IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Davis, of Hemel Hempstead, in the
County of Hertford, Engineer and Agricultural Implement
Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF THRASHING MACHINES."
Sealed the 1st July 1853, and dated the 22nd April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Davis at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 22nd April 1853.
I, JAMES DAVIS, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THRASHING MACHINES
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that construction of thrashing machines
which is fitted with a drum containing beaters and a concave segment
frame or case carrying pegged or indented bars. The stationary bars
and rotating beaters, according to this Invention, are so arranged that
the pins or projections on the beaters will not enter the spaces between
the pins or projections of the stationary bars, but will in rotating
describe a circle whose radius falls short of the pins of these bars.
This will admit of the beaters being so set that the pins of the
respective bars may all move in different planes, and likewise the pins
of the stationary bars may stand opposite the spaces in the next ad-

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said James Davis, in the Great Seal, Patent Office, on
the 22nd October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, I.
JAMES DAVIS, of Hemel Hempstead, in the County of Hertford; Engi-
neer and Agricultural Implement. Maker, send greeting
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the yea
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Davis, Her special licence that I, the
said James Davis, my executors; administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Davis, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain, and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THRASH-
ING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst, others) that I, the said
James Davis, by an instrument in writing under my, hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said. Inven-
tion, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Davis, '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 drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
This Invention relates to that construction of thrashing machines
which is fitted with a drum, containing beaters, and a concave segment,
frame, or casé carrying pegged or indented bars, for the purpose of acting
on the ears of corn, and thrashing, knocking out, or removing the grain
therefrom.
.
.
...The stationary bars and rotating beaters, according to this Invention,
are so arranged that the pins or projections on the beaters will not
enter the spaces between the pins or projections of the stationary bars,
but will in rotating describe a circle whose radius falls short of the pins
of these stationary bars. This will admit of the beaters being so set
that the pins of the respective bars may all move in different planes,
and likewise the pins of the stationary bars may stand opposite the spaces
in the next adjoining stationary bars, by which means a more perfect
action upon the ears and straw will be obtained, than by the old
arrangement.
The beaters are formed complete from the solid bars of iron, being
first rolled in a peculiar sectional form, and certain of the projecting
parts cut done by a hollow rose-tool or a chisel, so as to form a line of
round or other shaped pins: or studs. A square edge is thus obtained
in front of the beater, and by its action the thrashing out of the corn
is greatly facilitated, the effect of. two blows being by the use of this
beater communicated to the straw and ears.
pur-
Having, thus briefly set forth the nature and object of my Invention,
I will now proceed to describe more in detail the best means with
which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, for which
pose I, haye. shown in the accompanying drawings such of the
parts of
athrashing machine constructed according to my improvements as
will.clearly shew the nature of and mode of applying my Invention.
Fig. 1 is a sectional. view of a thrashing machine, cylinder, or drum,
with the concave cover; none of the other parts being shewn, in order
odavoid confusion.. and any unnecessary complexity in the drawing.

page_text: a, a, is the drum or barrel, on which the longitudinal beaters b, b, b, are
fixed in any convenient manner. These beaters may either consist of plain,
round, or oval bars, as shewn in the detached views, Figures 2, and 3; or
they may be made with serrated or notched edges, as shewn at Figures 4,
and 5, and hereafter more particularly described. The concave cover which
It is for
encloses the rotating drum or cylinder a, a, is shown at c, c.
convenience formed in two parts, which are jointed together at 1. The
internal surface of the concave cover is provided with stationary studs,
which may be either cast with the part c, c, or be attached to bars.
which may be affixed to the concave, by screws, bolts, or other suitable
fastenings. The cover c, is so mounted as to be capable of being set
nearer to or further from the drum or cylinder a, as usual. The upper
part of the cover is solid, but the lower part from the joint 1, is perforated
for the purpose of letting the grain and chaff that is beaten out from the
ear, to fall through into a suitable receptacle placed beneath. Fig. 6,
represents on an enlarged scale the interior surface of the lower part of
the concave cover, shewing the form and arrangement of the fixed
studs d, d, which, it will be seen, are arranged in diagonal lines, so
ear of corn can pass straight through the machine without
coming in contact with one or more of them. If preferred, these
studs d, d, may be made square, round, or of any other form that
may be desired.
If it be desired to adapt notched bars to the interior
of the concave cover, or to employ them as beaters, care must be taken
to arrange the bars in such a manner that the projections, pins, or
studs of one bar may follow or be set in a line with the spaces of the
preceding bar, just as the studs or pins on the inside of the concave
cover, as shewn in Fig. 6,. are placed opposite to the spaces of the
row immediately preceding, and vice versa. By this arrangement of
the parts, it will be seen that no ear of corn can by any possibility
escape being acted on and effectually thrashed out. Bars with a single
row of projections, pins, or studs, may be employed and arranged, in the
manner above described; but for bolting machines, I prefer to make the
bars, whether for the drum or cylinder a, or for the interior of the con
cave c, c, with two or more rows of studs, as shewn in the plan view
Fig. 7. In order to produce bars of this form, I first roll the bars in
fluted form, with three longitudinal ribs, and then I cut across the ba
that no

page_text: in a diagonal direction to the depth of the longitudinal grooves, so as to
form three sets or rows of studs, as shewn in the Fig. 7; each of which
studs will, in rotating, describe a distinct and separate circle. It will
be seen that the pins, studs, or projections of the drum or cylinder a, do
not intersect or enter between the pins, studs, or projections on the
interior of the concave cover, but are set at such a distance therefrom
as effectually to beat or thrash out the grain, without requiring so much
power as is now found necessary when these parts intersect.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in thrashing
machines," and the best means with which I am at present acquainted
for carrying the same into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that
I do not mean or intend to confine myself rigidly to the precise arrange-
ment or construction of parts hercin shewn and described, as they may
perhaps be varied without departing from the nature and object of my
Invention; nor do I intend to claim the use of rotating beaters; but that
which I consider to be new, and therefore wish to claim as the Inven-
tion secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid, is, the use of bars or
beaters, provided with studs, pins, or projections, and arranged in such
a manner that the studs, pins, or projections of one row shall not
rotate or move round in the same line as those of the preceding or
suceeding row. I claim the use and application of such bars (arranged
in such a manner) either to the rotating drum, or to the stationary
concave cover. I also claim the use of the round or oval bar or beater,
shewn in Figures 2, and 3, in combination with the concave cover,
provided with studs, pins, or projections, arranged in diagonal rows, as
shewn in Fig. 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Davis, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, the Twenty-first day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JAMES DAVIS. (L.S.)
Witness, J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.