An Improved Machine for Husking and Shelling Maize.
Year: 1897

page_text: • Date of Application, 26th July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 5th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 16th July,
1898
[Communicated from abroad by ANGELO CASALI, of Suzzara, Mantua, in the
Kingdom of Italy.]
An Improved Machine for Husking and Shelling Maize.
I, DAVID YOUNG, Patent Agent, of the Firm of D. Young & Co., of 11 and 12,
Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
―
This invention relates to a machine for mechanically effecting the operations
of husking and shelling or removing the grains from ears of maize, this machine
being capable of being operated either by a steam-engine, a hydraulic motor, an
electromotor, or by horse power or gearing.
The said machine, as is usual with agricultural machinery, is mounted on
wheels so as to enable it to be easily transported from one place to another as
required, and its dimensions can obviously be varied according to the output
which it is desired to obtain in a given time.
The operation and construction of my improved machine are based upon a
novel principle whereby it is adapted to effect at once the two operations above
mentioned of husking and shelling the ears of maize, and to afterwards separate
by mechanical means, the husks or leaves, the cobs or stalks, and the maize. It
thus follows that the new machine, as will be hereinafter mentioned, is provided
with beating and shelling mechanism for effecting the two first operations, and
with other parts for separating the various products.
The parts of the machine are enclosed in a double frame which is of simple
but strong construction so as to render the mounting of the internal parts of
the machine very easy.
The beating apparatus is in its turn enclosed in a kind of casing formed by
two lateral discs of cast metal, on which is mounted a piece of sheet iron having
the external form of a drum. This part of the machine, in addition to contribut-
ing to the elegance of the frame, also serves for strengthening it at the point
where it is subjected to the greatest stress.
The importance of employing this metallic piece is very great, either as regards
the mounting of the internal parts of the machine, or for securing in place the
beater and the concave or breasting, and it can also be made in other forms in
which it can be constructed.
On the metallic casing is arranged a hopper which receives the ears of maize
and conducts them into the beating apparatus.
The beating apparatus consists of a cylinder arranged in the cylindrical sheet-
iron casing above mentioned; this cylinder is rotated at a speed varying between
350 and 550 revolutions per minute, according to the quality of the ears to be
shelled. The said cylinder consists of discs of cast metal, wrought iron or steel,
which are keyed onto a steel or other shaft which is driven by the motor, by
means of a pulley mounted on the said shaft at one side of the machine.

page_text: Around the discs, according to the dimensions of the machine, are mounted
from 5 to 8 transverse pieces of wood, which are arranged parallel to the axis of
the cylinder; the open spaces left between one transverse piece and the next are
covered in by means of strips of sheet iron so as to form a drum. On the external
surface of the transverse pieces are fixed, by means of screws, bolts or the like, 5
cast bars of steel or iron, the width of which may vary between 70 to 150 milli-
metres according to the dimensions of the machine and the thickness of the ears.
On the external surface of the bars are provided teeth or projections arranged
at a suitable distance apart depending upon the dimensions of the machine and
the size of the ears.
The beating cylinder is mounted in the concave or breasting which is con-
structed entirely of iron or steel and consists of two semi-circular frames or heads
arranged on the two sides of the machine. From one to the other of these two
semi-circles extend bars or blades of iron, arranged parallel to the axis of the
beating cylinder, which bars or blades have their outer angles rounded and are
traversed in a perpendicular direction by iron bars or thick wires arranged
between them at a distance of 10 to 20 millimetres apart.
It must be noted that the beating cylinder and concave or breasting are
arranged one within the other, but that they are appreciably eccentric, so that the
free space left between the beating cylinder and the concave or breasting cylinder
decreases from above downwards following the direction of motion of the beating
cylinder. From this it results that the cars covered by the leaves, in falling
from the hopper into the space between the beater and the concave, are husked
and shelled successively, being drawn in during the rotary motion of the beating
cylinder. It is also evident that the smallest parts (grains of maize and small
pieces of cobs, stalks, etc.) will partly fall across the concave whilst the larger
parts (leaves and the remainder of the maize and the cobs or stalks) will leave
the beating apparatus by falling on to the apparatus for shaking the leaves.
The apparatus for shaking the leaves or husks is arranged immediately behind
the beater, and consists of a large transverse piece of iron, mounted on two sup-
ports secured to the frame of the machine, being preferably mounted in bearings
to as to be free to turn therein.
To the said transverse piece are secured wood splints or strips inclined in a
longitudinal direction and curved or further inclined at their lower ends. These
splints are fixed to the transverse piece above mentioned by means of screws and
their distance apart varies from 20 to 35 millimetres according to the quality
of the ears.
The apparatus for shaking the leaves receives an oscillatory motion by means
of a crank keyed on the end of the pivot of the said transverse piece, a connecting
rod, and a second crank mounted on a shaft on which is mounted a pulley,
actuated from the shaft of the beating cylinder.
By reason of the oscillatory motion of the apparatus for shaking the husks or
leaves, the maize and the cobs or stalks separate from the leaves and fall below,
whilst the leaves move along the said apparatus. In connection with the latter,
a grating is provided which has the same shaking motion imparted to it; this
grating consists of a frame, on which are mounted wood strips at a distance apart
of from 20 to 35 millimetres, according to the thickness of the ears, and it serves
to separate the last grains of maize, which are drawn along by the husks or leaves
by conducting them into position to be discharged at the front end of the
machine.
Beneath the said grating is arranged an inclined plane which receives the maize
and stalks and discharges them onto a sieve on which thus collect the parts
which fell through the concave or breasting apparatus. By means of the said
sieve is effected the separation of the maize from the stalks and since the former
fall down, the latter are discharged to the right side of the machine. The maize,
in falling from the sieve above mentioned, passes into a second sieve and thence
into the winnowing apparatus.

page_text: A special fan which is very powerful and provided with a double air-jet is
arranged beneath the flooring of the machine in proximity to the rear wheels and,
by means of one mouth-piece or jet, it projects a strong current of air along the
inclined plane as well as beneath the apparatus for shaking the husks or leaves,
and the second oscillating grating so as to drive back the leaves whilst allowing
the maize and stalks to fall for the purpose of facilitating the separation of the
products.
By means of another mouth-piece or jet, the fan projects air beneath the second
sieve and the winnowing apparatus, so that the maize, in falling, is met by a
strong current of air, which completely removes therefrom the husk and beard.
The grain thus cleaned, then passes, by means of an elevator, from the winnowing
apparatus to the sack in which it is collected.
In this manner the husks or leaves and beard will collect at the head of the
machine, the stalks at the right hand side and the cleaned maize at the other
side.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Husking and Shelling Maize.
I, DAVID YOUNG, Patent Agent, of the Firm of D. Young & Co., of 11 and 12,
Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
This invention relates to a machine for mechanically effecting the operations
of husking and shelling or removing the grains from ears of maize, this machine
being capable of being operated either by a steam-engine, a hydraulic motor, an
electromotor, or by horse power or gearing.
The said machine, as is usual with agricultural machinery, is mounted on
wheels so as to enable it to be casily transported from one place to another as
required, and its dimensions can obviously be varied according to the output
which it is desired to obtain in a given time.
The operation and construction of my improved machine are based upon a
novel principle whereby it is adapted to effect at once the two operations above
mentioned, of husking and shelling the ears of maize, and to afterwards separate,
by mechanical means, the husks or leaves, the cobs or stalks, and the maize. It
thus follows that the new machine, as will be hereinafter mentioned, is provided
with beating and shelling mechanism for effecting the two first operations, and
with other parts for separating the various products.
The improved machine is shown, by way of example, in the drawings accom-
panying the present specification, in which
Figure 1 is a side view,
Figure 2 a plan with parts in section, and
Figure 3 a longitudinal section of the machine on a vertical plane perpendicular
to the axles of the wheels.
On referring to the drawings it will be seen that the parts of the machine are
enclosed in a double frame A, the form of which can be seen from Figures 1
and 3. This frame is of simple but strong construction so as to render the mount-
ing of the internal parts of the machine very easy.

page_text: The beating apparatus is in its turn enclosed in a kind of casing formed by
two lateral discs of cast metal, on which is mounted a piece of sheet iron having
the external form of a drum. This part of the machine, in addition to contribut-
ing to the elegance of the frame, also serves for strengthening it at the point
where it is subjected to the greatest stress.
The importance of employing this metallic piece is very great, either as regards
the mounting of the internal parts of the machine, or for securing in place the
beater and the concave or breasting, and it can also be made in other forms in
which it can be constructed.
On the said metallic casing is arranged a hopper K which receives the ears of
maize and conducts them into the beating apparatus.
The beating apparatus consists of a cylinder C arranged in the cylindrical
sheet-iron casing above mentioned; this cylinder is rotated at a speed varying
between 350 and 550 revolutions per minute, according to the quality of the ears
to be shelled. The said cylinder C consists of discs D of cast metal, wrought
iron or steel, which are keyed onto a steel or other shaft E, which is driven by
the motor, by means of a pulley E¹ mounted on the said shaft at one side of
the machine.
Around the discs, according to the dimensions of the machine, are mounted
from 5 to 8 transverse pieces F of wood, which are arranged parallel to the axis
of the cylinder; the open spaces left between one transverse. piece and the next
are covered in by means of strips of sheet iron so as to form a drum. On the
external surface of the transverse pieces are fixed, by means of screws, bolts or the
like, cast bars G of steel or iron, the width of which may vary between 70 to 150
millimetres according to the dimensions of the machine and the thickness of
the ears.
On the external surface of the bars G are provided teeth or projections arranged
at a suitable distance apart depending upon the dimensions of the machine and
the size of the ears.
The beating cylinder is mounted in the concave or breasting H, which is con-
structed entirely of iron or steel and consists of two semi-circular frames or heads
arranged on the two sides of the machine. From one to the other of these two
semi-circles extend bars or blades H¹ of iron, arranged parallel to the axis of the
beating cylinder, which bars or blades have their outer angles rounded and are
traversed in a perpendicular direction by iron bars or thick wires arranged
between them at a distance of 10 to 20 millimetres apart.
It must be noted that the beating cylinder and the concave or breasting
are arranged one within the other, but that they are appreciably eccentric, as
shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, so that the free space left between the beating
cylinder and the concave or breasting cylinder decreases from above downwards
following the direction of motion of the beating cylinder, which is indicated by
an arrow in the drawing. From this it results that the ears covered by the leaves,
in falling from the hopper K into the space between the beater and the concave
are husked and shelled successively, being drawn in during the rotary motion
of the beating cylinder. It is also evident that the smallest parts (grains of
maize and small pieces of cobs, stalks, etc.) will partly fall across the concave H
whilst the larger parts (leaves and the remainder of the maize and the cobs or
stalks) will leave the beating apparatus by falling on to the apparatus for shaking
the leaves.
The apparatus I for shaking the leaves or husks is arranged immediately
behind the beater, and consists of a large transverse piece L of iron, mounted on
two supports M secured to the frame of the machine, being preferably mounted
in bearings so as to be free to turn therein.
To the said transverse piece L are secured wood splints or strips inclined in
a longitudinal direction and curved or further inclined at their lower ends N as
shown in the drawing. These splints are fixed to the transverse piece L by
means of screws and their distance apart varies from 20 to 35 millimetres accord-
ing to the quality of the ears.

page_text: The apparatus for shaking the leaves receives an oscillating motion by means
of a crank M¹ keyed on the end of the pivot of the said transverse piece L, a con-
necting rod M³, and a second crank O mounted on a shaft O¹ on which is mounted
a pulley 02, actuated from the shaft of the beating cylinder as shown in Figure 2
of the drawing.
By reason of the oscillating motion of the apparatus for shaking the husks or
leaves, the maize and the cobs or stalks separate from the leaves and fall below,
whilst the leaves move along the said apparatus. In connection with the latter,
a grating Q is provided which has the same shaking motion imparted to it; this
grating consists of a frame, on which are mounted wood strips at a distance apart
of from 20 to 35 millimetres, according to the thickness of the ears, and it serves
to separate the last grains of maize, which are drawn along by the husks or
leaves, by conducting them into position to be discharged at the front end of the
machine.
Beneath the said grating Q is arranged an inclined plane R which receives the
maize and stalks and discharges them onto a sieve S on which thus collect the
parts which fell through the concave or breasting apparatus. By means of the
sieve S is effected the separation of the maize from the stalks and since the former
fall down, the latter are discharged to the right hand side of the machine. The
maize, in falling from the sieve S passes into a second sieve T and thence into
the winnowing apparatus U.
For the purpose of hastening the separation of different parts coming from the
apparatus for shelling ears the incline plane R and the sieve S are actuated with
the same oscillating movement as the grating Q and this is obtained in the follow-
ing manner.
The grating Q, the incline plane R and the sieve S are arranged in a kind of
boat shaped box which is formed by two lateral boards S¹ having the outline
shown in Figure 3. The said box is suspended to the sides of the machine by
means of four springs A", A", B", B", (Figure 1) which permit free oscillation
of the box and the oscillating movement is transmitted to it by the connecting-
rod y (Figure 3) from the cranked axle L2 forming part of the shaft O¹.
In the same manner the box T¹ holding the sieve T and the winnowing appa-
ratus U is suspended by the springs u, u to the machine and this box is recipro-
cated by the connecting rod y' from the cranked axle L³ forming part of the
said shaft O¹
A special fan V which is very powerful and provided with a double air-jet is
arranged beneath the flooring of the machine in proximity to the rear wheels
and, by means of one mouth-piece or jet Z it projects a strong current of air
along the inclined plane R as well as beneath the apparatus I for shaking the
husks or leaves and the second oscillating grating Q so as to drive back the leaves
whilst allowing the maize and stalks to fall for the purpose of facilitating the
separation of the products.
By means of another mouth-piece or jet the fan projects air beneath the
second sieve T and the winnowing apparatus U so that the maize, in falling, is
met by a strong current of air, which completely removes therefrom the husk
and beard. The grain thus cleaned, then passes, by means of an elevator, from
the winnowing apparatus to the sack in which it is collected.
In this manner the husks or leaves and beard will collect at the head of the
machine, the stalks at the right hand side and the cleaned maize at the other
side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A machine serving to effect, by a single passage through the same, the
operations of husking and shelling ears of maize as well as the separation of the
products and the cleansing of the grain, which machine comprises a hopper for

page_text: the introduction of the ears, beating and breasting apparatus for husking and
shelling the ears as described, a sieve or sifting apparatus for shaking the leaves
or husks and separating the leaves or husks and the beard, an inclined plane,
a sieve for the separation of the stalks, a second sieve for cleaning the maize,
and a powerful fan with a double jet or nozzle serving to assist the operations
of separation and cleaning, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as
reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purposes,
above specified.
described with
of Annil 1900
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.