IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THRESHING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THRESHING MACHINES." A communica-
tion from abroad by Thomas Quinlivan, of Coghill's Creek, Victoria, Australia,
Farmer
Sealed the 16th August 1878, and dated the 1st June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THRESHING
MACHINES." [A communication from abroad by Thomas Quinlivan, of Coghill's
Creek, Victoria, Australia, Farmer.]
My improvements consist,-
First. In the addition to threshing machines of a contrivance for carrying the
sheaves from the stack to the machine instead of supplying the same by hand, as at.
present.
And, Secondly. In an improved mechanical arrangement for regulating the supply
to the beaters of the said threshing machine.
The sheet carrier consists of a wooden trough containing an endless india-rubber
band, carrying spiked cross laths. Near the machine end of this trough I place a
revolving band cutter, and I cover the said trough with a sheet-iron bonnet so as to
direct the sheaves under the band cutter. I also hinge to the said fixed bonnet a
small subsidiary movable bonnet for preventing the stalks from getting into the
bearings of the band cutter shaft.
The arrangement for regulating the supply to the beaters of the threshing machine
consists in an endless travelling platform made of three parallel belts, carrying
transverse cross laths for conveying the loose stuff supplied to it by the sheaf carrier

page_text: underneath a slotted iron screen or shield, through which project the teeth of an
adjustable endless travelling rake, constructed on the same principle as the platform.
The extent to which these teeth project through the said shield is determinable by
adjusting screws, and the farther they project and the closer the travelling rake is
adjusted to the feeding platform the smaller is the amount of stuff supplied to the
beaters. Beside regulating the supply the travelling rake also spreads the stuff to
some extent.
The sheaves are placed one at a time in the sheaf carrier, which conveys them
under the revolving band cutter, where the bands are cut, and the loose sheaf is
then delivered on an endless travelling platform, which carries it under the endless
rake into the threshing drum.
By reason of the sheaf carrier being hinged it can accommodate itself to any
height of stack, or can raise the sheaves from the ground if so required. This
carrier may be removed from one side of the machine to the other side, as may be
most convenient.
By the use of my improvements a considerable saving in labor is effected, and all
danger to human life and limb is prevented.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
November 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THRESHING
MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Thomas Quinlivan, of Coghill's
Creek, Victoria, Australia, Farmer.
These improvements consist,-
First. In the addition to threshing machines of a contrivance for carrying the
sheaves from the stack to the machine.
And, Secondly. In an improved mechanical arrangement for regulating the
supply to the beaters of the said threshing machine.
My sheaf carrier consists of a wooden trough containing an endless india-rubber
band, carrying spiked cross laths: Near the machine end of this trough I place a
revolving band cutter, and I cover the said trough with a sheet-iron bonnet to
direct the sheaves under the band cutter. I also hinge to the said fixed bonnet a
small subsidiary moveable bonnet for preventing the stalks from getting into the
bearings of the band cutter shaft.
The arrangement for regulating the supply to the beaters of the threshing
machine or threshers consists in an endless travelling platform made of three
parallel belts, carrying transverse cross laths for conveying the loose stuff supplied
to it by the sheaf carrier underneath a slotted iron screen or shield, through which
project the teeth of an adjustable endless travelling rake, constructed on the same
:

page_text: principle as the platform. The extent to which these teeth project through said
shield is determinable by adjusting screws, and the farther they project and the
closer the travelling rake is adjusted to the feeding platform the smaller is the
amount of stuff supplied to the beaters. Beside regulating the supply the travelling
rake also spreads the stuff to some extent.
In the accompanying Drawings,-
Figure 1 shews an end elevation of the upper part of a threshing machine with
my sheaf carrier attached; Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the sheaf carrier on the line a, b, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a section of the upper part of a threshing machine shewing my
mechanical arrangement for regulating the supply to the beaters of the thresher.
A is the wooden trough, hinged at A', and containing endless india-rubber
band B, on which are spiked cross laths B'. This band travels over and is supported
on a wooden platform B³, and also travels over rollers BS and B. Either end of the
spindle B terminates in a T piece; one T piece gears into a forked clutch BⓇ at
the end of short spindle B', which is driven by bevel gearing B from shaft B³,
which receives its motion from the drum spindle B10 by means of belt B. On the
opposite side of the machine is a similar set of forked clutch spindle and bevel
gearing so as to provide for the possibility of the sheaf carrier being affixed to the
opposite side of the machine, only in this case the bevel gearing is so set as to run
in the opposite direction; C is a fixed sheet-iron bonnet; C₁ is a movable sheet
iron bonnet hinged at C2; D is a revolving band cutter, and D¹ its spindle, supported
to segmental pieces D, and connected by radius bars D³ to the gudgeons, through
which works the spindles B. It is driven by the belt D* from the pulley D³ on
spindle B7, which belt passes over the pulley De. There is a counterpart to the
pulley De on the other end of the spindle D' to provide for its being driven from
that side in the event of the sheaf carrier being affixed to the opposite side of the
machine.
E is the endless platform travelling around sets of pulleys E¹, E³, at each end;
Es, Es, are the transverse cross laths, and E, E, are pieces of tin fastened under-
neath one lath and resting unfastened on the upper edge of the next one; E³ is a
stationary supporting wooden platform; and E is a sheet-iron shield; E' is a
piece of angle iron running from side to side of the machine for clearing the drum
from any straw that may cling to it. Motion is imparted to this platform by
means of the belt Es from the pulley E°, the said belt passing around the pulley Elo
on the spindle of pulleys E¹.
F is the endless rake, travelling around pulleys F1, F2, at each end, the former
being supported in bearings on adjustable frame F³, and the latter in bearings on
fixed frame F. Motion is imparted to this rake by means of the belt Fs passing
around the small pulley F on the spindle of pulleys E'. The frame F³ is adjusted
by means of a set screw F', working in a slot Fs in the vertical standard F, the
G is a slotted sheet
spindle of the pulley F being the fulcrum on which it works.
iron shield through the slots, in which the teeth of the rake work. This shield is
adjustable by means of its supports G' and G³, the former passing through guides
and the latter
in the adjustable framing F3 and being fastened by a set screw,
passing through an eye on the fixed framing, and being fastened by a nut. H is a
shield or guide to conduct the straw to the threshing drum J.
The mode of operation is as follows:-The sheaves are placed one at a time in
the sheaf carrier A, which conveys them under the revolving band cutter D, where
the bands are cut, and the loose sheaf is then delivered upon the endless travelling
platform E, which carries it under the endless rake F into the threshing drum.
It will be observed that by reason of the sheaf carrier being hinged it can accom-
modate itself to any height of stack, or can raise the sheaves from the ground if so
required. It will also be observed that provision is made for the removal of this
carrier from one side of the machine to the other, as may be most convenient.
By the use of these improvements a considerable saving in labor is effected, and
all danger to human life and limb is prevented.
,

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to any
particular size, shape, or materials in the construction of the said machines, although
in these particulars I have shewn and described those which I prefer, and I
claim,―
First. The addition to a threshing machine of a carrier for conveying the sheaves
from the stack to the machine, substantially as above set forth.
Second. The combination and arrangement of the endless travelling platform with
the endless rake and slotted shield, in the manner and for the purposes herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TITU
BAR