US2635309A - Apparatus for cleaning grain and destroying the insect life therein - Google Patents

Description

F. 5. SMITH APPARATUS FOR CLE 2,635,309 ANING GRAIN AND DESTROYING E INSECT LIFE THEREIN April 21, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. '7, 1949 INVENTOR lllllllllll Ewan/Win S. SmiZ/L BY L 6% 63% 2 ATTORNEYS April 21, 1953 F. 5. SMITH APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAIN AND DESTROYING THE INSECT LIFE THEREIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1949 Apnl 21, 1953 F. 5. SMITH 2,635,309

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAIN AND DESTROYING THE INSECT LIFE THEREIN Filed Sept. 7, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet a D D D D DD an I: uuuuucln DDDUD nu u m: IUJUJJJJJ Ji 1 i DUUDUCI DU DGDCIDQEDGEEEQ lNVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 21, 1953 r. orr ca erreaa'rns roan cashmere GRAIN AND nas'rno rrne 'rnu INSECT LIFE 'rnuanrn Franklin s. Smith, North Haven; oonn.

Application September 7, 1949; SerialNo. 114,431

11 Claims.

liTliis invention relates to apparatusior treat' mg grain that] is, the kernelsof the various cereals. i

Brieiiy the machine includes'a spout, gener- .;ally'indicated at. it. Grain flowing downwardly "through spot it enters a funnel-shaped injeo torfconduit, generally indicated at lz into an air stream generated by a centrifugal'constant L pressure blower i l. The air stream accelerates the grain downwardly through conduit 16 onto .ai'conoidal member, generally indicated at is.

The outer portionsof conoidal member it and the inner surface of conoidal shell 2% form a ponverging divergingnozzle l9 which accelerates anddirects thegrainand air stream in a gen- :eral radial direction against a target array in the form or" a simple labyrinth, generally indicated at 24 (Figures 1 and 4), positioned out- Wardlyther'efrom. The target array consists of a plurality of vertically-positioned. cylindrically shaped targets presenting 'elastomer surfaces such a's rubber of about 50 durometer hardness. The grain impacts the targets of the target array with sufficient intensity to cause lethal shocks whichdestroy the life of insect infestation of the grain and also to separate the dirt from the grain, particularly the dirt in crevices in the 1 grain such as the dirt in, the crease in a grain fof wheat.

" The majority of the kernels strike the targets 24 withouthitt'ing the screen 2% and fall down- Wardlyin the machine through its funnel-shaped lower portion and thence into conduit 26. Dirt and other foreign particles are carried between 1 the targets of the array by the air stream and [thence through a screen, generally indicated at 28 (Figures 1, 4 and into passageways 3t and lectors 34 and 36 (Figure 2). The dirt is sepa- L'rated from the air stream in the dust collectors and the air stream passes upwardly through conduit 38 to inlet of blower i land is circulated through the machine. The dirt and other foreign material pass downwardly in the cyclone collector and are discharged from a hopper 40 by a conventional air lock valve 42 which is driven by a .motor (not shown).

One of the objects is to provide an apparatus capable of fine cleaning, to be employed after the customary grain screening and cleaning which separates the relatively coarse foreign materials .irom the grain stream. Another objectis to j provideapparatus oithe above character which l 2 i 1 j, will be simple, practical and thoroughly durable. Another object is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the above character for simultaneously destroying the life of insect infestation and fine cleaning of the grain. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above character capable or destroying the'life. of'insect infjestation without shattering sound. kernels. Another object is the inclusion of. means within'apparatus of the above character for efiecting. a separation of dust, crease dirt, small insects, insect i shown one of the various i lined-4 of Figure 1;

tioned; and

particles and small. foreign particles from the grain. Other objects will beiin part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. I j The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement. of parts, all as will be illustratively described herein andthe scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in thefollowing claims. l i

In the accompanying drawings, in which is possible embodiments of this invention, 1 2..

Figure lis a side elevation of themachine with certain parts in section and others broken away for urposesiof illustration; f

Figure 2 isa side elevation of the cyclone dust collectors taken from the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan of the'machineshown in Flgurel; Figure 4 is a horizontal: sectiontaken on the Figure 5 is a vertical section'on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5-5 of Figure'3;

.Figure 6 is a plan ,on anenlarged scale of the lower ends of a series of the targets taken from the direction of the arrows 6 inFigurel;

Figure 7 is a side elevation onan enlarged scale of :a'single target, certain parts being broken away for purposes of illustration; t

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a portionjof the conduit leading to grain inlet of apparatus, certainportions of. this figurebeing vertically see- Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in section l and partly in elevation of a portion oftheponduit through which grain passesfrom the machine.

Similar reference characters refer to: similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. i

Referring now to Figure l, the machine is supported by four legs, lt, at, 45 and 46. All of the legs are siinilarin construction to leg 54 (Figures 1, 3 and 5) and includesections' dt and 58 (Figure These sections coact to support the funnel-shaped casting, generally indicated at 52 (Figures 1 and 5), and a ring-shaped casting 54 (Figures 1, 3 and 5), which form the framework of the machine. The lower portion of leg section 58 (Figure 5) extends into the hollow interior of section 48 and is pinned thereto by a pin 56. Section 58 extends through a hole 58 in casting 52, and casting 52 rests upon the upper end of section 48. A plug 68 is mounted in the upper end of section 58 and is pinned thereto by a pin 62. Plug 68 extends through a hole 64 in casting 54, and casting 5'4 rests upon the. upper end of section 58. Casting 54 is held against the upper end of section 58 by means of a nut 66 threaded on the upper endofplug B8. The four legs thus support castings 52 and 54 in spaced relationship with respect to each other to form a framework for the machine.

The targets in the target array are mounted onshell 28. l. and 5) includes an outwardly extending an- The outer edge of shell 28 (Figures nular flange 28a which extends over an inwardly extendin flange 54a on casting 54. Thus, casting 54 supports shell 28 with respect to the machine. Shell 28 includes a horizontal target supporting section 28b of circular shape on which the targets are mounted. Each target consists of a rod 18 (Figure '7) having its upper end threaded and having an elastomer cover I 2 molded thereon. The elastomer surfaced targets are of a hardness which does not shatter the sound kernels upon impact; however such kernels that have been reduced to mere shells due to insect of a simple labyrinth, the targets in the circles being insta'g'gered,relationship 'with respect to each other so that each target covers the space between a pair of targets in the other circle of targets (Figure 6). The rod I8 (Figure 5) of each target I2 extends through a vertical hole in section 281) of shell 28 (Figure 5) and is secured to'section 2811 by means of a nut, such as nu't 14.

Conoidal member I8, which, as pointed out hereinabove, forms a nozzle I9 in conjunction with shell 28 to direct the stream of grain against the targets, is supported by three supporting rods, two of which are shown in Figure 1. These rods 16 have their upper ends positioned in sockets such as socket I8 in conoidal member I8 and their lower ends extend into sockets, such as socket 88, formed in casting 52. These rods rigidly support the conoidal member so that it forms a circular nozzle 22 which directs the air stream and grain against the target array at an angle slightly downwardly from the horizontal.

After the air stream and grain strike the targets 12, the dirt and other foreign material is shaken loose from the grain and is carried by the air "stream outwardly through a cylindricallyshaped screen 28 (Figures 1, 4 and 5). Screen 28 has a plurality of horizontal slots 84, the width of which is smaller than the type of grain being cleaned but is suiiiciently large to permit dust, dirt, mites, and most insects infesting stored grain to pass therethrough. It might be well at this point to note that as heretofore pointed out, the apparatus herein described is primarily concerned with What has been termed fine cleaning. In other words, this apparatus is installed in the millstream to receive grain which has gone 4 through preliminary screening and cleaning apparatuses which separates relatively coarse par ticles of dirt and foreign materials, such as bits of wood and iron, vermin excreta and other Darticles commonly found in raw grain fed into the millstream from storage. In other words, the grain which is treated by the present device is relatively clean, being adulterated by relatively fine particles of dirt, excreta or other material,- and such small dirt or other particles adhering to the grain kernels or being lodged in the creases thereof. These particles of dirt and other foreign matter are almost invariably of considerably smaller size than the grain particles themselves; although there might well be present adult insects, although in small proportion, which are individually larger than the largest kernels. Less mature insect infestation might also be present, but would be in the egg, larvae or pupae stages; In any event, the apparatus is intended to, separate from the grain only those entrained particles which are smaller than the grain kernels themselves, any larger particles passing along with the grain kernels into the millstream for subsequent treatment. Referring to Figure5, it will be noted that the 'width of slots 84 gradually increases as each slot is followed outwardly toward passageways 38and 32 (Figure 4). This prevents the slots from being clo ged by dirt, as any particle which enters a slot is carried therethrough by the air stream. Screen 28 overlaps and is mounted on axially concentric cylindrically-shaped seats 88 and 88 formed on shell 28 and casting 52. The ends of screen 28 overlap and are held together by a series of screws, such as screw 88. The screen'28 has a sufficient slot area therein to prevent excessive air flow resistance. To dissipate the electric charg on the grain and the grain dust, a lug 51 connected to casting 52 by screw 59 is grounded by conductor 6I (Figure 5). To insure good electrical contact between screen 28 and casting 52, screen 28 is connected to casting 52 by screw 63.

Passageways 38 and 32 function as semi-volute channels (Figure 4), each gradually increasing in width and consequently in cross section from the splitter 94- to the outlet port 86. The outer wall of both passageways 38 and 32 is formed by a band 98 (Figure 5) which is clamped against a pair of seats I88 and I82 formed on castings '52 and 54. Seats I88 and I82 are cylindrical in shape but are eccentric with respect to seats 86 and '88 to make passageways 38 and 32 (Figure 4) increase in width as they are followed to the right, as viewed in Figure 4. The ends 88a and 98b of band 98 are connected to a casting of rectangular shape in vertical cross section, generally indicated at I84, which includes portions Ma and I I l4b which extend outwardly behind band '94 and which forms the outlet port for passageways 38 and 32. The ends 88a and 98b. 'of band 88 are connected to casting I84 by cap screws I86 and I88, which, when tightened, draw the band 98 tightly against seats I88 and I82 (Figure '4). Thus, it will be seen that band 88 and screen 28 are easily removable so that the argets of t target array are readily accessible and the interior of the machine may be qu y cleaned.

To direct the air stream flowing through the left-hand portion of screen 28 (Figure 4) to the right passageways 38 and 32, splitter 9.4 is Plm vided. Splitter 94 (Figure 1) extends from the top to the bottom of screen 28 and is secured along one vertical edge to band 98 by rivets I18. It

will be noticed that the two sides of splitter 94 into conduit 26.

asadena l' a'rel curved to direct the air streamupwardly and "downwardly, as viewed in Figure 4, into passageways 311 and 32. At the opposite ends of passageways 30 and 32 are a pair of vertically-positioned curvedguiding plates l2 and! I l. The upper and lower ends of these guiding plates are secured to casting I04 in any suitable manner (not shown) 'andthey serve to direct the air stream flowing through passageways 30 and 32 outwardly through port'flfi. It will be noted that the right- :"handends of plates H2 and H4 are spaced with respect to each other. This permits the air stream fiowingthrough the portion of screenZB coveredby guiding plates [I2 and lit to flow finto'the passageway II6 (Figure 4) through port 96. Thus, the air stream is guided through passageways 39 and 32 fromthe left to the right, as viewed in Figure i, and the passageways gradually increase in cross-sectional area to permit the air stream to flow through the screen 28 evenly "from all directions.

The air stream and foreign material passing "from port 96 (Figure 4) enters passageway I 95 (Figure 1) which is connected to the intake ports of a pair of cyclone dustcollectors as and 36.. *The' dirtand other foreign material is separated from the air stream in the cyclone dust collectors, ffi'the dirt passing downwardly through the lower ends of the cyclone collectors into hopper All (Figuresl and 2) and is discharged from hopper :40 by means of airlock valve 12 driven by a motor (not shown). (collector passes upwardly through conduits I28 and I22into a conduit I24 connected to the intake port of blower It. '-I26 and generates an air stream which flows The air stream from each dust Blower i4 is driven by a motor through conduit I38 into a volute casing I32.

"Volutecasing I32 in conjunction with injector conduit I2 serves to distribute the air stream 'f-evenly into conduit It so that the grain passing "ffrom the lower end of spout It is accelerated downwardly and uniformly into nozzle I9.

a If spout It is relatively short and to prevent "the air stream from flowing upwardly through These secwardly flow of grain. A series of sections I 2%, Hi2

' and I44 (Figure 9) are also provided in conduit 26 for a similar purpose. In operation, the high velocity air stream gen- 'erated by constant pressure blower "through conduit ISE! and volute casing I32 and thence through injector conduit I2. The low velocitygrain stream, which is the grain and its entrained air, flows downwardly through spout I into injector conduit [2 within which the two streams become confluent. The air stream accelcrates the grain stream through conduit I6- and fconoidal nozzle I9 and from nozzle outlet 22."

The kernels pass outwardly from nozzle I9 in a general radial direction and strike targets l2, A

l majority of the kernels pass downwardly through the funnel-shaped lower portion of themachine Some kernels carom between l the targets to the screen, whereagain they fall downwardly into the lower portion of the ma- M chineand thus into conduit 25 as they cannot pass through screen, 28. As pointed out hereinaboye the targets. are sospaced with respect to 75.:

{each other that every kernel of grain .strikes a target'which loosens the dirt thereon, theimpact also killing'any insect life. 1

The :dirt and other foreign material passes outwardly through the slots. 84in screen 28 into =passageways 30 and 32' (Figure 4).

Thesplitter 94 directs the air stream passing through the left-hand side of the screen, as viewed in Figure 4, upwardly and downwardly. Because the pas- " sageways 30 and 32 gradually increase in cross sectional area throughout theirlengtha they accominodate the air stream passing through screen 23 so that it flows substantially uniformly therethrough. 5

The air stream is guided by guiding plates theair stream (Figures 1 and 2), theair stream passing upwardly through conduits I20 and I22,

and the foreign material passing downwardly into. hopper 40. The air stream passing up- -wardly through conduits I20 and I22 feeds blower I l, which circulates theair through the machine.

. The dirtand foreign material with its entrained air. are dischargedfrom. the machine by' means of an air lock valve 42. 1

By directing the grainiagainst targets of the type-described, no shattering of sound kernels takes place. The grain is sim'plysubjected to a shocksufficient to remove all dirt. therefrom, including the crease dirt and the shock also 'destroys the insect .life of infestation of the a grain. The targets accomplish this because they are. surfaced with anelastomer which is not deformed beyond its elastic limit and which absorbs a suflicient amount of the shock toprevent fracture of sound kernels and also because the targets do not have any edges.

It (will be seen that practical and efficient apparatus has been described for. cleaning grain and. destroying the insect. life therein. The

velocity with which the grain strikes the targets may be 'on the order of. 200 feet per second as a maximum upon. impact and is. readily controlled .by varying the speed of. .the blower. Furthermore, the targets are so constructed and positioned that all kernels of grain are subjected to shock which separates the dirt from the .kernels but does not shatter them. It willthus be seen that the several objects hereinabove a mentioned, as well as many others, have been successfully accomplished. l As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove .setforth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in. a limiting sense. 1

' What is claimed is:

- '1. In apparatus of the type described, in com- I bination, a conduit, a blower for forcing a high velocity stream of air through said conduit, means for introducing the product being treated into said stream of air, a substantially annular shaped target array including a plurality of vertically positioned targets, and means to direct the stream of air and said product against said target array so that the individual particles of the product strike the vertical targets.

2. In apparatus of the type described, in combination, a conduit, blower for forcing a high velocity stream of air through said conduit, means for introducing the product being treated array,

into said stream ofair, an elastomer surfaced target, means to direct the stream of air and said product against said target, and a screen located adjacentsaidtarget through which most of said air stream .-passes after carrying the product being treated against. said target, the

openings in said screen being of "smaller size 'than the size-of the particles comprising the product being treated, said air stream carrying dirt and'other foreign 'materialparticles of a size smaller than said productnparticles through said screen.

3. In'apparatus of the type described; incombination, a conduit, a blower for forcing a stream of air through said conduit, means for introducing theprodu'ct:particles. being treated into said stream of air, a target array in the form of a simple. labyrinth, means to direct the stream of air and entrained particles through. said target said "air stream carrying the product being treated'against said targets,and screening means adjacent said target array through which most of "said air stream passes after ipassing through said target array, said screeningmeans having 'openings' of smaller size than the size of theproduct'particles being treated,

said screening means separating the product being treated? from "particles of dirt and other foreign materialsjwhich are smaller than the product particles.

4; In. apparatus. of-the type described, in

combination,'a conduit, a blower for forcing a high velocity stream of air through said conduit, means for introducing the product particles being treatedeintorsaid stream of air, a "substantially annular-shaped target array "including a, plurality of vertically positioned. elastomer surfaced targets, a'converging-diverging nozzle having a circular nozzle outletpositioned inwardly from 'said' target array, means to direct the stream of "air and said product through said nozzle against said target array, and means surrounding: said target array for separating-said air streamfrom'thepro'duct being treated.

5. In apparatus of the type described: in combination, a conduit, a blower for forcing a stream "of. 'air throughsaid conduit, means for introducing the product being treated; into said stream of air, an annular-shaped target array including rows of vertically. positioned targets, the targets in said rows being positioned in staggered and overlapping relationship. with respect to each other, each target being substantially cylindrically-shaped and, having an elastomer surface, and means for directing said air. stream and the product being treated against said target; array.

'6. 'In apparatus of the type described, in combination, a conduit, means including a blower for forcing a high velocity stream of airthrough said conduit, a spout forintroducing the product being treated into said" conduit, a target array including a plurality-f elastomer surfaced-targets, a nozzle to direct; the stream ofair against said target array to e-arrythe product being treated against said targets, screening means adjacent said target array through which most of saidair stream passesafter Ca y the p d t bein treated: against. said, target array, the openings in: said screen being smaller than the particles.

comprising the product being treated, said screening means 'separating. the product: particles being treated"from particles of. dirt andz'other foreign materials which are smaller than the product particles -said particles 'of dirt and forfaced targets positioned outwardly from saidnoz- 'eign materials being carried through thescrefi by the air stream, and a hopper for collecting the product particles after treatment.

7. In apparatus of-the type described, incombination, a conduit, a blower for forcing a stream of air through saidconduit, a spout for introducing the product being treated into said conduit, an annular-shaped target arrayincludinga plurality of vertically positioned targets in staggered-overlapping relationship with respectrto each other, a converging-diverging nozzle .disposedwithin said array and having a circular outlet for directingthe air stream and the product being'treated against said target array,..and

vertically-positioned screening means positioned outwardly-from said target array to separate the product-being treated from said air stream.

to each other, each target being substantially cylindrically-shaped and having an elastomer surface, a nozzle positioned within said array and having a circular outlet for directing said air stream and the product particles-being treated against said target-arraya substantially cylindrically-shaped screen positioned outwardly from said target array, the openings in saidscreen being smaller than the size of the particles of the product being treated, and a. hopper formeceiving all particles that do not, pass through said screen.

9. In apparatus of the type described, incombination, a conduit, ablower for forcing a stream of air through said conduit, 3, spout for introducing the product particles being treated-into said stream of air, a conoidal; member, the-axis of said conoidal member being verticallypositioned andaligned with the axisiof the portiorrof said conduit positioned directly above: saidconoidal member, means coacting with saidconoidal member to form a converging-diverging nozzle having a circular outlet opening at the lower edge of said. conoidal member, a-substantially annular-shaped target array in the form -of a labyrinth including a plurality of elastomersurzle, said nozzle directing said stream of air, and the entrained product against said target array, and means surrounding said. array for separating said stream of air and particles of dirt and, other foreign materialsfrom thepro'duct being treated.

10. In apparatus "of-the type described, in combination, a conduit, a blower for, forcing a stream of air, a conoidal member, the axis'of, said coof air through said conduit, a spoutforintroducing the productbeing treated into said stream noidal member being vertically positioned and aligned with the aXis of the portion of said conduit positioned directlyabove said conoidal'member, means coacting with said conoidal member to form a nozzle having acircular outlet opening at the lower edge of said conoidal member, a

substantially annular-shaped target array including a plurality of elastomer surfaced targets havingsurfaces positioned outwardly from said nozzle, said nozzle directing said stream of "air and the product being treated against said'target array, and: a substantially vertically positioned :"screen.positioned outwardly from said target array, through. which most-aorsaid air stream 9 passes, the holes in said screen being of smaller size than the size of the particles of the product being treated, whereby said screen separates the product being treated from said stream of air, and hopper means positioned beneath said screen for collecting the treated product.

11. In apparatus of the type described, in combination, a conduit, a blower for forcing a stream of air through said conduit, a spout for introducing the product being treated into said stream of air, an array of annular-shaped targets, said target array including a plurality of vertically positioned targets having elastic resilient exterior surfaces, a conoidal member for directing said stream of air and the product being treated outwardly against the inside of said target array, a vertically positioned annular-shaped screen surrounding said target array, the holes in said screen being of smaller size than the particles of the 10 product being treated, a passageway positioned outwardly from said screen, most of said air stream passing through said screen into said pas sageway and carrying particles of dirt and other foreign material capable of passing through said screen with it, a hopper for collecting the treated product, means connected to said passageway for separating said dirt and other foreign material from said air stream, and means connecting said last-mentioned mean to said blower.

FRANKLIN S. SMITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,339,733 Smith Jan. 18, 1944 2,339,735 Smith Jan. 18, 1944 2,339,737 Hulse Jan. 18, 1944

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