US1227570A - Pecan-cracker. - Google Patents

Description

W. L. BLACK. PECAN CRACKER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I3. I917- Patented May 29, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N) n cos W. L. BLACK.

PECAN CRACKER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

attoz M4340 Patented May 29, 1917.

. ma en snares in WILLIAM L. BLACK, {)F FURT MoKAVETT, TEXAS.

recast-cesarean.

naaasao.

to be removed without breaking or injur-' mg the halves thereof.

f It is a dificult matter to break the shells of pecans without bruising or breakingthe kernels, and it is the object of this invention to provide novel crushing heads for receiving and acting upon the pecans for efiectively cutting and crushing the shells thereof, without injuring the kernels to any objectionable extent, this being accomplished by providing each crushing head with means for cutting and loosening the end or tip of the pecan, and a hole for receiving said tip or end, in connection with means to bear against the body of the shell next to the tip or end which is cut of? to bulge said body and breakit, thereby enabling the entire shell to be removed from the kernel in the desired manner.

The invention embodies a crusher head of novel construction for the intended purposes, and means for ejecting the ends or tips of the pecans from the hole.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of What is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accom- 'panying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4C is an enlarged section on thehne 4-4 of Fig. 4 of one crushing head showing a pecan applied thereto.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedltllay as, fair.

Application filed. February 13, 1917. Serial No. 1483M).

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modification.

Fig. 6 is an end view of still another form of crushing head.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a suitable frame 1 which can be set upon a table or other supporting member, the frame having the end pieces 2 and the brackets 3 to extend under the support. A clamping screw 4 is carried by the brackets 3 to clamp the frame upon the support. A-double or right and left hand screw 5 is journaled to the ends of the frame, and a crank 6 or other suitable means is attached to one end of the screw for rotating it. A pair of nuts 7 are mounted upon the screw to be moved toward and away from one another when the screw is rotated in opposite directions, and said nuts have the members 8 carrying the crushmg heads, each member 8 carrying three heads opposing the heads of the other member, and the pairs of heads are of different sizes whereby various sizes of pecans can be readily and properly cracked, which is not possible with a single pair of crushing heads, due to the variation inthe sizes of pecans. By providing the sets of crushing heads, various sizes of pecans can be applied to therespective crushing heads, to accomplish the desired result.

Considering the construction of one crusher head in detail, the same embodies a provide a continuous annular beveled surface 12 to fit snugly against the body portion of the shell of the pecan, as will hereinafter more fully ap ear. As shown in Fig. 3, a tubular member or bushing 13 is threaded into the sleeve 10 from the rear end thereof, and its forward end is beveled reversely to the flaring or beveling of the end of the sleeve 10, to provide a forwardly and inwardly projecting annular cutting spaced from the beveled surface 12.

edge 1% terminating short of the forward end of the sleeve 10 but located within e bushing 13 can be readily removed from the sleeve 10 for purpose of replacement or repair, and the sleeve can also be removed from the member 8 for the same purposes. Stems or pins 15 are carried by the ends of the sleeve and project toward one another, the free ends of said pins being enlarged, as at 16, and projecting within the holes of the crushing heads.

The pecan is placed between the proper crushing heads when they are separated, and when the pecan is placed between the crushing heads, the same are forced toward one another by rotating the crank 6 in the proper direction. The annular cutting edge 14 of each crusher head will then be brought into engagement with the shell of the nut around the respective end or tip thereof, as seen in Fig. 3, the beveled surface 12 being of suflicient diameter to be spaced from the body of the nut when the cutting edge 14 contacts with and penetrates the shell. The movement of the crushing heads toward one another will cause the cuttin edge 14 of each head to penetrate the shel and thereby sever said end or tip of the nut, which can move on into the central hole of the head, the edge of the body of the shell lodging in the annular groove or grooved seat between the cutting edge H and surface 12, and the body of the shell resting against said surface, so that when the crushing heads move toward one another farther, the body of the shell will be bulged outwardly between the heads, thereby cracking it. without crushing or breaking the kernel. Then when the crushing heads are separated, the nut will drop from between them or can be removed by hand, and the ends or tips of the shells may remain in the holes of the crushing heads, while the body of the shell, which is cracked, will readily fall off, thereby leaving the kernel in uninjured condition. It will be noted that when the crushing heads are separated or retracted, they will be moved over the pins 15 which will eject the ends or tips of nuts from the holes of the crushing heads, thereby preventing clogging. The pins 15 in projecting into the holes of the crushing heads, will also prevent the nuts 7 and their members 8 from turning out of position. Said pins there fore serve to guide the crushing heads toward and away from one another in alinement. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the crusl'iing head is provided with a hole for receiving the end or tip of the pecan, with means within the mouth of said hole for cutting off the tip or end of the shell, and with means adjacent to and immediately outside of the aforesaid means to bear against the body of the shell and force it toward the opposite crushing head, whereby to bulge and break the shell away from the kernel.

In the variation illustrated in Fig. 4, t he sleeve 10 is fitted within the opening 9 of the member 8, and has the flange or collar 11 hearing against said member, the forward end of the sleeve being flared to provide the annular bevel 12. The bushing 13 is fitted in the sleeve 10 from its forward end, and seats against a shoulder 14 with which the sleeve is provided within its bore, thereby preventing the bushing 13 from being forced rearwardly within the sleeve 10' beyond the desired point. The forward end of the bushing 13 has the cutting edge ll corresponding to the cutting edge 14 above described.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 5 and (3, the sleeve 10" which fits in the opening 9 has the flange or collar 11 bearing against said member, and the forward end of the bore of the sleeve is flared to provide the annular beveled surface 12. The sleeve is provided with an annular series, of inwardly projecting cutting teeth 14; adjacent to the surface 12, and providing an interrupted annular cutting edge instead of a continuous annular cutting edge as in the forms of crushing heads above described. The teeth 11" serve to cut or break off the end or tip of the shell. the body of which will then bear against the surface 12 to be bulged or expanded and then broken. This modification eliminates the bushing, since the teeth 11 can be integral with the sleeve.

Having thus described the what is claimed as new is A. nut cracker embodying a crushing head provided with a hole to receive the end of a nut, a flared beveled portion at and surrounding one end of the hole, and a cutting edge adjacent to and projecting within said beveled portion thereto to provide a grooved seat for the edge of a shell when cut.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. BLACK.

' invention,

lVi tn csses Ivy E. t'inrrson, AGNES ROCKELLI.

and beveled reversely-

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