IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Dray and Robert Gardiner, both of Farning-
ham, in the County of Kent, Agricultural Engineers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Dray and Robert
Gardiner, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 16th June 1860.
We, WILLIAM DRAY and ROBERT GARDINER, both of Farningham, in the
County of Kent, Agricultural Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," to be
as follows:-
Our Invention relates, in the first place, to the machine known as "Dray's
Improved Hussey's machine," and to other similar machines, and consists in
causing the knife of the said machines to project laterally from the after end,
instead of from the fore end of the body of them at an angle differing more or
less from a right angle to the line of draught of the machines. Also in so
attaching the finger bar and cutting apparatus as to allow them to fold and
lie flush with the side or to turn back behind the machine.
Secondly, our Invention relates to the platforms of reaping and mowing
machines generally, and consists, in substituting for the "balanced platform,"
heretofore used in some machines, a platform hinged at its forward end, and
connected with suitable levers or other equivalent contrivances, whereby the

page_text: platform may be lowered at will at suitable intervals, to facilitate the removal
of the cut crop from it and then be raised again into position.
The third part of our Invention also relates to the platforms of these
machines and consists in forming them of several breadths or sections, which
are so supported upon centres that they may, at will, be turned partially about
them for the purpose of jerking or otherwise moving the cut crop clear of the
knife to facilitate the raking off of the same. In the case of mowing machines
the platform consisting only of a single piece supported on centres and capable
of motion about them, as just described, may be sufficient, and such a platform
constitutes part of this Invention.
Fourthly, our Invention consists in the employment of transverse bars for
the reception of the cut crop as it falls from the knife, such bars, in some
cases, being placed a few inches above the platform, and in others taking the
place of a platform. The object of these bars is to facilitate the raking off of
the cut crop at the side of the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Dray and Robert Gardiner in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th December 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we; WILLIAM
DRAY and ROBERT GARDINER, both of Farningham, in the County of Kent,
Agricultural Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
William Dray and Robert Gardiner, Her special licence that we, the said
William Dray and Robert Gardiner, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said William Dray and Robert Gardiner, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 REAPING AND MOWING
MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said William
Dray and Robert Gardiner, or one of us, our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands

page_text: 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 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 we, the said William Dray and Robert Gardiner,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
Our Invention relates, in the first place, to the machine known as "Dray's
improved Hussey's machine, and to other similar machines, and consists in
causing the knife of the said machines to project laterally from the after end
instead of from the fore end of the body of them at an angle differing more
or less from a right angle to the line of draught of the machines. Also in so
attaching the finger bar and cutting apparatus as to allow them to fold and
lie flush with the side or to turn back behind the machine.
Figure 1, of the accompanying Drawings, is a plan of a reaping and mowing
machine constructed in the manner just described. a is the finger beam,
carrying the knife which projects, as before described and as shewn in the
Drawing, from the back part of the machine; b is a running wheel at
the outer end of the finger beam; a side elevation of this wheel b, with the
divider and parts connected thereto is given at Figure 2: The outer end of
the finger beam supports an upright carrying a tension rod or chain c,
extending to another upright connected to the fore part of the machine or
to the pole; and in case it is connected to the latter the uprights must be
high enough to clear the horses, and in either case high enough to clear
the standing crop. The finger bar is hinged or jointed at its inner end, as
shewn in the detached view, Figure 3; d is the joint, which is made by pre-
ference similar to a rule joint; e is the point at which the knife is jointed
or otherwise connected to the crank rod. When the machine is not at work
the knife is disconnected from the crank, and the finger beam and knife are
brought round parallel with the side of the machine where it is fastened by a
chain or otherwise; or the finger beam and knife may be turned back behind
the machine. The distance the finger beam is from the ground, and conse-
quently that at which the knife works is regulated by raising or lowering the
arm of the lever on which the running wheel b is mounted. The frame which
carries the divider f is jointed about the point g, in such manner that the point
of the divider is enabled to adapt itself to the inequalities of the ground during
the motion of the machine. Provision is made at the fore part of the machine,

page_text: and near that part where the pole is connected to it for raising and lowering
the inner end of the cutting apparatus; g' is a running wheel on the pole of
the machine. In this machine the wheels usually placed outside the frame
are dispensed with.
The second part of our Invention relates to the platforms of reaping and
mowing machines generally, and consists in substituting for the balanced
platform, heretofore used in some machines, a platform hinged at its upper
end and connected with suitable levers or other equivalent contrivances,
whereby the platform may be lowered at will at suitable intervals to facilitate
the removal of the cut crop from it, and then be raised again into position.
Figure 4 is a plan of part of a reaping and mowing machine with this plat-
form applied to it; h is the platform hinged, as shown at its forward part;
i, i, are staples or other fastenings for connecting an india-rubber accumu-
lator, or other strong elastic material, in such manner that as the cut crop falls
on the platform, the attendant presses on the platform with a rake, whereby
the platform-is depressed in such manner as to force the crop on to the ground;
the elastic material brings the platform back. Instead of the indian-rubber
band levers may be employed, as before stated, to act on the platform at
intervals.
The third part of our Invention also relates to the platforms of these
machines, and consists in forming them of several breadths or sections, which
are so supported upon centres that they may at will be turned partially about
them for the purpose of jerking or otherwise moving the cut crop clear of the
knife.
Figure 5 is a view of a platform, constructed in this manner; k, k, are the
breadths or sections of the platform; each breadth is connected to a lever l,
jointed to a bar or bars m, which is itself in connection with a hand lever n.
It will be seen that by pulling forward or pushing backward the lever n, the
breadths k, k, will be raised or depressed at an angle, consequently jerking or
moving the cut crop, and thereby facilitating its removal from the platform.
The breadths or sections may be made to turn wholly round by means of a
rack and, wheels or other equivalent contrivance. In the case of mowing
machines a platform consisting only of a single piece supported on centres,
and capable of motion about them, as just described, is sufficient. Figure 6
is an end view of this platform; o, o', ou, are the triangular sides of the plat-
form; as the crop falls on the one marked o, motion is communicated to the
platform, which causes it to revolve, throwing the crop to the ground, and
bringing the part marked o³ forward ready to receive more of the crop,
and so on.

page_text: The fourth part of our Invention consists in the employment of transverse
bars or tubes for the reception of the cut crop as it falls.from the knife, such
bars in some cases being placed a few inches above the platform, and in
others, taking the place of a platform. The object of these bars or tubes is to
facilitate the raking off of the cut crop at the side of the machine.
Figure 7 shews in side view another arrangement for facilitating the
removal of the cut crop from the platform; p, p, are a series of breadths or
sections forming a broad endless band the whole width of the platform passing
round rollers q, q'; the roller q¹ carries a toothed wheel ŕ in gear with another
toothed wheel s carrying spikes. When the rear end of the platform is
depressed the spikes enter the ground, and the wheels being in gear with the
wheel causes the latter to revolve, and with it the endless band, thereby
carrying the cut crop off the platform; so soon as the platform is raised the
band ceases to revolve. By these means the cut crop is laid in given quan-
tities as it leaves the machine ready for binding into sheaves or otherwise.
Figure 8 shews another arrangement for effecting a similar purpose; in
this case the spiked wheel s is mounted on the side frame of the machine and
the wheel on the roller q', as before, in such manner that they are not in
gear until the platform is depressed, at which time the endless band is caused
to revolve as in the former case. Toothed and spiked wheels, similar to those
before described, are sometimes employed on both side of the platform.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim as our improve-
ments in reaping and mowing machines,-
First, causing the knife to project laterally at an angle, other than a right
angle, to the line of draught, and from the after end instead of from the fore
end of reaping and mowing machines known as "Dray's Improved Hussey's
Machine," and other similar machines as herein-before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, attaching the finger bar and cutting apparatus in such manner as to
allow them to fold back flush with the side or to turn behind back the machine,
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Third, hinging the platform at its forward end, so that it may be lowered at
will, and causing endless bands or platforms to revolve at intervals in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, forming the platforms of several breadths or sections, or of a single
piece supported upon a centre or centres for jerking or otherwise moving the

page_text: cut crop clear of the knife to facilitate its raking off, as herein-before described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth, the employment of transverse bars for the reception of the cut crop
as it falls from the knife, as herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Dray, for myself and on behalf
of the said Robert Gardiner, have hereunto set my hand and seal, the
Fourteenth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
WILLIAM DRAY. (L.S.)