Improvements in Reaping and Mowing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reaping and Mowing Machines.
I WILLIAM ATKINSON FELL of Bridge Iron Works, Windermere, in the
County of Westmoreland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has firstly for its object to improve the cutting properties of
reaping and mowing machines.
This improvement I effect by making the fingers wider at the cutting point and
narrower at the roots of the fingers.
This alteration gives a backward taper to each of the fingers so that the front
taper to each of the knives or sections pressing the material to be cut against the
backward taper of the fingers prevents it from slipping forward with the action of
the front taper of the knife or section pressing against such material and thereby a
good firm cut is effected whereby the damaging of the roots of the crops which
attends the cutting with other fingers is avoided.
When the material is thus held firmly much less power is required in order to
drive the knife, and the fingers having a backward taper makes the apparatus self
cleaning or clearing and prevents the grass and other materials collecting and so
choking up the machine.
This collecting and clogging of the parts is a great drawback to the working of
the machines of ordinary construction.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reaping and Mowing Machines.
I WILLIAM ATKINSON FELL of Bridge Iron Works, Windermere, in the
County of Westmoreland, Engineer, 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 has firstly for its object to improve the cutting properties of
reaping and mowing machines. This improvement I effect by making the fingers
wider at the cutting point and narrower at the roots of the fingers.
This alteration gives a backward taper to each of the fingers so that the front
taper to each of the knives or sections pressing the material to be cut against the
backward taper of the fingers prevents it from slipping forward with the action of
the front taper of the knife or section pressing against such material and thereby a
good firm cut is effected whereby the damaging of the roots of the crops which
attends the cutting with other fingers is avoided.
When the material is thus held firmly much less power is required in order to
drive the knife, and the fingers having a backward taper makes the apparatus self
cleaning or clearing and prevents the grass and other materials collecting and so
choking up the machine. This collecting and clogging of the parts is a great draw-
back to the working of the machines of ordinary construction.

page_text: Fig. 3 shews a plan view of certain parts of a reaping or mowing machine with
my improved fingers applied, relatively to the knives b; to a smaller scale than the
previous figs.
a', a are the front tapers of the fingers and a³, a³, are the backward tapers of the
same. as are the slots in which the knife sections b reciprocate as they are operated
in usual manner for that purpose. * are supports for knife back to ride upon
and a are shoulders and a bolt-holes by means of which with the aid of bolts the
fingers are secured to the frame of the machine.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The construction and use of fingers of reaping and mowing machines with greater
width at the cutting point (or meeting of the front taper thereof with the root
thereof) and a taper from such point backward, so as to enable such inclination,
coöperating with the front taper, or inclination of the knife edges, to better press
the material to be cut against the severing surfaces without slip forward as set
forth.
2. The construction and use of fingers of reaping and mowing machines with root
ends adapted to facilitate the operation of the knives or cutters as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated the 171 1
A
"I 1000
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.