c1, c1, c1, as there are wheels c, on the axis or shaft b; and as the wheels c, c, c, are all cast together, and such being the case in respect to the wheels c1, in sliding them along their respective shafts, when the wheels c, c', are in gear, the others will be all out of gear. g, g, are set-screws, passing through the naves or bosses c, and c1, by which, when the proper wheels are geared, the bosses are made fast to their respective shafts.

By this arrangement, it will be seen, that the motion of the feed-rollers may be readily changed, instead of at all times remaining at the same relative speed with the flywheel shaft; and, by this means, the vegetable matters, placed in the machine, may be cut to various lengths.

The second part of the invention relates to a mode of carding out or combing the vegetable materials to be cut in a chaff-engine, and thus to cause such vegetable matters to be laid longitudinally and evenly, when they arrive at the cutting knives.

There is also another improvement, shewn applied in the drawing about to be described, which constitutes the third part of the invention; it consists in giving a capability of movement to the presser-plate, independent of the movement of the upper feed-roller. Fig. 3, is a plan, and fig. 4, a sectional elevation of the machine; fig. 5, is a front elevation of some of the parts; and fig. 6, shews the manner of applying springs.

In this machine there are four pair of rollers, seven of which rollers have projecting spikes, and the eighth is a plain roller; and this, together with the other plain roller, shewn in the drawing, carries the endless cloth ≈, on to which the vegetable matter is to be laid; but it is not necessary that such care should be observed in drawing out the same lengthwise, as when placing the vegetable matter in an ordinary chaff-engine, as it will be found that the spiked surfaces employed will accomplish that part of the work. The vegetable matters are therefore simply to be placed on the upper surface of the endless cloth, in equal quantities all over the surface; and when they enter between the first pair of rollers y, y, (one being a spiked

roller,) the vegetable matters will be pinched between such rollers, and be drawn into the machine, and forced forward by the rollers y, y, towards the rollers x, x, which are both spiked rollers, and move with a surface speed somewhat greater than the surface speed of the rollers y, y; consequently the vegetable matters will be drawn out, and at the same time combed or carded by the spikes. As the next pair of rollers w, w, travel with a surface speed somewhat greater than the rollers x, x, the vegetable matter will, therefore, be drawn out still more, and at the same time carded or combed by the teeth; the next pair of rollers u, u, moving with a surface speed, somewhat greater than that of the rollers w, w, the vegetable matters will be still further drawn out and combed or carded, and laid longitudinally and smooth; and the feed-rollers moving with a surface speed, somewhat faster than the rollers u, u, the vegetable matters to be cut, will be continued smooth, and laid longitudinal, and in the best condition for the cut to take place, as the same is to be protruded from the mouth-piece and cutters. v, v, v, are guide-plates, fixed across the machine, to support the moving vegetable matters. It will be seen that the teeth of the lower rollers are interspersed between those of the neighbouring rollers, and, in revolving, work between them; and such is the case in respect to the upper rollers, but the teeth of the upper and under rollers do not pass between each other, but just clear one another at the points, as is clearly shewn.

By this arrangement the straw, hay, and other vegetable matters, fed into the machine, are drawn out and laid equally and longitudinally for the cutting knives; thus saving that care and skill of drawing out and charging of the engine by hand, heretofore necessary.

The difference of the speed given to the rollers y, x, w, u, and the feed-rollers, is accomplished, by having worms, of different angles, on the worm or screw-shaft, working into screw-wheels, on the axis of the upper and under rollers, in a similar manner to the working of the feedrollers.

The third part of the invention, which is also shewn in

the above-mentioned figures, relates to a mode of applying the presser-plate of chaff-engines, and consists in giving it a movement, independent of the upper feed-roller, in place of rising and falling exactly to the extent of such upper feed-roller, as heretofore practised; by which improvement, the "wad" of vegetable matter, pressed between the roller, will be better held for the cut, and the varying thickness of the wad, passing between the feed-rollers, will thus remain more equally pressed. t, t, (see fig. 5,) is the frame or bridge, by which the weighted lever causes the upper feedroller to press on to the lower feed-roller, as heretofore; but in place of the presser-plate s, being affixed, immoveably, to the upper bar or bridge of the frame t, as heretofore, the presser-plate is affixed to the bridge or bar r, which is allowed to move on the axis of the upper feed-roller, as is shewn in the drawing; and by means of the springs q, q, the bridge r, has, at all times, a tendency downwards. By this means, in addition to the movement up and down of the upper feed-roller, the presserplate will, at all times, be pressed downward, thus producing greater uniformity in the closeness of the straw, hay, and other vegetable matters, passing between the rollers, which will be found very advantageous in working chaff-engines.

The fourth part of the invention relates to that description of chaff-cutting engine wherein blades are fixed, spirally, in a cylindrical frame, and is known as the "Doncaster chaff-engine," which was patented in the year 1804, by Thomas Pasmore, of Doncaster. In this engine, the bevil of the cutting edges of the knives, or spiral blades,'is inwards, consequently considerable difficulty is found in sharpening the blades. Now, according to this part of the invention, the spiral blades or knives may be sharpened with much greater facility, owing to the bevil of the cutting edges being formed on the outer surface.

Figs. 7 and 8, shew the nature of the improved cutting knives or blades, and also the manner of fixing them to the cylinder.

The only part to which attention will be required to be called, is the circumstance of the cutting knives a, having

the bevil on the upper surface; the mode of sharpening which, is thereby introduced to such machines or engines, and will be found of considerable advantage. A slidingplate, with steel face, capable of being set up by screws and slots, to the revolving cylinder, on which the spiral cutting knives are fixed, may be applied to the front part of the machine, and by spreading emery, or by other suitable sharpening material, and causing the revolution of the cylinder to be reversed, the cutting edges will be sharpened. When the blades or cutting knives are required to be ground, the cylinder is taken out of the machine and placed in the frame or machine B, B, see figs. 9 and 10,-fig. 9, being an end view, and fig. 10, a side view, of the machine for grinding the spiral knives or blades a. The axis of the cylinder, to which the knives are affixed, is placed in bearings c, c, by which it can revolve in a diagonal position. D, is the stone for grinding the blades ;-this stone, in addition to its revolution, is capable of moving from side to side of the machine, by means of the lever-handle E; and the workman, in using this machine, moves the cylinder, with the knives A, slowly round, and at the same time, by the lever-handle, causes the stone to traverse slowly from side to side of the machine, commencing at one end of a spiral blade, and ending at the other, and then bringing the next blade round to be operated on, till the whole are ground. By this mode of applying spiral knives, and grinding and sharpening them, this description of chaffengine or machine may be more advantageously used.

The fifth part of the invention relates to a mode of preparing gorse, by pounding and grinding, in order to render it fit food for cattle. Fig. 11, is a side elevation, partly in section, of the machine, constructed for this purpose, and fig. 12, is a plan thereof; figs. 13, are detached views of parts of the same machine. a, is the framing, the nature of which is clearly shewn in the drawing; it is to be fixed securely to the floor or ground; b, is the main shaft, to which rotary motion is to be communicated by means of a horse or other power, by the lever or arm c, or otherwise, as is well understood by machinists. On to the lower end of this shaft is affixed the circular trough d, and the lower

end of the shaft b, enters into a cup-bearing, as is shewn, and moves in a suitable bearing, at the upper end, as will readily be understood, on examining the drawing. e, e, are a series of inclined planes, formed on the plate e1, which is keyed, or otherwise affixed on the shaft b; these inclined planes act under the plates f, formed on the stamperrods g, and cause such rods, and their stampers, to be raised up and let fall successively, as the shaft b, revolves. As the rods g, are raised by the inclined planes, they will also be caused to revolve; and in order to take advantage of this movement of the rods, a cord, connected to a spring h, is applied to each rod g; and by this means the cord will be wound on the rod g; and when the end of an inclined plane passes from either of the rods g, in addition to the pounding or stamping action, produced by the fall of the stampers, they will revolve, and produce a grinding action. The rods g, slide freely up and down, and turn in bearings i, i.

In preparing gorse by this machine, it should be first cut small in a chaff-machine or otherwise, and then submitted to the action of the machine above described; after which it will be fit for cattle.

The patentee claims, Firstly.-The mode of constructing chaff-engines, which work by two feed-rollers, driven by a worm, by applying thereto change motions, as herein described.

Secondly. The mode of laying the straw, hay, and other vegetable matters, in chaff-engines, longitudinal and even, by means of drawing out and combing, as herein described. Thirdly. The mode of applying the presser-plate of chaff-engines, by giving a movement independent of the upper feed-roller, as above described.

Fourthly. The mode of applying spiral blades to chaffengines or machines, and of sharpening and grinding, as above described, and

Fifthly. The mode of preparing gorse, by a machine, as herein described, by means of a circular trough and stampers.[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, January,