Dr Peter Brabham (a Geology lecturer at Cardiff University and keen photographer) has taken some lovely photographs of Mills around the country and would like your help to put names and locations to some of them, please see his pictures on Flickr and leave a comment (and UKMill id number) if you can assist him.
NOTE :- Don't forget, you can either Print this page or Save it, then you won't have to wait for the download again !
This drawing is an image map, by clicking on a part you will be taken to
a description of that part. Due to space limitations selecting the part you want may be
difficult, so try to click by the circular mark (they are numbered although you won't be
able to see them at this scale) next to the item you want information on.
The full drawing 30cm x 42 cm is available from the Maud Foster Mill and there is also one
available for the Alford Mill
The Cap - themovable
top section of the mill. This allows the sails to be kept head into wind.
Brick Tower - the main tower (structure) of
the mill, built of brick and coated with tar for weatherproofing.
Fan tail - fan blades which catch the wind if it
comes from any angle other than the front, when it turns, driveshafts and gearing turn the
cap. The whole mechanism is designed to keep the sails head into wind.
Fly Spear - Main support of the fantail
Fly Spurn - Secondary support for the fantail
Handrail - you guessed it - a handrail to aid the
miller maintain the fantail mechanism
Striking Chain - A chain which carries the
regulating weight for the Patent sail mechanism
Striking Lever - A lever which carries the
movement of the striking rod to the striking chain
Regulating Weight - This weight is used
to keep the shutters of the Patent sails shut against the power of the wind, the heavier
the weight the more wind will be caught by the sails and therefore the more power will be
passed into the mill and grinding stones.
Striking Rod - Transmits the movement of the
Spider through the centre of the Windshaft to the striking lever.
Sail Whip - A piece of timber fitted to the
front of the Stocks (main sail beams) to carry the sail bars and shutters.
Shades - or Shutters, the flaps which when closed
form the sail, as the wind gets stronger, they open to spill excess wind so as to control
the power and speed of the mill. The force needed to open the shades is controlled through
the striking gear (7,8,10,14,13) by the Regulating weight (9)
Striking Rule - A rod passing the length of
the sail and connected to the Shades, it is connected to the Spider (14) and controlled by
the striking gear.
Spider - A complicated system of levers which
connect the Striking Rules (13)(one per sail) to the Striking Rod (8) which passes through
the Windshaft.
Sail Cross - A large metal cross (on a four
sailed mill) fitted to the front of the Windshaft (16), which carries the sail Stocks.
Windshaft - The main shaft which carries the
sails and transmits the power into the mill, it also carries the Brake Wheel (17).
Brake Wheel - This is the main Gear Wheel on
the windshaft, around it is a wooden/metal band which can be clamped down onto the outer
rim to act as a brake.
Cap Shear or Traverse Beam -
The main supporting beams of the Cap (1)
Rope Baulk - The main beam carrying the front
end bearing of the windshaft.
Headstock - Front support of the Cap (1).
Tail Beam - Rear support of the Cap (1), carries
the back bearing of the Windshaft (16).
Fan Gears - The gears which transmits the
movement of the Fantail (3) to the mechanism which turns the Cap (1).
Curb - The track on which the Cap (1) turns.
Upright Shaft - The main Drive shaft which
runs vertically down the Mill.
Crown Wheel - The Gear wheel at the top of the
Upright shaft (24) which meshes with the Brake Wheel (17).
Sack Hoist Drive - Driving mechanism for
the Sack hoist.
Sack Hoist Operating Lever -
The lever which diss/engages the sack hoist drive mechanism.
Dust Floor - The Grain is lifted (by the sack
hoist) to this floor where it is poured into the Grain bins (35) on the floor below.
Granary Floor - The floor containing the
Grain bins (35).
Millstone Floor - The floor housing the
Grinding stones (44).
Balcony / Grinding Floor - The
floor where the Mill is controlled from, the miller has access to the Balcony (49) where
he can adjust the Regulating Weight (9) and view the weather. The Ground meal is bagged on
this floor as it falls from the Stones (44) above, the miller can inspect the meal and
adjust the gap between the Stones and therefore the fineness of the meal using the
Tentering gear (39, 46).
2nd Meal Floor - Used for storage and
Auxiliary machines.
1st Meal Floor - Used for storage and
Auxiliary machines.
Ground Floor - Often used as an office and
loading bay.
Grain Bin - Storage bins for the grain.
Dog Clutch - A crude clutch which is either
engaged or not, used to disconnect the stones from the sails for maintenance.
Spur Wheel - A large Gear wheel at the base of
the Upright Shaft (24) which powers the Stones.
Stone Nut - These are small Gear wheels which
mesh with the Spur Wheel to power the stones. They can be disconnected if if the miller
does not require that stone to be grinding..
Bridge Tree - The support for the Runner Stone
(The moving stone of the pair).
Quant / Top Spindle - A shaft
(square, on overdriven stones) connecting the Runner stone to the Stone Nut.
Hopper - As the Grain falls from the Grain Bin
(35), it is held in the Hopper which then controls the flow of grain.
Hopper Legs - Supports for the Hopper
Shoe - A trough attached to the hopper which guides
the grain into the Eye of the stones.
Stone Case - A wooden box which surrounds the
Grinding Stones to keep the dust contained.
Toe-Pot - The bottom bearing of the Upright Shaft
(24).
Governor - Heavy Metal Balls fixed to arms which
spin around as the mill turns, the faster the mill turns the further out these balls fly,
this is connected by levers to the Tentering Gear which controls the gap between the
Stones. This is an automatic device to prevent the stones overheating and allows more
grain to enter the stones if the wind power is strong enough.
Balcony Doors - Doors onto the Balcony.
Meal Spout - Wooden tube to carry the Meal from
the Stones to a point where bags can be fixed to collect it.
Balcony - A balcony built around the mill just
below the lowest point passed by the sails, originally this allowed the miller to reach
the sails on high mills (as the early mills had cloth sails which have to be manually set
and unset as he weather changed). Allows for easier maintenance of the Sails.
Flour Dresser - A machine which cleans the
flour to give a higher grade of flour.
Mixing Machine - For mixing different meal,
produced on different stones to get the required consistency / mix required by the baker.
Support Post - Helps to support the floor
above.
Basement - An air gap under the floor to keep the
mill dry.
