Monday, November 19, 2018

Oh, patents! Menier cone-shaped millstones

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Menier mechanical engineering patents each concern different sorts of millstones, and their improved grinding efficiency.

US788113 - Grinding Machine (Menier)
Considering the US version (in English), the first 1905 Menier mechanical engineering patent, US788113titled Grinding Machine, concerns cone-shaped millstones. One central cone-shaped millstone (a) is flanked by two inverted cone-shaped millstones (b), suited to grind fluid, semi-fluid and pasty materials. All three cone-shaped millstones are mounted on shafts. The outer millstone shafts rotate relative to the central millstone with adjustable spring-driven (c) pressure, depending on the substance and the degree of particle fineness required. The central millstone shaft also rotates on its own axis but at a much slower pace, and it is hollow. The hollow central shaft enables to feed the substances for grinding to the flat base of the central cone (a), where the substances are drawn to spiral up the inverse rotating cones. As the substances spiral up to the flat surface of the inverse cones (b), they travel repeatedly between the central (a) and side (b) cones, where they are ground. 

The single US788113 patent drawing is included above. It depicts a vertical section of the central and inverted cone-shaped millstones assembly, including the central feeding shaft and two side shafts.

Reference
FR332855 (A) ― 1903-11-10 - Broyeur à meules coniques opposées pour le broyage intensif des matières fluides, semi-fluides ou pateuses  (Original French patent)

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