US639711A

US639711A - Straw-stacker.

Info

Publication number: US639711A
Application number: US72347199A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Chial
Original assignee: N E ANDERSON
Current assignee: N E ANDERSON
Priority date: 1899-07-11
Filing date: 1899-07-11
Publication date: 1899-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1916-12-26

Description

'Paten ted m. 26, I899. J. CHIAL.

STRAW STACKER.

(Application filed. July 11, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

15;; ig $flor9z ys,

J. CHIA L.

STRAW STACKER.

(Application'filed July 11, 1899.)

Patented Dec. 26,

MM Q UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE.

JOHN CHIAL, OF LAKE PARK, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO N. E. ANDERSON, OF SAME PLACE.

STRAW-STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,71 1, dated December 26, 1899. Application filed July 11, 1899. Serial No. 723,471. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN CHIAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Park, in the county of Becker and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Straw- Stacker, of which the following is aspecificak tion.

- This invention relates to improvements in straw stackers for grain separators and threshing-machines; and the primary object is to provide a pneumatic mechanism adapt mechanical stacker for the purpose of con veying the straw to a distance without interfering with the necessary operations of the thresher or separator.

A further object is to provide an improved type of pneumatic-stacker mechanism which may be folded or adjusted with an ordinary jointed endless stacker-conveyer, and one element of the pneumatic-stacker mechanism is arranged to be folded upon the separator or thresher, so as to be out of the way and enable the endless conveyer to be used independently of the pneumatic appliances.

A further object of the invention is to ar-v range the parts for service in a manner to blow away the straw which may have a tendency to return with the endless carrier, to make the idle returning length or lead of the endless carrier travel by without striking the blast-fan casing of the pneumatic stacker, and to insure a full supplyof air to the duplicate fan for increasing the capacity thereof, while at the same time the fan-shaft is supported to run steadily and freely.

A further object of the invention is to provide a baffle-reel for retarding the energy of the blast at the deliverymouth of the stacker-tube for the purpose of regulating the distance to which the straw may be blown, such baffle-reel being easily adjusted with relation to the delivery-mouth of the stackertube.

WVith these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts,

which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed;

To enable others to understand the invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan View of'the improved pneumatic-stacker mechanism applied in operative relation to an ordinary endless strawconveyer, which is shown as connected with the delivery end of a grain-separator. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation on the plane indicated by the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the blast-fan and one member of the ordinary stacker-frame, the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the adj ustablestacker-tube forming a part of the pneumatic-stacker appliance.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

Inorder that others skilled in the art may understand the manner of using my improved pneumatic-stacker mechanism, I have illus-' trated the same in operative relation to an ordinary grain separator or thresher and a mechanically-driven endless straw stacker.

1O designates the rear end portion of aseparator or thresher provided with the usual deck 11, on which are mounted the appliances for raising or lowering the ordinary stackerframe of a mechanically-driven endless strawcarrier. The members 12 13 of this stackerframe are jointed or hinged together, as at 14, to enable them to be folded relatively one to the other in the usual well-known way, and the inner member 12 of said stackerframe is provided with hinge-castings 15, the latter being loosely fitted on a carrier-driving shaft 16. This shaft is journaled on a part of the separator and is driven therefrom in a well-known manner, the shaft being provided with driving pulleys or sprockets 17. At the outer end of the member 13, forming a part of the stacker-frame, is journaled an idle carrier-shaft 18, provided with the pulleys or sprockets 19, which serve to guide the chains or belts of an endless straw-conveyer.

The frame for the endless stacker-conveyer is supported and adjusted by the usual cable 12*, which may be connected to a Windlass 12 on the deck of the separator; but as these parts may be of the usual or any preferred construction I have not considered it necessary to more fully illustrate or describe the same.

2O designates a pair of struts or bars which are applied to opposite sides of the member 12, forming a part of the stacker-frame, said struts being secured firmly to the frame memin compact relation to the stacker-frame and its shaft may be supported by the struts or bars 20. The endless straw carrier or conveyer 23 consists of the usual belts or chains connected by the series of cross-slats 24, said endless carrier being operatively fitted to the

shafts

16, 18, and 21 for propulsion by the shaft 16, the idle shaft 21 serving to direct the slats on the returning length or lead of the endless conveyer from striking against the fan-casing 25. This fan-casing is arranged between the fixed strut-s or bars 20 and also between the idle shaft 21 and the stackerframe, said fan-casing being securedin place in any suitable way. The fan-casing is divided in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the stacker-frame, so as to form a transverse opening 26, (clearly indicated by Fig. 3,) which opening provides for the free ingress of air to the duplicate blast-fans at the middle of said fan-casing. The ends of the fan-casing have theinlet-ports 2G, and in the slot 26 of said casing is arranged a bearing-bar 27, the latter being fastened to the stacker-frame to lie parallel to the struts or bars 20. A fanshaft 28 extends centrally through the divided casing 25 and transversely across the stacker-frame, said fan-shaft beingjournaled in suitable bearings 20, which are secured in alined positions on the bars 20 27, thus supporting the fan-shaft at its middle portion, as well as at its end portions, for the purpose of making the shaft run steadily in its bearings. The blast-fans 30 31 may be of any suitable construction and are secured to the shaft 28, so as to lie within the members of the divided fan-casing. It is to be observed that the fancasing and the fans therein extend the full width of the stacker-frame and air-inlets are provided ateach end of the divided fan-casing directly by a part of an ordinary stackerframe. One end of the fan-shaft is extended beyond a bearing 29 on an outer strut for the reception of a pulley 32, the latter adapted to be propelled by a belt from the cylindershaft or other part of the separator or thresher.

33 designates the casin g for the wind-trunk 34., that leads from the casing 25 of the blastfan. The members 12 13 of the stacker-frame are provided with the bottom boards 35, and this wind-trunk casing 33 is secured to the stacker-frame and its bottom boards, so that the latter will close the upper side of the windtrunk and form a part thereof. The lower end of the wind-trunk is joined in a suitable way to the blast-fan casing, said Wind-trunk being of a length to extend to the outer end of the member 13, forming a part of the stacker-frame. It will thus be observed that the blast of air from the duplicate fan is conveyed by the wind-trunk along the bottom of the stacker-frame and delivered at the point where the endless conveyer 23 travels around the stacker-frame on its return to the thresher or separator. This is one of the important features of this invention, because the blast from the wind-trunk is very strong at this point, so that the straw which would have a tendency to return with the carrier and clog up the space below the stacker-frame is thoroughly blown away from the carrier and its slats, whereby the under side of the stackerframe is kept in a condition free from accumulation of straw. When the improved stacker mechanism is employed in connection with a jointed stacker-frame, it is found desirable to make the wind-trunk 3-1 foldable with the sectional jointed frame, and to this end the windtrunk 34 has its casing divided, as at 36, on a plane coincident with the joint 14: between the members of the stacker-frame. The joint between the meeting edges of the divided wind-trunk may be of any suitable character; but as the members 12 13 of the stacker-frame normally occupy an abutting relation at the joint 14: when the stacker frame is unfolded for use it will be seen that the members of the divided wind-trunk may occupy a like relation one to the other when the stacker mechanism is in service, thus minimizing the leakage of air through the divided wind-trunk.

One of the important elements of the improved pneumatic -stacker mechanism is a stacker-tube 37, which is fastened to embrace the outer end of the ordinary straw-conveyer and to lie in alinementwith the wind-trunk of the blast-fan, whereby this stacker-tube is adapted to receive the straw from the endless carrier and the blast from the wind-trunk of the blast-fan, thus enabling the stacker-tube to carry the straw away from the separator for any desired distance under the energy of the blast from the duplex fan. This stackertube is preferably, although not essentially, of metallic construction, said tube being tapered and straight throughout its length to carry away the straw with maximum efficiency by reason of the absence of angles or corners in the blast-passage of said tube. The stacker-tube may be of any desirable length; but I prefer to make the tube with a flat bottom, converging sides, and a rounded or curved top. By inclining the sides of the stacker-tube so as to converge toward the outer end thereof the inner end of the stackertube is formed with a wide receiving-mouth, the width of which is equal to the width of the stacker-frame, while the depth of the receiving-mouth exceeds the depth of the stacker-frame. The outer end of the stackertube is curved, as at 38, to enable the gatevalves, presently described, to occupya compact relation thereto.

39 40 designate pairs of hinge-arms, which are secured firmly to the outer end of the stacker frame and the inner end of the stacker-tube, respectively, and the pair of arms on each side of the stacker tube and frame are inclined so as to overlap one another for the purpose of pivotally connecting the arms by the bolts or pins 41. The stackertube is thus hingedly connected to the stackerframe in a manner for said tube to unfold in a position to assume an alined relation to the stacker-frame and the wind-trunk, whereby the wide broad mouth at the inner end of the stacker-tube may receive the straw from the endless conveyer and the blast from the windtrunk, the inner end of the stacker-tube fitting closely around the sides of the stackerframe and the casing 33 of the wind-trunk, so as to reduce the leakage of air. The stacker-tube, which is hinged to the stackerframe, is adapted to be raised on the pivots 41 by a hoisting-cable 42, which is coiled on a Windlass 43, the latter being journaled in suitable supports on the deck of the threshing-machine.

44 45 designate the gate-valves, which are curved to conform to the delivery-mouth 38 of the stacker-tube, each valve being hinged thereto, as at 46. The valves are adapted to be forced to their open positions by the blast and straw passing through the stacker-tube; but under some conditions it is desirable to control the gates independently and to close or partly close one or the other of the gates for the purpose of directing the straw in one direction laterally of the stacker-tube, so as to deliver more straw to one side of the stack than to the other. To this end the operatingcables 47 are employed, saidcables having their outer ends fastened individually to the gates at the free ends'thereof. The cables pass through a common guide 48, which is fastened to the wind-tube at the middle thereof, and from thence each cable is led through anotherguide 49,fastened near one edge of the stacker-tube, the outer ends of the cables being crossed, as shown. Said cables extend to the deck of the threshing-machine, or they may extend only to the stacker-frame, the in- 'conveyer.

ner ends of the cables being fastened to asuitable cleat or otherwise confined in place.

From the foregoing description, taken .in connection with the drawings, it will be observed that I have provided a blast-fan and a wind-trunk for use in connection with an ordinary jointed and shiftable stacker-frame which carries an endless stacker-conveyer, said blast-fan being carried by one member of the stacker-frame. The wind-trunk is divided in a plane coincident with the joint of the stacker-frame, so as to be foldable with the latter, and this wind-trunk is arranged to deliver the air-blast at the delivery end of the endless stacker-conveyer, whereby the blast carries away the straw which may have a tendency to return with the under lead or length of the endless conveyer. In connection with the mechanically-operated endless stacker and with the blast devices I have associated a pneumatic stacker-tube, which may be adjusted to prolong the length of the stacker mechanism for the purpose of conveying the straw bythe energy of the air-blast after the straw has been discharged from the endless To adjust the pneumatic stackertube into cooperative relation with the endless conveyer, it is necessary to arrange the stacker-tube substantially in alinement with the stacker-frame and the endless conveyer in order that the air-blast and the straw may enter the stacker-tube at a common point; but, as has been explained, the stacker-tube may be raised so as to be out of alinement with the endless conveyer, so that the straw may be discharged upon the pile directly from the endless stacker.

50 designates a baffle-reel, consisting of a series of blades arranged radially with respect to a common shaft 51, to which said blades are secured in a suitable way. This reel-shaft is journaled in bearings on the parallel arms- 52, which are secured to a horizontal rockshaft 53, the latter being journaled in bearings 54 on the stacker-tube. The ends of the rock-shaft are prolonged beyond the sides of the stacker-tube,so that the arms 52 may work or play freely without striking the stackertube when raising or lowering the baffle-reel. The arms 52 extend forward from the rockshaft for suitable distances to support the baffle-reel beyond the delivery-mouth of the stacker-tube, said baffle-reel being supported by the arms in a position at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the stacker mechanism. The rock-shaft 53 has a crank-arm 55, to the extremity of which is fastened an adjusting-cable 56, the latter being confined on or clamped to a device on the deck of the threshing-machine or on the stacker-frame. The rock-shaft may turn in its bearings under the weight of the reel to allow the arms to descend for the purpose of inter-posing the reel in the path of the blast and the straw issuing from the stacker-tube, whereby the reel will be rotated under the energy of the dent that by lowering the reel sufficiently to interrupt the blast and cause the straw to impinge forcibly against the reel the blast can not throw the straw for any considerable dis tance beyond undesirable limits; but'when the reel is interposed only partly in the path of the blast the latter will carry the straw farther from the stacker-tube,because the-energy of the blast will not be entirely broken up by impact against the reel. The reel is adapted to be rotated by the energy of the blast to make it self-clearing,thus minimizing any tendency of the reel to become clogged.

Although the pneumatic stacker mechanism is shown anddescribedin connection with a jbinted' two-part stacker-frame, it is-not desired :to limit the invention to a mechanicallyoperated stacker of this type, because the pneumatic stacker may be used in connection with a single-section jointless mechanical stacker-as, for instance,withthe section 12* and a conveyer adapted thereto.

One of the important advantages obtained by a wind-stacker used in connection with a mechanically-operated endless conveyer re sides in the fact that the pneumatic appliances are not so closely related and connected with the separator or thresher as to interfere with the operation of the elemental parts of such separator. The separator is open at its delivery end for the free escape therefrom of the chaff and straw which lodge upon the endless conveyer mechanism, the latter serving to carry the straw and chad to the outer end of the stacker-frame and to deposit the same in the path of astrong blast issuing from the wind-trunk of the blast-fan. The straw is thus delivered into the wide mouth of the stacker-tube, and the energy of the blast is utilized to convey the straw through the stacker-tube, the latter discharging the straw at the desired place of deposit remote from the separatoror thresher.

Under some conditions it is desirable to use the endless carrier mechanism independently of the pneumatic stacker devices. For attaining this end the belt which drives the fanshaft may he slipped oh the pulley 32 and the Windlass 43 may be rotated to elevate the stacker-tubeand fold the latter upon the deck of the threshing-machine. In this operation of elevating the stacker-tube the hinge-arms 39 40 coactto lift the inner end of the stackertube above the outer end of the stacker-frame, thus permitting the straw to be discharged from the endless carrier without hindrance from the pneumatic stacker appliances.

Changes may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts, while their essential features are retained and the spiritof the invention embodied. Hence it is not desired to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to Vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a straw-stacker substantially such as described, the combination with an endless mechanically-driven conveyer extending beyond the delivery end of a threshing-machine or separator, and a frame for said conveyer, of a blast-fan arranged to deliver a blast of air at the delivery-point of said endless conveyer, and a pneumatic stacker-tube supported on said conveyer-frame substantially in alinement with theconveyer and having its receiving-mouth embracingthe delivery end of said conveyer and the point of discharge of the blast-fan, substantially as'and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a straw-stacker substantially such as described, the combination with a stackerframe extending beyond the delivery end of the threshing-machine or separator and an endless conveyer thereon, of a wind-trunk supported by said conveyer-frame and extending longitudinally thereof, a blast fan adapted to deliver an air-blast to said windtrunk, and a stacker-tube supported in alinement with the wind-trunk and theendless conveyer for cooperation therewith and adapted to prolong the length of the stacker mech= anism beyond the threshing-machine, said stacker-tube receiving the contents of the endless conveyer and the blast from the windtrunk, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a straw-stacker substantially suchas described, the combination with a conveyerframe and an endless conveyer thereon, of a blast-fan supported by said frame, a windtrunk supported by and extending longitudinally of the conveyer-frame and communicating with said fan and terminating at the point of delivery of the conveyer, and a straight stacker-tube arranged in alinement with the endless conveyer and the wind-trunk to prolong the stacker mechanism beyond the threshing-machine, said stacker-tube being mounted on or carried by the stacker-frame and receiving at a common point the blast from the wind-trunk and the contents of the conveyer, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a straw-stacker substantiallysuch as described, the combination with a stackerframe and an endless conveyer supported thereby, of a blast-fan, awind-trunk communicating with said fan and supported by the stacker-frame to extend from said fan-casing and terminating at the delivery-point of the conveyer, and a tapering stacker-tube mounted on the stacker-frame substantially in alinement with the endless conveyer and the windtrunk, to receive the load of the conveyer and the blast from the wind-trunk at a common point, substantially as set forth.

5. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a stacker-frame, and a conveyer thereon, of a blast-fan, a wind-trunk, a stacker-tube turning on a horizontal'axis aEorded by a hinged connection with said stacker-frame and adj ustable thereon into alinement with said conveyer and the wind-trunk, and means for elevating the stacker-tube irrespective of any movement of the stacker-frame, substantially as described.

6. In a straw-stacker, the combination of a stacker-frame, and an endless conveyer, of a blast-fan, a wind-trunk, a stackentube, and hinge-arms attached to the stacker-frame and the stacker-tube respectively, and said arms pivoted together for elevating the stackertu'be above the plane of discharge of the conveyer, substantially as described.

7. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a jointed stacker-frame, and an endless conveyer, of a fan supported on one member of thestacker-frame, a divided wind-trunk extending from the fan-casing to the point of discharge of the conveyer, and said windtrunk foldable with the stacker-frame, and an adjustable stacker-tube carried by said stacker-frame, substantially as described.

8. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a jointed stacker-frame, and an endless conveyer, of a blast-fan supported on one member ofi said stacker-frame, a divided windtrunk extending from the fan-casing to the point of delivery of the conveyer, the division in the Wind-trunk being coincident with the joint in the stacker-frame, and an adjustable stacker-tube mounted on the stackerframe, substantially as described.

9. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a jointed stacker-frame, and an endless couveyer thereon, of struts or bars fixed to the inner member of saidstacker-frame, a blastfan having its casing supported between the struts or bars and its shaft jonrnaled in bearings thereon, a jointed wind-trunk secured to the under side of the stacker-frame to be foldable therewith, and a stacker-tube having a hinged connection with the stacker-frame and adjustable in alinement with the wind-trunk and said endless conveyer, substantially as described.

10. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a jointed stacker-frame and an endless conveyer, of a transversely-divided fan-casing supported bythe inner member of the stackerframe and with the respective members of said casing provided with air-inlets at each end thereof, a fan-shaft extending through said divided casing, fans on said shaft, a divided wind-trunk supported on the under side of the stacker-frame in communication with both members of the divided fan-casing, and a stacker-tube mounted on the stackerframe in alinement with the endless conveyer and the wind trunk, substantially as described.

11. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a jointed stacker-frame, of depending struts fast therewith, a fan-casin g supported bysaid struts on the under side of the stacker-frame, a jointed wind-trunk secured to the stackerframe to be foldable therewith and communicating with said casing, a fan-shaft jour naled in the struts and carrying the fans, an idle shaft jonrnaled on said struts below the fan'casing, an endless conveyer traversing the frame and guided by the idle shaft below the fan-casing, and a stacker-tube mounted on the stacker-frame substantially in alinement with the endless conveyer and the windtrunk, substantially as described.

12. In a straw-stacker, the combination of a pneumatic stacker-tube, the gates hinged thereto, a revoluble baffle-reel having the blades, and means for supporting said reel beyond the gates of the stacker-tube and in the path of the blast therefrom, substantially as described.

13. In a straw-stacker, the combination of a stacker-tube, the gates hinged thereto, a rock-shaft mounted on said tube and provided with an operating-arm, 55, and with the pair of supporting-arms, 52, the latter extending beyond the gates, a baffle reel revolubly mounted in the arms, 52, foradjustment with the rock-shaft and supported in advance of said gates, and means for rocking the shaft to shift the position of the baffle-reel with relation to the tube, substantially as described.

14. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a pneumatic stacker-tube, of the independently-h ung gates at the delivery-mouth thereof, and operating-cables connected individually with said gates and arranged to close the gates separately against the action of the blast thereon, substantially as described.

15. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a mechanically-driven stacker-conveyer extending beyond the delivery end of a threshing-machine or separator, of a blast-fan arranged to deliver a blast at the point of discharge of said stacker-conveyer, and a stackertube supported substantially in alinement with the stacker-conveyer and prolonging the total length of the combined elements of the stacker mechanism, said stacker-tube arranged to receive the load from the stackerconveyer and the blast from the said fan at a common point, as and for the purposes described.

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

JOHN CHIAL.

Witnesses:

JOHN BEGGIN, A. O. HOUGLUM.

IIO