IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THRASHING AND REEDING WHEAT AND OTHER STRAW
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Brinsmead, of St. Giles in the Wood, near
Torrington, in the County of Devon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR THRASHING AND REEDING WHEAT AND OTHER STRAW."
Sealed the 13th May 1864, and dated the 20th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Brinsmead at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
November 1863.
I, THOMAS BRINSMEAD, of St. Giles in the Wood, near Torrington, in the
County of Devon, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THRASHING AND REEDING WHEAT AND OTHER
STRAW," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for thrashing
and reeding wheat and other straw. For these purposes two rotating cylinders
or frames are used, each carrying rows of teeth from end to end. These
cylinders or frames are mounted on parallel axes, and at such a distance apart
that the points of the teeth of one cylinder or frame clear the surface of the
other cylinder or frame. The teeth employed are such as have before been,
used in reeding and thrashing machines. The two cylinders or frames are.
caused to rotate with like surface speed by cog wheels, or by straps, or other-
wise; and it is preferred that the rows of teeth of one cylinder or frame should
be in advance of the rows of teeth of, the other cylinder or frame, by which,
the two sets of rows of teeth will act alternately on the straw which is placed

page_text: on a sliding table or surface arranged to slide to and from the cylinders or
frames. The ends of the straw are held by clamps or holders on the sliding
table or surface, or the clamps or holders used may be held in the hand
without the sliding table or surface. The table or sliding surface may be
moved to and fro by hand, and the clamps or holders opened and shut by
hand, but it is preferred to move the table or sliding surface by the aid of a
lever, and to open the clamps when they come back, and close them again before
they get to the cylinders or frames, which may be self-acting. The workman
places a bundle of straw on the table or sliding surface, so that the ends pro-
ject beyond that edge which is next the cylinders or frames, and the same will
be held by the clamps or holders when the table has been slid in, and the
ends will be acted on by the teeth carried by the cylinders or frames, the table
or sliding surface will then be drawn back and the ends of the straw reversed,
so that the other ends may be similarly treated. When using hand clamps or
holders in order to prepare bundles or quantities of wheat, or other straw, an
apparatus is employed consisting of a table or platform on which there are two
or more forks with prongs or sides inclined to each other. In these forks the
straw is placed and supported.in.a convenient position to admit of the bundle
or quantity being taken by the hand clamps or holders, thero being a space
between the bundle, or quantity of straw, and the table or platform on which
the forked instruments are placed..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said, Thomas Brinsmead in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BRINSMEAD, of St. Giles in the Wood, near Torrington, in the County of
Devon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of November, in the year, of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Brinsmead, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Brinsmead, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Thomas Brinsmead, 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

page_text: make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THRASHING AND REEDING WHEAT AND OTHER
STRAW," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said. Thomas
Brinsmead, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Thomas Brinsmead, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
.
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for thrashing
and reeding wheat and other straw. For these purposes two rotating cylinders
or frames are used, each carrying rows of teeth from end to end. These
cylinders or frames are mounted on parallel axes, and at such a distance apart
that the points of the teeth of one cylinder or frame clear the surface of the
other cylinder or frame. The teeth employed are such as have before been
used in reeding and thrashing machines. The two cylinders or frames are
caused to rotate with like surface speed by cog wheels, or by straps or other-
wise, and it is preferred that the rows of teeth of one cylinder or frame should
be in advance of the rows of teeth of the cylinder or frame, by which the two
sets of rows of teeth will act alternately on the straw which is placed on a
sliding table or surface arranged to slide to and from the cylinders or frames.
The ends of the straw are held by clamps or holders on the sliding table or
surface, or the clamps or holders used may be held in the hand without the
sliding table or surface. The table or sliding surface may be moved to and fro
by hand and the clamps or holders opened and shut by hand; but it is preferred
to move the table or sliding surface by the aid of a lever, and to open the
clamps when they come back, and close them again before they get to the
cylinders or frames, which may be self-acting. The workman places a bundle
of straw on the table or sliding surface, so that the ends project beyond that
edge which is next the cylinders or frames, and the same will be held by the
clamps or holders when the table has been slid in, and the ends will be acted
on by the teeth carried by the cylinders or frames; the table or sliding surface
will then be drawn back and the ends of the straw reversed, so that the other
ends may be similarly treated. When using hand clamps or holders in order

page_text: to prepare bundles or quantities of wheat or other straw an apparatus is
-employed consisting of a table or platform on which there are two or more
forks with prongs or sides inclined to each other. In these forks the straw is
placed and supported in a convenient position to admit of the bundle or
quantity being taken by the hand clamps or holders, there being a space
"between the bundle or quantity of straw, and the table or platform on which
quantity. being taken by the hand clamps or holders, there being a space
"between the bundle or quantity of straw, and the table or platform on which
the forked instruments are placed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Plate 1, Figure 1, shows the side of the machine and section of cylinders
or frames; Plate 1, Figure 2, shows the end view of the above Plate; Plate 2,
Figure 2, shows the clamps in the process of working or sliding to and from
upon the main frame of Plate 1, Figure 1. Plate 2, Figure 1, shows the
clamps when open to receive the bundle of straw, and the dotted lines show
them when shut or clasping the bundle of straw,
Figure 1 and Figure 2 represent two cylinders or frames with teeth and
revolving on parallel axes driven with gear, or strap, or otherwise, with equal
number of revolutions at a sufficient speed to thrash out the corn and to
cleanse the straw, so as to make it into reed; the wheat or straw being.
operated upon on both sides at the same time. The mode of working it is
described in the former part of the Provisional Specification. No. 1, bar or
spindle; 2, heads of frame; 3, teeth; 4, ends of cylinders.
Figure 1 and Figure 2 represent the sliding table on which the bundle of
straw is placed between two clamps or holders, When the bundle of straw is
placed on the sliding table by the person in attendance, then the workman
that attends to the clamps or holders immediately presses the handle, Figure 1,
No. 1, which is connected with the clamps 3, 4, 5, 6, or a, a, (being open to
receive it) is instantly brought to bear on the bundle of straw in the form of
the clamps of 5, 6, and then slid on between the two cylinders, Plate 1,
Figure 1, revolving with teeth. It then being operated upon is again taken
back and the man's finger put on the small tiller 8 to relieve it from the catch 7.
The other end is then similarly treated as before described, and then given to
the man that binds the reed. a, a, shows the clamps open, and 5, 6, shows
them shut. No. 1, handle; 2, catch block or press block; 3, 4, connecting
rods to the clamps or holders; 5, 6, clamps when on the bundle of straw or
wheat. a, a, clamps when open to receive the straw; 7, catch or dog; 8,
tiller on which to put the finger; 9, front of sliding table; 10, top of sliding table.
Figure 1 and Figure 2, Plate 3, represent the hand clamps and platform
referred to in the Provisional Specification. Figure 1 is the section of

page_text: Figure 2, and shows the forks or prongs referred to in the Provisional Specifi-
cation. The straw or wheat is put into these forks for the convenience of
taking it by the hand clamps or holders. Figure 2 is the side view of Figure 1,
and shows the table or platform and also the space (e) between the straw and
the platform to admit the bundle of wheat or straw being taken by the hand
clamps or holders. a, forks; b, blocks of wood to form the space; c, platform;
d, legs; e, space.
Figure 1 and Figure 2, Plate 4, represent the hand clamps or holders
referred to in the Provisional Specification, and shows their position when
clasping the wheat or straw. Figure 2 is the section of Figure 1; a, b, catch;
c, spring; d, showing where the clamps open and overlap.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Brinsmead, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
THOMAS BRINSMEAD. (LS.)