IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hornsby, John Innocent, and George Thomas
Rutter, all of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, for the Invention of
« IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES."
Scaled the 23rd September 1876, and dated the 14th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Hornsby, John
Innocent, and George Thomas Rutter at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 14th July 1876.
RICHARD HORNSBY, JOHN INNOCENT, and GEORGE THOMAS RUTTER, all of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAP-
Grantham, in the County of Lincoln.
ING MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping and mowing machines,
and firstly in the construction of a one-horse side delivery machine.
This machine consists of the following principal parts-
(1.) The main frame which carries most of the driving gear, and has the platform
fixed to it. The cutting apparatus is mounted on the front part of this platform.
(2.) The main wheel which carries the machine in conjunction with a small
adjustable wheel at the further side of the platform some distance in rear of the
cutter.
(3.) The quadrant which forms the connection between the main wheel and the
frame, and the means of adjusting the height of the frame in relation to the axle.
(4.) The shafts which are attached at the front of the main frame in such manner
that their inclination to the frame can be varied at pleasure.
(5.) The rakes and the gear for actuating them.
It
The main wheel of the machine is, as heretofore, mounted upon a stud axle fixed
to the quadrant, which is connected with the main frame in rear of the axle.
The first motion pinion gears with a ring of spur teeth on the main wheel.
is when at work rendered fast with its axis by a clutch, and on the outer end of
With
the axis there is a spur wheel which drives a pinion behind and beneath it.
this pinion, and on its inner side or between it and the main wheel, a bevilled
wheel is formed which drives a bevilled pinion on the axis. of the crank for giving
motion to the knife which works in fingers in the usual manner.
Between the first motion pinion and the spur wheel on its axis there is also a
bevilled wheel facing the main wheel. On its upper side this bevilled wheel drives
another similar wheel on an inclined shaft, which has a pinion upon it at its upper
end to drive an internal ring of teeth on the rake head, which revolves on a
Price Sdl

page_text: vertical or nearly vertical axis mounted on the top of the main frame about in a
line with the knife.
The axis of the first notion pinion passes through the centre of the quadrant
which carries the axle of the main wheel, and the quadrant can be turned around
it to raise and lower the frame. For this purpose a rod jointed to the quadrant
passes through a nut held between jaws fixed on the frame. The nut is supported
by a coiled spring which receives the shocks resulting from the machine passing
over inequalities in the land.
To the front of the main frame a stem carrying the pair of shafts is attached by
apin joint, and the stem is continued back behind the joint, and by a link a hand
lever is connected with it. The hand lever has a locking bolt upon it, which can
be made to catch in one or other of several notches in an arc fixed to the main
frame, and the further end of the lever is also pin jointed to the main frame.
By means of this lever the frame and the shafts can be rendered fast together
at any angle required, and in this way the tilting of the machine can be controlled
by the driver who occupies a seat projecting out from the axle of the main wheel
to a distance sufficient to keep him clear of the rake arms, and at the same time to
balance the weight of the platform and crop upon it. Three or four rakes are
jointed to the rake head.
The inner corners of these rakes are made to project in advance to throw back
the crop first on this side of the platform. Arins, having small friction wheels
upon them, project from the under side of the rake arms, and as by the rotation of
the rake head the rakes are brought round over the platform, the friction wheels
come on to a guide course which controls the motion. There are two such guide
courses, one over the other, and a switch determines over which course the friction
wheel passes.
When it is allowed to pass over the lower course the rake sweeps
the cut crop from the platform, but when it is directed on to the upper course
the rake passes above the crop upon the platform. When the friction wheels on
the rake arms pass off the guide courses the arms are controlled by chains linking
them with a collar mounted on the upper end of the bar or axis on which the
rake head is mounted, this bar being cranked or bent away from the main wheel
to give the control which is required.
The switch which determines whether each rake arm as it comes up shall pass over
the upper or the lower guide course is operated by a cam driven by pinions from
the rake head. A pinion on the rake head gears with a pinion on an interinediate
axis, on which are three pinions of different sizes, gearing in turn with three
other pinions loose on the axis of the cam, and either one or other of these three
latter pinions can be clutched fast with the axis. The cam axis for this purpose
can slide through the pinions and cam, and it has a feather upon it which can be
made to enter notches cut within the bosses of the wheels. Or the speed of the
cam may be varied. by changing the pinions by hand.
The axis of the intermediate pinions is also made to slide through them in a
similar manner to that above described, and so the whole of the gear controlling
the switch may be thrown out of action by the driver when the switch will remain
where it stood at the time when the controlling gear was thrown out of work.
The driver operates on this clutch by means of a foot lever and cord.
Self-acting flaps or switches are also provided in connection with the guide
course, one of these serves to prevent the friction wheels passing on to the lower
guide course if the rakes be turned backward.
Another part of the Invention relates to back delivery reaping and mowing
machines.
The main parts of this machine are―
(1.) The main frame which carries most of the driving gear and the axle of the
main wheel, and which also has the shafts fixed to it.
(2.) The main wheel which carries the machine in conjunction with a small
adjustable wheel at the further end of the finger bar some distance in rear of the
cutter.

page_text: (3.) The moveable frame which is jointed to the main frame and which carries
the cutting apparatus.
(4.) The delivering platform.
The main wheel carries a ring of internal teeth; this ring is of comparatively
small diameter, and consequently well above the land, it drives a pinion mounted
on a stud carried at the lower end of a hand lever, by moving which lever the
pinion can be taken in and out of gear. The lever can be bolted securely to the
main frame in either position.
A second pinion of large size is mounted on the same stud and it is driven by
the first pinion through a ratchet when the machine travels forward. The second
pinion in turn gears with a third, it is carried on a stud fixed in the main frame,
and cast with this pinion there is a bevilled wheel facing the cutting apparatus.
This bevilled wheel, by means of a bevilled pinion, drives an inclined axis, at the
lower end of which is the crank for working the knife.
The stud on which the third pinion and the bevilled wheel cast with it turns
also forms the centre on which the moveable frame is hung, an arrangement which
has the advantage of bringing this centre further back than in any machines of
the sort heretofore constructed, and this allows the cutting apparatus to work in
the most convenient position a short distance in front of the axle of the main wheel.
The moveable frame is connected by a link with a hand lever which can turn
upon the main axle, and by a catch or bolt taking into notches in the main frame
can also be made fast when the cutters have been raised to the height desired.
The front of the main frame has an arc cast upon it to guide the moveable frame
as it is raised or lowered. To the back of the finger bar an open platform is
jointed, consisting of slats between which the stubble is able to pass to get hold
of the crop on the platform whenever it is lowered, which, as heretofore, is effected
by a treadle opearated by the driver, who has a seat over the top of the main
wheel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Richard Hornsby, John Innocent, and George Thomas Rutter in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th January 1877.
RICHARD HORNSBY, JOHN INNOCENT, and GEORGE THOMAS RUTTER, all of
Grantham, in the County of Lincoln. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAP-
ING MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping and mowing machines,
and relates in the first place to the construction of a one-horse automatic and
variable side delivery reaping machine. No machine of this class has hitherto been
produced. Some of the novel features of this machine are also applicable to other
machines for reaping and mowing.
Our Invention also relates to the construction of back delivery reaping and
mowing machines. In these machines, by applying two intermediate toothed
wheels and axes between the ring of teeth on the main wheel and the crank axis
which actuates the knife, and by arranging the moveable frame on which the
cutting apparatus is mounted so that it can turn around the second of these
intermediate axes, the cutting apparatus is brought to a very convenient position.
In order that our Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: platform b attached to it. The connection between the main frame and the finger
bar is made by means of a casting fixed to the finger bar, and a joint pin 6' passes
through lugs on this casting and corresponding lugs on the casting a² of the main
frame. When at work the joint is rendered fast by a bolt 62. The main frame a
consists of wrought-iron bars, connected at the front by a small casting a³, and at
the back by a casting a², which carries the driving gear, as herein-after described.
The wrough-iron bars are also connected at interinediate points by a cast bar a³,
which serves as a guide for the quadrant. There is also another intermediate bar a'.
The cutting apparatus c is mounted on the front of the platform b. d is the main
wheel, which carries the machine in conjunction with a small adjustable wheel on
the further side of the platform some distance in rear of the cutter. e is the
quadrant which forms the connection between the main wheel and the frame, and
which, as hereafter described, is the means of adjusting the height of the frame in
relation to the axle. f, f, are the shafts, which are attached at the front of the main
frame in such manner that their inclination to the frame can be varied at pleasure.
is the head carrying the rakes or gatherers, which serve both to gather and lay
the standing crop towards the cutters, and also to remove the crop when cut from
the platform at such intervals as the driver may consider advisable.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are plans showing different forms of the rake head g
adapted to carry three, four, five, and six rakes respectively. Four is the number
preferred for a one-horse machine. For a two-horse machine with variable gear we
prefer to use six rakes.
The main wheel dis, as heretofore, mounted upon a stud axle el fixed to the
quadrant, and the quadrant itself is moveable about its centre at h. i is the first
motion pinion; it gears with a ring of spur teeth d¹ on the main wheel; when at
work it is rendered fast with its axis by a clutch, the detail of which is herein-after
described.
h is the axis of the first motion pinion, and it has fast upon it at its further end
a spur wheel ¹, which drives a pinion j situate behind and beneath it. With this
pinion, on its inner side or between it and the main wheel, a bevilled wheel j¹ is
forined, which drives a bevilled pinion on the axis of the crank for giving
motion to the knife. The knife works in the fingers c¹ in the usual manner.
Between the pinion i and the spur wheel i¹ there is on the same axis a bevilled
wheel facing the main wheel. On its upper side the wheel drives another
bevilled wheel on an inclined shaft l, and is a pinion at the upper end of this
shaft driving an internal ring of teeth on the rake lead g.
Figure 3 shows a variation in the arrangement of the train of gear for driving
the cutter and rakes, the first motion pinion gearing with another spur pinion or
wheel of the same or nearly the same size as itself.
The rake head revolves on a vertical or nearly vertical axis g¹ mounted on the
top of the main frame about in a line with the knife.
The axis h of the first motion pinion passes through the centre of the quadrant e
which carries the axle of the main wheel d; and this quadrant can be turned
around the axis h to raise and lower the frame u. For this purpose a spring box m
is attached by one end to the quadrant, and its other end is connected with a
chain m³, a part of which can be wound up on to the upright spindle m³ mounted
on the frame a. By winding up the chain the frame a is raised further from the
ground. We have shown different ways of turning and locking the spindle m²,
which are herein-after described. a is a pawl on the frame taking into notches in
the quadrant to prevent the frame rising when the cutting apparatus meets with
any unusual obstacle. The pawl is lifted by means of a cord when it is desired to
set the frame higher.
To the front of the frame a a stem f¹ carrying the shafts f, f, is attached by a pin
joint The stem f¹ is continued back behind the joint, and by a link f³ a hand
lever is connected with it. The hand lever is jointed to the frame a at a³, and
it can be made fast in any desired position by a bolt upon it taking into one or
other of the notches in the arc a fixed to the frame.

page_text: By means of the lever f* the frame and the shafts can be rendered fast together
at any angle required, and in this way the tilting of the machine can be controlled
by the driver. The driver occupies a seat projecting out from the axle of the main
wheel to a distance sufficient to keep him clear of the rake and at the same time to
balance the weight of the platform and crop upon it.
Figure 8 shows an elevation of a portion of one of the rake arms g³, together with
the cranked upper portion of the axis g', a part of the rake head g, and the chain g³
for suspending the rake arm when it is unsupported by the cams.
The rake arms are each provided with a bracket carrying a friction wheel g*; it
projects from the under side of the rake arm, and as by the rotation of the rake
head the rakes are brought round over the platform, the friction wheels come on to
a guide course, which controls the motion. There are two such guide courses, one
over the other, and a switch determines over which course the friction wheel passes;
when it is allowed to pass over the lower course the rake sweeps the cut crop from
the platform, but when it is directed on to the upper course the rake passes above
the crop upon the platform.
When the friction wheels on the rake arms pass off the guide courses the arms
are controlled by the chains g³, which, as is shewn in Figure 8, link them with a
collar mounted on the upper end of the bar or axis on which the rake head is
mounted; this bar being cranked or bent away from the main wheel gives the
control which is required. o and o¹ are respectively the upper and the lower guide
courses, and o2 is a switch jointed at its upper end to the guide course o, which
serves to determine which road the friction wheels g' on the rake arms shall take.
When the switch occupies the position in which it is represented in the Drawing,
with its free end resting on the lower guide course o¹, then the wheels g' run up
it on to the upper course, but when the point of the switch is lifted the wheels g
remain on the lower course o¹. 03 and o' are self-acting flaps or switches, 0³
serves to prevent the wheels g' running down on to the lower guide if the machine
at any time should be turned backwards, and in other ways it protects the switch o².
o is a continuation of the upper guide course which rises out of the way when
the wheels g' are running on the lower course o¹.
Upon the joint pin of the switch of there is an arm, and it is connected by a rod
with an arm on the axis p. On the same axis there is a nose or projection with
which teeth formed on the revolving drum q come into collision, and each tooth
as it passes gives a partial rotary motion to the axis p. This motion of the axis
lifts the point of the switch of off.the lower guide course o¹, and it remains so
raised until the tooth has passed, when a spring at once causes the switch to return
to the position in which the Drawing shews it. The rake arm, which comes up
to the guide course at the time that the switch is held up by the tooth, remains
on the lower guide course o¹, and this rake will deliver the crop, sweeping it off the
surface of the platform. The rakes which pass when the switch is not operated on
by one of the teeth on the drum q will not deliver, but will, as soon as they have
laid the standing crop up to the cutting apparatus, rise up and pass above the cut
crop lying on the platforin.
Figure 9 shews a section of the drum q and of the parts in connection therewith.
The drum q turns around an eccentric boss q¹ fixed around the upper bearing of
the bar or axis g¹.. It has within it a ring of teeth q which gear with a pinion
on the axis g. 3 is a clutch, by means of which this pinion can be caused to
evolve together with the rake head, or at any time the clutch can be raised and
hen the pinion ceases to revolve, and the switch will remain in the position it
occupied when the clutch was thrown out.
It will be observed that the drum q has three or it might be other number of
lifferent sets of teeth upon it one set over the other, and the axis p is capable of
liding up or down to bring the nose upon it within range of one or other of the
ets of teeth. For this purpose it is connected at its lower end with the arm of
lever q'; this lever has also another arm which by a link is connected with the
handle within reach of the driver. This handle can by means of notches in

page_text: a quadrant be locked in either of three positions with either of the sets of teeth on
the drum q in operation. The clutch is worked by a clutch fork q³x, the stem of
which descends down and rests on the arm of a bell-crank lever turning on an
horizontal axis, and of which the other arm is connected by a cord passing around
pulleys with the treddle ?. There is a spring which holds the clutch in gear when
the treddle is not pressed upon by the foot of the driver; 8 is the lever handle, by
means of which the first motion pinion is thrown in and out of gear, details in
connection with it are shown by the Figures 10 and 10*.
Figure 10 is a vertical section, and Figure 10x is a plan partly in section.
The handle 8 is connected to the frame by a pin joint at s¹, and when moved to
the left hand by means of a projection upon it acts on the bent lever s³, causing
it to rock on its axis. Its lower end then presses on a projection on the stem of
the clutch fork 83, the clutch fork is thus forced back, compressing a spring which
is coiled around its stem. The clutch fork embraces a collar on the boss of the
When the clutch
pinion and draws it back along its axis until it is out of gear.
fork is drawn back a spring bolt & starts up, and its lower end rises in front of the
end of the lever s² and the projection on the stem of the clutch fork and retains
them until the hand lever is moved back to the right hand, and then another
projection upon it presses down on the top of the bolts and liberates the clutch
fork, and the spring at once throws the pinion into gear.
The same arrangement for throwing the first motion pinion in and out of gear
is very applicable to two-wheel reaping and mowing machines; this adaptation of
it is represented in plan at Figure 11, and in back elevation at Figure 12, both
Figures are drawn partly in section. The letters of reference correspond to the
foregoing description, the only material difference is that the lever handle is
dispensed with and the driver operates with his foot directly on the upper end of
the bent lever 82 and of the spring bolt 8'.
m³ is the hand lever, by means of which the driver raises and lowers the frame
of the machine. It is mounted loosely on the upper end of the axis m² so that it
is free both to turn and to incline up or down, it engages with projections or teeth
on the face of a disc m; this disc is fixed on the axis m². m³ is a vertically sliding
bolt pressed downwards by a coiled spring, and which also engages with the teeth
or projections on the face of the disc m, and so locks the axis m, except when the
bolt is raised. To raise the bolt the handle m³ is pressed downwards, and then by
moving it either one way or the other the chain m¹ is wound up upon or unwound
from the axis m². When the handle is depressed the lever clears the projections on
the disc m, and can be shifted round to another position.
Figure 13 shews in section another arrangement in which the axis of the handle
has a bevilled pinion upon it gearing with a wheel on the axis m³, and the axis of
the handle is locked by a clutch when in the position required. The handle is
connected with its axis by a hinge joint, and by inclining the handle the clutch is
drawn back and the axis is freed.
Figure 14 shews in section another arrangement in which a worm wheel is
mounted on the head of the axis m², and a worm engaging with it is provided on
the axis of the handle.
Figure 15 and also Figure I show the manner in which the driver's seat is carried.
The object of the arrangement is to prevent the seat inclining inconveniently as
the frame of the implement is raised. On the fixed axle of the main wheel beyond
the boss of the wheel a cap t is carried. It is free to turn on the axle, but is
prevented slipping off by a pin. Beneath the axle a slot is formed in the cap
at t, and a bar t passes through the slot to the joint pin f. The support of the
seat has a socket at its lower end which drops over the cap, and there are
projections and recesses on the parts which interlock as the Drawing indicates.
The arrangement indicated in Figure 2 for actuating the switch o2 is different
from that shown in Figure 1; the pinion which is driven from the rake end in
place of giving motion to a drum with teeth upon it drives three separate pinions
9, 77, and 8, and on the axis of each of these there is a tooth, which is intended to

page_text: come into contact with a projection on the semicircular slide p¹; this projection is
marked p, and it can be shifted by hand from one position to another on the slide
so as to stand in the path of either of the teeth carried by the pinions 78, 77, and q³,
these pinions being of different sizes revolve in different periods, and so the slide pi
is operated at different intervals as may be required. The slide p' moves a distanco
of about five-eighths of an inch in suitable guides, and being connected with an
arm on the axis p it gives motion to it, and thence to the switch, as already
explained.
in Figure 11 shews a turnover flap jointed to the finger bar, when it is turned
over it admits of the pin or stud at the end of the knife bar being disengaged from
the eye of the connecting rod, but when in the position in which the Drawing
shews it, the end of the connecting rod is supported and prevented from escaping
from its place on the pin or stud of the knife bar; the turnover flap u is locked in
its place by a spring bolt.
Figure 16 is an elevation and Figure 17 is a plan, both partly in section, of a back
delivery reaping and mowing machine constructed according to our Invention.
The main parts of this machine are the main frame a, which carries most of the
driving gear, and the axle of the main wheel b, and which has also the shafts c
fixed to it by two bolts, one of which passes through the axle, and the other bolt
can be placed in either of two or more holes to adjust the inclination of the shafts
to the frame as the Drawing indicates. The main wheel b in conjunction with a
small adjustable wheel at the further end of the finger bar some distance in rear
of the cutter carries the machine. d is a moveable frame, which is jointed to the
main frane, and which carries the cutting apparatus c. In rear of the cutting
apparatus there is the ordinary dropping platform for back delivery, but it is not
represented in the Drawing. The main wheel carries a ring of internal teeth bl.
It drives a pinion of mounted on a stud carried at the lower end of a hand lever f!,
by moving which lever the pinion can be taken in and out of gear, the lever f¹ can
be locked securely to the frame in either position with the pinion in or out of gear,
the arrangement for this purpose is also shewn in Figure 18. A second pinion of
larger size is mounted on the same stud, and it is driven by the first pinion through
a ratchet when the machine travels forward. The second pinion in turn gears with
another pinion g, it is carried on a stud fixed in the main frame, and cast with this
pinion there is a bevilled wheel g¹ facing the cutting apparatus. This bevilled
wheel by means of a bevilled pinion h drives an inclined axis h¹, at the lower end
of which is the crank h for working the knife. The stud which carries the pinion g
and the bevilled wheel g¹ also forms the centre on which the moveable frame d is
hung, an arrangement which has the advantage of bringing this centre further back
than usual, and this allows the cutting apparatus to work in the most convenient
position a short distance in front of the axle of the main wheel.
The moveable frame d is connected by a link i with a hand lever i', which can
turn upon the main axle, and by a bolt or catch it, taking into notches in the main
frame, the lever can be made fast when the cutters have been raised to the height
desired. The front of the main frame has an are a cast upon it to guide the
noveable frame as it is raised or lowered and to stiffen the joint between the two
frames; the arc is embraced by lugs on the moveable frame d.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we claim―
First. The combination of frame, shafts, cutting apparatus, driving gear, rake
gear, and other parts constituting a one-horse automatic and variable side delivery
reaping machine, substantially as described.
Second. The construction of a one-horse automatic side delivery reaping machine,
with three or more rakes or gatherers, substantially as described.
Third. The mechanism for varying the intervals at which the rakes are called
upon to deliver the crop from the platform, consisting of a drum surrounding the
axis of the rakes, and having teeth upon it to act on instruments which control
the rakes, substantially as described in respect to Figure 1. .

page_text: Fourth. The mechanism for varying the intervals at which the rakes are called
upon to deliver the crop from the platform, consisting of a pinion on the same axis
with the rake head and driven by it, such pinion actuating other pinions of different
sizes, giving motion to controlling instruments, substantially as described in respect
to Figure 2.
Fifth. The several arrangements for raising, lowering, and retaining the main
frame described in respect to Figures 1, 2, 3, 13, and 14.
Sixth. The mechanism for clutching, throwing out, and retaining the first motion
pinion, substantially as described in respect to Figures 1, 2, 3, 10, 10, 11, and 12.
Seventh. The arrangement for retaining the pin of the knife bar in the eye of the
connecting rod, substantially as described in respect to Figure 11.
Eighth. The arrangement for supporting the seat and preventing it inclining to
an inconvenient extent as the frame is raised, substantially as described in respect
to Figures 1 and 15.
Ninth. The construction of the main frame a with top and bottom bars, connected
by castings a¹, a², and a³, substantially as described.
Tenth. The trains of gear for driving the cutters and the rakes, substantially as
described in respect to Figures 3 and 3*.
Eleventh. The construction of reaping and mowing machines, with the moveable
frame carrying the cutting apparatus, pivotting about the second intermediate axis
between the main wheel and the axis actuating the knife, substantially as described
in respect to Figures 16, 17, and 18.
Twelfth. The method of stiffening the connection between the moveable frame
and the main frame, represented in Figures 16 and 17, viz., by means of an arc a¹
on the main frame embraced by lugs on the moveable; frame, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Hornsby, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.