Improvements in or relating to Machines for Cutting Chaff and other similar Substances.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Cutting Chaff and other
similar Substances.
I, SAMUEL EDWARDS, of Ladywell, Eccles, in the County of Lancaster,
Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in chaff cutters commonly known as
the Samuel Edwards Patent Safety Lever Chaff Cutters dated and numbered
as follows 1878 No. 2004, 1883 No. 4706, 1893 No. 7542, but which may also be
applied to other like machines.
In carrying out my invention I construct a chaff cutter with top and bottom
tooth feed rollers and having an adjustable top pressure plate or the usual rising
pressure plate whichever is convenient.
The side links which conveys the pressure from the weight lever to the top
roller are connected at the top by means of a cross bar where the mouth is adjust-
able. I utilise this cross bar to hold one end of a rod or other equivalent which
I use to keep in position a safety frame having two or more rollers of any suitable
material having shafts through them journaled down and running loose in holea
or bearings provided for them. The front part of this frame of rollers is con-
nected with the top of the pressure plate by means of lugs and brackets and the
rear part by means of the aforesaid rod or other equivalent this frame rises and
falls with the pressure plate.
The rollers in the safety frame are only actuated by means of the material
passing under them on its way to the tooth feed rollers.
This safety frame of rollers acts in a double capacity it lays down the material
before it arrives at the tooth rollers, and prevents the men feeding from getting
too near the latter.
The material is brought forward by means of a travelling feed web at the
bottom of the straw box this feed web runs close up to the bottom tooth roller
and well under the top safety frame this enables the top loose safety rollers to
flatten down the material before it gets to the front tooth rollers and so obviates
any necessity of the men pushing their hands close to and getting injured.
I also purpose putting a cover over these safety rollers which will rise and fall
with them and completely cover the same both at the sides and the top, my object
in doing this is to prevent any moving part coming into contact with the feeders
hands.
Another part of my invention relates to the system of safety guard and levers.
I form a guard three parts round the straw box and connected to the main frame
at its two bottom ends by means of lugs and brackets at a suitable distance up
I form lugs upon the back of this guard and connect them at the one side by
means of a rod to one of the forks of the stop clutch, and at the other by
means of a connecting rod to the safety lever, this one particular lever has a rect-
angular movement and is connected with a shaft which passes under the feeding
mouth to the clutch fork which works the clutch on the main shaft for stopping
017

page_text: and reversing the feed rollers and through the boss of this fork to the clutch fork
for changing the length of cut, the latter fork is at right angles to the former
and is connected with a clutch between two wheels of different diameters running
upon a shaft at right angles to the main shaft thus altering the speed of the feed
either faster or slower and so altering the length of the cut. The shaft where it
passes through the reversing fork has a square portion upon it and where it
passes through the speed fork it is journaled down a little longer than the length
of the boss and a collar with a pin through on the end enables the shaft to move
the speed clutch endwise when desired. Thus this lever will change the length
of cut besides stopping and reversing the feed rollers, or it may be utilised for
stopping and reversing the rollers only.
This system of levers and guard effectually prevents a too near approach to
the tooth rollers being placed in such a position that the body or arms must come
into contact with the guard long before the hands could even touch the rollers,
and instant pressure upon the guard brings the rollers to a dead stop.
I also form a system of covers over the gear wheels having hinges to them so
that they can be readily opened at any time to examine and clean out the wheels
if needed.
My general object in this invention is to make a chaff cutting machine in such
a manner that it will be almost an impossibility for the men to get; hurt when
working the same.
Dated this 11th day of January 1898.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Cutting Chaff and other
similar Substances.
I, SAMUEL EDWARDS, of Ladywell, Eccles, in the County of Lancaster,
Agricultural Engineer, 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 improvements in chaff cutting machines commonly
known as the Samuel Edwards l'atent Safety Lever Chaff Cutters described in
the Specifications of Patents No. 2004, No. 470681, No. 754293, but which improve-
ments may also be applied to other chaff cutters.
The object of the invention is to construct a perfectly safe feeding arrangement
to chaff cutting machines, to meet the requirements of the Chaff Cutting
Machines (Accidents) Act, 1897.
My improvements are illustrated in the sheets of drawings annexed, to which
reference will be made in the following specification; like letters refer to like
parts in any of the several figures.
Fig. 1, is an elevation of the back of the feeding mouth, feed rolls, safety rollers
and safety guard of a chaff cutter, constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2, side elevation of same showing the connection of the safety guard with
the lever for stopping, reversing and changing the length of cut, also the frame
of safety rollers, and the connecting rod and spring for holding the safety roller
frame in position.
Fig. 3, side elevation showing the direct connection between the safety guard
and clutch fork for stopping and reversing the feed rolls, and operating the
clutch on the fly wheel shaft.

page_text: In carrying out my invention I construct a chaff cutter with top and bottom
feed rollers A & As, and having an adjustable top pressure plate B, as shown
in the drawings, or with an ordinary rising pressure plate as the case may be.
I connect to the pressure plate B, preferably by means of lugs and bolts H³,
which form its axis, a frame H, carrying a series of independent safety rollers N,
which extend across the straw box Q, and press upon the straw, either by their
natural gravity or aided by auxiliary means 1 is the bottom mouth piece.
"In the drawings I have shown an arrangement consisting of a rod W, attached
to a bracket W, secured to the frame H, and provided with a spring W³, which
bears against the crossbar C, of the machine and which is adjustable by the
nut W, so that more or less pressure can be put upon the frame H.
The upper end of the rod W, passes freely through the hole in the crossbar C,
.to allow of self-adjustment of the several parts to meet the inequality of the feed,
and if preferred at any time, the spring W³, can be removed leaving the frame H,
to act by gravity alone. E, a side link; G, adjusting screw; F, lugs upon B,
these parts are old and form no part of the invention.
The rear end of the frame H, will descend lower than the front or pivotted end
so as to permit the rollers N, to keep down a thin feed, when a thicker feed is
passing through the toothed rollers A and A2, and vice versa..
If preferred the rod with the spring and its details may be reversed, but the
action of the spring in all cases is to press down the rollers upon the feed.
The rollers N, are independent of each other and are caused to revolve solely
by their frictional contact with the straw or other material as it is drawn forward
by the action of the toothed rolls, and the movement of a travelling web, where
such is used.
In the machine shown, a travelling web or endless belt P, is provided, running
at the bottom of the straw box Q, up to the bottom toothed roller A³, and under
the roller frame H, and this arrangement enables the rollers N, to flatten down the
material well before it reaches the front rolls A¹ and A², dispensing with any
necessity for the attendant to push the material forward with his hand, which is
the usual cause of accidents.
I put a suitable cover of iron or wood (not shown) over the safety rollers so
as to completely cover them on the top and the sides, so that there shall be no
moving parts exposed where the attendants hands are employed in feeding. T is
a cover over the flywheel and cutters.
The second part of my invention relates to a safety guard and its manner of
operation. I construct a guard consisting of an arched frame J, which passes
over the straw box Q, and down each side, and is connected to the main frame at
its two bottom ends by means of lugs or brackets and pin joints J². At a
suitable distance above the joints J8, upon the frame J, are lugs J³, and to one of
these lugs, I pinjoint the rod L, and connect its other end with one of the forks K,
of the stop clutch O, which is elongated for that purpose.
To the corresponding lug upon the opposite side of the guard frame J, also
marked J³, I pinjoint a rod L2, see Fig. 2, and connect it with the safety lever M,
described in one of my prior Patents before mentioned No. 470683.
This lever M, has a twofold movement as it is used in machines constructed
under my former patents, one being to and from the strawbox, and the other
in line with it; it is in direct communication with the clutch fork K, and stop
clutch O, on the main shaft, for stopping and reversing the toothed wheels A¹,
and A³, from which nearly all serious accidents arise in these machines.
The lever M, having one motion at a right angle to the other, it is necessary to
construct one or both joints of the arm L³, so that they will allow of this move-
ment, any common! expedient may be used.
It will thus be seen that when the guard J, is moved towards the feed rollers A¹
and A3, the rods L and L2, act upon the clutch fork K, the one marked L,
directly and the other L2, through the lever M. Thus by the use of the pivotted
frame H, provided with independent rollers N, there is no necessity for the

page_text: attendant to use his hands to push or feed the straw or like material towards the
toothed rolls, such feeding and pressing being automatic, but if through
ignorance, or wilful neglect, the hand is caught and drawn forwards, the arm must
come in contact with the safety guard J, and force it forward, thus throwing the
clutch out of gear instantly, stopping the rolls and preventing an accident.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1-In a chaff cutting machine having an adjustable rising pressure plate or
mouth piece B, a series of independent safety rollers actuated solely by contact
with the material passing under them, the frame H, carrying the rollers being
pivotally connected with the said pressure plate in such a manner that the rear
of the roller frame can rise and fall either in conjunction with or independently
of the said plate, as hereinbefore described and substantially as shown.
2-In a chaff cutting machine having the usual rising pressure plate, a series
of independent safety rollers actuated solely by frictional contact with the
material passing under them, carried by a frame H, pivotally attached to the
said pressure plate in such a manner that the rear of the roller frame can rise and
fall in conjunction with or independently of the said plate as, hereinbefore
described.
3-In a chaff cutting machine, a rocking safety guard J, passing over the top
and down the sides of the straw box, and attached to and working in unison with
the "stopping, reverse, and change cut" safety lever M, and clutch fork K, as
herein before described and set forth.
4-In a chaff cutting machine, the combination with a frame of independent
safety rollers, such as H, connected with the pressure plate B, of a safety guard
such as J, attached to and working in connection with the stopping or reversing
and change lever M, as hereinbefore described and shown.
5 In a chaff cutting machine, a frame such as H, pivotally or otherwise con-
nected with the pressure plate and carrying a series of independently revolving
rollers actuated solely by frictional contact with the material passing under them;
the rollers pressing upon the material either by gravity alone, or aided by an
auxiliary adjustable spring arrangement such as W, or equivalent means, the
rear end of the frame rising in conjunction with or independently of the pressure
plate as herein before described and shown.
Dated the 27th day of September 1898.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant, Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.