GB539883A - Process and apparatus for destroying insect infestation in bulk products - Google Patents

Abstract

539,883. Centrifugal machines. SMITH, F. S. Sept. 26, 1940, Nos. 14593, 14594, 14595, and 14596. Convention dates, Sept. 26, 1939, Sept. 26, 1939, March 1, 1940, and July 16, 1940. [Class 23] Insect infestation, in flour and similar material in bulk, is destroyed mechanically by crushing or abrading action under centrifugal force against a rotating surface and by passage through a restricted space. A suitable form of apparatus is shown in Fig. 1, in an enclosing casing 10 of frusto-conical shape with a cover plate 11 secured by screws. Flexible conduits 14, 15 are connected to the throat 13 and the lower end of the casing for the admission and removal of the flour. The treating element 16 has a supporting plate 32 with a hub portion 32a carried by the sleeve 31 on the shaft 27 of a motor contained in the casing 25. A series of annular plates 36 is mounted on the plate 32 and are held apart by spacer elements 37. The under faces of the plates slope downwards slightly from the centre outwards to provide passages of diminishing height from the centre outwards while the height through the peripheral part is uniform. The structure is surmounted by a clamping plate 39. The unit formed by the flour treating element 16 and its driving motor 17 is supported by tubular parts 22a, 22b at the top of the motor casing, and two tubular parts 22c at the bottom of this casing are connected to the casing 10. The pairs of tubular parts are arranged at right angles to each other. Cooling air for the motor enters by the upper tubular parts and leaves by the lower. The weight of the whole apparatus is supported upon a resilient ring 21. The flour or other material passes through the throat 13, and is thrown by impeller blades 40 outwards through the spaces between the plates 36. These blades 40 and the arrangement of parts at the centre ensure even distribution of the material. Any insect infestation is destroyed by the compression and deformation produced as the material moves outwards and after passing between the plates drops to the outlet 15 at the bottom of the casing. The dead infestation remains in the treating element which can be dismantled for cleaning after removal of the cover plate 11 and the clamping plate 39. In a modification, the plates of the treating element are of conical or domelike form. In a further modification the plates in the treating element are flat and carry projecting elements M<SP>1</SP> ... M' arranged as shown in Fig. 8.