Fig. 7.
COMBINED
MILL HUSK.
[See Page 31.]
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.