IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING WHEAT AND OTHER GRAIN
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest George Cook Bomford, of Fladbury, near Pershore,
in the County of Worcester, Farmer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING WHEAT AND OTHER GRAIN."
Sealed the 30th September 1879, and dated the 10th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest George Cook Bomford
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1879..
"
ERNEST GEORGE COOK BOMFORD, of Fladbury, near Pershore, in the County of
Worcester, Farmer. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING WHEAT AND
OTHER GRAIN."
My Invention consists of the improvements in reaping machinery herein after
described, by which improvements the binding of the cut wheat or other grain or
its removal from the machine is much facilitated.
I construct & reaping machine according to my Invention in the following
manner :-
I support the machine on two wheels, one situated on one side of the machine
and the other at or near the middle of the machine. From the latter all the moving
parts of the machine are driven. By this position of the driving wheel room is
economized, the circular fixed platform at the middle of the machine being utilized
in supporting the cut grain. The closeness of the two wheels, on which the
machine is supported, causes the machine to travel over uneven ground with less
interference with the proper working of the machine than when the machine is
supported on wheels at opposite sides. The four nearly vertical arms by which
the wheat or other grain is brought to and pressed against the cutters and laid flat
after cutting I arrange either in front or on one side of the machine, and drive them
from the principal shaft of the machine by means of a flange wheel, an endless
band or chain and worm wheel, or by toothed gearing. The said arms are either
straight or curved to the radius of the rotating table hereinafter described, and the
lower ends of the said arms carry rollers which bear upon cams or inclines during
the rotatory motion of the shaft carrying them. By the action of the said cams or
inclines the required depression is given to the said arms as they are severally
brought to act upon the wheat or other grain.

page_text: I make the said arms capable of lengthening and shortening by giving their free
ends the power of sliding upon the other part of the bar. When the arm arrives
at that portion of the machine between the divider and the rotating table the end
slides outwards, and by the additional length thus given to the arm the corn is
cleared from that part of the machine. The sliding of the end of the arm is effected
by the cam which gives motion to the arm.
Or the said arms may be dispensed with and the corn pressed to the cutters by
a curved board, to which a to and fro motion is given by cranks operated by the
driving wheel.
I arrange the knives or cutting apparatus around the periphery of a circular
table, to which a slow continuous rotatory motion is given. The knives or cutters
are worked from the principal shaft of the machine by a crank and connecting link
in a way, differing in no essential respect from that by which such cutters are
ordinarily worked. The said rotating table is supported upon three or more anti-
friction rollers, and its motion is taken from the driving wheel by toothed gearing.
Over the rotating table and extending as far the cutters is a skeleton platform, of
thin sheet metal, on which platform the cut corn falls.
This platform has a series of three or other number of slots concentric with the
circular table. Underneath the table and jointed to it at two opposite points are
arms carrying rakes or forks, the prongs of which when the arms are raised rise
through holes in the table and travel in the slots in the skeleton platforın. By
means of fixed inclines. underneath the table the arms carrying the rakes or forks
are raised, when they describe that portion of their path in which they collect
and carry the cut corn from the skeleton platform to the arm of the binder. On
arriving at the binder they descend, and having passed the binder rise again ready
to collect and carry forward another portion of cut corn; or the rakes or forks may
be jointed to the table, and arranged so as to fold down at the proper time for
passing the binder arm.
Near the end of the skeleton platform is a deflector, which as the collected corn.
passes from off the skeleton platform turns the ears of the corn inwards, that is,
towards the centre of the machine. Having given the required position to the
corn the said deflector is turned from over the skeleton platform to let the arranged
corn pass, and is afterwards brought again into an oblique position over the skeleton
platform ready to deflect the next approaching quantity of corn.
This deflector is
worked from the rotating table.
In order to prevent any portion of the straw being caught and retained between
the skeleton platform and the binder arm a curved guide extends from the termi-
nation of the skeleton platform to the binder arm, the said guide rising as it
approaches the binder arm; or an incline with its lower end taking into a groove
in the table may be employed for the same purpose.
Instead of arranging the cutters curvilinearly they may be arranged recti-
linearly.
The machine may be used without the skeleton platform, but its use improves
the action of the machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Ernest George Cook Bomford in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd October 1879.
"
ERNEST GEORGE COOK BOMFORD, of Fladbury, near Pershore, in the County of
Worcester, Farmer. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING WHEAT AND,
OTHER GRAIN."
My Invention consists of the improvements in reaping machinery herein after
described, by which improvements the binding of the cut wheat or other grain, or
its removal from the machine, is much facilitated.
I construct a reaping machine according to my Invention in the following
manner:
I support the machine on two wheels, one situated on one side of the macbine.
and the other at or near the middle of the machine. From the latter all the moving
parts of the machine are driven.
By this position of the driving wheel room is economized, the nearly semi-circular
fixed platform at the middle of the machine being utilized in supporting the cut
grain. The closeness of the two wheels, on which the machine is supported causes the
machine to travel over uneven ground with less interference with the proper working
of the machine than when the machine is supported on wheels at opposite sides.
I employ a reel of the ordinary kind for pressing the wheat against the knives or
cutters and bringing it onto the table.
I arrange the knives or cutting apparatus around the periphery of a circular
table to which a slow continuous rotatory motion is given. The knives or cutters
are worked from the principal shaft of the machine by a crank and connecting link
in a way differing in no essential respect from that by which such cutters are ordi-
narily worked. The said rotating table is supported upon three or more antifriction
rollers, and its motion is taken from the driving wheel by toothed gearing. Over
the rotating table is a skeleton stationary platform of thin sheet metal, on which
platform the cut corn falls.
This platform has a series of four or other number of slots. Underneath the
rotating table, and jointed to it at two opposite points, are arms carrying rakes or
forks, the prongs of which when the arms are raised rise through holes in the table
and travel in the slots in the skeleton platform.
By means of fixed inclines underneath the table the arms carrying the rakes or
forks are raised when they describe that portion of their path in which they collect
and carry the cut corn from the skeleton platform to the arm of the binder. On
arriving at the binder they descend, and, having passed the binder, rise again ready
to collect and carry forward another portion of the cut corn. Or the rakes or forks
may be jointed to the table and arranged so as to fold down at the proper time for
passing the binder arm, and rise again after having passed it.
On the skeleton frame is a deflector which turns the ears of the corn inwards,
that is, towards the centre of the machine. Having given the required position to
the corn, the said deflector is removed from over the skeleton platform to let the
arranged corn pass, and is afterwards brought again into an oblique position over
the skeleton platform ready to deflect the next apppoaching quantity of corn. This
deflector is worked from the rotating table.
The machine may be used without the skeleton platform and rakes, but their use
improves the action of the machine.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the
manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in plan, and Figure 2 in side elevation, partly in cross section,
a reaping machine containing my improvements. Portions of the machine not
represented in Figure 1 are shown in Figure 3, which Figure 3 represents the
skeleton platform of the machine detached, and also exhibits other parts of my

page_text: Invention; and Figure 4 represents in edge view a modified construction of the
rotating table of the machine, and also a modified arrangement for working the
rakes or forks of the machine.
The same letters indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the Drawings.
a, b, are the two wheels on which the machine is supported. The wheel b is
situated at the side of the machine, or at the periphery of the rotating table, and
the other wheel a is situated at or near the middle of the machine. From the
nearly central wheel a all the moving parts of the machine are driven. By giving
to the driving wheel a the position represented in the Drawings room is economized,
the nearly semi-circular fixed platform c (Figure 1) being utilized in supporting the
cut grain.
The closeness of the two wheels a, b, on which the machine is supported, causes
the machine to travel over uneven ground with less interference with the proper
working of the machine than when the machine is supported on wheels at opposite
sides.
I employ a reel of the kind ordinarily used in like machines for pressing the
wheat, corn, or other material against the knives or cutters 3, and bringing it on to
the table e. In Figures 1 and 2, 1 is the shaft of the reel, and 2 is one of the arms
or beaters of the said reel. The reel contains four or other number of beaters, one
only of which is shewn in the Drawings. The knives or cutting apparatus 3 (a
portion only of which are represented in the Drawings) are arranged around the
periphery of a circular table e, to which table a slow continuous rotatory motion
is given. The knives or cutters 3 are worked from the driving wheel a of the
machine by a crank, connecting link, and bevil gearing differing in no essential
respect from that by which such cutters are ordinarily worked. The said rotating
table e is supported upon three (or more) antifriction rollers d, d, (see Figure 1)
taking into a groove d' in the inner circular edge of the rotating annular table e,
and the motion of the said table e is taken from the driving wheel a by toothed
gearing. The rotating table e is made in two parts, hinged together at e³ so that
the smaller portion may be turned upon its hinges into a vertical plane, thereby
temporarily diminishing the diameter of the machine and permitting it to be taken
through narrower passages or openings than would be possible were the table not
divided as described and represented.
Over and concentric with the rotating table e, and lying close upon it, excepting
near its termination, where it is turned upwards, is a skeleton stationary plat-
formt of sheet metal, on which the cut corn falls. The skeleton platform is shewn
only in the elevation of the machine, Figure 2, but the said skeleton platform is
represented detached in Figure 3. The said platform t has in it a series of four or
other number of concentric slots f, f.
Underneath the rotating table e, and jointed to it at two opposite points, are
arms g, g, carrying rakes or forks h, the prongs h² of which when the arms g, g, are
raised rise through holes in the rotating table e, and travel in the slots f, f, in the
skeleton platform t, the rollers of the forks h running upon the fixed bearing
ring (see Figure 1). By means of a fixed incline i underneath the rotating
table e, and in the path of the rollers 2 of the forks or rakes, the arms g, g, carrying
the said rakes or forks h, h³, are raised when they describe that portion of their path
in which they collect and carry the cut corn from the skeleton platform t to the
arm of the binder or other mechanism for binding the corn. On arriving at the
binder at X, Figure 1, the forks descend, and having passed the binder rise again
ready to collect and carry forward another portion of cut corn. The incline i, bent
out of the bearing ring d² (see Figure 2), by which bent part the descent of the
forks h, and the withdrawal of the prongs h2 from the holes in the table e, the
travelling of the said forks at the lower level, and their rising again after they have
passed the binder is effected. When the forks arrive at the point they drop, and
are supported at the lower level 1. Arriving at the bottom of the incline they
commence to reascend, and arrive at their highest level when they reach the
point i³.

page_text: As the weight of the forks may not in some circumstances be sufficient to keep
them in contact with the parts i, 3, 2, and 3, of the bearing ring d², Figure 2, a
bar parallel to the said parts i, i³, it, and is, is situated over them, and sufficiently
distant therefrom to permit of the roller i of the fork to travel in the slot between
the said parts. By this arrangement the required motion of the forks is
secured.
Or the rakes or forks may be jointed directly to the table e, and arranged so as
to fold down at the proper time for passing the binder arm, and rise again after
having passed it.
This modification is illustrated in Figure 4 in conjunction with a portion of the
rotating table e.
The bearing plate / preserves the prongs h2, jointed to the table e, in a vertical
position until the roller m reaches the end of the said bearing plate l, when the
prongs he fold or fall flat upon the table, as shewn at h³, Figure 4. When the roller
m arrives at the commencement 2 of the elevated portion of the bearing plate 7 the
prongs are again raised into a vertical position by the action of the part on the
roller m.
The depressed portion of the bearing plate between 1 and 3 correspond
with the position of the depressed portion of the ring 2 carrying the incline,
Figures 1 and 2.
On the skeleton platform t, or, when the skeleton platform is not used, on the
rotating table e, is a deflector k (Figure 3), which turns the ears of the corn inwards
or towards the centre of the machine.
Having given the required position to the corn, the said deflector is removed from
over the skeleton platform (or table) by turning on its joint to let the arranged
corn pass, and the said deflector is afterwards brought again into the oblique
position represented over the skeleton platform or table ready to deflect the next
approaching quantity of corn. The deflector k is worked from the rotating table e.
An incline p, Figure 3, on the underside of the table e, striking against the arm k³
of the deflector k effects its removal from off the platform or table at the required
time. After the incline p has passed the arm k³ the normal position of the deflector k
is restored by means of the spring
Instead of making the rotating table e flat or plain I prefer to make it when the
skeleton platform is dispensed with of a series of concentric inclines, as seen in the
section, Figure 4.
The advantage of this construction is that it allows the corn to slide freely on
the table without any obstruction, as all the surfaces are inclines, up which the
corn slides, while the prongs of the binder lifter entering the lowest parts 8, 8, of
the inclines the whole of the corn must be carried onto the lifter by the racks or
forks.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention
of improvements in machinery for reaping wheat and other grain,—
First. Supporting the machine on two wheels, one situated at the side of the
machine or near the periphery of the rotating table, and the other at or near the
middle of the machine for the purpose and substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Supporting the rotating table of the machine upon three or other
number of anti-friction rollers.
Thirdly. Making the rotating table of the machine in two parts hinged together,
for the purpose and substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination and arrangement of two or other number of rakes or
forks with the rotating table of the machine, the said rakes or forks being made to
rise and fall, or the prongs to turn down and to rise at suitable intervals for the
purpose and substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Fifthly. The deflector herein before described, and illustrated in Figure 3 of the

page_text: accompanying Drawings, for turning the ears of the corn inwards or towards the
centre of the machine.
Sixthly. The combination with the rotating table of the machine of the fixed
skeleton platform for the purpose and substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest George Cook Bomford, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
RAYMOND BOMFORD,
Pilchill,
Evesham.
ERNEST GEORGE COOK BOMFORD. (L.S.)