Improvements in Feeders for Thrashing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1893—Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feeders for Thrashing Machines.
I, WILLIAM GRAY, of Brownrigg, North Berwick, in the County of Haddington,
North Britain, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of. this invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to apply improved feeders to thrashing
machines so as to render the feeding action more automatic and regular.
In carrying out my invention according to one modification I employ a hopper
into which the sheaves are thrown and at the bottom of which there is an endless
conveyer consisting of a number of prongs fixed on cross rods and projecting up
through slots or narrow longitudinal spaces between boards or plates. The cross
rods are fixed to endless chains which are moved by suitable gearing and the prongs
carry the grain towards the thrashing machine. An adjustable gauge plate or
board limits the opening at the inner side of the hopper so as to allow only a
certain thickness of grain to be drawn out from the hopper by the prongs; and if
the action of the prongs is not sufficient to burst the bands of the sheaves, the
bands are previously severed by hand or automatically. The conveyer may be
horizontal or inclined to suit the position of the feeding in entrance of the thrashing
machine; the conveyer being by preference arranged to drop the grain down
through a guide or hopper at the thrashing machine and the guide being arranged
to deliver the ear ends of the grain a little inclined downwards. In this inner
hopper or guide one or more bars or boards are arranged to reciprocate vertically
by cranks or eccentrics to force down any grain which may have got into a position
in which it does not descend freely.
Instead of the prongs of the conveyer being upon cross rods they may be upon a
series of separate chains and the longitudinal rows of prongs may be near enough
together to dispense with supporting plates or boards between them. As a further
means of adjusting the thickness of the grain the conveyer may be made adjustable
so that the prongs can be made to project to a less or greater extent up through
spaces between stationary boards or plates.
In some cases it will be convenient to combine with the conveyer and hopper
hereinbefore described, another conveyer for carrying the sheaves thereto, from a
greater or less distance, such other or primary conveyer being by preference within
a trough along which the sheaves are moved endways by prongs or equivalent
devices. The bands of the sheaves may be severed before the sheaves leave the
trough by rotating knives or otherwise.
Dated this First day of September 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Feeders for Thrashing Machines.
1, WILLIAM GRAY, of Brownrigg, North Berwick, in the County of Haddington,
North Britain, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to apply improved feeders to thrashing
machines so as to render the feeding action more automatic and regular.
מ.

page_text: In carrying out my invention, according to one modification I employ a primary
conveyer for carrying the sheaves from a greater or less distance, such conveyer
being, by preference, within a trough along which the sheaves are moved endways by
prongs or equivalent devices. The bands of the sheaves may be severed before the
sheaves leave the trough by rotating knives or otherwise. The sheaves pass from
the trough on to an endless conveyer consisting of a number of prongs fixed on
cross rods and projecting up through slots or narrow longitudinal spaces between
boards or plates. The cross rods are fixed to endless chains which are moved by
suitable gearing and the prongs carry the grain towards the thrashing machine.
The conveyer may be horizontal or inclined to suit the position of the feeding-in
entrance of the thrashing machine; the conveyer being by preference arranged to
drop the grain down through a guide or hopper at the thrashing machine.
Instead of the prongs of the conveyer being upon cross rods they may be upon a
series of separate chains and the longitudinal rows of prongs may be near enough
together to dispense with supporting plates on boards between them. The thickness
of grain may be regulated by making the conveyer adjustable so that the prongs
can be made to project to a less or greater extent up through the spaces between
the stationary boards or plates.
In my Provisional Specification I describe a hopper, with certain adjustable
limiting details at its inner side, as being employed at one end of the endless
conveyer; and in the hopper at the thrashing machine end I proposed to use certain
reciprocating bars or boards, but I have simplified the apparatus by dispensing with
such parts.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory.drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and showing a simple and convenient modification of
my improved feeder.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a sectional side elevation and Figure, 2, a front
elevation showing my improved feeder. In these drawings the same reference
letters are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
As shown in the drawings I employ a primary conveyer consisting of an endless
band, A, of canvas having cross strips of wood on its surface the band being
distended on and moved by rollers, B, C, held in bearings in side boards, D, the
whole forming a trough, which is supported at such a height and inclination, near
the building, E, or other structure in which the thrashing machinery is placed, that
the sheaves can be easily transferred, from a vehicle or stack at a greater or less
distance, endways on the endless band, A. The bands of the sheaves are severed
before the sheaves leave the trough by a circular knife, F, driven by a belt, G,
from a pulley, H, on one end of the shaft of the roller, C, which is actuated as
hereinafter described. The sheaves pass from the upper end of the trough on to
the lower end of an endless conveyer extending through the wall, E. The endless
conveyer consists of a number of prongs, J, fixed upon a series of separate chains, K,
and projecting up through narrow longitudinal spaces between boards or plates, L,
inclined upwards to a guide or hopper, M, at the feeding-in end of the thrashing
machine, N, a small part only of which is shown at the left-hand side of Figure, 1.
The chains, K, pass round sprocket wheels, P, on shafts, Q, R, carried in bearings
at the ends of the conveyer, the upper shaft, Q, receiving motion through a large
sprocket wheel, S, (or equivalent) from any suitable motor and a similar sprocket
wheel, T, on the lower shaft, R, transmitting motion through a pitch chain, U, to
a small sprocket wheel, V, on a short shaft, W, near the top of the trough, which
by bevil gearing, X, drives the upper roller, C, carrying the canvas band, A, and
pulley, H, hereinbefore referred to. A board or guard, Y, is fixed at the side of
the lower end of the conveyer opposite to the trough to prevent the sheaves being
thrown over that side and the sheaves on falling on to the conveyer are carried
upwards by the prongs, J, and drop down through the guide or hopper, M, a
plate, Z, in the hopper extending down sufficiently to guide the sheaves properly
on to the drum of the thrashing machine, N.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is:
1. In feeders for thrashing machines, an endless conveyer consisting of a number
of prongs fixed on cross rods or chains and projecting up through slots or spaces
between boards or plates, or placed near enough to dispense with the boards; the
conveyer being actuated by gearing so as to carry the sheaves to and drop them
down through a hopper or guide at the feeding-in part of the thrashing machine
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In feeders for thrashing machines the combination with the endless conveyer
mentioned in the preceding claim of a primary conveyer for carrying the sheaves
from a greater or less distance and along which the sheaves are moved endways and
in which the bands of the sheaves are severed by a rotating knife or otherwise
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Thiste first day of May 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.