Improvements in Straw Trussing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1895-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1895
Improvements in Straw Trussing Machines.
We, JAMES HAROLD HOWARD, GEOFFREY HOWARD and GEORGE GIBBS
all of Britannia Iron Works, Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in straw trussing machines of the class
described in the Specification of prior Letters Patent No. 462 January 27th 1883
granted to James Howard and E. T. Bousfield and has for its object to render
more durable and easy of management and adjustment the appliances described in
Specifications of Letters Patent granted to us viz. No. 18922 October 21 1892
and No. 20704 November 1 1893.
In the said Specification of prior Letters Patent No. 18922 a form of clutch
mechanism is described for putting the conveyor shaft in and out of gear.
Referring now to the description of this mechanism we find in practice that the
wear upon the projection 12 of the lever I caused by the tumbler G³ coming
violently in contact with said projection creates looseness which allows the
spring G to press the tumbler G partly into the path of the rollers F1, F¹, so that
in revolving, the rollers knock against the tumbler, causing extra friction and wear
and tear.
In the first part of our invention we effectually prevent this by the following
means, that is to say, upon the periphery of the disc G¹ we form a notch or detent.
into which a pawl engages and prevents the said disc turning backwards or
rebounding when the tumbler G' comes in contact with the projection 12 on the
lever I and we replace the fixed projection I by a spring supported projection.
For example we place upon the lever I a sliding box or sleeve which is pressed away
from the lever by a suitable spring, the tumbler G³ then strikes against the end of
the box or sleeve instead of against the fixed projection I and compresses the
spring the concussion is thereby considerably reduced. The spring rebounding
presses the tumbler back and keeps it clear of the path of the rollers F¹ and takes
up all looseness between the parts.
Another part of our invention relates to the means for driving the conveying,
packing and binding mechanism described in the Specification of prior Letters
Patent No. 20704 November 1st 1893 and has for its object to accomplish the
same results by a more simple, compact and durable mechanism. The construction
we prefer to employ is somewhat as follows, that is to say, upon the packer driving
shaft we place loosely a gear wheel preferably a bevel pinion which is provided
with a spring driving pawl. Next to the said pinion we mount loosely upon the
same shaft a flanged disc having two studs projecting from the side of it next to
the bevel pinion. These studs engage with the spring driving pawl attached to
the bevel pinion and are preferably furnished with antifriction rollers. Upon the
edge of the flange of the said dise farthest from the bevel pinion, projections or
lugs are formed and upon the inside of the flange a cam is formed the use of which
will be hereinafter described, a receptacle for a spring is also formed upon the
inside of the said flange. Within the space covered by the flange of the disc we
key securely upon the same shaft a ratchet toothed wheel, and next to the toothed
wheel we mount loosely upon the same shaft a circular plate which has holes or
slots in it into which the projections or lugs upon the edge of the flange of the

page_text: disc engage. The length of these slots is greater than the width of the projections
upon the flange; the disc can. therefore rock upon the shaft through a limited
distance.
A lug is formed upon the side of the plate in such a position that a spring placed
in the receptacle in the disc herein before mentioned presses against the said lug
and forces the disc forward in the slots in the direction in which the shaft revolves.
Upon the said plate and within the flange of the disc we fix a stud' upon which a
pawl is pivoted which pawl engages in the notches of the ratchet toothed wheel
which is secured to the shaft. The said pawl is provided with a tail piece and is
so formed and placed that as long as the disc is in the position where the lugs on
the flange thereof are in the forward end of the slots, the pawl engages with the
ratchet toothed wheel; when however the disc is pushed back to the other end of
the slote, the cam upon the inside of the flange depresses the tail piece of the pawl
and rocking it upon the stud disengages it from and holds it clear of the ratchet
toothed wheel.
Next to the circular slotted plate we place loosely upon the same shaft a chain
wheel and upon the hub of the chain wheel a clutch is arranged to slide, the teeth
of said clutch passing through suitable openings formed in the said chain wheel
and engaging with detents in the circular plate before mentioned.
On a convenient part of the frame of. the machine we pivot a hand lever by:
which the clutch can be withdrawn from engagement with the circular plate.
The action of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say, the chain wheel is
driven by an endless chain from a chain wheel upon the thrashing machine. The
clutch carried by the chain wheel engages with the circular slotted plate and
causes it to revolve with the said wheel, and the pawl upon the plate engages in
the ratchet wheel which is keyed upon the packer driving shaft and rotates the
said shaft thus operating the packing mechanism. The conveyor shaft is coupled
to the packer driving shaft by an endless chain and is operated by it.
When sufficient straw or other material to form a truss has been collected by the
packers the spring driving pawl upon the bevel pinion is released from the spring
lever upon the needle crank shaft by the means described in Specification
No. 20704 of 1893, and is forced by its spring into the path of the rollers upon the
flanged disc which is rotated by the slotted plate. When the rollers upon the disc
come into contact with the spring driving pawl the obstruction thus offered to their
revolution compresses the spring inside the flanged disc and forces the disc back,
the projections on the edge of the flange thereof passing to the rear end of the
slots releasing the pawl from the ratchet toothed wheel thereby stopping the packer
driving shaft, packers and conveyors.
The driving pawl with the bevel pinion attached is carried round with the flanged
disc and chain wheel and operates the knotting, compressing and ejecting mechanism
through a shaft and bevel gear or otherwise.
When the binding mechanism has completed its operation the end of the spring
lever is brought by well known means into the path of a projection. upon the
driving pawl on the pinion which is thereby forced out of the path of the driving
rollers on the disc and consequently the train of gear and the binding compressing
and ejecting mechanism are stopped. The obstruction being thus removed from
the path of the rollers the spring in the flanged. disc forces the disc round so that
the projections move to the other end of the slots and thereby allowing the pawl
to engage again in the ratchet toothed wheel and operate the packers and
conveyors.
The whole of the conveying, packing and binding mechanism can be stopped at
any time by withdrawing the sliding clutch from the circular plate by means of the
hand lever.
In a modification of this part of our invention we proceed as follows, that is to
say, we mount loosely upon the packer driving shaft between the bevel pinion with
the spring driving pawl and the ratchet wheel which is secured to said shaft, a
flanged disc or bonnet with its outer side or crown next to the bevel pinion, and in

page_text: the crown of the bonnet between its flange and the periphery of the ratchet toothed
wheel we form a bearing which carries a pawl adapted to engage with the teeth of
the ratchet toothed wheel.
The axle of the pawl passes through the crown of the bonnet and upon it we
secure an arm or crank carrying an antifriction roller; the said pawl is furnished
with a spring which presses it into the notches in the ratchet toothed wheel.
Next to the bonnet and toothed wheel we mount upon the same shaft the chain
driving wheel with its sliding clutch before described, the prongs of the clutch in
this instance slide through the wheel and engage in detents in the flange of the
bonnet.
These devices operate as follows, that is to say, when the bonnet or flanged disc
is rotated through the clutch on the chain wheel the spring on the pawl inside 'tbe
bonnet presses said pawl into the notches of the ratchet toothed wheel and rotates
said wheel thereby operating the packers and conveyors.
When a sufficient quantity of straw to form a truss has been packed, the spring
pawl on the bevel wheel is released as previously described and the projection upon
it is forced by its spring into the path of the roller.
This being as aforesaid placed excentrically upon the axle of the spring pawl
inside the bonnet, when it comes into contact with the spring driving pawl carried
by the bevel wheel, rocks the firstnamed pawl upon its axis in its bearing in the
bonnet and disengages it from the ratchet wheel thereby causing the chain wheel
and the bonnet to rotate upon the packer driving shaft without operating the
packers and conveyors.
When the operation of binding is completed the spring lever returns to the
position in which it forces the spring driving pawl out of the path of the
roller and allows the pawl in the bonnet to engage in the ratchet toothed wheel
again.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
We, JAMES HAROLD HOWARD, GEOFFREY HOWARD and GEORGE GIBBS, all
of Britannia Iron Works, Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Our invention has for its object to improve certain parts of the mechanism or
appliances described in the Specifications of Letters Patent No. 18922 and
No. 20704 grauted to us and dated respectively the 21st October 1892 and 'the
1st November 1893, whereby such mechanism or appliances are rendered more
durable and easier of management and adjustment than heretofore.
One part of our invention relates to the clutch mechanism described in the
Specification of Patent No. 18922 for putting the conveyor shaft in and out of
gear, and another part of our invention relates to the means or devices employed
for controlling the conveying, packing and binding mechanism set forth in the
Specification of Patent No. 20704°³.
In order that our said invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect we will describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are detail views shewing the construction of the clutch

page_text: mechanism for putting the conveyor shaft in and out of gear, Figure 1 being a
side elevation of the mechanism and Figure 2 a plan of the end of the pivoted
lever hereinafter referred to.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are detail views shewing the means or device we employ
for controlling the conveying, packing and binding mechanism; Figure 3 being a
longitudinal elevation, Figure 4 a vertical longitudinal section of Figure 3 with
some of the parts removed, Figure 5 a vertical cross section on the line 11 of
Figure 3; and Figure 6 another vertical cross section taken on the line 2, 2 of
Figure 3 with some of the parts removed.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal elevation and Figure 8 a face view as seen from the
left, shewing a modification of the means or device illustrated in the preceding
figures.
Figure 9 is a face view and Figure 10 a vertical section on the line 3, 3 of
Figure 9, shewing on an enlarged scale, a portion of the device illustrated
in Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 11 is a general view shewing the application of the means or device
illustrated by Figures 7 to 10 to a straw trussing machine of the kind described in
the Specification of our Patent No. 2070493.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal elevation and Figure 13 a face view as seen from the
left, shewing a further modified construction of the means or device shewn by
Figures 7 to 10.
Where the parts indicated are the same as those already described in the
Specifications of our prior Patents No. 18922" and No. 207043 hereinbefore
referred to we have where possible designated such parts by the same letters of
reference.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, I is a portion of a pivoted lever
which is capable of being operated at certain intervals by means of a cam mounted
on the knotter driving shaft. F is a sprocket wheel arranged to turn loosely upon
the shaft E' and furnished with a disc G having two studs carrying rollers F1 F1.
G' is a disc secured to the said shaft E' and carrying a tumbler G³ controlled by a
spring G. This spring acts to keep the said tumbler in its outward position so
that a projection G thereon comes in the path of the rollers F' on the disc G
carried by the sprocket wheel. When however the end of the lever I is depressed
a projection 12 thereon comes in the path of the tumbler G' and causes it to turn
inwardly against the pressure of its spring thereby removing the projection G₁ and
disengaging the rollers F' from the said projection G' so that the sprocket wheel
no longer revolves the shaft E'.
We find in practice that the wear upon the projection 12 caused by the tumbler G³
constantly coming into violent contact therewith gives rise to looseness between
these parts by wearing away their striking faces, with the result that the spring G
is not compressed sufficiently when the tumbler engages with the projection I² to
keep the projection G* entirely out of the path of the rollers F1, so that as the
said disc G revolves its rollers F' strike against the tumbler and bring about extra
friction and unnecessary wear and tear of the parts.
1
According to our present invention we effectually overcome this objection by the
following means. Upon the periphery of the disc G' we form a notch or detent G¹¹
with which a spring pawl G8 pivoted to some suitable part of the framing is
capable of engaging when the nose of the tumbler G³ strikes against the pro-
jection I of the lever I, and the disc G' is thus prevented from turning backwards
or rebounding under the action of the spring controlling the said tumbler G. We
also according to our present invention make the projection 12 on the lever I
resilient instead of rigid as heretofore. For this purpose we provide the end of
the lever I with a sliding box or sleeve 10 containing a spiral spring I" one
extremity of which rests against the end of the cavity within the box 110 and the
other end against a stop or projection 1 carried by the lever I. 11 is a set screw
which acts as a stop to limit the movements of the sliding box [10.
When the parts are in the position shewn by Figure 1 the shaft E' revolves with

page_text: the sprocket wheel F. But when the end of the lever is depressed the tumbler G*
then strikes against the projection 1 on the box or sleeve and the concussion of
the blow is taken up by the compression of the spring 1". As the spring then
immediately tends to extend again a firm contact is kept between the nose of
the tumbler and the projection 12, and notwithstanding any wear that may
take place between these parts the projection G is always kept clear of
the path of the rollers F1 when the projection 1' is in engagement with the
tumbler G.
B the
Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 to 6 which illustrate the improved
means employed for controlling the conveying, packing and binding mechanism
described in Specification No. 207043. A is the packer driving shaft.
sprocket wheel thereon. C the bevel piniou mounted loosely on the shaft A and
carrying a spring controlled driving pawl C. This bevel pinion gears with a
bevel wheel D mounted on a shaft Di (see Figure 11) which carries at its opposite
end a bevel pinion D' gearing with a bevel wheel D³ carried by the knotter shaft.
In contiguity to the said pinion C we mount loosely upon the shaft A a flanged
dise or bonnet E having two studs E' projecting therefrom. These studs are so
arranged that they are capable of engaging with the pawl C¹ and are preferably
provided with antifriction rollers E³.
Upon the inner edge of the flanged disc or bonnet E, are projections or lugs E³
that engage with holes or slots K' formed in the disc K that is mounted loosely on
the shaft A. These slots are greater than the projections E' so that the said
flanged disc or bonuet E can rock upon the shaft A through a limited distance.
The interior surface of the said flanged disc is also formed with a recess or
container E' for the reception of a spiral spring K³.
K is a lug projecting from the disc K and so arranged that it lies in contiguity
to the aforesaid spring K³ which latter thereby normally keeps the flanged disc or
bonnet E pressed forward in the same direction as that in which the shaft A
revolves. J is a ratchet-wheel keyed to the shaft A and L is a pawl carried by a
stud K on the disc K which pawl normally engages with the ratchet wheel J
under the action of a spring L*. E is a cam piece or lug projecting from the
flanged disc or bonnet E. The aforesaid pawl L is furnished with a tail piece L'
which is of such a form that so long as the flanged disc or bonnet E is in the
When
position indicated by Figure 5 the pawl engages with the ratchet wheel.
however the flanged disc or bonnet E is rocked by the studs E coming against the
spring pawl C' the lugs E' of the flanged disc or bounet are brought to the
opposite ends of the slots K', and the cam piece or projection E then acts upon
and depresses the tail L' of the pawl L thereby disengaging the latter from the
ratchet wheel J.
M is a sliding clutch mounted on the hub B¹ of the sprocket wheel B and having
teeth or prongs M¹ which when the machine is working enter suitable openings B
This sliding
in the sprocket wheel and engage with recesses K' in the disc K.
clutch is operated by means of a fork N¹ carried at one end of a spindle N° which
is capable of turning in a bearing situated on a convenient part of the frame of the
machine by a hand lever N³.
The action of this device is as follows:-The sprocket wheel B is driven by an
eudless chain Q (Figure 11) from a sprocket wheel on the thrashing machine.
The clutch M engaging with the sprocket wheel B and with the disc K locks these
parts together so that they revolve simultaneously. During the time that the
pawl Lengages with the ratchet wheel J, (which latter as before stated is keyed
to the shaft A) this shaft A is revolved and thereby operates the packing
mechanism. The conveyor shaft O (Figure 11) is coupled with the packer driving
shaft A by an endless chain O' and is operated by it.
When sufficient straw or other material to form a truss has been collected by
the packers H the spring controlled driving pawl C, on the bevel pinion C, is
released from the spring lever P carried by the needle crank shaft P₁(Figure 11)

page_text: by the means described in our Specification No. 2070483 before mentioned, and said
pawl C¹ is then forced by its spring into the path of the studs E2 upon the flanged
dise or bonnet E which latter is rotated by the slotted disc K. When the said
studs E come into contact with the spring driving pawl (the obstruction thus
offered to their revolution and consequently to the revolution of the disc or bonnet E
compresses the spring K³ and forces the said disc or bonnet E backwardly so that
the projections E' reach the opposite end of the slots K'. This movement causes
the cam piece E to depress the end L' of the pawl L and thereby disengages the
pawl from the ratchet wheel J. The revolution of the shaft A is thus stopped and
the packers and conveyors are thrown out of action. The driving pawl C¹ is
carried round with the flanged disc E and sprocket wheel B, thereby operating the
knotting, compressing and ejecting mechanism through the aforesaid shaft D₁ and
bevel gear D D or otherwise.
When the binding mechanism has completed its operation the end of the spring
controlled lever P is brought by well known means into engagement with the
driving pawl C¹ which latter is thereby forced out of the path of the studs E' ou
the flanged disc E. Consequently the train of gearing and the binding compressing
and ejecting mechanism are stopped. The obstruction being now removed from
the path of the studs E' the spring K³ forces the flanged disc E forward so that
the projections E³ move to the opposite end of the slots K. The pawl L, being
no longer acted upon by the cam piece E, again engages with the ratchet wheel J
and the packers and conveyors once more come into operation.
The whole of the conveying, packing and binding mechanism can be stopped at
any time by sliding the clutch M in a direction to remove its prongs from
engagement with the disc K by means of the hand lever N.
A modification of this part of our invention is illustrated by Figures 7 to 10.
According to this modification we employ in place of the flanged disc E and disc K
a flanged disc or bonnet R having a bearing or axle R' which carries a pawl S
adapted to engage with the ratchet wheel J under the action of a spring S¹.
Additional support is given to this pawl S by means of the ledge R. The axle of
the said pawl S passes through the crown of the bonnet R and carries on its outer
end an arm S2 provided with an antifriction roller S³. The said bonnet R is
mounted loosely upon the shaft A next to the sprocket wheel B. The prongs 'M'
of the clutch, which latter in this case has an enlarged face Mx, slide through the
sprocket wheel and engage in recesses R³ in the flange R of the bonnet R.
When the flanged disc or bonnet R is rotated through the clutch M, the spring S
presses the pawl S into engagement with the ratchet wheel J thereby rotating the
shaft A and operating the packers H and conveyors Ox (Figure 11).
After a sufficient quantity of straw to form a truss has been packed, the aforesaid
spring controlled pawl C₁ is released as previously described and is forced by its
spring into the path of the roller S³. These parts then engaging, the axle R¹ is
turned by the arm S2 and the pawl S is disengaged from the ratchet wheel J,
thereby causing the sprocket wheel B and the bonnet R to rotate loosely upon the
packer driving shaft A without operating the packers and conveyors.
When the operation of binding is completed the spring controlled lever P returns
to the position in which it forces the pawl C¹ out of the path of the roller S³ and
allows the pawl S to again engage with the ratchet wheel J under the action of the
spring S¹.
Figures 12 and 13
It will be seen that in this construction we dispense with the projections E³ on
the flanged disc E and the slots K' with which they engage.
We also dispense
with the container E' and its spring K, as well as the lug K
According to the further modified construction illustrated by
we dispense altogether with the bonnet R above described.
instead of carrying the arm S³, with its roller S³ and pawl S, in the bonnet R, we
carry it in a suitable bearing B' on the sprocket wheel B, and we arrange the tatchet
wheel J.at the side of the said sprocket wheel farthest from the bevel pinion C.
For this purpose

page_text: Instead of keying the ratchet wheel to the shaft A we provide the ratchet wheel
with clutch teeth J and the clutch M with corresponding teeth M. The clutch
has a feather sliding in a groove in the shaft A so that when said clutch is with-
drawn from engagement with the teeth J, the ratchet wheel J is free to revolve
without turning the shaft A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a straw-trussing machine the lever I provided with a resilient stop I'
acting in conjunction with the tumbler G substantially as described and for the
purpose specified.
2. In a straw-trussing machine the combination, with the disc G' having a notch
or detent G in its periphery, of a spring-controlled pawl Gs adapted to engage
with the aforesaid notch or detent when the tumbler G³ comes against the stop
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
3. In a straw-trussing machine the devices for controlling the conveying packing
and binding mechanism consisting of a spring controlled pawl revolving with the
sprocket wheel B, a ratchet wheel keyed or otherwise connected to the packer
shaft upon which the said sprocket wheel is loosely mounted, and means for
bringing about the disengagement and engagement of the said pawl and ratchet
wheel at the required times substantially as described.
4. In a straw-trussing machine the means or device for controlling the conveying
packing and binding mechanism having its parts constructed arranged and combined
to operate substantially as described with reference to Figures 3 to 6 of the
accompanying drawings.
5. In a straw-trussing machine the modification of the means or device
immediately above claimed substantially as described with reference to Figures 7
to 10 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In a straw-trussing machine the further modification of the means or device
above claimed substantially as described with reference to Figures 12 and 13 of
the accompanying drawings.
Daven on 20th day
July
Του.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.