US154924A - Improvement in rice-polishing machines - Google Patents

Description

H. B. STEVENS. Rice Polishing-Machines.

' N0.154,924 Patented8ept .8,l874.

Y 4 w y THE GRAPHIC CO FHOTO-LITH.39& 4X PARK FLACE,N.Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

HENRY B. srEvENsoE BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGEL.

SQUIER, or SAME PLACE. 4

IMPROVEMENT IN RICE- POLISHING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,924, dated September 8, 1874; application filed March 21, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. STEVENS, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Rice- Polishing Machines, of which the following is a specificationz' p After rice has been hulled there is athin skin left enveloping the grain. This skin is sometimes of a brownish-white or yellowish color, and sometimes red, especially in volunteer rice. This skin is the most nutritive portion of the rice, and when the rice is to be immediately consumed there is no necessity for its removal; but this skin soon becomes moldyifthe rice is stored in this condition for any considerable time, and in preparing the rice for market it is necessary toremove this skin. The usual and most approved method of accomplishing this is by means of avertical cylinder or drum covered with strips of sheepskin, said strips being alternately with and without the wool. The said drum runs at a high speed in a wire-cloth case. The rice is fed in at the top, and the centrifugal motion carries it with considerable force against the wire-cloth, and the strips of sheep-skin wipe it and press it against the wire-cloth, so that when it finally reaches the delivery at the bottom the enveloping-skin is worn and rubbed 01f, and the rice ready for the market.

My machine is designed as an improvement upon this kind of machine.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a cross-section in line a: 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top-plan view, and Fig. 4 an end elevation, of the apparatus.

Like letters designate like parts in each of the figures.

The frame or case of the machine is rectangular in shape, and composed of an upper and lower half, AA, constructed so as to fit closely one upon the other. B represents the horizontal drum-shaft, arranged longitudinally in the plane of contact of the two frame portions, A A, and supported in suitable bearings b b in the end pieces of said frame. Motion is transmitted to the shaft B by means of a pulley, c, or a hand-crank, or in any other suitable manner. 'D represents the conical body of the drum, secured to the shaft B, so as to be lengthwise adjustable thereon, by means of a bolt, 01, passing through a hub, e, secured to the end of the drum D, and engaging with one of a series of holes provided in the shaft B, or in any other suitable manner. E represents the longitudinal strips of sheep-skin, secured in the usual manner to the surface of the drum D, but so as to overlap one another, as

shown in Fig. 2. f represents the wool left on I the inner side of the strips E, and extending from the smaller end of the drum D to about one-third or one-half of the length thereof, as indicated in Fig. 1. G is the cone of wire-cloth, in which the drum D is arranged. It is constructed in two halves, secured, respectively, to the two frame portions A and A, in such manner that, when thetwo latter arebroughttogether, the two halves of the cone G will match and inclose the drum D. Each half of the wire-cloth cone is secured with its ends to a board, H, cut out in semicircular shape, and attached to the end board of the respective frame portions A A, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The cone G is furthermore attached to longitudinal strips g, arranged lengthwise on the outer surface of the cone between the end pieces of each frame portion, in order to keep it in shape. The sides or longitudinal edges of each half of the wire-cloth case G are lapped over the edge of the wooden frame or case portion, and secured. thereto, as indicated in Fig. 2. I is the feed-hopper, secured to the upper portion, A, of the frame over'the small end of the wire-cloth cone, with which it communicates by a passage, 'i, opened and closed by a suitable slide-valve, j. It represents the discharge-openin g arranged in the opposite end piece of the lower half A of the frame at the lowest point of the cone Gr. L are metallic sockets or sleeves, of conical shape, arranged at the corners of the frame for the reception of the upwardly-tapering ends of the legs M, upon which the machine is supported. Each socket L is formed with two fastening wings or leaves, 1, arranged at right angles to each other, and secured to the corner of the lower half A of the frame in such manner that said'wings'project a short distance above the upper edge of said frame portion, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. These corner-pieces form not only a firm connection v of the sockets L with the frame A, and serve to hold the latter more firmly together, but

also, by their projecting portions,,form a guide e are held together by hooks m, or equivalent The drum D being rapidly rotated, the hulletd f rice to be polished is gradually fed from the hopper I into the interior of the wire-cloth case G, between the drum and wire case, where it is properly polished by the action of the strips of sheep-skin and wire-cloth case, while the centrifugal action of the machine, in connection with the frusta-cone shape of the scouringsurfaces, propel it toward the opposite end, at which the discharge opening is arranged. The

drum and inclosing wire-cloth case being arranged horizontally, the machine is better adapted to be driven by hand or animal power than when arranged in a vertical position, and the rice is prevented from falling to the bottom or large end of the wire-cloth case during the frequent stoppages of the machine before being properly polished, as it will in a vertical machine hereinbefore alluded to. The rapidity of the passage of the grain through the machine can be further regulated by tipping or inclining the machine in either direction, as required, whereby a proper and even feed is insured.

The wire-cloth case being conical in shape, and somewhat larger than the drum D, the

latter is enabled, by the means hereinbefore described, to be adjusted toward the smaller end of thewir-cloth case for the purpose of compensating for any wear of the strips of sheep-skin E covering the drum, and being maintained at any given adjustment with reference to the wire-cloth cone G, so that the space, and consequently the friction of the kernels between the cone G and drum D, is regulated. The latter are, contrary to the ordinary practice, provided with wool only for a short distance from the smaller endof the drum for the reason that the main ofiice of the wool is .to prevent the kernels of rice from getting between the different strips of sheep-skin at the feed-end of the drum, and thus pass through the machine without coming in contact with the wire-cloth cone. This purpose is fully attained by leaving the wool on the strips E for a short distance from the small end of the drum, while, by dispensing with the wool for the rest of the length thereof, a cheapenin g in the construction of the machine is effected, and a considerable amount of friction done away with.

The frame or stationary case of the machine being constructed in two sections, A A, as well as the cone of wire-cloth G, the machine is readily taken apart, and the drum and connecting parts rendered easily accessible.

' What I claim as my invention is- The combination, with the wire-cloth case G, arranged horizontally, of the polishingdrum D E f, constructed with overlapping strips, and adjustable on the carrying-shaft, so that any given relation between the drum and cone may be maintained, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

HENRY B. STEVENS.

. lV-itnesses: J. J. BONNER,

ERNST HoDmcK.

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