Improvements in Reaping and Self-tying Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reaping and Self-tying Machines.
I, THOMAS PERCIVAL GASCOIGNE, Schoolmaster, of Highfield, Hemsworth, Wake-
field, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of reaping and self
tying machines having for its object to provide means by which such machines
may cut closer to the ground without danger of injury.
According to my invention I adjust the beam or bar carrying the pointers and
on which the knife slides by hydraulic means. The beam is raised or lowered
at each end so that its position relatively to the ground can be accurately adjusted
and it can be made to tilt at any desired angle thus allowing for furrows or
irregularities in the ground.
At each end of the beam a small cylinder and piston are provided connected
to the end of the beam and from this cylinder two pipes lead to a small box
or reservoir supplied with water. Another cylinder is also connected by a pipe
to the box or reservoir and is situated close to the driver. The piston of this
cylinder is operated by foot levers, one of which serves to compress the water in
the cylinder, the other serving to raise the piston. The levers are worked respec-
tively by the right and left foot.
The box or reservoir from which the two branch pipes pass is provided with
small sliding valves which open or close the passages through the branch pipes
so that either of the two cylinders connected to the beam can be opened to the
liquid pressure produced in the main cylinder. The valves are operated by
small rods provided with a handle or ring and with springs which cause the
valves to close when released.
To raise either end of the beam the corresponding valve is opened and at the
same time the foot lever is pressed down so as to compress the water in the cylin-
der, the pressure being transmitted through the pipes to the small cylinder con-
nected with the beam. On pressing down the second lever so as to relieve the
water pressure, the beam is allowed to drop to its lower position. The beam can
thus be raised or lowered at each end with great ease enabling the slightest
irregularities of the ground to be followed.
In order to obviate any danger of the pointers accidentally digging into the
ground when the machine passes over uneven or furrowed ground, the beam
and pointers are arranged so that the back of the beam is slightly lower than the
pointers, the beam being tilted for this purpose. To hold the beam in this posi-
tion steel stays or supports are employed which are pivoted to the beam, the
supports being of different lengths to give the required tilts.
Dated this 18th day of February 1899
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, THOMAS PERCIVAL GASCOIGNE, Schoolmaster,, of Highfield, Hemsworth, Wake-
field, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of reaping machines,
having for its object to provide means by which machines may cut closer to the
ground without danger of injury.
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According to my invention I adjust the beam or bar carrying the pointers
and on which the knife slides by hydraulic means. The beam is raised or lowered
at each end so that its position relatively to the ground can be accurately adjus-
ted and it can be made to tilt at any desired angle thus allowing for furrows or
irregularities in the ground.
At each end of the beam, a small cylinder and piston are provided connected
to the end of the beam and from this cylinder two pipes lead to a small box or
reservoir supplied with water. Another cylinder is also connected by a pipe to
the box or reservoir and is situated close to the driver. The piston of this cylin-
der is operated by foot levers worked respectively by the right and left foot.
The box or reservoir from which the two branch pipes pass is provided with
small sliding valves which open or close the passages through the branch pipes
so that either of the two cylinders connected to the beam can be opened to the
liquid pressure produced in the main cylinder. The valves are operated by small
rods provided with a handle or ring and with springs which cause the valves to
close when released.
To raise either end of the beam the corresponding valve is opened and at the
same time the foot lever is pressed down so as to compress the water in the cylin-
der, the pressure being transmitted through the pipes to the small cylinder con-
nected with the beam. On pressing down the second lever so as to relieve the
water pressure the beam is allowed to drop to its lower position. The beam can
thus be raised or lowered at each end with great ease enabling the slightest
irregularities of the ground to be followed.
In order that this invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows the apparatus in side view, part of the reaping machine being in
section.
Fig. 2 is a plan of part of the apparatus and
Fig. 3 a detail view.
The power required to operate the apparatus is transmitted from a cylinder A
fixed to the underside of the platform B of the reaping machine. This cylinder
which is supplied with water, is provided with a piston C, the piston rod of which
is linked to the lever D having at its end a foot rest d. On pressing down this
lever by the foot, the water is forced out of the cylinder A through the pipe F
to the chamber E whence it is distributed as hereafter described.
The lever D is connected to the small transverse lever di pivotted to a sup-
port carried by the platform B and having at its other end the foot plate d³.
On pressing this down the lever D is raised together with the piston C ready
for another stroke.
The chamber E is provided with the two extensions e on one face within
which sliding valves G are fitted, the valves having rods g which extend up-
wardly and are furnished with rings g' by which they can be operated.

page_text: The driver sits upon the seat B¹ carried by the platform B in the usual man-
ner and the rings g' are within easy reach so that he can operate one or other
whenever required. The rods g are provided with springs which cause the
valves to close automatically when released.
From the extensions e proceed the pipes H & H¹ leading to the cylinders J
and J placed at opposite ends of the pointer beam K. This beam is slung from
the links k, the front one of which is slightly shorter than the back so that the
pointer beam tilts at a slight angle upwardly towards the front. These links
swing from bars or plates and which are connected to the piston rods j of
the pistons in the cylinders J and J.
The cylinder J is placed directly above the pointer beam, but in order to
allow for the other mechanism of the reaping machine the cylinder J at the
outer end of the pointer beam if placed lower down immediately behind the end
of the beam and the bar extends from the upper end of the piston rod j over
the end of the pointer bar, the links supporting the latter being connected to the
side bar. The cylinder J' is supported by the front beam L of the side plat-
form L on to which the wheat falls as it is cut and the pipe H' leading from
the chamber E extends as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 under this beam which is
grooved to allow it to pass.
With this apparatus, the driver has the most complete control possible of the
machine and can allow for very slight inequalities in the ground enabling the
machine to cut close to the ground.
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 reaping machine, an adjustable pointer beam and means for operating
the said beam comprising hydraulic cylinders adapted to raise and lower the beam
at each end and apparatus by which pressure can be applied in said cylinders
at the will of the driver, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(2) In a reaping machine, an adjustable pointer bar, cylinders at each end of
the said har having their pistons connected to it, pipes leading from the said
cylinders to a water chamber or reservoir, a compressing cylinder connected to
the chamber foot lever adapted to supply and relieve the pressure and valves
regulating the supply of water to the operating cylinders, substantially as des-
cribed and for the purposes specified.
(3) The improved apparatus for operating adjustable pointer bars of reaping
machines by hydraulic power at the will of the driver, constructed and operating
substantially as described and shown and for the purposes specified.
nated this 19th day of December 1899
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.