CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEARING GRAIN FROM THE EAR' OR 'STALE, AND FOR BREAKING OR CUTTING THE STRAW INTO PROVENDER FOR CATTLE, AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1799

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PALMER, of Maxstock, in the County of Warwick, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of' Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Sixth day of December, in the fortieth year of His
reign, give and grant unto me, the said John Palmer, His especial" licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said John Palmer, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, during the term therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEARING GRAIN FROM THE EAR' OR 'STALE, AND FOR
BREAKING OR CUTTING THE STRAW INTO PROVENDER FOR CATTLE, AND OTHER USEFUL
PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging
me, the, said John Palmer, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, 'to be inrolled in His
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within one calendar month next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the
same (relation being thereunto had) may more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said John
Palmer, do hereby declare, that the improvements I have made on machinery
now in use for clearing grain from the car or stalk, and for breaking or
cutting the straw into provender for cattle, are generally as follows:-
First, when the machine is worked by horses, I so construct the horse wheel
as to prevent the horses from being injured by the machine in case of accident,
and the machine from being damaged by the horses, should they happen to
fall or stop suddenly.
Secondly, in aflixing a friction roller, or sometimes two, under the edge of
the horse wheel, which prevents the wheel from being overstrained.
Thirdly, in so affixing the horse yokes to the levers by which the horses
work the machine, that they may be slided backward or forward upon the
levers at pleasure, by which means horses of different paces may be made to
work together more conveniently.
Fourthly, when the machinery is worked by water by means of that well-
known property of fluids, their equal pressure in all directions, according to
their perpendicular_height, without any regard to quantity, or, as it is called by
some, the hydrostatic paradox, and by others the Cornish principle, I apply a
new kind of valves, herein-after mentioned, much superior to those in common
use. Their advantages are, that they open a larger aperture by moving
through the same space, and require less power to open and shut them.
Fifthly, in making the cylinder upon which the beaters are fixed of iron,
and the beaters also of the same metal.
Sixthly, in so constructing the feeding rollers that they adjust themselves to
the quantity of grain they receive.
Seventhly, in placing an adjusting plane or board before the feeding rollers,
with regulating screws, to prevent too large a quantity of grain from being
drawn into the machine at any one time.
Eighthly, in applying a cylinder to separate the grain from the straw after it
has been thrashed.
Ninthly, in the cutting part of the machine, the feeding rollers adjust them-
selves to the quantity of provender they receive, similar to those in the
thrashing part of the machine before mentioned. These rollers stop while
the knife is cutting, and the provender is stationary during that operation.
The pressure in the cutting end of the box is taken off the provender while
it is drawn forward by the rollers, and it is pressed during the cutting only.
The Drawings and Figures hereunto annexed, and the following references
thereto, will more clearly explain the nature and principles of the several
improvements I have made to this machinery; and it may be here proper to

page_text: observe, that in the said Drawings and Figures several things are delineated
which form no part of my Invention, but are shown for the purpose of clearly
ascertaining the said improvements, and how they are to be applied.
Figure 1 a vertical shaft, of cast iron or wood, upon which the ratch wheel
M, Figure 2, and the horse wheel N, Figure 3, are fixed; D, D, Figure 1;
parts of the shaft to which the arms or levers are affixed, as described at E, E,
Figure 5; F, a flanch or flange, upon which the ratch wheel, Figure 2, is
fixed by pins G, G, G, G; and H, H, two small blocks of wood or iron, which
fit into two grooves or notches, one of which grooves is shewn at I, Figure 1 ;
Figure 3, N, under side of horse wheel, spring, and click. Figure 4, I, a
section of the shaft at I, Figure 1, the underside of the flanch F, the ratch
wheel M, horse wheel N, spring and click A, B, and two small friction
wheels K, K, which support the horse wheel, and prevent its being over-
strained by the resistance or pressure of the nut O, Figure 5. The horse
wheel is placed on the ratch wheel and shaft, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, so
that it will turn upon the shaft and ratch in the direction that the machine is
working by its vis inertice, and the shaft and ratch become stationary when the
horses stop, but the horses cannot go forward without turning the horse wheel
in the direction they are moving. When the horses go forward the horse and
ratch wheels are locked or fastened together by the click A, Figure 4, which
is held in the teeth of the ratch by the spring B, fix'd on the wheel with pins.
The click A is fixed to an arm of the horse wheel by the pin and box C.
Figure 5, a perspective Drawing of the shaft Figure 1, the flanch F, the ratch
wheel M, the horse wheel N, one of the friction rollers K, pinion O, gudgeon P,
and the horizontal shaft Q, which communicates the motion to the other part of
the machine. R, the lever or arm to which the horse yoke U is affixed by means
of the iron plates and pins S, which are so contrived that the yoke and plates
may be moved backward or forward upon the lever at pleasure, but must be fixed
or stationary when the horses are at work. E, E, two pins by which the said
arm or lever, or arms and levers if more than one horse is used, are fixed to
the shaft. T, a post on which the bottom gudgeon of the shaft works. The
above-mentioned principles may be applied with advantage to many other
machines which are worked by horses or other cattle. V, my improved
cylinder, on which the beaters are to be fixed. W. a pulley on the spindle of
the cylinder. represented by dotted lines, which works the strap that gives
motion to the undermost feeding roller. X, the stage. Y, Y, the feeding
rollers. Z. the spring affixed to the undermost feeding roller, by means of the
frame A, which turns on a pin B. By the action of one or more such springs,
aflixed as aforesaid, the said rollers Y, Y, are always adjusted to the quantity

page_text: of grain they receive. A spiral spring or springs may be used in lieu of those
above mentioned, if thought more convenient. C, a pulley on the spindle of
the under feeding roller, represented by dotted lines. D, the adjusting plane
or board placed before the feeding rollers, with the regulating screws g, g,
above mentioned.. The dotted lines, h, h, shew the bed of the machine.
Figure 11, an oblique view of my improved cylinder, with one of the
beaters a thereon, both made of iron. The number of beaters affixed on this
cylinder may be eight or nine, more or less, at pleasure. 6, frame. or arms
fixed in the end of the cylinder, with a hole in the centre, in which a spindle
of iron or steel, or both united, is to be affixed. The end of the cylinder may
be closed to prevent the grain or straw from getting into it.
Figure 12, a cylinder attached to my improved machinery by means of a
pulley and strap, which is worked by another pulley on the spindle of the
wheel c, Figure. 5, and separates the grain from the straw when thrashed by
means of the rows of teeth d, d, d, d, fixed on the cylinder. These teeth draw
the straw over the concave screen of wire e, and deliver it from the machine.
This cylinder and screen are fixed behind the cylinder V, Figure 5, con-
sequently could not be shewn in that Drawing. When. the machinery.is
worked by water I use a new kind of valve, Figure 6, a hollow cylinder of
iron, or any material sufficiently strong, with apertures or openings in its sides
at or near the bottom, as represented at A, with a flange or rim B at the
bottom. It may be turn'd smooth and cylindrical on the outside, the bore
open at the bottom C, but closed or stopped at the top of the apertures D.
The part of, the cylinder above D answers no other purpose than that of the
stuffing box sliding upon it.
Figure 7, a hollow cylinder, collar, or stuffing box, of a larger diameter than
the cylinder Figure 6, with or without flanges or rims.
Figure 8 represents the cylinder Figure 6, and the collar or stuffing box
Figure. 7 placed thereon, so as to close or shut the apertures. A, Figure 6.
:
Figure 9: F, a trough or. conduit, upon which the cylinder Figure 6 is
fixed, with the collar or, stuffing box Figure 7 thereon, to shut or close the
apertures A, which, when shut, will then appear as H, with a circular hole in
the said, conduit at G, nearly corresponding with the bore of the cylinder
Figure 6. The said cylinder .must be fixed firm and water-tight to the
conduit by its flange, with a bore over the hole at G, so as to make a free
passage for the water through the apertures A into the conduit F. H, a
similar cylinder and stuffing box, with the apertures A shut, fixed on the
conduit as described at A, G. K, a shutter fixed to the end of the conduit
for the purpose of cleansing it of such matters as may happen to be collected

page_text: therein, and prevent the water from passing freely through it and issuing
from the valve, as represented in Figure 17. These valves may be placed
occasionally under the conduit, instead of upon it, as herein-before described.
Figure 10, the valves and conduit Figure 9; also a larger cylinder L,
Figure 10, with flanges fix'd firm and water-tight to the conduit F, over the
cylinders or valves A. The top of the cylinder L must be fixed to the conduit
M in the same manner as to the conduit F. The cylinder L should be
sufficiently capacious to leave a space round the valve A to admit the water
freely to it. The conduit M may communicate with the pond or head water
by any of the usual methods. An aperture must be made on the upper said of
the conduit M, of the diameter of the bore of the cylinder L, to which must
be affixed a shutter or' lid N, water-tight, which may be opened and shut at
pleasure, for the purpose of clearing the valve A. The lid N must have a hole
in or near the center, through which the rod O is to work, upon which is to
be fixed a stuffing box P. A section of the said stuffing box P, the conduit
M, and the large cylinder L, above mentioned, which shews the valve and rod
more clearly. The rods and frames O, R, open and shut the valves A, H.
The valves may be opened and shut by any of the methods now used to open and
shut the valves of steam engines; a cylinder S, open at each end, piston and
rod, similar to those in common use, which is represented, by a transparent
Drawing, shewing the piston and rod by dotted lines. 'It may be sometimes
more convenient to make Figure 7 sinaller than Figure 6, in order to place the
the former within the latter, which will answer the purposes of the valve
described under Figure 8; a lid, or cap and stuffing, box being placed upon
Figure 6, similar to that described at N, Figure 10. It will sometimes be
more convenient to make the conduit F in two distinct parts, and fix one to
cach side of the great cylinder, the bottom of the said cylinder being formed
liko that of a common steam engine, except having apertures in its sides
corresponding with the hollow part of the conduit. The great cylinder 'S may
be made to answer the purpose of Figure 8, apertures being made in its sides
similar to Figure 6, and' a collar, the same as Figure 7, fitted thereon. The
valves A and H open and shut alternately. The water entering the conduit at
A, the valve H being shut, forces up the piston and rod in the cylinder S, as
far as is required; then the valve A is shut, and the valve H opened, by which
means the water in the cylinder descends and gushes out at the apertures, as.
described in Figure 17, and the piston resumes its former situation. Note,
the cylinder and piston S, and conduits F, M, constitute no part of my Inven-
tion; but it seemed expedient to describe them, in order to make the principle.
of my valves clearly understood, which valves may be also applied to various

page_text: other useful purposes; and these valves, with the conduits and cylinders, may
be made in any other proportions that may be deemed convenient.
Figure 13, chaff-cutting machine in common use, which is described, that
my improvements thereon my be understood. A, the box which contains
the provender for cutting. B, spindle on which the spiral worm C is fix'd.
D, wheel whereon the knife and winch F are placed. G, wheel turn'd by
the worm C. H, another wheel turn'd by G, upon the spindles of which
wheels are placed within the box A two feeding rollers that draw the pro-
vender forward to be cut.
Figure 14 shews the improvement made by me on the spiral worm C,
Figure 18, and part of the wheel a, which it drives. b, inclined plane, which
acts on the said wheel, that turns the feeding rollers within the box, and draws
the provender forward to be cut. c, a continuation of the said plane, at right
angles with its axis, by which the wheel a is kept stationary while the knife is
cutting; and when the knife has finished its cut the inclined plane d begins to
press forward the wheel a, which puts the rollers again into motion, and brings
forward the provender for a second cut. If more than two knives are used, the
number of inclined planes must be increased; viz, one inclined plane for each
knife.
Figure 15, a perspective view of my improved chaff cutter. A, the box
to contain the provender for cutting. B, spindle on which the improved partly
spiral worms or planes C, C, are placed. D, wheel whereon the knife or
knives are fixed. F, the winch. G, H, wheels which are turn'd by C, C.
On the spindle of G is placed one of the feeding rollers c, within the box A.
The spindle of H is contained under the box to the contrary side, and a pulley
fixed thereon, which gives motion to a pulley I, on the spindle of the upper
roller d, by means of a crossed strap, as shewn by the dotted lines a, a, a, a.
K, a spring which presses upon the spindle of the upper roller; and the dotted
lines represent a similar spring on the contrary side of the box. L, a
curved groove or mortice in the sides of the box A, in which the spindles of
the upper roller rise or fall, and adjusts the roller to the quantity of provender
in the box to be cut. This roller presses the provender by the power of the
springs K, b, acting upon its spindles. Spiral springs may be used instead of
those above mentioned. M, a pulley by which this machine my be con-
nected, by means of a strap, with another pulley k, on the shaft Q of the
thrashing machine, Figure 5, and worked by the same power.
Figure 16, end view of the wheel D, and knife E fixed thereon, the end of
the box A, the feeding rollers c, d, wheel G, pulley I, and the pressing
block e, which holds the provender firm while cutting. f, the spring which

page_text: acts on the pressing block e. g, a lever turning on the pin h, and small
friction roller i, by means whereof the spring and pressing block above men-
tioned are raised, while the provender is drawn forward by the rollers to be
cut. k, k, k, an arch or projection fixed on the back of the wheel D, whose
inner circle, forming a shorter radius than the extremity of the lever g and
roller i, when coming in contact with the last-mentioned roller, presses down
the end of the lever g and raises the contrary end, which closes the spring f,
and lifts the block e. If more than one knife is used, the projection k, k, k, on
the wheel D, must be increased, one projection to one knife, two projections
to two knives, and so on.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Palmer, have to these Presents
my hand and seal subscribed and set, this Fourth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred.
stamp'd), in the presence of
CHAR³ JONES.
CHA E. JONES.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Fourth day of January,
0 in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid John Palmer came before our
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing there contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tens of the
Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Fourth day of January, in the year above written,