US3588A - Smut-machine - Google Patents

Description

H. B. JAMES. Smut Machine.

I PatentediMay 17, 1844.

to many other machines.

UNITE. srarns PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. JAMES, OF MOUNT HOLLY, NEV JERSEY.

SMUT-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 3,588, dated May 17, 1844i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. J AMns,of Mount Holly, in the county of Burlington and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new anduseful machine for cleaning wheat, rice, buckwheat, &c., removing smut. garlic, cheat, hulls, while caps, and all light trash, by rubbing or scouring and blowing, called the smut-machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and.

exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a view of the machine. Fig. 2 isa view of the diagonal fans, in connection with the circular trunk and plate; Fig. 3, a view of the casing of the fans, all of which are in perspective. This casing consists of an inverted cone, (A. Fig. 1, and A, Fig. 8,) which should be slightly roughened on the inner surface (B, Fig. 3,). A curved dish (0,) with a hole in the center (1),) and a bridge-tree for the support of the lower pivot of the shaft, is attached to the bot-tom or small end of the cone, similar Within this casing. the fans, (A, A, Fig. 2,) revolve, consisting of plates arranged diagonally upon the shaft (B, B,) in sets. A plate or dish (B, Fig. 1, and C, C, Fig. 2,) nearly encircled by a trunk or flute, (O, C, Fig. 1, rep resenting the top D, D, Fig. 1, the sides, and D, D, Fig. 2, the opening under the trunk,) covers the whole, the casing and head. each having flanges, (E, Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) to unite them together. One end of this trunk is higher than the other, and is boxed up at the sides and ends and also on the top, leaving a square holeabove, (F, Fig. 1,) around which is a collar where a flue must be placed, to convey the air and foreign matter from the machine. There is also a hopper (G, Fig. 1, and F, Fig. 2) over the trunk. The plates of the fans (Gr, Fig. 2, being one) must all incline contrary to the top of the trunk, about at right angles with it, and are caused to revolve with their upper surface foremost, by a whirl (H, Fig. 1,) which is placed upon the shaft of the fans above the disk. Thus they force up a strong current of air and also act upon the grain. The foreign matter is floated out, by the air meeting it in the trunk and flue, from either of which the grain may be fed in. If good grain should escape from above, it can be prevented by partially closing either the flue or the aperture beneath the cylinder. The speed also can be regulated to suit. the different kinds of grain.

The distinguishing characteristics are chiefly in the trunk, and the combined action ofthediagonal fans and conical cylinder, thus uniting the advantages of the whole, although a: single set of diagonal.

plates would force a strong current of; air in the directlon of the shaft, yet it is. greatly. increased with two or more, arranged with the leaves of one set to break points with those above them, and without any addi tional surface in the fans; the circular trunk increasing the force of the blast, and a peculiarfloating process takes place beneath it, carrying upward whatever may become ClQtElCllQfLfIOHlfllt-E grainby the action of'the fans, as it descends by its gravity perfectly clean without the necessity of winnowing it afterwards.

Construction-I make the conical casing for the fans, and the head of cast iron, each with a flange about an inch and a half wide, the casing and the dish beneath in one casting, and the trunk and plate forming the head, in one; I vary the size of the cylinder, say 15 by 18 inches in diameter, but some times larger and sometimes smaller, but mostly of a less size, the depth I make from 14 to 16 inches, with a dish beneath about 3 inches deep with a hole in the center 5 or 6 inches in diameter, across which is placed the bridge-tree, of cast iron, with a steel step. The inner surface of the cylinder may be merely the natural roughness of cast iron, or a coating of emery or some such substance, upon it, and the fans also, is thought to be an advantage. I have sometimes made angular or spiral ribs, incliningthein in the direction of the plates of the fans, but at a greater angle in order to cut or glance the grain downward but generally, very slight perpendicular grooves or flukes are used, which are rounded out of the cylinder, (as in Fig. 3 let: B, but they should not project suflicient to cause the grain to glance up them. The leaves or plates of the fans are constructed generally of sheet iron, about the 16th of an inch thick, and are riveted to cast iron hubs, at an angle of from 10 to 25 degrees, and keyed to a common shaft, in sets. one above another, and arranged with the leaves of one set to break points with those above them. I generally have two steps, with from 4 to 6 plates on each; when revolving within the machine, they should clear about an inch each way, the aperture through the plate, over which the circular trunk or fluke is arranged, should correspond in the largest diameter with the cylinder, about 2 thirds or 3 fourths of the circumference in length, and 3 or 4 incheswide. The highest end having a collar 4C or 5 inches square and 1 or 2 inches high, and is 5 or 6 inches higher than the other end, andi larger than the trunk elsewhere. I sometimes place a plate 2 or 3 inches wide across, within the large end, inclining it toward the mouth, to assist in carrying up the air &c.; a bridge-tree is attached to the trunk for the support of the upper journal of the shaft; the whirl or pulley for carrying a belt is about 4, 0r 5 inches in diameter.

Operation: The machine should be secured in its proper position in the mill by its flange and surmounted by a flue to conduct the air and foreign matter from the machine. The gearing should be so arranged as to give it a speed of 1000 revolutions or more per minute, and to diminish it, or stop it entirely at pleasure, by slacking the belt-s.

The grain should be fed in either at the hopper or higher up in the flue if preferable in a steady current after being screened either by a shaking or a rolling screen. A hopper may be placed below to receive it,

or a screen wire bonnet and a tube to convey that the leaves of one tier shall break points with those above them, to act upon the grain 1n combination with a stationary inverted cone, roughened on the inner surface'by v slight flutes or otherwise, and to produce a current of air through the machine as set forth.

HENRY B. JAMES. l/Vitnesses CHARLES SULRAN, JoI-IN VVATKINSON.

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