Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
We, GEORGE KEARSLEY, and EDWARD KING, Engineers and WILLIAM
SHEPHERD, Foreman, all of the British Iron Works, Ripon, in the County of
York, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the gearing of field grass mowing machines, and to the
fingers of such machines.
We propose in the first place to arrange two bevel wheels of different sizes or
diameters upon the second motion or cross shaft 'the larger to give the quick speed
and the smaller to give the low speed. The bevel wheels are arranged to gear
into a double bevél pinion cast in one piece and secured upon the crank shaft.
.
The larger wheel is permanently in gear with the large 'pinion, but is not
keyed or otherwise secured upon the cross shaft which can revolve freely without
actuating the wheel.
The form of wheel is bell shaped or dished, and within this recess the smaller
wheel is placed and is capable of sliding to or from the large wheel upon a sunk
key let into the cross'sliaft.
The boss of the small wheel is constructed as a clutch, and there are corresponding
recesses in the large wheel to engage with the said clutch:
The small wheel is moved to and fro by means of a strap or fork taking into a
groové in the boss of 'the wheel, and operated by an eccentric and foot lever.
When the small wheel is moved back and out of gear 'with the pinion and so
that its clutch engages with the large wheel, the rotary motion of the cross shaft
is confihunicated through the large wheel with quick speed to the crank shaft, and
when the clutch of the small wheel is out of gear, and the teeth of the wheel
engage with those of the pinion, rotary motion is transmitted through the small
wheel, with slow speed to the crank shaft, the large wheel at the same time
revolving loosely upon the cross shaft. When the small wheel is retained in an
intermediate position, the machine is out of gear.
The second part of our invention relates to the fingers of such mowing machines,
and is applicable to the fingers of other like mowing machines.
It consists in a combination which obtains the advantages of both the open
pattern and solid pattern finger, which are, first, the provision of space for the
escape of cut grass and dirt, and secondly, enabling the blades to be rivetted to
the underside of the knife-back by which a closer and cleaner cut is obtained. We
propose to make the finger with four wings, that is tivo on each side, with a space
between them for the escape of grass and dirt.
The steel plate upon which the knife rests, extends back from the usual opening
approaching the point of the finger, across the space before described between the
wings, and is made level with the face of the wings, thus allowing the knife blades
to be fastened to the underside of the knife hack, permitting the whole of the
knife blade to rest on the steel plate, and providing therefor a very smooth bearing
Burface.
=
We may in some cases dispense with the two back wings, still leaving a space
for the escape of grass and dirt..

page_text: Improvements in Grass Mowing Machines.
We, GEORGE KEARSLEY, and EDWARD KING, Engineers, and WILLIAM
SHEPHERD, Foreman, all of the British Iron Works, Ripon, in the County of
York, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our invention relates to the speed gearing of grass-mowing and reaping machines,
which we have illustrated in the annexed sheet of drawings, in which similar letters
of reference refer to similar parts in any of the figures.
Fig. 1, is a plan of part of a mowing machine showing our improved gearing in
section.
Fig. 2, an enlarged view of the gearing.
Figs. 3 & 4, two views of the strap by which the bevel wheel B, is moved.
In carrying out our invention of improved gearing for changing the speed of the
knife of a field grass mowing machine, as illustrated in the drawings annexed Fig. 1,
we arrange two bevel wheels of the proper proportions A, & B, upon the second
shaft S, the larger one A, to give the quick speed, and the smaller one B, to give
the slow speed, both arranged to gear into a double pinion C.
The larger wheel A, has its centre or that part within the circle of its teeth,
marked R, deeply recessed, and is provided with a central clutch A*
This wheel is permanently in gear with the double pinion C, as shown, but as
the wheel is not keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft S, the said shaft is free to
revolve in the boss of the wheel A, without imparting rotary motion to it.
The smaller wheel B, has also a clutch B, the teeth of which can be brought
to engage with those of the clutch A².
This wheel B, lies within the recess R, and can be moved longitudinally upon a
fixed key K, let into the shaft S, and this movement either to engage or disengage
the clutches A³, and B is accomplished by a single lever D, in connection with a
short eccentric shaft E, and a strap F, which fits into an annular groove G, in the
boss of the wheel B.
When the lever D, is moved to the right, the wheel B, travels along the shaft S,
and key K, until its clutch teeth engage with those of the wheel A; causing it to
revolve and to drive the pinion C, and its shaft H, at the quick speed.
When the lever is turned to the left hand the wheel B, drawn back from the
wheel A, and brought into gear with the pinion C, thus changing the speed from
fast to slow, the wheel A, meantime revolving loose upon the shaft.
When the lever is in a vertical position as represented in the drawings, the
wheels A, and B, are both out of work, and the feed motion is out of gear, in
which position it is preferably held by means of a spring or equivalent means, and
all the said movements before described may be made without stopping the
machine.
The double pinion C, we prefer to cast in one piece, and to screw it upon the
crank shatt H.
.
We are aware that somewhat similar arrangements of gearing have been in use
heretofore, also that a recessed wheel, such as A, to receive a smaller wheel, such
as B, have also been used, and we therefore lay no claim to such arrangement
broadly, but:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :
1. In the speed-gearing of grass mowing and reaping machines, the combination

page_text: of a loose wheel A, a sliding wheel B, the clutches A³, and B³, upon said wheels,
a double pinion C, and foot or hand motion D, E, F, arranged and operating as
hereinbefore described, and shown.
2. As a means for changing the speed of the knife in grass mowing and reaping
machines, a bevel wheel B, sliding upon a fixed key on the second motion shaft S,
and capable of clutching a loose bevel wheel A, (upon the same shaft,) which is
permanently in gear with pinion C, upon the crank shaft H; or of being drawn
back and put directly into gear with the said pinion C, by means of a single
lever D, as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated the 19th day of March 1895.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants.