IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wilson, of Wood Hey, Bebington, in the County
of Chester, Gentleman, and Joseph Battersby, of Bedford Leigh, in the County
of Lancaster, Assistant Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE
RAKES"
Sealed the 26th April 1876, and dated the 28th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the. said William Wilson and Joseph
Battersby at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, on the 28th January
1876.
WILLIAM WILSON, of Wood Hey, Bebington, in the County of Chester, Gentle-
man, and JOSEPH BATTERSBY, of Bedford Leigh, in the County of Lancaster,
Assistant Manager.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES."
The object of this Invention is so to construct a horse rake that the tines or teeth
of the rake may be readily and conveniently raised and lowered with respect to
the wheels, according to the purpose to which the rake is applied and the nature of
the ground to be operated upon, and consists in mounting each of the wheels upon
an independent stud (herein-after called the axle stud), projecting from suitable
slides which are capable of sliding up and down in vertical grooves formed in
the framework of the machine. These axle studs are secured at any desired height
in such grooves by the application of a spring bolt which takes into one of a
series of holes formed in the grooves herein-before mentioned, or the raising and
lowering action may be performed by means of screws or bolts.
The advantage secured by this method of mounting the wheels of horse rakes is
that the points of the tines or teeth of the rake always remain at the said angle
with regard to the ground whatever may be the height at which the axle studs are
secured in the vertical grooves.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of Letters Patent filed by the
said William Wilson and Joseph Battersby in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th May 1876.
WILLIAM WILSON, of Wood Hey, Bebington, in the County of Chester, Gen-
tleman, and JOSEPH BATTERSBY, of Bedford Leigh, in the County of Lancaster,
Assistant Manager. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES."

page_text: The object of this Invention is so to construct a horse rake that the tines or teeth
of the rake may be readily and conveniently raised and lowered with respect to
the wheels, according to the purpose to which the rake is applied, and the nature of
the ground to be operated upon, and consists in mounting each of the wheels upon
an independant stud (herein-after called the axle stud), projecting from suitable
slides which are capable of sliding up and down in vertical grooves formed in
the framework of the machine. These axle studs are secured at any desired height
in such grooves by the application of a spring bolt which takes into one of a
series of holes formed in the grooves herein-before mentioned, or the raising and
lowering action may be performed by means of screws or bölts.
The advantages secured by this method of mounting the wheels of horse rakes is
that the points of the tines or teeth of the rake always remain at the same angle
with regard to the ground whatever may be the height at which the axle studs are
secured in the vertical grooves.
In order that this our said Invention may be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect we have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illus-
trating our improvements, similar letters of reference on the several views being
used to denote similar parts.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the axle stud, shewing its adjustable con-
nection with the axle A; Fig. 2 is a plan; and Fig. 3, a side view of the same.
These three views are drawn to a scale of about half size.
Fig. 4 represents a side elevation (drawn to a reduced scale and shewing one-half
of the wheel removed) of so much of a horse rake as will explain the effect of this
method of mounting with regard to the raising or lowering of the teeth or tines.
In all the views A is the axle of horse rake upon which the usual mechanism
for carrying and actuating the teeth or tines is mounted; B is a boss secured upon
each extremity of the axle A by a set screw C; such boss forming one piece
and projecting from the inner side of a frame or plate D herein-after called the
axle frame. On the outside of this axle frame D a groove E is formed to
received the axle stud F, the guiding plate G of which occupies the groove E,
as seen more clearly in Figs. 2 & 3. Upon this axle stud F the wheel H of the
horse rake is mounted instead of being mounted upon the extremity of the axle A
as heretofore.
In order to secure the axle frame D at any required height upon the guiding
plate G we form a series of holes I through the back of the groove E, see Fig. 1,
and apply a spring bolt J in the guiding plate G, the front extremity of which spring
bolt takes into one of the series of holes I as soon as the spring is released, and thus
effectually locks the parts together; K is a stop formed upon the lower end of the
guiding plate G to prevent the axle frame D falling too far in case of the accidental
breaking or withdrawal of the spring bolt J.
When it is required to raise or lower the axle frame D, and thus to regulate
the distance of the points of the teeth from the ground a lever Z, seen dotted in
Fig. 3, and which is carried as an adjunct to every machine constructed according
to this Invention, is placed across the boss of one of the axle studs F and under
one of the studs L or M, projecting, as illustrated from the outside of the axle
frame D; the spring bolt J is then drawn back, when by raising or lowering the
handle of the lever Z, the axle frame D may be raised or lowered accordingly, the
spring bolt J being then released, such axle frame will instantly become locked in
position at the desired height by the entrance of the spring bolt into the corre-
sponding hole I formed in the back of the groove E; the other end of the machine
is then similarly altered.
In Fig. 4 the relative position of the teeth or tines at three various heights is
illustrated, and thus it will be seen that in accordance with this method of raising
and lowering the axle frame D the teeth or tines have always a vertical and
parallel movement, and that the points always maintain the same relative position
with regard to the axle frame.
It will be obvious that instead of the spring bolt Jan ordinary bolt and nút

page_text: might be used, or the raising and lowering of the axle frame D upon the guiding
plate G might be effected by a vertical screw, in which case the lever Z would be
dispensed with.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, together with the best methods with which we are acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the precise details, relative proportions or dimensions of the several
parts illustrated on the accompanying Drawing, and herein-before described, as the
same may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention, but what
we claim is, mounting the wheels of horse rakes, substantially as and for the pur-
pose herein-before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Wilson and Joseph Battersby, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth day of May, in the year of our
Lord 1876
WILLIAM WILSON.
(L.S.)
JOSEPH BATTERSBY. (L.S.).