IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES."-A
communication from abroad by James Darius Frary, of New
Britain, Connecticut, United States of America.
Sealed the 29th March 1870, and dated the 28th January 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 28th January 1870.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN
MOWING MACHINES," a communication, to be as follows:-.

page_text: Second. In the arrangement of the front or gauge roller with reference
to the cutters.
And, third. In the combination of the handle by which the power
is applied to propel the machine with the frame.
One of the principal objections to lawn mowers as heretofore con-
structed is the disagreeable clicking sound which attends the spring pawl
and ratchet gear used to connect the traction wheel with the driving
gear of the revolving shear. The spring used with the pawl is subject
to frequent disarrangement, and is besides easily broken in the ordinary
use of the machine, while the pawl itself is inconvenient of access when
it becomes necessary to turn the revolving shear backward by hand in
the operation of sharpening the cutters.
According to my Invention the end of the roller at which the main
gear is to be located has an annular groove or recess concentric with the
axle of the roller. Within this space so formed is placed a pawl; the
upper or acting end of this pawl has a head, the extreme width of which
is greater than the width of the annular space measured upon any radius:
This head portion is held up to its position by a light spring which has
no labor to perform beyond that of sustaining the weight of that end of
the pawl, and for which a fulcrum or supporting stud with a rounded
end resting against the outer circle of the annular space may be sub-
stituted or used in connection therewith. The lower portion of the pawl
is curved so as to partially embrace the hub surrounding the axle, and
near its extremity is placed a stud pin. The main driving toothed wheel
has a hole drilled in its face into which the stud pin fits, so that the said
wheel and the pawl before mentioned, when the machine is put together
are connected by means of the stud pin so inserted in the face of the
driving gear. To run the revolving shear backward for grinding it is
only necessary to raise the forward end of the machine and insert a pin
in the side of the driving gear wheel for a crank by which without
any adjustment of the pawl the movement of the train can be
reversed.
A further improvement consists in the arrangement of the gauge
roller at the rear of the cutters. In other machines the roller or the
shoe whose projection below the plane of the frame determines the
closeness of the cut of the machine is located in advance of the cutters.
If a roller be used its effect is to prostrate the grass to be cut for the
full width of the swath, and if shoes are employed the grass is laid flat

page_text: in their track and left uncut by the machine. The gauge roller of my
improved machine has its axle bearings in arms which are slotted toward
their upper ends and clamp bolts passing through such slots and the side
pieces of the frame of the machine allow the heighth of the roller to be
readily adjusted to enable the cutters to make the desired closeness of cut..
The great advantage of the arrangement herein described is that while
the length of cut which the knives shall make is capable of being
regulated as well as heretofore the prostration of a portion of the grass
in the track of the machine without cutting it is completely obviated.
It is desirable that the handle should be connected with the frame
by a hinge joint which permits the machine to adjust itself to the
inequalities of the ground over which it passes, and also that means
should exist for varying the angle at which the handle shall stand with
reference to the plane of the frame. The said handle is fitted to a
suitable socket which is pivoted to the rear end of the frame. From
the lower side of the socket an ear piece projects, which has a threaded
hole into which is inserted a screw rod the end of which bears against a
projecting-lug upon the lower side of the frame. It is apparent that by
means of this screw the angle of inclination of the handle to the frame
can be readily changed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th July 1870.
TO ALL TO. WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton Build-
ings; London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter

page_text: .
_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 LAWN MOWING MACHINES," a communication to me from
abroad by James Darius Frary, of New Britain, Connecticut, United:
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Robert Lake, 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 1
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months.
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do "hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
The improvements herein-after described consist,
DM
First. In an improved friction pawl to connect the traction roller with
the driving gear of the revolving shear.
Second. In the arrangement of the front or gauge roller with reference
to the cutters.
And, third. In the combination of the handle by which the power is.
applied to propel the machine with the frame.
One of the principal objections to lawn mowers as heretofore con-
structed is the disagreeable clicking sound which attends the spring
pawl and ratchet gear used to connect the traction wheel with the
driving gear of the revolving shear. The spring used with the pawl is
subject to frequent, disarrangement, and is besides casily broken in the
ordinary use of the machine, while the pawl itself is inconvenient of
access when it becomes. necessary to turn the revolving shear backward
by hand in the operation of sharpening the cutters.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.

page_text: Referring to Figure 1, A. is the traction wheel or roller; B is the main
gear wheel connected with the same, which gives movement to the train
that drives the revolving shear C. The end of the roller at which the
main gear wheel is to be located has an annular groove or recess D. (as
shewn in dotted lines in Figure 2) concentric with the axle E of the
roller. Within the space so formed is placed a pawl F. The upper or
acting end of this pawl has a head a, the extreme width of which is
greater than the width of the annular space D measured upon any radius.
This head portion is held up to its position, as shewn at Figure 1, by a
light spring b, which has no labor put upon it beyond that of sustaining
the weight of that end of the pawl, and for which a fulcrum or sup-
porting stud c, with a rounded end resting against the outer circle of the
annular space, may be substituted, or the stud may be used in connection
with the spring. The lower portion of the pawl is curved so as to
partially embrace the hub surrounding the axle E, and near its extremity
is placed a stud pin d. The main driving toothed wheel B has a hole
drilled in its face, into which the stud pin d fits, so that the said wheel
and the pawl before mentioned when the machine is put together are
connected by means of the stuḍ pin so inserted in the face of the driving
gear wheel.
:
It is easy to be understood from the foregoing description in connection
with the Drawings that when the machine is propelled forward its first
tendency will be to revolve independently of the main driving toothed
wheel B, but the change so induced in the relative positions of the
driving and traction wheels on their common axle, will cause the head a
of the pawl F to jam hard between the concentric surfaces of the
annular recess D, and both wheels will travel together as one and give
movement to the train of gearing which drives the revolving shear,
Upon pulling the machine backward the pawl is so changed in position
as to allow the shortest. width of the head piece a, which is less than
the width of the annular recess D measured on a radius, to stand
in a position which will enable the traction wheel to revolve without
influencing the main driving toothed wheel B, which will remain
stationary. By this device the clicking sound incident to a spring pawl
5 and ratchet gear is avoided, and there is no liability of the apparatus to
become unserviceable. To run the revolving shear backward for grinding
it is only necessary to raise the forward end of the machine and insert
a pin in the side of the driving gear whcel B for a crank, by which

page_text: without any adjustment of the pawl the movement of the train can be
reversed.
A further improvement consists in the arrangement of the gauge roller
at the rear of the cutters. In other machines the roller or the shoe, whose
projection below the plane of the frame determines the closeness of the
cut of the machine, is located in advance of the cutters. If a roller be
used its effect is to prostrate the grass to be cut for the full width of the
swath, and if shoes are employed the grass is laid flat in their track and
left uncut by the machine. The gauge roller G of my improved machine
has its axle bearings in arms e, which are slotted towards their upper
ends, and clamp bolts passing through such slots and the side pieces of
the frame of the machine allow the height of the roller to be readily
adjusted to enable the cutters to make the desired closeness of cut.
The great advantage of the arrangement herein described is, that
while the length of cut which the knives shall make is capable of being
regulated as well as heretofore, the prostration of a portion of the grass
in the track of the machine without cutting it is completely obviated.
It is desirable that the handle should be connected with the frame
by a hinge joint, which permits the machine to adjust itself to the
inequalities of the ground over which it passes, and also that means?
should exist for varying the angle at which the handle shall stand with
reference to the plane of the frame. The same idea is employed in some
lawn mowers heretofore constructed, and also in various other analogous
machines, as, for instance, carpet sweepers. The improvement which I
have made in the construction of the handle is confined therefore to the 2
particular device shown in its construction with the frame. The said
handle H is fitted to a suitable socket f which is pivoted to the rear end
of the frame at G. From the lower side of the socket an car piece h
projects, which has a threaded hole wherein is inserted a screw rod i, the
end of which bears against a projecting lug k upon the lower side of 3
the frame. It is apparent that by means of this screw the angle of
inclination of the handle to the frame can be readily changed.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me
from by my foreign correspondent, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The combination of the traction wheel A, the driving gearing B, 3
and the friction pawl F, operating substantially as described for the
purposes specified.

page_text: Second. The arrangement of the adjustable gauge roller G with
reference to the revolving shear C, substantially as herein shown and
described.
Third. In combination with the jointed handle H and the frame of a
lawn mower the employment of a screw stop i applied and worked
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereinto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
D. L. WAGNER,
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)