Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 22nd Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 24th May, 1887.
DECEDU
[Communicated from abroad by CYRUS H. MCCORMICK, Junr., of Chicago, in the
County of Cook and State of Illinois, one of the United States of America,
President of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company.]
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and 323 High
Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
In sheaf-carriers, as generally heretofore used, the carrier has been swung either
upon a stationary pivot or axis parallel, or nearly parallel, with the line of advance of
the machine, or else upon an axis transverse to said line of advance and also
stationary, that is, maintaining a permanent relation to the frame of the machine,
neither higher nor lower. As the carrier must be brought near to the ground, its
range of tilting is materially limited by these considerations whenever directly
attached to the pivot-rod, and therefore it has been sought to give it greater range,
in one instance by suspending it from overhead pivots, causing it to swing in the arc
of a circle instead of actually tilting, and in another instance, where the pivot is
transverse to the line of advance the rear end of the carrier has been hinged that it
may trail on the ground, allowing the front part to be tilted to a greater inclination.
It is proposed in the present invention to secure a greater range of tilting and more
effectual delivery by imparting to the carrier a forward movement or movement in
the direction of the butts of the sheaves in the dumping operation and simultaneously
therewith raising its rear end. To this end the carrier is mounted upon a rocking
crank-shaft, one horizontal arm of which is journalled and rocks in bearings on the
harvester-frame or supported by the outside girts of said frame, the other horizontal
ID 1171

page_text: arm received in boxes secured to a bottom bar of the sheaf-carrier, and affording the
proper pivot therefor, while the crank normally in a vertical position, retains said
latter arm and carrier in an elevated position except when dumping. The forward
end of the carrier is supported by a crank-rod or link, the lower arin or journal of
which is pivoted upon the harvester-frame, and the upper arm in a sleeve or eye
secured to the carrior, and the crank of which normally is inclined somewhat toward
the crank of the rocking pivot-shaft when said crank is in its position of rest, but is of
such additional length thereover that the carrier under such conditions is held
horizontal. Means are employed whereby the pivot shaft can be rocked from its
position of rest, in which as stated, its crank is vertical or practically so, forward in
the direction of the butts of the sheaves in the carrier, so as to throw said carrier also
forward in such direction, thereby simultaneously lowering its discharge end and
causing its head to rise by the radial movement of the supporting link at that point.
It is not, however, intended to limit the invention to the specific means herein
described, since there are many known mechanical agents which may be substituted
for them and impart the same movement to the carrier.
For the purpose of explaining the invention, the carrier will be considered as
mounted at the stubble end of an elevator harvester, and will be so described.
Bolted fast to the outermost girt of the harvester-frame beneath the tail of the
grain-shute, is a bracket or hanger having a bearing which for convenience of
dismantling may be open at the front and receive a bolt, when the sheaf has been
placed therein to close the aperture and complete the bearing, but, if more expensive
work is desired, can of course be made in a more finished style. To the adjacent
inner girt is bolted another bracket or hanger which like the first has a bearing that
may be open at one side, preferably at the bottom to break joints, and be closed by a
bolt after the shaft has been sot therein. This latter bracket has also at its front end
an offset which serves as a stop for a purpose presently explained. Mounted in these
two brackets, so as to extend at right angles to the line of draft, is a rock-shaft
advisably made tubular to obtain strength with lightness, but not necessarily limited
to this form. Outside of the bearings and their supporting girts this rock-shaft has
a crank-bend that in its normal carrying position sets outwardly and upward in a
vertical plane, and then becomes again horizontal to form a pivot which enters sleeves
or boxes secured to a transverse bottom bar of the sheaf-carrier which, it will thus be
seon, tilts, in the present construction, in a plane parallel with the advance of the
machine. Another sleeve or box secured to the bottom of the sheaf-carrier near its
forward end, receives a pivot-arm or pin from a radius bar or link, the lower arm of
which enters boxes secured to the outer girts of the harvester frame adjacent to the
front-sill. The vertical length of this link so far exceeds the vertical length of the
crank-bend of the rock shaft or pivot-shaft, and the bearing boxes of the shaft and of
the link beneath the carrier are brought so much nearer together than the corre
sponding bearings of the two secured to the harvester frame, that while the crank
portion of the rock-shaft is vertical, as in its normal position, the link will be inclined
theretowards and the carrier be horizontal.
Secured to the inner end of the rock-shaft is a crank-arm which rises vertically
therefrom, and is then bent towards the rear, this being intended to afford a better
purchase upon it and prevent a lock joint being formed. From the end of this arm a link
extends to a lever arm on the outer end of a horizontal rod or rock-shaft, which runs
along the front of the elevator, and at its inner end, in front of the foot plank, has
another lever-arm pivoted to a bar that extends rearwardly over the foot-plank to a
point adjacent to the driver's seat, where a hand-lever may be applied to it in order
that through the intermediate connections the pivot shaft may be rocked by the
driver, and the sheaf-carrier operated to dump its contents. But, as the driver
already has several levers to attend to, it is deemed preferable to mount this bar at its
rear end upon a stirrup-link pivoted to the foot-plank and set forwardly to brace
against the bar and lock it. The extreme end of the bar is then cut away and is
provided with a guard-strap to receive the driver's foot when it is desired to operate
I

page_text: the carrier, which he will do by the first lifting upon the strap in order to raise the
bar and break the lock-joint which it forms when at rest with the stirrup, and then
drawing back, when by the intermediate connections the pivot-shaft will be rocked,
the carrier swung forward and simultaneously lifted at its front end, and the sheaf
discharged.
In this movement it is desirable that the carrier should be checked as soon as it has
reached its most effective point; therefore the before mentioned offset or stop upon
the inner bracket, in which the pivot-shaft is supported is arranged to be struck at the
proper moment by the operating crank from said pivot-shaft, and thus positively stay
the carrier and its controlling devices.
In restoring the carrier to position the driver will simply push upon the bar until
it reaches its initial position, when it will be again practically locked by the stirrup-
link, and this will ordinarily serve to retain the carrier in its horizontal or receiving
position, but, as a further safeguard, a second stop may be secured to the inner girt in
opposition to the other stop, so as to positively stay the movement of the operating
crank-arm from the pivot-shaft in that direction.
.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: A communication from abroad by CYRUS H. MCCORMICK, Junior, of Chicago, in tho
County of Cook and State of Illinois, one of the United States of America,
President of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors 6, Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn
in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer 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:-
:-
In sheaf-carriers, as generally heretofore used, the carrier has been swung either
upon a stationary pivot or axis parallel, or nearly parallel, with the line of advance of
the machine, or else upon an axis transverse to said line of advance, and also stationary,.
that is, maintaining a permanent relation to the frame of the machine, noither higher
nor lower. As the carrier must be brought near to the ground, its range of tilting is
materially limited by these considerations, whenever directly attached to the pivotal-
rod, and therefore, it has been sought to give it greater range, in one instance, by
suspending it from overhead pivots, causing it to swing in the arc of a circle
instead of actually tilting, and in another instance, where the pivot is transverse
to the line of advance, the rear end of the carrier has been hinged that it
may trail on the ground, allowing the front part to be tilted to a greater
inclination.
It is proposed in the present invention to secure a greater range of tilting, and more
effectual delivery by imparting to the carrier a forward movement, or movement in the
direction of the butts of the sheaves in the dumping operation, and simultaneously
therewith raising its rear end.
"
To this end the carrier is mounted upon a crank rock-shaft constituting both its
actuating-shaft, and the pivot about which it tilts, and therefore hereinafter termed the
pivot-shaft," one horizontal arm of which shaft is journalled, and rocks in bearings
on the harvester-frame, or supported by the outside girts of said frame, the other
horizontal arm being received in boxes secured to a bottom bar of the sheaf-carrier,
and affording the proper pivot therefor, while the crank, normally nearly or quite
vertical, retains said latter arm and carrier in an elevated position excepting when
dumping. The forward end or head of the carrier is supported by a second rock-
shaft similarly cranked, with its lower arm likewise journalled in bearings on the
harvester-frame, while its upper arm enters boxes beneath the carrier, and its crank is
normally somewhat inclined toward the crank of the other or pivot-shaft, when the
latter is in its position of rest, but it is so proportioned or related thereto, that the
carrier under such conditions is held horizontal. Means are employed whereby
the pivot-shaft can be rocked from its position of rest to carry its crank forward in the
direction of the butts of the sheaves in the carrier, and downward to about a
horizontal position, so as to throw the rear end of said carrier also in such direction,
thereby simultaneously lowering its rear or discharge end, and causing its head to rise
by the radial upward movement of the crank of the shaft supporting it, at that point,
which, as its function is practically that of a radius-bar, may be termed, for the sake of
distinction the "radius-shaft."

page_text: It is not intended nowever
1111110
lescribed, since there are many known mechanical agents which may be substituted for
them, and impart the same movement to the carrier.
For the purpose of explaining the invention, the carrier will be considered
as mounted at the stubble end of an elevator-harvester, and will be so described.
In the drawings;
Figure 1, is a top plan view, embracing part of the main and elevator-frame of a
harvester of a machine embodying my invention.
Figure 2, is an elevation thereof, from the front with the carrier in its receiving
position.
Figure 3, an elevation from the stubble side with the carrier still in its receiving
position.
Figure 4, a like elevation with the carrier in its discharge position.
Figure 5, an elevation, and Figure 6 a longitudinal section through the bearing
socket and rocking arm and catch for the inner end of the pivot-shaft.
Figures 7, and 8, details of said rocking arm.
Figures 9, and 10, enlarged details of the outer bearing for the pivot-shaft.
Figures 11, and 12, enlarged details of the outer bearing for the radius-
shaft; and
Figures 13 and 14, enlarged details of the inner bearing for said radius shaft.
A, represents the front, and B, the rear sill of the harvester-frame beneath the
elevator, sometimes called the base-frame of the elevator, and C, C³, are two outside
girts at the stubble end exterior to the wheel; D D¹, the outside elevator-struts, and E,
is the foot plank supported upon corbel pieces inside of, and over, the elevator-apron
above the delivery end of the platform, as usual is this class of machines. F, is the
decking, or grain chute attached to the binder, and over the end of which the bound
sheaves are delivered to the carrier.
Bolted fast to the outermost girt of the harvester frame beneath the tail of the
grain-chute, and about opposite the middle of the main-wheel, is a bracket or hanger G,
having a bearing g, which, for convenience in dismantling, is open at the front, and
receives a bolt g¹, when the shaft has been placed therein to close the aperture and
complete the bearing, but if more expensive work is desired, can of course be made
in a more finished style. To the adjacent inner girt is bolted another bracket, or
hanger, H, which has also a bearing h, but in this instance formed as a sleeve open
entirely through. This latter bracket has also at its front end an off-set h', and at its
rear end an opposing off set h³, which serve as stops to limit the movement of the
pivot-shaft, as presently explained.
The diameter of the bearing in this bracket is greater than the shaft. Instead of
coming in actual contact with the end of the shaft, it receives a sleeve h³, off setting
from an arm H', and retained in said bearing by means of a pin * that permits it to
oscillate, but prevents it from being withdrawn. The upper end of the arm H' is
bored for the reception of the end of a link, whereby it may be rocked, as will
hereinafter appear, while on its outer face it has a vertical boss in which is mounted a
spring dogs, whereby it can he clipped to an arm H2, sleeved upon and pinned to
the pivot-shaft which projects beyond it into. the sleeve upon the rocking arm, and
having ears he to closely embrace either side of said rocking arm, and a recess for the
reception of the head of the dog thereon. Thus, by withdrawing the dog the pivot-
shaft can be released and slipped out from the inner bearing and when returned
thereto will be locked again against escape, while the ears from its projecting arm
embracing the rocking-bar will cause it to obey and follow the movement of the
latter. This pivot-shaft, I, it will be understood, is also mounted in the just described
outer bearing, and when in position, extends at right angles to the line of draft. It is
advisably made of gas-pipe, or tubular, to obtain strength with lightness, but not
necessarily limited to this form. Outside of the bearings, and their supporting girts,
this rock-shaft has a crank bend i that in its normal carrying position sits outwardly, and
upwardly, in a nearly vertical plane,-herein shown as slightly inclined towards the front,
and then the shaft becomes again horizontal to form a pivot i, which enters sleeves in

page_text: boxes, secured to the transverse bottom bar 3 of the sheaf carrier K, which, it will
be thus seen, tilts, in the present construction, in a plane parallel with the advance of
the machine.
Secured to the outer girt, some distance in advance of the outer bearing for the
pivot-shaft, is another bearing L depending beneath said girt and having a vertical
flange l, and horizontal flange 1, to embrace the girt and afford means for bolting
thereto, though of course its construction may be varied to a considerable extent.
Opposite this, and in line with it, beneath the inner girt is another bearing N which
may be a strap-bearing as shown. These two bearings receive the lower arm of a
second crank-shaft O, of gas-pipo, like the first and of practically the same outline,
that is, baving a crank, o, outside of the bearings and of the outer girt, rising
upwardly and outwardly to, or about to, the distance of the crank in the pivot-shaft,
then merging into a horizontal arm o¹ which is received in sleeves or boxes o² secured
to the front transverse bottom bar o³ of the sheaf-carrier, and shown as similar in
construction to the boxes which receive the pivot shaft. The crank of this second
shaft may be longer than the crank of the other, in which case the crank of the
pivot-shaft may be normally vertical, while the crank of the second shaft, which
from its function will hereinafter be called the "radius-shaft "will incline very
much toward the rear, but all essential objects will be observed by making the
two cranks of the same length, and inclining that of the pivot-shaft towards the
front, and that of the radius-shaft towards the rear, as seen in the third figure of the
drawings.
From the upper end of the rocking-arm, detachably secured as before stated to the
pivot-shaft, a link, p, extends to one arm pl of a bell-crank-lever P, pivoted .in
bearings at the front of the elevator, the other arm p² of the lever, in front of the foot
plank, being pivoted to a bar Q that extends rearwardly over said foot-plank, to a
point adjacent to the driver's seat, where a hand lever may be applied to it in order
that the pivot-shaft may be rocked by the driver, and the sheaf carrier operated to
dump its contents. But, as the driver already has sufficient levers to attend to, it is
deemed preferable to mount this bar at its rear end upon a sheave or anti-friction.
roll 9, and confine it there-against by a keeper g', while its extreme end is provided
with a toe strap ², to receive the driver's foot when it is desired to operate the
carrier, or at all times, as the pressure of his foot will assist in holding the carrier in
receiving position, while whenever he draws back upon the strap the pivot-shaft,
through the intermediate connection, will be rocked, carrying its crank from the
position shown in Figure 3, to, or nearly to, that shown in Figure 4, that is, to about
a horizonal position, depressing of course the rear end of the carrier, while this same
movement will cause the crank of the radius-shaft to swing up to and perhaps slightly
past the vertical, lifting the front end or head of the carrier, thus causing a very
speedy and sharp dumping action.
In this movement it is desirable that the carrier should be checked as soon as it has
reached its most effective point, hence the provision of the forward offset or stop upon
the inner bracket, in which the pivot-shaft is supported, which stop projects sufficiently
from said bracket, to be struck at the proper moment by the rocking arm immediately
.controlling said shaft, thus positively staying the carrier and its controlling devices.
In restoring the carrier to position the driver will simply push upon the foot-bar until
it reaches its initial position, at which moment the rocking arm on the pivot-shaft
will be brought against the second or rear stop on the bracket, thus positively staying
the movement of the pivot-shaft in that direction, and consequently stopping the
carrier in its receiving position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a sheaf carrier, of
means whereby it may be swung forward in the direction of the butts of the sheaves,
and means whereby the advancing end is simultaneously raised.

page_text: 2. The combination substantially as herein before set forth, with a sheaf-carrier, of
a cranked rock-shaft, one end of which is journalled in bearings upon the harvester-
frame, and the other end in boxes beneath the carrier and its crank normally towards
the vertical, a second cranked-shaft or radius-arm supporting the forward end of the
carrier and having its crank normally inclined towards the other, and controlling
mechanism whereby said rock-shaft or pivot-shaft may be oscillated in its hearings on
the harvester.
3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the carrier and its
cranked pivot-shaft, of the rocking arm secured to said pivot-shaft, and the stop to stay
said arm at the extreme of the dumping movement.
4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the carrier, and its
cranked pivot-shaft, of the rocking arm secured to said pivot shaft, a stop to stay
said arm at the extreme of the dumping movement, and an opposing stop to stay its
movement in the reverse direction when the carrier has been restored to its receiving
position.
5. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the carrier, its
cranked pivot-shaft, the cranked radius-shaft at its head, the rocking arm secured
to said pivot shaft, the bell crank lever and connecting link, and the bar secured to one
arm of said bell-crank-lever and connecting link, and the bar secured to one arm of
said bell crank-lever and extending rearwardly over the foot-plank.
6. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the carrier, its
cranked pivot-shaft, the radius shaft at its head, the rocking arm secured to said
pivot-shaft, the bell-crank-lever and connecting link, the bar secured to said bell crank
lever, and extending rearwardly over the foot-plank, and the toe-strap on the rear end
of the bar.
7. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the carrier, its
cranked pivot-shaft, the radius-shaft at its head, the rocking arm secured to said
pivot-shaft, the bell-crank-lever and connecting link, the bar secured to said lever-shaft
and extending rearwardly over the foot-plank the anti-friction roller on which said
bar rests, the keeper holding it thereto, and the toe-strap on the rear end of
said bar.
8. The combination substantially as herein before set forth, with the carrier and
its pivot-shaft, of the brackets or bearings for the latter bolted to the outer girts
of the harvester frame, the outside bearing being open at its front, and the inner
3 bearing formed as a sleeve and provided with a catch to retain the sheaf against
escape.
9. The combination, with the pivot shaft, of the bearing hand rocking arm H¹
having a sleeve embracing the end of said shaft and secured within said bearing,
the spring-bolt or dog carried by said arm, and the arm H2 having ears which embrace
said rocking-arm and sleeved upon and pinned to said pivot shaft.
10. The combination substantially as herein before set forth, of the bracket H,
having bearing h, and offsets or stops h1, h2, at its front and rear, the rocking arm H¹
having a sleeve which enters the said bearing and is held therein while free to oscillate,
the spring bolt or dog carried by said arm and the crank arm H pinned to the pivot
shaft and having ears which embrace the rocking arm.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.