IMPROVEMENTS. IN. OBTAINING THE TRANSVERSE RECIPROCATING MOTIONS OF THE CUTTER BAR IN- REAPING, MOWING, AND OTHER SIMILAR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES, AND IMPROVE- MENTS IN WHEELS FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES, WHICH LAST-NAMED IMPROVEMENTS: ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO TRACTION ENGINE. WHEELS
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Joseph Foster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patcuts, with his Petition, ou
the 22nd May 1868..
I, CHARLES JOSEPH FOSTER, of Maldon, in the County of Essex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS.
IN. OBTAINING THE TRANSVERSE RECIPROCATING MOTIONS OF THE CUTTER BAR IN-
REAPING, MOWING, AND OTHER SIMILAR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES, AND IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WHEELS FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES, WHICH LAST-NAMED IMPROVEMENTS:
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO TRACTION ENGINE. WHEELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in machines for:
reaping, mowing, and other agricultural uses, the object being, firstly,.
to dispense with geared or toothed wheels for operating the traverse
reciprocating motions; and, secondly, to enable the motor wheels to
obtain a better adhesion with the ground and to prevent their slip..
To effect the first object I propose to form around the periphery or-
rim of the road wheel a continuous series of zig-zag slots or grooves
or projections, or they may be semicircular or curvilinear. The traverse
motion, as, for example, in a reaper or mower, is effected by means of a
pin, projection, or stud attached, to the longitudinal knife bar entering

page_text: the continuous groove, when it follows that the revolution of the road
wheel will draw the bar to and fro, thus accomplishing the requisite
reciprocating action for the cutter.
The arrangement for obtaining the adhesion of the wheels is effected
by means of a starred or long toothed point wheel, the teeth of which
pass through the rim of the road wheel, apertures being cut in the rim
free from the slots or grooves; this starred wheel has its bearings in a
slotted guide in connection with the axis of the road wheel, and steadied
by means of a quadrant and are enclosing the upper side of the road
wheel; the slot permits of the adjustment of the star wheel at the
desired elevation from the ground, so that it may be made to penetrate
to any distance beyond the rim of the road wheel through the apertures
according to the nature of the ground, or be entirely raised or taken
out of gear with the perforations, so that the road wheel may revolve
independently of the star wheel, which, when its points are protruded
through the apertures, derives its motion accordingly. The star wheel
is easily adjusted and secured in the slotted guide by means of a set
screw and nut.
This improvement is applicable to all descriptions of locomotive
agricultural machines, and may also be applied to traction engines.
The method of obtaining the reciprocating action to the knife bar,
as used in the mowing and reaping machines, is equally applicable to
every other agricultural machine where an equivalent motion is
required..
The application of a scraper to the rim of the wheel will prevent the
accumulation of dirt, and the protruding teeth will also drive out the
same from the perforations.