US2535485A

US2535485A - Corn husking machine

Info

Publication number: US2535485A
Application number: US575654A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cover Ralph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-02-01
Filing date: 1945-02-01
Publication date: 1950-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1967-12-26

Description

Dec. 26, 1950 COVER 2,535,485

CORN HUSKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 26, 1950 R. COVER CORN nusxmc MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1945 w m m w. m N C 1 h M wh Q f nw\ .l QR F M flu RR w Q w I MIN a i m rhl Dec. 26, 1950 R. COVER 2,535,485

CORN HUSKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 E1Er 5 3% EM L1 L1 Elli-E g R. COVER CORN HUSKING MACHINE Dec. 26, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 1, 1945 INVENTOR. 50h Carer:

fi hm l 3E0 BY M QZ4M Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STA-T ES: PATENT OFFICE CORN HUSKING -MACHI-NE' ItalphaGover Westminster, Md,

ApplicationFebruary' 1, 1945; Serial Nc-.57-'5 ,654

' (misc-5).-

6 Claims;

O'sburn on September 26, 1944 In machines of the character stated there are" provi'ci'edmeans for feedingthe corn ears in the direction oftheir length butt and rearmost; means for slitting the husks longitudinally, meansfor debuttingthe ears; and means for removing the longitudinally slit husks'fr'om the debutted ears.

Phepresent invention primarily: seeks to-provide certain new and useful improvements in the con structionandthe manner of cooperatively-an ranging and driving the husking rolls designed to increase the operating efiiciency of the rolls,

and to provide forindividual driving of the rolls; adjustment of 'the cooperativerelation of said rolls; and also for interchangeability of individual roll parts.

An object of the invention is -to provide in ap paratus of the character stated 'a pair of huslting rolls and driving means therefor including an individual gear couple for driving each roll.

' Another object of the invention is to provide' a pair of rolls of the character stated mountedon 'a downward incline and each having a spiral-1 gear adjacent upper end, and a singledriver: shaft disposed transversely with relation. to said.

rolls and having a spiral gear" thereon meshing.

with each roll gear with 'theportion of each shait gearwhich meshes with the'respective roll ear moving toward the upper endof the-respective roll in a manner for constantly tending to lift said roll in the direction of its length.

Another object of the invention is to provide a: pair of rolls of the character stated which includey-ieldable surface portions, the surface portions on one roll being more yieldable than the opposing portions on. the other roll so that the opposing, surface portions on the cooperating rolls will yield mnerentially during the. drawing of huskstherethrough andperform the husking function in a:

highly efiicientmannen Another object oftheginvention is to provide' husking rolls of the character stated which there are included smooth shaft cores-,husking.

sleeves secured to metal core sleeves freely slide able over the shafts, and means forconnecting.

the core sleeves in. driving relation with the. shafts without use of keys or comparable. non circulal connecting devices likely to render removal of; the.-. sleeves difficult because. of rust, corrosion or the like:

Another: object. ofthe invention is. toprovide.

21. husking rolls or the: character stated eachim eluding two: or more. interchangeable husking.

sleeve andsmetalrcore-sleeve units each driveclutch equipments at the respective'endsi thereofthroughwhichdriving connection with;

the core shaft 'on which; the unit: is mounted (can be effected;

With the above and :otherobjectsinvi'ew'that will hereinafter appean: the naturaof the-invert tion will be moresclearly understood by'reference: to the followingadetailed description; the appendeed claims, andithe several views. illustrated in: the. accompanying drawing;

In the drawings:

Figure; 1 is. a; sideselevation illustratingvthe in;

vention.

Figure 2. is a horizontal section: taken onthe line 22 on Figure: 1,. theahusking'rolls being; shown. inelevation;

Figure 3 isa. vertical cross section taken on they line 3-3: on Figure; I,

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section, taken on. the line. t-JE on Figure Figure 5; is; an .enlargedzvertical cross section taken...thrcugh the. husking rolls...

Figure-.6: asvie'vv similarto; Figmzefi and thus; trating corn: husks; heingdrawn through the lwskingirolls. i

Figure '7 iSLZaJVlBW: illustratingsthe parts camprising one husking rolliassembly separated;-

relation, .certainparts; being illustrated tudinal. section.

Figure.- .8. is a. view similar to ure" '1 illustrat long-i mg. the'partsof the. other oricooperatingr huski-ner roll...

Figure. 9. is acetaila perspective viiew-- at he tilter element. which is disposed; intermediately;

oi the ends stone-. ofithe bushing. r lls-5 Figure 1.0; is: a. detail p rSDective view illilfifili'ill'w m a. companion element-.vthiieh cooperates with thaelement: shown in Figure 9:.

Figure: l-l is; detail. perspective-view" illus tratina :one end of. one of the rollunits or :sece

ti-ons;

Figure 12, is a-detail. perspective. view illustratingz one or the. grooved collars.--

Figure-l3 is; a fragmentary neitspective view illustrating. the; upper slidable bearing for. the:

laterally moving huskineiv r011.

Figure, 1a is. a; fragmentary sentional view" husking, machhie in the husking; rolls are-' 3 mounted is illustrated and said portion includes a frame structure including a base portion and side wall portions 6 extending upwardly from the base portion in parallel spaced relation in the manner illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and a of the drawings.

It will be apparent by reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings that two husking rolls generally designated l and 8 are arranged side by side in cooperative relation and downwardly inclined as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. Each roll includes a core shaft 9 having reduced and threaded end extensions it and two keyways H which are spaced identical distances from the threaded end extremities as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. A plurality of identical roll units is mounted on each shaft, and in this illustration two such units are illustrated as incorporated in each husking roll. The identical roll units have yieldable external surfaces and each comprises a core sleeve 12 and a cover sleeve I3 preferably formed of rubber or synthetic rubber but which may comprise any suitable yieldable material. yieldable sleeve is securely attached to the respective core sleeve 12, as by vulcanizing, and the external surface of each yield-able sleeve i3 is equipped with helical ribs I i. The ribs of the cooperating rolls are of opposite hand as illustrated in Figure 2 and are arranged to interfit without contacting in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 5. It will also be apparent by reference to Figure 2 that when the rolls are rotated in the direction illustrated by the arrows on Figure 5 in a manner which will be described hereinafter, the cooperating roll surfaces will not only cooperate to grip husks between them in the manner illustrated in Figure 6 for thus removing husks from the corn ears dropped onto the rolls, but will also tend to feed the ears along the rolls toward the lower end thereof, or to the left as viewed in Figures land 2.

Each end of the core sleeve l2 of each roll unit is provided with a clutch face in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 7, 8 andll of the drawings. These clutch faces preferably are formed by making straight through cuts transversely across the end extremities of the core sleeves so as to leave extended driving lugs with parallel grooves therebetween.

Between the opposed ends of the roll units comprising the husking roll generally designated 8 is mounted a tilter element generally designated I6 and illustrated in detail in Figure 9. This tilter element is provided with a clutch face ll at each side or end thereof, and which is formed in the manner above described for providing driving lugs with parallel grooves therebetween disposed to interfit with or receive the driving lugs of the previously described core sleeve clutch face I5. When parts are assembled in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 with the tilter element i6 between the adjacent ends of the roll units and with the clutch faces I5 and Il interfitting in driving relation, the roll units and said tilter element Will be assembled as a rigid unit on the respective core shaft 9. It will be apparent by reference to Figures 2, '7, 8, 9 and 11 that said elements are not secured on the respective core shaft 9 by use of any keys or non-circular shaft portions which might become rusted or corroded in a manner rendering removal of the roll units or tilter elements difficult.

It will be apparent by reference to Figure 9 that the tilter element It is constructed to in- It is to be understood that each 4 clude two diametrically oppositely projecting tilter fingers i8 defined by abrupt shoulder portions l9 and intervening eccentric peripheral portions 28, the latter having bevelled side faces 2|.

On the husking roll which cooperates with the roll having the tilter element It, and intermediately of the ends thereof, there is mounted a companion element 22 having clutch faces 23 at the opposite sides or ends thereof as illustrated in Figures 8 and 10 of the drawings. This companion element is provided with two diametrically oppositely disposed peripheral clearances 2d disposed to receive the tilter fingers I8 projecting from the companion element l6 as the rolls rotate in cooperative relation as illustrated by the arrows in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. The companion element 22 also has beveled side wall portions 25 corresponding to or opposing the bevelled surfaces 25 of the tilter element [6 so that the

companion elements

22 and 16 will rotate in cooperative relation in position for havin the tilter fingers i8 engage and agitate or tilt corn ears moving longitudinally over the huskin rolls, thereby to provide a corn ear tumbling action which will additionally assure that the husks will be engaged between the rolls and pulled from the ears thereby in the manner illustrated in Figure 6.

It will be apparent by reference to Figures 2, 7 and 8 of the drawings that ring members 26 are mounted over the interfitting clutch surfaces l5 and il so as to cover the cracks between the drivin lugs of the clutch faces and provide a smooth exterior as illustrated in Figure 2.

At the lower end of the apparatus one of the rolls is provided with a second tilter member generally designated 2?. It will be apparent by reference to Figure 8 that the tilter element is secured on the respective core shaft 9 by a key 28 fitted in a keyway in the tilter element and in the respective keyway ll of the core shaft, and said tilter element is the same in general construction as the tilter element previously described and illustrated in Figure 9 except for the fact that it has a clutch face 29 only at that face thereof which opposes the lower end of the respective roll unit. The tilter element 21 cooperates with a companion element to which s keyed as at 3! on the other core shaft 3 and said companion element is constructed in the same general manner as the previously described element 22 illustrated in Figure 10 except for the fact that it has a clutch face 32 only at the face thereof which opposes the lower end of the respective roll unit. A rlng 33 encircles the interfitting clutch faces 29, I5 and 32, i5 of the elements 2?, 36 and the roll unit ends for covering the cracks provided by said interfitting clutch faces and providing a smooth external roll surface as illustrated in Figure 2.

The lower end of the core shaft 9 of the roll generally designated 7 is mounted in a bearing sleeve 35 carried at the inner end of a bearing arm 35 which is pivoted as at 36 on a carrier arm 31. See Figures 2 and 4. The carrier arm 31 is in turn pivoted as at 33 on the support member 39 which is secured as at 50 to the adjacent frame side wall 6. The stop pin 4! mounted on the support member 39 limits outward swinging movement of the bearing 34 about the center 38, and a spring 42 coiled about said stop pin engages the carrier arm 3'! and constantly urges the bearing 34 and the roll supported therein toward its companion roll. An adjustable screw 43 carried by the support member 39" engages the bearing arm and limits movement of the bearing sleeve 34 and the roll'supported therein in thedirection toward'the-companion husking r011.

At itsupper endeach roll'shaftfl hasa grooved collar 44 pinnedthereon as at 45 by-a pin extend ing through the collar and through a receivin hole 46 in said shaft. It will Ice-observed that a hole lfi is'provided in each end of each shaft 9, and that the keyways ll andsaid holes 45" are so placed that the shafts 9 can be interchangeably mounted; mean be reversed endover end'and mounted without upsetting the organization or mounting of the cooperating-rolls. Each of the grooved-collars is provided with a clutch face 4 1 for'engagingin driving relation with the adjacent clutch facel5 of the respective upper rollunit, and'a ring 48 surrounds each setof interfi'tting clutch face lugs in order to provide atsmooth external surface onev the roll between the grooved collar and the adjacent rib end ofthe respective roll unit in the manner previously described and as clearly illustrated in Figures 2', l and 8;

A spiral gear 49is mounted on the upper end ofthe shaft of the husking roll generally designated l, and a spiral gear 50 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft of the companion husking roll generally designated 8 It will be observed by referenceto Figure 2 of -the drawings thatthe gear 49 isshort and of large diameter and that thegear 50 -is relatively'long'and of smaller diameter, and the reasons for this dimensioning of "the gears and 50 will become apparent asthis'description progresses. Each gear is keyed as at 5| in the respective core shaftkeyway H as illus trated'in Figures? and'i, and it will be apparent also by reference to these figures and to Figure 2 that the-upper end extremity of each of the coreshafts Qhas secured thereon a self-aligning anti-friction bearing '52. Washer and nut equipment 53 and'54 are mounted on the threaded end extremities of the shaft, and those at the upper end extremity serveto secure the selfaligm'ng bearings- 52 in' position on said shafts.

It will be apparent by reference to Figures-2 and 3of the drawihgsthat the'selfiali'gning bearing -52' of the husking roll generally designated 1 is mounted in abearing sleeve 55; and that said sleeve is mounted-on aslide member 56- which is laterally slidable in a slidewayi'l' projecting from ab'earing-member 58. The bearing member 58 is secured'as at 59 to the respective-.irame side wall li, and a compression spring 60 coiled-about astop screw Bl adjustably mounted on the mem- 1 ber'58 constantly urges the slide member fili -and the-upper end portion of the husking roll Pto- Ward the companion husking roll: The engagement of the bearing sleeve 55. with the companion sleeve 62' in which the other huslaing roll has bearing serves to limit movement of the husking roll 7' toward the bushing roll 8; and'the'stop screw 61 limits the amount-of separationcf the cooperating husking rolls by contact with the bearing sleeve 55.

The self-aligningbearing- 52 on the upper end extremity of the companion h-llsking roll 8' is slid ably mounted in the bearing sleeve and said inwardly r from 1 the hearing members which longitudinally-adj ustably sccured as at 6 9 to the lower end oftherespectiveframeside wall 6v See Figures 1 and 2';

A driver shaft 10 is' rotatably mounted' trans:- versely of the framing and beneath the husking roll' gears 49 and'5il, and said shaftrisamounted in bearings ll provided therefor: in'the'previously mentionedsupporting members 64: and: 58. A sprocket l2 is-secured'on-one end of the shaft 10- and is driven by chain and sprocket con--. nectionsl3 with a motor: 14'; A short,- small diameter spiral gear 15 is mounted on the driver shaft-imposition for meshing-with the previously mentioned-long, small diameter 'roll gear: and a long-,relativeli large diameter spiral gear: 16 is mounted on said shaft :in position for mesh' ing with the previously mentioned short: rela; tively large diameter spiral gear- 49. See Figures 2' and 3-. It will be obvious that rotation 1mparted tothe shaft 'lll willbe transmitted-to the.

- coreshafts 9- through individual gear couples iii) sleeve is carried on an arm 63 projecting inward= 15, SB-and It; 49, and by reason of thekeying of

thegears

49 and 50 and the

tilter elements

21 and 39 on said core shafts; the pinningof the collars 44:. on said shafts,- and the interen gagement of the several clutch faces 29; I5, I5 I1; IT, l5, i5; 41-, said shafts and all component husking rollparts illustrated in-assembled relation in Figure 2 and in separated relation in Figures '7'and'8 will be'caused to rotatein unison;

A shield plate '1! may be provided over: the intermeshing gear couples, and when provided said plate preferably has a depending slotted skirt m -for engaging the grooved collars in the manner illustrated in dotted lines in Figure l so as-to make it impossible for husks or other debris to infiltrate between the intermeshing gears;

During operation of the husking apparatus-the corn ears dropped onto the husking rolls '1 and 8' will be rotated and tumbled about thereby while being urged therealong'toward the lower or discharge end by reason of the cooperative relationof the roll ribs l'asillustratedinl igure -2. During therolling about of the cornears accentuated by the tilter elements I-6' and 21; the cornhusk's-are certain to begripped between the downwardly rotating opposing surfacesof the rolls in a manner for being'efiiciently stripped fromthe ears'inthe' manner illustrated in Figure' 6. The intermeshing spiral gears in combination with the stop pin 43 and the limit contact of the bearing sleeves 55 and 62' maintain the cooperative relation of the rollsand the helical ribs thereofillustrated in Figure 5, that is the roll ribs are maintained in-interfitting relation with the yieldable external surfaces of the rolls always slightly out of contact; Inthis manner all unnecessary wearing and self-destruction of.

contacting roll portions is'avoided, and yet when" the cornhusks are gripped by the cooperating roll surfaces and drawn therebetween, the husking operation will be performed in a very eflioient manner.

It will be observed by reference to Figured that the husking roll generally designated 8- ismounted at a slightly lower level than is its companion roll I. It has been found that this particular relative placement of the rolls tends to facilitate rolling about of the corn ears as they travel longitudinally over the husking rolls so that contact about the whole circumference of each car will be assuredand all possibility of the husks on any given can not: being en gaged between and drawn away by the husking rolls is avoided. Another outstanding feature of the invention is that of providing cooperating husking rolls having differential yielding qualities. In other words, the external sleeve portions it of the respective rolls are formed of rubber, synthetic rubber or other yieldable material s chosen that the external surface of one roll will yield more readily than the external surface of its companion roll, thereby to provide variation in yielding both radially and tangentially of said rolls. -t is preferred that the external surface of the lowermost roll 8 be relatively harder and that the external surface of the uppermost roll 7. be relatively softer. By reason of the provision of this differential yielding feature, when husks are drawn between the rolls in the manner illustrated in Figure 6 and thus stripped from the ears, engagement of said husks between the rolls will differentially deform the engaging surfaces of the rolls, and the greater deformation of the softer roll surface will cause said roll surface to engage the husk over a relatively large area and greatly increase the frictional contact effective to strip husks from the cars. This differential yielding of the opposing roll surfaces, causing greater deformation of the softer roll surface and lesser deformation of the harder roll surfaces will cause these roll surfaces to engage the husks over a relatively large differential area and will greatly increase the effective husk stripping action of the rolls.

By mounting the driving spiral gears IE and 76 beneath the driven spiral gears Bil and 49 secured on the upper ends of the husking rolls, the upward turning of the surface portions of the gears l5 and it which mesh with the roll gears 53 and d9 constantly tends to lift the husking rolls and thereby counteract the thrust of the weight of the rolls downwardly. The particular construction and arrangement of the meshing spiral gears and the individual drive provided for the respective huslcing rolls makes its possible for the rolls to be moved apart against the action of the springs and to degree necessary without of disrupting the meshing contact of said gears. "5y reason of this arrangement of parts, it is also possible to adjust the husking roll generally designated 8 in the direction of its length by loosening the bearing securing devices 59 and moving the self-aligning bearing 52 in its sleeve 62 to any slight degree which may be necessary or desirable to properly time the rolls and establish the desired coop erative relation of the inter tting roll ribs M. I

The particular construction and mounting of the husking rolls herein disclosed solves a problem commonly encountered in huslring machines, namely that of removing the rolls from their cores after extended periods of use. It is quite common for connected parts of these rolls to become so rusted or corroded during extended periods of use as to render difiicult or impossible desired disassembly, and it frequently happened that roll parts which could be salvaged and reused if properly disassembled have been necessarily discarded. In the construction and arrangement of parts herein disclosed, it is a simple matter to remove the nuts and

washers

54, 53, the keys 2% and 5! and the pins which secure the collars i l, and thereafter the roll elements illustrated in separated relation in Figures 7 and 8 can be readily taken apart. It will also be apparent that by changing the tilters and their companion elements, and the gears, the rolls as a whole can be interchanged or reversed, inasmuch as the core shafts are exactly the same at both ends. In other words, the rolls are reversible as a whole, end to end; the roll sections or units are reversible end to end; and the roll sections or units are reversible on the same roll in their two respective positions.

If desired, the clutch face covering rings 30 can be dispensed with and the yieldable husking surfaces of the rolls extended full length over the core sleeve clutch faces at the ends of the roll units. In this manner the yieldable husking surfaces of the rolls are extended so as to present no non-yielding surfaces intervening the roll units and the end abutments such as the tilter elements or the grooved collars '44. Such modified structure is shown in Figure 14 from which it will be apparent that each end of the core sleeve is is provided with a clutch face and is reduced in diameter as at ill to receive a metal ring 32 which may be welded or otherwise secured thereon in position for extending over the clutch face as shown. The rubber or other yieldable or deformable covering sleeve 83 is extended over the ring 82, and it will be apparent that during assembly of the roll the clutch faces projecting from the tilter elements or the grooved collar will be inserted into the end of the rings 82 to interfit with the clutch faces 8!].

In the foregoing description there is disclosed a corn husking apparatus which presents outstanding advantages in the way of simplicity of construction, interchangeability of and facility in the mounting and dismounting of component parts, and which operates in a highly eflicient manner in performing the desired corn husking operation. Said apparatus embodies novel individual roll structures that can be readily assembled and then taken apart after long periods of use without any difhculty due to rusting or corrosion of engaging parts, means for individually driving the rolls and maintaining the desired timing thereof by reason of the intermeshing of the spiral gear couples and the longitudinal adjust ment of one roll, means for universally-floatably mounting one roll for movement of separation with relation to the other roll without disrupting the timed relation thereof or the drive couples thereof, and also means providing for differential yielding or husking surface deformation of said rolls. It is to be understood that when said one roll is adjusted longitudinally the limited amount necessary to correct any out of time relation of the rolls due to wear, careless mounting or abuse, clearance between the cooperating tilter elements always is sufficient to permit this adjustment.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a husking machine, cooperatively opposing longitudinally and helically ribbed husking rolls disposed side by side, means including a spiral gear drive couple for each roll for causing said rolls to rotate in unison with the ribs thereon interfitting but always in slightly spaced relation, and means for longitudinally-adjustably mounting one said roll.

2. In a husking machine, cooperatively opposing husking rolls disposed side by side, means for yieldably mounting one said roll for movement laterally with relation to the other of said rolls during passage of husks between the rolls, means for longitudinally-adjustably mounting said other roll, and drive means for causing the rolls to rotate in unison and including an individual spiral driving gear couple for each roll.

3. In a husking machine, cooperatively opposing husking rolls disposed side by side on an incline, means for yieldably mounting one said roll for movement laterally with relation to the other of said rolls during passage of husks between the rolls, and drive means for causing the rols to rotate in unison and including an individual spiral driving gear couple for each roll having the intermeshing faces of the driving spirals turning in a direction for constantly tending to move the rolls upwardly in the direction of their length.

4. A husking roll unit comprising a core sleeve having a clutch face at an end extremity thereof, a ring portion extending over said clutch face, and a yieldable husking surface covering over said core sleeve and extending over and to the end extremity of said ring portion.

5. A husking roll comprising, a cylindrical core shaft, a core sleeve freely slidable over and turnable end for end on the shaft and having a yieldable husking sleeve affixed thereon, abutment means secured on the shaft at one end thereof, and abutment means removably secured on the shaft at the other end thereof, said core sleeve having clutch faces at its end extremities, said abutment means at the respective shaft ends having clutch faces thereon disposed to interfit with the core sleeve clutch faces and connect the core sleeve for rotation with the shaft, and ring members encircling the interfitting clutch face 10 portions and presenting smooth surfaces externally of the roll.

6. A husking roll comprising, a cylindrical core shaft, abutment means secured on the shaft at one end thereof, abutment means secured on the shaft at the other end thereof, and a plurality of core sleeves freely slidable over the shaft intermediately of the abutment means at the respective shaft ends and turnable end for end on said shaft and each having a yieldable husking sleeve aflixed thereon, at least one said abutment means having a clutch face in interfitting engagement with a clutch face on the end of the adjacent core sleeve for connecting the latter for rotation with the shaft, means including interfitting clutch faces between adjacent ends of the core sleeves for connecting them for rotation together, and a ring member encircling each set of interfitting clutch faces for presenting smooth surfaces externally of the roll.

RALPH COVER.

REEFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 554,061 Gundersen Feb. 4, 1896 613,249 Creider Nov. 1, 1898 727,875 Aspinwall May 12, 1903 756,098 Connor Mar. 29, 1904 1,461,748 Boyer July 17, 1923 1,627,838 Cover May 10, 1927 2,179,579 Morrall et a1 Nov. 14, 1939 2,246,018 Snyder June 17, 1941 2,329,768 Kerr Sept. 21, 1943