Improvements in Machines for Hulling or Shelling Maize.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1889
Complete Specification. Left, 9th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Hulling or Shelling Maize.
We, EDWARD FOSTER SANDON and THOMAS WATSON, both of the City of Lincoln,
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of that class of machines
for bulling or shelling maize which consist of a cylinder or cage formed of a number
of bars which are retained in position by rings, within which cylinder or cage is
arranged, so as to be capable of being revolved, a central boss or spindle provided with
longitudinal wings or blades.
Machines of the nature above referred to are well known and commonly used in
countries where maize is grown.
When employing such machines it has been usual to remove the husks from the
maize cobs prior to feeding the latter to the machines and the object of the present
invention is to obviate the necessity of so doing, by so constructing the hulling or
shelling machines that the husks are automatically removed from the cobs after the
latter have been fed to the machine.
For the purpose of this invention we form on, or attach to, the before mentioned
longitudinal wings or blades a series of fingers which project a certain distance beyond
the outer edges of the said wings or blades. The cobs are fed to one end of the cage
or cylinder in a direction parallel, or nearly so, to the boss or spindle.
In order that the husks may be readily and continuously cleared from the machine
the delivery end thereof is left open and the boss or spindle is extended for some
distance beyond such end, so that the bearings thereof shall not obstruct the passage
of the husks, which, as they are carried out of the cage or cylinder, are cleared, by a
strong cross air-blast or current, from the extended portion of the boss or spindle.
The said blast or current of air at the same time serves to separate the husks from the
shelled cobs. The wings or blades may be continued along the said extension of the
boss or spindle.
Dated this 9th day of July 1889.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Hulling or Shelling Maize.
WE, EDWARD FOSTER SANDON, and THOMAS WATSON, both of the City of Lincoln,
Engineers, 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 :-
Our said invention relates to improvements in the construction of that class of
machines for hulling or shelling maize which consist of a cylinder or cage formed of
a number of bars which are retained in position by rings, within which cylinder or
cage is arranged, so as to be capable of being revolved, a central boss or spindle
provided with longitudinal wings or blades. Machines of the nature above referred
to are well known and commonly used in countries where maize is grown.
When employing such machines, it has been usual to remove the husks from the
maize cobs prior to feeding the latter to the machines, and the object of the present,
invention is to obviate the necessity of so doing, by so constructing the hulling or
shelling machines, that the husks are automatically removed from the cobs after the
latter have been fed to the machine.

page_text: And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is a longitudinal elevation partly in section representing a machine con-
structed according to our invention.
Figure 2. is a transverse section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.
Figure 3. is a sectional end view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1., and showing
also the relation of the blower to the cylinder or cage.
Figure 4. is a longitudinal view of the beater separately.
In the several figures, like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
(t. represent a number of rings which are formed with holes therethrough to receive
a number of bars or rods a¹, and a² represents an opening at the upper part and near
to one end of the cylinder or cage through which the cobs are fed in a direction
parallel, or nearly so, to the axis of the beater hereinafter more fully described.
Within the cage or cylinder is located a beater, consisting of a central boss or
spindle b. provided with several longitudinal wings or blades b¹, upon each of which
are formed several fingers 62 which project a certain distance beyond the outer edges
of the wings or blades b¹.
The cage or cylinder is held stationary whilst the beater through its boss or spindle b.
which is mounted in bearings c. c* carried by the frame d. receives rotary motion
from any suitable source of power.
In order that the husks may be readily and continuously cleared from the machine,
the delivery end of the cylinder or cage is left open and the boss or spindle b. of the
beater is extended some distance beyond such end and the bearing c is so located
that it shall not obstruct the passage of the husks issuing from the cylinder or cage.
As the husks issue from the cylinder or cage, they are cleared by a strong cross air
blast or current from a fan or blower e. and which blast or current of air at the same
time serves to separate the lighter husks from the heavier shelled cobs as will be readily
understood.
If desired, the wings or blades 6' may be continued along the extension of the boss
or spindle b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. In a machine for hulling or shelling maize, the combination of a fixed cylinder
or cage formed with a feed opening at one end and a delivery opening at the other
end and a revolving beater provided with a number of longitudinal blades each
formed with several projecting fingers thereon, substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. In a machine for hulling or shelling maize, the combination of a fixed cylinder
or cage formed with a feed opening at one end, and a delivery opening at the other

page_text: end; a revolving beater provided with a number of longitudinal biades, each formed
with several projecting fingers thereon, and a fan or blower so arranged as to direct
a current of air across the delivery opening of the cylinder or cage, substantially as
herein shown and described.