Improvements in Mowing or Reaping Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 13th Apr., 1889
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES WARREN CHENEY, of Athol, in the County
of Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
Improvements in Mowing or Reaping Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My improvement is applicable to mowers or reapers of the kind which are propelled
by the hand of a person or to mowers or reapers which are propelled by draft animals
or power.
One feature of my improvement consists in the combination with a cutter bar frame
of a shoe pivotally connected thereto and an adjusting device preferably consisting
of a screw fitted to the cutter bar frame or to an appurtenance of the latter and
affording a means for varying the angle of the shoe with respect to the cutter bar
frame in order to secure the raising or lowering of the cutter bar frame. This shoe
and the adjusting device will preferably be arranged at the free end of the cutter
bar frame. The inner end of the cutter bar frame may be raised or lowered by
combining therewith a wheel arranged upon a stud or axle which is attached to the
cutter bar frame in such manner that the cutter bar frame may be raised and
lowered relatively to the stud or axle and then secured in any desired relation
therewith.
Another feature of my improvement consists in the combination with reciprocating
cutters of a cutter bar frame provided with rearwardly flaring recesses. Preferably
the portion of the cutter bar frame above as well as that portion below the reciprocating
cutters will have these flaring recesses. Grass, dirt and other matters carried into the
cutter bar frame by the cutters will be forced into these recesses, and, as more and
more becomes crowded into these recesses some will be forced out rearwardly and
escape from the cutter bar frame owing to the rearward flare of the recesses.

page_text: Another feature of the improvement consists in a cutter bar consisting of a bar
portion, a transversely extending shank portion and a loop portion extending upwardly
from the shank portion and all formed in one integral structure of iron, steel or
analagous material. The bar portion will be provided with cutters and will reciprocate
in the cutter bar frame. Its reciprocations will be effected by means of a crank
extending through the loop portion of the cutter bar and fitting the interior of a
block which externally snugly fits within the said loop portion. The novelty of this
feature of the improvement resides in the construction of the cuttor bar with the
shank and loop portions in one integral structure, and is important because it provides
a rigid structure which is simple, can be cheaply constructed and withal is extremely
durable.
Another feature of the improvement consists in the combination with reciprocating
cutters of a cutter bar frame having an upper section capable of rocking transversely,
and provided at the forward edge with a rib for bearing upon the cutters and also
provided with an adjusting device, such, for instance, as a screw whereby the said
section may be rocked to vary the force with which this rib presses upon the cutters.
This feature provides for evening the cutters, or in other words, for imparting pressure
to all of them and causing them to operate uniformly and in the same place.
Preferably the cutters will be longitudinally curved from the tips or points towards
the rear and will be resilient. Then the rocking upper section of the cutter bar frame
may be used to vary to a greater extent than otherwise would be possible the pressure
imposed upon the cutters."
Doted this 18th dox of Tunn 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Mowing or Reaping Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
My improvement is applicable to mowers or reapers of the kind which are propelled
by the hand of a person or to mowers or reapers which are propelled by draft animals
or power.
One feature of my improvement consists in the combination with a cutter bar
frame of a shoe pivotally connected thereto and an adjusting device preferably
consisting of a screw fitted to the cutter bar frame or to an appurtenance of the latter
and affording a means for varying the angle of the shoe with respect to the cutter
bar frame in order to secure the raising or lowering of the cutter bar frame. This
shoe and the adjusting device will preferably be arranged at the free end of the cutter
bar frame. The inner end of the cutter bar frame may be raised or lowered by
combining therewith a wheel arranged upon a stud or axle which is attached to the
cutter bar frame in such manner that the cutter bar frame may be raised and
lowered relatively to the stud or axle and then secured in any desired relation
therewith.
Another feature of my improvement consists in the combination with reciprocating
cutters of a cutter bar frame provided with rearwardly flaring recesses. Preferably
the portion of the cutter bar frame above as well as that portion below the recipro-
eating cutters will have these flaring recesses. Grass, dirt and other matters carried
into the cutter bar frame by the cutters will be forced into these recesses, and, as
more and more becomes crowded into these recesses some will be forced out
rearwardly and escape from the cutter bar frame owing to the rearward flare of the
recesses.
Another feature of the improvement consists in a cutter bar consisting of a har
portion, a transversely extending shank portion and a loop portion extending upwardly
from the shank portion and all formed in one integral structure of iron, steel or
analagous material. The bar portion will be provided with cutters and will reciprocate
in the cutter bar frame. Its reciprocations will be effected by means of a crank
extending through the loop portion of the cutter bar and fitting the interior of a
block which externally snugly fits within the said loop portion. The novelty of this
feature of the improvement resides in the construction of the cutter bar with the
shank and loop portions in one integral structure, and is important because it provides

page_text: a rigid structure which is simple, can be cheaply constructed and withal is extremely
durable.
Another feature of the improvement consists in the combination with reciprocating
cutters of a cutter bar frame having an upper section capable of rocking transversely,
and provided at the forward edge with a rib for bearing upon the cutters and also
provided with an adjusting device, such, for instance, as a screw, whereby the said
section may be rocked to vary the force with which this rib presses upon the cutters.
This feature provides for evening the cutters, or, in other words, for imparting
pressure to all of them and causing them to operate uniformly and in the same place.
Preferably the cutters will be longitudinally curved from the tips or points towards
the rear and will be resilient. Then the rocking upper section of the cutter bar
frame may be used to vary to a greater extent than otherwise would be possible the
pressure imposed upon the cutters.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a lawn mower
embodying my improvement. Figure 2 is a side view of the same. Figure 3 is a
vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the machine, the section being taken as
indicated by the dotted lines a Figure 1. Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section
taken as indicated by the dotted line y y Figure 1. Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal
section taken as indicated by the dotted line zz Figure 1. Figure 6 is a perspective
view of the two cutter bars and the bars which transmit motion to them. Figure 7
is a plan or top view of the lower section of the cutter bar frame. Figure 8 is an
inverted plan or view of the under side of the upper section of the cutter bar frame.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
2
A' A² designate the cutter bar frame. This is composed of two sections arranged
one above the other A¹ is the lower section and this section is secured at one end to
a frame B which is supported from the main frame B of the machine. A2 is
the upper section. The latter is secured to the lower section by screws or like
devices.
C¹² designate two cutter bars. Each of these cutter bars consists of a bar-like
portion c, a shank like portion c¹ extending rearwardly from the bar portion at a point
near one end of the latter, and a loop portion e² extending upwardly from the shank
like portion. The bar-like portion has cutters or knives c³ secured to it. The lower
cutter bar has cutters or knives secured to the upper side of its bar-like portion c.
The upper cutter bar (2 has the cutters or knives secured to the under side of its
bar-like portion c. The knives or cutters may be secured to the bars by rivets or
other means.
It will be seen that the cutters have edges 1 which extend at right angles to
the bar-like portions of the cutter bars C or, in other words, directly forward and
other edges. 2 which are inclined forwardly towards the edges 1. The straight
edges 1 of both sets of cutters are parallel and the inclined edges 2 of both sets of
cutters are also parallel.
The loop portions of the cutter bars have parallel sides and top portions
extending at right angles to the sides.
Each cutter bar consisting of the bar portion c, shank portion e¹ and loop portion c²
and loop portion c² is formed in a single piece by casting or otherwise, and hence
is simple in construction, cheap and not liable to get out of order.
The shank portion of the cutter bar (2 is shorter than the shank portion of the
cutter bar C and hence the loop portion of the cutter bar (2 is located forwardly
of the loop portion of the cutter bar C.
Blocks D D fitted to cranks on a shaft D fit within the loop portions ² of the
cutter bars. The loops are high enough or long enough in a vertical direction to
allow of the movement of the blocks D1 D2 up and down within them, but are so
narrow as to fit snugly the sides of the blocks, hence when the shaft D is rotated, the
cranks acting through the blocks D1 D2 will reciprocate the cutter bars horizontally
in the cutter bar frame. The cranks to which the blocks D' D2 are fitted extend in
reverse directions from the axial line of the shaft D. The cutter bars are therefore
reciprocated in reverse directions when the shaft D is rotated. The edges of the

page_text: cutters of each cutter bar will thus be made to reciprocate past the edges of the cutters
of the other cutter bar. The cranks of the shaft D extend into a box-like portion of
the frame B. Into this box-like portion the shank portions and the loop portions of
the cutter bars extend. This box portion is preferably provided with a movable cover
to facilitate access to the cranks. The bottom of this box-like portion of the frame B
is shown as cast integral with the lower section of the cutter bar frame.
The main portion of the frame B consists of a sleeve surrounding the shaft D. The
upper end of this sleeve-like portion extends close to a bearing with which the main
frame B is provided for sustaining the shaft D. This bearing bit will be seen, is on
one of the side bars of the main frame B'. At the upper end the shaft D has affixed
to it a bevel pinion E. The hub of this pinion abuts against the bearing b. The
other side bar of the main frame of the machine is provided with a brace-bar b'. This
brace-bar is shown as secured by screws to the side bar of the main frame from which
it extends. It inclines towards the sleeve portion of the frame B and abuts against
the same near to the box-like portion of said frame B. The forward end of this brace-
bar has a cavity so as to bear against the sleeve-like portion of the frame B. It is
not, however, secured thereto, and hence the sleeve like portion of the frame B is
capable of oscillating with reference to the main frame of the machine. This enables
the cutter bar frame and cutter bars to oscillate and also prevents the main frame of
the machine when oscillated by reason of travelling over uneven ground from
imparting its oscillations to the cutter bar frame and cutter bars. The brace-bar 6¹
steadies the frame B and hence the cutter bar frame and cutter bars laterally.
The main frame B¹ is supported upon an axle F. This axle is sustained by two
wheels FF2 which may be roughened at the periphery so as to insure their rotation
when the machine is moved over the ground. The wheels F¹ F2 are not made fast to
turn the axle as they rotate but are connected to the axle by a pawl and ratchet or
equivalent connection so that when the machine is moved forward, the wheels will
cause the ratchet to rotate, and when the machine is moved in the reverse direction
the wheels will run free from the axle.
.
The axle F has a gear wheel G affixed to it. The gear wheel G engages with a
pinion G. The pinion G¹ is affixed to a sleeve G2 having also affixed to it a gear-
wheel G³. The sleeve G2 is supported upon a shaft or stud which is sustained by the
side Fars of the main frame B¹. The gear-wheel G³ engages with a pinion G4 which
is affixed to a sleeve G that turns loosely upon the axle F. The sleeve G³ has affixed
to it a large bevel wheel G that engages with the pinion E that is affixed to the upper
end of the shaft D.
When the wheels F1 F2 impart motion to the axle F the train of gearing which I
have described will impart to the shaft D a rapid rotary movement and the latter will
reciprocate the cutter bars.
I have shown a handle H as a means for propelling the machine. At the lower end
it is bifurcated and the bifurcate portions, fit the axle. This handle may be swung
over that the machine may be propelled by pulling or pushing. When it is
swung
rearwardly it rests upon a pin 62 extending upwardly from the back bar of the main
frame. If the handle is depressed sufficiently while impinging upon this pin 72 the
forward part of the machine may be raised.
I will now explain how the cutter bar frame may be raised or lowered. It is
supported at the free end by a shoe A2 and at the other end by a wheel A³. The
shoe A is pivotally secured in place at one end by a pin a and may be adjusted
at different angles to elevate or lower the free end of the cutter bar frame by manipu-
lating a screw a which works through a tapped hole in an appurtenance of the free
end of the cutter bar frame and impinges against the shoe.
The wheel A³ is supported by a stud a³. This stud extends from an angle piece a
that fits one of the corners of the box-like portion of the frame B. One of the studs of
this angle piece has a vertical slot through it. A screw a passes through the slot of
the angle piece and enters a tapped hole in the bottom of the box-liko portion of the
frame B. A washer is shown as arranged between the head of the screw and the
angle piece. By loosening this screw, the angle piece may be adjusted vertically with

page_text: reference to the box-like portion of the frame B, and by tightening the screw it may
be fixed in any desired position.
The bar-like portions c of the cutter bars are guided in the two sections of the
cutter bar frame. The forward guides consist of transversely extended ribs aº. The
rearward guides consist of projections a. Screws a secure the upper section A² of
the cutter bar frame to the lower section A¹ thereof. These screws extend through
the projections a². There extend rearwardly from the two sections of the cutter bar
frame, lugs a. The meeting or opposite faces of the projections a' and of the lugs a³
are not parallel but diverge rearwardly. Screws a¹0 are fitted in the tapped holes in
the lugs a of the upper section of the cutter bar frame and impinge against the lugs a³
of the lower section of the cutter bar frame. By manipulating the screws at the
upper section of the cutter bar frame may be rocked so as to cause the rib a' at the
forward edge of the upper section of the cutter bar frame to press with greater or less
force upon the cutters of the upper cutter bar. Hence I provide a simple and effective
means for varying the relation of the two sets of cutters. These cutters are curved
longitudinally so that the opposite faces of the cutters forming the two sets are slightly
concave, from the forward ends or tips rearwardly. This construction provides for
varying the pressure under which the two sets of cutters co-act while still maintaining
a contact between the two sets of cutters. It also provides for evening the cutters, or,
in other words, rendering the action of the cutters of the two sets uniform.
In the opposite faces of the two sections of the cutter bar frame I provide rear-
wardly flaring recesses, S. Dirt and other matter carried into the cutter bar frame
by the cutters may work into these recesses, and, owing to the rearward flare of the
recesses will gradually move to the rear and pass out of the cutter bar frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a lawn or reaper the combination with a cutter bar frame of a shoe
pivotally connected thereto and an adjuster for varying the angle of the shoe with
reference to the cutter bar frame, substantially as specified.
2. In a lawn mower or reaper the combination with a cutter bar frame, a shoe
pivotally connected thereto and an adjuster consisting of a screw working in a tapped
hole in the cutter bar frame or an appurtenance thereof and impinging against the
shoe for varying the angle of the shoe with reference to the cutter bar frame, sub-
stantially as specified.
3. In a lawn mower or reaper the combination with a cutter bar frame of a shoe
pivotally connected to the free end thereof, an adjuster for varying the angle of the
shoe with reference to the cutter bar frame, a wheel for sustaining the other end of
the cutter bar frame, a stud fitting the wheel and a support for the stud adjustably
connected to the frame of the machine, substantially as specified.
4. In a lawn mower or reaper the combination of a cutter bar frame, provided with
rearwardly flaring recesses and reciprocating cutters guided in said frame, substantially
as specified.
5. In a lawn mower or reaper the combination of a cutter bar frame composed of
two sections provided in their opposite faces with rearwardly flaring recesses and
reciprocating cutters guided in said frame, substantially as specified.
6. In a lawn mower or reaper, the combination of a cutter bar frame, a cutter bar
reciprocating therein and consisting of a bar portion, a shank portion and a loop
portion formed in one integral piece. a block fitting the loop portion and a shaft
provided with a crank fitting said block, substantially as specified.
7. A cutter bar for a lawn mower consisting of a bar portion, a shank portion and
a loop portion formed in one integral piece, substantially as specified.
8. In a lawn mower or reaper the combination of cutters, a cutter bar frame having
an upper section capable of rocking transversely and provided at the forward edge
with a rib for bearing upon the cutters and an adjuster for rocking the said upper
section of the cutter bar frame and securing it in position, substantially as specified,

page_text: 9. In a lawn mower or reaper the combination of two sets of cutters having their
opposite faces curved or concaved from the tips rearwardly, a cutter bar frame
composed of two sections having at the forward edges ribs impinging against the
cutters, connections between the two sections of the cutter bar frame which will
provide for the rocking of the upper section of said frame and screws for rocking the
upper section of the cutter bar frame, substantially as specified.
Daind th: 191 1
car
3 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.