IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting En-
gineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
-
-A communication from abroad by David M. Osborne, of Auburn,
New York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
•
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 2nd January 1871, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.

page_text: WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HARVESTING MACHINES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto
me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been com-
municated to me from abroad by David M. Osborne, of Auburn, New
York, United States of America..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming a
part of this Specification.
K

page_text: between the tongue and the main frame, or between the two frames,
may be rendered flexible or rigid as occasion or the character of the
work to be done may require.
The said Invention further consists in combining with a two-wheeled
harvesting machine, which has two frames hinged to each other, a lever
seat connected to both frames and spanning the joint between them, so
that the driver in said lever seat can properly balance the machine and
raise or lower the cutting apparatus at pleasure.
The said Invention further consists in a pitman connection which
when the finger bar and cutting apparatus are in working position will
drive the cutter, and which when the finger bar and cutters are folded
up for transportation will cease to drive the cutters, though the pitman
continues to run or vibrate.
The said Invention further consists in a slide attached to the pivot
which connects the two parts of the pitman, and a guide way to receive
and hold the said slide and control its lateral movement, and vertical
working position.
The said Invention further consists in combining with the inner shoe
of a harvesting machine an independantly hung castor wheel which will
when the machine is advancing run directly in front of the said inner
shoe, and press down the grass or stubble and make a track for the said
shoe, and serve all the purposes of a castor wheel when the machine is
being turned around.
A represents an axle frame on which the two carrying and driving
wheels B, B, are hung, and on which they loosely run. On bracketed
arms on the axle frame A are boxes or bearings C, which receive a sleeve
boss or hollow shaft D, through which the pinion shaft E passes, and in
which it turns, as will be explained. On each of the main wheels B
there is an internally toothed wheel F.; these wheels mesh into and turn
the pinions a, one on each end of the shaft E. Each of the pinions a
has a ratchet or clutch arranged in the ratchet or clutch box b, with
which they respectively act, so as to be fast with or loose on the shaft
as the machine may be advancing, or either main wheel is not turning
or is turning backward when the machine is being turned around at the
end of the swath in the usual well-known way. The sleeve or boss D
for the sake of convenience is cast in two parts, an upper and an under

page_text: ,part, or with a horizontal joint, so as to be readily. put together or taken
.apart when necessary for repairs, and this boss forms a part of what
constitutes the main frame G. On the upper half or part of the sleeve D
is cast the upper half H of the case or shell which encloses the gearing,
and on the under part of the sleeve is cast the lower part H of the case
or shell, the two halves or parts forming a close encasement of the
gearing. The under part of the boss and the under part of the encasing
shell H are a part of the main frame G to which the axle frame A is
hinged, as herein-before stated, by the bearings or boxes C, whilst the
upper portions of the boss and of the case are more in the nature of caps
to such under portions. The tongue plate I, to which the tongue is
fastened, is hinged to the front of the main frame G, as shewn at c, so
that there are two hinged connections between the pole or tongue-anil
the axle frame A, whilst said frame itself has a rising and falling motion
by means of its journals resting and rolling, in the hubs of the main
wheels B, B. All of these hinged connections or motions are, however,
controlled or controllable, so that they may yield or be rigid as will be
hereafter explained. To the downwardly projecting portions, of the
main frame G there is pivoted, as shown at d, d, the inside shoe K, to
which the finger bar L is attached, and this finger bar is furnished with
guards M and a cutter N in the usual way. To the after portion of the
shoe K there is hinged one end of a connecting bar or link O, the other
end of which is pivoted to a crank arm P that is fastened on or to the.
shaft or journal of a bevelled pinion e. To- the main frame is hung a
bevelled wheelf that works into and turns the bevel pinion e. To the
said bevelled wheel there is secured. a hand lever Q, which extends
upward and in proximity to the driver's seat, so that the occupant of
the seat can seize the said lever, and by operating it raise the finger
bar and cutters and allow them to rest against the main frame, as
shown by dotted lines. in Figure 3, or any less distance or height
for passing obstructions, and can let them down again at pleasure,
and with comparatively slight manual effort. The crank wheel R
receivės its motion through the gearing encased in the shells and portion

page_text: (or extended portion of the said frame), and from the hinged connection
ath a second pitman k extends to and is connected with the cutters N
by which when in cutting position they are vibrated. The pendulum or
hanger, and the second pitman k should be of about the same, length,
so that when the finger bar is folded up against the main frame, as shown
by the dotted lines in Figure 3, the two hinged pitmen i, j, will freely
swing from or upon their two pivoted points 1, 2, and without moving
the cutters, though the main pitman g continues its motion. At the
hinged part of the pitmen, Figures 4 to 8 inclusive, there is attached a
slider which plays backward and forward in a slotted guideway q which
is made with flanges upon its sides so as to hold, govern, and control the
said slide and keep it at all times in the direct line of motion between
the wrist and the end of the pitman which is pivoted to the cutters.
The guideway q is attached to or cast with and as a part of the main
frame G, and is so located as to range lengthwise in the direction of the
motion of the pitman, and it is made of sufficient width and depth to
receive and hold the slider below. the flanges ou the sides thereof, and
of a length corresponding with the distance traversed by the pivoted part
of the pitman, and is made open at both ends. The advantage of this
guideway is that it sustains the two parts of the pitman connections
at all times in line, and in the direct line of motion of those parts, and
it also holds the pivoted ends where the two parts of the pitman meet at
all times in the same position vertically with regard to the main frame.
By this arrangement of the pitman connection the finger bar and its
appliances, the cutters may be raised and folded up, and again lowered
to the ground without disconnecting any of the gearing, and when the
cutter bar is raised to a position a little beyond a right angle, and so leans'
toward the main frame as not to fall back upon the ground, although
the gearing and the main part of the pitman g continuo their motions,
yet the cutters when in that position have no motion as it is all
taken up by the hinged pitmen g, k, i, as seen in the Drawings. When
the finger bar and cutters are lowered into working position the cutters
are reciprocated again without any aid, assistance, or effort of the,
attendant on the machine. To the tongue plate I which is hinged to the
main frame at c, as herein-before described, there is permanently affixed.
a lever S which extends rearward so as to be readily seized by the
operator in his seat. This lever S moves past or over a curved arc T.
furnished with a series of holes 3, the said are being fastened to a lug;

page_text: on the sleeve C, which sleeve is really a part of the main frame of the
machine. To the lever S is pivoted a lever which is seized by the
operator when he grasps the main lever S, and by compressing his grip
upon the two he withdraws a bolt in the opposite end of the lever / from
the hole in the arc which it had for the time being occupied, and allows
the lever S to be freely moved along or past the are T. When the grip
or pressure upon the lever is removed a spring m under the rear end of
the said lever causes the bolt or stud at the other end to shoot into the
first one of the holes it comes to in the arc and there permanently holds
until again released. The lever S extending from the pole J and capable
of being rigidly united to the are T crosses or spans the joint between
the pole and the main frame which is at c, so that whenever the lever S
is free from the arc there is a hinged connection between the pole and
the main frame, and per contra, when the lever S is made fast to the
arc, then there is no joint between the pole and main frame, or in other
words, the pole may be a rigid, a loose, or a hinged one, in connection
with the main frame at pleasure, or as the exigencies may require. The
object of the lever S and its connections is to roll the finger bar and
cutters in the line of their advancing motion over the ground so as to
raise or lower the points of the guards whilst the finger bar is moved
along in contact with the ground. It is also used for raising or lowering
the finger bar or cutting apparatus under other circumstances as will
be hereafter explained. On the after portion of the perimeter of the
shell or case H, H', there is a rib or flange n furnished with a series of
holes for the reception of pins or bolts, and in the axle frame A. there
is a recess or groove, through which this rib or flange can move or play.
When pins or bolts are put into the holes in the rib or flange n, as
at 6, 7, they define and limit the extent of the hinged motion between
the main frame and the axle frame, (for it will be remembered that
the case H, H', is substantially if not really a part or portion of the
main frame) to those two points. If however a pin or bolt be put in
the arc, one immediately below and the other immediately above the
axle frame, there will be no play or motion between the two frames, so
that by this rib, groove, and pin, or bolt arrangement, any requisite
extent of hinged motion may be had between the two frames, or the
hinged connection may be entirely changed to a rigid one, as occasion
or the work to be done may require. When the connection between
the two frames is thus rendered rigid the lever S may be used as a

page_text: raising or lowering lever. There is another lever connection between
the two frames A, G, viz., that of the lever seat U and its attachments
thereto, together with the shifting position of the weight of the occupant
of the said seat. The front end of the lever seat U is hooked to a stud o
which is set in a bracket p, which bracket is a part of or is fixed to the
main frame. At about the centre in length of the seat bar or lever there
is a toggle or link V which can be set back or forward in the said bar
or lever to change its fulcrum at its upper end, whilst its lower end is
pivoted or hinged to two rigid arms W, W, on the axle frame so that
the said bar or lever has a hinged connection to the main frame and an
adjustable connection to or with the axle frame. The bar or lever U
crosses or spans the hinged connection between the two frames, and when
the said joint is not otherwise controlled the occupant of the seat can
raise or lower the main frame at pleasure within working limits. As a
general thing the flexibility between the two frames, especially in mówing
grass, would always be required, in which case the lever seat is very:
desirable in casing or lifting the cutters over the smaller intervening
obstructions in the path. But even when the two frames are rigidly
connected together the lever seat is important in easing the machine.
over any irregularities in the ground, which the occupant of the seat can
effect by simply swaying his body backward or forward, the fulcra being
adjusted to the weight of the driver. To the tongue plate I there is
attached a bent arm X which projects outward, toward the standing
grain, and downward toward a point in the line of the inner shoe A, and
in the end of this arm S there is placed a castor wheel Y which when
the machine is cutting runs immediately in front of the inner shoe, and
beats or bears down the grass or stubble where the shoe is to run, thus'
making a path for it to move in without riding up, and so raising the
cutters. When the machine is being turned around the castor wheel Y.
performs the usual duty of a castor wheel in taking much of the
weight and strain of the machine and very much easing the team in.
turning the machine around. This duty a bearing wheel only would
not do, but a castor wheel accomplishes it effectually.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to:
me by my foreign correspondent, I claim,―
TAL
T

page_text: shaft carrying the pinions. passes, and in which it turns so that the
pinions and shafts may rise and fall in the arc of a circle of which the
point of the pole or tongue is the centre and the pinions remain in gear
with the drive wheels as described and represented.
I also claim connecting the main frame of a harvesting machine to
the axle frame thereof by two connections remote from each other for
the purpose of keeping the gear wheels on or off the said frames in
proper working position, substantially as described.
I also claim in combination with two frames hinged together and
controlled in the extent of their motion by an adjustable stop arranged
between the said frames, a hand lever for raising or lowering, or for
rolling the finger bar in the line of its advancing motion to raise or
lower the points of the guards, as and for the purpose described.
I also claim in combination with the axle and the main frames and
a tongue or pole hinged to each other, the devices by which either or all
of said hinged joints may be made rigid or flexible as desired.
I also claim in combination with a two-wheeled harvesting machine
which has two frames hinged to each other, a lever seat connected to
both frames and spanning the joint between them, so that the driver in
his seat may with the lever S raise and lower the cutting apparatus, as
and for the purpose described.
I also claim in combination with a pitman, a pitman connection
which will drive the cutters when they are in working position and
ccase to drive them when the finger bar is folded up for transportation,
whilst the pitman continues to work, substantially as described.
I also claim in combination with the slide the guideway for receiving
and controlling the said slide laterally and vertically, and the connec-
tion with the two pitmen and the cutter bar, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
S
I also claim combining with the inner shoe of a harvesting a
machine an independantly hung castor wheel, which will when the
machine is advancing run directly in front of the said inner shoe to
crowd down the grass or stubble and make a smooth track for the
said shoe and prevent the raising of the cutting apparatus by
obstructions, and will serve all the purposes and duties of a castor, a

page_text: wheel when the machine is being turned around, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-one.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)