
used this drum is furnished with staves of wood only without the roughened
and perforated plates, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5. The staves of the fixed
drum are held together by means of the rings H. These rings are made in
two halves, and are united by the wooden longitudinal bars H. These bars
are "moveable, in order to allow of the fixed drum being opened or closed at
pleasure, the distance or space which is left between the fixed drum and the
revolving drum being thereby adjusted. This adjustment can be obtained by

page_text: means of the screws h placed on each side of the framework (Figure 5).
The moistened grain is introduced at the upper portion of the machine at
hopper F. The drum B rotates in the direction of the arrow, and draws the
grain with it in its rotation, eventually forcing it to leave the machine through
the opening at F' and enter the chamber F, whence it passes through the
opening on to the inclined plane P. A slide when shut down forms a par-
tition between the grain that is leaving the cylinder and that which is entering
it, and thus prevents the grain making more than one revolution with the
drum. By raising the slide, however, the grain may be carried round with
the drum during several revolutions. In order to prevent the grain from
escaping through the ends of the fixed drum D. the revolving drum. B is
furnished with flanges p, turning in the grooves p', cut in the fixed drum D.
These grooves are lubricated by means of lubricators q, Figures 4 and 5, in
order to facilitate the rotatory motion of the flanges. The openings r, r, cut in
the bottom of the fixed drum and outer casing, allow of any grain being
removed which may remain in the machine when it is stopped; these openings
are closed by doors acted upon by the lever R. When the grain leaves this
hulling machine the kernel is completely separated from the husk, and it may
be at once introduced into a brushing or dressing and polishing machine in
connection with the huller, as represented at Figures 8 and 9. These Figures,
it must be understood, refer to the modification herein-before mentioned for
treating dry grain.
Figure 8 is a hulling machine, with the finishing or dressing apparatus
attached; and Figure 9 is a corresponding end elevation of the whole
apparatus. The finishing and dressing apparatus is placed close to the
hulling machine, so that the grain, after having passed through that machine,
can immediately enter the dressing cylinder by passing along the passage or
spout P. The framework of this apparatus is composed of three plates A, A¹
A united by four columns B; an opening is made in the top plate A for the
introduction of the spout P, which supplies the
the
grain to
dressing cylinder. The middle plate A¹ (shewn in detail on a small scale at
Figure 10, has a projecting part all on one side, to receive the grain which is
expelled by the collector or scraper d, as far as the extremity of the mouth of
the fan blower e, fixed on the vertical shaft I. This fan separates the husks or
ligneous portions, which are detached by the brushes, herein-after described,
which husks, with the grain, pass down the delivery spout u, and are blown off
upwards into the spout v, whilst the grain falls below through the aperture
The third plate A", which may be called the foundation plate, is similar to
that just described, but it has a circular opening made in it at f, through which

page_text: the air required by the fan blower enters. The outer causing of the brush
cylinder is formed of four conical segmental frames, composed of cross pieces
and uprights bolted together. The interior of these frames forms the casing,
which should be furnished with wire gauze of a sufficiently fine mesh to pre-
vent the small grains from passing through it. Two of the compartments in
the casing (indicated by the letters h) are furnished with cork instead of wire
gauze, so that, by the friction of the grain against the cork, the moisture
which may still remain on the surface of the grain (supposing moistened grain
to be under treatment), as well as any husk or dirt adhering to it, will be
effectually removed. This arrangement may also be advantageously employed
for polishing and giving a lustrous appearance to rice. i is the brushing drum,
which is of a conical shape, its sides being parallel, however, to the surround-
ing casing; this drum is keyed on to the vertical shaft I, working in suitable
bearings; this drum is closed at each end by means of two circular plates 1, 1,
having a flange at their peripheries, and a boss in the centre, in order to
enable them to be keyed to the vertical shaft I. The staves m are fitted with
bristles on their outer surfaces, and are smaller at one end than at the other, so
as to form a cone when arranged round and fixed to the plates 1, 1; they are
fixed to the upper and lower plates of the drum by means of screws, which pass
through the flanges of these plates. These brushes are manufactured of hogs'
bristles, or other suitable material, according to the kind of grain that is to be
acted on. The friction produced by the brushing drum is regulated by means
of the screw u, which raises the footstep o, upon which the drum shaft turns.
It will be easily seen that by turning this screw in one or other direction the
drum will be raised or lowered inside its casing, thereby approaching to or
receding from the sides of the casing. The driving pullies p, as well as the
gearing at q, serve to transmit a rotatory motion from the hulling drum to the
brushing drum. r, r, represent beams of wood secured to the flooring, upon
which beams is bolted the mechanism. Grain which has been hulled by the
processes herein-before described not only produces flour of the first quality
and of superior whiteness, but yields from 2 to 5 per cent. more than grain
treated in the ordinary manner.
In Figures 8 and 9 the revolving drum and the fixed drum are, formed in
a similar manner to those shewn in detail in Figures 6 and 7, but the outer
casing is dispensed with.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to

page_text: describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of the said Invention; but 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,-
First, the systems or modes of treating grain and seeds of all kinds, whereby
they are freed or separated from the chaff and outer skins or husks, or other
extraneous matter, and dressed and polished, as herein-before described.
Second, the peculiar constructions and arrangements of machinery or
apparatus for hulling and cleaning grain and seeds of all kinds, as herein-before
described.
Third, the peculiar construction and arrangement of machinery or apparatus
for finishing, dressing, and polishing grain, as hercin-before described.
In witness whercof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)