IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEATERS FOR THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Gray, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Machine Knife Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BEATERS FOR THRASHING MACHINES."
Sealed the 80th June 1863, and dated the 27th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Gray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th February
1863.
I, WILLIAM GRAY, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Machine Knife
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEATERS FOR THRASHING MACHINES,"
to be as follows:-
The revolving beater or drum in ordinary thrashing machines consists of
several longitudinal bars firmly secured and attached to arms or spokes, or to
the periphery of wheels affixed to a central shaft or axis with which the beater
or drum revolves. Fig. 1 represents a side view of such beater or drum.
My Invention consists, firstly, of the rolling of steel of any description, or
wrought iron in the shape or design, or any similar shape or design, shewn on
Drawing, Fig. 2, and the application of such rolled steel or wrought iron to be
used or applied as beaters for thrashing machines. I do not confine myself
to the precise shape shewn on Drawing, as the same may be altered or modified
as circumstances may require. These beaters made of steel or wrought iron
being superior and more durable than the metal now generally used.
Secondly, my Invention consists of fluting or grooving in steel or wrought

page_text: iron the surfaces of the longitudinal bars of the beater in the manner shewn on
Drawing, Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shews end section, full size, and Fig. 3, a section, full
size in perspective, by which the shape or design is clearly shewn, the
parts hollowed out underneath the surface being for the purpose of reducing the
weight.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Gray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, WILLIAM
GRAY, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Machine Knife Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Gray, Her special licence, that I, the said William Gray,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Gray, 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 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF BEATERS FOR THRASHING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Gray, 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 William Gray, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, that is to
say:
The revolving beater or drum in ordinary thrashing machines consists of
several longitudinal bars firmly secured and attached to arms or spokes, or to

page_text: the periphery of wheels affixed to a central shaft or axis with which the beater
or drum revolves. Figure 1 represents a side view of such beater or drum.
My Invention consists, firstly, of the rolling of steel of any description, or
wrought iron in the shape or design, or any similar shape or design, shewn on
Drawing, Figure 2, and the application of such rolled steel or wrought-iron bars
to be used or applied as beaters for thrashing machines on the drum, concave, or
breast plate. I do not confine myself to the precise shape as shewn on Drawing,
as the same may be altered or modified as circumstances may require. These
beaters made of steel or wrought iron being superior and more durable than
those now generally used.
Secondly, my Invention consists of fluting or grooving in steel or wrought
iron the surfaces of the longitudinal bars of the beater in the manner shewn on
Drawing, Figure 1. Figure 2 shews end section, full size, and Figure 8, a section
full size, in perspective, by which the shape or design is clearly shewn, the
parts grooved or hollowed out underneath being merely for the purpose of
reducing the weight.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is or may be performed, I declare that what I claim and desire to be
secured by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improve-
ments in the manufacture of beaters for thrashing machines, substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated on Drawings, or any mere modification
or imitation thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Gray, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
WILLIAM GRAI. (L.S.)