IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Newton of 1 Great Percy Street London
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN
MOWING MACHINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st December 1883.
GEORGE EDWARD NEWTON of 1 Great Percy Street London in the County of
Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES
My invention consists in the substitution of plane metallic plates or knives for
the circular revolving cutters now used in mowing machines, such plates, or knives
being arranged in the manner following: The said plates or knives consist of two
oblong, rectangular plates of steel, each plate having one of its margins serrated;
such serrations being shaped so as to give them cutting-edges. One of these plates
is bolted transversely on the under side of the forward end of the mowing-machine
framing with the cutting edges to the front; the second plate is placed on the
surface of the first on which it slides in the direction of its length. The second
plate is slotted, & is kept in position by pins passing through such slots & screwed
into the under plate.
Reciprocating motion is communicated to this upper plate by a pitch-chain
carried by a toothed wheel on the axle of the roller, which rotates a grooved steel
disc operating a lug on the movable plate; or, preferably, by wheels & pinions
actuating a crank, & connecting-rod, the end of the latter being connected with
the plate by a knuckle joint.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Edward Newton in the Patent Office on the 28th June
1884.
GEORGE EDWARD NEWTON of 1 Great Percy Street London IMPROVEMENTS IN
LAWN MOWING MACHINES
My invention consists in the substitution of plane metallic plates, or knives for
the circular revolving cutters now used, in Lawn Mowing Machines, each knife
being arranged in the manner following.
The said plates or knives consist of two oblong rectangular plates of steel, each
having one serrated edge, such serrations being shaped or bevilled so as to give
them cutting properties. One of these plates A is fixed transversely on the
forward end of the framing (as shown in the drawing) of the machine with the
cutting edge toward the front; the other plate B is placed on the surface of
the first on which it slides in the direction of its length. This second plate is
slotted, & kept in position by pins C fixed in the under one, and passing through
such slots; and reciprocating motion is communicated to it by one of the following
devices.
1st a disc-crank & connecting-rod attached to the plate by the knuckle joint D
and deriving its motion through the train of wheels E from the roller F 2nd a
solid steel disc grooved round its edge G such groove departing from the central
plane of the disc and returning into itself so that one of its revolutions gives the
plate one forward and return motion. This disc actuates the plate B by means
of a lug H fixed to the plate at I the upper end of which works in the groove.
.
I claim as my invention the grooved metallic disc mentioned as an original
method of transforming circular into rectilenear motion; and further the whole
arrangement and combination of the various parts of this machine, and their
adaptation for the purpose of a lawn mower.
In witness whereof I the said George Edward Newton have hereunto set my
Hand and Seal this Twenty seventh day of June Anno Domini 1884