Year: 1884

page_text: In the machine shown, A, A are four frame-uprights, connected with each other
at their upper ends by marginal cross-beams A¹, À¹, and near their lower ends by
diagonal cross-beams A. Said lower cross-beams A³ are shown as of a single casting
bolted to the uprights and having at their inter-section a socket A³.
B is a central, vertical shaft having its lower end seated in an adjustable step B¹,
which rests in the socket As and is laterally adjusted by means of set-screws b.
Near its upper end and below the working parts of the machine, said shaft B is
further supported in a cross-beam A', which is shown as being connected with two
diagonally-opposite uprights A; said cross-beam A* having a suitable central
bearing of any desired construction, within which the shaft B rotates. Immediately
beneath the cross-beam A, the shaft B is provided with a collar 6, which, in
connection with the step B¹, retains the shaft vertically in place. Said shaft is
provided with a belt-pulley B² by which it may be rotated.
Referring more particularly to Figure 5 and the following figures, C is a
horizontal, circular disc, splined or keyed centrally on the shaft B. C is a vertical,
cylindric flange rising from the margin of the plate C and having bored therein a
great number of holes C₁, each of suitable size to freely admit the passage
lengthwise of a kernel of oats or other grain to be cut.
D is an annular plate or flange, which rests on the upper cross-beams A¹ of the
frame, and from the inner margin of which depends the cylinder D¹ having a
bottom-plate D. Said plate D³, as here shown, has a central hub & rising therefrom,
through which the upper reduced end of the shaft B passes. The external diameter
of the cylinder D¹ is equal to the external diameter of the perforated flange C³, and
the upper margin of the latter runs freely in an annular notch or recess d' in the
lower outer edge of said cylinder D¹, as seen in Figures 5, 7, and 10.
8
E, E indicate a series of steel blades fastened, in a vertical position and at a
little distance apart, to the outer surface of the cylinder D¹ by screws and
depending below the perforations of the flange C¹. Said blades are sharpened at
one or both of their vertical edges in that part which overlies the said perforations,
and they rest at their edges in contact, or in close proximity, with said perforated
flange C¹. Over, and partly covering, the vertical spaces between the knives E,
are placed gauge-plates F intended to arrest the grains which, as will be hereinafter
described, emerge through the perforations C' until carried against the knives E,
and are cut off, the fragments escaping through the slots a left between the cutting-
knife edge and the edge of the adjacent gauge-plate, as seen in Figures 8 and 11.
G is an annular, depending flange secured by bolts through the lugs g, or
otherwise, to the under face of the plate D². Said flange G at its lower edge
reaches to near the plate C and is provided on its outer surface with vertical
ribs g, which proximate the perforated flange C¹. At one point, said flange G is
provided with a recess G³ deeper than the others formed between adjacent ribs g',
said larger recess being for the purpose of receiving the grain to be cut from any
suitable hopper H or spout h. Over the recess G¹, the plate D2 is provided with an
aperture to admit the hopper-spout, and at one or more other points holes d³ are
provided through the plate D³, between the flange G and the perforated flange C¹,
for the admission of air, as hereinafter explained.
A casing I provided with a discharge-spout I¹ encloses the disc, perforated
flange C, and cutters, as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 5'; said casing being here shown
as of sheet metal and fastened to the under surface of the frame-pieces A¹ and
corner pieces a, which are applied to give a circular opening between the frame-
pieces A¹. In the space between the casing and the knives may, if desired, be
placed one or more sweeps or arms J, fastened to the rotating disc C or its hub c, as
shown, and reaching upward at their ends between the vertical walls of the casing
and the knives and gauge-plates. These sweeps, if present, not only serve to carry
the cut grain to the discharge-spout I, but they also assist in producing an active
nir-current outwardly through the perforations c¹, through which the grains pass
to the cutters.

page_text: The hopper H, is, as shown, of sheet metal and has an inner, funnel-shaped
compartment, which terminates in the pipe or spouth leading through the
hole d' into the recess G¹. The bottom of the cylindric part of the hopper H is
open, and the wall of said hopper is apertured at ' beneath the funnel, giving free
admission of air from the outside through the hole or holes d³ into the space
between the ribbed flange G and the perforated flange C¹.
Ordinarily, the knives E may be made of a thickness equal to the length of the
fragments into which the grain will be cut; this being the case, the gauge-plates F
may be bolted directly upon the blades E, as seen in Figure 10, in which said
gauge-plates are also shown as being provided with transverse slots f¹ to admit of
their lateral adjustment beneath the holding-screws f for the purpose of varying
the distance which the plates shall overlap the knives, and the width of the
discharge-slots a. In Figures 10 and 11, the blades E are shown as bevelled out-
wardly on their rear edges. In Figures 7, 8, and 9, the knives are represented as
separated far enough to admit the full width of the gauge-plates between them;
and in Figure 9 the anid gauge-plates are secured with shims F¹ beneath them, to
give the required position to their lower ends for a desired size of fragments into
which the grain is to be cut. The gauge-plates may be directly fastened to the
cylinder D and bent outward at their lower ends for this purpose.
The knives may, if desired, be sharpened on both edges, with a view to running
the machine in oither direction.
It will be observed from the above description that only the disc C and its
perforated flange C₁ (with the sweep J, if present) are rotated by the shaft B, and
that the knives E and inner, ribbed flange Ɑ are stationary. In the operation of the
machine, the oats or other grains are fed into the recess G' through the hopper or
other spout, and are thence distributed through the annular space between the
perforated flange C and the stationary, ribbed flange G. By contact of said
perforated flange with the grain, the latter receives a movement, as a mass, in
the direction in which said perforated flange travels. Being thus carried along,
the grain-kernels, in pressing against the ribs gl are, in a measure, forced outwardly
end wise, or are arranged in a radial position, and are directed into the perforations c¹.
As their advanced ends emerge through said perforations, they strike against the
gauge-plates and are held from further outward movement until they strike the
knives, are cut off, pass beneath the knives, and, lastly, escape from boneath the
knives; whereupon they are forced outward again against the gauge-plates and
are again cut, and so on until the entire kernel has been cut into short lengths or
fragments.
The outward movement of the grain-kernels into and through the holes c³ is induced
by an outward air-current through said holes. The rapid rotation of the perforated
rim or flange C¹ itself will produce such an outward air-current, but the sweeps J
or other means may be additionally employed for the purpose, if desired or
necessary for perfect efficiency. A force blast may be employed with good results,
but a suction is better, because the latter acts more exclusively and directly upon
the single kernels, which are projected from the mass by the relative movements of
the parts above referred to, and tends to draw them into the holes through which
the currents are passing.
The plate D, with its attachments, is desirably made readily removable upwardly
to give access to the knives or for the removal of any obstruction in the machine.
The same effect can obviously be produced by making the perforated flange
stationary and revolving the knives and the ribbed rim G and employing appro-
priate means for producing the air-current. The modification suggested can be
made in one way by attaching the perforated disc to the plate D and securing the
knives, gauge-plates, and ribbed rim G to the disc C, the desired suction being.
provided by connecting a suitable fan with the spout 1 in a familiar manner, in
case the revolution of the moving parts is not sufficient. It will be practicable and
also within my invention to provide for the revolution of the perforated rim C²,

page_text: the knives, gauge-plate and rim G. I am not, therefore, restricted to the precise
construction shown.
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
First. The combination, with a rotating, perforated rim C³, a series of alternating
knives E and gauge-plates F exterior to the rim, and an interior ribbed rim G, of
means for enclosing the grain between the ribbed and perforated rims constructed
to admit air, means for feeding the grain, and means for actuating the revolving
parts, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of a cylinder D¹, plate D' provided with feed and
air-apertures, ribbed flange or rim G attached to the plate D2, rotating shaft B,
disc C attached to said shaft, perforated, cylindric flange C¹ on said disc, alternating
knives E and gauge-plates F secured to the cylinder D₁ and prolonged in proximity
with the exterior of the perforated flange, and means for producing an air-current
outwardly through the perforations of the flange C³, substantially as described.
Third. The combination, with the plate D provided with feed and air openings,
ribbed rim G, alternating knives E and gauge-plates F, of the shaft B, carrying.
disc C and perforated flange C³, sweep or sweeps J actuated by the shaft B, and an
enclosing-case I provided with a discharge-spout, together arranged and operating
substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.