Cambridge PORTABLE CHAFF ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Maynard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1882.
ROBERT MAYNARD of Whittlesford near Cambridge
PORTABLE CHAFF ENGINES"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to improvements in portable chaff engines and has for its
object the saving of manual labor by using selfacting machinery for preparing the
straw or other material to be cut before it passes to the knives-For this purpose
I use Firstly an elevator consisting of endless chains or bands furnished with
spikes which penetrate and carry up the straw towards the feed box and―
Secondly an arrangement of combs which straighten or yeatm the straw as it
passes into the box-Or I take two or more elevators as described so arranged
that one set of tines shall travel faster or slower than the other and the straw
being passed between or amongst them is dragged and straightened in the process.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Maynard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th December 1882.
ROBERT MAYNARD of Whittlesford near Cambridge
PORTABLE CHAFF ENGINES"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to improvements in portable chaff engines and has for its
object the saving of manual labour by using self acting machinery for preparing
the straw or other material to be cut by straightening or yealming it before it
passes to the knives thus avoiding the risk of injury and economising the labour
hitherto attending this operation
And in order that my said invention may be better understood and readily
carried into effect I will now with the aid of the accompanying drawings whereon
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts proceed more particularly
to describe and ascertain the same
To carry out my invention I proceed as follows:-I take an elevator furnished
with endless chains or bands working over suitable drums or riggers and provided
with spikes or tines which penetrate and carry up the straw or other material
towards the feed box.
Such straw or other material in the course of its progress passes underneath and
is straightened or yealmed by one or more combs or rakes fitted to the elevator
and which combs or rakes are worked by cog wheels driven by cranks as shewn
in the accompanying drawings.
By this improved construction and arrangement the straw or other material
is automatically straightened or yealmed before passing to the knives thus
materially reducing the labour and cost and also the risk hitherto attendant upon
this operation.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shews a view in side elevation of a
portable chaff engine with my improvements applied thereto-a is the chain
working over chain drums a' and furnished with spikes or tines c-Such chain is
guided in its travel towards the feed box by a bent bar b. while d is a comb or
rake suspended by a handle e working on a dead centre e¹ and actuated by a
crank driven by cog wheels g
Figure 2-is a partial plan view of this construction and arrangement wherein
the arrangement of the cog wheels and cranks is clearly shewn
Figures 3 and 4 shew alternative mechanical arrangements for actuating the
combs or rakes d
Another method whereby I obtain such automatic action is as follows:-I take
two or more elevators fitted with endless chains or bands furnished with spikes as
already described and I so arrange and adjust such elevators that one set of tines
shall travel at a faster or slower speed than the other so that when the straw or
other material is passed between or amongst them it is dragged and straightened
in the process before reaching the knives
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
carrying the same into operation I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details hereinbefore specified as the same may be modified
without departing from the principle of my invention which is the straightening
or yealming of the straw or other material by self acting mechanism instead of by
manual labour as hitherto-What I claim as novel and of my invention is
Firstly The fitting a portable chaff engine with automatic machinery for
preparing the straw or other material to be cut by straightening or yealming it

page_text: before it passes to the knives substantially in the manner herein before described
and shewn.
Secondly The employing two or more elevators constructed and arranged in the
manner hereinbefore described for mechanically straightening or yealming the
straw or other material,
In witness whereof I the said Robert Maynard have hereunto set my hand
and seal this seventh day of December in the Year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
ELT & CO
British and Foreign Patent Agents,
33 Southampton Buildings,
Holborn,
London,
ROBERT MAYNARD (L.S.)