US2968399A - Machine for cleaning grain, seed and the like - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1961 I. K. L. ANDREN MACHINE FOR CLEANING GRAIN, SEED AND THE LIKE Filed June 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR ATTORNEYS Jan. 17, 1961 1. K. L. ANDR EN 2,963,399

MACHINE FOR CLEANING GRAIN, SEED AND THE LIKE Filed June 24, 1957 3 SheetsSheet 2 I9 l'gl. L

ATTORNEYJ Jan. 17, 1961 4 l. K. L. ANDREN 2,

MACHINE FOR CLEANING GRAIN, SEED AND THE LIKE File; June 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I 1; \g# I I I I l l l V I I 9 I 4 I has I /0 I I2 I I I I l I I I I /a I I I l I q INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent MACHINE FOR CLEANING GRAIN, SEED AND THE LIKE Ingmar Karl Linus Andi-en, Lindesberg, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Linde Maskiner, Lindesberg, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed 1011824, 1957, SE!- NO 667,337 Claims priority, application Sweden Oct. 31, 1956 9 Claims. (Cl. 209 30) The present invention relates broadly to a machine for cleaning grain, seed and the like.

More particularly, the invention relates to such a cleaning machine incorporating an improved aspiration chamber and the channel or conduit systems associated with such chamber. The prior art grain cleaning machines have been constructed in such a way that it is only with difiiculty that a cleaning machine and its various auxiliary devices can present a compact construction and still provide for ready accessibility, as regards continuous inspection of the'vital parts.

It is to be understood that a complete cleaning ma- :chine is one which includes, feeding arrangements, such as, a bin having distribution roller or rollers, screening means, one or more fans or blowers and the various chambers and conduits connected to the-suction or exhaust connections of such fans or blowers and through which waste or partially used material, such as half grains or the like, pass and a discharge arrangement for discharging the completely cleaned grain or other material p "In connection with the foregoing object, the cleaning machine of the invention incorporates a scarifier and separator means so that the constructional costs of the machine are substantially reduced in comparison with a cleaning machine in which the auxiliary mechanisms are independent and separate units supported separately from the cleaning machine. 7

It is a further object to provide a cleaning machine including a casing within which are associated air cur rent establishing means andchambers or conduits and air channels through which material to be cleaned and 'waste materials flow for the separation and withdrawal 'of various impurities, waste material, and the like,

Specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a cleaning machine including plural air channels, an

,aspiration chamber divided into two compartments re- ,spectively communicating with one of said air channels andin which one of said channels is arranged horizon- .-ta11y so that the wall defining one side of the channel also constitutes the ceiling of the aspiration chamber.

Since air channels in cleaning machines are generally of rectangular cross section and of substantially larger .width than depth, the air velocity blowing through the horizontal channel isnot uniform throughout its entire .cross section because friction eife'cts, that is, skin friction along the short sides or ends of the channel and particu- ..larly in thecorners establishes the condition in which :for a certain distance inwards from the .-respective.short gsides the velocity .is lower than it is in the mid-portion ;of the channel.

Consequently, particles of material can .depqsitqr a cumula e alerts the shsvr s swt h the bin.

ice

nel particularly in that portion of the wall which con sti-tutes the ceiling of the aspiration chamber.

Accordingly, theinvention has for a further object to provide for the entry of additional air from outside the machine into the horizontal channel so that the air velocity is increased and the conveying current of air has a greater carrying capacity thereby diminishing the possibility of precipitating material in the channel.

Accordingly, it is the specific object of the invention to provide a machine for cleaning grain or the like material including a casing structure having two immediately adjacent aspiration chambers therein, air channels in communication with each chamber, air current establishing means associated with each chamber and one of the air channels being horizontal, feed means for material to be cleaned associated with the horizontal air channel and additional air conduit means communicating with the horizontal air channel adjacent the lateral edges thereof downstream of the material inlet for supplying addi tional air to the horizontal channel at the opposite lateral sides of this channel. v

Further and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a longitudinally sectional view'through a cleaning machine constructed in accordance'with the invention. 4

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2 -2--'c Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Figure 4 and illustrating a portion of the struc ture shown in Figure l. v

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 3.

In the drawings the cleaning machine of the invention includes a casing structure having spaced front and rear walls 30 and 31 and opposite side walls 32 and 33. A vertically arranged partition 34 spaced inwardly from the front wall 30 defines a vertically disposed updraught air channel 9. This channel is open at its lower end as shown in Figure 1 so that an air current can be induced to flow upwards through channel 9. An arcuate pantition 35 extends above the upper terminal edge of partition 34 so that the air current and material accompanying the same that flows up through channel 9 is deflected downwardly into an expansion and collecting pocketl6. The interior of the casing includes two sloping partitions 36 and 37 each defining the bottom of an expansion pocket, the other one of which is denoted at 17. The partition 22 separates the pockets so that they constitute immediately adjacent aspiration chambers. Suction fans 18 and 19 are mounted adjacent the opposite walls 32 and 33 on the interior of the casing, one of these'fans establishes an air current through channel 9 and pocket 16 to exhaust while the other fan establishes an air cur- .rent in pocket 17 and in a horizontal air channel denoted at 12. The air channel 12 is defined between the opposite side walls 32 and 3.3 of the casing by a'top from the front wall 30 so as to provide for the entry of air beneath the feed roller 7 'beneath the bottom jof V A distributing roller 6 is mounted. in the'bin above the feed roller 7. On the top ,wallfifiofth'e is mounted a scarifier having an intake} denoted t t ,Behind the scarifier is a vertical pre cleaning chan e 2 having grain intakes at its top denoted at 1 1 .tlirdugh whichgrainor other material tobe cleaned is introduced h e ifier aet as fi t a e-ears before the machine is constituted by channel 12 and a damper 8 regulates the air velocity at the inlet end of this channel 12. A further damper 10 controls an opening in. the channel. 12 that. extends across the top of, channel 12 andjcommnnicates with. atmosphere through which additional air can be drawn into channel 12.

When, the scarifi'er is used, grain is introduced through intake 1 and then passes into the lower part of channel 2"throughdamper 4 where an air current draws away dust and waste. If the scarifier .is not used, damper 4 is'closed and grain is fed through intakes 11 through channel .2 where it; is pre-cleaned' and dust and, light particles are drawn away through channel 13 with damper 3. open. When grain is delivered from bin 5 over feed roller 7, it isintroduced into the transverse air current which flows beneath the feed roller and then up pastthe damper 8and. throughchannel 12. Since channel 12 is of rectangular cross section and much wider than it is high, it is necessary to prevent stoppage or undue precipitation of material along the opposite short vertical side wallsiof the channel; Accordingly, the two additional channels 13 are arranged to extend between the upper portion of the vertical rear wall 29 of bin 5 and the top wall 38 of the casing. The channels 13 are inclined downwardly and communicate with the top wall of'channel 12 adjacent the side walls thereof at an acute angle so that additional air coming through channels 13 under control of thedamper 3 increasesthe velocity of; air flow in the'cross section'of channel 12 so'as to compensate for reduced air velocity that existed 'in the vicinity of and close to the short vertical side walls. of thechannel due'to skin friction elfects 'wherebyprecipitation of material being. conveyed through channel. '12 isprevente'd. Dampers 14 and 15, respectively, regulate air velocity in channels 9 and 12, while 27 denotes screw means which convey material out of the screw pockets 16 'and 17. The material that falls through the air current beneath roller 7 passes over screen means 21 which are inclined for delivery to a sorter 20. A discharge conduit 24 extends below the trough that communicates with sorter 20'and a damper or gate 25 controls delivery to either the sorter or the trough 2.4. The arrow 26 denotes the direction of the induced air current that flows upwardly into channel 9 through the lower screen 21 for further separation of particles from the material that has been screened. A driving motor is denoted at 23 and suitable connections extend from this motor to the shaft for fans '18 and'19.

It is clear, therefore, that the present invention provides an arrangement which includes a casing having a horizontally arranged air channel provided at the top of. the casing with the bottom of said channel constituting a'ceiling means overlying expansion and. collection pockets, partition means separate the respective pockets from one another and the horizontal air channel communicates with one of said pockets while further partition means define an updraught air channel within the casing communicating with the other pocket. Fan means establish an air current through both channels and material is fed into the upper air channel. The invention further includes damper means for controlling velocity in the upper channel and air inlet means associated with the upper channel downstream of its material inlet and along the narrow side walls thereof to permit entry of additional air into the upper air channel to'increaseair velocity throughout the cross sectional area of this channel, particularly at the opposite lateral ends of the channel to compensate for the reduced air velocity existing at said ends due to skin friction efiects.

On Figure 3, showing the inlet part of the cleaning machine in an enlarged scale, the same references have been used as on Figure 1.

The dampers 3, 8 and are hand-operated while the damper 4 of the scarifier 1 side wall is as well handoperated as spring-loaded (not shown on the drawing). The bin 5 is narrower than the channel 12.

On Figure 4 showing the arrangement according to Figure 3, seen from above, the references refer to the same details as in Figures 1 to 3. In this case one can clearly see that the bin 5 is narrower than the channel 12. The channels 13 are inclined downwardly and communicate with the channel 12 adjacent the side walls. Numeral 11- refers to .the. inlet channelsfor the. material in those cases when the scarifier 1 is not used. Numeral 3 refers to the damper in the channel 13, and 3 denotes itsaxle, numeral 4 refers-to-the damper of. the scarifier 1 side walls, and 4 denotes its axle.

As indicated previously, the'structure of this invention is such that, thegmaterial to: be cleaned can-be fed to opening 1 into the scarifier past damper 4 into the bin 5 in which event with damper 3 open sometprcclea'ning can be effected in channel 2 while the principal inlet to channel 12 is from beneath bin or hopper 5. Alternatively, the damper 4 can be closed and material fed direct through intakes 11 for passage through bin or hopper 5 over roller 7 and to the air current entering the inlet to channel 12. The. opening in thetop wall of channel 12 downstream of the damper 8 and controlled by damper 10 admits additional air throughout substantially the complete transverse extent of channel 12. The flow into channel 12 under the control of dampers 10 and 3 are independent of one another. In other words, additional air may enter through channels 13 under the control of damper 3 independently of the opening controlled by damper 10 or additional air can enter through the opening controlled by 10 independentlyof flow through channels 13. Ordinarily, one or the other of these supplies of additional air. is sufficient, however, there are occasions where using the additional air flowing through channel 13 under control, of. damper 3 the velocity is not increased sufiiciently and accordingly the damper controlling the opening ,10 can be opened to supply any deficit.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for cleaning grain, opposed pairs of exterior walls defining a casing, partition means within the. casing defining two adjacent expansion and collection pockets, means at the bottom of each pocket for withdrawing settled material, fan means having an inlet communicating with each pocket and an exhaust exteriorly of the casing for sucking air through each pocket, said partition means including a vertical partition within the casing adjacent. one. exterior wall and having a depending portion extending beneath the casing, said one exterior wall also having a depending portion extending below the pocket adjacent thereto and beneath the casing so that the space between said one exterior wall and said vertical partition constitutes a channel in communication atits upper end withthe interior of said one pocket, the said depending portions of the vertical partition and one exterior wall defining an open. lower end constituting a first inlet, horizontal partition means extending from said one exterior wall above said first partition means toward and terminating short of the opposite. exterior wall, a top spaced above said horizontal partition means whereby said horizontal partition means defines the top of said pockets and the space between the top of the casing and the top of said horizontal partition means defines a horizontal air channel, a damper controlled material inlet for said horizontal air channel adjacent the upper portion of said one exterior wall, means for feeding material to be cleaned to said material inlet including a bin means mounted adjacent said damper controlled inlet, extending thereabove and including a wall extending above the top of the casing, said bin having a lower outlet along side of said damper controlled'material inlet, screen means below the outlet of said bin means and including a first portion adjacent tosa r'd damper controlled material inlet-whereby material falling from the outlet of 'said bin means and prior to being screened can be drawn into saidhorizontal channel, said screen means including another portion disposed beneath the open lower end of said first-mentioned inlet whereby material discharged from the bin means and subjected to a current of air so that some of the material is drawn into and through the horizontal channel so that impurities are separated therefrom in the pocket remote from said one exterior wall and other materialpasses through said current of air and moves along the screen meansto said another portion thereof that passes beneath said firstmentioned inlet wherein additional material remaining on said another portion of said screen means is drawn into said first-mentioned inlet and passes into the pocket adjacent said one exterior wall of the casing for treatment in said last-mentioned socket.

2. Ina grain cleaning machine as claimed in claim 1 and damper controlled air conduits extending between said bin means from a point above the top of the casing to and communicating with said horizontal channel adjacent the opposite side edges thereof downstream of the damper controlled inlet.

3. In a machine for cleaning grain, seed, or the like material, a casing, means within the casing and including a generally vertical partition defining two immediately adjacent aspiration chambers, separate exhausting means communicating with each chamber, inlet channel means communicating with the respective chambers including one channel means having an inlet adjacent one wall of the casing and extending past one chamber and terminating in communication with the other chamber and another channel means communicating with said one chamber and having an inlet also adjacent said one wall of the casing whereby the inlets for both channel means are located on the same side of said one chamber, said inlets being vertically displaced with respect to one another, means for feeding material to be cleaned to pass immediately adjacent the first-mentioned inlet whereby some of the fed material can be drawn into said first-mentioned inlet and into said other chamber for treatment therein, screening means disposed below said first-mentioned inlet for receiving material that has not been drawn into said first-mentioned inlet, said screening means including a portion passing in proximity to said second-mentioned inlet wherein material remaining on said another portion of the screening means can be drawn into the secondmentioned inlet and conveyed to said one chamber for treatment therein.

4. In a machine for cleaning grain, seed or the like, as claimed in claim 3, in which said one channel means includes a horizontal portion extending over said one chamber, and including a generally horizontal partition within the casing which constitutes a top for both chambers.

5. In a machine for cleaning grain, seed or the like, as claimed in claim 3 in which said one channel includes a generally vertically disposed inlet portion, said other channel being vertical and having a portion of its length immediately adjacent the vertical inlet portion of said one channel.

6. In a machine for cleaning grain, feed or like material, a casing, means within the casing and including a generally vertical partition means defining two immediately adjacent aspiration chambers, separate fan means for establishing an air current through each chamber,

each chamber having an outlet in communication with its associated fan means, separate inlet channel means for each chamber, each inlet channel means having an inlet into which material to be cleaned enters and an outlet in communication with its associated chamber, one of said inlet channel means being horizontal and extending over one chamber to terminate at its outlet in communication with the other chamber, said horizontal channel means including a wall means constituting the top of said chambers, the inlet for said horizontal channel means including an open ended inlet portion disposed exteriorly of the casing and adjacent said one chamber,

- means including a portion that passes in proximity with said second-mentioned open ended inlet portion whereby material remaining on said last-mentioned portion of the screening means is drawn into the second-mentioned open ended inlet portion and conveyed to said one chamber for treatment therein.

.7'. In a machine for cleaning grain, feed or like ma- .terial,.-a casing, means within the casing and including lage'nerally' vertical partition means defining two immediately laterally adjacent aspiration chambers, a fan means associated with each chamber for establishing an air current therethrough, each chamber having an outlet in communication with its associated fan means, separate inlet channel means communicating with each chamber and through which material to be cleaned is conveyed by the respective air currents, one of said inlet channel means being horizontal and extending over one chamber to terminate in an outlet in communication with the other chamber, said horizontal channel means including a wall means constituting the top of both chambers, said horizontal channel means having a material inlet portion including an open end disposed exteriorly of the casing, said horizontal channel means having at least one opening therein downstream of said open end of the material inlet portion, damper means controlling said opening so that additional air can be drawn into said horizontal channel means to increase the velocity of flow therein, the inlet channel means for said one chamber including an open end exteriorly of the casing and at a level below said first-mentioned open end, means for feeding material to fall by gravity past said first-mentioned open end so that some of the fed material can be drawn into said horizontal channel means and delivered to said other chamber for treatment therein, screening means also below said first-mentioned open end for receiving and screening material that has fallen past said first-mentioned open end and thus through the air current entering the same, and said screening means including a portion that passes said second-mentioned open end adjacent thereto whereby a size fraction remaining on said portion of the screening means can be drawn into said second open end for delivery to said one chamber for treatment therein.

8. In a machine for cleaning grain, feed or the like material, a casing, means within the casing and including a generally vertical partition means defining two immediately laterally adjacent aspiration chambers, a fan means associated with each chamber for establishing an air current therethrough, each chamber having an outlet in communication with its associated fan means, separate inlet channel means communicating with each chamber and through which material to be cleaned is conveyed by the respective air currents, one of said inlet channel means being horizontal, extending over one chamber to terminate in an outlet in communication with the other chamber, said horizontal inlet channel means including a wall means constituting the top of both chambers, said horizontal channel means having a material inlet portion extending exteriorly of the casing and terminating in an open inlet end, said horizontal channel means having at least one opening therein, downstream of its material inlet and damper means controlling said opening so that additional air can be drawn into said horizontal channel means to increase the velocity of fiow therein, the other inlet channel means including an inlet portion disposed exteriorly of the casing and having an open inlet end, a bin means mounted adjacent the top of the casing and having an upper inlet into which material to be clean d 7 and. air can e nter, said bin means fiurther including a wall extending above saidhorizontal channel means, laterally spaced conduits, extending between said wall and the top of saidhorizontal channel means and communieating with the latter at an acute angle at a location downstreamof said at leastone opening in the horizontal channel means so that additional air can also be drawn in through said conduits and. directly into the horizontal channel means adjacent the lateral sides thereof to prevent precipitation of material along the sides of the 10 horizontal channel, said bin means having a lower outlet adjacent the open inlet end of said horizontal channel means so that material fed from the bin means can fall past said last-mentioned open inlet end and be subjected to an air current so that some of the material can be 15 that has fallen through saidv air current for screening the 20 same, said screening means including a portion that passes the open inlet end of said other channel means whereby any lightweight size fraction remaining on the said screening means can be drawn into. said other inlet channel means for delivery to saidone chamber for treatment therein.

9. A machine'for cleaning grain as claimed in claim 8 and damper means within said two laterally spaced conduits regulating the flow therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 485,571 Barnard Nov. 1, 1892 850,959 Och Apr. 23, 1907 1,888,372 Bramwell NOV. 22, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,083,169 France June 23, 1954

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