US916008A - Nut-huller. - Google Patents

Description

G. W. PHILLIPS.

NUT HULLBR. APPLIoATIoN rILnn'Nov. 21, 1907.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 1.

Patented Mar. 23, 1909.

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v NUT HULLEE. APPLIOATION HLE'D Nov. 21,1907. f

916,008. Patented Mar.23, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. W. PHILLIPS. NUT EULLEB..

APPLIOATIoN FILED Nov. 21., 1907.

fuwmuumummm Patented Mar. 23, 1909.

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represent 'the relative speeds of the two series of hulling chainsand can be changed t suit conditions or circumstances.

`Where the hulling devices run in'jpro x. l imity, lwhich 'is d uring their eiectiveoper'areven a nut of unusual size.` OneA pair of these plates is adjustably secured to the standards 2 and 3 by means of thumb nuts 22 and slots 23 and the other pair is secured to or formed upon-a frame which is loosely vmounted between the standards. The frame preferably'comprises two side pieces 24 and a cross piece 25, the ends of the frame being perforated for the reception of the shafts 5 and 7'respectively and the ends of theshaft 5 project through slots 26 in the standards so that the upper end o'f said frame maybe moved toward and from the shaft 4. This movement of the frame will cause the hulling devices carried thereby to be adjusted relatively to the other hulling devices, which'adl justment between the two sets ,of devices can be also varied by means of'the backing lates 21. upon the standards 2 and 3. The rame' isA yieldingly held in osition by havingthe boxing of the shaft 5 eld against adjustable stops 27 by two springs .28, the tension of which springs can be varied by means of ad-` justing nuts 29.

-Mounted on top of the standards, preferably removable, by means of legs 30, isa hop er 31, through which the nuts are fed to t e upper ends ofthe hulling devices. From there they pass down between the two series of blades and. are subjected to the cutting and 'drawing action caused by the blades moving in opposite directions and at different rates of speed.' By having the alternate-blades shorter than' the others, pockets or troughs are formed in the faces of the hulling devices into whichthe nuts are"force d by the longer of vthe opposing series and held while the'h'ull is torn or removed by the joint action of Athe two series of blades. The holdin(r and tearing process is materially assisted b the sharpened 4edges of the shorter b ades which readily' enter the hull when it is soft Aand ,where it ishard it cuts or cracks it without the danger of crushing the nut, and especially vwhere the shell of the nut is thin or soft.

-By running the chains on one side faster 'than on the other the positions of the longer blades relatively to the opposing pockets are constantly shifting or changing whereby the nuts are given more or less of a rotary niotion which is constantly presenting the nut osition, and y they can' yield' bodily to-any unusual internal pressure,- s'uch as a stone or other hard substance or- -on the end ofv the until the hull completely removed. By holding the hulling devices yieldingly at their upper ends they will automatically "separateand the unhulled nuts can be introduced and acted' upon without danger of breaking any of the parts and the chains are made long enough to permit' the blades to lact upon the nuts until thehull is entirely removed. 1

After thenuts pass through the hulling portion of the' machine'they are preferably delivered to thecleaningportion which consists of a series of ockets or trou hs formed u on the chains 10 y longitudinally recessed bocks 32.. The 'shaft'iZO and sprockets 8 upon-which the upper portion of the chains 10- and blocks 32 are sup orted is located directly below' the space etween the two hulling beltsv so that as the chains pass over the pulleys the blocks are separated and the pockets are opened forthe rece tion of'the nuts as vthey fall .from vthe .hul ing devices but as the chains pass-into the straight portionj'of their travelv the pockets gradually.

'close and thereby hold the nuts until the pockets are opened by the chains passing. over thesprockets on the shaft 33 at the bottom of the standards 2 and 3. From 34 through aspout 35. l

Surrounding the shaft 2 0 is -a tube or pipe 36 which is perforated as at 37 and connected with a blower whose casing is shown at 3S,

by-al conduit 39. The perforations are pre1'- erably arranged in three longitudinal series,

4one directly on top which is adapted to project a current of air up between the hulling ldevices and the other two are arranged to roject blasts of air laterally. The top perorations are preferably smaller than the others so that-the upper blast is of less force' than the others and onlysuflicient to deflect the lighter particles to one side or the other without danger of blowing out the lighter nuts. But by the time the chains have carried the nuts into the current of air from the larger openings they have become so iirmly seated 1n the pockets that they are not blown therefrom. vAs the hulls and refuseV portions are' blown oit by these blasts they there the nuts pass into a suitable receptacle are preferably deposited in troughs or chutes 40 at the sides of the standards 2 and 3 and from there delivered at the end of the machine. The' blower is preferably operated by a band 41 which Aasses over a pulley 42 ower shaftv 33- and a smaller -pulley 43 on the end of the blower shaft. Y

Although I have described my invention as applicable' to almonds it is evident that other nuts4 of the same general character can be quickly hnlled and thoroughly cleaned by the continuous process of passing them down through the machine, the power 65 in a new position to the action of the blades n being supplied by lthe crank in thel smaller l for moving said blades in opposite directionsl5v posite directions and at. dierent rates of' machines andby mechanical means in'the larger ones. j

Ib do not fish to confiney inys'ell` to the exact constructions and arrangements herein described andifshown in the drawings, as I ld esireto availl myself of such modiications and equivalen-ts as fall properly within` tl' ie spirit oliny invention.

l1. iaesut-hu11'er,nie cjmbintin Orme opposing surfaces, eachprovided with 'trans'd vers'ely arrangedblades, the alternate blades being shorter than the others and provided each with a knife-edge, and means foi-moving the adjacent portions of said surfaces in op` speed.

' .2. Ina nut-huller, two opposing relatively movable members each'including a series of flexibly connected blocks, blades on said blocks -havingtheir edges projecting beyond the fronts thereof,-one of the blades being sharpened and .the other projecting beyond said sharpened blade, 'means for varyingthe distance etween said members, andfmeans and'at different ratesof speed. l

` 3. In a nut-huller, the combination'of a support, two opposing llexible members movably mounted therein and provided with projecting blades, means for adjusting said members relatively to each other, relatively adjustable backing-plates for the opposing portions 'of said. members, and meansifor moving the members opposite directions.

, 4. In a nut-huller, the combination of vertically arranged hulling mechanism, a pipe `below the same provided with series of vertically and laterally arranged perforations, the vertical perforations being smaller than the others, a blower connected with said pipe, and a-conveyer for the cleaned nuts.

4 `I n'a nut-hulle1`g the combination of vertically arranged hulling mechanism, an end- .less conveyer below the same provided lwith longitudinallyl recessed bars forming pockets,

means for moving the bars to open and close.

. the pockets, and means for passing currents cally arranged conveyer located below the hulling mechanism, a blower located near the upper end of the conveyer, and a system of gearing connecting the lower vshafts oi the hulling mechanism with the conveyer and blower.

In testimony whereof I affixed my signature, inpresence'oftwo witnesses, this 23rd day of September 1907'.

GEORGE w. PHILLIPS.

-. Witnesses:

'THoMAs D.DENY. E. L. WEBBERL'

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