IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Thomas Burgess, of Newgate Street, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 9th March 1866, and dated the 11th September 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Thomas Burgess
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th September 1865.
1, CHARLES THOMAS BURGESS, of Newgate Street, in the City of London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention' has for its object improvements in reaping machines, and
consists in improved methods of discharging the cut crop therefrom. For this
purpose I employ on the platform on which the cut crop falls a scraping bar
mounted on a vertical axis; this axis is at the front of the platform at the
corner away from the standing crop. The scraping bar is triangular or
wedge-form in section, the apex being towards the cutters, and one side of it
lays flat on the platform. There is also fixed to the scraper bar at its further
end, or that near to the standing crop, a board projecting back from it, and
this also acts as a scraper in passing over the platform. At the commencement
of its stroke the scraper bar lays parallel with the cutters, and then the crop
as it is cut falls over it, the scraper bar then moves with its axis a quarter
circle, and it sweeps off the crop from the platform on the outer side in a

page_text: bundle ready to be tied. When the scraper bar returns it passes underneath
any cut crop which has again accumulated on the platform, the standing crop
preventing the cut crop being driven forward, and besides the wedge-form of
the scraper bar favours its passing freely under the crop in this direction. I
usually put teeth on the scraper bar to assist it in its action. In combination
with the above arrangement the reel which lays the crop towards the cutters
is made with one of the beaters extending beyond the others, and this one I
prefer to make with rake teeth; it comes round just before the commencement
of the delivering motion, and it passes close to the cutters, and clears away
the crop from the front of the platform, throwing it well behind the scraper
bar, so as to be swept off thereby. By these means the crop is laid on one
side in well-defined bundles, which the scraper bar would not accomplish
without the assistance of the projecting beater on the reel to effect the
complete separation of the portion of crop to be thrown off at each stroke.
The reel is driven by a chain from the axis of the carrying wheels, and on
the axis of the reel is a crank pin, which by a connecting rod gives motion to
a bell-crank lever on the frame, and this by a connecting rod is linked to an
arm on the vertical axis of the delivery rake, which thus receives motion. In
some cases I employ a tilting platform behind the cutters working in com-
bination with a reel with one beater projecting further than the rest, as
already described. The tilting platform is hinged to the back of the cutter
bar, and whilst receiving the crop is raised at the back, and is lowered to
deliver it. Such platforms are commonly used, and are ordinarily moved by
the foot of the workman. I, however, arrange the platform to work
automatically, just when the projecting beater of. the reel comes round, and
then this projecting beater passing immediately over the cutters strikes the
cut crop and sweeps it clean off the platform, and so by self-acting means I
obtain the delivery of the crop in well-defined bundles. I actuate the plat-
form by means of a cam on the axis of the reel, this moves one arm of a
bell-crank lever, the other arm of which is by a connecting rod linked with an
arm upon the platform.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letter's Patent filed
by the said Charles Thomas Burgess in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th March 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
TRONAS BURGESS, of Newgate Street, in the City of London, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Thomas Burgess, Her special licence that I, the said
Charles Thomas Burgess, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Charles Thomas Burgess, 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 REAPING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles Thomas Burgess, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Thomas Burgess, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping machines, and
consists in improved methods of discharging the cut crop therefrom. For this
purpose I employ on the platform on which the cut crop falls a scraping bar
mounted on a vertical axis; this axis is at the front of the platform at the
corner away from the standing crop. The scraping bar is triangular or
wedge-form in section, the apex being towards the cutters, and one side of it
lays flat on the platform. There is also fixed to the scraper bar at its further
end, or that near to the standing crop, a board projecting back from it, and
this also acts as a scraper in passing over the platform. At the commence-
ment of its stroke the scraper bar lays parallel with the cutters, and the crop
as it is cut falls over it; the scraper bar then moves with its axis a quarter
circle, and it sweeps off the crop from the platform on the outer side in a
bundle ready to be tied. When the scraper bar returns it passes underneath
any cut crop which bas again accumulated on the platform, the standing crop
preventing the cut crop being driven forward, and besides 'the wedge form of
the scraper bar favours its passing freely under the crop in this direction. I
usually put teeth on the scraper bar to assist it in its action. In combination

page_text: with the above arrangement the reel which lays the crop towards the cutters
is made with one of the beaters extending beyond the others, and this one I
prefer to make with rake teeth; it comes round just before the com-
mencement of the delivering motion, and it passes close to the cutters, and
.clears away the crop from the front of the platform, throwing it well behind
the scraper bar, so as to be swept off thereby. By these means the crop is
laid on one side in well-defined bundles, which the scraper bar would not
accomplish without the assistance of the projecting beater on the reel to effect
the complete separation of the portion of crop to be thrown off at each stroke.
The reel is driven by a chain from the axis of the carrying wheels, and on the
axis of the reel is a crank pin, which by a connecting rod gives motion to a
bell-crank lever on the frame, and this by a connecting rod is linked to an
arm on the vertical axis of the delivery, rake, which thus receives motion.
Figure 1 is a side view of so much of a reaping machine as it is necessary
to shew for the explanation of my Invention, the parts which are omitted
(particularly those for actuating the cutter) may be similar to what is
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to William James Burgess,
dated the 1st day of June 1865, No. 1503, or they may be of ordinary.con-
struction; Figure 2 is a plan of some of the parts.
a, a, is the main carrying wheel of, the machine; b, the platform, with the s
fingers and cutters at the fore part thereof; c is one of the posts or supports
of the reel; d is the pole, connected with the axle at one end, and also with
the reel post c by the tye e. All the parts b, c, d, and e, are thus rigidly con-
nected when at work, and can move about the axis of the wheel a as a centre
or pivot. The tye e is, as is shown, made adjustable in length, so that the
inclination of the pole d to the platform can be altered as may be required;
the arrangement, however, of these parts forms no part of my present Inven-
tion, and may be varied; f, f, are the reel arms with beaters at their ends.
One of these beaters f* is made to extend beyond the others, and is furnished
with rake teeth, so that in passing the cutters it comes. into the position
shewn at Figure 3, which represents also a longitudinal section through the
platform b. The rake or beater f is fixed on stems F, F, of sheet iron, and
these have, slotted holes through them, through which the bolts. pass which
connect the rake or beater with the reel, so that it can be set to work as nearly
up to the surface of the platform as is found convenient. The reel is driven
by a chain g passing around a chain wheel h on its axis, and also around another
chain wheel i on the axis of the main wheel, which latter wheel is capable
of being thrown into and out gear by a clutch worked by a clutch lever 21;
k is a disc on the end of the reel axis, in which is fixed the crank pink, and

page_text: this: by a connecting rod gives motion to a bell-crank lever. m mounted on a
standard on the pole d; ni is a vertical bar or axis, the upper end of which is
centred, in a bracket or projecting from the reel post: c; and its lower end.is
centred in the casting p, to which the finger bar is attached; the axis n has
an arm n upon it, and this by a connecting rod g is linked with the bell-
crank lever.m, thus the axis n is: caused constantly to turn partly round to
and fro as the machine travels. On the axis n is mounted the scraper bar r,
so that as the.axis vibrates it carries the scraper bar to and fro over the plat-
form. The scraper bar is furnished with teeth r', and has a board fixed at its
outer end, which acts with it in clearing away the cat crop. The position in
which the scraper bar r stands at the fore part of its stroke, and the corre-
sponding position of the beater f* at the time the scraper bar commences to
move back to clear the cut crop off the platform is shown at Figure 3; it will
be seen that this beater. has just passed over the cutters, and has cleared off
the cut crop which was upon them, and has thrown it behind the scraper,
which then immediately sweeps it off the platform; the platform is covered
with sheet zinc, so that the crop may slide freely over it. In some cases I
employ a tilting platform behind the cutters, working in combination with a
reel with one beater projecting further than the rest, and by preference
furnished with teeth, as already described. The tilting platform is hinged to
the back of the cutter bar, and whilst receiving the crop is raised at the back,
and it is lowered to deliver it. Such platforms are commonly used, and are
ordinarily moved by the foot of the workman. I, however, arrange the
platform to work automatically, just when the projecting beater of the reel
comes round, and then this projecting beater passing immediately over the
cutters strikes the cut crop and sweeps it clean off the platform, and so by
self-acting means I obtain the delivery of the crop in well-defined bundles.
I actuate the platform by means of a cam on the axis of the reel; this moves
one arm of a bell-crank lever, the other arm of which is by a connecting rod
linked with an arm upon the platform.
Figure 4 is a side view of a machine thus arranged, it is similar to the
machine already described as far as its general arrangement, and also the con-
struction of the reel are concerned; however, there is no fixed platform, and
in place of it a smaller platform B is hinged to the back of the cutter bar
at B*, as is more clearly shown at Figure 5, which is a section of a part of
the machine, and it shews the relative position of the rake or beater f*, and
other parts at the moment the hinged platform commences to descend to
discharge the cut crop which is upon it. To an arm s fixed to the platform
there is jointed, as is shown, a connecting rod s¹, which at its other end is

page_text: jointed to one arm of the bell-crank lever t, the other arm of which rests
against the cam u on the axis of the reel. It will be seen that just when the
hinged platform falls the projecting beater of the reel sweeps over it and
clears off the crop.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Thomas Burgess, have hereunto 5
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
C. T. BURGESS. (L.S.)