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ARTICLE XVIII.
USEFUL INVENTIONS BV DIFFERENT PERSONS.
PLATE III
represents a front view of the patent Straw-cutter, invented and improved
by Moses Coates and Evan Evarts. The principle of this improvement, secured
by the patentees, is in hanging the knife on four centres or joints, at
a proper angle, in such position as to slide the edge across the straw at
the same time that it is pressed down through it, which causes it to cut
with much more ease than in the common way. This is the principal improvement,
and is well worthy the notice of those who have much straw to cut, as it
can be done with less than half the labour of the mode now in use. Thev
have also made several other improvements on the machine, viz. in the apparatus
for moving the straw forward, and in fixing the knife to be worked by both
hands, &c. as appears by the drawing and explanations given by the inventors
themselves. Thev sometimes form the steel of this machine aslant so as to
cause the knife to cut off the straw at an angle of about 45 degrees, which
makes it etit much easier than at right angles, or square across.
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE.
I. OF THE STRAW-CUTTER.
B B a board screwed to the feet.
K K the knife screwed to a board.
C C the connecting bars.
H OI the hold-fast, 2 pieces beveled to draw the knife
to the steel ; the connecting bars set between them.
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L the handle of the knife. The knife must be ground strait on the side next the steel.
D A the drag that moves the straw.
R the under roller and a fork. There are 6 iron plates set edgewise in the under roller which is fixed under the box, to come through the bottom board one inch: there are also 6 iron plates on an upper roller with 27 crooked forks fixed in them, with the round part foremost that they may clear themselves from the straw as the roller turns to push it forward.
G another part o£ the drag put on the end A which is raised by a pin in the lower connecting bar and gives motion to the drag.
The rollers are set 17 inches from the steel; a frame is hung to the upper roller with a weight of 30 pounds attached to it, to press it on the straw, and it is raised or lowered by a lever hung under the box.
A strip of hard wood, dressed beveling and put on the front part of the box, for the lower end of the knife to slide on, will bear the upper end of the knife to the steel, and cut clean. At the instant you raise the knife raise or draw your foot from the treadle that the straw may move forward at the same time. It will cut 100 square inches at one cut. It is well calculated to cut corn-fodder for cattle.
The irons may be had, or smiths may obtain the privilege
of making them from either of the following mentioned persons: Oliver Evans,
Philadelphia; William Morgan, Georgetown, Potomac; George Worral, Lancaster;
Moses Coates, Chester county, or Evan Evans, City of Washington.
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II. OF THE FLOUR-PRESS.
No.2 represents an elevation of the Flour-press, invented,
improved and patented by ----Clarke and Evan Evans. The principle secured
by the patent is in fixing the fulcrum of the lever to be moveable instead
of stationary as is common. The long arm of the lever lengthens and the
short arm shortens during the whole operation of pressing, which causes
the power to increase with the resistance. The machine works quick while
it meets with little resistance, and powefful when the resistance is increased.
Time is not unnecessarily expended, as a barrel of flour can be packed by
it in half a minute. This is the principal improvement of the invention,
and is well worthy the attention of millers.
A the barrel of flour.
B the funnel.
C D the driver.
E F the lever.
G H the connecting bars, fastened by a strong pin to each side of the lever at G, and to the driver at H.
I two strong posts put through the floor, and keyed below the joists at K.
The lever works between them on a strong pin L, and when
brought down by the hand, moves the pin G, in the dotted circle I, and the
connecting bars draw down the driver C, forcing the flour into the barrel;
and as it becomes harder packed, the power of the machine increases, as
the pin G, approaches the posts I. The under sliding part of the lever is
drawn out to increase its length, and is assisted in rising by the
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weight M, fastened to a line passing over the pullies
N 0.
When the pin G is brought down within half an inch of the
centre of the posts or plumb line, the power increases from 1 to 288; and
with the aid of a simple wheel and axis, say the difference between the
wheel and axis is as 1 to 15, from 288 to 8640; that is to say, one man
will press as hard with this machine as 8640 men could do with their natural
strength. It is extremely well calculated for a printing press, cotton,
tobacco, cyder, or, in short, any thing that requires a powerful press.
CERTIFICATE.
We do certify that we have proven the above packing machine,
and find its principles to be such, that the power increases with the resistance, so as to render it a most excellent machine for packing flour with ease and despatch. It is simple and cheap in its structure.
OLIVER EVANS,
CHARLES TAYLOR, Engineer.
The above Machines can be seen at Oliver Evans's flour-store, corner of Ninth and Market streets, Philadelphia, or at William Morgan's Georgetown, Potomac, at either of which places, or of George Worral, Lancaster, Moses Coates, Chester county, or the subscriber, City of Washington, may be purchased the privilege for the Straw-cutter, for four dollars; and the Press for flour at the following rates: One run of stones, ten
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dollars; two ditto, seventeen dollars ; three ditto, twenty-two dollars; four ditto, twenty-seven dollars, and eight ditto, fifty-four dollars.
EVAN EVANS.
Those who infringe on the patents will be dealt with as
the act of congress directs.
MACHINE FOR REMOVING EARTH.
As no greater improvements have ever been made in any country than those of navigable canals and turn-pike roads, many of which remain to be made in this country, I have given a plate and description of a machine, invented and improved by Gershom Johnson, for removing earth short distances, by the force of cattle, which has proved very useful for that purpose. The inventor asserts that with this machine, drawn by three horses, he can do more work than 20 men.*
Plate IV represents a side view of the machine.
B E the box for holding the earth, fixed to the
*Fortunately for the inventor, he did not take out his patent when he
paid his money into the patent office; if he had done so, his term would
now have been nearly expired, without having yielded him any emoluments
equal to his expense and attention. The spirit for improvement in making
turnpike roads and canals which prevails at this time will call for the
use of this machine, and he will probably be well rewarded.
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shovel which scoops it up. B the edge of the shovel, made
of sheet-iron, 4 feet wide, strengthened by a steel plate in front 8 inches
wide. R a piece of timber to strengthen the shovel. Q one of the hind wheels.
F one of the handles. G a treadle. H a chain connecting the treadle to the
handle. I one of the iron bars connecting the shovel to the axel of the
fore wheels L.
THE OPERATION.
The cattle are hitched to the bars I, and the man at the hadnles guides the point of the shovel B between the solid and loose earth to scoop up a load, driving a quantity before the shovel. If the load proves too heavy he puts his foot on the treadle and raises the point of the shovel B a little, which causes it to drop part of the load, especially in hollow places; and when the machine arrives at the place where the load is to be deposited, he throws up the handles suddenly which drives the shovel into the solid earth, and the force of the cattle turns the shovel over, bottom up, the bar N to rest on the iron bars I, and discharges the load. The shovel remains in this position, the bars O sliding on the ground, until the machine arrives at the place to take up another load, when by the rope P the shovel is drawn to its proper position. It will load and discharge two loads a minute by the force of the cattle.
