Improvements in Mowing Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1896-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1897
Improvements in Mowing Machines.
We, FRITZ SCHWENKE, and THEODOR EICHHORN, both of Kirchbrunnenstrasse,
Meiningen, in the Empire of Germany, Machinery Manufacturers do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of the present invention is a mowing machine, in which the reci-
procating motion of the knife or cutter is effected by a cam wheel. The invention
is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan view."
Figure 2 a side view,
Figure 3 shows the cam wheel on a somewhat enlarged scale,
Figures 4 & 5 the lever for transmission of the motion from the cam wheel to
the cutter,
Figure 6 the cutting arrangement in section,
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 show details of the cutter and its accessories.
The two running wheels a are keyed on the axle which carries a toothed
wheel d riding loose upon b. The toothed wheel d gears with the toothed wheel s
and is enabled by means of the clutch c to take part in the revolution of the
axle b. This motion is then transmitted to the axle f on which is keyed the
toothed wheel e and cam wheel g. The periphery of the cam wheel g, shown on
a large scale on Figure 3, has out-and-in-bends as shown on the drawings. The
bent periphery of the cam wheel is graspad between the fingers or jaws h₁ and h
of the lever h. One jaw h, is a continuation of the shank of the lever while
the second or movable jaw h, is pivotted at h. Through the jaws and h, is
passed the bolt ha. This bolt passes loosely through orifices in the two jaws which
are kept pressed tightly against the cam wheel by means of the spiral spring &
encircling the upwardly projecting end of the bolt. The pressure of the spring
can be regulated by the nut above it.
The lever his pivotted at z to the frame bar y of the machine.
Through the rotation of the cam wheel a reciprocating motion of the lever is
effected which by means of the connecting link i articulated to the extremity
of the lever hat z causes a reciprocating motion of the cutter to which tho
connecting link i is attached. The cutter k in its back and forward motion along
the guiding rail m to which it is secured by tappets is grasped within the arched
pieces n, Figure 6, in such a manner that the actual cutting operation occurs
between the arched pieces n and the cutter. At the end of the rail m is the
divider o from which an arm p extends backwards, this arm during the working
of the machine trails upon the ground.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the machine is drawn forwards and the clutch c operated by means of
the handler so as to cause the toothed wheel d to revolve with the axle b the
cutting of the crop which is mowed sideways to the actual direction of travel
of the machine is effected by means of the reciprocating motion of the cutter

page_text: between the arched pieces n. A special advantage lies in the arrangement of
the cam wheel which imparts motion to the knife or cutter but does not come in
contact with loose vegotablo mould and therefore cannot be hindered or interrupted
in its operations.
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:
A mowing machine in which a reciprocating motion is produced by means
of a cam wheel the motion so produced being transmitted by a lever and
connecting link to a cutter which has a reciprocating motion through arched
cutting pieces.