Improvements in Reaping and Harvesting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reaping and Harvesting Machines.
1, JOHN CRAWFORD MOORE of The Meads, Eastbourne, in the County of
Sussex, 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 :-
The invention relates to reaping and harvesting machines and comprises various
improvements in the machine described in the Specification numbered 4181
of A.D. 1895.
According to the present invention I provide the divider boards of which there
are preferably two one at either end of the cutter bar with converging chains
which assist in dividing and placing the crop in the best position for being cut
and conveyed especially when tangled or laid. I also provide an adjustable plate
between the cutter bar and the platform apron and an improved butting device
which ensures the even distribution and best presentation of the cut crop to the
tying apparatus. Furthermore I provide improved means for raising and lowering
the cutter bar and for raising and lowering the forward end of the reel in order to
adapt it to the height of the crop. I also provide improved means for raising the
front driving wheel while the machine is turning and for maintaining the
equilibrium of the machine when the tying apparatus is shifted; an improved
guard for the balance wheel and an improved automatic apparatus for delivering
the bound sheaves from the machine at regular intervals.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate
a machine similar in general character to that described and shewn in my prior
specification hereinabove referred to but having my present improvements added.
Figure 1 is a plan of the machine, parts being removed to shew the driving
wheels.
Figure 2 is a side elevation shewing the right-hand side thereof.
Figure 3 is a similar view shewing the left-hand side.
Figures 4 to 6 are detail views hereinafter explained.
Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the sheaf delivering mechanism.
Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the driving chain.
Like letters denote the same parts in all the drawings.
A is the main frame work of the machine, B, B the divider boards, C the
balance wheel, D the cutter bar, E the pole to which the horses are yoked, F the
travelling apron which receives the crop as soon as it has been cut and carries it
to the elevating apparatus shewn at F1 in Figure 2. Round each divider board B
a chain B carried on guide pulleys B is driven from the shaft B³ in the
direction of the arrows. The said chain which ruus in a tube B' where it passes
under the divider board near the ground surface, assists by its movement in
sweeping in towards the cutter bar tangled or other parts of a crop it comes in
contact with and in laying the same in the best position for being cut and
conveyed to the tying apparatus. Behind the cutter bar D is an adjustable
plate D which is hinged to the cutter bar as shewn at D' or is pivoted at its
ends to the frame, so that by means of a regulating screw its rear edge can be
raised or lowered to ensure the cut ends of the straws reaching the apron F at
the same time as the ears and thereby laying the straws straight on the apron.
G (see Figure 2) is a belt carried on rollers or pulleys G¹ G the upper one of

page_text: which is supported ou a bracket secured to the reel support the lower one G
being secured on the spindle of the conveyor roll under the right-hand divider
board B. The said belt which is driven by the pulley G in the direction of the
arrow engages with the cut ends of the stalks as they are being carried up by
the elevating chains F1 and prevents the same from hecoming entangled with the
driving wheel G3 on the end of the conveyer roll also by means of this belt or
"butter" the cut end of the crop is made straight and at the same time it assists
the elevation somewhat.
Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 and 3 the pole E is horizontally
pivoted at E to an additional pole H which is pivoted at H to a bracket H
secured to the machine. Instead of using the mechanism for raising the end of
the pole E as described and shewn in Figure 2 of the specification hereinbefore
referred to use the following device. E' is a lever pivoted at E to the frame
and to one arm is connected the pole E by a link E the other arm being connected
to the lower end of the hand lever I by a rod E. The link E is formed of
two parts screwed together so as to permit the pole E to move horizontally when
the horses are turning. When the lever I is moved in the direction of the arrow
the rod E is pushed actuating lever E. so as to raise the end of the pole E.
Since the other end of the pole E is carried at a constant level by the
horses the effect of the operation is to raise the frame and cutter bar from the
ground.
The improved device for raising and lowering the forward end of the reel is
shewn in Figure 2. The axle J forming the rearmost member of the reel-frame
is carried in a bearing fixed to the support A'.secured to the main frame A.
Said axle is also secured to the end of a coiled spring J the other end of which
is carried by the end of a lever J. Provision is made for securing said lever in
.any desired position. The object of this arrangement is that when the handle of
lever J is depressed it increases the tension of the spring J which rotates the
axle J slightly and thus lifts the forward end of the reel.
In Figures 1, 2, and 4 is shewn the improved means for raising the front driving
wheel K, Figure 4 being a portion of a front view of the device. The pole and
additional pole are arranged as described in my prior specification above referred
to but the end of the latter pole H is connected by a rod H³ to a lever H which
is pivoted on a bracket H secured to the frame K' of the driving wheels and
which terminates in a small wheel H. When the horses turn next the cutter bar
the pole H is rotated on its pivot H' and pulls rod H³ in the direction of the arrow
in Figure 4, this rotates lever H on its pivot and, the wheel H running on the
ground, tilts the driving wheel frame K' so as to raise the front wheel K off the
ground, thus enabling the machine to turn freely.
My improved arrangements for maintaining the equilibrium of the machine when
the tying apparatus is shifted is shewn in Figure 3. Said tying apparatus which
may be of any suitable description is secured on the rod L' and arm L. The
rod L' runs on rollers L2 provided on the frame and is connected to a lever L³
pivoted on a support attached to the frame and the other end of said lever is
connected to the seat support M which is adapted to slide on the frame as shewn
in Figure 1 being provided with antifriction rollers where necessary. By these
means when the lever L' is operated to move the tying apparatus in one direction
the driver's seat is caused to move in the opposite direction and by properly
proportioning the arms of the lever L³ the movement of. the one part is caused
to balance the movement of the other part and so maintain the equilibrium of the
machine.
My improved guard rail for the balance wheel C is shewn at C Figures 1
.and 2. Said rail is pivoted at C2 on the divider board and at C on the ramme
this last pivot being arranged so that the guard rail will stay in its raised position
if desired, or I may employ a moveable guard fitted in a socket.. Oue device for
this purpose is shewn in detail in Figures 5 and 6 Figure 5 being a front view
and Figure 6 a side view. C³ is the pivot pin on the guard rail which lies in a

page_text: slot C in a piece C secured to the frame; a pin C in the guard rail can engage
in a recess C in the top of the piece C when desired to maintain the guard rail
raised.
In Figure 7 I shew a rear view of my improved sheaf delivering mechanism.
The sheaves are received from the tying apparatus on a platform O which is
supported by pins O¹ at each end carried in slots O' in plates 03 secured on the
frame. The platform is maintained in a horizontal position shewn dotted with
the pins O' in the upper ends of their respective slots by springs O only one of
which is shewn. When however the proper number of sheaves has accumulated
on the platform the weight overcomes the pull of the spring causing the platform
to assume the position shewn in full lines thus depositing the sheaves on the ground
without any attention from the driver. After the sheaves have dropped the
springs O return the platform to its horizontal position.
In Figure 81 shew an improvement in the adjustment of the driving chain.
In my former specification the said chain only comes in contact with one
side of the upper sprocket wheel, whereby there is a tendency to slip on a
heavy load.
I now dispose the chain tightener R in such a manner that the sprocket wheel T
engages with the driving chain S on both sides as shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In a reaping and harves
1. The converging ar
the divider board or br
machine:
ment of the chains moving at or near the edges of
ubstantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. The provision of justable plate between the cutter-bar and the platform
apron substantially as described.
3. The improved butting device consisting of a band with a twist therein devised
to act as a butter in the manner described.
4. The means for raising and lowering the cutter bar substantially as described
with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The means for raising and lowering the forward end of the reel substantially
as described.
6. The means for raising the front driving wheel substantially as described with
reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The provision of means whereby when the tying apparatus is moved in one
direction relatively to the machine the driver's seat is moved in the opposite
direction so as to maintain the equilibrium of the machine when the tying apparatus
is adjusted for long or short crops.
8. Connecting the tying apparatus with the seat or its support through
the medium of a lever pivoted on the frame, substantially as, and for the purpose
specified.
9. A moveable or pivoted guard for the balance wheel.
10. The apparatus for automatically delivering the bound sheaves from the
machine at regular intervals, substantially as described.
11. The arrangement of the driving chain S to engage with the sprocket wheel T
above and below, substantially as and for the purpose described.
12. A harvesting machine constructed substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings and operating as specified.
Dated this 8th day of June 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.