IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING HAY
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Jeffery, of the Firm of Ashby,
Jeffery, and Luke, of Stamford, in the County of Lincoln,
Engineers and Agricultural Implement Makers, for the Invention
"
Scaled the 6th October 1875, and dated the 3rd July 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edward
Jeffery at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 3rd July 1875.
I, GEORGE EDWARD JEFFERY, of the Firm of Ashby, Jeffery, and
Luke, of Stamford, in the County of Lincoln, Engineers and Agricultural
Implement Makers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING HAY," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to various improvements in the construction of
haymaking machines, whereby these implements may be rendered more
useful, and may be made to act more effectively than heretofore.

page_text: The first improvement consists in the adaptation to the arms of the
fork bars of spiral springs in place of the long flat springs now usually
employed, and which are very liable to be damaged by exposure to the
weather; and even when the machine is not in use these flat springs are
still kept at tension and therefore soon lose a portion of their elasticity.
My spiral springs are enclosed in suitable boxes or cases in order to
protect them from the weather, and they are by preference placed at
the sides of the arms of the fork bars, so that when the fork bars are
shut down the springs are relieved from strain, and therefore their
elasticity will remain unimpaired until the implement is required for
work again.
The next improvement relates to an improved mode of constructing
and arranging the toothed gear, whereby the tino or fork shaft is
actuated. This gearing consists of a large toothed wheel mounted on
and rotating with the axle of the running wheels, and in combination
with this large wheel there are two double pinions which I will call
No. 1 and No. 2. The former (No. 1) always remains in gear with the
large toothed wheel, while the other (No. 2) is capable of being slidden
laterally on the sleeve or barrel of its shaft, which is provided with a
long feather for the purpose. These double pinions each consist of two
sets of teeth arranged side by side on a common shaft or sleeve, but a
short distance apart. In order that No. 2 pinion should be shifted
laterally on its shaft or barrel I have adapted thereto a fork or clutch
which fits into a groove turned in this pinion between the two sets of
teeth. The other end of the fork is connected to a jointed lever, which
works on a fixed centre, and carries a quadrant or sector, which is
recessed in three places, so that the jointed lever may be securely held
in either of three positions. By means of this jointed lever the double
pinion No. 2 may be moved on its shaft so as to bring one of its sets of
teeth into gear with the large wheel and thereby drive the tine or fork
shaft in one direction, or by shifting the double pinion No. 2 in the
opposite direction on its shaft the other set of teeth will be brought into
gear with the outside teeth of No. 1 pinion, and by this means the
barrel of the fork or tine shaft will be driven in the reverse direction.
If however No. 2 pinion be shifted only half way on its shaft it will he
taken out of gear of both the large toothed wheel and the No. 1 pinion,
and consequently no motion will be communicated to the tine shaft on

page_text: which No. 2 is mounted. The arms which carry the tine or fork bars
are adapted to a barrel or sleeve shaft through which the solid central
shaft passes. No. 2 pinion is therefore mounted on the barrel instead of
directly on the tine shaft.
My third improvement consists in adapting to the inside of this barrel
at each end movable bushes made of brass, gun metal, or other suitable
material for the purpose of reducing the friction of the parts. A small
hole (which may be closed by a screw) is made through the sleeve or
barrel for the purpose of introducing oil or other lubricant into the
space between the sleeve and the central shaft. The other rubbing
or wearing parts of the machine may be provided in the same with
movable brass or gun metal bushes, which when much worn may be
easily removed and new ones put in their place.
The last improvement consists in the adaptation to haymaking
machines of a hood or cover, which is made to partially surround the fork
or tine bars in order to prevent the hay or grass from being scattered
about and thrown into and among the machinery. This hood extends
round the tines about six inches from their points, so as to leave room
for the hay or grass to be carried round and thrown out at the back of
the machine clear of the working parts, the grass or hay will by this
means be distributed more evenly over the ground, particularly in windy
weather.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Edward Jeffery in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
EDWARD JEFFERY, of the Firm of Ashby, Jeffery, and Luke, of
Stamford, in the County of Lincoln, Engineers and Agricultural
Implement Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give

page_text: and grant unto me, the said George Edward Jeffery, Her special licence,
that I, the said George Edward Jeffery, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Edward Jeffery, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES FOR MAKING HAY," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said George Edward Jeffery, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Edward Jeffery, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
My Invention relates to various improvements in the construction of
haymaking machines, whereby these implements may be rendered more
useful and may be made to act more effectively than heretofore.
The first improvement relates to the adaptation to the arms of the
fork bars of coiled or helical springs enclosed in suitable cases in place
of using the long flat springs now usually employed, and which are very
liable to be damaged by exposure to the weather; and even when the
machine is not in use these flat springs are still kept at tension, and
therefore soon lose a portion of their elasticity. In carrying out this
part of my Invention the coiled or helical springs are enclosed in
suitable boxes or cases in order to protect them from the weather, and
they are by preference placed at the sides of the arms of the fork bars,
so that when the fork bars are shut down the springs are relieved from
strain, and therefore their clasticity will remain unimpaired until the
implement is required for work again.

page_text: The next improvement relates to an improved mode of constructing
and arranging the toothed gear, whereby the tine, or fork shaft, or
barrel is actuated. This gearing consists of a large toothed wheel
mounted on and rotating with the axle of the running wheels, and in
combination with this large wheel there are two double pinions which I
will call No. 1 and No. 2. The former (No. 1) always remains in gear
with the large toothed wheel, while the other (No. 2) is capable of
being slidden laterally on the sleeve or barrel of its shaft which, is
provided with a long feather for the purpose. These double pinions
cach consist of two sets of teeth arranged side by side on a
common shaft or sleeve, but a short distance apart. In order that
No. 2 pinion should be shifted laterally on its shaft or barrel, I have
adapted thereto a fork or clutch which fits into a groove turned in this
pinion between the two sets of teeth. The other end of the fork works
in a slot in a jointed lever, which works on a fixed centre over a quadrant
or sector, which is recessed or notched in three places, so that the jointed
lever may be securely held in either of three positions. By means of
this jointed lever the double pinion No. 2 may be moved on its shaft so
as to bring one of its sets of teeth into gear with the large wheel and
thereby drive the tine or fork shaft in one direction, or by shifting the
double pinion No. 2 in the opposite direction on its shaft the other set
of teeth will be brought into gear with the outside teeth of No. 1 pinion,
and by this means the barrel of the fork or tine shaft will be driven in
the reverse direction. If however No. 2 pinion be shifted only half way
on its shaft it will be taken out of gear of the large toothed wheel and
also of the No. 1 pinion, and consequently no motion will be communi-
cated to the tine shaft on which No. 2 is mounted. The arms which
carry the tine or fork bars are adapted to a barrel or sleeve shaft through
which the solid central shaft passes. No. 2 pinion is therefore mounted
on the barrel instead of directly on the solid shaft.
My third improvement consists in adapting to the inside of this barrel
at each end moveable bushes made of brass, gun metal, or other suitable
material for the purpose of reducing the friction of the parts. A small
hole (which may be closed by a screw) is made through the sleeve or
barrel for the purpose of introducing oil or other lubricant into the
space between the sleeve and the central shaft. The other rubbing or
wearing parts of the machine may be provided in the same way with

page_text: moveable brass or gun metal bushes, which when much worn may be
easily removed and new ones put in their place.
The last improvement consists in the adaptation to haymaking
machines of a hood or cover, which is made to partially surround the
fork or tine bars in order to prevent the hay or grass from being
scattered about and thrown into and among the machinery. This hood
extends round the tines about six inches from their points, so as to
leave room for the hay or grass to be carried round and thrown out at
the back of the machine clear of the working parts. The grass or hay
will by this means be distributed more evenly over the ground, parti- 1
cularly in windy weather.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my
improved haymaking machine, and Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section
of the same shewing the driving gear in section.
The main axle a of the machine is supported at each end in a cast- 1
iron framing b, b, called a drumhead, to which are fixed the axles e of
the travelling wheels d. On the inner end of the hub of one of the
travelling wheels is keyed a large toothed wheel ƒ (indicated by red
dotted lines in Fig. 1), and therefore travels or rotates with it. The
smaller toothed part g of a double pinion gears into and is driven by
the large wheelf, but this double pinion is capable of being slidden
laterally on a key k on the barrel 6 which surrounds. the main shaft a,
so that the pinion g may be thrown out of gear with the large toothed
wheel and the larger pinion h into gear with the pinion n of another
pair of pinions m, n, which are mounted on a hollow stud o, to which oil a
is supplied to lubricate the rubbing surfaces.
The lateral motion of the double pinion g, h, is effected by means of
a fork j, which takes into a groove i made in the double pinion, and is
actuated by a jointed lever j', as shown in the detached plan and
sectional views, Figures 3 and 4.
When the pinion g is in gear with the large wheel fand the machine
is drawn forward the pinion g will communicate motion to the barrel
which carries the arms r, r, to which the fork bars are connected by
means of the brackets 8, 8.
When it is required to put the machine out of gear the double a
pinion g, h, is moved midway on the key k, so that the larger pinion

page_text: shall not gear into the pinion n, the double pinion g, h, therefore becomes
idle. The lever j', which moves the double pinion laterally on its key k,
works on a fixed centre pin, as shown at Fig. 3, and is provided at its
outer end with a jointed handle, which works over a quadrant ♬ provided
with three notches corresponding to the three positions of the pinion,
namely, 1 for the forward action of the machine; 2, the out of gear
position; and 3, the backward action or reverse action of the fork bars.
When the lever is brought opposite to the desired notch 1, 2, or 3 the
handle is turned down, as shown at Fig. 4, and locks the gear in the
required position.
The backward or reverse action of the fork bars is obtained by
throwing the pinion h into gear with the pinion n of the pair m, n, and
the pinion m being constantly in gear with the large wheelf the barrel e
with the fork bars will be rotated in the reverse direction. This
arrangement of gearing gives a fast speed for the forward motion and a
slower speed for the reverse motion.
In order to preserve the rotating rubbing surfaces from undue wear
and to reduce the friction thereon these parts are provided with gun
metal bushes wo, 10; there is therefore a space between the main shaft a
and the enveloping barrel e (to which the arms r, r, which carry the
fork bars are attached) and this space is supplied through a hole tapped
in the barrel with oil to lubricate the rubbing surfaces. When any of
these bushes are worn out they may be withdrawn with facility and
new ones introduced in their place. Similar gun metal or brass bushes
are adapted to other rotating spindles in the machine as shown in
Fig. 2.
o.preserve
To the arms r, r, which carry the fork bars t, t, are adapted coiled
springs q, q, which are enclosed in boxes or cylindrical cases to.]
them from injury and corrosion. Heel pieces u, u, adapted to the fork
bars bear against discs which are pressed forward by the springs, and
by this means clasticity is imparted to this part of the machine. The
barrel e is kept in position on the shaft a by means of a cast washer v,
Fig. 2.
In order to adjust the position of the fork bars t, t, higher or lower
to suit various kinds of crops, the draught shafts x, Fig. 1, are jointed
to the side irons p which are cast on or are firmly secured to the cast-

page_text: iron framing or drum heads b, b. The draught shafts are therefore
capable of being moved on the centre pins or joints which connect them
to the side irons, at the outer ends of which there are quadrants p'
having notches made in their outer edges to receive cross bolts or pins y
which pass through the shafts. It will now be understood that by
moving the shafts on their centre pins, and fixing them temporarily
to any part of the quadrant by means of the cross bolts y, the fork bars
and tines may be raised or lowered as may be required, the side irons p
which have their fulcrums on the axle of the running wheels acting
as levers for the purpose.
In order to prevent the hay from being thrown among the machinery,
and moreover, to cause it to be delivered with regularity and properly
deposited on the ground, whatever may be the state of the wind, I
partially cover or surround the rotating fork bars with a hood or curved
cover z, Fig. 1. This hood may if desired be cast with the drum head,
or it may be made separate, and then be securely attached thereto in
any convenient manner.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Machines:
for Making Hay," and having explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters
Patent as aforesaid.
First. The mode herein set forth of adapting coiled springs to the
arms of the fork bars of haymaking machines for the purpose of
imparting elasticity to the tines, such coiled springs being enclosed in
-cylindrical-cases_or_boxes_for_the_purpose of preserving them from
injury, and also preserving them from corrosion, as above described.
Second. I claim the arrangement and construction of toothed gearing
herein shewn and described for actuating the shaft or barrel which
carries the fork bars.
Third. I claim, adapting to the inside of the barrel which encloses the
main shaft, and also to other rotating parts of the mechanism, moveable
bushes made of brass, gun metal, or other suitable metal or alloy for the
purpose of reducing the friction and wear of such parts.
i.
Fourth. I claim, adapting to haymaking machines a curved hood:
or cover which is made to partially surround the fork or tine bars

page_text: n order to prevent the hay or grass from being improperly scattered
about and thrown in among the machinery, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Jeffery, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Thirty-first day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.