AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING GUARD FOR STEAM THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Musson Wilders, of Barkstone-in-the-
Vale, in the County of Leicester, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
SELF-ACTING GUARD FOR STEAM THRASHING MACHINES."
-ACTING GUARD FOR STEAM THRASHING MACHINES.
SELF-A
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Musson Wilders
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 21st April 1875.
I, JOSEPH MUSSON WILDERS, of Barkstone-in-the-Vale, in the County
of Leicester, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED SELF-ACTING GUARD FOR STEAM THRASHING MACHINES," to be as
follows:
-
My improvements relate to a self-acting guard for steam thrashing
machines. The said guard, the top of which is by preference curved in
cross section, is mounted over the drum of the thrashing machine. The
guard is supported at each end by a standard, in which the said guard is
pivoted, and works freely. A similar standard may also be provided in
the centre of the guard. These standards raise the guard about nine

page_text: inches above the level of the top of the machine. The guard is provided
with a weight attached to a chain, cord, or equivalent working over a
pulley at the back of the guard, the other end of the said cord, chain,
or equivalent being attached to the top of the guard. This weight keeps
the said guard elevated or open, but any weight falling on the top of the
guard causes it to close instantly.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Musson Wilders in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH :
MUSSON WILDERS, of Barkstonce-in-the-Vale, in the County of Leicester,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Musson Wilders,
Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Musson Wilders, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Joseph Musson Wilders, 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 "AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING GUARD FOR STEAM
THRASHING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Joseph Musson Wilders, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature 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.

page_text: hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
My improvements relate to a self-acting drum guard for steam
thrashing machines. The said guard, which is by preference curved in
cross section, is mounted over the drum of the thrashing machine. The
guard is supported at each end by a standard, in which the said guard is
pivotted, and works freely. A similar standard may also be provided in
the centre of the guard. These standards raise the guard above the level
of the top of the machine. The guard is provided with a weight
attached to a cord, chain, or equivalent working over a pulley at the
back of the guard, the other end of the said cord, chain, or equivalent
being attached to the top of the guard. This weight keeps the said
guard elevated or open, but any weight falling on the top of the guard
causes it to close instantly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing my improved guard fitted
to a thrashing machine; Figure 2 is a plan of the same. Like letters
indicate like parts in both Figures.
A is the drum of the thrashing machine; B, the mouth of the drum ;
and C, the feeding box; D is my improved guard, which may be con-
structed of any suitable material. The said guard is mounted over the
mouth of the drum upon standards E, in which it is pivotted, and works
freely. These standards E raise the guard D above the level of the top
of the thrashing machine. A chain or cord F or equivalent is attached
to the centre of the front of the guard D. This cord or chain works
over a pulley G mounted on a standard H at the back of the guard, a
weight I being attached to the other end of the said cord or chain F.
While the corn is being fed into the drum the guard is retained by the
weight I in an elevated position, but any weight coming on the top of
the guard causes it to fall and cover the mouth of the drum, as shown
by the dotted lines, Figure 1.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and shown how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I

page_text: claim the self-acting drum guard or protector for thrashing machines,
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Musson Wilders, have
hercunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- 5
five.