Improvements in Means for Fixing the Knives of Chaff-cutting and kindred Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Fixing the Knives of Chaff-cutting and
kindred Machines.
I, WILLIAM NELSON STONE of Clarence Place Works, Newport in the
County of Monmouth, Carriage Builder 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved means for fixing the knives of chaff cutting
and all similar machines, and has for its object to provide facilities for quickly
removing and replacing such knives when necessary for sharpening and other
purposes.
In chaff cutting turnip, swede and kindred machines in which the blades are
mounted upon the spokes or arms of a revolving wheel, it has hitherto been
customary to effect the fixation of the blades by the means of bolts and nuts
passing through holes in the said blades and corresponding holes in the said
spokes or arms of the wheel, and when such knives become broken or need
sharpening or require removing for other purposes, such removal and replacement
has, by the old system, entailed the loss of much time and labour, and necessitated
the idleness of the machine during such removal and replacement, and in large
machines, and with large users of such machines, where many hands, and probably
steam or other power is used in connection therewith, these losses form an item of
consideration which my invention is designed to obviate, as hereinafter explained.
In order that my invention and the advantages to be derived by the employ-
ment of same may be fully understood reference is hereinafter made to the
accompanying drawings, of which
Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the appliances constituting my invention,
Figs. 3 and 4 being a knife or blade, and a spoke or arm of a wheel of an ordinary
chaff cutting or like machine respectively.
Fig. is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which my invention
(Figs. 1 and 2) are employed for fixing the knife (Fig. 3) in position upon the
spoke or arm (Fig. 4).
Fig. 6 is a sectional view further illustrating the application of my invention.
I carry my invention into effect by stamping, casting, or otherwise producing of
any suitable metal, a plate such as A (Fig. 1) curved to correspond with that of
the curve of the arin or spoke 13 of the wheel of the chaff cutting or other
machine, to which it is to be attached. Upon the said plate A. I provide lugs or
arms such as C, which may vary in number and position according to the number
of bolt-holes D in the knife or blade E (Fig. 3) and corresponding holes F in the
spoke or arm B (Fig. 4). I may provide the said lugs or arms C by punching them
up from the solid substance of A as shewn, or, where otherwise more convenient,
these may be screwed into, brazed upon or otherwise connected to A.
The lugs or arms C of the plate A would be first passed through the holes D in E,
and then through the holes in B, when both A and E would be pushed close up
to the back of the arm B so that the lugs or arms C protrude for a slight distance
beyond the front face of B.
The arms C are each reduced in width at c so as to form on each a nosing a, and
with these engage Tor like shaped slots H in a plate G (Fig. 2) curved to
correspond with that of the plate A. The said slots H would be first passed over

page_text: the nosings a of the lugs C, when by moving the plate G slightly in a horizontal
direction, the small ends of the said slots H would engage with the portions c of
the said lugs (as shewn in Fig. 5). The plate G is provided with two or more
thumb or equivalent screws such as J, which (when the said plate has engaged
with the lugs C as stated) would be screwed home, until their inner ends abutted
against the front face of the arm or spoke B, and the further tightening of these
would cause the knife E to be firmly gripped between, and held in position by,
the back plate A and the arm or spoke B, from which it could be instantly released
when necessary by simply relaxing the bite of the screws J and disconnecting the
plate G from the lugs C.
I may in small machines, or otherwise when desirable, dispense with the back
plate A, and either punch up lugs similar to C from the substance of the blade or
koife E, or screw or otherwise connect them thereto, so that such lugs may pass
through the bolt holes F in B and be connected to the slots of the plate G in the
manner previously described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In chaff-cutting and kindred machines the herein described method of and
means for fixing the cutting blades of same substantially as set forth and shewn.
2nd. In the fixation of the blades or knifes of chaff cutting and kindred machines,
the combination of a back plate such as A, having lugs such as C, fixed thereto,
or punched up therefrom, or otherwise formed integrally therewith, and adapted
to pass through the usual bolt holes D in such a knife or blade, and the corre-
sponding holes F in the spokes or arms B of the cutting wheel, the said lugs
then engaging with T or other shaped holes or slots such as H, in a front plate
such as G, the said plate having thumb or other screws such as J adapted to
impinge upon the said spoke or arm and fix the said knife in position, substantially
as herein described and shewn.
3rd. In the fixation of the knifes or blades of chaff-cutting and kindred machines
the combination of lugs such as C, fixed upon, punched up from, or otherwise
formed integrally with the said blades or knives, and adapted to pass through the
usual holes such as F in the spokes or arms B of the wheel, and engage with
slots or holes such as H in plates such as G, having thumb screws or their
equivalents such as J, adapted to impinge upon the said spokes or arms and 'fix the
said knives in position, substantially as herein described and shewn.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1896.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.