Improvements in Mowing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mowing Machines.
I, ARTHUR AUSTIN, of Stevenage, in the County of Herts, Carpenter, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction
of mowing machines, and the main feature of the said invention consists in the
employment of a circular, continuously rotating scythe, or knife, to perform the
required cutting operation.
The said scythe or knife consists of a thin flat circular ring of steel, suitably
bevelled and sharpened on its outer edge.
The said ring may be made in one piece, or in sections, and is affixed by
screws, rivets, or other devices to a flat iron or steel ring, of less diameter than
the knife, so that the cutting edge extends beyond it.
The said knife is rotated, and at the same time advanced against the grass, or
other crop requiring to be cut, and thus acts as an endless, or constantly operating
scythe.
The means for supporting and rotating the knife may be varied in accordance
with the size or requirements of the machine.
For small mowers, to be driven by hand, I may employ the following
arrangement. From the inner edge of the ring to which the knife is affixed, a
series of horizontal radial_arms project inwardly a short distance, carrying at
their ends vertical rods. To the upper ends of these rods a circular plate is
affixed. In the centre of this plate, a vertical spindle is attached, projecting
downwards and journalled in a fong socket on the upper face of a plate, which,
on its underside, is provided with bearings carrying a shaft and two wheels or
rollers, which rest on the ground and carry the weight of the machine. The
said wheels or rollers also.form the driving wheels, and are preferably provided
with projections on their external periphery to prevent slipping. The vertical
spindle aforesaid is driven from the shaft of the said wheels by means of any
suitable gearing, such as a pair of mitre or bevel wheels, or a spur and crown
wheel, one of the said wheels being fixed on the vertical spindle and the other on
the driving wheel shaft.. An opening is provided in the plate above the driving
shaft to permit the wheel on said shaft to pass through. The whole of the above
mechanism is contained within the space in the middle of the knife. To the driving
wheel plate, an extension is provided, which bends downwards underneath the
knife and is then bent upwards to carry the handles by which the machine is
propelled. An adjustable guide roller is preferably provided on the said extension
to rest on the ground, and thus maintain the front of the knife at a constant height
above the ground.
To adjust the height of the said knife, the vertical rods aforesaid may be
provided with long threaded ends and lock nuts, or with slots and set screws, or
other suitable devices where they are attached to the top plate, thereby enabling
the knife to be raised or lowered.
To prevent cuttings getting into the machine, the space between the said rods
and the knife may be filled in by a light flat sheet iron circular plate, and a light
sheet iron tube be placed around the said rods, so that the mechanism will be
completely covered in.

page_text: To prevent any side strain being thrown on the vertical spindle in the event of
the knife meeting an obstruction, I prefer to provide on the underside of the driving
wheel plate, four or more small rollers adjustable for height and placed just clear of
a flat ring or path fixed under them to the aforesaid vertical rods or radial arms.
On the knife meeting an obstruction the said path will bear on the rollers and thus
the strain on the central spindle will be relieved.
As it is not necessary or desirable to rotate the knife, when the machine is being
moved from place to place and is not required to cut, I provide a lever on the
driving handles engaging with a suitable, projection on the centre of the top plate,
by means of which the knife with the central spindle can be raised till the bevel or
other wheels are out of gear, and suitable means are provided for locking the said
lever when the knife is so raised. By this arrangement the machine can travel
freely when the knife is not required to be in operation.
A scraper may be provided on the handle resting on the annular cover plate
before mentioned, to sweep off any cuttings which may be thrown thereon.
I may also provide an extension on the front part of the driving wheel plate
carrying fingers to project beyond and overlap the front cutting edge of the knife,
for the purpose of holding the grass to be cut.
The two driving wheels may be fixed on their shaft, but to give facility for
turning corners or running the machine in a curve, I prefer to have one fixed and
Ι
the other loose on the shaft, and I may provide a ratchet, or other suitable double
driving arrangement, so that both wheels may operate to drive the shaft and yet be
free to run in a curve, in the well known manner.
I..-J
Any suitable form of sharpening device may be fixed on the handle to engage
with the knife, so that the said knife may be ground or sharpened, as it revolves.
For a larger mower, driven by a pony or horse, shafts may be substituted for the
handles, the animal pushing the machine in front of it.
In the case of machines intended for mowing crops, I employ a set of two or
more rotating knives arranged in line and carried on suitable wheels, one such
wheel being placed under each knife, and the whole series driven from a large
driving wheel placed at one end of the series, the shafts for the horse or horses
being at the same end as the said driving wheel, in the manner usual in large
mowing machines.
Dated this 5th day of April 1893.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mowing Machines.
I, ARTHUR AUSTIN, of Stevenage, in the County of Herts, Carpenter, 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:
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction
of mowing machines, and the main feature of the said invention consists in the
employment of a circular continuously rotating scythe, or knife, to perform the
required cutting operation.
The said scythe, or knife consists of a thin flat circular ring of steel, suitably
bevelled and sharpened on its outer edge. It is rotated, and at the same time
advanced against the grass, or other crop requiring to be cut, and thus acts as an
endless or constantly operating scythe.
The means for supporting and rotating the knife may be varied, in accordance
with the size or requirements of the machine.

page_text: In place of the bevel wheels S and T, shewn and described, a pair of mitre
wheels, a spur and crown wheel, or any other suitable form of gearing may be
employed.
The whole of the mechanism described, is contained within the knife F.and
drum J. The top of the drum is closed by a light circular plate U, (partly broken
away in the plan Fig. 1) resting on the arms K and secured in place by a nut V
on the threaded upper end of the spindle M.
W is a bar secured at one end by a set-screw X in an opening in the frame N, it
passes down underneath the knife F and is then bent upwards and terminates in a
handle Y, by means of which the machine is propelled. Z is a guide roller,
adjustably secured by a set-screw a, in a socket 6 on the bar W. The said roller
maintains the front of the knife at a constant height above the ground and provides
a convenient means of regulating the said height.
As an additional, or alternative means of regulating the height of the knife, the
outer ends of the arms K, in place of being permanently fixed to the drum J, may
work in slots in the said drum, suitable means being provided for fixing them at
any required height in the said slots, or in place of being attached to the said
drum, the arms may slip over the threaded ends of vertical rods attached to the
ring H, two nuts being provided on each rod to fix the arms at any desired
height.
To prevent any undue side strain being thrown on the spindle M, in the event of
the knife meeting an obstruction, I may provide on the frame N, four or more
small rollers adjustable for height and placed just clear of a ring or path fixed on
the angle ring H. On the knife meeting an obstruction, the said path will bear on
the rollers and thus relieve the strain on the spindle M.
. In the modified arrangement shewn in Figs. 4 and 5, the frame N is replaced by
a plate N' having its underside level or thereabouts with the underside of the
knife F. The bearings c for the axle O are carried by ribs d, cast on or affixed to
the top of the said plate. The spindle M in place of being fixed in the casting L
in the centre of the drum, is fixed in the socket Q carried by ribs e on the plate N'
above the axle O. The casting L with its bevel pinion-T therefore rotates about
the said spindle, and the driving bar W instead of being secured to the internal
frame and passing under the knife is fastened by a nut V to a square formed on
the end of the said spindle M.
The guide roller Z is carried on bearings on the plate N¹ within the knife. This
form of the machine is more particularly adapted for lawn-mowing, where the grass
must be cut close to the ground, for as the bar W does not pass under the knife,
the said knife can be placed nearer the ground. In order to support and hold the
grass against the knife while being cut, a plate having a serrated edge or fingers f¹
is bolted to the underside of the plate N' in such position that the said fingers
project a sufficient distance in advance of the knife. The plate f can be readily
removed for cleaning or other purposes. The cover plate U is omitted in the
plan Fig. 4, to shew clearly the internal mechanism.
As it is not necessary or desirable to rotate the knife F when the machine is
being moved from place to place, and is not required to cut, means should be
provided for throwing it out of gear with the driving mechanism.
In Fig. 6, which shews an arrangement adapted for this purpose, 9 is a lever
fulcrummed on the handle bar W at h, and having a forked end i embracing a
flanged extension of the spindle M. By depressing the end g' of the said lever,
the drum and knife are raised sufficiently to take the bevel wheels out of gear; a
tripping latch k fixed on the bar W, holding the lever 9 in such depressed
position.
This arrangement is only applicable to the form of machine shewn in Figs. 12
and 3, but in place thereof, any other suitable means may be used, thus, for
example, the bevel wheel S may be loose on the axle O, and a suitable clutch be
provided for connecting or disconnecting it thereto,

page_text: The driving wheels P P are described and shewn as being both fixed on the
axle O, but to give facility for turning corners or running the machine in a curve,
I prefer to have one fixed and the other loose on the said axle, and to provide a
ratchet, or other suitable form of double driving mechanism, so that both wheels
may operate to drive the axle and yet be free to run in a curve, in the well known
manner.
In a hand power machine for cutting crops, I prefer to provide two bevel
wheels S fixed on a sleeve free to slide endways on the axle O, but compelled, by.
means of a feather and key-way, or other suitable device, to rotate therewith, so
that by means of suitable mechanism either of the said wheels can be put in gear
with the pinion T, and the knife caused to rotate in either direction. The advan-
tage of this arrangement is, that when the machine has made one trip across a
field, the operator can reverse the motion of the knife and cut on the return trip,
thus always throwing the swathe on the outside of the machine.
To obtain a higher speed of rotation of the knife, I may increase the height of
the drum J and bring the wheels P P nearer to the centre, which will enable them
to be of larger diameter, and in this case the wheel S may be cast in one with, or
be affixed directly to one of the said driving wheels.
Figs. 8 and 9 represent a larger form of mower, or reaper to be driven by a
pony or horse.
In this case two knives F F¹, each provided with its own internal driving gear,
as before described, are provided. is a frame having the knife F affixed to one
end and a running wheel m at the other end. The second knife F" is affixed to a
frame n hinged to the frame at n'n' so that the knives can automatically adapt.
themselves to any inequalities in the ground. A pair of shafts o o and a seat
the driver are provided, hinged to the frame at qq, so that when the horse is
removed the said shafts rest on the ground, without straining the machine.
for
The knives, as shewn clearly in plan, Fig. 8 slightly overlap each other to ensure
a clean swathe equal to their combined width- being cut, and dividing shoes r " may
be provided in the usual way.
The knives are of the construction shewn in Figs. 4 and 5, but that shewn in
Figs. 12 and 3 may be employed, if preferred, and three or more knives may be
combined together, if desired.
In place of each knife being independently driven by its own gear, means may
be provided for driving the whole set from a large driving wheel placed at one end
of the series.
In any form of the machine, a scraper may be employed to rest over the knife
to sweep off any cuttings which may be thrown thereon, but in practice it is
generally found that the centrifugal action renders this unnecessary, the knife
itself throwing off the cut stuff in a clean and even swathe.
In Figs. 10 and 11, is a pointed finger having a slot t, and clamped to a boss u
on the driving wheel, by a set screw v, so that it projects beyond the periphery of
the wheel to any desired amount within the limits of the slot t. The edge of the
wheel is slightly recessed, as shewn at w to prevent the finger turning about the
set screw. A series of these fingers may be provided around the wheel, on one or
both sides, and they afford an effective preventive against slipping, while as they
are outside the wheel, no earth can accumulate between them. They can be
readily pushed in clear of the wheel for travelling, and renewed when worn.
Any suitable form of sharpening device may be provided on the machine to
engage with the knife when required, so that the said knife may be ground and
sharpened as it revolves.
One arrangement for this purpose is shewn in Figs. 1 and 2.
e is a socket sliding on the bar W and provided with a set screw y for fixing it
thereon.
Carried on pins on forked extensions on the said socket, are a pair of emery
wheelsz, slightly overlapping each other at their meeting point. To sharpen the
knife the socket is pushed down till the device occupies the position shewn by the

page_text: full lines, so that the wheels z z press against the knife edge and grind it as it
rotates.
When out of use the device can be drawn back into the position shewn by the
dotted lines. When the wheels, z, are worn they can be slightly rotated to bring
a fresh part into operation.
Figs. 12 and 13, represent another form of sharpening device. In this case a
pair of emery wheels zz are fixed on the ends of a pair of levers 2, 2, fulcrummed
on the bar W at 3, the wheels being normally kept apart by a spring 4. The
opposite ends of the levers are embraced by a link 5, which on being pulled
outwards by a lever 6 connected thereto by a rod 7, causes the wheels z, z, to close
upon the edge of the knife F, as shewn by the dotted lines. A spring 8 on the
rod 7 pushes the link back when the lever 6 is released by the operator. In place
of wheels z, z, flat, or other suitably shaped blocks of emery, or other grinding
material, may be employed.
The knives heretofore shewn and described, have a plain or continuous edge, but
for certain kinds of crops I sometimes find it advantageous to use a knife having
saw like teeth or serrations, as shewn in Fig. 14, the knife revolving in the
direction indicated by the arrow; or, when the knife is required to rotate in either
direction, I use teeth of the form shewn in Fig 15.
In the case of single knife machines, too large to be conveniently driven by hand,
a pair of shafts for a pony or horse may be substituted for the handles, and. so
arranged that the animal pushes the machine in front of it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim, is,
1. In a mowing or reaping machine, a cutting instrument, consisting of a flat
circular knife or scythe, continuously rotating in one direction, while advancing
against the crop to be cut.
2. In a mowing or reaping machine, in combination a pair of wheels mounted on
an axle and carrying a frame, a drum carrying a flat circular knife pivotally
mounted on said frame and enclosing it and said wheels, and means for imparting
rotation to said drum and knife by the travelling motion of said wheels.
3. A mowing or reaping machine, consisting of the combination of a drum J,
carrying a flat circular knife F and pivotally mounted on a frame N, wheels P, P,
on an axle O journalled in said frame, a bevel wheel S on said axle and a bevel
pinion T on said drum, and a bar W fixed to said frame, with an adjustable guide
roller Z and handles Y, substantially as described, with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3
of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a mowing or reaping machine of the class described, a handle or driving
bar W attached to a central spindle M, around which the drum and knife revolve,
substantially as described, with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. In a mowing or reaping machine of the class described, in combination, a flat
circular continuously rotating knife F and a plate ƒ with dividing fingers f¹³,
substantially as set forth..
6. In a mowing or reaping machine of the class described, in combination, the
drum J, handle bar W and lever g for throwing the said drum out of gear when
travelling, substantially as set forth.
7. In a mowing or reaping machine of the class described, in combination the
knife F and a sharpening device consisting of grinding wheels or blocks 3 3
mounted on an adjustable socket, substantially as set forth.
8. In a mowing or reaping machine of the class described, in combination, the
knife F, and a sharpening device consisting of grinding wheels or blocks 33
mounted on levers 22, and operated by a link 5 lever 6 rod 7 and springs 4 and 8,
substantially as set forth.
9. In a mowing or reaping machine of the class described, in combination two

page_text: or more continuously rotating knives F a hinged frame in and a travelling wheel m,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 5th day of February 1894.
AMBROSE MYALL,
2, Lancaster Place, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.