US336755A - Grain-elevator - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-'Sheet l.

M. F. SHELBY.

GRAIN ELEVATOR.

No. 336,755. Patented Feb. 23, 1886.

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(No Model.) v2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. F. SEELEY.

GRAIN ELBVATOR.

N0. 336,755. Patented Feb. 23, 1886.

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of the elevator. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' MARQUIS F. SEELEY, OF FREMONT, NEBRASKA.

GRAIN-ELEVATOR.

S?ECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent; No. 336,755, dated February 23, 1886.

Application filed June 13, 1885. Serial Xo. 168,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAnQUIs F. SEELEY, of Fremont, in the county of Dodge and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Elevators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In aprior patent, No. 288,371, granted to the present applicant upon the 18th day of November, 1883, a structure for handling and storing grain is shown, having a unitary upper structure, forming its bottom, arranged to slope from the sides of the building toward its center, and forming the bottoms of a series of storage-bins extending to the roof, and of receiving and other bins placed under a working-iioor inthe central part of the building, the bins mentioned being therein shown as constructed to discharge their contents at the lower end of the two elevator'belts extending to the top of the building. As shownin said patent, also, the elevators are provided with casings or legs which are continuous from the top to the bottom of the building, and which form the supporting-frame from which the several operative parts immediately connected with the elevator-belts are mounted.

The present invention relates to improvements in the construction of elevators of the class shown in said patent, and also to other improvements in elevators, as will hereinafter appear.

,stood by reference, to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of an elevator-building constructed in accordance with my invention, taken upon line x x of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the lower part of the building, taken upon the indirect line :v w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through the lower end of the elevator casing or legs. Fig. 4 is a detail section of a modified form of the parts adjacent to the inlet-opening view illustrating the casing for connecting the exit-opening of one of the bins with the cornsheller shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same.

In the particular construction illustratedin the drawings, A A are the outside walls of the building. B B are two transverse parallel partitions therein; and C C are storage-bins located between the end walls of the building and the said partitions, and formed by radially-arranged partitions, c c c, the bottom of said bins being, as shown, inclined downwardly from the outer walls of the building toward a point at the middle of said partitions.

D D are two elevator-belts inclosedin boxes, legs, or casings D D', and located at theirlower end in a pit or depression, C3, located belowr the level of the discharge-openings c of the bins C, and at a little distance laterally therefrom. The grain discharged from the said openings is delivered into the said pit by means of an inclined surface, C, which is located between the partitions B B, and slopes from the wall of the building to the said pit, the grain falling upon t-he said surface being directed to the lower end of the elevator-casings by means of inclined guides c2, as clearly shown inFig. l of the drawings. The elevator-belts pass at their lower ends over the usual pulleys, d d, having suitable bearings at t-he lower ends of the casing D', as shown.

Eis a working-floor, which is placed between the partitions B B.

F is a driveway on the level with the floor, by means of which grain may be brought into the building; and G G are lower compartments or receiving-bins into which grain may be discharged through a suitable aperture, f, in the door of the driveway. The receiving-bins G G have a common inclined bottom, G', which slopes to the pit C3, before mentioned, and they are separated by a central vertical partition, G2. At the lower end of the bins G are discharge-gates g, arranged opposite the inlet` openings in the elevator-boxes D', whereby grain may be permitted to pass from said bins to the elevator. A bin, I, for cleaned grain, is located upon the upper portion of the inclined surface C2 and adapted to discharge upon the lower portion of said surface, as fully set forth in the said patent.

The features of the device above described IOO are constructed and operate generally in the manner set forth in the said prior patent;

As an improvement in grain-elevators, applicable to those of the character above described, and also to other elevating devices for grain, I provide an exhaust-fan, J, or otherl air-exhausting device, and connect said fan by means of air trunks or ducts K with the passage by which grain is delivered to the casing of the elevator, whereby air may be drawn forcibly from the said passage, and the light impurities thereby separated from the grain before the latter passes to the elevatorbuckets.

In the particular construction herein shown the discharge-opening g ofthe receiving-bins G are connected with the opening d', by which the grain enters the casing,by means of a short spout or passage, K', to which the air-trunk K is connected at a point adjacent to the easing of the elevator.

rlhe exhaust-fan .I may be actuated in any desired manner, said fan in the construction illustrated being driven by means of an engine, L, located upon the floor E of the building.

By the use of the exhaust-fan connected in the manner described the grain, in case it contains a relatively small quantity of light impurities, may be sufficiently cleaned to render any other cleaning unnecessary, and when the passage of the grain through a cleaningmachine is necessary, by such preliminary cleaning the amount of work to be done by the said machine is greatly decreased.

It will be observed that the inlet-opening of the air-duct K is located adjacent to the point where the grain is taken into the elevatorbuckets, and the grain being shaken or stirred upby theaction ofthe said buckets, the action ofthe air-current in taking up the light inipurities from the grain 'is greatly facilitated.

A slightly different and preferred construction in the parts is illustrated in Fig. 4, in which the passage K' is provided with an aperture, k, which may be covered with wirecloth or other perfor-ate material, as shown, and which preferably communicates with the open air by means of a duct, K2, or otherwise, so that an air-current may be caused to pass transversely through the grain wit-hin the passage K', and thereby more thoroughly re` move the light impurities from the latter..

The advantages existing in the use of the exhaust-fan and the connections shown for removing the light impurities from the grain before its delivery to the elevating device of the elevators may obviously be obtained by means other than those shown, and my invention is not, therefore, as it relates to the devices mentioned, restricted to the particular means shown,but said devices, in connection with an elevating device, are broadly herein claimed.

As heretofore made, the elevator legs or casing D', forming the supporting-frame of the operating parts of the elevator, have been attached to the' upper edge of and constructed to rest upon a cast-metal casing or shoe, within which the grain is delivered and from which it is removed by the scoops or buckets of the elevator. rIhis construction has the obvious disadvantage of bringing the entire Weight of the upper part of the elevator upon the said casting, and the latter has been necessarily made of objectionable thickness and weightin order to withstand the strain thus caused.

As an improved construction in the parts mentioned, I extend the side pieces, d', of the casing D', downwardly outside of the shoe D2 to a suitable supporting-piece or foundation, D3, placed below the shoe. By this means the downward pressure due to the weight of the upper parts of the elevating device is transmitted directly through the side pieces of the legs to the foundation D3, and the casing or shoe is therefore unaffected by the downward thrust of the latter. The said shoe,in the particular construction herein shown,is constructed of sheet metal with vertical side plates, d2, secured upon the inner face of the side pieces, d', of the casings, said side plates, d2, being connected by a curved plate, D4, forming the bottom of the casing.

As a further improvement in elevatorbuildings of the character shown in said patent,

the upper part of one of the receiving bins or compartments G is divided from the lower part thereof by means of an inclined partition, G3, so as to forni a bin or hopper, G4, more especially intended for corn in the ear, said bin being constructed to discharge at its lower end into a corn-Sheller, M, located upon the inclined surface G' and adapted to discharge into the lower part of the hopper G.

A preferred means for supporting the cornsheller is herein shown, in which the lower beams, M', of the Sheller-frames are inclined at the same angle as the fioor orsurface G', so that the said corn-sheller may rest and be secured upon the said oor,vand the making of a separate horizontal foundation for the cornsheller is thereby rendered unnecessary.

The hopper G4, herein shown, embodies novel features of construction at its part adjacent to its exit-opening, whereby liability ofthe latter becoming stopped or choked by the wedging or bridging over of the earcorn or other large material between the opposite walls of the hopper is practically obviated. For this purpose the said hopper is, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, provided at two adjacent sides of its exit-opening with vertical walls N, the walls G5 G6 of the hopper opposed to the said walls N being inclined downwardly to the said exit-opening in the usual manner. The vertical walls N in usual cases extend about a foot or a foot and a half above the lower margins of the opposite walls G5 G", the inclined walls G3 and GT of the bin being constructed to slope to the upper edges of the said vertical wall in an obvious manner.

In the operation of the hopper constructed as above described the ears adjacent to the IOO casting, N, adapted for attachment by bolts 'or otherwise to the margins of the inlet-open ing thereof, said casting being rect-angular in plan, and provided at two of its sides with vertical parts N2, extending above the hori' zontal parts Nof the casting, and forming the vertical walls N oi the hopper.

In constructing the wooden parts of the hopper of the casing above described two of the inclined walls of the hopper, as G5 G, Fig. 2, are constructed to slope downwardly to and are connected at their lower margins with the lower horizontal parts of the casting N', and the two opposite walls G3 G1 are connected at their lower edges with the upper edge of the vertical parts N of said casting.

In constructing the wooden parts of a hopper by the use of a casting, N', as described, the two triangular spaces (one of which is indicated at g2, Figs. 2, 5, and 6) at the vertical sides or edges of the wall N may be lled by a triangular piece of plank, or by triangular extensions cast upon the walls N.

The construction of the parts mentioned will be made more clear by examination of the perspective view, Fig. 6, in which the parts of the hopper nearest the eye are indicated by dotted lines.

rIhe novel features of construction in the hopper herein shown and above described form the subject of another application for patent, Serial No. 168,574, iiled by me upon the 13th da)r of June, 1885, in which application said hopper is broadly claimed. Said novel features of construction in the hopper are, however, also herein claimed as applied to a structure for storing grain.

In practice the inletaperture of the Sheller and the casting are made square in plan, so that the latter may be placed upon the sheller with the walls N in any position found desirable.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the door of the driveway F above the receiving-bins G and G4, with a dumping device consisting of pivoted timbers O, located at the sides of the opening f, and adapted to receive the wheels of a wagon and to be tilted with said wagon, so as to discharge the load into the said openingf, which is provided with a door or iiap, j", which is closed to permit the passage of horses over it. As an improvement in such dumping device, whereby the wheels of a wagon passing into the driveway may be readily guided into proper position upon the dump-timbers, curved guidestrips O2 are secured upon the door of the driveway in position suitable for the purpose, as clearly shown in Fig. l. In connection with the said guide-strips C)2 longitudinal guide strips O may be employed to hold the wheelsproperly in place in passing over and while resting upon the dump'timbers. I he guide-strips O', as herein shown, are attached to the dumptimbers themselves; but as far as the operation of the guide-strips O2 is concerned said guide-strips O may be otherwise attached, as found desirable or convenient.

Other guide-strips, O3, are preferably se- `cured upon the iioor at the end ofthe dumptimbers, from which the wheels pass, so that in case the wagon is driven too far over the timbers the front wheels will be held in place when backing the wagon into its proper po sition upon the timbers.

I claim as my inventionl. In a building for storing grain, the combination, with an elevator and storage and receiving bins, of an exhaust-fan or equivalent device applied to remove the light impurities from the grain in its passage from the receiving bin to the elevating devices of the elevator, substantially as described.

2. In a building for storing grain, the combination, with an elevator and a receiving- -bin, of a passage connecting the receiving-bin with the lower end of the elevator-casing, an exhaust-fan, and an air-duct connecting the fan with the said passage, whereby light impurities may be removed from the grain before its delivery to the elevating devices ofthe elevator, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with an elevator anda receiving-bin, of a passage for grain connecting the receiving-bin with the lower end ofthe elevator-casing, and an exhaust-fan communirool eating with said passage, the latter being provided with an air-inlet opening or openings at a point opposite the opening leading to the fan, whereby a current of air may be drawn through the grain in said passage, substantially as described.

4. In a building for storing grain, the combination, with an elevator and a metal shoe for the lower pulley of said elevator, of a foundation for 4the elevator, said elevator having the lower ends of its legs or casings eX- tended downwardly past the said shoe to the foundation, and constructed to rest upon the latter, substantially as described.

5. In a building for storing grain, the combination, with the elevating devices and storagebins, of a receiving-bin, G", for ear-corn, and a corn-Sheller, M, connected with the discharge-opening of the said bin G4, and constru cted to discharge to the lower end of the elevating devices, substantially as described.v

6. In abuilding for storing grain provided with elevating devices, an inclined or hopper bottom sloping toward the lower end of the elevating devices, and a working-door, E, of a receiving-bin, G4, located beneath the work- IIO ing-floor, and a corn-Sheller, M, located upon the said hopper-bottorn beneath the said receivingbin G4, substantially as and for the purpose Yset forth.

7. In a building for storing grain, the combination, with an elevator and an Yinclined surface or floor, G', sloping downwardly to the inlet-opening of the elevator, ol" a corn-Sheller having the lower timbers of its supportingframe inclined to correspond with theinclination of said floor or surface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a building for storing'grain, a hopper provided in its part adjacent to its exit-opening with opposite vertical and inclined Walls, substantially as described.

9. In a building for storing grain, the combination of a corn-Sheller and a hopper discharging into the corn-Sheller, and provided inits part adjacent to its exitopening with two vertical walls, and having its walls opposite said vertical walls inclined, substantially as described.

10. In abuilding for storing grain, the conlbination,with a corn-sheller,M, and the Wooddriveway, and pivoted dump-timbers O, of

guide-strips O2, secured to the said floor at one end of the dump-timbers, and other guidestrips, O3, secured to the said floor at the opposite end olf said timbers, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARQUIS E. SEELEY.

Vitnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, G. F. LANAGHEN.

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