Improved Means and Appliances for Operating and Controlling the Rakes of Reaping Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Appriuation Quill vall, 1037
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
PROVIDIUNAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Appliances for Operating and Controlling the
Rakes of Reaping Machines.
We HUGH REID GRIFFIN of 36 Worship Street, London and THOMAS CULPIN of
45 Pell Street, Reading, Agricultural Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of Reaping Machines in which the rakes are
hinged to what is known as the "rake head" which is revolvable around a vertical
spindle or axle usually fixed to the main frame of the machine.
This class of machine as hitherto constructed possesses certain inherent defects
due to the manner of construction and method of operation of certain parts herein-
after enumerated which it is the object of this invention to remedy and thereby
render the machine simpler in construction and more efficient in action as well as
more come-at-able for repairs.
As before stated the vertical spindle round which the rake head revolves is usually
fixed to the main framing of the machine and the spindle for communicating
motion to said rake head also has its bearing in the main frame and if fitted with
mechanism for automatically determining the action of the rakes as to whether
they shall act as "dummies" or "rakes" to pass over or sweep the platform
respectively or for determining their action by hand; these parts also have been so
fitted that in practice if any one of them are broken or get otherwise out of order
the user must send the whole machine to the makers for repair.
Now according to the present invention the "rake head" spindle or axle and the
spindle for communicating motion to said rake head as well as the whole of the
beforementioned what may be termed as the automatic or hand determining
mechanism is self contained in the cam in a novel manner thus forming a complete
mechanical device apart from the reaper and which is easily attachable or detachable
thereto or therefrom.
The cam as is well known is divided at one part thereof by a switch into an inner
track and outer track so that when the usual projecting roller of the rake traverses
the said inner track such as when the switch is open it sweeps the platform but
if it traverses the outer track, such as when the switch is closed the rake by riding
over said switch is lifted above the accumulating grain on the platform and passes
as a dummy.
The rake head to which the rakes are hinged is fitted upon an axle or spindle
which in this case is securely fixed in a boss forming an integral part of the cam
said rake head being revolved by engagement of a bevil pinion with the usual teeth
on the underside of the rake head, motion being transmitted from the Reaping
Machine to a spindle preferably by means of a chain passing over a chain wheel and
thence to a similar wheel operated by the ground wheel of the machine.
The before mentioned spindle is carried in bearings also forming an integral part
of the cam, one end of said spindle projecting through the bevil pinion far enough
to carry a detent and beyond that to form a small crank, or an eccentric may be
fitted thereto for operating a pawl which engages singly and successively ratchet

page_text: teeth (preferably nine) of a weighted quadrant which is carried upon a stud pin
fixed in and projecting from a boss the quadrant as it is drawn over being held by
the engagement of the detent.
The front end of the pawl projects over a plate of the detent in such manner
that when the detent is lifted for. its tooth to become disengaged from the teeth
of the weighted quadrant it at the same time lifts the pawl out of gear also and thus
freeing the said quadrant and allowing same to fall back to its original position by
gravity.
The pawl for every revolution of the spindle engages each single tooth of the
quadrant in succession thereby turning said quadrant upon its pivotal pin until the
last tooth is engaged when a bracket cast upon or attached to the weighted end
of the quadrant comes into contact with one arm of a bell crank lever carried upon
a. pin the other arm of which is in connection by a rod with a depending stem of a.
trigger.
The trigger is pivoted to the cam and its nose engages a wing notch of the switch
the axis of which on the underside of the cam plate and of a cap is encircled by a
spring having one end inserted in the eye of a split pin encircling the cap to the
axis the other end of the spring abutting against the depending stem, thus the same
spring actuates both the switch and the trigger its tendency being in the one case.
to open the switch and in the other to close the trigger nose into the wing notch.
The cap is fitted with a removable tail pin that stands in the path of the rake
roller when the switch is opened or said tail pin may if desired form an integral part
of the switch itself.
The motion of the switch as it opens transferred by means of a rod to a second
bell crank lever (also pivoted on the same pin as the before mentioned bell crank
lever) the other arm of which lifts the detent to release the quadrant by its contact
with a plate or projection.
"
The distance to which the quadrant falls is regulated by the position of a hand
lever in notches (preferably nine) on a segmental guard..
1
For instance the quadrant is provided with a nose piece for abutting against a
lug to which the hand lever is fixed consequently if said lever occupies a position
in the last notch the pawl must engage the whole of the teeth on the quadrant
before the bracket makes contact with the first mentioned bell crank arm for it to
release or open the switch from which it follows that after every, say ninth, rake
arm that passes the next will sweep the platform, the other arms all passing as
dummies.
If however the hand lever be moved into the first notch of the segmental guard
the lug will arrest and limit the fall of the quadrant to one tooth or if it be placed
in the fifth notch the quadrant will fall to the extent of five teeth thereby allowing
one and five arms to pass as "rakes" and "dummies" respectively.
In some cases such as when cutting a light crop it may be desirable to suspend
the action of the automatic mechanisin for a given time this is accomplished by the
simple movement of a lever pivoted to the segmental guard and held by a spring,
the tail end of said lever being adapted to lift the pawl out of gear by contact with
a projecting pin so that although it still vibrates by the rotation of the shaft the
quadrant is not operated until said pawl is lowered by the attendant when if the
hand lever be in the first notch the next following arm as it passes will act as a
"rake" so that the platform may be swept at the will of the attendant without any
alteration to the mechanism.
The apparatus can be fastened to the frame of the machine by bolts.

page_text: Improved Means and Appliances for Operating and Controlling the
Rakes of Reaping Machines.
We HUGH REID GRIFFIN of 36 Worship Street, London, and THOMAS CULPIN of 45
Pell Street Reading, Agricultural Engineers, 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 that class of Reaping Machine in which the rakes are
hinged to what is known as the "rake head which is revolvable around a vertical
spindle or axle usually fixed to the main frame of the machine.
This class of machine as hitherto constructed possesses certain inherent defects
due to the manner of construction and method of operation of certain parts
hereinafter enumerated which it is the object of this invention to remedy and
thereby render the machine simpler in construction and more efficient in action as
well as more come-at-able for repairs.
As before stated the vertical spindle round which the rake head revolves is usually
fixed to the main framing of the machine and the spindle for communicating motion
to said rake head also has its bearing in the main frame and if fitted with mechanisın
for automatically determining the action of the rakes as to whether they shall act as
"dummies" or "rakes" to pass over or sweep the platform respectively or for
determining their action by hand: these parts also have been so fitted that in
practice if any one of them are broken or get otherwise out of order the user
must send the whole machine to the makers for repair.
Now according to this present invention the "rake head" spindle or axle and the
spindle for communicating motion to said rake head as well as the whole of the.
beforementioned what may be termed as the automatic or hand determining
mechanisin is self contained in the cam in a novel manner thus forming a complete
mechanical device apart from the Reaper and which is easily attachable or detachable.
thereto or therefroin as can be clearly seen by referring to the accompanying
drawings in which it is not deemed necessary to illustrate the rake head and the
rake arms as their construction is well known.
Figure 1. is a plan of the cam clearly showing the rake head and switch operating
mechanism.
Figure 2. is an end elevation of the cam and shows more particularly the adjusting
levers of the switch controller mechanism and manner of operating same from the
spindle by which motion is also communicated to the rake head, and
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the cam and mechanism and more clearly shows the
means by which motion is transferred from the switch controller mechanism to the.
switch itself.
The cam A as is well known is divided at one part thereof by a switch B into an
inner track C and outer track D so that when the usual projecting roller of the
rake traverses the inner track such as when the switch B is in the position indicated
by dotted lines it sweeps the platform but if it traverses the outer track such as
when the switch B is closed, as shewn by the full lines in Figure 1. the rake by
riding over said switch is lifted above the accumulating grain on the platform and
passes as a dummy.
The rake head to which the rakes are hinged is fitted upon the axle or spindle E
which in this case is securely fixed in the boss F forming an integral part of the
cam A, said rake head being revolved by the engagement of the bevil pinion G with
the usual teeth on the under. side of the rake head as can be well understood,
motion being transmitted from the Reaping Machine to the spindle H preferably

page_text: by means of a chain passing over the chain wheel I and thence to a similar wheel
operated by the ground wheel of the machine but any kind of gearing may be
employed for the purpose.
The before mentioned spindle H is carried in bearings J. J. also forming an
integral part of the cam. one end of said spindle projecting through the bevil pinion G
far enough to carry a detent K and beyond that to form a small crank L. or an
eccentric may be fitted thereto for operating a pawl M which engages, singly, and
successively ratchet teeth N¹. N². N³. N. No. No. N. N№8. No of a weighted
quadrant P which is carried upon a stud pin Q fixed in and projecting from the
boss R the quadrant P as it is drawn over being held by the engagement of the
detent K.
The front end S of the pawl M projects over the plate T of the detent K in such
a manner that when the detent is lifted for its tooth U. Figure 3. to become
disengaged from the teeth of the weighted quadrant P. it at the same time lifts the
pawl M out of gear also and thus freeing the said quadrant P and allowing same to
fall back to its original position by gravity.
The pawl M for every revolution of the spindle H engages each single tooth of
the quadrant P in succession thereby turning said quadrant upon its pivotal pin
until the last tooth N° is engaged when a bracket V is cast upon or attached to the
weighted end of the quadrant P comes into contact with the one arm W of a
bell crank lever carried upon the pin X. the other arm Y of which is connection by
the rod Z with a depending stem Z¹ of the trigger a as is clearly seen in
Figure 3.
The trigger is pivoted to the cam at 6 and its nose c engages the wing notch d
of the switch B the axis of which on the underside of the cam plate A and of the
cape is encircled by a spring f having one end inserted in the eye of the split pin
securing the cap e to the axis h the other end of the spring abutting against the
depending stem Z¹ as indicated in Figures 1 and 3 thus the same spring f actuates
both the switch B and the trigger a its tendency being in the one case to open
the switch B and in the other to close the trigger nose c into the wing notch d.
The cap e is fitted with a removable tail pin that stands in the path of the
rake roller when the switch is opened or said tail pin may if desired form an
integral part of the switch itself.
The motion of the switch as it opens is transferred by means of the rod ; to a
second bell crank lever k also pivoted upon the pin X (the relative positions of both
bell crank levers being clearly shown in Figure 1) the other arm of which lifts the
detent K to release the quadrant by its contact with the plate or projection m.
The distance to which the quadrant P falls is regulated by the position of the
hand lever n in the notches numbered 1 to 9 respectively on the segmental guard.
For instance the quadrant P is provided with a nose piece q, Figures 1 and 3 for
abutting against the lug to which the hand lever n is fixed, consequently if the
said lever occupies the position indicated in Figure 2 the pawl M must engage the
whole of the teeth on the quadrant P before the bracket V makes contact with
the bell crank arm W for it to release or open the witch B from which it follows that
after every ninth rake arm that passes the next will sweep the platform the other
arms all passing as "dummies."
If however the hand lever n be moved into the notch No. 1 of the segmental
guard p the lug will arrest and limit the fall of the quadrant P to one tooth or if it
is placed in notch No. 5 the quadrant will fall to the extent of five teeth thereby
allowing one and five arms to pass as "dummies" respectively.
In some cases such as when cutting a light crop it may be desirable to suspend the
action of the automatic mechanism for a given time, this is accomplished by the
simple movement of the lever s pivoted at t to the segmental guard p and held by
spring p¹ the tail end u of said lever's being adapted to lift the pawl M out of gear
by contact with the projecting pin v Figures 1 and 2 so that although it still
vibrates by the rotation of the shaft H the quadrant P is not operated until said
pawl M is lowered by the attendant when if the hand lever n be in notch No. 1 the

page_text: next following arm as it passes will act as a "rake" so that the platform, may be
swept at the will of the attendant without any alteration to the mechanism."
Having described the construction and action of the several parts in detail the
following connected description of the modus operandi will be easily understood;
supposing the hand lever n to be placed into the notch required by the circumstances
then the forward motion of the whole machine causes the wheel I to be rotated in
the manner before explained and the bevil pinion G revolves the rake head by its
engagement therewith.
The bowls or rollers of the rake arms as they pass ride over the closed switch B
lifts the rakes over the platform to pass as dummies until the crank L has made the
required number of revolutions for the pawl M to engage the last tooth N° of the
quadrant P the bracket V of which then lifts the arm W of the bell crank lever for
the other arm V by the rod Z to pull the nose c of the trigger a out of contact with
the notch d of the switch B, the switch then flies open under the action of the
spring to the position shown by dotted lines and moves the tail pin in the
path of the bowl or roller of the following rake which must now perforce move
along the inner track and cause the rake to sweep the platform in the manner well
understood.
The movement of the switch B as it opens is transferred by the rod j to the bell
crank the arm of which lifts the detent K and pawl, M out of gear to allow the
quadrant P to fall back the distance limited by the hand lever n.
The bowl or roller of the rake arm as it passes the inner track pushes against the
tail pin i and closes the switch behind it thereby allowing the trigger to lock it and
the detent K and pawl M to again engage the teeth of the quadrant P for the next
set of operations.
It will be noticed that with the before described mechanism in action only every
second rake arm that passes can rake the platform but if such a heavy crop is being
dealt with as would necessitate every arm acting as a rake the tail pin is removed
when the switch will remain open and accomplish the desired result.
The apparatus can be fastened to the frame of the machine by bolts passed through
the holes w, w.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. In a reaping machine of the kind indicated, the appliances in the several
portions shown on the annexed drawings and acting in the manner for the purpose
or purposes herein before described.
2. In a reaping machine of the kind indicated
a the mode of and apparatus for operating the ratchet quadrant.
the means for releasing the switch for opening the gate.
c the means by which the two pawls are lifted by the opening motion of the
switch.
d the means or appliances of replacing the pawls in work by the closing action
of the switch.
All as set forth.
3. The mechanism for adjusting the switches in the path of the rakes in reaping
machines the distinguishing feature of which is that a tooth sector P, adjustable
with reference to the number of its effectively acting teeth by means of a hand
lever n, is rotated so far through the action of the driving shaft of the rake head or
from the rake head operating a pinion on cross shaft or cam with the assistance of a
pawl M. that through a lever action (or transmitted lever action) it releases a nose c
from the switch with the aid of an.arin V whereupon the switch in consequence of the
pressure of a spring opens and lays aside the particular rake (causes it to pass as a
dummy) whilst at the same time the switch with the assistance of a second lever
action (or lever arrangement) lifts the pawl out of the tooth sector so that this last
named in consequence of being weighted returns to its alterable starting point, the

page_text: switch being closed again in the usual manner by the rake roller striking against a
pin located on the switch (or the tail of the switch) and being retained by the nose
or tail piece of the switch.
4. The adjusting mechanism for the switches in the path of the rakes in Reaping
Machines according to Claim 3 the distinguishing feature being that the pawl M
which moves the tooth sector and has a stop K, can be put out of gear by reversing
a lever 8 in order to allow all the rakes to act virtually as dummies.
Dated thin 10th day of Ontahan 1007
H. GARDNER,
166 Fieet Street, London, Patent Agent.
Agent for the said H. R. Griffin, and T. Culpin.
H. GARDNER,
166 Fieet Street, London, Patent Agent.
Agent for the said H. R. Griffin, and T. Culpin.