IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND MOWING."
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Dray, of Swan Lanc, London Bridge,
in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND MOWING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Dray at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th October 1852.
I, WILLIAM DRAY, of Swan Lane, London Bridge, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND MOWING" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object several Improvements in Rcaping
and Mowing Machines, and which consist,
First, of combining the frame with the axis of the carrying wheels
in such manner that, by having a cog-wheel (on the axis of the carry-
ing wheels, or one of them,) and a train of wheels, motion is communi-
cated to an upright axis, and from that axis to the cutters.
Secondly, the Invention consists of making exterior edges of the
cutters of convex curves, in place of straight; and, combined therewith,
the lower edges of the guides or passages through which the cutters
work are made with cutting edges.

page_text: Thirdly, the Invention consists of applying an endless band or strap,
made up
of angular bars, to receive the cut corn or other crop in front,
and carry it up on an inclination, and to drop it on to inclines arranged
to drop it either immediately behind or at one side, and at intervals or
continuously.
Fourthly, the Invention consists of constructing the blades of the
fan wheel with projecting, teeth, so that, they may act as combs or rakes
on the crop as it is brought to the cutters.
Fifthly, the Invention consists of employing two guiding wheels in
front, which are capable of locking on an axis, such arrangement
admitting of 'raising the cutter frame by a lever, and also of its being
put out of action.
Sixthly, the Invention consists of applying shafts, so that they may be
at one time (when the machine is at work) towards one side, and at
other times (when the machine is on the road) towards the middle of
the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Dray, in the Great Seal Patent Office, on
the 5th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM DRAY, of Swan Lane, London Bridge, in the City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth
year of Her, reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Dray, Her special licence, that I, the
said William Dray, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Dray, 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

page_text: Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING
AND MOWING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Dray, by an Instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 William Dray, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention has for its object several improvements in reaping
and mowing machines, and which consist,―
First, of combining the frame with the axis of the carrying wheels
in such manner that by having a cog-wheel (on the axis of the carrying
wheels, or one of them,) and a train of wheels, motion is communicated
to an upright axis, and from that axis to the cutters.
Secondly, the Invention consists of making exterior edges of the
cutters of convex curves, in place of straight; and, combined therewith,
the lower edges of the guides or passages through which the cutters
work are made with cutting edges.
Thirdly, the Invention consists of applying an endless band or strap,
made up of angular bars, to receive the cut corn or other crops in front,
and carry it up on an inclination, and to drop it on to inclines arranged
to drop it either immediately behind or at one side, and at intervals or
continuously.
Fourthly, the Invention consists of constructing the blades of the fan
wheels with projecting teeth, so that they may act as combs or rakes on
the crop, as it is brought to the cutters.
Fifthly, the Invention consists of employing two guiding wheels in
front, which are capable of locking on an axis, such arrangement
admitting of raising the cutter frame by a lever, and also of its being
put out of action.
Sixthly, the Invention consists of applying: shafts so that they may

page_text: be at one time (when the machine is at work) towards one side, and at
other times (when the machine is on the road) towards the middle of
the machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
d, a, is the framing; b, is the main bearing wheel, fixed on the axis
c; d, is a toothed wheel, also on the axis c, which takes into and drives
the pinion e, on the axis f, on one end of which is a small pinion g,
which takes into and drives the toothed wheel h, on the axis of the
fliers; on the axis f, is also fixed the bevelled toothed wheel k, which
takes into and drives the bevelled pinion 1, on the vertical axis l, which
at its lower end carries a disc l, with a crank pin 1, which, by a con-
necting rod, gives a reciprocal motion to the cutter rod P; m, is
a lever handle to work the guide wheels by, and works in a socket m',
attached to the framing a; the axis has holes m², which, by the pin m³,
being placed therein, serves to adjust the height of the cutting apparatus
from the ground; the socket m', has a slot or opening m', so formed
that the pin m³, in one of the holes m², of the axis m', can move suffi-
ciently to allow the guidance of the machine; the object of the fliers j,
is to bring up and hold the corn or other crop being cut during the
operation, and they have attached to them rakes, j', as shown, by the
action of which and portions of the corn or other crop that may have
become laid would be thereby raised in position to be cut; n, is an
endless band, on which are mounted at intervals bars suitably formed
to carry up the crops being cut by the machine, mounted on rollers
n', n, on the axes n', n, motion being communicated thereto from the
toothed wheel d, which takes into and gives motion to the pinion n', on
the axis ; o, is an inclined table, which receives the matters cut;
p. p, aro slots or openings, through which the teeth p', p', of the endless
rake p², protrude in such manner that, by motion being given thereto
in either direction, the materials cut will be carried across the table o,
and deposited so as to leave a clear track for the return of the machine;
the endless rake p³, receives its motion from one of the bevelled wheels
p', or p, taking into the bevel pinion o'; on the axis o², are the fingers
or cutter guides, which are formed differently from those heretofore

page_text: employed, they having grooves or recesses formed on either side, as shown
by the section through the dotted line i, i, in the details.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood, that I make
no claim to the various parts separately, nor do I confine myself to the
precise details, so long as the peculiar character of any part of my
Invention be retained; but what I claim is,-
First, the combining the frame with the axis of the carrying wheels
in such manner that, by having a cog-wheel (on the axis of the carrying
wheels, or one of them,) and a train of wheels, motion is communicated
to an upright axis, and from that axis to the cutters, as hercin described:
Secondly, I claim the making the edges of the cutters of convex
curves, in place of straight; and, combined therewith, the forming of the
lower edges of the guides or passages through which the cutters work
with cutting edges:
Thirdly, I claim the combination of an endless band or strap, with
angular bars, to receive and deliver the cut crop, and apparatus for
delivering the same, as described:
Fourthly, I claim the combining of teeth with the fan wheel, as
described:
Fifthly, I claim the application of two guide wheels in front, capable
of locking on an axis; the arrangement admitting of the raising of the
cutter frame: And,-
Sixthly, I claim the applying shafts so that they may be at one time
towards one side, and at the other times, when the machine is on the
road, towards the middle of the machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Dray, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of April in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
WILLIAM DRAY. (L.S.)
Witness, FRED HARRIS.