US1629294A - O o goo - Google Patents

Description

May 11, 1921. 1,629,294

N. J. NOBLE THRASHING MACHINE Filed Oct.4, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 jzuenlorr 1,629 94 M y 17, 1927' N. J.- NOBLE ,2

THRASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 was? 1, 2 M 1927' N. J. NOBLE 6 THRASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 17, 1927. 1,629,294 N. J.,NOBL.E

THRASHING MACHINE Filed not, 192:: s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 17, 1927.

"UNITED STA as PATENT OFFICE,

NEWELL J. NOBLE, OF NOBLEFORD, ALBERTA, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE DUSTLESS THRESHER PROMOTION COMPANY, LIM- ITED, A CORPORATION OF ALBERTA, CANADA.

THPJASHING MACHINE.

Application filed October 4, 1923, Serial No.

The invention relates to thrashing inachines, and particularly has to do with the grain-separating instrumcntalities incorporated. in such machines.

The purpose of the invention'is the provision of an improved grain separator which is characterized in its coitistruction, arrangement and operation by numerous hereinafter described features of novelty which are adapted to accomplish the separation in an extremely efficient manner.

The present-separator includes, as one of its most salient features, a plurality of alternately disposed grain-blowing devices and separating compartments which communicate in series. In the operation of the separator, the unthrashed grain enters the first grainblowing device and is forcibly discharged therefrom into the first separating compartment where the grain thrashed as a cnsequence of such forcible discharge flows in a rapidly moving stream to the thrashed-grain outlet and the lighter residual straw and still unthrashed grain settle from the stream of thrashed grain and are discharged into the next succeeding grain-blowing device the cycle defined by the operation of the fir t grain-blowing device and its associated separating compartment being repeated in each succeeding grain-blowing device and separating compartment until all of the tl'irashed grain is discharged from the tl'irashed-grain outlets in the separating conipartments and all of the residual straw is discharged from the last grain-blowing device.

1Vhile the foregoing statements are indicative of the nature of the invention, other purpiY-es and advantages not herein specilirally referred to will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of thrashing upon a full coi'nprehension of the novel features presented in the construction, arrangement and operation of the separator.

Inorder that the invention may be readily understood, an exemplifying embodiment of the same is set forth inthe accompanying drawings and in the following detailed description. Obviously the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other and varied structural forms without departure from the essence of the invention and without sacri- 666,549, and in Canada September 24, 1924.

lice of its material advantages; wherefore it is to be understood that the drawings and description are to be considered in an illustrative and not in an unnecessarily limiting sense.

In the drawingsv Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a thrashing machine, showing the separator of the invention as o-peratively assembled with a feeder;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assemblage;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 1-4- of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Reference being now had to the drawings, it will be observed that the separator of the invention is operatively assembled with a suitable feeder 11 on separate relatively movable portions of a wheeled frame 12. The particular feeder shown is employed in the present disclosure merely to typify a closed feeder having intake means 13 for receiving bundles of unthrashed grain and delivery means 14: for feeding the unthrashed grain into the'proper part of the separator.

The principal portions of the separator 10 are a passageway 15 through which the unthrashed grain is fed from the feeder into the separator; a plurality of alternately dirposed grain-blowing devices 1.6 and separating compartments 17; a passageway 18 leading from the passageway 15 to the first one of. the grain-blowing devices; a heater cylinder 19 rotatably mounted in'an enlarged portion 20 of the passageway 18 and intended for optional use in conjunction withthe grain-blowing devices and separating compartment when the unthrashed grain is in a condition which necessitates such auxiliary treatment; a passage way 21 leading from the last one of the grain-blowing devices and constituting a, blower stack for the discharge of the residual straw; evacuation chambers 22 in communication with the separating compartments for collecting the thrashed grain discharged thereinto from the same; a shaking screen 23 for cleaning the thrashed grain received from the evacuation chambers; and an elevator 24 for r ceiving the thrashed grain discharged from the shaking screen.

The passageway is an air-tight collapsible conduit which is formed of a plurality of spaced frames on which is supported an imperforate tube of flexible sheet material 26. This construction produces a yieldable coupling between the separator and the feeder which will conform to variations in the relative positions between the same and consequently need not be dismantled when the thrashing machine is in transit. v

The grain-blowing devices 16 are a plurality of circular fan compartments 27 in which are housed rotary fans 28. The fan compartmentspreferably four in number-are arranged in a row, and the fans 28 substantially till the compartments and are mounted in atrial alignment on a common operating shaft29' which extends through apertures in the side walls of the fan compartments and is suitably journaledin bearing brackets 30 carried at the sides of the wheeled frame 12. At corresponding points the fan compartments are provided with axial side inlets 31 which lead to the central. portions of th-e fans and with peripheral face outlets 32 whichlead tangentially from the extremities of the fan blades.

The separating compartments 17 are narrow elongated structureswhich are .placed with their longitudinal axes at an inclination to the horizontal. The separating compartments preferably three in number are arranged in a row, and their lower ends partially encompass and extend between the fan compartments 16. -The peripheral out-- lets 32 of the fan compartments open into the separating compartments adjacent the upper walls 33 of the same, whereby to dis charge the material fed into the fan compartments along the under surfaces of the upper walls. The upper walls are curved, and tern'iinate at their elevated ends in more abruptly curved end walls 3 1 which are provided with air inlets 35 in their upper p or tions and thrashed-grain outlets 36 in their lower portions. The end walls 3 1, are also provided with straw chutes 37 which are arrangedin vertical planes at corresponding sides of the inlets 35 and outlets 36. v

The separating compartments contain straw grates 38, straw batfles 39 and air exhausting devices 10. The straw grates 38 are thin blades which extend vertically in front of the air inlets 35 from the upper walls 33 and serve to deflect downwardly the bulk of the residual straw and yet unthrashed grain impelled thereagainst without obstructingthe free passage thereloetween of the thrashed grain and fine light particles which are subsequently acted upon behind thegrates by the incoming currents of air at the inlets 35; the baffles 39 are disposed below the grates 38 to shield the air inlets 35, and are provided with front edges which recede toward the straw chutes in order to deflect laterally into the chutes straw impinging on the front edges; and the air ex hausting devices 40 are positioned across the centers of the separating compartments and consist of a common stationary tube which is apertured on the side toward the end walls 3 1, and an encompassing rotary sleeve which apertured on all sides and provided with radiating teeth to intercept to a certain extent the residual straw and yet unthrashed grain flowing into the separating compartments. The common stationary tube of the air exhausting devices 410 is con nectcd at its ends with three air conduits 11. One of the air conduits 41 leads from the stationary tube to the axial inlet 31 of the first fan compartment, another of the conduits leads from the other end of the tionary tube to the feeder 11 and the other of the conduits communicates with an intermediate portion of the last mentioned con duit and leads to an axial inlet of the last fan compartment. The three air conduits 11 draw air from the separating compartments and deliver it, in any proportion de sired, to either or all of the points at which they terminate. In order to control the delivery, the air conduits 41 are provided with suitable dampers with which the conduits may be partially or wholly closed.

The arrangement described for connecting the grain-blowing devices 16 and separating compartments 17 in series produces a tortuous thrashing passage which extends tangentially from the first fan compartment to the first separating compartment, then laterally from the first separating compartment to the axial side inlet of the second fan compartn'ient, thenv tangentially a ain from the second fan compartment to the second separating compartment and so on through all of the fan and separating compartments in alternating order.

The grain-blowing devices are preferably of different sizes, anging from the first de vice which is the smallest to the last device which is the'largest, whereby to obtain from each succeeding device an increased delivering capacity.

The passageway 18 is an air-tight rigid conduit which communicates at its upper end with the passageway 15 and at its lower end with the axial side inlet 31 of the first fan compartment. The enlarged portion 20 of the passageway is cylindrically shaped on a horizontal t 'ansverse axis to accommodate therein the beater cylinder 19, which cylinder mounted on an operating shaft 12 and may or may not be operated in conjunction with the other portions of the separator. The particular construction embraced in the beater cylinder 19 is not essenill) tial to the present invention since any one of several. types may be used with measurably good-results.

The passageway 21 leads tangentially from the peripheral outlet 32 to the last fan compartment, and is a long conduit which terminates, at an elevated point well away from the separator, in a blower stack for the discl'iarge of the residual straw.

The evacuation chambers 22 extend across the ends of the separating compartments and are preferably divided into upper and lower sections. The upper sections are air vestibules and communicate with the interiors of the compartments through the air inlets 85 in the end walls 3 1 of the same; and the lower sections are grain receivers and communicate with the interiors of the compart ments through the thrashed grain outlets 36. Corresponding walls of the chambers are provided with adjustable air inlets 41-3 for fit wedged in the meshes ofthe same.

the entrance of the air which is introduced from the upper sections of the chambers into the separating compartments through the air inlets 35, and the bottoms of the chambers drain downwardly to constricted thrashed-grain chutes 44 below which the shaking screen 23 .is arranged. The chutes i i are advantageously provided with valves in the form of hinged doors for preventing the entrance of air through the chutes.

The shaking screen 23 consists of an upper coarse sieve 45 and a lower fine sieve 16. The sieves are formed in stepped sections and are mounted in a frame 47 which is reciprocated across a plurality of rollers 18, the rollers being arranged to rotate in contact with the under sides of the sieves where by to prevent substances from becoming The thrashed grain is first deposited on the coarse sieve and past-"es therethrough to the line sieve, leaving any large particles of residual foreign matter on the coarse sieve to be subsequently discharged from the in clined and overlapping imperforate end 49 of the same. The thrashed-grain passing to the line sieve is freed thereby of finer par ticles of residual foreign matter and is subsequently discharged a into a transverselyextending screw conveyor 50 at the end of the line sieve. The conveyor 50 then carries the then thrashed and cleaned grain to the usual elevator 24.

The separator operates as follows:

The fans of the blowing devices in the separator rotate at a speed of approximately 1500 revolutions per minute; the beater cylinder in the separator, when in use, rotates at. about the same speed in the opposite direction; and the associated feeder supplies unthrashed grainto the separator as fast as the latter can efficiently handle the same, the

speed of the feeder being automatically governed by thespeed of the fans of the blowing devices. 7

The unthrashed grain is fed into the separator through the pasageway 15 and passes downwardly through the passageway 18, to the axial side inlet 31 of the first fan compartment.

If the beater cylinder is being used because of any unusual condition of the unthrashed grain, the unthrashed grain is firstwell beaten by the cylinder and then forced downwardly thereby through the passageway 18; but if the beater cylinder is not being used, the unthrashed grain passes downwardly through the passageway 18 under gravity, or air movement from the feeder, or both.

The unthrashed grain entering the axial side inlet 31 of the first fan compartment is at once partially thrashed by the beating. action of the rapidly revolving fan blades and the reflecting action of the peripheral compartment wall.

The resulting mixture of the unthrashed grain, thrashed grain, and residual straw is then ejected tangentially from the peripheral outlet 32 of the first fan compartment into the first separating compartment, where the thrashed grain flows under centrifugal force in a rapidly moving stream along the under curved surface of the upper wall of the separating compartment to the thrashedgrain outlets 36 in the end wall, and the lighter material, consisting of the yet unthrashed grain and the residual straw, is drawn downwardly from the stream by the air current leading from the air inlets 35 to the axial side inlet 31 of the second fan compartment and to the air exhausting device 4:0, and drains back along the inclined. bottom of the separating compartment to the said inlet.

The same thrashing and separating actions are repeated in the second fan compartment and second separating con'ipartmcnt, and are again repeated in the third fan coinpartment. and third separating compartmentall of the grain being entirely thrashed and discharged from the separat' ing compartments before the residual straw enters the axial side inlet 31 of the fourth and last fan compartment and is discharged through the blower stack.

The grain discharged from the separating compartments passes through the evacuation chamber to the shaking screen, where the grain is thoroughly cleaned and fed into the elevator.

Best results in the operation of the separator are achieved when a careful regulation of the movement of air through the tortuous thrashing passage is maintained. During the thrashing operation the air inlets 35 are intended to deliver into the separating comiilll lit) lit)

partnients strong currentsot air,- which currents upon meeting with the flows of thrashed grain," residual straw and yet unthrashed grain flowing toward the end walls in the compartments serve to"blast from the flows the lighter material whereby to leave only the heavier thrashed grain for egress past the bafiies 39 and through the thrashed grain outlets 36. Becauseoi? the manner in which'the air exhausting devices 40 are positioned in the separating compartments and connected up, it will be appreciated that the air entering the first fan compartment to be used as a medium inthe thrashing operation has first been extracted from the several compartments. The thrashing operation may be further controlled by regulation of the adjustable air inlets 43.

The separator requires but a small'amount of power for its operation owing to the aligned arrangement of the fans on the common operating shaft and the absence of any such resistanceas is present where combing heaters are employed toeliec't the separation by a highly frictional action; it leaves the thrashed grain in an unusually good condition because the grain is discharged from the separating compartments as fast as it is thrashed and does not remain in the tortuous thrashing passage of the separator with the still unthrashed grain to be crackedor otherwise injured by repeated unnecessary ejectment into the succeeding separating compartments of the thrashing passage; it embodies a simple construction which is inexpensive to manufacture and is readily access ible for adjustment or repair; it is dustless in its operation, does not scatter residual straw about the machine, and is not affected by Wind; it is self-cleaning and will eject every bit of material fed thereinto; and it requires no special skill in its operation.

The grain-cleaning device embodied in the shaking screen prevents sand, pebbles.

and the like from entering the elevator, and

is self-cleaning whereby to preclude the accumulation of obstructions therein.

I claim: v

1. In a grain separator, two grain-hlowing devices, an interposed separating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first device and with the inlet of the second device, an unthrashed grain inlet in the first device, a residual straw outlet in the second device, and a' thrashechgrain outlet in thecompartment. y

2. In a grain separator, two rotary grain blowing devices having axial inlets and tangential outlets,an interposed separating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first device and with the inlet of the second device, an unthrashed-grain inlet in the firstv device, a residual straw outlet in the second device. and a thrashed-grain outlet in the compartment.

8. In a grain separator, a plurality of alternately disposed graiinblowin'g' devices and separating compartments communicating in series, an unthrashed-grain inlet in the first device, a residual straw outlet in the last device, and a thrashed-grain outlet in one of the con'ipartments. I

4. In a grain separator a plurality of alternately disposed grain-blowing devices and separating compartments communicating in series, an unthrashed-grain inlet in the first device, a. residual straw outlet in the last device, and tln'ashed-grain outlets in all of the compartments.

5. In a grain separator, a plurality of alternately disposed grain-blowing devices and separating con'ipartments c'onnnun'icating in series, evacuation chambers communicating with the separating compartments, an unthrashed-grain inlet in the first device, a residual'straw outlet in the last device and thrashed-grain outlets in the chambers.

G. In a grain separator, a plurality of rotary grain-blowing devices having axial inlets and tangential outlets,a plurality of separating compartments disposed in alternation with the devices and comn'iunicating in series with the same, an unthrashedgrain inlet in the fir'stdevice, a. residual straw outlet in the last" device, and thrz shedgrain outletsin all of the compartments.

7. In a grain separator, a. plurality of 1fEti11-bl0WinQ fans housed in compartments having axial inlets and tangential outlets, a plurality of separating compartn'ients dis posed in alternation with the tan compartments and communicating in series with the same, an unthrashed-grain inlet in the first fan compartment, a residual straw outlet in the last tan compartment, and thrashedgrain outlets in all of the separating coinpartments.

8. In a grain separator, a plurality of rotary grainfblowing fans housed in compartments having axial inlets and tangential outlets, a driving element on which the fans are mounted in axial alignment, a plurality of separating compartments disposed in alternation with the fan compartments and communicating in series with the same, an unthrashed-grain passage leading to the inlet in the first fan compartment, a residual straw passage leading from the outlet in the last fan compartment and discharging at a point spaced from p the separator, and thrashed-grain outlets in all of the separating compartments. I r V 9. In a grain separator, a plurality of rotary grain-blowing fans housed in COI11- partments having axial inlets and tangential outlets. a plurality of separating compartments disposed inaIterna'tiOn with the fan compartments and communicating in series with the same, evacuation chambers communicating with the separating compart- Ill) ments through perforations in correspondihg ends of the compartments, an unthrashed-grain passage leading to the inlet in the first fan compartment, a residual straw passage leading from the outlet in the last tan compartment, and thrashed-gram outlets in the chambers.

10. In a grain separator, a plurality of: rotary grain-blowing fans of successively increased blowing capacities housed in compartments having axial inlets and tangential outlets, a plurality of separating compartments disposed in alternation with the tan compartments and communicating in series with the same, an unthrashed-grain inlet in the first tan compartment, a residual straw outlet in the last fan compartment, and means in each of the compartments for supplying the additional air required by each succeeding fan.

ll. In a grain separator. a plurality of alternately disposed grain-blowing devices and separating compartments communicating in series; each of the devices havii'ig a greater delivering capacity than the preceding device, and each of the compartments having air inlet means to compensate for the difference in capacity between the two adjoining devices.

12. In a grain separator, a plurality of alternately disposed grain-blowing devices and separating compartments communicating in series; each oi the devices having a greater delivering capacity than the preceding device, and each of the compartments having adjustable air inlet means to compensate tor the difference in capacity between the two adjoining devices.

13. In agrain separator, tworotary grainblowing fans housed in compartments, a driving shaft on which the fans are mounted in axial alignment, means for feeding the grain to be thrashed into the path oi? movement of one of the fans, and a sepz-trating conipaiitn'ient disposed between the devices and comn'lunicating in series with the same' 14:. In a grain separator, a plurality of rotary grain-blowing fans housed in comparti'nents, a driving shaft on which the tans are mounted in axial alignment, means for -feeding the grain to be thrashed into the path of movement of one of the fans, and a plurality of separating compartments disposed in alternation with the devices and communicating in series with the same.

15. In a grain separator, two rotary grain-blowing devices having axial inlets and tangential outlets, an interposed separating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first device and with the inlet of the second device, means in the compartment for difi'using the current entering from the outlet of the first device whereby to cause the residual straw to be drawn out of the stream of the thrashed. grain, and a thrashed-grain outlet in the con'ipartment.

16. In a grain separator, two rotary grain-blowing devices having axial inlets and tangential outlets, an interposed separating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first device and with the inlet of the second device, transversely arranged deflectors and coacting air inlets in the compartment for diffusing the current entering from the outlet of the first device whereby to cause the residual straw to be drawn out of the stream of thrashed grain, and a thrashed-grain outlet in the end wall. of the con'lpartment.

17. In a grain separator, a plurality of alternately disposed grain-blowing devices and separating compartments communicating in series, transversely arranged deflectors and coacting air inlets in each compartment for diffusing the current entering from the outlet of the preceding device whereby to cause the residual straw to be drawn out of the stream of thrashed grain, and a thrashed-grain outlet in the end wall ot each compartment.

18. In a grain separator, two grain blowing devices. and an interposed separating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first device and with the inlet of the second device; said compartment being characterized interiorly with a curved wall along which the outlet of the first device discharges and a perforated end wall towards which the outlet discharges.

19. In a grain separator, two grain-blowing devices, and an interposed separating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first device and with the inlet of the second device; said compartment being char acterized interiorly with a curved wall along which the outlet of the first device discharges, an inclined bottom draining to the inlet of the second device, and a perforated end wall towards which the outlet dis charges.

20. In a grain separator, two grain-blow ing devices, an interposed separating compartment communicating with the outlet of the first device and with the inlet of the second device, an unthrashed grain and air inlet in the first device, a residual straw and air outlet in the second device, air inlets in the separating compartment, thrashed-grain outlets in the separating compartment, and means for extracting air from the separating compartment and returning it thereto through the said unthrashed grain and air inlet in the first device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

NEWELL J. NOBLE.

Ill)

Images