IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN CLEANING APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO THRASHING MACHINES, AND PARTLY TO GRAIN CLEANING MACHINES ONLY
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon
& Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, South-
ampton Buildings, London, and 13) Ruc Gaillon, Paris, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN CLEANING APPARATUS APPLICABLE
TO THRASHING MACHINES, AND PARTLY TO GRAIN CLEANING MACHINES ONLY."
-A communication from abroad by Henri Rose and George Rose,
10 Doillon D
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Morgan-Brown
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 15th December 1875, pursuant to the
9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon & Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Ruc
Gaillon, Paris, send greeting.
WHEREAS. I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GRAIN CLEANING APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO THRASHING MACHINES, AND PARTLY

page_text: TO GRAIN CLEANING MACHINES ONLY," and have petitioned Her Majesty to
grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal
Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that
it has been communicated to me from abroad by Henri Rose and George
Rose, both of 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, Engineers.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Morgan-Brown, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
These improvements consist in different modifications and additions to
the machinery described and claimed in the Patent dated December
19th 1874, and having the number 4375, as well as in new arrangements
and mechanical agents which contribute essentially and effectually to
the simplification of the mechanism, the yielding quantity, and in
quality as well the lasting or enduring quality of the said' mechanism.
In order that these improvements be clearly understood and easily
put into practice, I will proceed to explain them conjointly with the
seventeen Figures of the three accompanying Sheets of Drawing.
First Improvement, Sheet 1, Figures 1 and 2.-The first improve-
ment has reference to the mechanism serving to conduct into the
cleaning apparatus of a thrashing machine the grain which the shakers
extract from the straw. According to this new arrangement I replace
the cross strips attached to the under surface of the shakers by. an
endless apron. Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation in section, and
Figure 2 a back elevation of this new mechanism, in which 1 is the
endless apron stretched on pulleys 2, 2, and 3, 3, which impart to the
same a progressive motion in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1; this
apron is composed of two parallel belts united by the cross bars of wood
or other appropriate material for which, by descending along the incline
planc 5, sweep therefrom into the cleaning apparatus the corn or other
grain shaken out of the straw leaving the machine. In these Figures
as well as in the majority of the remaining Figures the sound grain is
represented in red, and the impurities in black.
I have shown in the corresponding Figures 3 and 4 of the same Sheet
a modification of the above-described arrangement, which consists in

page_text: replacing the open endless apron and the incline plane by a closed
apron 6 of leather or other appropriate material travelling in the same
direction, and the rollers 2, 2, and 3, 3, by cylinders 7, 7. The grain
in this case falls directly on the closed apron which conducts it con-
stantly in the cleaning apparatus.
Second Improvement, Sheet 2, Figure 1.-The second improvement
has reference to a novel arrangement and construction of the cleaning
apparatus with a double-acting fan as applied to a thrashing machine,
and which may also be advantageously adapted as an independent
cleaning machine.
The above mentioned Figure represents this new mechanism in a
sectional longitudinal elevation; according to this arrangement the
grain arriving directly from the thrasher as well as that separated from
the straw driven out of the machine in the direction of the arrow gare
conducted on a first riddle 10 working with a to-and-fro motion, which
separates the clods and other impurities larger than the grain, and which
fall from the same at 11, whilst the grain with other impurities either of
the same size or smaller than the grain pass through the meshes of the riddle
and slide down the two inclined planes 12, 12, on to a second riddle 13,
also working with a to-and-fro motion and passing through the same fall
on the inclined plane, and whilst thus falling they are acted upon by
a blast of air engendered directly by the fan 15, the intensity of which
is sufficient to separate from the grain small straws, husks, dust, or other
light impurities which are blown out of the apparatus at 16. If requisito
the inclined plane 14 may be shortened at its fore end, so that the second
riddle may also act for separating clods and other larger impurities as in
the case of the first riddle. The grain which has been thus submitted
to a double cleaning falls through the hopper 18 into the aspirating
column 17, the air drawn up through this column strips it of all foreign
matter of a lesser specific gravity than the grain itself, which foreign
matter is precipitated in the case 19, from when it is extracted either by
means of the screw 20 or any other appropriate mechanical agent which
excludes the admission of air. In order that the air sucked up the
column 17 should lose none of its energy I prevent any air being drawn
in with the corn at 31 by means of a balance valve and a weight 22
situated outside of the machine, the grain accumulates on this valve in
sufficient quantity before it can commence tilting to intercept the
passage of air, and when this precise. charge is exceeded it allows the

page_text: excess to fall through, still retaining at all times a sufficient quantity
thereof to exclude the air; 23 is a leather joint connecting the cleaning
apparatus on the right with the box containing the riddle 13 on the left
in order that the blast projected by the fan may not be wasted or
weakened at this junction; 24 is the aspirating valve serving to regulate
the intensity of the suction at 17.
Third Improvement, Sheet 1, Figures 5 to 9.-The third improvement
has reference to certain modifications made in the mechanism above
described at the second head, in order to make a separate independent
apparatus thereof applicable either as an adjunct for cleaning the grain
produced by an ordinary thrashing machine or for the purpose of cleaning
any kind of grain produced by hand thrashing or otherwise; Figure 5 is
a longitudinal elevation of this separate machine; Figure 6, a front
clevation in section through A, A, Figure 7; Figure 7, a longitudinal
elevation in section through B, B, Figure 6; Figure 8, a partial plan,
and Figure 9, a partial longitudinal clevation of the feeding instrument
and the riddle. In these Figures 35 represents the case of the cleaning
machine 15, the fan aspirating at 17, and blowing off at 9; 10 the
riddle suspended at 26, 26, by one of its extremities where it receives a.
to-and-fro motion from the bell-crank lever 27, actuated by the rod 28
and the wheel 29, this riddle being pivotted at its other extremity
at 30, see Figures 8 and 9; 31 is the feed hopper; 19, the precipitating
case; 24, the valve which regulates the vacuum in the case 19; and
20, the exit valve for the aspirated refuse.
Fourth Improvement, Sheet 2, Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5.-The fourth
improvement has reference to the cleaning of the grain previous to its
entering the special apparatus above described, in which air is the
medium employed, and it consists in substituting to the two riddles
described under the second head an endless apron of peculiar con-
struction stretched on two pulleys, which serve to impart to the same a
regularly progressive motion. Figure 2 is a longitudinal clevation in
section of part of the thrashing machine comprising this improvement;
Figure 3, a back elevation of the same; Figure 4, a plan; and Figure 5,
an clevation of a fragment of this apron full size. In these two first
Figures 32 represents the framing of the thrashing machine; 8, the
thrasher; and 33, the counter thrasher. In 31 is a hopper, into which
falls, on the one hand, the grain with its impuritics delivered directly
by the thrasher 8, and, on the other hand, the grain collected from the

page_text: shakers 34, and which is conducted to the said hopper by the inclined
plane 5. 35 is the endless apron running on the said cylinder 36, serving
.one or the other to impart to it its progressive motion in the direction of
the arrow; this apron is composed of two layers superposed, the upper
one of which 35 may be about six millimeters thick; it is pierced
through and through with holes about one centimetre diameter, and at
a distance one from the other, which may vary according to circum-
stances. The under layer 35* is not pierced, and need not exceed two
to three millimetres in thickness; it is caused to adhere to the upper
one by means of an appropriate paste, or it may be united thereto by
stitching or by rivets in such a manner in cither case as to convert the
holes pierced through and through in the upper layer into so many
cavities or pockets. Caoutchouc may be used with advantage for the
manufacture of the upper layer, and a cloth coated or not with caout-
chouc for the lower layer. 37 are wooden cheeks fixed to the framing
of the machine, and which I adapt over a certain length of the apron on
either side, at a distance of one to five centimetres therefrom. The
grain arriving from the two sources above mentioned on its falling on
the apron 35, 35*, is traversed by a blast of air engendered by the
fan 15, which drives out of it the husks, dust, and other light foreign
substances, whilst the grain and various seed of about the same nature
lodge themselves immediately in the holes or pockets of the apron 35, 35*,
where they are sheltered from the blast, and by the progression of the
apron they are poured into the hopper 18 of the cleaning apparatus.
During this second fall it is acted on a second time by a draft of air
emanating from the fan, which strips them of all light impurities which
escaped the first blast.
When the wheat to be cleaned contains considerable quantities of
foreign matter it may be desirable to retain an upper riddle, which
should be placed so as to receive the produce of the thrasher g, the good
grain falling through the same into the hopper 18, whilst the clods,
straws, etc., fall over the edge of the riddle, as explained under these
improvements.
Fifth Improvement, Sheet 3, Figures 1, 2, and 3.--The fifth improve-
ment consists in adapting an envelope or shield behind the greater part
of the counter thrasher with a view of collecting it and conducting it
towards the mechanism adapted for the purpose of separating from this
first produce of the thrasher the empty cars, straws, and similar

page_text: impurities. Figure 1 is a plan in section through A, A, Figure 2;
Figure 2, a longitudinal elevation in section through B, B, Figure 1;
and Figure 3, a back elevation through C, C, Figure 2, of the thrashing
machine comprising this new arrangement, in which 8 is the thrasher;
33, the counter thrasher; and 38, the metallic envelope or shield existing
continuously from 39 to 40, except from 40 to 41, which remains open
for a purpose, which is explained under the following head.
Sixth Improvement, Sheet 3, Figures 1, 2, and 3.-The sixth improve-
ment consists in a new arrangement of mechanical parts serving to separate
the produce of the thrasher in two subdivisions before one of these sub-
products is passed into the cleaning apparatus, which separation consists
in eliminating from the produce of the thrasher, by means of a riddle,
foreign matter, such as empty ears and short straw, and in discharging
the same from the machine, whilst the residue consisting in grain with
certain impurities smaller than those separated, expelled from the
machine, is conducted to the cleaning apparatus; for this purpose I make
use of a collecting screw which conducts the produce of the thrasher
brought up by the envelope 38 towards one extremity of a screw riddle,
to which same extremity is also conducted the produce, as above stated,
coming directly from the thrasher. In these Figures 42 is the collecting
screw which conducts the entire produce of the thrasher as well as the
material furnished by the shakers to one extremity 42*, from whence it
is projected by 42 into the riddling screw 43, which latter drives it in
the opposite direction, emptying out at its outer extremity 43* all the
short straw, empty ears, etc., and during this progression the grain and
different impurities, about the same in size as the grain, pass through
the riddle 44 on to the next cleaning apparatus. For the better working
of the two screws 42 and 43, there is added to the former a series of
pegs in wood or other appropriate material 45 which serve to prevent
the material choking up and revolving with the screw, and at its dis-
charging extremity a series of pallets 46 which serve to project the
products impelled by the screw 42 into the screw 43, and to the second
pallets 47 in leather or other similar flexible material, which during the
rotation of the screw brush the grain through the openings in the
riddle 44. This arrangement produces this important advantage that
the lighter impurities, such as straw, are subdivided in two different
divisions, which has not hitherto been accomplished.
Seventh Improvement, Sheet 3, Figure 2.—The seventh improvement

page_text: consists in a modification made in the separating apron described under
the fourth head; in practice it sometimes occurs that the violence of the
draft engendered by the fan is detrimental under certain circumstances
to the action of the said apron; to remedy this difficulty I place trans-
versely over the apron towards its back end a series of inclined planes in
such a manner that the grain which has not lodged itself in the cavities
of the apron is driven by the blast against these inclined planes, from
whence it is a second time projected on the apron, in the cavities of
which it is definitively lodged; in order to regulate the action of these
inclined planes the last of the series is mounted on a pivot so that its
inclination may be varied as required. In the above-mentioned
Figure 35 is the endless apron travelling in the direction of the arrow
48, 48, the inclined planes which are fixed, and 49, the inclined plane
which can be pivoted for the purposes above stated. For the better
working of these thrashing machines they are built in
that this feeding and separating apron can be put out of gear whilst the
machine itself remains running.
such a manner
Eighth Improvement, Sheet 3, Figure 2.-The eighth improvement
has reference to a new arrangement for regulating the intensity of the
blast engendered by the fan, which arrangement is specially of use in
the case of oats and rye, and consists in the use of a damper or deflector
fitted on a hinge inside the machine, and which can be set from the
outside in such a manner as to augment or to diminish, according to the
nature of the grain operated on, the section for the passage of the blast
and consequently the intensity of the latter. In the above-named
Figure 50 is the articulated deflector jointed at 51, and provided at its
rear with a rod 52, to which a second rod 53 is attached for the purpose
of working the same from without.
'
Ninth Improvement, Sheet 3, Figures 1 and 2.-The ninth improve-
ment has reference to cleaning the machine itself when it is necessary
to pass from one species of grain to another. In practice when a
thrashing machine is stopped the table or inclined plane on which the
good grain and other produce falls from the shakers is still covered or
charged with the said produce, which therefore of necessity mixes with
the following produce passed in the thrashing machine, which is a
serious detriment when passing, from one species of wheat to another,
and still more so from wheat to oats, or vice versa. In order to avoid'
this difficulty I stretch over the entire surface of the said table or

page_text: inclined plane an apron of leather, cloth, or other appropriate material,
cach extremity of which is attached to a cylinder, and when the machine
has ceased operating on any particular kind of grain, by rolling the said
apron on the inner cylinder the part of the apron charged with grain is
brought over the collecting screw 42, into which the latter is precepitated, a
and then the apron is run back to its former position by rotating the outer
cylinder in the opposite direction. In the above Figures 54 is the apron,
the respective extremities of which are fixed to the cylinders 55, 55,
which can be rotated from without by means of the handle 56.
Tenth Improvement, Sheet 3, Figure 2.-The tenth improvement has 1
reference to discharging the refuse from one cleaning apparatus auto-
matically by means of a door excluding the inlet of air. Hitherto this
result has been obtained by loading the said door with a weight, or by
pressing it with a spring against its seat, but under all circumstances
with an intensity calculated in such a manner that it gives way under ]
the charge or accumulation of a certain quantity of the said refuse. I
obtain the same result, and I believe more advantageously, by means of
the atmospheric pressure from without, by simply suspending this door or
valve by its upper extremity vertically or nearly vertically against its
scat. In the above mentioned Figure 57 is the door jointed at 58, and 2
which is impelled by the atmospheric pressure from without against its
seat, and thus intercepts the admission of air, whilst when the refuse
accumulates in sufficient quantity to overcome the atmospheric pressure
from without, it slightly pushes back the valve, thus obtaining an issue
without admitting the external air, for directly a certain quantity of
refuse has thus passed out the charge diminishes to such an extent that
the atmospheric pressure from without once more closes the door.
Eleventh Improvement, Sheet 3, Figure 2.-The cleventh improve-
ment has reference to an arrangement for preventing foreign substances
generally floating in the air, surrounding thrashing machines, from mixing ;
afresh with the grain, leaving the machine by the suction column 17, and
carried off by the screw 59. For this purpose we enlarge the base of
this column, as shewn at 60, in such a manner as to provide between the
inner walls of the same and the trough 61 of the screw, spaces sufficient
for the section of the air as indicated by the arrows on both sides, and a
at the same time to cover entirely the said screw and its trough, and
thus prevent the said foreign substances from falling directly therein,
and if requisite, in order to prevent their entering from below with the

page_text: air drawn in by the fan. The entire lower surface of the suction column
from 60 to 60 is covered with a perforated plate or a wire gauze.
Having thus explained the nature of these improvements and the best
means that I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, I
claim as the Invention which I desire to secure,-
Firstly. The two systems of mechanism above described and illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1, for conducting into the cleaning apparatus
of a thrashing machine the grain extracted by the shakers from the straw
issuing from the machine.
Secondly. The arrangement and construction of cleaning apparatus
with a double acting fan above described and illustrated in Figure 1,
Sheet 2, as adapted directly in a thrashing machine.
Thirdly. The adaptation of the mechanism claimed under the second
head, as above described and illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, Sheet 1, as
applied to an independent grain cleaning machine.
Fourthly. The system of mechanism as above described and illustrated
in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, of Sheet 2, for the purpose of separating
from the produce of the thrasher straws and other similar foreign
substances.
, Fifthly. The envelope or shield as above described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, and 3, of Sheet 3, for the purpose specified.
Sixthly. The system of mechanism as above described and illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of Sheet 3, for the purpose of separating a certain
class of refuse from the product of the thrasher previous to the latter
entering the cleaning apparatus.
Seventhly. The additional parts as above described and illustrated in
Figure 2,, Sheet 3, for the more effective working of the improvement
described under the fourth head of these improvements.
Eighthly. The mechanism above described and illustrated in Figure 2,
Sheet 3, for the purpose of regulating the blast engendered by the fan.
Ninthly. The mechanism above described and illustrated in Figure
1 and 2, Sheet 3, for the purpose of cleansing a thrashing machine before
making use of the same for any other description of grain.
Tenthly. The construction and working of an exit valve as above
described and illustrated in Figure 2, Sheet 3.

page_text: And, Eleventhly. The arrangement and construction of parts above
described and illustrated in Figure 2, Sheet 3, for the purpose of pro-
tecting the grain cleaned in the machine from foreign matter floating or
suspended in the air.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Fourteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Suspentine an.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Fourteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)