Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Oh, patents! Menier stacked millstones

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann
US835286 - Grinding Machine

The 1906 US patent version of a second Menier mechanical engineering invention, US835286, also titled Grinding Machine, concerns two stacked millstones. One millstone (a) is concave and mounted on a shaft. The other millstone (b) is convex and mounted on a feeding shaft. Both millstones are perfectly fitted to grind one on top of the other. However, the lower concave millstone (a) of this invention oscillates independently of the rotating forces of the upper millstone (b). The upper convex millstone (b) rotates and its pressure (weight) is adjustable depending on the substance ground, and the degree of particle fineness required. The shaft of the upper convex millstone is also hollow, enabling to feed the substance for grinding to the center of both millstones. 

One of the US835286 patent drawings is included, showing a vertical section of the stacked millstones assembly with the oscillating lower millstone (a), and feeding shaft of the upper rotating millstone (b).

Reference
FR338809 (A) ― 1904-08-04  - Broyeur pour substances de toutes natures (Original French patent)