Improvements in Straw Stackers used in connection with Thrashing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Straw Stackers used in connection with
Thrashing Machines.
We, FRANK FRICK LANDIS, residing at Waynesborough, in the County of
Franklin, State of Pennsylvania, United States, Mechanical Engineer, and HERBERT
WILLIAM TORR JENNER, residing at 519 Seventh Street Washington, in the
District of Columbia, United States, Patent Attorney, 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 :-
This invention relates to straw stackers used in connection with thrashing
machines; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts
hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a side view of the complete straw stacker.
Figure 2 is an end view of the discharger and its feed barrel, showing the casing
in section on the line xx in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the discharge pipe and the means for operating it.
Figure 4 is a detail side view of one form of flexible junction pipe, showing
also a portion of the discharge pipe in section.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the end of the discharge pipe as shown
in Figure 1, but drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the collars, on the discharge pipe, to which
the lifting cord is attached, the same as shown in Figure 1 but drawn to a larger
scale.
Figures 7 and 8 are, respectively, a longitudinal section, and a plan view, showing
a modification of the end of the discharge pipe.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 show a modification of the discharger and its feed barrel,
and are respectively, a sectional end view similar to Figure 2, a side view of the
discharger casing, and a detail cross-section through one of the discharger arms.
Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 show another modification of the discharger and its
feed barrel. Figure 12 is a sectional end view similar to Figure 2; Figure 13 is a
side view of the discharger showing its casing partly in section. Figure 14 is a
cross-section through one of the discharger arms. Figure 15 is a detail plan view
of one of the straw guides.
Figures 16 and 17 show a modification of the flexible junction pipe. Figure 16
is a side view of the pipe; and Figure 17 is a cross-section through a portion of
the pipe showing the attachment of the links.
A is a portion of the casing of a grain separator or thrashing machine, and B is
the delivery pipe through which the straw is driven by the discharger together
with a blast of air as will be more fully described hereinafter. The pipe B is
rigidly secured to the separator casing.
C is the revoluble discharge pipe which is made of a length sufficient to stack
the straw to the required height.
D is a flexible junction pipe which connects the pipes B and C, and permits the
pipe C to be moved in every direction both vertically and circumferentially. The
pipe D consists of a series of articulated segments which may be constructed in
various ways in carrying out this invention. In the form shown in Figure 4, the
pipe D consists of a series of overlapping conical segments d, and end pieces d'.
The segments d are all alike and are operatively connected together, and to the end
pieces, by means of three or more straps b¹ of flexible material, such as leather.
Four straps arranged equidistant from each other are preferred. Each strap is
secured to all the segments by bolts or rivets e at points where the segments never

page_text: overlap, and the straps are made of a length sufficient to permit the segments to
bend over to the greatest requisite curvature.
The segments fit into each other loosely, and in order to prevent straw from being
driven between their joints by the pressure of the blast, the segments are inclosed in
a tube D' of flexible material.
The tube D¹ is secured to the end segments d' in any approved manner, and is
preferably made of canvas or some other similar material which is practically air
tight.
E is a collar journaled on the pipe C and provided with rearwardly-projecting
arms e. Fare rollers journaled on the pins carried by the brackets f¹ which are
secured to the pipe C. These rollers bear against one end of the collar E, but the
thrust of the pipe C, when raised, may be taken in any other approved manner
besides using the rollers F.
G is a standard secured to the top of the separator casing, and provided with
bearings g arranged vertically over the center of the pipe B. H is a shaft journaled
in the bearings g, and provided with the yoke at its lower end. The ends of the
yoke are pivoted to the ends of the armis e by the pins h¹. The shaft and yoke
prevent the segments d from telescoping into each other, they also permit the pipe C
to be revolved in a horizontal plane for the greater part of a circle, and they also
permit it to be raised to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1.
A collar I is secured on the upper end piece d¹ which is inserted in the pipe C,
and i are rollers journaled on pins projecting from the brackets which are secured
to the pipe C. The brackets extend over the collar I, and the rollers bear
against the said collar and hold the segments dextended, at the same time permitting
the upper end piece d' and the pipe C to revolve freely and independent of each
other.
K is a collar or ring which is secured to the pipe C at about the middle of its
length. K is a collar which is slipped over the collar K and is provided with
hooked bolts k to prevent its return. L is a spacing ring arranged diagonally in
the chamber formed by the two collars K and K', and m are balls which are dropped
into holes in the ring L and form a ball bearing between the two said collars.
M are lugs on the collar K' for the attachment of the lifting cord.
N is the lifting cord preferably provided with two ends n which are connected to
the lugs M.
O is a sheave which is suspended over the center of the pipe B and is free to turn
in every direction. O is a support for the sheave O, and preferably consists of a
tube having its lower end secured to the standard G. The support 01 is provided
with a cap at the top to which the sheave block or bracket is connected by the
links o. Stay rods o' are secured to the said cap and to any convenient part of the
separator casing, for supporting the tube 01.
P is a barrel secured on the shaft P which is journaled in the standard G. A
worm wheel p is secured on the shaft P, and is driven by the worm p', which is
secured on the shaft q, also journaled in the said standard and provided with the
hand wheel q' for revolving it.
The end of the lifting cord N is wound on the barrel P, and the pipe C is raised
and lowered by turning the hand wheel q'. Any other approved hoisting mechanism
may be used for winding up the lifting cord, if desired.
The discharge pipe C is provided with an adjustable deflector at its mouth or end
portion. The end portion R is preferably rectangular and is open at the end and
bottom. In the end portion shown in Figures 3 and 5, the sides of the end portion R
have curved guides R' secured to them, and these guides have straight upper
portions arranged parallel with the discharge pipe.
S is a flexible jointed plate which slides in the guides R¹. This plate preferably
consists of several plates of thin sheet iron loosely connected together by rivets 3.
The loosely fitting rivets permit the plate S to bend freely and the separate plates
are also bent slightly when made of sheet metal. When the plate S is in the
straight parts of the guides, the straw is driven out of the end of the pipe in a

page_text: straight line by the blast; but when the plate S is pushed forward into the curved
parts of the guides, the straw is deflected and is discharged downward onto the
stack.
Any approved operating device may be used for sliding the plate S back and
forth in the guides. T is an endless cord, or its equivalent, such as a chain,
wire rope or band. The cord T is secured to the plate S. One end of the cord or
chain passes around the guide sheave t at the end of the pipe, and the other end
passes around the driving sheave ', which is mounted on a shaft journaled in
brackets secured to the pipe C, and provided with a handle T¹, and arranged so
that it may be operated by a man standing on the separator casing. The cord T
and its driving devices may be duplicated, if desired, and arranged one on each side
of the discharge pipe.
The handle T is also conveniently used to push around the pipe C to the right
or to the left. When the pipe C is swung around horizontally the upper end
piece of the pipe D revolves inside the pipe C, and the pipe C is not revolved;
the revolution of the pipe C upon its own axis being independent of the junction
pipe and controlled by hand.
The straw is forced up the stacker pipes B, D, C, by means of the centrifugal
discharger V.
A' is a chamber at the rear end of the grain separator or thrashing machine for
receiving the straw and chaff from the various separating devices inside_the
machine, portions of which are indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1. This
chamber A is arranged horizontally and may be conical or cylindrical, as
desired.
V₁ is the discharger casing secured outside the casing A at the larger end of the
chamber A¹. W is a conical throat piece which connects the discharger casing
with the opening w at the end of the chamber A. A shaft 2 is journaled in the
bearings 3, secured to the casings A and V1, and is provided with a belt pulley 4
for revolving it. The direction of the revolution of the shaft 2 is indicated by the
arrow.
A barrel 5 is secured upon the shaft 2 and may be either conical or cylindrical,
as desired. The barrel is provided with projections 6 but the presence of these
projections is not absolutely essential to the satisfactory discharge of the straw.
These projections 6 preferably project laterally toward the discharge opening.
The discharger casing V₁ is preferably made in two parts secured together by
bolts, for greater convenience in putting the device together.
The discharger V is secured upon the shaft 2 and consists essentially of a circular
disc 7 and arms 8.
The discharger is provided with a short cylindrical portion 9 which abuts
against the end of the barrel 5. The arms 8 of the discharger are arranged
symmetrically about its axis and are curved rearwardly of their direction of
motion.
A bead 10 is formed on the inside of the discharger casing, around the throat
piece, and is accurately faced off so that the side edges of the tips of the arms 8
may work as close as possible to it without absolutely touching it.
The discharger casing is provided with a delivery passage 11 leading into the
delivery pipe B, herein before described. Air holes 12 may be formed in the
chamber A, if desired, and may be provided with any approved cover for closing
them, but these air holes are not an essential feature of the invention.
The shaft 2 is movable longitudinally in its bearings in one direction, and 13 is a
collar secured on the shaft 2 and revolving against one end of one of its bearings,
so that the edges of the arms may run close to the bead and may be moved back
from it for a considerable distance.
A weight 14, or its equivalent, such as a spring, may be used to press the
discharger towards the bead, or to assist in pressing it towards the bead, but
the pressure of air behind the disc 7 is generally sufficient for that purpose.
The operation of the discharger is as follows: When the shaft 2 is revolved

page_text: rapidly, the revolving arms of the discharger draw air through the throat piece
and drive it up the discharge pipe. The action of the discharger arms causes
an increase of the pressure of the air in the discharger casing, behind the disc,
above the pressure of the atmosphere, and this pressure holds the edges of the
arms in close proximity to the bead so that very little air can escape backward into
the throat piece.
The straw, chaff and other rubbish which fall into the chamber A' are fed and
drawn laterally into the discharger casing. The straw slides freely through the
throat piece and is caught by the curved arms of the discharger. These arms
throw off the straw by centrifugal force, as the discharger revolves, and force it up
the delivery pipe; and the straw is kept in motion in the stacker pipes by the
current of air driven off with it. When bunches of straw strike the discharger
it moves laterally and automatically away from the bead, and allows the bunches
of straw to pass between the bead and the edges of the discharger arms, and when
the bunches of straw have been discharged up the delivery pipe the discharger
returns automatically to its original position. If a free passageway for straw were
at all times provided between the bead and the discharger arms, and the discharger
were not laterally movable, much of the air would escape backward through the
throat piece, and the efficiency of the discharger would be greatly reduced.
When a bunch of straw strikes the edge of one of the discharger arms, it slides
up the arm until it strikes the bead which tips it over so that it is caught by the
discharger and flung up the delivery pipe. The lateral movement of the discharger
also prevents it from becoming choked when a larger quantity of loose straw is fed
to it than it can discharge readily.
The discharge pipe is moved about from time to time, and its adjustable mouth
is also moved about, so as to build up the straw into a stack of the requisite
dimensions. The blast of air projects the straw onto the stack and packs it
close so that no men are required on top of the stack to arrange and pack the
straw.
The various parts of the machine may be variously modified, when used in
combination, in carrying out this invention; for instance, the structure of the
flexible pipe D can be changed provided another pipe substantially equal to it in
flexibility is substituted for it.
In Figures 7 and 8 a modification in the construction of the end of the discharge
pipe C is shown. The rectangular end of this pipe has curved guide plates 20
secured to its sides which have a different shape from those shown in Figure 5. A
thin plate 21 of flexible material, such as sheet iron, is secured to the top portion
of the pipe by the bolts or rivets 22. A bar 23 is secured to the other end of the
plate 21, and is provided with projecting pins 24 at its ends, upon which pins the
grooved rollers 25 are journaled. These rollers engage with the guide plates 20.
Guide sheaves 26 are journaled on pins projecting from brackets 27 secured to
the top of the pipe, and 28 and 29 are guide sheaves journaled on pins 30 projecting
from the sides of the pipe.
The deflector plate 21 is operated by a cord or cords T the same as hereinbefore
described. When the cords T are moved so as to depress the outer end of the
plate 21, the plate is bent over in the form of a curve, as indicated by the dotted
fines in Figure 7, being constrained by the form of the guide plates and prevented
from bending at that end of it which is secured to the pipe. The plate 21 is not
broken by being repeatedly bent back and forth because the bending is distributed
over its entire length. When the discharge pipe is horizontal, and the plate is
raised to the level of the top of the pipe, the straw is discharged horizontally.
The straw may be discharged at any angle, or vertically downward onto the stack,
by bending the plate 21.
In the modification of the discharger shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, the barrel
is provided with projections which take the form of inclined wings 31 which are
bolted to or are otherwise secured to it, and are adapted to feed the straw to the
discharger.

page_text: The discharger is provided with a disc 7' which is flat, and has curved arms 8¹.
The disc 7' is secured to the concave plate 53 which is provided with a hub 34 for
securing it to the shaft 2. The concave plate 33 has small curved flanges 35,
substantially radial to its axis. The arms are riveted to these flanges and to the
disc, but the whole discharger may be cast in a single piece if desired. The arms
of the discharger each consist of a portion 36 arranged at right angles to the disc,
a portion 37 parallel with the disc, and a curved portion 38 uniting the said
portions 36 and 37. The arms when thus constructed have their faces made in
the form of channels so that the arms are better able to catch the bunches of straw
and the portions 37 prevent them from slipping back into the chamber A'.
The discharger casing is provided with an opening 40 through which the
discharger is inserted, and 41 is a plate for closing the opening. This plate is
preferably made of thin sheet metal and is secured by means of bolts which pass
through a ring 42. The ring 42 is provided with arms 43 which support the shaft
bearing.
Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 show another modification of the discharger. In
connection with this discharger, a cylindrical or a conical barrel may be used, and
the barrel may have projections or not. When no projections are provided the
straw is revolved in the chamber A¹ by frictional contact with the barrel and by
the motion of the air surrounding it. The portion of the chamber A¹ which is
substantially concentric with the shaft 2 is provided with spirally arranged ribs 50,
formed of angle iron or other approved material. These ribs assist in feeding the
revolving straw from the chamber A' into the discharger casing.
In this form of discharger the concave plate 33 is dispensed with, and the hub 34
may be secured to the shaft 2 direct, but it is preferably secured to the barrel by
longitudinal bolts 51 so that the discharger may easily be removed from the casing.
The curved arms of the discharger are provided with tips 52 which are
substantially radial to the shaft 2. The arms are curved rearwardly in the opposite
direction from their direction of revolution, and have channel-shaped faces
substantially as herein before described. The arms and hub may be cast integral
with the disc, or the said parts may be secured together as shown.
The
Straw guides 53 are secured inside the discharger casing. These guides
preferably consist of curved fingers 54 arranged in rows inside the discharger
casing. Each row of fingers forms a guide, and as many guides as desired may be
used. The guides may be attached to the casing in any approved manner.
fingers point in the direction of the revolution of the discharger, and their tips are
arranged so as to just clear the tips 52 of the arms. The guides may be formed of
steel or other elastic material and secured direct to the casing, or they may be
formed by securing a row of fingers to a bracket 55. The fingers are passed
through holes in the discharger casing, and the bracket is then bolted to the outside
of the casing. This construction permits the guides to be removed without opening
the discharger casing.
The guides are preferably provided with actuating springs instead of being
springs themselves, and they may be formed in many ways upon either plan of
spring guides or spring-actuated guides, and several different kinds of guides may
be used in the same casing, if desired. A single guide of either kind may also be
used, or guides may be dispensed with altogether.
When spring-actuated guides are used, they are preferably constructed as shown
in detail in Figure 15. The guide, or guide fingers, is secured upon a shaft 56
which is journaled in bearings in the casing. The shaft 56 is preferably square,
and an arm 57 is secured upon its projecting end. A spring 58 is arranged about
the pin 59 between the end of the arm 57 and a boss on the casing, and 59' is a
nut or collar on the end of the pin 59. The pin passes through a hole in the end
of the arm, and the nut forms a stop which prevents the guide from striking the
discharger arms.
The guides prevent the straw from packing around the periphery of the

page_text: discharger casing, and the tips 52 of the arms scrape the straw off the guides and
prevent it from accumulating on the guides. The guides spring back when bunches
of straw come between them and the arms, so that the discharger does not become
choked.
In the modification of the flexible junction pipe shown in Figures 16 and 17, the
pipe itself consists of a series of articulated segments inclosed in a tube of flexible
material, substantially as hereinbefore described, but they are differently connected.
The conical segments are connected together in pairs by crossed links 62, similar
crossed links being provided on each side. The segments are also connected
together in pairs by crossed links 63 on each side. These links 62 and 63 connect
the segments alternately, there being two series of links, and the series of links 62
is arranged midway of the series of links 63 around the circumference of the pipe.
The segments are preferably provided with stiffening rings 64, but these rings
may be dispensed with if the segments are strong enough without them.
Brackets 65 are secured to the stiffening rings and are provided with the pivot
bosses 66 for the links to turn upon. These bosses are arranged at different
distances from the brackets as shown in Figure 17, so that the links of each pair
can pass each other. The end segments are connected to the end pieces of the
pipe by links, the same as they are connected to each other. The bolts 67 are
the means employed for securing the pipe segments, stiffening rings and brackets
together; and 68 are washers on the upper sides of the links.
When the pipe is bent over to the right as shown in Figure 16, the links on the
sides of the pipe turn on their pivots and the other links are not affected by the
motion. When the pipe is bent over in planes between the links, all the links are
turned on their pivots. In order to give the segments greater freedom of move-
ment, the smaller ends of the segments have concave edge portions 69 at their
opposite sides behind the links by which they are connected to the next adjacent
segments.
In carrying out this invention two dischargers may be used, if desired, and
arranged to deliver into a single delivery pipe. When two dischargers are used,
they may be arranged one upon each side of the machine, or they may be
arranged against the end of the machine. When two dischargers are
used at the end of the machine they are preferably arranged inside a single dis-
charger casing and are revolved in opposite directions, so that the straw is forced up
a single delivery pipe connected to the casing between the two dischargers. When
arranged against the end of the machine, the discharger casing is preferably placed
so that its two inlets open direct into the straw chamber, and the belts for driving
the dischargers are carried around guide pulleys in any approved manner, the
shafts of the dischargers being arranged longitudinally of the machine and parallel
to each other.
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. The combination, with the stationary delivery pipe, the swinging discharge
pipe, and a flexible junction pipe connecting the aforesaid pipes; of a jointed
support operatively connected to the discharge pipe, whereby the junction pipe is
prevented from telescoping, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with the stationary delivery pipe, the swinging discharge
pipe revoluble upon its own axis, and a flexible junction pipe connecting the
aforesaid pipes; of an adjustable deflector at the free end of the discharge pipe,
and a support such as a cord-connected to the said discharge pipe, whereby the
said discharge pipe is free to move vertically and horizontally and discharge
the straw to the right or to the left, and at different angles, substantially as
set forth.
3. The combination, with the end of the discharge pipe, of a flexible deflector,

page_text: and means for supporting the deflector and constraining it to move in a curve,
whereby the straw is curved around gradually and is projected downward on the
stack at different angles, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with the stationary delivery pipe, and a standard provided
with a bearing arranged in line with the said pipe; of a flexible junction pipe
connected to the delivery pipe, a discharge pipe connected to the junction pipe,
a collar provided with rearwardly extending arms and carried by the discharge
pipe, and a vertical shaft journaled in the said bearing and provided with a yoke
pivoted to the said arms, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination, with the stationary delivery pipe; and a stationary support
provided with a bearing, and a sheave over the axis of the delivery pipe; of the
flexible junction pipe, and the discharge pipe connected to the delivery pipe ;
the collar provided with rearwardly extending arms and carried by the dis-
charge pipe, the vertical shaft journaled in the said bearing and provided with a
yoke pivoted to the said arms, a lifting cord or chain passing over the said sheave
and connected with the discharge pipe, and means for winding up the said cord,
whereby the said discharge pipe may be raised, lowered and swung around, substan-
tially as set forth.
6. The combination, with the delivery pipe, and the flexible junction pipe
provided with a collar on its free end; of the discharge pipe journaled on the
free end of the junction pipe, and the brackets secured to the discharge pipe,
extending over the said collar, and provided with rollers bearing against the side
of the collar, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination, with the delivery pipe, and the discharge pipe; of a flexible
junction pipe consisting of a series of articulated segments inclosed in a tube of
flexible material, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination, with the delivery pipe, and the discharge pipe; of a flexible
junction pipe consisting of a series of overlapping conical segments, a series of
flexible straps connecting the said segments, and an inclosing tube of flexible
material, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination, with a straw chamber, and a discharger casing provided
with a delivery passage; of a revoluble discharger consisting of a disc provided
with arms and operating to forcibly project the straw up the delivery passage,
substantially as set forth.
10. The combination, with a straw chamber, and a discharger casing provided
with a delivery passage; of a revoluble discharger consisting of a disc provided
with arms, and a feeding device operating to assist the passage of the straw from
the straw chamber into the discharger casing, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination, with the barrel provided with projections, of the
discharger provided with arms, and casings inclosing the said parts, substantially
as set forth.
12. The combination, with the straw chamber, and the discharger casing; of
the conical throat piece interposed between the said parts, and the revoluble
discharger provided with arms, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination, with the discharger casing provided with an inlet opening
on one side, of the laterally movable and revoluble discharger consisting of a disc
provided with arms and normally pressed toward the inlet opening by the air
pressure behind its said disc, substantially as set forth.
14. The combination, with the straw chamber, and the discharger casing; of a
yielding discharger adapted to be moved laterally by the incoming straw to prevent
it from becoming choked, substantially as set forth.
15. The combination, with the discharger casing, of a revoluble discharger
consisting of a disc and a series of arms provided with channel-shaped faces,
substantially as set forth.
16. The combination, with the discharger casing, of a revoluble discharger
consisting of a disc and a series of rearwardly-curved arms provided with forwardly
bent tips, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 17. The combination, with the discharger, of the discharger casing provided
with an inlet upon one side and an opening for inserting the discharger on the
other side, and a removable cover plate closing the said opening, substantially as
set forth.
18. The combination, with the discharger, and its casing; of one or more straw
guides connected at one end to the casing and projecting therein in the direction
of the motion of the discharger, substantially as set forth.
19. The combination, with the discharger, and its casing; of a straw guide
consisting of a row of fingers arranged inside the said casing, substantially as
set forth.
20. The combination, with the discharger, and its casing; of a spring-actuated
straw guide pivotally connected to the casing and provided with a stop whereby
the straw guide is prevented from striking the discharger, substantially as set
forth.
21. The combination, with the straw chamber provided with spirally-arranged
ribs, of the discharger casing, the discharger shaft, the barrel secured on the
said shaft inside the said chamber, and the discharger secured on the said shaft
inside the said casing, substantially as set forth.
22. The combination, with two dischargers, and means for revolving them in
opposite directions; of a single discharger casing provided with a delivery passage
common to the two said dischargers, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 9th day of January 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.