IMPROVEMENTS IN HAY-MAKING MACHINES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Atwood Thompson, of Lewes, in the County
of Sussex, Agricultural Implement Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HAY-MAKING MACHINES."
Sealed the 14th October 1856, and dated the 2nd May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Atwood Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd May 1856.
I, HENRY ATWOOD THOMPSON, of Lewes, in the County of Sussex, Agri-
cultural Implement Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAY-MAKING MACHINES," to be as follows:-:
In their general form or structure, the hay-making machines to which my
Invention applies are similar to those of the well-known and usual description.
My Invention consists in the following improvements in construction, the
object being to render the working of the machines as generally effective as
possible, and to decrease the friction and risk of breakage.
My improvevents consist then, first, in the adaptation of solid axles of iron
or other metal, one on each side of the machine, revolving in bearings, which
axles carry one of the travelling or sustaining wheels and cog wheels, which
drive the fork barrels, these wheels being securely keyed or otherwise fastened
to each axle respectively, and turning with it..

page_text: Second, in the employment of bearings, made of wood, brass, iron, or other
metals or materials, for the above axles to work in, so inserted in the side
framework of the machine as to permit them to be removed and replaced by
others when worn out.
Third, in the form of the tines or teeth of the lifting forks, which are so
shaped as to present a curved surface to lift the hay when turning in one
direction, and a straight or slightly curved surface to throw the hay from them
when turning in the opposite direction.
And, fourth, in the arrangement of the side frames from the shafts to the
wheels, so as to enable them to be attached on the outside of the boxes, which
contain the cogged gear work, so as to apply the tractive power in the best
possible position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Atwood Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th October 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
ATWOOD THOMPSON, of Lewes, in the County of Sussex, Agricultural Im-
plement Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry Atwood Thompson, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Atwood
Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henry Atwood Thompson, my 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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN HAY-MAKING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Henry Attwood Thompson, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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..
:

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Atwood Thompson, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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, reference being had to the Drawings annexed
(that is to say) :-
In their general form or structure, the haymaking machines to which my
Invention applies are similar to those of the well-known and usual description.
My Invention consists in the following improvements in construction, the
object being to render the working of the machines as generally effective as
possible, and to decrease the friction and risk of breakage.
My improvements consist then, first, in the adaptation of solid axles of iron
or other metal, one on each side of the machine, revolving in bearings, which
axles carry one of the travelling or sustaining wheels and cog wheels, which
drive the fork barrels, these wheels being securely keyed or otherwise fastened
to each axle respectively, and turning with it.
Second, in the employment of bearings, made of wood, brass, iron, or other
metals or materials, for the above axles to work in, so inserted in the side
framework of the machine as to permit them to be removed and replaced by
others when worn out.
Third, in the form of the tines or teeth of the lifting forks, which are so
shaped as to present a curved surface to lift the hay when turning in one
direction, and a straight or slightly curved surface to throw from them when
turning in the opposite direction.
And, fourth, in the arrangement of the side frames from the shafts to the
wheels, so as to enable them to be attached on the outside of the boxes, which
contain the cogged gear work, so as to apply the tractive power in the best
possible position.
In hay-making machines, as hitherto constructed, the travelling or' sus-
taining wheels have a hollow nave, which nave revolves on a cylindrical tube
or other projection on the side frame of the machine, or a similar arrange-
ment, but with the parts reversed. Now, as the travelling wheels have to
carry cogged gear work to drive the fork barrels, such an arrangement does
not admit of that accuracy of fit and workmanship necessary. for the said gear
work to work efficiently, and this is much aggravated when the machine
begins to wear; the arrangement is also very liable to damage, and creates
great friction, and consequently loss of power in working. Again, after these
machines have been in use for some time, and the moving parts wear away,
the cogged wheels do not work together to the proper depth, and there is no

page_text: means of remedying this without replacing the worn parts by new. The first
and second parts of my Invention obviate these defects.
Figure 1 of the Drawings annexed is a side elevation of my hay-making
machine complete; Figure 2, a transverse section; and Figure 3, an eleva-
tion on an enlarged scale of those particular parts to which the first and
second heads of my Invention apply.
In Figure 2, A, A, is the gear box, which forms part of the framework of
the machine; B, B, is one of the travelling or sustaining wheels. The
following explanations equally apply to the other side of the machine. C' is a
solid axle, made of wrought iron or other material, with two bearings C¹, C",
turned down in it. On to this axle is securely keyed or otherwise fixed the
travelling wheel B, and a cogged wheel J, J, which cause the fork barrel to
revolve. These wheels and axle are mounted, and turn in the bearings E, E¹,
in the usual manner of mill and other heavy gear work. R, R, is a light cap
to cover the projecting parts to prevent the hay getting entangled with them;
P, the axle bar on which the fork barrel L revolves, having a pinion K
attached, to gear into the wheels J, and retained in position by the locking
piece M; N is the reversing pinion, sliding on a bolt Q, and moved by the
lever O, O'.
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of the box A with the cap R removed.
G, G, are two projecting pieces, between which the bearing E (formed of wood,
brass, iron, steel or other metal or material) is placed; this bearing is pre-
vented from falling out of its position by a projecting fin or flange, or any
other analogous well-known methods. D is an aperture left in the side frame
to permit the insertion of the bearing E, and is filled by a square projection
attached to the lower coupling piece F. On the opposite side of the gear box
is a similar arrangement, in reverse position, for the other end of the axle.
With respect to the third head of my Invention, I construct the teeth,
tines, or prongs of the fork heads of the form shewn at Figures 4 and 5.
I make a curved tooth in the usual form, and weld or otherwise attach to the
back thereof another straight or slightly curved portion. The tine presents
a curved surface to enable it to lift the hay when rotating in the direction
from-b to a, and a straight or slightly curved surface when revolving in the
opposite direction; or instead of making the tooth by welding or connecting
two pieces together, I make it solid, or connect the two parts by a thin web
of metal, as shewn at Figure 5, so shaped as to present a similar outline, as
before described..
In carrying out the fourth part of my Invention, I attach the framework

page_text: which carries the shafts for the horse to the outside of the gear boxes, shewn
in Figure 6.
A is a plan of one of the gear boxes, and B, B, the wheel; H, HI, the
frame that carries the shafts. In the bay-making machines hitherto made
this has either occupied the position of the dotted line c, d, or has been curved
into the form of C, C¹.
In my Invention, to attach it to slide frame, and allow the necessary motion
up and down for adjusting the distance of the machine from the ground, the
ends of the frames H,, H, are each formed into a circle H, H, Figure 3,
which embraces a projection on the side A, A, and kept in its position by
projecting snugs I, I, I", or other analogous means. By this arrangement
the tractive force is applied in the best manner to preserve the equilibrium,
and to prevent an oblique strain on the framework.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my improve-
ments in hay-making machines,-
First, the adaptation of solid axles to the travelling and gear wheels of such
machines, which axles revolve in bearings so formed that they can be readily
removed, adjusted, and replaced, as herein-before described.
Second, the forming of the fork head, teeth, or tines with double prongs, as
herein-before described, and represented in the Drawings annexed.
And, third, the arrangement of the side frames from the shaft to the wheels
in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Atwood Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, One thousand
cight hundred and fifty-six.
HENRY ATWOOD THOMPSON. (L.S.)