Improvements in or Applicable to Mowing and Reaping Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Mowing and Reaping Machines.
I, PHILIP PIERCE, of Wexford, in the County of Wexford, Ireland, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
My invention relates to mowing and reaping machines and comprises improved
means for jointing or connecting the inner or main hinge-shoe with the body or
framing to which the said shoe is connected.
Such joints, as hitherto formed, are liable to wear, and the play or freedom
resulting is a source of trouble as it causes the frequent breakage of the connecting
rods or sickles.
According to my invention I make that portion of the hinge-shoe which fits into
the frame conical, and the socket or sleeve into which the said portion fits of a
corresponding shape. The small end of the conical portion is towards the rear of the
machine for a purpose hereinafter described.
The cone on the hinge-shoe is held in its socket by means of a coiled spring and
nut, the spring being so proportioned that, when its coils are closed by screwing up
the nut, the necessary pressure is exerted to keep the cone-surfaces in contact, but
leaving them free enough to work to allow the cutting apparatus to adjust itself to
the inequalities of the ground.
When the coils are closed against each other the spring acts as a solid collar to
prevent the separation of the cones when a back pressure is brought to bear on the
finger-bar in backing the machine. I may, however, leave a slight space between
the coils of the spring for the purpose of allowing the cone-surfaces to separate to a
very slight extent permit a lubricant to flow into the sleeve or socket, which action
will take place each time the machine is backed.
It will be obvious that as the framing is carried forward over the ground (on which
the main-shoe slides) the sleeve is constantly pressed onto the cone of the hinge-shoe,
the working of the machine having a tendency to render the joint formed as herein
described more perfect, because the wear is being continually taken up during the
working by the action of the conical sleeve and cone as described.
Data thorth
ST 1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to Mowing and Reaping Machines.
I, PHILIP PIEROE, of Wexford, in the County of Wexford, Ireland, Engineer, 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:
My invention relates to mowing and reaping machines and comprises improved
means for jointing or connecting the inner or main hinge shoe with the body or framing
to which the said shoe is connected,
Such joints as hitherto formed, are liable to wear, and the play or freedom resulting
is a source of trouble as it causes the frequent breakage of the connecting rods
and sickles.
According to my invention I make that portion of the hinge-shoe, which fits into
the frame and which I term the shank. conical, and the socket or sleeve into which
the said portion fits of a corresponding shape. The small end of the conical portion
is towards the rear of the machine for a purpose hereinafter described.

page_text: The shank on the hinge-shoe is held in its socket by means of a coiled spring
and nut.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same with
reference to the accompanying drawing in which:-
Figure is a plan of so much of a inowing machine as is necessary to illustrate the
application of my invention thereto; and,
Figure 2 is a side view of the same.
Figure 3 is a section on the linea a figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale.
a is the hinge-shoe having the shank b, and. c. is the portion of the body or
framing having the socket or sleeve d into which the shank fits, the said shank
and socket being of conical shape and fitting one within the other as hereinbefore
described.
e is the coiled spring which serves to draw the shank or male cone into the socket
or female cone to compensate for any wear, the said spring being confined between
the socket d and a collar or washer f on the bolt g which latter is provided with the
nut h. It will be noticed by reference to figure 3 that the bolt g passes through the
shank b, and thus serves to maintain all the parts in their proper relative positions.
If desired, however, the end of the shank may be provided with a screw threaded stud,
in which case the bolt can be dispensed with.
When the nut is screwed up so tight as to press the coils of the spring against
each other the said spring acts as a solid collar to prevent the separation of the cones
when a back pressure is brought to bear on the finger-bar in backing the machine.
I may, however, leave a slight space between the coils of the spring for the purpose
of allowing the cone-surfaces to separate to a very slight extent during the
backing of the machine, to permit a lubricant to flow into the sleeve or socket.
It will be obvious that as the framing is carried forward over the ground (on
which the main-shoe slides) the sleeve is constantly pressed onto the cone of the
hinge-shoe, the working of the machine having a tendency to render the joint formed
as herein described more perfect, because the wear is being continually taken up during
the working.
i indicates a knife or sickle, k the pitman or connecting rod and the shoe-wheel, all
of which are of ordinary construction.
I can, if desired, modify the arrangement hereinbefore described by reversing the
positions of the male and female cones, that is to say, by forming the male cone upon
the framing and the female cone upon the shoe.
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 is :-
1. The improvement in mowing and reaping machines consisting in constructing
the hinge-shoe with a conical shank or socket, adapted to enter or receive a
corresponding socket or shank respectively on the framing, substantially as
described.
2. In a mowing or reaping machine, the hinge-shoe of which is jointed to the
framing by a conical shank and socket, the employment of a spring for drawing the
two parts of the joint together, substantially as described.
3. The manufacture and use of a mowing or reaping machine the hinge shoe of
which is jointed to the framing, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 25th day of March 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.