US1945242A - Apparatus for conditioning grain or the like - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1934. s. G. WALKER APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN OR THE LIKE Filed July 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I.

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Jan. 30, 1934. l s. G. WALKER 1,945,242

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Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN OR THE LIKE Samuel G. Walker, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 13, 1932. Serial No. 622,234

3 Claims.

My invention relates generally to apparatus for conditioning grain or similar materials, and more particularly to apparatus for conditioning such material by screening and aeration incident to its passage through a discharge chute.

In the shipping and handling of grain, it has been found that periodic cleansing of the grain with elimination oi dust, weevil and other foreign matter and exposure to fresh air adds materially to its preservation. It is important that stored grain be thoroughly aerated to relieve it of mustiness or to reduce its temperature, and for this purpose the grain must be so mixed with the air that all of its particles are aerated for a short time at least.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide simple and efficient apparatus for conditioning grain or similar materials by screening and aeration, while it is being discharged from a place of storage, such as from the top of a grain elevator, to a car, conveyor, or the like.

A further object of this'invention is to provide in such an apparatus means for regulating the amount of treatment to which the grain is to be subjected, this being effected by cutting out partially or completely the screening action.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in such an apparatus means for effecting an orderly disposition of waste and foreign materials separated from grain incident to its conditioning.

Still other and more specific objects and advantages characterizing rny invention will be apparent from the description hereinafter of one embodiment or example of the invention, having reference to the accompanying drawings, whereof:

Fig. I represents a perspective View of the upper portion of grain conditioning apparatus of my invention with the outside covering broken away at certain areas to show clearly the position of the inclined planes therein.

Fig. II represents an end View of the upper portion of the same, with the outside covering 'partially removed to show the interior; and,

Fig. III represents an end view of the complete apparatus used in combination with a belt conveyor.

With reference to the drawings, the grain conditioning apparatus there shown comprises generally a rectangular framework 1 enclosed at the sides by a covering 2 and interiorly fitted with a series of inclined screens 3 and waste plates 4, which are arranged alternatively to form a zigzag downward path from the top to the bottom of the framework. The screens 3 and plates 4 form successive stages of a chute with the screens and plates of each stage disposed in parallel arrangement with a relatively wide gap therebeo tween. The frame 1 may be made of any strong durable material and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention it is made up of angle bars. The .traine covering 2 is made of a wire meshed cloth with meshes sized to allow the free passage of air through the apparatus and yet retain the material being conditioned. Each inclined screening piane 3 comprises a frame 5 covered with wire meshed cloth, with meshes sized. to prevent the passage oi the grain, at the same 79 time allowing the foreign matter, such as dust and weevil, to drop through it to the waste plate 4 immediately below it. The screening planes are hinged to the frame 1 by hinges 6, and they are held at a particular inclination by chains or wires 7. Each waste plate 4 comprises an imperforate plate attached by hinges 8 to the lower edge of the screening plane 3 next above it, and in its normal position leads to a waste trough 9 at the sides or' the framework.

In the normal or down position, the lower edge of each waste plate 4 rests on a supporting plate 10 leading into the waste trough 9. Each waste plate 4 may be independently swung upward behind the screen 3 to which it is hinged. In the 8 raised position, each waste plate 4 is held at against the underside oi the screen above it by a 'catch ll, as indicated in broken lines in the third stage from the top of the framework in Fig. 1I. In order to adjust the waste plates 4, access through the frame covering 2 is afforded by the side doors l2 shown in Fig. III.

A spout 13 leads to the top of the framework 1 and serves as a means i'or discharging the grain l. to be treated onto the iirst screen 3 of the zigzag chute. The spout 13 is provided with a dispersing plate 14 for distributing the grain across the width of the top of the framework. The waste troughs 9 are fastened to the sides of the 1700 frame 1, one for each waste plate 4. From the bottom of each trough 9, a waste pipe 15 leads into the waste trough next below, and the lowermost waste pipe 15 at each side of the framework leads into a waste pit 16 beneath the framework. 105

The grain flowing out of the apparatus at the bottom is caused to fall on a belt conveyor 17, after its passage over an imperforate discharge plate 18. The belt conveyor 17 shown represents of course, only one example of how the condi- 1.110

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tioned grain may be conducted away from the bottom of the framework.

The operation of the grain conditioning apparatus will be apparent from the above description. The grain flows from the spout 13 and is dispersed over the top screening plane 3 by the dispersing plate 14. As it vflows down the screening plate 3, the grain is exposed to the air and the foreign matter falls between the meshes to the waste plate 4 below. From each waste plate 4 the foreign matter flows into the waste trough 9, and from thence to a waste pipe 15. TheA waste particles passing through the various waste troughs 9 and waste pipes 15 ultimately fall into the waste pit 16. From the first screening plane 3, the grain tumbles through space, being thereby further aerated and intermixed, to the next lower screening plane 3 where'the same screening operation takes place. Thus the grain continues its zig-zag passage from one screening plane through an air space to the next` lower screening plane, until it isled by a discharge plate 18 onto the conveyor belt 17 by which it is transported to a receptacle as desired.

When the screening action of a screening plane 3 is to be cut out, the waste plate 4 fastened to the lower. edge of that particular screening plane 3 is swung up from. its supporting plate 10, and in order to allow it to pass the frame land frame covering 2, the screening plane 3 is also swung up. This waste plate 4 is fastened flat against the underside of the screening plane 3 by the catch 11 preventing any screening action of that screening plane 3. second stage from the top inl-Vig. II, at 19 and 20 clearly show the hinging. actions, and how the folding. of the screens 3 and plates 4 may be accomplished, lines 19 indicating the screening plane 3 swungv up to allow the waste plate 4 indicated by lines 20 to clear the frame 1.

While the apparatus herein described and illustrated represents oneexample or embodiment ofM4 this invention, it will be readily,l seen that various details of its construction may be altered without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the claims heretoannexed. A `Havingthus described my invention, ,I claim:

ranged in spaced relation one above the other in The dotted lines shown at the said framework so that grain will flow by gravity from one screen through the intervening air space to another in a zig-zag downward passage, plates attached to the lower edges of said inclined screens to catch the particles sifting through the screens and lead such material into said waste pipe, said plates being hinged along the lower. edges of said screens whereby they may be swung upward to lie flat against the under sides of said screens to prevent their sifting action, and means for locking said plates in said position against the undersides of said screens.

2.` Apparatus for screening grain or the like, comprising a framework covered with a foraminous material which will retain the material to be screened but permit free circulation of air therethrough, means for discharging said material at the top of the framework, a waste pipe at the sides of said framework, and a series of inclined screens arranged in spaced relation one above the other so that grain will. flow by gravity down one screen and through an intervening air space to theupper edge of the next lower screen forming a zig-zag downward passage, plates hinged along the lower edges of said inclined screens to catch the particles gifting through the screens and to lead such particles into said waste pipe, means for locking each said plate when swung upward about the hinge to be flat against the underside ofthe screen immediately above, and means at thebottomrof said framework for carrying off the screened material separated from said waste particles. v

3. Apparatus fo-r screening grain or the like, comprising a screened framework, means for discharging the material to be screened at the top of said framework, a: series of inclined screens arranged in spaced relation vertically to form a zig-zag downward passage for the material with jumps between screens, plates hinged along the lower edge of each of said inclined screens to catch the particles sifting through the screens to lead such particles to the sidey of said framework, said plates beingv adapted to be folded upward to lie flat against the under side of said screens to prevent their sifting action, and said screens being hinged to the framework whereby said screens and plates may be foldedand unfolded within said screened framework, and means attachedto each said screen underneath its upper edge for holding said plates flat against the underside of said screens when swung upward to said position.

SAMUEL G. WALKER.

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