IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES, AND IN OTHER MACHINERY TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Bonnall, of Grantham, in the County of
Lincoln, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES,
AND IN OTHER MACHINERY TO BE USED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 15th December 1868, and dated the 20th June 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bonnall at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th June 1868.
I, JOHN BONNALL, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THRASHING MACHINES, AND IN OTHER MACHINERY TO BE USED THEREWITH,"
to be as follows :→
The Invention has for its object improvements in thrashing machines,
and in other machinery to be used therewith, and in corn or seed drills,
parts of which improvements are also applicable to other purposes, and
relates,―

page_text: Firstly. To a novel construction of the seats or plummer blocks and
bearings of thrashing and other machines, whereby they are rendered
self-adjusting and allow any ordinary deflection of the shafts or axles
working in them. For this purpose I construct the brasses with
cylindrical pins or axes which are capable of turning in suitable recesses
formed for them in pieces which are on their outer surface of the form
of a portion of a cylinder, and are capable of turning in corresponding
recesses formed for them in the plummer block and cap, and I place
around the top pin or axis and between the upper surface of the top
brass and the portion of a cylinder in which it turns a number of discs
or washers of thin sheet metal, so that as the lower brass wears one or
more discs or washers may be removed from the top of the upper brass
and placed underneath the lower brass, and so afford a ready means of
adjustment. I also fit a number of thin plates between the two "brasses"
in such manner that as the eye of the bearing wears larger one or more
plates may be removed and the brasses screwed up and adjusted to the
required amount; and I place these plates in position between the
brasses before they are bored, whereby the brasses and the plates are
bored at the same time, and great accuracy of fit thereby obtained. It
will be readily understood that this mode of adjustment is equally
applicable to other descriptions of bearings, and to straps for eccentrics
for various classes of machinery.
The Invention also relates to means of attaching the connecting rods
to the shoes or dressing apparatus and the hangers or vibrating links
to the straw shakers. For this purpose I form the connecting rods and
the hangers or vibrating links with eyes, and I connect them to the
shoes and straw shakers by means of pins or rods passing through such
eyes; but in order to obviate the necessity of oiling such parts I place a
tube or cylinder of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable material
between such pins or rods and the eyes of the connecting rods and
hangers or vibrating links, and I bind the india-rubber or other suitable
tubes tightly within the eyes of the connecting rods and hangers or
vibrating links. Or instead of employing pins or rods and tubes for
this purpose I employ flat surfaces and strips of india-rubber or other
suitable material between the ends of the connecting rods and hangers
or vibrating bars and the parts of the shoes and straw shakers to which
they are connected. By these means the required motion is allowed to

page_text: the shoes and straw shakers, and the necessity for oiling the parts is
thereby obviated.
The Invention also relates to the application of sack elevators to the
before-mentioned machines. For this purpose I mount a drum or pully
upon a suitable part of the machine, and I give motion thereto by
suitable gearing driven from any convenient part of the machine, or if
desired such gearing may be driven by a winch handle, or by other
suitable means. A chain, cord, or band passing around the drum or
pulley is connected to the neck of the sack, and motion is given to such
drum or pulley to wind the chain, cord, or band thereon, and thereby
elevate the sack into a suitable position to be taken away by the
attendant; or I mount on the machine a set of "Weston's" pulley
blocks for this purpose.
The Invention also relates to improvements in straw elevators to be
used in connection with the before-mentioned thrashing machines. I
form the elevator in two or more parts capable of sliding in or upon
each other as heretofore, and I attach to each of the sliding parts a rack
or racks, to which motion is given by toothed wheels driven by suitable
gearing set in motion by a chain, cord, or band and spocket wheel. And
I give motion to such elevators to raise them to a convenient angle by
means of suitable differential gearing, or by differential pulleys set in
motion by a chain passing around a spocket wheel, or by other suitable
means, thereby dispensing with long shaft which is now ordinarily
employed for this purpose. And in some cases I give motion to the
elevators to raise the straw by means of a small steam engine mounted
thereon; or I drive the elevator by means of ordinary "horse gear'
applied thereto.
"
In open-topped straw elevators it is found very inconvenient in windy
weather to keep the straw from blowing out before it reaches the top or.
delivery end. To remedy this defect I fix a number of transverse bows
or fenders on the shoot or trough, and on or through these bows or
fenders I fix longitudinal bars or rods, thereby preventing the straw
or other produce being blown out.
It will be readily understood that such elevators may be used for
raising and stacking corn or other crops, and apart from the thrashing
machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Bonnall in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th December 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BONNALL, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Bonnall, Her special licence, that I,
the said John Bonnall, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Bonnall, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES,
AND IN OTHER MACHINERY TO BE USED THEREWITH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Bonnall, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Bonnall, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in thrashing machines,
and in other machinery to be used therewith, and relates,-
Firstly. To a novel construction of the seats or plummer blocks and
bearings of thrashing and other machines, whereby they are rendered
self-adjusting and allow any ordinary deflection of the shafts or axles
working in them. For this purpose I construct the brasses with cylin-

page_text: drical pins or axes which are capable of turning in suitable recesses
formed for them in pieces which are on their outer surface of the form
of a portion of a cylinder, and are capable of turning in corresponding
recesses formed for them in the plummer block and cap, and I place
around the top pin or axis and between the upper surface of the top
brass and the portion of a cylinder in which it turns a number of discs
or washers of thin sheet metal, so that as the lower brass wears one or
more discs or washers may be removed from the top of the upper brass
and placed underneath the lower brass, and so afford a ready means of
adjustment. I also fit a number of thin plates between the two
"brasses" in such manner that as the eye of the bearing wears larger
one or more plates may be removed and the brasses screwed up and
adjusted to the required amount; and I place these plates in position
between the brasses before they are bored, whereby the brasses and the
plates are bored at the same time, and great accuracy of fit thereby
obtained. It will be readily understood that this mode of adjustment is
equally applicable to other descriptions of bearings, and to straps for
eccentrics for various classes of machinery.
The Invention relates, secondly, to means of attaching the connecting
rods to the shoes or dressing apparatus and the hangers or vibrating
links to the straw shakers. For this purpose I form the connecting
rods and the hangers or vibrating links with eyes, and I connect them
to the shoes and straw shakers by means of pins or rods passing through
such eyes; but in order to obviate the necessity of oiling such parts I
place a tube or cylinder of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable
material between such pins or rods and the eyes of the connecting rods
and hangers or vibrating links, and I bind the india-rubber or other
suitable tubes tightly within the eyes of the connecting rods and hangers
or vibrating links. Or instead of employing pius or rods and tubes for
this purpose I employ flat surfaces and strips of india-rubber or other
suitable material between the ends of the connecting rods and hangers
or vibrating bars and the parts of the shoes and straw shakers to which
they are connected. By these means the required motion is allowed
to the shoes and straw shakers, and the necessity for oiling the parts is
thereby obviated.
The Invention relates, thirdly, to the application of sack elevators to the
before-mentioned machines. For this purpose I mount a drum or pulley

page_text: upon a suitable part of the machine, and I give motion thereto by
suitable gearing driven from any convenient part of the machine, or
if desired such gearing may be driven by a winch handle, or by other
suitable means. A chain, cord, or hand passing around the drum or
pulley is connected to the neck of the sack, and motion is given to such
drum or pulley to wind the chain, cord, or band thereon, and thereby
elevate the sack into a suitable position to be taken away by the
attendant; or I mount on the machine a set of "Weston's" pulley
blocks for this purpose.
The Invention relates, fourthly, to improvements in straw ele-
vators to be used in connection with the before-mentioned thrashing
machines. I form the elevator in two or more parts capable of sliding
in or upon each other as heretofore, and I attach to each of the sliding
parts a rack or racks, to which motion is given by toothed wheels driven
by suitable gearing set in motion by a chain, cord, or hand and spocket
wheel, And I give motion to such elevators to raise them to a
convenient angle by means of suitable differential gearing, or by
differential pulleys set in motion by a chain passing around a spocket
wheel, or by other suitable means, thereby dispensing with the long
shaft which is now ordinarily employed for this purpose. And in some
cases I give motion to the elevators to raise the straw by means of a
small steam engine mounted thereon; or I drive the elevator by means
of ordinary "horse gear" applied thereto.
In open-topped straw elevators it is found very difficult in windy
weather to keep the straw from blowing out before it reaches the top
or delivery end. To remedy this defect I fix a number of transverse
bows or fenders on the shoot or trough, and on or through these bows
or fenders I fix longitudinal bars or rods, thereby preventing the straw or
other produce being blown out.
And in order that my Invention may be more clearly understood
and readily carried into effect I will proceed, aided by the accom-
panying Drawings, more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of a
plummer block or bearing constructed according to the first part of my
Invention; Figures 3, 4, and 5 are separate views of parts thereof.

page_text: a, a', are the brasses, which are provided with cylindrical pins or axes a³
to enter suitable holes or recesses formed for them in the blocks or
pieces b, b', which on their outer surfaces are of the form of a portion
of a cylinder to fit corresponding cylindrical recesses formed for them
in the pedestal c and cover d; the pin or axis a² of the brass a passes
through the block or piece b, and enters a recess in the pedestal e large
enough to permit of the required motion to the brasses a,, a¹. By
these means the seats or plummer blocks and bearings of thrashing aud
other machinery are rendered self-adjusting, and allowance is made for
any ordinary deflection of the shafts or axes working in them. And in
order to provide ready means for adjustment as wear takes place I place
a number of discs or washers e of thin sheet metal between the block or
piece and the brass a¹, so that as the lower brass a wears one or more
of the discs or washers e may be removed from the top of the brass a¹
and placed under the brass a. And I place a number of thin metal
plates between the two brasses in such manner that as the eye of
the bearing wears larger one or more of such plates f may be removed,
and the brasses a, a', screwed up and adjusted to the required amount.
These plates are placed in position between the brasses a, a', before
they are bored, whereby both the brasses and the plates are bored at the
same time, thereby ensuring great accuracy of fit.
Figure 6 is a side view of an eccentric strap having similar plates f
placed between the two parts a, a', thereof in order to provide ready
means of adjustment for wear as before described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2.
It will be readily understood that this mode of adjustment is equally
applicable to other descriptions of bearings than those before referred to.
Figures 7 and 8 are views of a connecting rod employed to give
motion to the "shoes" or dressing apparatus of a thrashing machine,
and having the second part of my Invention applied thereto. a is a
pin or rod by which such connecting rods are connected to the "shoes"
or dressing apparatus, such pins or rods a passing through eyes b lined
with a tube or cylinder c of vulcanised india-rubber or other suitable
material, and I bind such tube or cylinder c tightly within the eyes of
the connecting rods and around the rod or pin a by means of collars d
keyed thereon, as shown, or by other suitable means.

page_text: Figures 9 and 10 are views of a hanger or vibrating link to be connected
to the straw shaker, and constructed according to this part of my Invention,
like parts being marked with similar letters of reference to those employed
in Figures 7 and 8, both ends of the hangers or vibrating links being
similarly formed.
Figures 11 and 12 show the mode in which flat surfaces are employed
instead of the pins or rods a and tubes or cylinders c. In this case the
end of the connecting rod where it is attached to the "shoe" and the
ends of the hangers or vibrating links attached to the straw shakers
are formed with flat surfaces, as shown at a, flat pieces c of vulcanised
india-rubber or other suitable material being interposed between the
part a and the part b, which is secured in the position desired by means
of screws passing through the holes . By these means the required
motion is permitted to the shoes or dressing apparatus and to the straw
shakers, and the necessity for oiling such parts is thereby obviated.
Figure 13 is a view of parts of the framing of a thrashing machine
having a sack elevator according to the third part of my Invention
applied thereto. a is a chain which is passed around the neck of the
sack b; the chain a is attached to the drum or pulley c mounted on
the end of the crane d, and receiving motion by a chain or band e
passing around a spocket or other wheel fixed on the axis c' of the drum
or pulley c.
When it is desired to raise a sack into a suitable position to be taken
away by the attendant motion is given to the drum or pulley c until
the chain a has been wound thereon to such an extent as to raise the
sack above the level of the table or platform f on to which the sack
is deposited, and the chain a removed therefrom when it is in readiness
to be carried away by the attendant, thereby enabling one man to raise
a sack and carry it away without the assistance of others. When the
machine is travelling the crane d and the table or platform f may be a
turned on their axes of motion so as to be in a line with the side or end
of the machine.
If desired instead of employing the arrangement of pulley just
described a set of "Weston's" pulley blocks or other suitable blocks
may be mounted on the cranc d or on other convenient support, or a
pulley c may be driven by suitable gearing set in motion by a winch
handle or from any convenient part of the machine, in which latter case

page_text: a clutch lever will be employed to throw the gearing into and out of gear
as desired. I have not thought it necessary to show these last arrange-
ments in the Drawings, as such will be readily understood and applied by
a competent mechanic.
Figure 14 is a side view of a straw elevator having the fourth part of
my Invention applied thereto; Figure 15 is a cross section of parts
thereof taken on the line A, A; and Figure 16 is a sectional elevation of
parts thereof. The elevator is as usual formed in two or more parts
capable of sliding in or upon each other, and having racks fixed to cach
of the sliding parts thereof.
In the Drawing the elevator is shown with only one sliding part a,
to which I give motion to move it in or out by means of a toothed
pinion 6 fixed on the axis c of a suitable differential or self-retaining
pulley block or gearing set in motion by a chain, cord, or band d passing.
around a spocket wheel e, or by other suitable means. And I raise and
lower such elevator by means of toothed wheels f taking into rack
poles g mounted on the framing of the machine, motion being given to
the toothed wheels f by means of a chain h, one end of which is fixed
to the drum or pulley i and the other to the drum or pulley j, having
suitable differential gearing applied thereto, as will be readily understood,
and to which motion is given by means of a chain, cord, or band k
passing around a spocket wheel mounted on the axis of the drum.or
pulley j; or such differential gearing and spocket wheel may if desired
be mounted on the axis of the drum or pulley i.
In order to prevent the straw from blowing out of the elevator before
reaching the top or delivery end I fix a number of transverse bows or
fenders m on the parts of the shoot or trough, and on or through these
bows or fenders m I fix longitudinal bars or rods n.
This part of my
Invention also consists in driving straw elevators by means of a small
steam engine mounted on the frame o, or by means of ordinary horse
gear connected with the driving axis p, as will be well understood.
It will be readily understood that such elevators may be used for
raising and stacking corn or other crops and apart from the thrashing
machine.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode
in which the same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein shown and

page_text: 2290 SUCH
character of my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Bonnall, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JOHN BONNALL. (L.S.)