IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman; for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THRASHING MACHINES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."-
A communication from Monsieur Lotz, of Nantes, in the Empire
of France, Machine Maker.
Sealed the 9th May 1854, and dated the 16th November 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry
Johnson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 16th November 1853.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRACH-
ING MACHINES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," being a com-
munication from Mons Lotz, of Nantes, in the Empire of France,
Machine Maker, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to a mode of applying the power directly
to the machine; secondly, to an improved system of cleaning the

page_text: grain; and, thirdly, to the mode of removing the dust thrown off during
the process of thrashing. The thrasher or beating cylinder is driven
by suitable multiplying gear, which is actuated at once from the main
horse drag lever, or from a driving pulley if steam power be employed.
Beneath the thrashing drum is fitted a perforated plate to receive the
thrashed straw and grain, the latter falling through on to an endless
travelling apron, which conducts it into a channel leading to a suitable
receptacle. Immediately beneath the grating or perforated plate
before mentioned and the thrashing drum is fitted a vibrating double
wire frame for the reception of the grain and husks which fall through
before reaching that part over the endless apron. From this double
wire frame the grain falls into the same channel or conductor, and the
husks and dust, &c. are carried off up a suitable ventilator by means of
a revolving fan for that purpose. Two oblique boards are fitted above
the thrashing drum to prevent the straw from following a wrong
direction; but in case any should be carried round, a box is placed
above to receive any grains which may be brought with it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter

page_text: during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES, AND IN APPARATUS CON-
NECTED THEREWITH," a communication from Monsieur Lotz, of Nantes,
in the Empire of France, Machine Maker, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar monthis next and immie-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the saine
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:
The said Invention relates, first, to a mode of applying the power
directly to the machine; secondly, to an improved system of cleaning
the grain; and, thirdly, to the mode of removing the dust thrown off
during the process of thrashing. The thrasher or beating cylinder is
driven by suitable multiplying gear which is actuated at once from the
main horse drag lever, or from a driving pulley if steam power be
employed. Beneath the thrashing drum may be fitted a perforated
plate to receive the thrashed straw and grain, the latter falling through
on to an endless travelling apron, which conducts it into a channel
leading to a suitable receptacle. Immediately beneath the grating or
perforated plate before mentioned and the thrashing drum may be fitted
a vibrating double wire frame for the reception of the grain and husks
which fall through before reaching that part over the endless apron.
From this double wire frame the grain falls into the same channel or
conductor, and the husks and dust, &c. are carried off up a suitable
ventilator by means of a revolving fan for that purpose, or, if desired,
the cleaning apparatus may be dispensed with in some cases. Two

page_text: oblique boards are fitted above the thrashing drum to prevent the straw
from following a wrong direction.
Figure 1, on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, represents a
side elevation of the improved thrashing machine; Figure 2, is a
corresponding vertical section of the same at right angles to Figure 1;
and Figure 3, is a longitudinal section of the same. Figure 4, is
a side elevation of a thrashing machine driven direct by means
of a steam engine carried on the framing thereof; and Figure 5,
is a corresponding end view of the same. The thrasher, as shewn
at Figures 1, 2, and 3, is driven direct from the drag levers, which
are fitted into suitable holders A, cast on the horizontal spur wheel
B. This wheel is formed with a deep collar or boss C, which works
freely round the fixed vertical stud or centre D, cast in one piece, with
a plate E, bolted to the top of the machine. On one end of the
plate E is fitted the collar bearing F, through which is passed the
upper end of the vertical shaft G, carrying the spur pinion H, which
receives its motion from the horizontal spur wheel B. The lower
portion of this shaft works in a steel footstep bearing I, which is fitted
into the cast iron bracket J, bolted to the side of the machine framing.
A bevel wheel K, keyed on to the shaft G, gears into a pinion L,
which is loose on the transverse shaft M. The boss N of this pinion
is made in the form of a ratchet wheel, the teeth of which, when the
pinion revolves in the proper direction, come in contact with and press
against the pall 0, which is carried by the disc P. This disc is keyed
on to the shaft M, and on being caused to rotate by the ratchet teeth
on the boss of the pinion L communicates a rotatory motion to the
shaft M. But should the pinion be driven accidentally in the contrary
direction, or a sudden stoppage occur in the actuating power, the
ratchet teeth will no longer press against the pall O, but will rotate
freely round the shaft without tendency to reverse the machine, which
would materially injure its working parts by the suddenness of the
strain which would arise therefrom. On the outer end of the shaft M
is keyed
a large spur wheel P', which gears into a pinion Q, on the
end of the beater shaft R. By this arrangement of gearing a high
velocity will be imparted to the revolving beater, drum, or cylinder S.

page_text: This beater may be composed of wood or iron, or of both combined, as
shewn in the Drawing, and consists of a cylinder with a series of pro-
jecting ridges or beaters T upon its surface. Beneath the beater is
fitted a curved grating U, through which the grain falls after being
thrashed out of the ears, whilst the straw (which is fed in at V along
the horizontal table W) passes off to the incline at X. An inclined
board Y, fitted above the beater, serves to prevent any straw from being
carried round with it. The arrangement for sifting the grain and
removing the dust therefrom, herein-before described, is not shewn in
the annexed Drawings, but its construction will be readily understood by
the practical man from the description herein-before given. Figure 4,
represents a side elevation of an arrangement for driving the machine
direct by steam power in place of horse power; and Figure 5, is an
end elevation of the same. In this arrangement the thrashing machine
A, and the engine and boiler B, are all carried by the same framing C,
which is fitted with a pair of running wheels D for the facility of
transport. The cylinder and valve E are cast in one piece, and bolted
to the top of the boiler. The motion is transmitted from the driving
shaft F by the bevel wheel G keyed on to the end of it, which gears
into the bevel pinion II fast on the end of the intermediate shaft I.
This shaft carries a fly wheel J, and large spur wheel K, which gears
into the smaller wheel L on the end of the beater shaft. The internal
construction of the thrashing machine is the same as that shewn in
Figures 1, 2, and 3, with the exception of the actuating gear. Should
the machine be required for breaking flax, which it is equally applicable
for, an extra shaft will require to be inserted with a feeding roller.
For this purpose suitable bearings have been left in the machine at a,
in Figures 1 and 3, whereby the necessary addition may be readily
effected.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not
confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which
I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features

page_text: of the said Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of thrashing machines,
as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of sifting the grain and removing the
dust therefrom in thrashing machines, as herein-before described.
Third, the systems or modes of driving the machines direct, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
J.
HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)