IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GRAIN FROM STRAW
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John
Gedge and Son, of No. 11; Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
. of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GRAIN FROM STRAW."-A
'communication from abroad by Pierre Ernest Antoine Revol. of Lyons,
France, Engineer.
Sealed the 12th March 1867, and dated the 18th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th September 1866.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John. Gedge and Son, of
No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GRAIN FROM STRAW," (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Pierre Ernest Antoine Revo!, of Lyons,
France, Engineer,) to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, firstly, of an improved straw-shaking machine, the
essential element of which apparatus is a shaft carrying teeth placed between
two and three inches apart, and succeeding each other at 90 degrees, that is
to say, if the first tooth (that nearest one of the ends of the shaft) is
horizontal the following one is vertical, the next horizontal, and so on. For
the better comprehension of the following description this toothed shaft is
termed the "shaker." On two wooden beams kept parallel by iron and
wooden cross pieces are placed bearings intended to support the spindles of.
the shafts of four shakers, crossing each other at 45 degrees from one shaker
[Price 8d.]

page_text: to the other. The beams also carry gratings, which permit the grain to issue
from the apparatus, and also a grating at the end to receive the straw.
If an
apparatus of this nature is placed against the outer face of the framing of a
thrashing machine at a suitable angle to the thrashing cylinder, by causing
the shakers to turn in an inverse direction to the thrasher the straw issuing
from the machine will be separated, shaken, stript of the grain which it
dragged along entangled with it, carried to the extremity of the apparatus,
and finally slide on to the grating at the end, the grain falling beneath the
apparatus. The shafts of the shakers carry a crank at one of their
extremities, all four on the same side and coupled by one connecting rod.
The cranks are keyed so as to secure the simultaneous movement of all the
shakers in the relative positions given to them. The essential arrangements
of the above apparatus are, firstly, the shaker, secondly, the coupling of the
shakers by connecting rod and cranks.
The above apparatus may be applied to any description of thrashing machine:
but the following arrangement of thrasher and shaker forms the second part
of this Invention:-The beams supporting the shafts of the shakers will be
lengthened so as to receive the bearings of the shaft of the thrashing cylinder.
The shaft of one shaker will carry two pulleys, the one will be actuated by
the thrasher, and the other will actuate the thrashing cylinder. Thus there
will be contained in a very simple frame a machine both thrashing and
shaking the straw. By placing a fan and a grating beneath the beams a
complete thrashing machine will be obtained, thrashing, shaking, and dressing
or winnowing. Lastly, by a very simple arrangement these thrashers may be
made portable, all that is required being to fit an axle on the beams and place
wheels on this axle, also to lengthen the beams on the side of the thrasher by
about 6 feet, and in form like the shafts of a cart in which the shaft horse of
the team which is to transport the machine will be placed. This lengthening
of the beams will become useful when the machine is stationary, as it will
carry the platform over which the sheaves will be passed. The apparatus is
thus a cart, between the shafts of which are arranged the thrashing cylinder
and the shakers.

page_text: greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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 MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GRAIN FROM
STRAW," (a communication to me from abroad by Pierre Ernest Antoine
Revol, of Lyons, France, Engineer.) upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said. William Edward Gedge, do hereby.
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This Invention consists, firstly, of an improved straw-shaking machine, the
essential element of which apparatus is a shaft carrying teeth placed between.
two and three inches apart, and succeeding each other at 90 degrees, that is
to say, if the first tooth (that nearest one of the ends of the shaft) is
horizontal the following one is vertical, the next horizontal, and so on. For
the better comprehension of the following description this toothed shaft is
termed the "shaker."
On two wooden beams of the shape indicated by M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U,
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the accompanying three Sheets of Drawing forming part
of this Specification, kept parallel by iron and wooden cross pieces, are placed
bearings intended to support the spindles of the shafts of four shakers crossing
each other at 45 degrees from one shaker to the other. On the parts T, a,
b,, d, e, f, P, of the beams are fixed gratings which permit the grain to

page_text: issue from the apparatus. At the ends N, O. of the beams rests another
grating. Supposing an apparatus of this nature to be placed against the
outer face A, B, of the framing of a thrashing machine, and in the position
shewn on the Drawing in relation to the thrashing cylinder, it will be seen
that by causing the shakers to turn in an inverse direction to the thrasher
(the arrows F, F, F', F¹, indicate the direction of the rotary movements),
the straw issuing from the machine will be separated, shaken, stript of the
grain, which it dragged along entangled with it. be carried to the extremity
of the apparatus, and finally slide on to the grating at the end, the grain
falling beneath the apparatus. Such is in substance the straw-shaking
apparatus of this Invention. I have not deemed it necessary to give a
complete Drawing of the apparatus, the vertical sections and plan hereunto
annexed appearing to me sufficient for the thorough comprehension of the
play of the apparatus. I will, however, indicate the following arrangements
of which I claim the exclusive use:-The shafts of the shakers each carry a
crank at one of their extremities, all four on the same side, and coupled by
one connecting rod. The cranks are keyed so as to secure the simultaneous
movement of all the shakers in the relative positions shewn on the Drawing,
which arrangement I deem the best for ensuring the simultaneous movement
of the shakers in the desired relative positions. Such is the general arrange-
ment of the straw shaker, the essential arrangements being, firstly, the shaker,
secondly, the coupling of the shakers by connecting rod and cranks. Motion
is given to the apparatus by a belt driving a pulley placed on the free end of
the shaft of one of the shakers. Certain dimensions of the apparatus are
variable, thus the inside width between the beams is equal to the length of
the thrashing cylinder, and consequently the dimensions of the shafts, cranks,
and several other parts are variable, but the following dimensions I find the
best for every straw shaker:-The ends of the teeth of the shakers describe
crcumferences of 17 inches in diameter (between these ends and the gratings
will be left a play of about an inch). The shafts will make 400 revolutions
a minute. Two consecutive teeth will be placed about 2 inches apart. An
apparatus for cleaning the grain may easily be arranged beneath the straw
shaker. It will be sufficient to fit a fan and the necessary gratings, applying
the principles of the ordinary smut machine. The straw shaker above
described may be applied to any description of thrashing machine, its
adaptation depending upon the arrangement of the thrashing machine.
The second part of this Invention refers to an arrangement of thrasher
which I designate the complete thrasher, beating the sheaves, shaking the
straw, and, if desired, cleaning the grain. The beams supporting the shafts

page_text: of the shakers will be lengthened so as to receive the bearings of the shaft of
the thrashing cylinder. The shaft of one shaker will carry two pullies, the
one will be actuated by the thrasher, and the other will actuate the thrashing
cylinder. Thus there will be contained in a very simple frame a machine
both thrashing and shaking the straw. By placing a fan and a grating
beneath the beams a complete thrashing machine will be obtained, thrashing,
shaking, and dressing or winnowing. Lastly, by a very simple arrangement
these thrashers may be made portable, all that is required being to fit an
axle on the beams and place wheels on this axle, also to lengthen the beams
on the side of the thrasher by about 6 feet, and in form like the shafts of a
cart in which the shaft horse of the team which is to transport the machine
will be placed. This lengthening of the beams will become useful when the
machine is stationary, as it will carry the platform over which the sheaves
will be passed. The apparatus is thus a cart, between the shafts of which
are arranged the thrashing cylinder and the shakers.
At Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the annexed 3 Sheets of Drawing (1) indicates
the thrashing cylinder; (2), the shakers; (3), the cranks communicating
motion to the shakers; (4), motor connecting rod actuating the cranks;
(5), driving band and pulley of a shaker; (6), pulley of the thrashing
cylinder; (7), carriage wheel; (8), shafts for the horses or cattle.
Figure 2 (Sheet 2) is a plan, and Figure 3 (Sheet 3) a vertical section
at A, B, Figure 2, of a thrashing machine furnished with an apparatus for
mechanically shaking the straw, drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1
(Sheet 1). In these two Figures it is supposed that the drum which surrounds
the thrashing cylinder, and the object of which is to prevent the straw getting
out of the apparatus, is removed. There is nothing peculiar in this drum,
and its representation would have. simply confused the Drawing, and for the
same reason the thrasher shewn is not provided with the cleansing or
winnowing apparatus, which consists of a flat grating placed beneath the
gratings of the thrasher and the shakers; this grating has a slight horizontal
come-and-go movement, and beneath it is an inclined grating, the first passes
the grain, the second stops it, and a fan placed at the back of the grating
blows off the husk of the grain, which sliding on the inclined grating passes
to the air. The essential apparatus is the shaker, that is to say, the shaft
furnished with teeth which shake the straw, the shaft passes beneath the
thrasher, which turns from right to left (by the top), the straw leaving the
rasher is received on the shakers, which turn from left to right (by the
top), the shakers shake the straw and carry it to the end of the apparatus.
The shafts of the shakers each carry a crank, a coupling rod unites the four

page_text: cranks, and the simultaneous movement of the shakers in the positions shewn
on the Drawing is secured; it is regular, and the transmission exacts very
The shaft of the thrashing cylinder carries two pullies, one
receives motion from the motor, the other transmits motion of a cross band
little power.
to the shaft of the third shaker.
By
This Invention comprehends also a mechanical straw shaker.
suppressing the thrashing cylinder and reducing the beams to the necessary
length for carrying four shakers a straw shaker is obtained, which may be
fitted to a thrasher which has but the apparatus for undoing the sheaves.
This apparatus thus defined constitutes a special apparatus, of which I also
claim the exclusive use.
The Figures on Sheets 2 and 3 are drawn to scale, the proportions being
observed, but I do not specify the dimensions of the apparatuses, because the
dimensions of the apparatus will vary according to the quantity of sheaves to
be separated in a given time, and that which constitutes the Invention is here
the arrangement and not the dimensions. Therefore such dimensions will be
given to the cylinder and shakers as may be deemed most suitable for the
work to be done, and such speed as may be desired to the shafts of cylinder
and shaker. The teeth of the shakers may vary in shape, and I reserve the
right, firstly, of inclining the teeth on the axle; secondly, of uniting them two
and two, three and three, and so on by cross pieces; thirdly, to unite them
altogether; fourthly, to replace them by paddle blades.
The above description and the annexed Drawings completely specify the
apparatuses for which I claim protection. I have not specified the details of
.construction because I reserve the right of using the materials most suitable
to particular cases, and I repeat that this Invention is the creation and the
arrangement of various tools which are clearly defined to constitute new
apparatuses having for object the mechanical thrashing of sheaves, that is to
say, the separation of the grain from the straw.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)