AN IMPROVED CLIPPER MOWING MACHINE
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Bryant Childs, of 481, New Oxford Street,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
CLIPPER MOWING MACHINE."--A communication from abroad by Richard
Lamb Allen, of New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Bryant Childs
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th August 1864.
I, AUGUSTUS BRYANT CHILDS, of 481, New Oxford Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED CLIPPER MOWING MACHINE," a communication to me from
abroad by Richard Lamb Allen, of New York, United States of America,
to be as follows:-
This machine is more specially adapted to mowing grass by means of a
knife or blade, to which a reciprocating motion is imparted by the rotation of
the driving wheels. It is designed to be impelled by horse-power, and the
cutting blade can either be placed in front of the driving wheels, or at the back
of same as may be required. This machine is supported on two main driving
wheels connected by an axle, and in the hub of each wheel I arrange a rachet
wheel and pawl in such a manner that when the machine is drawn forwards
Price 8

page_text: the axle is forced to rotate, whilst when it is impelled backwards, the paw!
glides over the teeth of the ratchet, and the axle remains stationary; to
this axle I attach all the component parts of the machine. For the p purpose
of giving motion to the cutting knife 1 key on the said shaft a spur, which
imparts motion to a pinion keyed to one extremity of a small shaft carrying a
large bevil gear which drives a smaller bevil gear attached to the extremity
of a second shaft set at right angles with the axle, and the outer extremity
of which carries a crank pin which transmits the requisite to-and-fro motion
to the knife by means of a light connecting rod, and for greater security I
enclose the whole of said gearing in a cast-iron box. The knife and
its accessory parts projecting from one side of the machine are united to
the same by a joint, so that the said parts may be readily elevated perpen-
dicularly, in which position they are retained by a catch.
In order to overcome any obstacle in the field whilst operating, facility is
afforded to the driver without leaving his seat for partially raising the said
parts, and this is effected by means of a lever placed near the driver, and
aeting on a chain, the extremity of which is attached to a small upright lever
connected to said parts.
In order to cant or incline the knife above or below a horizontal line
passing through its axis for more effective action, I suspend the extremity of
said knife nearest the machine to an arched frame supported on two bolts
passing through slot holes in such arched frame, and I partially rotate such
frame according to the desired angle by means of an appropriate lever placed
within reach of the driver.
In order further to adjust the height of the knife from the ground I make
use of moveable false shoes placed under the inner and outer shoes supporting
the two extremities of said knife, and these moveable shoes which glide over
the ground are arranged so that they can be set and bolted at different dis-
tances from the main shoes. The knife during its motion is supported by
metallic fingers, and in order that they may offer sufficient resistance to wear
and tear, I line them with a small slip of steel plate inserted in the metal of
which they are formed. Instead of attaching the whippletrees to the pole
which is itself attached to the axle, and thereby forming a line of draught
considerably above the knife, I suspend them so as merely to slide in a
groove situated under the pole, and from thence by means of a link or chain
cause the draught to be exerted on a transverse bar situated considerably
below the level of the axle, and nearer that of the knife.
In order after a first cut to leave a clear passage for the inner shoe at the
succeeding cut, I make use of an adjustable trackboard placed at the outer

page_text: extremity of the knife, and set at an angle inwards, so that the grass cut may
be thrown towards the machine, and I give to such board any requisite
degree of elevation by means of notches which set into a fixed tooth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Augustus Bryaut Childs in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th February 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUSTUS
BRYANT CHILDS, of 481, New Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of August in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Augustus Bryant Childs, Her special license that I, the
said Augustus Bryant Childs, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Augustus Bryant Childs, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED CLIPPER MOWING MACHINE," a commu.
nication to me from abroad by Richard Lamb Allen, of New York, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that i, the said
Augustus Bryant Childs, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Augustus Bryant Childs, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say) :-
In order that my Invention be clearly understood I will proceed to
describe it with the aid of the two accompanying Sheets of Drawing; the
Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive on Sheet One have reference to my improved mowing
machine in its ordinary form, and Figs. 10 and 11 of the same Sheet to a

page_text: modification of certain of its parts, and the five Figs.in Sheet Two to different
modifications which I have made in the construction of the said machine.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1 is a plan of the machine shewing part in section; Fig. 2 a
longitudinal elevation of same, one of the wheels being removed; Fig.3 a
detailed section shewing ratchet and catch in the hub of one of the wheels;
Fig.4 a sectional view of the spherical joint forming one end of the connecting
rod; Fig. 5 a sectional view of parts to which the other extremity of the con-
necting rod is attached; Fig. 6 a transverse section of the knife with adjacent
parts; Fig. 7 a plan of the same ditto, ditto, seen underneath; Fig. 8 a
cross section of traction pole with whipples,double tree, and slide; and Fig. 9
a detailed view of the tail board ring.
This machine is supported on two wheels 1, 1*, which serve during the
advance of the machine to communicate the requisite motion to the cutting
knife 2 as it is hereafter described; they are mounted loose on the axle 3,
which serves as a support for all the main parts of the machine, which parts
enumerated in succession from the driving wheel 1 are the driving gear 4
which is keyed on the axle, the hollow sleeve 5 containing the multiplying
gearing for transmitting motion to the knife, the cast iron framing 6 to which
is attached the driver's seat 7, the traction pole 8, and containing the tool
box 9, the holder or stop 10 for maintaining the knife 2 and its accessory
parts in an elevated position, and the box 11, to the under side of which is
attached one extremity of a strong flat wrought-iron bar 12 running parallel
with the sleeve 5, to which it is solidly attached by the transverse traction
bar 13; 14, 14, are two external washers or caps serving to retain the wheels
on the axle. Motion is imparted to the knife in the following manner:-On
the advance of the machine the wheel 1 transmits rotary motion to the gear 4
by means of the ratchet teeth 15 cast on the inner face of the hollow hub,
Fig. 1 and 3, which drive round the spring catch 16 jointed on the face of the
hub of the gear 4, the object of the spring 17 supporting this catch is to allow
the said catch to be depressed when the machine is backed, and thus prevent
transmission of motion to the gearing during that time; the gear 4 gives
motion to the internal pinion 18 keyed on the small shaft 19 running through
the hollow sleeve 5, and on which is made fast the large bevel gear 20,
which transmits rotation to the longitudinal shaft 21 by means of the bevel
pinion 22, the other extremity of this shaft is provided with a plate 23 in
which is adapted a crank pin 24 communicating a to-and-fro motion to the
connecting rod 25, the other extremity of which is attached to the pin 26
forming part of the piece 27, to the under side of which is attached the cutting
knife 2, and which works on the slide 28, which is bolted to the inner shoe 29;

page_text: when required, the knife can be caused to remain stationary during the advance
of the machine by ungearing the wheel 20 from the pinion 22; this can be
effected by the foot of the driver displacing the lever 30 towards the centre
of the machine, the said lever being maintained in either position by means
of a spring; it will be observed that the crank pin 24 of the connecting rod
25, which I prefer constructing of wood, is spherical in shape, see Fig. 4, the
purport of which is to admit of the connecting rod working with ease under
circumstances connected with the inclination of the cutting blade as it is
hereafter described; and in order to facilitate the dismounting of this con
necting rod at its other extremity I secure it on the pin 26 by means of an
outer collar which forms part of a screw 31 tapped into the said pin 26,
see Fig. 5, whilst the hinged cover 32 serves to protect the other end of the
rod, and its concomitant parts from dust and other impurities. The knife in its
motion is supported by the broad flat iron bar 33 firmly attached at one ex-
tremity to the inner shoe 29 and at its other extremity to the outer shoe 34,
to the under side of which are rivetted the fingers 35, 35,see Figs. 6 and 7, the
knives themselves are rivetted to the strip of iron 36,and run over the thin steel
plates 37 let in the fingers; 38, 38, are guides serving to maintain the said
knife in its position. In order to adjust the height of the knife from the
ground for cutting purposes I adapt to the under surfaces of the shoes 29 and
34 false wrought-iron shoes 39 and 40, one extremity of which is attached to
the real shoe whilst the other extremity is provided with a series of holes,
through either of which the attachment is made according to the height to which
it is desired to raise the knife; these false shoes also serve to protect the real
shoes from wear and tear when running over the ground, and can be readily
replaced at a trifling expense when no longer fit for use. The knife and its
accessory parts are so constructed that they can whilst at rest or during work
in the field be partially or totally raised by means of a lever within easy reach
of the driver, the object of this arrangement being to enable the driver to
avoid any obstacle in the field by partially raising the knives, and to facilitate
the transportation of the machine when not in use by raising the said knives
vertically in the air; for this purpose I adapt to the inner shoe 29 a double
arch lever 41 jointed laterally to the same by the pins 42, 42, whilst it is
firmly bedded on the same at its lower extremity and by means of a chain 43
one extremity of which is attached to the upper extremity of the said cover 11
and the other to the hand lever 44 the knife and its accessory parts are raised
to any requisite degree and maintained partially or entirely raised by arresting
the said lever on either of the two stops of the plate 10. on its passage from
the two said levers the chain is supported over the sectional pulley 45 and

page_text: under the one 46 to both of which it is attached by bolts; when raised
vertically the knife is maintained firmly in such position by the drop stop or
catch 52 jointed on the arched frame 48. In order to prevent the knife
from falling through the guide when raised in a vertical position, I terminate
the extremity of the screw 31 with a protruding point, see Fig. 6, which under
these circumstances rests against the stop 47, forming part of the piece 28,and
thus arrests the descent of the knife. In order that the knife may be made to
cut either in a horizontal position, or inclined either above or below an hori-
zontal line, I suspend the inner shoe 29 containing the working parts of the
knife to an arched frame 48 by means of the bolts or pins 12, 42, above
mentioned, and when in work this frame is firmly bolted to the bar 12 directly
by the bolt 49, and indirectly by the bolt 50 passing through the actuating
lever 51 and the casting 53 which is firmly bolted to the above mentioned
bar; when it is desired to cant or incline the knife, the bolts 49 and 50 are
slacked and the lever 51 depressed or lowered according to the direction
which it is desired to give to the knife, this motion being imparted to the
knife by the rotation of a small pinion 54 attached firmly to the extremity
of the said lever the teeth of which work in the sextant rack shewn in Fig. 2
cast on or attached to the face of the arched frame 48. Instead of bringing
the line of draught in this machine through the traction pole 8, and thus
above the centre of the driving wheels, I merely make use of the said traction
pole to suspend the double tree 55 and whipple trees 56, 56, by means of the
T bolts 67-sliding in the cast-iron guide 58 attached below the pole and con-
nected by a link 59 to the hook 60 which is attached to the cross bar 13, see
Figs. 1, 2, and 8; by this means the line of draught is brought considerably
below the main axle whereby the adhesion of the wheels to the soil is
augmented and the draught brought nearly in a line with the cutting bar.
The driver's seat 7 is mounted on the bar 61 and 62 attached at their upper
extremities to the framing 6, a spring 63 serving to give elasticity, and to
resist any tendency to backward motion, and it will be observed that the
position of this seat is such that when occupied by the driver, it counter-
balances the weight of the traction pole, thus relieving the horses of un-
necessary weight. The track board for directing the outer part of the cross
cut towards the machine is attached to the outer shoe 34, see Figs. 1 and 9,
and consists in an inclined board 64 attached to the inner face of the said
shoe by a bolt 65, and in order to give to such tail board different degrees of
elevation I mount on it a plate 66 in the edges of which are different notches
which can be brought opposite the fixed pin 67 protruding from the shoe and
secured in such position by the bolt above mentioned.

page_text: Figs. 10 and 11 have reference to parts of a machine shewing another
method of rotating the finger bar for the purpose of giving it an oblique or
sheer cut, and which may be understood by the following explanation. Fig. 10
is a partial elevation of the gearing, casing, and the accessory parts, and
Fig. 1 a plan of an axle sleeve in which the said casing is fitted.
G, G1, G2, are the arms which support the said casing the upper end
of the brace bar bearings g.g, for the brace bar, and A2,A2, for the casing;
the distance from the centre of these bearings to the centre of the axletree, as
seen from A to B, Fig. 10, is just equal to the distances apart from the
centres of the spur gearing and pinion when properly in gear; on the shaft B
is the spur gear and through the end of the casing A passes the countershaft
on which is fastened the spur pinion. It is evident that as the sleeve A is
revolved on the axletree, that the spur pinion will gear properly into the
spur gear in any position, the projections a, a, a, on casing H and the
recesses between 6,b,b, are used in conjunction with the lever E for raising
or lowering the casing, and consequently the points of the fingers and holding
them in any desired positions, this is done in the following manner:-By
taking hold of the lever E which is held in the recesses b, b, by a spring
pressing it outward until the edge of the lever as seen at o will
pass the pro-
joctions a,a, then by pressing the lever down or raising it up as desired the
casing is raised or lowered to the desired position, then replace the lever in the
notch b,b, opposite to it. D represents the side of the casing forming one side
of the frame of the machine, and also bearings for the crank shaft. As the
brace bar which connects with the other arm at g,g, forins the other side of.
the frame of the machine, and as the shoe supporting the finger bar is con-
nected with the end of the frame, it is evident that as the casing and brace bar
are raised and lowered at the points A2,A2, and g,g, by turning the sleeve on
the axletree as seen at B,the points of the fingers will be consequently. raised
and lowered. The casing H, Fig. 10, can be turned around so as to bring
the lower projections and recesses a, a, and b, b, opposite the lever E, this
will reverse the end of the casing D and consequently the finger bar causing
it to cut on the opposite side of the axletree B, Fig. 10. By this method the
machine is changed from a front to a rear cutting machine, and vice versa.
As both sides of the frame of the machine are raised and lowered at the same
time at their ends connecting with the sleeve Fig. 11, it will be evident that
the bearing at either end of the connecting rod will remain relatively un-
changed, dispensing with the use of a device for preventing the connecting rod
from being twisted, or the bearings on its end from being cramped.
I will now proceed with the aid of the Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Sheet. 2, to

page_text: describe how one of my improved mowers can be adapted to operate with
either the knife in front of the driving wheels, or with the said mechanism in
the rear of the wheels such alteration being effected merely by changing the
position of the different parts.
Fig. 1 is a plan of such machine with the knife in the rear of the wheels
and extended for cutting; Fig. 2, a longitudinal elevation, ditto, ditto; Fig. 3,
a similar elevation with the knife in front of the wheels; Fig. 4, a plan,
.ditto, ditto, the knife being raised vertically; and Fig. 5, a detailed part.
a, a¹, are the driving wheels; b, the axle; c, the casing containing the
gearing, and shown separately in section, Fig. 5; d, the bar extending from
the axletree parallel with the casing, and e the transverse bar serving to unite
solidly these two parts; f is the disengaging lever for stopping the motion of
the knife if requisite during the advance of the machine; g, the lever for
raising and lowering the knife; h, the stop for maintaining such lever; i, the
chain connecting such lever with the crank bar j, and passing over the guide
pulley k, and attached to.the sextant pulley / keyed on one extremity of the
crank barj, the other extremity of which is provided with a crank connected
to the upright arm attached to the shoe m; is the traction pole; o, the
driver's seat;, the whipple tree from which the line of draught is brought
below the axletree by means of the chain 7 passing through the slide » fixed
under the pole and finally attached to the bar s, the upper extremity of which
slides in an eye situated on the cast-iron sleeve surrounding the axletree
immediately under the driver's seat: In order to change the knife from the
rear to the front, the driving wheel a is first removed with its corresponding
pawl box, then the first half of casing c and the large spur wheel, and lastly
the second half of casing containing the remainder of gearing, the connecting
rod t and Bare being disconnected, the first half of casing is then passed over
the axle in the position shewn in Figs 3 and 4, the spur gear, the second half
of casing, the pawl box, and driving wheel are replaced in succession, the
parts e and d, with other pieces fitted on the same, are separated from the
machine and reunited in the position shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, the pulley k
reversed from behind the axle to the front, and the stop h changed from front
to rear and chain reattached in the manner shewn, the draught box s and
driver's seat o being replaced as indicated, the machine will be in condition to
operate with the knife in front.
Having now described the different improvements and the best means that
I am acquainted with for putting the same into practical execution as com
municated to me by my foreign correspondent, I claim,-
Firstly, the different manners described of enclosing the gearing in cast

page_text: iron cases which form at the same time part of the main structure of the
machine.
Secondly, the spherical joint adapted to one extremity of the connecting rod
whereby the working of the said rod is not affected by any alteration in the
inclination of the knife.
Thirdly, the construction of parts described and illustrated by Fig. 5
whereby the knife is prevented from falling through when raised in a vertical
position.
Fourthly, the use of the thin steel plates above mentioned inserted in the
fingers and serving as a working surface for the knife.
Fifthly, the means which I have described for raising either partially or
entirely the cutting blade.
Sixthly, the two different manners described for altering the inclination
of the cutting blade.
Seventhly, the manner described for bringing the line of draught con-
siderably below the axletree and approximating to the line of the cuttingbar.
Eighthly, the manner described of supporting the driver's seat and its
position for balancing the traction pole and whipple trees...
Ninthly, the particular construction of parts as referred to with regard to
Sheet 2, whereby the cutting instrument with its accessory parts can be.
placed either in front or in the rear of the driving wheels.
And, tenthly, the particular construction of the working parts of these
machines which are so combined and arranged as to float over or follow freely
the inequalities of the land.
In witness whereof, I, the said Augustus Bryant Childs, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
A. B. CHILDS. (L.S.)