IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COMBINED CHAFF ENGINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Maynard, jr., of Whittlesford, in the County of
Cambridge, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COMBINED
CHAFF ENGINES."
Sealed the 25th July 1879, and dated the 19th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Maynard at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th May 1879.
ROBERT MAYNARD, jr., of Whittlesford, in the County of Cambridge. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COMBINED CHAFF ENGINES."
"
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of chaff cutting machines
which are known as portable combined chaff engines," and which combine
together with the ordinary apparatus for cutting straw and hay into chaff appliances
for economising labour, including apparatus for sifting out the cavings or imperfectly
cut straw, elevating the chaff to a sufficient height to allow it to fall into bags, and
road wheels for travelling about.
This kind of chaff engine is now frequently employed in conjunction with a
portable thrashing machine for receiving the straw as rapidly as it is delivered from
the latter, which necessitates the chaff engine being worked at a much higher
velocity than ordinary chaff engines, whereby the danger and risk to the attendant
is greatly increased and sometimes results in serious injury being sustained by
him.
Now the object of my present Invention is not only to obviate the probability of
the occurrence of any such accident, but in case of the same arising through the
negligence of the attendant or otherwise to provide a means whereby he can escape
serious injury.
My Invention consists, firstly, of a series of bars jointed together laterally and
made by the motion of the main spindle of the machine to pass successively over
the lower feed roller, so carrying the feed along with them as they are impelled

page_text: forward, and obviating the necessity of the feeder pushing it along with his
hands.
The second part of my Invention consists of a suitable brake which is actuated
by a treadle movement, and which is so arranged as to act on a wheel connected.
with the main spindle of the machine, or against such main spindle itself, whereby
in case of the feeder's hands being involuntarily carried forward by the bars already
described, or by the straw, and becoming entangled, he can by placing his foot on
the treadle almost instantaneously arrest the forward movement of the bars,
together with the other parts of the mechanism, and escape serious injury.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Maynard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th October
1879.
ROBERT MAYNARD, junior, of Whittlesford, in the County of Cambridge.
PROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COMBINED CHAFF ENGINES."
"IM-
This Invention relates to improvements in portable combined chaff engines, by
which term I mean chaff engines in which are combined labour-saving parts,
including besides the parts for cutting straw and other like substances into chaff,
means for sifting out the cavings or imperfectly cut straw, elevating the chaff
sufficiently high for it to fall into bags, and are furnished with wheels for travelling
about.
Machines of this description are now much used for receiving the straw as fast as
it comes from a portable thrashing machine, and must consequently be worked at a
much higher velocity than ordinary chaff engines, and require greater precautions
against accidents to the attendants. The object of these improvements is to prevent
such accidents. They consist, firstly, of a series of bars jointed laterally together,
and made by the motion of the main spindle of the machine to pass successively
over the lower feed roller, so carrying the feed along with them and preventing the
necessity for the feeder pushing it along with his hands; and, secondly, of a brake
which is made to act upon or against a wheel connected with the main spindle, or
against the main spindle itself, which in case of the feeder's hands being carried
forward by the said bars and becoming entangled can be acted upon by his foot,
and so the motion of the bars and of all other parts be almost instantaneously stopped.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and readily carried
into effect, 1 will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, whereon similar
letters indicate corresponding parts, proceed more particularly to describe and
ascertain the same.
Fig. 1 of such Drawings represents a side view of a portable combined chaff
engine; Fig. 2, an end view of the same (the cover in front of the knife wheel
being removed); and Fig. 3 an enlarged view of the lateral bars hereinafter
described. A is the feed box; B, the main spindle driven by the pulley C and
carrying the knife-wheel D; E, E, are the travelling wheels; F, the riddle; G, the
shafts; and H, the elevator. I and I are the upper and lower feed rollers; J is
the steel mouthpiece; K, the rising presser plate; L, L, bars, which bars being
jointed laterally together either by being rivetted to straps M or by any other
suitable means pass over the lower feed roller I. The straw being placed on the
bars it is carried along by them till it is nipped between them and the upper feed
roller I, and its progress being continued by the motion of the bars and of the
upper roller it passes on between the mouthpiece J and the presser plate K. to the
knives.
N is a brake bolted at O to the framework which surrounds the knife-wheel, and
passing over the upper portion of the knife-wheel it is jointed to the short lever P,
which short lever is again jointed to the larger lever Q. It will be seen that by the
pressure of the feeder's foot on the lever the brake is brought down upon the
knife-wheel and by friction it stops it and all other parts of the machine.
I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement of the parts as herein before
described.
I do not lay claim to the Invention of the parts described separate from the kind
of machine described as a portable combined chaff engine, as it is possible that
some or all of them may have been used in other machines, but what I claim as
original is,
First. The use of a series of bars made to pass over the lower feed roller of

page_text: a portable combined chaff engine, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
Second. A brake actuated by any suitable mechanism acting upon or against a
wheel connected with the main spindle of such chaff engine or upon the main
spindle itself, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Maynard, junior, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the First day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-nine.
ROBERT MAYNARD, JUNIOR. (L.S.)