IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING CORN IN THRASHING MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Foden, of Sandbach, in the County of Chester,
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR
FINISHING CORN IN THRASHING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Foden at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st October 1881.
"IMPROVE-
EDWIN FODEN, of Sandbach, in the County of Chester, Engineer.
MENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING CORN IN THRASHING MACHINES."
The first part of this Invention relates to a novel mode of and apparatus for
separating chaff and other light substances from the grain in thrashing machines,
and also for separating or sorting the light from the heavier grain.
Instead of employing riddles or sieves mechanically agitated and working in
conjunction with a blast as heretofore, I dispense with them entirely, and I finish
the thrashing operation without noise or any moving parts.
In performing my Invention I employ an exhaust fan which communicates
with a vertical pipe leading from the scourer or screen, and through which pipe
the grain and chaff fall, and in so doing meet with the incoming draught of air
proceeding to the fan, and so the chaff and lighter particles are carried along with
the current towards the fan, whilst the grain is free to descend into the ordinary
separator. And in order to regulate the indraught or current of air I arrange an
air-inlet into the vertical pipe at each side and at both ends, and at the top of this
pipe I construct a sliding cover with perforations formed in it corresponding to
similar perforations formed at the top of the pipe, by which means I ensure that
the current is regulated to the greatest nicety and equalized over the entire area
or surface of the vertical pipe, and thus I produce a perfect system of separating
the chaff and lighter substances from the grain. And in order to prevent the light
corn and other light substances passing through the fan, I arrange that the pipe
communicating between the fan and vertical pipe shall be enlarged in area at a
given point, and thus I break the force of the current and permit the heavier

page_text: particles to fall into the enlargement, whilst the chaff and lighter material are
carried through to the fan and delivered on the tray. It will be obvious that
instead of an exhaust fan that a blast fan might be applied to the vertical pipe,
arranged otherwise as aforesaid for the same purpose.
This Invention further consists in the application to the creeper of a valve
opening outwards or downwards, and by means of which the light corn and smut
wheat can be withdrawn without having to pass into the scourer or screen, such
valve communicating with the vertical pipe so as to be under the influence of the
fan before mentioned, and by which means the light corn, smut-wheat, and other
light particles are withdrawn before passing to the separator.
A further part of my Invention consists in a novel construction of ribbed lining
for the scourer or screen, and consists in casting the lining separate from the
casing, and in two parts of half cylindrical form, so as to be capable of being
reversed in position, by which means, when the ribs get worn out on one side, the
lining can be removed and reversed, and so present the other edge of the ribs to
the scourer, and thus I produce a self sharpening or renewing scourer.
And I further apply a self acting valve to the scourer or screen, by which means
I regulate the scouring or rubbing action according to the requirement of the
grain; or, in other words, I prolong or shorten the scouring action by setting this
valve more or less open.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Foden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st April
1882.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
EDWIN FODEN, of Sandbach, in the County of Chester.
AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING CORN IN THRASHING MACHINES."
The first part of this Invention relates to a novel mode of and apparatus for
separating chaff and other light substances from the grain in thrashing machines,
and also for separating or sorting the light from the heavier grain.
Instead of employing riddles or sieves mechanically agitated and working in
conjunction with a blast as heretofore, I dispense with them entirely, and I finish
the grain without noise or any moving parts.
And in order that this my said Invention may be the more readily understood
and carried into practical effect, I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings
illustrative of my Invention, and will now proceed to describe the same with the
assistance of the several Figures and letters of reference marked thereon; similar
letters are used to denote similar parts in all the views.
Figure 1 represents so much of the side of a thrashing machine as is necessary
to illustrate my Invention, which is applied thereto; and Figure 2 is an end or
transverse view of Figure 1, both views being shown partly in section.
Figure 3 is an end sectional view, and Figure 4 a front sectional view (on an
enlarged scale) of the scourer or screen used in Figures 1 and 2, and forming part
of my said Invention.
In performing my Invention I employ an exhaust fan A communicating through
the horizontal pipe B with a vertical pipe D.
Through this pipe D the grain and chaff and other light corn fall after passing
through the scourer or screen, and in so doing meet with the incoming draught
or current of air proceeding to the fan A in the direction of the arrows, and thus
the light grain and other light particles are carried along with the current towards
the fan, whilst the heavy grain is free to descend into the ordinary separator E.
Air inlets or openings F are arranged at each side of the vertical pipe D, and
near the fan AI affix a sliding valve G by which I regulate the pressure of air
according to the nature of the material being operated upon.
In this manner I produce a perfect system of separating the light from the heavy
grain, and also the chaff and lighter substances from the grain.
And in order to prevent the light corn passing through the fan, I arrange that
the pipe B shall be enlarged in area at a given point, as indicated by the letter B¹,
and thus I break the force of the current at this part and permit the heavier
particles or light grain to fall into the enlargement B', and from thence through
the double valve B into the bag, whilst the chaff and lighter material are carried
through the fan and delivered on the tray.
H is a valve applied to the creeper, which valve opens outwards or downwards
into the branch pipe I leading into the vertical pipe (D), and thus in case of
dealing, say, with smut wheat, it is brought under the influence of the current of
air proceeding to the fan.
This valve, which constitutes a portion of my Invention, serves to permit the
light corn, smut wheat, and other light particles to be withdrawn without passing
through the scourer or screen C.
A further part of my Invention consists in a novel construction of ribbed lining
for the scourer or screen C, and consists, as indicated more clearly in Figures 3 & 4,
in casting the lining J separate from the outer casing K, and in two parts of half
cylindrical form, which parts are bolted to the outer casing by the bolts L.

page_text: In this construction of scourer it will be apparent that when the ribs of the
lining become worn on one side the linings can be removed and reversed in position
in the casing, so as to present the other edge of the ribs to the scourer, and thus I
produce a self-sharpening or renewing scourer.
And I further apply a self-acting valve M to the scourer or screen, by which
means I regulate the scouring or rubbing pressure according to the requirements of
the grain; or, in other words, I prolong or shorten the scouring action by setting
this valve more or less open, and at the mouth of this valve I apply dividing ribs
or plates N, which serve to divide the grain and disperse the same equally over the
entire surface or area of the vertical pipe (D).
In some cases I also apply the studs O for a similar purpose.
It will be obvious that instead of an exhaust fan a blast fan might be applied
to the vertical pipe for the same purpose, but this I should consider to be a
modification of my Invention.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not. confine
myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions of the various
parts of the improved thrashing machine, hereinbefore described and illustrated
on the accompanying Drawing, as the same may be considerably varied without
departing from the Invention, but what I claim is,―
1st. The improvements in and apparatus for finishing corn in thrashing machines,
substantially as herein before described.
2nd. The use and application of an exhaust or other fan in combination with a
creeper and vertical pipe fitted and operating, substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
3rd. The employment of the valve H. opening outwards or downwards in con-
junction with the branch pipe I, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
4th. Constructing the ribbed lining of the scourer or screen in two parts capable
of reversal, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
5th. The use and application of a regulating valve and of dividing plates to the
Scourer or screen, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
. In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Foden, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 19th day of April 1882.