US1207512A

US1207512A - Apparatus for cleaning grain.

Info

Publication number: US1207512A
Application number: US7432316A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis C Dickson
Original assignee: GARNETT S ZORN
Current assignee: GARNETT S ZORN
Priority date: 1916-01-26
Filing date: 1916-01-26
Publication date: 1916-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1933-12-05

Description

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26. I916- ab 1 9 1 Ru am e D M w M P 4 SHEETS-SHEET I non/5 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, I916.

F. C. DICKSON.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAIN. APPLICATION FILED JAN-.26. 191s.

mwwm Patented Dec. 5,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- v F. C. DICKSOM. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAIN APPLICATION man JAN.26, 191s.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 AURA/EV cars 0. IIDICKSON, or noursvrnnn, KENTUCKY, nssrenon on ONE-HALF 'ro enn'rr saonn, or LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

lun'rus non cnlnnnme- GRAIN.

neonate.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l[, FRANCIS Cmoonn Thomas, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Loulsvllle, county of Jefferson, and State of Kentucky, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Gram, of which the following is a speclfication.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning grain, with more particular reference to its applicability to removing smut from wheat or other edible cereals.

An object of this invention is the provis on of a process whereby smut, and the peculiar odor thereof, as well as the other ob ectionable odors such as those due to the presence of wild onions, may be thoroughly removed.

Smut is a parasitic fungus which grows upon many kinds of grain, various specles of which have an offensive odor, on account of which they are known as stinking smut. Smut clings very tenaciously to Its host, a portion only thereof being removed in the process of threshing. .A very small percentage of smutted wheat 1n a shipment lessens its market value, while any conslderable quantity of smut renders a shipment unmarketable. Many expedients resorted to, to clean smut from grain, have met wlth partial success only, as smut pores lie n the kernel furrows, from whence it is difficult to dislodge them. I have discovered that 1f wheat, or other grain is agitated in a suitable acidulated bath, the-smut will be completely removed, and its characteristic odor destroyed. T have found that a halogenous acid is preferable, and that hydrochloric acid, (the muriatic acid of commerce) gives the best results, an aqueous solution containing from two to fifteen per cent. of acid being used,.the strength of the solution varying with the condition of the grain. After treatment in the acid, bath, the grain is treated with clear water to rinse away all traces of the acid; it is then dried. It will then be clean, free of odor, and will grade A 1.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus whereby said process may be carried on continuously and which will give a maximum output with a minimum of expense.

A further object is the provision of apparatus for carrying out said process which will be economical in construction and efficient and durable in service.

"With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where n 1s set forth an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that such changes and modifications may be re sorted to as come within the scope of the appended claims. I

Referring to the drawing wherein similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1, is a In the embodiment of the apparatus as illustrated herewith-the reference char acter. -11- designates a slosh tank of suitable construction which is supported by legs 12 A sloping bottom 13-- leads to a semi-circular trough, or conveyer box -14-. A11 agitator shaft -15- suitably mounted within the box 14 extends exteriorly thereof and is provided with a sprocket wheel 16 by means of which motion Patented nee. a, tare.

may be imparted to the shaft. Within the box, a plurality of flights, or blades 17, adjustably secured on the shaft, serve to thoroughly agitate, or slosh about the contents, while at the same time moving it forward,'longitudinally of the trough. The center portion of the flights, or blades is cut away leaving an opening 18, and the angle of inclination of the flight, relative to the axis may be varied. The tank discharges through a conduit -19 into an inclined, conveyer 20. 'Water is introduced into the tank, from a suitable source of supply by means of a pipe 21-, and the acid is admitted through a pipe -22-, from a suitable receptacle as -23. It is obvious that the proportions of acid and water admitted into the tank, may be regu- The connection between tot sequently the liquid rises in the conveyer n20, to the same level as in the tank. Grainfrom a' suitable source of supply is led into the tank by means I of a conduit 32,

of baffle plates.-30, 31- are suitably positioned in the :tank. Grain is delivered direct to the conveyer, in the trough and at oneend thereof, in order that the inflow inggrain may-not interfere with the move ment of the grainin the tank. The arrange:

ment of the flights 17 issuch as to slosh or agitate thorou hly the contents of the tank, imparting a orward and rotary movement to the grain which sends it upward and forward through the surrounding liquid. In their movement the kernels strike the baffle plates and are deflected thereby causin other kernels. I he attrition thus produced, together with the detergent action of the liquid completely removes the smut and the odor thereof is destroyed by'the chemicalreaction. The circular movement of the grain causes the separation of any husks, or lighter seeds, such as those of wild onion, which aided by an upward current of the liquid, caused by the circulating pump, ascends to the surface and passes off through the overflow, to the filter.

When the grain reaches the far end of vthe trough, it drops through the chute 19,

" into the inclined conveyer 20. The conveyer 20 is of a type well known to the art, and is not'thought to require, more extended description than to. say that it comprises a cylindrical shell 33' within which is I mounted a shaft 34 carrying a spiral 37 which extend longitudinally solution is rinsed ofl of the grain.

flight -35. The shaft 34 is provided exteriorly of the conveyer tube, with a bevel Theunder side of the tube 33 a, plurality of perforations upward for a spaced distance from the point to which the liquid, from the tank, rises. These is provided with perforations are for the purpose of allowing adhering liquid 'to drain from the grain. A

false bottom, or pocket -38 is disposed under the perforations to catch the drainp%pe --39 which connects with the pipe 26 which leads to the filter. reaches the upper end of the conveyer 20 it descends through a chute -40 into a and overflow, and lead it to a drainage When the grain horizontal conveyer 41 wherein the a llelild e horizontal conveyer is similar to the inclined conveyer, comprising a cylindrical shell --42-, within which is mounted a shaft -43-- which carries a spiral flight 44-. The shaft 43 extends exteriorly of the conveyer and is provided with a sprocket wheel 15: A spray pipe -46 is disposed within the horizontal conveyer, above the them to collide with the spiral flight, extending'longitudinallythereof, and is supplied with water, froma suitable sourc e,'by means ofa pipe 47=-. The e under side of the shell of the horizontal cons which leads down into-the tank and delivers the grain direct into trough 14. A plurality veyer is provided with perforations -48-- posed under. the perforations and lead the rinsings to the drain pipes .51, 52-.' 'When the grain reaches the far end of the horizontal conveyer it is entirely free of acid, and here it is discharged into a chute .53 which delivers it into an Archimedean conveyer 54-. This style is likewise well known to the art and needs no extended description. It comprises. a cylindrical shell 55' which isrevolved bodily, the shell be ng supported on rollers 57, and receiving motion by means of a sprocket 58 'which encircles the shell. A spiral flight 56- is secured to the inner surface of the shell. This conveyer is pitched slightly downward from the entrant end.

Heated air, conducted from a suitable source of supply, through a pipe 60-, is forced into the conveyer 54 at the exitjend thereof, and in its passage therethrough takes up all the moisture clinging to-the passing grain. The action of the Archimedean conveyer is such that the grain is being constantly rolled over and over. and shifted in position so that every portion of it is subjected to the action of the current of-heated air. Grain is discharged from this conveyer into a chute -61 by which it may be led to any desired depository. The various mechanisms recelve motion from a main driving shaft 62 on which is .mounted a pulley -63 by means of'which power is imparted to the shaft from a suitable source (not'shown). Secured on the main shaft are sprocket wheels 64, 65-, from which, through suitable mediums as 66, 67 motion is transmitted respectively to the sprocket 58 on: the Archimedean conveyer and the sprocket 45 on the shaft 43. A bevel gear -68 transmits motion from the main shaft to a transverse shaft 69. Secured on'the transverse shaft are sprocket wheels -70, 71--. A suitable medium as 72 leading from the sprocket 70 transmits motion to a sprocket 73 secured'on a counten-shaft -74- and a bevel gear -75 meshes with the bevel gear 36 on the shaft 34 in the inclined conveyer 20. A- suitable medium 76- --leads from the sprocket 71 on thetransverse shaft 69 to they sprocket 16 on the agitator shaft 15. The circulating pumpis actuated by abelt -77-. leading from a pulley 78 -'on the transverse shaft 69.-.In starting, water is admitted to the tank until it reaches the overflow, then the valve 24-is opened and acid admitted until the solution reaches the desired strength. Power is then turned on, and the agitator blades thoroughly stir the mixture. Grain is then admitted through the feed spout 32. The water valve is adjusted to admit sufficient water to make good the loss of what is carried ofl by the grainand the acid valve is adjusted to admit the amount necessary to maintain the solution at the desired strength. As the condition of the grain varies the strength of the solution may be increased or decreased accordingly by admitting more or less acid. Extraneous substance such as husks, wild onions, or other matter which rise to the surface of the solution in the tank, may be skimmed ofi' or allowed to pass ofl with the overflow and removed from time to time from the filter. I

It is thought that the foregoing description is suflicient to enable anyone skilled in theart pertaining thereto, to' utilize my improved process, and to construct and operate the apparatus described herein for putting the process into practice.

Having thus described my invention so that anyone skilled in the art pertaining thereto may make and use the same I claim:

1. In apparatus for desmutting and deodorizing smutted grain, a tank for-containing cleansing fluid, a filter, an overflow pipe leading from the tank to the filter, means for returning the fluid to the tank after filtration, an inclined tube containing a conveyer which leads from a point directly below thetank to a point above the same, a fluid tight connection between the tank. and the tube whereby the fluid stands at the same level in both tank and pipe, a horizontal tube containing'a conveyer, a connection leading from the upper end of the inclined tube to said horizontal tube, a second horizontal tube into which the aforesaid horizontal tube discharges, and means for directinga current of air through the last named tube. j

2. In apparatus for desmutting and deodorizing smutted grain, a tank for containing cleansing fluid, a filter, an overflow pipe, leading from the tank to said filter, means for returning the fluid to the tank after filtration, an inclined 'tube which extends from a point below the tank to a point above the same, a fluid tight connection between the tank and said tube, a second tube, and a connection leading from the upper end of the inclined tube to the second named tube.

3. In apparatus for desmutting and deodorizing smutted grain, a tank for con-' taining cleansing fluid, a filter, an overflow pipe, leading from the tank to said filter, means for returning the fluid, to the tank after filtration, an inclined tube'which extends from a point below the tank to a point above the same, a fluid tight connection between the tank and said tube, a second tube, a connection leading from the upper end of a third tube into which the second named tube. discharges, means for introducing grain into the tank, means positioned respectively in the tank, and tubes for moving the grain therethrough, the floor of the upper portion of the inclined tube being perforated whereby the grain is drained as it is passed over the same, and means for conducting the drainage to the filter.

4. In apparatus for desmutting and deodorizing smutted grain, a tank for containing cleansing fluid, a filter, an overflow pipe, leading from the tank to said filter, means for returning the fluid to the tank after filtration, an inclined tube which extends from a point below the tank, to a point above the same, a fluid tight connection between the tank and said tube, a second tube, a connection leading from the upper end of the inclined tube to the second named tube, a third tube into which the second named tube discharges, means for introducing grain into the tank, means positioned respectively in the tank, and tubes for moving the grain therethrough, the floor of the upper portion of the inclined tube being perforated whereby the grain is drained as it is passed over the same, means for conducting the drainage to the filter and a spray pipe, within the second named tube for rinsing the grain.

5. In apparatus for deodorizing and desmutting smutted grain, a tank, baflle plates positioned therein, semi-circular depressions in the bottom of said tank, a shaft revolubly mounted therein, a plurality of flights on said shaft, an inclined tube which extends from a point below the tank to a point above the same, a fluid tight connection between the tank and said tube, a helical conveyer in said tube-,"a second tube, a helical conveyer therein, a spray pipe disposed in said second tube, and an Archimedean conveyer into which the second tube discharges.

' 6. In apparatus for desmutting and deodorizing smutted grain, atank, baflle plates positioned therein, semi-circular depressions in the bottom of said tank, a shaft revolubly mounted therein, a plurality of flights on said shaft, an inclined tube which extends from a point below the tank, to a point above the same, a fluid tight connection between thetank and said tube, a helical conveyer in said tube, a second tube, a helical conveyer therein, a spray pipe disposed insaid second tube, an Archimedean conveyer into which the second tube discharges, and means for directing a current of air through the last mentioned conveyer.

FRANCIS G. DICKSON.

the inclined tube to the second named tube,