IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Greig, of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in the
County of York, Thomas Benstead, of 44, Winsover Road, Spalding, in the
County of Lincoln, and James Edwin Phillips, of Grantham, in the County of
Lincoln, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 22nd June 1877, and dated the 20th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Greig, Thomas Ben-
stead, and James Edwin Phillips at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
⚫ on the 20th January 1877.
DAVID GREIG, of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York, THOMAS
BENSTEAD, of 44, Winsover Road, Spalding, in the County of Lincoln, and JAMES
EDWIN PHILLIPS, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES."
Our Invention relates to that class of machine for which Letters Patent were
granted to two of us, dated the 8th July, 1876, No. 2789.
Instead of providing the machine with a double finger bar, as in that arrange-
ment, we construct our improved machine with two separate sets of finger bars
placed at right angles or nearly so to each other fixed at one end to the main
frame, and supported at the other end by separate carrying wheels, and connected
rigidly together by a platform on which the crop cut by either set of knives will
fall and lie until it is raked off by the rakes.
Instead of making the platform moveable about a pivot or axis, as before, we
now make the main driving wheel moveable about a pivot or axis, so that it will
always adjust itself at right angles to the finger bar and knife for the time being
in use.
.
The head carrying the rakes is fixed to the frame.
The main frame carries the two finger bars and knives and the gear for driving
them, also the revolving rakes and beaters with their driving gear and the pivot
or axis, and suitable guides or stops on and between which the main wheel is free
to turn.
The main wheel is turned into its position by means of the pull of the rope, so
that it places itself in a self-acting manner always at right angles to the cutting
knife.

page_text: In addition to the use of clutches and levers to throw the separate cranks for
driving the knives in and out of gear, we sometimes by means of a cam path or a
cranked or bent shaft alter the plane of the bevil wheel which drives the pinions,
driving these cranks so that they are alternately in a self-acting manner thrown into
and out of gear.
Two steerage poles are attached to the main frame, carrying at their ends one or
more steerage wheels. These are arranged to balance, so that only one shall be on
the ground at the same time.
Another convenient way of making a reversible machine is by fastening one
right and one left hand machine of any suitable construction together, back to back,
with their cutter bars at an angle, and then building a platform up rigidly between
them. A machine of this construction has two driving wheels and two sets of gearing,
both sets acting on one rake axis. Such a machine is worked on the balance prin-
ciple, as in the first-named plan, the weight of the steersman and the pulling rope
serving to weigh down the one driving wheel to the ground for work, whilst the
other is suspended clear of the ground..
In some cases when the land is suitable, or when it is necessary to open out the
sides of the field, we pull the reaper by a travelling engine a few times round the
field. When this is to be done we joint the front end of the steering pole univer-
sally to the side of the engine nearest the corn, so that it will be free to turn at
the corners of the field, and for travelling the pole may be similarly connected to
the opposite side of the engine, so that the reaper will follow behind the engine on
the road, and occupy less space.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Greig, Thomas Benstead, and James Edwin Phillips in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th July 1877.
DAVID GREIG, of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York, THOMAS
BENSTEAD, of 44, Winsover Road, Spalding, in the County of Lincoln, and JAMES
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
EDWIN PHILLIPS, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln.
MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES."
Our Invention relates to that class of machine for which Letters Patent were
granted, dated the 8th July 1876, No. 2789.
Instead of providing the machine with a double finger bar, as in that arrange-
ment, we construct our improved machine with two separate sets of finger bars
placed at right angles or nearly so to each other fixed at one end to the main frame,
and supported at the other end by separate carrying wheels, and connected rigidly
together by a platform on which the crop cut by either set of knives will fall and
lie until it is raked off by the rakes.
Instead of making the platform moveable about a pivot or axis, as before, we
now make the main driving wheel moveable about a pivot or axis, so that it will
always adjust itself at right angles to the finger bar and knife for the time being
in use.
The head carrying the rakes is fixed to the frame.
The main frame carries the two finger bars and knives and the gear for driving
them, also the revolving rakes and beaters with their driving gear and the pivot
or axis, and suitable guides or stops on and between which the main wheel is free
to turn.
The main wheel is turned into its position by means of the pull of the rope, so
that it places itself in a self-acting manner always at right angles to the cutting
knife.
In addition to the use of clutches and levers, which may be employed to throw
the separate cranks for driving the knives in and out of gear, we sometimes alter

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan; Figure 2 is a side elevation; and Figure 3 is a front elevation
partly in section of a reaping machine constructed according to our Invention with
two cutters at an angle the one to the other, and with the main wheel capable of
pivotting, so as to adjust its position to work with the leading cutter in whichever
direction the machine may be drawn over the land.
In Figure 1A is the driving wheel in midway position, and when drawn by the
rope B it will assume a position indicated by either of the dotted lines at right or
left hand, and at right angles to the cutting knives and bars. The pulling rope and
chains B are also shown in midway position; C are the steerage poles; and D, the
steerage at each end of the poles; E is the platform; the carrying wheels supporting
it on the further side are not shown; F, F, are the finger bars carrying the knives,
and together with them constituting the cutting apparatus or cutters.
Figure 3 shows a section of the main frame or casting carrying the driving gear.
A is the driving wheel; B, the axle keyed into a casting C; D is the main frame
or casting which carries the two finger bars and knives, and the gear for diving
them; E is an inclined shaft passing through the main frame D, and also the
casting C to which it is fixed. The end of this shaft on which a bevel double
wheel F is carried is bent, so that when the driving wheel A changes its direction
the axle and casting C are carried to the opposite angle, and thus move the inclined
bent shaft E partly round, which movement alters the plane of the wheel F, which
drives the pinions and cranks, so that they are alternately in a self-acting manner
thrown into and out of gear.
The head and rakes are carried on the main frame, and driven by the shaft G, as
shown.
The steerage arrangements are clearly shown at Figure 2; the frame is indicated
in a midway position with both the steering wheels raised off the land, but when at
work the leading wheel always runs on the land, the draft of the rope and the
weight of the steersman both tending to keep it down.
Figure 4 is a plan; Figure 5 is a side elevation; and Figure 6 is a front elevation
of a reaping and mowing machine constructed according to our Invention with
two cutters, and with separate driving gear and driving wheels to each. The
frame tips so that the leading driving wheel may always run on the ground, whilst
the hinder driving wheel is lifted and carried idle in the air.
a is the main frame, and b, b, are the driving wheels arranged in a well-known
manner, which admits of the height of the frame from the land being adjusted at
pleasure. The main wheel is in each case provided with an internal ring of teethi
driving a pinion upon an axis c, which also carries a bevilled wheel. This wheel is
in gear with a bevelled pinion on the inclined shaft d, which at its lower end has
the crank for actuating the knife in the usual manner. On the same axis c with

page_text: the first-motion pinion there is also a bevelled pinion driving a bevelled wheel at
the lower end of an upright shaft e, which at its upper end has a pinion in gear
with a spur wheel fixed upon the rake head f, and so the rakes are driven. The
rake head thus receives motion whichever set of driving gear be at work, and by
the rake the cut crop is delivered from the platform of the machine in sheaves or
bundles. The pinions in gear with the toothed wheel upon the rake head are con-
nected with their axes by ratchets and pawls, so that motion may not be transmitted
from one set of driving gear to the other.
The arrangement of the hauling rope is similar to that shown in Figure 1.
The arrangement of the steering gear is clearly seen in the Drawings; it is
represented in front view at Figure 7.
In some cases when the land is suitable, or when it is necessary to open out the
sides of the field, we pull the reaper by a travelling engine a few times round the
field; when this is to be done we joint the front end of the steering pole universally
to the side of the engine nearest the cord, so that it will be free to turn at the
corners of the field, and for travelling the pole may be similarly connected to the
opposite side of the engine, so that the reaper will follow behind the engine on the
road, and occupy less space.
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 construction of reaping and mowing machines with two cutters
mounted on the frame at an angle the one to the other, and with the main wheel
so arranged that it can adjust its position to suit either set of cutters, substantially
as described.
Second. The construction of reaping and mowing machines with two cutters
mounted on the frame at an angle the one to the other, and with two poles carrying
steering wheels so arranged that by the rocking or tipping of the frame the leading
steering wheel may be brought down to run on the land, whilst the following
steering wheel is raised off it, substantially as described.
Third. The construction of reaping and mowing machines with two cutters
mounted on the frame at an angle the one to the other, and with two main or
driving wheels so arranged that by the rocking of the frame the leading driving
wheel may be brought down to run on the land, whilst the following driving wheel
is raised off it, substantially as described.
Fourth. The construction of reaping and mowing machines, substantially as
described and illustrated by the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Benstead, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 18th day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
THOMAS BENSTEAD. (L.S)