Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting, Mowing, or Reaping.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting, Mowing, or Reaping.
I DAVID RICHARDS of 20 Wyndham Place Canton Cardiff in the county of
Glamorgan Engineer 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 :—
This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for cutting, mowing or
reaping the object being to construct the same in a cheap and simple manner and yet
in such a way as to do thoroughly efficient work.
In the following description of my invention reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings whereof in sheet 1 Fig. 1 is a front view; Fig. 2 a side view
and Fig. 3 a plan of a cutting, mowing or reaping apparatus constructed according to
this invention. Figs. 4, 4 and 5 show details of the cutting arrangement.
In carrying out my invention I use a frame a and driving handle 6 of a light
construction; between the arms a¹ a² of said frame I mount the driving wheels cc';
the wheel c carries on one of its sides the bevel wheel c²-On the lower extremities
of these arms a' a' I mount two other wheels or pulleys d d¹ and at right angles to
the aforesaid driving wheels. The spindle carrying the wheel or pulley d also carries
the bevel wheel which gears with the wheel c² as shown.
Over these two wheels or pulleys d, d' I pass the band cutting knife d³ made after
the manner of an ordinary band saw shown in detail Figs. 4 and 4".
The arms a a² also carry at their lower extremities and in a line with the two
pulleys & d', guides e (shown in detail Fig. 5) in which the band cutting knife works,
and which also serve as an auxiliary cutting edge.
In working this cutter, mower, or reaper the whole body of the machine rests upon
the driving wheels c, c¹ and thus when motion is given to these it is communicated by
means of the gears c² d² to the wheels d d¹ which carries the band cutting knife d³
and it will be readily understood that the object to be cut will stand up between the
guides or fixed cutting edges e and the band cutting edge in traversing between them
shears off any obstacle at the time lying in its path.
A modification of my invention is shown in sheet 2 and in this case I give the
toothed cutting edge a reciprocating instead of a circular motion this is shown in
Figs. 6 a side view and Fig. 7 a plan.
In this machine I use the frame and handle as in the former case and mount
between the arms a¹ a³ the driving wheels c c¹-In the inner surface of wheel c¹ I cut
the can slot or pathway h. The cutting edge in this case will be formed of a fixed
bar i with teeth cut therein and a movable cutting bark working on the bar i. The
bar i has two slots 1, m cut therein and in which works the two pins n n¹ on the
movable bar k-Motion will be given to the bar k by means of the lever o which
works in the cam slot or pathway h of wheel c¹ as will be seen and understood on
reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. The cutting bars are shown in detail
Figs. 8 and 8 and it is to be noted that either of these knives must carry one or more
cutting teeth than the other and the teeth on these two bars must be of a different
pitch and this so that they shall not be cutting all at one and the same time; this will
be seen on reference to Fig. 7.
In the Figures 9 and 9 is shown a machine constructed with one fixed tooth i and
one movable tooth k the working of this machine being similar in every way to that
described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7.
The details of teeth shown in Figs. 10, 10° 11 and 11 show a simple manner
whereby the teeth of the above mentioned cutters may be made singly and be passed
onto a bar or rod and thus form the cutting edge to whatever size may be required-
The teeth will be formed as shown with the blade p and at their back end with the

page_text: eyelet through which will be passed the bar or rod which may be according to the
shape of the eyelet either half-round, square, or of triangular shape.
These single knives may also be threaded upon a band and used in the machine as
shown and described with reference to sheet 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is::-
Firstly. In an apparatus for cutting mowing or reaping, the band cutting knife d³
and guide cutting edges e as and for the purpose herein set forth in reference to
sheet 1.
Secondly. The combination of the various parts forming a cutting, mowing or
reaping apparatus substantially as described and as shown in sheet 1 of the drawings.
Thirdly. In an apparatus for cutting mowing or reaping the cam slot or pathway
for giving the necessary number of throws to get the desired reciprocating motion to
the cutting knife as set forth in reference to sheet 2.
Fourthly. The combination of the various parts forming a cutting mowing or
reaping apparatus the whole constructed and operating substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth and as shown in sheet 2 of the drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1889.
PARKER & HARPER,
57, New Broad Street, E.C.

page_text: of the other couple W, W by the spiral springs S S which tend to press the
weights WW against the cone K while the centrifugal force caused by the rotation
of the weighted arms R R tends to diminish the pressure. Hence the maximum
velocity which can be given to the weighted arms R, R, by the cone K, however great
its velocity may be, is that which produces sufficient centrifugal force to overcome
the resistance of the spiral springs S, S, so far as to reduce the pressure on the cone K
to the small amount necessary and sufficient to overcome the friction on the bearings
of the spindle A and the resistance of the air.
A screw thread is formed on the lower end of the spindle A on which a pinion
nut N turns. Simultaneous rotatory motion is given to the pinion nut N and the
cone K by toothed wheels D D fixed to the same axle and actuated by the machine
to be governed. The toothed wheels D D are of different diameter and the pinion of
the nut N and pinion P which drives the cone K are reciprocally of different
diameters so that the cone K always revolves at a greater rate than the pinion
nui N.
When the machine is moving at the normal rate, the pinion nut N rotates at the
same rate as the spindle A and consequently does not travel on the screw.
When the machine is moving at any other rate, the pinion nut N travels on the screw
and this motion is utilised to regulate the motion of the machine.
Consequently friction will be generated between the pinion nut N and the spindle A
which has a tendency to accelerate or retard the rotation of the spindle A. If to
retard the weights WW1 press with increased force against the cone K and
practically maintain their velocity; if to accelerate, the weights W1 W₁, press
with less force against the cone K or possibly leave its surface and come in
contact with the fixed cone guard G and their velocity is practically reduced to the
normal.
The governor may be set to move at the required rate by causing the parallel
cones K and G to slide along their axis by the worm screw V working the sector S
gearing into the racks r and thus regulating the distance of the weights W,W, W' Wi
from the spindle A.
Sheet 3 of the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification shows another
way of carrying out the desired mode of action, better adapted for chronometers, in
which the revolving driving surface W is flat and annular instead of conical; the
springs SS act by resisting compression instead of extension and the pinion-nut N
checks the motion of the machine by friction against the boss p, and the adjustment
for velocity is obtained by moving the screws a and b.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings show respectively a plan and vertical
section of a similar arrangement to the above (sheet 3) but the weights W W¹, are
attached by spiral springs S, S, in tension and carry springs S S which press against
the revolving driving wheel to, and the pinion nut Ñ carries a friction wheel with
two or more springs S', S', which press against a fixed ring p, the position of which
can be regulated by the screw nuts V, V, V, V.
The bearings of the driving wheel w and of the spindle A may be adjusted by the
screws at a and which are of metals of different heat-expansions.
The spindle A is covered with a sleeve T at the lower end, containing a spiral
spring which presses against the end of the spindle A so as to allow of the screw
adjustment.
These screws adjust for temperature and time, and wear. The weights W,W,W' W
are of such a form that the variation in the air-resistance causes WI and W to
press with variable force against the driving wheel w and so adjust for barometric
variation.
The spring S, between the pinion nut N and the collar C serves to prevent the
friction, between the screw of the spindle A and the pinion nut N, driving the spindle A
by reducing the pressure of the weights W1 W on the driving wheel w.
Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings shows another arrangement similar to sheets 1
and 2 of the Provisional Specification but discs K and G are substituted for the cones,
and the adjustment for speed is obtained by pivoting the weighted arms R R

page_text: to a sleeve V caused to slide on the spindle A by the lever fixed by the clamp
screw m to the sector which is graduated to indicate the velocity of the
machine.
The spiral springs S S connecting W₁ W1 are arranged so as not to come into
action until the weights are moved some distance away from the spindle A by the
lever 1, in order that the graduations on the sector may be spaced conveniently. The
pin at A passes through the spindle A which is slotted to allow the longitudinal
motion of the sleeve.
Fig. 4 represents an alternative method of moving the spindle sleeve.
In this case, the screw X being held stationary, the nut y is screwed upward
thereon, whereupon the sleeve Z carrying the sleeve V can be screwed upward to the
desired height, and then be secured by screwing down the locknut y again.
In the above illustrations the governors work independently of gravity, equally
well in any position, or when moving about. Where the machine to be governed is
stationary, the upper weights may be omitted. And the lower weights, unassisted or
assisted by springs, are sufficient; and where no variation in the rate of the
governor is required, the longitudinal motion of the driving surface or of the pivot of
the weighted arm may he dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for regulating the motion of machinery, the use of weighted arms
pivotted to an axis and rotated by frictional contact with a disc, ring, or cone driven
by the machinery to be controlled, the spindle of the weighted arms being provided
with a screw thread on which is a nut also driven by the machinery, so that when the
engine or machine is running at the normal speed, there is no relative motion between
the spindle and the nut, but when the normal speed is exceeded, the centrifugal action
prevents any material change in the rate of rotation of the weighted arms, thereby
producing relative motion between the spindle and nut, which motion is utilized
for retarding or accelerating the speed of the engine, substantially as herein
described.
2. In apparatus for regulating or governing the motion of machinery, the com-
bination with a spindle A to which are pivotted the weighted governor arius RR,
W W WW', of a cone or other surface K rotated by the machine to be
regulated and with which two of the weighted arms are in contact, and a
screwed nut n mounted on a threaded part of the spindle A, which nut is
rotated by the machine at the same speed as the spindle when the machine is
running at the normal speed, substantially as herein described with reference to
the drawings.
3. In combination with the apparatus referred to in the preceding claim, a fixed
conical or other surface G in contact with which the weighted arms come when the
speed exceeds a certain degree, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus such as is referred to in the 2nd and 3rd claims, adjusting the
weighted arms RR to operate at different speeds by either shifting the conical
or other surfaces K and G relatively to the weighted arms, or by shifting the
pivot of the weighted arms relatively to the conical or other surfaces, substantially as
herein described.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.