IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING MACHINERY
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Willison, of the Manse of Dun-
donald, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Minister of
Dundonald, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASHING
MACHINERY."
Sealed the 23rd March 1853, and dated the 2nd October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Willison
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd October 1852.
I, ALEXANDER WILLISON, of the Manse of Dundonald, in the
County of Ayr, North Britain, Minister of Dundonald, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THRASH-
ING MACHINERY" to be as follows:-
Whereas in the common thrashing machine hitherto in use for
separating grain of various kinds from the straw the essential feature
of the separating or beating apparatus consists of a rotatory cylinder,
usually known as the "drum," such drum being a cylinder either open
or enclosed, and fitted with projecting beaters or striking arms or vanes,

page_text: placed longitudinally upon the cylinder in relation to the axis thereof,
such a revolving drum is contrived so that its projecting arms shall
strike the grain or substance undergoing the thrashing action as it
passes through or between the rollers. Now, this Invention relates,―
1st. To the substitution for the drum of a species of flattened beater
revolving on a horizontal or other shaft, and giving the grain two
distinct strokes or thrashing blows at each revolution of the shaft.
This beater is placed like the common drum immediately behind the
rollers of the thrashing machine, and with its shaft set either above or
below the horizontal of entry or passage between the rollers, so as to
give the grain either upward or downward strokes. It may be made of
various forms, but its general feature is that of a flat rectangular board
or vane attached to a shaft, as delineated in Figure 1, of the accompany-
ing Drawings. But it may be made duplex, so as to give four strokes
instead of two at each revolution.
2nd. To the arrangement of thrashing machines wherein a skeleton
cylinder or drum, as delineated in Figure 2, of the Drawings, is placed
immediately behind the beater first described, and in close contact with
such beater, for the purpose of preventing the latter from being
entangled with the issuing straw. This cylinder is termed the straw
clearer; it may also be made of various forms, but it is preferred to be
cylindrical, of the same length as the beater, and revolving in the same
direction.
3rd. To the arrangement of thrashing machines wherein one beater,
with its corresponding straw clearer, is placed above the horizontal line
of traverse of the unthrashed grain into, the machine between the feed
rollers thereof, and another beater with its straw clearer beneath the
said horizontal line. By this plan, whilst the straw clearers are so
placed that they are kept apart from each other to allow the thrashed
straw to pass off between them, the striking edges of the revolving
beaters are made to cross above and below the said horizontal line in
order to strike off the grain. When two beaters are used in this
manner they are so geared together as to work at right angles to
-each-other; that is, their respective shafts are geared together by
a pair of toothed wheels, as delineated in Figure 3, in such manner

page_text: that the four striking edges on the two beaters shall strike the grain
alternately. By this contrivance the unthrashed grain as it passes
between the rollers is struck both upwards and downwards alternately
before passing off between the straw clearers.
4th. This thrashing machine may be actuated in various ways, but
for the purpose of adapting it to manual or human labour the arrange-
ment represented in Figure 4, is adopted. In that plan a fly wheel
shaft, with a double crank thereon, is employed as the first motion,
such shaft being worked by the pressure of the feet of the attendant
upon a pair of treadles connected to the two cranks. With such an
arrangement the attendant who feeds the machine with the unthrashed
grain may actuate it at the same time, the motion being conveyed from
a large band pulley on the crank shaft to the moving details of the
machine. By this means a single attendant accomplishes. the whole
process of thrashing, but he may be assisted, if necessary, by a second
hand turning a winch on. the end of the crank shaft.
5th. To the separation of the grain from the straw more economically,
and with a less expenditure of power, than hitherto, by reason of the
unthrashed grain being struck on both sides alternately.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Willison in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 1st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ALEXANDER WILLISON, of the Manse of Dundonald, in the County of
Ayr, North Britain, Minister of Dundonald, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alexander Willison, Her special licence that I,
the said Alexander Willison, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Alexander Willison, my executors, administra-

page_text: tors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Chan-
nel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THRASHING MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Alexander Willison, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the, said Alexander Willison, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto attached, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):
Whereas in the common thrashing machine hitherto in use for
separating grain of various kinds from the straw the essential feature
of the separating or beating apparatus consists of a rotatory cylinder,
usually known as the "drum," such drum being a cylinder either open
or enclosed, and fitted with projecting beaters, or striking arms or
vanes, placed longitudinally upon the cylinder in relation to the axis
thereof, such a revolving drum is contrived so that its projecting armis
shall strike the grain or substance undergoing the thrashing action as
it passes through or between the rollers. Now, my Invention relates,-
First. To the substitution for the drum of a species of flattened beater
revolving on a horizontal or other shaft, and giving the grain two
distinct strokes or thrashing blows at each revolution of the shaft.
This beater is placed like the common drum immediately behind the
rollers of the thrashing machine, and with its shaft set either above or
.below the horizontal line of entry or passage between the rollers, so as
to give_the_grain_either_upward or downward strokes. This beater
may be made of various forms, but its general feature is that of a

page_text: flat rectangular board or vane attached to a shaft, as delineated in
Figure 4, on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings. But it may also
be made duplex, so as to give four strokes instead of two at each
revolution.
Second. To the arrangement of thrashing machines wherein skeleton
cylinders or drums or plain rollers are placed iminediately behind the
beater first described, and in close contact with such beater, for the
purpose of preventing the latter from being entangled with the issuing
straw. Such cylinders or rollers I term the straw clearers. They may
be made of various forms, but I prefer them to be cylindrical, of the
same length as the beaters, and revolving in the same direction.
.
Third. To the arrangement of thrashing machines wherein one
beater, with its corresponding straw clearer, is placed above the hori
zontal line of traverse of the unthrashed grain into the machine
between the feed rollers thereof, and another beater with its straw.
clearer beneath the said horizontal line. By this plan, whilst the straw
clearers are so placed that they are kept apart from each other to
allow the thrashed straw to pass off between them, the striking edges
of the revolving beaters are made to cross above and below the said
horizontal line in order to strike off the grain. When two beaters are
used in this manner they are so geared together as to work at right
angles to each other; that is, their respective shafts are geared together
in such manner that the four striking edges on the two beaters shall
strike the grain alternately. By this contrivance the unthrashed-grain
as it passes between the rollers is struck both upwards and downwards
alternately before passing off between the straw clearers..
This thrashing machine may be actuated in various ways, but for the
purpose of adapting it to manual or human labour the arrangement
represented in Figure I, is adopted. In that plan a fly wheel shaft,
with a double crank thercon, is employed as the first motion, such shaft
being worked by the pressure of the feet of the attendant upon a pair
of treadles connected to the two cranks. With such an arrangement the
attendant who feeds the machine with the unthrashed grain may
actuate it at the same time, the motion being conveyed from a large
band pulley on the crank shaft to the moving details of the machine.

page_text: By this means a single attendant accomplishes the whole process of
thrashing, but he may be assisted, if necessary, by a second hand turning
a winch on the end of the crank shaft.
The separation of the grain from the straw is thus effected more
economically, and with a less expenditure of power, than hitherto, by
reason of the unthrashed grain being struck on both sides alternately.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
shall now proceed to describe the various Figures on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached. Figure 1, on my Sheet of Drawings is a
perspective elevation of one form of my thrashing machine as arranged
to be worked by human power; Figure 2, is a front elevation of the
beating apparatus detached, together with the actuating and con-
necting gearing thereof; and Figure 3, is a corresponding side view
of the same; Figure 4, is an elevation of a single beater in detail;
and Figure 5, is an end or edge view of the beater. The framing of
the machine is an ordinary rectangular erection, having a platform A,
at one end, with an adjustable seat B, for an attendant, who feeds the
unthrashed grain into the machine, and at the same time aids the thrash-
ing action with his feet. He accomplishes the latter result by work-
ing the two treadles C, which are linked to a pair of cranks on the first
motion winch shaft D, which is mainly turned by a separate attendant.
This first motion shaft carries a small pulley E, from which a cross
band F, passes to a pulley on the end of the lower fluted feed roller
spindle G. The saine shaft also carries a large pulley E, from which an
open band passes to a pulley I, on the end of the shaft of the upper
beater J, this shaft having upon it a spur wheel K, gearing with a
similar wheel L, on the shaft of the lower beater M. In this way the
two beaters simultaneously revolve at the same rate, but in reverse
directions. The shaft of the upper beater has also a pulley N, upon it,
with an open band passing from it to the pulley O, on the end of the
shaft of the large upper straw clearing roller or cylinder P. The lower
roller Q, is similarly driven by a pulley R, on the bottom beater-shaft,
by a band passing to the pulley S, on the roller shaft. Thus as the
grain is fed in upon the upper platform it is drawn forward by the
grooved rollers G, and carried directly into contact with the pair of

page_text: beaters J, M, and as these beaters revolve at a high rate they alter-
nately strike the grain upwards and downwards. Each edge of the
beaters crosses the horizontal line of traverse of the straw. to a short
extent (variable at pleasure) as it comes round. in its progress of revo-
lution, so that as the unthrashed grain passes along, the grain is most
effectually separated or struck off from the straw by the alternate and
opposed actions of the beater edges. The beaters are keyed on their
respective shafts so as to work constantly at right angles to each other,
this position being retained by gearing the beater shafts together with
equal toothed wheels. Hence the two beaters work into each other,
as it were, like wheel teeth, and subject the grain to a most severe
thrashing action in passing through. As the grain is detached it falls
down clear of the machinery into its proper receptacle at the bottom
of the casing of the machine, whilst the cleared straw passes off to the
back of the machine between the two constantly revolving rollers P, Q.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of my
Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is,-
First. The application and use in thrashing machinery of a flat or
flattened beater, giving two strokes upon the grain during each
revolution.
Second. The system or mode of thrashing grain by the use of beaters
geared together, or arranged to give alternate strokes to the grain in
opposite directions, or up and down.
Third. The application and use in thrashing machines of beaters with.
two or more edges, working alternately above and below, or crossing
the horizontal line of traverse of the grain.
Fourth. The system or mode of thrashing grain by striking the same
on each (or both) sides alternately.

page_text: Fifth. The application and use of straw clearers to carry away the
cleared straw, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Willison, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, to this Twenty-eighth day of March,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
ALEXANDER WILLISON. (L.S.)