Improvements in or connected with Threshing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 26th. Feb., 1896-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Threshing Machines.
We, WILLIAM FOSTER AND COMPANY, LIMITED, of Wellington Foundry, in
the City of Lincoln, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
which has been communicated to us from abroad by Louis Pfaff, of Buenos Ayres,
in the Argentine Republic, Engineer, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with threshing
machines.
In order to obtain even and satisfactory results in the threshing of corn, it is.
essential that the corn should be fed to the drum in a regular manner and with
this object several attempts have been made to obtain an automatic feeding
apparatus, but such devices have all been more or less unsuccessful from various
causes with the result that at the present time manual labour is generally resorted
to for feeding the machine.
This of course is expensive, added to which the duty is often very imperfectly
performed with the result that the irregular feeding more or less hinders the
Successful working of the machine.
Now, the primary object of the present invention is to obtain a simple and
efficient means whereby the feeding of the corn to the threshing machine may be
automatically performed, and that in such manner that there will be no risk of
the machine becoming choked, but the feed will be regularly and continuously
carried to the drum and the invention further relates to means for mounting, con-
trolling and giving motion to the elevator by which the corn is conveyed to the
hopper.
In carrying the invention into effect, over the drum of the thresher is located
a combined frame and hopper which leads to the threshing drum.
Upon this combined frame and hopper and at each side of the threshing machine,
is mounted with capability of revolution a vertical shaft and upon this shaft is
mounted with capability of independently turning, a vertical sleeve or hollow
pullar which carries a vertical frame-work or standard to the upper part of which
is fixed the upper end of an ordinary inclined trough elevator, the chains and forks
or other lifting means of which are driven in the manner hereinafter described
and immediately below the upper end of the elevator and carried by the vertical
standard or frame is arranged a shoot into which the corn is fed and it is thereby
guided into the hopper immediately above the threshing drum herein before
referred to.
Only one hollow pillar and vertical frame is employed in connection with each
threshing machine, the object of the two vertical shafts and connections herein-
before referred to being to enable the pillar and vertical frame and elevator to be
worked from either side of the threshing machine.
The vertical shaft receives motion through a bevelled wheel fixed therewith
engaging another bevelled wheel upon one end of a short horizontal shaft, the
other end of which has fixed therewith a sprocket wheel which receives motion :
from a driven shaft of the machine and the upper end of the vertical shaft is.
furnished with suitable gearing such as a bevelled wheel which engages and gives
motion to a corresponding wheel fixed upon a horizontal shaft carried by the:
vertical standard or framing and this horizontal shaft through sprocket wheels and

page_text: chain gearing gives motion to another horizontal shaft at the upper part of the
elevator and which shaft drives the endless chain of forks or the like constituting the
elevator and the elevator is thus adapted to turn around the vertical shaft as an
axis without disengaging the driving gear.
Within the combined hopper and frame immediately above the drum, is mounted
upon a horizontal shaft a feed cylinder provided with several longitudinal bars or
other form of teeth upon its face, and the object of this cylinder which is rapidly
rotated is to grip and carry forward within reach of the threshing drum all straw
which may fall within its reach and thereby assist in preventing any heaping up
or accumulation of dead straw, and thus the whole of the straw which is taken up
by the elevator is by the aid of this cylinder directed or thrown more or less
right into the middle of the hopper where it encounters the threshing drum.
In an ordinary machine, the straw, when in the grip of the threshing drum and
particularly when the feed is irregular, commonly accumulates at the upper part
of the concave and forms a dead resistance to the drum, at times almost bringing
the machine to a standstill, and, when the obstruction ultimately becomes removed,
allowing the machine to race or run too rapidly thus resulting in the unequal
working of the machine and an indifferent quality of output besides frequently
more or less straining the machine.
In order to obviate this defect, according to the present invention a roller of
small diameter is arranged at the top of the concave and is rapidly driven through
chain gearing and sprocket wheels from any suitable driven shaft of the machine,
and this roller is caused to revolve in the opposite direction to the threshing
drum, so that instead of the dead resistance formerly met with at the top of the
concave the straw now comes in contact with the revolving surface of the roller,
and instead of there accumulating as formerly is regularly carried round the
concave by the threshing drum.
The elevator can be readily detached from the vertical column or frame, and
placed upon the top of the threshing machine for the purpose of transport.
The whole of the mechanism is driven from the main shaft of the machine, that
is to
say,
the drum shaft, through chains and sprocket wheels, the principal spindle
of our improved apparatus only being driven by a belt in the usual way.
Dated this 27th day of April 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Threshing Machines.
We, WILLIAM FOSTER AND COMPANY, LIMITED, of Wellington Foundry, in
the City of Lincoln, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
which has been communicated to us from abroad by Louis Pfaff, of Buenos Ayres,
in the Argentine Republic, Engineer, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with threshing
machines.
In order to obtain even and satisfactory results in the threshing of corn it is
essential that the corn should be fed to the drum in a regular manner and with
this object several attempts have been made to obtain an automatic feeding
apparatus, but such devices have all been more or less unsuccessful from various
causes with the result that at the present time manual labour is generally resorted
to for feeding the machine.
This of course is expensive, added to which the duty is often very imperfectly

page_text: performed with the result that the irregular feeding more or less hinders the
successful working of the machine.
Now, the primary object of the present invention is to obtain a simple and
efficient means whereby the feeding of the corn to the threshing machine may be
automatically performed, and that in such manner that there will be no risk of
the machine becoming choked, but the feed will be regularly and continuously
carried to the drum, and the invention further relates to means for mounting,
controlling, and giving motion to the elevator by which the corn is conveyed to the
hopper.
In carrying the invention into effect, over the drum of the thresher is located a
combined frame and hopper which leads to the threshing drum.
Upon this combined frame and hopper and at one side of the threshing machine
is mounted with capability of revolution a vertical shaft and upon a pillar
surrounding the shaft and removeably fixed with the hopper is mounted, with
capability of independently turning, a vertical frame-work or standard to the upper
part of which is attached the upper end of an ordinary inclined trough elevator,
the chains and forks or other lifting means of which are driven in the manner
hereinafter described and immediately below the upper end of the elevator and
carried by the vertical standard or frame is arranged a shoot into which the corn
is fed and it is thereby guided into the hopper immediately above the threshing
drum hereinbefore referred to.
Only one vertical frame pillar and shaft are employed in connection with each
threshing machine, the object of the two sets of connections hereinbefore referred
to being to enable the vertical frame and elevator to be shifted to and worked from
either side of the threshing machine, or one set of such parts might be arranged
at each side of the machine.
The vertical shaft receives motion through a bevelled wheel fixed therewith
engaging another bevelled wheel upon one end of a short horizontal shaft, the
other end of which has fixed therewith a sprocket wheel which receives motion
through a chain from a driven shaft of the machine and the upper end of the
vertical shaft is furnished with suitable gearing such as a bevelled wheel which
engages and gives motion to a corresponding wheel fixed upon a horizontal shaft
carried by the vertical standard or framing and this horizontal shaft through
sprocket wheels and chain gearing gives motion to another horizontal shaft at the
upper part of the elevator and which shaft drives the endless chain of forks or
the like constituting the elevator and the elevator is thus adapted to turn around
the vertical shaft as an axis without disengaging the driving gear.
Within the combined hopper and frame immediately above the drum is mounted
upon a horizontal shaft a feed cylinder provided with several longitudinal bars or
other form of teeth upon its face, and the object of this cylinder which is rapidly
rotated is to grip and carry forward within reach of the threshing drum all straw
and corn which may fall within its reach, and thereby assist in preventing any
heaping up or accumulation of dead straw, and thus the whole of the straw and
corn which is taken up by the elevator is by the aid of this cylinder directed or
thrown more or less right into the middle of the hopper where it encounters the
threshing drum.
In an ordinary machine, the straw and corn when in the grip of the threshing
drum and particularly when the feed is irregular commonly accumulates at the
upper part of the concave and forms a dead resistance to the drum, at times almost
bringing the machine to a standstill and when the obstruction ultimately becomes
removed allowing the machine to race or run too rapidly thus resulting in the
unequal working of the machine and an indifferent quality of output besides
frequently more or less straining the machine.
In order to obviate this defect, according to the present invention, a roller of
small diameter and preferably having a plain surface is arranged at the top of the
concave and is rapidly driven through chain gearing and sprocket wheels from any
suitable driven shaft of the machine, and this roller is caused to revolve in the

page_text: opposite direction to the threshing drum, so that instead of the dead resistance
formerly met with at the top of the concave the straw and corn now comes in
contact with the revolving surface of the roller, and instead of accumulating as
formerly is regularly carried round the concave by the threshing drum.
The elevator can be readily detached from the vertical frame or standard and
placed upon the top of the threshing machine for the purpose of transport, or at
its upper end it might be hinged to the vertical frame or standard and at its lower
end furnished with wheels to run upon the road so as to enable it to be trailed
after the machine.
The whole of the mechanism is driven from the main shaft of the machine,
that is to say, the drum shaft, through chains and sprocket wheels with the
exception of the principal spindle of the improved apparatus only which is driven
by a belt from the drum shaft.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more
fully to describe the same.
igure 1. is a side elevation representing part of a viresurag macam maving FuG
present invention applied thereto.
Figure 2. is an end elevation thereof.
Figure 3. is a vertical section of part.
Figure 4. is a part horizontal section taken on the line 1.-1. of Figure 3.
Figure 5. is an end elevation of parts showing more particularly the arrangement
of the pillar and standard or frame, and,
Figure 6. is a vertical transverse section thereof taken on the line 2-2 of
Figure 5.
Figure 7. is a detail view of parts showing the method of connecting the elevator
with the standard or frame and also the supporting wheels of the elevator.
In the several figures, in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figure 3. is drawn to an increased scale with respect to Figures 1., 2.,
4. and 7. whilst Figures 5. and 6. are drawn to a still further increased scale for
the sake of clearness.
2*
a. represents the drum of the thresher which is enclosed within the usual chamber
or casing b. and is fixed upon a shaft a mounted in suitable bearings and fitted with
a pulley driven by means of the main driving belt or strap a* from an engine
in the usual way, and c. represents the concave which is adjustably mounted in the
manner commonly adopted.
Over the drum a. of the thresher and fixed with the chamber or hopper b., is
located a combined frame and hopper d. which leads to the threshing drum a.
Upon this combined frame and hopper d., upon the outside thereof and at one
side of the threshing machine, is removeably fixed by clamps el*, which overlap
its hollow dome shaped base e', a hollow pillar e. within which is mounted with
capability of revolution a vertical shaft e in such manner that the pillar e. and
shaft e, may be placed at either side of the machine, as indicated by the dotted
lines in Figure 4. but if desired one set of these parts might be fixed at each side
of the machine although the former is the preferred arrangement.
Upon the vertical pillar or sleeve e. is removeably mounted with capability of
revolution a vertical frame or standard f. which is formed at its lower end with a
boss which rests upon a shouldered bearing formed upon the hollow pillar er
and at its upper end is formed with a crossbeam which is apertured to pass over
and rest upon a similar shoulder or bearing of the tubular pillar e.
To the upper part of the frame or standard f.is pivotally attached or horizontally
hinged at the iron frame 48 of an ordinary inclined trough elevator /, the
chains and forks or other lifting means of which are driven in the manner
hereinafter described and immediately below the upper end of the elevator. h.

page_text: is arranged a shoot 9.9 into which the corn is fed by the elevator and is thereby
guided into the hopper d. immediately above the threshing drum a. hereinbafore
referred to.
Only one vertical frame ƒ and parts carried thereby are employed in connection
with each threshing machine, the object of the two sets of connections hereinafter
referred to being to enable the vertical frame f. and elevator h. to be worked from
either side of the threshing machine at will, according to the position of the
stack.
The vertical shafte receives motion through a bevelled wheel e³ fixed on the
lower end-thereof engaging another bevelled wheel et upon one end of a horizontal
shaft e the other end of which has fixed therewith a sprocket. wheel e which
receives motion through a chain from a sprocket wheel fixed upon a shaft.
t.j.
upon which is also fixed a band wheel or pulley driven by means of a band ja
and pulley a from the driving shaft al of the drum a. A duplicate set of
mechanism for driving the vertical shaft is arranged upon each side of the
machine so that the pillar e. and parts carried thereby may by shifting them over
be worked from either side of the machine.
The upper end of the vertical shaft e³ is furnished with a bevelled wheel e
which engages and gives motion to a corresponding wheel e fixed upon a horizontal
shaft mounted in suitable bearings 3 carried by the vertical standard or frame f..
and this horizontal shafte has fixed on the ends thereof sprocket wheels el⁰ which
through chains e¹¹ and a chain wheel h of increased diameter with relation to the
wheel eo gives motion to another horizontal shaft mounted in bearings carried
by the framing of the elevator h. at the upper part thereof.
The shaft has fixed thereon sprocket wheels ³ which drive endless chains *
(Figure 1) upou which are fixed forks or teeth by the aid of which the produce
is elevated and discharged into the hopper g.
By the arrangement of parts hereinbefore, described, the elevator h. is adapted
to turn round the vertical shaft e as an axis over a considerable are in order to
adjust it to the correct position for work without disengaging the driving gear.
Within the combined hopper and frame d. immediately above the drum a. is
mounted upon the horizontal shaft j. a feed drum or cylinder ja provided with
several longitudinal bars or other form of teeth upon its face or periphery and
the object of this cylindrical feed drum which is rapidly rotated through the
band wheel or pulley is to grip and carry forward within reach of the threshing
drum a. all straw and corn which may fall within its reach, and thereby assist in
preventing any heaping up or accumulation of dead straw and thus the whole of
the straw and corn which is taken up by the elevator h. is by the aid of this
cylinder directed or thrown more or less right into the middle of the hopper-
where it encounters the threshing drum a.
In an ordinary machine, the straw when in the grip of the threshing drum a, .
and particularly when the feed is irregular commonly accumulates at the upper
part of the concave c. and thus forms a dead resistance to the drum a., at times.
almost bringing the machine to a standstill and after the obstruction ultimately
becomes removed allowing the machine to race or run too rapidly thus resulting
in the unequal working of the machine and of the indifferent quality of the output
besides frequently more or less straining the machine.
In order to obviate this defect, according to the present invention a roller k. of
small diameter is arranged at the top of the concave c. so as to extend from si.le
to side thereof and the roller k. which is mounted with capability of revolution in
suitable bearings has fixed therewith sprocket wheels which by means of chains &
receive motion from chain wheels 13 fixed upon a shaft 4, mounted with capability
of revolution in bearings carried by the frame d. aud at its ends furnished with
chain wheels one of which gears with a chain & driven by oue or other of chain
wheels j' fixed on the shaft j. which latter receives motion through a band or belt ja*.
and the pulleys the drum shaft a¹ being driven by a band a* from the engine:

page_text: as hereinbefore described, or, the roller k. might receive motion in any other suitable
manner.
By these means, the roller k. is caused to revolve in the opposite direction to the
threshing drum a. so that instead of the dead resistance formerly met with at the
top of the concave c. the straw now comes into contact with the revolving surface
of the roller k. and instead of accumulating as formerly is regularly carried round
the concave by the threshing drum.
:
In order to tighten and regulate the tension of the chain the latter is passed
around a tension wheel which is adjustably mounted on a bracket and this
bracket is removeably fixed with the frame or hopper d. so that together with the
chain k¹, standard f. and co-acting parts it may be shifted to the other side of the
machine for the purpose hereinbefore explained.
The whole of the mechanism is driven from the main shaft of the threshing
machine (that is to say, the drum shaft a¹) through chains and sprocket wheels,
the principal spindle j. only of the improved apparatus being driven by a belt from
the drum shaft a'.
The limbs h' of the iron frame of the elevator h. are fitted into sockets h' carried
by the part so that the elevator can be readily detached from the vertical
column or frame f. and placed upon the top of the threshing machine for the
purpose of transport, or, when furnished with supporting wheels 10 to run upon
the roads the elevator h. may be allowed to trail after the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is-
1. In combination with a threshing machine, an elevator adjustably mounted
upon a vertical centre of motion carried by the machine so as to be adapted to
work in any position within a given arc, substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
2. In combination with a threshing machine, a pivot or axis mounted at each side
or adapted to be mounted at either side thereof and an elevator at its upper end
provided with a mounting to seat upon the pivot or axis at either side of the
machine so as to be adapted to work in any position within a given arc on either
side of the machine, substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In combination with a threshing machine, an elevator adjustably mounted
upon a centre of motion carried by the machine so as to be adapted to work in
any position within a given arc aud suitable gearing driven by the machine for
giving motion to the elevator mechanism in any position of the elevator, substantially
as herein shown and described.
4. In combination with a threshing machine, a pivot or axis mounted at each
side or adapted to be mounted at either side thereof, au elevator at its upper end
provided with a mounting to removeably seat upon the pivot or axis at either side
of the machine so as to be adapted to work in any position within a given arc and
suitable gearing carried by or adjacent to the pivot and receiving motion from the
machine and corresponding gearing carried by the mounting for giving motion to
the elevator mechanism in any position of the elevator, substantially as herein
shown and described.
5. In combination with a threshing machine, a short driven shaft mounted
horizontally in bearings at each side of the machine frame, a tubular pillar
adapted to be removeably fixed with such frame at either side thereof, a shaft
mounted with capability of revolution in the pillar and at its lower end gearing
with the horizontal shaft, a vertical standard or frame connected with the upper
end of an elevator and formed to removeably seat upon the pillar at either side of
the machine and suitable gearing for conveying the motion of the vertical shaft of
the pillar to the elevator mechanism in any position of the elevator, substantially as
herein shown, and described.

page_text: 6. In combination with a threshing machine, a feed cylinder arranged above the
drum and furnished with bars or teeth and means for imparting a rapid rotary
motion thereto, substantially as herein shown and described.
7. In combination with a threshing machine, a roller located at the top of the
concave and means for imparting a rapid rotary motion thereto in the opposite
direction to that of the feed drum, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 26th day of February 1896.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.