IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING GRASS AND GRAIN
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William George Manwaring, of Banbury, in the County of
Oxford, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR
CUTTING GRASS AND GRAIN."
Sealed the 23rd April 1880, and dated the 4th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William George Manwaring
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th November 1879.
WILLIAM GEORGE MANWARING, of Banbury, in the County of Oxford, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING GRASS AND GRAIN."
The first part of my Invention relates to inachines in which grass is cut by means
of spiral cutters brought into contact with a horizontal blade, and it consists in the
following arrangement, viz. :-
The axis which carries the spiral cutters is prolonged through the main frame
on both sides, and a clutch is fixed on one or both ends of the prolongations.
Between the main frame and the clutch lies a pinion having attached to it a
ratchet wheel; there is also a spring attached to the side of the machine which
forces the ratchet wheel into the clutch.
The machine is carried by two wheels, one on each side of the frame.
One or both of these wheels has a ring of teeth inside of its circumference, which
ring of teeth gears with the pinion lying between the frame and the clutch. Then
when the machine is moved forward the pinion which gears with the ring of teeth
will through the clutch give motion to the axis carrying the spiral cutters, but
when the machine is moved backwards the pinion will disengage itself from the
clutch, and revolving loose on the prolongation of the axis will not cause the spiral
cutters to revolve.
The second part of my Invention relates to those machines which cut the grass
or grain by means of a reciprocating knife lying in advance of the tread of the
driving wheels, being contained in a main frame which is pivoted on the axle of
those wheels, on which axle is also separately pivoted a cranked dwarf frame or
bracket carrying the draught pole.
The object is to prevent the pole pressing on the horses when the machine is
drawn forward, and the Invention consists in the following arrangement, viz.:-
Attaching to the cranked portion of the dwarf frame or bracket, at a point lying

page_text: below the axle, a link or lug which may be part of the dwarf frame or bracket, and
which is connected by a bar with link in front thereof on the main frame.
This connection is at a point below the attachment of the front link to the main
frame.
The main frame link is prolonged below the bar, and a draught bar or chain is
carried from the lower part of this prolongation to a sliding or oscillating attach-
ment on the pole at or about the point where the whippletrees are hung.
Then as the horses draw the machine forward the prolongation of the link on
the main frame will be pulled forward, thereby causing the connecting bar to pull
forward the cranked part of the dwarf frame or bracket sufficiently to lift the pole
slightly from the horses' necks.
The lifting action can be regulated by altering one or more of the points of
attachment of the lug or link, the forward link, connecting bar, and draught bar.
The third part of my Invention applies to machines cutting grass and grain
having a raking device rotating on an upright shaft, the rake arms being caused to
follow one of two alternative paths, so that the rakes shall either first gather the
crop and bring it towards the cutters, and after it is, cut shall remove it from the
platform, or else shall only gather but not remove it, the path they follow being
.determined by the position of a moveable bridge piece, as described in the Specifi-
cations to Letters Patent granted to Bernhard Samuelson and William George
Manwaring, dated the 12th September 1876, No. 3578, and the 27 July 1877,
No. 2875, or of some equivalent shunting arrangement.
The object of the Invention is to prevent the rake when intended to remove the
crop from failing to do so by reason of its not being held down on to the platform
during that part of the path of the rake arm which is opposite to the moveable
bridge piece or its equivalent, and it consists in forming on that moveable bridge
or its equivalent, and also on the bracket carrying the friction rollers on the rake
arms (as usual in such raking devices) flanges which shall interlock during the time
that the rake arm is passing the moveable bridge piece whenever the latter is in
such a position as to allow the rake arm to follow the path which admits of the
rake removing the crop from the platform.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William George Manwaring in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
April 1880.
WILLIAM GEORGE MANWARING, of Banbury, in the County of Oxford, Engineer.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING GRASS AND GRAIN."
My said Invention relates, first, to machines in which grass is cut by means of
spiral cutters brought into contact with a horizontal blade, and it consists of the
following arrangement, videlicet:-
-
The axis which carries the spiral cutters is prolonged through the main frame on
both sides, and a clutch is fixed on one or both sides of the prolongations. Between
the main frame and the clutch is situate a pinion having formed on or attached to
it a ratchet wheel; a spring is also provided which forces the racket wheel into the
clutch.
The machine is carried by two wheels, one on each side of the frame. One or
both of these wheels has a ring of teeth inside of its circumference, which ring of
teeth gears with the pinion situate between the frame and the clutch. Then when
the machine is moved forward the pinion which gears with the ring of teeth will
through the clutch give motion to the axis carrying the spiral cutters, but when the
machine is moved backwards the pinion will disengage itself from the clutch, and
revolving loose on the prolongation of the axis will not cause the spiral cutters to
revolve.
My said Invention relates, secondly, to those machines which cut the grass or
grain by means of a reciprocating knife arranged in advance of the tread of the
driving wheels, the said knife working in a cutter bar which is carried by a main
frame pivoted on the axle of those wheels, on which axle is also separately pivoted
a cranked dwarf frame or bracket carrying the draught pole.
The object of this part of my said Invention is to prevent the pole from pressing
on the horses when the machine is drawn forward, and the Invention consists of
the following arrangements, videlicet:
Forming on or attaching to the cranked portion of the dwarf frame or bracket,
at a point situate below the axle, a link or lug which is connected by a bar with a
link in front thereof on the main frame. This connection is made at a point below
the attachment of the front link to the main frame. The main frame link is
prolonged below the bar, and a draught bar or chain is carried from the lower part
of this prolongation to a sliding or oscillating attachment on the pole at or about
the point where the whippletrees are hung.
Then as the horses draw the machine forward the prolongation of the link on the
main frame will be pulled forward, thereby causing the connecting bar to pull
forward the cranked part of the dwarf frame or bracket sufficiently to lift the pole
slightly from the horses' necks.
This lifting action can be regulated by altering one or more of the points of
attachment of the link or lug, the forward link, connecting bar, and draught bar.
My said Invention relates, thirdly, to machines cutting grass and grain having
a raking device rotating or an upright shaft, the rake arms being caused to follow
one of two alternative paths, so that the rakes shall either first gather the crop and
bring it towards the cutters, and after it is cut shall remove it from the platform, or
else shall only gather but not remove it, the path they follow being determined by
the position of a moveable bridge piece or laterally shifting guide, as described in
the Specifications to Letters Patent granted to Bernhard Samuelson and myself,
dated the Twelfth September One thousand eight hundred and seventy six, No. 3578,
and the Twenty seventh July One thousand eight hundred and seventy seven,
No. 2875, or of some equivalent shunting arrangement.
The object of this part of my said Invention is to prevent the rake when intended
to remove the crop from failing to do so by reason of its not being held down on.to

page_text: .
the platform during that part of the path of the rake arm which is opposite to the
moveable bridge piece or laterally shifting guide or its equivalent, and it consists
in forming on that moveable bridge or laterally shifting guide or its equivalent, and
also on the bracket carrying the friction rollers on the rake arms (as usual in such
raking devices) lips or flanges which shall interlock during the time that the rake
arm is passing the moveable bridge piece whenever the latter is in such a position
as to allow the rake arm to follow the path which admits of the rake removing the
crop from the platform.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
Figures in the annexed three Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
The Figures on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings illustrate the first part
of my said Invention; the Figures on Sheet 2, the second part of my said Invention,
and the several Figures on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings illustrate the
third part of my said Invention.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the Drawings represents a side elevation of a lawn mower
or machine for cutting grass, having the improvements which form the subject of
the first part of my said Invention applied thereto; and Figure 2 is a plan of the
same partly in section.
Figure 3 (Sheet 2) of the Drawings represents a side elevation of a machine for
cutting grass or grain constructed according to the second part of my said Invention,
and Figure 4 is a plan of the same, corresponding to Figure 3.
Figure 5 (Sheet 3) represents a side elevation of portion of a machine for
cutting grass and grain constructed according to the third part of my said
Invention; Figure 6 is a plan of the same corresponding to Figure 5; and Figures 7,
8, and 9 are transverse sections, shewing the parts in three several positions.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 (Sheet 1), which illustrate the improvements
forming the subject of the first part of my said Invention, A are the spiral cutters,
which are mounted on a shaft B, fitted so as to be capable of revolving in bearings
in the main frame C, the cutters being so arranged as to work in contact with a
horizontal blade D in the usual manner.
In carrying out this part of my said Invention, I prolong the shaft B through
the frame C on both sides, as shewn at B', and secure a ratchet clutch E either on
each of the prolongations B¹, as shewn in the Drawing, or on one only of such
prolongations. I also mount loose on one or both of the prolongations B¹ a pinion F
engaging with teeth G¹ formed on the interior circumference of the wheel or wheels G
on which the machine is carried; this pinion is provided with ratchet teeth or
projections F corresponding to the teeth of the clutch, and is maintained in gear
with the clutch by means of a helical spring H arranged upon the prolongations B¹
of the shaft B, and between the frame C and the clutch E.
The teeth of the ratchet clutches E and the ratchet teeth or projections F¹ of
the pinions F are so arranged in relation to each other that when the machine is
moved forward the pinions F (which receive motion from the teeth G¹ in the
interior of the wheels G), will through the clutches E transmit motion to the
shaft B carrying the spiral cutters A, whilst when the machine is moved backwards
the pinions F will become disengaged from the clutches E, and revolving loose on
the prolongations B' of the shaft B will not cause the spiral cutters to revolve.
The second part of my said Invention, which is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4
(Sheet 2) of the accompanying Drawings, relates to machines which cut the grass
or grain by means of a reciprocating knife (not shewn in the Drawing), arranged
in advance of the tread of the driving wheels a, a, the said knife working in a
cutter bar carried by a main frame b, which is pivotted on the axle c of those
wheels, on which axle is also separately pivotted a cranked dwarf frame or
bracket d carrying the draught pole e, and this part of my said Invention consists
in the employment of the means or devices hereinafter described, whereby the pole
is prevented from pressing upon the horses when the machine is drawn forward.

page_text: In carrying out this part of my said Invention I form on or rigidly attach to
the cranked portion d' of the dwarf frame or bracket d, at a point situate below the
the axle c, a link or lug f, which I connect by a bar g to a link h pivotted at i to
the main frame b, the connection of the bar g with the link h being made at a
point, situate below the centre or fulcrum i.
The link his prolonged below the point k, and a draught bar or chain 7 is carried
from the lower part of this prolongation to a sliding or oscillating attachment m on
the pole e at or about the point where the whipple trees n are hung, the
attachment m being pivotted to the cross bar o to which the whipple trees n are
connected, and being secured to the pole e by bolts passing through slots at p, so as
to admit of the requisite motion or play of the attachment m.
Then, as the horses draw the machine forward the attachment m being also moved
forward by the strain of the traction, the link h will through the intervention of the
draught bar or chain be turned upon its centre or fulcrum i in a corresponding
direction; and will in its turn act through the intervention of the bar g upon the
link or lug of the dwarf frame or bracket d, thus turning the latter upon the axle c
to a sufficient extent to lift the pole e slightly from the horses' necks. If desired,
one or more of the points of attachment of the link or lug f, the link h, bar g, and
draught bar or chain l, may be made adjustable, so as to enable the lifting action to
be regulated by altering the position of such point or points.
The third part of my said Invention, which is illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8,
and 9 (Sheet 3) of my Drawings, relates to improvements upon that class of
machines for cutting grass and grain in respect of which Letters Patent were
granted to Bernhard Samuelson and myself, dated the Twelfth September, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy six, No. 3578, and the Twenty seventh July,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy seven, No. 2875, the said machines having
a raking device rotating on an upright shaft, and the rake arms of which are caused
to follow one of two alternate paths, so that the rakes shall either first gather the
crop and bring it towards the cutters and after it is cut shall remove it from the
platform, or else shall only gather but not remove it, the path they follow being
determined by a moveable bridge piece or laterally shifting guide or of some equi-
valent shunting arrangement.
1 is the raking device consisting of a series of rakes carried on arms 2 which are
attached to sockets 3 all pivotted to the rake head 4, the latter being mounted
fast on a rotating vertical shaft situate at 5, but not shewn in my Drawings. To
the sockets 3 are attached brackets 6 carrying friction rollers 7 adapted to run
upon the cam 8 through its entire course or upon the cam 8 for a part of its course,
and over the fixed bridge piece 9 and the movable bridge piece or laterally shifting
guide 10 and hinged guide 11. When the laterally shifting guide 10 is in the
position indicated in Figures 5, 6, and 7, and the roller 7 is also in the position
denoted in those Figures in relation to the centre 5 of the raking device, the rollers
7 pass over the cam 8 throughout their entire course, and the rakes gather the crop
and bring it to the cutters and after it is cut remove it from the platform. When
however by the act of moving the laterally shifting guide 10 by the aid of the
cord 12 and levers 13 into the position shewn in Figure 8 (the rollers 7 remaining
in the same position relatively to the centre 5 of the raking device, the roller 7 ou
arriving at the laterally shifting guide 10 will ascend the same and run over the
bridge piece 9 and the hinged guide 11, and the rake will only gather the crop and
not remove it, the rake rising above the platform. By leaving moreover the laterally
shifting guide 10 in the position indicated in Figure 7, and adjusting the bracket 6
in its socket 3 so that the roller 7 shall occupy the position represented in Figure 9
in relation to the centre of the raking device, the roller 7 will still ascend the
laterally shifting guide 10 and travel over the bridge piece 9 and the hinged guide
11, and the crop will only be gathered and not removed. The laterally shifting
guide is maintained in either of its two positions while the rollers are passing over
it by means of a trigger lever 14 mounted upon a fixed centre or fulcrum 15, the
extremity 16 of which lever is caused to enter one or other of two slots. 17, 18, in the

page_text: laterally shifting guide 10 when the roller is passing over it (thus locking the guide
in position), and subsequently returns to its normal position clear of the slots under
the action of a weight 19.
The apparatus as thus described is constructed substantially in accordance with
the Specifications of the said two former Letters Patent..
According to this part of my present Invention I form on the laterally shifting
guide 10 a lip or flange 20, and I form a corresponding lip or flange 21 upon the
brackets 6 carrying the friction rollers of 7. By this means when the parts are in
the position indicated in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the rake will be held down to the
platform during that portion of the path of the rake arm which is opposite to the
laterally shifting guide 10 by reason of the lip or flange 20 on the guide 10
engaging or interlocking with the lip or flange 21 on the bracket 6, and an effec-
tual guarantee will thus be provided against the rakes failing to remove the crop
when intended to do so. When however the parts are in the relative position
indicated in Figures 8 and 9 the lips or flanges 20, 21, will be clear of each
other, and the rakes will be free to rise above the platform so as not to remove the
cut crop.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I am aware that it has been previously
proposed to impart motion to the spiral cutters of a lawn mower or machine for
cutting grass from the carrying wheels by means of teeth provided on the interior
of the said wheels and gearing into a pinion mounted upon the cutter shaft, the
Baid pinion being moreover in some cases mounted loose upon the cutter shaft, and
caused to impart motion to such shaft by means of a spring pawl or catch when
the machine is moved forward, and to become disengaged when the machine is
moved backwards; I therefore wish it to be understood that I make no claim
generally to arrangements of this description, but what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. In lawn mowers or machines for cutting grass in which motion is imparted
to spiral cutters by an internal spur wheel and spur pinion, as herein set forth, the
combination of the ratchet clutch E fast upon the prolongation B₁ of the cutter shaft
B, the pinion F mounted loose upon the said cutter shaft and having ratchet teeth or
projections for engaging with the clutch and the spring H upon the said prolongation
of the shaft for maintaining the pinion in gear with the clutch, all substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described as and illustrated in Sheet 1 of my
Drawings.
Secondly. In machines of the class herein described under the second head of my
said Invention for cutting grass or grain, the employment of means or devices
whereby the strain of the traction is caused to raise the draught pole in order to
relieve the horses of a portion of the weight thereof, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in Sheet 2 of my Drawings.
Thirdly. In machines of the class herein described under the third head of my
said Invention for cutting grass and grain, constructing the moveable bridge piece
or laterally shifting guide or its equivalent and the friction roller carriers of the
rake arms with interlocking lips, or flanges, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William George Manwaring, have to this my
Specification set my hand and scal, the Twenty first day of April, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.