Improvements in Lawn Mowers or Machines for Cutting Grass.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lawn Mowers or Machines for Cutting Grass.
I SAMUEL EDWARDS, of Ladywell, Eccles in the County of Lancaster, Agricultural
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in lawn mowers being a new combination of
adjustable rollers and chain driving gear in the case of lawn mowers driven by means
of long driving drums or rollers placed behind the revolving cutters.
And a new system of driving the revolving cutters in that class of lawn mower
commonly known as the side wheel lawn mower that is a lawn mower having side
travelling driving wheels instead of a long roller or drum placed behind the cutters this
class of machine has always been driven by toothed gearing I purpose substituting
driving by means of a chain in order to lighten the draught and reduce the noise.
In roller lawn mowers, I form sliding brackets in which the rollers run so that these
brackets will fit in corresponding grooves of the same width. There will be two pairs
of grooves one pair being at the front of the revolving cutters and the other pair
between the revolving cutters and the driving rollers the said driving rollers being at
the rear of the revolving cutters. By the means of these grooves the person using or
working the machine will have the power of placing the adjusting rollers either
before or behind the revolving cutters according to the style of work to be under-
taken. For example, when cutting long grass the adjusting rollers will be placed
behind the revolving cutters thus enabling the cutters to face the grass without it
having been pressed down. When the ground is uneven the adjusting rollers will
be placed in front of the revolving cutters by this means steadying the machine and
pressing down small stones or other matter which might be on the lawn thus
preventing injury to the cutters in working.
Another part of this my invention, relates to lawn mowers when driven by side
travelling wheels instead of long heavy driving rollers. I place a narrow travelling
wheel at each end of the main spindle either immediately inside of the frame or
outside of the frame. Each of these travelling wheels runs loose upon the spindle
and has ratchet teeth formed inside of the centre boss of the same which gears into
a boss keyed fast to the main spindle. These fast bosses have receptacles formed in
them to receive a pawl or pawls which gear into the bosses of the travelling wheels
thus allowing the revolving cutters to remain stationary when the machine is drawn
backwards.
I key upon the main spindle a wheel with teeth suitable for chain driving gear
also a pinion with corresponding style of teeth upon the spindle of the revolving
cutters. These toothed wheels are then connected with a chain and thus the machine
is driven by means of a chain instead of toothed wheels gearing into each other as is
the case in this particular make of lawn mower driven by means of side travelling
wheels instead of the long heavy driving rollers.
My object is to lighten the draught, reduce the noise and give greater facilities
in the working of those lawn mowers driven by long heavy driving rollers, which lawn
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page_text: mowers have the advantage of being able to place the adjusting rollers either before
or behind the revolving cutters; also to apply the principle of chain gearing to lawn
mowers driven by side wheels, thus lightening the draught, reducing the noise and
giving greater facilities in the working of those lawn mowers driven by side wheels.
Dated this 5th day of October 1896.
SAMUEL EDWARDS,
Applicant.
Improvements in Lawn Mowers or Machines for Cutting Grass.
I, SAMUEL EDWARDS of Ladywell, Eccles, in the County of Lancaster Agricultural
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same has to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of driving the cutters in
combination with other parts of the machines and it refers to two types of Lawn
Mowers, namely those which are provided with long drums or rollers, and those having
narrow side wheels.
The object is to reduce the noise of the gearing and to render them more
effective.
The annexed drawings show the manner in which I carry out the invention in both
cases.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a Lawn Mower, provided with long drums or rollers.
Fig. 2, plan of the geared side of same.
Fig. 3, side elevation of a Lawn Mower of a lighter type provided with side
wheels.
Fig. 4, plan of the geared side of same.
In the inachine shown in Figs. 1 & 2, I make two side frames A, connected by a
sole plate B, and cross bar C, having handle bars D, all of which are old.
At a suitable distance both in front and behind the axle E, of the revolving cutters F,
the sides of the frame are prepared with guideways to receive the roller brackets G,
which carry the rollers H. I have shown the rollers in the front position, and have
indicated their position behind by dotted lines. The driving drums or rollers I, are
carried by the axle J, and upon the same axle outside the frame A, is fixed a toothed
wheel K, in line with a toothed pinion L, fixed upon the axle E, of the revolving
cutters F.
The wheel K, and the pinion L, are connected by means of a loop of machine
chain M, by which rotary motion is communicated to the cutter shaft E. This
arrangement of parts is new.
In Figs. 3 and 4, I show a Lawn Mower in which the cutters F, are driven by side
travelling wheels N, which are shown fixed inside the frame A but if desired this
arrangement may be reversed, the wheels N being placed outside, and the chain and
chain wheels inside the frame.
The toothed wheel K, is fixed upon the axle J, of the driving wheels N, and
transmits its rotary motion to the cutters by means of a loop of chain N, passing over
a pinion L, fixed upon the axle E, of the cutters F.
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. A Lawn Mower having broad driving drums I; regulating rollers H, which can

page_text: be moved from front to rear of the cutters F, a toothed wheel K, upon the drum
axle J, a toothed pinion L, upon the cutter axle E, and a connecting chain M, all in
combination, as hereinbefore described, and shown in Figs. 1 & 2 of the drawings.
2. A Lawn Mower having narrow side wheels N, placed either inside or outside the
frame A, a toothed wheel K, fixed upon the wheel axle J, a pinion upon the cutter
axle E, and a connecting chain M, all in combination as hereinbefore described, and
shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
נות
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.