An Improved Device for Regulating the Feed of Grain Machines and the like
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
REET
LEICESTER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Regulating the Feed of Grain Machines
and the like.
I, GEORGE SWAYNE of 724 Brownlow Road, Dalston, London N.E. Engineer,
Millwright & Smith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
My invention relates to an improved device for regulating the feed of grain
machines and the like, to be attached to, or form part of the hopper, or feed
shoot of said machine, and consists of an arrangement of wheels and levers, or
wheels, cams and levers, operated by the feed of the grain or other substance in
such a manner that, the whole or part cessation of said feed arising from choke,
or blockage, or part blockage, permits the falling, or part falling of a shutter at
the exhaust end of said shoot, and this, operating, or permitting the operating of
certain wheels and levers, or cams, widens the inlet opening governing the feed,
and permits the obstruction to pass down the shoot, and this in its passage operating,
or opening the before mentioned shutter the inlet opening becomes again reduced
to the desired dimensions.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1801
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Regulating the Feed of Grain Machines
and the like.
1, GEORGE SWAYNE of 724 Brownlow Road, Dalston, London, E. in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 device for regulating the feed of grain and
similar machines, to be attached to, or form part of, or form in itself the hopper,
or feed shoot of said machine, and consists of an arrangement of wheels and levers,
or cam, wheels and levers, operated by the feed, and cessation of feed of the
grain, or other substance, in such a manner that the cessation, or part cessation of
said feed arising from choke, or blockage, permits the falling of a shutter at the
exhaust end of said shoot, and this operating, or permitting the operation of certain
wheels levers and cam, widens the inlet opening governing the feed, and permits
the obstruction to pass down the shoot, and this in its passage opening the before
mentioned shutter, the inlet passage becomes again reduced to its normal dimen-
sions, and my invention has for its object the means whereby a predetermined
rate of feed may be maintained after adjustment without further aid or attention.
In order that my invention may be the better understood. I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hopper or shoot arranged in the manner forming
the subject of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the opposite side to that illustrated by Fig. 1
partly broken away to shew more fully the internal mechanism, partly in section.
Similar letters of reference denote like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying my invention into effect, I construct of any suitable material or

page_text: substance, but preferably of cast, or wrought iron, a shoot, or hopper consisting of
two sides A and A' and a sloping, or curved back, or bottom A", provided with a
fixed partition B extending from the top of said shoot, or hopper to near the
bottom of slope A", or any distance therefrom that may be desired, and connected
by any suitable means to both the sides A and A. A second partition, or cover C,
which may be either fixed or portable, extends from near the bottom of B in
the same direction as the slope A"; so that said slope and B and C form the
guide, or shoot for the grain, or the like. The lower extremities, or termina-
tions of C and A" form the exhaust, or outlet D. Within said hopper and extending
from A to A¹ and connected thereto, I provide a shelf or stay E, through which
freely passes a rod F, connected to a bracket G, upon a slide H, working within
guides Hand H", and parallel to, and in rubbing contact with the partition B.
The bracket G is hollow, and carries internally a friction roller a. A transverse
spindle is carried by suitable bearings formed upon the sides A. and A' and
extends through and outwardly beyond said sides and carries upon one end a fast
and loose pulley and c, or where inanual power is employed a cranked handle may
be fixed upon in lieu of and b, the opposite end carrying a lever, or arm d and
a pinion e. The lever is fulcrumed upon I between the pinion e and the outer
surface of A. The opposite end of d is connected by a link to one end of a
lever carrying a weight h, upon one end of a spindle J, situated below and
parallel with and borne by and within A and A. Upon the spindle J I fix a
metallic flap, or shutter K, shaped so as to be capable of closing the opening D.
Upon the lever d is a stud, or pin carrying a small wheel, which is always in
gear with the pinion e. A third transverse spindle L is borne by the sides A
and A and carries upon one end outside A', 'a spur wheel M, and at about the
centre between A and A'; a cam k. A fourth spindle N also borne by A and A'
carries upon its centre a lever m, the free end of which extends to and below the
friction roller a, through an opening formed in the bracket G. The spindle N
may either be a fixed spindle and the lever m work loosely thereon, or m may
be fixed to N and N oscillate within A and A' as desired, and the manner of
operation is as follows.
h
The rate at which the grain, or other substance is allowed to pass down
between A and C is regulated by the depth of H, and this is determined and
adjusted by the nut n upon the upper end of F. The grain, or other substance is
let fall into the upper part of said hopper, as shewn in Fig. 1, and passes by the
bottom of H and out at D, and the force of the fall thereof when it has a free
passage keeps the shutter K away from D as shewn in Fig. 1, the weight being
adjusted so as to permit K to act in harmony with H, that is to say, if H is
adjusted to allow only a small quantity of grain, or other substance to pass, must
also be adjusted to permit K to recede from D by the pressure offered by the fall
of that quantity through D. The pulley e when the hopper is at work is driven by
a strap from a revolving shaft, or the like, operated by a steam engine, or other
motive power, and is continually revolving in the direction of the arrow, and con-
sequently the spindle I and the pinion e, the wheel i revolving in an opposite
lirection, and this continues so long as the grain, or other substance continues to
pass freely through the shoot, but should an obstruction, such as a clot of grain,
or piece of wood, or other substance, too large to pass through the space left
between H and A", cause a conjestion of the feed, the hopper according to my
invention could not possibly overflow as in such apparatus hitherto made and used,
for the reason that, the moment the passage of grain, or other substance ceases,
the shutter K would fall by the action of h and close the opening in D, as shewn
in Fig. 3, the lever being then in a horizontal position, would have raised the
lever d by means of the link and have put the wheel i in gear with the wheel M,
and so cause M and the spindle L to revolve in the direction of the arrow, and
the cam kupon L'would raise the lever m, and this in its ascent would raise the
friction roller u, and consequently the bracket G and the slide H, the rod F
passing upward through the guide stay E, as shewn in Fig. 3, and so enlarge the

page_text: feed opening of the shoot, and allow the obstruction to pass down, and when this
reaches D, K would be again forced open and i be immediately thrown out of
gear with M which would permit m to fall, and H resume its normal position.
And to further facilitate the fall of H when released I may when desirable, or
needed encircle F between G and E with a spiral, or other spring for that
purpose, and by this means the automatic regulation of the feed is continued and
maintained until all the grain, or other substance is passed through the hopper.
The shoot, or hopper as described may be attached by stays, rods, ties, or
brackets, or any other suitable means to any type of machine desired, or by
brackets, bolts or other means to the under surface of a floor having a hole
therein, through which the grain or other substance may pass into the hopper in
the usual way, or said hopper may be provided with legs, or struts by which it may
be elevated when necessary.
A: suitable lid, or cover may be provided for said hopper if desired.
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 an improved device for regulating the feed of grain machines and the
like, the apparatus or mechanism consisting of the several parts, constructed,
combined and operating substantially as herein set forth, and for the purposes
specified, and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In an improved device for regulating the feed of grain machines and the
like, the construction and use of a hopper or shoot A, A' and A", with fixed
partition B, the spindle I carrying pullies b and c or handle in lieu thereof, and
pinion e, the lever d fulcrumed upon I and linked by f to a weighted lever g, upon
a spindle J carrying a shutter K. The spindle L carrying a toothed wheel M
and a cam k, the lever m, roller «, guide stay E, the rod F and bracket G upon a
sliding shutter H working in guides H H on A A' substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th April 1891.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.