US901463A - Corn-sheller. - Google Patents

Description

A. R. LUDINGTON & H. K. OLMSTED- CORN SHELLER. APPLIOATIOK FILED MAR. 23, 1908.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. R. LUDINGTON & H. K. OLMS TED.

GORN SHELLER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 23, 1908.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[7221972 fans:

Liz/y licati on.

UmTED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE ALBERT R. LUDINGTON AND HENRY K. OLMSTED, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

CORN-SHELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed March 23, 1908. Serial No. 422,808.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT R. LUDING- Ten and HENRY K. OLMSTED, citizens of the United States, and residents of Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Corn- Sheller, of which the following is a speci- The invention relates to devices employed in shelling corn.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a device which, Whether manually operated or by power, will effectively free the grains or kernels from the cob without mutilating or breaking either.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which will effectively shell corn of widely different natures and organizations, and which will completely free the grains from either a large or a small cob.

A further object is to provide a simple means of winnowing the grain. And a still further object is to subserve economy and utility in the manufacture without sacrificing either strength, utility or durability.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part specified.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts for coaction, and the scope of the application of which will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred form and assemblage of our invention: Figure 1 is an elevation, seen from the side at which the operator stands in feeding and actuating the device; Fig. 2, a top plan; Fig. 3, an end elevation; Fig. 4, a modification, a sectional detail, taken in the line w a', Fig. 1; Fig. 5, an enlarged fragmental elevation of the shelling cylinder; and Fig. 6, a sectional detail, taken in the line w--w in Fig. 1.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts tln'oughout the drawings.

In order to render clearer the general idea of the invention it may here be noted that much loss is entailed in the operation of shelling corn by reason of rigid, unyielding constructions which, while adapted to successfully shell corn the ears composing which are approximately the same in diameter, will permit a small ear to pass through without being completely stripped of its grains, and

will tear or shred a large ear and crack or break the grains or kernels. It will be appreciated that it is highly desirable to provide a simple means for holding the ears, both when in their entirety and when partly shelled, with a yielding contact against the means which separates the grains from the cob, as in this manner a marked economy is attained. Especially is it desirable that the kernels of popcorn be not broken or even their outer covering fractured, for they will then not swell and burstopen or pop when subjected to the action of heat, but will bake and be a detriment to the popped mass. The advantage of providing a device which will not fracture the kernels of any variety of corn intended for seed will be evident, as not only is each cracked grain a loss, but it results in the loss of the use of the ground in which it is planted.

The above and other advantages are at tained, and the objections recited are overcome in constructions of the nature of that hereinafter described.

Referring again to said drawings, 2 represents a casing which may be supported on a frame 3 as shown, in inclined position, or in any other suitable manner, its lower end being provided with an opening, not shown, and a spout, 3 for the escape of the cobs. e have illustrated the casing as being of sheet metal bent into substantially U-shape, whereby the shelled grains will more readily slide down the inclined plane thereof for ready escape as hereinafter described. To prevent it spreading, we fix a metallic bar 28 across the upper edges of its lower end. A shaft l provided with a sprocket pinion 5 and a crank 6 is j ournaled in the ends of the casing and carries a shelling cylinder 7 fixed thereon, which cylinder is shown as constructed of wood and provided with a. sheet metal shell 7 a but which may be constructed in any suitable and preferred manner. The cylinder is provided with spirally arranged series of teeth or pegs 8.

Fixed to the casing and projecting laterally therefrom and partly thereover is a hopper 9, the inner bottom portion 10, Fig. 2, of which is inclined toward the cylinder. A cover-section 10 is hinged as shown at same figure, by a rod 12, and is provided at its middle portion with a hook 13 which is adapted for engagement with the hooked end of a coil spring 14, the other end of which is preferably secured to the side of the casing, whereby the ears are yieldingly held between it, the shelling cylinder and the shelling blade 18 presently described. Pivoted to the rear edge of the cover section 11 to freely swing in either direction is a gate 15, Fig. 3, which readily permits the insertion of ears of corn into the casing, but which prevents shelled grains from being thrown out through the hopper. A plural.- ity of cover sections 16 extend along the lower portion of the casing and are hinged to one side thereof by spring-hinges 17 or otherwise yieldingly held, in order to provide for the yielding pressure described of the cover section 11. The adjacent edges of the cover sections 11 and 16 are adapted to fit within the contiguous edge of the casing, as shown best at Figs. 4 and 6, and all of said Sections may be raised on their hinges for ready access to the interior of the casing. That edge of the lower sections 10which is closest to the hopper, is, if constructed of metal, bent upwardly, and if of wood, concaved, (.ee 16, Fig. 2.) in order to facilitate the passage of the ears.

In order to provide an economical construction, we have, as shown in the modification at Fig. at, bent one of the upper edges of the casing at a sharp angle to project downwardly and constitute a shelling blade 18. A block of wood 29 may, if the metal of the casing is not sufliciently heavy, be placed in the angle thus formed, as a reinforcement. We prefer, however, to construct this portion of the invention as shown best at Fig. 6, in which a longitudinally arranged shelling bar 18 is fixed to the block 29, which is fixed in turn to the side of the casing. Any suitable means may, if deemed necessary, be employed to adjust the bar 18 with reference to the cylinder.

A chute 19 depends from the lower end of the casing and is open at its rear portion. It is provided also with an opening 20 along its bottom, and a second chute, 21, is fixed to the lower portion of the main chute therebeneath to catch and direct kernels into a suitable receptacle.

Journaled in bearings 22, 23 on the transverse bars of the frame 3 is a shaft 2% which carries at one end a sprocket 25 geared with the pinion 5 by a chain 26 which embraces them. At its lower end the shaft 24 carries a fan 27 which revolves within the chute 19.

Ears of corn on being fed into the casing through the hopper will be carried by the teeth 8 of the cylinder over against the shelling blade and they will be held with a yielding pressure thereagainst and against the pegs or teeth by the cover section 11. The spirally arranged teeth and the force of gravity will direct the ears downwardly of the casing, they being constantly revolved in a direction contrary to the direction of revolution of the cylinder. As they travel along in their downward path, and as a portion of the grains are stripped from the cob, the spring-actuated sectional covers 16 will still act to cause them to be held with a yielding contact against the shelling mechanism until every grain is stripped from the cob. The latter will be carried out through the opening at the lower end of'the casing, while the grains will pass downwardly to near the lower end thereof where they will be stopped by the projecting end 27 of the chute 19, whereupon they will fall onto the latter, start rearwardly down its inclined bottom, be winnowed or freed from chaff and dust by the fan, dropped through the opening 20 and thence fall upon the secondary chute 21 and into a suitable vessel positioned for their reception.

We are aware that some of the elements of our invention are old in the art, and we do not claim them specifically. We do not, however, desire to be understood as limiting our claims to any of the several elements hereinbefore recited, as numerous unessential changes and modifications may be made in the construction, arrangement, mutual relationship and disposition for coaction without departing from the general idea of our invention.

e therefore claim as new the following, namely 1. A corn sheller comprising a casing, a toothed cylinder revolubly mounted therein, a longitudinally disposed shelling bar, and a sectional spring-actuated cover adapted for movement within said casing, one edge of the cover sections being flared upwardly.

2. A corn sheller comprising a casing, a toothed cylinder revolubly mounted therein, a longitudinally disposed shelling bar also therein, a sectional cover hinged to one side of the casing, one of its portions adapted to have movement therein, a gate pivoted to the hinged edge of one of the sections of said sectional cover, a hook fixed to the free edge of said section, and a yielding spring fixed to the casing and adapted to engage said hook.

In witness whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures this sixth day of March, 1908, at Galesburg, Ill.

lVitnesses:

WM. E. DUVINE, H. M. RICHARDS.

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