IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES." A communication from abroad
by Samuel Johnston, of Brockport, New York, United States of America.
Scaled the 7th July 1876, and dated the 1st May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st May 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
A communication.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of the rako and reel
apparatus for harvesting machines, and is designed to effect the driving of the rake
and reel arms in their different paths by moro simple means than heretofore.
The said Invention comprises a peculiar construction of tracks or guideways on which
rollers on the rake and reel arms run, and the driving of the rake and reel shaft
directly from the main wheel. The axle of tho said main wheel which is supported
in suitable bearings on the main frame has on it a beviled pinion which gears with
and drives a wheel whereon the rake arms and reel arms are pivoted so that the
said arms are driven directly from the main wheel. The rollers of these arms run
The rollers of
on the aforesaid tracks or guides which form part of a central cam.
the rake arms are arranged nearer to the axis or pivots on which the said arms are
hinged than the rollers of the reel arms are arranged with regard to the pivots of
the said reel arms. By reason of this arrangement the rollers of the said recl arms
during a part of the revolution of the said shaft run on a part of the track which
is so shaped as to cause the reel arms after they have approached the finger_bar
in gathering to rise over the platform whilst the rollers of the rake arms run along
the outer edge of the cam which causes the rako arms to keep down and sweep the
cut grain from the said platform.
Hitherto in harvesting machines the direction of the rake and reel arms in
different paths has not been effected without a movable guide piece, whereas this
Invention obviates the necessity for a movable guide piece. The said arms have
also hitherto been driven by gearing more or less complicated, while by this
Invention they are rotated directly from the main wheel as above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st
October 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
A communication from abroad by Samuel Johnston, of Brockport, New York,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of the rake and
reel apparatus for harvesting machines, and is designed to effect the driving of the
rake and reel arms in their different paths by more simple means than here-
tofore.
The said Invention comprises a peculiar construction of tracks or guideways on
which rollers on the rake and reel arms run. It also comprises the driving of the
rake and reel arms directly from the main wheel.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn how the said Invention may be
advantageously carried into practise.
Figure shows the application of my improvements to a harvester, the parts of
the machine not necessary for illustrating this Invention being omitted; Figure 2
is a plan; and Figure 3 a perspective view of a cam forming part of my Invention;
Figure is a section on the line, x; and Figure 5 is a section on the line y, y,
Figure 2; Figure 6 shews a part of a reel arm; and Figure 7 shews a part of a
rake arm forming part of the said Invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view; and
Figure 9 is a section of the toothed wheel and bracket on which the rake and recl
arins are pivoted.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A is the main wheel; B is the main axle, which by means of the pinion C drives
the wheel D, whereon the rake arm E and reel arms F are pivoted so that the
said arms are driven directly from the said main wheel. The rollers e, c', j, of
these armis run on the tracks or guides g, g*, which form part of a central cam G.
The rollers e, c', of the rake arm are so arranged that they are farther from the axis
or pivot e on which the said arm is hinged than the rollers f of the reel arms F
are from the pivots 1 of the said reel arms so that the rollers frun on the track *
during a part of the revolution of the shaft, whilst the rollers e, e', always remain
on the track g. Therefore during the revolutions of the arms the rollers running
along the track g* cause the reel arms after they have approached the finger bar in
gathering to rise over the platform, whilst the rollers e, c', running along the outer
edge of the cam cause the rake arm to keep down and sweep the cut grain from
the said platform.
Hitherto in harvesting machines the direction of the rake and reel arms in
different paths has not been effected without a movable guide piece, whereas this
Invention obviates the necessity for a movable guide piece. Moreover the said
arns have hitherto been driven by gearing more or less complicated, white by this
Invention they are rotated directly from the main wheel as above described.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim in and forming part of a harvesting machine-
First. A cam without a movable guide piece, and which causes the reel arms to
rise over the platform and the rake arm to sweep the platform for the purpose
specified..
Second. The rake arm or arms with rollers arranged farther from the pivots
thereof than the rollers of the reel arms are arranged from their pivots, whereby
the rake arm or arms will be caused to sweep the platform whilst the reel arms
rise over the said platform as above set forth.
Third. The combination of a cam with rake and reel arms whose track rollers
are arranged at different distances from their pivots when this cam directs the said
arms in their different paths without the use of a movable guide piece.

page_text: Fourth. A cam G with paths g and, g* as above described and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. The reel arms with track rollers arranged nearer to the pivots of the arms
than the track rollers of the rake arm or arms for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The rake and reel arms driven directly from the main wheel shaft by
gearing the latter into the wheel carrying the said rake and reel arms.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WM RORT LAKE (LS)
WA RORT LAKE (LS)