US913377A - Valve for grain-separators. - Google Patents

Description

0. J. H. GRANT. VALVE FOR GRAIN SEPARATOES.

APPLIOATIONYIILED DOT. 3,1907.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

\Umwssga UNirirn Uii- FICE.

CHARLES J.v H. GRANT, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

VALVE FOB GRAIN-SEPARATQRS;

Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23 19 9.

Application filed October 3, 1807. Serial No. 395,782.

State of Iowa, have invented cert-a in new and useful Improvements in Valves for Grain- Separators; and I do hereby-declare the followingv to be a full, clear, and exact description of tlieinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

This invention relates to that class of grain separators in which the separation of impurities from grain, or of the grain itself into grades differing in relative weight or quality, is effected by means oi suction or exhaust fans, the lighter material being sucked from the stream of grain in its forof the separator to which it is attached being in section. Fig. 2 is a view of the same as seen from the right side of Fig. l.

' In the drawing the separator is shown diagrammatically.

A is a spout by which the grain enters, with an outlet at B lorthe heavier grain.

C is asettling chamber torthe lightest materials, dust, and the like.

I) is an air-trunk leading to an exhaust fan, not shown. These parts are all ol a familiar type, and need not be particularly described.

It is uf. ual to provide the lower part of the settling chamber with a gate, which is little more than a simple door hinged at the upper side, and adapted to swing outwardly. This opens when an accumulation of line stall falls in a lunn but in practice it often fails to close, and as this part of the separator is in direct communication with the exhaust, the immediate efiect is to impair the suction, and of course the separator fails to do its work properly. i My improved gate permits uch a mass ofimaterial to pass through and by the very nature of its construction closes the gap immediately, so that there 18 no check on the suction.

In a chamber E at the bottom ol the set tling chamber is mounted, in suitable boarings F, a rotary gate G. In practice this has a polygonal hub H n'ovided with terminal trunnions I mounted in said bearings. To the flat faces of the hub'are secured 'ings of sheet steel or iron, which accordingly stand at a tangent, as shown. These wings should preferably be 'lleXible, 'so as to-sprin back should anything obstruct their outer edges,

which are curved a little, as shown. The rotarygate being constructed as shown with a polygonal hub havingwings secured to the flat faces thereof to provide for the tangential arrangement of said wings requires no means for driving it as the weight of the talling material will cause said gate to revolve. and discharge its contents, said materiallalb ing against the upper face of one of the wing. which is caused by the tangential arrangement of said wings. It is impossible with this construction for the gate to stop in such a position as to bring the weight of the fall ing material on a dead center. The curved shape of the wings also assists in avoiding any possibility ol the stopping of the gate on a dead center and the consequent cloggingol the chute. In front of the gate is a semi circular housing J, lying quite close to th or: redgcs of the wings, and embracing; two 0. .hem. This housing may be readily removed, to give access to the gate as by re leasing hooks K, by which it is attached to the separator. On the opposite side of the gate, and iOllIllllgI a backnrc therclor, is an apron l1, slightly curved at l), and hinged to the separator at H. To limit its inward movement it is provided with a simplc-braclwt N engaging a stop 0. It is hold normally in this position elastically, as by a weight I mounted on an arm Q, which may be a part of the bracket.

A trunnion of the gate is shown in Fig. 2

provided with a pulley ll, by which con tinuous rotary movement might be imparted to the In practice this is not deemed essential, however, as tho simplev dropping of masses of material on the tangent wings causes the gate to turn, and this is all that is required 01 it. So long as it will turn it cannot clog, and at no point in its movement does it cut off or impair the action'of the exhaust fan.

Having thus described my invention, I

5 claim:

The combination with the settling chamber of a separator, of a rotary gate for closing the outlet of said chamber, having tangentially disposed resilient wings with the free ends of said wings curved, and a yieldable 10 apron arranged for cooperation with the wings of said gate.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature. in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. H. GRANT. \Vitnesses J. M. ST. JOHN,

A. H. GOUGH.

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