Improvements in Threshing and Winnowing Machines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 15th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Mar., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Threshing and Winnowing Machines.
I, THOMAS ADAIR Ballygraffin Comber County Down Farmer do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THRESHING AND WINNOWING
MACHINES to be as follows:-
--
This invention relates to certain improvements in Threshing and Winnowing
Machines. The principal object being the construction so as to act efficiently either
as a Thresher or Winnower thus meeting the urgent requirements more especially
of Farmers with small holdings. This invention dispenses with necessity of having
two different machines for Threshing and Winnowing. In order to make my
invention perform both operations, I construct it in the following manner, and of the
form shewn in the accompanying drawings which I will now describe. Figure 1
represents the machine as a Thresher. D is the drum, which operates in the usual way
on the grain as it is fed in from the table A and passes along the open concave C. The
centrifugal force of the drum throws the straw on the shaker F, the form and operation
of which is novel, it consists of a rectangular frame formed of open work. Near its
outer end it is connected to a crank H which revolves in the direction indicated by the
() arrows.
Figure 2. shows this part enlarged. On the long circle bar of the crank is fixed rows
of spikes to facilitate the discharge of straw the shaker is suspended from the frame by
the link L, that as it is thrown forward by the crank in the manner of a connecting
rod, it is also elevated at the back end.
Figure 3 shows the machine as a Winnower the shaker being unshipped. A
frame H', H', containing riddles h, h, h, and return boards, is put in together with a
hopper N, into this hopper the grain is put, a vibrating motion being given to the
riddle, the grain percolates through the riddles and falls through the spout at H'
being operated upon during its descent by the blast from the druin or blower D which
blows out the chaff as shown by straight (
) arrows, curved arrows show the
course taken by the heavy grain. In order that the drum may act efficiently as a
blower it is made with blades W in its inside and discharge openings along its
circumference behind the beaters. Its ends are open and the drum cover E has its
ends furnished with panels which can be removed to admit air. A canvas sheet X X is
drawn over the concave C to prevent an unnecessary discharge of air.

page_text: "I, THOMAS ADAIR Ballygraffin Comber County Down Farmer do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THRESHING AND WINNOWING
MACHINES 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 certain improvements in Threshing and Winnowing
Machines. The principal object' being the construction so as to act efficiently either
as a Thresher or Winnower, thus meeting the urgent requirements more especially of
Farmers with small holdings. This invention dispenses with the necessity of having
two different machines for Threshing and Winnowing. In order to make my invention
perform both operations I construct it in the following manner, and generaly, of the
forin shown in the drawings which I will now describe. Figure 1 represents the
Machine as a Thresher, D is the drum, which operates in the usual way on the grain
as it is fed in from the table A and passes along the open concave C. The centrifugal
force of the drum throws the straw on the shaker F the form and operation of which
is novel, it consists of a rectangular frame formed of openwork near its outer end it is
connected to a crank H which revolves in the direction indicated by the () arrow.
Fig. 2.shows this part enlarged. On the long circle bar of the crank is fixed rows of
spikes to facilitate the discharge of straw. The shaker is suspended from the frame
by the link L so that as it is thrown forward by the crank in the manner of a
connecting rod it is also elevated at the back end.
"
1
Fig. 3 shows the machine as a winnower. The shaker being unshipped, a
frame HH containing riddles hhh and return boards is put in together with a
hopper N, into this hopper, the grain is put "a vibrating motion being given to the
riddles and fall through the spout at H being operated upon during its descent by
the blast from the drum or blower D which blows out the chaff as shown by straight
(arrows, the, curved arrows show the course faken by the heavy grain. In
order that the drum may act efficiently as a blower, it is made with blades W in its
inside and discharge openings along its circumference behind the beaters, its ends are
open, and the drum.cover. E has its ends furnished with panels which can be removed
to admit air a canvass sheet X X is drawn over the concave C to prevent an unnecessary
discharge of air. The machine may be made of any suitable material and of any
convenient form, the principle of working being essentialy the same, and the machine
having generally a resemblance to the drawings furnished with my Provisional
Specification. To those drawings I now refer

page_text: 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.
1st. The peculiar construction of the drum or beater which is fitted internally with
blades like a fan or blower, and in cases where the drum is sheeted there are longitudinal
openings in the sheeting at the lip of the blade to permit the discharge of air, in cases
where the drum is not sheeted, such openings are of course unnecessary, the drum is
partialy or entirely open at the ends to admit air.
2nd. The combination of the Threshing and Winnowing Machines in such a manner
that the one structure is virtualy two machines for the performance of two different
operations, viz. Threshing and Winnowing, at different times, the change being effected
by the insertion or removal of a portable hopper, riddle or riddles, spouts, vibrating
boards, and canvas screens, in the manner and of the form or forms described above.
3rd. The furnishing of the circle bar or transverse bar of the shaker crank with
spikes as shown at Fg. 2, these being for the purpose of raking or throwing the straw
off the shaker, they may be either of a curved or straight form, and they may either
revolve entirely or make part of a revulation, there may be more than one circle bar so
furnished with spikes, the one may be driven off the other by means of rods, bands,
chains, or gearing.
THOMAS ADAIR.