Improved Apparatus for Cutting and Triturating Straw and other Long Feed for Cattle.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Cutting and Triturating Straw and other
Long Feed for Cattle.
I, LEON VIGREUX of 16, Rue de Birague, Paris, France, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved apparatus for triturating straw or other long
feed for cattle, with the object of softening it, in order that it may be easily
assimilated.
My apparatus (which may either be combined with, or form an adjunct to, a
threshing machine or be used separately) is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, forming part of this Specification, in which
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the machine, taken on line A. O B,
Figure 2 which is a part-sectional plan of the same. The same letters of reference
denote like parts in the two figures.
Figures 3 to 8 illustrate a modification; Figure 3 being a sectional elevation,
and Figure 4 a horizontal section, of the machine. Figure 5 is a part-sectional
front elevation of the straw-cutter, and Figure 6 an end elevation of the same
with its driving gear attached. Figure 7 shews details of the knives and toothed
discs, drawn to a larger scale. Figure 8 shews the triturator, straw-cutter, and
elevator, combined with a threshing machine. The same letters of reference denote
like parts in Figures 3 to 8.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the triturating machine consists of a cylindrical
vessel in which are fixed horizontal bars of iron or steel in four vertical rows
the bars of two of the rows crossing those of the other two rows at right angles
and arranged in pairs between which pass arms d keyed on a vertical shaft c
mounted in a bearing in frame fand passing through the bottom g of said drum
and turning in a footstep bearing in a frame i supported on standards h. The
shaft c is driven by bevel gear m n from a shaft v. The straw or other long feed
after being cut or chopped up is supplied continuously to the vessel a by a screw-
conveyor or any mechanical means, and is subjected to the action of the inter-
meshing fixed and revolving bars. It is discharged continuously at two opposite
outlets e e provided with doors by which the outflow can be regulated. The speed-
of the shaft, the depth of material operated on, the area of the delivery outlet, and
the rate of feed, would all vary according to the kind of material being operated
on, and the fineness and softness required. The fixed bars ↳ may either be of
rectangular form with sharp edges, as shewn, or the edges on their working faces
may be chamfered, while the revolving bars & may be of square section placed
anglewise so as to act by their arrises only.
When the triturator is combined with a thrashing machine, a straw-cutter,
having revolving knives, is interposed to cut up the straw as it leaves the threshing
machine before entering the triturator by which it is ground and delivered in
readiness for storing or for feeding purposes. Instead of employing a separate
straw-cutter, the straw may be cut up in the triturator itself, by substituting
cutting blades for some of the bars at the upper part of the vertical shaft c. The
triturator may also be entirely independent of the threshing machine, and other
alimentary substances, such as corn, roots, tubers, bulbous plants, etc., or saline
matters, may be ground up with the fodder in the triturator.
Referring now to Figures 3 to 8, which represent a modified arrangement in
which one in every pair of fixed bars is omitted, so that each revolving bar, instead
of passing between two pairs of fixed bars, one pair at either side of the revolving
shaft, passes under two fixed bars placed one on each side of the shaft, but in the

page_text: case of large machines there would be two or three pairs in each horizontal row
of fixed bars X arranged parallel and at opposite sides of the shaft upon which
are keyed pairs of bars y at right angles to each other. The distance between the
fixed and revolving barsis-regulated by adjusting the footstep bearing of the
shaft by means of a screw,,the,, said distance being but a few,millimetres,
according to the coarseness, of the straw, and the amount of trituration or grinding
required.
To enable the machine. to be carried upon a truck, 'the driving gear is mounted
above, as shewn in Figure 3, and the drum has eight outlets for the triturated
.fodder, around its base provided with mouths, as represented in Figure 4, dis-
charging in the direction of rotation of the arms and tangentially to the inner
circumference of the drum. The number of outlets may vary with the diameter of
the drum and the product is delivered regularly at successive opposite pairs of
outlets by the lowermost revolving arm Z which acts as a scraper and prevents
choking.
Figures 5, 6, and 7, shew the .continuously-acting straw-cutter, before referred
to as interposed between the triturator and the threshing machine when the two. are
employed in combination. It comprises two shafts B,, revolving in opposite
directions, upon one of which are keyed toothed discs M which seize the straw
transversely to its length as it is delivered from the thresher, the thickness of said
dises varying, with the length to which the straw is to be cut, which would be two,
three, or four, centimetres according to circumstances. Upon the, second shaft are
keyed steel knife-edged discs N placed one on either side of, and almost touching
each of, the toothed discs M.and separated one from the other by distance rings R
corresponding to the thickness of the discs M. The shafts are driven either by
band or toothed gearing, and the cutting apparatus is placed beneath a hopper
into which the straw is delivered by the thrashing machine and there seized by the
toothed discs and carried between them and the cutter discs whereby it is cut up
into short lengths which fall on to a shoot D by which it is delivered, either
directly or by means of an elevator, into the drum according to the height of the
latter relatively to that of the shaker of the threshing machine.
Figure 8 represents the triturator and straw-cutter combined with a.threshing
machine. The bearings of the shafts of the straw-cutter, the hopper, and shoot,
are all mounted at the delivery end of the threshing machine, the cut straw being
delivered by the shoot on to an elevator consisting of an endless web,passing round
rollers K.K and enclosed at the sides or altogether so as to prevent the straw
being blown about. The bearings of the lower roller K' are adjustable by screws,
for regulating the tension of the web, and motion is imparted to the upper roller K
by a band from the shaft by which, the triturator,shaft is operated. The elevator
is capable of pivoting upon the axis of the upper roller K, and being supported at
its lower end by an adjustable strut X, its. angle of inclination can be regulated at
will. The drum and elevator are shewn as mounted upon a truck for the purposes
of transport.
When the triturator and straw-cutter are not combined with a threshing
machine, the straw-cutter would be mounted immediately above the triturator.
Or the straw may be cut up in an ordinary chaff-cutter and fed.into, the triturator
drum by an elevator or otherwise. The straw may also be simply cut up by the
straw-cutter, which forms an efficient substitute for a chaff cutter, and the triturator
may, be dispensed with.
Dated this: 23rd day of January 1891.
L. VIGREUX.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent 'Agents.

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Cutting and Triturating Straw and other
Long Feed for Cattle.
1, LÉON VIGREUX of 16, Rue de Birague, Paris, France, Civil Engineer,
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 :-
My invention relates to improved apparatus for triturating straw or other
long feed for cattle with the object of softening it, in order that it may be easily
assimilated.
This preparation of the straw is of considerable importance in countries where.
forage, such as clover, hay, lucern, etc., are almost unknown owing to the
insufficiency of rain-fall for their production, and it has been hitherto imperfectly
performed, in a primitive way by means of plain or spiked rollers or vertical metal
discs which are dragged by animals over the straw laid in a circle upon the ground
and thus simultaneously effect the thrashing out of the grain and crushing of
the straw.
This operation possesses many disadvantages and would have long ago been
superseded by that of thrashing machines had the latter been provided with
means of reducing the straw to the condition to which it is brought by the rollers
or discs.
This object is attained by the employment of my apparatus, (which may either
be combined with, or form an adjunct to, a threshing machine or be used
separately, as illustrated in the drawings left with my Provisional Specification
and also in the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification, in which
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the machine, taken on line A OB
Figure 2 which is a part-sectional plan of the same. The same letters of reference
denote like parts in the two figures.
Figures 3 to 8 illustrate a modification, Figure 3 being a sectional elevation,
and Figure 4 a horizontal section, of the machine. Figure 5 is a part-sectional
front elevation of the straw-cutter, and Figure 6 an end elevation of the same
with its driving gear attached. Figure 7 shews details of the knives and toothed
discs drawn to a larger scale. Figure 8 shews the triturator, straw-cutter, and
elevator, combined with a threshing machine. The same letters of reference denote
like parts in Figures 3 to 8.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the triturating machine consists of a cylindrical
vessel a in which are fixed horizontal bars bb of iron or steel in four vertical rows
the bars of two of the rows crossing those of the other two rows at right angles and
arranged in pairs between which pass arms d keyed on a vertical shaft c mounted
in a bearing in frame f and passing through the bottom g of said drum and turning
in a footstep bearing in a frame i supported on standards h. The shaft c is driven
by bevel gear m n from a shaft v. The straw or other long feed after being cut
or chopped up is supplied continuously to the vessel a by a screw-conveyor or any
mechanical means, and is subjected to the action of the intermeshing fixed and
revolving bars. It is discharged continuously at two opposite outlets e e provided
with doors by which the outflow can be regulated. The speed of the shaft, the
depth of material operated on, the area of the delivery outlet, and the rate of feed,
would all vary according to the kind of-material being operated on, and the
fineness and softness required. The fixed bars b may either be of rectangular form
with sharp edges, as shewn, or the edges on their working faces may be chamfered,
while the revolving bars d may be of square section placed anglewise so as to act
by their arrises only.
When the triturator is combined with a thrashing machine, a straw-cutter,
having revolving knives, is interposed to cut up the straw as it leaves the threshing

page_text: The
machine before entering the triturator by which it is comminuted and delivered in
readiness for storing or for feeding purposes. Instead of employing a separate
straw-cutter, the straw may be cut up in the triturator itself, by substituting
cutting blades for some of the bars at the upper part of the vertical shaft c.
triturator may also be entirely independent of the threshing machine, and other
alimentary substances, such as corn, roots, tubers, bulbous plants, etc., or saline
matters, may be comminuted with the fodder in the triturator."
Referring now to Figures 3 to 8, which represent a modified arrangement in
which one in every pair of fixed bars is omitted, so that each revolving bar,
instead of passing between two pairs of fixed bars, one pair at either side of the
revolving shaft, passes under two fixed bars placed one on each side of the shaft,
but in the case of large machines there would be two or three pairs in each
horizontal row of fixed bars X arranged parallel and at opposite sides of the shaft
upon which are keyed pairs of bars y at right angles to each other. The distance
between the fixed and revolving bars is regulated by adjusting the footstep bearing
of the shaft by means of a screw, the said distance being but a few millimetres
according to the coarseness of the straw and the amount of trituration or grinding
required.
To enable the machine to be carried upon a truck, the driving gear is mounted
above, as shewn in Figure 3, and the drum has eight outlets for the triturated
fodder, around its base provided with mouths, as represented in Figure 4, dis-
charging in the direction of rotation of the arms and tangentially to the inner
circumference of the drum. The number of outlets may vary with the diameter of
the drum and the product is delivered regularly at successive opposite pairs of
outlets by the lowermost revolving arm which acts as a scraper and prevents
choking.
.
Figures 5, 6, and 7, shew the continuously-acting straw-cutter, before referred
to as interposed between the triturator and the threshing machine when the two
are employed in combination. It comprises two shafts B, C, revolving in opposite
directions, upon one of which are keyed toothed cast metal discs M which seize the
straw transversely to its length as it is delivered from the thresher, the thickness
of said discs varying with the length to which the straw is to be cut, which would
be two, three, or four, centimetres according to circumstances. Upon the second
shaft are keyed steel knife-edged discs N placed one on either side of, and almost
touching each of, the toothed dises M and separated one from the other by distance
rings R corresponding to the thickness of the discs M. The shafts are driven
either by band or toothed gearing, and the cutting apparatus is placed beneath a
hopper into which the straw is delivered by the thrashing machine and there seized
by the toothed dises and carried between them and the cutter discs whereby it is
cut up into-short lengths which fall on to a shoot D by which it is delivered, either
directly or by means of an elevator, into the drum according to the height of the
latter relatively to that of the shaker of the threshing machine.
Figure 8 represents the triturator and straw-cutter combined with a threshing
machine. The bearings of the shafts of the straw-cutter; the hopper, and shoot,
are all mounted at the delivery end of the threshing machine, the cut straw being
delivered by the shoot on to an elevator consisting of an endless web passing round
rollers K Kand enclosed at the sides or entirely so as to prevent the straw being
blown about: The bearings of the lower roller K are adjustable by screws, for
regulating the tension of the web, and motion is imparted to the upper roller K by
a band from the shaft by which the triturator shaft is operated. The elevator is
capable of pivoting upon the axis of the upper roller K and being supported at its
lower end by an adjustable strut X, its angle of inclination can be regulated at
will. The drum and elevator are shewn as mounted upon a truck for the purposes
of transport..
When the triturator and straw-cutter are not combined with a threshing machine,
the straw-cutter would be mounted immediately above the triturator. Or the
straw may be cut up in an ordinary chaff-cutter and-fed into the triturator drum by

page_text: an elevator or otherwise. The straw may also be simply cut up by the straw-
cutter, which forms an efficient substitute for a chaff cutter, and the triturator
may be dispensed with.
In a modified arrangement, shewn in Figures 9, 10 and 11, I substitute, for the
cutters before described, sets of radial iron or steel blades, arranged step-wise with
regard to each other, working between stationary straight cutters. The same
letters of reference represent the same parts in these three figures.
Thus
A is a horizontal shaft on which is mounted a series of discs C of the form
shewn, separated by washers B, of paste-board, or other light incompressible
material, of a thickness to suit the length to which the straw is to be cut up and
having radial blades in number according to the rate of supply desired, four
blades abcd being shewn in this example. The discs are so mounted on the
shaft A that the blades of each row shall be arranged stepwise or in the form of a
helix of variable pitch, according to the nature of the material to be cut up.
the blades a b c d¹ of the second disc of the set represented in Figure 9 are in
advance of a bed of the first disc and similarly the blades a" """ of the third
disc are in advance of a 'c' d' and so on. The washers B which separate the
discs are made of slightly less diameter than the disc from which the blades spring
so as to permit of the cutters D entering sufficiently between the discs to ensure
cutting action up to the roots of the blades. The discs and washers are secured
upon the shaft by nuts NO and jam-nuts M P screwing on the oppositely-
threaded ends of shaft A. The speed at which shaft A is driven depends on the
quantity of straw to be cut up per hour. The cutter blades D are formed in pairs
each composed of a steel plate of suitable thickness, bent to a
shape for
convenience in fixing and sharpened on both of its longitudinal edges, so that when
the cutters become dulled, each pair can be reversed and the other cutting edges
brought into position. Each pair of cutters is fixed, by means of flat-headed bolts,
to a cross-bar F of angle iron mounted on the bearings in which the journals Q R
of shaft A revolve in such manner as to be capable of longitudinal adjustment.
The length of the drum formed by the radial blades and of the row of stationary
cutters would depend on the length of the straw to be cut up, or the breadth of
the delivery of the thrashing or other machine from which the straw is received in
a hopper H, the cut straw being delivered by the shoot 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The herein described machine for comminuting or triturating straw or
other long feed for fodder wherein a combined continuous pressing and drawing
action is obtained by the inter-action of revolving and fixed arms, as shewn and
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 for the purpose specified.
2nd. The herein described continuous-acting straw-cutting device and triturating
or comminuting mill, capable of employment either separately or in combination
or of being combined with any kind of threshing machine.
3rd. In a machine for triturating straw or other long feed for cattle, the
employment of a set of rectilinear knives D in combination with sets of revolving
radial-bladed discs, as described and shewn in Figures 9, 10 and 11.
Daved this 2nd
TRIPAIS AV AT ATAhon IXU
LÉON VIGREUX.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.