IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING AND COLLECTING HAY, AND FOR COLLECTING SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO CUTTING THISTLES AND OTHER WEEDS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Newzam Nicholson, of Newark-on-Trent,
Agricultural Implement Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR MAKING AND COLLECTING HAY, AND FOR COLLECTING SIMILAR
SUBSTANCES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO CUTTING
THISTLES AND OTHER WEEDS."
Sealed the 23rd November 1861, and dated the 27th May 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Newzam Nichol-
son at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 27th May 1861.
I, WILLIAM NEWZAM NICHOLSON, of Newark-on-Trent, Agricultural Im-
plement Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING AND COLLECTING HAY, AND FOR COL-
LECTING SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO
CUTTING THISTLES AND OTHER WEEDS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in hay-making machines consist, first, in the use of
frictional gearing for imparting motion to the forks instead of cog wheels, as
have hitherto been used. This frictional gearing may be made by either flat,
bevelled or grooved surfaces and applied to the backward and forward motions
either by the insertion of intermediate gear, or by the use of an annular or
internal wheel, as in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me July 6th,
1854 No 1485

page_text: Second, in a method of keeping the shafts and other parts of the machine
clear of grass or bay, and preventing the accumulation thereon, either by the
use of a fixed wire screen, or by a rotating roller which may be driven by a
belt from the carrying wheel of the machine, or in some other convenient
manner.
Third, in a method of putting the machine in and out of gear. To the fork
carrier which is arranged so that it is retained and revolves in one position, is
attached a long clutch, and the pinion that imparts motion to. the fork carrier
is elongated by a cylinder or pipe in the usual manuer, and in my improved
machine the end of this pipe is formed also as a long clutch to correspond with
that on the fork carrier. On the pipe is cast a series of rings which form cogs
into which a pinion fixed at right angles with it is made to gear so that when
the pinion revolves it will move the cylinder sufficiently to throw the pinion
into gear with the backward or forward motion of the machine, or hold it out of
gear. Instead of this series of rings forming cogs, two rings only may be used
between which an eccentric may work so as to answer the same purpose.
Fourth, in the use of a prong or similar contrivance reaching nearly to the
ground before the carrying wheels of hay machines, which prongs may have
wings attached to them resembling the mould boards of ploughs by which the
grass or hay will be moved out of the wheel tracks either inside or outside the
machine.
Fifth, in attaching the fork bars to springs instead of the usual plan of
using rigid wheels, discs, or bars with springs bearing upon the fork bars and
allowing them to give way to any obstruction.
Sixth, in a method of varying the height at which the machine is worked
from the ground by causing the end of the shafts immediately behind the
horse to work on a joint, and by having quadrants or other contrivances
attached either to the shafts or framing; these quadrants have holes to receive
bolts or teeth on one of the edges so that small pinious gearing into them may
move and hold the shafts in the required position.
Seventh, when the machine is fitted for cutting thistles and other weeds
I use knives of a convex (or concave) form on the cutting edge made by
preference of sheet steel with a strengthening back of iron similar to a
scythe instead of the solid straight steel blades usually employed for that
purpose. These knives may be of the whole width of the ordinary fork bar
or may be made in short blades as described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me July 8th, 1859, No. 1634.
.
Invention
Eighth, in machines for collecting bay and similar substances; my.
consists in attaching a seat to the framing and fixing a lever in such a position

page_text: that a man riding on the seat can drive the horses and empty the machine.
This lever is in its simplest form used by the hand, but may be arranged for the
foot or for the foot and hand combined. I continue the lever at the back of
the rake so that it may be worked in the usual manner by a man walking
behind it; I use on the lever bar eccentric quadrants round which chains at-
tached to the bar that lifts the teeth work, and by this means the power required
to raise the teeth is equalized throughout the, lift, and the whole balanced,
and thus worked with greater ease than usual.
Ninth, in coupling together the teeth of the rakes used in machines for
collecting hay and similar substances in pairs, so as to give additional steadi-
ness to them when in work, besides simplifying their construction and attach-
ment to the rake..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,' filed
by the said William Newzam Nicholson in the Great Seal Patent Office
the 27th November 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM: THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NEWZAM NICHOLSON, of Newark-on-Trent, Agricultural Implement Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our Lords
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give, and grant unto me; the
said William Newzam Nicholson, Her special licence that I, the said. William
Newzam Nicholson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or suchrothers.
as I, the said William Newzam Nicholson, executors, administrators, and
no. others, from time to time
assigns, should at any time agree with, and
and at all times thereafter during the term therein. expressed,. should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United. King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man;
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING AND COLLECTING
HAY, AND FOR COLLECTING SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, PARTS OF. WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO CUTTING THISTLES AND OTHER WEEDS;" upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Newzam Nicholson, my executorsi
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,

page_text: 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 William Newzam Nicholson, do hereby
declare the naturo 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 hereunto
annexed, that is to say :-
My improvements in hay-making machines consist, first, in the use of fric-
tional gearing for imparting motion to the forks instead of cog wheels, as have
hitherto been used; this frictional gearing may be made by either flat,.
bevelled, or grooved surfaces, and applied to the backward and forward motions.
either by the insertion of intermediate gear, or by the use of an annular or
internal wheel, as in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me July 6th,
1854, No. 1485.
Second, in a method of keeping the shafts and other parts of the machine
clear of grass or hay, and preventing the accumulation thereon, either by the
use of a fixed wire screen or by a rotating roller, which may be driven by a
belt from the carrying wheel of the machine or in some other convenient
manner. Screens or dash-boards have been made of wood and of other mate-
rials, but the screens which I construct according to my Invention are made of
wire, latticework, or wire net, which renders them very light and more effective
than when made of any other material, as air passes through the interstices
without carrying hay with it.
.
Third, in a method of putting the machine in and out of gear. To the fork
carrier, which is arranged so that it is retained and revolves in one position, is
attached a long clutch, and the pinion that imparts motion to the fork carrier
is elongated by a cylinder or pipe in the usual manner; and in my improved
machine the end of this pipe is formed also as a long clutch to correspond with
that on the fork carrier. On the pipe is cast a series of rings which form.
cogs, into which a pinion fixed at right angles with it is mado to gear, so that
when the pinion revolves it will move the cylinder sufficiently to throw the
pinion into gear
with the backward or forward motion of the machine or hold
it out of gear. Instead of this series of rings forming cogs, two rings only may
be used, between which an excentric may work, so as to answer the same.
purpose..
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings illustrates one method by which.
the machine is thrown in and out of gear.
a is the fork carrier, to which the fork bar is attached; 6 is the long clutch,

page_text: corresponding with a similar clutch cast upon the cylinder or pipe d; c, e, e, e,
are the rings or cogs on the cylinder d, into which the pinion f gears, whereby.
longitudinal motion is communicated to it; c is the pinion for imparting motion
to the fork carrier a, and forming a part of the cylinder or pipe d.
Figure 2 is a plan of the fork carrier and pinion, showing a method of
applying an eccentric for effecting the same purpose. as that just described,
and Figure 3 is an elevation of the same eccentric. When I use short fork
bars in two sets I attach one set to the fork carrier a and another set to the
pipe or cylinder d, the latter sat moving with the pipe or cylinder.
Fourth, in the use of a prong or similar contrivance reaching nearly to the
ground before the carrying wheels of hay machines, which prongs may have.
wings attached to them resembling the mould boards of ploughs, by which the
grass or hay will be moved out of the wheel tracks, either inside or outside the
machine. Figure 4 shows this prong connected to the machine in front of
the carrying wheels. A is the prong carrying wings b, b, at bottom; its:
height can be adjusted by causing it to slide through the loop c in the bar'd.
Fifth, in attaching the fork bars to springs instead of the usual plan of
using rigid wheels, discs, or bars with springs, bearing upon the fork bars, and
allowing them to give way to any obstruction. Figure 5 illustrates this method
of attaching the fork bars to springs. a,.a, are the springs, fastened at one
end into the nave of the fork carrier b, and at the other they terminate in loops
embracing the fork bars. It is evident that this method of fixing is capablo
of great variation, and two or even more springs may be used with each fork.
bar without departing from the Invention.
Sixth, in a method of varying the height at which the machine is worked.
from the ground, by causing the end of the shafts immediately, behind the
horse to work on a joint, and by having quadrants or other contrivances
attached either to the shafts or framing; these quadrants may have holes to
receive bolts or teeth on one of the edges, so that small pinions gearing into
them may move and hold the shafts in the required position.
Figure 6 shows in side elevation, and Figure 7 in plan, part of a hay machine.
in which a quadrant or segment is attached to the framing. a is the quadrant,
having holes formed in it, through any of which a bolt may be placed for.
holding the shafts in the desired position. Figure 8 shows the application of
a toothed segment with pinion gearing into it for effecting a similar purpose.
to that just described; and Figure 9 shows an eccentric in connection with
the framing, whereby the same end is obtained. This part of my Invention,
may be farther modified by attaching the segment to the shafts and the pinion
to the framework.

page_text: Seventh, when the machine is fitted for cutting thistles and other weeds.
I use knives of a convex (or concave) form on the cutting edge, made, by
preference, of sheet steel with a strengthening back of iron, similar to a scythe,
instead of the solid straight steel blades usually employed for that purpose.
These knives may be of the whole width of: the ordinary fork bar, or may be
niade in short blades, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me July 8th 1859, No. 1634..
Eighth, in machines for collecting hay and similar substances, my Invention
consists in attaching a seat to the framing and fixing a lever in such a position
that a man riding on the seat can drive the horses and empty the machine;
this lever. is in its simplest form used by the hand, but may be arranged for
the foot, or for the foot and hand 'combined. I continue the lever at the back
of the rake, so that it may be worked in the usual manner by a man walking
behind it. I use on the lever bar eccentric quadrants, round which chains
attached to the bar that lifts. the teeth work; and by this means the power
required to raise the teeth is equalized throughout the lift,' and the whole.
balanced, and thus worked with greater ease than usual.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of part of a horse rake or machine for col-:
lecting hay, fitted with a seat and levers in the manner just described;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the machine complete. a is the seat; bis
the lever used by the man riding; c is a continuation of the same lever to the
back of the rake; d is the eccentric quadrant or segment; and'e is a chain
attached to the latter and to the bar that lifts the teeth. This arrangement of
the seat on the framing of the rake is so contrived that a man riding on the
seat a can use the lever for the purpose of raising the teeth and emptying
the rake; or, instead of employing two separate levers b and c, the lever b-may
be contrived so that it can be moved into the position occupied by the lever c,
and thus one lever may be made to answer both purposes. I am aware that
seats have been previously used on horse rakes, but they have not been fitted
in combination with the leverage described or with the arrangement that
allows the rake to be worked in the ordinary manner.
Ninth, in coupling together the teeth of the rakes used in machines for
collecting hay and similar substances in pairs, so as to give additional steadi-
ness to them when in work, besides simplifying their construction and attach-
ment to the rake. Figure 12 is a side view, and Figure 13 an end view, of
two teeth coupled in this manner; Figure 14 is a plan showing three pairs of
teeth connected together in a similar way.
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.

page_text: ments in machines for making and collecting hay, and for collecting similar
substances, parts of which improvements are applicable to cutting thistles and
other weeds,
First, the employment of frictional gearing for imparting motion to the
forks, substantially in manner herein-before described.
Second, the employment of a fixed wire screen or a rotating roller for keeping
the shafts and other parts of the machine clear of grass and other impediment,
as herein-before described.
Third, throwing the machine in and out of gear, substantially in manner
herein-before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Fourth, the employment of a prong or other equivalent contrivance fitted to
the machine in front of the carrying wheels, substantially in manner and for
the
purposes herein-before described and illustrated at Figure 4 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Fifth, attaching the fork bars to springs, substantially in manner herein-
before described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth, the employment of apparatus for raising and lowering the machine,
made to act substantially in manner herein-before described with reference to
Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh, the employment of knives of a convex, concave, or other equivalent
form on the cutting edge, the said knives being attached to the fork bars of
the machine, substantially in manner and for the purposes herein-before
described.
Eighth, the employment of a seat fitted to the frame of horse rakes in
combination with a lever or levers, arranged and acting in manner and for the
purposes herein-before described with reference to Figures 10 and 11 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Ninth, coupling the teeth of rakes in manner herein-before described and
illustrated at Figures 12, 18, and 14 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Newzam Nicholson have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
WILLIAM NEWZAM NICHOLSON. (L.s.)