AU J.T. 8(2): 75-80 (Oct.

2004)

Development of a Rice Threshing Machine

Olugboji O.A.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology
Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper deals with the development of a rice threshing machine. Available
evidence suggests that the mode of threshing rice in the rural areas in Nigeria is by
traditional use of hand beating of the paddy. This method is time wasting, energy
sapping and often the grains are broken. The developed rice thresher has the ability to
winnow the premature grains and leaves, which are often lighter, thus, leaving aside
the massy grains that, will be collected. It is also capable of reducing time wastage,
reduction in breakage of the grains and separation of the stalk from the grains. From
the design calculation, the total power required to comb off grains from stalk is 267.04 W
and to be driven by a 1.5 Hp electric motor.
Keywords: Blower, feeder, traditional threshing method, mechanized threshing
method, flow thresher, mobile thresher, “through-flow” thresher.

Introduction rice ears before threshing, the purpose of which

Cereals are the first cultivated grasses
belonging to the Poaceae family. The popular
cereal crops of the world include wheat, barley,
oats, rice, maize, sorghum, and millets, but the
major cereals of the developing countries are
maize, rice, sorghum, and millet (Okaka 1997).
Harvesting constitutes a major operation
among agricultural activities and differs
according to the part of the plant to be
harvested. A number of small, medium, and
large threshers have been in existence for quite
a long time, but due to low or poor
performance in comparison with the traditional
methods, they have not been adopted to a
significant extent. Some are hand-held threshers
and pedal operated ones (Chabrol, et al. 1996).
Threshing is a major aspect that is usually
carried out after harvesting of grain crops. This
involves the beating of the grains from the stalk
(Nkama 1992).
Threshing Methods
After being harvested, paddy bunches
may be stacked on the plot. The in-field
storage method results in a pre-drying of the
is to separate seeds from panicles.
Traditional Threshing
The traditional threshing of rice is
generally done by hand: bunches of panicles
are beaten against a hard element (e.g. a
wooden bar log, bamboo table, or stone). In
many countries in Asia and Africa, and in
Madagascar, the crop is threshed by being
trodden underfoot (by humans or animals); this
method often results in some losses due to the
grain being broken or buried in the earth (Food
Agency Organization 1995).
Mechanized Threshing
Two main types of stationary threshing
machines have been developed. The machine
of Western design is known as “through-flow”
thresher, because stalks and ears pass through
the machine. It consists of a threshing device
with pegs, teeth or loops, and (in more complex
models) a cleaning-winnowing mechanism
based upon shakers, sieves and centrifugal fan.
In the 70s, IRRI developed an axial flow

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AU J.T. 8(2): 75-80 (Oct. 2004)

w
thresher, which has been widely manufactured
at local level (Saxena, et al. 1971). F1

More recently, a small mobile thresher F2

F3
provided with either one or two threshers was r1
r2
developed. This machine has been widely r3

adopted in many rice-growing areas (Policarpio

and Mannamy 1978). The simple design and fig 3.1

work rates of these machines seem to meet the

requirements of rural communities (Food
Agency Organization 1995). The main Fig. 1. Cross section of tongs on rotating drum
disadvantages of these machines are their
fragility. The torque resulting from individual force is
given by,
Mode of Operation of the Design T = Fi x ri ………………………….. 3
Where, Fi and ri are ith force and ith radius
Already sickle plant bearing grains to be respectively.
threshed out are put into the hopper in the Resultant Torque,
direction of the feed. The feed rollers then T = F1 r1 + F2 r2 + - - - Firi
swerve the stalk in between them as they are i=n
fed into the threshing chamber by the ∑ F r
i i
compression rolling action of the rollers. As T = =1
i …………………………….. 4
the grains-bearing stalks come out of the Where n = number of length segments given
rollers, the grains get combed off the stalk by by,
the tongs on the radial thresh comb. The Length of tong , L
combed off grains fall on the sloppy tray and n= ……………… 5
Length of segment ,ι
slide downwards. Simultaneously, the fan
blows air against the direction of slope of the But, F1 = F2 = Fι
sloppy tray and blows up the lighter constituent i =n
and the remaining stalk out of the thresh .: Tresultant = F ∑ r …………………… 6
chamber. The lighter constituents includes i =1
ι
premature grains, leaves and in some cases
weeds. The denser grains now fall down the ⎡n ⎤
slope under the action of gravity and then = F⎢ (2a + (n - 1) d )⎥ 7
⎣2 ⎦
collected by the sprout of the tray.
Fig. 2 shows the analysis of force acting on
Design Analysis each tong.
F(r,y)

Determination of Torque Required to Comb r

w x
Off Grains from Stalk

Torque, T= Fr ………………………….. 1

Assuming that force acts per unit length of fig 3.2

tong, taking force per 10 mm segment of length.

= FN ⇒ FN/10 mm Fig. 2. Analysis of force acting on each tong.

= 0.1 FN/mm ……………………. 2
Note: Equation 7 is sum of arithmetic series.
Considering Fig. 1, This is much applicable in the case being
considered,

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AU J.T. 8(2): 75-80 (Oct. 2004)

Where, n = no of terms = no of segments T = (T1 – T2) R ……………………… 15

a = first term
d = common difference Where, T1 and T2 are tensions on the tight side
Total torque, and slack side of the belt respectively,
Tt = Tr x k …………………………………8 R = radius of pulley.

Where, k = number of tongs. ii. Shaft subjected to bending moment only

Bending equation is given by,
Determination of Power Required to Thresh M f
Off Grains from Stalk = b …………………………………. 16
I y
Where,
This is given by,
M = bending moment
P = Tt ω ……………………………….. 9 I = moment of merits of cross-sectional area
Where ω = angular velocity in rad s-1 of the shaft about axis of rotation
fb = bending stress,
Determination of Feed Roller Speed y = distance from neutral axis to outermost
r fibre.
N f = 1 x N CS …………………………. 10
r2 πd 4
I= ………………………………….. 17
Where, 64
Nf = Feed roller speed, r1/r2 = speed ratio of πf d 3
pulley on comb shaft to the pulley on feed M= b ………………………………. 18
roller shaft, Ncs = Speed of radial comb 32
(for solid shaft)
Shaft Analysis
iii. Shaft subjected to combined twisting and
bending moments. Based on maximum sheer
i. Shaft subjected to twisting moment only
stress theory:
Torsion equation ⇒
f s (max) = 1 (f b ) + 4(f t ) ……….. 19
2 2
fz T Cθ 2
= = ……………….. 11
r J ι From equation 16,
Where, f z = torsional shear stress, r = distance 32M ………………………. 20
fb =
from neutral axis to outermost fibre, πd 3
T = twisting moment (or torque) setting on shaft From equation 11,
J = polar moment of inertia, ………………………. 21
16T
C = modulus of rigidity of shaft material, fx = 3
L = length of shaft πd
θ = angle of twist in radius on a length, l From which,
(ASME 1995)
substituting equation 20 and 21 into 19,
Polar moment for round solid shaft,
J = Π/32 x d4 ..…………………… 12 1 ⎛ 32M ⎞
2
⎛ 16T ⎞
2

f s (max) = ⎜ ⎟ + 4⎜ 3 ⎟
T
= t
f 2 ⎝ πd 3 ⎠ ⎝ πd ⎠
π d
.: 32 x d 4 2 ………………… 13
T =π x ft x d3 16 M 2 + T 2
16 d3 = …………………… 22
Twisting moment, T can be obtained from πf s
2πNT Determination of Size of Weld joining tong
P= ……………………………….. 14
to Shaft
60
Where, N = speed of shaft in rpm
In the case of belt drive, i Bending stress,

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AU J.T. 8(2): 75-80 (Oct. 2004)

M
fb = …………………………………. 23 R1 = normal reactions between belts and sides
Z
Where, of the groove,
M = bending moment R = total reaction in the plane of the groove
Z = section modulus µ = coefficient of friction between the belt and
Maximum bending moment, M is given by, the sides of the groove
Resolving the reactions vertically to the
qL2 ……………………………….. 24
M = groove, we have:
2
Where, q = distributed force R = R 1 sin β + R 1 sin β = 2R 1 sin β .... 30
l = length of tong (Chakrabarti 1975) R1 = R (2 sin β )
Frictionalforce = 2 µR, = 2 µ x R
ii Shearing stress, fs is given by, (2 sin β )
= µR
F sin β
fs = ………………………...………25
A = µR cosecβ ...................... 31

Where, F = applied force, A = throat Area,

A = πdt = 0.7071 πdx, …………. 26
Where,
d = diameter of tong For vee-belt, the relation between T1 and T2 is
x = size of weld. given by,
πtd 2 d2x ⎛T ⎞
Z = = 0.7071 π ……………… 27
2.3log⎜⎜ 1 ⎟⎟ = λθ cosecβ 32
4 4
⎝ 2⎠
T
iii Based on maximum sheer stress theory: Where,
θ = Angle subtended by the arc along which
f s (max) =
1
( f b )2 + 4(f s ) ...................... 28
2 the belt touches the pulley, at the center.
2
Determination of Power Transmitted by Belt

=
1
2
(M Z ) 2
+ 4F ( A) 2
............... 29 Considering Fig. 4,
T2 T2

A B
The size of weld, x, can be determined by
T1 T1
making the appropriate substitutions into
Equation 27 and then solving for x. Fig. 4. Power transmitted by belt

Belt Analysis Effective driving (turning) force, is given by,

T1 − T2 ……………………………….. 33
Considering Fig. 3, Power Transmitted, is given by,
P = (T1 − T2 )v ………………………… 34
R Where,
T1 = Tension in the tight side in N
T2 = Tension in the slack side in N
v = Velocity of belt in m/s
R1 R1 Torque exerted on driving pulley, is given by,
2β ……………………………. 35
Fig. 3. Cross-section of vee-belt

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AU J.T. 8(2): 75-80 (Oct. 2004)

(T1 − T2 ) x r2 M = maximum bending moment on the arm at

(T1 − T2 ) x r1
…………………………… 36 hub end
Z = section modulus of arm
Centrifugal Tension, Tc, is given by,
fb = bending stress for arm material
Tc = mv 2 ……………………………… 37 d = diameter of arms
Where,
m = mass of belt per met length, Determination of Hub Diameter
v = velocity of belt,
Tension on tight side of belt, T1 is given by, d1 = 1.5d + 20mm …………………. 41
T1 = T − Tc d1 = diameter of hub ⊆ 2 d
But, d = shaft diameter
T = f xa
Where, Determination of Length of Hub
T = maximum tension in the belt
f = allowable tensile stress in N/mm2
L = Π x d
a = cross sectional area of belt. 2

Pulley Analysis Machine Description

Centrifugal stress induced in the run of pulleys, This thresher is comprised of three main
units: the feeder unit, the threshing unit, and
f c = ρ v 2 , ……………………………… 38
the blower unit.
Where,
ρ = density of the rim material, The Feeder
v = velocity of rim, given by,
πDN This unit comprises of the hopper, whose
v= 39 aperture lays vertical at the base. The hopper
60
Where, has only one of its sides in a slant. Opposite
N = speed of pulley in Rpm, the start side is a vertical side, which has the
D = diameter of pulley aperture of the hopper at its bottom. Within the
aperture by two feed rollers, the free one is on
Arm Considerations top of the driven one. The free one is
constantly under a vertical force, which tends
Tangential load per arm, to compress it downwards upon the lower
T 2T driven one.
WT = = ……………….. 40
Rx n Rn At the two free ends of the free roller’s
2 axle, are loads, which provide the downward
Where, force mentioned earlier. The loads are varied
T = torque transmitted, as required. A pulley is attached to the staff of
R = radius of pulley, the driven roller. The input for the shaft is
n = number of arms taken from the shaft of the thresh comb via a
vee-belt.
Cross section of arms,
M = fb The Threshing Unit 37
Z
It is comprised of the thresh comb. This
Z = Π x d 3 is made up of a shaft upon which38small rods
32 (tongs) are welded to it in a line at intervals.
2T 2T There are two of such lines-each39welded to
M = x R =
Rxn n opposite sides of the shaft. Each of the tongs is
Where, carved to forming an arc of small curvature.

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AU J.T. 8(2): 75-80 (Oct. 2004)
The shaft rests on ball bearings of each end.
Attached to one of the ends of the shaft is a
pulley for drive. The pulley/shaft rotates in the
direction of carve of the tongs. Just a distance
beneath the thresh comb is a sloppy tray which
slopes downwards into a trench. The trench is
also sloppy in the direction perpendicular it the
direction of slop of the tray. The trench ends as
a sprout.
The Blower
The blower is located just under the
hopper and opposite the slope of the tray. It is
a centrifugal fan and is comprised of four
straight impellers attached to the shaft, all in an
in volute casing. A pulley is attached to the
shaft at one of the ends.
Conclusion
The design and fabrication of a rice
threshing machine has been successfully
carried out by this work. The machine is
capable of threshing, separation of stalk from
grains and reduction in number of broken
grains, thereby, giving a better method of
threshing than the traditional methods. All the
materials used were locally sourced.
References
ASME. 1995. Design of Transmission
Shafting. American Society of Mechanical
Engineering, New York, NY, USA.
80
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Chakrabarti, N.R.1975. Data Book for Machine
Designer. Kjana Publ., Dachi, India.
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Hall, A.S.; Alfred, R.; Holowenko, H.G. 1961.
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