A. Combined Lawn Mower; Roller; and Portable Engine or Motor:
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1895-Accepted, 19th Oct.,
1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A. Combined Lawn Mower; Roller; and Portable Engine or Motor:
I, WILLIAM JOHN STEPHENSON-PEACH of Askew Hill, Repton in the County
of Derby, Mechanical Engineer, Teacher of Engineering to Repton School and
Cheltenham College, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained'
in and by the following statement:―
This machine or apparatus is designed for the purpose of mowing and rolling.
lawns, cricket fields and the like by power, and can be used either as mower and
roller combined, that is to say the said machine will mow and roll at the same
operation, or as a roller only; the great advantage of the said machine or apparatus
being that it is driven from the front or steering rollers, thereby greatly facilitating
the turning and steering of the apparatus or machine.
In describing my invention reference will be had to the accompanying sheet of
drawings which will be deemed to form a part of this Specification.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on line 'a.' 'a.' of Figures 2
and 3.
"
Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 'b.b.' of Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a general plan of my improved apparatus.
In carrying out my said invention I provide any suitable motor such as an oil
engine A placed on the after frame B or carriage of the machine and which is
carried by the hind rollers C, C₁, C³, which are preferably divided into two or
more to facilitate turning, three are shewn upon the drawings but I do not bind
myself to that number. The front or steering rollers D, D' are carried by a
suitable frame E above and affixed to which is a vertical tube F working in coned
or other suitable bearings G, G¹ inside another tube of larger diameter H or other
suitable framing as desired, the said outer tube or framing being affixed to the
after carriage B.
From the driving shaft I of the motor A, motion is communicated to a vertical
shaft J by means of two pinions K, K¹ running loosely on the said shaft I and
gearing into a horizontal bevil wheel L keyed to the said vertical shaft J, the
pinions are provided with any suitable form of clutch M engaging either of the
said pinions for forward or reverse motion, the movable part of said clutch sliding
on a feather key on the driving shaft of the motor and operated by a lever, not
shewn upon the drawings pivotted to any suitable part of the frame for the
convenience of the operator as will be readily understood. In case of using a
motor which can be reversed I substitute for the bevil wheels and pinion a worm
and worm wheel or a pair of spiral wheels.
The upper part of the said vertical shaft J is carried by any suitable bracket N
with bearing N¹ fixed to the upper part of the framing, the lower part of said
shaft J being carried by a hanging bracket O which also carries the bevil
gear P, P¹ for communicating motion to the front roller shaft Q. The said roller
shaft is provided with any suitable clutches R, R¹ for driving either or both
rollers D'or D'. These clutches being worked by any suitable arrangement of
levers S (see Figure 2) pivotted in any suitable manner and position on the
framing and terminating in hand levers T, T¹ convenient for the operator. The
rollers D, D¹ are separated in the middle by a sufficient space for the said bracket
and gearing and also for the purpose of facilitating the steering or turning the
machine or apparatus.

page_text: On the front roller shaft Q is fixed a chain or sprocket wheel U gearing into
another chain or sprocket wheel V communicating motion to the mowing
machine W, the said mower being of any type or construction suitable for the
purpose, and fixed in any detachable manner to the fore carriage or movable part
of the machine as shewn in Figures 1 and 3.
The
On the framework of the forecarriage is fixed the seat ✗ of the operator.
steering is effected by means of a worm Y and wheel Z or bevil wheel and pinion
if desired communicating motion to a diagonal transverse shaft 1 gearing by means
of two pinions 2 and 3 and bevilled wheel 4 with clutch similar to that described
for the main driving gear (K, K, M,) for the right or left hand motion these
communicating motion to the horizontal shaft 5 which terminates in a worm 6,
engaging a worm wheel 7 fixed to the movable part F of the fore carriage, the
clutch being worked by rods and levers and terminating in a handle 8 placed
conveniently for the operator.
It is evident that I may employ any kind of motor other than an oil engine as
herein before described, and in case of a steam engine being employed the operator
would sit on the after carriage so as to be in proximity to the engine and boiler
and the necessary levers would be arranged accordingly, reverse motion would in
this case be obtained by the engine instead of the gearing K, K', M. The steering
gear might also in such a case be driven by a pair of separate engines so as to
steer at different speeds.
The after carriage B₁ is pivotted to the other part of the framing and being
removable will be found a great convenience in moving the machine by horse or
other draught power, the shafts in this case being fixed to the hind roller frame
and thus doing away with the necessity of uncoupling the front.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A roller in combination with and adapted to be driven and steered from the
front rollers D, D', by any suitable portable motor such as an oil engine A, the
hind or trailing rollers C, C', C2, being pivotted to the after carriage or framing of
the machine substantially as described and illustrated.
2. A detachable lawn mower W of any suitable type or description in com-
bination with a roller to be driven by any suitable portable motor from the front
rollers D, D¹ thereof, the said mower being adapted to be driven from the front
roller shaft substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The whole substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1895
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.