IMPROVEMENTS IN OR PERTAINING TO THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Marshall, of Gainsborough, in the County of
Lincoln, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR PERTAINING TO
THRASHING MACHINES."
Sealed the 10th January 1879, and dated the 2nd November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Marshall at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd November 1878.
*
JAMES MARSHALL, of Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln, Engineer. 'IM-
PROVEMENTS IN OR PERTAINING TO THRASHING MACHINES.
This Invention of improvements in or pertaining to thrashing machines has for
object to guard the drums of thrashing machines so as to prevent accidents to
attendants or others. In one arrangement of apparatus for this purpose I provide
the mouth of the drum chamber with a lid able to move on a suitable joint or
hinges. This lid has attached to it slots with which are connected the outer ends of
levers fixed on a rocking shaft arranged transversely of the machine. The feed
board is at the end farther from the mouth of the drum chamber, jointed to and
The other end of
supported by links jointed at their other ends to a lower board.
the feed board is supported by the levers connected with the lid as already men-
tioned. On the rocking shaft is a fast arm or part which when the shaft is partially
rotated forces back and passes the curved or inclined end of a spring catch, bolt, or
sliding part. When the parts are in the open position this arm on the rocking
shaft rests against the spring catch, bolt, or sliding part, but in the event of undue
pressure coming upon the feeding board, as for instance, should anyone fall on it,
the said board in descending will cause the rocking shaft to partially rotate so that
its said arm will move back and pass the catch, bolt, or sliding part, the outer ends
of the levers fixed on the rocking shart will move down with the lid, and it will
close over the mouth of the drum chamber. In connection with this arrangement I
employ an independent hood able to turn on a suitable joint or hinges, and provided
at the sides of the machine with curved plates or guards sliding in grooves in the

page_text: top of the machine. This hood is held in an open position by a rod or bar working
on an independent hinge or joint and having jointed to its free ends a notched plate
or rack, operating in connection with a spring catch or bolt, so that the hood may
be adjusted to any required angle and will be so held. But on undue pressure
coming against the hood the notched plate or rack will force-back-the-catch or bolt,
-and-the-hood-will.close over the feed board and lid.
Another arrangement is designed to facilitate feeding the machine as well as to
guard-against-accidents. In this arrangement a revolving shaft is fitted with
centres and cased up with wood in a square form with lips at each corner to draw
in the grain. The shaft-is driven from any convenient part of the machine by
means of a belt passing over a pulley. Over the shaft is arranged the feed board
which works on a joint or hinges and is supported in feeding position by a spring.
Below the feed board is a lever, one end-of-which rests against or is connected with
the under side of the feed board; the other or outer end of this lever is forked.
The fork embraces a clutch lever. Any undue weight coming upon the feed board
will depress it, moving down the inner end of the lever, and raising the forked or
outer end thereof so as to clear the clutch lever, which will then by a spring be
moved so as to throw the cased up shaft out of gear with the driving pulley, thereby
stopping the motion of same.
The hood is provided with a hinged or jointed lip or extension and itself works
on an independent joint or hinges. To the hood are hinged or jointed bars or arms
formed with slots of a shape somewhat resembling the letter L. These slots receive
pins or parts projecting from or connected with the feed board.
While there is no undue pressure on the feed board its pins or projections will
(when the feed board and hood are in the open position) rest in the shorter branches
of the slots, thus supporting the hood in the open position. In the event of undue
pressure on the feed board causing it to descend the pins will move out of the
shorter branches of the slots, allowing the bars or arms to move in the direction of
their length, so that the hood will fall over the feeding apparatus and close the
entrance to the drum chamber.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Marshall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd May 1879.
JAMES MARSHALL, of Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln, Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN OR PERTAINING TO THRASHING MACHINES."
"
IM-
This Invention of improvements in or pertaining to thrashing machines has for
object to guard the drums of thrashing machines so as to prevent accidents to
attendants or others. In one arrangement of apparatus for this purpose I provide
the mouth of the drum chamber with a lid able to move on a suitable joint or hinges,
but other equivalent means for closing the aperture may be employed so long as
the closing instrument is released by pressure on or against the feed board, and acts
in the direction. hereinafter described is essential, that is to say, in the direction
from the feed board; the lid employed in the arrangement above referred to has
attached to it slots with which are connected the outer ends of levers fixed on a
rocking shaft arranged transversely of the machine. The feed board is at the end
farther from the mouth of the drum chamber, jointed to and supported by links
jointed at their outer ends to a lower board. The other end of the feed board is
supported by the levers connected with the lid as already mentioned. On the
rocking shaft is a fast arm or part which when the shaft is partially rotated forces
back and passes the curved or inclined end of a spring catch, bolt, or sliding part.
When the parts are in the open position this arm on the rocking shaft rests against
the spring catch, bolt, or sliding part, but in the event of undue pressure coming
upon the feeding board, as for instance, should anyone fall on it, the said board in
descending will cause the rocking shaft to partially rotate so that its said arm will
move back and pass the catch, bolt, or sliding part, the outer ends of the levers
fixed on the rocking shaft will move down with the lid, and it will close over the
mouth of the drum chamber. In connection with this arrangement I employ an
independent hood able to turn on a suitable joint or hinges, and provided at the
sides of the machine with curved plates or guards sliding in grooves in the top of
the machine. This hood is held in an open position by a rod or bar working on an
independent hinge or joint, and having jointed to its free end a notched plate or
rack operating in connection with a spring catch or bolt, so that the hood may be
adjusted to any required angle and will be so held. But on undue pressure coming
against the hood the notched plate or rack will force back the catch or bolt and the
hood will close over the feed board and lid.
The arrangement of the apparatus above described is illustrated in Figs. and II.
of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. I. showing in longitudinal vertical section part
of a thrashing machine with this part of my Invention applied to it, and Fig. II.
being a plan view.
It is, however, obvious that the details of the apparatus may be varied without
substantially altering the character of my improved arrangement, the principal
features in which consist in the use of a closing lid which is released by pressure
against the feed board, the pressure releasing a catch and causing the lid to move
in a direction from the feed board, and so close the drum mouth in a manner which
obviates as far as possible danger arising from an attendant falling upon or allowing
any limb or other part of his body to come in contact with the feed board.
In Fig. I. 1 is the mouth of the drum chamber; 2, the lid, able to move on a
suitable joint or hinges 3 at the feed board side of the mouth; 4 are plates attached
to the lid and each formed with a slot. These slots receive projections fixed on the
outer ends of levers 5, keyed or fixed on a rocking shaft or spindle 6 extending
across the machine, and the outer ends of which are carried in two eyes fastened to
the inclined board 7 which forms a continuation of the board 8; 9 is the feed board,
to the under side of which are attached two bent forgings 10 with eyes at each end;
11 are links jointed at their upper ends to the forgings 10 as at 12, and at their
lower ends to an eye fastened to the lower board 8 as at 13.

page_text: -
The opposite ends of the forgings 10 are connected at 14 to the levers 5; 15 is
an arm fastened on the shaft or spindle 6. The outer end of this arm acts upon a
spring catch 10 sliding lengthwise of the inclined board 7 through a catch box 17
in which is a spiral-spring. Any undue weight or pressure on the feed board
depresses it, and releases the catch 16, and thereupon the lid-2-falls-forward.in_a
direction from the said feed board, and closes the drum mouth 1; 18 is the hood,
which is quite an independent arrangement consisting of a board hinged at 19; 20
is a rod or bar working on an independent hinge or joint 21 behind the hood or
-board, and having jointed to its free end a notched plate or rack 22, which is encased
in a rectangular fixing as shewn; 23 is a catch bolt, pressed towards the notched
plate 22 by a spiral spring, The notched plate or rack 22 receives the catch bolt
23 which has a T-shaped head to fit the slots of the notched plate or rack. Each
end of the hood 18 is fitted with a curved plate or guard 24 passing through a slot
or slit (not shewn) in the top of the machine; these plates prevent attendants or
others getting their legs in at the ends of the drum.
In the Drawings the dotted lines thus
-
-
represent the hood and
drum mouth lid open for work, the full lines represent them closed.
Figs. III. and IV. shew a modification wherein short pins 6* are substituted for
the rocking shaft or spindle 6 for carrying the levers 5, the arın 15, spring catch 16,
and catch box 17 being dispensed with.
Each of the two slotted plates 4 attached to the lid 2 is in this arrangement made
with a dip or notch 4* at the outer end of the slot. These notches hold the lid 2
until undue pressure comes upon the feed board 9, when the pins at the ends of the
levers 5 are forced out of the notches 4*, and thus throw the lid 2 forward in a
direction from the said feed board.
The hood 18 is fitted with an additional curved board 18* jointed to the top edge
of the hood, and made adjustable by means of a hooked rod or cop 25 jointed at its
lower extremity (27) to the hood, and at its other extremity hooking into a plate
26 fixed under the curved board 18*.
Another arrangement is designed to facilitate feeding the machine as well as to
guard against accidents. In this arrangement shewn in Figs. V. and VI. a revolving
shaft 28 is fitted with centres 29 and cased up with wood 30 in a square form with
lips 31 at each corner to draw in the grain. The shaft 28 is driven from any con-
venient part of the machine by means of a belt passing over a pulley 29*. Over
the shaft is arranged the feed board 32 which works on a joint or hinges 33, and is
supported in feeding position by a spring 34. Below the feed board 32 is a lever
35, one end of which rests against or is connected with the under side of the feed
board 32, the other or outer end of this lever is forked at 35*. The fork einbraces
a clutch lever 36. Any undue weight coming upon the feed board 32 will depress
it, moving down the inner end of the lever 35, and raising the forked or outer end
35* thereof so as to clear the clutch lever 36, which will then by a spring 37 be
moved so as to throw the cased-up shaft 28 out of gear with the driving pulley 29*
thereby stopping the motion of same. The hood 38 is provided with a hinged or
jointed lip or extension 39, and itself works on an independent joint or hinges 40.
To the hood are hinged or jointed bars or arms 41 formed with slots 42 of a shape
somewhat resembling the letter L. These slots receive pins or parts 43 projecting
from or connected with the feed board.
While there is no undue pressure on the feed board its pins or projections will
(when the feed board and hood are in the open position) rest in the shorter branches
of the slots, thus supporting the hood in the open position. In the event of undue
pressure on the feed board causing it to descend, the pins will move out of the
shorter branches of the slots, allowing the bars or arms to move in the direction of
their length, so that the hood will fall over the feeding apparatus and close the
entrance to the drum chamber. The dotted lines thus
shew
the parts in the closed up position.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and explained the manner of
carrying the same into practical effect, I would have it understood that what I

page_text: consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me under the Letters Patent herein-before in part recited is,―
1. The combining a lid with the feed board so that undue or extra pressure on
the feed board beyond that due to the ordinary feeding operations shall cause the
said lid to be released and move in a direction from the said feed board, and so close
the drum mouth for the purposes mentioned and substantially as described.
2. The construction and arrangement of the independent hood with end protectors
substantially as herein-before described with reference to Figs. I. and II. of the
Drawings, with or without the modification described with reference to Figs. III.
and IV.
3. The combination of parts constituting the improved drum guard, constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as shewn in and described with reference to
Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Marshall have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness to the signature of
James Marshall,
FRANK G. WILEMAN,
Sandsfield Lane,
Gainsborough.
April 29th 1879.
JAMES MARSHALL. (L.S.)