Forming Horse or Cattle Food.
Year: 1885

page_text: Forming Horse or Cattle Food.
JOHN RITCHIE Norton Park, Edinburgh Midlothian Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention for MIXING HAY, GRAIN ETC to be as follows:-
This invention consists of a machine for the more perfect incorporation of the
various ingredients forming horse or cattle food, viz, cut hay, oats beans, maize,
barley etc, and which because of their different specific gravities, has hitherto been
difficult of attainment and imperfectly performed.
The machine consists of a metalic cylinder, placed under a hopper with a movable
bottom. The cylinder for the purpose of being filled or emptied can be inverted.
The mixing is performed by a shaft passing through the cylinder, having a con-
tinuous rotary motion imparted to it. The shaft has arms or stirrers fixed in it.
The cubical capacity of the hopper and cylinder will depend on the quantity to
be mixed at one time.
Referring to the drawing, A is the hopper into which the various kinds of grain,
hay etc are thrown after being weighed. The hopper is furnished with a slide at
the bottom acted on by the levers K and K¹, the grain then passes through the
mouth-piece H into the cylinder, through a corresponding oblong opening. The
cylinder is kept in this position with the mouth up for a short space of time, until
the revolving shaft F with the curved arms G thoroughly mixes the grain etc.
The cylinder being hung on the trunnions D is now inverted by the action of the
wheel and segment E and E', and the contents discharged into the sack placed to
receive them.
During the time the mixing is proceeding the slide at the bottom of the hopper
is closed and the hopper filled, and a sack is hung on the spout ready to receive
the charge. The operation is thus perfectly continuous To prevent the ingredients
being carried round inside the cylinder by the arms I curve them in a direction
opposite to the motion, and also place them at an angle to each other with their
flat sides looking in opposite directions. These arms may also be made of angle
iron as in Fig. VI.
The cylinder may be made of wood and lined with sheet metal.

page_text: Fig. II an end elevation. Fig. III an end elevation of gearing for inverting the
cylinder. Fig. IV a plan of hopper.
The machine can be fixed to the under side of the mill floor, an outer casing with
spout conveys the mixed grain to the sack.
When sufficient space is not available below the floor, I adopt the arrangement
Fig. V, in which the cylinder and case are placed at or above the floor level, and
instead of the hopper, a box L may be used for filling the materials, which by an
arrangement of levers N N opens the slide M at the same time that the box is
raised to empty them into the cylinder.
When the space is very limited I make the machine entirely self contained and
to stand on the floor-The height being reduced and the hopper or box charged from
a raised platform.

page_text: Forming Horse or Cattle Food.
JOHN RITCHIE Norton Park Edinburgh Engineer I do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for A MACHINE FOR MIXING PROVENDER and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:—
This Invention consists of a machine for the more perfect incorporation of the
various ingredients forming provender or horse or cattle food, viz cut; hay, straw
oats, beans, maize barley etc, and which because of their different specific gravities,
has hitherto been difficult of attainment and imperfectly performed.
The machine consists of a metalic cylinder or hollow drum, placed under a hopper
having a movable or sliding bottom. The cylinder can be inverted for the purpose
of being filled or emptied. The mixing is performed by a shaft passing through
the cylinder having a continuous rotary motion imparted to it, the shaft having
arms or stirrers fixed to it. The cubical capacity of the hopper & cylinder may be
altered to suit the quantity to be mixed at one time.
A is the hopper into which the various kinds of grain, hay, etc, are thrown after
being weighed. The hopper is furnished with a slide J, at the bottom, acted on
by the levers K, K. The grain etc then passes by the mouth piece H into the
cylinder or drum, through a corresponding oblong opening. The cylinder is kept
in this position with the mouth upwards, for a short space of time, the revolving
shaft F, being kept continuously in motion. The curved arms G, thoroughly mix
the grain etc. The cylinder being hung on the trunnions D is now inverted by
the wheel and segment E & E¹, and the contents are discharged into the sack
placed to receive them.
During the time the mixing is proceeding, the slide at the bottom of the hopper
is closed, and the hopper filled, the operation is thus perfectly continuous.
To prevent the ingredients being carried round inside the cylinder, by the arms,
I curve them in an opposite direction to the motion. When the arms are made of
flat iron I place them with their flat sides at an angle to each other I also make
them of angle iron as shewn in figs, V & VI.
The whole machine can be fixed to the underside of a mill floor, an outer casing
with spout conveying the mixed grain to the sack.
When sufficient space is not available below the floor, I adopt the arrangement
Fig. IV in which the drum and case are placed at or above the floor level, and
instead of the hopper, a box L may be used for filling the materials, which by an
arrangement of levers N N opens the slide M at the same time that the box is
raised to empty them into the cylinder.
I do not confine myself to the cylindrical form for the mixing vessel, it may be
made polygonical on the sides.
When the space is very limited I make the machine entirely self-contained, and
to stand on the floor, the height being reduced, and the hopper or box charged from
a raised platform.

page_text: Fig. I is a vertical section through centre of machine.
Fig. II is an end elevation of machine, shewing levers etc for hopper slide.
Fig. III is an end elevation of machine, shewing toothed wheel E keyed on
trunnion of drum, and gearing with the toothed segment E' for the purpose of
giving a semi-revolution to the drum.
Fig. IV shews a design of the machine adapted to low roofed buildings.
Figs. V & VI are enlarged views of mixing cylinder shewing the internal shaft
and arms.
Having now particularly described and acortained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;
The manufacture and use of a machine consisting of a drum mounted on
trunnions, and capable of being inverted in the manner set forth, and fitted with a
shaft and arms for the purpose stated.