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VOL. XXXV. No. 24. ) 
WHOLE No. 1 129. < 
_.JEW YORK CITY, JUNE 16, 1877. 
[Entered according to Act of ConyrpBB, la the year 1* 77, by the Kural Publishing Company, in the office of the Librarian of Congress ;it Washington.] 
(PRICE six CENTS. 
I W.50 PER YEAR.l 
industrial Implements, 
THE “VIBRATOR” PRINCIPLE. 
It would surprise many if told how the class 
known as thrcrfhormon lmvo increased of late 
years, especially as the occupation affords em¬ 
ployment only during certain seasons of the year. 
Whilo horse power was formerly the solo motor, 
engines are now coining into very general use, 
which gives the threshormau a good interest on 
his investment outside of threshing, by sawing 
wood, etc., during the off season. Some large 
firms have begun to manufacture enginosas well 
as threshers, and among these wo would instance 
Messrs. Nichols, Hjikpaud A Co,, Buttle Creek, 
Mich., whose thresher we illustrate in this issue. 
Wo give it some prominence, as it embodies a 
principle that is in direct contrast to what are 
known as endless-apron machines. 
The “ Vibrator," as this thresher is called in 
acknowledgment of the vibratory principle of Its 
construction, was first introduced about fifteen 
years ago. The old principle of shaking out the 
threshed grain from the straw by means of the 
pitchfork and rake, in the hands of our forefath¬ 
ers, is here reproduced in a now form, and the 
effective horse or steam [lower substituted in 
place of the vigorous, manual muscle of those 
days. 
In place of the well-known apron, pickers and 
raddlos, are substituted a series of simple and 
efficient “ lifting fingers," to toss up the straw 
and shake out the intermingled grain. No re¬ 
volving shafts of any kind are found inside the 
machine. 
The separating portion is made in tho form of 
a long box, “docked over ’ at tho top, open at 
the rear end, and divided horizontally iuto three 
sections. Tho upper section is stationary, and 
forms tho straw space. Below this arc two mov¬ 
able sections, or troughs, oach about six inches 
deep, fitting into each other, the upper one hav¬ 
ing a bottom formed of transverse wooden slats, 
with spaces between, to permit tho grain to fall 
into tho lower section. Just abovo this open 
slat-work are placed several sets of finger-bars, 
with long, projecting fingorH in each. These 
fingers reach from one bar to tho other, nearly , 
the entiro length of the separator. To one end 
of each finger-bar is attached an upright arm, 
the upper ends of which are connected with tho 
stationary frame of the machine by moans of 
leather straps, which regulate 
tho “ lift," or upward throw of 
tho fingers. The lower section 
has a tight floor lo hold thfi 
grain after it is separated from RB5A 
tho straw and falls through 
tho Hlatted floor. It also pro- 
jects under tho concaves and 
grates, to receive tho threshed 
grain which passes through 
them. The rear end projects /Ja %Si-——~ 
partly over the sieves, and is -- 
perforated so that tho grain 
falls through in a shower, and T SjB0/ A 
is evenly distributed upon tho / hM' 
sieve. Tho middle and lower 4— —WslBwfc.—- 
sections are Loth suspended ’r—-' — 
on swing-rods, and are mad© 
to “vibrato," or swing buck- 
ward and forward, by means 
of tho crank-shaft and con- 
Thcso “vibrating" sections 
move in opposite directions, in., ~ . 
and thus counterbalance each & 
other, so that the machine 
stands perfectly still without 
blocking or bracing, and there 
is no perceptible strain on the ~~ Jr 
frame. 
This reciprocal action of tho middle and lower 
sections is of grout importance in this kind of 
machine. 
Tho operation Is very simple. Tho machine 
being in motion, the two sections are vibrated 
backward and forward, and common! .ate an 
“np-lift" motion to the shaker, which works 
tho straw gradually to the rear. Tho straw, as 
it leaves tho threshing cylinder, is d. iloctod or 
turned down at once to tho agitating fingers by 
tho circular deck. The first rank of fingers 
turns up the straw with a number of smart, 
rapid blows, and it passes on to tho next, where 
the same process is repeated, and so on over tho 
six successive ranks of agitating fingers, each 
rank contributing to tho thorough and continual 
shaking, until tho straw posses from tho ma¬ 
chine. Meantime, whatever grain goes through 
the concave and grating falls into tho lower sec¬ 
tion without passing into the straw at all—a 
most important saving at the very outset, as 
thereby the separation commences at Iho cylln 
der. The grain remaining into 'mingled with the 
straw is thoroughly shaken in its passage 
over tho agitating fingers, o • fts through tho 
open slat-work into tho low* itiou, and is by 
it conveyed to tho fan-mill. 
Tho principle iH similar to that used in shaking 
and pitching the straw out with a fork after 
threshing wit h a flail. 
Their action is such that tho straw doos not 
“ pack." Tho upper section iB largo and roomy, 
affording amplo space for the shaking and toss¬ 
ing process. The “throw" of the fingers can 
he increased or diminished while the machine is 
running, to give the straw the necessary amount 
of shaking to insure thorough agitation in all 
kinds and conditions of grain. 
At tho same time, tho mode of construction 
and operation makes it next to impossible to 
“ clog” it with anything that can he fed through 
tho cylinder, no matter whether the straw is long 
or short, wet or dry. 
Wo givo, on tho next page, two onts show¬ 
ing tho upper shaker with uplifting fingers, and 
tho lower shaker, with sieve, which fully illus¬ 
trate the principle involved. They are sus¬ 
pended on wrought iron swinging-rods, so as to 
swing very easily, and their entire movement, 
back and forth, is but fivo inches. The parts 
are all entirely protected from rain and storm, 
from wet ami dry, by tho construction of the 
machine. The wear is simply tho friction or 
weight of tho straw and grain as it passes along, 
and the “ tossing up ” of tho straw by tho fin¬ 
gers so lightens it up that this friction is hardly 
noticoablo. When the fingers will wear off some 
of the ends, the owner can easily make and put 
in now fingers himself, or can buy them fitted 
for four cents each, or a total cost of one dollar 
and eighty cents for enough to refill the entire 
machine. Next in order are tho finger-bars, in 
which the fingers are fastened ; but these do not 
rovolvo- they simply servo to alternately raise 
and depress the fingers, and. hence, hut very lit¬ 
tle wear comeH on them. Then comes the open 
slat-work) over which the straw passes, and 
through which the separated grain sifts Into the 
lower shaker. This merely keeps the straw and 
separated grain apart, and has only to sustain 
the light weight of the straw in its progress 
through the machine. Tho lower shaker, It will 
be seen, is simply a “ conveyer ” to carry the 
separated grain to the sieves, where the fan- 
mill winnows and cleans it. 
The lifting fingers have such a thorough ac¬ 
tion on the straw that it is perfectly easy to 
shake tho grain all out, and tho manner of ad¬ 
justment for different kinds and conditions is 
easily seen and done. The throw of the fingers 
can bo increased or lessoned whilo tho machine 
is running, and the separating parts are thus 
entirely at command. 
It will bo seen that in the “ Vibrator" tho 
straw falls upon the stacker quito close to the 
ground, and is protected from adverse winds by 
tho chaff wings, ho that it cannot be affected, 
and all straw and chaff are delivered on the straw 
stack. It does not need to ho shifted to suit the 
wind, but can be set. with tittle or no reference 
to it, as its construction is such that a change of 
position is raroly, if ever, necessary. 
The “Chaff Wings" are “hinged." arid so 
attached that they nan he opened or entirely re¬ 
moved at a moment’s notice. The canvas sideH 
arc high, and protect the straw in its passage 
entirely from “head" or “side" winds. By 
the use of a windlass set on the deck, tho stacker 
—which is a very ingenious one, by the way 
may bo handled with groat ease, and when it is 
folded it comes up close against the projecting 
roar of tho machine, making an effectual cover¬ 
ing against, storm—thus protecting sieves, the 
shoo and the inside parts. 
Tho adjustable side gear has somo superior 
features. Tho foundation frame is cast in one 
piece, ami, with other simple, compact features, 
it causes tho boxes to be aLways in lino. When 
the boxes are moved, both are moved precisely 
the same distance. When, by long use, or the 
-- 
1 
gx 
1 
IJI j 1 ; 
till 
dragging of tho tumbling rods, the shoulder of 
tho shaft at the lower box and the hub of (he 
bevel whoel at the upper box have worn away so 
as to let tho cogs of the wheel and pinion crowd 
partly “ out of mash," the boxes can be shoved 
up so as to remedy tho difficulty without resort¬ 
ing to washers. 
A “ duplex" gear can he substituted for the 
abovo. enabling owners to use any power making 
from 70 to 85 revolutions. The standard powor 
made by the firm gives 95 to 105 revolutions of 
tumbling rod. Tho bolted machines aro mainly 
used with steam powor. 
An improved concave adjustor admits of the 
concaves being raised or lowered whilo the ma- 
chino is threshing, and both ends will always bo 
raisod exactly alike. 
By tho construction of tho “ throat” of this 
machine, the dust from tho cylinder is carried 
through with the straw, an advantage which is 
thoroughly appreciated by threshorincii who do 
not care to oat their allotted “ peck of dirt" too 
early in life. 
Tho " Vibrator" is highly spoken of for its ef¬ 
ficiency in threshing flax, timothy and millet, 
requiring no further adjusting for this work than 
a change of sieves, which is the work of a few 
moments only. 
Our illustration shows tho belted separator. 
It can ho fitted to work with any make of engine, 
hut in this connection wo would say a few words 
of N. 8. A Co.’s steam ongino. 
Its model, proportions, and general design, are 
tho result of the most thorough Investigation. 
It weighs complete, but 4700 lbs., and has extra 
large capacity of fire-box and flues, insm’ing 
amplo steam making powor with very easy firing. 
All its appointments are complete, and it can bo 
altered for burning coal or wood, as desired. 
The selection of the Horse l’owor where URed, 
is of eqnal importance with the Separator, and 
too little care is often bestowed upon it. Yet it 
is well known that two-thirds of tho timo lost 
and money expended for repairs could bo saved 
if the Horse Power was hotter understood and 
kept in better order. 
Tho “ triple gear” power made by this house 
has a good Iteavy wheel, with long “ faco" cogs. 
The strain of tho teams is divided on the three 
master pinions, which are “clutched" to tho 
three spur wheels. Those spur wheels drive tho 
center pinion, which is clutched to and drivos 
the hovel wheel, this in turn driving tho lino- 
shaft pinion. 
Tho center of the Power is all open, and can 
easily ho inspected and lookod 
after. All tho wheels and jour¬ 
nals sre attached to the mas- 
H ’ vo iron frame, which holds 
them firmly in place. All the 
P working parts are entirely in¬ 
dependent of the wood parts. 
The pinions and wheels (ex¬ 
cept the line shaft pinion) aro 
“clutched” Instead of “keyed" 
on, and any or all of them can 
he removed and replaced in a 
f 5W moments, without using a 
V / A late improvement in this 
V iS J , t power conaixts in making t he 
f \^f i \ sockets (which hold the spur 
1 \ /' wheel and center pinion shafts) 
movable, so that tho spur 
t> ".j wheels can bo “ trued up" and 
adjusted with each other and 
^ with tho other gears, and kept 
so, by the threshormon. 
. Another admirable feature 
•r,. of this Power is tho cheapness 
antl 0ftH0 with which it onu bo 
changed to different speed*. 
They also make a “spur" 
speed power on the “Wood¬ 
bury” principle. 
