IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest de Pass, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GRAIN THRASHING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Jonathan
Brown, of Malahide, in the County of Elgin, Ontario, Dominion of Canada,
Yeoman.
Sealed the 25th June 1878, and dated the 17th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest de Pass at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1878.
ERNEST DE PASS, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN THRASHING MACHINES." A communi-
cation from abroad by Jonathan Brown, of Malahide, in the County of Elgin,
Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Yeoman.
The object of this Invention is to adapt a grain thrashing machine to thrash
grass, clover, flax, and other seeds; and it consists in fitting the feed box with an
angular block having a concavity coinciding with the thrashing cylinder to contract
the feed aperture to an opening at one end, and a block having a concavity fitted
to the frame at the back of the cylinder, and a block having an adjustable exten-
sion to contract the delivery aperture, whereby when thrashing clover and grass
seed the feed is at the peripheral end of the cylinder, and the delivery at the opposite
end, thus causing the material to be thrashed to traverse the cylinder many times
spirally before passing therefrom.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest de Pass in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th July
1878.
ERNEST DE PASS, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN THRASHING MACHINES." A communica-
tion from abroad by Jonathan Brown, of Malahide, in the County of Elgin, Ontario,
Dominion of Canada, Yeoman.
The object of this Invention is to adapt a grain thrashing machine to thrash
grass, clover, flax, and other seeds. It consists in fitting the feed box with an
angular block having a concavity coinciding with the thrashing cylinder to contract
the feed aperture to an opening at one end, and a block having a concavity fitted
to the frame at the back of the cylinder, and a block having an adjustable exten-
sion to contract the delivery aperture, whereby when thrashing clover and grass
seed the feed is at the peripheral end of the cylinder, and the delivery at the opposite
end, thus causing the material to be thrashed to traverse the cylinder many times
spirally before passing therefrom.
Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a portion of a grain thrasher with my
improvements; Figure 2 is a top view of the same; Figure 3, an end view on the
line x, x.
Figure 4 is a top view showing feed at end of cylinder.
a represents a frame of any suitable description, in one end of which is journaled
the thrashing cylinder b, which may be of a construction preferred. Closing the
back of the frame or box in which the cylinder works is the concave c, made of iron,
wood, or other material, and having a number of ribs or conveyors & formed upon
its inner surface; these ribs incline towards each end from the centre, so that when
the cylinder revolves the seed will be forced around towards each end.
In order to make the distance the said seed shall travel longer or shorter, as it
may be desired to thrash them more or less, a slide e is attached to each end on the
back of the concave, which slide may be drawn out to any desired extent beyond
the end of the concave, so as to decrease the size of the opening through which the
seed is discharged, and increase the distance the seed must travel.
In the mouth of the machine are placed two blocks f, having their inner sides
tapered, as shown, so as to guide the seed directly to the centre of the cylinder, and
which blocks are held in their proper position by means of the board g, which is
placed between them. The inner ends of both of these blocks are also provided
with ribs or conveyors d, so constructed as to convey the seed toward each end of
the cylinder. By thus using spiral flanges upon the concave and the blocks, and
teeth upon the cylinder, fully one-half more speed is gained than when teeth only
are used, as the ribs act on the principle of the screw, and thus carry the seed around
more rapidly.
As the seed issues from both ends of the thrashing frame or box they pass out
upon the shaker h, and distribute themselves evenly over its surface.
When but a single block i is used, and the feed is all on one side, the seed is
made to travel the whole length of the cylinder, and issues upon the shaker h at one
end only. In order to distribute the seed evenly over the shaker in this instance,
the hinged door j is used, against which the seed strikes, and then rebounds' across
the shaker. Upon the inside of this door, which can be swung back out of the way
when not needed, is the slide 7, which can be moved downwards so that its bottom
edge will almost touch the shaker or apron.
In the bottom of the frame under the cylinder is placed a suitable grating m,
through which, when the machine is used for thrashing grain, passes into a recep-
tacle below.

page_text: When the machine is to be used for thrashing clover or other seed, the cover n is
passed over the grating so as to cover it completely, and thus cause the seed to move
towards one or both ends of the cylinder.
The outer end of the shaker is perforated as shown, and under this end is placed
a shoe o.
When there is straw mixed with the seed, and it becomes necessary to separate
them, a moveable extension bolt p is slipped over the end of the shaker, which,
being perforated, allows the seed to pass through while the straw passes over
the end.
In the front end of the shoe, under the perforations in the end of the shaker, is
secured the perforated board or plate q, upon which the seed fall, and which board
or plate conveys them upon the upper end of the sieve. Through this plate and
sieve the seed fall upon the inclined surface below, and run off.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The combination of the cylinder b, concave c, and one or two blocks i, f, the
concave and blocks being provided with the spiral ribs d, whereby the seed is dis-
charged at one or both ends of the cylinder, substantially as shown.
Second. The ribs d upon the inner surface surrounding the cylinder, whereby
the seed is carried round spirally and made to move faster, substantially as
described.
Third. The hinged door j and slide 1 for distributing the seed over the surface of
the shaker, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The grating m under the cylinder b in combination with the cover n, sub-
stantially as specified.
Fifth. The moveable extension bolt p in combination with the shaker h, substan-
tially as shown.
Sixth: The board or plate o secured in the front end of the shoe so as to catch the
seed as it falls through the shaker h and convey it to the screen, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest de Pass, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.