US1985772A - Grain separator - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1934. M. A. ERICKSC DN ET AL GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 18, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTORs MARGU5A.ERIGK5ON NNES GROsETH $19, I34

ATTORNEYS Dec. 25, 1934. M. A. ERICKSON ET AL GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 18, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ARGU5A.ERICK5ON JOHANNES GROSETH 8) WI m M ATTORNE ya Dec. 25, 1934. M. A. ERICKSON ET AL 1,9 5

I GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS .F' 5 135 sA-ERICKSON :5 JDHANNES: nos T A TTORNEY5 1934. M A. ERICKSON ET AL GRAIN SEPARATOR.

Filed Jan. 18, 1932 6 sheets sheet 5 IN VENTORs K mo RR .6 A

s s w-o R AA W JoV m ATTORNEYS Dec. 25, 1934. M ERICKSQN ET AL 1,985,772

GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 18, 1932- 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR5 MARCU5 A. time meow I JOHANNE-E: 61-10551 ATTORNEYs Patented Dec. 25, 1934 PATENT OFFICE GRAIN SEPARATOR,

Marcus "A;

Erickson and Johannes Groseth, ltfinneapolis Minn.

. Application immie, 1932, serial No. 587,186

am ss; ((1209-96) This invention relates to'new and useful improvements in grain separators; generally, and

more particularly to the type ofseparator employing a cylindrical separating member having its inner surface provided with suitableindenta tions and through which member the material to be separated and cleaned is fed An object of the invention is to provide a grain separator comprising'a cylinder having its interior surface provided with suitable indentations, and provided at-one end with means for delivering thereto the materialto be separated, and means being'provide'd within the cylinder adapted to receive certain particles of the material in elective quantities, carried upward-1y by said indentations, and-discharge them fromthe cylinderinto suitable receiving means.

A further object is to provide a grain separator comprising an indented cylinder into one end of which the material to be separated-is fed, and trough-like 'members being mountedwithin the cylinder adapted to receive different materials carried upwardly by the indentations in the wall thereof, said trough-like members being mounted for independent adjustment, and the adjustability of said members providingmeans whereby the degree of separationpliifdhe material from another may-be controlled. 9 Y

A further object is tojpibvidea grain separator comprising a cylinder having its walls provided with suitable indentations adaptedto' receive the diiierent materials to be separated,

and a plurality of trough-like members being mounted within the cylinder and having their receiving edges adapted to be disposed at dif-" ferent elevations, whereby oneof said members may be arranged to'receive certain of said mato be separated into said cylinder, and troughlike members being providedgwithin Said'upper' cylinder adapted to" receive certainmaterials. carried upwardly by the indentations in the walls of said cylinder, said troughlike members being oppositely disposed whereby material delivered into one of said memberswill e discharged from the upper cylinder through the receiving end thereof and delivered into the receiving end of gas may be clean grain; being discharged from the opposite end ofthe upper cylinder into a suitable receiving means, and the lower cylinder having one end portion provided with medium sized indentations, while the opposite endthereof is provided with relatively smaller indentations and trough-like members also being provided within the lower cylinder andinclined in the same general direction; the member at the receiving end of the cylinder being adapted to receive the ma terial carried upwardly by the relatively larger indentations at that end of the cylinder and. delivering it into the second section of the same cylinder for the purpose of regrading and resep arating; and the relatively larger material which isnot carried upwardly by the indentations in the first section of the cylinder being discharged from the grader as cleaned material through suitable openings provided in the wall of the cylinder. The object of thus releasing from the first section of the cylinder, the material already thoroughly cleaned andgraded, is first; to maintrain that particular grade separate from other grades discharged from the machine, and sec end; to establish a'c'oncentrated mixture which isdeliv'ered'into the second section of the cylinder for the final clean up of the small seeds from the small and broken grains. This final clean up or separation is effected by the relatively smaller indentations provided at that end of the cylinder; v the material carried upwardly by these smaller indentations being delivered into the trough-like members provided therein from whence it is discharged from the end of the cylinder into" a suitable receiving means, the tailings being discharged separatelyfrom the same end of the cylinder into another receiving Other objects of the invention reside in the meansprovided in connection with one of the trough-like membersfor preventing elective portions of the material carried upwardly by the indentations in the walls of one of the cylinders from being delivered; into saidv member whereby said material is returned to' the cylinder for further separation; in the means provided for inde pendently adjusting the trough-like members within the cylinder to efiect the proper separation of the materialsbeing separated; in the means provided for tilting the cylinders with respect to the ground level so as to control the fiow of material therethrough; in the unique manner in which the material tobe separated is fed through the machine whereby the'various materials contained in the mixture separated from one another and delivered into their respective receiving means; in the means provided for controlling the feeding of the material into the machine; in the means provided for causing some of the material delivered into the machine to be returned for a second separation; in the means provided for removing the dust and lighter foreign particles from the material as it is fed into the cylinder to be separated; andv in the general construction of the machine, as a whole, whereby a separator is provided which is capable of thoroughly'separating from one another, all of the various materials contained in the mass, and at the same time dividing the main product such as wheat, into three different grades, thoroughly cleaned and graded as to length, and deliveringthem into their re spective receiving means, and in the operating mechanism of the machinewhereby the latter may be operated with a minimum of power.v

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanyingv drawings and will be pointed out in theannexed' various objects of the invention, but it is to be.

understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims'which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 2, showing a machine comprising two cylinders arranged onev over the other, and also showing the means provided thereinfor conducting the separated materials to their respective receiving means;

Figure 2 is afront elevation of the machine showing the means for adjusting the. trough-like members within the cylinders; Y

Figure 3 is a 'rear elevation of the machine showing the driving means for the cylinders;

4- 1, of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view'on the liner 5+5 of Figure 4 showing the means provided for" direction of rotation of the cylinder, that the vertically adjusting one end of the machine;

s Figure 6 is a detail sectional'view on the'line- 6-6 of Figure 1 showing the receiving endof the upper cylinder;

-Figure '7 is a detail sectional. view on the line 7-7 of Figure 2, showing the trough-likemember provided at the front end of the upper cylin-- der, some of the parts being broken away;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view on the line' 88 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic viewshowing full and dotted lines, different positions of the trough shown in Figure '1, and also showing the means provided in connection with said trough for returning certainof. the coarser material for recleaning; I Figure 10 is a view similar to Figuree, showing the parts in different positions;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail view showing how certain of the material is delivered into the of gravity and composed of uprights 2-2 and -3-3- secured to I to the uprights 3-3.

gether at one end of the frame by suitable cross rails or members 44. The members 3-3 at the opposite end of the frame are shown secured together by suitable cross members 5 and 6. Suitable angle iron rails 7 secure together the uprights 2 and 3 at each side of the machine, as best shown in Figures 1 and 8.

In the preferred form of the invention, a pair of cylinders 8 and 9 are rotatably mounted in the frame. The upper cylinder 8 has the inner surface of its receiving end provided with suitable indentations, and the rear half of this same cylinder is preferably provided with slightly smaller indentations than those provided in the front half of the cylinder. These indentations are adapted to carry portions of the material to be separated, such as all small seeds and other foreign'material which is smaller than the grain being cleaned, and also elective portions of the main mixture, upwardly and deliver them into a receiving means which will subsequently be described. The rear half of the lower cylinder 9 is.provided with indentations of a smaller size than those provided in the rearhalf of the upper cylinder 8, andthe front half of the lower cylinder 9 is provided with indentations of a smaller size than those provided at the opposite end of this same cylinder. Hereinafter, the end of this machineat the right in Figure 1, will be referred to as the-front end, While the opposite end thereof willbe referred to as the rear end.

The front end of the upper cylinder 8 has an annular member 11 secured therein which has a raised portion 12 adapted to ride or travel upon a pair of suitable rollers or wheels 13 and 14, shown-suitably mounted upon a plate 15 secured The opposite end of the cylinder 8 has an annular member or head 16, fitted thereinto, as shown in Figure 1. This annular member 16 is provided with a circular plate 17 spaced therefrom by suitable spacers 18. The

circularplate 17 is provided at its inner centralportion with an annular flange 19, providing an opening. 21 through which the material to be separated is fed into the end of the cylinder. The opening 21 is so arranged with respect to the unseparated material being fed to the machine is delivered directly onto an empty or bare surfaced the cylinder wall whereby it is immediately subjected to theaaction of the indentation 10, as will be clearly understood by reference to Figure 151. By thus delivering the unseparated grain onto an unoccupied surface of the cylinder, the

initialseparation is greatly facilitated.

A hub 22'is secured to the annular flange 19 by suitable arms 23, as shown in Figure 6, and this hub is securedto one end of a shouldered stub shaft 24, having a reduced end portion rotatably mounted in abearing 26 provided in a small housing 27, shown secured to the cross member of the machine frame by suitable bolts 28, as shown in Figure 3. A suitable collar 29 is secured to the exteriorend portion of the reduced end portion of the stubshaftZ, and cooperates with the shoulder provided at the inner end of said reduced end portion toprevent longitudinal movement of the stub shaft 24 in the bearing 26. Aniagitator 50 is secured to the stub shaft 24 to prevent the material from becoming congested in the bottom of the housing 27.

A shaft 31 extends through the cylinder 8 and has one end supported in the hub 22 of the cir- "cular plate 17 and has its opposite end rotatably supported in a sleeve 32, mounted in an.aper- 1,955,??2" ture provided in the'plate 15 at the front end of the machine "A member 33 is secured to the rear end portion of the shaft 31 adjacent to the bearing 22, and has an annular flange fitting within the head 16 of the cylinder 8, as best shown in Figure 1. The central portion of the member 33 is offset and is adapted to fit over the inner portion of the flange 19 of the circular plate 17, and cooperates with the opening defined by said annular flange to provide ameans for directing the material to be separated into the receiving end of the cylinder 8. The member 33 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 35 preferably V-shaped as shown in Figure 6, adapted to provide a seat for atrough-likemember 36, one end of which is secured to the flange 35 and the intermediate portion of which is supported by the shaft 31, the bottom of said troughlike member being apertured to receive the shaft asshown in Figure 1. 1

An arm 37 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 31' at the front end of the machine, as best shown in Figures 2 and 8, and is shown provided with a slot 38 adapted to receive one end of a link 39 which is pivotally supported upon the plate 15, as shown in Figure 2. A suitable thumb screw 41 is received in threaded engagement with the arm 37 and provides means for clampingly engaging thelink 39 to secure it to the arm 3'7. By means of the above described parts, the shaft 31 and therefore the trough-like member 36 may be rotatively adjusted within the cylinder 8 and locked in the desired adjusted position. A discharge spout 42 is provided at the front end of the machine and projects through a suitable opening 43 provided in the plate 15, as shown in Figure 2. The spout 42 is supported upon a plate 44 provided with a hub 45 in which the sleeve 32 is secured by means of a suitable set crew 16. The sleeve 32 provides a support for The plateportion plate portion 44 of the spout 42 has an inwardly extending flange 47 preferably V-shaped in form and providing a support for one end of a trough-1- like member 48, the bottom of which isinclined as shown in Figure l and extends upwardly to a point substantially mid-way fthe lengthjof the cylinder 8. The bottom of the member 48 is apertured to receive the'shaft 31. v I

An adjusting arm 49 is secured to the outer end of the sleeve 32, as shown in Figure 1, and extends laterally therefrom, as shown in Figure 2 and has a slot 51 therein adapted to receive a link 52 similar to the link '39," but somewhat long A suitable screw 53 is received in threaded engagement with the arm 49 and provides means for securingthe arm to the link 52, the latter being pivotally'mounted upon the plate 15, as shown in Figure 2. Thus, itwill be noted that by means of the arm 4L9, the trough-like member 48 is adaptedfor adjustment with the cylinder 8 independently of the trough-like member 36 provided at the rear of the machine. The troughlike member 48 at the front of the machine is provided at one side with a small trough 54 inclined in the opposite direction from that of the member 48. This trough 54 is adapted to receive a portion of the grain carried upwardly by the indentationsinthe cylinder 8 and convey such material rearwardly towards thecenterof the cylinder-B, whereby said material will be subjected to a second separation.

' A similar trough 55 is provided at the opposite side of the member 48 and has its upper end positioned beneath an opening 56 provided in the wall of the member 48, as best shown in Figure '7. A plurality of members57 are pivotally mounted upon the shaft 31 and each has an end portion adaptedto engage the wall of the member 48 at the receiving side thereof, as shown in Figure 9. The relatively shorter end portions 58 of the members 57 are adapted to direct the material delivered onto theupper portions of the members 57 through the opening 56, in the wall of the member 48, and into the trough 55, whereby such material will be returned to the intermediate portion of the cylinder 8, and subjected to a further separation, as will be understood by reference to Figure. '7.

The coarsest material such as oats, barley, sticks and pieces of straw, which might be intermixed with the mass of material fed to the machine, will not be carried upwardly by the indentations in the cylinder 8, but will be discharged from the front end of the cylinder through a spout 59 provided at the lower end of the plate 15, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The upper portion of the spout 59 is provided with inclined walls 61 and 62, extending upwardly as shown in Figure 2, and the wall 62 projecting above the opposite wall 61, as indicated at B, so as to catch any material which may be carried upwardly by the rotary motion of the cylinder 8, whereby such material will be delivered into the spout 59 from whence it will flow by gravity into a suitable receiving means, not shown.

The means provided for feeding the material to beseparated into the cylinder 8 is best shown in Figure 1, and comprises a hopper 63 provided. at its bottom with a feed roll 64, and having a hinged gate 65 for controlling the feeding of the material from the hopper 63 by the rotation of the feed wheel 64. The gate 65 has an operating rod 66 extending upwardly above the hopper 63, and is provided with a suitable wing nut 67 whereby it may be secured in adjusted positions. 'The feed wheel 64 delivers the material into a second hopper 68 which communicates with the housing 27, as shown. The hopper 68 isopen at the rear end of ,the machine, as indicated at A in Figure 1, and communicates with a suction chamber 69 having a suction trunk 71 connecting it with a settlings chamber '72, provided with a suitable fan 73 for circulating air therethrough.

A partition 7 1 isprovlded in the settlings chamber '72 between the suction trunk 71 and the intake to the fan 73, so that the fine dust-laden air drawn into the chamber 72 by the action of the fan73, must pass downwardly around the lowere'dge of the partition 74., thereby'causmg the heavier foreign matter drawn into the settlings chamber to be precipitatedinto the bottom of said chamber, while only dust and such fine foreign particles as are held in suspension in the air are discharged from the outlet 75 of the fan. A suitable gate or door 76 is provided at the bottom of the settlings chamber whereby the contents thereof may be removed when necessary. The gate or door 76 may also be hinged in such a manner that when a predetermined quantity of foreign matter is delivered into the settlings chamber, the door will be automatically opened by the pressure of the material against the inner side thereof, whereupon the material will discharge from said chamber.

into the settlings chamber by the fan '73 will enter the second hopper 68 through the opening A, and will pass around the lower portion of the feed wheel 64 and upwardly into the suction chamber 69, from whence it is drawn into the settlings chamber through the trunk 71. The air thus drawn into the settlings chamber by the fan '75, will remove ,from the unseparated material the very finest and lightest particles, such as pigeon seed, and other small seeds, and also dust and other foreign materials. The heaviest of these fine particles will be precipitated into the bottom of the settlings chamber, while the dust will be discharged from the fan outlet '75 into a suitable receiving means, not shown.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that all the material delivered into the lower hopper 68 by the feed wheel 64 will be fed into the lower portion of the cylinder 8 at the rear of the machine and, due to the rotary movement of the cylinder, the material will travel towards the opposite end thereof, and the Durum wheat, rye, barley, and other materialof certain length and weight, will lodge in the indentations in the wall of the cylinder and will be carried upwardly and discharged into the trough-like member 48 at the forward end of the upper cylinder. It is also to be understood that the indentations in the wall of the cylinder will not only discriminate according to the length and size of the material being fed intov it, but owing to the speed at which the cylinder revolves, a certain amount of centrifugal force is applied to the material or grain, causing the heaviest particles to find lodging in the indentations first. This will prevent the particles of lighter weight to find lodging in the indentations thus occupied, even though the length of such lighter material would permit them to lodge in the indentations. The adjust-ability of the receiving edges of the troughlike members as to elevation within the cylinders, also provides means whereby the degree of separation may be varied as desired.

All of the material received in the trough-like member 36 at the rear end of the cylinder 8,

such as the small wheat, weed seeds, and other materials delivered thereinto by the indentations- 10 in the cylinder, will be delivered into the lower cylinder '9 through an opening '77 provided in the lower portion of the member 33 and into a chute '78 communicating with a hopper '79,connected with a feed opening 81 provided in an extension 82 of a head 83 suitably secured to the end of the cylinder 9, as best shown in Figure 1. The chute "78 may be formed from cast metal, and has an upstanding portion 80 to retain the ma terial therein. It may be secured to the main frame as shown in Figure 3. An inspection door may be provided in the'chute 73 whereby an attendant may observe the flow of grain therethrcugh. Only the largest of the materials, such as the Durum wheat and other large wheat, and the coarse, rough material such as oats, barley, sticks, etc., will be removed from the material in the upper cylinder 8. It is to be particularly understood that the relative positions of the multiple trough-like members within the same cylinder, controls the amount of liftings and tailings in each section or" the cylinder, said members being positioned so as to receive only certain materials of the desired length and weight, and irrespective of the sizes of the indentations opposite each troughdike member.

The extension 82 of the'head 83 has a hub 84 In the operation of the inachinathe air drawn secured thereto by suitable arms 85. A stub shaft 86, similar to the shaft 24 provided in the upper hopper 27, has one end secured in the hub 84 and has its opposite end rotatably mounted in a bearing 8'7 provided in the hopper 79. The hopper '19 and bearing 87 are supported upon the cross'member 4 of the frame, as best shown in Figures 1 and 3. A suitable agitator 88 is secured to the stub shaft 86 and constantly agitates the material received in the hopper 79 to prevent it from clogging therein, when the machine is in operation. This agitator is similar to the agitator 50 provided in the housing 27 of the cylinder 8.

The inner portion of the hopper 79 is preferably cylindrical in configuration and is adapted to fit into the feed opening 81 of the extension 82 in such a manner as to provide a leak-proof joint between these members, it being understood that the extension 82 rotates synchronously with the cylinder 9.

The inner surface of the rear portion of the cylinder 9 is provided with suitable indentations 30, and the forward portion of this cylinder is provided with suitable indentations 40 which are smaller than the indentations 30. A pair of trough- like members 89 and 91 are mounted within he cylinder 9, and the bottoms of these members are inclined inthe same direction as shown in Figure l. The trough 89 has its forward portion secured to a plate member 92 fastened to a shaft 93 extending through the cylinder and having its rear end portion supported in the hub es of the head 83. The shaft 93 also extends through an aperture provided in the bottom of the trough 85% whereby the trough is firmly supported upon the shaft within the cylinder.

An inwardly extending flange 94 is provided within the cylinder .9 between the trough- like members 89 and 91, and provides a stop for the r materials remaining in the bottom of the rear portion of the cylinder. In other words, the material such, for example, as the small Durum and large spring wheat which is not carried up by the indentations "39 and delivered into the troughlike member .89, will travel lengthwise through the rear section of the cylinder and be discharged therefrom through a plurality of openings 95 providedin the wall of the cylinder 9 adjacent to the flange 94. The. materialdischarged through 1 these openings willbe received in a suitable member or hopper 96, preferably constructed of metal and secured to the longitudinally extending side rails 7*? of the main frame, as shown in Figure 5. This hopper is disposed directly beneath the openings 95 in the cylinder 9 andmay comniunicate with a suitable receiving means not shown. All of the finer materials delivered into the trough-like member 89 by the indentations 30 in the cylinder will-be discharged into the forward section of the cylinder at the opposite side of the dividing flange 94, so that this material will be subjected to the action of the relativelysmaller indentations 40 at that end of the cylinder.

All of the finest particlesjof the material delivered into the forward end portion of the cylinder 9 will be carried upwardly by the indentations 40 and delivered into the trough-like member 91, from whence it will be dncharged from the machine through a spout 9'7 communicating with the discharge end of the trough 91. The spout 9'7 is provided on a plate 98 having a hub whereby it may be fixedly secured to a bushing 99. To the opposite end of the bushing 99 an arm 101 is secured, as shown at the right hand :nostymz -33 of the main frame by suitableuboltsand has sired to discharge the weed seeds arid broken wheat as a single mixture, it maybe *readily accomplished by elevating the receiving edge of the trough 91 so that substantially all of the weed seeds will drop from the indentations *40 back into the cylinder, whereby'they will be discharged from the cylinder, together with the broken wheat, through the spout 117; Conversely;

should it be desired to mix only a portion of the lorokenwheat with the weed seeds, the receiving edge of the trough-like member 91 may be relatively lowered, whereby the smallest particles of the broken wheat will be lifted over the'edge of the member 91 and be discharged from the machine togetherwith the weed seeds, through the spout 42.

The forward end of theshaft 93-is rotatably supported in the sleeve 99, and has an arm-.104 secured thereto which carriesa screw adapted to lockingly engage a link. 106 which is pivotally mounted upon the end plate 102; The arm 104 has a slot 107 therein adapted-to receive the link 106. In like manner the adjusting arm l01 has a slot 108 adapted to receive a link, 109 to which the arm 101 may be secured by asuitable screw 111 for the purpose of' locking the arm inadjusted position. A suitable collar 112 is secured to the shaft 93 and cooperates-with the arm 101-to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft 93. The front end of the cylinder 9 is provided with an annular member 113 provided with an outwardly extending portion 114. adapted to engage a pair of anti-friction rollers 115 and 116, secured,

to the plate 102, and upon which the weight of the forward end. of the cylinder is supported.

From the foregoing, it-will be noted that-the trough-like member 89 is mounted upon and secured to the shaft 93, to which the adjusting arm 104 is secured, so that by relatively moving the arm 104 with respect to the link106, itwill rotatably adjust the member 89 so as to cause the receiving edge thereof to be raisedwor lowered, whereby the desired separation of the material may be obtained. The trough-like member 91in the front end of the cylinder 9 is rotatably sup: ported upon the shaft1'93 and is secured to the plate 98 of the spout 97. Because'of-the plate 98 being secured to thesleeve 99, when the arm 101, which also is secured to the sleeve .99; is relatively moved, the trough-likemember 9-1 will be rotatably adjusted within the cylinder and inde-. pendently of the trough 89, whereby. the, member 91 may be adjusted so as to pick up only the very finest particles, all of the other particles not being received in this trough, such for example the small spring wheat being discharged through the annular member 113 of the cylinder andinto a spout 117, provided upon the end "plate 102, as

clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. The-construe tionof'the spout 1'17is similar tothat of the spout 59. l I The means provided for operating the cylinders 8 and 9 is best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and comprises a; drive shaft 118, mounted in suitablebearings provided in the upper portion of the mainframe, and having a suitable pulley 119 whereby it may be connected to a suitable source of .power; A pinion-12l is secured to one end of the drive shaft 118 and meshes with a bevel gear 122', secure'dto one, end of a shaft 123, to the opposite end of which a sprocket 124 is secured.

This sprocket is adapted to drive a chain 125 operatively engaged with sprockets 126 and 127 suitably secured to the members 17 and 82 of the cylinders 8 and 9, respectively, as shown in Figures 1 and '3; The' feed roll 64 is operatively connected with the shaft 123 by means of a pair of bevel-gears 128tand'129," so that when the cylinders are operating, thefeed roll. will be rotated. The'fanris [shown provided with a pulley 131 adapted to be'driven by a belt 132 from a pulley -133 secured to the opposite; end of the drive shaft 118. ,m-

Another; important feature of this invention resides in*the provision 'of means for vertically adjusting one end of the machine so as to slightly tilt the cylinders withrespect to the horizontal. Such a means is best shown in Figures 1, 4, and 5, and may consist of a pair of vertically movable feet or legs 134 and 135, slidably mounted insuitableguides provided'in the lower cross rail 6 of the main frame. Thefoot 134 is here shown having its upper end pivotally connected to one end of alever 136 pivoted at 137 to a cross member 138, secured to the upright legs 33 of the main frame. The foot has its upper end pivotally connectedto an arm 139 pivoted at 141 to the cross member 138. The opposite end of the arm 139 is shown carrying a pin 142 received in aslot "143 provided in the lever 136. The lever 136is provided with a hand grip 144 and has a projection or rib 145 thereon adapted to selectively engage the teeth of a suitable quadrant 146, secured toone of the upright legs of the main frame. The pivotal connection of the lever 136 with thecross member 138 is such that the swinging endof the lever is frictionally held in engagement with thequadrant 146, whereby the lever will remain in its adjusted positions.

When the lever 136 is swung upwardly, when viewed as shown in Figure 5, the feet 134 and 135 will be moveddownwardly thereby causing the machine frame to be elevated, with the result that-the forward ends of the cylinders will be correspondingly elevated and thereby retard the movement of the material throughthe machine. Conversely, when the lever is moved downwardly from the position shown in Figure 4, the machine frame will be lowered from the position shown in Figure 4, therebyloweringthe front ends of-the cylinders with the result that the material will travel faster through the machine. Thus by means of the lever 136, the how of the material through the cylinder may be controlled at will.

In the operation of this novel grain separator, the material to be separated and cleanedis delivered into the hopper 63 at the upper rear portion of the machine. The gate 65 is then opened by manipulation of; the rod 66 to control the feeding of the material into the receiving end of the upper cylinders. As the material is discharged fromthe hopper 63 into the lower hopper 68, the new: of air through this hopper beneath the feed. roll 64 will remove from the material all of the finest particles, such as dust, pigeonseed and other such materials. .These lighter materials will be drawn into the settlings chamber. '12, where the heaviest of these lighter particles will be precipitated into thebottom ofthe chamber, while the dust and such particles as are held in suspension in the air current, will be drawn upwardly into the fan 73 and discharged ,therefrom throughthe outlet 75 thereof.

The remaining materialstwill be. delivered into the receiving end of theupper cylinder 8,; as shown in Figure 12, and will be subjected to..the action of the indentations 10 in the rearv section of this cylinder and will be constantly agitated, and the smaller particles, such as medium sized wheat, small Durum and small spring wheat, will be. re.- moved from themass by the indentations 10and delivered into the trough-like member 36. of; the cylinder 8. The larger materials, such as 'Durum and other large wheat kernels, and. also the. coarse, rough materialsuch' as. oats; barley, sticks; straw, and the like, which is not carried .upybythe indentations 10, will pass onwardly toward the .opposite end of the cylinder 8, where theywill: come into contactwith the relatively 1larger,:..indentations 20, provided atthat end of the cylinder. All of the material delivered into the itrough-rlike member 36 will'be discharged into-thechute 78 from whence it is delivered into the, hopper, '79 and fed into the receiving end of. the lowerqcylinder 9. The degree of vseparationbetween the large wheat and the smaller-particles, is.;controlled by relatively adjusting the receiving edge of the trough-like member36. so as to causexonly certain materials to be delivered into this trough.

The material delivered into the forward section of the cylinder 8 will'be. subjected ,tothe action of the relatively. large. indentations 20 which are of such size as to: pickup thelarge Durum wheat, rye, and "barley and carrythern upwardly and discharge them into the trough-like member 48, as shown in Figure; 11. ,;The coarse,

rough material, such .as the oats,,.lng,; poorly threshed barley, small sticks and, straw will be crowded out of theindentations 20 by the relatively heavier wheat kernels, and will therefore drop out of the indentations, and fallback into the cylinder, or into the relatively smaller -.auxiliary trough 54 provided upon the member .48, whereby they will be returned to the intermediate portion of the cylinder for further separation.

' The receiving edge of the member 48 is positioned at such an elevation as to cause only the. large, clean wheat to be thrown thereon into the member 48, from whence it is dischargedthroughthe chute 42 into a suitable receiving means. The delivery of the large wheat kernels into the member 48 is controlled largely bytherelative position ofthe receiving edge of this member, which will be understood by reference to Figures 9, 10, and '11. The cylinder 8 is also operated at a speed whereby the centrifugal. force acting: on

the, cats and other rough material by the indentations' 20'before any of the wheat reaches a position in the cylinder beneath the pivoted members 57. When this. occurs some of the roughmavterial such as oats, and barley, may lodge in the indentations. 20. and be carried upwardly thereby and thrown over the receiving edge of the member 48, in which case it would be discharged from the spout 42 with the clean large wheat. To prevent such an occurrence the receiving edge of the member 48 is preferably inclined as shown in Figure lso that said edge is higher at the forward end of the cylinder where the oat kernels are more apt to be carried up by the indentations. Bythus making this edge higher at the forward end of the cylinder, thedanger of oats and barley being carried over the edge is minimized.

' To further guard against this occurrence, however,'the hinged members 57 are provided at the forward end of the trough-like member 48, which members may be positioned as shown in Figure 9, wherebyrall the coarse material discharged into the member .48xat the end of the cylinder will be received by the members and will be conveyed across the member 48 and discharged into the auxiliary trough 55, .whereby it will be returned to the intermediate portion of the cylinder for. further separation. It will thus be seen that by the; provision of the members 57 and the independent adjustment of the trough- like members 36 and 48, an accurate and complete separation of. the large wheat may be made from the relatively smaller particles in the mass, and, in like manner, all of the coarse, rough materials, such as oats, barley, sticks, straws and the like, is also removed therefrom in the first cylinder.

The remaining unseparated smaller materials, as hereinbefore stated, are delivered into the receiving end of the lower cylinder 9, and as they pass through the rear portion thereof all of the medium sized wheat, small Durum and large spring wheat is removed from the mass and discharged through the openings 95 in the intermediate'section of the cylinder, into the discharge spout or hopper 96. The relatively finer particles,-such"as the small spring wheat and weed seeds are received in the trough-like member 89, from whence they are delivered into the forward section of the cylinder 9. As they pass through this section all of the weed seeds and other fine particles will be removed from the remaining par- 1 ticles by the action of the relatively smaller indentations 40 and will be delivered into the member 91 to be discharged from the spout 97, provided-at the forward end of the machine. The

remaining particles, which will consist mostly I of small spring wheat and broken kernels of wheat, will be discharged through the spout 117 of the cylinder 9.

The amount of material delivered into the cylinder 9 from the upper cylinder 8 is controlled by adjustment of the trough-like member 36 at the rear end of the upper cylinder.

The trough- like members 89 and 91 are adapted for independent rotary adjustment by manipulation of the adjusting levers 104 and 101, re-

spectively, whereby an accurate separation of these particles may be obtained. Also by vertically adjusting the front end o the machine to change the positions of the cylinder with respect to the horizontal, the material feeding through the cylinder may be controlled. as desired, and this adjustment in conjunction with the independent adjustments of the trough- like members 36, 48, 89 and 91, provides means whereby a very thorough and complete separation of all particles contained in the mass may be obtained.

the dust and very finest particles are discharged from the outlet 75 of therein; (2) the relatively heavier particles of the material removed by the air current passing through the suctionchamber 69 is delivered into the bottom ofthe settlings chamber 72; (3) the clean Durum and other large wheat is discharged from the spout 42; (4) the oats, barley, sticks, straws and other rough material is discharged from the spout 59; (5) the small Durum, medium sized wheat, and large spring wheat is discharged from the hopper or spout 96; (6) the small spring wheat and similar sized particles are discharged from the spout 117; and ('7) the weed seeds and other fine particles are discharged from the spout 97,. By relatively adjusting the trough-like members 36 and 418 within the cylinder 8, the machine may be so adjusted as to cause it to not only make a very thorough and complete separation of the 'Durum wheat, barley and rye,from the cats andremaining materials, but also aseparation of spring and other small wheat may be made from the best grades of Durum; The members 89 and 91 in the from.

lower cylinder 9 may be so adjusted as to cause more or less of the material whichordinarily would discharge from the opening 95 inthe cylinder 9 to be carried into the other section of this cylinder, whereby they would be discharged from the spout 117 and mixed with the small spring wheat discharging from this spout. Also by relatively adjusting theposition of the member 91 it may be so set as to cause it to pick up only the very finest of the weed seeds, whereby the relatively larger weed seeds will be discharged from the machine through thespout 117, together with theother materials discharging there- Figure 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating a wall section of the forward portion of the cylinder 8, showing how the large wheat kernels are carried upwardly by the indentations 20 and delivered into the member 48 over the upper edge thereof, while the oats and other large tailings are discharged by gravity from the indentations of the cylinder wallbefore they reach the upper edge of the member 48. It

will be notedby referring to thisfigure that centrifugal force, controlledby the peripheral speed of the cylinder, operates against gravity to retain the different materials in the pockets until they reach certain heights. Thus by operating the cylinders at the proper speed and positioning the receiving edge of the trough-like member 48 at the proper elevation, only the large heavy wheat kernels willbe delivered into the member 48.

In the drawings, we have shown the trough-like member 48 as being the only member having its receiving edge arranged at an incline with respect to the horizontal, but it is to be understood that one or more of the other members 36,

' 89 and 91 mayalso have their receiving edges similarly disposed, if desired, without departing from the scope of the invention. The machine as disclosed in the drawings, particularly Figure l, embodies two cylinders and is adapted for making several separations as hereinbefore stated, and thus provides a machine of the class described which is capable of handling and separating from one another, various kinds of grains and small seeds and delivering them to separate receiving means. It is also capable of grading such grains as, forexample, wheat, because by proper adjustment of the trough- like members 3648, 89 and 91, the clean wheat may be classified or graded into three separate grades, namely, the small wheat, the medium sized wheat, andthe large wheat. By adjustably mounting the trough-like members as disclosed, they may be relatively adjusted independently of each other whereby the machine is rendered very flexibie, so that almost any desired degree of separation and classification may be obtained.

For certain classes of work, when fewer separations are required as, for example, separating from one another, weed seeds, wheat and oats, we have found that the lower cylinder 9 may be dispensed with, in which case the machine is constructed with the upper cylinder 8 only. In such a machine, it may also be possible to secure the trough- like members 36 and 48 in fixed relation, when once their proper positions have been located within the cylinder, whereby a very sim ple and inexpensive machine may be provided.

.We claim as our invention:

l. A separator comprising a cylinder mounted for rotary movement and having its Wall surfaces provided with groups of difierent sized indentations, means for feeding material to said cylinder, a plurality of inclined trough-like members mounted within said cylinder and each aligned with a group, of said indentations, and each member being adapted to receive certain materials carried upwardly by the indentations alined therewith, means for independently raising or lowering the receiving edges of said meinbers whereby each may be positioned to cause only certain materials to be received therein, and means mounted within one of said members adapted to be positioned to receive elective portions of the material delivered thereto and convcy it over said member into a return trough positioned at the opposite side thereof, whereby said elective portions of the material will be returned to the cylinder for further separation.

2. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having groups of different sized indentations in the walls thereof, trough-like members within said cylinder having their bottoms inclined in opposite directions from an intermediate point in the cylinder and each alined with a group of said indentations, each of said members having a receiving edge positioned adjacent to the wall of the cylinder and over which certain of the materials are lifted by the indentations in the cylinder walls and delivered into said members, means for independently raising or lowering the receiving edges of said trough-like members whereby they may be positioned to cause only certain materials to be received therein, means pivotally mounted within one of said troughlilze members and having its receiving edge adapted to be positioned adjacent the receiving edge of said member to receive elective portions of the material delivered thereto and convey it over said member to be returned to the cylinder for further separation, and means by which said pivoted means may be moved into inoperative position.

3. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitable indentations in the walls thereof, trough-like members within said cylinder having their bottoms inclined in opposite directions from an intermediate point in the cylinder, each of said members having a receiving edge positioned adjacent to the wall of the cylinder and over whichv certain of the materials are lifted bythe indentations in thecylinder and delivered into said members, means for independently raising or lowering the receiving edges of said trough-like members, whereby they may be positioned to cause only certain materials to be lifted thereover, the receiving edge of one of said trough-like members being inclined, Whereby it is higher at one end than at the other, to thereby prevent certain of the coarser materials from being lifted thereover into said member, an auxiliary return trough secured to the side of said member opposite from said inclined edge, and means for conveying certain of the material delivered to said member into said auxiliary trough, whereby it is returned to the cylinder for further separation.

i. A separator comprising a plurality of rtatable cylinders, arranged one over another, and having their walls provided with groups of different sized indentations, a plurality of trough-like members arranged within said cylinders and each having an edge positioned adjacent to 'a cylinder wall and over which certain materials are lifted by the indentations in the. cylinder walls, means for independently adjusting said trough-like members to raise or lower the receiving edges thereof whereby a complete separation of the materials may be obtained, and means for feeding the mass of material into one end of one of said cylinders, comprising a hopper having its discharge connected to the intake of the cylinder, and having means for drawing a current of air through the material feeding from the hopper to the cylinder whereby dust and foreign lighter particles are removed from the mass of material before the latter is delivered intothe receiving cylinder. i

5. A separator comprising an upper cylinder having suitable indentations in the inner wall surface thereof, trough-like members arranged in said cylinder and inclined in opposite directions, a cylinder disposed beneath said upper cylinder, one of said trough-like members being adapted to receive certain materials carried upwardly by the indentations at one end of the upper cylinder and deliver them into the lower cylinder for further separation, and the other of said trough-like members being adapted to receive certain of said materials and discharge them from one end of the upper cylinder as a finished product, the remaining materials not delivered into said second mentioned member being discharged from the end of the cylinder, means for independently adjusting the troughlilze members in said cylinders, whereby the receiving edges thereof may be positioned to cause only certain materials to be lifted thereover, and means for feeding the material to be separated into said upper cylinder, comprising a feed regulating means and a suction means for removing dust and other foreign lighter material from the mass before it is delivered into the cylinder.

6. A separator comprising an upper cylinder having suitable indentations in the inner wall surface thereof, trough-like members arranged said cylinder and inclined in opposite directions, a cylinder disposed beneath said upper cylinder, one of said trough-like members being adapted to receive certain materials carried upwardly by the indentations at one end of the them from one end of the upper cylinder as a finished product, said second mentioned troughlike member having its receiving edge inclined upwardly in the direction of travel of the material to prevent elective portions of thelarger material from lifting over a portion of said edge, the remaining materials not delivered into said second mentioned member being discharged from the end of the cylinder as tailings, means for independently adjusting the trough-like members in said cylinders, whereby the receiving edges thereof may be positioned to cause only certain materials to be lifted thereover, and means for feeding the material to be separated into said upper cylinder, comprising a suction device for removing dust and other foreign lighter material fromthe mass before it is delivered into the cylinder.

'7, A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitable indentations in its walls adapted to convey different materials, a plurality of trough-likemembers adjustably mounted within the cylinder and adapted to receive selective materials from said indentations and convey them to separate receiving means, means for feeding the material to be separated into one end of the cylinder, auxiliary return troughs secured to the opposite sides of one of said trough-like members, one of said auxiliary troughs being positioned to receive selective material from certain of the indentations in the walls of the cylinder and return said'rnaterial for further separation, conveying means mounted within the troughlike member to which said return troughs are secured adapted to receive and convey certain materials delivered over the receiving edge of said trough-like member, into the return trough at the opposite side thereof, and means whereby said conveying means may be moved to an inoperative position.

8. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitable indentations in its walls adapted to convey different materials, a plurality of trough-like members adjustably mounted within the cylinder and adapted to receive selective materialsfrom said indentations and convey them to separate receiving means, means for feeding the material to be separated into one end of the cylinder, auxiliary return troughs secured to the opposite sides of one of said trough-like members, one of said auxiliary troughs being positioned to receive selective material from certain of the indentations in the walls of the cylinder and return said material for further separation, and a plurality of material conveying elements mounted within the trough-like member to which said return troughs are secured. adapted to receive and convey certain materials delivered over the receiving edge of said trough-like member, into the return trough at the opposite side thereof, said conveying elements being independently movable to control the diverting of said certain materials over said trough-like member.

9. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitable indentations in its walls adapted to convey different materials, a plurality of inclined troughs within the cylinder adapted to receive selective materials from said indentations and convey them from the cylinder, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said cylinder comprising a hopper having its discharge connected with the intake of the cylinder, means in the bottom of the hopper for regulating the 1,985,772 flow of material therefrom. a settlings chamber,

a trunk connecting saidchamber with the discharge of the hopper, and a suction device connected with said chamber for drawing air through said trunk into the chamber, whereby dust and other foreign lighter matter contained in the material being fed to the cylinder is removed therefrom before it reaches the cylinder.

10. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitable indentations in the walls thereof adapted to convey different materials, a plurality of inclined troughs within the cylinder adapted to receive selective materials from said indentations and convey them from the cylinder, the material remaining in the cylinder being discharged directly therefrom, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said cylinder comprising a hopper having its discharge connected with the intake of the cylinder, means in the bottom of the hopper for regulating the flow of material therefrom, said hopper having a transverse air passage beneath its discharge through which the material discharging therefrom passes, a settlings chamber, means establishing communication between said chamber and the air passage beneath the'hopper, and a suction device connected with said chamber whereby air is drawn through said transverse air passage and into the settlings chamber to thereby remove dust and other foreign lighter matter from the material being fed to the cylinder.

11. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having suitable indentations in the walls thereof adapted to convey different materials, a plurality of inclined troughs; within the cylinder adapted to receiveselective materials from said indentations and convey them from the cylinder, a hopper arranged at one end of the cylinder and having means at its discharge for controlling the delivery of material to the cylinder, a suction chammoved therefrom before the material is delivered into the cylinder.

12. A separator comprising a rotatablecylinder having suitable indentations inthe walls thereof adapted'to convey different materials, a plurality of inclined troughs within the cylinder adapted to receive selective materials from said indentations and convey them from the cylinder, a hope its intake disposed adjacent to the discharge of the hopper, a settlings chamber connected to said suction chamber, a suction device connected to said settlings chamber, whereby a current of air is drawn through the suction chamber and into the settlings chamber, whereby dust and other lighter foreign matter contained in the material is removed therefrom and delivered into the settlings chamber, before the material is fed into the cylinder, and means whereby the heavier particles delivered into the settlings chamber are retained therein while the dust is removed therefrom by said suction device.

, 13. A separator comprising a rotatable cylinder having means therein adapted to receive and convey different selective materials, a plurality of inclined troughs within the cylinder adapted to receive selective materials from the means in said cylinder and convey them to separate receiving means, an auxiliary hopper connected to one end of the cylinder, a main hopper over said auxiliary hopper and having means at its discharge for reg ulating the flow of material therefrom into the auxiliary hopper, a suction chamber above the auxiliary hopper and connected thereto, said auxiliary hopper having an air intake, and a suction device connected to said suction chamber, whereby air is drawn through said auxiliary hopper and through the flow of material passing therethrough from the main hopper, whereby dust and other foreign lighter matter is removed from the material before it is delivered into the cylinder.

MARCUS A. ERICKSON. J OHANNES GROSETH.

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