IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."-A communication from abroad
by William Farr Goodwin, of East New York, in the State of New
York, United States of America.
Sealed the 5th May 1868, and dated the 21st February 1868..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with.
his Petition, on the 21st February 1868.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
AND MOWING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates chiefly to the arrangement and disposition'
of the gearing for transmitting motion to the cutter bar of reaping
and mowing machines, and to the conversion of the machine from a
front to a rear cutter and vice versa at pleasure. The main or cutter

page_text: frame is formed by preference of two hollow rods hung upon the
driving shaft or axle of the running wheels. These rods form with
the axle a right angled triangle, the latter representing the base. The
rods are connected together at the apex of the triangle by a yoke
which carries within it a gear box fitted with multiplying gear of a
peculiar construction. Through the rod forming the vertical side of
the triangle runs a counter shaft fitted at its inner end with a bevil
wheel in gear with and driven by a bevil wheel keyed on the driving
shaft. The driving shaft carries ratchet wheels, into the tecth of which
enter pawls hinged to discs affixed to the bosses of the running wheels.
Coiled springs hold these pawls in gear, but they are so arranged that
when the pawls are lifted out of gear, the springs will retain them in
that position. The outer end of the countershaft enters the gear
box carried by the yoke. This box is cast with internal teeth and
it is fitted with partitions which form bearings for two short shafts set
in a line with the countershaft and socketed one in the other, that
is to say, a socket is formed in the end of the countershaft to receive
the first short shaft, and in like manner the end of this short shaft is
socketed to form a bearing for the abutting end of the second short
shaft. Keyed to the end of the counter shaft is a crank arm on the
pin of which is fitted a spur wheel which gears into the internal
teeth of the gear box; this wheel gears also into a pinion keyed on
the first short shaft, and thus drives that shaft at a multiplied speed.
On the same shaft is keyed a crank arm carrying a spur wheel in
gear with the teeth of the gear box, and a pinion keyed on the second
short shaft gears into and is driven by this spur wheel.
A rapid
rotary motion is thus given to a disc which is keyed on the outer end
of the second short shaft, and this disc carrying an excentric pin for
working in a transverse slot formed in the end of a sliding rod connected
with the cutter bar serves to transmit through the sliding rod a rapid
reciprocating motion thereto. All the spur and bevil gearing above-
mentioned is enclosed in boxes, and a cap is provided to cover the
connecting rod of the cutter bar. The coupling of the finger bar
with the main frame is so arranged that the finger bar may be turned
over on its longitudinal axis or pivot in converting the machine from
a front to a rear cutting machine; and the cutter frame is so attached
to the axle of the running wheels that it may be swung under that
axle from front to rear in such manner that the machine can be
changed from a front to a rear cutter and vice versâ without removing

page_text: therefrom or adding thereto, and without displacing or disarranging
any of the parts described. For adjusting the height of the cutter
bar a suspension chain is used. This chain passes over a segment.
guide and is raised and lowered by means of a hand lever fitted with
a pawl for entering a segment ratchet affixed to the draught pole.
This pole is fitted with a hooked plate which drops upon the axle of
the running wheels and is made fast thereto by a set screw or other.
suitable fastening. When the hand lever is pulled over the grip of
the attendant's hand will by means of bell cranks (which he will
grip) connected with the pawl lift the pawl out of the segment
ratchet, and the position of the chain being adjusted the pawl will
fall into the ratchet teeth and maintain the finger bar in the desired
position. In some cases the multiplying gearing may be contained
in the box which encloses the bevil gearing, and the box at the apex
of the triangular frame will then merely contain the crank plate for
working the connecting rod of the cutter bar.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors;
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred:
Vincent Newton, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," being

page_text: a communication to me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):-
This Invention relates to the application of a novel construction of
gearing to reaping and mowing machines through which motion is
communicated from the main driving wheel or wheels to the sickle
bar. The multiplying gear is arranged at the inner end of the cutting
apparatus and in line with the hinge connection of said cutting
apparatus with the main or cutting frame, also in the employment of
a crank shaft or its equivalent arranged in line with the driving
countershaft or shafts, and combined therewith so as to have a move-
ment in the same direction with but independent of said shaft or shafts;
also in the arrangement of two or more multiplying gear shafts in
line with each other and within a concentric gear box or drum; also
in the construction of the gear box or drum; also in locating the
gear case or drum and multiplying gear at the drooping or swinging
end of the cutter frame; also in forming the hinges or pivots upon
which the finger bar turns in rising and falling to conform to the
surface of the ground, and in changing the angle of presentation of
the cutter to the ground upon the gear box or drum; also in the
construction of the main frame; also in the manner of covering the
cutter connecting rod; also in the arrangement of the spring which
holds the pawl in and out of gear with the ratchet wheel; and
also in the means for operating the latch or pawl of the lifting
lever.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a plan or top view of a
harvesting machine embracing the improvements; Fig. 2 is an enlarged

page_text: horizontal section through the gear case and cutter frame at the junction
of the finger bar therewith, showing in section the pivots or centres
of movement of the cutting apparatus relative to and with the gear
box; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the bevil wheel box or
case at the point of intersection of the counter driving shaft with the
main axle of the machine; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through
the gear box and the pivotal connection of the shoe and finger bar
therewith, showing the arrangement of the driving crank, cutter bar
head, and connecting rod; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the
backing ratchets connected with the driving wheel and its axle;
Fig. 6 is a section of the axle between the wheels shewing the tongue
extension with the lifting lever mounted therein, adapting the machine
to a rear cut; and Fig. 7 shews an arrangement in which the
multiplying gear occupies a position near the main axle of the machine,
in which arrangement motion is imparted from the multiplying gear
to the crank by means of a shaft, on the end of which the said crank
is mounted. Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in
all the Figures.
A represents the carrying and driving wheels mounted upon the
axle B and connected thereto by means of hacking ratchets herein-after
described; C is the main or cutter frame mounted at one end upon
the axle B in such manner as to vibrate freely thereon. This frame
consists of two tubular arms C', C³, so arranged as to form the two
sides of a right-angled triangle, of which the axle B forms the third
side, the arm C² representing the hypothenuse, the side or arm C
forming a right or nearly right angle to the axle and terminating at
its axle in a case or box C³ which encloses the bevil wheels D, D¹,
one of which is connected to and turns the driving wheel axle B,
and the other is keyed on and drives a countershaft E mounted *in
the tube or hollow arm C₁ of the cutter frame. The axle end of the
arm C of the cutter frame terminates in a sleeve C* mounted upon
the axle in the manner shewn in Figure 1. This sleeve may, if preferred,
be extended to enclose the axle and connect it with the bevil gear
case C³. The opposite ends of the arms C¹, C, terminate in a yoke,
the form of which is represented at C5 in the sectional view Fig. 2
cast on the said arms or otherwise rigidly connected thereto in any
suitable manner. The end plate of the yoke is made separate from
the part Cs and is secured thereto by means of a tongue or flange c¹
fitting into a corresponding recess in the part C and by screws c² or

page_text: in any other suitable manner, and has a perforation c³ forming a bearing
for the pivot f of the gear box or drum F arranged in line with the
shaft E, as represented in Fig. 2. The opposite side of the gear box
is provided with a tubular pivot or sleeve surrounding the shaft E and
fitting into a suitable bearing socket c in the yoke C³. The gear box or
case consists of an internally cogged drum or cylinder having a con-
centric arrangement with the shaft E, and may be cast in one piece
with the teeth or cogs; or the teeth may be cast separately in rings
with partitions placed between the separate rings to afford bearings
for a multiplying shaft or spindle herein-after described. The case is
represented in this instance as cast with the teeth, and the partitions
correspondingly notched are inserted and secured by suitable internal
flanges or lips, or if preferred they may be secured by means of screws
from the exterior of the case F. f is a head for closing the drum or
'case after the gearing and bearing partitions have been properly. arranged
within the case, said head having cast with or secured to it the pivot
before referred to.
The gearing may be described as follows:-The opposite end of the
shaft E to that which carries the bevil wheel D¹ terminates within the
internal cogged gear case F as represented in Fig. 2, has keyed to it
an arm G which is provided at its outer swinging end with a fixed
stud or short shaft e. On this stud e is loosely mounted a transmitting
spur wheel H the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the stationary
drum F. The rotation of the arm G with its stud axle causes the
wheel to traverse the drum and to receive a rotary motion on its
axle e which is communicated to a pinion I keyed to a shaft E' mounted
in line with the shaft E. The shaft E¹ at one end has a pivot bearing in
shaft E and near its opposite end has a bearing in the diaphragm or par-
tition J. The end of shaft E' projecting through partition J is provided
with an arm G' which rotates with it and carries a stud e¹ on which is
mounted a second transmitting wheel H¹ gearing with the drum F, and
with a second pinion I' keyed to a third shaft E, which in this instance is
'the crank wheel shaft, arranged in line with shafts E and E. This shaft
E has at one end a pivot bearing in the shaft E', and near its other end a
bearing in a second partition J. The end of this shaft projects through
the partition J', and has attached to it a crank or crank wheel herein-
after described. The drum or internal gear case F being supposed to
have (for the purpose of illustrating) forty-eight teeth and the pinions
I, I, twelve teeth each, the operation of the gearing would be as

page_text: follows:-The shaft E revolving at about the same speed as the main
axle carries with it the arm G, and the transmitting wheel II meshing
with the drum receiver a rotary motion on its own shaft therefrom
which is communicated to the pinion I and its shaft or hub E¹ in
the same direction with the shaft E, the two shafts turning together,
and in the same direction shaft E¹ receives one revolution from shaft
E and the pinion I having as stated twelve teeth, and being driven
through transmitting wheel H by the drum F having forty-eight teeth
receives four revolutions therefrom, the shaft E' and pinion I receiving
therefore one revolution with and from the shaft E and four revolutions
from the drum F has five revolutions to one of shaft E, consequently
the arm G' connected and turning with shaft E' causes its transmitting
wheel H to traverse the cogged drum five times while the wheel H
traverses said drum once, the pinion I' is consequently rotated five times
by the teeth of the drum, while the pinion I is rotated once by said
teeth, and the shaft E receiving one additional revolution from and
with each revolution of the shaft E¹ the pinion I' and its shaft Es
have imparted to them five revolutions to one of the shaft E' and
pinion I, and twenty-five to one revolution of shaft E or of main axle
B and driving wheel A. K is a crank or fly wheel mounted on the
outer end of the shaft E' and provided with a friction roller, from which
motion is imparted to the cutter bar through a connecting rod K¹.
The connecting rod K' is provided at its inner end with a vertical
yoke K embracing the crank pin and roller, and it passes through a
sleeve or tubular pivot F³ formed upon the gear case F, and is attached
at the outer end to the sickle bar head or to a standard L thereon as
represented in Fig. 2. M is the shoe at the inner end of the finger
bar M either perforated itself and mounted directly upon the pivot
or sleeve, or provided with a perforated standard of any desired height
to give the required elevation to the drooping end of the cutter frame
to remove it out of the way of obstructions, said standard in such
case being perforated to receive sleeve F³, and secured thereto by means
of a jam nut F', or in any other suitable manner. The shoe M is
elongated in front or rear of the bar, either or both, and is adapted
at its forward end m to receive a carrying wheel applied thereto and
made adjustable in any desired or usual mannèr m³ represents the
fingers, the sickle bar, and m³ the sickle section of the cutting
apparatus, all of which may be of any usual or desired construction.
N is a cap or cover to the outer end of the connecting rod and cutter

page_text: bar head. This cover is of sufficient length to accomodate the out-
ward throw of the connecting rod, and serves effectually to protect the
latter from injury and from all obstructing matter. The attachment
of the shoe to the gear case is such as to allow the fingers and finger
bar to ride casily on the surface of the ground, conform their angle
of presentation to such surface whether the same is level or inclined,
or the finger bar may be turned completely over on its longitudinal
axis or pivot F in converting the machine from a front to a rear
cut machine, and the cutter frame C is so attached to the axle that
it may be swung under said axle from front to rear in such manner
that the machine is changed from a front to a rear cut and vice
versâ without removing therefrom or adding thereto, and without dis-
placement or disarrangement of any of the parts described. O is the
draught pole carrying at the axle end a plate O' which is made in
the form of an expanded hook represented in side elevation Fig. 6,
which hooks over the axle or a cutter frame sleeve thereon, and is
held in place by means of a set screw or other suitable fastening
device which will allow the axle to freely turn in the plate or hook.
P is a lifting lever pivoted to the draught pole and provided with
a grooved sector plate P¹ to which the chain or cord P is attached
at one end, the other end of the chain passes under a grooved roller
p mounted in lugs on the cutter frame, and is attached to a lug or
upright arm on the gear casc M. P is a curved rack in which a spring
pawl Q engages to hold the lever, and therewith the cutting apparatus
in any desired position; Q is a small bell crank lever pivoted to the
handle of lever P so as to be grasped by the operator in seizing that
lever and connected by a rod q working in guides q', q, to the pawls
Q; q is a coiled spring surrounding the rod q and located between
the pawl Qand guide q which serves at all times to keep the pawl
in mesh with the ratchet when not thrown out by the driver.
Figures 1 and 6 represent an extension of the draught pole or its
equivalent to which the lifting lever is attached when the machine
is adapted to a rear cut, the position of the lever and its several
connections being reversed and operating in the reverse direction as
represented in Fig. 6.
R, Fig. 5 is a ratchet wheel secured to and turning with the axle
.B, and R' is a spring pawl attached to the driving wheel or to a plate
or disc R thereon, and r is a coil spring attached at one end to a

page_text: pin or stud on the driving wheel A or disc R², and at its opposite end
to the pawl R' in the manner represented in Fig. 5. The relation of
the points of attachment of said spring is such that when the pawl.
is in position to engage with the ratchet the spring serves to hold
the pawl in, when the pawl is thrown out the pin passes the centre.
or pivot, and the spring serves to hold said pawl out in a manner that
will be readily understood.
In Fig. 7 a modification in the location of the gearing is shewn
together with the necessary changes for adapting the gearing to operate.
the cutters from such changed location. The ordinary crank and
connecting rod may be used if desired, but it is preferred generally to
employ the yoke connection of the connecting rod in order that a'
direct reciprocation of the rod may be secured. The crank and the
yoke end of the connecting rod will be enclosed in a case provided
with the pivots or centres of motion of the cutting apparatus arranged
and operating as described. Where the ordinary crank and connecting
rod are used it will be necessary to enlarge the longitudinal pivot and
the opening through the same to accommodate the play or vibration of
the rod passing through said pivot. Other modifications may be
made in the form and construction of the frame to adapt it to the
changed location of the gearing and in other parts of the machine
without departure from the characteristic features of Invention herein
described and claimed.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements
in Reaping and Mowing Machines," as communicated to me from
abroad, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I
wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent I claim,-
First. The arrangement and construction of multiplying gear and
gear box, and the application of the same to the crank shaft, or the
extension of the axial line thereof, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Second. Locating the multiplying gear and gear box at the drooping
or swinging end of the cutter frame and in line with the hinge
connection of the cutting apparatus to said frame.
Third. The arrangement for transmitting motion from the crank
shaft to the cutters substantially as described.
;

page_text: Fourth. The main or cutter frame provided with a yoke at its
swinging end adapted to receive the multiplying gear box and a
case enclosing the bevil wheels or the equivalent thereof as described.
Fifth. The cup or cover enclosing the cutter end of the connecting
rod and cutter head as described.
Sixth. The pawl of the packing ratchet in combination with the
coil spring applied and operating as described.
Seventh. The pawl upon the lifting lever in combination with the
crank lever connecting rod and spring operating as described.
And lastly. Connecting the draught pole with the axle of the
carrying wheels in the manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)