Improvements in Mowing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mowing Machines.
1, HUGH REID GRIFFIN, of 36 Worship Street, Finsbury in the County of London,
Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has been
communicated to me from abroad by The Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping
Machine Company, of Hoosick Falls, County of Rensselaer, State of New York,
United States of America and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
The improvements relate to Mowing Machines.
The first part of the invention has relation to the construction of the frame, and
consists of a cast frame, in one arm of which the axle has its bearing, and in which, in
a second right angled arm, the crank shaft, has its bearings. This cast frame is united
with the shoe support by tubular braces, preferably of gas pipe, extending from the
grass side of the cast frame, from the angle of the axle and crank shaft bearing, and
from the forward end of the crank shaft bearing. The cast frame is also provided
with rearwardly extending arms, to support the counter-shaft, and also with the rear-
wardly extending lug, between which is supported the pole or tongue frame.
This part of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, sheets_one_and
twor
Referring to these drawings:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a mowing machine, constructed with the improved
frame.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the improved frame, detached.
Figure 3 is an inverted view of the cast portion of the frame.
Figure 4 is an inverted view of that portion of the frame which supports the shoe.
The cast portion of the frame is formed with a tubular portion A, which provides a
bearing for the axle, to which are connected the driving and carrying wheels B, B, by
any suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism.
The
Secured to the axle is the large internal gear B¹ which meshes with a pinion secured
to a counter-shaft D. The counter-shaft D is journalled in a suitable bearing A', A',
extending rearwardly from the portion A of the frame, and cast integral therewith.
Loosely mounted on the shaft D is the gear wheel D' which meshes with a pinion D2
secured to the rear end of the crank shaft D3, which has its bearings in an arm A³,
extending forwardly from the tubular bearing A, and cast integral therewith.
gear wheel D' is provided with a clutch face b; and a longitudinally sliding collar b
also provided with a clutch face, is secured to the shaft D. The clutch collar 6, by
means of the lever 2 may be thrown into and out of engagement with the clutch on
the gear wheel D₁, thus causing the latter to turn with the shaft, or remain idle
thereon.
The shoe support E is curvilinear in form, and has the shoe E¹, to which is secured
the finger bar E2, pivotted thereto ate e'. The shoe support E is provided on its
upper side with a recess e², and at its under side with the two recesses e³, e¹. The
cast portion of the frame is formed with an outwardly or forwardly extending arm Aº,
recessed on its under side to receive one end of the tubular brace a, securely bolted
thereto at h. The other end of the tubular brace a fits into the recess e² in the shoe
support E, and is bolted thereto at h².
At the angle of the bearings A, A3, a diagonal arm A, also recessed on its under
side to receive the tubular brace a¹, bolted thereto at h³, h³, extends towards the shoe
support E. The brace a fits into the recess e³ in the shoe support, and is by the
bolts h and he secured thereto. The draft hook is bolted to the brace a'. From the
arm A³ extends outwardly and forwardly an offsetting arm A recessed on its under
side to receive the tubular brace a², secured thereto by the bolt he, and in the recess e

page_text: The rol a² extends around in front of the crank wheel H, which carries the pitman F,
and forms a shield therefor.. The cast frame A is furthermore provided with the
lugs g, g, between which is pivotted the pole frame.
The second part of the invention relates more particularly to the devices employed
for securing the pitman on the crank wheel, and has for its object the prevention of
the winding of grass around the crank pin; and second, such construction as will
render the replacement of the parts, when worn, economical; and to these ends,
consists in the devices to be now more particularly described.
This part of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, Sheet 3 of
the accompanying drawings.
Referring to these Figures:
Figure Lis a perspective view of a device embodying this part of the invention.
Figure 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section, through
the crank wheel and crank pin.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross section through the crank wheel, crank pin, and pitman
head.
Figure is a part sectional perspective view of the crank pin.
Figure. 5 is a perspective of the pitman head and its bushing.
Figure 6 is a perspective of a cap fitting over the outer end of the bushing of the
pitman.
A is the crank shaft of a mowing machine, and B is that portion of the frame which
supports the crank shaft. C is the crank wheel. The crank pin D is formed hollow,
and is driven into a hole in the crank wheel, in which it is securely pinned or other-
wise fastened. Its inner end is provided with an internal thread d cut therein. A
brass bushing E is fitted snugly in the head of the pitman F, and extends outwardly
beyond the pitman head a short distance on either side thereof. The face of the
crank wheel is provided with a boss c, which is suitably bored out to receive the inner
end of the brass brushing E, which fits snugly therein. A washer G suitably bored
out for that purpose, fits over the end of the crank pin and also over the outer end of
the bushing in the pitman head. A common machine or other bolt, screws into the
threaded hole in the crank pin, and a jam nut H is screwed onto the head of the
bolt . The washer G is countersunk on its outer or forward end to receive the head
of the bolt H. By extending the bushing of the piuman head beyond the head and
into the boss on one side, and the washer on the other, there is no chance for the
grass to get wound around the crank pin.
In that class of machines in which the crank pin is driven into the crank wheel, and
provided on its outer end with a thread and nut to hold the pitman in place, it has
been found that the thread is apt to become worn, and it is consequently very soon
found necessary to replace the crank pin. In this device, when the bolt becomes worn,
it can be cheaply replaced by a common machine bolt.
J is an oil reservoir communicating by a channel with the crank pin. A plug
is forced by the spring against the perforated plate and keeps dirt and foreign
matter out of the reservoir.
The third part of the invention relates to the tilting apparatus, and consists in
pivotting an arm on the lead wheel stud, connecting this pivot arm to the shoc, and
to an adjusting lever mounted on the main frame, whereby the pivot arm may be
rocked on the lead wheel stud, and consequently the points of the guards tilted up or
down, the main.frame rocking on the axle of the driving wheel.
This part of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 inclusive, Sheets 4
and 5.
Referring to these Figures:
Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations, of so much of a mowing machine as is
necessary to illustrate this part of the invention.

page_text: .
Figure 3 is a front perspective view, of a portion of the main frame, the shoe,
cutting apparatus, and connections of the lead wheel and shoe.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of part of the main shoe, and the pivot arm.
Figure 5 is a section through line x, x, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the pivot arm.
Figure 7. is a perspective of a pivot bearing.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are rear, front, and side elevations of a bearing stud.
A is.one of the driving and supporting wheels, shown in dotted lines in Figures 1
and 2. A' is the pole frame and A² the pole secured thereto. B is the main frame
pivotted on the axle a. C is the shoe support forming a part of the main frame B,
and is the shoe pivotted to the shoe support at c, c. The cutter bar D to which
the guard fingers d are attached, is rigidly secured to the shoe C. F, F, are brace
rods forming a part of the main frame.
G is the lead wheel, and is journalled in the stud 9, which is secured to or formed
integral with the pivot arm H. The stud g is formed hollow and a securing bolt y¹
passing through the stud g and through the lead wheel, secures the latter on the
stud 9.
The pivot arm H extends rearwardly and is perforated at to receive the bushing h³,
and a bolt 2 passing through the forward portion of the shoe C³, and the bushing h
secures the shoe to the pivot arm H. The bushing forms a bearing for the pivotal
connection between the pivot arm and the shoe. The pivot arm extends upwardly
and is perforated_at_to_receive_a_connecting rod J, the other end of which is
connected to the tilting lever K, pivotted at k on the main frame, and provided with
the spring detent mechanism 2 to engage the segmental rack I secured to the main
frame. By means of the detent mechanism and segmental rack L, the lever and
consequently the pivot arm. H may be adjusted and held in any desired position.
It is evident that by moving the lever K, the point of the pivot arm from which the
shoe C is supported, will be raised or depressed, and that consequently the points of
the guards & will be tilted up or down according to the direction of movement of the
lever K.
In order to prevent lateral movement of the shoe and pivot arm, and consequently
cramping of the parts when the guards are tilted, the shoe is extended beyond its
pivotal connection to the pivot arm, and this is provided with a segmental slot M,
concentric with the pivotal connection of the pivot arm H and the shoe (3. A hollow
bearing block m, having a flattened portion m¹ fits into the segmental slot M, and a
bolt M² passing through the bearing block m and through the perforated forward end
of the shoe, secures the parts in place, and maintains the alignment of the shoe and
pivot arm.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The mowing machine frame herein described, consisting of a cast frame provided
with an axle bearing, the crank shaft supporting arin at right angles thereto, rear-
wardly extending arms supporting the counter-shaft, an offsetting arm from the
forward end of the crank shaft support, an arm extending diagonally from the
junction of crank shaft support and the axle bearing, an arm extending from the grass
side of the axle bearing, the shoe support and braces secured to the latter, to the
offsetting arm from the crank shaft support, to the diagonal arm at the junction of the
latter, and the tubular axle bearing, and to the arm at the cutting or grass side of
the machine.
2. The combination with the curved shoe support, of the triangular integral frame
provided with the axle bearing and the crank shaft support at right angles thereto, an
offsetting arm from the forward end of the crank shaft, and the tubular braces
secured to the shoc support to the offsetting arm from the crank shaft support, to the
integral frame at the junction of the axle bearing and crank shaft support, and to the

page_text: tubular axle bearing at the grass or cutting side of the machine, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the integral frame composed of the tubular axle bearing A,
crank shaft bearing A³, arms A6, A7, and A, and the strengthening rib f¹ of the shoe
support E and braces a, a, a², substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination with the crank wheel and its eccentric hollow crank pin, of the
pitman pivotted on the crank pin and a securing bolt passing through the latter, and
adapted to hold the pitman in place, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination in a mowing machine of the hollow crank pin, the pitman
with its bushing extended laterally beyond the pitman head, a boss on the crank
wheel in which the bushing takes, a washer on the crank pin in which the outer end
of the bushing is shrouded, and a fastening bolt passing through the crank pin and
washer, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination in a mowing machine of the crank wheel, the hollow crank pin
mounted therein and provided on its inner end with an internal thread, the pitman
mounted on the crank pin, the securing bolt passing through the crank pin and
provided on its inner end with a jam nut, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
7. The combination with the crank wheel of a mowing machine, of the pitman
mounted therein, the bushing in the pitman extending laterally beyond the head, and
a shroud on either side of the pitman taking over the bushing, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
8. The combination in a mowing machine of the pivotted main frame, the shoe
secured thereto, a pivot arm mounted on the axis of the lead wheel, a pivotal
connection between the pivot arm and the shoc, a segmental slot in the pivot arm
concentric with the axis of the pivotal connection of the arm and shoe, a bearing
block on the shoe taking into the segmental slot, and an adjusting lever mounted on
the frame and connected to the pivot arm, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Hugh Reid Griffin.