IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING FEEDING APPARATUS FOR THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Charles Henderson, of 6, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SELF-ACTING FEEDING APPARATUS FOR THRASHING MACHINES." A com-
munication from abroad by Julien Alexandre Demoncy-Minelle, Manufacturer
of Machinery, of Chateau Thierry, in the Department of Aisne, in the Republic
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Charles Henderson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1881.
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 6, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELFACTING FEEDING APPARATUS FOR
THRASHING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Julien Alexandre
Demoncy-Minelle, Manufacturer of Machinery, of Chateau-Thierry, in the
Department of Aisne, in the Republic of France.
Feeding thrashing machines by hand as generally adopted with many machines
is inconvenient, tedious, and dangerous to the operatives, one or two of whom are
required to perform the operation which is often irregularly performed.
The mechanical feeding of the machine if simple and practicable is naturally
advantageous, as it supplies the machine in a regular and automatic manner, the
motive power requisite being relatively small with the cost of the actual hand
work.
The novel mechanism forming the subject of the present Invention fully realizes
these objects. Of the most simple construction it attacks the sheaf previously
loosened, divides it by intermittent movements into handfuls, which it regulates in
its progressive movements, and afterwards spreads it out and finally distributes it
to the thrashing machine. The sheaf loosened and thrown on a flap slightly
inclined is divided by a series of disks armed with long teeth mounted on the same
sbaft and turning with an intermittent motion between iron sheets all bent alike,
which serve to support and direct the straw as it is drawn along.
At the commencement an oscillating panel provided with fingers acting on the
straw ouly on its arrival limits the quantity of admission, throwing back any
excess on the flap.

page_text: Towards the summit of the metal sheets a transverse shaft moves with two
simultaneous motions, one being oscillatory and the other partially rotary and
alternate so as to lower, raise, and otherwise move a series of special teeth supported
by the said shaft in such a manner also as to make the straw backwards and
forwards, and spread it as it presents itself under the teeth.
The straw thus spread out is passed regularly between the metal sheets which
there compass and cover the teeth of the disks as well as fixed guides. Finally a
rake gifted with the requisite oscillatory motion takes the straw in equal
quantities to present it to the thrashing machine which directly communicates
with the mechanical feeder.
All these mechanical parts whose functions and combinations are thoroughly
novel receive motion from a shaft parallel with the shaft of the thrashing machine
and turn with a continuous moveinent.
All transmissions of motion are effected by eccentrics, shafts, and levers easy of
regulation, for regulating at will the greater or less admission of the straw; finally
a simple method of throwing the apparatus out of gear admits of instantly stopping
the supply of the straw so that all the other parts work without effect.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Arthur Charles Henderson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th December 1881.
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 6, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF ACTING FEEDING APPARATUS FOR
THRESHING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Julien Alexandre
Demoney-Minelle, Manufacturer of Machinery, of Chateau Thierry, in the Department
of Aisne, in the Republic of France.
Feeding thrashing machines by hand as generally adopted with many machines
is inconvenient, tedious, and dangerous to the operatives, one or two of whom are
required to perform the operation, which is often irregularly performed. The
mechanical feeding of the machine if simple and practicable is nusually
advantageously performed, as it supplies the machine in a regular and automatic
manner, the motive power requisite being relatively small with the cost of the
actual hand work. The novel mechanism forming tho subject of the present
Invention fully realizes these objects. Of the inost simple construction it attacks the
sheaf previously loosened, divides it by intermittent movements into handfuls, which
it regulates in its progressive movements, and afterwards spreads it out and finally
distributes it to the thrashing machine. The sheaf loosened and thrown on a flap
slightly inclined is divided by a series of disks armed with long teeth mounted on
the same shaft and turning with an intermittent motion between iron sheets all
bent alike, which serve to support and direct the straw as it is drawn along, it
being first roughly separated by a rake gifted with a complex movement, and the
teeth of which limit the quantity of admission throwing back any excess on the
flap. Near the culminating point of the sheets a transverse shaft moves with two
simultaneous motions, one oscillatory, the other partially rotary and alternate, so as
to lower, raise, and advance a series of special teeth supported by the said shaft,
and so as to rake back wards and forwards in order to spread out the straw which
presents itself under the said teeth. The straw thus spread out is passed regularly
between the metal sheets which there compass and cover the teeth of the disks as
well as fixed guides. Finally, a rake gifted with the requisite oscillatory motion
takes the straw in equal qualities to present it to the thrashing machine which
directly communicates with the mechanical feeder. All these mechanical parts
whose functions and combinations are thoroughly novel receive motion from a
shaft parallel with the shaft of the thrashing machine and turn with a continuous
notion. All transmissions of motion are effected by eccentrics, shafts, and levers
easy of regulation for regulating at will the greater or less admission of the straw,
finally, a simple method of throwing the apparatus out of gear admits of instantly
stopping the supply of the straw so that all the other parts work without effect.
As it will be seen by the following description of the apparatus the improved
feeder is applicable to all thrashing machines receiving the cereals crosswise with
the movement of the thrashing machine, parallel with the axis of motion, or in a
fixed and determined inclination so as to present the ears first. Fig. 1 of the
accompanying Drawings is an end view of the feeder from the disconnecting side;
Fig. 2 is a view from the opposite side; Fig. 3 is a transverse and anterior
elevation; Fig. 4 is a plan, and Fig. 5 a transverse section following the line A, B.
Two cast iron sides a, a', of appropriate dimensions are connected by a wood
work a², a³, and above by a square cross piece a' also of wood. Behind an inclined
flap b with two divergent faces b', ', is bolted to the siles a, a, and the cross
piece a", In suitable frames the sides a, a', receive the cushions of a shaft e which
can be raised or lowered by a regulating screw c' screwed from beneath the frame

page_text: in a nut lodged in the thickness of the iron, the heads of which are in nitches
made in the frame. Parallel with the shaft c but in front and in blocks for the
purpose, the sides a, a, support the driving shaft & with double crank d³, d¹. The
governing shaft d receives the driving pulley f, two eccentrics g, g', and the
cranks d, d, two levers h, h, and outside the frame opposite the pulley f a
crank j. The eccentrics g, g', by the bars i, i, with which the collars are solid,
actuate with an oscillatory. motion two levers K, K', mounted loose on the ends
of the shaft c. At the side of the eccentric g the shaft d receives the crank j
which by a shaft j, governs the backward and forward motion of a piece n
mounted loose on the shaft c (vide Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7). Fig. 6 shows the
inside of the piece n; this latter is shown with the covering plate n¹ removed;
Fig. 7 shows the piece n in profile. As seen, Fig. 6, the piece n encloses n
ratchet m fixed on the shelf c. At n² is the centre of oscillation of the click m'
which falls in the teeth of the ratchet by the action of a spring m³. As the
crank permits of removing the centre of articulation of the shaft j', consequently
the extent of the backward and forward motion of the piece n can be varied
and force the click m' to displace the ratchet angularly one, two, three teeth
or more. To stop the movement of the shaft c the click m¹ is removed from the
teeth of the ratchet m by the following means. An axis n³ that can be turned
outside by the key n' is furnished with two eccentrics; one n³ lifts the spring m³,
and the other no rests on the tail m³ of the click to remove the part acting on the
teeth of the ratchet. Without the stoppage of the movement of the driving shaft
the motion of the shaft c is arrested (which governs the drawing of the straw),
and only turns a quarter of a turn the key n, and all the other parts only work
without action. The shaft c draws with it a certain number of disks p, eight, for
example, more or less, furnished with long teeth p', also more or less numerous.
Between the toothed disks p the space is filled with sheets of iron q curved and
bent so as to allow the teeth to project backward and hide them in front. The
sheets are sustained by the cross pieces a², a³, and continued as far as the beater
by a sheet of iron q¹. In rear these same sheets g in the neighbourhood of the
traverse a³, aro pierced with holes, oval or elliptical, to allow the grain to pass
which falls from the ears; the grain is theu conducted to the shaker by a canal
for the purpose, or it falls directly above the shaker. The teeth 21 which take by
portions the sheaf, which is thrown and spread on the flap b, are preceded by a
kind of rake, the teeth e of which are mounted on a shaft or traverse e' which is
hollow, and which is animated by a combined rising and fulling motion with the
object of making or combing the excess of straw which may be taken by the
teeth p¹. The shaft e' has its ends adjusted on a rectangular piece of two parts
e, e², which are fixed by a locking screw in two levers e³, e. These are articulated
with other levers which oscillate on points of two supports e on the traverse a*,
and which are of a special form to form a surface for the rolling of the rollers e
mounted loose on the shaft j, Figure 8. Below their articulation with the levers e
those are attached to the traverse a' by the articulation of a piece e' with an
extending mechanism consisting of a kind of cylinder es jointed at e and a piston e
jointed to the piece e7, and retained in the cylinder es by the plug e2 and a spiral
spring es compressed between the plug and a nut screwed on the end of the
piston. If it is observed, 1st, that the balances c¹ can oscillate at various points of
the supports e; 2ndly, that the pieces e7 can by more or less screwing in the
levers e³ more or less separate their articulation with the extending mechanism;
3rdly, that the hollow traverse e¹ may be raised or lowered at will, it will be
understood that every facility is given to make the teeth c move as near to or as
far from the ends of the teeth p' for drawing the straw as is desired. The extending
mechanism moreover allows the machinery to give way without breakage to straw
taken in that is accidentally compressed. The oscillating levers K, K', have their
heads bound by a cross piece K, to which is nailed or screwed by an intermediary
angle iron an arched iron r, which is continued in front by directing blades in
Under the cross
numbers equal or not with the number of drawing disks p.

page_text: piece K the same levers K, K', receive the ends of a shaft 8, the end of which
opposed to the click and ratchet movement receives a crank s¹ by keying, to which
is coupled the head of a shaft 8 which has its other head articulated at a certain
point on a piece & bolted to the frame a¹. The shaft 8 is furnished with fingers
jointed in their supports x¹ so as to resist any pressure exercised from back to
front; the whole of this forms a kind of jointed rake for only raking the straw
drawn on the sheets q from front to back, so as to regulate the thickness of tho
straw and prevent the passage beyond of anything above a fixed and constantly
uniform thickness. The fingers pass between the guiding blades and project
more or less below, as permitted by the mounting of the angle iron, to which the
arched iron is fixed, this mounting consisting of bolts traversing oblong mortises
in the angle iron. To the cross bar a guides vare fixed having a certain clasticity
whose object is, 1st, to keep the cereals regularly spread whilst the distributing
rako takes them to push thom up to the beater; 2nd, to prevent the straw turning
back with the rake when it makes its curve above its ellipse. This distributing
rake consists of a series of teeth y fixed to the saine tubular traverse y' which
supports two levers h, h, both alike which are borne by cranks d' of the shaft d,
and conducted by two shafts y oscillating in invariable points y³ on the cross
bar a. This arrangement causes the points y to describe an elliptical curve to
bring them to the iron q¹ in the movement from back to front, and thus take
and push the straw to the beater and to keep them from it in the inverse
motion.
Action of the Feeder.-The sheaf of corn for example spread out on the flap b is
taken in portions, or more or less handfuls by means of the teeth p¹ of the disks p,
which receive the intermittent rotary motion already described from the shaft d. The
corn gravitates consequently at each partial rotation of the disks p, but the tooth e
only allow tho necessary quantity to pass, throwing back any or all that is drawn
in excess. Higher up the articulated rake x spreads out the straw and does not
allow it to enter the guides and v, except at the requisite thickness, tho surplus
being thrown back on the flap above the toothed traverse e'; this thickness
obtained circulates and is maintained between the sheets q, q, and the common or
general sheet q¹. Then it is that the rake distributer y takes at each turn of the
shaft d an equal quantity of straw to conduct it to the beater. The action of the
upper rake is produced in a manner that is not concentric with the teeth p' or
the sheet q. The result is that the teeth separate from, approach to, again
separate from the sheet 9. In Figures 9 to 14 an arrangement is shown which
allows the teeth to act concentrically with the teeth p². For this purpose the
oscillating lovers K, K¹, which actuate the shaft s by attacking it with the rollers eº,
give it a turning motion on itself at the end of each of its courses for raising the
teeth with which it is provided, or it lowers them. The lifting is performed when
the levers K, K', move towards the beater, the lowering occurs when they return
towards the table b to rake the excess. The rollers e are furnished with two
cheeks A, B; one has a tooth A', the other a projection B¹ with notch B³, seo
Figures 14; then each lever K, K', bears a kind of click C, Figs. 11 and 12, which
bears beneath a spring C' attached to the head of the lever K or K¹. This click
places itself on the projection B to fall into the notch B³. The levers e are
provided with a projection A² to catch the tooth A¹, and with an inclined plane B³
to raise the click C. On one side of the machine the lever et bears the projection A³
and the inclined plano B³ at the end. When the other lever e' which is at the
opposite sido presents this projection and inclined plane inversely at the end of the
course which is then near the articulation c, the result being that when in one of
the two extremo positions of the levers K, K', a roller e turns on itself the shaft s;
for lifting the teeth, and that in the other, the other roller e communicates to it
the slight contrary motion to lower the same teeth *. When a roller c is hooked
by the tooth A', that on the other side insures the fixity of the shafts by the
click C dropping into the hollow B³, consequently the teeth act concontrically
with the drawing teeth p¹. By this means the sheets are done away with. In

page_text: If it is
rising or descending the screws C¹ the whole mechanism is raised or lowered,
consequently more or less projection of the teeth of the disks p occurs, and the
opening for the admission of the straw formed by the sheets q and r, is increased
or reduced, so that the supply to the feeder is regulated by these screws.
necessary to feed lightly, it is easy to create a resistance at the end of the straw to
cause the ear to fall with the desired advance; for instance, by means of a flat
flexible spring gently raised a fourth of a circle outside the rake's course and fixed
near the sheet q¹, and which would lower itself in its bent position at the moment
the straw is passing to the beater.
What is claimed as the Invention is the mechanical feeder herein described and
illustrated, and the right of its application to all kinds of thrashing machines
employed in beating grain of all sorts, claim being also made for modifications in
form and dimensions as well as materials of construction, to adapt it to the
requirements of the case. The Invention is specially remarkable for the grouping
and combination of the following movements of the mechanism :-
1st. A series of disks armed with teeth p' animated with an intermittent rotary
motion of optional amplitude, whose object is to take and divide the sheaf, and
throw it on the flap b or apron b.
2nd. A rake e gifted with a curvilinear up and down motion of variable extent
with extensible guides es, e¹o, Fig. 8, for measuring the quantity of straw taken in
and drawn along by the teeth p₁ of the disks p.
3rd. A rake x gifted with two simultaneous oscillatory movements intended to
spread and equalize the cereals drawn by the first disks, Figs. 1 to 7.
4th. A rake x, Figs. 9 to 14, or a bar or transverse axis 8 which participates in
the oscillating levers K, K¹, by aid of the rollers e arranged in the levers e', and
tho projections and inclined planes judiciously made on the said levers e', producing
a slight movement on themselves at the end of each course for raising or lowering
the teeth x with which they are provided to work them or not. In all cases this
rake acts concentrically with the drawing teeth p² of the straw.
5th. A rake y with rigid teeth which describe an ellipticlo curve for taking the
cereals and pushing them forward up to the beater or thrashing machine.
The Invention is also characterized both in its mode of construction and in its
details for its automatic action in increasing or diminishing the quantity of cereals
to be thrashed, and consequently accellerating the amount of work done by the
machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one
A. C. HENDERSON. (L.S.)