Improvements in Sheaf Binding Harvesters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June. 1897-Accepted, 14th Aug., 1897
Improvements in Sheaf Binding Harvesters.
I ALEXANDER MCGREGOR, of Albion Iron Works, Leigh, in the County of Lancaster,
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 relates to improvements in various attachments to the main or gear
frame, and to an improved arrangement of levers for enabling the driver to regulato
the different operations, more particularly in that class of machines in which the
driver's seat is supported from the back of the main frame in a similar manner to
that described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me, No. 17801,
A.D. 1895.
The invention also relates to improvements in the arrangement for tipping the
entting apparatus up or down as described in the before mentioned specification, also
in that class of machines in which the driver's seat is supported from the back of the
main frame.
The invention further relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction}
of the mechanism for carrying and driving the gathering reel, together with the
arrangement of levers for changing the position of the same.
It further relates to improvements in the manner of mounting the compressor, and
the mechanism for controlling the action of the same.
And lastly it relates to the construction and arrangement of the gearing for
operating the binding apparatus together with the tripping mechanism for
automatically and instantaneously starting the binder when sufficient gmin has been
packed to form a sheaf, and securely locking the same when the sheaf has been
discharged and while a new sheaf is being formed.
In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect,
I will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. is a back elevation showing the arrangement of the frame of the machine,
and together with Figures 2 and 3 showing the arrangement of levers in relation to
the driver's seat.
Fig. 1ª is a front elevation showing as much of the machine as is necessary for the
purpose of this invention.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6, are detail views of the in and out of gear clutch arrangement.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the arrangement for tipping the cutting apparatus.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the main draught bracket.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the arrangement for carrying, driving, and changing
the position of the gathering reel; and Figures 10 and 11 are detail views of parts
of the saine.
Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views of the compressor arm and the manner of
nctuating it.
of
Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are detail views of the tripping arrangement.
The crank shaft bearing bracket a³, Fig. 1, is secured to the outer back corner
the inain frame, and is provided with a lug a to which the upright end of the rear
clovator frame c is attached; the other, or diagonal end being secured to a lug a³,
"

page_text: formed on the splice plate a¹. Secured to the upright bar of the rear elevator fraine,
and with its foot resting on the before mentioned crank shaft bearing bracket, is a
specially constructed bracket d, having au arm which forms the bearing for the packet
shaft driving wheel, and being formed with a pipe or tube having a slot through the
same for receiving and guiding the main raising spindle d¹, a spiral spring & being 5
carried in the tube and pressing under the raising spindle, so as to act as a buffer to
the same in the event of any sudden shock caused by the jolting of the machine.
On the upper part of the rear transport axle bracket is a lug a, to which is
secured the lower end of an upright bar e, the upper end of the same being secured
to the rear elevator frame c. This upright bar e forms a support for the inner end 1
of a horizontal rod or spindle e; the other or outer end of which is carried in n
bracket secured to the upright bar of the rear elevator frame c. The outer end of
this spindle projects through the bracket, and carries a lever ƒ (shown also in
Figs. 2 and 3) for adjusting the backward and forward position of the binding
apparatus: a notched quadrant f1 for retaining the lever, being secured to the upright 1
bar of the rear elevator frame c.
for
Midway on this horizontal spindle e is secured a bearing & for the rod
actuating the in and out of gear clutch g; the part of the rod above the bearing eª
being bent over in the form of a lover convenient to the driver's hand, and the
extremity of the lower end being squared as shewn in Fig. 4, and rivetted into a 2
journal g which is carried by a bearing in the sent bracket Figs. 5 and 6. This
journal g is formed with a cam shaped Hange which actuates the lever h' for moving
the in and out of gear clutch y. The lever h¹ is provided with a lip which
fits over the flange of the journal, and prevents the journal rising out of its
boaring; the rod es, owing to its being securet to the journal in the manner shewn 2
being also retained in position by the before mentioned lip h³.
Adjoining the inner support for the horizontal spindle is mounted a hand lever i
(Figs. 1, 3 and 7) for tipping the cutting apparatus up or down. This lever is free to turn
on the spindle and is depressed from its point of suspension to a sufficient distance
when the lever is in its bighest position for allowing tall grain to pass it, and is then 3
brought up to be in a position convenient to the driver's hand. To the lower forward
angle of this lever is jointed a horizontal rod, the forward end of which is jointed to
the lower end of a pendant lever (shown also in Fig. 1) which is carried on the
overhanging end of a shaft j, supported by a bracket which is secured to the main
front upright bar of the elevator. This supporting bracket is formed in one with 3
a notched quadrant, having lugs by which it is secured to the upright bar 4, and a
tubular boss formed at an angle to receive the screwed end of a diagonal stay rod i'
which is carried from the main frane of the machine, and is provided with nuts on
either side of the tubular boss so that its length may be adjusted to act as an efficient
stay rod for the front of the elevator. The upright bar i, to which the supporting 4
bracket is fixed is secured at its lower end to the main draught bracket as to which
the back end of the draught pole a is jointed, and which forms a rigid corner
bracket to the main frame of the machine as shown in Fig. 8.
The pendant lever it is formed with an arm is projecting forward from the point of
its attachment to the shaft j, and this arm is connected by a link or links to the 4
draught pole a at a point forward of its connection to the draught bracket as; so
that any movement of the haud lever i, at the back of the machine is communicated
through the horizontal rod to the pendant lever at the front of the machine;
and this pendant lever by means of its arm and the link or links i connecting it to
the draught pole a, changes the angle assumed by the latter in reference to the main
frane of the machine, and consequently raises or depresses the forward part of the
frame, and with it the cutting apparatus.
In order to lock the pendant aru in any desired position, the same is provided
with a sliding spring box having a tooth or teeth which gear into the teeth of the
notched quadrant ; the movement of the spring box 10 being controlled by a
jointed handle placed in a convenient position on the hand lever i, and connected

page_text: to the spring box by a series of rods, bell cranks and links as shown in the drawing
Fig. 7.
The before mentioned shaft is continued on towards the cutting apparatus, and
carried by a bracket k, Figs. 1 and 9, which is supported by the upright angle bar
from the main shoc; the bracket being also formed to receive the front end of a
bar or tube 1 which supports the back of the upper elevator and the levers k² and k
for actuating the reel, and is carried down in a U form, so as to admit of the passage
of tall grain, and is then secured to the back splice plate al
the
Mounted on the shaft is an upright frame t to which the reel frame is jointed;
the forward end of the latter being formed with a tubular bearing for the reel shaft.
Within the upright frame and mounted on the same shaft is a crank lever k³,
one member of which is connected by a rod k to a point on the reel frame -
corresponding in distance from its joint to the upright frame to the length of the
member of the crank lever. The other arm of the crank lever connected by a
rod to a joint on a band lever which is carried by a double quadrant bracket 10
secured to the bar or tube k¹, so that by actuating the hand lever, the forward end of
the reel frame can be moved up or down.
Carried by the same double quadrant bracket 10 is another hand lever 2 which is
connected by rods to the upright frame midway between its support on the
shaft and its joint to the roel fraune ; so that by actuating this lever 12 the
upright frame can be rocked backwards or forwards.
The quadrants of the bracket 10 are formed with notches, and each of the levers
and are provided with spring bolts so that they can be secured in any desired
position.
The rods for connecting the upright frame to its hand lever are placed side
by side, and close together at the lever end but expanded to the full width of the
upright frame at the front as shewn in Fig. 10, so as to form an efficient stay to
prevent the twisting of the frame; the inner rod being formed with an eye at each
end, and the outer one with its ends hooked so as to pass through the eye of the inner
rod and the joint of the lever at the back end, and through a tube formed in the
upright frame and through the eye of the inner rod at the front end in the manner
shown.
The rotary motion of the reel shaft is communicated by a train of gearing direct
from the main cross shaft of the machine in the following manner.
On the end of
the cross shaft nearest the grain platform is mounted a bevel pinion (Figs. 1 and 9)
which gears into a corresponding pinion secured near the back end of the diagonal
shaft On the forward end of this shaft 2 is mounted a bevel pinion (shewn also
in Fig. 11) which gears into a bevel wheel + carried on a horizontal spindle or pin in
a bracket which is secured to the front of the elevator. Carried by this bracket 5
and centred on the pin which carries the bevel wheel is a bridle which forms a
bearing for the lower part of a vibrating shaft ; a bevel pinion 19 being secured on
the lower end of this shaft within the bridle so as to gear into the bevel wheel l'at
any angle which the vibrating shaft 17 may assume.
Carried by the the tubular bearing at the forward end of the reel frame is a
5 bridle which encircles the bevel wheel 10 which is keyed or otherwise secured to the
reel shaft, the bridle having a bearing for a journal which is formed at the end of
a bevel pinion which gears into the bevel wheel 10; the bevel pinion being
formed with a central bole through which the vibrating shaft which drives the
same is free to slide, and by means of the before mentioned bridles 10 and 1
O accommodate itself to any position in which the reel shaft may be placed.
As an improvement on the compressing arrangement described in the Specification
of former Letters Patent granted to me, No. 17802, A.D. 1895, in order to mise the
compressor arm m Fig. 12, to the position for retaining the grain after a sheaf has
been discharged; instead of using an arm on the needle crank, the needle n is
5 provided with a spur n', which, when the needle is near the completion of its
descending stroke, comes in contact with a roller carried by a crank arın m¹ mounted
8.

page_text: on the compressor spindle o and formed in one with the compressor bracket m², and
thereby mising the compressor arm to the desired position.
Instead of forming the compressor arm m in one with the adjustable slide m³, it is
pivotted to the same at m' and provided with a spiral spring m placed between the
heel of the arm and the slide so as to force the arm into position, but admit of it
yielding slightly when any undno pressure is brought to bear on it.
The before mentioned spur n² on the needle n is formed in one with the needle, or
it inay be adjustably connected to it; in either case it forms a convenient position
for a guide n² for the binder twine on its passage from the tension clip to the point of
the needle.
In order to maintain the compressor arin in its position after the needle has
started on its outward journey and when the spur n' has receded from the before
mentioned roller, in the crank arm m³, the forward end of the compressor spindle o is
provided with a crank o' Fig. 13, having a stud or pin o³ which comes in contact
with and is held in position by a spring latch of which prevents the spindle o
from turning until the sheaf is ready to be discharged; at which period, as the
needle begins to return, a tooth or projection secured to tho needle shaft n*,
or formed on the back of the needle crauk 5, comes in contact with a spring
pawl of pivotted to an extension of the spring latch o³ and pushes the spring
latch clear of the stud of so that the compressor arm is free to fall clear of the
outgoing sheaf; to be raised again by the spur n' on the needle in the manner
previously described as the latter is completing its descent. The single spring 05 on
the swivel guide pin oº, retains both the spring pawl of and the spring latch o³ in
position.
In order to obtain an instantaneous trip for the binding apparatus, on the
forward end of the knotter shaft p, Figs. 14, 15, and 16, is mounted a bevol wheel pl
(shewn also in Fig. 1) which is driven by a bevel pinion p having its teeth extended
or prolonged some distance beyond the periphery of the wheel for an object or
purpose to be hereinafter described. This bevel pinion is mounted on an inclined
shaft which is in turn driven by bevel or mitre gear from the forward end of the
packer shaft g
in the ordinary manner; but instead of using a stop arrangement of
the ordinary kind to arrest the motion of the forward end of the packer shaft or of
the gearing which drives the inclined shaft, the whole continues to revolve; and in
order to arrest the motion of the bevel wheel p' the wheel is mutilated, or deprived of
two or more of its teeth at the point which would otherwise be in gear with the bevel
pinion when the knotter shaft should be at rest; thereby allowing the bevel
pinion and the inclined shaft 23 to continue revolving without driving the bevel
wheel and the knotter shaft. The crank pin p8 is fixed in the space or depression
caused by the absence of the teeth.
Jointed to the back of the bevel wheel p' is a toothed segment pt (shown also in
Fig. 17) having two or more teeth p' which by means of a spring p' pressing
the segment to the wheel, can be brought into a position which would form a
continuation of the missing teeth of the bevel wheel beyond its periphery and gearing
into the extension or prolongation of the teeth of the bevel pinion p already referred
to; so that the toothed segment pt when pressed into position by the before mentioned 4
spring, completes the circuit of the bevel wheel.
In order to force the toothed segment p into a position which shall be out of gear
with the extension of the teeth of the bevel pinion p², the segment is formed with a
projecting arm 2 having a position so that when the knotter shaft is about to
complete its revolution, this projecting arm mounts an inclined track 4 formed on the 5
face of a trip switch (shown also in Figs. 18 and 19) by which means the segment
is forced outwards, clear of the extension of the teeth of the bevel pinion p³, allowing
the latter to revolve clear of the bevel wheel.
The inclined surface on the trip switch is so formed that it raises the
projecting arm a distance more than just sufficient for the teeth p to clear the 5
extension of the teeth of the hovel pinion p²; and when the projecting arm arrives at

page_text: the end of the track or inclined surface it drops into a depression formed in the trip
switch, thereby securely locking the bevel wheel p' at the end of its revolution.
The trip switch is pivotted on a stud which is secured to a fixed part of the
binder frame and is connected by a connecting rod to a crauk formed on the
forward end of the trip spindle which carries the ordinary trip lever t, so that when
the trip lever is depressed by the weight of the grain which is being packed to form
a sheaf, the crank, 75 by means of the connecting rod 2 pulls the trip switch r
out of gear with the arm p of the segment, and allows the teeth p to fly into
gear with the extension of the teeth of the bevel pinion på and thereby start the
bevel wheel p' and the knottor shaft in its revolution.
The trip levert being controlled by an adjustable spring t, in the ordinary manner,
regains its normal position as soon as the bound sheaf has been discharged. The
same spring ", by means of the before mentioned crank and connecting rod 73
raises the trip switch again into position for the inclined track to guide the
arm p of the segment so that the teeth p may be clear of the extension of the
teeth of the bevel pinion 2.
In order to admit of the binding apparatus being rotated by hand for threading
the needle or other purposes without driving the whole of the machinery; the forward
end of the packer shaft q is connected to the packer crank shaft by means of a spring
clutch q'.
The trip lever t' is pivotted on the back end of the trip spindle and is adjustably
secured to an ear or crank on a casting (shewn also in Fig. 20) which, in the
form of a sleeve, acts as a journal for the trip spindle. This sleeve t is carried in n
bearing formed or secured to the frame of the binder, and its forward end is
provided with a lug or crank to receive a pint of the adjustable spring, so that
the latter acts directly on the trip lever by means of the sleeve t, and it is only
necessary to secure the sleeve to the spindle by any simple means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. In a sheaf binding harvester, the arrangement of the back elevator frame with
the upright bar e and the horizontal spindle e carrying the levers for shifting the
binder and for tipping the cutting apparatus, and the bearing for the clutch rod,
substantially as described.
2. In a sheaf binding harvester, the arrangement of the back elevator frame and a
bracket secured to the same forming a bearing for the packer chain wheel and
having a guide for the raising spindle and a spring box, substantially as described.
3. In a sheaf binding harvester the arrangement for putting the clutch out of gear
by means of the lever actuated by the cam piece g¹ secured to the lower end of tho
clutch rod, the lever having the lip substantially as described.
4. In a sheaf binding harvester, wherein the driver's seat is supported from the
back of the frame the arrangement for tipping the cutting apparatus, having the
fixed notched quadrant secured to the main front upright, and the pendant lever and
arm connected and actuated substantially as described.
5. In a sheaf binding harvester, wherein the driver's seat is supported from the
back of the frame the arrangement for tipping the cutting apparatus, having the
fixed notched quadrant secured to the main front upright and formed with a tubular
boss at an angle to receive the diagonal stay from the frame of the machine,
substantially as described.
6. In a sheaf binding harvester, the draught bracket a³ carrying the main front
upright and forming the corner bracket for the main frame of the machine,
substantially as shewn and described.
7. In a sheaf binding harvester the arrangement of parts for carrying the gathering
reel and for changing its position, the upright frame carrying the reel frame being
connected to its adjusting handle or lever by the two rods or their equivalent,
Bubstantially as described.

page_text: 8. In a sheaf binding harvester the arrangement for driving the gathering reel by
means of a train of gearing directly from the cross shaft of the machine substantially
as described.
9. In a sheaf binding harvester, the arrangement of parts for carrying the
gathering wheel, for changing its position, and for driving the said reel from the cross
shaft of the machine substantially as described.
10. In a sheaf binding harvester, the compressor arm connected to an adjustable
slide which is carried by a bracket secured to the compressor spindle and having a
crank carrying a roller to be actuated by a spur formed or secured to the needle,
substantially as described.
11. In a sheaf binding harvester, the compressor arın connected to an adjustable
slide which is carried by a bracket secured to the compressor spindle and having a
crank carrying a roller to be raised by a spur formed or secured to the needle,
the compressor spindle being locked or released by the spring latch and catch
substantially as described.
12. In a sheaf binding harvester in which the bevel wheel on the knotter shaft
is mutilated, or deprived of some of its teeth, the use of a jointed segment having a
tooth or teeth which can be brought into gear with the extension of the teeth of
the bevel pinion outside the periphery of the bevel wheel, substantially as
described.
13. In a sheaf binding harvester in which the bevel wheel on the knotter shaft
is mutilated, or deprived of some of its teeth, the use of a jointed segment having a
tooth or teeth which can be brought into gear with the extension of the teeth
of the bevel pinion outside the periphery of the bevel wheel, the segment being
forced into gear by a spring, and forced out of gear by a trip-switch controlled by the
trip lever, substantially as described.
14. In a sheaf binding harvester a trip switch having an inclined surface pivotted
or carried by the binder frame, and controlled by the two levers substantially as
described.
15. In a sheaf binding harvester, a trip lever centred on the end of the trip spindle
and secured to a sleeve forming the journal for the spindle and having a lug or crank
for the spring rod, substantially as described;
Dated this 4th day of June 1897.