368 IMPROVED THRASHING MACHINE. 



the lower dressing fan, from which it is carried, either directly or through 

 the hummeller, by an elevator to the third or upper fan, and passes off 

 fit for market. 



The machine is well got up and well finished, and did its work 

 admirably, and the Committee have every confidence in recommending 

 it to the special notice of the Directors. 



The Committee suggest that a drawing of the mill, with a short 

 description, should be published in the Society's " Transactions." 



We are, Sir, 



Your obedient servants, 

 (Signed) David -Henderson. 



John Gorrie. 

 James Drummond. 

 Alexr. Slight. 

 John Hall Maxwell, Esq., C.B. 



A premium of £10 was awarded by the Directors, and under 

 their instructions Mr. Slight has since prepared the following 

 explanatory statements and relative illustrations : — 



IMPROVEMENTS ON THE THRASHING MACHINE BY MR. PETER 

 M'LELLAN, ABERNETHY, PERTHSHIRE. 



The improvements introduced by Mr. Peter M'Lellan on the 

 fixed thrashing machine consist in the application of both a 

 rubbing and a beating drum, either of which may be used as 

 required; a new construction of shaker; and an improved 

 arrangement of fanners and hummeller. 



The general arrangement of the machine is shown in section 

 in fig. 1, in which (a) represents the beating drum, fitted with 

 feeding rollers, table, and cover in the usual way. It is of the 

 ordinary construction — 32 inches diameter, and 4 feet 6 inches 

 wide, fitted with four serrated beaters and fluted cover. Like 

 the common beating drum it strikes upward, and delivers the 

 straw and grain to a revolving shaker. When it is in action the 

 other drum is stationary, the belt which drives it being removed. 

 The rubbing drum (b) is similar to the ordinary drum of the 

 English thrashing machines. It is 22 inches in diameter, and 

 4 feet 6 inches wide, fitted with eight beaters or rubbers ; its 

 motion is contrary to that of the other drum, so as to deliver the 

 straw to the revolving shaker at the same point as the other. It 

 is fitted with a concave (c) formed of iron rods and bars, as used 

 in the English machine, and is fed from above by means of a 

 hopper and feeding table (d). When this drum is used the other 

 is thrown out of gear, and a loose board (e) is temporarily inserted 

 between the two drums to conduct the straw to the shaker and 

 prevent any grain being lodged about the beating drum. The 

 revolving shaker (f) is of the ordinary construction — 6 feet 

 diameter, consisting of six rakes with iron teeth, and having 

 underneath a concave of iron rods. The improved shaker is 

 placed immediately at the end of this concave. It consists of five 



