Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
We, JAMES EDWARD RANSOME, Engineer, Ipswich, and FREDERIC WILLIAM
GARRARD, Engineer, Ipswich, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in Horse Rakes.
The improvements apply to that class of horse rakes in which the teeth are mounted
in a rocking frame and consist of an improved arrangement of mechanism by means
of which the crop may be discharged from the rake by the movement of a handlever,
or at the option of the driver by the depression of his foot acting upon a treadle lever,
to set in motion an automatic delivery; the locking of the rocking frame in either
case being effected by the usual rule-joint; but in the latter case with an improved
arrangement for throwing the automatic delivery apparatus out of gear before the
locking of the rocking frame can take place.
The axle is a plain round bar trussed by a light tie rod vertically below it, the road
wheels turn on the ends of the axle.
Two strong bars are clamped to the axle and project towards the front where they
are formed to receive the foot-board and the horse shafts with an adjustable connection
by which the height of the teeth from the ground is regulated, these bars also project
to the rear for the support of the clearing frame. The rocking frame is composed
of several arms strung loosely upon the axle and these are connected at the front with
a bar which passes across the whole width of the implement, the tooth bar upon which
the teeth are strung passes through these arms.
A centre bar fixed to the rocking frame projects to the rear of the axle and is
curved upwards. To this bar is attached a connecting rod forming one of the levers
of a rule-joint and to the other end of this connecting rod is attached one arm of the
hand lever forming the second lever of the rule-joint. The fulcrum of this hand-lever
is situated on the fixed foot-board in front of the rake and its end is lengthened and
turned upwards to suit the hand of the driver.

page_text: A spiral spring on the end of the continuation of the first lever of the rule-joint is
connected with the centre bar of the rocking frame, and tends to pull the rule joints
into lock.
For the automatic delivery the road wheels have ratchet wheels cast on or attached
to the naves, and pawls in a position to engage the same are mounted in bearings
formed upon or attached to the front bar of the rocking frame.
Two castings are clamped to the axle to receive the ends of a clearing frame, and in
these castings are formed bearings for a spindle which passes from side to side of the
implement and has at each extremity a small cam or tripping piece which serves to
hold up the pawl clear of the ratchet wheel.
The castings just mentioned have also horns or projections for throwing the
pawls out of gear at the proper point in the rotation of the rocking frame.
Two strong bars are clamped together and to the axle near the centre, one of the
bars projects upwards in a curve to form the support for the drivers seat, the other
bar projects horizontally towards the front and is attached to the foot board. Upon
this latter bar is mounted a casting forming the bearings for a treadle. The treadle
is a bent lever and is connected by a link with a short arm on the tripper spindle;
when the treadle is depressed the tripping pieces are moved clear of the pawls and the
pawls fall into gear with the ratchet wheels; a piece projects laterally from the
treadle over the rule joint of the hand lever and unlocks the rocking frame; a spring
at the back of the treadle tonds to restore its position and the tripping pieces are so
formed that the pawls are lifted out of gear with the ratchet wheels before the rocking
frame can be relocked by the rule joint.
In this rake when the teeth are locked in position ready for collecting, neither of
the pawls can be at the same time engaged with the ratchet. The mechanism is so
arranged that when the foot lever is depressed the rule joint locking levers are also
depressed and the centres come out of line and the teeth are unlocked ready to be
raised to deliver their load; the pawl at the same time drops into the ratchet and the
onward movement of the rake raises the teeth.
The rule joint levers being under the control of the pawl when the latter is engaged
with the ratchet cannot reassume their straight or locked position until the pawls are
raised out of the ratchet.
In this way it is impossible for the pawl and ratchet to be acting against the rule
joint locking levers which would cause the wheel to skid and render the lifting
apparatus inoperative.
The rake can be worked also as a manual rake without removing the pawls and
without any possibility of their engaging the ratchets while the hand lever is being
worked.
Dated this 24th day of Jannery 1888

page_text: improvem
We, JAMES EDWARD RANSOME, Engineer, Ipswich, and FREDERIC WILLIAM
GARRARD, Engineer, Ipswich 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 has for its object improvements in Horse Rakes.
The improvements apply to that class of horse rakes in which the teeth are mounted
in a rocking frame and consist of an improved arrangement of mechanism by means
of which the crop may be discharged from the rake by the movement of a hand lever,
or at the option of the driver by the depression of his foot acting upon a treadle lever,
to set in motion an automative delivery; the locking of the rocking frame in either
case being effected by the usual rule-joint; but in the latter case with an improved
arrangement for throwing the automatic delivery apparatus out of gear before the
locking of the rocking frame can take place.
The axle is a plain round bar trussed by a light tie rod vertically below it, the road
wheels turn on the ends of the axle.
Two strong bars are clamped to the axle and project towards the front where they
are formed to receive the foot-board and the horse shafts with an adjustable connection
by which the height of the teeth from the ground is regulated, these bars also project
to the rear for the support of the clearing frame. The rocking frame is composed of
several arms strung loosely upon the axle and these are connected at the front with a
upon which
bar which passes across the whole width of the implement, the tooth bar
the teeth are strung passes through these arms.
A centre bar fixed to the rocking frame projects to the rear of the axle and is
curved upwards. To this bar is attached a connecting rod forming one of the levers
of a rule-joint and to the other end of this connecting rod is attached one arm of the
hand lever forming the second lever of the rule-joint. The fulcrum of this hand lever
is situated on the fixed foot board in front of the rake and its end is lengthened and
turned upwards to suit the hand of the driver.
A spiral spring on the end of the continuation of the first lever of the rule-joint is
connected with the centre bar of the rocking frame, and tends to pull the rule-joints
into lock.
For the automatic delivery the road wheels have ratchet wheels cast on or attached
to the naves, and pawls in a position to engage the same are mounted in bearings
formed upon or attached to the front bar of the rocking frame.
Two castings are clamped to the axle to receive the ends of a clearing frame, and

page_text: in these castings are formed bearings for a spindle which passes from side to side of
the implement and has at each extremity a small cam or tripping piece which serves
to hold up the pawl clear of the ratchet wheel.
The castings just mentioned have also horns or projections for throwing the pawls
out of gear at the proper point in the rotation of the rocking frame.
Two strong bars are clamped together and to the axle near the centre, one of the
bars projects upwards in a curve to form the support for the drivers seat, the other
bar projects horizontally towards the front and is attached to the foot board. Upon
this latter bar is mounted a casting forming the bearings for a treadle. The treadle
is a bent lever and is connected by a link with a short arm on the tripper spindle;
when the treadle is depressed the tripping pieces are moved clear of the pawls and
the pawls fall into gear with the ratchet wheels; a piece projects laterally from the
treadle over the rule joint of the hand lever and unlocks the rocking frame; a spring
at the back of the treadle tends to restore its position and the tripping pieces are so
formed that the pawls are lifted out of gear with the ratchet wheels before the rocking
frame can be relocked by the rule joint.
.
In this rake when the teeth are locked in position ready for collecting, neither of
the pawls can be at the same time engaged with the ratchet. The mechanism is so
arranged that when the foot lever is depressed the rule joint locking levers are also
depressed and the centres come out of line and the teeth are unlocked ready to be
raised to deliver their load; the pawl at the same time drops into the ratchet and the
onward movement of the rake raises the teeth.
The rule joint levers being under the control of the pawl when the latter is engaged
with the ratchet cannot reassume their straight or locked position until the pawls are
raised out of the ratchet.
In this way it is impossible for the pawl and ratchet to be acting against the rule
joint locking levers which would cause the wheel to skid and render the lifting
apparatus inoperative.
The rake can be worked also as a manual rake without removing the pawls and
without any possibility of their engaging the ratchets while the hand lever is being
worked.
Figure 1, Sheet 1 is a plan, Figures 4 and 6 Sheet 2, and Figure 9, sheet 3 are
sectional elevations. In Figure 4 the rake is collecting, in Figure 6 the delivery of
the load has commenced, and in Figure 9 the teeth are raised for the load to be
delivered. Figures 5, 7 and 10 are enlarged elevations of the parts at the end of the
axle, the different parts occupying the same relative positions as in Figures 4, 6
and 9. Figure 11 is an enlarged elevation of the same parts, the rocking frame and
teeth being partly raised. Figure 2 sheet 1 is an enlarged section on the line 2, 2,
Figure 4 sheet 2, the line 6, 6, is the centre of the rake. Figure 3 is a part elevation
of the front bar of the rocking frame and pawl, and Figure 8 is a section through the
casting C taken on the line 3. 3. Figure 5.
The main axle A is a round bar, trussed by the tie rod B and the two struts B¹ B¹
which are fixed to the axle see Figure 2. On either end of the main axle A are side
castings C or sleeves (see Figure 8) which are firmly attached to the main axle by a
set screw as shewn, or by any other suitable method. These castings C form
attachınents for the tie rod B, and receive the ends of the clearing frame D whilst
bearings "a" are formed on it for the tripper spindle E also horns or projections F
for throwing the pawls G out of gear.
Long taper bosses project outwards and serve as axles for the road wheels H to
run ou. The wheels are kept in position by caps pinned to the main axle and which
also serve to exclude dirt from the axle. Two strong shaft irons i clamped to the
axle form supports in front for the foot board J and in the rear for the clearing
frame D. The seat K is supported by a curved bar L which is bolted to another
bar M attached to the foot board J. See Figure 12, sheet. 2. On this bar M is fixed
a casting N having a pin passed through it, see Figure 2, which serves as a pivot or
bearing for the treadle lever O.

page_text: ine treadle is connected by short KSWICH a Soort arm
tripper spindle E.
U110
At either end and fixed to the spindle are trippers R for holding up the pawls or
allowing them to drop into gear when required with the ratchet teeth H' on the boss
of the road wheel. The rocking frame on which the teeth S aro hung consists of a
front and rear bar P connected together by two end bars P¹, and by two or more
intermediate bars P' which are strung loosely on the axle.
The rod T upon which the teeth are strung passes through the connecting bars P¹
and P².
A centre bar U Figures 4 and 6 is fixed to the front bar of the rocking
frame and to it is attached a connecting rod V forming one of the levers of a rule
joint.
To this lever V is attached the short arm W₁ of the hand lever W forming the
second lever of the rule joint.
The fulcrum or pivot of the band lever is situated in the casting X which is
attached to the foot board. A spiral spring Y on the end of the first lever of the rule
joint, is connected with the centre bar U of the rocking frame and tends to pull the
rule joint into lock.
In Figure 4 sheet 2 the three centres of the rule joints are in a straight line
and the rocking frame is locked while the teeth are collecting the crop, the pawls
are held up by the trippers clear of the ratchet teeth on the wheels.
The treadle lever is immediately above a projection fixed on the second lever of
the rule joint but is not connected with it. When it is desired to put the automatic
delivery in gear to raise the teeth from the ground and deliver the crop the operator
with his foot depresses the treadle moves the links connected' therewith and so turns
the spindle which carries the trippers, part of a revolution and thus moves the trippors
out of the way and allows the pawls to drop into gear with the ratchet teeth on the
road wheels.
At the same time, the treadle acting on the projection b on the second lever of the
rule joint depresses the rule joint levers and the centres are moved out of the straight
line, the rocking frame is unlocked and the rake assumes the position shown in
Figures 6 and 7.
The onward movement of the road wheels partly rotates the rocking frame until the
rocking frame and the teeth occupy the position shown in Fig. 9, the pawls G having
previously come in contact with the horns or projections F on the side castings see
Figure 11-and which have forced them out of gear with the ratchet teeth.
The weight of the back part of the rocking frame and teeth causes the parts of the
rake to reassume their position for collecting-see Figure 4. The operator in the mean
time having raised his foot from the treadle (which may be done immediately after
he has put the pawls into gear) the treadle rises being heavier at its opposite end or if
preferred its position may be restored by a spring and on the return of the rule joint
to the straight position the rule joint is kept firmly fixed in its position by the tension
of the spiral spring Y.
In this rake when the rocking frame is locked and the rule joint levers straight it
is impossible for the pawls to engage with the ratchet teeth, the engaging of the pawls
with the ratchet teeth can only be effected by the depressing of the treadle which
breaks the rule joint and at the same time moves the trippers and allows the pawls to
engage with the ratchets. The pawls are prevented from engaging with the ratchets
before the depression of the treadle by resting on the trippers as aforesaid.
The rule joint levers being under the control of the pawls when the latter are
engaged with the ratchet teeth cannot reassume the straight or locked position until
the pawls are raised out of the ratchets.
Whenever the pawls are raised out of the ratchets (either by the operation of the
horns or projections at the end of the lift or at any earlier position when owing to
any stoppage of the horse or otherwise the ratchets lose hold of the pawls and the pawls
are then lifted by the action of the tripping pieces upon which they rest) the tripping

page_text: pieces being themselves moved by the weight of, or spring at, the rear end of the
treadle lever the pawls by resting on the tripping pieces are prevented from again
falling into gear until the latter are again depressed by the action of the treadle lever.
In this way it is impossible for the pawl and ratchet to be acting against the rule
joint locking levers in their locked position which would cause the wheels to skid and
put a severe strain on the rake.
The automatic delivery can also be worked by the operator walking behind the rake,
the treadle lever being extended to the rear end. When it is desired to raise the teeth
and deliver the load the operator lifts the lever (equivalent to depressing the treadle)
and allows the pawls to drop into gear with the ratchet teeth, the result being the same
as when the treadle is depressed by the foot of the operator when sitting on the seat.
The rake can be worked as a manual delivery rako entirely independent of the self
acting gear, the operator riding or walking as hereafter described. There is no
necessity to remove the pawls. They may be left in their position without any
possibility of their engaging the ratchet teeth. The treadle remains always in its
raised position and the trippers keep the pawls clear of the teeth. The operator then
pulls the hand lever towards him, the rule joint comes out of line, and the rocking
frame is unlocked. The rocking frame is partly rotated on the axle until it assumes
the position shown in Figure 9. The pawls slide on and are kept up out of gear by the
trippers and at no part of the movement of the rocking frame can engage with the
ratchet teeth, the trippers keeping them clear. When the teeth have been raised
sufficiently high to deliver the load the operator lets go the lever and the rocking
frame and teeth drop and again occupy the position shewn in Figure 4. The rake can
also be used as a manual delivery rake the operator walking behind, a lever d being
hinged on the tripper spindle is connected to the hand lever in front by a connecting
rod e as shown in Figure 9. By pulling this lever the teeth are raised and crop
delivered.
The pawl G, Figure 3, is made with 3 steps of different lengths marked 1, 2 and 3.
No. 1 is the pawl itself which engages the ratchets. 'No. 2 is the part which is
operated on by the cam F to throw the pawl out of gear. No. 3 is a projection which
rests on the outer side of the trippers and prevents the pawl from falling into gear
when the trippers are in their raised position. The trippers R have a long horn or
continuation which controls the pawls (when the teeth of the rake are falling into
work) through the whole are through which the rocking frame moves so that whether
the rake is used as a self acting or only as a manual delivery rake it is impossible for
the pawls to engage with the ratchets at the wrong time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In the construction of self-acting rakes making the treadle connections by which
the pawls are put into gear entirely separate and distinct from the rule joint though
acting on the latter when the rake is required to be used as a self-acting rake as herein
described.
2. In the construction of self-acting rakes which are also used as manual delivery
rakes making the hand levers which break the rule joint and deliver the load when the
self-acting part is not required in such a way that the self-acting parts are at rest and
out of use as herein described.
any
3. In the construction of self-acting rakes the use of a tripper with a prolonged end
or horn as described which entirely prevents the pawl from dropping into
gear at
other time than when the operation of lifting the teeth is to be set in motion by the
depression of the treadle lever as herein described.
4. In the construction of self-acting rakes the control of the trippers by the rule
joint levers so that the pawls cannot become engaged with the ratchets when the rule
joint levers are locked, which would cause the wheels to skid-and cause undue strain
on the various parts as herein described.

page_text: 5. In the construction of self-acting rakes making the pawl with three separate steps
as, and for the purposes, described.
6. In the construction of self-acting rakes, forming the axle on which the road
wheels run of a cast iron sleeve at either end of the main axle carrying projecting
arms one of which serves as a centre for the tripper; another as an abutment for the
trussed rods, which strengthen the main axle ; another as a cam to throw the pawl out
of work; and another to carry the frame behind the rake for clearing the teeth
substantially as described.