On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The use of corn and other stalks as fodder is very general, and in order that the animal may obtain all the nutriment which they contain, it is much more economical to present them in a crushed state for the animal to eat. The subject of our engraving is a machine for cutting and crushing stalks, which we will now describe. D is a frame, at the back of which are four metallic concaves, E, firmly attached to and level with the frame, D. F is a bar secured to D, in which there are slots to receive the convex knives, A, which are held firmly in the required position by a metallic plate, G. H is a revolving cylinder upon which are fixed the knives or strikes, C, and a number of teeth, B, corresponding with the teeth on the concaves, E. I is a pulley by which to revolve the cylinder. J is a flywheel ; K L is a trough to guide the stalks to the knives, and a cover for the cylinder. The method of working this machine is as follows :—The cylinder is revolved by the belt-wheel, I, from horse or other power ; a bundle of stalks are then taken and dropped lengthwise, three or four at a time, into the trough, K, from whence they will fall upon the stationary knives, A, and by the action of the knives strikes C on the revolving cylinder, each stalk will be cut into four parts, and each part will then fall on the concaves, E, and by the action of the teeth, B, and the teeth on the concaves the stalks will be torn apart in the direction of the fiber, and will be delivered beneath the machine in the best form as food for cattle. The inventors,?. S. Clinger and C. Cremer, of Conestoga Center, Lancaster county, Pa., obtained a patent April 27, 1858, and will be happy to give any desired information.
