IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING APPARATUS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Kitching Stone, of Park Street, Hull, in the
County of York, Timber Merchant, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HARVESTING APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Kitching Stone at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th September 1881.
HENRY KITCHING STONE, of Park Street, Hull, in the County of York, Timber
Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING APPARATUS."
My Invention relates to apparatus for harvesting corn or other cereals. The
apparatus for this purpose according to my Invention consists of a duplex reaping
machine having one set of knives or cutters in its front part at such a height as to
cut the ears of the stalks, and another set of knives or cutters in its hinder part
at such a height as to cut the stalks or straw off the ground. Both sets of cutters
are made adjustable in height so as to suit the levels of their respective cuts to the
condition of the crop to which the apparatus is applied. Behind the front or ear
cutters I arrange a travelling sheet, which conveys the cut off ears into a channel,
whence they are delivered into bags, baskets, or other suitable receptacles. The
straw cut by the apparatus may if desired be gathered in sheaves, or it may be
simply collected like hay, thus dispensing with the gathering and binding of
sheaves.

page_text: Fig. 1 is an elevation of a left hand harvesting machine according to my
Invention, Fig. 2 is a plan of its lower part, Fig. 3 is an elevation of a right hand
machine, and Fig. 4 a plan of its upper part. A indicates the position of the lower
cutters (which may be of any known construction) for cutting the straw, and B
indicates the position of the upper cutters for cutting off the cars.
These are
situated at a suitable height above the ground and in advance of the lower cutters,
as indicated by the dotted line B in Fig. 2. The frame carrying the lower cutters
is connected to the main framing of the machine by pins C, on which the cutter
frame can turn a little upwards or downwards to suit inequalities of the ground,
as determined by the front sliding guards D. The frame which carries the upper
_cutters can turn upon a cross shaft E. Its weight is approximately counter-
balanced by an adjustable volute spring F, as shewn in the part elevation, Fig. 5,
and the cutters can be adjusted to the height of the crop by a hand lever G,
placed within convenient reach of the driver as he sits on his seat H. Two
travelling chains I, I, passing round wheels mounted on the upper cutter frame has
a number of cross bars J attached to them. These bars bend the ears towards the
cutters B, and carry them when cut off along a plate K to the back of the
machine, where they are received in sacks or other suitable receptacles placed on a
platform L The straw cut by the lower cutters A is guided towards one side of
the machine and discharged on the ground. The gearing for driving the two sets
of cutters and the chain wheels may be variously arranged. As shewn in the
Drawings, internal teeth on the road wheel M drive a pinion on a short shaft N,
on which is a clutch for a double sided bevil wheel O. The wheel O on its other
side drives a pinion on a vertical spindle Q, at the upper end of which is a pinion
driving a bevil wheel R on the shaft E, which carries a pair of chain wheels. The
wheel R drives a bevil pinion S, a toothed wheel on which drives another toothed
wheel T on a spindle U, which by a crank or eccentric works the upper cutters B.
The other parts of the machine being similar in construction to those of known
reaping and harvesting machines need not be particularly described. The upper
cutters and framing being removed, the machine can operate as an ordinary
reaper.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,―
First. Combining with a reaping machine a set of cutters acting in advance of
the ordinary cutters and at an adjustable height above them, so as first to cut off
the ears from the stalks or straw, and then to cut the stalks or straw off the
ground, substantially as herein described.
Second. In combination with the upper cutters referred to in the preceding
Claim, a travelling sheet or set of travelling bars to conduct the cut off cars to the
hinder part of the machine, substantially as herein described.
Third. The construction of duplex harvesting machine herein described with
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Kitching Stone, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.