IN THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Foden at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd June 1882.
EDWIN FODEN of Sandbach in the County of Chester Engineer.
MENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES."
"IMPROVE-
Instead of using the usual blast fan for the first winnowing operation in
thrashing machines I employ an exhaust fan which auswers the purpose of a chaff
lifter, and thus I dispense entirely with the first fan and with the power required
to drive the same.
In carrying out my Invention I employ an extra-chambered riddle box through
compartments of which the exhaust fan draws the chaff and other light substances,
and instead of cleaning the chaff in the ordinary manner I use a perforated
fan-casing which answers the purpose of a chaff-cleaner.
In order to remove the chaff and other light substances from the riddle box
I form an oblong hole in the side of the riddle box which comes opposite to the
inlet to the fan and I regulate the air pressure as desired by means of a sliding
cover fitted on the centre of the fan, at the opposite side to the inlet or on the
air chambers of the riddle-box.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Foden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd December
1$82.
EDWIN FODEN of Sandbach in the County of Chester Engineer. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES."
Instead of using the usual blast fans for the first and second dressing operations
I employ an exhaust fan which also answers the purpose of a chalf-lifter thus
dispensing entirely with both blast fans and also with the shafts pulleys and
straps hitherto employed for driving the same
And in order that this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and
understood I have hereunto annexed a Drawing illustrative of my improvements
and will now proceed to describe the same.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in section of a Thrashing Machine having
my improvements applied thereto Fig. 2 is an end view partially in section and
Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 1.
A A, are the air inlets to the vertical pipe or finishing exhaust box B, through
which the grain and chaff and other light corn fall after passing through the
Scourer or screen P and in so doing meet with the incoming draught or current of
air proceeding to the exhaust fan F, and thus the light grain and other light
particles are carried along with the current in the direction of the arrows, through
the passage C (which is arranged in this case inside the framing C of the machine)
into the light corn pockets D where the pressure is reduced owing to the increased
area and which has the effect of at once liberating the light corn, short straws &c
which drop down and are emptied at the light spout L L whilst the grain is free
to descend into the ordinary separator R.
The chat and other light particles are drawn in the direction of the arrows
through the pipe E and exhaust fan F which acts as a chaff-lifter and is so
delivered to the chaff bags G G.
BI is an enlargement or increased area of the exhaust box B, so that what little
heavy corn may have been drawn up into this enlargement falls along with
the other heavy corn, owing to the reduced pressure produced by such
increased area
In order to ensure that the corn in passing from the scourer P shall be spread
evenly over the entire area of the exhaust box B I divide the mouth of the
delivery to the exhaust box by ribs J and for the same purpose 1 affix ribs jj to
the sides of the exhaust box.
1 also apply a regulating sliding valve K on the face of the scourer P. to vary
the scouring action on the grain as required
The spout N N and valve O'are used for permitting the wet corn and smut
wheat to fall into the exhaust box B and thus all grain passing through the
machine is dressed a second time and passed through the separator K.
The first winnowing operation is performed in the dressing chest T by means of
the same exhaust fan F which draws the chaff etc. through the pipe or extra
chamber S and off the riddle T and delivers it the same as in the case of the
second dresser at G G-the chaff-cleaning being effected by the perforated
casing M M.-the air pressure being regulated by the sliding valve H H in the air
chamber of the riddle box-and the air inlet being arranged at U.
Having thus particularly described the nature of this my said Invention
together with the best method with which I am acquainted for carrying the same
iuto practical effect I wish it to be understood that I make no claim to the

page_text: exhaust box B except as improved as aforesaid, nor to the spout N or other parts
of the machine illustrated on the accompanying Drawing which have been already
described in the Specification of my former Patent No. 4604 and dated
21st October 1SS1 but what I do claim is:
1st The employment of an exhaust fan for the treble purpose vic of a first
fan, second fan and chaff lifter in thrashing machines and other machines
for dressing corn substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated on the
accompanying drawing.
2nd Enlarging the exhaust box at B₁ substantially as and for the purpose
herein before.described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
3rd The improvements in the delivery mouth piece of the scourer P and also
arranging the passage C inside the framing C instead of outside as in my former
specification substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
In witness whereof I the said Edwin Foden have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty second day of December in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
EDWIN FODEN (L.S.)