IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAFF-CUTTERS و
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander McGregor, of Leigh, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
CHAFF-CUTTERS
و"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander McGregor at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1880.
ALEXANDER MCGREGOR, of Leigh, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAFF-CUTTERS."
" IMPROVE-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of chaff-
cutting machines and relates, firstly, to certain modifications in the construction
and arrangement of the gearing so as to regulate the speed of the feed rollers, and
thereby cut different lengths, and also for stopping and reversing the feed motion.
On the fly wheel shaft I mount a double bevel pinion, the one part gearing into
a large bevel wheel and the other part gearing into a small bevel wheel placed within
the large wheel. On the back of the large bevel wheel is cast a long boss forming
the bearing of the wheel and having clutch teeth at its outer end.
Through the centre of this boss on the large bevel wheel is carried a shaft, on
which the small bevel wheel is keyed or otherwise securely attached.
Near the other end of this shaft is secured a set of clutch teeth facing those on
the boss at the back of the large bevel wheel. Between these two sets of clutch
teeth is placed a sliding spur pinion (free to revolve on the shaft) with corresponding
clutch teeth to gear into either clutch teeth on the back of the large bevel wheel,
or those secured near the end of the small bevel wheel shaft.
When the clutch teeth on the sliding spur pinion are in gear with the clutch
teeth on the back of the large bevel wheel the latter drives the sliding spur pinion
and gives a slow speed to the feed rollers; but when the sliding pinion is shifted
so as to gear into the clutch teeth which are secured to the small bevel wheel shaft
the small bevel wheel is the driver and gives the quick speed to the feed rollers.
When it is required to cut more than two lengths I place a double sliding pinion
on the small bevel wheel shaft, that is a pinion having two sets of spur teeth of
different diameters, and by arranging a double sliding spur wheel to gear into either
one or the other set of teeth on the sliding pinion two or more speeds may be
Price 8d1

page_text: given to the feed rollers, enabling the machine to cut four different lengths of chaff
without change wheels.
I am aware that an arrangement of bevel wheels somewhat similar to those
described in the preceding has been previously used; but in that case the spur
pinion has been fixed to the shaft carrying the small bevel wheel, and the shaft has
been made to slide end ways, thereby drawing the bevel teeth into or out of gear
with its pinion.
In the new arrangement the improvement consists in so arranging the wheels
and clutches that the shaft shall not slide, and the bevel wheel shall not be drawn
out of gear with its pinion; the spur pinion only sliding on the shaft. The double
bevel pinion may be keyed or fixed on the fly wheel shaft, or it may be allowed to
revolve thereon and be driven by a sliding clutch in the usual manner.
In order to actuate the sliding pinion for altering the length of cut, or the clutch
for reversing the motion of the rollers, I mount the fork or lever for actuating the
latter on a hollow tube carried in bearings under the feed box, and I pass the rod
for sliding the spur pinion through this hollow tube. A hand lever on the other
end of the hollow tube enables the attendant to partially rotate the same in its
bearings and to move the reversing clutch on the fly wheel shaft, and another lever
jointed to the hand lever or other convenient position and taking hold of the end
of the rod which passes through the hollow tube enables it to be slid endways in
the hollow tube, and consequently slide the pinion or pinions for altering the length
of cut. As a modification of this part of my Invention, and as an improvement
on a Patent A.D. 1872, No. 2949 I dispense with the upper part of the hand lever
previously described and only carry up the lever which takes hold of the rod for
sliding the spur pinion, and by moving this lever backwards or forwards the hollow
tube is made to partially rotate and the reverse clutch is actuated; whereas by
moving the same lever longitudinally the rod slides within the hollow tube and
actuates the sliding pinion for altering the length of cut, while at the same time
the lever is securely retained in either position without the intervention of
springs.
For actuating the sliding pinion on the small hand power chaff cutting machine
I sometimes make use of a lever directly over or adjoining the clutch.
In order to retain it in the desired position I place a hollow handle around the
outer extremity of the lever having a catch which shall fit into notches on some
fixed portion of the frame.
Inside this handle and around the extremity of the lever is placed a spiral spring
which presses the handle along the lever sufficiently to retain the catch in the
notch required.
This latter part of the Invention is also applicable for securing the lever used for
adjusting the rollers of oil cake breakers.
Another part of my Invention relates to machines having springs (in place of
weights) acting upon the rising and falling mouth piece by which the pressure,
or the straw, or other material to be cut is equalized, and is as follows:-
In order the more effectually to guide the top roller and mouth piece in rising
and falling I cast or otherwise secure to the upper side of the rising mouth
piece a vertical pin or pins so placed as to pass into a tubular boss or bosses formed
in a cross-head attached to the top of the side plates.
This boss or bosses may either have a hole formed at the top or have a washer or
washers placed inside, through which the pin or pins pass, and which serves to
guide the mouth piece and roller vertically when rising and falling. Around the
pin or pins and inside the tubular boss or bosses I place a spiral or helical spring
(or springs) which gives the necessary downward pressure to the rising mouth
piece and roller. In order to adjust the pressure of the springs the cross-head is
attached to the top of the side plates by means of adjustable bolts or set screws, by
which it can easily be raised or lowered, and thus give more or less pressure as the
nature of the material to be operated on may require.

page_text: Another part of my Invention consists in the manner of reducing the speed from
the fly wheel shaft to the feed rollers, more particularly in the smaller or medium
sized machines.
In order to effect this the more readily I make use of gearing similar to that
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me A.D. 1872, No. 1187, and
used for reducing the speed of the revolving rakes of reaping machines.
The last part of my Invention relates to the mode of producing the "double cut"
in the smaller machines. On the fly wheel shaft is mounted a worm gearing into
peg wheels on the roller shafts in the ordinary manner.
At the end of the boss of the worm is formed or cast a ring of bevel teeth which
gear into a bevel pinion carried by an arm on the fly wheel shaft. The other side
of this bevel pinion gears into a ring of bevel teeth fixed to or forming part of a
bracket to the main frame. By means of a pin or other suitable arrangement
either the worm can be secured to the fly wheel shaft and the arms allowed to
revolve, in which case the worm travels at the same speed as the fly wheel shaft
and gives the short length of cut; or the arm may be secured to the fly wheel shaft
and the worm allowed to revolve, in which latter case the worm makes two
revolutions to one of the fly wheel shaft and gives the long length of cut.
As a modification of this part of the Invention the arm may be permanently
fixed to the shaft and the worm free to revolve, but instead of having the ring of
teeth which gear into the other side of the bevel pinion permanently fixed to the
bracket I arrange so that they can be disconnected from the same and secured to
the fly wheel shaft, and thereby cause the worm to revolve at the same speed as
the fly wheel shaft.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander McGregor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
November 1880.
ALEXANDER MCGREGOR, of Leigh, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAFF CUTTERS."
"IMPROVE-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of chaff
cutting machines, and relates, firstly, to certain modifications in the construction
and arrangement of the gearing thereof, so as to regulate the speed of the feed
rollers, and thereby to cut different lengths, and also for stopping and reversing
the feed motion.
A reference to Sheet 1 of the accompaning Drawings will more fully explain the
nature of the said Invention.
Fig. 1 is a partial plan of a chaff cutting machine showing the arrangement of
gearing. On the fly wheel shaft a I mount a double bevel pinion b, b, the one
part gearing into a large bevel c, and the other part gearing into a small bevel
wheel & placed within the large bevel wheel. On the back of the large bevel
wheel c is cast a long boss c¹ forming the bearing of the wheel and having clutch
teeth c², c, at its outer end.
Through the centre of this boss on the large bevel wheel is carried a shaft e on
which the small bevel wheel d is keyed or otherwise securely attached. Near the
end of this shaft e is secured a set of clutch teeth f facing those (c, c²), on the boss
at the back of the large bevel wheel. Between these two sets of clutch teeth is
placed a sliding spur pinion g (free to revolve on the shaft e) with corresponding
clutch teeth g¹, g, to gear into either the clutch teeth e, c, on the back of the
large bevel wheel, or those (f) secured near the end of the shaft c. When the
clutch teeth g' on the sliding spur pinion are in gear with the clutch teeth c³, c²,
on the back of the large bevel wheel, the latter drives the sliding spur pinion g,
and gives a slow speed to the feed rollers, but when the sliding spur pinion g is
shifted, so as to gear into the clutch teeth f which are secured to the shaft e, the
small bevel wheel d is the driver and gives the quick speed to the feed rollers.
When it is required to cut more than two lengths I place a double sliding pinion
(in lieu of the sliding pinion g) on the shaft e, that is, a pinion having two sets of
spur teeth of different diameters, and by arranging a double sliding spur wheel (in
lieu of the spur wheel h) to gear into either one or the other set of teeth on the
sliding pinion, two more speeds may be given to the feed rollers, enabling the
machine to cut from different lengths of chaff without change wheels.
I am aware that an arrangement of bevel wheels somewhat similar to those
described in the preceding has been previously used, but in that case the spur
pinion has been fixed to the shaft carrying the small bevel wheel, and the shaft has
been made to slide endways, thereby drawing the bevel teeth into or out of gear
with its pinion.
My improvement consists in so arranging the wheels and clutches that the shaft
shall not slide, and the bevel wheel shall not be drawn out of gear with its pinion,
the spur pinion only sliding on the shaft.
The double bevel pinion b, b, may be keyed or fixed in the fly wheel shaft a or
it may be allowed to revolve thereon, and be driven by a sliding clutch i in the
usual manner. In order to actuate the sliding pinion or the sliding clutch for
altering the length of the cut, also the clutch on the fly wheel shaft for reversing
the motion of the rollers I make use of an arrangement similar to that shown in
Fig. 2, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings. I mount the fork or lever k¹ for actuating
the clutch on a hollow tube k carried in bearings 1, 2, under the feed box or

page_text: frame of the machine, and I pass the rod m for sliding the spur pinion through this
hollow tube. A hand lever on the other end of the hollow tube enables the
attendant to partially rotate the same in its bearings and to move the reversing
clutch i on the fly wheel shaft a, another lever m² jointed to the hand lever ² (or
in any other convenient position), and taking hold of the end of the rod m, which
passes through the hollow tube / enables it to slide endways in the hollow tube,
and consequently to slide the pinion or clutch for altering the length of cut.
As a modification of this part of my Invention and as an improvement on a
Patent A.D., 1872, No. 2949, I dispense with the upper part of the hand lever k²
previously described and only carry up the lever which takes hold of the rod for
sliding the spur pinion, as shown in Fig. 3, and by moving the lever backwards or
forwards the hollow tube is made to partially rotate, and the clutch on the fly
wheel shaft is actuated; whereas by moving the same lever longitudinally the rod
slides within the hollow tube and actuates the sliding pinion or clutch for altering
the length of cut, while at the same time the lever is securely retained in either
position without the intervention of springs.
Fig. 4, Sheet 2, shows an arrangement by which the lever for actuating the
sliding rod is independent of the hand lever. In this case n is an upright spindle
passing through a bracket secured to the frame of the machine to the top end of
which spindle is secured a handle n', and to the bottom is secured a crank m²
taking hold of an eye or stud m² on the end of the sliding rod m.
Fig. 5, Sheet 2, shows another arrangement in which the hollow tube is
dispensed with, and the sliding rod m is carried directly through the bearings 1, 1,
the hand lever o', and clutch fork o' being centred on the sliding rod, and connected
to each other by the flat bar o formed in one with or securely fastened to the hand
lever and clutch fork. This modification admits of the same arrangement of double
or single levers, as in the case with the hollow tube.
For actuating the sliding pinion on the small hand power chaff cutting machines,
I'make use of an arrangement of which Fig. 6, Sheet 2, is an elevation, and Fig. 7
is a cross section, and consists of a lever p directly over or adjoining the clutch g.
In order to retain it in the desired position I place a hollow handle p' arround the
outer extremity of the lever with a catch p², which shall fit into notches q' on some
fixed portion of the frame q. Inside the handle p' is placed a spiral spring which
presses the handle along the lever sufficient to retain the catch p² in the notch
required.
This latter part of the Invention is also applicable for securing the lever used for
adjusting the rollers of oil cake breakers. Another part of my Invention relates
to machines having springs (in place of weights) acting upon the rising and falling
mouth-piece, by which the pressure on the straw or other material to be cut is
equalized, and is as follows:-
In order the more effectually to guide the top roller and mouth piece in rising
and falling I cast or otherwise secure to the upper side of the rising mouth piece a
vertical pin or pins so placed as to pass into a tubular boss or bosses formed in a
crosshead attached to the lap of the side plates. This boss or bosses may either
have a hole formed at the top, or have a washer or washers placed inside, through
which the pin or pins pass, and which serves to guide the mouth piece and roller
vertically when rising and falling. Around the pin or pins, and inside the tubular
boss or bosses I place a spiral or helical spring (or springs) which gives the necessary
downward pressure to the rising mouth piece and roller.
Fig. 8, Sheet 3, shows an elevation, and Fig. 9 a side view of this arrangement
as applied to the smaller sized chaff cutting machines. is the rising mouth piece;
, the vertical pin; 8¹, the tubular boss in the crosshead 8 attached to the side
plates t, t. Dotted lines in the tubular boss represent a washer guiding the pin r¹,
In order to adjust the pressure of
the pressure being given by the spiral spring u.
the spring the crosshead is attached to the top of the side plates by means of
adjustable bolts (or set screws) 82, 82, by which it can be easily raised or lowered,

page_text: and thus give more or less pressure as the nature of the material to be operated
on may require.
Another part of my Invention consists in the manner of reducing the speed from
the fly wheel shaft to the feed rollers, more particularly in the smaller or medium
sized machine.
In order to effect this the more readily I make use of gearing similar to that
described in the Specification for a Patent granted to me A.D. 1872, No. 1187, and
used for reducing the speed of the revolving rakes of reaping machines. This
arrangement is also shown in Figs. 8 and 9. A bevel pinion B on the 'fly wheel
shaft A gears into a bevel wheel C which is carried by a stud projecting from the
side of the machine. On the boss at the back of this bevel wheel C is formed an
excentric (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 9,) which works loosely on the boss of a spur
wheel D, D. This spur wheel is prevented from revolving by means of the arm E
or other suitable arrangement.
On the same stud which carries the bevel wheel C is an internal spur wheel F, F,
gearing into the external spur wheel D, and having, say, two teeth more than the
external spur wheel, so that each revolution of the excentric on the back of the
bevel wheel C moves the spur wheel D to and fro in the internal spur wheel F
causing the latter to move two teeth forward only for one revolution of the
eccentric. Motion is communicated from the internal spur wheel to the feed rollers
by spur wheels or other suitable arrangement. The bevel wheel C may have two
or more sets of teeth, and the pinion B be made to slide on the fly wheel shaft, or
otherwise arranged so as to give two or more speeds to the feed rollers.
The last part of my Invention relates to the mode of producing the "double cut"
in the smaller machines. Fig. 10, Sheet 3, is a plan of the particular arrangement.
On the fly wheel shaft vis mounted a worm w gearing into peg wheels on the
roller shaft in the ordinary manner.
At the end of the boss of the worm is formed or cast a ring of bevel teeth w¹
which gear into a bevel pinion c¹ carried by an arm x on the fly wheel shaft. The
other side of this bevel pinion gears into a ring of bevel teeth fixed to or forming
part of the bracket y attached to the main frame. By means of a pin or other
suitable arrangement, either the worm can be secured to the fly wheel shaft and
the arms allowed to revolve, in which case the worm travels at the same speed as
the fly wheel shaft, and gives the short length of cut; or the arm may be secured
to the fly wheel shaft and the worm allowed to revolve, in which latter case the
worm makes two revolutions to one of the fly wheel shaft, and gives the long
length of cut.
As a modification of this part of the Invention the arm may be permanently
fixed to the shaft, and the worm free to revolve, but instead of having the ring of
teeth which gear into the other side of the bevel pinion permanently fixed to the
bracket I arrange so that they can be disconnected from the same and secured to
the fly wheel shaft, and thereby cause the worm to revolve at the same speed as the
fly wheel shaft.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,―
First. The particular arrangement of gearing for giving the different lengths of
cut in chaff cutting machines, as shown in Fig. 1 of the Drawings annexed, and as
herein described.
Secondly. The arrangement of levers and rods for actuating the clutches, as shown
in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Drawings, and as herein described.
Thirdly. The spring catch handle as applied to the levers of chaff cutting machines
as described in reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of the Drawings.
Fourthly. The arrangement of guide pin or pins to the rising mouth piece of
chaff cutting machines with the crosshead, adjustable or otherwise, and the spring
or springs, as described in reference to Figs. 8 and 9 of the said Drawings.

page_text: Fifthly. The arrangement of gearing for reducing the speed from the fly wheel
shaft to the feed rollers, as described in reference to Figs. 8 and 9 of the Drawings.
Sixthly. The arrangement of worm and bevel gear for obtaining the double cut.
as described in reference to Fig. 10 of the said Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander McGregor, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witnessed by
JOHN HUGHES,
Clerk to Geo. Davies, C.E.,
Patent Office,
4, St. Ann's Sq.,
Manchester.
ALEX. MCGREGOR. (L.S.)