IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR HULLING, DECORTICATING, CLEANING, AND POLISHING GRAINS AND SEEDS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES, PART OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR HULLING, DECORTICATING, CLEANING,
AND POLISHING GRAINS AND SEEDS."-A communication from abroad by
Aristide Barbier and Nicolas Edouard Daubrée, of Clermont, in the
Empire of France.
Sealed the 2nd October 1868, and dated the 25th April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th April 1863.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES, PART OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR HULLING, DECORTICATING, CLEANING, AND
POLISHING GRAINS AND SEEDS," to be as follows:-
The machines hitherto constructed for thrashing corn have obtained this
result by means of a thrasher or beating cylinder or drum moving at a
great velocity and striking with great force the grain as it passes between the
beaters and a stationary metallic breastwork. This method however is attended
with several disadvantages.

page_text: For instance, a great many grains of corn are always broken, and sometimes
entire ears are separated from the straw without having been thrashed.
The great velocity of the thrasher also requires considerable power, and
the straw being thrown forward with great force beconies more or less damaged
and is delivered in a confused heap.
The improved machine which forms the subject of the present Invention
is constructed on entirely different principles. The grain is caused to pass
between two or more cylinders, the surfaces of which move at different
velocities.
By this difference. of movement the ears are rubbed and the corn thereby
detached therefrom, and as the movements are comparatively slow the grain is
never broken; moreover the force expended is less than is required in the
ordinary machines, and the straw preserves an almost perfect regularity.
These principles being admitted, several modes of operation may be adopted.
At present however it is preferred to use a central drum or cylinder around
which two, three, or four smaller cylinders are made to rotate with greater or
less surface speed than the interior cylinder; the small cylinders should be
placed at a slight distance from the large one in order that there should be no
friction between them, the whole of the friction or rubbing being expended upon
the cars of corn.
In this system the corn should be fed in breadthwise, and consequently the
cylinders must be of the same length as the straw. If it is desired to construct
smaller nachines in which the corn may enter lengthwise the cylinders are
made shorter, and the smaller cylinders may be made to rotate with the same
velocity as the large one, but at the same time a reciprocating motion is to be
given to the smaller cylinders so as to dislodge the grain from the ears.
In both these systems the machines may be constructed of any suitable
material, but it is preferable to construct the central cylinder of fluted metal
and the smaller ones of wood or sheet iron coated with caoutchouc.
This system of machines is applicable to every kind of corn, either dry or
moist, without requiring any change in the construction thereof. There is
besides this advantage, that however slowly the machine may be working, the
corn is certain to become well thrashel, the quantity of course depending on
the rate at which the machine is worked.
The Invention may also be employed for hulling and decorticating seeds
employed as forage for cattle, oleaginous seeds, rice, coffee, and other grains,
seeds, or berries. It may also be employed for cleaning of various kinds of
grain. If instead of the ears of corn, grain already thrashed is passed through
the machine it will by rolling between the cylinders become cleansed from the

page_text: dust and parasitical particles which adhere to it, and will acquire a gloss, which
will increase its value and at the same time render it less liable to be attacked
by the weevil.
In order to render the cleansing of the corn complete in every respect,
it is only necessary to place beneath the cylinders an ordinary sieve and
ventilator.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Iler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Willian Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
1, the said William Edward Newton, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR HULLING, DECORTICATING, CLEANING, AND POLISHING GRAINS AND
SEEDS," being a communication from Aristide Barbier and Nicolas Edouard
Daubree, of Clermont, in the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
--
The machines hitherto constructed for thrashing corn have separated the corn
or grain from the ear by means of a thrasher or beating cylinder or drum moving
at a great velocity and striking with great force the grain as it passes between
the beaters and a stationary metallic breastwork. This method is however
attended with several disadvantages.
For instance, a great many grains of corn are always broken, and sometimes
entire cars are separated from the straw without having been thrashed or the
corn separated therefrom.
The great velocity of the thrasher also requires considerable power, and the
straw being thrown forward with great force becomes more or less damaged
and is delivered in a confused heap.
The improved machine which forms the subject of the present Invention
is constructed on entirely different principles. The grain is caused to pass
between two or more cylinders, the surfaces of which move at different
velocities.
By this difference of movement the ears are rubbed and the corn thereby
detached therefrom, and as the movements are comparatively slow the grain
is never broken; moreover the force expended is less than is required in the
ordinary machines, and the straw preserves an almost perfect regularity.
These principles being admitted, several modes of operation may be adopted.
At present however it is preferred to use a central drum or cylinder around
which two, three, or four smaller cylinders are made to rotate with greater
or less surface speed than the interior cylinder; the small cylinders should
be placed at a slight distance from the large one in order that there should be
no friction between them, the whole of the friction or rubbing being expended
upon the cars of corn.
In this system the corn should be fed into the machine breadthwise or
transversely, and consequently the cylinders must be of the same length as the
straw. If it is desired to construct smaller machines in which the corn may
enter lengthwise or longitudinally the cylinders are made shorter, and the
smaller cylinders may be made to rotate with the same velocity as the large one,
but at the same time a reciprocating motion is to be given to the smaller
cylinders so as to dislodge the grain from the ears.
In both these systems the machines may be constructed of any suitable
material, but it is preferable to construct the central cylinder of fluted metal
and the smaller ones of wood or sheet iron coated with caoutchouc.
This system of machines is applicable to every kind of corn, cither dry or moist,

page_text: without requiring any change in the construction thereof. There is besides
this advantage, that however slowly the machine may be working, the corn
is certain to become well thrashed, the quantity of work done of course
depending on the rate at which the machine is worked.
The Invention may also be employed for hulling and decorticating seeds
employed as forage for cattle, oleaginous seeds, rice, coffee, and other grains,
seeds, or berries. It may also be employed for cleaning various kinds of
grain. If instead of the ears of corn, grain already thrashed be passed through
the machine it will by rolling between the cylinders become cleaned from
the dust and parasitical particles which adhere to it, and will acquire a
gloss, which will increase its value and at the same time render it less liable
to be attacked by the weevil.
In order to render the cleansing of the corn complete in every respect, it is
only necessary to place beneath the cylinders an ordinary sieve and rotating fan
for blowing away the dust and chaff.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section taken through
the middle of the machine in the line 3, 4, of Fig. 4; Fig. 2 is a sectional
elevation of the same taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig 1; Fig. 3 is a side eleva-
tion of the same taken at the side where the chain is situate; and Fig. 4 is a
sectional plan of the wooden framing showing the position of the crank
shaft, the shakers, the fan shaft, and the intermediate gearing shaft.
A, A, is the framing of the machine which is constructed by preference
of oak; B, B, are the side pannels of the same; D is the cover of the machine,
which may be made of sheet iron; E are the end pannels; Fis a table on which
the corn to be thrashed is laid; G, step or platform for the attendants to
stand upon to feed in the corn to the thrashing apparatus; H is a thrashing
cylinder mounted on a shaft a, and composed of metal segments 6 fastened
together by bolts c; I are three other thrashing cylinders mounted upon
shafts d, the wooden body c of the cylinders being provided throughout their
> entire length with an outer covering of caoutchouc f; J are two inclined planes
for guiding the straw; K is a shaker divided longitudinally into six parts or
leaves provided with openings like venetian blinds for the passage of the grain.
These leaves are provided at their extremities with bearings 9 and h, and are
suspended by means of links L to bracket bearings M mounted upon the cross
pieces N. The shakers are actuated by means of a crank shaft O (Fig. 4),
mounted in bearings P (Fig. 1). Q is the cast-iron casing of the machine;
Rare cast-iron discs provided with bearings for the shafts of the cylinders and
bolted at to the casing Q; S, S, are the journal boxes or bearings for the
shaft or axles of the cylinder H; T, T, are the bearings for the cylinders I;

page_text: U, U, are coiled springs serving to hold the cylinders I in their proper places.
These springs are regulated by means of adjusting screws V. X is a hopper
for the reception of the grains on coming from the shaker K; it consists of
a casing (Fig. 1) and of two wooden side pieces o containing a wooden
grating p and an iron grating 9. Y is a blowing apparatus composed of two
side pieces v and an iron drum t furnished with moveable sector pieces u, the
upper one of which slides in grooves at v. The fan proper, which is mounted
upon a shaft and rotates within the drum, consists of four iron arms set upon
a central boss and provided respectively with wooden leaves. The hopper to
receive the grain from the shaker K is suspended in bearings, and is actuated
by means of an intermediate shaft B' turning in bearings at C, Fig. 2; it is
suspended at its lower part by means of rods D', to which motion is communi-
cated from the fan through connecting rods E. Inclined gratings F, Fig. 1,
down which the straw descends after having been separated from the grain, are
suspended by means of hooks at G¹. In Fig. 3, H' is a casing containing an
endless chain carrying buckets for raising the winnowed grain to the exit
spout 1', from which it is delivered into any suitable receptacle. The casing
I has an opening at J' for the purpose of examining the working of the
endless chain of buckets. This chain has motion communicated to it by means
of a band from the driving pulley. This band passes over a pulley L'. In
Fig. 2, N¹ is a pulley for communicating motion to the fan and the crank
shaft; O¹, Fig. 4, is the pulley for driving the fan, and P' is a pulley upon
the crank shaft of the shakers; Q, Fig. 1, is a wheel keyed upon the shaft of
the cast-iron cylinder 6; R' are three wheels keyed upon the shafts of the
caoutchouc covered cylinders I, I.
It will be obvious that a similar arrangement of parts, with only such trifling
modifications in the adjustment of the working parts as may be necessary to
suit the particular circumstances of the case, may be employed for hulling,
decorticating, cleaning, and polishing grains and seeds; no further explanation
however will be required to shew the mode of adapting the machine for
such purposes, except to say that for these purposes the straw shaker K will
not perhaps be required.
Having now described the nature of this Invention of "Improvements in
Thrashing Machines, Part of which Improvements are also applicable for
Hulling, Decorticating, Cleaning, and Polishing Grains and Seeds," and having
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I desire it to be understood that what I claim as
the Invention to be secured to me under the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,

page_text: Firstly, the thrashing, decorticating, and cleaning of grain or seeds by
passing them between two cylinders in the manner and for the purpose herein
set forth.
Secondly, grooving or fluting one of the cylinders, the other being covered
with an elastic substance such as caoutchouc.
Thirdly, driving the cylinders at different speeds.
And, fourthly, the general arrangement of apparatus above shewn and des-
cribed, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFatt.
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)