
02/23/2025
Power Source and Transmission:
* Overshot Waterwheel: This is the primary power source. Water is channeled from a higher level (likely a mill race or dammed stream) onto the top of the wheel. The weight of the water in the buckets (or "troughs") causes the wheel to rotate. This is an efficient design, especially in areas with smaller streams or lower water volume.
* Shaft: The rotating waterwheel is connected to a horizontal shaft (also called the axle or arbor). This shaft transmits the rotational force from the waterwheel to the millstones.
* Gears (Implied): While not explicitly visible in this simplified diagram, it's highly probable that there would be a gearing system (likely gears or a lantern gear and pinion) connecting the waterwheel shaft to the millstone shaft. Gears would be essential to adjust the speed and torque (rotational force) of the millstones for optimal grinding.
Grain Processing Machinery:
* Grain Storage Bin: This is where the unground grain (typically wheat, corn, or other cereal) is stored before milling.
* Chute to Hopper: Grain is fed from the storage bin down a chute (a sloping channel) to the hopper.
* Hopper: The hopper is a funnel-shaped container that regulates the flow of grain into the millstones. It ensures a consistent and controlled feed.
* Millstones: These are the heart of the milling process. They consist of two large, circular stones: a stationary "bed stone" and a rotating "runner stone." The runner stone is driven by the waterwheel via the shaft and gearing. Grain is fed between the stones, and the grinding action crushes the kernels, producing flour. The diagram shows the ground flour exiting around the circumference of the stones.
* Flume: The flume is the channel that carries water away after it has flowed over the waterwheel.
Additional Elements:
* Elevator: This appears to be a rudimentary bucket elevator. It would have been used to lift grain from a lower level to the storage bin, likely powered by the waterwheel system. This saved manual labor.
* Grain Scale: This likely refers to a weighing device used to measure the amount of grain being processed.
* Grain Receiving Bin: This would be a temporary storage for incoming grain before it is elevated to the main storage bin.
* Millstone "Hull": This likely refers to the casing or enclosure around the millstones, designed to contain the flour and prevent excessive dust.
* Force Wheel (or Flywheel): This is a heavy wheel attached to the shaft, designed to regulate the speed of the millstones and provide momentum, ensuring smooth operation.
Overall Process:
The diagram illustrates a continuous flow process:
1. Water flows onto the overshot waterwheel, causing it to rotate.
2. The rotational force is transferred via the shaft and gears to the runner millstone.
3. Grain from the storage bin flows down to the hopper, regulating the feed between the millstones.
4. The turning runner stone grinds the grain against the stationary bed stone, producing flour.
5. The flour exits the millstones and is collected.
6. The water flows away through the flume.
7. Grain is brought into the mill and likely lifted by the elevator to the storage bin, ready to start the process again.
Limitations of the Diagram:
It is important to remember that this is a simplified representation. A real mill would likely have more complex gearing, control mechanisms, and additional processing stages (e.g., bolting or sifting the flour). However, it provides a good overview of the basic principles of how a water-powered grist mill functions.
This image is a valuable insight into historical technology and the ingenuity of early milling processes. It demonstrates the efficient use of renewable energy (water power) to perform essential tasks like grinding grain for food production.