Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 11th Feb., 1887.
1 EDWIN FODEN of Sandbach in the County of Chester 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 :-
The objects of this invention are first to simplify the mechanism employed for
actuating the shakers, tray, and riddle boxes of thrashing machines and so to arrange
the same as to be convenient of access for oiling or other purposes; and secondly to
improve the construction of the drop box employed for dressing the grain between the
Scourer and the screen of such machines.
The first part of my invention consists principally in the use of a single crank shaft
for actuating the shakers tray and riddle boxes, such crank-shaft being made with
either two or more cranks placed inside the side frames, but I prefer to use five cranks
arranged so that any required length of throw can be given to the riddle boxes,
tray, and shakers independent of each other, the shaft being situated at the front, or
straw delivery end of the machine so as to be easily accessible for oiling or otherwise.
On the drawings annexed to this Specification Fig. 1. is a longitudinal section and
Fig. 2. an end view of so much of a thrashing machine as is necessary to illustrate the
first part of my invention. Fig. 3 is a view of the crank shaft detached.
a, a are the shakers, b, the tray, and e, e the riddle box.
d, d is the crank-shaft which is supported in suitable bearings, and is situated at the
straw delivery end of the machine, between the tray, b, b and the riddle box c, c.
In the drawing the crankshaft is shown as made with five cranks (see detached
view Fig. 3.) and it is made with a double bearing at e, e at the centre which gives it
stability, and adds considerably to the life or durability of the shaft.
Upon the two inner cranks (when five are used) are mounted two brackets g, y
which are bolted directly to the front ends of the shakers a a one bracket to the first
and third, and the other to the second and fourth as shown at Fig. 2, so that they
work alternately.
The other ends of the shakers a a are attached by brackets h, to spring blades i,
or to other suitable hangers. Between the two inner cranks f, is a central crank k, k

page_text: which works the tray b, by means of a connecting rod 1,1 or spring blade attached
to its under side.
1,
And the two outer cranks me, in are attached by spring blades or connecting rods.
to the top side of the riddle box c, e so that they are all driven from one crank shaft d,d
placed at the front end of the machine as before described and illustrated, and there
are no cranks or excentrics outside the frame.
The second part of my invention is illustrated by the detached sectional view. Fig. 4.
and relates to an improvement upon the construction of thrashing machines for which
I obtained Letters Patent No. 8934 dated July 24th 1885.
It consists in the insertion of additional louvre boards or plates o, o and in the
formation of additional air inlets, and outlets p,p in the vertical pipe or drop
box D, D whereby I am enabled to obtain additional currents of air to act on or dress
the grain on its passage from the scourer or smutter A, A, to the screen B, B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First. Mounting a crank shaft, with two or more cranks inside the side framing of
a thrashing machine at the straw delivery end, and between the tray and the riddle
box, so as to be convenient of access for oiling or otherwise, and connecting the shakers
tray, and riddle box thereto substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly I claim the additional louvre boards air inlets and air outlets in the
vertical pipe or drop box of thrashing machines between the scourer or smutter and
the screen substantially as described and illustrated on the drawings annexed.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.