IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE RAKES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to: James, Wilderspin, of Elsworth, in the County of
Cambridge, Agricultural. Implement. Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE RAKES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wilderspin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th September 1867.
I, JAMES WILDERSPIN, of Elsworth, in the County of Cambridge, Agri-
cultural Implement Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE RAKES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in the combination and arrangement of certain
mechanism whereby the tines or teeth of horse rakes can be raised and the
load accumulated thereon, discharged in a simple and effectual manner. A
revolving axle is used instead of the fixed one generally employed. Attached to
the revolving axle is a clutch revolving therewith. Another clutch is placed
loosely on the axle (with which it does not revolve), a lever being attached
thereto, which lever is actuated by a handle or other analogous contrivance.
When it is desired to raise the tines the lever is actuated by the attendant,

page_text: thereby bring the loose clutch into gear with the clutch fixed to the axle and
causing the former to revolve. An arm is fixed to the loose clutch, which
arm when the clutch revolves acts on a lifting bar, which in its progress
upwards raises the tines. Attached to the lifting bar is an arm which (when
the lifting bar has reached its highest position) raises a lever fixed to the first-
mentioned lever, whereby the loose clutch is thrown out of gear, the arm falls,
and thus allows the lifting bar and consequently the tines to return to
their original position. More than one set of clutches may be used if
necessary.
The nature of this Invention will be more clearly understood by reference
to the accompanying Drawing.
A, A, are the two wheels; B is the revolving axle, C, C, being the
bearings in which the same works; D, D, are the shafts; E is the frame to
which the shafts are attached; F is the lifting bar; G, G, represent the tines;
His the rod upon which the tines work; I is the fixed clutch; J, the loose
clutch, to which is attached the arm K acting upon the lifting bar; L is a
lever attached to the frame D; and working on the loose clutch J; M is a
crank lever attached to the lever L, by means of which the clutch J is thrown
out of gear; N is an arm working on the rod H, connected with the "lifting
bar F; 0, 0, is the frame which prevents the corn rising with the tines; P, P,
are stays to sustain the weight of the tines. As the horse moves the axle
revolves, and the clutch J is thrown into gear by the lever L, which causes
the arm K to raise the lifting bar F and also the tines; when the latter reach
their proper elevation the arm N strikes the crank lever M, disconnects the
clutch J, and causes the teeth to descend to the ground.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Wilderspin. in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WILDERSPIN, of Elsworth, in the County of Cambridge, Agricultural Imple-
ment Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and grant unto me,

page_text: t
the said James Wilderspin, Her special licence that I, the said James
Wilderspin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Wilderspin, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE RAKES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Wilderspin, 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.
.. 1
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Wilderspin, do hereby declare.
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the figures and letters.marked thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention consists in the combination and arrangement of certain
mechanism whereby the tines or teeth of horse rakes can be raised and the
load accumulated thereon discharged in a simple and effectual manner.
In constructing horse rakes in accordance with my said Invention a
revolving axle is used instead of the fixed one generally employed, a revolving
clutch being attached to such axle; another clutch is placed loosely on the
axle, with which it does not revolve except when placed in gear with the other
clutch, as herein-after mentioned, a lever being attached thereto, which lever
is actuated by a handle or other analogous contrivance. When it is desired
to raise the tines the lever is actuated by the attendant, thereby bringing the
loose clutch into gear with the clutch fixed on the axle, and causing the
former to revolve therewith. An arm is attached to the loose clutch, which
arm when the clutch revolves acts on a lifting bar, the tter in its progress
upwards raising the tines. An arm is attached to the lifting bar, which when
the latter has reached its highest position raises a lever fixed to the lever by
which the loose clutch is actuated, whereby the latter is thrown out of gear,
the arm falls, and thus allows the lifting bar, and consequently the tines, to
return to their original positions. More than one set of clutches may be used
if necessary.

page_text: The foregoing description will be more clearly understood by reference to
the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure. I is an elevation of the
machine thus constructed :-In Figure 1, A, A, are the two wheels; B is the
revolving axle, C, C, being the bearings in which the same works; E is the
frame to which the shafts are attached; F is the lifting bar; G are the tines;
H is the rod on which the tines work; I is the fixed clutch; J, the loose
clutch, to which is attached the arm K acting upon the lifting bar; L is a lever
attached to the frame E and working on the loose clutch J; M is a crank
lever attached to the lever L, by means of which the clutch J is thrown
out of gear; N is an arm working on the rod H connected with the lifting
bar F; 0, 0, is the frame which prevents the corn rising with the tines;
P, P, are stays to sustain the weight of the tines. As the horse moves the
axle revolves, and the clutch J is thrown into gear by the lever L, which
When the
causes the arm K to raise the lifting bar F and also the tines.
latter reach their proper elevation the arm N strikes the crank lever M,
disconnects the clutch J, and causes the teeth to descend to the ground.
Instead of lifting the tines as before described a modification of the
mechanical arrangement may be used, and which is shewn in Figures 2 and 3
of the annexed Drawings, Figure 2 being an elevation and Figure 3 a plan
view. A is the lever by which the attendant brings the loose clutch into gear
with the fixed clutch; M is a crank lever fixed to the lifting bar, the tine bar
passing through a suitable aperture therein; K is an arm fixed to the loose
clutch, which when the latter is brought into gear revolves therewith, and
acting upon a projection attached to the crank lever at m depresses the same,
thereby elevating the other end of the lever, and with it the lifting bar; upon
the arm K having passed the projection m the crank lever returns to its
original position, its return thereto being assisted by the counterbalance
weight n; the like operation being repeated as long as the loose clutch
remains in gear. B, B, is a lever arrangement under the controul of the
attendant, by which the tine bar and tines may be kept in a raised position
when desired, as, for instance, in passing over rough ground, and when it is
not desired that the rake shall be used: This, however, is a well-known
arrangement, and forms no part of my said Invention.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion
that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting
the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the arrangement and combination of parts and mechanism as and

page_text: for the purposes substantially herein-before set forth and described, or any
mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wilderspin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JAMES WILDERSPIN. (L.s.)