IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: We JAMES EDWARD RANSOME, Engineer, GEORGE LING, Foreman, and WILLIAM
MOULTON, Draughtsman, all of the Orwell Works, Ipswich in the County of
Suffolk do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LAWN MOWING MACHINES" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in lawn mowing machines and
relates to the adjustment of the rotary cutter to the cutting blade on its under side,
or conversely, the adjustment of the blade to the rotary cutter.
We employ for this purpose on each side of the machine a single set screw
opposed to a coiled spring. First when the bearings of the rotary cutter are
moveable in guides we arrange the adjusting screw to operate upon the upper
bearing block to move it downwards and we provide a coiled spring beneath the
lower bearing block. This spring then serves at once to keep the bearing up to
the set screw and to compensate for the wear in the brass or bearing blocks.
When the adjustment is applied to the bottom blade, the blade is fixed to
a bottom block, the ends of which block move on a centre on either side of the
machine and arms project forwards from the block at each end. Between the ends.
of these arms and the frame of the machine a coiled spring is placed, through the
centre of which a screw passes upwards and adjusts the edge of the blade to the
rotary cutter. The screw is by preference placed in advance of the cutting edge.
Another arrangement of this adjustment is effected by carrying the arms of the
bottom block backwards and placing screw and spring at their extremities. In
this case the spring keeps the blade up to the rotary cutter and the screw prevents
it from pressing too close.
"
When a double-edged blade is used to cut alternately in either direction the
blade is fixed at its ends to blocks which are received into sockets in which they
can move vertically, immediately under the rotary cutter.
A screw passes through the block from below upwards and screws into the top
of the socket; the coiled spring surrounds the screw and presses the block
downwards as far as the adjusting screw admits.
To admit of the adjustment of the two edges to the cutter the sockets can be
made moveable horizontally and when properly adjusted they are clamped into
position by screws. Or the horizontal adjustment may be dispensed with and
the double edged blade may be carried by blocks sliding vertically in guides and

page_text: supported by coiled springs resting upon the bearings of the rotary cutter and
pressed downwards to obtain the proper adjustment by set screws acting from
above.
The double edged cutting blades are hollow on the face and the surfaces of the
blocks have a corresponding convex form. A simple adjustment is obtained by
screws passing into the blocks through slotted holes in the blade.
In order that the machine may run more freely than is the case with machines
driven from a solid roller or rollers in the ordinary manner and yet to
provide for the cutting of narrow verges we drive it either by means of four
narrow wheels, or rollers, fixed at suitable positions upon the axle, or by two or
more narrow wheels and in this case we make these wheels, or some of them,
adjustable upon the axle so that they may be set nearer together or wider apart,
as may be required.
We employ also narrow wheels carrying at their periphery a series of short
transverse bars, or projections, parallel to the axis and projecting an inch or so on
either side of the wheel. The grass is able to pass up between the bars, and
escapes being pressed down flat in the movement of the machine, and increased
driving power is obtained.
We fix the cross-head of the wood handle to the stem by means of a screw
passing transversely through the crosshead and endwise into the stem, where it
screws into a metal nut, inserted into a hole formed through the side of the stem
to receive it.

page_text: We JAMES EDWARD RANSOME, Engineer, GEORGE LING, Foreman, and WILLIAM
MOULTON, Draughtsman, all of the Orwell Works Ipswich in the County of
Suffolk 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 lawn mowing machines and
relates to the adjustment of the rotary cutter to the cutting blade on its underside,
or conversely the adjustment of the blade to the rotary cutter. *
We employ for this purpose on each side of the machine a single set screw
opposed to a coiled spring. First when the bearings of the rotary cutter are move-
able in guides we arrange the adjusting screw to operate upon the upper bearing
block to move it downwards and we provide a coiled spring beneath the lower
bearing block. This spring then serves at once to keep the bearing up to the set
screw and to compensate for the wear in the brass or bearing blocks.
The arrangement is illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of a portion of the rotary cutter,
with its adjustable bearing, the cutting blade against which it works and other
parts. Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same. The rotary cutter A runs in
bearings B preferably made in halves, these bearings are provided with side flanges
and move vertically in guides in the side frames C of the machine. The adjusting
screw F presses down the bearings B a coiled spring G placed underneath, raises
the bearings as far as the screw F. admits. D is the cutting blade beneath the
rotary cutter and E is the bottom block to which it is fixed.
When the adjustment is applied to the bottom blade, the blade is fixed to a
bottom block, the ends of which block move on a centre on either side of the
machine and arms project forwards from the block at each end. Between the ends
of these arms and the frame of the machine a coiled spring is placed through the
centre of which a screw passes upwards and adjusts the edge of the blade to the
rotary cutter. This arrangement is shown in the Figures 3 and 4 Figure 3 is a
front elevation partly in section and Figure 4 is a side elevation. Here the rotary
cutter runs in fixed bearings in the side frames C the block E to which the bottom
blade is fixed is centred at E' on either side of the frame C. An arm H at either
end projects forward from the block and between the arm H and the frame C is
placed a coiled spring G. Through the centre of the spring a screw F passes
upwards and adjusts the blade to the rotary cutter.
Another arrangement of this adjustment is effected by carrying the arms of the
bottom block backwards and placing a screw and spring at their extremities. In
this case the spring keeps the blade up to the rotary cutter and the screw prevents
it from pressing too close.
This modification is shown by the Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a front eleva-
tion partly in section and Figure 6 is a side elevation. Here the spring & pressing
on the arm H keeps the blade D up to the rotary cutter A and the screw F prevents
it pressing too closely upon it.

page_text: In Figures 4 and 6 the screws F which compress the springs may, instead of
being placed on the same side of the centre E' as the springs be placed so as to
operate as set screws on the upper side of arms provided for the purpose on the
other side of the block E.
These set screws which would be in lugs on the frame of the machine, can be
operated from above without necessitating the machine being turned over.
This arrangement is shown by the dotted lines in Figures 4 and 6.
When a double edged blade is used to cut alternately in either direction the
blade is fixed at its ends to blocks which are received into sockets in which they
can move vertically immediately under the rotary cutter.
A screw passes through the block from below upwards and screws into the top
of the socket; the coil spring surrounds the screw and presses the block down-
wards as far as the adjusting screw admits.
To admit of the adjustment of the two edges to the cutter the sockets can be
made moveable horizontally and when properly adjusted they are clamped into
position by screws.
Figures 7 and 8 show a portion of a mowing machine in which a double edged
blade is applied in this manner. Figure 7 is a front elevation partly in section and
Figure 8 is a side elevation.
The blade D is fixed at its ends to blocks E having side flanges which work in
vertical guides in socket pieces J screwed to the side frame C. A screw F passes
through the block E from below upwards and screws into the upper part of the
socket J. A coiled spring G surrounds the screw and presses the block E down-
wards, and the blade D away from the cutter A as far as the adjusting screw
admits. The two edges of the blade D can be set by the lateral adjustment of the
socket piece on the frame. If the lateral adjustment is not desired the sockets can
be dispensed with and the blocks to which the blade is fixed be raised or lowered
in guides in the frame C the adjusting screw in this case would be screwed into
the frame direct.
When the lateral adjustment is dispensed with the double edged blade may be
carried by blocks sliding vertically in guides and supported by coiled springs
resting upon the bearings of the rotary cutter and pressed downwards to obtain
the proper adjustment by set screws acting from above.
This arrangement is illustrated by the Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 is a front
elevation partly in section and Figure 10 is a side elevation.
The block E in this case is so formed as to admit of the axis of the rotary cutter
passing through it and. the screw F and spring G are above the axis.
Figures 11 and 12 show an arrangement in which springs are dispensed with.
Figure 11 is a front elevation partly in section and Figure 12 is a side elevation.
The double edged. cutting blades are hollow on the face and the surfaces of the
blocks have a corresponding convex form. A simple adjustment is obtained by
screws passing into the blocks through slotted holes in the blade.
The hollow blade D is fixed to the side frames C by screws passing through
slotted holes in the blade and by these means the blade as it wears is adjusted to
the rotary cutter.
In order that the machine may run more freely than is the case with machines
driven from a solid roller or rollers in the ordinary manner and yet to provide for
the cutting of narrow verges we drive it either by means of four narrow wheels or
rollers fixed at suitable positions upon the axle or by two or more narrow wheels
and in this case we make these wheels or some of them adjustable upon the axlc
so that they may be set nearer together or wider apart as may be required.
Figure 13 shows a front elevation of a driving axle with four narrow driving
wheels upon it. A portion of the frame of the machine is also shown with the
bearings for the axle and the spur wheel upon it. The driving wheels in this case
are not adjustable lengthwise of the axle. They may be fixed upon it or loose and
provided with ratchet gear by which to drive the axle when rotating in a forward
direction. When cutting verges the two intermediate wheels run on the verge

page_text: whilst the others are unsupported. In like manner machines may be made with
three wheels-in this case two wheels on one side of the machine run on the
verge whilst the third wheel is unsupported.
Figure 14 shows a modification in which two of the wheels are adjustable along
the axle. For ordinary work the wheels are set as shown by full lines in the
drawing; whilst for cutting verges the intermediate wheels are shifted to the
position indicated by dotted lines. Figure 15 shows another modification in which
two wheels are employed and one of them is adjustable along the axle for the
purpose of cutting verges. Or both the wheels may be capable of adjustment in
this way and this is preferable in wide machines.
We employ also narrow wheels carrying at their periphery a series of short
transverse bars or projections parallel to the axis and projecting an inch or so on
either side of the wheel. The grass is able to pass up between the bars and
escapes being pressed down flat in the movement of the machine and increased
driving power is obtained.
Figures 16 and 17 show in front elevation driving wheels or rollers constructed
in this manner. In Figure 16 the periphery of the wheel has projecting teeth on
either side, in Figure 17 arms are cast or fixed in a central disc.
We fix the cross head of the wood handle to the stem by means of a screw
passing transversely through the crosshead and endwise into the stem where it
screws into a metal nut inserted into a hole formed through the side of the stem
to receive it.
The arrangement is shown by Figures 18 and 19. Figure 18 is a front elevation
and Figure 19 is a section taken transversely through the crosshead of the handle.
The crosshead K is fixed to the stem L of the handle by means of a dowel bolt
and nut which prevents it from working loose and also admits of removal for
close packing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declaro that what
wo claim is
(1.) The arrangement for the adjustment of the rotary cutter to the cutting
blade shown by the Figures 1 and 2.
(2.) The arrangements for the adjustment of the cutting blade to the rotary
cutter shown by the Figures 3 and 4; 5 and 6; 7 and 8; 9 and 10; and 11
and 12.
(3.) The construction of lawn mowers with narrow driving wheels of which two
are sufficiently near together to support and drive the machine when cutting
verges whilst another wheel or wheels aids in supporting the machine when cutting
to the full width as illustrated by Figure 13.
(4.) The construction of lawn mowers with narrow driving wheels adjustable
along the axle as illustrated by the Figures 14 and 15.
(5.) The construction of lawn mowers with driving wheels having projecting
pins or teeth as illustrated by the Figures 16 and 17.
(6.) The construction of the handles of lawn mowers as shown by the Figures 18
and 19.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.