IMPROVEMENTS HARVESTERS."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wood, of Albany, New York, United States of
America, Master Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
HARVESTERS."
"
IN
Sealed the 23rd March 1880, and dated the 8th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1879.
FRANK WOOD, of Albany, New York, United States of America, Master
Mechanic. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTERS."
This Invention relates to harvesting machines, and comprises various details of
construction, as hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a main frame to which
the draught-pole is attached, the driving wheel loosely revolves on a shaft which
is supported in proper bearings from the main frame, an internal gear wheel is
cast solid with the driving wheel or attached to the same, which internal gear
wheel gives motion to a spur pinion which is loosely mounted on a spindle secured
to the main frame. In the head end of said spur pinion is provided a ratchet
wheel. Loosely mounted on the same spindle is a bevel gear wheel; the said
bevel gear wheel carries a dog or pawl which operates with the ratchet wheel
carried by the spur pinion. When thus arranged the driving wheel when revolved
forward will give motion to the spur pinion, which spur pinion will through the
medium of the ratchet and pawl give motion to another bevel gear wheel, but
when the said driving wheel is revolved in an opposite direction the said bevel gear
wheel will remain idle. The crank-shaft-box is made solid with the aforesaid
frame or attached to the same, which crank-shaft-box carries the crank-shaft. To
the upper and rear end of said crank-shaft is secured a bevel pinion, which bevel
pinion receives motion from the last named bevel gear wheel. To the lower and
forward end of said crank-shaft is secured a balance wheel, which carries the
pitman connection or crank for operating a pitman to transınit motion to the sickle
or knife bar of the machine.
Loosely secured on shaft of the driving wheel is a sprocket wheel which com-
municates motion to the rake-head through the medium of an endless chain and
sprocket-wheel.
One of the spokes of the driving wheel is made with a sleeve running trans-
versely with said spoke. Through this sleeve works a shaft; to the outer end of
said shaft is secured a lever handle, and to the opposite end is secured a cam.
Drine 077

page_text: Pivotted to ears made with the hub of the driving wheel is a dog which runs
back to the sprocket-wheel and engages with the teeth of an internal ratchet wheel
made in said sprocket-wheel. A spring placed between the dog and the hub of
the driving wheel throws said dog up, so that its end will engage with the ratchet-
wheel in the sprocket wheel; when the handle lever is turned in a direction 5
transversely to the direction of spoke the dog will engage with the ratchet-wheel
of the sprocket wheel, and the said sprocket wheel will be revolved by the driving-
wheel when in motion in a forward direction. When the hand lever is turned back
and in a direction parallel with the spoke, the cam on the shaft will be turned down
or on the dog to depress the same and throw its free end out of engagement with 1
the ratchet of the sprocket wheel when said sprocket wheel will remain idle.
Arranged parallel with the side of the main frame towards a platform is a
tilting frame, which tilting frame carries the platform and its sickle-bar and knife
guards and the rake-head. The forward end of the said tilting frame is supported
by an excentric fixed securely to the shaft on which the driving wheel revolves 1
and works in a flanged way made solid with said tilting frame. Firmly secured
to the opposite end of the said shaft and directly opposite the platform of the
driver's seat is a worm gear wheel. Working in said worm gear wheel is a screw
gear wheel, which screw gear wheel is provided with a handled crank extending
up vertically to near the plane of the driver's seat.
When the handled crank is revolved in one direction the screw-gear wheel will
also be revolved and will operate with the worm gear wheel and revolve it forward
and carry with it the shaft of the driving wheel, and also the excentric attached to
the opposite end of said shaft. When the said excentric is thus moved its throw
from the shaft will be downward, and in such a manner as to cause the excentric to
revolve in the flange ways of the tilting frame and depress the forward end of the
same and carry with it the platform with its sickle-bar, and also the rake-head.
A reverse direction of the movement of the handled crank will revolve the screw
gear wheel in an opposite direction and so operate the worm gear wheel as to carry
the excentric upwards so as to carry the tilting frame up, and thereby elevate the
platform and rake head to a higher plane.
The tilting shaft for elevating or depressing the rearward portion of the tilting
frame extends across the rear end of the main frame and is supported in bearings in
the same. The end of said tilting shaft next to the tilting frame is provided with
a crank, the end of which crank works in a slot made in the roar end of said
tilting frame. Secured to the opposite end of the said tilting shaft is a hand lever
which carries a finger lever and elastic dog. The dog works in a segmental tooth
rack and operates to hold the tilting shaft in any position it may be set to.
When the hand lever is thrown forward the tilting-shaft will be moved in a
corresponding direction, and the crank end of said tilting shaft will be thrown
downward at its further end and carry with it the rear end of the tilting frame. A
reverse movement of the hand lever will move the crank end of the tilting shaft in
an opposite direction and elevate the rear end of the tilting frame.
When the excentric has been operated to carry its throw downwards the tilting
frame will be depressed, and will carry with it the knife guards and sickle-bar
attached to the front of platform, and when in this condition it is desired to give to
the platform but a slight inclination the hand lever is to be moved forward, when
the crank-end of the tilting shaft will be thrown downward and will carry with it
the rear end of the tilting frame, and consequently depress the rear end of the
platform, and thereby cause the platform to have its upper surface about on a
plane parallel with the surface of the ground, or to a more or less angle with the
same, as may be selected, accordingly as the rear end of the tilting frame is moved
by the tilting shaft.
Secured to the machine from the main shaft of the driving wheel and the projecting
end of a spindle is a depressing way. Pivotted to the platform from its lower side
is a shaft held in proper bearings secured to said platform. The end of said shaft
towards the tilting frame is provided with a right-angular piece forming a lever,

page_text: which lever is provided with a grooved head which receives the lower side edge of
the depresssing way. Made with the end of shaft next to the ground wheel is a
crank, which crank works in a ground wheel lever hinged to the platform at a
point rearward of said ground wheel. The spindle of said ground wheel is secured
to said lever. The said lever is held in place by a guide secured to said platform
and clasping the said lever at a point forward of the pivot by which it is connected
to the platform. When the rear end of the tilting frame is depressed the platform
in its rearward position will also be depressed, while the grooved head of the lever
of the shaft will ride on the lower side of the depressing way, and the crank of the
shaft will be thrown upward and thereby carry upward the spindle of the ground
wheel, when the rear end of the platform will be depressed on the ground wheel side
correspondingly with the rear end of the same at the tilting frame side, so that
both sides of the platform will be on the same plane.
A draw rod connects the pole to the platform by means of a stud secured to the
pole, and another stud secured to said platform. A stiffening rod having one end
connected to the last named stud on the platform, and its opposite end to the tilting
frame, stiffens the connection of said platform with said tilting frame. Secured to the
forward portion of the tilting frame is a bracket, which bracket supports a shaft
supported in bearings from said bracket in a position nearly vertical to the plane
of the platform. The said shaft, which is free to revolve, is made to turn in its
bearings by a bevel gear wheel actuated by a bevel pinion secured to the shaft
carrying a sprocket wheel and supported from the tilting frame, by suitable
bearings; secured to the upper end of the vertical shaft is a head piece carrying ears
to which the ends of the rake arms are pivoted. The said rake arms carry rakes.
Arranged in a fixed manner on a plane below the head piece is a cam track.
The said cam track has its way so framed that one portion of said track, towards
the driving-wheel, will be nearly horizontal, and on a higher plane than its opposite
side, vertical. Another portion towards the platform side, while the forward
portion of said track will have a gradual descent from the horizontal portion
towards and to the vertical portion, and the rearward portion will have a sudden
rise from the vertical portion to the horizontal portion.
The rake-arms are hinged to the head piece by means of metallic arms; each
said metallic arm is provided with a roller, which roller when the rake head is
revolved will revolve on the faces of the several portions of the cam track and
cause the rake arms and their rakes to be successively elevated and lowered. The
said rollers are arranged nearly at right angles with the metallic arms, so that
when they are brought to revolve on the horizontal portion of the cam track the
rake arms will be elevated, and when they are carried forward and descend on the
forward portion of the track the said rake arms will be gradually depressed_so_as
to cause the rakes to work against the standing grain and carry it towards the
platform, while when the roller of an arm passes rearward and against the vertical
portion of the track, the rake will sweep the platform clear of the accumulated cut
grain thereon and throw it rearward of the platform; when the said roller passes
entirely to the rear portion of the cam track, the sudden incline of said portion of
the track will cause the rake arm to be elevated the same as when first started.
Supported from the side of the continuous cam track towards the platform, and
from the vertical side portion of the same, is a bracket provided on its upper side
with a way in which works a sliding piece, which sliding piece carries a section of
the beater track. The inner face side of said sliding section of beater track is so
formed that when the roller of a rake arm passes the said face and the vertical
portion of the continuous cam track, the rake arm will be locked down from all
liability of jumping upward. The outer side face of said sliding section is so formed
as to run from a vertical line of surface, to one which is oblique or inclined so that
when the sliding section is moved back against the vertical portion of the cam
track, the roller of a rake arm will move against said face of said sliding section
and cause the rake arm to be gradually elevated. Cast solid with a bracket is a
fixed section of the beater track, the face of which is so formed that the roller of a.

page_text: "
rake arm revolving against the same will force the rake arm upward to a higher
elevation than when moving against the face side of the sliding section. Pivoted
from ears inade with the base portion of the continuous can track is the switch track
which forms a section of the beater track and leads the roller of a rake arm from
the sliding section and fixed section to the main continuous cam track so as to raise
the rake arm to its highest elevation.
When the sliding section of the beater cam track is moved off from the vertical
section of the continuous cam track the roller of the rake arms will move
successively against the faces of the portions of said cam track and cause the rakes,
as they are continuously revolved, to alternately rise and descend against the
standing grain to carry it back towards the platform, and then to descend to the
platform and sweep the entire surface of the same to bunch the cut grain fallen
thereon, and deliver the same on the surface of the ground rearward of the machine.
When the sliding section of the beater track is so moved against the vertical section
of the continuous cam track as to cause the roller of the rake arms to move against
the outer surface of the said sliding track section the rakes as they are continuously
revolved by the head piece will be successively elevated and depressed for operation
as beaters to carry the standing grain towards the platform, but not for operation
as rakes to sweep the platform clear of the fallen grain.
To effect an automatic movement of the sliding section of the beater track
towards and from the main and continuous cam track for causing the rakes to
operate alternately as beaters and rakes I provide the following devices and
mechanism-Made with the lower side of the head piece are one or more down-
wardly projecting pieces, which pieces revolve with said head piece continuously.
Secured to the upper end of a vertical pivot working in a bearing made solid
with the can track is a lever arm. Secured to the lower end of the same vertical
pivot is another lever, which lever is connected by a connecting rod to another lever
arrangeu below a sliding piece and secured to the lower end of a vertical pivot.
Secured to the upper end of the vertical pivot is a tripping lever. Another lever is
forked to a sliding latch, which sliding latch works in the lower sides of the sliding
piece, and is provided with a holding lip on its head end towards the continuous
cam track, and is adapted to engage with the head end of said sliding piece. The
vertical pivot to which the levers on arms are secured is made with a greater length
than the length of the bearing in which said vertical pivot works, and is made
elastic by a spring, which spring so operates with the said pivot and its attached
lever arms as to hold the lever arm up to a plane on a horizontal line above the
lower ends of downwardly projecting pieces carried by the hend pieces. A spring
is provided on the lower side of the sliding piece and connecting from the head end
of the same to the outer end of the bracket for the purpose of drawing the sliding
section of the beater track to the vertical section of the continuous cam track.
Supported from the bracket supporting the rake-head shaft is a bracket arm which
carries a crank shaft supported in suitable bearings. Made with the end of said
crank shaft towards the rake head is an arm which rests on the heel of a lever.
Pivotted to the outer and crank end of shaft is a draw rod which connects in a
pivotted manner to the short end of a foot lever, having for its fulcrum the outer
end of the shaft of the driving wheel.
The manner in which the several parts of this mechanism operates is as
follows: When the head piece is revolved continuously by the mechanism provided,
the downwardly projecting pieces on said head piece will strike on the inner side
edge of the lever arm and so press on it as to cause it to turn outward, when the
lever below, secured to the same pivot, will also be moved outward, and draw by
the connecting bar the lever in the same direction. This movement of the lever
will be in a direction towards the continuous cam track, and being secured to the
vertical pivot of a tripping lever will cause the free end of the said tripping lever
to be moved towards the said cam track. The lever when moved towards the cam
track, will by reason of its being yoked to a sliding latch carry said sliding latch
forward, and throw its catching head end in engagement with the lower side of the

page_text: head end of the siding piece which carries sliding section of the beater track, while
at the same time the said sliding section will be carried by spring up to the vertical
section of the continuous cam track. When the several parts are in this position
the tripping lever will be partially over the groove track of the roller of the rake
arms, so that when the head piece is made to continue its revolution and the
projection has been carried past a lever the latch piece will be set for operating the
sliding piece to move it back and carry the sliding section of the beater track off
from the main cam track to permit the roller of the first approaching rake arm to
pass between the vertical section of the cam track and the face of said sliding
section. This movement of the sliding piece and its section of the beater track
is effected by means of the roller of the first approaching rake arm, which roller
will on its forward movement press against the tripping lever or arm and force it to
move outward, and by means of its vertical pivot to which it and the lever beneath
are secured, the said lever will also be moved outward and will carry with it the
latch picce engaging with the sliding piece, and draw said sliding piece and
section of the beater track with it froni the cam track, when the roller of the
said approaching rake arm will pass between the face of the said section and the
vertical face section of the cam track, and the rake attached to the said rake arm
will be depressed and be made to sweep over the entire surface of the platform
and clear it from the cut grain fallen thercon. As soon as the roller of the said
rako arm has passed out between the said two sections, another projection made
with the head pieco will operate with the lever to reset the several parts for
another operation. Where four rake arms with rakes are employed I use two
projections, pach situated in opposition to each other, and thereby secure an
alternate rake and beater movement of the rakes, which are adapted to be thus
used alternately in good or heavy grain. When the grain is light in its straw and
it is desired to have the machine travel to a greater distance before discharging the
cut grain from the platform in bunches, the driver will with his foot press on the
foot lever, when said lever will operate the crank shaft and cause the arm to press
on the heel of the lever and thereby carry said lever together with another lever
downward, so that the upper surface side of the latter will be carried below the
plane of the lower ends of the projections carried by the head piece, when the said
projections will pass free from contact with lever when said lover will be unaffected,
and consequently the sliding section of the beater track will be held up to the
vertical face section of the main track by the force of the elastic spring, and not by
the sliding latch piece as before described. In this condition of parts the rakes
will be revolved only as beaters and will not operate as rakes for sweeping the
platform clear of grain, as the rollers will revolve against the face of the sliding
section of the beater track and not between said section and the vertical faco
section of the main cam track. But when the driver removes the pressure of
his foot from the lever, the projections will operate against a lever which will
be carried upward by the spring before referred to, to give movement to the
several parts operating to set the sliding latch piece and tripping arm when the
rake arms will revolve and be made to operate the rakes alternately as beaters and
rakes.
To lock the pitman with the sickle bar in a ready manner I provide the shoe
with a housing made solid with said shoe, and located at the forward end of the
same and opposite to a guide piece. In said housing is pivotted a right angular
piece which I denominate the locking jaw. A limb of this locking jaw has a length
Somewhat greater than the length of the stroke of the pitman rod, and extends in
a direction parallel with the guide piece attached to the guard bar, and has its face
at a distance from the head of the sickle-bar equal to the thickness of the pitinan
rod so that the said pitinan rod may freely work between. Pivotted also in said
housing is a latch the forward end of which engages with a shoulder or notch made
in the upper side of the locking jaw. When the said latch is thrown upward from
engagement with the locking jaw the said locking jaw may also be lifted upward-so

page_text: as to be wholly above the plane of the upper side of the pitman, when the pitman
may be disconnected from the sickle bar and the sickle-bar be readily slipped out
of place in the usual manner. When it is desired to secure the pitman to the sickle
bar the operator will need only to enter the hook end of the pitman into the head
of the sickle bar and press the locking jaw downward in its place against the
pitman, and then press the latch down so that its forward end will engage with the
shoulder of the locking jaw, when the pitman will be securely locked with the sickle
knife.
It will be readily observed that by the above described improvements many
advantageous results (differing in kind from what before has been had) are secured,
and that the driver from his seat may have perfect and full control over the several
operating parts of the machine in a manner different from what has been heretofore
in this class of machines.

page_text: the cam n.
the said spoke, as shewn in Figures 2 and 4. Through this sleeve works a shaft l
to the outer end of which is secured a lever-handle m, and to the opposite end
Pivotted to ears on the hub of the driving wheel is a dog o which
extends back to the sprocket-wheel G and engages with the teeth of an internal
ratchet-wheel p formed in the said sprocket-wheel, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5;
a spring placed between the dog o and the hub of the driving wheel forces the said
dog outwards so that its end will engage with the ratchet-wheel in the sprocket-
wheel G. When the lever handle m is turned in a direction transversely to the
direction of the spoke j the dog o will engage with the ratchet wheel of the sprocket
wheel G, and the said sprocket wheel will be revolved by the driving wheel C when
in motion in a forward direction. When the hand-lever m is turned back and in a
direction parallel with the spokej the cam non shaft k will be turned down or
upon the dog o, to depress the same and throw its free end out of engagement with
the ratchet p of the sprocket wheel G when the said sprocket wheel will remain
idle.
Parallel with the side of the main frame towards the platform H is arranged the
tilting frame I, Figures 2 and 6, carrying the platform H and its sickle-bar and
knife guards, and the rake-head; the forward end of the said tilting frame is
supported by the excentric J fixed securely to the shaft a, on which the driving
wheel revolves and works in the flanged way x made solid with the said tilting
frame, as shewn. Firmly secured to the opposite end of the shaft a, and directly
opposite the platform M. of the driver's seat L is the worm gear wheel or sector N.
Working in the said worm gear-wheel is the worm or screw gear-wheel P, which
is provided with a crank handle Q extending up vertically near to the plane of the
driver's sent.
When the handled crank Q is revolved in one direction the worm P will also be
revolved, and will actuate the worm gear wheel N and revolve it forward, and
carry with it the shaft a of the driving wheel, and also the excentric J attached to
the opposite end of the said shaft. When the said excentric is thus moved its
throw from the shaft will be downward, and in such a manner as to cause the
excentric to revolve in the flanged ways of the tilting frame, and depress the
forward end of the same, and carry with it the platform H with its sickle-bar, and
also the rake-head. A reverse direction of the movement of the crank-handle Q
will revolve the worm P in an opposite direction, and so operate the worm-wheel
as to carry the excentric J upwards to carry the tilting frame up, and thereby
elevate the platform and rake head to a higher plane.
The tilting shaft K. for elevating or depressing the rearward portion of the tilting
frame I extends across the rear end of the main frame A, and is supported in
bearings in the same, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 6, and 7. The end of the said
tilting shaft next to the tilting frame I is provided with a crank q, whose end
works in a slot r formed in the rear end of the said tilting frame, as shown in
Figures 2 and 6. Secured to the opposite end of the said tilting shaft K is the
hand-lever R which carries the finger-lever s and spring-dog 8', as shown in
Figures 2 and 7. The dog s' works in a segmental toothed rack t, and operates
to hold the tilting shaft K in any desired position. When the hand lover R is
thrown forward the tilting shaft will be moved in a corresponding direction, and
the cranked end g of the said tilting shaft will be thrown downward and carry
with it the rear end of the tilting frame I. A reverse movement of the hand lever R
will move the crank end q of the tilting shaft in an opposite direction, and elevate
the rear end of the tilting frame. When the excentric J has been operated to carry
its throw downwards the tilting frame will be depressed, and will carry with it the
knife guards and sickle-bar attached to the front of the platform E, and when in
this condition it is desired to give to the platform but a slight inclination the hand
lever R may be moved forward when the crank-end of the tilting shaft will be
thrown downward, and will carry with it the rear end of the tilting frame I, and
consequently depress the rear end of the platform H, the upper surface of the
platform will thus be caused to assume a position about of a plane parallel with the

page_text: surface of the ground, or at a greater or less angle to the same, as may be desired,
when the rear end of the tilting frame is moved by the tilting shaft.
T is a depressing way secured upon the main shaft a of the driving wheel, and
the projecting end of the spindle b, as shewn in Figures 2 and 7. Pivottod to the
platform H upon its underside is the shaft u held in proper bearings socured to the
said platform, as shewn in Figure 6. The end of this shaft towards the tilting
frame is turned up at a right angle, this turned up part forming a lover or lever
arm u, which is provided with a grooved head v, which receives or embraces the
lowermost edge of the depressing way T, as shewn in Figures 2, 6, and 7. The
other end of the shaft u next to the ground-wheel U is provided with a crank v',
Figures 2 and 8, working in the ground-wheel-lever V hinged to the platform H
at a point at the rear of the said ground-wheel, as shewn in Figure 8. The spindle
of the ground-wheel U is secured to the lever V, which is held in place by the
guide w secured to the platform, and embracing the said lever at a point in front
of the pivot, by which it is connected to the said platform.
When the rear end of the tilting framo I is depressed the rearward portion of
the platform H will also be depressed, while the grooved head of the lever u¹ on
the shaft u will slide on the lower side of the depressing way T; the crank v' of
the shaft u will thus be thrown upward, and carry upward the spindle of the
ground-wheel U, when the rear of of the platform will be depressed on the
ground-wheel side, correspondingly with the rear end of the saino at the tilting
frame side, so that both sides of the platform will be on the same plane.
A draw rod b' connects the pole B to the platform H by means of the stud a¹
secured to the pole and the stud a³ secured to the said platform, as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2. A stiffening rod c¹ having one end connected to the stud a² on
the platform, and its opposite end to the tilting frame I, stiffens the connection of
the said platform with the said tilting frame. Secured to the forward portion of
the tilting frame I is the bracket A¹ which carries the shaft B¹ supported in
suitable bearings in the said bracket in a position nearly vertical to the plane of tho
platform H. The said shaft, which is free to revolve, is turned in its bearings by
the bevel gear-wheel C actuated by the bevel pinion D' secured to the shaft
carrying the sprocket-wheel G, and supported from the tilting frame by suitable
bearings; secured to the upper end of the vertical shaft B¹ is the head-piece E¹
carrying ears e¹, e¹, to which the ends of the rake-arms F¹, F', are pivotted. The
said rake-arms carry the rakes H³, H¹.
J' represents the cam track, which is fixed below the head piece E'. The said
cam track has its way so formed that the portion 1 of the said track towards the
driving wheel is nearly horizontal, and on a higher plane than its opposite side
vertical portion 2 towards the platform side, while the forward portion 3 of the
said track has a gradual descent from the horizontal portion 1 towards and to the
vertical portion 2, and the rearward portion 4 has a sudden rise from the vertical
portion 2 to the horizontal portion 1, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 6. The rake
arins F are hinged to the head piece E¹ by means of the metallic arms F, cach of
which is provided with a rollers, which, when the rake-head E' is turned, will
revolve on the faces of the several portions 1, 3, 2, and 4 of the cam track, and
cause the rake-arms and their rakes to be successively elevated and lowered. The
rollers are arranged nearly at right angles to the metallic arms F, so that when
they revolve on the horizontal portion 1 of the cam track the rake-arms will be
elevated, as shewn in Figure 6, and when they are carried forward and
descend on the forward portion 3 of the said track the said rake-arms will
be gradually depressed to cause the rakes H¹ to work against the standing
grain and carry it towards the platforin. When the roller of an arm passes rear-
ward and against the vertical portion 2 of the track the rake will sweep the
accumulated cut grain from the platform and throw it in a rearward direction
from the same.
When the said roller passes entirely to the rear portion 4 of the
cam track the sudden incline of the said portion 4 of the track will cause the rake
arm to be elevated the same as when first started. From the side of the con-

page_text: tinuous cam track J¹ towards the platform H, and from the vertical side portion 2
of the same, extends the bracket K¹ provided on its upper side with a way, in
which works the sliding piece L1, Figure 3; this sliding piece carries a section 5
of the beater track. The inner face m¹ of the said sliding section 5 of the beater
track is so formed that when the roller of a rake arm passes the said face m¹,
and the vertical portion 2 of the continuous cam track J₁, the rake arm will be
held down, and all liability of its jumping upward will be obviated. The outer
face n¹ of the said sliding section 5 is so formed as to run from a vertical line of
surface to one which is oblique or inclined, so that when the sliding section 5 is
moved back against the vertical portion 2 of the cam track J¹, as indicated by
dotted lines in Figure 3, the roller z of a rake arm will move against the said face
n of the sliding section 5 and cause the rake arm to be gradually elevated. Cast
solid with the bracket K¹ is a fixed section 6 of the beater track, the face of which
section is so formed that the roller z of a rake arm revolving against the same will.
force the rake arm upward to a higher position than when moving against the
face side n² of the sliding section 5. On the base portion of the continuous cam
track J¹ ears are formed, in which is pivotted the switch section or track 7, which
forms a section of the beater track, and causes the rollers of a rake arm to pass
from the sliding section 5 and fixed section G to the main continuous cam track J¹,
so as to raise the rake arm to its highest position. When the sliding section 5 of
the beater cam track is moved away from the vertical section 2 of the continuous
cam track J¹, as shewn by full lines in Figure 3, the roller z of the rake arms will
move successively against the faces of the portions 1, 3, 2, and 4 of the said cam-
track, and cause the rakes as they are continuously revolved to alternately rise and
descend against the standing grain to carry it back towards the platform, and then
to descend to the platform and sweep the entire surface of the same to bunch the
cut grain which has fallen thereon, and deliver the same on the surface of tho
ground at the rear of the machine. When the sliding section 5 of the beater track
is so moved against the vertical section 2 of the continuous cam track J¹ as to
cause the rollers of the rake arms to move against the outer surface n' of the said
sliding track section 5 the rakes, as they are continuously revolved by the head
piéce E, will be successively elevated and depressed for operation as beaters to
carry the standing grain towards the platform, but not for operation as rakes to
sweep the platform clear of the fallen grain.
To effect an automatic movement of the sliding section 5 of the beater-track
towards and from the main and continuous cam track J' for causing the rakes to
operate alternately as beaters and rakes I provide the following devices and
mechanism, that is to say-On the lower side of the head piece E¹, shewn in
Figure 3, are one or more downwardly projecting pieces q', which revolve with the
said head piece continuously. To the upper end of a vertical pivot working in a
bearing on the can track J' is secured the lever arm, and upon the lower end of
the said vertical pivot is another lever a¹, and which is connected by a connecting
rod² to another lever y, shewn by dotted lines in Figure 3, arranged below the
sliding piece L' and secured to the lower end of the vertical pivots. Upon the
upper end of the said vertical pivot s is a tripping lever c. The lever y is yoked
to a sliding latch e, shewn in dotted lines in Figure 3. This sliding latch works
in the lower side of the sliding piece L', and is provided with a holding lip on its
head end towards the continuous cam track, and is adapted to engage with the
head end of the said sliding piece L'. The vertical pivot to which the levers or
lever arms and x' are secured is of greater length than the length of the bearing
in which the said vertical pivot works, and is made elastic by a spring, not shown,
which spring so operates with the said pivot and its attached lever arms as to hold
the lever arm up to a plane on a horizontal line above the lower ends of the
downwardly projecting pieces q', q', carried by the head piece E'. A spring &³,
Figure 6, is provided on the lower side of the sliding piece L¹ between the head
end of the same and the outer end of the bracket K₁ for the purpose of drawing
the sliding section 5 of the beater .track to the vertical section 2 of the continuous
•

page_text: cam track J. Upon the bracket supporting the rake-head shaft B' is a bracket
arm d, which carries a crank shaft f, Figure 2, and supported in suitable bearings.
The end of the said crank shaft towards the rake head is formed with the arm g³,
which rests on the heel of the lever ¹, shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and full
lines in Figure 6. To the outer or crank end of the shaft f is pivotted the draw
rod ², which is connected with a capability of movement to the short end of the
foot lever m² fulcrummed upon the outer end of the shaft a of the driving wheel C,
as shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 6.
The operation of the several parts of the mechanism above described is as follows,
that is to say--When the head piece E' is revolved continuously by the mechanism
for that purpose the downwardly projecting pieces q¹ on the said head piece will
strike on the inner side edge of the lever arm, and so press on it as to cause it to
turn outward; at the same time the lever ¹ below and secured to the same pivot
will also be moved outward, and draw by the connecting bar a² the lever y in the
same direction. This movement of the lever y will be in a direction towards the
continuous cam track J, and being secured to the vertical pivot 21 of the tripping
lever c², will cause the free end of the same to be moved towards the said cam track.
The lever y when thus moved will, by reason of its being yoked to the sliding latch
e², carry the latter forward, and throw its catching head end in engagement with
the lower side of the head end of the sliding piece L¹ which carries the section 5 of
the beater track, while at the same time the said sliding section 5 will be carried
by the spring & up to the vertical section 2 of the continuous cam track J¹. When
the several parts are in this position the tripping lever will be partially over the
groove track of the roller z of the rake arms, so that when the head piece E¹ is
caused to continue its revolution, and the projection q' has been carried past the
lever, the latch piece e will be set for operating the sliding piece L¹ to move it
back and carry the sliding section 5 of the beater track off from the main cam track
J; this permits the roller z of the first approaching rake arm to pass between the
vertical section 2 of the cam track and the face m' of the said sliding section 5.
This movement of the sliding piece L' and the section 5 of the beater track is
effected by means of the roller z of the first approaching rake arm, and which roller
will on its forward movement press against the tripping lever or arm c² and force it to
move outward, and by means of its vertical pivot, to which it and the lever y
beneath are secured, the said lever y will also be moved outward, and will carry
with it the latch-piece e engaging with the sliding piece L', and draw said sliding
piece and section 5 of the beater-track with it from the cam track; the roller z of
the said approaching rake arm will then pass between the face m¹ of the said
section 5 and the vertical face section 2 of the cam track J', and the rake attached
to the said rake arm will be depressed and be made to sweep over the entire surface
of the platform, and clear it from the cut grain which had fallen thereon. As soon
as the roller of the said rake arm has passed out between the said two sections 5
and 2 another projection q¹ on the head piece E' will operate with the lever 71 to
reset the several parts for another operation. When four rake arms with rakes are
employed I use two projections q', each situated in opposition to each other, as
shewn in Figure 3, and thereby secure an alternate rake and beater movement of
the rakes, which are adapted to be thus used alternately in good or heavy grain,
When the grain is light in its straw, and it is desired to have the machine travel to
a greater distance before discharging the cut grain from the platform in bunches,
the driver can with his foot press on the foot lever m², which will then operate the
crank shaft f and cause the arm g² to press on the heel of the lever a¹, and thereby
carry said lever, together with the lever 1, downward, so that the upper surface
side of the latter will be carried below the plane of the lower ends of the projections
q', q, of the head piece E; the said projections will then pass free from contact
with the lever r, which will be then unaffected, and consequently the sliding
section 5 of the beater track will be held up to the vertical face section 2 of the
nain track by the force of the spiral spring s², and not by the sliding latch piece e²
3

page_text: as above described. When the parts are in this position the rakes will be revolved
and act only as beaters, and will not operate as rakes for sweeping the platform
clear of the grain, as the rollers z will revolve against the face n¹ of the sliding
section 5 of the beater track, and not between the said section and the vertical face
section 2 of the main cam track; but when the driver removes the pressure of his
foot from the lever m² the projections q', q', will operate against the lever 7¹, which
will be carried upward by the spring before referred to, to give movement to the
several parts operating to set the sliding latch piece e² and tripping arm c³, when
the rake arms will revolve and be made to operate the rakes alternately as beaters
and rakes.
To lock the pitman in connection with the sickle-bar in a ready manner I provide
the shoe As, Figures 2, 9, and 10, with a housing B³ made solid with the said shoe,
and located at the forward end of the same and opposite to the guide piece b³. In
the said housing is pivotted a right angled piece c³, which I denominate the locking
jaw. The limb c³ of this locking jaw has a length somewhat greater than the
length of the stroke of the pitman rod g, and extends in a direction parallel with
the guide piece 63 attached to the guide bar, and has its face at a distance from the
head of the sickle bar equal to the thickness of the pitman rod, so that the said
pitman rod may work freely between. In the said housing B³ is also pivotted the
latch a³, whose forward end engages with a shoulder or notch made in the upper
side of the locking jaw c³. When the said latch is thrown upward out of engage-
ment with the locking jaw c³ the latter may also be lifted upward, so as to be
wholly above the plane of the upper side of the pitman g; the pitman may then be
disconnected from the sickle bar h, and the latter readily slipped out of place in the
usual manner. When it is desired to secure the pitman to the sickle bar the
operator simply places the hooked end of the pitman in the head h' of the sickle
bar, and presses the locking jaw c³ downward in its place against the pitman; he
then presses the latch a³ down so that its forward end will engage with the shoulder
of the locking jaw, when the pitman will be securely locked to the sickle knife. It
will be readily understood that by the above described improvements many advan-
tageous results hitherto unattainable are secured, and that the driver, from his sent,
has perfect and full control over the several operating parts of the machine in a
manner different to any that has heretofore been practicable in this class of
machines.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. In a harvesting machine, the combination with the main frame supporting
the driving wheel and the driving. mechanism of the said machine of a tilting frame
supported in such a manner as to be capable of adjustment in relation to the said
main frame, and carrying the platform for receiving the grain, the guards, the sickle
bar, the rakes, and the mechanism for revolving the same, substantially as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. In a harvesting machine, the combination with the main frame and the
tilting frame carrying the platform and the revolving rakes of the excentric,
whereby the said tilting frame may be raised or lowered in relation to the said main
frame, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Third. In a harvesting machine, the combination with the main frame and the
tilting frame carrying the platform, and capable of being elevated or lowered in
relation to the said main frame, of the tilting shaft at the rear end of the said
tilting frame, whereby the said tilting frame may be variously inclined, substantially
as above set forth and for the purposo specified.
Fourth. In a harvesting machine, the combination of the main frame supporting
the mechanism, the tilting frame supporting the platforma, the rakes and mechanism
for revolving the same, and mechanism for elevating and lowering the said tilting
frame both at its forward and rearward portions from the driver's seat side of the
machine, as above set forth.

page_text: Fifth. The combination with the main frame and the tilting frame of the excentric
J, secured to the main shaft of the driving wheel and operated by the screw gear
mechanism N, P, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The combination with the main frame and the tilting frame of the tilting
shaft provided with the crank q at the rear end of the said tilting frame, the toothed
rack t, and the lever R carrying the dog, substantially as above set forth and for
the purpose specified.
Seventh. The depressing way secured to the main frame, and the shaft u supported
by the platform and provided with the lever arm acting against the said depressing
way, and with the crank v operating with the pivotted lever V carrying the ground
wheel, whereby the ground wheel side of the said platform may be caused to assume
a position uniform with the opposite side, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose set forth.
Eighth. In combination with the driving wheel, the sleeve k, the shaft provided
at one end with the cam n, and at the other end with the lever handle projecting
from the driver's side of the said driving wheel, the dog o, and internal ratchet
wheel formed in the sprocket-wheel driving the revolving rakes, substantially as
above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. In combination with the continuous cam track for imparting to the
revolving rakes the movement of the rakes, the sliding section 5 of the beater track,
the fixed section 6, and the pivotted switch section 7, the two latter sections forming
a continuation of the beater track for operating the rakes as beators, substantially
as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. In combination with the projection q' carried by the head piece, the lever
arms and attached to the same pivot, the connecting rod, the lever y, and
the latch e operating with the sliding piece L', substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the continuous cam track and the revolving
head piece carrying the rakes having their arms provided with rollers moving on
the face of the said cam track, of a beater track composed of a sliding section, a
fixed section, and a switch section with mechanism for moving the said sliding
section up to the vertical face 2 of the said continuous cam track, substantially as
above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Twelfth. The combination with the continuous cam track and the revolving head
piece carrying the rakes having the arms provided with rollers moving against the
face of said cam track, of a beater track composed of a sliding section, a fixed section,
and a switch section with the tripping lever c², the lever y, and the latch e³ engaging
with the sliding piece L' carrying the said sliding section, whereby the said sliding
section of the beater track will be moved from the vertical face 2 of said continuous
track, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Thirteenth. The combination of the lever m², the connecting rod h², and the shaft
provided with the arm g² with the lever a¹ secured to the pivot of the lever r',
substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fourteenth. The combination with the shoe A³ of the locking jaw pivotted to the
said shoe opposite the guide piece of the guard bar, and the latch a³, substantially
as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wood, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty