Year: 1888

page_text: I, JOHN BRAUN, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Manufacturer of Lawn mowers and Machinist, 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 :-
t
My invention relates to a lawn mower having a pawl and ratchet mechanism
formed of a pinion, provided with teeth, and a swinging pawl which engages with the
teeth of said ratchet.
It also relates to the construction of the cutters, wherein the blade portion projects
from the stock in such manner, that the cutting edge may be readily sharpened without
sharpening the thick part of the stock, thus saving time and material and increasing
the strength of the cutter.
It further consists of a grass gatherer having novel means for connecting the saine
with a lawn mower.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a lawn mower embodying my invention.,
Figure 2 represents a view of one of the blades of the rotary cutter.
Figure 3 represents a section on line, , Figure 2, on an enlarged scale.
Figure 4 represents an end view of the pawl and ratchet mechanism, on an enlarged
scale.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 represent sections thereof.
Figure 8 represents a partial side elevation and partial vertical section of a grass
gatherer embodying my invention.
Figure 9 represents a top or plan view of said grass gatherer and the guard. therefor,
on a reduced scale.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A represents one of the driving wheels of a lawn mower. B, represents a pinion
on the shaft of said driving wheels, and C, C, represents gearing for communicating
the power of said wheels to the rotary cutter D. The pinion of said gearing is
mounted loosely on the shaft E of the rotary cutter and has secured to, or formed
with it on the inner side thereof, teeth F, forming a ratchet. The pinion C¹ is

page_text: prevented from displacement by means of a washer and screw on the enu
the shaft E.
U
G, represents a pawl which is fitted in the recess E' in the shaft E so as to occupy
a position adjacent to the ratchet F and engage therewith, said pawl being double-
ended, so that when one end moves outwardly, the other end moves inwardly, the 5
pawl thus being adapted to ride freely over the ratchet in one direction of rotation of
pinion and be engaged with the shoulders or back of the ratchet teeth when the
pinion is rotated in a reverse direction. The rim of the pinion is extended, forming
a flange (which overhangs and encloses the ends of the pawl G. This retains said
pawl in position and permits it to oscillate without the employment of a pivot pin or
bolt as such, and obviates rapid and continuous wearing-out action on the pawl when
such pin or bolt is employed. It is evident that when the mower is advanced, the
ratchet engages with the pawl so that the power of the mower wheels is communicated
to the shaft of the rotary cutter. When the mower is run back, the pawl rides freely
over the ratchet without imparting motion to the shaft E; whereby the rotary cutter 1
remains stationary or inoperative.
The blades of the rotary cutter consist each of a cutting portion a projecting from
the stock b, which is an enlarged continuation of the blade, whereby a large surface
and strong portion are provided for the attachment of the cutter to the supporting
lugs or arms. The blade portion a projects from the stock to such extent that its
cutting edge may be readily sharpened without reducing the thickness of the stock
thus saving time and material.
H, represents a grass gatherer, the same consisting of a box provided with an
opening on the side towards the mower, and having secured to its bottom, the bearing
pieces J, which are adapted to rest upon the cross stay or one of the shafts of the
mower. Projecting from the said bearing pieces or the bottom of the grass gatherer,
if so desired, are feet K, which are adapted to engage with hook-shaped lugs L,
secured to the cross stay.
It will be seen that when the-box is located on the cross stay by means of its bearing
pieces J, it rests on said stay and the feet K are caught under the lugs L, whereby
the box is retained in position, the gravity of the box at the rear thereof, keeping the
feet and lugs engaged and the bearing pieces preventing displacement of the box
from the stay, brace or other cross piece. As the grass is cut, it is directed into the
box and thereby gathered. By raising the box, the feet K separate from the lugs L,
whereby the feet and' lugs are disconnected and the box may be raised from the cross
stay and thus removed from the mower.
M represents a guard for the grass gatherer, consisting of a hood or segmental
piece, to whose sides are secured the eyes N, which are fitted' on posts P,
rising from
the side pieces or frame of the mower, so that the guard may be readily applied to
and removed from the mower. It will be seen that the guard is located above the
cutter of the mower, and faces the open side of the grass gatherer, so that when the
grass is cut, it is deflected or guided toward and into the gatherer and prevented from
being scattered laterally or falling towards the operator of the mower.
The side walls of the guard also prevents the wind' from blowing the grass
laterally from the guard, and' the upper portion of the guard' is' narrowed',; so as to
direct the grass unfailingly into the box.
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
clainitis:-
First. A ratchet and pawl mechanism for a lawn mower, consisting of a rateliet,
ย pinion carrying the same, a shaft on which said' pinion is loosely mounted, and
a double-ended pawl which is freely mounted in a recess in said shaft.
Second. A lawn mower having a rotary cutter, driving wheels and gearing, in
combination with a pawl' and' ratchet mechanism consisting of teeth on the pinion
of said gearing, and a swinging pawl which is fitted loosely in the shaft of said
pinion and engages with said teeth, substantially as described.

page_text: Third. The cutter of a lawn mower, consisting of the blade a and enlarged
stock 6 therefor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. A grass gatherer for a lawn mower, consisting of a box which is
removably connected with the mower by means of hooks or lugs connected with a
stay, brace or other cross piece of the inower and engages with feet or projections
on the box, substantially as described.
Eifth. A guard for the grass gatherer of a lawn mower, substantially as
described.
Sixth. The guard for a grass gatherer having eyes connected therewith and the
mower having posts for said eyes, whereby the guard is supported on the mower,
substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
LUIS TO Con
тон ства полет
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.