US2633171A - Method of hullling, washing, and drying of grain, with simultaneous screening - Google Patents

Description

March 1953 A. c. DAMAN METHODS OF HULLING, WASHING, AND DRYING OF GRAIN, WITH SIMULTANEOUS SCREENING Filed Aug. 25, 1947 JVI/ENTOR: ART/10R C DAMA/v BY H15 A TTORNEYS /5, H501; FBJTEMHARR/s Patented Mar. 31, 1953 METHOD OF HULLING, WASHING, AND DRY- WITH SIMULTANEOUS ING F GRAIN, SCREENING Arthur 0. Daman, Denver, Colo., assignor to Mining Process and Patent Company, Denver, 0010., a corporation of Colorado Application August 23, 1947, Serial No. 770,211

18 Claims. (Cl. 146221.6)

Thisinvention relate to methods for the dry treatment of grain such as wheat, whereby to prepare the grain for milling or other conversion into food stuffs.

I The invention is particularly applicable to the hulling of wheat for theremoval of the outer integumentor bran layer Without rupture of the kernels themselves.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a method for the removal of bran from wheat kernels, or the removal of corresponding outer coverings from similar grains, by a dry process particularly adapted for operation without the employment of water except as a subsequent washing step.

Another important object of the invention is to provide for the hulling of wheat and the like by only a vibrating action to effect the actual loosening of the outer bran layer from the various kernels.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method by means of which Wheat may be continuously hulled, the loosened bran separated fromthe hulled kernels, such kernels being also freed from small, heavy, foreign materials, washed'free of adhering foreign materials, and quickly dried in preparation for milling, packag ing, or other desired disposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process by means of which contact objects, such as balls, associated with the grain being treated are relied upon in conjunction with the mentioned vibrating action to effect cracking or splitting and loosening of the grain hulls from the kernels without rupture of the kernels themselves.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a hulling process employing pressure in conjunc tion with a plurality of contact objects to accomplish cracking or splitting of the hulls, and loosening of the hulls from the kernels during vibration, it being a more specific object to rely upon the weight of the column of the grain to furnish the required pressure which effects the necessary hull splitting under the influence of the vibration imparted to the column of grain and contact objects.

A more particular object, which is of overall importance in connection with a treatment of this type, is to start with dry grain as normally supplied for grain treating purposes, remove the hulls from the dry grain, separate foreign materials from the hulled grain, and furnish the product in thoroughly dry form for future handling.

Other objects and various features of the inthe art upon reference to the following 5138011103,. tion and the accompanying drawin wherein one. embodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of exemplification. a

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating some! What diagrammatically an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and representing the novel process;

Fig. 2 is a cross section indicating a as one of the contact objects;

Fig. 3 is a cross section indicating a rubber ball with a metallic core as one of the contact objects;

Fig. 4 is an elevational detail showing suspension means for a table mounting carrying the vibratory mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional detail indicat ing the drive means by which the required vibration is effected; and

Fig. 6 indicates a modified means for providing the grain column.

The form of the invention illustrated comprisesa generally horizontally disposed flat support; such as a screen Ill of suitable mesh, whichconstitutes a surface upon which rests a column l2 of grain to be hulled, such as Wheat, which column is established by and contained within a vertically disposed cylinder [4. The cylinder [4 may be sectional and telescopic as illustrated, both sections shown being vertically adjustable by separate means, such as rack and pinion devices Ma illustrated. The cylinder it is open, at its lower end in order to expose the column of grain to the screen 16 or other flat support used, and it is also open at its upper end to receive grain' rubber ball from a feed chute l5 adapted to be supplied from:

any appropriate source. such as a storage bin;

An important agent in the operation of the process is a plurality of'contact bodies, illus trated as rubber balls I6, which are disposedin the lower end of the grain column I2. These balls, which may be of solid, heavy rubber as indicated in Fig. 2, or kindred resilient material, or may contain a metal core Ilia as indicated in Fig. 3, maintain themselves in the lower portion of the grain column I 2 or at any appropriate operative level during the hulling operation. They are employed in such numbers as required to effect the desired result, and may constitute, for

example, two or more layers of balls, approxi mately as illustrated. i

The upper end of the flat support, underthe cylinder I4, may be either an extension of the screen H! or a perforate or imperforate plate l1? upon which the grain and balls [6 rest. Some-i timesit is ,not essential to .havethe grain abso.;

lutely dry, and in such cases a light water spray may be applied at the top of the grain column l2 as by a spray head [8, or a heavy water wash if required.

The vibratory action of the screen It), as presently to-be more: fully described, results in the movement of thekernel's of grain and thehulls, such as bran, which have been removed therefrom, out from under the lower edge of the cylinder M. This movement maybe. eiiected. solely through the vibrating action-produced; ormay be facilitated by a slight inclination in the screen It! in the direction of desired travel. The screen I!) may be of such mesh that'small solids, including small, broken pieces of grain, may pass therethrough. The whole grain layer and the hulls then travel under an elongated suctienhmd 2! disposed transversely of the screen IB suction.

being accomplished through an upstandingsuction pipe 22 leading to a suction fan or any other type of suction device. Branzand'other'lightrconstituents are. removed from the. grain. layer; on the screen was the grain-passes undenthe. hood 20. The grain, freed from..hullsandntherrnorn adherent foreign material, continues? to. travel along the. screen. and then passes under a spray of; water" which: is: supplied bya water line 23 andissues from any type of elongated spray head 24, such as the perforated pipes shown. Leaving the-spray head: 24; the washed graimnowiree from powdery and flaky materials-and. water soluble materials, is passed under a dryingdevice, which is shown as a hot air blower hood 2'5 supplied with hot air. through a feed: pipe 26 leading" from any'mechanism adapted to supply suitably heated air under appropriate pressure. The. heated: air: passes over and. around the wet or. damp grain moying'alongithe screen [33, there. by drying the grain, the moisture aneLai-r passing through the screenand being disposed ofas desired. A perforated spreader plate 21' located in-andntermediate portion ofthe hood properly. distributes. the heated air passing to the. moist grain.

In the-form-of structure illustrated, the-solid and liquidmaterial willfallonto atable. 3i and discharge from. the nearest end: seen in Fig. l, andescaping air may issuefrom the same end of. the table 30 and through the meshes of. the screenv HJ-in. the vicinityof the blower hoodi25;

Thescreen H) isv carried upon. the table 3tv through the medium; of: sidewalls. 3 l. upstanding from. the-table. 3.6.

With respectito the construction of. the. table:

3 6. mounting. of; the. screen I0. therein, and the mounting of the partsfor therequired vibratory. movementysuch. is accomplished by appropriate-- ly securing and positioning the screen iii upon the table- 30- so thatv vibration. of. the table 36 will be-desirablyimparted to thescreen to. For;

this purpose, anelongated angle plate 32-.ispro-- vided. along each ofthe side walls 3|, the respective plate. 32. being secured in position by standard carriage bolts 33 ,or thelike. To stretch this screen I0, the lower: edge of each angle plate. 32: is provided with a flange which engagesiin' folded reinforcing means 34 secured. to the respective edge of the screen, this folded means 34- resting. upon a corresponding elongated, bracket plate 35 secured to the adjacent side wall 31, as by welding or otheruuse'. Thus, when.

the. two angle plates: 32 are drawninto position, the edges or. the screen [.0 are tensioned and. bound. against the bracket plates 35. For the: purpose of. maintaining desirable operative positioni'ng'; of: the median portions of the screen .4 I0, elongated rubber cushions 36, carried upon the upper edges of elongated angle bars 38, may be used, the bars 38 being positioned with respect to the table 30 as desired. Should camber be required in the median portion of the screen [6 whereby to insure proper disposition of the moving, hulled grain, theupper' faces of the rubber cushions 36 will be correspondingly elevated.

Thetable 3.0. is mounted for vibration by havi'ngit'sxsid'e walls. 3- Ii appropriately secured to main side plates146', as"by bolts 4|. As illustrated, the upper edges of the main side plates 40 are conveniently provided with outwardly directed flanges 42;, and the lowermost corners at the opposite ends of the apparatus are properly spaced by" means of. tie-rods 43 appropriately attached thereto.

For the purpose of mounting the main side plates 40 to accommodate the vibratory motion required to be. imparted. thereto and hence to the-tableiiifl and. the. screen I6, theouter face-of eachend portion of each. main. plate 40 has. secured thereto an open-front rectangular box bracket45 having aback wall 46 welded or bolted to the respective main. side plate 40. Eachbracket 45 projects; loosely into a rectangular frame 4! which is open at thebactzand may be open at the front. The lower'end of the frame 4'! is provided with: ears 48 by means of which itisbolted to an appropriate"basemember49.

The top bar 41a of each fram'e 41 carries. a suspension rod 50-which is suspended: therefrom by means of lock nuts- 52 secured" onv its upper threaded end. The rod 50, in each instance, depends within the respective frame 41, passing through boththe upper; andthel lower ends of therespective box.bracket.45.. Withineach box bracket 45 and disposed around theisuspension rod 50 is a supporting spring 54 upon which rests. the upper wall: of, theboxbracket45, whereby thecorresponding cornerof the vibratory structure is supported. This weight is; transmitted through thespring; 54 to the suspension rod. 50 and thence tothe-respectiveframe 41' by way of a rubber cushion55 (Fig. 4) disposediina retainer cup 5.6 resting upona mounting. 58 fixed upon the lower end of the rod 50 and reciprocably positioned within a corresponding open- 7 ing inthe lower. end Wall of. they respective box bracket 45 Thus, the vibratory structure consisting ofthe mainside :plates 49.; the table 3.0, and its upstand ing side wallsv 3!, together with the. screen [0, 18 carried upon four. springs15 lw supportedfrom four frames; 41 which in turn. rest upon four appropriate base. members 49. By thiscmounting means, vibratory motion is readily permitted, a suitable pendulum effect being provided which results in avoidance of the. transmission of destructive vibration and provides only for that vibration of small amplitude which. is required for the present purpose.-

To efiect the required vibration, a motor 60 carried upon any suitable support Blisemployed to drive a V'-belt 12' passing over a-driven pulley 63 mounted alongside afly wheel 64 upon one end of a vibration producing shaft 65. The shaft 65 is mounted at each end inbearings-66, Fig. 5, carried in the side walls 3| of the table 30 and in the main side plates to which the side walls 3| are bolted as above described. The middle section of the'shaft 65' is provided with an eccentrically disposed elongated portion 61' having but slight eccentricity and capableof producing high speed vibration of very'small amplitude Operation The vibratory mechanism, comprised of the screen Hi, the table 30, and the main side plates 40, is vibrated; through the medium of the motor 60 and the drive shaft 65, as above indicated. to

yield vibration of very small amplitude and high;-

rate, proper transmission of this vibration being permitted by the mounting of the box brackets 45 upon the spring 54 carried on the suspension rods 50 and supported upon the frame 4'! disposed at the corners of the apparatus.

A number of the contact objects, such as the rubber balls 16 illustrated, are disposed upon the screen In or the plate IT, as the case may be, and in the lower portion of the cylinder [4 to produce as many layers as required to effect the desired result, and grain, such as wheat, is fed continuously through the chute I5 to maintain the grain column 12 as a head of proper value to provide the pressure upon the balls is necessary to effect splitting or other appropriate rupture of the grain hulls, without, however, rupturing or crushing the kernels themselves. The balls 15 may be of different sizes best calculated to produce the necessary function. For

example, balls one-half inch in diameter, or two inches in diameter, or even larger diameter, perhaps up to six inches may be employed, the larger sizes being used especially in conjunction with the employment of balls of varying sizes,

such as those of one-half inch and one inch diameters. Spacing of the cylinder [4 from the screen I Bis such that, as the screen I0 is vibrated, the lowermost grain is caused to pass under the lower edge of the cylinder l4 together with the bran or other hulls which have been detached by the vibratory action. Such spacing may be regulated by adjustment of the lower section of the cylinder l4 by its rack and pinion device l4a. Adjustment of the upper cylinder section through its rack and pinion devicel4a may be employed in establishing the proper height'of the grain column l2 for any given grain being hulled. If desirable, the grain column i2 may be formed by a rectangular hopper 10, Fig, 6, transversely disposed across the screen it) and'aifording a mouth of uniform di mensions both laterally and longitudinally of the screenm:

Continued vibration causes the grain and hulls to advance toward the suction hood 20. During this interval, small, solid particles, such as grit and small broken pieces of grain, pass through the screen 10, the mesh of which, however, is small enough to retain full size grain. As the hulled grain and hulls pass under the suction hood. 20, the hulls are drawn upward adhering powdery materials and water soluble substances. The water falls through the meshes of the screen it) onto the table 30 and the continued vibration after the grain leaves the spray causes water droplets to be shaken ofi. The remaining thin water film is removed by the warm or hot air blast as the grain passes under the hood 25. The hulled, dried grain is then delivered from the screen ill to any receiver which may be a chute, a conveyor belt, or other structure as preferred. While the structure disclosed signifies that wash water and other materials passing through the screen [0 are delivered from the nearest end of the table 30, it is obvious that other dispositions may be made as desired. Separate means for disposal might be provided for the air leaving the hood 25 in order that the air blast might not interfere with the water flow issuing from the spray head 24 or otherwise interfere with any of the operations. From the standpoint of the vibrating screen to be used in connection with the hulling and cleaning method disclosed, a structure which may be employed is available on the market under the trade name of Denver-Dillon Vibrating Screen manufactured by the Denver Equipment Company.

From the foregoing description it is evident that various grains, such as wheat, rice, barley, oats, and rye may be hulled in their original dry condition, by the simple expedient of vibrating a grain column of suitable head with appropriate rubber balls IE or similar balls, the column of balls and grain being rested upon a convenient, vibrated supporting surface such as the screen In or the plate l1. Also, the grain having been hulled and having advanced from the bottom of the grain column 12, the hulls and other light materials are separated as by suction, and the hulled grain washed to eliminate undesired foreign matter on the surfaces of the kernels and quickly dried before discharge from the apparatus.

Withsome grains it is suflicient to maintain an adequate height of the grain column 12 without employment of the balls it or similar objects, and rely entirely upon the vibration and the pressure of the head of grain to effect the cracking or splitting of the grain hulls. For example, where the hulls of a particular grain require a prior soaking or other heavy water treat-- ment to accomplish adequate splitting, such will be effected.

Inasmuch as many variations of the genericinvention herein disclosed will become apparent splitting and loosening of the grain hulls upon vibration of the rain with said objects; vibrat-' ing said column of grain and said objects to rup-' ture and loosen the hulls of kernels of grain adjacent said objects; and removing from the column that portion of the grain whose hulls have been split and loosened.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the unhulled grain in said column is dry grain, and the contact objects have surfaces which are non-rupturable during the hulling treatment.

vibration, of: said column. and. following removal. of: the: hulled. grain. from said column...

4.. A method; as: in claim; 1. including the.additionalystep of, separating the loosened hulls. from. the: removed grainbeing hulled;

51A. method as in clainrl wherein; grain and hulls.- are continuously removedv from the: bottom ofxthe column andunhulled grain. is; continuously added to. the; top; of the column in quantity'to; maintain; sufficienti pressure upon grain; in. contact. withtsaid. objects to cause; said hulls to be cracked. during vibration, th grain. kernels re.- mainingintact;

6.. A, methodas; in claim 1' whereinisaid surface isi'caused to; move-by saidvibrationand the re-. moval of? grain. and hulls is: effected from. the bottom of: said column. under infiuenceof said vibration as saidsurface moves.

' 7?. A method as in claim 1' wherein said surface is caused to move by said vibration and" the removalof 'grainand hullsis eifected from the bottom of said column under influence of" said vibration as said surface moves, said larger contact objects remaining in I the column in contact with descending grain.

8. A method for hulling grain comprising: establishing a column of 'unhulled grain upon a surface capable of bein vibrated to move the grain; providing in the lower portion of the column in contact with grain therein a plurality of objects capable of causing'rupture of the hulls of the contacted grain upon vibration of said surface and column without rupturing the grain kernels; vibrating said surface and simultaneously supplying pressure on the grain to effect rupture of said grain hulls while avoiding rupture of the grain kernels; and causing ruptured hulls and their grain kernels to escape from the bottom of said column under influence of the vibration of said surface;

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein said objects are smooth surfaced and avoid damage of the grain kernels, and pressure is applied thereto and to grain being hulled by the weight of the.

column of grain and objects to cause splitting of the hulls of kernels in contact'with said objects.

10. A method for hulling grain comprising: establishing a column of unhulled grain; supplying in a portion of said grain column a plurality of contact objects in contact with the grain, said.

objects having smooth surfaces which: remainsmooth during the treatment; vibrating'the. portion. of said column containing said contact objects; and maintaining suflicient pressure on the,

grain contacted by said objects to cause the hulls.

of said grain to be cracked loose by such vibration and pressure while maintaining whole the individual kernels of grain themselves.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein said pressure isaccomplished by the head of grain constituti'ng the column.

12. A method as in claim 10 wherein said contact; objects are maintained in the lower portion off-said column,- and wherein cracked hulls and the respective grain. kernels are removed from the.- bottom of the column.

. 13. Amethod as in claim;101wherein.said con. tact objects are maintained in the lower portion.

. being. continuously addedto the upper-portion of the column to. maintain the column.

14. A methodforhulling grain comprising: establishing upon a. substantially flat supporting surface a column of" dry grain to be hulled; commingling with the dry grain in the lower portion. of said column a plurality of smooth surfaced objects which are larger than the grain kernels and remain whole during the treatment; vibrating said supporting surface While establishing a sufiicient weight upon said-lower-portion to cause the dryhulls of the grain to split and become loosened under the vibrating action inthe presence of said objects; and causing hulled grain and hulls therefrom to pass" from thelower per-- tion of-said column.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein said objects have rubber surfaces contacting said grain.

16. A method as in claim 14 wherein said hulls and hulled grain passing from said column are passed into a suction zone wherein said hulls are separated from the hulled grain by suction.

17. A method as in claim 14 including the additional step of separating the hulls'from hulled grew.

18. A method as in' claim 14. including the additional steps of, separating the hulls from hulled grain, washing the hulled grain, drying the washed grain, and screening the grain during all of the steps.

ARTHUR C. DAMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The.- following references are of record in the file of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 108,541 Wegman Oct. 18, 1870 242,685. Palmer June 7, 1881 385,870 Melkersman July 10, 1888 417,273 Parkinson Dec. 17, 1889 566,143 Cromwell et a1 Aug. 18, 1896 888,678 Wilson May 26, 1908 994,659 Schindel June 6, 1911 1,198,404 Ballantine Sept. 19, 1916 1,384,047 Carter. July 12, 1921 1,548,324 Kaemmerling. Aug. 4, 1925 1,807,383 Carnahan. 1 May 26, 1931 1,860,811. Little .May 3.1, 1932, 2,129,214 Hopkins. Sept. 6', 1938 2,136,870.. Vissac. Nov. 15, 1938- 2,157,268. Ogg May 9,1939 2,208,077; Linke .July 16, 1940 2,298,015 Lincoln Oct. 6, 1942 2,346,176 McAleer Apr. 11, 1944 2,346,500 Moore Apr. 11, 1944 2,393,975 Daman Feb. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 233,164 Germany .A pr. 1, 1911 149,368 Great Britain. Aug. 19., 1920 416,758v Germany July 27, 1925 361,992 Great Britain.- Dec- 3, 1931 180,743 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1936

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