IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINERY
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND
MOWING MACHINERY."-A communication from abroad by Cyrenus
Wheeler, junior, of Auburn, in the State of New York, United
States of America.
Scaled the 10th March 1869, and dated the 14th January 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Nowton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th January 1869.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
AND MOWING MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to that class of harvesters known as "combined"
machines, that is, machines constructed for the purpose of reaping grain
and mowing grass, processes requiring different arrangements and com-

page_text: binations of parts some of which are common to and indispensable in
both processes, and others of which are only necessary in and applicable
to one of such processes.
The Invention has reference to a variety of improvements in details,
the nature of which I will proceed to describe. The main frame
of the machine is fitted on one side with a fixed or it may be an
adjustable axle to receive the driving wheel, and it carries at the other
side a hollow cylindrical arm or tubular projection for supporting the
shaft which transmits motion from the driving wheel to the cutter bar.
This tubular projection is fitted with a tubular bush or bearing for
receiving a short transverse shaft, on the outer end of which is a spur
pinion which gears into spur teeth carried on the inner face of the
driving wheel, and on the other end is a bevil wheel which through a
pinion drives the crank shaft that gives motion to the cutter bar.
The tongue or draught frame is hinged to the main frame, the hollow
cylindrical arm of that frame forming the axis of the hinge, and it is
also connected by a tie rod to a lug of the cylindrical arm. The crank
shaft before mentioned is mounted on a frame also hinged to the tubular
projection of the main frame so as to vibrate independently of the main
frame in following the undulations of the surface of the ground over
which it is drawn. The crank frame is limited in its vibrations by a
stop on the main frame, and a wheel and lever mounted on the shoo
that carries the finger bar serve to raise the cutting apparatus when
obstructions are met on the ground. The driver's seat is mounted on
the main frame in a position behind the main driving wheel.
In some cases the main frame may be extended in rear of and above
the driving wheel to afford a point of support for the seat when that
is carried by a bar on the off side of the driving wheel. The platform
is so united with the finger bar as to compensate for the sag of the
platform or its tendency to spring or bend when in use in reaping.
In adapting the machine to the purpose of a reaper the axle for
carrying the combined reel and rake is fitted to the vibrating crank
frame, it will therefore rise and fall independently of the main or gear
frame. The rake and reel arms are hinged to a chain sheave or pulley
which forms the rotating head of the reel and turns freely on its stud
axle. Surrounding this stud axle is the rake cam or track, which is
made in one piece with the base plate or yoke and attached to the
rake stand. The combined reel and rake axle is perpendicular or nearly

page_text: so to the platform, and the rake heads are so hinged to the arms and
combined with mechanism under the control of the driver that tho
teeth of the rake may in reeling retain a vertical position until they
reach the finger beam and then roll back to pass over the platform,
and in raking retain a vertical position in their passage over the platform
for the discharge of the gavels. The combined reel and rake is driven
by mechanism connecting it with the hub of the driving whical on the
opposite side to that on which the reel is situated. This mechanism
consists of sheaves or chain wheels and chains which carry the motion
round the driving wheel. The rake heads swing upon their arms to
allow of the teeth being thrown out of action, but they are held in
position by means of a sliding latch or clip lever against the pressure
of a coiled spring which will when the latch is released turn the rako
head on its hinge. To release the rake and permit it to rock upon its
longitudinal axis at any desired point in its passage over the platform
a tripping device is provided in the form of a rocking arm, which when
brought within range of the latch or clip lover as the rake is rotated
will withdraw the stop and allow the coiled spring to act. The tripping
device which relcasos the rake for permitting its rotation on its lon-
gitudinal axis may be made adjustable and brought under the control
of the driver by a tension cord, whereby the tripping device may be
moved out of the path of the rake latch. The rake teeth may be caused
to resume their vortical position by means of a stop pin or catch coming
in contact with a tooth or projection carried by the end of the rake
hoad or by other equivalent automatic device. The arms or rake heads
of the combined rako and recl are of sufficient length to reach the
point of the divider in reeling in the grain, and an inclined track cr
ridge board fitted to the divider serves to raise the rake heads to pass
the cutters. The crank frame and inner end of the cutting apparatus
of the reaper are adjusted and supported by a chain connected with a
lifting wheel and lever mounted on the main frame. The changing of
the angle of cut and the inclination of the platform is effected by means
of a pinion on the draught frame gearing into a sector rack on the
main frame. The height or angle of the rake may be adjusted by the
employment of set scrows which pass through the rake and reel arms
and bear upon the revolving head to which the arms are pivoted.
The rako and reel arms are linked together in pairs in such manner
that the angle of relation of the arms may be varied by adjusting the
point of connection of the links therewith at either and The guiding

page_text: sheaves or pulleys in front of the driving wheel (around which the rake
driving chain passes) are mounted on an adjustable bearing to provide
for keeping the chain at tension. The rake heads may be fixed by
buttons or equivalent means for preventing the rake head from rocking
up when released by the tripping device whereby any one or all the 5
rakes may be made automatic when desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th July 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED 1
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lanc, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the 1
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc.
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,
Her special licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, 2
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 " IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINERY," 2
being a communication to me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 8
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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 statemont, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):-
The Invention relates to that class of harvesters known as "combined"
machines, that is, machines constructed for the purpose of reaping
grain and mowing grass, processes requiring different arrangements and
combinations of parts, some of which are common to and indispensablo
in both processos, and others of which are only necessary in and
applicable to one of such processes.
In the accompanying Drawing, Sheet I., Figures 1, 2, and 3, 3ª,
A represents the main frame of the .machine constructed in ono picco,
having an axle on one sido for the driving wheel, and on the other side
it has a hollow cylindrical arm or projection A' which serves to support
the gearing and as a point of attachment for the tongue frame B and
crank or cutter frame C. The bevil wheel shaft D is supported by a
pipe box D' inserted in the chamber of the cylindrical part of the main
framo, and retained in position therein by a single bolt d passing
through a flange in the box and through the main frame. The shaft D
is formed with a collar d' which with the bevil wheel E' on the other
end of the shaft serves to prevent end play in the pipo box. The pinion
E is placed loosely on the end of the shaft D outside of the collar, and
is recessed on its outer face for locking with the pin d" in the end of
the shaft. It has also a groove formed in the periphery of its hub in
which a fork F connected by a spring to the main frame is inserted, so
that the recoil of the spring will keep the pinion against the collar d'
at all times when not forced outward by the pivotted vibrating wedgo F,
through which tho pinion is made to lock with the pin d" in the shaft
at the pleasure of the operator. Tho pinion gears with the teeth of the
gear rim on the driving wheel and receives its motion therefrom. The
tongue frame B has a recess on its under side to receive the tongue B',
and an eye or sleeve at its rear end embracing and uniting it to the
5 cylindrical arm or projection of the main frame, forming a hinge con-
nection therewith. On the side of the tongue framo is mounted a spur
pinion 6 secured in proper bearings and having an axle projecting from
its casing 6' for receiving a lever or wrench for turning it. This pinion

page_text: gcars into a sector rack on the iront end of the main frame, so that
any motion given to the pinion imparts a corresponding motion to the
main and tongue frames, the axial centres of movement of said frames
being coincident with the centre of the bovil wheel shaft D. A dog
or button is provided for locking the two frames in any desired
relation to each other. The crank frame C is constructed with a
sleeve C' for uniting it to the main frame A, and with a shoe C' for
supporting the finger bar and cutting apparatus. On the frame C is
mounted the crank shaft G supported in suitable bearings and having
a bevil pinion Es on one end and a crank head G' on the other. This
crank frame is united to the cylindrical part of the main frame by its
sleeve C' in such manner as to form a hinge therewith, the centre of
which coincides with the centre of the bevil wheel shaft D, the shaft G
being so located on the frame C that the bevil pinion E will gear with
tho bevil wheel E. The frame C when unrestrained is free to vibrate
independently of the main frame, tongue frame, or drive wheel, so that
the cutting apparatus and frame C while they move forward with the
other frames have a vibrating movement independent of them, and can
follow the profile of the ground in mowing independently of the move-
ment of such other frames. In order that the cutting apparatus and
crank frame may not have to be drawn as so much dead weight over
the ground in mowing a standard C is formed on the sleeve of the
crank frame provided with a series of holes at different heights. To this
standard the whiffle trees, which are connected to the tongue by a
recessed sliding head, are united by a link or rod in such manner that
the draught of the team in propelling the machine is applied directly
to the crank frame and cutting apparatus, the tongue only serving to
steady and guide the machine and to preserve the angle of presentation
of the cutters through the adjustment of the main and tongue frame.
The draught being thus applied above the centre of the axis on which
the crank frame vibrates, a great part of the weight of the crank frame
and cutting apparatus is thrown on the main frame, and through the
main frame upon the drive wheel, thereby increasing its driving capacity
and at the same time diminishing the friction upon the ground. The
cutting apparatus is of the ordinary construction and is supported at
one end only by the shoe C³ to which it is bolted, projecting laterally
therefrom. The cutters are connected to the crank head or wheel G
by a pitman, and receive a reciprocating motion from the driving wheel
through the gearing described. A brace c connected at one end to a

page_text: flange or lug on the shoo is pivotted at its other end at a point marked
c' in line with the centro of the bevil wheel shaft to an arm 6, rigidly
connected with the tongue frame at . To raise the cutting apparatus
for passing an obstruction, &c., when the machine is adapted to mowing,
a wheel II on a bell crank axle with a lever and a reversible dog is
fastened by a stud on the shoe C³, or to an upright H on the hoel
extension thereof, and a stop a is pivotted to the main frame A to limit
the upward movement of the crank frame. By means of the lover
connected with the wheel H as described, said wheel can be made to
act as a fulcrum on which to raise the main frame and inner end of
the cutting apparatus until the frame O meets the stop a, when a con-
tinued movement of the lever raises the outer end of the cutting
apparatus, also thus raising the cutting apparatus in its entiro length.
When not in use for raising the cutting apparatus the wheel may, if
desired, bo raised clear of the ground and sustained in such position by
means of the reversible dog or pawl and the double or reversed ratchet
or upright II, as represented in Fig. 1. The driver's scat in mowing
is placed behind the drive wheel within reach of the lever last described,
and is supported on the main frame by bars or legs extending forward
ono on each side of the driving wheel, that on the inner side being united
to the frame near the centre of the axle, and that on the outer side to
a washer or sleeve a' on the axle (see Fig. 3).
In Fig. 4, Shcet I., a modification in the construction of the main
frame is shewn. The axle slcevo instead of being cast with the
frame is made separate and secured thereto by a through bolt, and
is adapted to be adjusted up and down on tho frame in a slot or a
series of perforations therein formed in the arc of a circle of which
tho pinion shaft is the centre. The adjustment of the angle of relation
of the tongue frame and main frame also instead of being effected
by a rack and pinion as above set forth is effected by means of a
slot and through bolt, said slot being also curved in the arc of a circle
of which the pinion shaft is the centre. Instead of mounting the
driving wheel loosely on the tubular axlo sleeve on the main frame
so as to turn thercon as above described, said wheel may be keyed
5 to an axial bolt mounted and turning in said tubular sleeve and secured
in place by a nut or otherwise in such manner as not to interfere
with the adjustability of the sleeve upon the frame. The rear curved
end of the frame is provided with a tooth rack in which a set screw

page_text: or latch on the crank frame engages for the purpose of holding the
cutter at any desired height. The frame A may also be extended
upward and rearward in the form of an arm A' to afford a support
for the driver's seat at a point in rear of and above the driving wheel
(as shown in Fig. 9, Sheet III.), and the stop a is made adjustable.
on the frame to regulate the adjustment of the cutter frame. When
the machine is to be used for reaping the driver's scat and the lifting
wheel and lever and stop a above described are removed together.
with the track clearer at the outer end of the cutting apparatus, and
in lieu of the parts removed a seat frame I, herein-after described, and
a quadrant shaped platform K provided with an outer curved rim or.
guard K, a separator or dividing board K³, and an adjustable grain:
wheel K are substituted.
The manner of attaching the platform is shewn at Fig. 5, Sheet I.
The platform has on its front edge a stiffening bar K', which is
fastened to the finger bar by two metallic straps or angle irons k, kª,
which are bolted to the under side of the finger bar; said stiffening
bar is fastened to a flange on the table plate which is united to
the outer shoe by an ear inserted in the jaw of the shoe. The
inner end of the stiffening bar is fastened to shoe C by a plate i
and bolts,. The strap ¹ to which the bar is bolted is raised above¨¨
the plane of strap and the flange of table plate in such manner'
that when the finger bar is bolted to the platform it will be slightly
arched or curved upward in the middle. This curve should be a littlo.
greater than the downward deflection of the platform due to the sagging 2
of the same when supported by the table wheel K' at the outer end
and the driving wheel at the other, and will be determined by the
length of cutting apparatus and the kind of materials used, so that
when properly arranged and in use the finger bar will assume nearly
a straight line, thereby obviating the injurious effects, such as the 3
cramping or binding of the cutters, consequent upon the sagging of
the platform when attached in the usual way.
An automatic raking and reeling apparatus of the class known as
a "combined" rako and recl, the arms of which move about a vertical
or nearly vertical axis, represented in Fig. 6, and also in the detached 3
view Fig. 7, Slieet II., is attached to the drooping crank or cutter
framc at a point in advance of the cutters and behind the main drive
wheel axle and outside of a line drawn parallel with the path of the

page_text: machine and touching the outer or grain side of the main shoe O³.
The rake standard L has an inclined foot or base adapting it to the
inclined or drooping frame to which it is attached, so as to give to
the rako wheel shaft or pivot formed thercon a slightly inclined position,
5 or a position perpendicular or nearly so to the inclined platform K.
The rake standard is also provided with a horizontal stud or shaft on
which are mounted a bevil pinion and sprocket wheel M, M³, connected
by a sleeve, as shown best in the detached sectional view Fig. 7".
The bovil wheel M gears with and drives the crown or bevil rako
O wheel M in the manner represented at Fig. 7. The standard L has
mounted upon it the inclined cam way or track I provided with the
baso plate or yoko L' (see Fig. 13, Sheet III.) which rests upon and
is bolted to the standard. The crown or rake wheel M is recessed
or armed with a flanged cap, in which any desired number of rako
3 and recl arms N are pivotted in lines radial to the rako shaft
or pivot. These arms are provided with sot screws 12 (Fig. 7) for
adjusting the angle of relation of the arms to the revolving head
or wheel M. O is an angle iron attached to the outer end of the
arm N which affords a support through arms o, o', for a pivot or
O shaft o³ upon which the rake head P is mounted or suspended by means
of a similar angle iron P' attached to the rake head and turning
on the pivot of. The shaft or pivot o³ has a spiral spring surrounding
it, one end of which is connected with the angle iron O and the other
with the angle iron P' in such manner that the tension of the spring
5 shall always act upon the rake head to turn it up, thereby causing
the rake teeth to assume a horizontal position when not restrained
by the action of a locking latch g held in lock by a spring q'. This
latch q is pivotted in the outer arm of angle iron O (see Figures 7
and 7), and works in a guiding notch or slot in arm o³, the
inner end extending over a pivotted extension of the cam track, and
being operated for releasing the latch as herein-after described. When
tho rako teeth are in position for discharging the grain from the platform
the rake head is prevented from turning by the latch engaging with a
shoulder on the inner arm of angle iron P¹. The throw of the rake in
turning on longitudinal pivot o' is regulated by stops or shoulders on
the outer arm of anglo iron P¹ arranged at about right angles to cach
other, striking against a lug p' on angle iron O or arm N. The lower
or platform side of the inclined cam track is open, and the rake and reel
arms are united in pairs by means of an adjustable link, so that the

page_text: arm sweeping over the platform is held in proper working relation
thereto by the action of the cam upon the opposite vertical arm of the
pair. Qis the bell-crank lever pivotted to the forward descending arm
of the cam track, the horizontal arm of which forms an extension of
said track, the other arm of the lever being connected by a link r to
one end of a lever R mounted on the seat frame I, the opposite end
of which lover has connected to it a sliding rod or arm 7 extending to
within convenient reach of the driver on seat I'. The arrangement of
lever Q is such that when the horizontal arm is thrown up against the
cam track by the driver by means of the levers and connection described
said arm acts upon the spring rake latch described and releases the rake
head, allowing the teeth to be turned from a vertical to a horizontal
position, and thereby to pass over the grain on the platform without
discharging the same, the change in position of the rake teeth being
effected just as they reach the forward edge of the platform and after
they have gathered up the uncut grain in front of and presented it to
the action of the cutters. The rake head is automatically retracted to
cause the rake teeth to resume their vertical position by the action of
the rear expanded arm of the cam upon the inner or heel end of the
rako arm. The rake and reel arms are extended in length in such
manner as to cause the outer ends in recling in the grain to reach tho
point of the divider and the shaft or centre of motion of said arms being
in advance of the cutters and in line or about in line with the point
of the dividers the movement of the outer end from said point is inward,
so as to provent its interference with the uncut grain, and to effect a
more thorough separation of the cut grain therefrom. The inclined
position of the rake shaft causes the rake teeth to descend below the
plane of the cutters in advance thereof and to rise as the rake head
approaches a position parallel with the cutting apparatus, and thereby
to pick up the fallen and tangled grain, properly present the same to
the action of the cutters, and then turning as described to deposit it
upon the platform, or retaining their vertical position, at the option of
the driver, to discharge the grain therefrom behind the machine. An
inclined track or wedge secured to the divider acts upon the over-
hanging ends of the rake arm, and serves effectually to prevent the rake
teeth when loaded with the fallen and tangled grain, as described, from
being carried into and caught by the cutters. The scat frame I carrying
the driver's scat in reaping is connected at its forward end to the tongue
frame B, and at its rear end is supported by two standards, one fastened

page_text: to the main frame, the other directly to the axle outside the drive
wheel. T is a horizontal shaft located in front of the drive wheel in
bearings in a standard T on seat frame I. This shaft has two sprocket
wheels U, U', mounted upon it, one at each end, the latter U' being
$ connected with the shaft by means of a backing ratchet for allowing
a backward movement of the machine without operating the rake and
real. The sprocket wheel U and its shaft T are operated in the forward
movement of the machine by a chain from a sprocket wheel U³ (sco
Fig. 8) attached to and turning with the drive wheel, and by means of
a similar chain passing from sprocket wheel U to sprocket wheel M*
motion is communicated through the bevil wheels M³, M, to the re-
volving rake and reel. is a pulley mounted on a pivot on the main
frame, to which one end of a lifting cord or chain is attached, the other
end of said cord or chain being attached to the crank frame C; ³ is
a ratchet wheel attached to and turning with pulloy; x and y is a slotted
lover provided with a fixed pawl y', by means of which the driver is
enabled to rotate the pulley and raise the frame O and inner end of tho
cutting apparatus, which are held at any desired degree of elovation
by means of a weighted dog s engaging with and holding the ratchet
whcol and pulley. The height of the outer end of the cutting apparatus
is regulated by the adjustment of the grain or carrying wheel K' above
described.
In Figures 0 and 10, Sheet III., a modification in the construction
of the rake and reel and of the tripping devices is shown. Instead of
the vertical sprocket wheels U, U, on horizontal shaft T two loose
horizontal pulloys U may be arranged upon a common vertical pivot,
the pulloys being made of sufficient diameter to pass the chain (which
in this caso would be continuous) around the drive wheel from tho
sprocket wheel (attached to the outside of the drive wheel) to and around
the revolving head M, to which the rako arms are pivotted, and which
in this instance is made in the form of a sprocket wheel, the chain
being guided thereto by a sheave m on an arm m' bolted to the rako
stand. The pullies U⚫ are mounted on a vertical shaft or pivot attached
to an adjustable box or frame Ts (shewn in detached view at Fig. 11),
5 by means of which the required tension can be given to the driving
chain or cords. The rake heads in Figures 9 and 10 are shewn provided
at their heel ends with metallic shanks or journals arranged in line with
the heads, and forming longitudinal axes therefor and mounted in

page_text: bearings in the angle iron o attached to the pivotted arms N. The heel
end of each of said shanks is armed with an excentric plato or cam N!
(shewn at Figures 10 and 10"). This cam N' strikes against an
adjustable roller (Fig. 9) mounted on a flange or lug on the inclined
cam track, and serves to rotate the rake head on its longitudinal axis
to bring the teeth into proper position to act upon the grain, picking it
up, presenting it to the cutters, &c. A latch lever pivotted to the
rake arm engages with a shoulder ¹ (Fig. 10º) on the heel plate or
cam N' to lock the rake arm in the position last above described.
Q(see Fig. 12) is a weighted or spring tripper for releasing the latch
lever pivotted in a slotted pendent Qattached to and made adjustable
upon an angular plate Q, the horizontal arm of which is curved in tho
arc of a circle, of which the vertical rake shaft is the centre. Plate Q³
is slotted, as shown at q*, and is attached to the base of the cam or to
the rako standard by a set screw or bolt, which will permit its adjust-
ment around the rake shaft in the path of the rake latch for varying
the point at which the roller g³ on the tripping lever Q' shall act on
said latch, as the condition or character of the crop may require. A.
cord connected to an arm of the tripping lever and passing over
guiding pulleys to a lever or treadle R' within convenient reach of the
driver on his seat serves to enable him to remove said tripper out of the
way of the latch lever when it is desired to have the rake head remain
locked with the teeth in a vertical position while passing over the
platform for removing the grain therefrom. A lug or pin q' on the
pendent holds the tripping lever in proper position to act on latch I'
when not moved out of the path of said latch by the driver. The rako
heads are provided with buttons o*, which when desired can be turned
and made to engage with the angle irons which connect the heads to
the pivotted arms, or with said arms themselves, in such manner as
to lock them against the action of the tripping lever, so that any one or
more of the rake heads may be made automatically to remove the grain
or grass from the platform without attention from the driver. Tho
rako arms are recessed or chambered on their lower faces to receivo
friction rollers (see Fig. 10), which traverse the inclined cam way.
The links also which unite the opposite arms of the rake and reel in
pairs, instead of being jointed at the centres, as shewn in Figures 6
and 7, are made adjustable at cither end upon the rako arms for varying
the angle of relation of said arms as desired by means of slotted plates
and set screws.

page_text: The operation of the rake and reel thus constructed is as follows:-
If it is desired to deliver the grain in a swath all that is required is to set
the machine so that all the rakes will roll up at the proper point.
The
driver, by keeping his foot on the treadle so as to remove the tripper
out of the path of the latching lever L, can then causo all the rakes to
sweep the grain off the platform in quick succession. In turning the
corner of a field of grain, by raising his foot off the treadlo the rako will
roll up and enablo him to carry the grain upon the platform sufficiently
far to take it out of the way of the team and machine in its next round.
Where the grain is short, or its condition is such that it is not desirable
to bird it, the driver can set the tripping device so that the rako teeth
will pass the cutters some distance before turning. This will be found
advantageous in harvesting clover or timothy seed, where but little of
the stalks is gathered with the heads, as by such adjustment of the
tripper a large quantity can be gathered and carried upon the platform,
while at the same time the cutters aro kept clear, which would not bo
the caso if the teeth were rocked or rolled up at a point directly or nearly
Over the cutters, as the heads would in this latter caso fall upon and
obstruct the cutters before removed by a succeeding rake.
Another mode of operation is to substitute simply gathering arms or
beaters for some of the rakes, as for example, two rakes and two beaters
may be used, the rakes being controlled in the same way as before, or
one of the rakes may be fastened by its button so as to rake off the grain
at cach revolution of the revolving rake head, without attention from
the driver, leaving the other to be operated as a rake or not as the con-
dition of the crop may require, or both may be fastened by the buttons,
and thereby made automatically to rake off the grain. The rake is thus
placed completely under the control of the driver, and can be readily
adapted to all the varied conditions and requirements of the different
kinds of grain and grass in which it is used.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements
in Reaping and Mowing Machinery," as communicated to me from
abroad, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I
wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent I claim, with reference to Sheet I. of the Drawings,―
First. The main frame, having an axle for the driving wheel on one
side, and a hollow cylindrical arm on the other side for supporting the
shaft of the bevil whcel.

page_text: Second. The main frame, having a tubular projection on one side for
supporting the bevil wheel shaft, and an adjustable axle one the other
side for receiving the driving wheel and adjusting it relatively to said
frame.
Third. The main frame, as described, in combination with a tongue
frame hinged to the hollow cylindrical arm of the main frame.
Fourth. The combination of a main frame, having an axle for the
driving wheel on one side and a hollow cylindrical arm on the other side,
with a crank frame hinged to said arm so as to vibrate independently of
the main frame in following the undulations of the surface of the ground
over which it is drawn, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with the main frame of an adjustable crank
frame, an adjustable tongue frame, and an adjustable axle.
Sixth. The combination with a main frame, constructed as described,
of a tube box for holding the bevil wheel shaft.
Seventh. The crank frame, arranged and vibrating as described, in
combination with a stop on the main frame and a wheel and lever
mounted on the shoe for raising the cutting apparatus.
]
Eighth. The driver's scat mounted on the main frame in a position
behind the main driving wheel in combination with a crank frame so 2
hinged to said main frame as to vibrate independently of said frame
and seat.
Ninth. Connecting the draught to a standard on the crank frame in
combination with hinging said crank frame to the main frame on an
axle coincident with the axis of the bevil wheel, but independent of the
main axle.
Tenth. The main frame arm A extended in rcar of and above the
driving wheel, and affording a point of support for the scat bar,
substantially as described.
Eleventh. Uniting the platform with the finger bar in such manner 3
as to compensate for the sag of the platform or its tendency to spring or
bend when in use in reaping.
With reference to Sheets II. and III. of the Drawings I claim,-
Twelfth. Mounting the axis of a combined reel and rake on a vibrating
crank frame, which can rise and fall independently of the main or gear :
frame.

page_text: Thirteenth. The construction and arrangement of the chain sheavo
or pulley, whereby it is adapted to serve as the rotating head to which
tlio rako and reel arms are pivotted.
Fourteenth. The rake cam or track made in one piece with the baso
plate or yoke, and attached to the rake stand, substantially as described.
Fifteenth. In a combined roel and rake the arms of which are hinged
to and move around an axis perpendicular or nearly so to the platform
hinging the rako head to the arms, and so combining them witli
mechanism under the control of the driver that the teeth of the rako
shall in reeling retain a vertical position until they reach the finger
beam, and then roll back to pass over the platform, and in raking retain
a vertical position in their passage over the platform for the dischargo of
the gavels.
Sixteenth. Driving a combined reel and rake located on one side of
and below the highest point of the driving wheel by mechanism con-
necting it with the hub of the wheel on the other side, substantially as
described.
Seventeenth. In a combined rake and reel, the several arms of which
may at the option of the attendant be made either as rake and recl arms,
or as reel arms only, an adjustable device whereby the rako teeth may
bo made to rise out of the grain on the platform at any desired point in
their passage over said platform without varying the point at which tho
teeth enter the grain for reeling it into the cutters.
Eighteenth. The tripping device adapted to release the rake and
permit it to rock upon its longitudinal axis at any desired point in its
passage over the platform.
Nineteenth. The rake moving over the platform in the arc of a circle,
and adapted to turn or roll upon a longitudinal axis in combination with
means for releasing the rake and causing it to roll up at any desired
point, for the purpose set forth.
Twentieth. The adjustable tripping device operating to release the
rake for permitting it to turn on its longitudinal axis, as described, in
combination with means controlled by the driver for moving said tripping
device out of the path of the rake latch.
Twenty-first. Automatically retracting the rake head to cause the
rake tooth to resume their vertical position by means substantially as
described.

page_text: .
Twenty-second. A combined rake and recl, the arms or ráke heads of
which rotate about a shaft or pivot in advance of the finger bar, and are
of sufficient length to reach the point of the divider in reeling in the
grain, in combination with an inclined track or ridge board for raising
the rake heads to pass the cutters.
Twenty-third. Adjusting and supporting the crank frame and inner
end of the cutting apparatus in reaping by a chain connected with a
lifting wheel and lever mounted on the main frame, substantially as
described.
Twenty-fourth. Changing the angle of cut and the inclination of the
platform by means of a pinion in the draught frame combined with a
sector gear on the main frame.
:
Twenty-fifth. The employment of set screws in combination with the
rake and reel arms and the revolving head to which the arms are
pivotted for adjusting the height or angle of the rakes.
Twenty-sixth. Linking the rake and reel arms together in pairs in
the manner described, so that the angle of relation of the arms may be
varied by adjusting the point of connection of the links therewith at
either end.
Twenty-seventh. The guiding sheaves or pulleys in front of the!
'driving wheel around which the rake driving chain passes made adjust-
'able, for the purpose set forth.
Twenty-eighth. The button or equivalent means for preventing the
rake head from rocking up when released by the tripping device,
whoreby any one or all the rakes may be made automatic when desired.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Fourteenth day of July,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-nine.