IMPROVEMENTS IN TRIMMING THE EDGES OF LAWNS OR GRASS BORDERS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER SHEARING OPERATIONS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alban Edward Ragg, of the Grove, Bebbington, in the
County of Chester, Clerk in Holy Orders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TRIMMING THE EDGES OF LAWNS OR GRASS BORDERS AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER
SHEARING OPERATIONS"
Sealed the 16th February 1877, and dated the 28th August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alban Edward Ragg, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th August 1876.
ALBAN EDWARD RAGG, of the Grove, Bebbington, in the County of Chester,
Clerk in Holy Orders "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRIMMING THE EDGES OF LAWNS OR
GRASS BORDERS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS
APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER SHEARING OPERATIONS"
'
My apparatus differs from other machines for accomplishing lawn edge trimming,
in being simpler and more accurately guided, and also in its cutting upwards from
below. It consists,―
First, in a revolving cutter with hooked blades working against a fixed shear
blade travelling forward on the surface of the lawn with the machine The revolving
cutter has its teeth bent outward, and is set at a small angle with the axis of the
machine and with the edge of the lawn; the angle at which the revolving cutter is
set and the bending outward is so arranged that as it rotates past the fixed blade it
is perfectly parallel with it and thus shears cleanly. The angular direction of its
axes, and the bent blades of the rotating cutter arc so arranged as to enable it to
cut the lawn with a sloping instead of perpendicular edge, and as will be afterwards
seen, cause the cutter to hug the edge closely rather than run out.
The revolving
cutter it inade by means of spur gearing to go faster than a main roller on the
frame. This roller being set at the same angle as the evolving cutter, as it is
propelled along the lawn has a constant tendency to leave the edge and to draw the
revolving cutter inwards; this tendency is prevented by another roller at the end of

page_text: a stiffly hinged link in front which runs on the sloping or perpendicular edge of the
lawn in front, and thus accurately guides the cutter to cut off a uniform shearing
corresponding with the particular depth to cutting to which the guiding pulley has
been set. If it is wanted to turn a curve, the guide pulley link is loosened by
loosening the nut of the hinge; it is then set at the right angle and screwed up
tight. A bearing pulley on a bracket on the handle is so arranged that it shall run
on the lawn and thus regulate the height of the machine, and being in a slight
angle assists the main roller in guiding the machine.
Among the advantages of this machine are these,―
1st. It has a natural tendency to follow the edge of the lawn whether straight or
otherwise.
2nd. It cuts the grass close to the edge, and also trims the edge itself if necessary.
To accomplish the first advantage I arrange my machine so that when that
portion of the cutter which cuts the grass is parallel with the edge of the lawn the
roller and other portions of the machine will, as before explained, point inward.
The back guiding wheel points at the same time at a slight angle towards the edge.
(If it were in front it would point from it).
To accomplish the second advantageous result the cutter against which the
circular cutter works travels along the top of the grass, not the side of it as
heretofore, and I arrange the rotary cutter so as to cut upward and so insure the
grass being cut off close to the edge. For very accurate work I sometimes employ a
side guiding pulley in the rear also, but this is seldom requisite and is expensive.
In using this machine for re-cutting the edges of an old border, a guide rope or
wire stretched tight across the lawn is made to pass over a pulley on the machine
and thus direct it.
By a slight modification the machine could be reversed so as to run on the walk
and trim the edge, but this is only desirable where the walls and drives are long,
as two machines would be required, one for the beds the other for walks, and this
would add to the expence in small establishments.
Another modification consists in using two revolving cutters instead of one, both
being of the same or of different size and rotating opposite ways, the two edges
coming against each other like shears, as in the previously described plan, with one
revolving and one stationary blade. They can be arranged on seperate axes or both
on one, or instead of revolving, one or both cutters can reciprocate with a forward
and upward or forward and downward motion. The Invention, however, can be
almost infinitely varied, a conical roller on a parallel axis would do nearly as well
as a cylindrical roller and an oblique axis, the main points being arranging the
machine so that it will hug the grass plot closely, and so that it can be guided
easily, the upward clean cut arranging it so that it will cut a sloping edge, all
combined with simplicity of construction.
•
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alban Edward Ragg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th February 1877.
ALBAN EDWARD RAGG, of the Grove, Bebbington, in the County of Chester,
Clerk in Holy Orders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRIMMING THE EDGES OF LAWNS OR
GRASS BORDERS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS
APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER SHEARING OPERATIONS.
My Invention consists of new or improved apparatus for cutting and trimming
the edges of lawns and other like shearing purposes, the parts of which are
constructed and arranged as herein-after described.
By my Invention the grass on the edge of the lawn is cut close up to such edge,

page_text: and not at a distance from it which must be the case in other machines when the
shear is placed between the circular cutter and the edge to be cut.
The said machine or apparatus consists of a framework made for convenience in
three separate portions, that is to say, two sides and a back, the back connecting
the two side pieces together At the rear end of the machine a handle is placed
with which to propel the machine Between the two side pieces of the machine a.
roller or travelling wheel is supported by bearings formed in the side pieces, one such
bearing being in each side piece, a spindle or shaft passing through the bearings
and roller On one side of this roller, and attached to it, is a toothed wheel which
works into a pinion, this pinion being fixed on a spindle which has its bearings in
two side pieces in like manner to the roller; this toothed wheel and pinion
imparting to the spindle on which the pinion is fixed a rapid rotary motion. At
the end of this spindle, and on one side of the machine, is a circular cutter formed
with teeth in such manner that it cuts upon the upward revolution, the circular
cutter and the roller revolving in opposite directions.
At the side of the machine and a little in advance of the circular cutter is another
bearing which supports a small wheel, this said wheel being so arranged that while it
acts as a support and guide to the machine and places the grass ready to be cut, also
takes the place and is used instead of the ordinary fixed shear, of whatever shape,
against which the circular cutter performs the operation of cutting, and is in fact.
a revolving circular shear, the action of its passing over the ground causing it to
revolve while the circular cutter revolving close up to and in contact with it
cuts the grass or other material which it is intended to shear At the opposite side
of the machine, and corresponding to this circular shear, a small wheel or roller is
placed, which is used simply to regulate the height of, or to guide the machine.
These two latter-mentioned wheels or rollers, that is to say, the circular shear and
the corresponding guide or supporting wheel, are so fixed that when the pace of the
circular shear is parallel with the edge of the lawn the roller and the whole remaining
portion of the machine points inward from the edge, thus giving the machine a
tendency to run in a diagonal line across the lawn. To counteract this diagonal
tendency, and to throw the machine into a straight line or to cause it to follow
round any curve a small wheel is placed at the side of the machine and in front of
the cutter so that it works horizontally along the edge, and thus while the diagonal
tendency of the machine binds it close to the edge, the horizontal guiding wheel
guides the machine in a line with the edge, whether curved or straight. This
horizontal wheel is either fixed on a projection in the frame or is attached to a loose
piece sliding upon a groove on this projection in order to allow of the cutter being
regulated to work into deep circles, as well as to set the cutter for cutting the lawn
edge itself. To allow for the fact that the edge of a lawn is invariably cut on an angle
with the lawn itself, the circular cutter is so shaped that the outer or cutting edge is at
an angle with the centre portion This angle being the same as, and corresponding
with the angle between the main roller and the circular shear, throws the cutting
edge of the circular cutter parallel with the circular shear when in the act of
cutting, the small wheel corresponding to the circular shear on the opposite side of
the shear, being at a like angle with the body of the machine as the circular shear.
As the machine is propelled forward the toothed wheel attached to the roller acting
on the pinion causes the circular cutter to revolve in the opposite direction to the
roller, the cutter working up to and against the circular shear, which shear is caused
to revolve by being in contact with the ground, and the grass which comes between
the cutter and the shear is thus cut.
I will now proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, in order that
Invention may be the more fully understood and carried out.
my

page_text: Figure 3 represents in part a front elevation showing the small horizontal guiding
wheel, and also a section of the circular cutter, describing how the shape of the said
circular cutter allows for the edge being cut on an angle with the lawn.
Figure 4 represents a front elevation and section of the circular shear.
Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams showing another form of the machine where a flat
blade is used instead of a circular drum h; as, however, this is inserted merely to
illustrate the principle more fully, and as I consider it a much inferior form than
the other it is needless to enlarge further. The samo letters of reference in Figuies
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the Drawing.
a, a, is the handle at the rear of the machine by which it is propelled; b, b, b, b,
the sides, and c, c, the back of the machine; d, d, d, the roller working in the bearings
d², d², d², d²; e, e, e, e, is the toothed wheel driving the pinion ff; I, I, I, is the
circular cutter, supported by and revolving with the spindle g³, g², g², the spindle
being supported by and revolving in the bearings g³, g³, attached to the side pieces
of the frame b, b, b; h, h, h, is the circular shear against which the circular cutter
works, this circular shear revolving on a stud h¹, Fig. 2, which stud is fixed
immoveably to the side piece of the frame by the nut h2, Fig. 1, the line A, B, Fig
1, being parallel with the roller and the whole body of the machine, the line C, D,
parallel with the face of the circular shear and the edge of the lawn; h³, Fig. 1, is
the guiding wheel or support corresponding with and opposite to the circular shear;
3,3,3, is the horizontal guiding wheel running in front of the cutter. In Fig 2, the
circular cutter is shown in side elevation, whereby the shape and construction of
the teeth, so as to cut upward against the circular shear , is described. In Fig. 1
a section of the plan of the circular cutter g 18 given, showing how the cutting
portion or teeth g' are parallel with the circular shear when in the act of cutting
In Figure 3 a section of the front elevation of the circular cutter is given shewing
how the shape of the cutter g allows for the angle in which the edge of the lawn
may be cut, A, B, Fig. 3, being at right angles to the surface of the lawn C, D. In
Figure 4 I have shewn a section of the circular shear , describing how I prefer to
make it. 1, 1, 1, is a circular boss of cast iron; 2, 2, 2, a circular rim of steel, the
g
fiom choice being fixed firmly on the boss, being shrunk on during the process
of hardening, but it may be cast in a solid piece of chilled steel; the circular
cutter g, g, g, I also cast in chilled steel in preference to cutting it out of sheet or
ordinary steel and hardening.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the exact
details shown, nor on the other hand claim the sole right of cutting lawn edges by
machinery, but that what I believe to be new and desire to claim under the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent 18,-
1st. The mode of keeping the machine naturally close against the side of the lawn
to be cut by having the main body of the machine, or at least the roller or rollers d,
at an angle with the cutters, and consequently with the edge cut.
2nd. The use in lawn cutting machines of a circular revolving cutter cutting
upwards against a fixed or revolving shear plate or drum on or close to the surface
of the ground.
3rd. The arrangement of a revolving or fixed shear running on the surface of the
ground, acting in conjunction with a circular revolving cutter so that the edge of
the 1st-mentioned shear and the circumference of the revolving cutter shall cross
at a considerable angle instead of being tangential, for the purposes described.
4th. In a lawn edge cutting machine the guiding roller j running against the
edge of the lawn horizontally or nearly so, whether before or behind the cutter, for
the purposes described.
5th. The combination of two circular cutters revolving in opposite directions,
whether on the same or different centies, so that one acts as a shear to the other in
lawn edge cuttting machines.

page_text: 6th. The general arrangement of lawn edge cutting machines, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alban Edward Ragg, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
J. NAAR,
Hotel St. Honoré,
Paris.
ALBAN EDWARD RAGG. (LS)