Improvements in or connected with Hay-tedders, Swath-turners, and similar Implements.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Hay-tedders, Swath-turners, and
similar Implements.
I, EDWARD CHRISTOPHER BLACKSTONE, of The Rutland Engineering Works,
Stamford, in the County of Lincoln, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to hay-tedders, swath-turners and similar implements of the
kind in which oscillating or vibrating forks or kickers are employed.
The object of my present invention is to provide improved means for enabling
such forks to give or yield in a vertical or substantially vertical direction relatively
to their operating cranks in case they meet with any obstruction.
According to my invention the bearing blocks (by means of which the cranks
are connected to the oscillating forks) instead of being rigidly attached to the said
forks, are mounted in guides upon the said forks or adapted to slide thereon and
normally held in one position by means of spiral or other springs. If with this
arrangement during the working of the machine one of the forks strikes against
some obstruction before the crank has reached the limit of its downward movement
the said fork will remain stationary, the crank-bearing sliding relatively to the
fork against the pressure of the spring.
Dated the 27th day of December 1892
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Hay-tedders, Swath-turners, and
similar Implements.
I, EDWARD CHRISTOPHER BLACKSTONE, of The Rutland Engineering Works,
Stamford, in the County of Lincoln, Agricultural 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:-
My invention relates to hay-tedders, swath-turners and similar implements of the
kind in which oscillating or vibrating forks or kickers are employed.
The object of my present invention is to provide improved means for enabling
such forks to give or yield in a vertical or substantially vertical direction relatively
with their operating cranks in case they meet with any obstruction.
According to my invention the bearing-blocks (by means of which the cranks
are connected to the oscillating forks) instead of being rigidly attached to the said
forks, are mounted in guides or adapted to slide thereon and normally held in one
position by means of spiral or other springs. If with this arrangement during the
working of the machine one of the forks strikes against some obstruction before
the crank has reached the limit of its downward movement the said fork will remain
stationary, the crank-bearing sliding relatively with the fork against the pressure
of the spring.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vibrating fork or kicker having my invention
applied thereto; and,
Figure 2 is a back elevation of the same ·

page_text: Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the operation:
Figures 4 and 5 are a side and front elevation respectively illustrating a
modification of my invention.
a is the arm of a fork of ordinary construction having spring prongs a' at its
lower end and the link a connected to its upper end and b is the crank for
operating the fork. c is the bearing-block, and d is a bar or strap forming one
side of a guide in which the said bearing slides, the other side of the guide being
formed upon the arm of the fork.
e is a spring which bears against the underside of the bearing e and also against
the arm and serves to normally hold the said bearing at the upper part of the
guide, as shewn in Figure 1. If, however, the prongs of the fork strike an obstruc-
tion (for instance as shown in Figure 3) which would tend to impede the movement
of the fork, the continued movement of the crank would cause the downward
movement of the bearing c in the guide and so compress the said spring e, as shewn
in Figure 3.
In practice I prefer to arrange the guide at an inclination to the axis of the fork,
as shewn in Figures 1 and 3, as this position practically coincides with the movement
which the bearing c takes in case the fork strikes an obstruction: this angular
position, however, is not necessary.
In the modification shewn in Figures 4 and 5, the bearing is adapted to move
parallel with the side of the fork. In this modification the bearing c is embraced
by a bar slotted at g, g, as shewn in Figure 5, and adapted to slide upon two
bolts, which serve as guides. The end of the bolt i is adapted to carry one end
of the spring e the other end of which bears against a projection j formed upon the
barf. With this arrangement when the fork strikes an obstruction the bearing e
with the strap moves downwardly against the pressure of the spring e.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a hay-tedder, swath-turner or similar implement having forks or kickers,
crank-bearings adapted to slide in guides upon the said forks, substantially as, and
for the purpose, described.
2. The combination with the forks or kickers of hay-tedders, swath-turners or
similar implements, of bearings sliding in guides upon the said forks and springs
adapted to hold the said bearings in position in the guides and to allow the said
forks to yield when they strike obstructions, substantially as described.
Dated the 6th day of September 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.