The patentees observe in their specification, that they consider the stickiness of the rice to be owing to the humidity of the climate of this country, or to a certain dampness which it acquires in its voyage, as the difficulty they expe rience has not been noticed in the rice mills employed in the Carolinas and elsewhere.
In the month following the date of the last-mentioned patent, Mr. Melvil Wilson, a merchant of London, acting as an agent to an American correspon dent, took out a patent for an improvement in husking rice, (which had pre viously been introduced into the United States,) in which the operation was conducted simply by the collision of the grains of paddy against each other.
The apparatus consists of a long hollow cylinder, of metal or wood ; around the interior surface of which are fixed, at equal distances, and in parallel circles, a series of angular bars, projecting towards the centre or axis of the cylinder this cylinder revolves loosely on a central shaft, whichthrough it, and is provided with a similar number of bars, pointing radially the centre to the circumference, and passing alternately between the bars in the cylinder, so as to leave an inch free space between them. Thus disposed, the cylinder is placed in an inclined position; the rice is allowed to enter it at the top, while the cylinder is made to revolve with a "slow motion" in one direction, the axis moving at the same time at " a high speed," and in a contrary direction; consequently, as the rice passes through the cylinder, the grain will be consi derably agitated and turned about ; and by that means the husks will, it is said, be rubbed off before passing at the lower end of the cylinder.
To render the construction of the interior of the cylinder perfectly under stood, we have inserted the annexed diagrams.
Fig. 1 represents a plan of the cap of the cylinder, not fixed thereto, nor to the axis, which passes through it, but to the framing which supports the hopper; it serves, therefore, to guide the grain into the cylinder, and to keep out dirt and other adventitious substances.
Fig. 2 is called, in the specification, "a socket wheel ;" it is fixed directly under the cap to the cylinder, and the axis passes through the socket, which serves, therefore, as a bearing for both the axis and the cylinder, permit ting them to revolve freely in contrary directions. For the convenience of removal, this wheel is made to divide into two parts, as shown, which are bolted toge ther when in use.
Fig. 3 gives a transverse section of the cylinder and axis, each of which being shown as provided with four bars, that number being fixed in each parallel circle, and alternately as respects those on the cylinder, and those on the axis. This section likewise shows ;he cylinder as made of wood (with hoops round it), and that it is composed of eight distinct pieces or segments ; on each of the eight segments is fixed a longitudinal row of similar bars, though only four (the number in one circle,) are brought into view, to prevent oonfusion.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of one of the before mentioned bars, showing that they are of the figure of a quadrangular prism, that shape being preferred by the patentee for the purpose in question.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the bottom of the cylinder ; it is formed in part like the socket wheel, described in Fig. 2, but the spaces between the spokes are closed; in each of these compartments a large aperture is made for the egression of the grain, which is regulated at pleasure, by sliding doors to each, as represented.
The cylinder may be worked in either a vertical, an inclined, or a hori zontal position ; and with that view the sketches attached to the specification are designed to exhibit a method of altering the position at pleasure : the upper extremity of the axis of motion appears to be resting on a pivot beam; and to the lower extremity is a regulating screw, by which that end may be elevated or depressed, at pleasure. The question of the best position of the cylinder is however, decided by the patentee hitnself, who prefer it at an inclination of about 450 ; we have accordingly thus placed it in our drawing, .with the omission of the apparatus for altering its position.
At Pg. 6, the machine is shown complete. a a, is the husking cylinder 6 the axis, turning in plummer blocks at c c; on the axis b is fixed a slightly pinion d ; at e is a beveled wheel, and at f a faced wheel. Motion being given to the winch g, by manual force, or other power, a " high speed " is thereby communicated to the shaft in one direction ; a " slow motion ' to the cylinder in a contrary direction ; during which the rice, from the hopper Is, (shown in section,) is continually pounng into the top of the cylinder, and as fast as it is husked, running out at the bottom L To separate the chaff, a fan wheel may be placed at k, which may be actuated by a band passing mund the cylinder, or by any other convenient means.
Mr. Wilson took out a second patent in 1830 for " an improved method of preparing and cleansing paddy er rough rice," which may be briefly described as consisting of a series of mortars with solid bottoms and sieve rider; the latter being made of wire gauze, or perforated metal plates, strengthened by ribs of strong wire. These mortars are placed in a row, and their contents operated upon by a series of pestles suspended to a revolving crank shaft above, the pestle rods being guided in their action by a suitable frame underneath, sliding between upright standards which support the crank shaft. The intention of the "sieve-sides" to the mortars is, that the rice may pass through as soon as it is cleaned, so as not to be heated by the subsequent operation of the pestles.
We shall mention one more patent, which was recently granted to Mr. Shiels, of Liverpool, for the same object. Instead of a pair of millstones for the first operation of shelling, the specification of this patentee directs the employment of one mill-atone, and what we will take leave to call one mill-wood (of precisely similar figure to the atone), and between these two substances the paddy is to be milled in the same manner as between two stones.. The second operation of taking off the thin pellicle is to be performed by rubbing the grain between the flat surfaces of two wooden runners, which are covered with sheep skin with the wool on. But Mr. Shiers mode of applying the sheepskins is different to Mr. Ewbank's, before described; the wool being placed by Mr. Shiel next to the surface of the runners, so that the rice is operated upon by the flesh sides of the skins, and owing to the springiness of the wool underneath, the grain receives an elastic pressure, which, in effect, is a very close approximation to the primitive, we may almost say natural, process of rubbing it between the palms of the hands.