IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hornsby and James Edwin Phillips, both
of the Spittlegate Ironworks, Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Hornsby and
James Edwin Phillips at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 29th September 1866.
We, RICHARD HORNSBY and JAMES EDWIN PHILLIPS, both of the Spittlegate
Ironworks, Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING.
MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping and mowing
machines. In order to lay the standing crop up towards the cutters, and
afterwards when it is cut to remove it from the platform of the machine, we
employ revolving arms with rakes at their ends, and these arms are carried and
actuated in the following manner:-Fixed to the frame of the machine is a
bar, and on the lower part of this bar, which is upright, a tubular axis turns

page_text: freely; this tubular axis is driven in any convenient manner, and receives on
its exterior a ring to which the rake arms are jointed, so that they can rock
in a vertical plane. As the tubular axis rotates it carries round the ring upon
it with the rake arms jointed thereto, and as these revolve they are governed
or caused to rock on the joints which connect them to the ring by linking
them to a collar upon the upper end of the fixed bar on which the tubular
axis turns. The upper end of the bar is bent towards the platform, so that
the collar is not vertically over the tubular axis which carries the rake arms
round; thus the rakes as they come round are depressed so as first to dip into
the standing crop, and then their teeth pass close to the surface of the platform
and
Sweep the cut crop therefrom; as the rakes return on the other side of the
axis they are raised.
The exact details of the arrangement may be varied, but the main feature
of this part of our Invention is the method of governing rakes mounted in
this manner as they are carried round by their upright axis. We make the
rake arms tubular, and we connect together the two arms on opposite sides of
the centre by two clip pieces, which at their ends are made to embrace the
tubular rake arms, and at the centre receive the pivots on which the rakes
rock. Screw bolts are passed through the clip pieces and also through the
rake arms between them.
In some cases in addition to the rakes which clear the platform, as above
described, we employ other rakes or beaters actuated in a similar manner, so
as to act like the first rakes in laying the standing crop towards the cutters;
but as it is not desired to discharge the cut crop so frequently as it would be if
every rake caused its delivery from the platform these other rakes or beaters
are prevented touching the cut crop on the platform by causing their teeth by
suitable governing apparatus to turn or move up out of the way as they
approach the leading edge of the platform. Although desirable it is not
essential that these beaters should be furnished with rake teeth; the beater
board itself or a part of it may in a similar manner be caused to turn or move
up as it approaches the leading edge of the platform, so as not to interfere
with the cut crop thereon. Similarly the teeth of the rakes which clear the plat-
form may be governed to cause them to enter deeper into the standing crop
than they otherwise could, and also to turn or draw back in delivering the cut
crop so as more effectually to ensure the teeth leaving the crop. In place of
beaters arranged as above described, beaters without governed teeth or beater
boards may be used, the beater boards in this case being mounted sufficiently
high to pass clear of the cut crop on the platform in the usual way; this
arrangement is not, however, so effectual in some sorts of crop.

page_text: Our Invention also relates to the position of the axis of rake arms working
in the manner above described. Heretofore this axis has usually been placed
behind the points of the fingers, although in extreme cases it has been an
inch or so in advance of this line; now when the axis is so placed there is a
tendency in the cut crop to pass over the outer side and end of the platform,
the rakes not drawing the cut crop sufficiently inwards. According to our
Invention we place the axis of the rake arms at a distance in front of the
points of the fingers several times greater than this distance has ever hereto-
fore been, even in the most favorable cases. From this arrangement it results
that at the moment the rake comes into the cut crop on the platform it is
moving rapidly to the side at which the crop is to be discharged, and so it has
much less tendency to drive the crop off at the other side and back of the
platform, besides which the distance the crop is carried to the side is increased.
Also in order to assist the correct delivery of the crop at the side of the plat-
form we carry a rail or bent prong around the outer side and back of the
platform at a height of some inches above its guard rim, over which the crop
is thus prevented falling. The rail or prong is fixed at its forward end to the
rim of the platform at a point underneath the ordinary prong of the divider;
at its other end the rail or bent prong is free or unattached, so as to offer no
point on which the crop can hang. In order that the rake teeth may clear
the platform with greater certainty we form grooves in the platform corre-
sponding with the tracks of the rake teeth; the teeth enter into these grooves
below the general surface of the platform, and so prevent any portion of the
crop on the platform escaping them. In some cases in place of giving to the
rake arms a motion independent of the axis which carries them we fix them
rigidly to an inclined axis, as has in some cases been heretofore practised; but
in place of arranging this axis in a position intermediate of the cutters and
the carrying and driving wheel we mount it on the outer side of the carrying
and driving wheel, and by this means we are enabled to use longer rake arms,
which results in a more favorable entry of the rake into the standing crop, and
a better delivery from the platform.
Another arrangement which we employ for delivering the cut crop in sheaves
at the side of the machine is to employ a tipping grating or platform hinged
to the back of the finger bar; this platform is raised to collect the sheaf, and
then allowed to drop to discharge it at the back, just as in many back delivery
machines now in use. We incline the bars of this grated platform away from
the standing crop, so that the platform in discharging may by the incline of
the bars tend to carry the crop sideways; and we use in combination with
such a tipping platform an inclined board or track clearer jointed to the outer

page_text: end of the finger bar; this. track clearer catches the cut crop when it is dis-
charged from the tipping platform, and in consequence of its inclined position
it guides it away to one side. One or more of the inclined bars of the tipping
platform at the end next the track clearer we make longer or lengthen by
means of pieces jointed to their ends which serve, to prevent the cut, crop
working underneath the track clearer. The track clearer is made of greater
length than is usual, and its hinder end is carried by a pivot wheel. Its upper
edge for about half its length is furnished with a ledge projecting backwards
which serves to support the heads of the cut crop when the crop is so long as
considerably to overhang the tipping platform. Then when the tipping plat-
form is dropped to discharge the sheaf the workman with bis rake draws
towards him the heads resting on the ledge of the track clearer, and they then
fall under a flange projecting forwards from the upper edge of the track
clearer at its rear end, which keeps the heads down and compresses the sheaf.
The same machine may be used to deliver the cut crop in a continuous swath
at the side of the machine in place of in detached sheaves, the tipping platform
being then allowed to trail, or nearly so, on the ground and deliver con-
tinuously. In this case we attach a prong or rail to the track clearer to turn
over the heads of the cut crop as is usual. A reel may be used to lay the
standing crop towards the cutters; this addition for many crops will render
the machine self-acting. In some cases for sheafing, in place of lengthening
the end bar or bars of the tipping platform by which the sheafing is effected,
we use a second tipping platform like the first but with a few bars only, and.
those at the end nearest the track clearer; this platform when at work is.
When the machine is used
allowed to trail or nearly trail upon the land.
for swathing the sheafing platform may be removed. By removing the track
clearer the machine, may be converted into a back delivery machine when the
nature of the crop renders it desirable. In order that the crank which gives
motion to the knife of reaping and mowing machines may not be liable to lap.
the cut crop or weeds around it we arrange the parts in the following.
manner: At the end of the crank shaft is a disc, and a circular recess is
formed in it; in the centre of this hollow is fixed the crank pin which has a
spherical head, and is embraced by a cup on the connecting rod; the rim of
the cup enters the recess in the disc, and the crank pin is thus protected and
kept from contact with the cut crop and weeds. In order to carry the cutters
at a regulated distance from the land we in some cases employ a small wheel
connected with the inner end of the finger bar, and we adjust the height of
this wheel by making the end of the arm which carries it as a disc with radial
teeth on its face, and this fits against a corresponding disc on a projection

page_text: We
from the finger bar. When the two discs are in contact with the wheel at its
proper height a screw bolt passed through the discs securely fixes the arm
and wheel. In reaping and mowing machines in which a joint at the end of
the finger bar connects it with a tubular frame containing the crank axis which
drives the knife we raise the finger bar, and with it the outer end of the
tubular frame and the crank axis, by a chain connected at one end with a ring
encircling the tubular frame, and at the other with a quadrant with a suitable
lever handle turning on a pin on a casting in connection with the pole.
also form an arm on the joint connecting the finger bar with the tubular frame
of the crank axis, and this arm projects under the pole, so that when the inner
end of the finger bar has been raised a short distance by the quadrant and
chain this projecting arm comes against the pole and the rising of the inner
end of the finger bar being thus resisted its outer end is lifted, and so the
finger bar can be tilted up to any required angle. In reaping and mowing
machines as the draught is at present arranged there is a tendency for the
outer end of the finger bar to hang back, and for the end of the pole to draw
inwards towards the standing crop; to obviate this we apply the draught by
means of a chain or rod passing along underneath the pole and connected
with the machine, not as has been heretofore in some cases done, vertically
under the pole, but at a distance sideways; in this way the tendency to
side draft is in great part or entirely overcome.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Hornsby and James Edwin Phillips in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 29th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, RICHARD
HORNSBY and JAMES EDWIN PHILLIPS, both of the Spittlegate Ironworks,
Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, send geeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and. sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Richard Hornsby and James Edwin Phillips, Her special licence that
we, the said Richard Hornsby and James Edwin Phillips, our exécutors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Richard Hornsby
and James Edwin Phillips, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times

page_text: 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Richard Hornsby and James Edwin Phillips, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or
them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven
tion, 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 we, the said Richard Hornsby and James Edwin
Phillips, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:―
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping and mowing
machines. In order to lay the standing crop up towards the cutters, and
afterwards when it is cut to remove it from the platform of the machine, we
employ revolving arms with rakes at their ends, and these arms are carried
and actuated in the following manner :-Fixed to the frame of the machine is
a bar, and on the lower part of this bar, which is upright, a tubular axis turns
freely; this tubular axis is driven in any convenient manner, and receives on
its exterior a ring to which the rake arms are jointed so that they can rock in
a vertical plane. As the tubular axis rotates it carries round the ring upon
it with the rake arms jointed thereto, and as these revolve they are governed
or caused to rock on the joints which connect them to the ring by linking them
to a collar upon the upper end of the fixed bar on which the tubular axis
turns. The upper end of the bar is bent towards the platform, so that the
collar is not vertically over the tubular axis which carries the rake arms
round; thus the rakes as they come round are depressed so as first to dip
into the standing crop, and then their teeth pass close to the surface of the
platform and sweep the cut crop therefrom; as the rakes return on the other
side of the axis they are raised.
The exact details of the arrangement may be varied, but the main feature
of this part of our Invention is the method of governing rakes mounted in this
manner, as they are carried round by their upright axis. We make the rake
arms tubular, and we connect together the two arms on opposite sides of the
centre by two clip pieces, which at their ends are made to embrace the tubular
rake arms, and at the centre receive the pivots on which the rakes rock.

page_text: Screw bolts are passed through the clip pieces and also through the rake arms
between them.
Figure 1 is a front view, partly in section, Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3
a side view of a reaping machine constructed in this manner.
a, a, is a frame approximately of a triangular form, its sides are wrought-
iron bars, and between the bars are castings bolted to them, which connect
and stiffen the several parts of the frame, and also form the bearings for some
of the moving parts. The lower bar of the frame a projects, and has attached
to it the bar b which forms the front of the platform c; this bar also serves
to carry and guide the knife d, and it has the fingers b', 6' fixed upon it. At
the ends of the bar b the bars c¹ and c which support the planking of the plat-
form at the back and side are fixed, and the bar c is also fixed to the lower
bar of the frame a. e, e, are rods firmly staying the platform c to the frame a;
f is the pole for attaching the horses, it is jointed to the frame a at f¹, and
locked to it by an adjustable lock bolt at f; a' is a bearing on the frame a;
on the outside of this bearing turns a radial arm forming part of the quadrant g,
on which is fixed the stud to receive the main wheel h, and by means of this
quadrant the height at which the wheel carries the frame a and the parts con-
nected therewith may be adjusted for this purpose; the quadrant has teeth
formed on its periphery which gear with a worm i carried in bearings by the
frame a, and made to receive a key by which it can be turned to raise or lower
the frame. On the carrying wheel there is a circle of internal teeth, and these
gear with a pinion on an axis %, which turns within the bearing a¹; the pinion
is able to slide longitudinally on the axis k to throw the pinion in and out
of gear; it receives motion from a rod which slides in a socket on the frame a,
and by a spiral spring is caused to tend constantly to place or keep the pinion
in gear;
it can, however, be drawn back and locked by means of a lever
jointed to the frame at *; the end of this lever drops into retaining notches.
m is a bevilled wheel on the axis k, it gears with a pinion on the inclined
shaft n, which has a crank pin at its lower end for driving the cutter d by
means of a connecting rod in the usual way; p is an adjustable wheel which
supports the outer end of the cutter and of the platform c; c³ is a retaining.
rim round the back of the platform, and q, q, are dividing prongs attached in
front of the outer end of the platform.
We will now proceed to describe the way in which the beater and rake,
which is the subject of this part of our Invention, is arranged and actuated.
is a bar supported in a socket formed in a casting s, which is bolted on the
top of the frame a; on its lower end the tubular axis is able to rotate, and
it is driven by a bevilled wheel t¹ upon it which gears with a pinion (2 01 an

page_text: axis carried by the casting 8; is a spur wheel on the same axis gearing with
a similar wheel on a stud on the casting s, and this in turn gears with a
pinion at the extremity of the axis k. On the tubular axis t is fixed a ferrule
having four horizontal studs upon it; they are all on the same level and equi-
distant; u, u, are the rake and beater arms of wrought-iron tube; two only
are shown in the Drawing, but there are in practice four; the opposite arms
are connected together by two clamping plates u', u', in the centre of each of
which is a hole to receive one of the studs, at their ends bolts pass through
them and through the ends of the rake and beater arms, and thus the several
parts are firmly held together. The clamping plates u', as will be seen, are
curved near the centre; this is done to allow them to work without coming
in contact with the arms at right angles to them, the clamping plates of which
are reversed. In Figure 1, at the end of one of the arms u, a rake is fixed, and
at the end of the other arm a beater, usually, however, in practice two opposite
arms will carry rakes and the others beaters. The ends of the arms u are
flattened and perforated, and a bolt passes the rake or beater and through one
or other of the perforations in the arm according to the height at which the
beater or rake is required to be set. The beater or rake is steadied at one
end by a rod passing from it to the arm as is shown. The required governed
motion is given to the rakes and beaters by linking the arms u by means of
rods with a collar wo, which clips the upper end of the bar r and is able to
revolve upon it. The bar as will be seen is bent at its upper end, so that
the collar w is not vertically over the tubular axis t, and consequently the
arms u as they revolve with the axis are also caused to rock upon the studs to.
It will be seen that in this arrangement the rake and beaters remain vertical
throughout, and consequently act in the most effectual manner, although the
circle in which they travel is considerably inclined, as it must be, to enable
them properly to enter the standing crop, and also to enable them to work
clear of the frame of the machine. In the arrangement shown in these
Drawings the beaters are fixed higher up than the rakes, so that they may not
touch the cut crop on the platform, which thus accumulates until a rake comes
round and sweeps it off on one side, but in some cases in addition to the rakes
which clear the platform as above described we employ other rakes or beaters
at the same level and actuated in a similar manner, so as to act like the first
rakes in laying the standing crop towards the cutters; but as it is not desired
to discharge the cut crop so frequently as it would be if every rake caused its
delivery from the platform, these other rakes or beaters are prevented touching
the cut crop on the platform by allowing their teeth, by suitable governing
apparatus, to turn or move up out of the way as they come up to the leading

page_text: edge of the platform. Although desirable it is not essential that these beaters
should be furnished with rake teeth, the beater board itself, or a part of it,
may in similar manner be allowed to turn or move up as it comes up to the
leading edge of the platform, so as not to interfere with the cut crop thereon;
a convenient way of doing this is indicated at Figure 4, which is a front view
with some of the parts removed, and partly in section, of a machine which is
in its general features similar to that shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3, but in
place of the rake being fixed to the end of the bar u it is arranged so as to be
able to rock upon the lower end of the bar as an axis, but when the rake
enters the standing crop the teeth are prevented yielding to the pressure
against them by the bolt x, against which the projecting arm u* from the rake
rests, but as the rake comes on to the platform the bolt x is drawn back, and
then the rake teeth are free to ride lightly over the cut crop upon the platform
without disturbing it. All the rakes are not thus treated, one or two of them
are fixed to their arms and clear the platform as they come round as already
described. The bolts x slide up through guide sockets on the arms u, and
they are attached to the slides y which are slotted at both ends; at one end
they embrace the bar r and at the other the rods v, and they work between
guide pins, upon them. Small friction pulleys are mounted upon the slides y,
and these enter the cam groove z fixed upon the bar 1. A plan of the rake
arm with the parts connected therewith and the cam groove z is shown at
Figure 5. Similarly the teeth of the rakes which clear the platform may be
governed to cause them to enter deeper into the standing crop than they
otherwise could, and also to turn or draw back in delivering the cut crop so
as more effectually to ensure the teeth leaving the crop.
Another part of our Invention relates to the position of the axis of the rake
arms working in the manner above described, that is to say travelling in an
inclined circular course. Heretofore this axis has usually been placed behind
the points of the fingers, although in extreme cases it has been an inch or so
in advance of this line, now when the axis is so placed there is a tendency in
the cut crop to pass over the outer side and end of the platform, the rakes not
drawing the cut crop sufficiently inwards.
According to our Invention we place the axis of the rake arms at a distance
in front of the points of the fingers several times greater than this distance
has ever heretofore been even in the most favorable cases, say not less than
six inches even in a narrow machine, and in a machine of ordinary width
we prefer that it should be more than a foot in front of this line, adopting
the proportions indicated by the Drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3. From this
arrangement it results that at the moment the rake comes into the cut crop

page_text: "
on the platform it is moving rapidly to the side at which the crop is to be
discharged, and so it has much less tendency to drive the crop off at the other
side and back of the platform, besides which the distance the crop is carried to
the side is increased.
According to another part of our Invention in order to assist the correct
delivery of the crop at the side of the platform we carry a rail or bent prong,
also shown in Figures 2 and 3, and marked A, around the outer side and back
of the platform at a height of some inches above its guard rim c³, over which
the crop is thus prevented falling. The rail or prong is fixed at its forward
end to the rim of the platform at a point underneath the ordinary prong of the
divider q, q, at its other end, the rail or bent prong is free or unattached, so as
to offer no point on which the crop can hang.
According to another part of our Invention in order that the rake teeth
may clear the platform with greater certainty we form grooves in the platform
corresponding with the tracks of the rake teeth. The teeth enter into these
grooves below the general surface of the platform, and so prevent any portion
of the crop on the platform escaping them. The Drawing, Figure 4, shows a
platform thus constructed; its surface is by preference of sheet zinc; it is con-
veniently reduced to the required form by beating it into a wooden shape
previously prepared.
According to another part of our Invention we arrange and actuate the
rakes and beaters in the following manner :-In place of giving to the rake
arms a motion independent of the axis which carries them, we fix them rigidly
to an inclined axis as has in some cases been heretofore practised, but in place
of arranging this axis in a position intermediate of the cutters and the carrying
and driving wheel, we mount it on the outer side of the carrying and driving
wheel, and by this means we are enabled to use longer rake arms, which
results in a more favorable entry of the rake into the standing crop and a
better delivery from the platform.
Figure 6 is a front view of a portion of a machine arranged in this manner,
the parts not shown being similar to those of Figures 1, 2, and 3. The
casting & in this case receives an inclined axis A in a tubular passage bored
for it, and it is prevented sliding longitudinally in this passage by means of
a groove turned in it and a suitable brass introduced at A'. B is a bevilled
wheel at the lower end of the axis A, it gears with the pinion on the axis k,
and the axis A is thus driven at its upper end; the arms u are fixed, and the
beaters and rakes are in this case rigidly fixed on these arms. With the
speed of gear shown for the beaters and rakes it is desirable to drive the
cutter slower than is indicated by the gear shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3,

page_text: and to give to the cutter a somewhat longer stroke. It should be remarked
that the axis A is not in the plane of the Drawing, its upper end is directed
about two feet in rear of a point vertically over the outer end of the cutter.
Another arrangement which we employ according to our Invention for
delivering the cut crop in sheaves at the side of the machine is a tipping
grating or platform hinged to the back of the finger bar; this platform is
raised to collect the sheaf, and then allowed to drop to discharge it at the
back, just as in many back delivery machines now in use; we, however,
incline the bars of this grated platform away from the standing crop, so that
the platform in discharging may by the incline of the bars tend to carry the
crop sideways; and we use in combination with a tipping platform an
inclined board or track clearer jointed to the outer end of the finger bar; this
track clearer catches the cut crop when it is discharged from the tipping
platform, and in consequence of its inclined position it guides it away to one
side. One or more of the inclined bars of the tipping platform at the end
next the track clearer we make longer or lengthened by means of pieces
jointed to their ends, which serve to prevent the cut crop working underneath
the track clearer. The track clearer is made of greater length than is usual
for the track clearers of mowing machines, and its hinder end is carried by a
pivot wheel; its upper edge for about half its length is furnished with a ledge
projecting backwards, which serves to support the heads of the cut crop when
the crop is so long as considerably to overhang the tipping platform; then
when the tipping platform is dropped to discharge the sheaf the workman
with his rake draws towards him the heads resting on the ledge of the track
clearer, and they then fall under a flange projecting forwards from the upper
edge of the track clearer at its rear end, which keeps the heads down and
compresses the sheaf.
a is
Figure 7 is a plan, and Figure 8 is a side view of a mowing and reaping
machine thus arranged; many of the parts are omitted, as they may be of
any ordinary construction where the finger bar and knife are in front of the
driving wheel, and where there is a seat for the driver over this wheel.
the tipping platform jointed to the back of the finger bar, as is usual, but with
inclined bars of metal, to some of which near the outer end lengthening
pieces a, a, are jointed; 6 is an arm with a treddle upon it at the end.
of the tipping platform, and by means of which the driver can hold the
platform up to collect a sheaf, and allow it to drop to discharge the sheaf
when sufficient has been collected. The driver usually carries a rake, by
means of which he directs the standing crop towards the cutters, and also
assists its delivery when cut. c is a large scraper board jointed at the outer

page_text: end of the finger bar, as is shown; it has on its lower end a narrow flange c¹
projecting inwards to catch the cut crop, and at the back it is supported by an
adjustable castor wheel d to prevent it bearing too heavily upon the land; e is
the ordinary divider, and it has a small adjustable wheel beneath it, as is also
usual when machines of this description are employed to cut tall crops;
c, c, are the broad flanges which we fix at the top of the scraper board
flange supports the heads of the sheaf whilst it is still on the tipping plat-
form, and the flange compresses it and prevents it straggling over the top of
the scraper board as it is discharged. The same machine may be used to
deliver the cut crop in a continuous swath at the side of the machine in place
of in detached sheaves, the tipping platform being then allowed to trail, or
nearly so on the ground and deliver continuously. In this case we attach a
prong or railf to the track clearer to turn over the heads of the cut crop as is
usual, the same prong may also be used in sheafing.. A reel may be used to
lay the standing crop towards the cutters; this addition for many crops will
render the machine self-acting. In some cases for sheafing in place of
lengthening the end bar or bars of the tipping platform by which the sheafing
is effected, we use according to our Invention a second tipping platform like
the first, but with a few bars only, and those at the end nearest the track
clearer; this platform when at work is allowed to trail or nearly trail upon the
land. When the machine is used for swathing the sheaving platform may be
removed.
Figure 9 is a plan, partly in section, of a portion of a machine arranged in
this manner, and in other respects like the machine last described. a is the
finger bar with the divider 6 at its end, and the large scraper bar c jointed to it
as before; d is the sheafing platform jointed to the back of the finger bar and
worked by a treddle, as in Figures 7 and 8; e is the swathing platform with
fewer and longer bars; it is similarly jointed to the finger bar, and immediately
below the sheafing platform. Provision is made for holding up the swathing
platform when travelling, and also to prevent its bars bearing too heavily on
the land. By removing the track clearer the machine may be converted into
a back delivery machine when the nature of the crop renders it desirable.
Another part of our Invention relates to the crank of reaping and mowing
machines. In order that the crank which gives motion to the knife of reaping
and mowing machines may not be liable to lap the cut crop or weeds around
it, we arrange. the parts in the following manner :-At the end of the crank
shaft is a disc, and a circular recess is formed in it, in the centre of this hollow
is fixed the crank pin, which has a spherical head, and is embraced by a cup
on the connecting rod; the rim of the cup enters the recess in the disc, and

page_text: the crank pin is thus protected and kept from contact with the cut crop and
weeds. This arrangement is shewn full size and partly in section at Figure 10.
a is the end of the crank shaft; b, a small disc or fly mounted upon it, and 6'
is a circular recess formed therein; c is the crank pin with a globular head;
d is one half of the cup which embraces the crank pin, and the connecting
rod d' is a continuation of it; the other half of the cup is similar, but without
the connecting rod attached; it forms a cap, which is secured to the part
shewn by bolts passing through the holes d³.
According to another part of our Invention in order to carry the cutters at
a regulated distance from the land we employ a small wheel connected with the
inner end of the finger bar, and we adjust the height of this wheel by making
the end of the arm which carries it as a disc with radial teeth on its face, and"
this fits against a corresponding disc on a projection from the finger bar;
when the two discs are in contact with the wheel at its proper height a screw
bolt passed through the discs securely fixes the arm and wheel. This arrange-
ment is represented at Figure 11, which is a plan of a reaping and mowing
machine such as is described in the Specification of a former Patent granted
to me, the said Richard Hornsby, and dated the 29th day of June 1866
(No. 1738), but with this and certain other improvements herein-after
referred to applied to it. Figure 12 is a side view, partly in section, of the
same machine.
a is the finger bar with the fingers and cutters arranged in
the ordinary manner; a¹ is the shoe at the end of the finger bar, by which it
is connected with the frame of the machine, and at a¹x a circular face is
formed on the side of this shoe with radial teeth, V-form in section upon it,
and a hole through the centre; b is an arm with a similar face upon it at one
end, and these two faces are placed together with the arm in the proper
position, as is shewn, and they are clamped together by a screw bolt passing
through their centre. At the outer end of the arm 6 is a fixed stud on which
a small wheel c rotates.
According to another part of our Invention in reaping and mowing machines
in which a joint at the end of the finger bar connects it with a tubular frame
containing the crank axis which drives the knife, in accordance with the
Specification of the said former Patent already referred to, we raise the finger bar
and with it the outer end of the tubular frame and the crank axis by a chain
connected at one end with a ring encircling the tubular frame, and at the
other with a quadrant with a suitable lever handle turning on a pin on a.
casting in connection with the pole. We also form an arm on the joint con-
necting the finger bar with the tubular frame of the crank axis, and this arm

page_text: projects under the pole, so that when the inner end of the finger bar has been
raised a short distance by the quadrant and chain this projecting arm comes
against the pole, and the rising of the inner end of the finger bar being thus
resisted its outer end is lifted, and so the finger bar can be tilted up to any
required angle. This arrangement is represented in Figures 11 and 12. d is
a tube forming part of a frame which is able to rock upon the axle e of the
carrying wheels; these by ratchets drive the axle when the machine is moving
forwards. The axle e has a ring with the internal teeth fixed upon it, and these
drive the pinion g, the axis of which is carried in bearings on the rocking
frame of which the tube d forms part; g¹ is a bevelled wheel on the same axis
driving a pinion on the crank axis h, which by a connecting rod i drives the
knife or cutter. The shoe a' at the end of the finger bar has two bearings
formed in it at a*, a*, and these receive the tube d into them, and thus the
finger bar is secured to the tube; it can rotate partially thereon, but is
incapable of any other independent movement; k is a ring encircling the
tube d, and connected by a chain with the quadrant 7, which is capable of
turning on a pin attached to the side of the pole m; is a handle upon the
quadrant, by drawing down which the lower end of the tube d and the inner
end of the finger bar jointed to it are raised. As soon as it has moved a short
distance the tail n attached to the lower bearing a* comes against the pole, or
it may be a part in connection therewith, and being in this way stopped it
causes the outer end of the finger bar to rise as the lifting motion of the
quadrant is continued.
r
Another part of our Invention relates to the draught of reaping and
mowing machines. In reaping and mowing machines as the draught is at
present arranged there is a tendency for the outer end of the finger bar to
hang back, and for the end of the pole to draw inwards towards the standing
crop; to obviate this we apply the draught by means of a chain or rod passing
along underneath the pole, and connected with the machine, not as has been here-
tofore in some cases done vertically under the pole, but at a distance sideways,
in this way the tendency to side draught is in great part or entirely overcome.
This arrangement is also represented in Figures 11 and 12. p is the draught
rod, to the forward end of which the whippletrees for the horses are attached;
it works through a guide p¹ on the pole, and at its rear end it is fixed at p³ to
the frame of which the tube d forms part, where several holes are formed to
receive it, so that the amount of side draught may be adjusted as is found
desirable. As will be seen also with this method of applying the draught
there is a tendency to lift the finger bar and cutter, which also is advantageous

page_text: if it is not carried too far; by selecting a suitable hole for the attachment of
the draught bar p this also may be adjusted.
In witness whereof, we, the said Richard Hornsby and James Edwin
Phillips, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-second
day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-seven.
RICHARD HORNSBY.
(L.S.)
JAMES EDWIN PHILLIPS. (L.S.)