IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVE→ MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO HORSE WORKS
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Reuben Sims at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th March
1863.
I, REUBEN SIMS, of the Firm of Picksley, Sims, and Company, the Bedford
Foundry, Leigh, in the County of Lancaster, Agricultural Implement Makers
and Iron Founders, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVE→
MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO HORSE WORKS," to be as follows:-
First, I employ an improved method of arranging the connecting rods of
reaping and mowing machines whereby the weight of the rod and its bush is
removed from the crank pin to a guide or bush, such busli being situated at
the rear end of the rod, the opposite or front end being formed of any con-
venient shape of joint for the purpose of attaching it to the knife bar. In the
aforesaid connecting rod and at right angles to it laterally I attach or form a
slot for the reception of the crank pin which gives motion to the knife bar..
The slot is of any convenient length to admit of the throw of the crank, and
of any convenient width to admit of a crank pin with or without a bowl or
friction wheel or bush upon it, and at the same time to allow the pin with or
without a bowl freedom of action in the slot. As the crank is turned round
the rod will advance and recede laterally without partaking of the rotatory
action or the rise and fall of the crank pin, this being rendered neutral by the
pin traversing the aforesaid slot and allowing the rod to move at any required

page_text: anglo to the line of the knife bar, the rear bush of the connecting rod mean-
while occupying a position on either side of the slot.',
Secondly, I employ an improved method of attaching the finger beam of
reaping and mowing machines to the main frame by means of a hinged bar
having its rear end secured to the frame by a flexible joint and its front end
connected to the finger beam by a similar contrivance, and by the combined
action of the two joints the finger beam will accommodate itself to the
irregularities of the ground as the machine advances to its work. Connected
to or formed upon the aforesaid hinged bar is a suitable fixing or joint for the
purpose of connecting it with a back stay, which is carried to the rear end of
the main frame, and terminates in a joint which secures freedom of movement
without confining the stay to any given line of action. The said joint is
properly secured to the main frame, so that the stay will allow the finger
beam to adjust itself to the irregularities of the ground and at the same time
retain the bar and finger beam at any required angle more or less from a right
angle to the line of draught of the machine.
Thirdly, I employ an improved mode of driving the knifo crank spindle of
reaping and mowing machines by means of worm wheel gear. Upon the
crank spindle I place a worm having two, three, or more spirals, which gear
into a suitable wheel upon the second motion shaft, and thus communicates
motion to the crank spindle. The object of this arrangement is to preserve
the horizontal position of the crank spindle with respect to the knife bar and
finger beam, and at the same time to allow the main frame to be placed at a
greater distance above the ground, and thereby give encreased clearance for
the cut crop than is obtained by the present machines.
Fourthly, I lessen the friction caused by the action of the knife bar in its
seat by placing a friction bowl or bowls on the top part of the bar and con-
tiguous to the joint that attaches it to the connecting rod.
This part of my Invention is also applicable to the bearings of horse works,
and may specially be applied to the neck bearing of the upright or other shaft
or shafts of horse gears with considerable advantage.