Improvements in Threshing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Threshing Machines.
1, FRIEDRICH RICHTER of Rathenow, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Manufacturer,
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 :-
This invention relates to a threshing basket for threshing machines. The new
basket is made to yield automatically whenever any hard foreign substance, which
may be carried along with the corn, comes between it and the drum.
The advantage of this arrangement is, that when any foreign substance, such as
a nail etc. passes between the drum and basket, said basket yields sufficiently to
allow the nail etc. a free passage, so that no damage is done to either the drum or
basket.
The invention consists essentially in providing powerful springs for enabling the
basket to adjust itself automatically.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon:-
Fig. 1 shows one arrangement, wherein the basket e of the threshing machine is
held adjustably in position by means of the usual screw bolts b.
Fig. 2 shows another arrangement, wherein the basket is held adjustably in
place by means of lever connections.
At
Referring to Fig. 1-A is the drum and c is the threshing basket, which is
divided into two parts and is held adjustably in place by the screw bolts b.
both ends of the threshing basket are flanges d, through which the bolts bare
passed loosely. The heads of the bolts normally bear against said flanges. When
the basket is moved backwards, the flanges slide on the bolts b. Fitted around the
bolts 6 are spiral springs a, which bear, at one end, against the flanges d, and, at
the other, against tension nuts 6'; they are sufficiently powerful to prevent the corn,
when being threshed, forcing back the basket, but, when any hard substance, such
as a nail or the like, passes between the basket and drum, the springs a are, by
the movement of the flanges d, compressed, and the basket is pushed back
sufficiently to allow the foreign substance to pass, without doing damage. When
the foreign substance has passed out, the springs expand again, and force back the
basket to its original position.
The proper tension of the springs a is regulated by means of the screw nuts b¹.
In the arrangement at Fig. 2, the basket c has projections or pins g on it, which
pass through guide slots g in supporting brackets. The pins 9 are connected to
the lower ends of the adjusting levers h. The adjusting levers h, at their upper
ends, are bent or flanged at h', and a hole, not shown, is made in the flanges.
Bolts are passed through the holes in these flanges. On the lower ends of bolts i,
spiral springs a are fitted, and these spiral springs bear, at their upper ends, against
the flanges, and, at their lower ends, against tension nuts m on the bolts. The
bolts i, at their upper ends, are flattened out and pivoted to a triangular plate or
cam k, which is connected to a lever 1. The length of the compound lever i. h. is
regulated by means of the nuts n on the bolts i.
As will be seen, with this arrangement, the basket is supported on the springs a,
which must be sufficiently strong to retain it in its normal working position, when
corn is being threshed. If any hard foreign substance passes between the drum A
and basket c, the latter is forced outwards, against the action of the springs, to such
an extent as to allow said substance to pass through, without damaging the apparatus.
When the foreign substance has passed out, the basket, under the action of the
springs, resumes its normal position.

page_text: Instead of using spiral springs, other suitable forms of springs may be used.
By moving the lever i, the basket can, as desired, be moved further away or
nearer to the drum.
The tension of the springs can be regulated by the nuts m.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In threshing machines, a basket, having a spring action, so as to automatically
adjust itself, substantially as and for the purpose, herein before set forth.
2. The construction of self-adjusting basket, substantially as hereinbefore
described, and shown at Fig. 1 of the drawings annexed.
3. The construction of self-adjusting basket, substantially as hereinbefore
-described, and shown at Fig. 2 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1892.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.