IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander McGregor, of Leigh, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING
AND MOWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 14th October 1879, and dated the 17th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander McGregor at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1879.
ALEXANDER MCGREGOR, of Leigh, in the County of Lancaster.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
The first part of this Invention has for its object improvements in the mechanism
for controlling the rakes of self delivery reaping machines in that class of machines
in which the rakes are governed by rollers running on a cam path or track, with a
novable portion commonly called the switch for causing the rollers to run either
on the outer or inner portion of the cam as may be desired. On the under-side of
the pivot or spindle forming part of the switch, and on which it turns, is secured
an arm or lever, and attached to the underside of the cam is a latch or catch which
is free to rise and fall so as to hold or release this arm or lever according to the
motion communicated to the latch or catch. A spring is arranged to cause the arm
or lever to fly back when released from the catch and the switch to fly outwards
so that the next roller may pass through the inner cam path, thereby causing the
corresponding rake to sweep the platform.
In the Specification of a former Patent (No. 1598, A.D. 1878,) I describe a drum
or barrel with projections for coming in contact with the trigger or catch for
actuating sliding rollers. According to this present Invention in some cases I
make use of a similar drum or barrel, the projections to actuate the catch for
releasing the arm or lever of the switch, but instead of driving the saine by gearing
I place a worm or screw on the upright rake shaft or spindle, having by preference
the same number of teeth or threads as there are rake arins, and working into a
worm wheel on the drum shaft whose teeth correspond with the positions of the
projections on the drum. The worm or screw has its motion communicated by a
sliding clutch on the upright rack shaft, the clutch having a corresponding number
of teeth to the threads of the worm. A lever connected by a cord to a treadle

page_text: within reach of the driver's foot enables him to draw the clutch out of gear, and
thereby cease giving motion to the worm, consequently the drum will remain
stationary while the clutch is withdrawn, and the catch will retain its hold of
the arm on the underside of the switch spindle, causing all the rollers to pass on the
outer cam path and their corresponding rakes to act as dummies.
But it has been found that if the clutch is withdrawn just at the point when
the catch is on one of the projections of the drum, that is to say, when the arm of
the switch spindle is released from the catch, the rollers will continue to pass in
the inner cam path and cause all the rakes to deliver on account of the catch being
unable to fall and retain the arm.
To obviate this inconvenience, according to this Invention, the arm or lever is so
arranged that when it is released from the catch an extension on the arm or lever
shall fly into the groove of the clutch (or over or under the same) so that it (the
clutch) cannot be withdrawn until the arm or lever is latched. This is also so
arranged that when the latch is kept up, on its being desired for all the rakes to
act, if the clutch is withdrawn the extension on the arm or lever not being able to
fly into the clutch grooves shall bear against the periphery of the clutch, and
thereby retain the switch in the same position as if the arm or lever was held by
the latch.
It has been found when the clutch is withdrawn from the worm owing to the
latter resting on the boss of the bevil wheel, and being in contact with the revolving
upright shaft or spindle, it will not always remain stationary but will sometimes
continue to revolve, and the certainty of action of the controllable apparatus is
thereby impaired. To obviate this inconvenience, according to this part of the
Invention a bushing or socket is inserted between the worn and the upright shaft,
having a flange which bears on the boss of the bevil wheel, and an arm or projec-
tion which catches against a stationary part of the cam or its connections, and
keeps the bushing at all times stationary on the shaft, so that when the clutch
is withdrawn the worm being only in contact with the bushing will also remain
stationary, and only begin to revolve when the clutch is put into gear.
A similar arrangement of worm or screw may be used for working the switch
directly without the intervention of the latch or catch. It may also be used for
actuating the apparatus for causing the rakes to swivel or turn on a line parallel
with their teeth so as to pass clear of the platform when required.
According to another part of this Invention, instead of making use of a drum
with two or more series of projections for actuating the latch or catch I make use
of separate interchangeable wheels or discs, so that according to which disc is
placed on the spindle of the worm wheel the latch may be raised every second,
third, or fourth rake, or by placing a disc of larger diameter and without projec-
tions the catch may be kept continually up so as to cause all the rakes to deliver
for laying the crop in "swathe."
The latter part of this Invention relates to the particular manner of constructing
a self delivery reaping machine with great simplicity of parts, and at the same
time dispensing with the large spur wheel which is often used on such machines,
and has been found to be objectionable on account of its exposure to dirt and its
liability to breakage.
On the main axle, or by preference on the boss of the main driving wheel, is
placed a medium sized spur wheel, and between it and the first motion spur
pinion, and gearing into each, is placed a spur pinion carried by a stud fixed to the
arm of the quadrant or axle frame. This arrangement admits of the centres being
of such a distance apart as not to make too great a difference between the relative
positions of the centre of the main axle and the cutters when the machine is raised
or lowered, as is the case when the centres of the main axle and the first motion
shaft are nearer together.
On the first motion shaft is placed a bevil wheel gearing into a bevil pinion on
the crank-shaft, which gives motion to the knife; and on the same first motion

page_text: shaft, and by preference cast to the back of the bevil wheel, is a bevil pinion which
gears into a bevil wheel on an inclined (or in some cases a horizontal) shaft, on the
other end of which is a bevil pinion gearing into a bevil wheel on the upright
rake shaft or spindle and giving motion to the same.
On the side of the quadrant-arm to which the main axle is secured is formed a
case or shrouding so as to effectually cover the teeth of the medium sized spur
wheel, the stud wheel, and the spur pinion. On the upper part of this case is
carried a pulley, from which a chain is attached to the main frame of the machine,
and by actuating a ratchet or toothed wheel formed on one side of this pulley the
main frame can be raised or lowered as desired.
It is preferable to actuate the medium sized spur wheel by a radiating clutch or
by pawls in a similar manner to that also described and illustrated in the Specifi-
cation of Letters Patent (No. 1598, A.D. 1878) previously referred to for throwing
the machine into or out of gear, but I do not confine myself to this arrangement,
as the apparatus for throwing the machine into or out of gear may be placed in
any other suitable position, and the medium sized spur wheel formed in one with
or secured to the main driving wheel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander McGregor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
October 1879.
ALEXANDER MCGREGOR, of Leigh, in the County of Lancaster.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
“IMPROVEMENTS
The first part of this Invention has for its object improvements in the mechanism
for controlling the rakes of self delivery reaping machines in that class of machines
in which the rakes are governed by rollers running on a cam path or track, with a
movable portion commonly called the "switch" for causing the rollers to run either
on the outer or inner portion of the cam as may be desired.
This part of the Invention will be more clearly understood by reference to
Figs. 1, 2. and 3 on the annexed Drawings.
On the underside of the pivot or spindle a' forming part of the switch a, see
Figs. 2 and 3, and in which it turns, is secured an arm or lever b, and attached to
the underside of the cam is a latch or catch c, which is free to rise and fall so as to
hold or release the arm or lever according to the motion communicated to the latch
or catch.
A spring is arranged as shown at d (Fig. 2), or in any other convenient
position to cause the arm 6 to fly back when released from the catch c, and the
switch to fly outwards, so that the next roller may pass through the inner cam
path, thereby causing the rake to sweep the platform.
In the Provisional Specification of a former Patent (A.D. 1878, No. 1598,) I
describe a drum or barrel with projections for coming in contact with the trigger
or catch for actuating the sliding rollers.
According to this present Invention in some cases I make use of a similar drum
or barrel e, the projection to actuate the catch c for releasing the arm b, but instead
of driving the same by gearing I place a worm or screw on the upright rake
shaft g, having by preference the same number of teeth or treads as there are rake
arms, and working into a worm wheel (see Fig. 1) on the drum shaft i, whose
teeth shall correspond with the position of the projection on the drum.
A
But
The worm has its motion communicated by a sliding clutch on the rake shaft g,
the clutch having a corresponding number of teeth to the threads of the worm.
lever connected by a cord to a treadle within reach of the driver's foot enables
him to draw the clutch k out of gear, and thereby cease giving motion to the
worm, consequently the drum will remain stationary while the clutch is with-
drawn, and the catch c will retain its hold of the arm b, causing all the rollers to
pass on the outer cam path and their corresponding rakes to act as dummies.
it has been found if the clutch is withdrawn just at the point when the catch is on
one of the projections of the drum e, that is to say, when the arm bis released
from the catch c the rollers will continue to pass in the inner cam path and cause
all the rakes to deliver on account of the catch being unable to fall and retain the
arin. To obviate this inconvenience, according to this Invention, the arm is so
arranged that when it is released from the catch an extension on it (61) shall fly
into the groove of the clutch k, so that the clutch cannot be withdrawn until such
time as the arm or lever b is latched. This is also arranged that when the latch
upon its being desired for all the rakes to act, if the clutch is withdrawn the.
extension b¹ not being able to fly into the clutch groove shall bear against the.
periphery of the clutch, and thereby retain the switch in the same position as if the
arm was held by the catch.
It has been found when the clutch has been withdrawn from the worm owing
to the latter resting on the boss of the bevil wheel m, and being in contact with
the revolving upright shaft g, it will not always remain stationary but will some-
times continue to revolve, and the certainty of action of the controllable apparatus
is thereby impaired. To obviate this inconvenience, according to this part of the

page_text: Invention, a bushing or socket n, Fig. 1, is inserted between the worm and the
upright shaft, having a flange which bears on the boss of the bevil wheel and
an arm or projection n' which catches against a stationary part of the cam or
its connections, and keeps the bushing at all times stationary upon the shaft,
so that when the clutch is withdrawn the worm being only in contact with
the bushing will also remain stationary, and only begin to revolve when the
clutch is put into gear.
A similar arrangement of worm or screw may be used for working the
switch directly without the intervention of the latch or catch. It may also be
used for actuating the apparatus for causing the rakes to swivel or turn on a
line parallel with their teeth so as to pass clear of the platform when required.
Instead of making use of a drum with two or more series of projections for
actuating the catch, I sometimes make use of separate interchangeable wheels
or discs, so that the latch may be raised every second, third, or fourth rake,
according to which disc may be placed on the spindle i. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7
represent these discs, Fig. 7 being a side view of Fig. 6. When it is required to
keep the catch up so that all the rakes may deliver for laying the corn in
swathe I make use of a disc of larger diameter without projections, as shown at
Fig. 8.
The latter part of this Invention relates to the particular manner of constructing
a self delivery reaping machine with great simplicity of parts, and at the same
time dispensing with the large spur wheel which is often used in such machines, and
has been found to be objectionable on account of its exposure to dirt and its liability
to breakage.
This part of the Invention will be more fully understood by reference to Figs. 9
and 10 (Sheet 2). On the main axle, or by preference on the boss of the main
driving wheel a, is placed a medium sized spur wheel b, and between it and the
first motion spur pinion d and gearing into each is placed a spur pinion c carried by
a stud fixed to the arm of the quadrant or axle frame e. This arrangement admits
of the centres being at such a distance as not to make too great a difference
between the relative positions of the centre of the main axle and the cutters when
the machine is raised or lowered, as is the case when the centres of the main axle
and the first motion shaft are nearer together.
On the first motion shaft fis placed a bevil wheel gearing into a bevil pinion h
on the crank shaft which gives motion to the knife. And on the same first motion
shaft, and by preference cast to the back of the bevil wheel, is a bevil pinion ¿
which gears into a bevil wheel k on either an inclined or horizontal shaft, on the
other end of which is a bevil pinion l' gearing into a bevil wheel m on the upright
rake shaft or spindle n, and giving motion to the same.
On the side of the quadrant arm e to which the main axle is secured is formed a
case or shrouding e¹ so as to effectually cover the teeth of the spur gearing. On
the upper part of this case is carried a pulley p, from which a chain q is attached to
the main frame of the machine 7, r, ; and by actuating a ratchet or toothed
wheel p¹ formed on one side of this pulley the main frame can be raised or lowered
as desired.
It is preferable to actuate the medium sized spur by a radiating clutch or by
pawls in a similar manner to that also described and illustrated in Specification of
my former Patent, A.D. 1878, No. 1598, above referred to for throwing the
machine into or out of gear, but I do not confine myself to that arrangement, as the
apparatus for throwing the machine into or out of gear may be placed in any other
suitable position, and the medium sized spur wheel may be formed in one with or
secured to the main driving wheel.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,―
First. The particular arrangement of worm or screw on the upright rake shaft
and the clutch for actuating the same, as and for the purpose described.

page_text: Secondly. The arm or lever on the underside of the switch spindle with the
extension b', Figs. 2 and 3.
Thirdly. The stationary socket or bushing on the revolving rake spindle, as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fourthly. The separate interchangeable wheels or discs, Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Fifthly. The particular manner of constructing a reaping machine with the
medium sized spur wheel, as described and illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander McGregor have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witnessed by
JOHN HUGHES,
Clerk to Geo. Davies, C.E.,
4, St. Ann's Sq.,
Manchester.
ALEXANDER MºGREGOR. (L.S.)