Patent GB-477837-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in threshing apparatus
IPC: A01D41/00
Filed: 1936-07-01
Abstract: 477,837. Harvesting - machines. ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING CO. July 1, 1936, No. 18254. Convention date, July 1, 1935. [Classes 6 (iii) and 58] A harvesting - machine having crop cutting means, a thrashing device of the same length as, and parallel to, the cutting means, and separating or dressing apparatus in which the material from the thrashing device is moved transversely of the machine towards an outlet, has the separating or dressing apparatus provided with means for causing material fed into it from the thrashing device to be directed to the end of the apparatus remote from the discharge end. A framework supported by a steel tube 10 mounted on the wheels 11 carries the draw-bar support 12 and power transmission shaft 206, the housing 13 for the thrashing device from which the frame 14 for the cutting means projects forwardly and the dressing apparatus housing 15 with the storage tank 16 for the cleaned grain. The frame 14 is of trough-like form with side walls 17 fitting closely within the side walls 19 of the housing 13 on which the frame 14 is pivoted for vertical adjustment. This adjustment is accomplished by a rod 21 attached to a bell-crank 24, 26 actuated through a rod 27 by a lever 28. The knife bar 31 is driven from a triangular plate 32, a shield 34 being provided to cover the actuating mechanism. The shield 34 and the corresponding divider at the other end of the cutter bar are provided with curved guard rings 36. A reel, provided with arms 57 having paddles 58 pivoted thereon, directs the grain to the knife. The paddles can swing forwardly or rearwardly under the action of their own weight through an angle of about thirty degrees. The bearing housings of the wheel may be adjusted vertically and horizontally relatively to the cutter bar. Curtains 73, which may be partially or altogether rolled up, may be attached to the inner edges of the paddles. The cut grain is carried by a conveyer 38, provided with cross-bars to catch loose grain, towards the thrashing device which is provided with a feeding conveyer 75. The concave housing 87 has a throat controlled by an adjustable ledger plate 91 having a working surface of rubber or similar material secured thereto. Bars or strips 97, preferably faced with or comprised of rubber, project from the concave and co-operate with somewhat similar bars on a beater drum 81 : the shaft 82 of this drum is adjustable towards and from the concave. The thrashed material is discharged through an aperture 101 extending the whole length of the cylinder into the housing 15 of the separator or dressing apparatus. This housing has, depending from its roof, one or more guiding baffles 102 that curve towards the front end of the dressing chamber and that gradually increase in depth and width towards the discharge end of the chamber. The material ejected from the thrashing device strikes these baffles and is directed to the forward end of the chamber so that the full length of the dressing chamber is utilized. Another baffle 102a at the forward end of the chamber directs downwards on to the shaking devices 103. This end of the chamber is hinged or removable to permit inspection of the chamber. The shaking devices comprise two series of transverse racked slats 104, 105, the slats of one series alternating with those of the other and those of one series being adjustable towards or even into contact with those of the other. The frame carrying the slats is hung by links 112 from the forward end of the chamber and is carried by shaking levers 113 near the' other end. Auxiliary shaking racks 120, raised above the racks 104, 105 and provided with tail portions 118 pivoted so as to have lateral movement, assist in feeding and loosening the material in the chamber. The straw passes over the end of the racks and is discharged into the field while the thrashed grain, with chaff, fall on to the bottom plate 132 of the chamber and on to a plate 134 near the discharge end of the chamber. A grain drag 135 sweeps the grain from the plate 134 on to the rear edge of the bottom plate of the chamber and also moves the grain from the forward end of the chamber along this plate to a discharge pan 140 from which it falls to a cleaning device 141. The cleaning device comprises a number of superposed slightly inclined screens 145 hung by links 147 and rocked by connections to the levers 113. The grain passes through these screens to the trough 152 of a screw conveyer 153 being subjected as it passes between the screens to an air blast from a fan 156, this blast being controlled by complementary valves 162. Large particles of straw are blown from the top screen over a grid 166 to a discharge aperture, heavy partly thrashed or unthrashed heads dropping through the grid to a screw conveyer 168 that carries them, with the tailings from the lower screens, to an elevator 172 feeding a secondary cleaning device consisting of a shaking screen 178 from which the troughs proceed to the bottom plate 132 of the dressing chamber, the tailings being again directed through the thrashing mechanism. The grain from the conveyer 153 passes to the well of an elevator 189 whence it is lifted to a shoot leading to the storage bin or tank 16. For discharging the bin, a portion of the base of the bin or tank above the conveyer 153 is detachable and after detaching this portion the grain is allowed to flow into the conveyer and is carried to the elevator 189. The shoot of the elevator is adjusted so that the grain is discharged into a wagon. Power for driving the various devices is obtained from the tractor through a power shaft with longitudinally adjustable sections 206, 207, the forward section 206 being connected to the power take-off shaft by a double universal joint. The connection between the sections 206, 207 is in the form of a combined slip clutch and telescopic connection. Adjustment of the drive of different shafts may be obtained by fitting V-groove pulleys with means for adjusting the width between the side walls of the belt grooves.