Descriptive Pamphlet of the Richmond Mill Furnishing Works All sizes of mill stones and complete grinding and bolting combined husk or portable flouring mills, portable corn and feed mills; smut and separating machines; zigzag and oat separators, dustless separators, warehouse separators, water wheels; mill shafting; pulleys; spur and bevel, iron and core, gearing....

Part 2

Chapter 23,691 wordsPublic domain

This cut represents our PORTABLE UPPER RUNNER MILL. The heavy runner in addition to being built in balance is provided with five improved standing and running balance weights, adjustable with screws. (See under head of “Standing and Running Balance.”) This mill has the self-tramming irons set forth under its proper head; improved silent feed rig; wrought iron spindle with steel ends; steel cock-eye in runner stone; a tram step to tram by means of screws; the oil fountain bush and followers; pine stave curb or hoop banded with iron under walnut finish; stones faced and furrowed, of a good selection of French burr, of sharp even quality, and other additions and advantages not necessary to mention, all made complete with pulley as shown in the cut, or gear as shown on page 16, and secured in a strong ash husk frame. The step-irons used in this mill admit of our using a much longer spindle without making top of mill higher than usual. The principal improvements on this mill have been secured to us by two distinct Letters-Patent.

ALL OUR PULLEY MILLS

Are furnished with our improved low down Set Screw Step, giving a spindle one-fifth longer than any other mill with same height of hopper, and constructed in the ordinary manner.

With this step the spindle is trammed by means of set screws, thus making it more readily and accurately adjustable, at the same time avoiding the liability of getting out of tram. This step is so constructed as to avoid changing from its true position or out of tram, when the runner stone is raised or lowered by the lighter screw. The _husks_ of these mills are made of ash timber, strongly bolted together with wrought iron joint bolts. We furnish turned iron pulleys balanced and keyed to the spindle, so they can be raised or lowered at pleasure. The curbs around the runners are of the kind shown and described under head of “Mill Curbs or Hoops.” The feed rig, either our improved silent, or shoe and damsel, as may be wanted by the purchaser, or for the purpose required.

Attaching and Driving.

It will generally be found most desirable to drive our pulley mills from a horizontal shaft and pulleys, with reel belts and tightning pulleys in a movable frame, or quarter-twist belt.

Place the mill upon a solid floor or firm foundation with the bed-stone level; cleat around the posts, and bolt through two of the lower ties; if room is precious a platform can be placed over the belt or belts running from the line-shaft to the mill. This shaft should be from thirteen to fifteen feet from the mill spindle, to give sufficient length of belt.

The center of the mill pulley and driver must not be in line, but as follows: When the reel belt plan is adopted, _place the center of the mill pulley four or five inches below the top of the driving pulley that runs from the mill, and the side of the mill pulley that runs towards the driving pulley in line with the center of the driving pulley, then place the idle or tightning pulley in a sliding frame on the under side of the slack belt near the driving pulley, and of the proper height and angle to lead the belt squarely on the mill pulley_.

When locating the mill to run by “quarter twist belt,” place thus: _Upper or lower side of the driving pulley, which runs towards the mill, should be five or six inches above the center of the burr pulley_, and the _side of the burr pulley that runs towards the driving pulley must be in a line with its center_. In attaching the bolt it will be observed that its position depends somewhat upon how the elevator foot and cooling conveyor are placed. It will be found best in most situations to put the cooling conveyor and elevator foot entirely below the floor. It is a good plan to set the Portable or in fact any kind of a mill on a foundation entirely below and independent from the floor of the house. The reel belt plan of driving from a pulley on a horizontal shaft, even if a large one, will make no edge strain on the belt whatever, and in stopping and starting is of great convenience. We have it shown in a small way in the cut, Fig. 3, under head of “Complete Grinding and Bolting Mills.” Where we furnish the mills, we always, when requested to do so, send draft and plans showing how to set up and arrange all, so that it will be a success, and without additional charge.

GEARED MILLS

Are furnished with wood and iron gearing--wooden cogs in the driving wheel. This does away with the noise and deafening clatter of the ordinary, or all iron geared mills. (See under head of “Gearing,” and “Under Runner Geared Mills.”) These cogs are of wide face, thus having a large bearing surface, and wear but slowly. Where there is one mill the shaft is long enough to receive the pulley and one journal box outside. We often put three run of burrs, two wheat and one corn, upon one continuous shaft. This makes a very compact arrangement. In this case the mills are detached by slipping the pinion or wheel out of gear, on a sleeve provided for the purpose.

SINGLE REEL BOLT--Complete, and Dimensions.

(See preceding page.)

Our bolts are so well known that a full description seems superfluous. Their constant use for fourteen years has suggested some marked changes, which together with a brief outline of the bolt itself, we will describe. The object gained is a more efficient bolt for custom work, either for a Portable Mill or any flouring mill however large or small, where a bolt is wanted specially adapted to the demands of custom grinding; at the same time a bolt that can be shipped to any point on a navigable river or railroad in the United States or Territories. We have already sent a number of them into Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Also, Texas, Kansas, Georgia, &c., &c. When so ordered they are taken apart and boxed, previously marked how each part belongs, and drafts and description of how to set it up, sent so that one at all skilled can put it up in the mill and have it ready to run in two to three days time. For those residing within a few hundred miles of our works, we mostly send on open cars or boat, well protected by paint and varnish, and out of the great number shipped within ten years past, have not had a single one at all damaged that we know of. They are made in large quantities, the parts being duplicated and cut out from patterns, and by machinery adapted to the purpose. The lumber contained in them is thoroughly seasoned, and selected of the best quality. The parts usually sent with them unless otherwise ordered are:

1st. All the gearing and shafts required, with supporting frame and bearings for the elevator head, spout, gear and shafts.

2d. Extra heavy cloth of Dufour & Co.’s Dutch Anchor brand made up to fit the reel, with strips of ticking to come in contact with the ribs of reel, and proper arrangement of numbers to make flour that will bear inspection. This is generally sent by express in a separate package.

3d. The elevator complete, as follows: forty feet of 4½-inch leather or gum belt, thirty 4-inch heavy tin, iron banded, cups, with improved copper clasp fastenings, head and foot with turned pulleys in them, including an outside pair of bevel or spur wheels or turned pulley to receive power. (See cut of elevator head and foot under head of “Elevator, Cups and Fastenings.”)

4th. A cooling conveyor geared by suitable wheels to the shaft in foot of the elevator, so that it can be located in any direction to suit the situation. To fill some special orders we have put the cooling conveyor on top of the chest; in most cases it is best to have it below. The frame work of the bolt is made of hard wood and well bolted. Conveyor for flour and one for returns full length of bolt; conveyor flights are of hard wood; cut offs are provided so that one-fourth, all or any degree of the flouring cloth may be used for fine flour, at the option of the miller.

TABLE OF DIMENSIONS.

+----------------- Length of Reel. | Extreme Length. -----------------------------------------+----------------- For 26 and 30 inch mill 16 feet. | 18½ feet. For 30 and 36 “ “ 18 “ | 20½ “ For 36 and 42 “ “ 20 “ | 22½ “ For 42 and 48 “ “ 22 “ | 24½ “ -----------------------------------------+-----------------

They are 3 feet 6 inches wide and 6 feet 2 inches high to top of elevator.

PORTABLE MILL AND BOLT.

In our portable Mill and Bolt we have condensed all the advantages required of a custom mill in making a prime article of flour and much better suited for the purpose. We have not been sparing in the material necessary to make every part strong and durable, and they will bear to be continually used with a strong power without any part yielding in the least. The bolts are arranged for making all the cut-offs for changing the grade of the flour, thus using more or less bolting surface, or making more or less returns, as may be found necessary. It makes a quick and even discharge of flour from the flour spout, there are no hoppers or anything for the clogging of flour, and every customer gets his own flour from his own wheat. This is of great advantage, and if not pretty fully accomplished creates dissatisfaction with customers. The Bolts in connection with our Mills are of ample capacity when the grain is in proper condition to make good flour. They are made much larger and in more roomy chest than ever before. They are supplied with our improved _percussion apparatus_. This has now been in use in its present style for over ten years, with perfect success. It is composed of three sets of hinged arms, or knockers, three in each set, secured to every alternate rib of the reel inside, gently tapping the ribs on the downward or empty side of the reel, thus not forcing the flour _through_ the cloth, but dusting out and unclogging it. These can be stopped or started by the miller at any time while the Bolt is in operation--either one set, two, or all, as circumstances may require. These, every practical miller knows, after having used them, to be indispensable to counteract the extremes of damp and dry, or cold and exceedingly warm weather. Some millers utterly condemn the use of knockers on bolts, and, in reference to those commonly in use, we will agree with them in this. The difficulty lies in the fact that commonly they are so arranged that the miller is obliged to use them at all times. In free bolting weather, he not only wants to stop the _percussion apparatus_, but also to have all the safeguards against too free bolting at his command. With this apparatus and proper grinding no clogging of the Bolt will ever be noticed. By the use of this apparatus we are enabled to use finer cloth than without it, and at all times bolt even and obtain better yields. This tried and valuable improvement has been secured by Letters-Patent.

These _Mills and Bolts_, or either of them separately are constantly being attached to old and new mills, warehouses and places where steam and water power can be had or used. We use on these Bolts Dufour & Co.’s celebrated Dutch Anchor brand of Bolting Cloth made up in best manner with 2½ inch strips of heavy ticking to come in contact with the ribs of reel.

Some parties erroneously entertain the idea that a _portable mill_ is a temporary affair. They obtain this idea from the word _portable_. This word, applied to a mill, means only that the machinery is built in such a manner at the factory as to permit of its being shipped the same as any other machinery. Our portable mill has all the qualities for doing good work, and all the durability, that any old style mill has. It further has the advantage of enabling a man to put up his mill without near so much delay and expense as is required in the old style. In every instance where a portable mill has failed to do its work properly or to be durable, it has not been because it was a _portable_ mill, but because it was not constructed on _good well-tried_ principles, or of good material, or the fault may have been because it was not set up as it should be, or had not been properly managed after it was set up.

Our Mills and Bolts are fitted up and put together ready to run, before shipment, then properly arranged for shipping, and delivered on board the cars at the proper depot here, and a through rate of freight contracted in the shipping receipt.

COMPLETE PORTABLE GRINDING AND BOLTING FLOURING MILLS.

The cuts, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, are intended to show the different arrangements in buildings and are made by us of the following sizes of stones: 30, 36 and 42 inches diameter of upper-runners, and 26, 30 and 36 inch of the under-runner kind, with the bolts described fully elsewhere, of ample capacity and to meet the special demands of a custom mill, capable of making flour that will bear inspection in any market, at the same time good yields, and are as economical in the use of power as any mill in the United States. Drawings and directions to set up sent with each mill when ordered. It betters the arrangement to place the husk frame 20 inches below the floor; the discharge spout and hoppers all come at a convenient height for the miller to see into the hopper and operate the mill without stooping. In Figs. 1 and 3 they are shown thus. We advise making a platform in the rear of the mills over the belts. The stones and bolt-chest can be placed on same floor, as Fig. 1, or the bolt above as the situation requires. They will grind and bolt from six to fifteen bushels per hour according to size, and can be put in operation in a short time, and are no more liable to get out of repair than the best mill in use.

Those having their power all ready, should give us the dimensions of it and kind, to enable us to give correct information as to size of mill best adapted to it, &c., &c.

COMBINED MILL HUSK.

In cases where there is or can be a basement under the grinding floor, we advise lengthening out the husk posts sufficiently to throw the gearing or belts entirely below the floor. When this is done the husks of the two or more run of burrs are combined into one, making it very solid. This style of mill, where there is room under the grinding floor for it, is the best arrangement possible.

A husk of this kind has all the firmness and solidity of the usual style of frame husk, and yet it is not so bulky and cumbersome. Heavy joint bolts being used entirely, instead of pins, it can readily be tightened up, should any part become slack. These joint bolts bring the timbers harder and more firmly against the shoulders than it is possible for pins or keys; hence its exceeding firmness. Mills put up by us in this style cost the purchaser less money than it is possible for him to buy the burrs, spindles, steps, lighter screws, steps, feed rigging, etc., complete, and then get his timber, hire hands, and build it himself. After he finishes his husk, he will find, in addition to its costing him more than if we should furnish it, he has not nearly as neat a husk, nor one that looks like a finished piece of machinery. The entire timbers in our Combined Husks are dressed and varnished. While it is together in our shop, before taking apart for shipment, every piece is so marked as to show plainly its place in putting up when it arrives at the mill. Customers purchasing these husks, etc., complete, avoid the delay in starting their mills that is necessarily connected with this when all is made at the mill. At the mill, everything has to be done at a decided disadvantage over doing it at a shop where there are tools and machinery especially adapted for the work, and hands that are thoroughly accustomed to doing it.

This style of Mill, with pulleys on the spindles, driven from an upright shaft by belts with tightening pulleys on the slack side, makes the most convenient, and at the same time, as durable and efficient a mill as can be built. With this arrangement, any burr or burrs can be stopped or started at pleasure, without disturbing the others. Where any changing of burrs has to be done, as is the case in custom mills, this is an important item, both for convenience and economy. It saves the time that would be lost in stopping the entire machinery of the mill, shifting the gearing, and again starting, which will always amount to several minutes, by the time the burrs are again properly grinding. And, further, belts do away with all liability to that jar and chatter that always more or less accompanies gearing not kept in proper condition in every respect, which is very seldom done. The belt gives to the burr a very even, steady motion. Our experience is that these belt mills are as easily and more _accurately_ kept in tram than geared mills with any kind of gearing. This method of driving burrs is not only desirable for custom mills, but is also well adapted for merchant mills. We think no better or more satisfactory arrangement for driving either custom or merchant burrs than this, is in use, and we have had experience with all methods. We have over one hundred of this style of mills running, driven by belts in this manner, and they are giving the most entire satisfaction. Most of them are run by parties that have used various other methods of driving their burrs. These all give this style a most decided preference over any other method of driving. The cost is about the same as gearing. We can now give parties interested, references to mills of this same kind in most any of the middle and western States. Of course we do not advocate this plan of driving burrs, nor this style of husk for every case. There are a great many places where there is not the necessary basement room, and parties do not wish to go to any more expense than the usual short husk portable mill, and some situations would require a geared mill all rigged and fitted up in the best manner.

In the engraving, Fig. 7, is shown one of these husks with two upper and one under runner mill; the frame is not shown as heavy as we use for 42 inch and 4 feet stones; one of the lower belts is shown, the others in dotted lines. The shelving for supporting the belt when the tightening pulley is thrown back is not shown. Our adjustable tightening frame and hinge is of superior advantage in stopping and starting either one or all the burrs. They are operated by hand wheels from above in a very simple and easy manner not shown in the cut. The precise slant and position of this movable pulley is regulated by an improved hinge having but three castings, a wrought iron rod, and three screw bolts, one of them provided with two hexagon nuts to regulate the position in one direction, while the plate to which the frame is hinged allow it to be adjusted in another required direction. By keeping the pulley in the proper position the belt raises from the shelving and touches nothing but the pulleys when in motion. The excellence of this combined mill arrangement, with the new features, is considered of great advantage, and is highly commended by all of those using them.

DOUBLE REEL BOLT.

Where more bolting surface is required than there is in a single reel bolt, we build them with two reels, in portable chests, and embodying all the advantages and improvements of our single reel portable bolts. We furnish with them the gearing, elevator, etc., complete and neatly finished. They are built in sections for convenience in shipping and handling. We build also three and four reel chests to order. We send with these bolts all that is mentioned as being furnished with the single reel bolts, except we send 48 feet of elevator belt and 36 cups. Will state that while we are willing to furnish all the irons belonging to our bolts at fair rates, with draft and specifications showing how to make them, we advise our customers to have the complete bolt made here and shipped with the other supplies of the mill. The mill and all by so doing gives better satisfaction, besides a great saving in expense. We have sent them South into Georgia; North into Northern Minnesota, and West into Western Kansas and Nebraska. For such long distances we recommend to have them taken apart and boxed as referred to under head of “Single Reel Bolt.”

We make them of the following length of reel shafts, 16, 18, 20 and 22 feet; the chest and frame supporting the gearing at head makes each bolt measure 2½ feet longer. They are all about 8 feet 7 inches high to top of elevator.

Grinding and Flouring, and Capacity.