IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIXED AND PORTABLE COMBINED THRASHING MACHINES.
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Allam Barrett, William Exall, Charles James
Andrewes, and Alfred Barrett, all of Reading, in the County of Berks,
Engineers, and John Leakey Bowhay, of Modbury, in the County of
Devon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND
CONSTRUCTION OF FIXED AND PORTABLE COMBINED THRASHING MACHINES.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Allam Barrett,
William Exall, Charles James Andrewes, Alfred Barrett, and John Leakey
Bowhay at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 4th July 1868.
We, GEORGE ALLAM BARRETT, WILLIAM EXALL, CHARLES JAMES ANDREWES,
and ALFRED BARRETT, all of Reading, in the County of Berks, Engineers, and
JOHN LEAKEY BOWHAY, of Modbury, in the County of Devon, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT
AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIXED AND PORTABLE COMBINED THRASHING MACHINES, to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the arrangement and con-
struction of portable and fixed combined thrashing machines, and consists in
the combination and arrangement of various parts into a machine, by means of
which grain, after being thrashed, may be dressed and finished for the market.
by simply passing the same once through a common blower. For this purpose
the thrashing drum is arranged to work in a concave "breasting" or grating,

page_text: at the bottom of which a metal plate or board is suspended, capable of adjust-
ment, so as to check the grain in its passage from the thrashing drum to the
66
peg drum" and separators below. This suspended adjustable plate or board
also prevents the grain from being thrown upon the incline underneath the
shakers. The revolving "peg drum" before referred to is by preference fur-
nished with metal pegs or projections set at an angle to carry before them the
"pulse" or "cavings," so as to discharge the same at the back or side of the
machine, whilst the grain and chaff pass through the holes or apertures in
the "breastwork" or separator which surrounds the lower circumference of
the "peg drum." The "breastwork" or separator is made of strong wood or
metal, supported in cast-iron or other ends, and having holes or openings so
arranged that the chaff and grain may readily pass through them, whilst the
"cavings" are carried away by the pegs or projections on the " peg drum"
and discharged from the machine. The holes or openings in the "breast-
work" or separator are conically formed, the narrow part being uppermost, so
as to check the grain from passing away with the "cavings," and to facilitate
its passage through the "breastwork," the back part of which is moveable
upon joints to admit of adjustment to facilitate the exit or discharge of the
"cavings," according to the particular description of grain which is for the time
being thrashed by the machine. Above or near the back of the "peg drum"
an adjustable rotary "cleaner" is arranged to clean or clear the pegs or pro-
jections on the "peg drum" from any "cavings" that may adhere thereto, such
"cavings" being thrown by the "cleaner" on to an incline, which conducts the
"cavings away from the machine. This "cleaner" may either be formed as
a brush fanner or otherwise. A board or shutter is applied to the passage for
the discharge of the "cavings," such shutter being adjustable so as to check
the "cavings" in their passage outwards, and also capable of being closed to
make the back part of the machine secure. As the grain and chaff pass
through the "breastwork" or separator, it falls upon an incline, which con-
ducts it downwards to the front of a "blower" or fan, the air from which
carries the chaff up an incline and through a discharge passage, there being an
adjustable board hinged to the upper part of the incline to regulate the width
of the discharge passage as required. The grain falls into a perforated hollow
trough, which allows the seed and very light grain to fall through it, whilst the
heavier grain is conducted along the trough by means of an ordinary "aviller"
into a position to be raised by an "elevator" (which we prefer to be on the pneu-
matic principle) into the "sack box." The "sack box" is so arranged that
any light grain or chaff which may have escaped from the first "blower" is
readily separated from the clean grain.
For this purpose a board is fixed at

page_text: a suitable angle for the grain to fall thereon as it is delivered by the "ele-
vator;" and in connection with this incline there is a moveable inclined board
actuated by a rack and pinion, and on to and over the edge of this board the
light grain and chaff are carried by the current of air from the "elevator," the
heavier grain falling down the incline into a box arranged to receive it.:
Should any of the best grain be carried over the adjustable incline just
described with the chaff and light grain, it falls upon a second adjustable
incline arranged similarly to that just described, the light grain and chaff being
carried over the upper edge of this second incline into a suitable receptacle
arranged to receive it, the heavier grain falling into the box, as before
described. The straw is caused to pass between the thrashing drum and the
concave grating or perforated surface to the straw shakers, and thence to the.
straw rack at the end of the machine. Any grain that may have passed with
the straw falls through between the shakers on to an incline, and is carried
down it by means of small "cleaners" or scrapers fixed on the under side of
the straw shakers into the breast or separator, these "cleaners" by their
revolving action working parallel with the shakers and board underneath.
Longitudinal wires with cross bars of peculiar form are combined with the
straw shakers to prevent the short straws from passing away with the
cavings."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Allam Barrett, William Exall, Charles James
Andrewes, Alfred Barrett, and John Leakey Bowhay in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th January 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
ALLAM BARRETT, WILLIAM EXALL, CHARLES JAMES ANDREWES, and ALFRED
BARRETT, all of Reading, in the County of Berks, Engineers, and JOHN
LEAKEY BOWHAY, of Modbury, in the County of Devon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said George Allam Barrett, William Exall, Charles James Andrewes,
Alfred Barrett, and John Leakey Bowhay, Her special licence that we, the
said George Allam Barrett; William Exall, Charles James Andrewes, Alfred
Barrett, and John Leakey, Bowhay, our executors, administrators, and assigns,.

page_text: or such others as we, the said George Allam Barrett, William Exall, Charles
James Andrewes, Alfred Barrett, and John Leakey Bowhay, our 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 ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION
OF FIXED AND PORTABLE COMBINED THRASHING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said George Allam Barrett, William Exall,
Charles James Andrewes, Alfred Barrett, and John Leakey Bowhay, our exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands
and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said George Allam Barrett, William Exall,
and Charles James Andrewes, on behalf of ourselves and the said Alfred
Barrett and John Leakey Bowhay, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that
is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the arrangement and con-
struction of portable and fixed combined thrashing machines, and consists in
the combination and arrangement of various parts into a machine, by means of
which grain, after being thrashed, may be dressed and finished for the market
by simply passing the same once through a common blower. For this purpose
the thrashing drum is arranged to work in a concave "breasting" or grating,
at the bottom of which a metal plate or board is suspended, capable of adjust-
ment so as to check the grain in its passage from the thrashing drum to the
peg drum," and separators below. This suspended adjustable plate or board
also prevents the grain from being thrown upon the incline underneath the
shakers: The revolving peg drum before referred to is by preference furnished
with metal pegs or projections set at an angle to carry before them the "pulse"
or "cavings," so as to discharge the same at the back or side of the machine,
whilst the grain and chaff pass through the holes or apertures in the breast-
work or separator which surrounds the lower circumference of the "peg drum."
The breastwork or separator is made of strong wood or metal supported in
cast-iron or other ends, and having holes or openings so arranged that the

page_text: chaff and grain may readily pass through them, whilst the cavings are carried
away by the pegs or projections on the peg drum and discharged from the
machine. The holes or openings in the breastwork or separator are conically
formed, the narrow part being uppermost, so as to check the grain from
passing away with the cavings, and to facilitate its passage through the breast-
work, the back part of which is moveable upon joints to admit of adjustment
to facilitate the exit or discharge of the cavings, according to the particular
description of grain which is for the time being thrashed by the machine.
Above or near the back of the peg drum an adjustable rotary cleanser. is
arranged to clean or clear the pegs or projections on the peg drum from any
cavings that may adhere thereto,. such cavings being thrown by the cleaner on
to an incline, which conducts the cavings away from the machine. This
cleaner may either be formed as a brush fanner or otherwise. A board or
sbutter is applied to the passage for the discharge of the cavings, such shutter
being adjustable, so as to check the cavings in their passage outwards, and
also capable of being closed to make the back part of the machine secure...As
the grain and chaff pass through the breast work or separator, it falls upon an
incline, which conducts it downwards to the front of a blower or fan, the air
from which carries the chaff up an incline, and through a discharge passage,
there being an adjustable board hinged to the upper part of the incline to
regulate the width of the discharge passage as required. The grain falls into
a perforated hollow trough, which allows the seed and very light grain to fall
through it, whilst the heavier grain is conducted along the trough by means of
an ordinary barley aviller into a position to: be raised by an elevator (which we
prefer to be on the pneumatic principle) into the sack box. The sack box is
so arranged that any light grain or chaff which may have escaped from the
first blower is readily separated from the clean grain. For this purpose a
board is fixed at a suitable angle for the grain to fall thereon as it is delivered
by the elevator, and in connection with this incline there is a .moveable
inclined board actuated by a rack and pinion, and on to and over the edge of
this board the light grain and chaff are carried by the current of air from the
elevator, the heavier grain falling down the incline into: a box arranged to..
receive it. Should any of the best grain be carried over the adjustable incline.
just described with the chaff and light grain, it falls upon a second adjustable
incline arranged similarly to that just described, the light grain and chaff. being
carried over the upper edge of this second incline into a suitable receptacle
arranged to receive it, the heavier.grain falling into the box, as before described.
The straw is caused to pass between. the thrashing drum and the concave
grating or perforated surface to the straw shakers, and thence to the straw

page_text: rack at the end of the machine. Any grain that may have passed with the
straw falls through between the shakers on to an incline, and is carried down
it by means of small "cleaners" or scrapers fixed on the under side of the
straw shakers into the breast or separator, these "cleaners" by their revolving
action working parallel with the shakers and board underneath. Longitudinal
wires with cross bars of peculiar form are combined with the straw shakers to
prevent the short straws from passing away with the "cavings.
And in order that our Invention may be most fully understood and readily,
carried into practice, we will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto
annexed..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The Drawing shows a longitudinal section of a thrashing machine, the
parts being arranged and constructed according to our Invention. A is the
thrashing drum; B, the concave or breasting, at the bottom of which is fitted (by
preference) a wrought-iron plate (C), so made that it may be adjusted from the
machine for the purpose of checking the corn in its passage from the thrashing.
drum A to the peg drum D on separators below, and which also prevents the
corn being thrown upon the incline board under the shakers. The revolving
peg drum D is fitted with iron pegs set at an angle to carry off or before them
the pulse or "cavings," and discharge the same at the back or side of the
machine, while the corn and chaff pass through the holes in the breastwork or
separator (E). The construction of this breastwork consists of thick wood
or (by preference) ironwork, as shown, placed in cast-iron or other ends
turned and fitted with holes, and so arranged that all the chaff and corn pass
through them, while the "cavings" are carried off by the peg drum D. The
lower end of each hole in the breastwork E is cut down or coned out, so as to
check the corn from passing off with the "cavings," and to facilitate the corn
falling through the breastwork E; the back part of the breastwork at F is
moveable, so as to facilitate the exit of the "cavings," according to the kind
of grain required to be thrashed. G is an adjustable "cleaner," either made
as a brush fanner or otherwise, the object of which is to clean the pegs from
any "cavings" that may hang to them, and throw the same upon the "caving:
board." or shoot H. The shutter I is made adjustable, so as to check the
cavings," and when not at work is closed.up to make the back part of the
machine secure. As the corn and chaff pass through the breastwork E on
separators, they fall on the incline board J, and then pass in front of the
blower K. The chaff passes out at L, where there is an adjustable board M,
hinged on the incline board N, thence into the perforated hollow trough O, so
66

page_text: 'as to allow all the seed and very-light corn to fall through, while the best corn
is passed along into the patent corn elevator P. by means of a revolving
spindle furnished with a number of blades set at an angle or otherwise, whence
it passes into the sack box. R. The sack box R and parts (connected there-
with), as indicated by dotted lines, shows the manner in which the light corn
and chaff (if any left from the first blower) is separated from the clean corn
that falls into the sack. ✗ is a board fixed at an angle, upon which the
corn falls from the elevator, and attached to it and worked by a rack and
pinion is a moveable board, upon which the light corn and chaff passes, the
best corn falling down upon the board X into the box R.
corn be forced up the first sloping board ✗ it falls over the top and upon the
second board Y, which is fitted with a sliding board with rack and pinion, as
above described, and the best corn falls into box R, the light corn and chaff
passing into the box marked Z, on to the shakers T, and so through the
machine again.
Should any best
The straw passes from the thrashing drum A and concave breastwork B to
the shakers T, and thence on to the straw rack U at the end of the machine.
Any corn that may have passed with the straw falls through the shakers T
upon the incline board V, and is carried down it by means of the small
cleaners or scrapers W under the shakers into the breastwork or separator,
these cleaners W in their revolving action working parallel with the shakers
and the bottom board or incline V.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the best means we
are acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details herein shewn
and described, so long as the particular character of any part of our Invention
be retained; but what we claim is,―
First, the mode of separating the cavings from the chaff and corn by means
of a revolving drum fitted with pegs or other appliances, and working in a
breastwork formed of wood or other material and perforated, thus dispensing
with the vibratory or other riddles and the crank.or cranks used for the same.
Secondly, we claim the introduction of longitudinal wires into the shakers,
and the pecliar form of the cross bars on them (to prevent the short straw
from passing with the cavings), and the fitting of scrapers or cleaners on the
under sides of the shakers to sweep the corn and chaff that has come away
with the straw to the action of the revolving drum.
Thirdly, we claim the use of a hollow trough for the purpose of extracting
the seed and small corn from the bulk in its passage from the separator to the
natent elevator

page_text: Fourthly, we claim the use of an adjustable revolving cleaner applied to the
revolving drum or separator.
Fifthly, we claim the separating and cleaning apparatus fixed in the sack
box for extracting the light corn and other matter.
Sixth and lastly, we claim the combination and arrangement of the several 5
parts above described, by means of which grain may be dressed and finished
for the market with once passing through the common blower.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Allam Barrett, William Exall,
and Charles James Andrewes, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Second day of January, in the year of our Lord Orie thousand 1
eight hundred and sixty-four.
GEORGE ALLAM BARRETT. (L.S.)
WILLIAM EXALL.
CHAS: J. ANDREWES.
(L.B.)
(L.S.)