IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF ACTING SAFETY DRUM GUARDS FOR STEAM THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick James Hunt, of Steeple Morden, in the County,
of Cambridge, Farmer, and George Harding Innes, of Royston, in the County
of Hertford, Ironmonger, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF
ACTING SAFETY DRUM GUARDS FOR STEAM THRASHING MACHINES."
Sealed the 1st July 1879, and dated the 10th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick James Hunt and
George Harding Innes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
10th April 1879.
FREDERICK JAMES HUNT, of Steeple Morden, in the County of Cambridge,
Farmer, and GEORGE HARDING INNES, of Royston, in the County of Hertford,
Ironmonger. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF ACTING SAFETY DRUM GUARDS FOR STEAM
THRASHING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in self acting safety drum guards for
the prevention of accidents to life and limb in steam thrashing machines.
The drum guard consists of a slide and hood; the slide is actuated by springs,
and is arranged under the feed board and rests on the top of the concave, being
held back from covering the beaters by a lever and catch. The slide is released by
the feed board or the hood being depressed when it slides out from under the feed
board and covers the beaters.
In carrying out our Invention the feed board is carried on springs resting on
projections attached to the drum frame. The feed board is kept down on the
springs and in its proper place by means of irons bolted or screwed to the feed
board and having alots; a coach screw and bolt is passed through the slots and
fastened or screwed into the frame of the drum in such a manner as to allow the
feed board to work freely on the slots, which also regulate the distance of play of
the feed board.
The springs are strong enough to keep the feed board continually forced up to
the bottom of the said slots, except when an extra pressure comes on the feed board
or hood, or ends of the mouth of the drum.
At about the centre of the feed board and on the underside thereof is arranged a
projection just above a lever which engages with a catch fixed on the slide, and

page_text: such lever being free at its joint and heavier at its catch end it drops into the
catch as soon as the slide is pulled back by the attendant, so as to pass the catch
past the large end of the lever, whereupon the lever drops into the catch, and thus
holding the slide from shooting forward and covering the beaters until either the
feed board or the hood is depressed or some pressure comes on the irons at the ends
of the drum mouth, which would cause the said projection to press on the small
end of the lever and raise the large end thereof out of the catch, and the slide
would slide completely over the beaters and enclose or cover them.
The slide is of wood or other suitable material, and is actuated by springs or
other suitable means, and is arranged to slide on the top of the concave.
The slide
has also an iron rod fixed to it at each end, which rods pass through the partition
between the feed box and the beaters, and are carried across the ends of the feed
box or otherwise.
On the irons are arranged the springs to force the slide over the beaters when
released; the said springs being in compression or tension when the slide is held by
the lever being in the catch.
The space allowed for the feed board to be pressed down to release the slide is
closed by a self acting flap or shutter to prevent corn and rubbish from being
driven on to the top of the slide and accumulating there.
The drum mouth is also guarded on the opposite side to the feed box by a hood
hinged to the drum and having a piece of iron on each side adjustable by means of
slots, a bolt passing through the slots and the irons bent at the bottom end to rest
on the first herein before described irons, thus communicating with the feed board,
so that when the hood is depressed it releases the slide by raising the lever out of
the catch.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick James Hunt and George Harding Innes in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 10th October 1879.
FREDERICK JAMES HUNT, of Steeple Morden, in the County of Cambridge,
Farmer, and GEORGE HARDING INNES, of Royston, in the County of Hertford,
Ironmonger. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING SAFETY DRUM GUARDS FOR STEAM
THRASHING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in self acting safety drum guards for
the prevention of accidents to life and limb in steam thrashing machines.
The drum guard consists of a slide and hood; the slide is actuated by springs,
and is arranged under the feed board and rests on the top of the concave, being
held back from covering the beaters by a lever and catch. The slide is released by
the feed board or the hood being depressed when it slides out from under the feed
board and covers the beaters,

page_text: In carrying out our Invention the feed board is carried on springs resting on
projections attached to the drum frame. The feed board is kept down on the
springs and in its proper place by means of irons bolted or screwed to the feed
board and having slots; a coach screw or bolt is passed through each slot and is
fastened or screwed into the frame of the drum in such a manner as to allow the
feed board to work freely on the slots, which also regulate the distance of play of
the feed board.
The springs are strong enough to keep the feed board continually forced up to
the bottom of the said slots, except when an extra pressure comes on the feed board
or hood, or on the irons at the ends of the mouth of the drum.
At about the centre of the feed board and on the underside thereof is arranged a
projection just above a lever, which lever engages with a catch fixed on the slide,
and such lever being free at its joint and heavier at its catch end it drops into the
catch as soon as the slide is pulled back by the attendant, so as to pass the catch
past the large end of the lever, whereupon the lever drops into the catch, thus
holding the slide from shooting forward and covering the beaters until either the
feed board or the hood is depressed or some pressure comes on the irons at the ends
of the drum mouth, which would cause the said projection to press on the small
end of the lever and raise the large end thereof out of the catch, and the slide
would slide completely over the beaters and enclose or cover them.
The slide is of wood or other suitable material, and is actuated by springs or
other suitable means, and is arranged to slide on the top of the concave or otherwise,
according to the position of the feed box. The slide has also an iron rod fixed to
it at each end, which rods pass through the partition between the feed box and the
beaters, and are carried across the ends of the feed box or otherwise.
On the rods are arranged the springs to force the slide over the beaters when
released, the said springs being in compression when the slide is held by the lever
being in the catch.
The space allowed for the feed board to be pressed down to release the slide is
closed by a self acting flap or shutter to prevent corn and rubbish from being
driven on to the top of the slide and accumulating there.
The drum mouth is also guarded on the opposite side to the feed box by a hood
hinged to the drum and having a piece of iron on each side adjustable by means of
slots, a bolt passing through the slots and the irons bent at the bottom end to rest
on the first herein before described irons, thus communicating with the feed board,
so that when the hood is depressed it releases the slide by raising the lever out of
the catch.
But to make our Invention better understood we will proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a longi-
tudinal section of a part of a thrashing machine shewing our self acting safety
drum guard applied thereto, the slide being open; and Figure 2 is a similar
view, the slide being closed. Similar letters in both Figures represent similar
parts.
A is the feed board; B, one of the springs carrying the same, there being one
such spring let into each end of the feed board A; C is one of the projections on
which the springs B rest. Into each end of the feed board A is bolted or screwed
an iron D, D, such irons serving to keep the feed board A down on the springs B;
E, E, are the slots of the irons D, D, through which slots pass the bolts screwed
into the frame of the drum; these slots E, E, thus allow the feed board to work
freely and regulate the amount of play of the same, the said springs B being suf-
ficiently strong to keep the feed board forced up to the full extent allowed by the
slots; G is the projection on the underside of the feed board; H is the lever
working on the joint U; J is the catch fixed on the slide K. Fixed to each
side of the feed box X is a tube M, in which is placed a spring for actuating
the slide K, connected to the springs by a rod P, on each side, such rods
passing through the partition Q between the feed box X and the beaters; S is
the self acting flap or shutter closing the space between the upper surface of

page_text: t
the slide and the underside of the feed board, the said flap S being hinged to
the feed board at T; V is the hood hinged to the drum at W; X' is one of
the pieces of iron at each side of the same; Z is the bolt passing through the
slot for adjusting the iron. As shewn in the Drawing the lower end of the
iron X¹ is bent so as to rest on the iron D, and thus put it in communication with
the feed board A; Y is a chain connected to the slide, and by which the slide is
pulled open after having closed.
From this arrangement it will be seen that if the slide K be pulled back under
the feed board into the position shewn in Figure 1 the iron rods P, P, will pass
into the tubes M, compressing the springs contained therein; the catch J will be
drawn behind the heavy end of the lever H; the latter will fall in front of the
catch and hold the slide K in its open position, and prevent it shooting forward
and covering the beaters. Should however any undue pressure or weight be
applied to any part of the feed board A, the hood V, or the irons D, the feed
board A will be depressed whereupon the projection G will bear upon and depress
the shorter arm of the lever H so as to move it upon its joint or fulcrum U, and
raise the other end of the lever free of the catch J, and the slide K being thus
released will be shot or pushed forward by its springs so as to completely cover
and enclose the beaters.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the best means with
which we are acquainted for carrying the same into effect we wish it to be under-
stood that we lay no claim to the employment of a sliding drum guard for covering
the beaters to prevent accidents to life and limb in steam thrashing machines as
such slides have heretofore been known and used, but what we do claim is,―
Firstly. The general arrangement, combination, and employment of mechanism
or apparatus whereby the slide is caused to automatically shoot forward so as to
cover the mouth of the drum and enclose the beaters, upon any undue pressure or
weight being applied to the feed board or hood, substantially in the manner herein-
before described and represented in the accompanying Drawing, or any mere
modification thereof.
Secondly. The method of supporting the feed board by the employment of springs
in combination with slotted irons arranged and operating as hereinbefore described
and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. The combination with the feed board of a self acting flap or shutter
for preventing corn or rubbish being driven on and accumulating on the top of
the slide, as herein before described and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Innes, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Frederick James Hunt, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street,
Finsbury.
GEO. H. INNES. (LS.)