IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hornsby and James Edwin Phillips,
both of Spittlegate Iron Works, Grantham, in the County of
Lincoln, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 25th May 1869, and dated the 3rd December 1868.
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 3rd December 1868.
We, RICHARD HORNSBY and JAMES EDWIN PHILLIPS, both of Spittle-
gate Iron Works, 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 reaping machines in which the crop is delivered at the side of the
platform in a continuous swathe by means of endless chains having

page_text: teeth upon them, or by other similar instruments, we actuate such
chains or instruments by means of a roller passing along the front of
the platform. The roller at its further end is furnished with a bevilled
pinion gearing with a corresponding pinion on the axis of the pulleys,
around which the chains or similar instruments pass. The roller is
driven by a short inclined axis connected with its end by an universal
joint and receiving motion it may be by means of a driving chain.
passing to a pulley on the axis of the pinion, which takes its motion
directly from the carrying wheel.
In machines of this description which deliver a swathe there is
necessarily the weight of the delivering apparatus on the platform of the
machine, and it is desirable to counterbalance this weight by placing the
other weights on the other side of the main carrying wheel. We
therefore mount the whole of the driving gear of such machines so that
it is carried entirely by a single frame on the outer side of the main
carrying wheel. The frame is formed of top and bottom bars of wrought
iron with cast-iron distance blocks between them.
We construct the rods of reaping machines in such manner that the
diameter of the reel may be adjusted by making the radial arms at one
end of the recl to slide in and out longitudinally from the axis, and at
the other end jointing the arms to the beaters, and also to a slide on the
axis. By traversing the slide along the axis the arms are thrown into
positions more or less inclined to the axis, and the distance of their
outer ends from the axis varics accordingly.
Where the standing erop tends to fall outwards we employ to lift it
a curved metal plate provided with a point at its leading end, which
when the machine is at work travels just outside the roots of the crop
and close to the ground, so that the plate may take up the laid crop
upon it. The plate may be carried by a stay passing from the pole to
the finger bar, and be jointed to the stay so that it may accommodate
itself to the inequalities of the land. The inner edge of the plate is
curved so as to press the crop inwards and get better underneath any
that is laid. The prong lifters heretofore employed have been fixed on
one of the fingers; this is not a secure way of carrying the lifter, as the
finger is liable to break off. We in some cases joint the lifter (it may
be a prong lifter or a plate, as above described) to the leading edge of
the platform, and again support it from one of the fingers; in this way
sufficient strength is readily obtained.

page_text: In some reaping machines the frame of the machine carries the pinion
which gears with the ring of teeth of the main carrying wheel, and to
obtain the required adjustment in height without interfering with this
gear the axis of the main carrying wheel is carried by an arm or
quadrant capable of turning about the pinion axis, and of being locked
in any required position; in such machines the axis of the pinion has
always been in front of the axis. of the carrying wheel,, we place it
behind, which simplifies and reduces the weight of the gearing, by
which in some machines motion is given from the pinion axis to a
horizontal axis actuating beaters or rakes which sweep the platform and
deliver the crop in sheaves at the side..
Also in machines in which the main carrying wheel is supported in
the manner above stated, we attach a guard plate to the arm or quadrant
carrying the axis of the wheel to prevent dirt from falling into its
toothed driving ring, which now frequently causes breakage of the
parts...
In machines in which the rakes which clear the platform are carried.
by an inclined axis on the outer side of the carrying wheel, we give
motion to this axis by mounting a worm wheel upon it and making it
to gear with a worm on the axis of the pinion which the main carrying
wheel drives. In machines in which the rakes sweep round in this way
the driver has to be seated sufficiently far forward to avoid the revolving
rakes; it is usual for him to ride one of the horses, but this is not
convenient. Now we fix to the pole on the inner side a shaft, so that
one of the horses may be harnessed between the pole and the shaft,
and we then fix a scat for the driver upon the pole; the shaft serves
to prevent the weight of the man coming upon the neck of the horse
as it would otherwise do, and it also keeps the pole sufficiently steady.
We make the shaft of a wrought-iron tube suitably bent and bolted to.
the pole.
In order to prevent the rapid wear which is now found to occur to
the finger bar immediately under the cutter bar at the point where the
connecting rod is jointed to it, and which wear by roughening the
rubbing surfaces also causes great friction, we fix to the cutter bar
near its attachment to the connecting rod a lug or projection furnished,.
by preference, with a steel face on its under side; it rests upon the top
of the stop or guide, which restrains the lateral movement of the cutter
bar, a suitable face being formed on the stop or guide to receive the lug:

page_text: or projection. The rubbing surfaces being thus considerably increased
in area no under wear takes place. The thrust of the connecting rod
also tends, in machines in which the finger bar is inclined, to drive the
cutter bar laterally down this incline, and considerable friction against
the stop or guide results; this we also avoid by forming the rubbing face
on which the lug or projection above mentioned bears at an inclination
opposite to that of the face of the cutter bar.
In mowing machines it is usual to carry the cutting apparatus in
front of the carrying wheel. In some cases it has been however placed
behind, and when so placed it travels better over uneven ground; but
this plan is not usually adopted, because the cutting apparatus being kept
down to the ground only by its own weight it tends to rise when it gets
into heavy work. Now we, in place of drawing by the pole, draw by a
draft bar or chain connected with the arm which carries the cutting
apparatus at a point below the axle of the carrying wheel, so that the
draft then tends to keep the cutting apparatus down to its work. The
position of the point of attachment of the draft bar we adjust so that
the cutting apparatus may be held down with the force required. The
arm or frame which carries the cutting apparatus also carries. the. driving
gear, and we arrange it so that it can all turn freely together about the
axis of the carrying wheel.
In such machines, in order to lift the cutting apparatus off the land
to avoid obstacles, and for travelling, we use a lever handle having on-
its axis two quadrants, a chain passes from one of them to an arm fixed.
to the finger bar, and by drawing it down when the handle is acted on
it causes the finger bar to turn upon the main arm or frame, and so
raisos its outer end. At the same time the chain from the other
quadrant draws down the forward end of the main arm or frame.
raising the hinder end, and with it the end of the finger bar which
is fixed to it.
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 2nd June 1869.
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 2nd June 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, RICHARD
HORNSBY and JAMES EDWIN PHILLIPS, both of Spittlegate Iron Works,
Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, 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 executors, 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
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 "IMPROVEMENTS 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 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 Invention, 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 I, the said Richard Hornsby, on behalf of
myself and the said 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 ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping and mowing
machines. In reaping machines in which the crop is delivered at the
side of the platform in a continuous swathe there is necessarily the
weight of the delivering apparatus on the platform of the machine, and
it is desirable to counterbalance this weight by placing the other weights
on the other side of the main carrying wheel, we therefore mount the
whole of the driving gear of such machines so that it is carried entirely
by a single frame on the outer side of the main carrying wheel; the
frame is by preference formed of top and bottom bars of wrought iron
with cast iron distance blocks between them.

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 a side view of a reaping machine
thus arranged.
a is the frame, consisting of distance blocks of cast iron, carrying the
bearings of the moving parts and interposed between top and bottom
bars of wrought iron; b is the pole fixed to the frame; c is the axis of
the driving pinion, it is carried by the frame and gears with a ring of
internal teeth on the main carrying wheel d, the axis of this wheel is a
stud fixed upon a quadrant turning about the axis c, the teeth of the
quadrant gear with the worm e mounted on the frame a, so that by
turning this screw the main wheel & can be raised or lowered; a bevilled
wheel on the axis c drives a pinion on the crank shaft f, which by a
connecting rod gives motion to the knife. To the back of the frame a
the finger bar g with the fingers g¹ upon it is fixed, and it is further
supported by a stay h. The platform i is fixed to the back of the finger
bar, and there is on its further side the small supporting wheel k, but
the weight which comes on this wheel is small, the frame and gear on
the further side of the main wheel & counterpoising the greater part of
the weight of the platform and parts connected therewith; is a divider
for separating the portion to be cut from the remainder of the standing
crop; m, m, are endless chains with teeth upon them travelling across
the platform and passing around pulleys m' and m on the axis of
the pulleys; m² is a pinion gearing with another pinion on the roller »
passing across the front of the platform, and this is driven by an inclined
shaft o connected with it by an universal joint, and having at its end a
chain wheel o' from which a crossed driving chain passes to a chain
wheel upon the axis c. Thus the cudless chains are caused to deliver
the crop which falls upon the platform as it is cut by the knife in a
swathe at one side. p is a guide fixed to the platform, and which turns
the crop partly round as it falls so as to lay the ears all to one side of
the swathe; q is the driver's seat fixed on the frame; r is a prong fixed
on the outer finger, it travels just outside the edge of the standing crop
and supports it as it is cut.
Also according to our Invention we construct the recls of reaping
machines in such manner that the diameter of the reel may be adjusted.
by making the radial arms at one end of the reel to slide in and out
longitudinally from the axis, and at the other end jointing the arms to
the beaters, and also to a slide on the axis. By traversing the slide
along the axis the arms are thrown into positions more or less inclined

page_text: to the axis, and the distance of their outer ends from the axis varies
accordingly.
26
This improvement is also illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the
Drawings. s is the axis of the reel, it is carried in bearings on a light
frame in the manner clearly shown at Figure 3; t, t, are the beaters,
their ends towards the standing crop are carried by arms a jointed to
them, and also to a slide on the axis 8. By moving the slide along
the axis the beaters are moved near to or further from the axis, the
arms being thrown into a more or less inclined position. A pin passed
through the slide and the axis secures it in the place required. . The
adjustment at the other end of the beaters is conveniently obtained by
causing the arms 10 to slide past each other on either side of the axis s,
which here receives a four-sided metal casting with sockets through
which bolts are passed; the bolts are provided with caps and nuts, and
by screwing them up the arms are firmly clamped to the axis in any
position in which they may be placed.
Also according to our Invention where the standing crop tends to fall
outwards we employ to lift it a curved metal plate provided with a point
at its leading end which when the machine is at work travels just
outside the roots of the crop and close to the ground so that the plate
may take up the laid crop upon it. The plate may be carried by a stay
passing from the pole to the finger bar, and is jointed so that it may
accommodate itself to the inequalities of the land. The inner edge of
the plate may be curved so as to press the crop inwards and get better
underneath any that is laid.
This jointed plate is shown together with the parts which carry it in
side view at Figure 4, and in plan at Figure 5. y is this plate with
hinges at y', y';,, are screws by which the plate is clamped to the
stay h, it is adjustable in height at one end, as the Drawing shows. The
joints of the plate allow it to rise to the inequalities of the land.
The prong lifters heretofore employed have been fixed on one of the
fingers, this is not a secure way of carrying the lifter as the finger is
liable to break off. We according to our Invention in some cases joint
the lifter (it may be a prong lifter or a plate, as above described), to the
leading edge of the platform and again support it from one of the fingers,
in this way sufficient strength is readily obtained.
This method of carrying a lifter is shown in plan at Figure 6, and in
side view at Figure 7. a is the finger bar with the fingers a¹
upon
;

page_text: b is the knife; c, the platform fixed to the finger bar; d, a bracket
bolted to the platform; e, the lifter jointed to this bracket, and steadied
laterally by one of the fingers a**, which is turned up at the end and
forked so that the stem of the divider may pass between its prongs.
Another part of our Invention relates to reaping machines in which
the frame of the machine carries the pinion which gears with the ring of
teeth of the main carrying wheel, and in which to obtain the required
adjustment in height without interfering with this gear the axis of the
main carrying wheel is carried by an arm or quadrant capable of turning
about the pinion axis and of being locked in any required position. In
such machines the axis of the pinion has always been in front of the axis
of the carrying wheel, we according to our Invention place it behind,
which among other advantages simplifies and reduces the weight of the
gearing by which in some machines motion is given from the pinion
axis to a horizontal axis actuating beaters or rakes which sweep the
platform and deliver the crop in sheaves at the side.
Figure 8 is a side view of a portion of a machine thus constructed.
a is a frame constructed substantially as already described in respect to
Figure 1, except that the axis 6 of the first pinion is now in rear of the
main carrying wheel c, and this admits of the bearings of all the moving
parts on the frame being carried by one casting; these parts are the axis b,
the inclined crank axis d driven thereby, the quadrant e, and the adjusting
screw. The beater arms in this machine are jointed to a hollow axis g
which is capable of turning about a fixed stem passing up within it.
The upper end of the stem is inclined and the beater arms are linked to
a cap upon its upper end and are thus governed as heretofore, the hollow
axis g is driven by a bevilled wheel g' upon it gearing with a pinion, the
axis of which is carried by a standard on the frame, and which is driven
by a train of wheels as is shown from a pinion on the axis b, which axis
as will be observed is now immediately underneath the axis g, and
consequently the weight of the driving train is much less than it would
be were this pinion on the other side of the axis of the main wheel c.
Another advantage of the arrangement is that the driving gear is
rendered more compact by the shortening of the crank axis d, which
admits of all the bearings being conveniently formed on one casting.
According to another part of our Invention in machines in which
the main carrying wheel is supported on a quadrant in the manner above
stated; we attach a guard plate to the arm or quadrant carrying the

page_text: axis of the wheel to prevent dirt from falling into its toothed driving
ring, which now frequently causes breakage of the parts.
Figure 9 is a side view of the main carrying wheel of a reaping
machine with its supporting quadrant, and the guard which by our
Invention we combine therewith; Figure 10 is a transverse section of
the same parts. a is the quadrant capable of being turned partly
round its centre a', which is carried by the frame by an adjusting screw
to regulate the height of the main wheel which turns on a stud b¹
fixed in the quadrant; c is the guard plate fixed to the quadrant, and
consequently following the main wheel in its adjustments. The same
guard plate also partially encircles the pinion and protects it.
Also according to our Invention in machines in which the rakes which
clear the platform are carried by an inclined axis on the outer side of the
carrying wheel, we give motion to this axis by mounting a worm wheel
upon it, and making it to gear with a worm on the axis of the pinion
which the main carrying wheel drives.
This arrangement is shown in side view at Figure 11, and in front
view at Figure 12, both of these Figures are partly in section. The
general arrangement of the machine shown in these Figures is as already
described. a is a worm fixed on the axis of the first pinion, and b is the
inclined axis of the beaters or rakes, it has a worm wheel b¹ upon it at
its lower end gearing with the worm a, and so the beaters or rakes are
driven when the machine is at work; the wheel ¹ is not fixed on its
ぴ
axis but engages with teeth formed upon it, the spring be keeping the
teeth in gear when the machine is running forwards. The beaters or
rakes can, however, be turned round by hand when the machine is
stationary for the purpose of adjustment. In machines in which the
rakes sweep round as in the machine shown at Figures 11 and 12, or
otherwise in a similar manner, the driver has to be seated sufficiently far
forward to avoid the revolving rakes, it is usual for him to ride one of the
horses but this is not convenient; now we fix to the pole on the inner
sido a shaft, so that one of the horses may be harnessed between the pola
and the shaft, and we then fix a seat for the driver upon the pole; the
shaft serves to prevent the weight of the man coming upon the neck of
the horse as it would otherwise do, and it also keeps the pole sufficiently
steady. We make the shaft of a wrought-iron tube suitably bent and
bolted to the pole.
This arrangement is shown in plan at Figure 13, and in side view at

page_text: Figure 14.
" is the pole of the machine; b, a socket mounted on i
into which the stem c carrying the seat c¹ is inserted; on the scat c¹ the
driver of the machine sits, and in order that his weight may not fall on
the necks of the horses as it would do if the pole were supported only
by the pole chains connecting it with the collars of the horses, we fix
upon the pole a shaft d made of wrought-iron tuhe, or it may be of metal
of other section. It is attached to the pole by a bolt at d' and is
supported by a tic e connecting a bracket upon it with a corresponding
bracket on the pole. The horse on the inner or cutter bar side is
harnessed between the shaft and pole with shaft harness, and the weight
is taken upon the ordinary cart saddle where it can be supported by
the horse without inconvenience. On the outer side of the pole the
second horse is harnessed to a whipple tree which, however, is not
free like an ordinary whipple tree, but is supported at the centre from
the pole by a light metal bracket f¹with which also it is connected by
the draft chain. In connection with these arrangements it is con-
venient to use apparatus for throwing the machine in and out of gear
by means of a bar running along the pole as heretofore in the cases
where the driver has ridden the horse, the apparatus requires no modifi-
cation except that it is convenient to mount its lever on the socket of
the seat in place of upon a separate support provided for the purpose
as heretofore, and this lever will be very readily worked by the driver on
the seat and more conveniently than when he rides the horse, this is one
of the advantages of our Invention. g is the lever turning on a pin g¹
projecting from the socket, there is a coiled spring upon the pin as is
shown pressing it up towards the socket; ' is an incline on the socket
on which the upper end of the lever rests, and when it is drawn back to
throw the machine out of gear it passes over the end of the incline and
becomes locked against the shoulder which is there formed, the coiled
spring causing it to pass behind the shoulder preventing its escape, the
driver lias to push it outwards when he desires to liberate it; h is a rod
passing from the lower end of the lever along the pole, it is connected
at its further end with a chain by means of a coupling for adjusting the
length, and the chain passes around a pulley to the end of the throwing
out lever i, this lever gives motion to a fork & sliding in a guide in the
frame, and the fork embraces a neck on the pinion gearing with the ring
of teeth on the main carrying wheel; when this pinion is drawn back by
mcans of the lever c, ratchet teeth formed on it escape from a tooth or
projection on the axis, so that the pinion is then free to rotate without

page_text: driving the axis, a spring returns the pinion into gear when the lever g
is freed from the shoulder of the incline b.
If desired a shaft may be applied on the outer side of the pole as well
as on the inner, as is shown at Figuro 15, but this is not usually
required. When it be desired to pass the machine through a gate or
doorway or narrow passage the outer shaft may be turned up out of the
way by removing the outer one of the two bolts connecting the shaft e
with the bracket on the pole.
As a substitute for the shafts we sometimes mount on the pole a
standard ; Figure 16 carrying a cross bar m resting on the cart saddles
of the horses, it drops into the groove of the saddle and may be secured
by a light strap, the bar m is connected by a pin with the standard
which serves as a centre to the bar to rock upon with the motion of the
horses, and a number of holes are provided for adjustment as the
Drawing shows. The weight of the man seated on the seat carried
by the pole is thus laid upon the backs of the horses as when shafts
are used.
Our Invention of affixing a metal shaft or shafts to the polc is also
advantageously applicable to mowing machines as it greatly assists the
backing of the machine, which is necessary at each corner of the field
where the line of work is changed, so that the machine having cut along
to the end of one side may change its direction and cut along the next
side, and so on. At present in thus backing the end of the pole rises in
a very inconvenient way; this difficulty is overcome by combining with
the pole of the machine a metal shaft or shafts in the manner described.
The essential features of this part of our Invention are then the
constructing reaping machines having rakes or beaters revolving about
an axis, as described, with a seat upon the pole and a shaft or shafts or
equivalent contrivance in combination therewith to transmit the weight
of the rider to the back of the horse or horses, substantially as herein
set forth.
Also combining with the pole of a reaping or mowing machine a shaft
or shafts formed of a wrought-iron tube or of metal of other suitable
section, substantially as herein set forth.
Also according to our Invention in order to prevent the rapid wear
which is now found to occur to the finger bar immediately under the
cutter bar at the point where the connecting rod is jointed to it, and

page_text: which wear, by roughening the rubbing surfaces, also causes great
friction, we fix to the cutter bar near its attachment to the connecting
rod a lug or projection furnished by preference with a steel face on its
under side; it rests upon the top of the stop or guide which restrains the
lateral movement of the cutter bar, a suitable face being formed on thic
stop or guide to receive the lug or projection. The rubbing surfaces
being thus considerably increased in area no undue wear takes place. The
thrust of the connecting rod also tends in machines in which the finger
bar is inclined to drive the cutter bar laterally down this incline, and
considerable friction against the stop or guide results; this we also avoid
by forming the rubbing face on which the lug or projection above
mentioned bears at an inclination opposite to that of the face of the
cutter bar. This arrangement is shown in plan and full size at Figure 17,
and in side view, partly in section, at Figure 18. a is the finger bar,
the part shown being that at its inner end; is a casting, called the
slade, fixed to it as is usual, and so formed as to pass casily over the
inequalitics of the laud; c is the tie connected with the slade and
connecting the finger bar with the pole; d is the cutter bar with the
cutters d' upon it; e is a casting forming the cutter bar end rivetted to
the cutter bar, and having an eye in it at e' to receive the pin or end
of the connecting rod f; the parts fand f¹ may be made in one piece;
g is a casting bolted on to the finger bar, and serving as a guide for the
cutter bar end; h is a cap bolted on to this casting, and serving to keep
the end of the connecting rod in its place and prevent it escaping
from the cutter bar end; .ex is a lug or projection formed upon the
cutter bar end to provide increased wearing surface, as above stated; it
has a plate of hard steel e attached to its under side; i is a stop or
guide fixed on the slade, and serving both to restrain the lateral move-
ment of the cutter bar down the incline of the finger bar, which it does
by abutting on the front of the cutter bar, and also as a support for the
lug or projection e", a smooth and hard surface being provided upon it,
as is shown, for the lug or projection to work over.
In mowing machines it is usual to carry the cutting apparatus in
front of the carrying wheel. In some cases it has however been placed'
behind, and when so placed it travels better over uneven ground, but:
the plan is not usually adopted, because the cutting apparatus being
kept down to the ground only by its own weight it tends to rise when it
gets into heavy work

page_text: Now we according to our Invention in place of drawing by the pole
draw by a draft bar or chain connected with the arm which carries the
cutting apparatus at a point below the axle of the carrying wheel, so
that the draft then tends to keep the cutting apparatus down to its
work. The position of the point of attachment of the draft bar we
adjust so that the cutting apparatus may be held down with the force
required. The arm or frame which carrics the cutting apparatus also
carries the driving gear, and we arrange it so that it can all turn freely
together about the axis of the carrying wheel. In such machines in
order to lift the cutting apparatus off the land, to avoid obstacles, and for
travelling, we use a lever handle having on its axis two quadrants, a
chain passes from one of them to an arm fixed to the finger bar, and by
drawing it down when the handle is acted on it causes the finger bar to
turn upon the main arm or frame and so raises its outer end; at the
same time the chain from the other quadrant draws down the forward
and of the main arm or frame, raising the hinder end and with it the
end of the finger bar which is fixed to it..
Figure 19 is a side view, and Figure 20 is a plan of a mowing machine
a is the pole
thus constructed, both these Figures are partly in section.
of the machine fixed into a socket in a casting b, through which the
axle of the main carrying wheels c' passes; d is a seat also mounted on
the casting b; e is the cast frame which carries the working parts; the
axle passes through a socket cast upon this frame, and the frame is able
to turn freely on the axis. This frame carries the axis f of the pinion g
gearing with the teeth on the main wheel c'; also the inclined axis h
driven by bevilled gear from the axis fand having the driving crank at
its lower end. This axis passes through a tubular portion of the frame,
the exterior of which is embraced by rings i forming part of the casting
or slade i to which the finger bar k is fixed. is a ring on the axle, from
which stays pass to the frame e to steady it; m is the lever for lifting
the finger bar, it gives motion to an axle n, on which are the two
quadrants n¹ and n²; the quadrant n' acts to draw down a chain o, and a
bar to which it is connected is thus caused to press upon the forward end of
the frame e to which it is jointed, and as the frame is free to tip on the
axis its hinder end is thus lifted; at the same time the quadrant n³ by
means of the chain p passing over the pulley q draws down the arm 1
fixed on one of the rings i¹; the casting i is thus made to turn upon

page_text: the frame e, and so the finger bar is further raised especially at its
outer end.
Figure 21 is a front view, partly in section, showing the arrangement
for throwing the first pinion in and out of gear; s, Figure 19, is the
draft bar, which according to our Invention we fix to the frame or arm e
which carries the cutting apparatus; the horses are harnessed to this bar
by whippletrees. At its point of attachment it can be adjusted up or
down by shifting it from one to the other of the holes provided for it in
the frame, as is shown. It is obvious that the further the line of draft
is brought below the axle the greater will be the tendency to keep the
finger bar down to its work, but for this not only would the resistance
of the crop opposed directly to the progress of the finger bar cause it
to rise when the crop is thick, but the resistance of the knife transmitted
to the pinion gearing with the teeth on the main carrying wheel tends
in the same direction. This method of keeping the finger bar to its 1
work when it is carried behind the main wheels is also applicable to
machines of other construction.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Hornsby, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
2