Improvements in Lawn Mowing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lawn Mowing Machines.
I, NEAL PETTER SHULIN, of Butte, Montana, U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of mowing machines provided with sickles
instead of the ordinary rotary cutter; the object of the invention being to
minimize the number of parts usually employed and thus simplify and greatly
cheapen the manufacture besides rendering the machine less liable to get out
of order.
A mowing machine constructed in accordance with this invention, comprises
a suitable framework having side pieces formed in such manner as to support
and protect the two supporting wheels. These wheels have internal cogs meshing
with pinions on a shaft journalled between the side frames and carrying a rotary
cam which engages projections on a movable knife or sickle which is thereby
reciprocated over a similar but fixed counterpart. The pinions are connected to
the shaft by means of ratchet gear so that when the machine is drawn rearwardly
the working parts remain stationary.
The side frames project rearwardly and support a roller journalled therein
in such manner that it can be raised or lowered, by means of a screw or the
like to lower or raise the front part of the machine and the sickles to cut the
grass to any desired length.
The side frames are provided with suitable rearwardly projecting handles for
operating the machine.
Improvements in Lawn Mowing Machines.
I, NEAL PETTER SHulin, of Butte, Montana, U.S.A., Inventor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to improvements in lawn mowers, and is more especially
adapted to that class of such mowers in which the propulsion is performed by
hand-power; and it consists of certain peculiarities in the construction, novel
arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter
more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

page_text: The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a mower which shall be
simple and inexpensive in construction, strong and durable, and effective in
operation; second, such a mower which by reason of the peculiar construction
and operation of its parts will cut the grass at any desired height-that is to say,
from about one half an inch to about six inches from the ground-and will
perform the operation of cutting effectually and satisfactorily when the grass is
wet or dry, and third, a mower which shall be so constructed as to prevent the
wheels and sickles becoming clogged by reason of the accumulation of the cut
particles of grass or sticks and the like.
The fourth object of my invention is to provide a means for imparting to
the cutter bar a reciprocating movement which shall be so rapid as to render
the blades self-cleaning.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains
to make and use the same, will now proceed to describe it, referring to the
accompanying drawings, in which.-
Figure 1 is a top plan view of my mower, showing a portion of the handle
for propelling the same, and illustrating the parts in position ready for use.
Fig. 2 is a front or face view in elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view
partly in elevation, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the cam or operating
wheel for the cutter-bar and the following roller for adjusting the height of
said bars. Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1,
showing one of the cogged gears which engages one of the main wheels
and drives the shaft upon which the cam-wheel is mounted. Fig. 5
is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, as indicated by
the arrows and Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the finger and cutter bars,
taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing the manner of movably securing them
together.
Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the
drawings.
A represents the side pieces of the main or supporting frame and are made,
as shown, circular and with outwardly extending annular flanges a to protect
the upper portion of the main-wheels B, which are mounted on suitable shafts b,
secured to the side pieces A, as is clearly shewn in Fig. 5 of the drawings.
Each of the wheels B is provided with an internal annular gear 6' which meshes
with a cogged gear Con each end of the shaft (", which is also journalled in the
side pieces A and somewhat above the axles of the main wheels. To provide
secure journal-boxes for the shaft (", the pieces A are formed on their adjacent
surfaces with bosses a in their upper parts. Between the bosses a¹ and the
cogged gears C and keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft ("near each of its
ends are located ratchet wheels 1), which engage suitable pawls of the gears (',
which gears are loosely mounted on the shaft (", so that when the main wheels are re-
volved backward the shaft (", upon which the cam wheel E is mounted near its middle
will not revolve. Near each of the bosses a' on the side pieces of the supporting
frame and on the shaft C' is secured, by means of a set screw e a collar e¹ to
hold the upper portions of the side pieces distended.
As is clearly shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 5 of the drawings, the cam-wheel E is
provided on each of its sides with grooves e² and corresponding projections e³
thus forming a worm or cam shaped wheel for operating the cutter bar, as will
be presently explained.
The front part of each of the side pieces A is formed or provided with a down-
wardly extending arm a², to which is secured the lower or stationary finger bar F,
which is provided at its front edge with teeth or fingers f and on its upper surface,
near each end, with a longitudinal rib f¹ of dovetail shape in cross section. On
the finger-bar rests the movable cutter-bar F, which is provided with knives
or blades on its front edge and is formed in its lower surface near each end,
with a longitudinal dovetailed groove f³, for the reception and operation of the
rib f on the finger-bar. The upper surface of the bar F is provided near each

page_text: of its ends with a rounded lug or projection f for engagement with the rocking
levers G, which are pivotally secured to the front of the side-pieces A near their
middles and have in their lower ends arc-shaped bifurcations, as shown at g,
to engage the rounded portions f* on the cutter-bar. To the upper end of each of
the rocking levers G is pivotally secured a cross-bar H, which has projecting
from its inner surface near its middle two bolts h¹, on which are journalled
rollers h, between and with which the cam-wheel E passes and engages. The
cam-shaped faces cause the bar H to move from one side to the other of the
machine, and through the rocking levers G impart a similar motion to the cutter-
bar. The rear portion of each of the side pieces A constitutes a support for the
roller I. By preference it is formed with a projection or arm a³, consisting of
a first member a³, having in its lower edge a series of semicircular openings a,
a second member hinged to the rear end of the first and provided with semi-
circular openings in its upper edge adapted to register with those in the first
member so as to form bearings for the axle of the roller I, and a bolt plate A6,
secured to the first member and removably engaging the free end of the second
member to hold it in operative position. This construction of the projection
or arm a is useful in order that the axle of the roller may be changed from one
of the openings a to another, thus raising or lowering the sickle-bars as is
apparent. The arms a³ are connected by means of a brace-rod a', which serves
To the outer ends of the axles b
to strengthen the rear portion of the frame.
of the main wheels, is secured a yoke L, to the rear portion of which is connected
a handle-bar or piece M for propelling the mower.
From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings it will be seen and clearly
understood that by propelling the machine in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the cogged gears C, carrying the pawls d, will
be rotated in the same direction and the pawls engaging with the ratchets D)
will cause the shaft C" to turn, which will revolve the cam-wheel E, through
which and the cross-bar H and rocking levers G a reciprocating movement will
be imparted to the upper sickle-bar, which movement will be very rapid
and positive and will
the grass to be quickly and thoroughly
cut at the desired height. It is also apparent that the rapid movement of said
sickle-bar will prevent the sickle-bars from becoming choked by means of the
cut grass or other material. It is evident that when the machine is drawn
backward the pawls d will not engage the ratchets and the motion of the shaft C¹,
upon which the cam-wheel is mounted, will not be reversed.
cause
By reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings it will be seen that the rear
edge of the upper sickle-bar F, near its ends, is provided with a tenon f,
which fits and operates in a suitable mortise f7 in a piece f8, secured near the rear
edge and at the ends of the lower sickle-bar, thus providing additional guides for
the upper sickle-bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) In a lawn-mower, the combination with the frame consisting of two side
pieces mounted on driving wheels and provided with outwardly projecting flanges,
downwardly projecting arms at the rear thereof, a roller adjustably journalled in
said arms, a brace-rod connecting them and extending across the frame, down-
wardly projecting arms at the front of the said pieces, a finger bar secured near
the lower ends of the front arms and extending across the frame, and a cutter
bar movable thereover; of levers pivoted to the front arms, connections between
the lower ends of the levers and the reciprocating cutter bar, a cross-bar con-
necting the upper ends of the levers, rollers on the inner face of this bar in
proximity to each other, a shaft journalled in and across the frame above the
main axles and rotated by the driving wheels, a cam-wheel on said shaft and
standing between the rollers, collars on the shaft inside the side pieces, and

page_text: set screws for clamping said collars to their shaft so as to hold them against the
side pieces and the latter distended, substantially as described.
(2) In a lawn mower, the combination with the frame, geared drive wheels
journalled therein, outwardly extending flanges on the frame above the wheels,
arms projecting downwardly from the rear thereof, a roller adjustably journalled
in the arms and across the frame, and downwardly extending arms at the front
of the frame; of a shaft journalled in and extending across the frame above the
main axles, gear wheels on the ends of this shaft meshing with the geared
driving wheels, a double faced cam-wheel secured to the shaft between its ends,
a backing ratchet between one gear and drive wheel, a finger-bar secured to
the lower ends of the front arms, a cutter-bar moving thereover and provided on
its upper face with a rounded projection near each end, levers pivoted to the
front arms and provided in their lower ends with bifurcations standing astride
said projections, a cross-bar connecting the levers, and rollers on said cross-bar
one on either side of and in engagement with the cam-wheel, all substantially
as described.
(3) In a lawn mower, the combination with the frame mounted on driving
wheels, a cam-wheel rotated thereby, a finger-bar carried by the frame and having
a dove-tailed rib on its upper face, a cutter bar having a longitudinal groove
fitting over said rib, and rounded projections on the upper face of the cutter-
bar; of levers pivoted to the frame and having arc-shaped bifurcations in their
lower ends receiving said projections, a cross bar connecting said levers, bolts
mounted in said cross-bar and rollers journalled thereon on opposite sides of
the cam-wheel, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 12th day of June 1899.
R. RAINSFORD,
Agent for Applicant.