Improvements in Lawn Mowers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
Improvements in Lawn Mowers.
I JAMES SHANKS, Junior, B.Sc., Engineer, Arbroath, Scotland do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
-
This invention consists in the combination with the main or driving axles of
lawn mowers of springs which may be of any suitable material such as india rubber
or steel or other metal and may be of spiral or other shape.
The springs may for example be arranged as follows:- -The axle of the main-
roller or rollers may be mounted in bearings in brackets capable of moving vertically
in guides carried by the framing and the springs may bear upon projections from
the said brackets and from the said framing the pressure of the springs being'
adjustable if desired by means of screws which adjust bearing pieces upon
which the springs bear instead of bearing directly upon either of the aforesaid
projections.
Dated this 17th day of August. 1893.
:
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lawn Mowers.
I JAMES SHANKS Junior B.Sc., Engineer of Arbroath Scotland, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention consists in the combination with the main or driving axles of lawn
mowers of springs which may be of any suitable material such as india rubber or
steel or other metal and which may be of spiral or other shape. The accompanying
drawing illustrates what I consider the best means of carrying my invention into
practical effect. Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lawn mower provided with
springs according to my invention and Figure 2 is a transverse section on the
line 1. 2. Figure 1.
The axis A of the main roller or rollers B is mounted in bearings C in brackets D
capable of sliding in guides E carried by the framing F and the springs G bear
against projections from or connected with the said brackets and against projections
from. or connected with the framing the pressure of the springs being, if desired,
adjustable by means of screws which adjust bearing pieces upon which the springs G
bear instead of bearing directly upon either of the aforesaid projections. An
arrangement on this latter plan is that which I have illustrated in the drawing the
adjusting screws being marked H they passing through projections from the
framing F and being shouldered to bear on bearing pieces I against which one of
the ends of the springs. bears the other of the ends of the said springs bearing
against the projections d from the brackets D. The screws after being adjusted
are locked by the lock nuts thereon. I do not limit myself to the precise arrange-
ment shewn as the springs may be arranged in any suitable way between the axles
and the framing or an attachment thereto.
On the occurrence of an upward jerk or lift of the rollers, caused by roughness
of the ground or other cause, the brackets D rise in the guides E and compress the

page_text: springs G instead of the strain being communicated directly to the framing of the
machine and to the operator and shocks and strains to both the machine and
the operator are greatly reduced. The invention is applicable to lawn mowers
generally whether operated by hand or horse or pony or other means.
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. In lawn mowers the combination of springs with the main or driving axle
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In lawn mowers the combination of projections from the framing and brackets
carried by the main or driving axle and of intervening springs substantially as
herein before described.
3. In lawn mowers the combination of projections from the framing and
brackets carried by the main or driving axle and intervening springs and means
for adjusting the said springs substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of May 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lawn Mowers.
I JAMES SHANKS, Junior, B.Sc. Engineer, Arbroath, Scotland do hereby declare
the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in the combination with lawn mowers of an additional
cutter for cutting bents and long grass not usually severed by the ordinary lawn
mower cutter. The said additional cutter is placed behind and at a short distance
from the main driving rollers and has sectional teeth similar to those of a mowing
or reaping machine. The said teeth have a reciprocating motion imparted to them
from any suitable part of the mower such as from one of the axles by means of any
suitable gearing.
Dated this 17th day of Auơnst 1893
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lawn Mowers.
I JAMES SHANKS Junior, B.Sc., Engineer of Arbroath Scotland do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 consists in the combination with lawn mowers of an additional
cutter for cutting bents and long grass not usually severed by the ordinary lawn
mower cutter. The said additional cutter is most conveniently placed behind and
at a short distance from the main driving rollers and has sectional teeth similar to
those of a mowing or reaping machine. The said teeth have a reciprocating motion
imparted to them from any suitable part of the mower such as from one of the axles
by means of any suitable gearing. The accompanying drawing illustrates a lawn
mower provided with an additional cutter according to my invention and means for
operating it Figure 1 being a side elevation Figure 2 a plan and Figure 3 shewing
the driving mechanism in elevation at right angles to Figure 1.
A is a light framework centered to the main frame B at a and having wheels C
which keep the knives D at the proper distance from the ground. The knives
consist of two series of cutters the one series moving relatively to the other after
the manner of the cutters of a reaping machine. The reciprocating motion for the
knives is obtained from the revolving axle E a sprocket wheel e being keyed
thereon and a chain passing over this and over a sprocket wheel g keyed to a short
shaft G mounted in a bearing in the framework A. The bevel wheel g² also keyed
to the shaft G gears with the bevel wheel h keyed to the short shaft H also mounted
in bearings in the framework A. The lower end of this shaft H has a crank arm
keyed to it and this is connected by the connecting rod I with the movable series of
knives. By this gearing as the apparatus travels the movable knives or cutters
reciprocate and sever the bents or long grass not cut by the ordinary cutters.
a lever centered by the axle j and connected by links or connecting rods with the
framework A so that by operating the lever the said framework and the parts
carried by it can be raised out of operation or be lowered into position for
operation.
J is

page_text: I do not limit myself to the precise details shewn as for instance the trans-
mitting gear may be arranged in any suitable and convenient way and the
framing carrying the additional cutters may be connected to the main framing in
any convenient way and to be capable of being raised and lowered or not as desired.
The invention is applicable to lawn mowers generally whether operated by hand,
horse, pony or other power.
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 combination with lawn mowers of an additional cutter and means for
operating it substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
2. In lawn mowers the combination and arrangement of parts constituting an
additional cutting device substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 17th day of May 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, Agents.