IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES." A communication
from abroad by H. and E. Wragg, both of Timor, Victoria.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th February 1879.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THRASHING MACHINES." [A communication from abroad by H. and E. Wragg, both
of Timor, Victoria.]
This Invention has for its object improvements in thrashing machines. A
machine constructed according to the Invention is represented by the annexed
EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is the near side of the machine; A is a fan placed in such a position to
blow the cavings up pipe D from caving riddle B, also from chaff riddle C up the
same pipe D on to the straw elevators or else where, as shewn in D, Figure 2. E
is a door or shutter which has a three fold object as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 14.
First, it can be closed so that the chaff can fall under the machine and not mix with
the cavings. Secondly, it can be so far opened to allow the chaff to enter fan A
mixing with cavings and carried on to the straw stack. Thirdly, it is so arranged to
drop down in case of anything getting into the fan so as to remove the same easily.
Figure 3 is front end view over the front carriage showing the end of caving
riddle G and how the cavings drop into fan A from the caving riddle. The forks
as shown on fan shaft are to keep the cavings and chaff in motion until drawn in by
fan and blower up the elevators.
Figure 4 is the caving riddle showing its flat surface with fan A at the one end
and fan F at the other. The enlarged part of the fan in F as shown is to give a
strong blast on the finishing riddle for the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the grain
from dust and chaff. The other portion of fan to operate on and assist the caving.
riddle and to thrash all cobs or whiteheads and all grain blown over the finishing
riddle to throw the same back on to caving riddle again, this fan must be plated
with sheet iron. Holes in caving riddle ğ" bore is sufficient. G is the end of

page_text: caving riddle showing six " square strips of wood fixed edge upward not to take
up more room than 9" of the length for the purpose of letting through broken heads
of wheat; from this point the cavings drop from the caving riddle into fan A and so
taken away. It is necessary that every facility possible should be given to the
cavings leaving the riddle so as to keep it clean; a small drop or fall adds greatly
to this object.
When enlarging the chaff riddle it was found necessary to change the shaking
rods from the caving riddle to the chaff riddle, consequently caused an alteration in
the caving riddle to get the rods to work as shown in H, Figure 4.
Figure 5 shows the slide of the riddle with a portion taken away to allow the
rod to take a central position.
Figure 6 is another view, bottom uppermost, showing that the alteration does not
materially alter the riddling capacity.
Figure 7 is a full size sketch of riddle groove made by cutting strips of leather
full length of groove in wedge shape. Screw hoop iron full longth along the
leather into their place and you have a groove that does not wear away the saine
as wood does, causing a considerable shaking of the riddles, and causos them to
shake to pieces besides cutting away the sides of the riddle through being put in
and taken out so often. Riddles should be made as light as possible consistent with
strength and durability.
Figure 8 shows part of the drake riddle and the shoot or spout that carries the
grain from drake riddle into the screen; the shoot or spout should be made small,
say, about 7" at the top and 9″ across centre to allow every facility for the grain to
travel, leaving sufficient room for the chaff and cobs to pass between the end of the
riddle and the cover that keeps the chaff and dust from blowing on main belt; the
draft of air from the fan draws the chaff and dust, the clean corn spout, and cover
into the fan beneath, as shown in Figure 11 by the arrows.
Figure 9 showing how the riddle and spout are fixed.
Figure 10 is the outside cover blocking up the finishing riddle with two slides,
one for taking out and putting in riddles, the other to oil fan securely; the whole of
this is made of sheet iron.
Figure 11 shows the finishing riddle, and the fan below shows its operation on
the caving and finishing riddle. The large portion of the fan blows through the
finishing riddle as shown by arrow blowing chaff and dust from the grain, and is
drawn in again at the other end and passes on to the caving riddle with cobs and
all grain blown over, as shown by the two arrows; this is one of the most important
parts of the machine for cleaning grain. The finishing riddle will have to be in
two parts on account of its length, or when the machine is between two stacks it
would not be able to be got out; if in two parts they could be got out, easily as
shown in Drawing. It would be advisable that the plain iron on the back end of the
riddle be dispensed with, and instead fix it permanently in the frame of the riddle
to strengthen it.
Figure 12 shows chaff riddle. K is fan blowing on to chaff riddle and into fan A,
and mixing with the cavings is blown on to the elevators. Fan -A is driven by a
pulley on K fan shaft as shown in Drawing, Figure 12.
Figure 13 shows how to fix and raise the elevators by windlass and rope. The
finishing riddle in Figure 11 is to be shaken by two rods, as shown in Figures 1
and 2.
Figure 14 is section of fan A showing more clearly its object and utility.
Figure 15 is a lubricator, not new, with cork screwed in the top and a pin down
the centre; it is found to act well for cranks.
A different way of working shaking rods for chaff and caving riddles is by a
double eccentric which will give straight lines for caving rods without altering
caving riddle, as shown in Drawing, Figure 4, H, and Figures 5 and 6.

page_text: EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is the near side of the macliine. A is a fan placed in such a position as
to blow the cavings up the pipe D from the caving riddle B, also from the chaff
riddle C up the same pipe D on to the straw elevators or else where, shewn in D,
Figure 2. E is door or shutter which has a threefold object as shown in Figures 1,
2, and 14; first, it can be closed so that the chaff can fall under the machine and
not mix with the cavings; secondly, it can be so far opened as to allow the chaff
to enter the fan A, mixing with the cavings, and to be carried on to the straw stack ;
thirdly, it is so arranged as to drop down in case of anything getting into the fan
so as to permit the removal of the same casily.
Figure 3 is front end view over the front carriage showing the end of the caving
riddle G and how the cavings drop into the fan A from the caving riddle. The
forks, as shown on the fan shaft, are to keep the cavings and chaff in motion until
drawn in by the fan and blower up the elevators.
Figure 4 is the caving riddle showing its flat surface with the fan A at the one
end and the fau F at the other. The enlarged part of the fan F as shown is to
give a strong blast on the finishing riddle for the purpose of thoroughly cleaning
the grain from dust and chaff. The other portion of the fan is to operate on and
assist the caving riddle, and to thrash all cobs or whiteheads and all grain blown
over the finishing riddle, and to throw the same back on to caving riddle again;
this fan must be plated with sheet iron. For the holes in the caving riddle "/"
bore is sufficient. G is the end of the caving riddle showing six " square strips
of wood-fixed edge upward, not to take up more room than 9" of the length for the
purpose of letting through broken heads of wheat; from this point the cavings drop
from the caving riddle into the fan A and so are taken away. It is necessary that
every facility possible should be given to the cavings leaving the riddle so as to
keep it clean; a small drop or fall adds greatly to this object.
When enlarging the chaff riddle it was found necessary to change the shaking
rods from the caving riddle to the chaff riddle, consequently caused an alteration in
the caving riddle to get the rods to work as shown in H, Figure 4.
Figure 5 shows the slide of the riddle with a portion taken away to allow the
rod to take a central position.
Figure 6 is another view, bottom uppermost, showing that the alteration does not
materially alter the riddling capacity.
Figure 7 is a full size sketch of the riddle groove made by cutting strips of
leather of the full length of the groove in wedge shape. By screwing hoop
iron for the full length along the leather holding it in its place a groove is produced
that does not wear away as wood does and is more durable and easy in working.
The riddles should be made as light as possible consistent with strength and
durability.
Figure 8 shows part of the drake riddle and the shoot or spout that carries the
grain from the drake riddle into the screen; the shoot or spout should be made small,
say, about 7" at the top and 9" across the centre to allow every facility for the
grain to travel, leaving sufficient room for the chaff and cobs to pass between the

page_text: end of the riddle and the cover that keeps the chaff and dust from blowing on to
the main belt. The draft of air from the fan draws the chaff and dust from the
clean corn spout and cover into the fan beneath, as shown in Figure 11 by the
arrows.
•
Figure 9 shows how the riddle and spout is fixed.
Figure 10 is the outside cover blocking up the finishing riddle with two slides,
one for taking out and putting in the riddles, the other to oil the fan securely; the
whole of this is made of sheet iron.
Figure 11 shows the finishing riddle, and the fan below it shows its operation on
the caving and finishing riddle. The large portion of the fan blows through the
finishing riddle as shown by the arrow blowing chaff and dust from the grain, and
is drawn in again at the other end and passes on to the caving riddle carrying with
it cobs and all grain blown over as shown by the two arrows; this is one of the
most important parts of the machine for cleaning the grain. The finishing riddle
will have to be in two parts on account of its length, or when the machino is
between two stacks it would not otherwise be able to be got out; when in two
parts it can be got out easily, as shown in Drawing. It would be advisable that
the plain iron on the back end of the riddle should be dispensed with and instead
that it should be fixed permanently in the frame of the riddle to strengthen it.
Figure 12 shows the chaff riddle; K is the fan blowing the chaff on to the chaff s
riddle, and into the fan A mixed with the cavings; it is blown on to the elevators.
The fan A is driven by a pulley on the shaft of the fan K, as shown in Drawing,
Figure 12.
Figure 13 shows how to fix and raise the elevators by a windlass and
горе. The
finishing riddle in Figure 11 is to be shaken by two rods, as shown in Figures 1:
and 2.
Figure 14 is a section of the fan A showing more clearly its object and utility.
Figure 15 is a lubricator, not new, with a cork screwed in the top and a pin down
the centre, it is found to act well for cranks.
A different way of working the shaking rods for the chaff and caving riddles is 3
by a double eccentric which will give straight lines for the caving rods without
altering the caving riddle, as shown in Drawing, Figure 4, H, and Figures 5 and 6.
What I claim is, the auxiliary fans and pipes and the arrangements for throwing
back the waste grain on to the caving riddle, and for the purpose of conducting
cavings and chaff by blast either on the straw stack direct up the elevators, or by 3
pipes clear of the machine for the better working of the same, as described in
reference to the Drawings.
I also claim the construction of thrashing machines substantially as described and
illustrated by the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine
SYDNEY PITT. L.S.)