Improvements in or relating to Hay Rakes, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
Improvements in or relating to Hay Rakes, and the like.
We, HENRY WILLIAM MATHERS and ALEXANDER JAMES MATHERS, both of Inch-
michael, Errol, in the County of Perth, N.B., Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of our invention is to effect improvements in or relating to hay rakes
and the like, whereby the general efficiency of such machines is increased and the
weight reduced.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hay rake.
Fig. 2 is a section and Fig. 3 is an end view of the end cap constructed according
to our invention.
Fig. 4 is a section and Fig. 5 is an elevation illustrating our improvements in the
teeth.
Figs. 6 to 11 illustrate various sections of teeth.
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 13 is a cross section of our improved
bracket.
Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of one of four segments surrounding the beam,
and Fig. 15 is an underside view of same.
Referring Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a is the end cap which is fitted to the end of the
beam b which carries the teeth c. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the cap is formed
with wedge cutters or ribs a arranged to enter the wooden beam b and thus prevent
the cap becoming loose through shrinkage of the beam. The cap is formed as
light as possible consistent with sufficient strength, the boss a² being cored out
at a³, as shown, and may or may not be provided with the projections a. d, d are
the draftbars, connected to the beam b, by means of straps d' and stay d², the
coach screw or bolt 61 and washer 62 serving to retain the whole in position.
Our improvements in the teeth consists in forming them with separate points c¹,
Figs. 4 and 5, and of two, three or more strips of steel or other suitable metal,
Figs. 6 to 11. In the Specification of Letters Patent No. 1401 of 1895 granted to
Henry William Mathers the teeth of hay rakes are described as formed of two
segmental strips the ends of which are welded together to form the points. These
points become worn out after a short use, and our present invention is to obviate this
defect. In Figs. 4 and 5 the point of one end of one of the reversible teeth is shown;
c¹ is a steel or other metal casting suitably shaped and formed with the cylindrical
or tubular lug c² of a suitable section to fit the particular section of the teeth. ³ is
a rivet (of which there may be more than one) for securing the strips, forming the
teeth, to the point which is preferably cored out as shown. c is the projection
referred to in the said former Letters Patent.
Figs. 6 to 11 illustrate various sections of teeth which are composed of segmental
strips as in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, or of angular strips as in Figs. 9 and 10, or channel

page_text: strips as in Fig. 11. Each strip is preferably formed with a projection c¹ for
securing the tooth in the beam, and the wedge, which fits within the teeth for the
purpose described in the said Letters Patent, is of a section to suit the sectional
shape of the tooth.
Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate the improved bracket e for securing the runners f, to
the beam, as shown in Fig. 1. The bracket is made of a channel section, except at
the ends; this section enables a more secure and rigid connection to be made and
materially reduces the weight.
The handles for guiding the rake (Fig. 1) are secured to the beam b by straps g
which encircle a grooved drum. (Figs. 14 and 15) attached to the beam. This
drum is formed of four segments h, each secured in position by screws h¹ or by
other suitable means. Our improvement consists in forming such segments with a
hollowed out portion h² which materially reduces the weight and also enables the
segments to be more easily and rigidly fixed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
-
1. The improved fittings for and in combination with hay rakes or the like
substantially specified and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In teeth for hay rakes and the like, the application and use of a point formed
as described arranged to be rivetted or otherwise securely attached to segmental
angular or channel strips, with or without the projection ct, arranged and fixed
substantially as described and shown by Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.
3. The improved sections of strips from which the teeth are formed, substantially
as described and illustrated by Figs. 7 to 11 of the drawings.
4. The improved cap for the end of the beam, provided with wedge cutters or
ribs a and with or without the projections at, cored out and constructed
substantially as and for the purposes described and shown by Figs. 2 and 3. of the
drawings.
5. The combination with hay rakes and the like of the particular form or section
of bracket, substantially as and for the purposes described and shown by
Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings.
6. The combination with hay rakes and the like of the particular form or section
of drum segment, substantially as and for the purposes described and shown by
Figs. 14 and 15 of the drawings.
0 L
1000
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.