IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND
REAPING MACHINES."-A communication from abroad by John Dodge
Wilber, Mark Dodge Wilber, and Francis Kirby Stevens, all of
l'oughkeepsie, in the State of New York, United States of
Aimerica.
Sealed the 17th July 1868, and dated the 5th February 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 5th February 1868.
1, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND
REAPING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of reaping machine,
and consists in the combination of a main fraine fitted on or carried by
the main axle, and a secondary or inner frame hung on oi connected
[Prise 8d.]

page_text: with the axle, and having attached to it the draught bar or pole, and
in connection with certain spur gear rotating crank and connecting rod
with bell crank or its equivalent for operating the sickle, and whereby
bevil gear for such purpose is dispensed with. Outside of the shoes
on both sides of the machine in front are arranged small and loosely
running leading wheels. A draught bar or pole is connected with the
main axle or frame independently of the latter, but is arranged to
occupy a central position or thereabouts relatively to the main frame,
and is provided with a double tree and single trees attached to the
extremities of the double tree, and situated so as to project beyond
the length of the cutting apparatus. The cutting apparatus or sickle
is carried by the main frame in front and between the single trees,
and occupies a central position in the fore part of the machine. Tt
is operated by means of a rod and bell crank, but any convenient
arrangement will answer the same purpose. A pawl and ratchet
connection or gear communicates motion from the main running wheels
to the working parts thereof, and consists of a plurality of pawls
fitted in sockets connected with a shaft or axle and having a pinion
connected with it which gears into a toothed rim or circular rack attached
to the driving wheel in such a manner that the pawls are made to
engage and disengage themselves from the ratchet by their gravity
without the aid of springs so as to produce a driving movement in onc
direction only. This free action of the pawls reduces noise and renders
more efficient and durable a ratchet driving gear from the running wheels
of the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th August 1868..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66. Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
3
WHEREAS er most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give 3
and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special

page_text: licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, adininis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES," being a com-
nunication to me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors or admini-
strators, 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 perforined, 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 William Edward 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 statement, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):
The first or principal object of this Invention is to construct a mowing
or reaping machine in which all side draught will be avoided, and which
will leave the cut grass or grain in a loose light state." The machine
will also be of easy draught and capable of cutting in parallel
courses or directly back and forth instead of around the standing grass
or grain.
Another prominent object of the Invention is to obtain a simple and
efficient pawl and ratchet arrangement or gear for communicating motion
to the working parts of the machine from the running wheels as drivers
when the machine is travelling in a forward direction only, and which
shall be more efficient or durable, and comparatively noiseless by dispensing
with springs to hold the pawls in place.
The Invention consists in the combination of a main frame (fitted in
or carried by the main axle) and a secondary or inner frame hung in
or connected with the same axle, and having attached to it the draught
bar or pole, and in combination with the main frame certain spur

page_text: gear, rotating crank, and connecting rod, with a bell crank lever or its
equivalent for operating the sickle, and whereby bevel gear for such
purpose is dispensed with. Outside of the shoes in both sides of the
machine in front are arranged small and loosely running leading
wheels.
Another leading feature of the Invention is a draught bar or pole
connected with the main axle or frame independently of the latter, but
arranged to occupy a central position or thereabouts relatively to the main
frame, and provided with a double tree and single trees situated so as to
project beyond the length of the cutting apparatus, in combination with a
cutting apparatus carried by the main frame and arranged centrally in
front of the machine.
The Invention further consists in driving the cutting apparatus from or
through both of the main running wheels as drivers, and whereby side
draught is avoided.
The Invention also comprises a pawl and ratchet connection or gear
to communicate motion from the main running wheels to the working
parts thereof, and cousists of a plurality of pawls fitted in sockets
connected with a shaft or axle, and having a pinion connected with it
which gears into a toothed rim or circular rack attached to the driving
wheel in such manner that the pawls are made to engage and dis
engage themselves from the ratchet by their gravity without the aid
of springs so as to produce a driving movement in one direction only.
This free action of the pawls reduces noise and renders more efficient
and durable a ratchet driving gear from the running wheels of the
machine.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents a top view or plan of
a machine as adapted to mowing, constructed in accordance with these
improvements; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same taken
mainly through the centre; Fig. 3 is a section of the pawl and ratchet
connection or gear for communicating motion from the main or running
wheels to the working parts of the machine taken in the line u, u, in
Fig. 4 in the direction of the length of the shaft or axle; Fig. 4 is a
section of the same taken at right angles to Fig. 3 through the line x, x,
in the latter Figure, both Figures and 4 being on a larger scale than
Fig. 1 and 2.
A represents the main axle having running or carrying wheels B, B,
of equal diameter on opposite sides arranged loosely upon it. C is the

page_text: sufficient length.
main frame of the machine, and is composed say of two parallel side
bars a, a, connected by cross bars b, and having the finger bar D
attached to their front ends; the front portions of the side bars a, a,
are curved or set outwards in the direction of the width of the machine
ns represented in Fig. 1 in order that the finger bar may be of
E is the sickle or cutting bar which may be of
the ordinary reciprocating kind, and fitted on or to the finger bar
in the usual way.
The side bars a, a, of the main frame are fitted
loosely on the axle A, so that they will turn or swing loosely upon it,
and the part of the main frame in front of the axle is heavier than
that of the back portion, so that the finger bar will have a tendency to
rest upon the ground. F represents the draught pole which occupies a
central position relatively to the main frame, and may be permanently
attached to a secondary or inner frame formed by a semicircular or
other suitably shaped brace or braces G, thereby establishing con-
nection in a free manner with the axle A, so that the secondary
frame will be free to turn or rock thereon. A platform H supported
by the brace or braces G forms the floor for the driver's feet, and
to which the spring or bar carrying the driver's seat I is affixed. Each
wheel B has a toothed rim or circular rack J secured concentrically to
it, and with which are made to gear pinions K, K, arranged to turn
loosely on a back shaft L carried by the main frame and parallel
with the main axle A. The driving connection of the pinions K, K,
with the shaft L (so as to operate the latter only when the machine
is moving in a forward direction) is established by a pawl and ratchet
arrangement herein after described. On the shaft L is loosely hung
a spur wheel с which gears into a pinion d on a counter shaft M,
also carried by the main frame and arranged intermediately of the
sliaft L and axle A, but parallel to them. The wheels c is put in
or out of gear with its shaft L (accordingly as it is required to stop
or communicate motion to the sickle bar when the machine is moving
forward) by means of a sliding clutch e operated through a lever f
by the driver's feet or hand. The counter shaft M carries or has
connected with it a crank or excentric pin g furnished with a box
into which screws (for the purpose of effecting its adjustment and that
of the sickle) the rear end of a connecting rod ½ that serves as the
crank is rotated to give a rocking motion to a bell crank N pivoted
at i to the main frame, and jointed to the sickle bar E to give the
necessary reciprocating action to the latter.
By this combination of

page_text: SO
sickle or cutter bar and driving devices it will be perceived that all
bevil gearing is avoided. The side bars a of the main frame are
connected to or with the secondary or inner frame by a chain
or chains 011 one or both sides, such chains on the one side being
connected with the secondary frame through the intervention of a lever
having a curved or circular lift m that on being released from the
ratchet lock by means of a foot lever V or otherwise serves on the
driver working the lever to raise or lower as required (for passing
over obstacles travelling to and from the field or to effect the cut) the
front or sickle portion of the main frame. O is a double tree which is
attached to the draught pole F, and has a whipple tree P at each
end to which the horses are attached. The double tree is of
considerable length, so that the horses will be beyond the end of the
sickle bar. Outside of each shoe Q which is slotted for the sickle to
These wheels serve to
play through is a small running wheel R.
support the cutter bar or forward portion of the machine on both sides,
and are preferably connected with the shoes Q in an adjustable manner
The
as to facilitate the removal of the sickle when required.
shoes Q extend in front of the leading wheels R, the pivots or axles
of which latter should be as near in line with the advanced portions
of the finger bar as possible, while the main wheels B are so spread
as to be nearly in line (transversely and in rear of it) with the ends of
the cutter bar. The main frame is so extended or relatively arranged
as to admit of the sickle cutting wider than the track of the main
wheels B. The points or lines of draught of the single trees I should
be arranged sufficiently apart as to lie beyond the cutting width of
the machine. By both wheels B being drivers no side draught can
be produced by the action of the sickle-driving mechanism, and as
the team is directly as it were in front of the finger bar aud sickle
(in opposite sides or ends) there can be no side draught occasioned by
the position of the line of draught relatively to the sickle as is the
case when the finger bar and sickle are at one side of the team instead
of being central or intermediate as is here the case. As the machine
is drawn along in mowing one horse walks in the standing grass and
the other in the mown or cut surface, that is in the space left by
one or other (according to the direction the machine is travelling in) of
bent rods or track clearers S, or where the grass is damp it may be
spring track clearers T of flat or plate form. These track clearers
serve also to prevent the mown grass either from being trampled on

page_text: by the team or run over by the driving wheels, whereby it is left free or
loose, and in a favorable condition for drying. The standing grass it is
truc is trampled in by the one horse, but this is not so great an objection
as at first sight it appears to be, inasmuch as every spear thus trampled
on is cut clean on the return swathe, the horse trampling or inclining it
in one direction, and the machine cutting it in the reverse, favoring its
severance.
By this improvement also not only is side draught avoided, but the
usual joint to the finger bar is dispensed with, and both ends of it are
braced or supported, and the draught made direct. By such construction
the knife or sickle is restrained from falling out of line with its driving
connecting rod, thereby avoiding much wear and friction. The outer as
well as the inner shoe is supported, and thus much tremulous motion is
prevented, and the liability to fracture from striking obstructions is
reduced.
With ordinary machines, too, it is customary (in cutting a meadow)
to go or work around. the same, which causes a loss of time in turning,
and diffuses the cut grass over a wide space, aud in going round a hilly
lot a part of the course under such system of working has necessarily
been up hill, whereas by a machine constructed as here described, and
working in parallel courses successively in reverse directions or backwards
and forwards as it were the cut grass is kept together, and the machine is
able to keep on the side hill without going up. Most of the parts
requiring adjustment or oiling are within the reach of the driver on his
scat, and all necessary actions are controlled by him through hand or foot
from the same place.
In explanation of the pawl and ratchet driving gear which forms
part of these improvements, I would state that a circular plate A¹ is
keyed firmly and concentrically on the shaft L. This plate A (sec
Figures 3 and 4) is cast with a hub or lateral projection B' at one
side of it, in which hub or projection there are three or it may be
any number of sockets a to receive the ends b' of pawls C, these
ends being of circular form corresponding with the form of the
.ockets, and admitting of the pawls working freely, and no rivet or
special attachment being or at least of necessity required. This
construction is more clearly seen in Fig. 4; D' represents what may
be termed an internal ratchet constructed of a cylindrical shell open

page_text: at one side, against which open side the plate A' abuts.
The teeth 1
of this ratchet are at the inner side of the rim d' of the shell and
the ratchet I)' is placed loosely on the axle 1. and carries the pinion K
at its outer side, which pinion gears into the toothed rim or circular
rack J (see Figures 1 and 2) of a main running wheel B.
The same
arrangement or combination of parts as regards the pawl and ratchet
gear are here shown as applied to both sides of the machine, inasmuch
as both main wheels B turn loosely upon their axle and are made
drivers.
From this description it will be seen that when the machine is
drawn forward, one or more of the pawls C on either side of the mower
or reaper will by virtue of its or their own gravity engage with the
teeth of the ratchet D' (the direction of the rotation of which is
indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4) and the wheels B on which the
main frame of the machine is mounted will consequently rotate the
axle and communicate motion to the sickle bar and other moving
parts. And it will further be seen that when the machine is
backed the teeth c of the ratchet (when rotated as indicated by
the dotted arrow y in Fig. 4) will slip or pass over the pawls and will
not communicate motion to the axle 1. By this construction and
combination of parts springs to the pawls are dispensed with. and the
device (which forms a ratchet driver) operates in a comparatively noiseless
manner, and there is but little liability of the parts getting out of repair
or becoming deranged by use.
Having now described the improvements in mowing and reaping
machines which have been communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent as aforesaid; I claim as the Invention secured to me by
Letters Patent,―
First. The combination of the main frame fitted in or carried
by the main axle and secondary or inner frame hung loosely on
the axle and made up of or carrying a platform also having
attached to it the draught bar or pole with spur gear crank, connecting
rod, and bell crank carried by the main frame for giving motion to the
sickle bar from the running wheels whereby bevel gear to produce the
necessary reciprocating action to the sickle or cutter bar is dispensed with
as specified.
Second. The leading wheels R arranged on the outside of the shoes Q
on both sides of the machine as shewn and described.

page_text: Third. The draught bar or pole F connected with the main axle or
frame independently of the latter, but arranged to occupy a central
position or thereabouts relatively to the main frame, and provided with a
double tree O carrying single trees P arranged so as to project
beyond the cutting apparatus on opposite sides of the machine as herein
set forth.
Fourth. Driving the cutter bar or sickle E from or through both of
the main running wheels B as prime movers, whereby all side draught is
avoided.
Fifth. The combination of a ratchet with free or independent pawls of
any suitable number arranged so as to engage with and disengage from the
ratchet by virtue of their gravity and without the aid of springs as herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight..
20
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.s.)