Improvements in Mowing-machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mowing-machines.
I, CARL HALVERSCHEID, of 37, Hoch Strasse, of Hagen in the Province of
Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, Manufacturer, 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 invention relates to a mowing-machine, in which a scythe is arranged on a
car or wheeled frame, and in which the handle or handles of this latter is or are
used for effecting the movements of said scythe.
In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanying
drawing, in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the different
views, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a side-view of one mode of construction of my improved machine, in
which the scythe is moved by one handle, the other one being fixed.
Fig. 2 is the upper view of the same.
Fig. 3 a side-view of another mode of construction, in which both handles are
used for moving the scythe.
Fig. 4 is the upper view of this modification, and
Fig. 5 is a detail belonging to the same.
The frame A (Figs. 1 & 2) of the machine is carried by the two side-wheels B B¹
and may be pushed forward by means of the fixed handle C. The other handle C¹
forms a double-armed lever, which is fulcrumed at D to the frame A. The shorter
arm of said lever C¹ forms a toothed sector E which constantly meshes with a cog-
wheel F. This cog-wheel is firmly connected with the rod G, which at its end
carries the scythe-blade H.
If, now, the machine above described is pushed forward by means of the fixed
handle C, and if, further, during this time the sector E is moved to and fro by a
corresponding movement of the handle C', the rod G is swung then alternately to
the left and to the right side, in consequence of which the blade acts in very
nearly the same manner as if actuated by hand.
As already mentioned in the preamble, both handles may be used for operating
the scythe. The arrangement of the parts is in this case, as a matter of course,
The handle C, which was
a somewhat other one, as represented in Figs. 3 & 4.
previously fixed immovably to the frame, is now also fulcrumed at D', and is also
provided with a toothed sector E. The said sector acts on a cog-wheel F', which
constantly meshes with the other cog-wheel F. This cog-wheel F is considerably
higher or broader respectively, than wheel F', in order to enable the two sectors
to be moved one above the other.
Rod G carrying the scythe-blade is in this construction secured to cog-wheel F
not directly, but by means of a forked arm G', carrying also a winged screw I.
Rod G forms a double-armed lever, the shorter arm G' of which extends under the
arm G of cog-wheel F, and screw I before mentioned holds said double-armed
lever G G in proper position with regard to the distance between the blade H
and the ground or bottom; this distance may be altered by a corresponding move-
ment of screw. I.
A bent flat spring K is arranged above arm G' and above the rear part of lever-
arm G, the latter being provided with a projection G' holding the front end of said
spring K. The tension of the spring may be regulated by a nut I'¹ arranged on
the winged screw I.
•
Besides the two rear-wheels B B₁ a roller-like third wheel B' is arranged in
front of the frame A. Said roller-like wheel is held by a fork L fixed to a rod L',

page_text: which is held from the under side of frame A by means of a hinge M. Rod L
has an enlargement L with a central bore and a thread in the same.
A pro
jection A¹ forming part of frame A holds a winged screw I' the threaded part of
which runs through the threaded bore of enlargement L.
The position of the scythe-blade with regard to the ground or bottom may, thus,
be altered in a two-fold way, i.e. there may be an alteration of the height as well
as of the inclination of said blade. I prefer to adjust the height of the blade, or
with other words, the distance between blade and ground by means of the under
screw I, whilst the inclination of the blade with regard to the ground is regulated
by the upper screw I. Finally, the force with which the blade is held down, may
be regulated by the nut I', so that the whole machine may be adjusted to every
special requirement arising from a special condition of the grain to be mown.
The manner of operating and working of this mode of construction is nearly
just the same as described with regard to the construction described first. The
handles C C, whilst used for pushing the machine forward, are at the same time
moved agaiust and from each other, so that also the sectors act on the cog-
wheels F F in a corresponding manner. Cog-wheel F is turned directly by
sector E, and is turned indirectly from sector E' by cog-wheel I. Arm G of
cog-wheel F is, thus, moved to and fro in a horizontal plane and the scythe
held by said arm G₁ operates in the same manner as if moved by hand. The
difference in effect, however, is, that a far greater area may be worked in a far
shorter time, than has been possible with scythes of older construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim:
:-
1. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a wheeled frame, and with hand-
rod or -rods, adapted to drive said frame, of a movable scythe held by the latter,
the hand-rod or -rods having a movement of their own, and being adapted thereby
to operate said scythe, for the purpose as described.
2. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a wheeled frame, and with hand-
rod or rods adapted to drive said frame, of a lever having a scythe blade at its
front-end, and a cog-wheel at its fulcrum, the hand-rod or -rods being connected
with movable toothed sectors gearing with said cog-wheels, for the purpose as
described.
3. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a wheeled frame of two double-
armed levers E' E' held by said frame, said levers carrying at one end hand-
rods C C adapted to turn cog-wheels F F meshing with each other, one of said
cog-wheels forming the fulcrum-part of a lever carrying a scythe-blade at its free
end, for the purpose as described.
4. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a wheeled frame, of two double-
armed levers EE held by said frame, said levers carrying at one end hand-
rods C C adapted to drive the machine, and at the other end toothed sectors E E¹
adapted to turn cog-wheels F F meshing with each other, cog-wheel F forming
the fulcrum-part of a lever G', carrying at its free eud a double-armed lever G G³,
arm G of said lever holding a scythe-blade, arm G' of the same extending below
lever G', and being adjustable by a screw I held by the latter, for the purpose as
described.
5. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a wheeled frame, of two double-
armed levers E' E held by said frame, said levers carrying at one end hand-
rods C C adapted to drive the machine, and at the other end toothed sectors E E¹
adapted to turn cog-wheels F F meshing with each other, cog-wheel F forming
the fulcrum-part of a lever G¹, carrying at its free end a double-armed
lever G G³, arm G of said lever holding a scythe-blade, arm G of the same
extending below lever G', and being adjustable by a screw I held by the latter;
said screw having a nut l' adapted to alter the tension of a spring K acting on
the scythe, for the purpose as described.

page_text: 6. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a transportable frame having an
adjustable front-wheel, and with hand-rod or -rods adapted to drive said frame, of
a movable scythe held by the latter, the hand-rod or -rods having a movement of
their own and being adapted thereby to operate said scythe, for the purpose as
described.
7. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a transportable frame, having an
adjustable front-wheel, and with hand-rod or -rods adapted to drive said frame, of
a lever, having a scythe blade at its front-end, and a cog-wheel at its fulcrum, the
hand-rod or -rods being connected with movable toothed sectors gearing with said
cog-wheels, for the purpose as described.
8. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a transportable frame A having
an adjustable front-wheel B, of two double-armed levers E Es held by said frame,
said levers carrying at one end hand-rods C C adapted to drive the machine and
at the other end toothed sectors E E' adapted to turn cog-wheels F F' meshing
with each other, one of said cog-wheels forming the fulcrum-part of a lever carry-
ing a scythe-blade at its free end, for the purpose as described.
9. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a transportable frame A having
an adjustable front-wheel B', of two double-armed levers E' E' held by said frame,
said levers carrying at one end hand rods C C' adapted to turn cog-wheels F FI
meshing with each other, cog-wheel F forming the fulcrum-part of a lever G'
carrying at its free end a double-armed lever G G³, arm G of said lever holding a
scythe-blade, arm G' of the same extending below lever G', and being adjustable
by a screw I held by the latter, for the purpose as described.
10. In a mowing-machine, the combination with a transportable frame A having
a hinged rod L holding a single front-wheel B, and having a projection A¹ holding
an adjusting-screw 1' for said front-wheel, of the two double-armed levers E' E
held by said frame, said levers carrying at one end hand-rods C C'adapted to drive
the machine, and at the other end toothed sectors E E' adapted to turn cog-
wheels FF meshing with each other, cog-wheel F forming the fulcrum-part of a
lever G carrying at its free end a double-armed lever GG, arm G of said lever
holding a scythe blade, arm G of the same extending below lever G', and being
adjustable by a screw I held by the latter, said screw having a nut I' adapted to
alter the tension of a spring K acting on the scythe, for the purpose as described.
Dated this 16th day of November 1893.
CARL HALVERSCHEID,
By Geo. H. Rayner,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.