IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Harwood, of Mendlesham, in the County
of Suffolk, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
MACHINES."
Scaled the 27th April 1858, and dated the 30th October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Harwood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
October 1857.
J, WILLIAM HARWOOD, of Mendlesham, in the County of Suffolk, Esquire,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REAPING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist, first, in mounting the small or rear travelling
wheel of reaping machines on an axle supported by a frame, which is centred
or swivelled at one extremity, and carries at the other a roller which runs
upon a curved bar or frame supporting it, the object being to prevent the
said wheel from working or scraping into the soil when the reaping machine
is turned in the field. Secondly, in providing for the instantaneous elevation
or depression of the cutters by fitting a lever, from which depend lifting
hooks or bars which catch under or are connected to the side frame in such
manner that the driver of the machine can instantaneously, by raising or
depressing the said lever, lower or raise the cutters for any required purpose
during the working of the machine in the field. Thirdly, in driving the
reciprocating cutters by means of a belt or baud in place of the gearing which
is usually employed in order to avoid injury wheu obstacles are encountered.

page_text: Fourthly, in producing the required pressure of the moveable upon the fixed
cutters by means of springs carrying rollers at their extremities to reduce the
friction, or by means of a lever or levers mounted upon the end or ends of
the cutter bar, such lever or levers being at right angles (or nearly so) to the
said bar, and-provided- with a screw or other adjusting contrivance for regu-
lating the pressure. Sixthly, in attaching to the upper face of each of the
lower cutters a forked lip, spreading backward and passing over the corre-
sponding moveable cutter. Seventhly, in fitting a divider, which consists of a
jointed bar extending forward in advance of the machine with its fore end
resting upon the ground, and carrying a frame which divides (and raises if
necessary) the corn or other material to be cut, guiding the portion to be cut
into the cutters. In some cases, where the corn is much "laid" or "lodged,"
I employ a second such divider on the opposite side of the machine. Eighthly,
in employing a rake with long teeth mounted in suitable bearings, and worked
either manually or otherwise, for dividing the cut corn into sheaves if required.
Ninthly, in mounting the strap end of the gathering reel upon bearings in an
adjustable lever. Tenthly, in fitting upon the shafts for the horses a curved
backing bar or rod which rests upon springs, in such manner that when the
horses lower their haunches in backing, the said bar or rod against which
their force is exerted may yield to them and become depressed. Lastly, in
employing, between the whippletree and the point of the machine at which
the traction of the horses is applied, a cranked lever or other suitable con-
trivance for balancing or counteracting, as far as may be, the side pressure
exerted upon the horses.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Harwood in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the
30th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HARWOOD, of Mendlesham, in the County of Suffolk, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Harwood, Her special licence that I, the said William Harwood,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Harwood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the.
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING:
MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Harwood, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under.
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was.
to be performed, and cause. the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent:
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Harwood, do hereby declare the:
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,.
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement>
thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to
say:―
My improvements consist, first, in mounting the small or rear travelling
wheel of reaping machines on an axle supported by a frame, which is centred.
or swivelled at one extremity, and carries at the other.a roller which runs.
upon a curved bar or frame supporting it, the object being to prevent the
said wheel from working or scraping into the soil when the reaping machine.
is turned in the field. Secondly, in providing for the instantaneous elevation.
or depression of the cutters by fitting a lever, from which depend lifting:
hooks or bars which catch under or are connected to the side frame, in such
manner that the driver of the machine can instantaneously, by raising.or
depressing the said lever, lower or raise the cutters for any required purpose.
during the working of the machine in the field. Thirdly, in driving the
reciprocating cutters by means of a belt or band in place of the gearing which
is usually employed in order to avoid injury when obstacles are encountered..
Fourthly, in producing the required pressure of the moveable upon the fixed.
cutters by means of springs carrying rollers at their extremities to reduce the
friction, or by means of a lever or levers mounted upon the end or ends of
the cutter bar, such lever or levers being at right angles (or nearly so).to the
said bar, and provided with a screw or other adjusting contrivance for regu
lating the pressure. Sixthly, in attaching to the upper face of each of the
lower cutters a forked lip, spreading backward and passing over the corre-
sponding moveable cutter. Seventhly, in fitting a divider, which consists of a
jointed bar extending forward in advance of the machine with its fore end.
resting upon the ground, and carrying a frame which divides. (and raises if

page_text: necessary) the corn or other material to be cut, guiding the portion to: be cut
into the cutters. In some cases, where the corn. is much laid or "lodged,".
I employ a second such divider on the opposite side of the machine: "Eighthly,
in employing a rake with long teeth: mounted in suitable bearings, and worked
either manually or otherwise, for dividing the cut corn into sheaves if required.
Ninthly; in mounting the strap end of. the gathering reel upon bearings in an
adjustable lever. Tenthly, in fitting upon the shafts for the horses a curved
backing bar. or rod which rests upon springs, in such manner that when the
horses lower their haunches in backing, the said: bar. or rod against which
their force is. exerted may yield to them and become depressed. Lastly, in
employing, between the whippletree and the point of the machine. at which
the traction of the horses is applied, a cranked lever or other suitable, con-
trivance for balancing or. counteracting, as far as. may. be, the side pressure
exerted upon the.horses.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed, Figure. 1 is a plan and Figure. 2. a side
elevation of a reaping machine constructed according to my Invention. A is
the travelling wheel on the shaft .B, which, works in bearings in the frame-
work C. On one end of the shaft B. the cogged wheel D is keyed; this
wheel D gears into the pinion E on the shaft a. To this shaft a. the rigger
or band wheel F is attached. G is another rigger on the shaft.b, and round
these riggers the strap or band G₁ passes. c is a flange to prevent the band
from rising above the rigger. Over the flange c and on the same shaft the
rigger I is attached. J is another rigger on a shaft h, shewn in dotted lines,
Figure 2; this shaft is surrounded by. the roller K, and this roller assists in
throwing the cut crop off the machine, as will be hereafter described.. Round
the riggers I and J a band or strap L passes; as shewn and arranged in the
Drawing. The riggers I, J, and G on their respective shafts are supported
by the rods d, d, screwed or bolted to the main framework C. On the lower
end of. the shaft b the crank é is fixed; this cranke is joined to the con-
necting rod f, which is jointed to and communicates motion to the knife g.
To the shaft h; seen in dotted lines, Figure 2, I:attach a cogged wheel i, which
gears into a similar cogged wheel on a shaft, which works in a bearing
formed in the end of the roller l. This roller. 7 revolves in hollow.bearings
formed in the side framing of the platform; there is a similar roller on the
opposite side of the platform, which works. in the frame; as.shewn at n, n.
At suitable. intervals on the rollers 1, ", I place flanges.m, m, and between
these flanges the endless straps or belts.o; o, pass; on these straps; at suitable
distances apart, I place spikes p, p, which,.revolving with the straps, push or
assist in pushing the cut crop from the platform, whilst the flanges prevent
.

page_text: the spikes from taking the crop round with them.. A view of part of this
roller and band is shewn on an enlarged scale at Figure 3. In the outer
end of the side frame H one end of a roller q works, supported at its opposite
side in the back part H¹ of the frame of the platform. 1, r, are guards
through which the knife or cutter g works; a view of one of these guards
is.shewn at Figure 4, together. with part of a knife; the guard is shewn with
an open lip at s, but it may be made, as shewn in the plan Figure 1, without
the lip. I sometimes use two knives, one with a serrated edge, the other
plain; the serrated edge. runs free by releasing the rollers mentioned in the
former part of this Specification. On the shaft B the rigger K is keyed, and
on a shaft L working in bearings at one end in the rod or regulating lever L'
is keyed another rigger L" similar to the rigger K, and round these the band
or strap M passes. To the shaft L the arms or vanes N, N, are connected,
to the ends of which the cross pieces N¹, N¹, are attached, and these as they
revolve guide the corn to the cutters; the shaft L is supported at the opposite
end in the beam 0; to this beam O one end of a frame or "divider" is
hinged, as seen at t, and the other end is attached in a similar manner to
the frame H, as shewn at u. I sometimes use a second divider on the
opposite side of the machine, as shewn at ¹, Figure 2, for preventing the
horses from treading on the "lodged" corn. The end of the frame H¹ is
jointed at v to enable the point to rise or fall to every undulation in the soil
when the machine is in motion. The height of the lever L' can be regulated
by the rod w being lowered or raised, and kept in any required position by
means of a pin entering. holes formed in the upright wl, and this motion
either tightens .or slackens, as the case may be, tlie band M on the riggers
K and L. There. is a. slot formed in the rod L', along which the shaft L
carrying the vanes can be pushed according to the distance it may be required
to keep them from the corn and the knives. P is a lever having its fulcrum
ata, supported by a strong piece of iron passing through the centre of the
machine to the shafts Q; the end of this lever is jointed to a rod which is
connected to the after part of the machine in such manner that when the
opposite end of the lever is lowered the hinder or back part of the machine
will be raised, carrying with it the knife, and vice versâ, and so in this
manner the height at which the corn or other -crop may be cut is regulated
to leave either a long or short stubble. This lever P is kept in any required
position by entering grooves or notches formed in the side of the upright R.
S is a lever connected to the locker T, which enters the side of the pinion E
for throwing the machine-in and out of gear; U is a spring backing bar
rivetted to the shafts Q in the manner seen in the side view, Figure 2.

page_text: In the detached. view, Figure 5, and in dotted lines, Figure 1, I have
shewn in plan a view of the rear travelling wheel or "lock wheel," which I
connect to the back part of the machine. a is the wheel. supported by a
shaft 6 working in bearings formed in the frame c; the end d of the frame
is jointed to the machine, and to the other end a roller e revolving on a rod
is attached. is a forked frame or bow iron, connected to the machine, and
to the upper end of this frame a rod or lever g is connected, or made in a
piece with it. This rod is supported at the rear of the machine by a looped
part K passing through an iron piece depending from the framework H¹, and
kept at any suitable height by a pin passing through holes formed in it. The
advantage derived from this arrangement of travelling wheel is that the
machine can be turned in any direction without damaging the soil or causing
any pressure on the framework or other part of the machine.
In Figures 1 and 2 I shew a rake fitted to the reaper for forming the cut
corn into sheaves. a is a rod, carrying the rakes b, b; this rod is attached to
the frame H¹ by suitable connecting pieces. To the rod carrying the rakes
I attach a cord, which passes over a pulley d, working in a support e
sufficiently long to reach the driver of the machine. f is a bent spring, the
outer end of which is connected through the medium of a chain to the rod a.
When the driver pulls the cord the rakes descend, and continue on the ground
as long as the cord is kept tight, but as soon as it is released the spring f
restores them to their original position. Or the cord may be dispensed with,
and the rakes worked by a boy at the rear. Z is a seat supported by the
bracket z, on which the driver sits; y is a footboard.
At Figures 6 and 7 I shew arrangements I have adopted for causing the
machine to move straight. The lever X is connected to the machine at the
part marked X' in Figure 6, or by cranked levers, as shewn in Figure 7.
Y, Y, are the whipple bars.
The corn after being cut falls on the straps on the platform, and as the
straps revolve they deliver the cut crop to the side of the machine, the roller
K assisting the delivery thereof. I form the platform of wood, but for the
sake of lightness canvas or other suitable material may be used. The regu-.
lating apparatuses before described are all under the control of the person
driving the machine. The machines are made of such a size that they
will enter any ordinary gate, and are much lighter than those ordinarily
constructed.
'
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the employment of a lock or travelling wheel at the rear of reaping

page_text: machines, constructed and operating in the manner herein-before described,
and illustrated in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Second, the arrangement of levers herein-before described for regulating
the elevation and depression of the knives, as illustrated in the Drawings
annexed.
Third, the method of driving the knives by a belt or band in place of the
gearing usually employed.
Fourth, the method herein-before described for producing the required
pressure of the moveable upon the fixed cutters.
Fifth, the employment of a divider or dividers, in the manner and for the
purposes herein-before described, and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
Sixth, the employment of a rake in connection with the machine, worked
either manually or otherwise, for the purpose of collecting the cut crop
into
sheaves, in the manner herein-before described, and illustrated in the Drawings
annexed.
Seventh, the mounting of the strap end of the gathering reel in suitable
bearings in an adjustable lever, as herein-before described, and represented in
the Drawings annexed.
Eighth, the fitting to the shafts for the horse or horses a spring curved
backing bar, as herein-before described, and illustrated in the Drawings
annexed.
Ninth, the employment of the cranked levers herein-before described, for
regulating the draft of the horses.
And, lastly, the general arrangement of the parts of reaping machines, all
as herein-before described, and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Harwood, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
WILLIAM HARWOOD