Improvements in threshing machines
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
I, CHARLES FRANKLIN GODDARD, of Room 1007 Opera House Block, City of
Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, one of the States of the United
States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
Improvements in threshing machines, and in what manner the same is operated,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to threshing machines and engines therefor, or combined
threshing machines and engines, and has particular reference to improvements in
such devices whereby a light and portable engine may be combined with a threshing
machine and also the motor or power supplying devices for the engine, the whole
being supported on one and the same truck or carriage, so that there may be self-
contained in the entire device means for hauling or moving the entire device from
place to place and also for actuating the operating mechanism of the thresher. My
invention further consists in certain new and useful improvements whereby the power
transmission, the reversing, stopping and starting and setting, leveling or adjusting
of the machine may be readily accomplished.
Figure 3 is a tront view;
Figure 4 is a detailed view of the fluid supplying devices for the gas engine;
Figure 5 is a detailed view of a modification in the power transmitting device;
Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sections of two varieties of the traction power
transmitting devices;
Figures 8 and 9 are side views of the traction power transmitting device in two
positions.
It will, of course, be understood that some of the parts are omitted where not
necessary to illustrate the operation of the remainder, and certain minor parts are
omitted when they obstruct the view. It has not seemed necessary to illustrate all
the details of the threshing machine proper, since such details greatly vary and my
invention is applicable practically to all kinds of such threshers.
Like parts are indicated by the same letters in all the figures.
AA are the rear supporting wheels on the axle B which is pivotally connected
at B' with the frame of the thresher in any desired manner.
B is a short shaft
at the forward end of the machine normally at right angles to a line from the
middle of such shaft to the middle of the axle B. B³ B3 are chains or wire
rope or the like leading from the opposite ends of the axle B to the short shaft B²
about which they are oppositely wound and to which their ends are secured. On
the other end of the shaft B2 is the bevel gear B' engaging the worm B³ on the
vertical rod B which is controlled by the hand-wheel B'. The particular method
of connecting these several parts is not material, except that it should be such that
by turning the hand-wheel B' in either direction the axle B may be turned in the
corresponding direction on its pivot B' so as to vary the direction of the motion
of the thresher. Moreover, by changing the position of the axle B when the machine
is at rest, a certain amount of protection is secured against the tendency of the
machine to rock longitudinally.
C indicates the lower supporting frame of the thresher proper, and may be
constructed in any desired manner. Laterally projecting from one side of the

page_text: forward end thereof is the frame C³ consisting of suitable angle bars, for example,
and carrying the standards C2 C2, the whole together constituting a laterally
projecting frame within which the traction wheel D is journalled on the end of the
axle D', on the opposite end of which is journalled the forward supporting
wheel D² on the short crank D³ on such end of the axle. This axle is journalled
50 as to rotate on the frame of the machine, and the small supporting wheel D³ is
journaled on the axle. Toward the outer end of the crank is secured one end of
the expansion spring D₁, the other end being fastened to the frame, whereby the
spring tends to force the crank downwardly and press the wheel D² toward the
ground. D is a hand lever secured to such axle, preferably on the side near
the traction wheel, and it is provided with a handle D' and thumb lever D7
and lock rod DB and a rack arc D' to which such lock bar is opposed so that
the lever may be moved to turn the axle or may be locked in any desired
position.
Supported upon the standard C² and projecting from the side of the thresher
is the bed plate or frame E, upon which the driving portions of the engine are
located. Journalled in the hangers E' E' depending from this bed plate is the
short shaft F, upon which is journalled one end of the pivot block F', the other
end of which carries the short shaft F. On the shaft F is secured the gear F³
which may be either an internal gear as shown in Fig. 6, or an external gear as
shown in Fig. 7. This shaft also carries the pinion F which is adapted to engage
the gear F on the traction wheel. The short shaft F2 carries at one end the
pinion F adapted to engage the gear Fs, and at the other the friction wheel or
pulley Rigidly secured to the pivot block preferably as indicated between
the shafts F and F, is the arm G which carries the thumb lever Gassociated
with the locking bar G which is adapted to be received into the teeth on the arc
shaped rack G, whereby the arm and therefore the pivot block may be locked in
any desired position.
G is the engine shaft which is suitably journalled and driven in the usual
manner from the piston rods G G of the engine. This shaft at one end carries
the friction wheel or pulley G. G' is a belt which surrounds the pulleys or
friction wheels Go and F, and when stretched by their separation transmits
power from one to the other. On the opposite end of the shaft G₁ is the gear
wheel H meshing with the pinion H' on the end of the threshing machine cylinder
shaft H. The threshing cylinder is included within the casing H³ in the forward
part of the threshing machine proper in the usual manner. In Fig. 5 I have shown
a modification of these parts which I will now describe.
H is a friction wheel or pulley on the engine shaft G and which is substituted
for the gear wheel H. In like manner the pulley or friction wheel H is substituted
on the cylinder shaft H2 for the pinion H. His an elbow crank lever pivoted
on the shaft H and carrying at the extremity of its short end the short shaft H'
upon which is the friction or pulley wheel H. H' is a belt which travels in the
manner indicated about the three friction wheels or pulleys. The diameter and
relation of the three wheels is such that when the friction wheel or pulley H is
forced in between the other two, it tends to cramp or grip the belt against the two
wheels, also to tighten the belt about them, also to support them on their journals
against the action of the tightened belt. The long end of the lever He would be
developed into a handle and provided with the usual locking device for example, such
as is associated with the handle G and D. JJ are the engine cylinders having the
valve boxes and pipes J J. K is the tank or carbureter containing the gasoline.
L is the muffler, M the water tank. These three tanks are secured to the frame of
the thresher and over the axle toward the forward end of the machine as indicated.
The water tank is connected by the pipes M' M³ with the cylinders of the gas
engine in the proper and usual manner. The carbureter is connected with the
valve cases by means of the pipe K' and the muffler is connected with the exhaust
by means of the pipe L'.
A large number of the parts illustrated I have not lettered or specifically

page_text: described because they have to do with the operation of the thresher or separator
or engine proper. My invention, however, relates more particularly to the other
parts such as I have fully described. It is of course understood that there may be
great variation in the construction of these several features which I have illustrated
and described, and some of them may be omitted with or without substitution of
other parts, without perhaps materially affecting the operation of the remaining
features. Moreover, in actual experience it will be necessary to vary considerably
all the general relations and proportions of the several parts to adapt my improve-
ments to the various kinds of separators. I do not therefore wish to be limited to
the precise form of construction shown, nor to the use of all of the elements
together.
The use and operation of my invention are as follows:
I will first have reference to the means for guiding and leveling or setting the
device. It will be observed that I have provided a rear pivoted axle with a
forward controlling mechanism, including a hand wheel, and by the operation of
that hand wheel the device may be guided or directed in its progress. With
separators generally and particularly with separators of this class, and when my
improvements are applied to them, it is important that there should be means for
bringing the forward end of the machine to a level; and this I have accom-
plished by means of the crank axle and controlling devices. The axle is
normally in such position that the supporting wheel, which is smaller in
diameter than the traction wheel, is on a level with the traction wheel so that
the machine at its forward end would rest level if the two wheels were upon a
level surface. In this condition the machine is ready for transportation. The
irregularities in the road are taken up more or less by the action of the spring
associated with the crank on the end of the axle. If now the machine is brought
to rest in a position for use and it is found that the front end of the machine is
not level instead of resorting to the old expedient of digging away from under one
wheel and blocking up the other, I may simply by operating the handle D De
turn the axle so as to raise or lower the smaller wheel thereof. Thus the forward
end of the machine may be made to accommodate itself to irregularities of surface,
and the difficulties in setting the machine heretofore encountered, are largely
avoided.
It is desirable in machines of this character to have means whereby the power
from the engine may be readily transmitted to the traction wheel to propel the
thresher, or may be taken from the traction wheel to bring the thresher to rest.
It is also evident that it would be necessary to provide means whereby this power
may be applied to rotate the traction wheel in either direction. Now these
results have accomplished by means of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 8
and 9. The controlling arm G when moved in one or the other direction, will
evidently move the shaft F in an are about the shaft F, and thus vary the distance
between the shafts G and F, or in other words, vary the distance between the
centers of the friction wheels or pulleys G F7. This is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9,
the wheels being shown in contact in Fig. 8 and separated in Fig. 9. When the
wheels are brought together as indicated in Fig. 8, the belt G will plainly be
slackened so as not to serve as a power transmitting device; but the two friction
wheels will be brought together so that from the wheel G which is driven from the
engine shaft, motion will be communicated to the wheel F7 as indicated by the
arrow. When the two wheels are separated as indicated in Fig. 9 far enough to
tighten the belt, the power will be communicated from the pulley G to the
pulley F, and thus the latter will be driven in the direction of the arrow and in a
direction opposite to that produced when the device is used as illustrated in Fig. 8.
Moreover, there is an intermediate position in which the two wheels operate neither
as pulleys nor friction wheels, and in this position no power is transmitted. Assuming
now that as indicated, motion can be imparted in either direction to the wheel F',
or that it can be brought to rest, by reference to Figs. 6 and 7 we will see how the
traction wheel is controlled.

page_text: The rotation of the wheel F' rotates the axle F and with it the gear F. This
gear or pinion engages the gear F3 and thus drives the shaft F; but this shaft has
in its inner end the pinion F which engages the gear F on the traction wheel, and
thus puts the latter in motion. Plainly, therefore, by operating the handle G the
traction wheel may be disconnected from the engine shaft or may be driven
therefrom in either direction.
Moreover, the transmission takes place by frictional contact rather than by gears.
This frictional contact method of transmission is highly important in many devices
such as I have here suggested, and largely because of the high rate of speed at
which the engine commonly runs. This is particularly important with gas engines
and the like, where there is no means for reversing, the engine running continually
in the same direction.
I have indicated in Fig. 1 and elsewhere the carbureter, muffler and water tank
of an ordinary gas engine outfit, and they are properly connected with the engine,
as for example in this case, the water tank by means of two pipes, the carbureter
by means of one pipe with the valves of the engine, and the inuffler by means of
one pipe with the exhaust of the engine. By this means the device is purely and
entirely self-contained. I have combined and mounted upon a single carriage
truck or frame the separator of any desired character, an engine of any such
character as may be practicable, the power supplying devices or means for said
engine, and operating connections from the engine to the mechanism of the thresher
and also from the engine to the traction or driving mechanism of the entire device.
By this means no tender or associated device is required. The device is self-
contained, requires but a single operator to move it from place to place or to
operate it. and obviates the necessity of transporting fuel, water and the like in any
considerable quantities, such for example as would be necessary in the case of an
attempt to use a steam engine.
It will also be observed that the engine and power supplying devices which I
employ are of such nature that they may be associated together in close proximity
to the thresher and grain to be worked upon. This would not be the case with
engines operated from steam boilers and the like.
I find that with engines operating at a high rate of speed, as for example the gas
engine which I have suggested here as one form of engine to be used, it is
desirable frequently to have a frictional connection with the cylinder and hence
the mechanism of Fig. 5. By this mechanism the power is transmitted from
the engine shaft to the cylinder shaft by means of the belt, and since this belt
must be short and tight, and since there would be a great tendency to bend or
throw the parts out of position as a result of such tight belt, I have devised
this improvement wherein I employ the intermediate friction wheel or pulley so
situated and of such size that when forced between the other two it tightens
the belt about them, cramps the belt upon their surface so as to prevent slipping
and at the same time furnishes a support for their peripheries and between them
so as to prevent the bending or displacement of the shafts incident ordinarily
to tight belts. This also obviates the dangers of excessive friction in the shafts
and bearings which might result from a tight belt as ordinarily used.
With a
frictional contact, preferably substantially such as I have described, it is evident
that in the event of the cylinder being choked, the belts or frictional engaging
parts might slip sufficient to avoid the injury which otherwise might result to
the operating parts of the machine.
The power transmitting device illustrated in Fig. 5 and the mechanism illustrated
in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, it is obvious are capable of use in devices of this general
character where the other devices which go to make up the complete construction
or some of them are omitted and many of them greatly changed. Indeed, either of
these devices would be capable, without material modification, of use in any
mechanism where the transmission of power in this general manner is desired,
and where in the application of power from one mechanism to another it is
important to control the application so as to reverse or stop-the driven part,

page_text: and also where it is desirable to gradually vary the amount of the power
transmitted.
It will be seen by referring to the drawings that the engine is so positioned
that when operating, its thrust is substantially in a vertical line through the axis of
the traction wheel. It will also be noted that since the cylinder of the threshing
machine consists of a comparatively heavy body, it will act as a fly-wheel to the
engine when such engine is in operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination of a threshing machine proper with a traction wheel at
one end of one axle and a driving engine placed substantially over such traction
wheel.
2. The combination of a threshing machine proper with an engine mounted on
the frame thereof and adapted to drive the operating mechanism of the thresher
in combination with a traction wheel, the line of motion of such engine being
substantially vertically through the axis of such traction wheel.
3. The combination of a threshing machine proper having a cylinder with a
supporting frame, having a traction wheel and an engine supported upon said
frame connected with the cylinder so that the latter acts as a fly-wheel and
adapted to be connected to the traction wheel so as to rotate the same to propel
the entire machine.
4. The combination of a threshing machine proper, with an engine and traction
wheel at one end thereof, the engine operating so that its thrust is substantially
in a vertical line through the axis of the traction wheel, and an axle with supporting
wheels pivoted at the other end so that one axle being placed at an angle to the
other and the thrust of the engine being in a vertical direction the necessity of
anchoring the machine is largely obviated.
5. In a threshing machine the combination of the separator with a driving engine
and means for connecting the same, consisting substantially of friction wheels or
pulleys with a driving belt, and an intermediate cramping friction wheel or pulley
of such diameter as when the centres of the three wheels are in nearly the same line
the belt will be tightly gripped to the surface of the wheels.
6. In a threshing machine the combination of the separator with a supporting
traction wheel, a driving engine, and a power transmitting device from the engine
to the traction wheel embracing two friction wheels or pulleys, to one of which the
power is transmitted from the other either by frictional contact of the two wheels
or by a belt about the two wheels.
7. A self-contained threshing machine substantially as shown and described and
for the purposes indicated.