Machine for Splitting or Cracking the Husk and Shell of Cocoa Nuts.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1894-4ccepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL MOTIVATION.
Machine for Splitting or Cracking the Husk and Shell of
Cocoa Nuts.
CERES IRON WORKS LIMITED Kingston-on-Thames, and ALFRED SHERWIN
Engineer, of same address do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention relates to a machine for splitting or cracking the husk and
shell of the cocoa nut.
This invention has for its object the rapid splitting or cracking of the cocoa nut,
dividing the husk, shell and kernel, in one operation, into pieces of suitable size, for
facilitating the process of preparation of the husk and kernel, for the manufacture
of coir fibre and cocoa nut oil.
In carrying out our invention we employ a number of revolving discs of special
design for drawing down and splitting the nut. These discs are driven by gearing,
or other approved means, and are worked by either hand, cattle, water, or steam
power. A hopper is fixed above the discs to regulate the feed of the nuts, and
the machine is intended for fixing to floor, or supplied with wheels and handle for
drawing from place to place.
Dated this 19th day of August 1893.
CERES IRON WORKS, LIMITED,
THOS. STEVENS, Secretary.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Machine for Splitting or Cracking the Husk and Shell of
Cocoa Nuts.
CERES IRON WORKS LIMITED Kingston-on-Thames and ALFRED SHERWIN,
Engineer, Kingston-on-Thames, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to machines used in the splitting or cracking of the
cocoa nut, as gathered from the tree, and has for its object the removal of the husk
for the manufacture of coir fibre, and the splitting of the husk and kernel for the
manufacture of cocoa nut oil and other purposes.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of my invention,
Figure 1 is a plan of a "cocoa nut splitting or cracking machine,” Figure 2
a side elevation of the same and
Figure 3 shows the form of disc or knife used in the splitting process.
AA is the frame or body of the machine made preferably of cast iron, and
SO constructed as to allow the revolving discs B B B, carried by the
shafts C. C. C. to rotate towards a given centre. The motion is obtained by belt
or other means to driving pulley D on shaft E having also a fly wheel F keyed on
shaft, the correct speed being obtained by the intermediate spur gearing G. H, and
the bevel gearing 11. A hopper is fixed above the revolving discs to guide the
nuts into position for splitting.
When the machine is set in motion the nuts are dropped into the hopper and are
immediately caught by the revolving discs or knives BBB which by their peculiar

page_text: form draw down the nut, at same time cutting or splitting through the husk, shell, &
kernel, which fall to the bottom of the machine.
The machine herein before described and to which the drawings refer, is
constructed with a triangular frame with 3 revolving knives or discs, and is
preferable in this form, but the frame may be rectangular, or square, and arranged
to carry 2, 4, or more revolving discs.
I sometimes use the machine for working by hand labour-in which case the
pulley D on shaft E is substituted by a handle long enough for two or three men
to work, and a second handle is also affixed to other end of shaft E, so that
sufficient men may work the machine.
To this hand power machine I sometimes fix a set of travelling wheels, and a
draw handle, so that the machine may be drawn from place to place on the estate
or factory.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
.claim is
(1.) The combination and arrangement of machine for splitting or cracking the
husk and shell of cocoa nuts, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
(2.) The employment of revolving discs or knives substantially as and for the
purposes hereinafore described.
is 16th day of May 1894.
ALFRED SHERWIN,
Engineer, Kingston-on-Thames.
CERES IRON WORKS, LIMITED,
THOS. STEVENS, Secretary,
Kingston-on-Thames.