US555533A - Thrashing-machine - Google Patents

Description

4 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

W, J. RANDOLPH. THRASHING MACHINE.

. Patented Mar. 3, 1896;

v (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet? w. J. RANDOLPH. :TH -RAS'HING MACHINE.

5 1 a B a n-- n u I I c e D C I a l I I I 1 85 -15 fi andalgh wihjzss as 4 sheets-sheet a.

- w. J. RANDOLPH.

,THRASHING MACHINE. {533. Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

(No Model.) 4 sheets sheet 4.

. w. RANDOLPH.

I THRASHING MACHINE.

No; 555,533; Patented Mar. 3, 1896 'IQUNITED. STATES PATENT .O FIQEL the usua l shape and is of a 50 a specification.

wILLrAM J. RANDOLPTI, oni' onn nt n, LoUIsIAn- ETHRASH ING-MAci-HN E.

f js riicrmcn'rion forming art ofLe'tters s No. 5 55,5233, datd March 3,.1s9eg Application filed Eugust 2,1894- To all whom it may concern/.- Be it known that I,\VILLIAM J. RANDOLPH, a citi'len of the United States, residing at Oberlin, in the parish of Calcasieu and State,

of Louisiana,have invented a newand useful Thrashing-Machine, of which the following is This invention relates to thrashing-mm chines; and it has for its object to provide certai-n improvements in thrashing-machines whereby shaking and yibratin g separating devices and carriers are dispensed with, while at the same time providing means for a more effective separation of the grain being operated upon.- i

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to provide an effective tlirasher having no' vibrating or shakin g parts to become displaced and out of order. Vith these and other objects in view,which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is.be tter understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated; and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional View of a thrashing-machine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig.2 is a detail sectional view' on the line a; 00 of Fig. 1. Fig; 3 is a detail in perspective of one of the swing ing screen-plates of the adjustable riddle. Fig. 4 is'a detail in perspective ofa section of one of the endless riddle-chains having the pivot-pins. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional View of one of the swinging screenplate's. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the upper end of the endless riddle. Fig. 7 is a detail transverse sectional view. showing the attachment of the inclined guardboards at' the sides of the riddle frame, shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines. 9 are side elevations of the-machine, showing thegearing for' speeding the straw-carriers, the heaters, and the grain-wheels.

Referrin g to the accompanying drawin gs,

A represents the casing-of niyimproved thrashingmachine, which is 'cons'tructed in' dins o thework requi red of it'ff fie machinecasi 'g- A is 'ounte'd on the ordinary trucli wheelsia, which protiiddfor the ready 'tran'spdrtation of the machine from place to pl arated grain, loosened from Figs. 8 and 1 from the straw while being Sveria1Nt.5l9,2 87. (Nomodeld feeding end thereof 'iSf arra e t feed board or table B, onto h is placed and fed to thethra The thrashing-cylinder O is 'o'f the'o construction provided with the cylind c, and working over the cyli i er 0 M ,El-lrang d directly thereunder at the finnei ehid p of the feed boarder-table. 'Iir-thef re'sentiuvention the usual grate ai e; lid inner endof the cylinder within order that the 'st' concave, maybe throwndirectl o g inclined slatted straw-carrier D; "ivhi 4 grain thrashed 'out of the straw by the: c der falls through the concave onto-thecy inder eant-boardd, which} "chg'rai onto the main grain-boar 1F" up grain is carried by the endless" g'rani-carriei F, the upperportionof which works on top? of the said grain-board. 1 "j The first straw-carrieigdj,

rectly over the grain-car the cylinder and its cone; receive the straw and'g" h der, but also toprovide'for omthe straw-carrier, to also fall onto' theflniani' grain-board E, and be elev the carrier F.

The straw-carrier D is'ofa a 'snn te slatted construction, comprising the "opposite end less. chains or beItsQpassi-ng" and lower sets of chain-whe' is nected bythe elosel'y-arran 1 an gularly-shaped or poin viding a'constructi on ith the straw, while permitting to fall directly theretl-irotr'g'h iid b n upper andlower portions 0" ts rier D onto the carrie' upper'portionsof theendless e are adapted to pass overtlie longitudinally disposed supporting clea or strips e, ar?" ranged under the upper pjo" ti'onoftlie QHEI'JYIGI nc'to er ciia"'-' The first straw-carrier inclination within the provide for the proper sepa r zt and such carrier has imparted thereto a comparatively rapid motion of about two hundred feet per minute, while directly thereabove, at about a distance of four inches and in as close proximity to the cylinder (J as possible, is mounted a rapidly-revolving beater G. The heater G is provided with a radial series of wings-g, which serve to strike down the straw as it leaves the machine-cylinder and beat the s'ameonto the carrier D. The rim of the winged beater G is adapted to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow, about three or four times as fast as the carrier D, and combines with such carrier to knock and tear the straw, whether wet or dry, so as to effect a thorough separation of the grain therefrom, such thrashed grain falling through the carrier D onto the grain-carrier F, as previously described.

The grain-carrier F is constructed in a substantially similar manner to the slatted strawcarrier D and comprises the opposite endlessv chains 1, passing over the upper and lower sets of chain-wheels f and connected by the transverse slats f which slats are preferably attached to lugs on the links of the chains f and serve to elevate the grain on the grainboard E.

The slatted grain-carrier 1 is arranged at an inclination within the machine-casiug-A and extends from the front end. toan intermediate point beginning at a point below and beyond the lower end of the cant-board d and ending at its upper end at a central or intergrain-board E, which is arranged under the upper portion of the carrier F, extends from rend to end of such carrier, beyond the rear upper end of which is formed a grain-space 11, through which the grain falls after being elevated up and over the outer end of the grain-board.

Beyond the upper end of the first straw-carrier, D, and the upper end of the main grain.- board E and over the grain-space II is arranged a second slatted. straw-carrier, D.

The straw-earrier D is constructed similar 'to the carrier D; but to the second straw-carrier is imparted a faster motion than to the carrier D, the carrier D being given a motion of bout two hundred and twenty-live feet pr A minute. At a point directly between the upper discharging end of the carrier D and the lower receiving end of the carrier D is arranged an intermediate winged heater 1, which is given a rotation in a direction which causes it to carry the straw received from the carrier D on the top portion thereof, and to throw it toward a faster-rotating beater I, which is arranged directly over the carrier D and slightly closer thereto than the beater G is to the carrier D. The heater I rotates much faster than the beater I and in a direction opposite to the rotati'on'of the latter figjoeater, so that the straw is buffeted between "the said heaters in order that any grain which may be clinging thereto will be thrashed out mediate point within the casing, and the main of the same, and be caused to pass through the slats of the carrier D into the grainspace H.

'The thrashed straw is.elevatcd by the second straw-carrier, 1') onto a beater i arranged in the same position beyond its upper end as the disposition of the heater 1 beyond the carrier D, and said beateri is adapted to rotate in combination with an adjacent reversely and more rapidly rotating heater 1;, and these two heaters agitate the straw directly over a third inclined slatted straw-carrier, D

The inclined slatted straw-carrier D is of identically the same construction as the first carrier, D, and need not be further described; but it is to be noted that this carrier-is given a faster speed than either of the other two preceding carriers and is made to travel at about the rate of two hundred and fifty or two hundred and seventy-five feet perminute, and in order to positively insure the separation of any remaining grain in the straw at this point of the thrasher the beater 'i' is disiposed nearer to the top face of the carrier D than either of the corresponding heaters preceding.

In connection with the heaters that are arranged over each of the inclined carriers it is to be noted that the longitudinal supporting strips or cleats, such as described in connection with the first carrier, D, will prevent the carriers from jumping or sagging away from the boaters, so as to make the action of the heaters positive.

The third inclined straw-carrier, D is'arranged at the rear end of the thrashing-machine and delivers the straw into the rear straw-chute J, that is extended. any distance from the rear end of the machine-casing to provide for delivering the straw onto the stack, and immediately under and extending longitudinally of the said straw-carrier D is arranged an inclined grain -board j, that catches the thrashed grain which falls through the said slatted carrier and directs such grain back toward the centerpf the machine and into the grain-spaced], through which substantially all of the thrashed grain. passes, for the purpose to be presently described.

The number of the stra\\-'-carriers may be varied, and in the event of constructing a machine with a greater number of these straw carriers arranged successively the speed of such carriers would differentiate successively in a similar manner to the differentiation of the speed of the carriers 1), I) and D ,already descri'bed,and it is therefore to be observed that there is not only differential speeds between the heaters and the strawcarriers and the straw-carriers themselves, but also between heater and heater, so that means are provided for giving the straw violent agitation without any danger of throwing the grain out of the machine, and also making it impossible for the thrashed In to ride out of the machine in the straw.

,gforn ed in oppositesides of the machine sf l adaptathe s'ameto the-different kinds of grain- 5 side-tois'ide-of the riddle-frame and have the All the grain thrashed from the straw is mainly directed to fall through the grainspace H onto the endless riddle. L, which isarranged at an angle within one end of the 5 machine casing A directly under. the ugipcr portion of the grain-carrier F; Theen less riddleL is niounted on and is adapted to travel over ariddle-frame M. The riddle- V.- franie,M[comprises the opposite braced side 10 barsm, which are connected and braced te I gether bymeans of suitable frame-bars and brace 'rodsmtl, and to the innerextremities ofrthe. side, ars m are attached the offstand- ,in'gbearin'g-armsN, which project beyond the ends of the bars m and form bearing-supports for the opposite'wheel-shafts n. The opposite Wheehshafts n carry thereon, atone side of thebearing-arms N, the sprocket or ,chailnwheelsQ, which are thus disposed in'a zo li' ne "'th and jbeyond the ends of the side nd ,the upper one of said Wheel- 1s tendedbeyondthe wheels 0 he by and projects through the opsef the machine-casing A, so as to support for that end of the rid= I an intermediate point the opposite. side bars met the riddle-frame M have secured ffthereto-,-the,offstanding bolt-arms P, which project through and work in the curved slots casing A are engaged at their outer ends by thQbinding-nuts p,1which, together with ,suehbolt-arrns, provide means for adjusting the angleof ,the slant of riddle frame to bein g. operatedqnpon. r

Thesprocket or chain wheels 0, arranged in pairs at opposite ends of the riddle-frame M, are adapted to receive the opposite parallel chains Q, every other link of which chains is provided with an inwardly-extendin g pivot- .pingadapted to loosely receive the opposite angled ends of the transverse plate-barsR. The; transverse plateebars R are provided with opposite angled perforated ends *r to loosely engage the pivot-pins of the chains Q and have attached thereto the flanged ends r .i of the perforated screen-plates S.

3 The perforated screen-plates S extend from oppositee1 1ds thereof slightly overlap the .chains Q to, prevent .the grain from working off throughsaidchains, and such plates are of. awidthso that their free edges will over- I v.glap the pivoted-i edge of the adjacentuplate when formingthe upper portion vof the, travel inggriddleL; hut byreason of the pivotal,

: .connectionslof such plates with the opposite oojchainsxQthe same, of their own weight, will assume a -vertical position when forming the iunder portion of the riddle, as clearly'illns- :trated in l of the drawings, in order-to ;,.;1eayeiunobstructed passages for the grain to falhlthroughi after? working its way through the overlapped plates on the upper portion of the riddle.

The swinging or pivoted screcn- 'ilates are preferably provided with elongated separatin g openings or perforations s,which are more effective in theseparation of oats and similar grains,'and to the under side of the several screen-plates are preferably attached the adjustable slide-plates T. The slide-plates T are provided with a series of openings orperforations 5, corresponding to those in the screenplates, and such slide-plates are adjustably clamped to the screen-plates by the boltst',

whereby the size of the openings or perfoia tions in such screen-plates may be varied to suit the grain being operated upon.

Arranged above the lower end-of the endless riddle L, and suitably attached to the frame M thereof, is a stopboard U, disposed transversely of the casing A, and such stopboard prevents the grain from working oif at the lower end of the riddle, while the grain is prevented from working off at the side of the riddle and is held thereon by means of the opposite side guard-boards u. The opposite side guard-boards u are disposed at an angle, so as to project over the opposite chains Q, and are attached at both ends to the short attaching-arms'u, which are secured to the outer sides of the side bars-m, thereby providing a connection of theguard-boards with the riddle-frame, so as to be adjusted therewith. 4

Arranged transversely of the riddle-frame M, near the upper outer end thereof, is the transverse agitator-shaft V, which carries, near the opposite ends thereof, the agitatorcams 12,,which are let into the side framebars of the riddle and areadapted to slightly tap on the under side of the chains Q, near their upper ends, in order to agitate any trash that may be riding out and carrying with it thrashed grain, thus relieving the grain and causing it to work back onto the bottom inclined chute-board K, arranged at an angle 1 under the endless riddle and discharging into the bottom discharge-conveyer 7t, which carries the grain off at one side of the machine.

The unthrashed material, which is carried,

over the upper end of the endless riddle L, falls into thereturn-conveyor k, which carries such material into the return=spout 7: which leads back to the feeding end of the thrashing-1n achine.

The effective separation of the grain falling onto and through the endless riddle is assisted by means of the separate blast-fans \V and W, respectively, the former of which fans discharges an air-current into the falling grainl 'as it drops onto the endlessriddle, and also-ca .es thejcurrent of air to pass through dia ram-space II and into the space beyond the upper end of the. carrier-1R. The other der and through the riddle L to complete the windsieparations ,which were-not eifected by thefanJV, and the fPQllTi-hflfftll \V' is controlled by a wind-board w, 'arrangedtransversely within the casing at one side of the volves.

discharge-conveyor k and suitably adjustable at the side of the machine-casing, in order to provide for the proper deflection of the aircurrent that is directed thereby under the riddle L.

By reason of the arrangement of the fans W and W it will be obvious that such fans fill the whole rear end of the machine with a strong blast of air, and this blast of air becomes contracted by reason of the inclination of the bottom inclined chute-board K under the riddle Land the rear sharply-inclined cant-board X extended above the return-conveyer k, so that the blast of air will be sufiiciently strong to carry the straw throughand beyond the straw-chute J to a sufficient distance so as to dispense with any extra rigging for stacking purposes, and it will therefore be obvious that the herein-described machine may be depended upon to stack-its own straw, while at the same time sending the dust, chaff and other foreign matter clear away fromthe machine.

The rear cant-board X forms the rear end wall of the machine-casing and leads downwardly to the return-conveyerk, and the said board is at a steeper or sharper inclination than the board K and is provided therein with bottom grain-pockets a: that may be opened from time to time to relieve the machine from extra accumulations of trash. clination of the board X permits the lighter grains to run down the same against the wind and into the return-screw k, so that such grains are not lost, and if it is found that too much trash is running down the said board X into the conveyer It either more .wind is given to the machine or the pockets :1 opened to allow the trash to drop out to the ground, where it may be saved for feed or other purposes.

In the grain-space 11, directly beyond the upper end of the, carrier F, and the space directly above the upper end of the endless riddle L are located the transiterscly-arranged slowly-rotating grain-wheels Y. The said grain-wheels Y essentially comprise a shaft "y and a series of curved wheel-,lilades y curved in the same direction to form grain-pockets 7 therebetween. The said grain-whecls rotate in the direction of the arrows and relative to the function. of the wheel located in the space ii. It is to be noted that in practice it has been found that the throw of the slats of the carrier F, which carries the grain over the board E, and the wind from the fan W brought the grain too near the upper end. of the riddle L, and by the interposition of a grain-wheel of the construction described such wheel will interrupt the grain delivered over the upper end of the carrier F, and while the wind passes most of the chatf beyond such wheel the grain falls into the pockets thereof and is dropped and at the same time spread onto the riddle L as the said wheel slowly re- The grain-wheel located above the upper end of the riddle 'L interrupts and catches the light grains blown over the riddle The sharp inand deposits the same onto the board X, down which the grain slides into the return-conveyer k.

Arranged transversely within the machinecasing A, and directly above the winged beater G, is the transverse suction-box Z, provided at the bottom with a curved screenbottom z, disposed in very close proximity to the periphery of the said wheel G, and to each end of the suction-box Z is connected a windleg 2', that also connects with the side inlets of the fan W. i

By reason of the arrangement of the we tion-box Z and its connection with one of the fans of the machine a comparatively dustless machine is provided, for when'the machineis in operation the fan W" receives its draft through the said suction-box and the windleg from the space directly over the beater G, so that the pull or draw comes in from the cylinder, carrying in the dust, &c. The curved bottom screen z prevents any straw that might be drawn from the beater from passing to the fan, and the close proximity of such screen to the beater provides means so that the blades of the beater will keep the screen clean and prevent straw and trash from clogging the same to interrupt the blast. The said wind-legs may be provided with suitable means, such as slides, for regulating the draft or blast of the fans with which they are connected.

\Vith reference to the function of the riddle L, at this point it is to be noted that the said riddle is adjusted at such an angle that the tendency of the grain to be elevated thereby is overcome by the tendency of the grain to slide toward the lower end thereof, and inasm ueh as there is no appreciable jump or jar on the riddle-screens the grain easily passes through the riddle, while at the same time all light trash is moved forward by the riddle and the wind, thercbysecuring almost perfect separation of the grain.

Changes in the 'form, proportion and they minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described I the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is- 1. In athrashin g-machine, the combination with the casing; of a'series of inclined differentially-speeded slatted straw-carriers arranged successively in advance of each other, separate pairs of beater-s arranged between and above said carriers and being of a uniform size, said pairs of boaters being differentially speeded progressively and the beat- 01s of each pair being also differentially 2. In a thrashing-machine, the combination with the casing and the thrashing devices; of an inclined endless grain-riddle pivotally supported at its upper end within the lower part .inclination thereof, a'stop-board arrangedat right angles to and disposed aboye the lower end of the riddle and carried by the frameiof the riddle, whereby the stop-board maintains a fixed relative position irrespective of the inclination of the riddle, and inclined guardboards located at opposite sides of the riddle and also carried by the framethereof, said stop and guard boards being adapted to hold the grain on the upper surface of the riddle until it works through the perforations in the screen-plates, substantially as set forth. I

3. In a thrasl'iing-machine, the combination with the casin g and the thrashing devices therein, of an inclined riddle-frame pivotallysupported at its upper end within the lower part of the casing near one end thereof, means for fastening or securing the riddle-frame at different inelinations,endless chains mounted to travelaround the frame and having integral inwardly-extending pivot-pins, transverse plate -bars having perforated flanged ends loosely engaging said pivot-pins, selfadjusting screen'platcs fastened at one end to the plate-bars and adapted to slightly overlap the opposite chains and each other, an agitator-shaft arranged transversely within the riddle-frame near the upper end thereof, and agitator-camsmounted on'said agitator-shaft at opposite sides of the riddle-frame and adapted to tapagaiust the under sides of the endless chains near their upper ends 'to loosen the thrashed grain from the trash that is b'e-v ing carried out over the upper end of the riddle, substantially as set forth. Y i

4. In a thrashing-m achine, the combination of the casing provided at its rear end with an upper straw-chute, a lower-inclined chuteboard K and a sharply-inclined cant-board X located between the straw chute and said chute-board and provided with grain-pockets a3, conveyers arranged at the lower ends of said chute and cantboards,the thrashing device's arranged within the casing, a separating-riddle arranged longitudinally over-said chuteboard, and two fans mounted within the easing and one of which directs'a blastlongitudinally over the riddle and the other of which'directs the blast longitudinally under the riddle and directly over the-boards K and X, substantially as set forth.

5. In a thrashing-machine, the combination with the casing; of the inclined grain-cam'ier,

a series of straw-carriers arranged above and a beyond the grain-carrier and delivering grain into a common grain-space, a separatihg-rid-' dle arranged withinthe casing below and beyond the grain-carrier, and slowly revolving.

grain-wheels mounted within the casing directly above the riddle within said grainspace, and also above the upper end .of the riddle, said wheels being adapted to rotate in a direction toward the grain-carrier and comprising a shaft and aserie's of blades curved in the same direction to form grain-pockets therebetween, substantially'as set forth.

6. In a thrashing-machine, the combination inrear of the cylinder of themachine5arevolvingbeater arranged over said carrier, the

'separating devices, a fan directing a blast with the casing; of the straw-carrier arranged ing in close proximity to the periphery of said beater, and wind-legs connecting the oppoof said fan, substantially as set forth.

y In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two'witnesses.

' WILLIAM J. RANDOLPH.

\Vitnesses: v V

'JAMEs D. WHERLAND, R. B, ALCOGK.

3 site ends of said suction-box with the inlets

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