IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edgar Edmonds, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWERS." A communication from abroad
by Cyrus Hall McCormick, at present residing at Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France.
Sealed the 4th March 1879, and dated the 21st September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edgar Edmonds at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st Septembor 1878.
EDGAR EDMONDS, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWERS."
(A communication from abroad by Cyrus Hall McCormick, at present residing at
Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France.)
This Invention relates:-
Firstly. To the frame to which the main shoe is pivoted.
Secondly. To arrangements of appliances by which this frame is attached to the
whiffle tree.
Thirdly. To improvements in the main shoe by which it is enabled to rise and
ride over obstacles while at work.
Fourthly. To a self-locking lifting lever for raising the knife bar.
Fifthly. To improvements in the pitman-rod head.
According to the first part of this Invention, the frame which carries the main
shoe is composed preferably of flat wrought-iron bars, and is pivoted to the casting
(which carries the gearing and the pole on the main axle) by two depending lugs
at its inner end (i.e., near the axle) and by two similar lugs at the outer or pole end.
The bars forming the frame cross each other, one of them being formed with an eye
to allow of its being pivotted to the two inner lugs, while the other is formed with
a similar eye for connection to the outer lugs.

page_text: The two connections are in a line with each other so as to form a hinge joint.
Each of the bars composing the frame is also furnished with a depending lug 'to
receive a pin by which the main shoe is pivoted to it.
The second part of the Invention comprises a rod or rods (or chain or chains), the
lower end of which is attached to one of the bars of the frame which carries the
main shoe, the upper end being connected to a link capable of vibrating in a bearing
on the upper side of the draught pole and connected to the whiffle tree or trees by
which the machine is hauled or drawn.
The third part of the Invention consists in hinging or attaching the main shoe at
its after end to the pin forming the connection between the main shoe and the frame
bars in such a manner that on meeting with any obstacles while at work it can rise
and pass over them. The main shoe is further provided on its upper side with a
projecting piece having a vertical slot formed in it to take over an extension of the
connection pin, which latter has a roller upon it running in the slot to ensure
freedom of action.
According to the fourth part of the Invention, the lever for raising the knife
bar is pivoted to the frame on the axle of the machine, and is provided with
a curved or bent bar (to which the lifting chain is attached) so as to allow its point
of attachment with the said bar to pass below the point at which the lever itself is
pivoted, whence the self-locking action ensues.
The fifth and last part of the Invention consists in forming an oil chamber in the
stem of the pitman rod and communicating with the eye which receives the pin of
the pitman itself.
The oil chamber is filled with oil before the connection between the rod and pin
is made. A nut securing the rod in place is then screwed on to the end of the pin,
which latter is encased by a screwed cap over the eye of the pitman, effectually
preventing any escape of oil while at work.
The driver's seat is carried at the back of the machine on an extension of the
frame which carries the gearing for actuating the pitman, by which a perfect balance
is obtained.

page_text: Thirdly. To improvements in the main shoe by which it is enabled to rise and
ride over obstacles while at work.
Fourthly. To a self-locking lifting lever for raising the knife bar, and,
Fifthly. To improvements in the pitman rod head.
The Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed Drawings,
in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mower constructed according to my
Invention, Figure 2 being a plan view of the same, while Figure 3 shows in
detached view the construction of the pitman rod head.
According to the first part of this Invention, the frame which carries the main
shoe A is composed preferably of flat wrought-iron bars B, B', and is pivoted to
the casting C (which carries the gearing and the pole on the main axle) by two
depending lugs D, D, at its inner end (ie., near the axle), and by two similar
lugs E, E, at the outer or pole end. The bars B, B', forming the franie cross each
other, one of them B being formed with an eye F to allow of its being pivoted to
the two inner lugs, while the other B' is formned with a similar eye G for connection
to the outer lugs E, E. The two connections are in a line with each other so as to
form a hinge joint. Each of the bars B, B', is also furnished with a depending lug
shown respectively at H, H¹, to receive a pin I by which the main shoe is pivoted
to the frame.
.
•
The second part of the Invention comprises a rod J (or rods) the lower end a of
which is attached to or connected with the bar B' of the frame which carries the
main shoe at the most suitable point for balancing the draught, the upper end b
being connected to the link K capable of vibrating at the point c in the bearing L
on the upper side of the draught pole M, and connected by means of the link piece N
to the whiffle tree or trees by which the machine is hauled or drawn. In lieu of a
rod or of rods a chain or chains may be employed.
The third part of the Invention consists in hinging or attaching the main shoe A
so that on meeting with any obstacles while at work it can rise and pass over them.
A is a portion of the main shoe which is carried by the eye d on the stem e which
in its turn is carried on the pin I. This pin arrangement is shown in detached view,
Figure 4. The main shoe A is further provided on the upper side of its forward
end with a projecting piece O having a vertical slot P formed in it, to take over an
extension of the connection pin I, which latter has a roller upon it turning in the
slot to ensure freedom of action.
According to the fourth part of the Invention the lifting lever Q for raising the
knife bar is pivoted at R to the frame C of the machine and is provided with a
curved or bent bar S (to which the lifting chain T is attached) so as to allow its
point of attachment U with the said bar S to pass slightly below the level of the
point or centre R at which the lever Qitself is pivoted, whence the self-locking
action arises. The position of the lever when locked is shown in dotted lines. The
lever is shown in section in the plan view Figure 2 to show more clearly its
connection with the bent bar S.

page_text: The fifth and last part of the Invention, which is shown separately in Figure 3,
consists in forming an oil chamber f in the head g of the pitman rod and com-
municating with the eye h which receives the pin i of the pitman itself. The oil
chamber is filled with oil before the connection between the rod and pin is made.
A nut securing the rod in place is then screwed on to the end of the pin i, and is
encased by a screwed cap k over the eye of the pitman rod, effectually preventing
any escape of oil while at work.
V is the lever for regulating the height of cut and for tilting the fingers when
required, as for instance when working through a tangled crop.
The lever V is carried on the bracket W bolted to the forward end of the bar B,
and is provided with a short arm terminated by a hook X to which a chain Y is
connected, the lower end of this chain being attached to the forward part of the
main shoe A, as shown.
The bracket W is provided on its upper face with notches, into one of which the
spring bolt takes to hold the main shoe, and consequently the fingers and knives
at the required height.
The gearing for actuating the knives is carried, as shown, in a recess in the
frame C of the main axle of the machine, and is entirely protected by the cover m,
as shown in Figure 1, when the machine is at work.
A small lever n is provided within easy reach of the driver for throwing the
clutch o into and out of gear, and so starting or stopping the knives as desired.
The driver's seat is carried, as shown, at the back of the machine on an extension
of the frame which carries the gearing for actuating the pitman by which a perfect
balance is obtained.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, as the improvements in mowers,
communicated to ime by my foreign correspondent,―
First. The general arrangement and combination of parts as herein-before
described, and substantially as shown in the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. I claim the construction of the frame formed by the bars B, B', with
the mode of attachment to the main shoe A, as herein-before described and as
shown.
Thirdly. The method of balancing and easing the draught of mowing machines,
as berein-before described and as shown, consisting of the rod J attached at its
lower end a to the bar B¹ of the frame, and at its upper end b to the vibrating
link K, and through the link piece N to the whiffle tree, or any mere modification
thereof.
Fourthly. I claim the mode of attaching or pivoting the main shoc A to the pin I
to enable it to pass over obstacles while at work, as herein-before described, and
substantially as shown in the annexed Drawings.
Fifthly. I claim the arrangement rendering the lifting lever Q self-locking, as
herein-before described, and substantially as shown, and
Sixthly and lastly. I claim the formation of an oil chamber in the pitman rod
head of a mowing machine,, as herein-before described, and substantially as shown.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Edgar Edmonds, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of March, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-nine.
EDGAR EDMONDS. (L.S.)