AN IMPROVEMENT ON A MACHINE FOR CLEARING GRAIN FROM THE STRAW
Year: 1797

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, JOHN
MAULE, of Castle Street, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, Engine
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fourth day of July, in the thirty-seventh year of His reign,
give and grant unto me, the said John Maule, His especial licence, that I, the
said John Maule, during the term of years therein mentioned, should and
lawfully might use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT ON A
MACHINE FOR CLEARING GRAIN FROM THE STRAW;" in which said Letters
Patent there is contained proviso obliging me, the said John Maule, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to cause a particular descrip-
tion of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within one calendar month after the date of the said recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: SPECIFICATION.
My Invention consists of applying the principle of a grist mill with
horizontal stones, but with the following difference: I substitute cast-iron
plates, wood, or other materials, in the place of mill stones, all which will bo
more clearly understood by the annexed Plate, lettered, and the following
explanation:-
A,. a hopper, into which the ears of corn are put to be conveyed to the
table. B, B, two ribb'd rollers for conducting the ears from the hopper A
through a hole in the rubber C to the table D, which roller takes its action
by means of a pulley on its axis from a pulley and strop or chain on the axis
of the winch, on which is a wheel which drives a pinion wheel fixed on the
spindle of the rubber C, which is turned by one or two handles G, G, by
which the rollers B, B, and rubber C are driven, which rubber, working on
the ears of corn or grain in the table, clears and separates the grain from
the ears or straw; the axis to which the roller is fixed lays at right angles
with spindle of the rubber C. I sometimes use a spiral screw or worm instead
of the rollers. C, the fluted rubber which rubs out the grain on the table D.
N.B. The rubber and table are fluted, grooved, or channelled on the same
principle as grist mills, but vary in the size of the flutings, grovings, or
channellings, so as to suit different size grains. D, the fluted table fix'd on
the frame H, H, I, HI, which cannot be shewn in the Plate. E, E, E, the
axis's on which the ribb'd rollers are fixed. F, F, F, the pulleys on the axis's
E, E, E. G, G, are two winches or handles fixed on axis O, by which the
spindle to which the rubber C is fixed is driven. H, H, H, H, the frame to
which the table is fixed. I, a spout to convey the grain and chaff, &c., out
of the table. K, a tub with a hole in it, over which the hopper is fixed.
This tub incloses the rubber and table. L, a tin plate or iron hoop fixed on
the rubber. M, a regulating screw to set the rubber more or less distant from
the table, which is fixed in a lifting rail in the frame. N, N, two moveable
bands, strops, or chains on the pullies F, F, F, and P. O. axis, on which
is fixed the great wheel Q, which drives the pinion wheel R fixed on the
spindle of the rubber C. P, the pulley on the axis O. Q, the great wheel
fixed on the axis O. R, the pinion wheel fixed on the spindle of rubber C.

page_text: S, the spindle on which the rubber is fixed. T, a spring fixed to the jubb to
keep the ears in motion. N.B.-The spindle and axises are iron.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Maule, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven.
Inrolled the Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven.