IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRESSING AND CLEANING GRAIN."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gebbie, of Townhead, Hurlford, in the County of
Ayr, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR DRESSING AND CLEANING GRAIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gebbie at the Office:
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1876.
JOHN GEBBIE, of Townhead, Hurlford, in the County of Ayr, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRESSING AND CLEANING
GRAIN."
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of screens or
riddles for the cleaning, separating, and sizing of grain or the seed cereals, and in
the construction of the fanners, or winnowing and dressing machines, for cleaning,,
dressing, and separating the dust and chaff from the grain, and the light and heavy
grains from each other, all in a more simple and efficient manner than heretofore.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention consist, first, as regards the new or
improved screens or riddles in making these with double sifting or riddling bottoms,
with oither the upper or lower one made movable in a frame or otherwise, with
open and blank spaces alternately, exactly the same in both, preferably punched or
cut out of sheet metal, and preferably with square or rectangular holes and blank or
uncut spaces, like black and white checked cloth, the white, say, representing the
holes and the black the spaces, so that when both screens were set to coincide they
would be at their largest to suit the largest grains or seeds to be allowed to pass
through, and when the movable riddle is shifted laterally or longitudinally the
openings would be uniformly reduced to any size less than their real size in either
the width or length respectively, keeping them their full size in the other or opposite
direction, or otherwise by shifting the movable sieve in the mean diagonal direction
at 45°, the holes or openings would be reduced, both in breadth and length, pro-
portionally to the actual size of the holes in both sieves, and downwards to the
smallest possible size through which the finest seeds and dust alone can pass, or

page_text: even close the holes altogether when that is required. And this new or improved
construction of grain sieve or riddle it will be evident can be fitted up in the
ordinary manner, and vibrated or actuated by the usual "ticklers" and cranks used
for ordinary grain shoots and riddles to receive the grain at the one end and deliver
it at the other, cleaned or separated from the materials in it small enough to pass
through the interstices at the particular size of openings to which they may be set
for the time being. From this property of being able to adjust the sieve to any
required size of openings it is enabled to do the work of the ordinary series of
riddles or compound sieves, each with its different gauge or size of interstices or
meshes, and therefore most suitable for the dressing and cleaning of grain and seeds
on small farms and granaries, or for the smaller class of portable, decorticating, and
other grain, and seed winnowing, cleaning, and dressing inachines.
The nature and novelty of the second improvements connected with the winnowing
of grain, corn, or seeds, consist in constructing the air fan and its case so that its air
and grain discharge duct or shoot goes off at a considerable angle and tangent from
the underside (as, say, about 45° or so upwards) and in feeding in the grain to be
cleaned and dressed along with the air at the lower part of openings at the centre
or eye of the case (where the air enters), or it might be by a separate duct or
openings for the grain in either case, so that the blades of the fan at the lower part
would strike and throw the grain or seeds being treated up this discharge duct with
great force along with the air so that the grain (or other heavy matters that may
be in it) would be thrown across the current of air and strike the top side of the
duct or conduit (which did not lead off at a tangent to the fan and its case), and
round, back, and onwards at a corresponding long or obtuse angle through the duct,
and again across the current of air, so as thus to get the double force or action of
the air current, which thus more effectually acts on the lighter grain, chaff, husks,
and dust close to the fanner where the blast is strongest; while the small stones and
heavy grains or seeds are by the direct stroke they receive forced almost direct into
the ordinary dividing ducts and compartiments at their respective distances along
the lower side of the air and grain discharge duct, much as in other grain winnowing
and dressing machines, except that the first two or three receiving compartments
are set at the proper reverberatory angle of incidence from the top of the air and
grain duct to receive the heavy grains or particles, which enter their chambers some-
what in the same manner that billiard balls rebound from the sides of the table
into the pockets, and not merely falling when the gravitation of their own weight
overcomes the force of the air blast as heretofore.
These two improvements may be worked conjointly in the same or separately in
different grain or seed cleaning and dressing machines, either separate from or
connected with thrashing or other decorticating machines.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Gebbie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th June
1877.
JOHN GEBBIE, of Townhead, Hurlford, in the County of Ayr, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRESSING AND CLEANING
GRAIN."
My said Invention consists, first, of certain improvements in the construction of
screens or riddles for the sifting, cleaning, or separating of dust and other impurities
from grain or other seed cereals, and for assorting the grain into different sizes;
and, secondly, it consists of improvements in the construction of fanners, or
winnowing and dressing machines, for cleaning, dressing, and separating the dust

page_text: and chaff from the grain, and the light and heavy grains from each other, all in a
more simple and efficient manner than heretofore.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my said Inven-
tion may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the Figures on
the Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing
the best mode and means I am at present aware of for putting the Invention into
effect or practice, the same reference letters indicating the same parts in the Figures
where shown.
Figures 1 is a side elevation of the lower part A of an ordinary grain thrashing
machine, and its supporting side and end frames B, B', with a long rectangular
screen E (much of an ordinary construction) swung below it within the framing for
receiving and sifting the thrashed grain, and delivering it into the new or improved
fan or winnowing and dressing mechanism shown in sectional elevation in front of
this Figure 1, and the thrashing mill A and sieve E; and Figure 2 is a plan of tho
same arrangement shown in and corresponding to Figure 1, but with the thrashing
mill part as removed; while Figure 3 is a sectional side clevation of the long close
spout G or duct (to a small scale to show it complete) of or from the fan F, F¹, for
the escape of the air, dust, and chaff at the extreme open end g, and the separating
and delivering of the heavy and light grain at the spouts S and a respectively.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the ordinary first motion shaft is indicated at a,
which gives motion to the second or speed increasing counter shaft al by the spur
wheel and the pinion a, and through the spur wheel all and pinion a³ gearing
therewith on the shaft A' of the beaters of the thrashing mill A, so as to drive
these at a high speed at the end A" of the mill where the grain in the stalk is
fed in, so that as the seed grain is thrashed or beaten out it falls down through the
open bars of the bottom at A, A, into the end E¹ of the screen E, which is hung
by the two sets or pairs of jointed and hooked links E" to the ends of its box
or frame and secured above to the transverse rails B" of the thrashing mill
frame B, B', all so as to be oscillated or rocked to and fro longitudinally by
the central connecting rod D, jointed at its inner free end to the crosss bar Di
firmly screwed at D to the edges and sides of the screen E, and at its outer bushed
strap end D¹ to the crank C₁ of its actuating or rocking crank shaft C carried in
bush bearings in the end standards B' of the mill, and actuated by the pinion a' on
its one end gearing into the wheel all of the shaft a¹, so as to rock the sieve E at
a high speed and by a large bell pulley C on its front end and open belt C² passed
over it, and a sinaller pulley Cs on the shaft f of the fanners, actuate this at a high
speed through the other shafts A, A¹, and their gearing before mentioned, all in the
direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. The whole arrangement, all so far
described, is much of the same construction and action as in other thrashing inills
and screens heretofore in use, the straw being discharged as usual at the opposite
end A to that A" at which the grain is fed in. In the arrangement shown the
bottom of the screen E, at E¹ where the grain as stated is delivered into it, is fitted
with fine wire gauze Ell, as coarse in the interstices or meshes as to let out all
dust and seeds of weeds, which are less in size than the smallest of the grain seeds
being treated, and as this end E¹ of the screen is highest its vibration causes all
such dust and bad seed to be sifted through the wire gauze E" at this end E¹ of
the screen E on to the floor or cased-in part z to receive it as the grain rolls or
gravitates forward to the lower end; some distance from which a broad sheet of
zinc or other sheet metal e is fitted in the bottom, perforated with round or other
shaped and sized holes to allow all the good light and heavy grain seeds to pass
out through into the curved inclined lateral shoot or spout c, which by the shaking
of the screen E delivers all the grain into the semi-conical or pillar-shaped duct c¹
fitted on and leading into one eye ƒ of the case F1 of the new or improved fan F
in a new manner, so as to be delivered regularly thereto along with the air, which
are thus both forced through the fan by the action of its blades F, which are curved
or set preferably backwards, although shown in the Drawings as curved forward

page_text: towards the outer ends, for the better propelling of the grain along with the air,
and which has the effect of throwing the grain towards the upper side G¹ of the
duct G.
The delivery end of the screen E is fitted with a plain upper tray & inclined
backwards, so as to receive all the loose grain which falls out of the straw being
shaken through the thrashing machine, to deliver it back over the improved per-
forated bottom and spout e and c to enter the eye of the fanner with the rest, as
stated; all loose straw, stones, or other matter larger than the grain passing over
the perforated bottom e and is delivered at the open end E2 of the screen on to the
floor, or into receptacles for removal.
By the first important improvement of this Invention the sifting wire gauzo
bottom E, or the perforated parts e over the lateral spout c, may be made in an
improved manner with square or other rectangular holes 1, with open and blank
spaces 2 alternately, or in line diagonally, fitted with a corresponding perforated
movable or double bottom, as shown at e, e¹, and ell, e, in Figures 4 and 5 respec-
tively, indicating a small piece of such new or improved screen bottom with the
shifting one e¹, e, in three different positions; and although only rectangular holes
are shown, it is to be understood that round or oval holes might be used in the
same way, preferably punched or cut out of sheet zinc or other sheet metal, the
white representing the holes and the black shading the blank spaces between them,
so that when both screens are set to coincide the holes would be at their largest to
suit the largest grains or seeds to be allowed to pass through, as seen in the first
example of each Figure; and when the movable perforated bottom of the riddle
elor is shifted laterally or longitudinally, as indicated by the arrows, the openings
would be uniformnly reduced to any desired size less than their real size in the
direction either of their width or length respectively, keeping the full size in the
other or opposite direction, as seen in the second example; or otherwise, by shifting
this movable bottom of the sieve e or e² in the direction of the arrows or diagonally
to the openings (as at 45° for square holes), then these would be reduced both in
their width and length, proportionally to the real or actual size of the holes in both
sieves to half their size, as seen in the third example of these Figures 4 and 5; or
if the blank spaces between are left sufficiently large, down to the smallest possible
size, through which the finest seeds and dust alone could pass, or even close the
holes altogether when that is required.
The further improvement of this Invention connected with the winnowing
fanners or mechanism for grain, corn, or seeds, besides that of feeding in the grain
to be cleaned and dressed along with the air at the lower part of openings at the
centre or eye of the case, as before described, consists in constructing the air fan F
and its case F¹ with a long narrow air and grain discharge duct or shoot G, the
width of the fan, which is led off at a considerable angle and tangent from the
under side F of the fan F, F¹, (as, say, at about 45° or so upwards, as seen
particularly in Figures 1 and 3 respectively) so that the blades F of the fan at this
lower part F1 would strike and throw the grain or seeds as they are fed into the
case F frm the spouts c, c', up this discharge duct G with great force along with
the air indicated by the long arrows, so that the grain (or other heavy matters that
may be in it) would be thrown across the current of air and strike the top side of
the duct or conduit G¹, and rebound back and onwards at a corresponding long or
obtuse angle through the duct and again across the current of air in the direction
indicated by the short angled darts in Figure 1, so as thus to get the double force
or action of the air current which thus more effectually acts on the lighter grain,
chaff, husks, and dust close to the fanner where the blast is strongest, while the
heavy grains or seeds are by the direct stroke they receive forced almost direct
into the separating ducts or compartments S or s at their respective distances along
the lower side G₁ of the air and grain discharge duct G, much as in other grain
winnowing and dressing machines, except that the two receiving compartments S, 8,
(or it might be three) are set at the proper reverberating angle or distance forward

page_text: from the fan to direct the heavy grains or particles into the chamber S, assisted by
their own gravitation or weight, the lighter particles being projected and carried
considerably further, assisted by the air current, and deposited in the compart-
ment 8, 8¹. The lower edge or entrance to both compartments is fitted with a cross
projecting lip T, t, over which the heavy and light grain respectively fall, all the
heavy grain falling between these two lips being deposited into the heavy shoot or
spout S direct, and all the lighter grain carried beyond the lip t runs backwards
into the duct & leading to the spout s, both fitted with closing and opening hand
slides S¹¹, 81, where the bags for receiving the grain are hooked or attached in a
usual manner; all the chaff and dust being blown right out at the open-curved
(or it might be straight) end g of the air duct G, which is preferred to widen
gradually from the fan outwards, and the upper lip t is preferred to be attached to
the upper edge of the movable slide g¹ fitted with shifting and setting cords g over
the duct & formed in the lower side G¹¹ of the air duct G, so as to be set up or
down to regulate the minimum size of the heavy grains desired to fall into the
duct S and maximum size of the light grains desired to fall into the duct and
spout 8¹, 8. The upper part G* of the duct G¹ above the sliding slide gl is pre-
ferred to be portable or fixed with screws for case of removal for getting at this
slide and the entrance to these ducts; and neither the fanners nor the air and grain
spout G require to be anything like the width of ordinary fanners for dressing any
given quantity or amount of grain, and the fan is therefore much easier driven.
In reference to the first part of the improvements it will be obvious that the
property of being able to adjust the sieve to any required size of openings enables
it to do the work of the ordinary series of riddles or compound sieves, each with its
different gauge or size of interstices or meshes, and it is therefore most suitable for
the dressing and cleaning of grain and seeds on small farms and granaries, or for
the smaller class of portable, decorticating, and other grain and seed winnowing,
cleaning, and dressing machines.
In reference to the second part of the Invention it will be understood that, when
desired, the fanners F might be made of other constructions and with fewer or more
blades F, and that there might be more separating spouts or compartments than
the two, as shown at S and 8, 81, for separating the different qualities or weights of
grains, and a duct might be formed below the lip t, or a door or pocket in the lower
part of the fan for receiving any small stones or other substances too heavy to pass
over the lip so as to be removed at intervals.
It is to be understood that these two improvements may be worked conjointly
in the same, or separately in different grain or seed cleaning and dressing machines,
and either separate from or connected with thrashing or other decorticating
machines.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein described or delineated; but what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The general construction or arrangement of screen and fanners or
winnowing mechanism for the sifting, cleaning, and assorting corn, grain, and
other cereal seeds, all substantially in the new or improved manner herein described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings or any mere modification
thereof.
Second. The construction and use of screens for the cleaning, or sifting, and
separating of grain or seeds with perforated double bottoms, shifting over each
other to give different sizes of holes, all substantially in the new or improved
manner herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings
or any mere modification thereof.
Third. The construction and use of winnowing mechanism for the cleaning or
dressing and separating or assorting of grain or seeds, in which these are led into

page_text: the fanners and propelled by the blades into the air ducts along with the air, all
substantially in the new or improved manner herein described in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gebbie, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JOHN GEBBIE. (L.S.)