Improvements in or connected with Cooking or Treating Cereal Meal or Cereals.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
Improvements in or connected with Cooking or Treating Cereal
Meal or Cereals.
I, EVERARD RICHARD CALTHROP, of Victoria Road, Freshfield, near Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the cooking or treatment of cereal meals. (such
for instance as cotton-seed or linseed meal or analogous meals) or cereals, used as
food stuff for animals or oil seeds from which oil is to be expressed; but more
particularly to the treatment of such meal or seeds preparatory to their being
pressed by hydraulic or equivalent power into cakes.
The object of this invention is mainly amongst other things, to render the
cooking or treating of meal or seeds used in the manufacture of cattle or animal
feeding cakes or for expressing oil, more rapidly and evenly or equally effected
throughout, and to enable the operation to be performed with less power than is
commonly used in operating ordinary “kettles,” and with relatively less machinery
or apparatus.
According to this invention, the meal or seeds to be cooked or treated is carried
longitudinally or rectilinearly through a heated-preferably steam heated-trough,
tube or conduit, and stirred or turned over and mixed at the same time, so that in
passing through the cooking or treating apparatus it is turned over and over, and
continuously stirred; and it is preferably fed continuously into the apparatus in its
raw state and discharged continuously in a cooked or treated state.
In one mode of applying the heat to the material, the conduit or trough through
which the meal is carried is externally heated by steam, say introduced into a
jacket; while steam may also at the same time be delivered or charged into the
meal within the trough or conduit.
One form or construction of apparatus by which the above cooking or treatment
may be effected consists in providing a jacketted trough shaped vessel having
paddle or worm shaped propellers or conveyors within it, which are rotated and
convey the material along same, stirring and mixing it at the same time so as to
continuously turn over the material and bring every part into contact with the
steam introduced into it and with the heated surfaces of the vessel. In some cases
two sets of propellers or conveyors may be employed in a vessel and adapted to
revolve in opposite directions; while between them near the bottom and covered
by a shield is a steam pipe, with holes in it, by which live steam is introduced
into the meal while it is being moved and turned over, such steam being suitably
distributed.
The trough shaped vessels are in some cases arranged one above another; or in
some cases in a single length, and they may be made in suitable lengths connected
together; and have suitable covers-which may be loose-provided over them.
Suitable pipes and valves for supplying and controlling the supply of steam to
the different parts of the vessel jackets and to carry off water from them are
provided.
In a modified construction the conveyor may be made of endless articulated
chain or the like with blades thereon by which the material is conveyed from one
end of the vessel to the other.
In a further arrangement and combination, a meal cooking or treating vessel is
adapted to be swung or moved about a point; and there is arranged in connection

page_text: with it a series or plurality of cake presses with hoppers thereon, the said cooking
or treating vessel being adapted to cook or treat meal or seeds, and to convey or
deliver cooked or treated meal or seeds direct into the hopper of said presses. In
such an arrangement a series or plurality of presses may be fed or supplied with
hot cooked or treated meal as they require it. The movable vessels may be in
single lengths, or articulated and in two or more lengths.
The invention is not restricted, it is to be stated, to the constructions herein more
particularly specified, as these are given by way of examples or illustrations of the
application of the invention.
Dated this 30th day of November 1892
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
Improvements in or connected with Cooking or Treating Cereal
Meal or Cereals.
I, EVERARD RICHARD CALTHROP, of Victoria Road, Freshfield, near Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention has reference to the cooking or treatment of cereal meals (such
for instance as cotton-seed or linseed meal or analogous meals) or cereals, used as
food stuff for animals (or oil seeds from which oil is to be expressed); but more
particularly to the treatment of such meal or seeds preparatory to their being
pressed by a hydraulic or equivalent power into cakes.
The object of this invention is mainly, amongst other things, to render the
cooking or treating of meal or seeds used in the manufacture of cattle or animal
feeding cakes (or for expressing oil), more rapidly and evenly or equally effected
throughout, and to enable the operation to be performed with less power than is
commonly used in operating ordinary "kettles," and with relatively less machinery
or apparatus, and continuously.
According to this invention, the meal or seed to be cooked or treated is carried
longitudinally or rectilinearly through a heated-preferably steam heated-trough,
tube, or conduit, and stirred or turned over and mixed at the same time, so that in
passing through a cooking or treating apparatus it is turned over and over, and
continuously stirred; and it is preferably fed continuously into the apparatus in its
raw state, and discharged continuously in a cooked or treated state.
In one mode of supplying the heat to the material or keeping it hot, the conduit
or trough through which the meal is carried is externally heated by steam, say
introduced into a jacket; while steam is also at the same time delivered or charged
into the meal within the trough or conduit.
may
One form or construction of apparatus by which the above cooking or treatment
be effected consists in providing a jacketted trough-shaped vessel having
paddle or worm shaped propellers or conveyors within it, which are rotated and
convey the material along same, stirring and mixing it at the same time so as to
continuously turn over the material and bring every part into contact with the
steam introduced into it, and with the heated surfaces of the vessel. In some cases
two sets of propellers or conveyors are employed in a vessel and adapted to revolve
in opposite directions; while between them near the bottom and covered by a
shield is a steam pipe, with holes in it by which live steam is introduced into
the meal while it is being moved and turned over, such steam being suitably
distributed.
The trough shaped vessels are in some cases arranged one above another; or in

page_text: some cases in a single length, and they may be made in suitable lengths connected
together; and have suitable covers-which may be loose-provided over them.
Suitable pipes and valves for supplying and controlling the supply of steam
to the different parts of the vessel jackets, and to carry off water from them, are
provided.
In a modified construction the conveyor may be made of endless articulated
chain or the like with blades thereon by which the material is conveyed from one
end of the vessel to the other.
In a further arrangement and combination, a meal cooking or treating vessel is
adapted to be swung or moved about a point; and there is arranged in connection
with it a series or plurality of hoppers, the said cooking or treating vessel being
adapted to cook or treat meal or sceds, and to convey or deliver cooked or treated
meal or seeds direct into the hopper of a press or presses. In such an arrangement
a series or plurality of presses may be fed or supplied with hot cooked or treated
meal as they require it. The movable vessels may be in single lengths, or
articulated and in two or more lengths.
In the drawings, which serve to illustrate this invention, I shew in Figure 1 a
general side elevation of an apparatus thereunder for cooking, and feeding meal
or cereals to a press.
Figure 2 shews the apparatus in cross section;
Figure 3 is an outside end view shewing the driving gearing of the moving
parts; and
Figure 4 is a plan in section, taken at the line A A Figure 1.
Figure 5 shews to an enlarged scale a cross section through the kettle.
Figure 6 shews in plan, an arrangement wherein meal is supplied to the kettle
from a plurality of hoppers, and the kettle, has a pivotal or vibratory movement
about a fixed end thereof, viz. at the press.
Figure 7 shews a modification of the apparatus shewn in Figure 6, wherein the
kettle is articulated.
Figure 8 shews a modified form or construction of kettle.
Referring to the drawings, a is the kettle. In Figure 1 it is shewn of a double
or return form or construction, this form being used to keep the length of the
machine within limits generally available, as regards longitudinal dimensions. In
this machine, as will be seen by Figure 5 more particularly, the kettle a is, in cross
section, of trough-form, and consists of inner and outer walls a¹ and a³, thereby
providing a space a³ between them, in which steam, for keeping the trough, and the
material in it, hot, is introduced, the steam being maintained at the required
pressure and temperature. The space a³, filled with steam, constitutes a hot jacket
to the apparatus. bare steam pipes supplying steam to the jackets a³. The kettle
trough is made up in sections as shewn, the sections being provided with flanges a¹
at their ends by which they are connected together; thus the length of kettle to
be adopted under my particular application, is made, by employing a greater or
less number of these lengths, each length being a complete and separate jacket
or conduit. Steam in some cases is supplied at different pressures to the different
sections of the kettle trough for the purpose of treating the meal being cooked to
different temperatures at the different stages of cooking, which in some cases may
be desirable. This is done by taps or cocks 61 on said pipes b, by which the supply
of steam to the different, or some of the different lengths is varied, and the pressure
and temperature controlled. Or, by another mode, it is done by having a separate
steam pipe or branch to each section of trough and regulating the supply of steam
to them.
The condensed water is carried away from the jackets a³ by branches c having a
regulating cock cor steam trap on each, viz. at the different lengths, and leading to
a main c
The kettle trough is provided with loose or easily removed covers, a³.
The means of moving the material longitudinally along the kettle, and mixing
and turning it over, consists of two spirally bladed conveyors d, consisting of

page_text: •
shafts d with angularly or spirally disposed blades d² thereon, set right and left
handed respectively, these two shafts and blades constituting duplex conveyors or
propellers working in opposite directions, and revolving towards one another in the
central vertical plane between them. The shafts are supported at their ends by
suitable brackets, and the end casings of the apparatus, whilst at intermediate
points they are supported by transverse bearing bars e carrying and covering the
lower half of the shaft, and upper caps el bolted to the lower bars e, and suspended
from the transverse girder bars e, supported in and by the edges of the troughs by
suspension bars e³.
is the steam pipe interposed between the two conveyors just described, and in
the lower part of the trough; and fare apertures in it through which the steam
to be supplied to the meal issues, this pipe has a continuous roof f¹ above it, by
which it is shielded and the steam from the pipe f directed so as to pass into the
meal through the spaces between the eaves of the roof f¹ and the bottom of the
trough, and so prevent the meal clogging the apertures of the pipe. The pipe f
and roof fare in the construction shewn held by chocks f³, interposed along its
length, and fastened to the trough by studs f.
The propellers are rotated in opposite directions with the object of keeping the
meal clear from the spaces between the roof or shield f" and the bottom of the
trough.
The conveyors d in the kettle a are driven by a belt and toothed wheels a',
or any suitable means, they being rotated as stated in opposite directions by the
gearing.
g is a hopper from which the meal or seed is supplied to the upper half or part
of the kettle, and is a short hopper at the outlet end of the second or lower half
or part of the kettle through which the cooked meal or seed passes to the press,
which hopper may be steam jacketted. is the press; that shewn being of the
rotating table type. The type of machine which is most efficient and suitable is
that having a continuous action, and preferably an automatic or semi-automatic
one of this type the best of which we are aware for making cakes from which no
or little oil is expressed is that set forth in the Specification of former Letters
Patent No. 13817 of 1893, granted to myself and another.
The operation according to this invention, is, that meal or seed such as above
specified, is supplied to the kettle through the hopper g or other suitable means of
supply and it is carried forward by the conveyor or propellers d along the bottom
of the kettle on each side of the pipe f, and gradually moistened by the steam
directly introduced into it from the pipe whilst being stirred, turned over, and
mixed; and it is gradually cooked by the heat of the steam in the space a³ of the
jacket. Having passed through the upper half of the kettle, it is discharged
therefrom into the box a', which is on the leading end of the lower half of the
.kettle, through which box it falls into the lower half. In this it is conveyed in
the reverse direction in a similar manner and is similarly treated; and by the time
it reaches the outlet end of same it is completely cooked and in this condition it is
then discharged into the shoot or hopper h, of the press i. Down this shoot or
hopper it falls direct into the press and is pressed into cakes. Thus a direct and
continuous production of cooked meal and cakes therefrom is, according to this
invention, effected.
The apparatus is kept at a suitable temperature by the steam coils provided;
whilst the temperature or pressure of the steam introduced into the meal from the
pipe may be varied in accordance with the amount of moisture desired.
h
Referring now to Figure 6, the kettle a is hinged or mounted above the hopper
or spout leading to the press i on or by a pivot or hinge joint in any known
suitable way, such as in the manner employed in water cranes, or other cantilevers
or arms adapted to have vibratory or circular motion about a point; whilst its
opposite end at which the material is introduced is arranged to move under a
plurality of hoppers arranged in an arc of a circle, in which the meal or seed to be
treated is introduced and contained. The gearing by which the conveyors within

page_text: the kettle a are driven in this case is disposed at the pivot end, namely, above or at
the shoot or hopper h, and will be arranged in any known suitable way as to allow
of the vibratory or circular motion referred to, a suitable mechanism being bevel.
gearing, driving a bevel wheel or circular rack on the axis of the pivot or joint.
By this means and arrangement, the meal or seeds can be mixed or prepared and
contained in the different hoppers, and whilst one of the hoppers is having its
contents taken away by the kettle conveyor, another or others are being charged,
thereby enabling the kettle and press to be continuously kept in operation or action
without intermission.
The arrangement shewn in Figure 7 is a modification of that just described with
reference to and shewn in Figure 6. In this case the hoppers k instead of being
arranged in an arc, having for its centre the centre of the pivot of the kettle, are
arranged in parallel rectilinear arrangement, and the kettle is of duplex form and
of articulated construction, a joint being provided at and the outer half of the
kettle, arranged over the end of the inner half, so that the meal as discharged from
the end of the outer half will fall into the second half, and be carried forward into.
the other half by the conveyor therein. The driving mechanism of the conveyor
at this joint will be such, that motion can be transmitted from one part of the
conveyor to the other, allowing at the same time, the circular motion of the two.
parts about the joint l. A well known type of gearing suitable for this is bevel
gear such as is commonly used in machinery where motion is transmitted from
one part to another of an articulated frame. In other respects than these, the
arrangement and objects and effects of the apparatus are similar to those of and
under the arrangement described with reference to Figure 6.
In the modification shewn in Figure 8, the kettle conveyor consists of an
articulated endless device having discs or plates d' arranged and working in the
vertical plane, the dises or plates being carried by a chain, or interconnected
links, d. This conveyor is carried at its opposite ends-and supported at intermediate
points if desired-by wheels d² of a chain-wheel or cup-wheel type, adapted to
support and propel it, motion being transmitted to one of the wheels in any suitable
way. The meal is fed into this device at one end and discharged at the other in a
manner similar to that above described it being discharged into the shoot or conduit
connecting it with the press.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Effecting the cooking or treating of cereal meals or seeds, for the purposes.
described, by propelling or conveying said material through or along a conduit and
stirring it therein in such movement, and heating it by steam, in the manner and by
means substantially as herein set forth.
2. The herein described improvement connected with cereal meals or seeds for
making them into cakes in a press, consisting of the employment in connection
with a press or presses, as specified, of a meal cooking apparatus comprising a
trough or conduit having in it a conveyor, by which meal introduced at one end, is.
fed forward and stirred, and having steam introduced into it whilst in motion, and
discharged at the other end into a shoot or conduit connected with the said press or
presses, uncooked meal or seeds being thereby supplied, treated and cooked, and.
the cooked material directly discharged or fed to the press or presses, and made
into cakes therein; operating substantially as herein set forth for the purposes.
specified.
3. In apparatus for cooking or treating cereal meal or seed, for the purposes.
described, a trough shaped vessel or conduit, having duplex conveyors therein
operating as described, and a steam pipe disposed longitudinally therein and
between said conveyors, at the lower part of said vessel or trough, by which steam
is introduced into the meal or seed; substantially as herein set forth with reference-
to, and as shewn in the drawings hereto annexed.

page_text: 4. The apparatus for cooking or treating cereal meals or seed, by which said
meal or seed is conveyed through same, stirred, heated, and cooked by steam,
particularly as herein set forth with reference to and shewn in the Figures 1 to 5;
Figure 6; Figure 7; and Figure 8, respectively, of the drawings.
Dated this 31st day of August 1894.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.