IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Rawlings, of Collingbourn Ducis, iu the
County of Wilts, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 16th November 1858, and dated the 8th June 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Rawlings at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th June 1858.
I, JAMES RAWLINGS, of Collingbourn Ducis, in the County of Wilts, do
I hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING
MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in thrashing machines, and
the principal object is to obtain a convenient combination of mechanism suit-
able to be worked by hand labour. For this purpose the thrashing drum and
apparatus connected therewith are arranged, as heretofore, in larger thrashing.
machines worked by horse or steam power. The axis of the drum receives
motion in the following manner :-A shaft or axis turns in bearings at right
angles to the axis of the drum. On the outer end of such shaft or axis is
applied a crank handle, and on the other end is fixed a bevilled toothed
wheel, which takes into and drives a like wheel on an axis parallel with that

page_text: of the thrashing drum. On this axis is a drum, which gives motion by a
strap to the drum on the fly wheel axis, on which there is a drum, which by
a strap gives motion to a drum fixed on the axis of the thrashing drum.
When desired, a crank handle or handles may be fixed to the axis, which is
parallel with the axis of the drum.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Rawlings.in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, JAMES
RAWLINGS, of Collingbourn Ducis, in the County of Wilts, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Rawlings, Her special licence that I, the said James
Rawlings, ny executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Rawlings, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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
THRASHING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Rawlings, my exccutors 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 immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
1.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Rawlings, 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 following
statement thereof, that is to say:
This Invention has for its object improvements in thrashing machines, and:
the principal object is to obtain a convenient combination of mechanism suit-
able to be worked by hand labour. For this purpose the thrashing druni and·

page_text: apparatus connected therewith are arranged, as heretofore, in larger thrashing
machines worked by horse or steam power. The axis of the drum receives
motion in the following manner :-A shaft or axis turns in bearings at right
angles to the axis of the drum. On the outer end of such shaft or axis is
applied a crank handle, and on the other end is fixed a bevilled toothed
wheel, which takes into and drives a like wheel on an axis parallel with that
of the thrashing drum. On this axis is a drum, which gives motion by a strap
to the drum on the fly wheel axis, on which there is a drum which by a strap
gives motion to a drum fixed on the axis of the thrashing drum. When
desired, a crank handle or handles may be fixed to the axis, which is parallel
with the axis of the drum.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will now proceed
more fully to describe the manner of performing the same:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a plan, partly in section, of a thrashing machine con-
structed according to my Invention; Figures 2 and 3 show two side elevations
of the machine. The thrashing drum and parts connected therewith are of
the ordinary construction, and will not therefore require description. a is the
axis of the drum of the thrashing machine, which receives motion in the fol-
lowing manner:-b is a pulley or drum on the axis a, which by a band or
strap receives motion from the drum or pulley c on the axis d, which is also
the axis of the fly wheel e; and it may here be stated that this Invention is
peculiar in respect to the placing tho fly wheel on an axis which does not
receive its motion direct from the power, but receives its motion from another
axis to which the power is directly applied, so that the speed of the fly wheel
axis is greater than the speed of the axis to which the power is applied.
The axis d receives motion from the axis f, which may be driven by crank
bandles by manual power, or it may be suitably arranged (by having
suitable couplings or clutches) to be driven from the axis of a horse mill or
other first mover. On the axis f is a drum or pulley f2, which by a band or
strap gives motion to a pulley or drum c¹ on the axis d. Or, in place of or in
addition to the axis f having power applied by crank handles, as shown, it
has power applied by an axis g, by a crank handle h, and bevil toothed wheels
i, i, as shewn, and, if desired, horse or other power may be coupled with
the axis g in place of the axle f.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to

page_text: any of tho mechanical parts separately; but what I claim is, the combination
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Rawlings, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
GEO. PITT.
JAMES RAWLINGS. (L.S.).