IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STRAW SHAKING APPARATUS OF THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Oliver Maggs, of Bourton Foundry, Dorset, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STRAW SHAKING APPARATUS OF
THRASHING MACHINES."
Sealed the 5th September 1856, and dated the 11th March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Oliver Maggs at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th March 1856.
I, OLIVER MAGGS, of Bourton Foundry, Dorset, do hereby declare the
nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STRAW SHAKING APPARatus
OF THRASHING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the straw shaking
apparatus of thrashing machines. For this purpose, a series of axes at a.
distance from each other (each having several projecting radial arms formed
or fixed on either side) are geared or connected together, and caused simul-
taneously to rotate in such manner that the radiating arms or projections of
one axis may pass freely between those of the next axis on either side, and
the connection or gearing is such, that when the arms of one axis is in a

page_text: horizontal plane the next are in a vertical plane, by which the straw and
other matters are in succession passed from the arms or radial projections of
one axis on to the radial arms or projections of the next axis, and thereby are
well shaken, and so on, according to the number of axes with their radial arms
or projections, which are used in constructing a straw shaker of a thrashing
machine. The arms or projections of the lower axis move through a fixed
grating in order to prevent any straw or matters getting through without
being shaken.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Oliver Maggs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th September 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, OLIVER
MAGGS, of Bourton Foundry, Dorset, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by. Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Oliver Maggs, Her special licence that I, the said Oliver Maggs, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Oliver
Maggs, 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 THE
STRAW SHAKING APPARATUS OF THRASHING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Oliver Maggs, 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 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
d'imme-
diately after the date of the sail Letters Patent.
"NOW KNOW YE; that 1, the said Oliver Maggs, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention and in what "nanner the Same' is 'to be 'per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statenient thereof," that is to say-

page_text: This Invention has for its object improvements in the straw: shaking
apparatus of thrashing -machines. For this purpose, a series of axes at a
distance from each other (each having several projecting radial arms formed
or fixed on either side) are geared, or connected together, and caused simul-
taneously to rotate in such manner that the radiating, arms or projections of
one axis may pass freely between those of the next axis on, either side, and
the connection or gearing is such, that when the arms of one axis is in a
horizontal plane the next are in a vertical plane, by which the straw and
other matters are in succession passed from the arms or radial projections of
one axis on to the radial arms or projections of the next axis, and thereby are
well shaken, and so on, according to the number of axes with their radial arms
or projections, which are used in constructing a straw shaker of a thrashing
machine. The arms or projections of the lower axis move through a fixed
grating in order to prevent any straw or matters getting through without
being shaken.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a straw shaking apparatus arranged
or combined according to my Invention. Figure 2 shows one of the rotating
shakers separately. Figure 3 shows a plan of the grating, between the bars
of which one of the rotating shakers works. The forms of the arms or pro-
jections may be varied, and Figure 4 shows a series, each being somewhat
different; I, however, prefer the simple straight arm. These rotating shakers
revolve simultaneously, and the arms of each are constantly at right angles to
the arms of the rotating shakers on either side of it. a, a, are a series of
axes having arms or projections a'. These axes have cranks at their ends,
which by means of suitable rods are caused to retain the same relative
positions in their rotation. On the arms a¹ there is fixed a narrow strip of
wood or other material a³, as shewn. 6 is the bottom of the shaker, and
conveys the corn to a screen or other receptacle placed for it; d, d, are the
boarded sides of the shaker, to prevent the straw getting away from the
rotating shakers sideways; c is a board on which the straw falls; e is a
grating to separate "cavings" from the straw; f is a grating, which prevents
any straw falling into the corn, and enables the lower rotating shaker a, by its
projections a passing through the grating f, to take the straw from the bars
of the grating f.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is the
combination herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Oliver Maggs, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,..
HENRY GOODFELLOW,
Bourton, Dorset.
OLIVER MAGGS. (L.S.).