US2331850A

US2331850A - Granular material classieier or purifier

Info

Publication number: US2331850A
Application number: US367477A
Authority: US
Inventors: William N Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-11-27
Filing date: 1940-11-27
Publication date: 1943-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1960-10-12

Description

Oct. 12, 1943. w. N. SMITH 2,331,850

GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASSIFIER OR PURIFIER Filed Nov. '27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l MAJ mww Oct. 12, 1943. w. N. SMITH 2,331,350

I GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASSIFIER OR PURIFIER Filed Nov. 27, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 12, 1943. w. N. SMITH 9 3 I GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASSIFIER OR PURIFIER Filed Nov. 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JZ g- 5 (3st. 12, 1943. w. N. SMITH 2,331,850

GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASSIFIER OR FURIFIER- Filed Nov. 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Z5 22 HQ 5 Ina-en '07 William 32112711 13;; his ilfioiwryd Get. 12, 1943.

W. N. SMITH GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASSIFIER OR PURIFIER Filed Nov. 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jnzzen 2'01 William N J'mz'fh By Z2217 Afzarnaya Patented Oct. 12, 1943 .;2;331,85 0 V a :GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASS EIER m r i OBIUB EIER v s William N. Smith, Great Eal lsg A nlicationNovemher 27, 1940, Serial No. 367,477

f 37 (Claim IThisfiinventionw-relateslto :improvements -invapparatus employing scentrifugal :lforce land =zthe :ed' tomse' in; a: mill: demted torrrociess ng/rwhea into-flour, for, separating andwrecoveringrpredeterminedgraincenstituents.

=. The: present: device. mayr zused ing ,t amih pr cess to replace thevimachinelk w s a h FFMiddIingS Purifier? Althqughthedeviceqw lgs on .-entirely rrdifierent principles frgm a purifier, -it -f;arlsurpasses theflsame in-;efiicienpy, qapacity, and-:eoonomy .ofwoperation. :When used m -place of, a purifier tor preparing middlings; stock; efor grinding,' the device removes. the small-bran; ar-

ticles; or b,eelwihgs. from the -middli-ngs so theroughlymand. consistently. that these i impulilties may .bersent ,directlmfmm, the device t the .bran bin. 7, The middlings from, the vdevicehbeingjree from man .impuritiesrandclassified ,for. grinding by their specific gravity, may-be. {more thoroughly round by the, reduction rolls,therebypromotirlg greater mill ecapa'qity and a higher degreegoi ,purityin thefiourprqduced.

" Thedevice operates on a? fraction of the power i required by a purifierrand has? the added advantages of minimum wear "of [moving partsff'l'he 'devicehas no silk,eccentric-bearings; sieve hang- 'ers; or conveyors" requiring maintenance: *The middlings' stocks passing throughthe devicefare f treated-with asmall fraction of the air ordinarily used-in a: purifier so" that the-moisture -1oss -=in the stocks is smaller, aiactor which is favorable to the quality and: quantity of' fiour -pr0duced.

*The device-mayalsobeused inthe-first stages crane-min process as a raden-by passing to the device the-aggregate mixture o-f middlings -f-rom agiven break with the exception -0fthe first scalp. This aggregate' mixture is segregated -by the device: according to the specifiegravity of the 50 middlings-presentand sent directlyto'the reduction rolls. :The" branhparticles end -flour recovered; :from:.the :inner iring'srof ithe device are then sent to :theistandard reeholt: section -in the. mill.

These sentionsizsendx ;the'-govers: of -their.;scalping r55 mak n $31 3 olothszdirect-ltotha branabin. vice Ana-this manner eonservessthe llarge belting area ordinarily alloted tm thisflwprkdnslthel break beltingemaehinesand provides ior direct disp'ard orthfe; rebqlt-scalps -t'oieed arr advantageswhich is-nOt-otherW-lsdlaossibk; l v

--The device may-also be used in -the millvpmcess for the distinct recovery of thewivheatligrin'. When the-mill-stoeks containingethe'wheatgg'rm are preparedhy corrugated rolls iongerni'reeqvery, the device willrenaove thesge'rmfizbm these 1 stoglzs in i' h-Ole' nbroken;-state. ll'heed'v ice will also recqver flattenedger -ifmm'. last stage mill stocks-which in standard-praticeare dis- QQLQQQ i wfee 5 .rreseet r .mo -ffl p pp'earathe e proximate1y-sem'i-spherieai 6r 'dbln-lik ithesszasina .ahiehlrimn ieeh t .y ntiqn,.le ;iszal the iz i wiflfihwthe g, of. a shower, 0 ateria1 ;to bela ssified j ectories and are classified atihebottdhi'oi tthe eas n .s aeqerdlila s al 1? P of the spinning,

sea-t ataatsemirsaheee i}bee i ssleetedramusra d diam i ames Ii n, r. r .l m ereaaee soiihaier nti aii heir si aa vtha'ehewl irli hoe rb k v 'li @The use;- of-ithede form sectional view frriately on the line l2-|2.'

' "Figure'l3 is a top plan view of the balancerfan showing "its valve in open cal working'units, the 'ingclosed by a base I and the top by a hollow hemispherical top 8, the

and the removing of such material accordin to its classification.

The above and other important objects and v unit device .in accordance withthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a general transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 and showing the interior mechanism of the device.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional through Figure 2 approximately on the line 3-3 view taken and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary revolving collector.

Figure 5 is a. similarly fragmentary top plan View of the stationary grooved table showing the stock discharge opening therein.

Figure 6' is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the revolving collector associated with the stationary grooved table, with the collector slightly elevated out of engagement with the table. a

Figure "I. is a similarly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing operative association of the collector and table. a Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side el e vational view showing-portions of the dual drive located on the exterior of the casing of the de vice.

* Figure 9;is a schematic diagram of the portion of the drive mechanism for the upper revolving .co ctor-. i

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective viewof the collector chamber showing one of the three selector valves thereinand a portion of its operating mechanism.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary horizon tal sectional view taken through Figure 3 approximately on the line I l--l I and looking, down- ;wardly in the, direction of the arrows and showingthe means for locking'a selector valve ina s lecte position.

an enlarged transverse vertical 'gure 12 is taken through Figure 3 approxiposition. j

Figure li is a group perspective view of the adjustable air sleeve assembly showing the parts in unassembled relation. a

" Figure 15' is a view chiefly in vertical section illustrating a modified form of centrifugal delivery cup.

" Referring in detail to the drawings, the mimeral 5 generally designates the device which in this instance comprises a vertical cylindrical casing B which supportsand encloses two identilower end of the casing betop and the base having, respectivelyj'upper and lower bearings 9- and "It! for the ends of the cone shaft ll whichis positioned concentrically in the casing and is the operating shaft for both the upper and lower working units. These units are driven by a single "electric motor [2 mounted vertically on the sidethe units and having l4 to the wall of the casing'between its shaft pulley connected by a belt vertical shaft'of the speed control l5 having a top plan view of the.

manual control lever l6 which enables the oper ator to regulate the speed of the feed cone H which is locked on the cone shaft I l at the desired height thereon by a set-screw la in the feed cone hub 19, the speed control l5 having the shaft connected by a belt to the cone shaft pulley 2 l. A double or two-unit device is here illustrated to point out the savings of floor space, driving mechanism, and power requirement possible with the presentidevice, the statedobjects and. advantages of the invention being attainable in a greater or less degree with a single unit arrangement.

The above briefly indicated variable speed device may take various forms and may be any one of the manyv commercially well-known variablespeed mechanism such as found on the market. 'For example, it might be of the form of variable speed pulley mechanism such as disclosed in the now public property Patent No. 179,746 issued to W. A. Wales of date July 11, 1876. However, in this machine, wherein a fountainlike shower of the commingled materials is centrifugally projected within an approximately semi-spherical dome, avariable speed mechanism of some kind ishighly important because for maximum efficiency the outer layer of the shower should be made to follow very closely the concave interior of the dome. By this operation there will be left very little, if any, clear air space between the precipitated stock and the interior of the dome.

Supported by thecasing sidewalls is the circu lar stationary grooved table 22, each working unit having one of these acting as the'bottom of the unit. The construction of the grooved table is shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7. The concentric grooves 23, for example, inch wide by inch deep run the full circumference of the table at -1 inch intervals except for the rectangular radially extending discharge opening 24, through which the stock is discharged. A stationary sleeve and flange bearing constitutes the hub of the grooved table and supports the revolving collector 26, (see Figures 4, 6 and 1), by its hub bearing 21. The revolving collector 26 comprises master radial spokes 28, which are rigidly fastened to the "hub bearing 21 and shorter subspokes 29 which are disposed between the master spokes and provide uniformity of the size of the pockets 30, between, all spokes and all of the circular rings 3! which are connected to the various spokes. The circular rings extend T33 of an inch below the lower edges of all of the spokes and extend about of an inch into the grooves 23 of the stationary table as shown in Figure '7.

Mounted on the .underside of the table is the balancer fan case .33, which contains the turbine type fan runner 34, fastened on thecone shaft l I. The intake port 35 of the fan case, is at the top and the discharge port 36, is on one side. The aperture of the intake port 35 is controlledby the slide valve 31 by the. screw 38 working in the bracket 39 secured to the bottom of the table.

An adjustable air sleeve 40, consisting of an upper member 4|, which telescopes into a lower member '42 is held stationary in an upright position by the lower member 43, fitting into the table bearing 2 5, to the depth of the flange 44 on between; hee en rmestiandr he nexta le n pe, 3 IE}: t re: bein wfinllxrfihliee' such; rings-1 29N1 2 ladr-ip ilicup 41; provided. toppasstoil; lqwn h teueli he 132644 1306therbearings. nd .15. i The; o ical tocls hopper. 4:1: mounted at; the apeggof thqtop Got-the casing't'xs'terminates inashort nipple 5Q over which: a;-ve rticallyl adjusta-l hie.- s eeve 5 i -sl ht y. lar er; diameter slidesei The-altitude of; theisleeye; 5|, is;;acljusted;by the: crew: l vch; pasees hro. hithfl hopp r 49% and is threaded through the,,tqp,; figadjacent;the; pi l e h ft bearinefli Ahopper inta e p ut eee n e he oene t ihe rtioni fi theopen ingfi .thatis notusegl by;the delivery spout; mustz: ei eredt e Pr v ded a r1seaL; All spouting ead, iutq and out-ofe hei asingi 5-.must=. b.e.- d; with, air chechQvalues .55; afseshowngin 3!; hi ecase wine-m gate va1yes55u a e ened llly: bin; passageiorc stock: t Sm e ri lliine' aeqllippeda Flowing stock pip ihe lve fiza dmasses 11nder;it;.withoutallowing a large amouutot; air to, pass through WithflilleStOck; a

'Fi urel 10 hows the, detailsiof the; collector: chamb'erifi and selector valvel's 5'l,w 58;:and 59hcollectq ecept cle 1 hamberlisemountedf ial. ellv .ng., n,.it i edial m utwardl l o t espaces directly under the,- rectang.u 8 1 opening 24.;in .thesttiolflfiry a l ndy om risesl rectangular.

metal'box having four openings 69;!51, 62 and; 63in itsbottorn, separated, by the three .selector l-Y 53 3 5 32'; F u fi 2. hows the C0117.

struction of theselector =valves. The ,upper tele.-,

scoping member ,64, is SUDPOII BQ' bynspringso 65w which ke'ep the uppermernber in; a fully, elevated, position when the valve is set] forward-;' or fiberhind ith vertical position. The sholilders p66,;10f the upper member, slide 1 1r-. the ,rails 61.

19 5 6? P P: 9 he box; t e ;ra 1s;k pine i the up ermemb r, 54 at a uniform altitudeawheni the selectorf valve is set; either in a lyerticalor; slopingpQi ition V n impbrtani P rt. o ach: Wmtk ne uni-tonne device is r. a, dom e shap ed top i 8 and -in the: case of the upper unit this top also servesas the top; ofjthel casing 5. The purpose of this ;.shape. oi; we is to restrict tothe ;minimurn ,the inactive, airspace in the air; chamber 65;;betvveenthe .v fountain ofiallingvstockuand the dornetop. Air isadmittedQtQ the-air chamber, 65 through theports Gain .the dome-top} having-tadjustable averse; Air isadmitted' intothe top a jof the lower unit inIthe same manner after the air hasffirst ip assed through the circumferentiallyspa edports 68 in the sidewalls of-the main casinglofthe' device.

The revolvingcollector 26 of the-two Working; units, are driven from the cone; shaft; I I by the upper iand lower pairs of belts ,69 and 76 which pass over pairs'of pulleys 7 I and 12 on the sh'aft Hv andwthroughtighter pulleys ii-and l4 hav, ingfspririgs 15, 1e anchoredto the casing 5 and 1 1;

Thelhelts 69 pass out of the casing around; pulleys i8 and, aroundupper. pulleys Y19 and intov thelgroove 80 in the rim oftherevolvingcollector; Thisbelt. groove ,80 vis protected fromialling stock buia'narrow-metal fiangetl which projects in: wardly. over 'the outside .ring. 3 l of the revolving, COllCfOliflfiOiIl th'e domegtop 8.. The lowerbeltsl 10 working unit Figural illustrates stoclgibeing delivered to the-q top ,worlgin'g unit by the ,spout 53, The; stock-l f r. 5 i yea-1 39 :iheiieeheels alrh iiihe sitiont by the set, screws;8hrmountedasshown-im 70--- similarly. operate a the rcollector of the lower 1; .l j v Q 52; Axdesirable degree-of theifeedrcloneu os i e p ertu t idlt e w r unit thro eht e lsp ut; 8 a

flowed into.- the= stocki happen 49.: The stoekl is directed idomroaround the cone: sh'aft' l l by tlie adjustablessleeve 151$ to xa-vdepth in the feed pone- I115 determined. byvthe settingmf the screw controlslip i's provided foi be-i tween; the stock: andz theisunface of the 'feed cone Haas. the irotary nmotion of the -f'eed cone Iii-is. transmittedeto the stock; -'I his-slip-=-causes an" evemspread of the stock over the inner surfa'ce of Centrifugal force exertsaeliori zontal radially outward pull on-the-stoeh in the i feed. cone .1 l :which operates: desirably in causing the-stock to press:outv/ardl-y on=-the sidesf "the feedicone:and thereby adopt-:the rotary motion Centrifugal-dome is: further: involved in causing the-stoekto take a'spii'al route iup:a1ong-= the-sideeof theifeed cone to the upper end thereof i'from which the stoclefinally dischargesin-a fountain like-formation indicated by;the arrowsi82,:in Figure-25 The particlesin the aggregate stockhaving the-greatest specifiegrav ity; are-ithrown'iin greatest distance away from the feed; cone .lTL-zt All' lighter p'articleyare sim-i V larlyprojected proportionately 51113211'61 -di8t3ll088 away-.Xfromethe'vfeed; comet-.4 All Lparticles: eventu-= allyxf all in irela'ted spacesadefinedi-betweem adj a cent circularzrings 3 L :of .thei revolvingi=collector= 2G :and onto. thelsurfacel of thegroo-ved tablw 22p Whilethecircular:- rings: 3li=m=aintaim the radial: position. of :the groups; .of particlesl-of di iferenti. specific gravities, all of the-ispokesimandiwoush allpfi Fthe istockion theisurface of- :the grooved tablexarou-nd to .the discharge opening 2 1.1 The circular; rings .31; which: extend :below the lower edges .of all p15. the spokesnurr submergedzin stock in the. gIQOVeSlZsiH the table-2E thereby formin-ge axstock .sealibetween the circular: rings :and the: grooves .which prevents. the e stockl-lini; a heavily loaded space ..from runningmndem the.- adjacent:- rings to. a ineighboringhspace on leitheiu sideethati maybe-lightlyloaded; V

As the-is egregatedcstock :falls throughuthe etablei. discharge .opening 2e into the collector-chamber 56,\.the,l, stock -..of-. anyuselected spaceuori combinae tioni-- of (spaces. is guided too. the ;.discharge ports: 611;,6 l'., 62% and. 63';v inithe bottom. kofmthe. collectorli chambenby setting of the..select.or.yalyes 57.;58; and-e591; a When the .desiredcpositionswof:the. se-Iector valves. are,- achievedthey' areeanchoredtim po-i Figure "11 and. engaging.,the; connecting trod-i 845; corresponding to th'e ;particular:.;valye.a:which LiS'. connected at to a crank 86 connectedzwithmhe g valve. 7 r

. The selector v lves imthe upper ni zshown a set for the delivery2 of; the stock-from the; four;- ut rx ost. paces intodischa ge iopenin sfi i; f-IOIILQ- f ur inner. spaces, to disobe epenin ufi i fr mi a singleinner ,spa0e,, into; the dischar eopening; 6! l d-.i m 1: he f urteen i nermost .-.snac s to;

e dischar e o e n -BL mnaris nithe v sin; the tlowerau t." e s tl ferent y f o own thout Q k T c ma e ro 8. n c te t pa h o t fl fa rou h e s o kenteri t a ixc amber. 65.01 the upper unit from the outside- Thesegaircurrents, pr oduceduby the balai cerefani lppperam as el ows:

The .air entering the chamber, 65 ,through the; ports 68in the don e top B pass throughthefallm ing fountain of stock, and thelmajQre ortie pi his-a l; Passes d wn ar l t rou hlthe iurmeluzl of the air sleeve all and passes through the space.

regulated as to size by elevating and twisting the upper member 4| in the lower member 42; .When the desired adjustment is found the twosleeve members are locked in position by the draw, screw arrangement 9!, which spans a split portion of the lower member 42. The air drawnv down through the air sleeve andaroundthe cone shaft II is sucked through the intake port 35 and into the balancer fan .casing 33. The size of theintake port 35 is regulated by the valve 3] operated by the screw 38 as already indicated. 4

The air passing through the. stock in the air chamber 65 in the manner described, is of relatively small volumeand. of low velocity so as to eliminate formation of dead-air space, and counteracts the outward flow of air in the air chamber 85 otherwise caused by the. rotation of the feed cone H and the falling fountain of the stock, so that the falling of the stock particles in fountain formations are governed in their trajectories solely by their own specific gravity and the speed of rotation of the cone 11,." and the fan 34 will draw practically no material from the air chamber'65. The fan 34 exhausts throughits port 35 into the room in which the device operates or out of the building if desired. i

, The action of the balancer fan 34 in the present device is not to be confused with the action of the fans in aspirators and sieve purifiers of various designs,'which invariably draw large volume, high velocity air currents up through the stocks they treat for the purpose of drawing the'light material up and out of the heavy material. In.

the present case, it is to be noted that the air is instead drawn down through the stockto the fan. This is exactly the reverse of standard practice for air currents in machines of other design.

' Achievement of the proper trajectory of the fountain of stock in the air chamber 65 is important. Proper trajectory of the projected stock is that under which the heaviest particles of stock in the aggregate mixture travel tov within one circular space of the full radius of the table and complete their outward flight and fall free straight downwardly under the uninfiuenced force of gravity for a safety margin of about three inches, in the present embodiment, before striking on the grooved table.

Achievement of proper trajectory of the stock requires the proper altitude of the feed cone ll on the cone shaft I l,-the proper speed of rotation of the feed cone I1, and the proper degree of pitch of the walls of the feed cone. These factors vary for different kinds of stocks being segregated. For middlings stock in a flour mill, the feed cone should have a 43 degree pitch with the diameter of the top of the feed cone twenty percent of the diameter of the revolving collector. The elevation of the upper edge of the feed cone above the surface of the revolving collector must be substantially forty percent of the diameter of the revolving collector. The rim velocity of the feed cone of the illustrated embodiment in inches per minute, should be one hundred times the diameter of the revolving collector in inches. The speed of the revolving collector must be regulated to approximately one hundred and five feet, rim

velocity, per minute.

Referring to Figure l of the drawings, the

ancer fan discharge pipes 31 are shown projecting through the'casing 5.

Not only is the means for variable speed of the centrifugal cup or projector desirable for purposes already noted, but to adjust the machine for various kinds of stock or materials to be separated. In practice I have found that the speed must be properly adjusted in accordance to the fineness,

coarseness, or specific gravities of the commingled materials in order, so to speak, to fit the fountainlike or umbrella-like shower to the interior of the dome and thereby acquire the highest possible efficiency in the separating actions.

In a 1,500 barrel fiour mill, the present device, in a five foot diameter one unit model replaces two .Nordyke purifiers" of the 40 x 76 size. The device can take over the entire load of No. 1 middlings from these two standard purifiers and in addition to doing a superior job of grading these middlings for grinding, the device makes a direct discard to feed of anextremely high percentage of all the free bran particles, or bee wing, contained in the original middlings. My

device does this superior work with an expenditure of horse-power as compared with a total of 6 horse-power required by the two purifiers mentioned. Air is used by the device at the rate of cu. ft. per minute compared with 2,160 cu. ft. per minute used by the said two purifiers. Unlike the standard purifiers, my device has no silk, eccentric bearings, sieve hangers, brushes or conveyors to wear out, replace, and maintain.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that I do not wish to-limit the application-of the invention to the precise structural details thereof, except as may be required by the scope of the subjoined claims.

In Fig. 15 I have illustrated a modified or improved form of centrifugal stock delivery cup and in this view the power-drivenvertically disposed shaft IOO may be assumed to be a substitute for the shaft I I of the above described machine. In this structure the cup llll is shaped much like the cup I! but is provided at its perim-' eter with a vertically adjustable annular rim I02 is made adjustable and IE2. This rim adapted to be secured in various adjustments by suitable means, such as screws I03 that work with threaded'engagement through lugs I04 on the exterior of the cup. Preferably the upper, ends of these screws I03 are swivelled to an internal flange 35 on the lower edge of the annular rim I02. Obviously, the above described variation of the speed of discharge of material under the action of centrifugal force due to vertical ad- 1 justments of the annular rim I02 will vary the shape and diameter of the outer surface of the projected shower ofmaterial and can be, very advantageously employed for the purpose of making the shape of the shower of material properly conform to the shape of the semi-sphericaldome under varying conditions of cup speed and material characteristics; Experience has;

2,83 shown that the best results are obtained when the umbrella-like shower is so projected there will be little or no dead air space between the outer surface thereof and the inner surface of the dome. Adjustments of this annular rim or collar I02 of" the material under the action of centrifugal force and serves to adapt the cup for the best delivery of difierent kinds of materials.

When the cup is made conical and with a small diameter lower portion, I found that some kinds of material will tend to bank up and remain at the bottom of the cup, and to prevent this I have provided a cup with a. vertically adjustabledisc-like plate or false bottom I86. This false bottom I06 is rigidly secured. to the rotary shaft 100 in the properly set adjustments by suitable means such as a set-screw HIT.

When grain is delivered into the cup it will fall onto the disc or false bottom I06 and by centrifugal force will be immediately discharged. radially outward against the interior wall of the cup, thereby overcoming any tendency of the stock to accumulate at the bottom of the cup and insuring an even discharge of the: material from the cup. The vertical adjustments of the annular rim or collar of the cup adapts the cup for the proper discharge of various different kinds of materials and adjusts the rate of discharge for the speedthat is given to the rotation of the cup.

In the specification I have used to describe the character of the projected shower such terms as approximately semi-spherical and umbrellashaped shower, the latter term, of course, meaning substantially the shape of an opened umbrella. These terms are used in a liberal sense to describe a shower such as produced by the rotation of a cup or discharge head arranged to rotate on a vertical axis. An important feature is the provision of a dome or casing that is arranged to substantially fit or follow the exterior of the shower produced by such a discharge cup or centrifugally acting discharge head. With such a dome and such a shower produced the same, there will be no air pockets or air" chambers outside of the shower in which air' eddies or conflicting vertexes will be'produced' and which would tend to breal'r up the uni-- formity of the projected shower.

This application is being filed as a continuation-in-part of my pending application for Granular material classifier or purifier, filed December 7, 1939 under S. N. 3083968 and allowed May 31, 1940.

In actual practice we have found this improved machine hi'g-hly desirable and very eifi'cient for serves to vary the speed of discharge the separationof many different kinds of'materials. The machine has ceptionally well in the wheat and other grains.

What I claim is:

l.v A device of the character described, said de-' vice comprising a closed vertical casing, a vertical rotary shaft supported insaid casing, a stationary table across said casing below the top" of the'cas ing and: traversedibysaidz shaft, a rotary collector immediately above said table, rotating mean for rotating said collector independently of said shafit, said. collector comprising radially and" circumferentially spaced pockets. bottomed by the upper surface ofi said table an: air" conduit spacedly surrounding; said shaft: and. traversing collector andr said table; a suction. fan havits intake connectedtc; the lower end of: said been found to work excleaning'and grading of 5 air conduit, acentrifugal material projecting cup fixed. to said shaft within the open upper end of said air conduit for projecting particles deposited in said cup to differently radially spaced ones of. said pockets of said collector in accordance with the specific gravity of the particles; and air inlets in said dome-shaped top admitting outside air to the interiorof the top to be drawn'into the upper end of said air conduit by said suction fan, said suction fan having an exhaust exterior of. said a g:

2. A device as set forth in-claim '1 wherein said table is formed with a diametrically extending pocketed particle discharge opening into which the'pocketedparticles are pushed by said rotary collector, and a receiver under said discharge opening. g 4 3. A device in accordance with claim 1 where-:

in the space between the top of saidtable and of said dome-shaped top constitutesa controlled air chamber in which the natural outward air currents produced by rotation ofsaid centrifugal cup and the travel of the particles therefrom and the incoming of the particles are counterbalanced by. air indrawn by said suction. fan. into the open upper end of said air conduit inlets, thereby permitting free fall the walls from. said air of the centrifugally projected particles 4. A. device inaccordance with claim 1- wherein a second dome-shaped top is supported by saidcasing below said suction fan, said second top' being traversed by said shaft, asecond stationary table supported in said casing below said second top, a second rotary collector fixed to-saidshaftimmediately abovesaid second table, a second centrifugal cup on saidshaft between-said second top and said second collector, means for feeding particles to the first and second centrifugal cups,- second rotating means for rotating said second collector independently of said shaft.

.5-. A device in accordancewith-claim 1 wherein a second dome-shaped top is supported by said: casing below said: suction fan, said: second top being traversed by-saidshaft, a second stationary table supported insai'd'casing below" said second: top, a secondrotarycollector fixed to said shaft immediatelyzabove'said second table, a secondcentritugal cup'orr said shaft between said second top and the said second collector,- means for feeding. particles to the first and second centrif ugal cups-, second rotating means for rotating said second collector independently of said shaft:

and: common drive means operatively connected to the first and said second rotating means for simultaneously operating said shaft and said first andsecondl collectors.

6. A- device-according to claiml whereinasaid fan: comprises a bladed rotor fixed on, said shaft fori'rotationa thereby.

7. "A device: according to? claim -1 wherein said cup comprises an. invertedhollow cone.

8. A device-for segregating'particles' of. differ ent weights from an incoming aggregate of such particles and collecting together-the particles of different Weightsso segregated, said devicecomprising a substantially closed chamber; a-i'rotary cup for' receiving the incoming aggregate and centrifugally"projecting the particles over the edge ofthe cupasthe cup rotates so that the particlestravel in 'trajectories.comensurate with their weight so that the terminals of 'thetrajeotones are radially spaced at different distances from'the' cup; means for turning said cup, a'; stationary table'surrounding said: cup, a rotary collectorion said table comprising circumferentiallyi and radially arranged pockets bottomed by said table to receive the corresponding particles expelled from the cup at the terminals of their respective trajectories, said table being formed with a radial opening through which the collected particles fall from the pockets as the pockets come into registry with said radial opening. 1

9]In a centrifugal particle separator, said separator comprising a rotor for centrifugally projecting the particles, a collector surrounding said rotor, said collector comprising a stationary table formed with a radially extending particle discharge opening, a rotary grate suppcrtedupon said table, said grate comprising concentrically spaced dividers dividing the same into different radially spaced compartments bottomed by said table to receive particles having a trajectory to fall therein, said grate further comprising radial dividers extending across said compartments for pushing the particles collected in said compartments to said discharge opening, and operating means for rotating said grate.

10. In a centrifugal particle separator, said separator comprising a rotor for centrifugally projecting the particles, a collector surrounding said rotor, said collector comprising a stationary table formed with a radially extending particle discharge opening,'a rotary grate supported upon said table, said grate spaced dividers" dividing the same into different radially spaced compartments bottomed by said table to receive particles having a trajectory to fall therein, said grate further comprising radial dividers extending across said compartments for pushing the particles collected in said compartments to said discharge opening, and operating means for rotating said grate, said operating means comprising means for simultaneously rotating said rotor.

11. In a centrifugal particle separator, said separator comprising a rotor for centrifugally projectingthe particles, a Collector surrounding said rotor, said collector comprising a stationary table formed with a radially extending particle 1 discharge opening, a rotary grate supported upon said table, said grate comprising concentrically spaced dividers dividing the same into different radially spaced compartments bottomed by said table to receive particles having a trajectory to fall therein, said grate further comprising radial dividers extending across said compartments for pushing the particles collected in said compartments to said discharge opening, and operating means for rotating said grate, radially spaced separators positioned below said radial opening in the table, a receiver in which said separators are mounted, means to adjust adjacent ones of said separators to accept only the particles falling through said discharge opening from the grate compartments, lying between the adjacent separators, and operating means for selectively positioning said separators.

-12. A device of the character described, said device comprising a closed vertical casing, a vertical rotary shaft supported in said casing, means for-rotating said shaft, a substantially inverted conical centrifugal cup secured axially on said shaft, a stationary table supported across said casing below the upper end of said'cup, said table being formed with a discharge opening, a rotary collector supported immediately above said table for-collecting the particles thrown ofl. by said cup, rotating means for rotating said collector, said collector com rising radially and circumfercomprising concentrically entially spaced particle receiving pockets bottomed by the upper surface of said table, said pockets-being arranged to discharge their contents through said discharge opening as the peckets come into registry with said discharge opening.

, 13. A device of-the character described, said device comprising a closed vertical casing formed in its upper part with restricted air inlet means, a vertical rotary shaft supported in said casing,

means for rotating said shaft, an inverted coni-= calcup fixed axially secured on said shaft, a stationary table supported in'said casing below the upper edge of said cup, said table being formed with a discharge opening, collector means on said table for collecting particles thrown centrifugally fromv said cup as said cup is rotated, an air sleeve spacedly surrounding and depend ing below said cup and said shaft and traversing said table and said collector, and suction means in communcationv with the lower a end of 'said air sleeve whereby air is drawn down said air sleeve from said air inlet means across the space between the wall of the casing and the region of said cup in a movement counter-current to the centrifugal movement of the particles from said cup. j

14. A device of the character described, said device comprising a closed vertical casing formed in its upper part with restricted air inlet means, a vertical rotary shaft supported in said casing, means for rotating said shaft, an inverted conical cup fixed axially secured on said shaft, a stationary table supported in said casing below the upper edge of said cup, said table being formed with a discharge opening, collector means on said table for collectingparticles thrown cen-- trifugally from said cup as said cup is rotated,- an air sleeve spacedly surrounding and depending below said cup and said shaft and traversing said table and said collector, and suction means in communication with the lower end of said air sleeve whereby air is drawn down said air sleeve from said air inlet means across the space between the wall of the casing and the region'of said cup in a movement counter-current to the centrifugal movement of the particles from edge of said cup.

15. A device of the character described, said;

device comprising a closed vertical casing formed in its upper part with restricted air inlet means, a vertical rotary shaft supported in said casing, means for rotating said shaft, an inverted conical cup fixed axially secured on said shaft, a stationary table supported in said casing below the upper edge of said cup, said table being formed with a discharge opening, collector means on said table for collecting particles thrown centrifugally from said cup as-said cup is rotated,.an air sleeve spacedly surrounding and depending below said cup and said shaft and traversing said table and said collector, and suction means in communication with the lower end of said air sleeve whereby air is drawn down said air sleeve from said air inlet means across the space between thewall of the casing and the region of said cup in a movement counter-current to'the centrifugal movement of the particles from said cup, said vertical shaft depending to a point below said flftable'and said suction means comprising 1a eac- .tion .huusing :below zsaidtrtableiand: into which .:said shaftnependaiandra fan-fixed on'saidzshaft withhr said housing,;said housing having its intake connected to the lowereendof saidlairrsleeve -;and iits d-ischarge opening thazough the iSidB of =said:casing.

116. :Awdevice ;of *the. character ,desnnibedr-isaid device-comprising :a closed verticallucasingtiamertical rotary shaft supportedrin.saidmasingmmans I tor rotating said =shaft, asubstantiallyninvented "shaft, a stationary rtable :supported: across -said casing below the-upper end \of:: said-:cup,:--said 'table being formed with :a :discharge 'opening, '-a rotary collector supported .-:imme.diatel y above said table for collecting the particles thrown-01f uby said cup,"rotati-ng means :fonnotatingsaidcd- #1601201, :said' collector; comprising radially; and circumferentially spacedparticlereceivingpockets.

=bottomed .bythe :upper: surfaceiofisaidutablegsaid pockets being arranged to discharge- .-their-. roanqtents throug-h said discharge" opening rsaid col- .-1ector having depending;circumferentiallyribs-on its minder side running incaccommodating grooves 4,

rotarypocket equipped collectorsurrounding-said V shaft and positioned immediately above .said .table,.a verticakairsleeve surrounding'said shaft, said air-sleevetraversingsaid table and-said collector, Ya suctionmeansbelowx-said tableandconnected to the lowerend ofesaid air sleeve said sleeve rising to asubstantial height .abovesaid table andha-ving .a Qflaring cl pper. part-and an inverted conical centrifugal -cupl securednaxially to said ishaft so as to turn withinlandinconcenltrically spaced relation to. said .flaringlupper ,part ofthe airlsleeve, said cup having its .up.per-edge positioned atan elevation slightly above-the upperedge of saidzflaring upper p'ar't oflfthe-air "sleeve, said suction means b'e'ingarrangd to draw air'down between the cup and thefiar'ing upperpart of the airsleeve'lfrom said air-inlet means in 'a"movement"'acr.oss the space between the wallof saidchamber" and said" cup countercurrent to thementrifug'a'l IIIOVBIIIEl'lt'OfIIlfiT- tides and entrained =air fronrsarid'cup 'where'by 'the centrifugally projected particles "fol'lowitheir normal trajectories without substantial deviation.

18. In a centrifugal separator for solid "par- :ticles of varying mass, 'a table, a esiibstantially closed casing :r isin-g :aronnd arid io rmin'g 8,""SlIb- :stantially ."closed semi-spherical dome-shaped -:space above :saidvtablepan inverted conical-cen- -tm'fugal, :cup characterized ihy relatively "steep sides, means:rotatahly:mmuntirig ==said cap --'subwstantiallyat the verticallcenterzofisaidcspace and above: said table; meansifior. rotating lvheicu said cup :hav-ing relativelyas-teepsidesto oause particles .:therein .to :spiral upwardly the sides "of the 'cup and be: centrifiugafiiy :progected over 'the upper edge of the cup inzahimmbnellaialikezshower the outside 'of which isnbstantiallyicon-forms to the shape of'ithedomeeshapdccasing, and -col- "lector means on-said table:forzseparateiyccollectgins. they-projected particles which sfezll at -diifier- :partz-oi saidclip issurroundedzby:theaupper Ipart rof anrair' sleeve traversing .said ttable a'nd having s-suntion: meaznstin communicationrwith its lower send-said suction :means :operating to draw air across;thexicasing ifromesaidaa ir: mlet means into "the Iu'ppersend of said :airx-sleeve counter-current vtozthetravehof the particles flOInaibhez cup and thexairrentrained therein lso as to perm-it free -fal1'1JOf the riparticles 'sontoxsaid table, f'the supper .-;part- :of said air. sleeve :being v relatively closely spaced from the sides of said: oupaand havin'g a diameter not 'substaxizrtially greater than that of visaid Eeup.

r 29. A-device:for'segregating particles of differ-- ent weight, from an incoming aggregate' of suoh v:pariticles, and :oollecting the particles: are either- :ent =weight sso tsegregated, 'zsai'd -device involvi-ng .an approximately rsemi spherical dome, means --forrproducing" within said dome a spherica'lor umbrlla-Iike shower of said material, the ax-is ,iof whichishower.ii'sz substantiallycoincident with the axis of saidwdomemandvmeansspanning the .lower portion of-ithe domean'd arranged to intericept :t-he: pnecipitatedimatenials according' to "the .razdialzprojectionlof the materialsfrorh the-axis er :the dome a-ndrto 'rnaimtain'ithe :separation' thus initiated, :said device :ibeing i so constructed -"and iarranged "that the :outer portion of shower is *closely adjacentathe inner sur'face of the semispherical ldome.

s21. Thestructure deflned-in claim?!) in which "theimeanszsforiproducting"the shower is 'a wary 'rpowerdriven zcup with its open en'd upwar'd "near t-hejztop ofssaid domeandzarranged' torotate alpproximaitelyomthe vertical axis of the dome.

v222,-Azdem'ce fQrsegIegatingeparticles of dif- Yierent "weight, ifizoms-an' incoming :':aggregate or zsuchmartic'les; andvcollecting -=the particles of 5 a :difierent weight so segregated, said device invoiving approximately --semi'-sp he'r-ical dome, means for producing within said domea spheri- $02,101. zumbre'llali'ke shower of said material, the :axiszof which shower is substantially coincident nth-e axisrofssaid idome, and 'means aat the hase of saiddome forcol iecting the precipitated -=stock in accondahce withthe trajeotory' on-whi'ch fit is zrpi o-jected from the axis r of the idome; said .device' being- 5o constructed :and arranged -tha t 'athefiouter portion of shower is closely-adjacent :thesinmer surface or the semi-spheric'al dome.

23. ':The structure idefineduin "claim 120 in which rthe means i'iior producing the spherical--shower zof'vmatenialfis:aLrotaryacentriziugal proiectomand inffurther combinationvwith means: for rotating said projects-mat variable speeds.

'-24.'Thestructure defined-in claim '20 in which :the means for :produoi'ng then-shower is a rotary power-driven cup set Withits open end upward nearlthe' top'oisaid dorne:and;arranged to rotate 1011 theyertica-l'saxis of thezd'omazzand in further :combination "means i-or rotating said 'c'np iatmariableispeedsp I r :25. iIn 1a cma'c-hine I for: separating apar ticles cor "different weight from an incoming aggregate of particles, Lmeans for outwardly proje'ctirrg =an umbrella-like shower of :material, I a ceasing enclosing said shower-producing means, the construction and arrangement being such that the -outer portion of the shower is closely adjacent the inner surface of the casing, and means at the base of said casing for collecting the precipitated stock in accordance with the trajectory on which it is projected'from the axis of the dome.

26. In a machine for separating particles of different weight from an incoming aggregate of such particles, means for outwardly projecting an umbrella-like shower of material about a vertical axis, a casing enclosing said showerproducing means theconstruction and arrangement being such that the outer portion of the shower is closely adjacent the inner surface of the casing, and means at the base of said casing for collecting the precipitated stock in accordance with the trajectory on which it is projected from the axis of the dome.

27.- The structure defined in claim 25 in further combination with means for maintaining a .movement of air inwardly through the shower of material, toward the axis thereof.

28. The structure defined in claim 25 in which the shower-enclosing casing is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced perforations,

- and in further combination with means for maintaining a flow of air into the casing through said perforations and through said shower of about a vertical axis, a casing enclosing said shower-producing means and. shaped to closely I follow the outer portion of the projected shower of material in close outwardly spaced relation thereto, and means at the base of said casing for collecting the precipitated stock in accord- 'ance with the trajectory on which it is projected from the axis of the dome, the construction and arrangement being such that the outer portion of the shower is closely adjacent'the inner surface of the casing.

31. In a machine for separating particles of different weight from an incoming aggregate of such particles, a vertically disposed cross-sectionally cylindrical casing, means located near the upper axial portion of the casing for receiving an aggregate of material and projecting 'the same outwardly therefrom in an annular shower, the outer portion of which annular shower is inwardly spaced from the casing and is shaped to approximately correspond to the contour of the interior of said casing, and means at the base of said casing for collecting the precipitated stock in accordance with the trajectory on which it is projected from the axis of the dome the construction and j arrangement being such that the outer portion of the shower is closely adjacent the inner surface of the casing.

32. In a machine for separating particles of different weight, from an incoming aggregate of such particles, means for outwardly projecting anumbrella-like shower of material, and a 'casing enclosing said shower producing .means and shaped to substantially correspond to the shape of the outer portion of the projected shower of material, said means comprising a rotary delivery cup provided with a vertically adjustable annular rim applied at its perimeter, the interior of said vertically adjustable rim being of uniform diameter and extending parallel to the axis of the cup,

33. In a machine for separating particles of different weight, from an incoming aggregate of such particles, means in the nature of a vertical axis power driven rotary cup for projecting an annular shower of material, a casing enclosing said annular shower producing means and shaped to substantially correspond to the outer portion of the projected annular shower of material, and a rim closely embracing the perimeter of the cup and mounted thereon for vertical adjusting movements between the plane of the upper edge of the cup and a plane above the upper edge of the cup, whereby to effectively vary the vertical depth of the cup and the shape of the projected shower of material.

34. A device of the character described, said device comprising a closed vertical casing, a vertical rotary shaft supported in said casing, a. stationary table across said casing below the top of the casing and traversed by said shaft, a.

rotary collector immediately above said table, rotating means for rotatingsaid collector independently of said shaft, said collector comprising radially and circumferentially spaced pockets bottomed by the upper surface of said table, an air conduit spacedly surrounding said shaft and traversing said collector and said table, a suction fan having its intake connected to the lower end of said air conduit, a centrifugal material projecting cup fixed to said shaft within the open upper end of said air conduit for projecting particles deposited in said cup to differently radially spaced ones of said pockets of said collector in accordance with the specific gravity of the particles', and air inlets in said dome-shaped top admitting outside air to the interior of the top to be drawn into the upper end of said air conduit by said suction fan, said suction fan having an exhaust exterior of said casing, said table being formed with a diametrically extended pocketed particle discharge opening into which "the pocketed particles are pushed by said rotary ,for directing particles from one or a selected number of radially spaced pockets of said table excluslvely into a selected one or ones of said outlets. I

35. A device of the character described, said device comprising a closed vertical casing, a vertical rotary shaft supported in said casing, a stationary table across said casing below the top of the casing and traversed by said shaft, a rotary .collector immediately above said table, rotating means for rotating said collector independently of said shaft, said collector comprising radially and circumferentially spaced pockets bottomed by the upper'surface of said table, an air conduit spacedly surrounding said shaft and traversing 'said collector and said table, a suction fan having its intake connected to the lower end of said air conduit, a centrifugal material projecting cup fixed to said shaft within the open upper end of said air conduit for projecting particles deposited in said cup to differently radially spaced ones of said pockets of said collector in accordance with the specific gravity of the particles, air inlets in said dome-shaped top admitting outside air to the interior of the top to be drawn into the upper end of said air conduit by said suction fan,

said suction fan having an exhaust exterior of said casing, said table being formed with a diametrically extending pocketed particle discharge opening into which the pocketed particles are pushed by said rotary collector, a receiver under said discharge opening, said receiver comprising a receptacle comprising a bottom formed with a plurality of outlets arranged in radially outwardly spaced manner respecting said table, individual delivery spouts connected with said outlets, and a plurality of adjustable valve means in said receiver for directing particles from one or a selected number of radially spaced pockets of said table exclusively into a selected one or ones of said outlets, said plurality of adjustable valve means comprising a number of vertical plates hinged at their lower ends on the bottom of said receptacle, the upper ends of said plates having spring pressed followers to maintain contact with the bottom of said collector during difierently angulated positions of said plates, and means for selectively adjusting the angular positions of the individual plates.

36. In a machine for separating particles of difierent weight, from an incoming aggregate of such particles, means in the nature of a vertical axis power-driven rotary cup for receiving an aggregate of such particles and projecting therefrom an umbrella-like annular shower of the particles, a casing enclosing said annular shower producing means and shaped to closely correspond to the outer portion of theprojected annular shower of particles, the construction and arrangement being such that the outer portion of the shower is closely adjacent the inner surface of the casing and means for varying the speed of discharge of material, from the rotary cup so as to Vary the shape and diameter of the outside of the shower, whereby the shape of the shower may be made to more closely conform to the shape and size of the casing to compensate for variations in cup speed and different material characteristics. 7

' 37. The structuredefined in claim 36 in which the last said means is in the nature of a rim closely embracing the perimeter of the cup and mounted thereon for vertical adjusting movements.

WILLIAM N. SMITH.