Improvements in Self Binding Harvesters.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar.. 1887
Complete Left, 23rd Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 10th Feb., 188
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self Binding Harvesters.
I, ANDREW STARK of Chicago, State of Illinois, United States of America.
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The purposes of this invention are:
1st. To provide a harvester of which the driving wheel and frame work shall be
simpler and more rigid than those heretofore constructed, and consequently less liable
to distortion, and more readily adjustable to the condition of the grain to be cut.
2nd. To provide a self binding harvester in which the sickle shall be substantially
in the same vertical plane as the axis of the driving wheel in order that it may
accompany the wheel over all irregularities of the ground at a uniform height froin
the grain, but which shall be otherwise so constructed that notwithstanding the grain
is thus cut opposite the drive wheel, it shall still not be necessary to elevate it over the
wheel in order either to bind it or discharge it.
It comprises as the means for the accomplishment of the two general purposes
above stated,
1st. Certain novel features of construction of the frame-work whereby it is
rendered rigid.
2nd. Novel means for raising and lowering the platform relatively to the drive
wheel.
3rd. Novel means for tilting the platform, and means for automatically correcting
the tilt or inclination of the platform, which would be otherwise disturbed by the
raising and lowering, so that it shall be unchanged in that process.
4th. Novel means for communicating raising and lowering motion from the stubble
to the grain end of the platform.
5th. An improved construction of the frame work and grain wheel operating
devices at said grain end.
6th. An improved form of driving wheel adapted to secure lightness and rigidity,
means for clearing the throat at the delivery side of the platform carrier to prevent
the choking of the same, as occasioned by grain being carried down by the endless
conveyor at that point.

page_text: 7th. Means for turning the grain after it is delivered from such platform conveyor
into a position oblique to that into which it is carried by said conveyor, and to the
direction of such motion.
8th. A binder mechanism located in position to receive and bind the grain in the
oblique position to which it is thus turned.
9th. Improved mechanism commonly called 'tripping and clutching mechanism'
for producing intermittent action of the binder mechanism.
10th. Improved mechanism for adjusting the position of the binder to adapt it to
operate upon grain of different lengths.
11th. Improved mechanism for communicating motion to the binder which shall be
operative in all positions to which the binder may be adjusted, and which shall
communicate the necessary oblique movement to the binder mechanism without
derangement by reason of such adjustment.
For the purpose of rigidity in the frame I construct it of angle-iron, a single piece
of which is secured at one end of the finger bar,-which is also of angle-iron, and
is bent in such form that from that point of connection it extends first forward until
it is further forward than the drive-wheel, thence stubbleward in front of the drive-
wheel, rearward past the wheel at the outer or stubble side, and then grainward, so
that it extends around three sides of the wheel and partly on the fourth side.
The front and rear sides of this frame bar of angle-iron are connected by two cross
bars which extend inside, that is grainward of the drive wheel; and to that one
which is nearest to the drive wheel 1 secure the inner segment, the outer segment
being secured to the outer side of said bent angle iron frame bar.
The second of said cross bars is secured to the front and rear sides of the angle-iron
bar near their ends, and the finger bar which is secured to the forward end of said
bent angle-iron frame bar, extends from the point of such connection grainward across
both of said cross bars, and is secured to the inner one of them; and at the inner end
is also secured to the lower end of the inner segment so that at this point forms a
rigid connection between the inner segment, the cross bar of the frame, and the finger
bar, which taken together with the fact that the finger bar is fastened also to the end
of the bent angle-iron frame bar, secures it very rigidly in its relation to the frame
and to the segment; I also secure a gearing frame or bracket which has bearings for
the main driving pinion both to the cross bar to which the inner segment is fastened,
and to the segment itself, whereby the relation between the main driving gear, which
is secured upon the drive wheel, and whose position is therefore fixed by the segment
and the pinion which meshes with it and is journalled in the gearing wheel or bracket,
is made as unvarying as the rigid connection of metal to metal can make it: said
bearing, the gearing frame or bracket, and the segment which determines the bearing
of the driving wheel being directly fastened to each other.
For convenience in putting this machine together, I reverse the ordinary construction
of the segments, making them open at the top instead of open at the bottom as has
been customary, so that the drive wheel with its axle and the pinions thereon which
engage in the segments, may be lifted and set down into position in the machine
instead of it being necessary for the machine to be lifted over and let down upon
the axle.
For the purpose of raising and lowering this frame relatively to the drive wheel,
and securing it at any desired height, I fasten upon the outer end of the drive wheel
axle between the wheel and the outer segment a pulley or sheave on which is wound
the chain which extends thence and is wound around the shaft which is journalled
parallel to the driving wheel axle in bearings on the frame.
Upon this shaft I fasten a ratchet wheel, and for the purpose of actuating it, 1
provide a lever arm which is bifurcated at the lower end and strides the ratchet wheel,
the neck or shoulder which connects the two branches being formed in such shape as
to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel to operate the same, as a pawl. Both the
branches of this lever extend down past the shaft upon which the ratchet wheel is
secured, being slotted for the shaft so that while the lever may turn upon the shaft as
the pivot, it may have a limited amount of longitudinal motion through the slotted

page_text: opening provided in its two branches. By this means the lever may be rocked in one
direction engaging the ratchet wheel and winding up the chain on the shaft, and in
the other direction slipping back over the teeth to obtain a fresh engagement: a
suitable pawl is provided pivoted upon the frame, and engaging the ratchet wheel to
5 lock it at any point to which it may be set by thus rocking the lever. For the purpose
of unlocking it to allow the chain to be unwound from the shaft, a supplemental lever
is pivoted to the first in position to be engaged by the hand at the same time that the
lever is grasped, and from this supplemental lever a link is extended down alongside
the first lever, and at the lower end is provided with a slot for the shaft of the ratchet
wheel, and at that point is expanded into the blade which has its lower edge extending
slightly beyond the periphery of the ratchet wheel, and engaging the edge of the
locking pawl which for that purpose is made a little wider than the thickness of the
wheel.
By the operation of the supplemental lever the link may be made to push the
locking pawl out of engagement with the ratchet, and thus allow the ratchet wheel to
he reversed and the chain to be unwound. It will be apparent that by rotating the
ratchet wheel and its shaft, and winding up the chain on the shaft, the pulley or
sheave on the drive wheel axle will be rotated, and thereby the axle itself and the
pinions thereon, and said pinions being meshed in the segment racks will travel up
and down therein according to the motion which they receive in this manner, and
thus change the elevation of the platform relatively to the wheel.
For the purpose of communicating this raising and lowering movement to the grain
end of the platform, I place a loose collar or loop upon the inner end of the drive
wheel axle, and connect thereto a chain which passes thence up over a guide pulley at
the upper end of the inner segment, and thence down around the guide pulley which
is fastened at the stubbleward end of the inner bar, and thence grainward under the
finger bar of the grain end of the platform where it is guided by a pulley located at
the end of the inner bar around which it passes rearward to a guide pulley secured
upon a bracket which is fastened to that end of the finger bar, and thence to the end
of the grain wheel lever, that is to say the lever upon which the grain wheel obtains
a bearing.
This lever is preferably pivoted in line with the finger bar, and thus the drawing of
the chain which is secured at the drive wheel axle, will draw the end of the grain
wheel lever and so lift the grain end of the bar as much as the stubble end is lifted
without any separate action of the operator for that purpose.
I pivot the pole preferably to the stubble end of the finger bar, a suitable bracket
being there provided for that purpose, and cause it to extend thence out over the
forward side of the bent angle iron frame bar, but inasmuch as a machine is supported
upon two wheels only, the pole must be practically rigid with the frame when in travel,
it is therefore secured not only at the pivot, at the finger bar, but also at the point
where it crosses over the main frame, and since the point at which the forward end
of the pole is supported, namely; the neck-yoke upon the horses, is unchanged in its
elevation in any given instance of use, it is evident that any change of elevation of
the machine which will change the elevation also of the rear end of the poie, would
tilt the machine either up or down. Inasmuch as this would not be desirable, I
prevent it by extending the shaft upon which the raising and lowering chain is wound,
across in front of the drive wheel to the pole, and at that end of it I secure a wheel
having upon its face abuting toward the pole a helical flange, and fasten upon the pole
a rack engaging such flange, the pitch of the helix being such that the rotation of
the shaft will cause it to feed the pole up or down a sufficient amount to counteract
the tilting effect caused by the winding or unwinding of the chain on the same shaft.
For the purpose of preventing choking of the grain at the delivery side of
the platform conveyor, I form the receiving platform at that point with a
hollow or trough-like depression so that in the absence of any mechanical device
o feed the grain, it would fall into such trough when delivered from the
onveyor; in the further side of that trough, which is the approach to the
eceiving platform, I form transverse slots, and behind and under that part of the

page_text: receiving platform I locate a shaft parallel with the shaft of the driving roller of the
platform conveyor, and provide it with teeth which revolve up through such slots in
the platform, and in order to prevent the teeth from breaking the grain as they revolve
back through the slots, or drawing the grain into the slides, I mount upon bearings
adjacent to each of the teeth, and eccentric to the shaft, a ring which has projections
which the teeth engage as they revolve, and thereby revolve the ring. The centre of
this ring is located stubbleward beyond the centre of the shaft so that the teeth are
exposed beyond the ring while they are protruding through the slots, but covered by
it at the point and beyond the point where they pass back through the slots under the
platform the rings thus revolve with the teeth, and at the same time on account of
their eccentricity, gradually cover the teeth as they revolve, pushing the grain off
from the end of the teeth at a point where it can be lodged upon the receiving plat-
form, and so permitting the device to lift or feed the grain positively, and yet not
incur any danger of drawing it back into the slots or breaking it off against the edge
of said slots.
For the purpose of turning the grain into an oblique position after it is delivered
upon the receiving platform, I provide, a ribbed canvas travelling around vertical
rollers from a point forward of the heel of the sickle, rearward and stubbleward so that
as the grain is delivered to the receiving platform, the butts are engaged by said
canvas and carried farther and faster than the heads, whereby the grain is turned.
The same operation may be accomplished, or may be assisted by means of a revolving
rake suitably sustained in bearings above the receiving end of the receiving platform
and the discharge end of the conveyor platform, having teeth longer toward the front
than at the rear, and gradually diminishing in length from front to rear, so that as
they revolve and engage the grain as it lies upon the receiving platform, they sweep
the butts farther than the heads, and so turn it into an oblique position.
In order
that this device may adapt itself automatically to a thin or a heavy body of grain as
the case may be, I connect it with its driving shaft by a universal joint which permits
it to fall upon the grain, and rise and fall according as the body of grain may
compel it.
Further to assist the turning of the grain, and to handle the grain in its oblique
position so that it may reach the binder properly, 1 locate the packers so that they
revolve in vertical planes oblique to the vertical plane of movement of the platform
conveyor, and by causing them to reach well grainward toward the incoming grain, I
find them sufficient, even, with very little assistance from other turning devices, by
virtue solely of their own oblique motion, to take the grain as it comes from the
conveyor, and swing it into the desired oblique position. This operation is especially
facilitated by making the binder platform slope upward from the receiving platform,
so that as the grain is acted upon by the packers which operate over such upward
sloping platform, it is resisted by the platform, which thus affords at the rear end a
fulcrum for the grain which is acted upon at the middle by the packers, and swings at
the forward end until it is equally resisted at both ends by the platform. I prefer to
provide packers with two parallel sets of teeth, and in order that the corresponding
teeth of the two sets may in each action engage the same straws or bundle of grain,
I make the teeth toward the butts stand a little farther forward in their path of
rotation than the corresponding teeth of the rear set so that they enter the grain first,
and for the purpose of furthering the same effect, I make the forward teeth a little
longer than the rear teeth so that they move the grain a little faster; from which it
results that as they revolve down and enter the grain, the forward teeth separate a
portion of grain from the mass and swing it slightly making a little rift into which
the corresponding rear teeth as they come down a little later, enter, and thereby the
two teeth are made to engage and actuate the same parcel of grain, so that when the
action of the packers is intermitted for the action of the binder, the binder arm finds
the grain already separated for it and not tangled and crossed which might otherwise
be the case.
In order that the binder may be adapted to operate upon grain of different lengths.
1 mount it upon slide bearing on the harvester frame causing the binder table which is

page_text: secured to the binder frame, and which includes the sloping portion above referred to,
to extend down to and rest and slide upon the stubbleward edge of the receiving
platform. To move said frame I provide a rockshaft journalled upon the harvester
frame, and having a crank arm connected by a link to the binder frame, and having
further lever arm or handle extending up within reach of the driver so that he can
shift the binder at will.
a
In order that the binder arm and packers may operate in planes oblique to the
conveying mechanism, and may, notwithstanding that fact, receive power from the
same main driving train, which actuates the cutting and conveying mechanisms,
I communicate motion to the packing and binding mechanism by means of the bevel
gears or their principal shafts which are oblique as described, on the machine, with
bevel gears on a shaft which is not oblique; and in order that the binder may slide
as described without being thrown out of gear with its driving power, I extend
forward the shaft, on which are said beveled driving gears, and at the forward part
make it square and cause it to pass through a square opening in the hub of a sprocket
or gear wheel which is journalled on the harvester frame and receives power from the
main driving train. In the bearing of said shaft on the binder frame I provide any
convenient means to prevent any longitudinal motion of the shaft with reference
to said bearing. When the binder frame is now moved, it will draw the said shaft
containing the driving bevel gears, with it, the square portion of it sliding through the
hub of its driving sprocket wheel on the main frame, and without losing its con-
nection therewith, but on the contrary receiving power therefrom in all positions to
which it may be adjusted back and forward.
For the purpose of producing alternate action of the binding and packing
mechanisms, I place upon the shaft last described, a double clutch, that is to say,
clutch having engaging teeth at both ends, and connect it to the shaft in such
manner, as by a feather that it may slide thereon and revolve therewith. This clutch
is located between the two bevel gears which drive respectively the binding and
packing mechanisms, and these gears are loose on the shaft, and properly stopped
against longitudinal movement thereon: obviously when the clutch is in engagement
with one of them, one mechanism, as for instance, the binding mechanism, will be
operated and when it is in engagement with the other, the binding mechanism will
rest and the packers will be operated.
I provide said clutch with an abutment projecting from its surface and adjacent
to the shaft, and parallel therewith I locate a slide arm which has a V shaped pro-
jection extending up near to the surface of the clutch, and so that it may be
encountered by the abutment of said clutch as it revolves. It will be seen that by
longitudinal shifting of this slide the sloping surface of its V shaped projection may
be made to engage one side or the other of the abutment so that it will compel the
clutch to slide one way or the other as the shaft carrying it revolves, that is, may
slide into engagement with one or the other of the two bevel gear wheels on the
shaft and for the purpose of moving this slide bearing into position to effect one or
the other of said engagements, I connect it by any convenient system of levers with
a trip which is operated by the pressure of the grain as it is accumulated on the
binder platform by the packers, and at some point in the connections I interpose a
spring, by which the amount of pressure sufficient to shift the levers and the slide and
cause the clutch to be shifted, may be regulated as desired, so that any desired size of
bundle may be accumulated before the binder is brought into action to bind and
discharge it. In order that the clutch may be shifted to stop the binding mechanism
and bring the packers again into operation when the binding operation is completed
in each instance, I provide upon a wheel in the binder train a cam which engages a
lever in the connection between the trip and the slide, which operates the clutch, so
that when a complete revolution of the wheel having such cam has been made, the
lever and the clutch will be shifted to throw the V shaped projection on the slide
into position to engage the abutment on the clutch on the opposite side, whereby the
next revolution of the clutch causes it to be shifted to the opposite connection to
operate the packers.

page_text: For the purpose of compressing the bundle I employ a compressor pivoted to the
binder frame and connect it to the needle by means of a link which is pivoted io a
tail projection of the needle, and in order that the action of the compressor may be
such as desired with reference to that of the needle, and with reference also to the
necessity of getting it out of the way of the bundle in time for the latter to be
properly discharged, I locate the pivot of the compressor upon the frame, lower than
the bearing of the needle rock shaft or pivot of the needle, and connect the link to the
compressor above that pivot.
For the purpose of making the drive wheel both light and rigid, and adapted to
carry the driving gear rim which actuates the entire mechanism, in such manner that
it shall not be liable to be forced out of mesh with the main driving pinion by any
strain that may be brought upon the drive wheel in the process of travel, i make the
drive wheel in four principal parts, 1) A spider which comprises the hub and a flange
or rim concentric therewith and connected thereto by suitable spokes or web, 2) The
spokes which are screwed into an annular flange on the hub, and lie in radial grooves
on the face of the concentric flange, and are screwed or rivetted into the tread flange
or rim of the wheel, 3) The said tread flange or rim secured as descrined, 4) The gear
rim which is of such diameter as to be applied laterally upon the concentric flange of
the spider, and has suitable grooves corresponding to those which receive the spokes,
so that the gear rim when clamped upon the said concentric flange of the spider,
binds the spokes between itself and the spider and the flange, and so stiffens them
about midway between their ends where they are fastened to the hub, and to the
tread flange of the wheel, respectively. For the purpose of giving this drive wheel
strong traction or grasp upon the ground for the purpose of communicating driving
power to the mechanism I pivot upon its outer face traction ribs which are made V
or Ushaped, or in the shape of a horse shoe placed thereon with the apex or toe
downward in front, so that when the machine is moving forward, the toe strikes the
ground first.
The entire machine constructed substantially as described may be rendered very
compact by reason of the oblique arrangement of the receiving and binding platforms
and the mechanism for operating upon the grain which is located in connection with
said platforms whereby the grain is carried obliquely rearward from the delivery and
of the conveying platform and discharged behind the wheel without any necessity for
elevating it over the wheel as has heretofore been usual when the sickle has been located
at any point forward of the rear vertical line of the drive wheel, and by the con-
struction of the frame its rigidity is so far assured that the whole machine is handled
with the slightest possible liability to distortion of the frame, and by reason of the
chain which connects the raising mechanism of the stubble end to that of the grain
end being extended from the stubble to the grain end directly along the rigid iron
finger bar, the strain of that action is resisted directly by the longitudinal resistance
of that bar, and thereby that action is deprived of any tendency to distort or spring
the platform.
CALL 1007

page_text: Improvements in Self-binding Harvesters.
I, ANDREW STARK, of Chicago, State of Illinois, United States of America,
Mechanical 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 purposes of this invention are, 1st, to provide a harvester of which the driving
wheel and frame work shall be simpler and more rigid than those heretofore constructed
and consequently less liable to distortion and more readily adjustable to the condition
of the grain to be cut; and to that end it comprises certain novel features in the
construction of the frame whereby rigidity is obtained; novel means for raising and
lowering the platform; novel means for tilting, and means for automatically correcting
the tilt or inclination of the platform which would otherwise be disturbed by the
raising and lowering, 2nd, to provide a self-binding harvester in which the sickle
shall be substantially in the same vertical plane as the axis of the driving wheel in
order that it may accompany the wheel over all the irregularities of ground and so
cut the grain at a uniform height from the ground, while at the same time the gavel is
not delivered inside the drive wheel, nor the grain elevated over it for binding and
delivering and to that end it comprises mechanism for turning the grain and moving
it in an oblique direction from the delivery side of the platform carrier, and mechanism
for binding it, located in the path of its said oblique motion and operating obliquely to
the direction of the line of travel.
;
In connection with these two leading purposes and the means for their accomplish-
ment above stated, it comprises, 1st, improved means for communicating raising and
lowering motion from the stubble to the grain end of the platform, and improved
construction of the frame work and grain wheel operating devices at the grain end.
2nd, improved means for clearing the throat at the delivery side of the platform
carrier to prevent the choking sometimes occasioned by grain which is carried down
by the endless belt carrier, instead of being discharged thereby onto the receiving
platform.
3rd, improved mechanism, commonly called the tripping and clutching mechanism,
for producing intermittant action of the binding mechanism.
4th, improved mechanism for adjusting the position of the binder to different lengths
of grain, and improved mechanism for communicating motion to the binder which shall
be operative in all positions to which the binder may be adjusted and which shall
communicate said oblique movement to the binding mechanism without derangement
by reason of its said adjustment.
Other details of the invention incidental to those above stated, are specifically set
forth in the claims.
In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of the frame work with the operating mechanism
removed.
Fig. 2 is a stubble side elevation of the frame.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a grain side elevation of the grain wheel and divider and platform and
grain wheel operating mechanism.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the frame.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the pawl, ratchet wheel and hand lever by which the
raising and lowering mechanism is adjusted.
Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same.
Fig. 7 is a grain side elevation of the inner segment and portions of the raising and
lowering mechanism connected therewith.
Fig. 8 is a stubble side elevation of the inner segment.
Fig. 9 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 10 is a section through ✗... X Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 is a sectional front elevation of the inner segment showing its attachment to
the frame work.
Fig. 12 is a grain side elevation of the outer segment.
Fig. 13 is a section through Y.... Y thereon.
Fig. 14 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 15 is a detail elevation of the bracket which secures the divider to the platform
and affords bearing for the grain wheel lever.
Fig. 16 is an elevation of the grain wheel lever.
Fig. 17 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 18 is a detail plan of the sickle driving connections.
Fig. 19 is a front elevation of the same.
Fig. 20 is a plan of the gearing bracket and gear wheels whose shafts are journalled
therein.
Fig. 21 is an elevation of the same.
Fig. 22 is a vertical axial section through the main driving pinion shaft.
Fig. 23 is a detail sectional elevation of the tongue and the tilting mechanism
connected therewith.
Fig. 24 is a side elevation of a preferred form of the drive wheel.
Fig. 25 is an axial section through the wheel.
Fig. 26 is a section through V. V on Fig. 25.
Fig. 27 is a plan of my machine, the reel being removed and the platform conveyor
being broken away.
Fig. 28 is a rear sectional elevation of the same parts shown in Fig. 27, section
being taken at t... t.
Fig. 29 is an inside elevation of the grain rake and butting mechanism; the
conveyor platform being shown in vertical section.
Fig. 30 is a transverse vertical section and
Fig. 31 a longitudinal vertical section of the butting mechanism.
Fig. 32 is a detail elevation of crank and link which connects the adjusting mechanism
to the binder frame.
Fig. 33 is a transverse section of my underclearing rake and its bearings.
Fig. 34 is a vertical section through u... u on Fig. 33.
Fig. 35 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the clearing rake.
Fig. 36 is a side elevation of the packer wheel showing long and short teeth
thereon.
Fig. 37 is a plan of the receiving and binding platform stripped of mechanism, and
designed to show how the latter slides upon the former.
Fig. 38 is a detail plan of the gearing in which the clutching mechanism operates to
give motion alternately to the packing and binding mechanisms.
Fig. 39 is a section through w...w of Fig. 38.
Fig. 40 is a section through v... v of Fig. 38, and Fig. 41 is a section through r...r
Fig. 38.
Fig. 42 is a rear elevation of the knotter frame and breast plate showing the
knotter actuating wheel and trip and discharge arms thereon, and tripping mechanism
therewith.
Fig. 43 is a plan of the same parts.

page_text: Fig. 44 is an outer elevation of the same parts.
Fig. 45 is a rear elevation of the frame showing the manner in which the needle and
compressor co-operate.
Fig. 46 is a plan, and
Fig. 47 is a side elevation of a modification of the butt-adjusting mechanism.
1
A is the driving wheel. It is formed of the rim or flange A¹ the spider A² the gear
rim A and the spokes A. The spider comprises the hub A20 the rim A2, and the
radial arms A", connecting said hub and rim. The hub has the annular flange a20,
through which are made the radial openings 200. In radial line with the openings a 200
the rim A has on its inner face the semi-cylindrical grooves a². The gear rim has
the face A matched to the grooved face of the spider rim A", and provided with
semi-cylindrical radial grooves a³, to match the grooves a² of said spider rim. Midway
between their grooves respectively, the rim A³ and the rim A have the bolt or screw
holes a.
The spokes A are designed to be made of steel rod, screw-threaded, and screwed
through the annular flange a20, of the hub, and provided with the jam nuts at at the
inner end and having shoulders A10 at the outer end to hear against the inner surface
of the flange or rim A' outside of which they are designed to be riveted down. Instead
of this structure they might be stepped in the hub, and screw-threaded at the outer
end and there provided with an extension nut to be screwed outward against the
flange A¹.
The wheel is designed to be put together by first inserting the spokes through the
aperinres 200, and screwing their threaded ends down to the hub flange a, far enough
to allow their outer ends to pass within the flange A', which being then put into place,
the spokes are screwed out so as to pass their outer ends through the holes prepared
for them in the flange A'. The spokes now lie in the grooves a² in the rim A". The
gear rim A³ is next put into place, its grooves a³0 matching the grooves a² of the
rim A, and receiving and embracing the spokes, and is secured in place by
the bolts a through the holes a. The hub is next centered in the flange by screwing
the spokes in or out, as the case requires, of each. When the hub it thus properly
centered, and all the spokes have their shoulders A10 set firmly against the inner face
of the flange or rim of the wheel, the bolts a¹0, are firmly set and the gear rim A³,
thereby clamped against the rim A2, binding the spokes A securely between them in
the grooves a, and a30, which together constitute radial apertures for the said spokes
and prevent them from being sprung in any direction.
The flange A is provided with traction ribs A10 which are made either integral
therewith or riveted thereto. They are in the form of a horseshoe, or half circle, or
open curve or angle, and are so placed on the flange that the toe or apex of the curve
or angle is downward in front, so that when the machine is moving forward, the
toe strikes the ground first. As a matter of convenience, to save extra riveting and
for the greater security of the spokes at their riveted junction with the flange A, I so
piace the traction ribs A, that the toes fall, one at the end of each spoke, so that the
end of the spoke passes through and is rivetted outside of the rib. When the ribs are
made integral with the flange, this arrangement gives the desired thickness of metal
for strength under the rivet heads; and when the rib is made separate and riveted to
the flange, this arrangement saves one rivet at each traction rib, and at the same time
gives the additional strength to the flange at the point where it is weakened by the
aperture made for the spoke. The traction ribs are so placed that the apex of each
falls approximately in line, transversely, with the ends of the next preceding, and
between those ends, whereby the wheel has a continuous support, the full height of
the traction ribs, so that in travelling over the hard road beds or pavement no jolting
is occasioned by the ribs.
B is the main frame bar. It is formed of angle iron secured at 1 to the finger
bar B, which constitutes also, the front sill, extending thence forward to 2, and
constituting the inside divider, and thence forward and stubble-ward in front of the
drive wheel to 3, and rearward, outside said wheel to 4, thence diagonally rearward and
B

page_text: grainward to 5, where it is bolted to the stubble end of the rear sill B¹³, of the conveyor
platform. B is a cross beam joined to the rear sill at 6, and to the main frame bar
at 7, passing above and being secured to the finger bar at 8. B3 is a cross beam of
3-8 inch iron plate bolted to the main frame at 9, and 10. To this cross beam the
inner segment B is secured at 11, and the gear frame 13, is likewise secured to it
at 12 said gear frame is also secured to the inner segment at 13. B is a 3-8 inch
iron beam set edgewise, secured to the lug B, which is extended from the upper end
of the inner segment; said beam extends thence across, grainward, to a point above a
part of the main frame bar, which forms the inside divider and is there bent down-
ward and forms its own support, being secured to the main frame at 14. It is also
provided with the brace B, extending to the point 15 on the main frame to render
more rigid its connection therewith.
The main frame is sustained upon the driving wheel in the usual manner, viz. by
means of the segments B and B, secured to the main frame, and the pinions Con
the axle C, of the driving wheel engaging with the racks on said segments. The
outer segment being secured directly to the frame bar B.
D is the main
A is the main driving gear which is rigid with the drive wheel.
driving pinion which is pinned fast upon its shaft d and meshes with and is driven
by the main driving gear A³; said shaft is journailed in the gear frame B6 and has
clutched to it the bevelled gear wheel D₁, which meshes with the bevel pinion D³,
whose shaft d' is journalled in the gear frame B at right angles with the main driving
pinion shaft d, and has at its rear end a crank 0, which drives the sickle by
connections hereinafter described. Said shaft carries also between the pinion D², and
the crank d, the sprocket wheel D³, by which power is communicated to the
conveying and binding mechanisms. The clutching of the shaft d, to the gear
wheel D is effected by means of the clutch rim or collar D, rigid with said gear,
and the clutch collar G which is secured on said shaft so that it may slide thereon
and revolve therewith, as by the pin 10, rooted in the shaft and entering the slot. d
in the collar. The collar D has the flange and is pressed inward against the
collar D, by the spring D¹³, which is coiled around the protruding end of the shaft d.
To the portion of the gearing frame which constitutes the bearing of the collar D
there is secured, by means of the screw-pivot 130, the cam lever D³, and underneath
it, the segment collar D1 which has the slot d by means of which it strides said pivot.
The segment collar has also the flange D10, adapted to rest against the flange ", of
the collar D, while its opposite surface affords a bearing for the action of the cam face
of the cam lever D13.
The action of the combination of parts is, that by the shifting of a cam lever D1³,
the cam face is driven against the flange D140, of the collar D, and the latter is
thereby forced against the flange d", of the collar D", which is thus caused to slide on
the shaft d, the pin do, sliding in the slot d, and the clutch collars are disengaged.
By the reverse action of the cam lever, the spring D12 is permitted to force the collars
into engagement. From the crank do whose shaft is substantially at the level of the
driving wheel, I make such connection with the sickle bar E, by means of the link E
extending obliquely downward; and to avoid the difficult draft which would otherwise
be occasioned, by the fact that said link does not reciprocate in line with the sickle, I
complete the connection with the sickle by means of the supplemental link E². which
is connected at one end with the sickle, and at the other end with the link E. 1
further provide the sickle with the extension E³, running in the guide slot el, formed
preferably in the base of a bracket e, which is secured to the finger bar and has the
upright arm e, to the upper end of which is connected the link E, which has its other
end connected to the pivot at the junction of the links E1 and E2, and by its swinging
motion about its pivot on the arm serves to guide the joined end of the links E, and E
thereby effecting the conversion of the rotary motion of the crank d into the
reciprocating motion of the sickle in a different plane. Furthermore, the sickle being
somewhat further forward than the crank d, the link E' is bent as shown in Fig. 20.
The effect of the diagonal draft being cured by the arrangement of links and slide

page_text: bearings above described. The link E' may be connected to either of the links E¹ or E
instead of to the pivot at their junction, but the connection should be made near to the
junction to secure the best result in respect to ease of movement of the sickle.
It will be noticed that the form of the frame bar B, adapts the portion b to serve as
an inner gatherer, or a divider, thereby obviating the necessity of any separate device
for that purpose.
B is the outside divider; its rear portion being the end of the platform. B³ is the
grain wheel lever. B00 is the grain wheel. B is a bracket which serves the triple
purpose of securing the outside divider to the finger bar, affording a secure attach-
ment to the grain wheel lever and being or having rigid with it, a guide for the grain
wheel lever. This bracket has the stubbleward projection or lug 68, to which the
finger bar is bolted, and integral with this lug is the last sickle guard 6. The
bracket B80 has also the countersink or socket 83 in line with the finger bar which
receives the pivot of the grain wheel lever; said bracket has also the forward pro-
jection 6 and the rear projection 685 to both of which the outside divider and end
board BB1 is secured.
It has also the segmental guide 680 extended rearward to guide the grain wheel
lever. On said bracket are also placed the guide pulleys or studs 688 and 687, for the
platform supporting and adjusting cable B.
The guide is located at the end of the finger bar and in line therewith so that it
receives the cable B, which lies under the finger bar and is guided to and retained in
that position by the gutde 6 on the lower end of the inner segment at the other end
of the finger bar.
This arrangement of the finger bar with reference to the inner segment B*, and the
bracket B80, with the guide placed as stated, causes the strain upon the cable in
sustaining the platform to be exerted upon the finger bar in the direction of its length,
thereby preventing any wrenching or twisting of the platform or distortion of the
bearings in raising and lowering and sustaining the machine.
The frame is raised, lowered and secured at any height by the following means ;-
on the outer end of the driving wheel axle, between the wheel and the outer
This
segment B, is fixed the sheave pulley C2, on which is wound the chain c.
chain extends thence to, and is wound around the shaft c³ which is journalled in
bearings on the frame. Keyed fast to the shaft c³ is the ratchet wheel C³ adapted to
be actuated by the pawl and lever arm more fully described hereafter.
The winding up of the chain c² around the shaft c³, unwinds it from the pulley (2
and in so doing, rotates the pulley and the driving wheel axle, to which the pulley is
rigidly attached, and the pinions C which are also rigidly attached to the axle, engage
in the segment racks and raise the driving end of the frame.
On the inner side of the driving wheel axle, between said wheel and the inner
segment B is a loose collar C to which at c is fastened the chain B8 which passes
thence up over the small guide pulley cat the upper end of the segment and thence
down and around the guide pulley eso placed at the lower end of the segment that
its lower edge is a little lower than the under side of the finger bar, and that the
chain running from the groove of the pulley can lie under the finger bar-preferably
in the angle of the angle-iron of which the finger bar is preferably made, as shown.
After passing around the guide pulley the chain B2 extends thence to the grain
end of the finger bar where it passes over the guide pulley thence it passes over
the guide pulley on the bracket B50 and extends to the grain wheel lever B and is
made fast to it at 68. The centre of the segment guide 680 is coincident with the axis
of the grain wheel lever B and in order to retain the lever in relation to the guide,
the former has on its inner face a hooked flange 6 embracing the end of the inner
segment as shown in Fig. 19. This construction relieves the pivot of the lever
from lateral strain--gives firmness to the joint, and prevents the grain wheel from
wabbling.
When by the winding up of the chain c³, on the shaft e³ the segments are raised,
carrying up the stubble end of the frame, the pulley co on the inner segment draws

page_text: up with it the chain B2 thereby drawing up the pulley 686 toward the point 689, and
lifting the grain end of the machine equally and simultaneously with the stubble end.
The lever C for actuating the ratchet wheel C and the shaft c³ is bifurcated at the
lower end and strides the ratchet wheel C³ the neck or shoulder C40 which connects
the two branches of the fork, serving as a pawl to engage the ratchet teeth. Each
branch of the fork is made with an oblong opening 0 as shown in the dotted lines in
Fig. 5, so that the fork has a longitudinal play on the shaft, as is necessary to allow
the neck (0 to engage and he disengaged from the ratchet teeth. The weight of the
lever is sufficient to throw it into engagement without the aid of any spring for that
purpose. C is a rod connected by the bell-crank lever C, to the side of the main
handle C. It is provided with a slot e in which plays the guide pin c60, and is
extended below into the blade C, which for convenience of reference, I shall call the
pawl trip. It has the oblong opening 1 for the hub of the ratchet wheel C³, and at
the lower end is shaped in the arc of a circle whose radius is equal to, or slightly
greater than the radius of the ratchet wheel to the point of its teeth. C62 is a spring
under the end of the bell-crank lever 60 tending to throw it out from the arm C and
to hold the pawl trip out of the way of the detent pawl C which is pivoted on the
frame and adapted to engage the ratchet wheel C³, and so hold the machine at any
height at which it may be set. It will be seen that to raise the machine, the lever C
is designed to be pulled toward the driver, and in making this movement the lever C
being on the side toward the seat, is not pressed toward the arm Cand so by the
action of the spring C the pawl trip is held up clear of the detent pawl 07.
When it is desired to lower the machine, the necessary motion of the lever arm C
being from the driver, by the same movement of the hand, the lever C is pressed in
against the arm C and the trip C thus forced down upon the point c of the pawl 07
which is made wider than the thickness of the ratchet wheel, so that its point stands over
the edge of the wheel, and the pawl is thereby disengaged and the ratchet wheel allowed
to be reversed, thus permitting the chain c², to unwind from the shaft c³, as the machine
descends by its own weight. This descent brings the pulley down toward the
axle of the driving wheel and so slacks the chain B2 and permits the grain end of
the machine to fall by its own weight. The raising or lowering of both ends of the
machine simultaneously is thus effected by the motion of the single lever.
To render the machine stable, the tongue B19 is made to form a third support by
being secured to the frame adjustably but rigidly. The most secure and convenient
point of attachment is at or directly above the stubble end of the finger bar. I provide
a suitable casting B4 by which to hinge it at the point 16. This casting is bolted
fast to the finger bar, as shown in Fig. 24; thence the pole extends inclined slightly
upward over the frame bar B, through under a loop of iron 6' bolted to the frame
at 17. Manifestly the lowering of the machine, if be kept horizontal would cause
the pole, hinged at 17 to rise at the latter point relatively to the frame, a distance
which would be to the entire change in elevation of the machine, as the distance
16... 17 is to the entire length of its pole from its hinge 16, to the point of its
support on the neck yoke: also, that if the pole were rigidly and unvaryingly secured
both at 16 and 17, the end of the neck yoke, being unvarying in height, any lowering
of the machine would result in tipping it backward-assuming it to have been level at
its higher position. In order, therefore, that the pole may be rigidly secured to the
machine, as is necessary in order that it may constitute the third support to render it
stable and yet permit it to be raised and lowered without tilting, I extend the shaft c³
across to the point where the pole crosses the frame bar B and there fasten to the end
of it the plate 6180 provided with the helical flange 1 and on the side of the pole I fix
the rack B1 adapted to be actuated by the helical flange. I construct the pitch of the
helix so that its ratio to the length of the chain c², wound by a single revolution of the
shaft c³ is that of the length 16 - 17 to the entire length of the pole from 16, to
the neck yoke. Now when the shaft c³ is rotated to wind up the chain C² and elevate
the machine, the plate 6100 and its helical flange rotating with it, carries the rack B191 5
and the pole B₁₁, to which it is secured, relatively, downward the exact amount
--

page_text: necessary to keep the machine level. Thus the pole is rigidly secured to the machine,
and thereby becomes its third support, and at the same time, the machine is
maintained in a horizontal position at all heights, and the adjustment is effected
automatically by the same movement which raises and lowers the machine.
Since it may sometimes be desirable to tilt the machine or to adjust the angle of the
pole according to the height of the horses, I provide the hinged connection of the pole
with the finger bar in the block B in which is journalled the vertical shaft B³ having
on its lower end, working in a cavity provided in the block B the endless screw 693;
and on the end of the pole I provide the casting B having the slot and the
rack B10 The casting B being joined to the block B, by a pivot pin 16, through
the slot 694. The endless screw engages with the rack B40, and the shaft B3 being
extended upward to a convenient point in reach of the driver and provided with
a crank, this entire adjustinent is under the driver's control from the seat.
Heretofore it has been customary to construct the segmental axle guides open at
the bottom, and to put the wheel into place by inserting it up from below under
the machine, the pinions coming into mesh with the segment racks and the two
sides of the segments passing down astride the axle.
This structure renders
it necessary to lift the entire machine, or to take it apart to some extent to put
the wheel into place and makes it a matter of some difficulty in many forms of
harvesters now in use. I have constructed the segments as illustrated, open at the
top, and closed, for the necessary strength, at the bottom, so that the machine frame
and segments being first completely set up together in their final working arrange-
ment, the wheel may be lifted and let down into its place in the machine.
The binder frame is composed of the lower horizontal arm H, the upright
It stands with both its said
standard H, and the upper horizontal arm H².
horizontal arms in position oblique to the vertical plane of the drive wheel and to
the vertical plane of the cutter bar and direction of motion of the conveyor. It is
sustained upon the main frame by means of the V-shaped frame composed of the
bars H3 and H joined at h; the ends 3 and 4 of said bars are formed into hooks
which clasp the frame bar B³ and slide upon it. The joined ends at the angle h rest
upon the ledge 62, formed on the side of the cross bar B2 and said angle is preferably
furnished with the roller ¹ to travel with less friction on said ledge.
The binder frame arm H is secured to the bars H3 H at 30 and 40 respectively, being
provided with the ears 16 and 400 whereby a sufficiently firm and rigid connection is
obtained to sustain it without other support. J is a shaft having one bearing on the
main frame bar at j and another on the cross-bar B³ at j¹. Inside the latter bearing it
has the crank arm J' from which extends the link J, which is coupled to the binder
frame, the lug being provided for the purpose. At its outer end the shaft J, is
provided with the lever J³ extended up to within reach of the driver passing along-
side of the locking segment J³, fixed on the main frame, and furnished with a suitable
catch bolt j, lever and link and spring to operate the same in the familiar
manner illustrated. By swinging the lever Js and rocking the shaft J, the crank Ji
through the link J³, connecting it with the binder frame, as described, will move the
binder back or forward in its slide bearings-the ledge 3 and the frame bar B-and
the catch bolt engaging in the notches of the segment J' will retain the binder
firmly in any position to which it may be so moved.
The conveying or cutter-bar platform, in this case, consists of an endless belt K'
carried around the roller K2, journalled in the front and rear sills and driven by a
chain over the sprocket wheel K³ on its rear end; said chain being driven by a
sprocket wheel K on the rear end of the shaft 16 which is also journalled on the front
and rear sills, and is driven by a chain K over the sprocket wheel K' fixed on its
front end; said chain deriving motion in any convenient way from the main driving
train.
F is the receiving platform which is secured on the cross beam B' and has the
depressed and slotted portion overlying the shaft 16 and through the slots f, in said
portion of the receiving platform, the teeth carried by the shaft land which with

page_text: said shaft constitute a revolving clearing rake, revolve upward and stubbleward,
protrude into the depression or trough formed at the end of the conveying platform
by the depressed portion of the receiving platform.
The receiving platform extends stubbleward from the cross-beam B2, substantially
horizontally, resting upon and being supported by the base frame bars H3 and H of
the binder frame. It extends forward to the line of the finger bar and may he
supported along its front edge by blocks or brackets secured to or resting upon the
finger bar. It is cut away at the rear outer part between the two lines n and m which
intersect at a point m, n, a little forward and inward from the most forward and
innermost position of the point of the needle; one of said lines being parallel with
the plane of oscillation of the needle; thus leaving free space for the needle to
oscillate in all positions of the binder and become of the shape shown in the
drawings.
The front section H of the binder platform or table that portion in front of the
needle rift H00, is secured to the horizontal arm H of the binder frame; a narrow
portion of said platform overlying said arm, and thence slopes downward, grainward
and rests its lower edge upon the receiving platform. Since the binder frame stands
obliquely to the cutter bar and conveying platform, the said front section binder table,
sloping downward, will meet the horizontal receiving platform in a line oblique to the
end of the canvas, further from it at the front than at the rear, and will have,
therefore, an oblique edge H50.
The rear section H of the binder table is supported by a suitable bracket h°,
secured to the bar H3 of the frame and stands with its front edge forming the rear
boundary of the needle rift on a level with the rear edge of the front section H³,
along the entire edge from the top of the slope down to the receiving platform; but
in order that it may meet the receiving platform in a line substantially parallel with
the end of the canvas and with the shaft of the clearing rake it is made to slope down
backward from the needle rift as illustrated.
The binding table overlaps the receiving table or platform sufficiently as that when
the binder is furthest back, the oblique edge H0 will not stand back of, and so not
uncover the angle n, m, in the receiving platform which is the point at which the
needle comes up when the needle is furthest forward.
To the outside edge of the binder table at a line at right angles with the path of
the needle beyond the arm H', of the binder frame, 1 hinge to the front and rear
sections of said table respectively, the two triangular flaps or leaves upright above the
binder table in front of the bundle accumulated and bound thereon, said flaps or
leaves being upheld by springs and offering resistance to the pressure of the
packers and dischargers on the opposite side of the bundle; said springs being adapted
to yield to moderate pressure and permit said resisting pieces to be forced down and
permit the discharge of the bundle over them, and immediately return to their upright
position. The triangular shape of the resisting pieces H and H2, having the bases
of the triangles on either side of the needle rift at the middle of the bundle, permits
the bundle to overhang them at their narrower portion; the heads and butts of the
bundle being always more expanded than the middle, which is under the retaining
pressure of the band, thus being given the space which they require, and permitting
the resisting pieces to press against the bundle on either side of the band, and thereby
being directly opposed to the action of the dischargers, thus securing a more direct
discharge of the bundle. By providing the forward resisting piece H³¹ with a stiffer
spring than is provided for the rear piece H, it is made adapted to the greater solidity
of the butts compared with the heads, and 1 find that the effect of this greater solidity
and correspondingly greater resistance, is that when the resisting pieces yield to the
pressure of the heads and butts of the bundle behind them respectively, the bundle is
discharged with a somewhat greater impetus at the butts than at the heads, on account
of the expansion of the bundle which have been compressed against the resisting
piece at the butts-because that piece offered greater resistance-so that in expanding,
its reaction against the discharger is greater at the butts, whereby the bundle is

page_text: turned obliquely to the rear in discharging, and avoids the wheel, so enabling me to
locate the entire binder somewhat further forward and nearer to the wheel than I
otherwise could. -
L is a butting belt. It is driven by the roller L', and carried around the roller L⁰,
both said rollers are journalled in bearings on the frame I composed of the upper
head L20 and the lower head La and the connecting standard or braces L. This
entire frame is bolted fast to the receiving platform, being slightly raised at the end
toward the binder and extended over the binder platform a short distance, but not
attached thereto.
The upper bearings of the shaft of the driving roller L' is in the bracket L³
which is secured to the upper head L20, and has also, a bearing for a horizontal shaft. 14,
the purpose of which is hereinafter explained. The lower bearing of the shaft l' is in
the yoke L' which is formed with the ears or flanges L50 by which it is attached
to the lower head I of the butting belt frame, and has beside the bearing for the
vertical shaft, a bearing for the horizontal shaft which passes through it and by
means of its bevel gear L' meshing with the bevel gear on the shaft drives the
butting belt L. The two shafts and 16 having their bearings in the same part, the
yoke L', the gears on them respectively, are kept securely in mesh thereby. The
shaft is stepped in its bearings in the yoke and supported by it. The yoke is
supported both by being secured to the lower head L21 of the butting belt frame, and
by the horizontal shaft which passes through it and has two other independent
bearings in the front and rear sills. The butting belt is provided with vertical ribs
to enable it to engage the grain.
For the butting belt hereinabove described may be substituted the device shown in
Figs. 49 and 50 which I will now describe.
The shaft instead of carrying the driving roller for the butting belt, carries at
the lower part a corrugated roller L' and instead of having its upper bearing supported
on the butting belt frame, it is journaled in a bracket LT which is secured in any
convenient manner to some rigid part of the harvester frame, as to the upright
portion of the beam B. Between said bearing and the corrugated roller, said shaft is
cranked, and on the crank wrist 7100 is pivoted the butt board L", which extends
rearward and grainward over the receiving platform and part of the binder deck, and
is provided at its farthest extremity with the finger 1, which runs in the eye 172 on
the guide rod L which is pivoted on the upper end of the shaft above the upper
bearing of said shaft, and has its further end supported on a bracket L73 on the binder
frame; said bracket being provided with notches in which said rod L72 may rest, and
by being transferred from one to another may be adjusted at will to carry the further
end of the butt board back or forward according to the necessity of the case. The
butt board L may be corrugated or ribbed to cause it to engage the butts of the
grain.
It will be readily understood that by the rotation of the shaft ", the crank 1100
will cause the butt-board L, to push the grain in the direction of its length, and
carry the butts across toward the binder faster than the heads are travelling, thereby
further assisting the turning of the grain into the desired oblique position.
I is a device which I call the grain retainer. It serves also the purpose of an
upper inside divider and grain guard to keep the standing grain from the gearing,
and prevent it when cut, from falling into the gearing instead of upon the platform.
It consists of the upper guard or frame which is a lever having its fulcrum upon any
rigid part of the frame well forward. As shown, it is provided with the rock-shaft L³¹
pivoted to the ears 60 upon the upper horizontal part of the frame bar B'. The
longer arm of this lever extends rearward from its fulcrum above, or slightly grain-
ward from the line of that portion of the main frame which constitutes the inside
divider and directly back across the entire width of the platform, being bent stub-
bleward and downward at the rear end, and at that end provided with the bearing 181,
for the shaft M at the front end. The short arm of the lever, which is only a few
inches long, is connected to the link L which hangs down over the main frame bar

page_text: and has the slot 18, through which protrudes the stud 1820 or a suitable adjunct as the
piece B. The length of the link L2, to the end of the slot 182 and the position of the
stud 1820, and the length of the slot 182 are such as to permit the retainer L³, to assume
the position hereinafter described, and to have a vertical oscillation of such amount
as is necessary to the functions hereinafter stated as pertaining to it. To the portion
of the long arm of the lever which overhangs the cutter bar platformin, I attach the
fingers L preferably spring fingers-which curve downward and stubbleward and
overhang the receiving platform being of such length as to very nearly rest upon the
receiving platform at the lowest position of the lever L, and are designed to float
upon the grain which is fed under them by the various forwarding devices herein before
and hereinafter described.
The casting which contains the upper journal bearing of the shaft of the butting
belt driving roller, contains also two horizontal bearings for the short shaft to the
rear end of which is coupled, by a universal joint, the shaft M which has its rear
hearings in the rear end of the lever [80 as above stated. Bevel gears M¹ and M
communicate motion from the shaft to the shaft M. The arrow heads on sundry
wheels of the train indicate the direction of rotation of the several wheels, which is
such as to advance the grain off the cutter bar platform onto the receiving platform
and thence toward the binder.
The shaft M is provided with two or more disks having the arms or fingers or
teeth m³. The length of the teeth should preferably decrease from the front disk to
the rear disk, the longer teeth at the front being necessary to give the butts of the
grain a longer stroke and assist in turning it into an oblique position parallel with the
hinder. This device I call the upper clearing rake. Although here shown sustained
in a floating frame, it may be employed in a fixed frame, and it may he employed as
the sole device for turning the grain into the desired oblique position; when the other
deflecting devices herein described are employed, this one may in many cases, be
safely omitted, but in some conditions and kinds of grain I find it to be a preferable
useful addition, not only to the means for clearing the grain off the conveying
platform, co-operating with the under clearing rake, but also to the means for
turning the grain into an oblique position-co-operating with the butting belt and
the obliquely placed packers. When employed, its teeth revolve between the retaining
fingers of the floating grain retainer and it rises and falls, floating on the grain with
the frame in which it has its rear bearing. The forward teeth being nearer to the
fulcrum of the lever Leo will not vary their position so much as the rear teeth, with
the rise and fall of the frame, so that the deeper the grain lies on the under clearing
rake and on the receiving end of the receiving platform, the greater will be the excess
of action of the front teeth over that of the rear teeth, and the greater the deflecting
effect of the device upon the grain, which is desirable, since when the grain is heavy
and accumulating, the difficulty of turning it by the butting belt and oblique packers
is greatest.
The action of the butting belt on the swinging butt board to hasten the butts and
turn the grain into oblique position, will be obvious from the structure and location
of those parts. I find such belt or butting board usually to be sufficient for the
purpose without the assistance of any other turning devices, except the obliquely
acting packers, and hence usually remove the overhanging clearing rake, which by
its longer front teeth is, when used, a further assistance to the turning of the grain.
It is only needed however, in very extreme cases of heavy grain.
It should be noticed that I extend the butting belt past the front end of the
clearing rake, so that the grain carried by the teeth of the latter will have its butts
lodged against the advancing face of the canvas, and in such position that it cannot
escape being acted upon thereby, and particularly by its ribs which will positively
advance the butts, which the positively acting clearing teeth have thus put directly in
their path.
It should be noticed further, that the spring retaining fingers 83 extend past the
under clearing rake, and that the grain lying under and restrained by them, is thereby

page_text: also detained against and subject to the action of the butting of the butting canvas,
also, that when these fingers are made longer at the front than at the rear, as
illustrated, and as is preferable, that structure alone, without other deflecting devices,
tends to keep the grain lying under them and subject to the action of the under
clearing rake for a longer time at the front than at the rear-the grain in front being
pushed by the grain behind as long as the action of the retaining fingers keeps the
mass sufficiently compact, -so that this structure tends to cause it to assume the
desired oblique position.
I will now describe in detail the structure of the under-clearing rake at the delivery
end of the conveyor platform.
To the shaft are rigidly secured, one underneath each slot in the receiving
platform, the toothed wheels or disks Ĺ0. Under the shaft le secured at the front and
rear respectively, to the finger bar and rear sill, is the board B, and to its upper
surface is secured, one alongside cach toothed wheel L the circular disks L
eccentrically pierced for the passage of the shaft and having the lugs 161, by which
they are bolted to the board 190.
These eccentric disks L serve as the bearings for the annular stripping disks L
which are made in pairs, each pair embracing between them one of the revolving
toothed wheels L, the two annular disks of each pair are secured together by bolts
or rivets, equally spaced and arranged one in each interval between the teeth of
the wheels L. Only one of the stripping disks of each pair need be furnished with
an eccentric bearing piece L, although both may be so provided; and by providing
it with suitable flanges to retain it upon the bearing piece, one stripping disk Li
might be made to suffice, although it would not so effectually perform the purpose of
the device. The axis of the shaft 16 is grainward from the line of the centers of the
annular disks L61, a distance which is one-half of the distance which it is desired to
have the spurs of teeth protrude beyond the periphery of the stripping rings toward
the platform canvas-the outer diameter of the annular stripping disks being such as
to cover the teeth at the point of the greatest distance of its periphery from the axis
of the shaft-viz. on the side toward the binder.
The operation of this structure will be best understood by considering what should
be the action if the stripping guards were fixed eccentrically to the shaft which
drives the teeth, alongside the teeth. In such case it is apparent that the teeth
protruding beyond the guards toward the platform would be gradually covered by
the guards as they arose through the slots in the receiving platform and passed
stubbleward, and would be completely covered at some point when, or before, they
passed down below the platform. The danger in using the guards stationary, to strip
the grain from the carrying teeth, is that the straw lying in the angle between the
protruding tooth and the adjacent periphery of the stripping guard and being pushed
by the tooth over the stationary guard, would be liable to be broken and drawn in
with the tooth as it withdrew beneath the platform or behind the guard. This is
prevented by causing the guards, instead of being fixed, to revolve at such speed that
their periphery, on which the grain rests, shall travel as fast or faster than the tooth
which stands alongside the guard and is pushing the grain; for the travel of the
guard on which the grain is resting will then draw the grain out, as fast or faster
thau the tooth can push it in. The structure above described accomplishes this
result as will be best understood from inspection of the diagram, Fig. 35, noticing
first that the action is that the spurs or grain carrying teeth 160, engage the studs or
rivets and thereby drive the annular stripping disks in the same direction as the
shaft is revolved.
The result above stated will be mathematically perfect when the projections of the
several parts are such that the parts s's and ss of the chord S¹ S³ of the circle which
is the path of the studs, bear the same ratio as the diameters of said circle and the
circle which bounds the stripping disks; the said chord being inclined 45 degrees to
the line which connects the centre of the shaft 1 and that of the annulus, and passing
through the former centre.
In practice, however, it is not necessary to be confined to these proportions; for

page_text: the general arrangement of parts above described, without regard to any definite
proportions, will cause the stripping disks to travel always in the same direction
as the tooth, and during the greater part of the course when it is carrying the
grain, to travel faster than the tooth adjacent to its stripping edge.
It will be seen that the carrying teeth 100 are substantially radial. Their grain
actuating face being strictly so; and hence, that they will actuate the grain by a
direct and positive push toward the receiving platform; differing in this respect from
many other similarly located devices, wherein, to insure ease in stripping, the teeth
are curved backward and so gain only a frictional grasp upon the grain, and in
some conditions, and generally when the grain is accumulated heavily above them,
will slip under the grain without carrying it. For this reason I find a positively
actuating device essential when the space for accumulating the grain between
the conveying platform and the packers is made so small that the grain must
necessarily become heavily accumulated over the clearing rake during the interval
of binding.
I will now describe the packing mechanism; it consists of a wheel rigidly secured
to the shaft n having bearings in the downwardly extended arm H' of the binder
frame and driven by a chain passing around the sprocket wheel N¹ secured to it,
and around the sprocket wheel N fixed on the shaft n² which is driven by means of
the bevel gear N on its forward end intermeshing with the bevel gear №3 actuated
as hereinafter described. The packer wheel N is double, comprising hubs № with
spokes connecting to the two flanges N". Upon the flanges N are so hung as
to swing freely, the angular packer teeth N1. At the angle of each tooth a stud n
projects laterally so as to engage behind the flange n" of the rim N and form a
stop for the teeth. As the wheel N revolves the teeth N in succession fall out past
the rim as far as the stud 12 will permit, as they pass around the lower side of the
wheel, and fall back as they successively rise with the wheel. But to insure
accurately this action, I provide, secured to the arin H' and standing in close to the
rims Na cam No so placed and shaped as to guide the teeth out and permit them to
return as described. I find it desirable, however, to so shape the cam as to throw the
teeth out a little sooner and hold them out a little longer than they would fall and
remain if left to the unassisted action of gravity. The teeth N12 fall and are forced
into the flowing grain on the binder platform and carry it forward with their
revolutions, rising out of it and clearing it off as they pass back by the rim N.
This rim serves also to restrain the grain and cause it to be compacted on the
platform as it is forced under said rim by the packers.
Further to effect that purpose, I extend from the cam N50 the breast plate H"
under and past the knotter shaft as shown best in Fig. 42.
The action of the packers and the binding mechanism and needle is made to
alternate by means of the following mechanism which is brought into action by the
pressure of grain against the trip as hereinafter described.
O is a sprocket wheel which has a sleeve O rigid with it constituting its shaft by
means of which it is journalled upon the cross bar B', and receives continuous motion
from a chain which passes over it and is driven by any convenient wheel in the
harvester driving frame, as the wheel D³, on the shaft d journalled in the gearing
bracket. The opening through this shaft or sleeve O' is square, and through it
is telescoped the shaft n³ which is square at the forward part and is journalled at the
rear portion in the binder frame; a lug h² being provided on the frame to afford it
bearing.
In the rear portion of the shaft n³ which is journalled in the lug 2, there is formed
the annular groove 20, and into the lug is set the screw 200, protruding into the
bearing of said shaft and entering the annular groove in the shaft.
This screw serves to retain the shaft in its bearings preventing its longitudinal
withdrawal but permitting it to revolve without obstruction.
The bevel gear wheel N is loose on the shaft n³, and has integral or rigid with
it the disk N N is a similar gear also loose on the shaft n³ and similarly provided
with the disk N facing toward the disk N80. Said disks have each an annular

page_text: flange n³ on the faces toward each other. 30 is a collar made fast to the shaft h³
between the gears N³ and N, and having the longitudinal tongue or rib 300.
To said disks N30 and N10 upon their proximate faces respectively, are pivoted the
pawls N³ and N32, which have a pin or stud 31 projecting under the annular flange n³2:
said pawls being located so that they oscillate past the said flanges except as stopped
by said pins. The springs N33, are provided, located within the annular flanges n³2
and stopped against said flanges and against the pins ", tending to force the pawls
in toward the centre, that is, toward the fast collar 30 and said pawls are hooked
at their free ends in a form to engage the rib 2300 on said collar when in proper
position.
It will be seen that when either pawi falls upon the collar 30, while the latter
is revolving, the pawl will be engaged by the rib 300, and the disk and the gear
wheel to which that pawl is connected will be revolved by and with the shaft h³.
The gear wheel N meshes with and drives the gear wheel N² fixed on the end of
the packer driving shaft, as above described.
The gear wheel N meshes with the bevelled gear wheel N5 which is the main binder
driving gear wheel, and is fixed on the forward end of the shaft n', which extends
through the arm H³ of the binder frame. To the outer face or to one of the spokes
of the gear wheel N³, is fixed the crank pin 60 from which extends the connecting
rod No which actuates the lever No of the rock shaft n underneath the binder
platform and carrying at its rear end the needle or binder arm No.
N' is a trip lever pivoted on a lug ¹, projecting from the binder frame arm H²,
the motion of said lever being in a horizontal plane. One end is adapted to engage
and trip the pawl N31 and the other end is adapted in similar manner to engage and
trip the pawl N. A spring N70 is provided, tending to throw said trip lever into
position to engage and trip the pawl N³. The gear wheel N has formed on its
rear face an eccentric cam N1 (seen in Fig. 39) which is so situated as to engage
the trip lever N at proper time and force it out of engagement with the pawl N³2,
and into position to trip the pawl N31. It will be seen that when the lever N causes
the disengagement of either pawl from the collar 3, the pin n³, stopping against
the flangen, enables the lever N7 to effect instant stoppage of the disk and gear
wheel. The relative positions of the cam N", trip lever N and pawl N32, when the
binding mechanism is at rest, are shown in Fig. 39. By reference to Figs. 42, 43
and 44 the further mechanism for causing the pressure of the bundle to start the
binder may be understood.
H" is the breast plate secured to the arm H' of the binder frame, being an exten-
sion of the cam N". It overhangs the binder platform in such position that the
bundle is accumulated between it and the platform. is a flat spring constituting a
yielding trip fastened at one end to the under side of the breast plate and having
the other end curved upward so that it impinges against the free end of the lever
arm H80 of the rock shaft H8 which is journalled on the frame and is provided with a
spring tending to force the free end of the lever arm H downward against the
end of the yielding trip ". At the rear end the shaft H³ is bent to form the crank
arm H which serves a purpose hereinafter explained.
18
H is a lever arm, radially fixed on the wheel N which is fixed on and revolves
with the shaft n of the gear wheel No. 4° is a pin rooted in the arm H³, projecting
inward so as to collide with the end of the arm H, when that is in the position shown
in Figs. 43 and 44 and so detain the lever arm H, in that position until the arm H³¹
is removed. The bundle being accumulated under the breast plate H" and in front
of the lever arm H compresses the yielding trip ", which, when the pressure
becomes sufficient, forces up the free end of the lever arm H and rocks the shaft HB,
which carries the lever arm H¹, clear of the pin whereupon the pressure of the
bundle acting against the lever arm H carries it forward, and thereby rotates the
shaft and the gear wheel N³, and the cam No1 carrying the latter past the point of
the trip lever N-see Fig. 43-and allowing it to be thrown by the spring No, out
from under the head of the pawl N³ which will then, by the spring N33 be forced into
engagement with the collar n³, thereby clutching the disk N, and gear wheel N

page_text: with the shaft n³ and putting the binder in action, while simultaneously the other end
of the lever N, trips the pawl N31 and disengages it from the collar n0 and arrests
the motion of the disk N, and gear wheel N and of the packing mechanism. As
the binder wheel N', continues its revolution, the cam no comes around again to and
forces outward the end of the lever N and causing it to trip the pawl N and dis-
engage it from the shaft n³ and simultaneously freeing the pawl N and permitting it,
under the pressure of the spring №33 to fall into engagement with the shaft n³ so
arresting the action of the binder, and putting into action the packing mechanism.
P is the compressor. It is pivoted on an arm or lug H22 extended downward from
the arm H2 of the binder frame. It is connected by the link P¹ to the needle or
binding arm No. The connection between said link and needle is made by the stud
pivot p fixed on the former and entering the slot p in the latter.
When the binder is brought into action by the operation of the tripping and clutch-
ing mechanism, as the needle rises through the rift 500 in the binder platform and
divides the gavel from the flowing grain, it causes the link P¹ to draw up the com-
pressor P on the discharge side of the gavel and the two arms continue to approach
and compress the bundle between them until the needle reaches the limit of the
upward movement, and the two arms remain compressing the bundle between them
until the binding operation is completed, and then as the needle retires, the compressor
also withdraws and is entirely out of the way in time to allow the bundle to be dis-
charged.
In Fig. 45 are shown in dotted lines four successive positions of the needle and
compressor, correspondingly numbered, and by inspection of that fignre the pro-
portion of the several parts necessary to produce the desired result may be ascer-
tained.
I find it of advantage to so locate and time the action of the packers that the teeth
of the forward one shall stand a little in advance, in the path of its revolution, of the
corresponding teeth of the rear packer, so that the grain will be seized by the forward
packer a little sooner than by the rear packer. Since there is no mechanism acting
upon the grain nearer to the heads than the rear packer, the forward packer entering
the grain and moving faster than the mass of grain has hitherto been moved by the
various devices acting upon it, makes a rift in the mass at the point where it enters
the butts, and the rear packer descending a moment later, enters this rift and by this
means the corresponding teeth of the two packers grasp the same grain and so avoid
tangling it in the process of packing and facilitates the operation of the needle
enabling it to more completely separate the gavel from the flowing grain than it
otherwise could.
The greater length of the forward packer teeth tends to the same result as their
advanced position, since their stroke and backward reach is increased by their
increased length. That is to say, they enter the grain earlier in their rotation because
they reach back further toward the conveyor and move the grain faster after entering
it. I prefer therefore to give them greater length as well as advanced position,-the
more certainly to effect the result above described. The binder platform being some-
what higher than the surface of the grain carrying platform, the grain must be forced
up a slight slope at some stage in its advance from the grain carrying platform to the
top of the binder platform. The oblique position of the binder relatively to the
grain carrying platform makes the intervening distance greater on the front side than
on the rear side, that is, greater at the butts of the grain than at the heads or at the
middle, and hence the slope, if continuous, would be greater at the heads or middle
that at the butts. As illustrated in the drawings, the receiving platform is made
substantially level, and the rise is all effected in the binder platform. The result
would not be materially different if the slope were distributed equally from the
delivery ends of the carrying platform to the top of the binder platform. As illus
trated, the grain delivered onto the receiving platform encounters and is obstructed by
the upward slope of the binder platform sooner-or if the slope were made continuous
would encounter a steeper slope, at the middle or toward the heads than at the butts
and is thereby retarded at the point of such obstruction while advancing freely under

page_text: the action of the forwarding devices at the butts; thereby further assisting th
turning of the grain into the desired oblique position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a self binding harvester, the cutter bar in substantially the same vertical
plane with the axis of the driving wheel; a moving platform adapted to convey the
grain in a direction parallel with the cutter bar; a grain receiving platform at the
delivery end of the main carrying platform, having its front side longer than its rear
side; means for clearing the grain from the carrying platform and transferring it to
the receiving platform, and packing, binding, and discharging mechanism, adapted to
pack, bind and discharge the bundle obliquely to the direction of motion of the
platform conveyor; substantially as set forth.
2. In a self binding harvester, in combination, the cutter bar platform and the
receiving platform adjacent to the delivery side thereof; the mechanism for removing
the grain from the former and lodging it upon the latter; mechanism to turn the
grain upon the receiving platform into position oblique to the cutter bar, and a binder
mounted upon the harvester frame in a position oblique to the cutter bar.
3. In a self binding harvester, in combination, the cutter bar platform and the
receiving platform adjacent to the delivery end thereof; the mechanism for removing
the grain from the former and lodging it upon the latter; mechanism to turn and
advance the grain over the receiving platform in direction obliquely backward from
the line of its first motion.
4. In a self binding harvester, in combination, an endless conveyor in the rear of
the sickle; a receiving platform adjacent to the endless conveyor and receiving the
grain therefrom; mechanism to advance the grain over the receiving platform and
deflect it obliquely backward from the line of motion of the endless conveyor, and a
binder adapted to receive and bind it in such oblique course.
5. In a low self binding grain harvester, the combination of a system of packers
with mechanism for delivering the grain thereto, the path of motion of the packers
being oblique to the path of the grain delivering mechanism; substantially as set forth.
6. In a self binding harvester, a butt evener and a grain deflecting device consisting
of a roller on a vertical shaft revolving in contact with the butts of the grain, in com-
bination with a swinging and reciprocating butt board acting against the same ends
of the grain in the same direction as the roller.
7. In a self binding harvester, a butt evener and grain deflecting device consisting
of a vertically ribbed or corrugated roller on a vertical shaft revolving in contact with
the butts of the grain, in combination with a vertically ribbed or corrugated swinging
and reciprocating vertical butt board acting against the same ends of the grain in the
same direction as the roller.
8. In a self binding harvester, in combination substantially as hereinbefore set
forth, a grain carrying platform adapted to convey the grain from behind the sickle
in a direction parallel thereto; a grain receiving platform located at the delivery end
of the grain carrying platform, having its front side longer than its rear side, and its
delivery end oblique to its receiving end and terminating at the delivery end in an
upward sloping binder platform; and mechanism located and adapted to act upon the
grain between the butts and the middle to advance it across the receiving platform
and onto the binder platform, the upward slope of the binder platform operating to
obstruct the heads of the grain while it is freely advanced at the butts across the
longer side of the receiving platform; substantially as set forth.
9. In a self binding harvester, in combination substantially as herein before set
forth, a grain carrying platform adapted to deliver the grain from behind the sickle
in a direction parallel thereto; a grain receiving platform located at the delivery side
of the grain carrying platform, having its front end longer than its rear end, and its
delivery side oblique to its receiving side, and merging at its delivery side in an
upward sloping binder platform; and mechanism located and adapted to advance

page_text: the butts of the grain across the longer end of the receiving platform, whereby
the grain shall be turned into a position parallel with the binder platform.
10. In a self binding harvester, in combination substantially as hereinbefore set
forth, a grain carrying platform adapted to convey the grain from behind the sickle
in a direction parallel thereto; a grain receiving platform located at the delivery
side of the grain carrying platform, having its front end longer than its rear end
and its delivery side oblique to its receiving side, and merging at its delivery side
in an upward sloping binder platform; mechanism for advancing the grain across
the receiving platform and onto the binder platform, and additional mechanism for
advancing the grain across the longer end of the receiving platform.
11. In a self binding harvester, in combination substantially as herein before set
forth, a grain carrying platform adapted to convey the grain from behind the sickle
in a direction parallel thereto; a grain receiving platform located at the delivery side
of the grain carrying platform, having its front end longer than its rear end, and
its delivery side oblique to its receiving side and merging at its delivery side in an
upward sloping binder platform; packing mechanism adapted to actuate it alter-
nately with the binder, and continuously actuated mechanism to advance the butts
of the grain across the longer end of the receiving platform.
12. In a grain harvester, in combination with a main frame formed substantially
as described, whereby its inner side constitutes a lower inside divider; the grain
guard sustained above said part of the main frame and extending back across the
cutter bar platform, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13. In a self binding harvester, in combination with mechanism adapted to bind
and discharge the bundle in a position oblique to the direction of motion of the grain
carrying platform; mechanism for turning the grain flowing from the grain carrying
platform into such oblique position, sustained wholly in front of the line of the butts
of the flowing grain; substantially as set forth.
14. In a low self binder, in combination with the packing and binding mechanisms,
the grain guard supported solely above and in front of the binder platform, to permit
the grain to flow to the binder without obstructing the heads of the grain by the
supports of such guard; substantially as set forth.
15. In a grain harvester, in combination with the cutter bar platform, mechanism
for delivering the grain sidewise therefrom, and the binder platform and of a guard
pivoted forward of said platform, overhanging the delivery end of the cutter-bar
platform, and having grain retaining fingers extending downward and stubbleward
therefrom toward the binder platform.
16. In a grain harvester, in combination with the cutter bar platform, mechanism
for delivering the grain sidewise therefrom; a binder platforin and packing mechanism
operating obliquely above the same, and of the floating guard comprising the vertically
oscillating frame overhanging the delivery end of the cutter bar platform, and
provided with the retaining fingers extended downward and stubbleward therefrom
toward the binder platforin,the fingers toward the front being longer than those
toward the rear.
17. In a harvesting machine, in combination with the conveying platform, a
receiving platform at the delivery end thereof, slotted at its adjacent end; a clearing
rake operating from below the receiving platform, and moving its teeth upward and
stubbleward through the slots, and a guard pivoted forward of said platforms over-
hanging the delivery end of the cutter bar platform, and oscillating vertically, and
having grain retaining fingers extending downward and stubbleward therefrom
toward the binder platform.
18. In a harvesting machine, in combination with the conveying platform, a slotted
receiving platform at the delivery end thereof; a revolving clearing rake provided
with eccentric stripping disks revolved in the same direction as the rake, operating
from beyond the receiving platform and revolving its teeth up through the slots
thereof, and a floating guard comprising a vertically oscillating frame overhanging
the delivery end of the conveying platform, and retaining fingers extending down-
ward and stubbleward therefrom, the forward fingers being longer than the rear.

page_text: 19. In a grain harvester, in combination with the conveying platform; the
receiving platform adjacent thereto; the floating guard comprising the vertically
oscillating frame overhanging the delivery end of the conveyor platform, and the
retaining fingers extended downward and stubbleward therefrom, and an overhanging
clearing rake, having its grain actuating teeth moving from above the delivery end
of the conveying platform, stubbleward above the receiving end of the receiving
platform between the retaining fingers of the floating guard.
20. In a grain harvester, in combination, the conveying platform; the receiving
platform at the delivery end thereof; an overhanging floating frame, having its grain
retaining fingers extended downward and stubbleward over the receiving platform:
and a clearing rake having its rear end journalled in and oscillating vertically with
such floating frame, and having its front teeth longer than its rear teeth, and means
for actuating it to cause its grain actuating teeth to move between the retaining
fingers from above the delivery end of the conveying platform, stubbleward over the
receiving platform.
21. In a grain harvester, in combination, the conveying platform; the slotted
receiving platform at the delivery end thereof; an underclearing rake operating from
below the receiving end of the receiving platform, and moving its teeth upwards
through the slots thereof; an overhanging floating frame having the grain retaining
fingers extended downward and stubbleward therefrom over the receiving platform;
a clearing rake having its rear end journalled in the floating frame and oscillating
vertically therewith, and means for actuating it to cause its grain actuating teeth to
move from above the delivery end of the conveying platform over the receiving end
of the receiving platform.
22. In a grain harvester, in combination, the conveying platform; a slotted
receiving platform at the delivery end thereof; an under clearing rake operated from
below the receiving end of the receiving platform, and moving its teeth upward and
stubbleward through the slots thereof; an overhanging floating frame having the
grain retaining fingers extended downward and stubbleward therefrom over the
receiving platform; a clearing rake having its rear end journalled in and oscillating
vertically with the floating frame, and having its front teeth longer than its rear
teeth, and means for actuating such rake to cause its teeth to move from above the
delivery end of the conveying platform stubbleward over the receiving end of the
receiving platform.
23. In a grain harvester, in combination, the cutter-bar platform; mechanism for
delivering the grain sidewise therefrom; a floating guard overhanging the delivery
end of the cutter-bar platform, and retaining fingers extended downward and stubble-
ward therefrom, the front fingers being longer than the rear fingers, and mechanism
for advancing the butts of the grain while still restrained under the said retaining
fingers.
24. In a grain harvester, in combination, the cutter-bar platform; mechanism for
delivering the grain sidewise therefrom; a floating guard overhanging the delivery
end of the cutter-bar platform, having retaining fingers extended downward and
stubbleward therefrom; a butting device, having its grain actuating face moving in
a plane crosswise of the length of the grain in front of the butts and extending
grainward beyond the stubbleward limit of the movement of the mechanism which
delivers the grain from the cutter bar platform.
25. In a grain harvester, in combination, the cutter-bar platform and the binder
platform, and mechanism for moving the grain positively from the former toward the
latter; a floating guard overhanging the delivery end of the cutter bar platform, and
having the grain retaining fingers extended downward and stubbleward therefrom;
a butting device having its grain actuating face moving in a plane crosswise of the
length of the grain and in front of the butts, and extended grainward beyond the
limit of the movement of the mechanism which delivers the grain off the cutter-bar
platform.
26. In a grain harvester, in combination, the conveying platform; the receiving

page_text: platform at the delivery end thereof; the overhanging guard, having the retaining
fingers extending from above the delivery end of the conveying platform over the
receiving end of the receiving platform; an overhanging clearing rake, having its
teeth operating between the floating fingers, and butting devices carried on
vertical shafts having grain actuating surfaces moving from a point in front of
the platform conveyor obliquely rearward across the front end of the receiving
platform.
27. In a grain harvester, in combination, the conveyor platform: the receiving
platform at the delivery end thereof a floating frame overhanging the delivery end
of the conveying platform and having the retaining fingers extended downward and
stubbleward therefrom over the receiving platform; a clearing rake having its rear
end journalled in said floating frame and oscillating vertically therewith, and having
its front teeth longer than its rear teeth, and a butting device having its grain
actuating surface moving in a vertical plane extending obliquely back from the heel
of the sickle across the receiving platform.
28. In a grain harvester, in combination, the conveying platform; the slotted
receiving platform adjacent to the delivery end thereof; the underclearing rake
having its teeth moving upward and stubbleward through the slots; the overhanging
floating frame, and the upper clearing rake having its rear end journalled in the rear
end of said frame and oscillating vertically therewith, and the butting device with
grain actuating surface moving obliquely back across the front end of the receiving
platform.
29. In combination with the slotted deck, the grain rake comprising a revolving
shaft under the deck, having parallel sets of radial teeth, and stripping disks mounted
on bearings eccentric to and independent of the shaft and revolved laterally adjacent
to the several sets of parallel teeth respectively and protruding through the slots of
the deck.
30. In combination with a slotted deck, a grain rake comprising a revolving shaft
under the deck and having parallel sets of radial teeth; stripping disks mounted on
bearings eccentric to and independent of the shaft, and provided with laterally
projecting studs whereby the teeth engage and drive the disks eccentrically to the
shaft in the same direction.
31. In a grain harvester, a revolving grain rake comprising a revolving shaft
having parallel sets of equally spaced radial teeth; stripping disks arranged in pairs,
each pair embracing one set of equally spaced teeth; said stripping disks mounted in
rigid bearings eccentric to the rake shaft and provided with studs connecting the two
disks of each pair in the angles between the consecutive teeth of the set.
32. In combination with the slotted deck, the rake comprising the revolving shaft
under the deck, having parallel sets of equally spaced radial teeth; the fixed eccentric
blocks pierced by the shaft the stripping disks revolved upon the eccentric blocks
and protruding through the slots of the deck and having lateral studs whereby they are
engaged and driven by the teeth.
33. In a grain harvester, in combination with the conveying platform and the
receiving platform wider at the front than at the rear; a revolving toothed rake,
having its shaft below the level of the receiving platform; eccentric stripping disks
revolved in the same direction as the rake, adjacent to its teeth, and an overhanging
toothed rake, having its front teeth longer than its rear teeth.
34. In combination substantially as set forth, the cutter bar platform and mechanism
for delivering the grain sidewise therefrom, and a revolving packer having two sets
of teeth, whose planes of rotation are oblique to the direction of motion of the
platform conveyor, each set having the same number of teeth, the teeth of the
forward set being located in their path of rotation in advance of the corresponding
teeth of the rear set.
35. In combination substantially as set forth, the cutter bar platform and means
for moving the grain sidowise therefrom toward the packer; the packer comprising
two sets of teeth revolving in vertical planes oblique to the motion of the platform

page_text: conveyor, and having each the same number of teeth,-the teeth of the forward set
being longer than those of the rear.
36. In combination substantially as set forth, the cutter bar platform and mechanism
which delivers the grain sidewise therefrom; the packer comprising two sets of teeth
revolving in planes oblique to the direction of motion of the conveyor and having
each the same number of teeth,-those of the forward set being longer than those of
the rear set, and located in their path of rotation in advance of the corresponding
teeth of the rear set.
37. In a binder placed obliquely to the line of the cutter bar of the harvester to
which it is attached, the combination of the grain packing mechanism and the grain
binding mechanism driven by bevel gears on one shaft, lying at right angles to the
cutter har substantially as set forth.
38. In a self binding harvester in combination with the binder gear standard, the
binder shaft journalled in the upper arm of the binder gear standard; the binder
mechanism driving shaft oblique to said arm, and journalled therein, and the inter-
meshing bevel gears on said shafts respectively; substantially as set forth.
39. In a self binding harvester, in combination, the main frame, the binder frame
sustained thereon and located obliquely to the line of draught, and movable over the
main frame in a direction parallel with the line of draught; the binder shaft
journalled at one end in the binder frame and having its other end carried by its
actuating wheel journalled on the main frame, substantially as set forth.
40. In a self binding harvester, in combination with the main frame, a binder frame
which is supported on the main frame having its shaft bearing arms which overhang
and underlie the binder table, and the binder actuating shafts journalled in said arms
oblique to the line of draught, and adapted to be moved back and forward over the
main frame in a direction parallel with the line of draught; a wheel sustained upon
the main frame and revolved about a horizontal axis, and a shaft whose axis coincides
with that of the wheel and revolved thereby and adjustable in the direction of its
axis, and mechanism for communicating motion from such shaft to the oblique shafts
journalled on the binder frame.
41. In a self binding grain harvester, in combination with a binder whose shaft
bearing arms and the shafts journalled therein, which drive the packing and binding
mechanisms, are oblique to the line of draught of the machine, and which is adapted
to be moved over the main frame in a direction parallel with the line of draught; a
horizontal shaft, parallel with the line of draught, sustained on the main frame and
revolved by the main driving train and adapted to slide endwise in its bearings on the
main frame, and mechanism by which said shaft communicates motion to the obliquo
shafts on the binder frame.
42. In a self binding grain harvester, in combination with the main frame, a binder
which has its shaft-bearing arms which overhang and underlie the binder table oblique
to the line of draught; suitable supports for the binder frame adapted to rest and
move upon said ways, and means for moving the binder frame back and forward over
said ways in a direction parallel to the line of draught.
43. In a self binding harvester, in combination, the main frame having horizontal
ways for the binder frame; the binder frame adapted to rest upon and move over
such ways; a horizontal rock shaft journalled on the main frame; a crank arm on said
shaft; a link connecting said crank arm to the binder frame, and means for rocking
said shaft at will in its said bearings, whereby the crank is made to actuate the binder
frame as desired.
44. In a self binding harvester, a binder frame whose horizontal arms overhanging
and underlying the table are oblique to the line of draught, and which is adapted to
be moved over the main frame in a direction parallel with the line of draught; a base
frame comprising two horizontal bars joined respectively to the front and rear ends of
the under oblique arm of the binder frame, and united to each other as integral at one
end, and at both ends bearing upon the main frame, and adapted to move back and
forward over suitable ways thereon; substantially as set forth.
D

page_text: 45. In a self binding harvester, in combination with the receiving and binding
platforms, constructed substantially as described, whereby they comprise a substantially
horizontal portion at the delivery end of the conveying platform wider at the front
than at the rear, and an upward sloping portion of substantially uniform width in
front of the needle rift and packing mechanism operating above the platform in an
oblique direction to gather the grain upon and advance it over the upward sloping
portion of the platform; substantially as set forth.
46. In a self binding grain harvester, in combination, the receiving and binding
platforms, constructed substantially as described whereby they comprise a substantially
horizontal portion at the delivery end of the conveying platform, wider at the front
than at the rear, and in an upward sloping portion lying oblique to the horizontal
portion, and of substantially uniform width in front of the needle rift; forwarding
mechanism operating across the wider end of the horizontal portion, and packing
mechanism operating in an oblique direction over the narrower end of the horizontal
portion and over the upward sloping portion, whereby the grain is gathered upon said
upward sloping portion in a position parallel with its said obliquo direction, and
advanced upward over it in the direction of the motion of the said packing
mechanism.
47. In a self binding grain harvester, in combination with the main frame; the
receiving platform; the binder frame adapted to slide back and forward over the
main frame in a direction parallel with the line of draught; the binder platform
sloping upward and obliquely backward from the receiving platform, and moving back
and forward with the binder frame.
48. In a self binding harvester, in combination with the main frame and the binder
frame adapted to move back and forward thereon in a direction parallel with the line
of draught; a horizontal receiving platform; a binder platform sloping upward and
obliquely backward therefrom, and of substantially uniform width in front of the
needle rift and narrowing rearward from said needle rift, and moving back and
forward with the binder frame.
49. In a grain binder, in combination with the binder mechanism driving shaft, a
rigid arm extending therefrom in front of the accumulating bundle, whereby the
pressure of the bundle shall tend to impart motion to the shaft; tho binder driving
wheel its continuously moving driving train; and mechanism whereby the driving
wheel at one position in its revolution is disengaged from its driving train and
re-engaged after passing that position; substantially as set forth.
;
50. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the lever arm on the
binder shaft; the rock shaft and its lever arms; the yielding trip, and the stop pin,
and the packing and binding mechanisms, whereby the pressure of the grain
accumulated by the packers against the lever arm, is prevented from starting the
binding mechanism until it is sufficient to actuate said mechanism and operate the trip
to effect the engagement with the driving power.
51. In combination with the driving wheel No the cam No thereon; the double
trip lever N7; the spring NT; the bevel gears N³ and N4, having upon their hubs the
annular flanges; the spring retracted pawls N" and N"; the continuously revolving
shaft n and its collar having the rib 300 and mechanism adapted to be actuated by
the pressure of the bundle to start the binder driving wheel N and the packer driving
wheel N2; substantially as set forth.
52. In combination with the driving shaft n³ the clutch rib 2300, the gears N³ and N
and the spring retracted pawls N³ and N3, revolving with said gears respectively;
the lever N; the driving wheel shaft no and lever arm H° connected thereto; the
breast plate H, and yielding trip ; the rock shaft H and its lever arms;
its operating spring, and the stop pin h; all co-operating substantially as set
forth.
53. In a grain binder, in combination with a rocking binder arm, having its rock
shaft journalled in the frame; a compressor pivoted on a fixed pivot on the binder
frame, and a link directly connecting said compressor and needle, and constituting the

page_text: sole means of actuating the compressor to cause it to co-operate with the nee
compress and release the bundle, and withdraw out of the path of the bundle in its
discharge.
54. In a grain binder, in combination with the rocking binder arm having its rock
shaft journalled in the binder frame; a compressor rocking over a fixed pivot on said
binder frame lower than the needle rock shaft bearings, and a link connecting said
needle and compressor and solely actuating the latter, both in its advance and in its
retreat.
55. In a grain binder, in combination with a rocking needle, and with a rocking
compressor; the binder deck platform slotted in the path of oscillation of the needle,
and also in the path of oscillation of the compressor, and a link connected to said
needle and to said compressor below the pivot of one and above the pivot of the other,
and constituting the sole means of actuating the compressor to cause said needle and
compressor simultaneously to advance and retreat through said slots respectively;
substantially as set forth.
56. In a harvesting machine, the combination of a rigid main frame adapted to
carry the driving mechanism; the inner segment axle guide and a rigid finger bar,
each of said parts secured rigidly to both the others; substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
57. In a harvesting machine, the combination of an iron frame around the front,
outer side, and rear of the drive wheel; a cross bar at the inner side of said wheel
rigidly secured at front and rear to said iron frame, the inner guiding segment for the
main axle secured rigidly to said cross bar, and the finger bar rigidly secured to both
said cross-bar and said guiding segment; substantially as set forth.
58. In a harvesting machine, the combination of an iron main frame rigidly secured
to the finger bar and extending thence around the front outer side and rear of the
drive wheel; a cross bar at the inner side of said wheel rigidly secured at front and
rear to said iron frame; the inner guiding segment for the main axle rigidly and
directly secured to both the finger bar and said cross bar; substantially as set
forth.
59. In a harvesting machine, the combination of an iron frame, extending around
the front, outer side and rear of the drive wheel; a cross bar at the inner side of the
drive wheel and rigidly secured at front and rear to said iron frame; the inner
guiding segment for the main axle secured rigidly and directly both to the said finger
bar and the cross bar; substantially as set forth.
60. In a harvesting machine, the main frame consisting of the continuous iron
bar B having the portion b, extending diagonally from a point near the intersection
of said bar with the draught pole to a point near the finger bar, rigidly secured to
the said iron bar near the end of the diagonal portion b and to the said cross beams;
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
61. In a harvesting machine, the main frame consisting of the continuous iron
har B, secured at one end to the finger bar near the heel of the cutter bar, thence
extending in an approximately direct course to the intersection with the draught
pole, and thence around the front, outside and rear of the drive wheel, in combination
with the cross beams B2, B3 secured to the front and rear of said iron bar B, the
finger bar B10 and the rear sil! B¹, the last two being secured to both of said cross
beams; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
62. In a harvesting machine, the rigid main frame supported at one end directly
upon the main axle; segment axle guides rigidly secured to the frame; the finger
bar rigidly and directly secured to the inner segment guide, and a pole, locked and
rigid with the main frame, connected to the finger bar; all combined and operating
as and for the purpose set forth.
63. In a harvesting machine, in combination with the platform and the cutter bar,
the bracket B50 adapted to be rigidly secured at the end of the cutter bar, and having
integrally, the front and rear attachments for the outside divider; the pivot for the
grain wheel levers, and the segmental guide; substantially as set forth.

page_text: 64. In a harvesting machine, in combination with the main frame; the cross bar
rigid therewith extending from front to rear inside the drive wheel; the inner segment
rigidly secured to the cross bar; the finger bar rigidly secured to both main frame
and the lower end of the inner segment, and the upper frame bar secured rigidly to
the upper end of the inner segment, and to the inner side of the main frame, and
thereby bracing the segment; substantially as set forth.
65. In a harvesting machine, in combination with the main frame secured rigidly
to the finger bar and extending thence forward around the front, outside and rear of
the driving wheel, and the cross bar inside the driving wheel rigidly secured front and
rear to the main frame and the inner segment secured to the cross bar and to the
finger bar; the upper frame bar secured rigidly to the upper end of the inner segment
and to the inner side of the main frame.
66. In a harvesting machine, in combination substantially as herein before set
forth; the inner segment; the finger bar, and the grain wheel guide, the segment
and the grain wheel guide being both rigidly and directly secured to the finger bar.
67. In a harvesting machine, in combination, the inner segment; the grain wheel
guide, and the finger bar; the segment and grain wheel guide being both secured
directly and rigidly to the finger bar and having respectively the inside and outside
guides for the platform supporting cable.
68. In a harvesting machine, in combination as set forth, the iron main frame
secured to the finger bar and extending thence forward around the front, outside and
rear of the driving wheel; a cross bar rigidly secured to the front and rear sides of
the main frame inside the wheel; the inside segmental axle guide rigidly secured to
the finger bar and to the cross bar, and the main driving pinion frame rigidly secured
to the segmental axle guide and to the cross bar.
69. In a grain harvester, in combination with the finger bar and the outside divider,
the castings rigidly and directly secured to both, and forming the connection between
them, and having both hearings and the guide for the grain wheel guiding lever;
substantially as set forth.
70. In a grain harvester, in combination with the finger bar, the casting, having
integrally the supports for the outside divider and the outside finger of the sickle
guard; substantially as set forth.
71. In a harvesting machine the combination of a rigid main frame adapted to
carry the driving, cutting and conveying mechanism, and supported at one end
directly upon the main axle; mechanism for raising and lowering the stubble end of
said frame on the axle; the finger bar; the grain wheel lever pivoted at the grain end
of the finger bar, and a cable or chain loosely connected on the main axle extending
under the finger bar and attached to the grain wheel lever, whereby the raising and
lowering movement of the stubble end of the platform is transmitted to the grain end
of the same; substantially as set forth.
72. In a harvesting machine, the combination of the main axle, the main frame;
the finger bar secured to the main frame in the vertical plane of the lower end of the
said axle guard; the sector guide, attached rigidly to the finger bar; the lever, pivoted
at the end of the finger har; the grain wheel journalled to said lever, and the cable,
loosely connected to the main axle and running over suitable guide pulleys and
under the finger bar to, and actuating the free end of the lever; substantially as set
forth.
73. In a harvesting machine, the cable or chain for communicating the raising and
lowering movement from the stubble end to the grain end of the frame arranged to
lie under the finger bar, in combination with the grain wheel lever B³, pivoted at the
end of the finger bar; substantially as set forth.
74. In a grain harvester, for the purpose of raising and lowering the frame on the
driving wheel; the windlass and cable; the ratchet and hand lever, having the pawl
shoulder C; the detaining pawl trip Cl; the bell crank lever C80; all combined and
co-operating substantially as set forth.
75. In a grain harvestor, in combination with the rigid main frame and a draught

page_text: pole connected thereto at two points of its length; a windlass and cable for raising
and lowering the frame; the helical plate 600, secured to said windlass, and the
rack B₁, secured to the pole; substantially as set forth.
76. In a grain harvester, the combination with the rigid main frame of a draught
pole rigidly connected to such frame at two points; mechanism for adjusting the
height of said frame, and mechanism connected to such adjusting mechanism and to
one of the draught pole connections, whereby the angle of said draught pole. is
automatically adjusted in the act of raising and lowering the frame.
A. STARK.
By Herbert & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand,
Agents.