Improvements in Mowing and Reaping Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1997
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mowing and Reaping Machines.
I ALEXANDER MCGREGOR of Albion Iron Works, Leigh, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in mowing and reaping machines.
According to the first part of this invention the motion is communicated from
each of the travelling wheels to the main driving shaft of the machine by means
of a series of pawls gearing into ratchet teeth in the ordinary manner, the pawls
being either carried by a plate formed in the central boss of the travelling wheel
and gearing into the teeth of a ratchet box which is secured to the main driving
shaft; or the pawls may be carried by a plate which is secured to the main driving
shaft and gear into ratchet teeth formed in the central boss of the travelling wheel.
In order to force these pawis into gear with the ratchet teeth, instead of having a
Feparate spring for each pawl I make use of one ribbon of spring steel, rivetted or
otherwise formed into a ring of the requisite diameter to press each of the pawls
outwards so as to gear into the ratchet teeth, the pawls which are not directly in
gear forming abutments for the annular spring to press against the one which may
be in gear.
The main shaft is carried in bearings formed in a horizontal tube which together
with the gear box, the crank shaft tube and the pole plate or socket form the chief
features of the main frame of the machine. On the under side of the pole plate
I form a cross tube which acts as a bearing for the lifting spindle (which will be
hereinafter described) and at the same time adds materially to the strength of that
part of the frame of the machine. The top side of the pole plate is provided
with ribs between which the draught pole is placed and secured by bolts in the
ordinary manner, an extension on one of the ribs concentric with the before
mentioned tube forming the rack quadrant for the lifting lever. The cutter bar
end of the horizontal tube is provided with lugs or flanges to which the tipping
quadrant is securely fixed; and clear of the quadrant, on the forward side of the
Lorizontal tube is a socket for receiving the extra seat support when it is desired
to use the machine as a "manual reaper."
On the forward part of the crank shaft tube, in one with the frame, I form the
back part of a semicircular guard for the crank wheel and bolt a light front guard
to the same so that it can be readily moved out of the way for taking off the
connecting rod or removing the crank wheel &c.
The next part relates to an improvement in the manner of securing the connecting
rod head to the crank pin. According to the Specification of a former Patent
granted to me No. 4050, A.D. 1889, the connecting rod head is formed with a
flange which fits into a recess in the face of the crank wheel, and is secured by a
washer formed in halves and an additional washer having its hole or inner diameter
of a size sufficient to pass over the flange of the conneeting red head. According
to this part of the present invention, I inake use of a single washer, and in order
to introduce it between the flange and the stem of the connecting rod head, I place
it in the mould when casting the connecting rod head so that the said head may
be cast with the washer in its position, but free to revolve around the neck of the
head.
The next part relates to the manner of forming the eccentric shaft which is used

page_text: for carrying the back wheel and pinion. According to this arrangement I form
the eccentric shaft hollow for a portion of its length, so as to act as an oil
chamber for lubricating the bore of the back wheel and pinion; and at the open
end of this oil chamber I form a cross piece, recessed to receive a flat bar, which
forms the lever for actuating the eccentric shaft, the flat bar fitting in the recess
and being rivetted or otherwise secured to the cross piece so as to form an oil
tight joint at the end of the oil chamber. This chamber may receive its supply
of oil through a hole formed in the flat bar and closed by a serew, or the hole may
be formed in the side of the cross piece; a hole or holes being likewise formed in
the eccentric shaft for allowing the oil to pass to the bearing.
In order to secure the eccentric shaft in its bearings in the frame of the machine,
I make use of a set screw passed through the metal of one of the bearings, and
baving a cylindrical point which fits into an annular groove formed in the corre
sponding journal of the eccentric shaft; so that the latter may be free to make its
partial revolution, but be prevented from moving endways.
The eccentric shaft may be formed with a single arm in lieu of the cross piece,
and recessed for the flat bar in a similar manner.
According to this arrangement I form the single arm with two ears or catches
one on either side, which may come in contact with a lug fixed or cast to the frame
of the machine and forming a stop for the movement of the eccentric shaft; the
forward car on the cross arm catching the front side of the said lug when the
wheels are out of gear, and the other ear catching the back side of the lug when
the wheels are in gear. This lug, which forms a part of the main frame of the
machine, is placed in a position convenient for receiving the rear end of the back
stay of the hinge bar.
The hinge bar is connected to the main frame of the machine by means of a
swivel joint so that in addition to the up and down movement it can be rocked or
partially rotated so as to tip the points of the fingers; the stem of the hinge bar
which fits into the swivel joint being directly in line with a bearing which receives
the front end of the back stay, and which is secured to the underside of the finger
bar or formed in one with the same. In order to secure the front end of the back
stay in the bearing the stay is formed with a neck at right angles to the end which
fits into the bearing, and a fixed projecting arm is arranged in such position as to
admit of the neck being retained between it and the end of the bearing in any
ordinary working position, but capable of being removed when the hinge bar is
rocked sufficiently for the neck to clear the projecting arm.
I further propose to improve the manner of lifting the cutting apparatus.
To the end of the lifting spindle I secure an arm or lever to which the chain or
chains for lifting the cutting apparatus are attached; and to the other end of the
lifting spindle I form or secure a crank which is capable of being actuated by an
adjustable spring, in such manner as to assist, more or less, according to the
adjustment, in lifting the weight of the eatting apparatas. At a suitable point
on the back of the lifting arm, I attach a foot lever in such position as to be
convenient for the driver of the machine to lift the cutting apparatus, the operation
being assisted by the before mentioned spring. Between the lifting arm and the
bracket which carries the lifting spindle, I mount a hand lever centred on the
spindle but not secured to the same. This hand lever is provided with a spring
handle and pawl for securing it to a rack qundraut. A projecting catch or tooth,
is formed in the side of the lifting arm so that when the hand lever is actuated it
may come in contact with the same, and raise the lifting arm.
I make use of a similar arrangement of lifting chains to that described in the
before mentioned specification, the curved extension to the locking lever being iu
the form of a gear tooth, which presses on a corresponding tooth carried by the
pin which connects the hinge har to the main shoe, the bottom of the tooth bearing
on the heel of the main shoe.
The next part relates to improvements in the manner of forming the finger
bar, the fingers and the knife clips of mowing and reaping machines.

page_text: The front lower edge of the finger bar is formed with a groove in section in the
form of a quadrant or segment of a circle, in place of the rebated or beveled edge
usually constructed, and the finger is formed with the back cross bar to fit into
this specially formed groove, and also against the remainder of the front edge
of the finger bar; the cross bar on each side of the main stem of the finger
being of the same depth as the thickness of the finger bar. Forward of the back
cross bar, and in the upper surface of the finger immediately behind the bearing
for the knife, I form a groove or depression, into which the lower rib of the knife
clip fits; the back cross bar of the finger forming an abutment for keeping the
clip firmly against the back of the knife.
Dated this 15th day of May 1896.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Mowing and Reaping Machines.
I ALEXANDER MCGREGOR, of Albion Iron Works, Leigh, in the County of
Lancaster, 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 improvements in mowing and reaping machines, and
will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 being
a plan view of part of a mowing and reaping machine with my improvements
applied thereto, and the remaining figs. illustrating in detail the various improve-
ments hereafter referred to.
According to the first part of this invention the motion is communicated from
each of the travelling wheels to the main driving shaft a, Figs. 1 and 2, of the
machine by means of a series of pawls b gearing into ratchet teeth c in the ordinary
manner, the pawls being either carried by a plate formed in the central boss of the
travelling wheel and gearing into the teeth of a ratchet box which is secured to
the main driving shaft; or the pawls may be carried by a plate c' which is secured
to the main driving shaft and gear into ratchet teeth formed in the central boss of
the travelling wheel. In order to force these pawls into gear with the ratchet
teeth, instead of having a separate spring for each pawl, I make use of one ribbon
of spring steel d rivetted or otherwise formed into a ring of the requisite diameter
to press each of the pawls boutwards so as to gear into the ratchet teeth c, the
pawls which are not directly in gear forming abutments for the annular spring to
press against the one which may be in gear.
The main shaft a, Fig. 1 is carried in bearings formed in a horizontal tube a',
which together with the gear box a 2, the crank shaft a 3, and the pole plate or
socket a 4, form the chief features of the main frame of the machine. On the
under side of the pole plate I form a cross tube which acts as a bearing for the
lifting spindle e (which will be hereinafter described) and at the same time adds
materially to the strength of that part of the frame of the machine. The top
side of the pole plate is provided with ribs between which the draught pole e' is
placed and secured by bolts in the ordinary manner, an extension on one of the
ribs concentric with the before mentioned tube forming the rack quadrant e 2 for
the lifting lever. The cutter bar end of the horizontal tube is provided with lugs
or flanges a 5 to which the tipping quadrant a 6 is securely fixed; and clear of the
quadrant, on the forward side of the horizontal tube is a socket a 7 for receiving
the extra seat support when it is desired to use the machine as a manual
reaper."
6

page_text: On the forward part of the crank shaft tube a 3 in one with the frame, I form
the back part of a semicircular guard a 8 for the crank wheel, and I bolt a light
front guard a 9 to the same so that it can be readily moved out of the way for
taking off the connecting rod f' or removing the crank wheel &c.
The next part relates to an improvement in the manner of securing the connecting
rod head to the crank pin.
According to the Specification of a former Patent granted to me No. 4030,
A.D. 1889, the connecting rod head is formed with a flange which fits into a
recess in the face of the crank wheel, and is secured by a washer formed in
halves and an additional washer having its hole or inner diameter of a size
sufficient to pass over the flange of the connecting rod head. According to this
part of the present invention, 1 make use of a single washer, as shown at f2 Fig 3,
and in order to introduce it between the flange.f3 and the stem of the connecting
rod head 4, I place it in the mould when casting the connecting rod head so that
the said head may be cast with the washer in its position, but free to revolve
around the neck of the head.
The next part relates to the manner of forming the eccentric shaft (Figs. 4
and 4) which is used for carrying the back wheel and pinion a 10 Fig. 1.
According to this arrangement I form the eccentric shaft hollow for a portion of
its length, so as to act as an oil chamber g, for lubricating the bore of the back
wheel and pinion; and at the open end of this oil chamber I form a cross piece,
recessed to receive a flat bar g' which forms the lever for actuating the eccentric
shaft, the flat bar fitting in the recess and being rivette or otherwise secured to
the cross piece so as to form an old tight joint at the end of the oil chamber.
chamber may receive its supply of oil through a hole formed in the flat bar and
closed by a screw 92, or the hole may be formed in the side of the cross piece; a
hole or holes being likewise formed in the eccentric shaft for allowing the oil to
pass to the bearing.
This
In order to secure the eccentric shaft in its bearings in the frame of the machine,
I make use of a set screw g3 (Figs. 1 and 5) passed through the metal of one of
the bearings, and having a cylindrical point which fits into an annular groove g4
(Fig. 4) formed in the corresponding journal of the eccentric shaft; so that the
latter may be free to make its partial revolution, but be prevented from moving
end ways.
The eccentric shaft may be formed with a single arm in lieu of the cross
piece, and recessed for the flat bar in a similar manner, as shewn in Fig. 5.
According to this arrangement I form the single arm with two ears or catches g 5
one on either side, which may come in contact with a lug a fixed or cast to the
frame of the machine and forming a stop for the movement of the eccentric shaft;
the forward ear on the cross arm catching the front side of the said lug when the
wheels are out of gear, and the other ear catching the back side of the lug when
the wheels are in gear. This lug, which forms a part of the main frame of the
machine, is placed in a position convenient for receiving the rear end of the back
stay of the hinge bar h, (Fig. 1).
The hinge bar A is connected to the main frame of the machine by means of a
swivel joint 2 so that in addition to the up and down movement it can be rocked
or partially rotated so as to tip the points of the fingers; the stem of the hinge bar
which fits into the swivel joint being directly in line with a bearing 43 (Figs. 6
and 6) which receives the front end of the back stay ', and which is secured to
the underside of the finger bar or formed in one with the same. In order to secure
the front end of the back stay in the bearing 43, the stay is formed with a neck A4
at right angles to the end which fits into the bearing, and a fixed projecting arm 45
is arranged in such position as to admit of the neck being retained between it and
the end of the bearing in any ordinary working position, but capable of being
removed when the hinge bar is rocked sufficiently for the neck to clear the
projecting arm.
I further propose to improve the manner of lifting the cutting apparatus.

page_text: To the end of the lifting spindle e (Figs. 1, 7 and 7*) which is carried in the
cross tube under the pole plate as previously described, I secure an arm or lever e 3
to which the chain or chains for lifting the cutting apparatus are attached; and to
the other end of the lifting spindle on the opposite side of the draught pole e¹, I form
or secure a crank e 4 which is capable of being actuated by an adjustable spring e5,
in such manner as to assist, more or less, according to the adjustinent, in lifting th
weight of the cutting apparatus. At a suitable point on the back of the lifting arm,
I attach a foot lever e 6 in such position as to be convenient for the driver of the
machine to lift the cutting apparatus, the operation being assisted by the before
mentioned spring. Between the lifting arm and the bracket which carries the
lifting spindle, I mount a hand lever e 7 centred on the spindle but not secured to
the same. This hand lever is provided with a spring handle and pawl e 8 for
securing it to the rack quadrant e 2.. A projecting catch or tooth e 9 is formel in
the side of the lifting arm e 3, so that when the hand lever e 7 is actuated it may
come in contact with the same, and raise the lifting arm e 3.
I make use of a similar arrangement of lifting chains to that describel in the
before mentioned specification, the curved extension to the locking lever 46 being
in the form of a gear tooth h7 (Fig. 8) which presses on a corresponding tooth / 8
carried by the pin which connects the hinge bar to the main shoe i, the bottom.
of the tooth 8 being on the heel of the main shoe.
The next part relates to improvements in the manner of forming the finger bar,
the fingers and the knife clips of mowing and reaping machines.
The front lower edge of the finger bar k (Fig. 9) is formed with a groove klin
section in the form of a quadrant or segment of a circle, in place of the rebated or
beveled edge usually constructed, and the finger is formed with the back cross
bar (shown also in Fig. 9A) to fit into this specially formed groove, and also
against the remainder of the front edge of the finger bar; the cross bar on each
side of the main stem of the finger being of the same depth as the thickness of the
finger bar. Forward of the back cross bar, and in the upper surface of the finger
immediately behind the bearing for the knife, I form a groove or depression into
which the lower rib of the knife clip m fits, the back cross bar of the finger forming
an abutment for keeping the clip firmly against the back of the knife.
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 :-
1. The combined improvements in mowing and reaping machines substantially
as herein before described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
2. In a mowing and reaping machine the application of a single annular spring
to each series of pawls used for communicating motion from the travelling wheels,
substantially as shown and described.
3. The general arrangement of the framework of the machine substantially as
shewn and described.
4. The combination of the connecting rod head with the flauge 73 and the
washer 2 introduced in the manner substantially as described in reference to
Fig. 3.
5. The combination of the eccentric shaft having the annular groove 94 and the
set screw 93 for retaining the shaft in position, substantially as shown and
described.
6. The arrangement of the lug all for receiving the rear end of the back stay;
the lug also forming a stop for the movement of the eccentric shaft, substantially
as shown and described.
7. The manner of connecting the back stay to the hinge bar substantially as
shown and described.
8. The general arrangement of the lifting apparatus, with the crank et, and the
adjustable spring, situated on the opposite side of the draught pole to the lifting
arm, substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 9. The construction of the finger-bar, the fingers and the knife clips of mowing
and reaping machines substantially as described in reference to Figs. 9 and 9A.
Dated this 14th day of January 1897.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.