US29367A - Improvement in smut-m ach i nes - Google Patents

Description

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. DRAKE & HEWITT.

Smut Michine.

Patentedjluly 31, 1860.

fur/67020 15 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. DRAKE & HEWITT.

Smut Machine. No. 29,367. Patented July 31,1860.

n PETERS. n. mun mph: w hng! n d UNITE STATES LOCKWOOD DRAKE AND ELIAS HEWITT, OF MARSHALL, MICHIGAN.

BMPROVEMENT IN SMUT-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 29,367, dated July 31, 1860.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, LooKwooD DRAKE and ELIAS HEWITT, both of the city of Marshall, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Smut-Machines for Cleaning Grain; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the con struction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section in the line m,- Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section in line :0 00; Fig. 4, a plan ofa beater wing detached.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This improvement relates more particularly to that class of smut-mills of which Luther B. \Valker (whose patent expired in 1853) was the main inventor; and it consists of the use of an auxiliary suction-blast, by means of which the lighter particles of foreign matter are drawn off in advance of the wheat through a peculiarly-formed passage which connects the interior of the scouring-cylinder or concave with the interior of an independent blower-case; also, of an improved construction of the spiral lips of the beater-wings and the use of an additional dropping-board in the main fanning-mill, the whole being constructed and arranged relatively, as hereinafter to be described, for the better and more effectual separation and removal of all impure foreign matter from wheat or other grain.

To enable those skilled in the art the better to construct and use our invention, we will now proceed to describe the same, briefly adverting to such parts as are common and well known in this class of machines.

A represents the frame, and B the hopper, through which the grain is admitted to the interior of the perforated scouring-cylinder or concave C, usually constructed of wroughtiron plate. The hopper is connected or cast to the flange of a circular head, D, which flange is grooved or lipped on the edge to receive and confine the cylinder, apertures being made through the fiat part or end for the admission of air to theinterior. The oppositehead, E, is not perforated in this manner, but has an open ing, a, at the bottom, through which the grain is discharged into the fanningunill proper.

(Marked F.) The upper half of the head E is also provided with two semicircular plates, which project forward parallel and-concentric with the cylinder 0, as seen at G and H, Figs. 2 and 3. The outer plate, G, is gradually enlarged in radius in a dome-shaped manner, so as to form a semi-annular passage, 0, extending from the upper half of the cylinders periphery to the interior of the blower-easel, which contains a fan marked F", as more clearly exhibited in Fig. 1 through the broken casing. The fan F being designed to produce what is termed a suction-blast, the wings are set, therefore, at a proper angle and have their outer corners bent tangentially in a slightly-spiral form.

J represents the discharge-spout, (broken off,) which extends usually to the outside of the mill, for conveying away the foreign substances ejected by the fan.

The beaters b b b, &c., (usually eight in number,) do not differ from those in common use, excepting in the mode of forming the curved lips on their outer edges, between which the grain is conveyed through the concave O. The common and most convenient mode of ranging them is to attach one straight and one bent beater to each side of a four-square shaft; but as this plan does not produce radial lines it follows that the curved lips, formed in a straight edge, (as is the common practice,) are at unequal distances from the concave, by which defect the scouring action is much impaired. In order to remedy this defect, and yet retain the convenient mode just described of connecting and ranging the heaters, we first prepare the beater-wings in the manner as seen in Fig. 4, by cutting out a portion of the metal on one side of each slit of such a depth and curvature that when the corners or lips are bent in opposite directions to the required form the edges thereof will be equidistant in every part from the concave surface of the cylinder.

The shaft S runs in bearings (Z d, one ofwhich (being covered by the semicircular casing) is easily lubricated through a tube, t, and is driven by a belt on the pulley P, which gives motion to the heaters and fan F and another belt, (see dotted lines,) passing from pulley P under the upper girt to pulley P gives motion to the fan F.

In the ordinary fan'case attached to this kind of machine the grain after being scoured is discharged at a by the single chute e on the deflecting-board g. This arrangement is defective, for the reason that the grain passes the single wind-space in so compact a state that it is not completely subjected to the action-of the fan. To remedy this, we introduce the intermediate dropping-board, f, at a proper descending angle, leaving a clear space of several inches between it and the boards eand g, in order that the grain as it passes the first space may be scattered broadcast over the surface offand be presented to the blast in a more diffused state as it drops through the lower wind-space.

The general operation is as follows: Motion having been given, as described, to the heaters and fans, the grain is delivered through the hopper B into the cylinder 0, where it is effectually scoured by said heaters during its pasage. The dust and lighter particles disengaged from the grain by this scouring process are by the strong blast produced by the fan F carried up in the direction of the arrows, through the semi-annular passage 0, into the blower-case I, and are driven out through the spout J into the open air. The grain is thus comparatively clean when it arrives at the opening a, through which it falls over the chute e, and is then submitted to the action of the fan-blower F, which ejects all the heavier foreign matter through the passage h as it passes over the intermediate wind-board,f, to

the deflecting-board g, from which it falls into the garner atj in a proper state for grinding. The auxiliary fan-blower F and passage 0 are not designed for the mere purpose alone of removing the light trash produced by the scouring process, for several other smut-mills of a different construction have the same device, which will no doubt answer equally well for that single object; but this device as applied is intended, in addition, to absorb the vortex of wind produced by the horizontal revolving beaters, which has hitherto materially injured the efficacy of single fan-blowers that are attached to machines of this particular construction.

WVe do not claim subjecting the grain to the operation of a fan-blast while being secured, as such an auxiliary is used in several machines which work under different conditions from ours. Neither do we claim, broadly, the scouring and separating devices, which are old; but

WVhat we do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The use of the auxiliary fan-blower F", in combination with the semi-annular passage 0, when applied substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein described.

LOOKWTOOD DRAKE. ELIAS HEWITT. Vitnesses:

AMos HEWITT, GEORGE .ToHNsoN.

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