US1484025A - Grading machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19 924.

M. HOFER GRADING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l M. HOFER GRADING MACHINE" Feb. 19 1924.

Filed Nov. 1:5. 1922 2 SheetsShei 2 Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

MICHAEL HOFER, or DEAN LAKE, MINNESOTA.

GRADING MACHINE.

Application filed November 13, 1922. Serial 'No. 600,605.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that MICHAEL Hornn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dean Lake, in the county of Crow Wing and State r of Minnesota, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grading Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in grading machines and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with grain and itis an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character comprising a rotary grading or tion to provide a novel and improved device of this general character embodying a grading element together with outlets to receive the graded or separated material discharged from the element, said outlets be ing adjustable one with respect tothe other and with respect to the grading element to compensate for the adjustment of the grading element. v

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character comprising'a rotary grading element of a cylindrical type together with a hopper to initially receive material to be graded and wherein a conveyor is provided to carry the material to be graded from the hopper within the receiving end portion of the grading element.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and an rangement of the several parts of my improved grading machine whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. 1

The novel features of hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will now proceed to my invention will describe the same with reference to the a'ccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sec:-

tional ,view with parts in elevation of a grading machine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the

shaft for adjusting the outlets being slightly distorted for clarity in disclosure and a means to eifect'an adjustment of the grad ing. element being shown applied;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig- J c Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the structure shown in Figure3; Figure 5 is'an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating one of the holding or looking members in an inoperative position to permit an adjustment of the grading element; I I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the wrench or tool engageable with the screening element to effect an adjust- 1,

ment thereofyand Y 1 Figure? is a fragmentary View intop plan of the portion of the structure herein comprised with which is engaged the operating member or lever for the wrench or tool fragmentarily illustratedin Figure 6.

As disclosedin the accompanying .drawings, H denotes a'housingopen at its top and having its bottom wall 1 disposed transversely on a downward incline, the portion a of the front wall 2 of the housing H immediately adjacent the lower portion of the body 1 of the housing is cut out to provide an elongated opening t extending substantially theentire length of the housing H, M I

The portion of the wall 2 immediately above the opening 4; is strengthened or reinforced by the bar 5 extending lengthwise of the housing H and suitably securedthereto.

The upper or'open end of the housing H is reinforced by the frame '6 arranged eXtev riorly of the housing H and suitably secured; thereto. Each end portion of the frame-F isoutwardly offset to provide a bearing 7.

adjacent end wall 9 of the housing Hjsup ports a cylindrical casing 10 concentric to the shaft-8. This casing lOis non-rotatable and has its outer end 11 closed while the opposite end portion is open and extend a material distance inwardly of the housing H. Theportion of the shaft 8 within the casing 10 carries a spiral blade 12 which'upon requisite rotation of the shaft 8 serves to carry the material delivered-"within the casing 10 inwardly of the housing H. y p

' Supported by the casing 10 exteriorly of the hous-ingI-I is an upstanding hopper 1 4 in communication from above with the casing lOAQThe grainor the like to be graded is initially delivered within the hopper 14.

Fixed to the shaft 8 at predetermined points spaced longitudinally thereof are the hubs l5 andl6. The hub'l5 is positioned inwardly of the inner or open end of the casing 10 but in relatively close proximity thereto and has extending outwardly therefrom the arms 17, said arms being inclined toward the adjacent end 9 of the housing H so that the casing 10 willoffer no hindrance or obstruction to the rotation of the shaft 8 by contact with the armslT. The extremities of the ar'ms 17 have secured thereto an annular member 18 concentric to the casing l0 and the shaft 8 and'which rotates with the shaft 8. The outer face of the member 18 has secured theretothe annular plate 19,

the casing 10 being disposed snugl through the'central opening of said plate'19 whereby said plate serves as a guard" to prevent "passage of'any matter through the central opening of themember18; v

The hub 16 has radiating therefrom the 'arms'20 to the'outer extremities of which is secured a second annular member 21. 1nterposed between the members 18 and 21 are the looking or holding members M; the extremities of which being provided with'th'e trunnions' 22 which "freely disposed through themembers 18 and'2land threaded upon the trunnions 22 and-coacting with the" members '18 and21 are the clamping nuts 23 whereby the members M are held against rotation about their axes, the loosen- -'ing or the nuts 23, however, permitting the coiled strand-of material whereby theelement E may be longitudinally expandedor contracted as the occasions of'practi'c-emay prefer. @n'e en'd po rt'ion'of the strand comprised in the peripheral Wall of the element ne ates E is fixed to the member 18 while the opposite end convolution of said strand is threaded through and held bythe outer extremities 'of the'arms 24 radiating from a hub 25 freely mounted on the shaft 8. The convolutions comprised in the peripheral wall of the element E at 'the'receiving end thereof and for substantially one-third of the length of the element are closely related while the convolutions in the intermediate third of the element are spaced apart less closely while the remaining convolutions at the de livery end of the element are spaced further apart.

My machine as herein disclosed is particularly intended for use in connection with the grading of grain and as the grain comes from the thresher it is delivered within the hopper 1e and from there discharged in the casing 10. As the shaft 8 rotates the spiral 12 will convey the grain into the receiving end portion of the element E. The convolutions of the element E at the receiving end portion permits the foul seed to be readily separated while the spacing of the intermediate convolutions of the element E permits a separation of the quaclred and very small grain. The spacing of the convolution of the element E at the delivery end thereof effect a separation of the medium grain while the full grown grain passes out of the delivery end of the element E.

Any means may be employed for rotating the shaft 8 but as herein disclosed I fix to the shaft 8, exteriorly of the housing H and remote from the hopper H, the pulley P adapted to be coupled in a well known manner to asuitable source of power.

'By expanding on contracting the element E longitudianlly the various spacing of the convolutions may be increased or decreased as required and the inherent reripheral wall of the element E serves to effect automatically a contraction of the element but'in order to expand such element necessary pull must be imposed thereon.

As herein disclosed the expansion of the element E is effected through the instrumentality of the wrench or tool W and the lever L. The wrench W comprises an elongated member provided witha forked head 26, the arms. of which being provided with jaws 27. The wrench or'tool W is disposed inwardly through the pulley? and member'2l with the jaws 27 engaged with the head 25. When the wrench or tool W is thus applied the end portion remote from the jaws 27 extends outwardly beyondthe pulle P and said end portion of the wrench or tool W is provided with a series of lon gitudinally spaced openings 28 providing means whereby the wrench or tool may have adjustable connection with the lever .L through the instrumentality of the outstand- 4 siliency of the strand comprised in the peing pin 29 carried by said lever. An end portion of the lever L is bifurcated as at 30 to straddle from above a pin 31 connecting the outstanding ears 32 carried by the bearing 7 adjacent to the pulley P. By imposing pull upon the upper portion of the lever L the element E may be readily expanded to comply with the requirements of practice and after the desired adjustment of the element E has been effected the notches b which are adapted to receive the convolutions of the peripheral wall of the element E whereby the element E is effectively maintained in desired adjustment with the convolutions of the element E maintained in fixed relative spaced relation. The notches, b of one series of a member a are staggered with relation to the notches of the remaining series whereby upon requisite rotation of a member M the convolutions of the peripheralwall of the element E in their different adjustments may be received within a series of notches 6.

Before the element E is expanded or contracted each of the members a is adjusted to free the convolutions of the element E therefrom with a fiat face of such member opposed to the element E. With such adjustment of each of the -members M the convolutions of the element E have free and unobstructed longitudinal movement.

Disposed lengthwise through the housing H at a point below but in relatively close proximity to the element E is a shaft 33 rotatably supported by the end walls of the housing H, one end portion of said shaft being extended and provided with a hand wheel 34 or the like whereby requisite rotation may be imparted to the shaft .33. The shaft 33 is stepped as herein disclosed, in a manner to provide three threaded portions as, y and e, the threads of each of said portions being of different pitches. Each of the portions 012, y and z of the shaft 33 is threaded through a vertically disposed partition 35 which is of such configuration to snugly bridge the lower forward portion of the housing between the bottom wall 1-, the front wall 2 and the element E.- The partitions 35 are adapted to be so spaced apart to provide compartments positioned below the element E with said compartments underlying the sections of the elementas afforded by the different spacings of the conv volutions of the element By this arrangement it will be readilyunderstoodv that the foul seed which is first separated from the grain will be received within the first compartment, the quack and small grain will be received in the intermediate com partment and the medium grain will be received within the inner compartment.

As the element E is expanded or contracted as required the, shaft 33 is rotated to effect a corresponding adjustment of the partitions 35 and on account of the different spacings of the convolutions of the element E the partitions 35 of necessity must be moved different distancesand which action is compensated for by having the portions w, y and a of the shaft 33 of different pitches with the greater pitch at the inner portion z.

The outer partition 35 at itslower marginal portion is provided with an outstanding table or shelf 36 which is substantially H and thereby serves as the bottom of the compartment which receives the foul, seed. This table or shelf 36 freely extends beneath the inwardly and downwardly inclined plate 37 carried by the adjacent end wall 9 of the housing H to facilitate the discharge of the foul seed through the outlet spout 38. The outlet spout 38 is carried by an upstanding plate 39 positioned at the lower and forward end portion of the table or shelf 36, said spout 38 extending outwardly through the elongated opening 4 hereinbefore referred to.

The outer partition 35 at its lower portion is provided with an oppositely directed table or shelf 40 which underlies a table or shelf 41 carried by the intermediate partition 35, the lower portion of said table or shelf 41 being disposed upwardly and forwarding as at 42 to guide vor deflect the quack and very small grain received within the intermediate compartment toward the outlet spout 43. The spout 43 also extends outwardly through the opening 4 and is carried by an upstanding plate 44 arranged at the lower or forward end portion of the table 40. t s

The intermediate partition 35 is provided with a second table or shelf 45 which is disposed inwardly of the inner compart: ment and underlies a table or shelf 46 carried by the inner partition 35, the lower forward vend portion of the table 45 being alsodisclosed as on an upward incline as at 4'2. This inclined portion 47 serves to de flect or guide the medium grain received within the inner compartment toward the outlet spout 48. This spout 48 extends through the opening 4 and is carried by an platform 45.

The intermediate partition its forward end is also provided with a vertically Y 85 in contact with the bottom 1 of the housing disposed plate50 which overlies the $3 cent portion of the'plate 44 so that when the partitions 35 are moved'one relative to the other there will be no open spaces between the plate 44 and said intermediate partitiOh 35. j f

The inner partition is provided ,at its lower portionwith a chute 51 which isdisposed beyond, but immediately adjacent to the inner or discharge end of the element E to .receive the full grown grain delivered from the inner or .open end of the element This chute 51 extends through the opening {to effect a desired discharge of the'full grown grain.

C denotes a box cover hingedly connected as at 52 with the upper portion of the housing H or more particularly to the frame 6. This cover C when in closedposition is disposed'over the element E whereby the element E is entirely enclosed and the indiscriminate scattering of dust and the like prevented. g It is to be understood that if preferred the element E may be disposed on a slight taper from the receiving end toward the delivery end so that the'grain therein may be subjected to -a rolling action to facilitate the desired separation.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a'grading machine constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted foruse by'reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and oper ated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of somev change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof. and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

1 claim:

1. A grading machine comprising in combination a separating element, partitions positioned below said element to provide chambers to receive material separated by the element, and means common to all .of the partitions for relatively adjusting the partitions. V

2. A grading machine comprising in combination a separating element, partitions p0 sitioned below said element to. provide chambers to receive material separated by the element, means common to all of the partitions for relatively adjustingthe. partitions, and a discharge spout carried by each of the partitions and movable there with. v

3. A grading machine comprising incombination a separating element, partitiOnsp'O- sitioned below said element to. provide chambers to receive material separated by the element, means common to all of the partitions for relatively adjusting-the partition's,-and' a chute carried b y -oneof said partitions-beyond an-end ofthe element, and upon which said element discharges.

4. A'grading machine-comprisingin combination "a separatin element, partitions positioned below 'said'elein'ent to provide chambers: to. receive material-separated by theelem-ent, and means for effecting a unitary relative adjustment ofthe partitions.

' 5. A grading mac'hine comprising incoinbination a separating element, partitions positioned below said element to provide chambers to, receive material separated, by the element, and'means for effecting *a unitary relativeadjustment of the partitions, said means ,during" an adjustment of the partitionsmoving the partitions different distances.

:6. ,Agra-ding machine comprising a shaft, means for rotatingtheisame, a pair of'rnembers surrounding the shaftand spacedapart longitudinally thereof,means for connecting. each of said members to theshaft for rotation therewith, a member slidably' mounted upon the'shaftbetweenthe two-first named members, a coiled member surrounding the shaft and terminally connected to one of the first named members. and tothe sliding member, movement ofthelast named member lengt-hwise of "the shaft increasing or decreasing the spaces between the convolutions of the coiled member, elongated members interposed between and rotatablysupported by the first named members. said elongated members being provided with out standing notched flanges, said elongated members when in one position being free at the coiled member,--the convolutionsof the coiled "member being engaged within the notches of theflanges of the elongated memberszwhen said elongatedmembers are in a second position whereby the coiled member is locked against expansion' or contraction. 7. 7A grading :machine comprising a shaft, means for "rotating the same, a pair of members surrounding the shaft and spaced apart longitudinally thereof, means for connectingeachfof said members to the-shaft for rotation'ztherewi th, a memberslidably, mounted upon the shaftf between the two first'named members, a coiled member surrounding the shaft and terminally connected to one of the first named members and. to the sliding'member, movement of the last namedgmember lengthwise of the shaft increasing or "decreasing the-spaces between the convolutions of the coiled member, elongated members interposed between a and rotatably supported bythe first named members; each of" said elongated membersbeing provided with a plurality of circumferentially spacedand longitudinally disposed outstanding notched flangeaj said elongated members when in one position being free of the coiled member, the convolutions of the coiled member being engaged within the notches of the flanges of the elongated members when said elongated members are in a second position whereby the coiled member is locked against expansion or contraction.

8. A grading machine comprising a shaft means for rotating the same, a pair of members surrounding the shaft and spaced apart longitudinally thereof, means for connecting each of said members to the shaft for rotation therewith, a member slidably mounted upon the shaft between the two first named members, a coiled member surrounde ing the shaft and terminally-connected to one of the first named members and to the sliding member movement of the last named member lengthwise of the shaft increasing or decreasing the spaces between the convolutions of the coiled member, elongated members interposed between and rotatably supported by the first namedmembers, each of said elongated members being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and longitudinally disposed outstanding notched flanges, said elongated members when in one position being free of the coiled member, the convolutions of the coiled member being engaged within the notches of the flanges of the elongated members when said elongatedmembers are in a second position whereby the coiled member is locked against expansion or contraction, the notches of the ing the shaft and terminally connected to one of the first named members and to the sliding member, movement of the last named member lengthwise of the shaft increasing or decreasing the spaces between the convolu tions of the coiled member, elongated members interposed between and rotatably supported by the first named members, each of said elongated members being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and longitudinally disposed outstanding notched flanges, said elongated members when in one position being free of the coiled member, the

convolutions of the coiled member being engaged within the notches of the flanges of the elongated members when said elongated members are in a second position whereby the coiled member is locked against expansion or contraction, and means for locking the elonv gated members against rotation.

In testimony whereof Ihereunto aflix my signature. v

MICHAEL HOFER.

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