AN IMPROVED FEED APPARATUS. FOR THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of AN IMPROVED
FEED APPARATUS. FOR THRASHING MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by Alfred Léon Dudoüy, of Saint Ouen l'Aumône, near Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED FEED APPARATUS FOR THRASHING
MACHINES." [A communication from abroad by Alfred Léon Dudoüy, of Saint
Ouen l'Aumône, near Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to an improved feed apparatus for thrashing machines
consisting of a number of tines or prongs hung loosely on and operated by a
cranked shaft, and guided in such manner that they are caused to incliue backwards,
descend into the straw, and feed it to the drum, as hereafter described.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated
it by way of example in the annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front, and
Fig. 2 a side elevation of the feeder; Figure 3 is a section taken on line 1-2,
Figure 1, and drawn to a larger scale; Figures 4, 5, and illustrate different
positions assumed by the tines. The same letters of reference indicate the same
parts in all the Figures.
a, a, are two side frames supporting bearings b, b, on which the cranked shaft c
is mounted. This shaft is driven by a belt on pulley & from the beater shaft or
otherwise; e, e, are collars loose on shaft c, to which the tines or prongs fare
jointed. Each tine is passed through a hole in a fixed guide rail g, and the straw
on being fed forward by the tines is delivered to the drum beneath springs h fixed
to a cross bar i, or springs h¹ mounted upon a cross bar ke in rear of the guide bar'g,
as indicated in Figure 3, may be used in lieu of the springs h.
Referring to Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, the action is as follows:-The rotation of the
crank shaft c in the direction of arrow X, Figure 3, imparts to the tines ✓ a.
combined up and down and rocking motion in their guides g, causing their
extremities to move in the curved path indicated by line Y, Y, Figure 3. During
their backward motion from point m to point n the tines rise above the straw to
the position shown in Figure 5, and then descend and describe the curve n, p, m,
thereby carrying the straw forward beneath the springs h to the thrashing drum.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th August 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED FEED APPARATUS FOR THRASHING
MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Alfred Leon Dudoüy, of Saint
Ouen l'Aumône, near Paris, France.
This Invention relates to an improved feed apparatus for thrashing machines,
consisting of a number of tines or prongs hung loosely on and operated by a
cranked shaft, and guided in such manner that they are caused to incline back-
wards, descend into the straw, and feed, it to the drum, as hereafter described.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated
it by way of example in the annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front, and
Figure 2 a side elevation of the feeder; Figure 3 is a section taken on line 1-2,
Figure 1, and drawn to a larger scale; Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate different
positions assumed by the tines. The same letters of reference indicate the same
parts in all the Figures.
a, a, are two side frames supporting bearings b, b, in which the cranked shaft c
is mounted. This shaft is driven by a belt on pulley d from the beater shaft or
otherwise; e, e, are collars loose on shaft c to which the tines or prongs fare
jointed, each tine passing through a hole in a fixed guide rail g. The straw on
being fed forward by the tines is delivered to the drum beneath springs fixed to
a cross bar i, or springs ' mounted upon a cross bar k in rear of the guide bar g,
as indicated in Figure 3, may be used in lieu of the springs h.
Referring to Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, the action is as follows:-On the crank shaft c
being rotated in the direction of arrow X, Figure 3, it imparts to the tines fa
combined up and down and rocking motion in their guides g, causing their
extremities to move in the curved path indicated by line y-y, Figure 3. During
their backward motion from point m to point n the tines rise above the straw to
the position shown in Figure 5, and then descend and describe the curve n, p, m,
thereby carrying the straw forward from t to s beneath the springs h to the
thrashing drum.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim, as the Invention to be protected
by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The improved feed apparatus for thrashing machines, substantially as shown
and described, and consisting essentially of a number of prongs or tines hung
loosely on and operated by a cranked shaft, and so guided as to be caused to
take a backward movenient above the straw, and a downward and forward
movement for entering the straw and feeding it to the thrashing drum, as herein
set forth.
2nd. In feed apparatus for thrashing machines the employment of a cranked
shaft c, receiving motion from the beater shaft by a band pulley d, as described.
3rd. The combination with cranked shaft c of collars e mounted loosely thereon,
as shown and described:
4th. The combination with the cranked shaft c, carrying loose collars e, of tines
or prongsjointed to said collars, substantially as shown and described.
5th. The employment of rail g for guiding the teeth of prongs f, substantially as
shown and described.

page_text: 6th. In a feed apparatus for thrashing machines the employment of springs h
fixed to cross bar i, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)