An Improved Combined Rake and Elevator for Picking Up and Loading Grass, Hay, and similar Crops.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Combined Rake and Elevator for Picking Up and
Loading Grass, Hay, and similar Crops.
HENRY GEORGE GASTRILL WILKINS of 1 Windsor Road Ealing Middlesex
Surgeon, and PHILIP MATTHEW BIGGE of The Farm, Hanger Hill House,
Ealing Middlesex Land Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of this machine is to mechanically raise grass, hay and similar crops
from the ground and carry the same into a cart or van to which the machine is
attached, thus saving labour and time.
The machine consists in principle of :-
(1) An elevator which is so placed that each set of arms or prongs travels along
the concave surface or between the prongs of a rake in such manner as to lift the
aforesaid crops from the rake and carry it thence upwards into the cart or
van, and
(2) A rake so placed that the crops are collected on the prongs in a similar
manner as on an ordinary horse rake.
In order to carry out our invention we employ a frame-work provided with a
main axle and two main wheels and a smaller wheel or wheels may be attached to
the fore part of the said frame.
On the aforesaid main axle and running loose thereon, we place two toothed
wheels at some distance apart provided with suitable chains or bands running over
similar toothed wheels provided at the upper part of the clevator, and to the said
chains or bands are attached, at suitable intervals, cross bars carrying hooks or
teeth of a suitable pattern and these hooks or teeth may be so arranged or hinged
as to be capable of folding back in one direction.
The aforesaid toothed-chain-wheels may be thrown into gear by means of wheels
or a combination of wheels and chains, with the main wheel or wheels in such
manner that the chains & cross bars shall travel at a sufficient speed to carry
away all the crop that is collected by the aforesaid rake.
To the aforementioned frame is attached a rake similar to a horse rake, a portion
of the prongs whereof are bent to a curve forming a portion of a circle the centre
of which is the axle upon which are placed the aforementioned toothed-chain
wheels of the elevator.
Although we prefer placing the toothed chain wheels on the main axle they may
be placed on a separate axle and connected to the main wheel or wheels by any
known and suitable form of gearing.
"The elevator can be raised or lowered at will.
'In front of the main wheels there is placed a smaller wheel or wheels, as before-
mentioned, on the frame of the machine so that when not attached to any cart or
van, this smaller wheel or wheels will rest on the ground and maintain the machine
in its upright or proper position but this smaller wheel or wheels need not touch
the ground when the machine is at work.
For the purpose of obtaining a good hold on the ground and preventing the
main wheel or wheels from slipping, we provide spikes so arranged that they slide
through holes provided in the circumference or tyres of the said main wheel or
wheels and being attached to a disc or discs by means of a joint and pin in such
manner that when the said disc or discs, which turns on the boss of the main wheel
or wheels is moved one way the said spikes are thrown into a line drawn from the
centre of the main axle through the said holes in the circumference or tyre of
the main wheel or wheels and thus protruded beyond the circumference of the main

page_text: wheel or wheels and when the movement of the said disc or discs is reversed the
said spikes are drawn within the circumference of the main wheel or wheels and
form tangents with the aforementioned disc or discs, thereby enabling the machine
to be moved over any ground or road for travelling.
The machine may be attached to a cart or van and a moveable frame may be
attached to the machine so that the distance between the cart or van and the
machine may be regulated.
The elevator is set in motion by the revolving of the main wheel or wheels
passing over the ground.
The gearing being thrown out, the main wheels can revolve on their axle, for
travelling without working the elevator.
A suitable arrangement may be attached for raising the prongs of the rake from
the ground for travelling.
Dated this 16th day of October 1890
H. G. G. WILKINS.
PHILIP M. BIGGE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Combined Rake and Elevator for Picking Up and
Loading Grass, Hay, and similar Crops.
HENRY GEORGE GASTRILL WILKINS 1 Windsor Road Ealing Surgeon and
PHILIP MATTHEW BIGGE The Farm, Hanger Hill House, Ealing Land Agent,
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 :—
The object of this machine is to mechanically raise grass, hay or similar crops
from the ground and carry the same into a cart or van to which the machine is
attached, thus saving labour and time.
The machine consists in principle of
(1) An elevator which is so placed that each set of arms or prongs travels along
the concave surface, or between the prongs of a rake in such manner as to lift the
aforesaid crops from the rake and carry them thence upwards into the cart or van.
(2) A rake so placed that the crops are collected on the prongs in a similar
manner as on an ordinary horse-rake.
In order to carry out our invention, we employ a frame work provided with a
main axle and two main wheels, and a smaller wheel or wheels may be attached to
the forepart of the said frame. On the aforesaid main axle and running loose
thereon we place two toothed wheels at some distance apart, provided with suitable
chains or bands running over similar toothed wheels provided at the upper part of
the elevator, and to the said chains or bands are attached, at suitable intervals,
cross bars carrying hooks or teeth of a suitable pattern and these teeth may be so
arranged or hinged as to be capable of folding back in one direction. The afore-
said toothed chain wheels may be thrown into gear by means of wheels, or a com-
bination of wheels and chains, with the main wheel or wheels in such manner that
the chains and cross-bars shall travel at a sufficient speed to carry away all
the crop that is collected by the aforesaid rake. To the above mentioned frame is
attached a rake similar to a horse rake, one portion of the prongs whereof is bent
to a curve forming a portion of a circle the centre of which is the axle upon which
are placed the aforesaid toothed chain wheels of the elevator. This portion of the
prongs does not come to the ground and is fixed to the frame, and the remaining or
lower portion, which is bent to the same curve as the upper portion, is fixed to a
transverse rod or bar, which is pivotted by means of arms to the main axle in such
manner that its extremities come to the ground at a point behind the perpendicular
drawn through the main axle, and are thus lifted from the ground when in contact
with any obstacle or irregularity of the surface.

page_text: Although we prefer placing the toothed chain wheels on the main axle, they
may be placed on a separate axle and connected to the main wheel or wheels by
any known and suitable form of gearing.
The elevator can be raised or lowered at will. In front of the main wheels there
is placed a smaller wheel or wheels, as aforementioned, on the frame of the
machine so that when not attached to any cart or van, the smaller wheel or wheels
will rest on the ground and maintain the machine in its upright or proper position,
but this smaller wheel or wheels need not touch the ground while the machine is at
work. For the purpose of obtaining a good hold on the ground and preventing the
main wheel or wheels from slipping we provide spikes so arranged that they slide
through holes provided in the circumference or tyres of the said main wheel or
wheels and are attached to a disc or discs by means of a joint and pin in such
manner that when the said disc or discs, which turns on the boss of the main wheel
or wheels, is moved one way, by means of a lever or other similar arrangement, the
said spikes are thrown into a line drawn from the centre of the main axle through
the said holes in the circumference or tyres of the main wheel or wheels, and
thus protrude beyond the circumference of the main wheel or wheels, and when
the movement of the said disc or discs is reversed, the said spikes are drawn within
the circumference of the main wheel or wheels, and form a tangent with the afore-
mentioned disc or discs, thereby enabling the machine to be moved over any ground
or road for travelling-otherwise upon the circumference of main wheels may be
placed projecting ridges in a manner similar to that of the wheels of traction
engines or other machines as already known.
The machine may be attached to a, cart or van and a moveable frame may be
attached to the machine so that the distance between the cart or van and the
machine may be regulated.
The elevator is set in motion by the revolution of the main wheel or wheels
passing over the ground.
The gearing being thrown out, the main wheels can revolve on their axle, for
travelling, without working the elevator.
A suitable arrangement may be attached for raising the prongs of the rake from
the ground for travelling.
In order to more fully describe the machine, we give a lettered description as
follows.
Fig. 1. side elevation showing nearer driving wheel removed.
Fig. 1 back elevation showing elevator perpendicular.
The letters of Fig. 1. and 1ª correspond.
A-cart. A' tail board of cart. R-elevator at lowest point. B elevator
raised. C-frame work of elevator carrying gear wheels D, which work
chains E. F-prongs of elevator attached to chains E in a similar way as on an
ordinary elevator, and F¹ guide wheels for chains.
G-main or driving wheel working loose on axle, to which is fixed wheel H
which is cogged on inner surface of flange, and is in gear with cog wheel K (A—5
K-1). K works on square end of axle L to which are fixed the wheels D.
K can be thrown in or out of gear with H by means of lever M. O-prongs
fixed to the frame P at N and so curved as to form segments of a circle having
centre at main axle. O'-prongs of rake which are pivoted by means of rod 02 on
main axle, and are bent to the same curve as O. The extremities of 0¹ come to
the ground at a point behind the perpendicular drawn through the main axle, and
thus are lifted from the ground when in contact with any obstacle or irregularity
of the ground.
O', being pivoted on main axle which is the centre of the circle of which O
and O¹ are segments, when raised will maintain the same relation with O at any
elevation. P-frame work of machine. Q-sliding part of frame to adjust
distance between machine and cart, fixed by means of holes and pins Q1. R-
front wheel fixed on swivel. S-screw with wheel on shaft of R by which the
frame P may be raised or lowered to suit the height of cart. T-hook, attached

page_text: to frame Q, which fits into loop U on wooden axle of cart, by which machine is
attached to cart.
W support for adjusting height of elevator B.
Wis hinged to the frame C at "a" and the other extremity runs by means of
wheel "b" on a rail on frame P. X-chain attached to support Wat
extremity "," which is wound on a drum Y with a ratchet wheel "d" attached,
which prevents Y from turning in one direction without lifting ratchet stop. Z-
handle by which drum is turned, and thus the chain X is wound on drum, and
consequently the extremity of W (viz. "") is brought near to main wheel G, thus
raising the elevator to any required height.
The prongs of the rake can be raised from the ground for travelling by means of
a lever pivotted to the frame work behind the main wheels which lever shall have
a chain attached to one of its extremities this chain being also attached to the
rod 02 of the moveable portion of the rake the other extremity of the lever is free
& provided with a handle. By lowering this handle end of the lever, which can be
maintained in its low position by means of a catch provided for the purpose on the
frame work, the extremity carrying the chain is raised and the rod O² being fixed
to the other end of the chain the prongs O are also raised.
The spikes "sp" on main wheel can be withdrawn within the circumference of
driving wheel for travelling by means of revolving discs working on the boss of the
main wheel or wheels which are hereinafter described and shown in Fig. 2.
This disc, or discs, has attached to it a lever or handle projecting like the spoke
of a wheel by means of which the disc may be made to revolve on the boss of the
main wheel, which boss acts as an axle to the disc. This lever or handle is so
placed that in one necessary position of the disc it is (nearly) parallel to a spoke of
the main wheel and in the other necessary position of the disc it is in a similar
position to the next spoke of the main wheel.
This lever or handle is maintained in its different positions by means of a rack
attached to and between the two beforementioned spokes of the main wheel and is
kept in the notches of this rack by means of a spring and catch or it may be
worked in a similar manner to the handle of brakes already known and used on
carriages.
Fig. 2. Section of driving wheel.
1-axle. 2-boss of driving wheel having flanges 3, into which are screwed the
central extremities of spokes 4.
5-tyre of wheel to which are fixed the distal extremities of spokes at 6.
The spikes "sp," which consist of metal rods having one extremity sharp or
pointed and the other extremity provided with an eye for receiving a pin or bolt by
which they are attached to the disc, 7, and on which they work freely the said pin
being placed parallel with the axle of the main wheel, and these spikes are so
arranged that the sharp or pointed ends slide through holes in the circumference or
tyres of the main wheel or wheels, the other extremity being attached to the disc, 7,
by means of the beforementioned pins, in such manner that when the said disc or
discs which is capable of turning on the boss, 2, of the main wheel or wheels, is
moved one way by incans of a lever or other suitable arrangement, the said spikes
are thrown into a line drawn from the centre of main axle through the said holes in
the circumference or tyres of the main wheel or wheels and thus protruded beyond
the circumference as shown at 10 and when the movement of the disc or discs is
reversed the said spikes are drawn within the circumference of the main wheel or
wheels and form a tangent with the beforementioned disc or discs, 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is or may be performed and carried into
practical effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the
precise details and methods of arrangement we have hereinbefore described and
shown in the accompanying drawings, as the same may be varied to some extent in
order to better adapt the machine for different crops, without departing from the

page_text: essential and distinguishing features of the invention. We therefore declare that
what we claim is
(1). The combination of an elevator and rake for attaching to carts or vans for
the purpose of raising grass, hay and similar crops from the ground and depositing
the same in the cart or van to which it is attached, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
(2). The raising or lifting of grass, hay or similar crops from the ground into a
cart or van by means of wheels rolling on the ground and having gearing attached
so as to work the elevator at such speed as to pick up all the grass, hay or similar
crops from the ground over which the machine travels substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
(3). The construction of an elevator for attaching to carts or vans, which is set in
motion by the main wheel or wheels travelling over the ground and driving gear
wheels which impart to the endless chains or bands of the elevator the necessary
speed for clearing the ground substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
(4). The employment of a rake in combination with the elevator which will
collect or gather the grass, hay or similar crops from the ground on its prongs from
which it is taken or lifted by means of the prongs or spikes attached to the endless
chains or bands of the elevator substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
in the accompanying drawings.
(5). The employment of moveable spikes working through the tyres or rims of
the main wheels so as to ensure a sufficient grip on the ground to drive the gearing
of the elevator substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of July 1801
H. G. G. WILKINS.
PHILIP M. BIGGE.