AN IMPROVED HARVESTING MACHINE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, F.C.S., of 67,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED HARVESTING MACHINE." A communication from abroad by
Orville Cooley and Myron M. Oliver, of Brockport, in the County of Monroe,
and Steven E. Sherwood, of Conesus, in the County of Livingston, both in the
State of New York, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Primerose Howard
Vaughan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November
1877.
"
EDWARD PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 67, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. AN IMPROVED HARVESTING MACHINE." A
communication from abroad by Orville Cooley and Myron M. Oliver, of Brockport,
in the County of Monroe, and Steven E. Sherwood, of Conesus, in the County of
Livingston, both in the State of New York, in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of grain
harvesters, the object of such improvements being to combine in one machine to as
great an extent as possible, extreme simplicity, lightness, and strength, and also to
obtain a complete adjustability of the several parts of the machine with relation to
each other, and with reference to the work to be done.
The main points of the Invention consist,-
First. In the construction of the main frame.
Secondly. In the mode of supporting the pinion shafts.
Thirdly. In the combination of the main pinion shaft with the driving shaft of
the cutter and the driving shaft of the rake in such a manner that a single backing
ratchet shall prevent the reverse movement of the main pinion shaft from being
communicated to either of the said other shafts.

page_text: •
Fourthly. In the mode of yoking the main pinion shaft to the main driving
wheel.
And, Fifthly. In the mode of supporting and adjusting the main frame of the
machine.
The nature of the Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed
Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the inner end of the machine, shewing
certain parts in section; Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken at the
line x, x, of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan of the frame casting, shewing the arrange-
ment of the several pinion shaft standards.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts in the several Figures.
A is the main driving wheel, having an internal gear rim a cast upon or attached
to the grain side thereof, and also having a circumferential flange a¹ projecting from
the middle of its tread in order to hold it in place on "side hills." Cis the platform,
the same. being bolted or otherwise secured to the floor plate D of the main frame,
and on a level therewith. E is the tongue connected to the inside corner of the main
frame, and having a diagonal brace rod e extending to the outer corner of the main
frame. F if the rake standard carrying the raking and reeling mechanism, which
is of the same character as that employed in the Johnston harvester," for which
Letters Patent were granted to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, bearing date the
4th day of August 1868, No. 2444, and which being well known and understood
need not be described.
Upon the floor plate D of the main frame is a casting H of the plan outline
shown in Figure 3, and having two vertical standards i, i, for the support of the
main pinion shaft I, two similar standards m, 'm, for the support of the cutter shaft
M, and one similar standard n, for the support of the driving shaft N, which operates
the rake shaft.
The upper ends of the standards are made concave in the line of their respective
shafting, and tubular shaft bearings or boxes o, ò', 0%, respectively, are mounted
upon them and strapped firmly down by staples, which are countersunk in recesses
on the outer side of the standards, and extend down through the bases of the latter,
and through the floor plate, and are provided with screw nuts beneath the frame,
by which they can be tightened up, loosened, or removed whenever it is requisite.
The front end of the shaft N also bears in a socket or box n, attached to the rake
standard below the bevel gear wheel. The main pinion shaft receives motion from
the gear rim a, through a small pinion i², and communicates it to the cutter shaft by
means of gear wheels g, gl, and to the rake shaft by means of gear wheels r, r¹, the
wheels g, r, being cast in one in order that they may be thrown out of action
simultaneously by a single backing ratchet ², as will be clearly understood from
Figure 1.
The tubular bearings of the main pinion shaft form part of a yoke shewn at Y,
one arm of which extends to and is supported loosely upon the axle of the wheel A.
The pinion is thus held always in gear, and at the same time the main frame is
permitted to be raised and lowered, or tilted to any required position. The arm Y,
thus connected to the driving wheel, extends directly to the inner end of the tubular
bearing o, and is connected to the outer end of the said bearing by a diagonal brace
or braces y, cast in one piece with it and the tubular bearing, a mode of con-
struction which secures great rigidity and strength, whilst it involves no great
weight of metal.
The axle of the main driving wheel A is a short shaft or stud S, which does not
turn with the wheel, and upon the projecting end of the said shaft or stud the
driver's seat W is mounted and rigidly attached, as shewn in Figure 1, on the side of
the wheel opposite to the frame.
The lifting bar is shewn at U, the forward end thereof being provided with a slot
connected with a stud washer on the side of the tongue. The said lifting bar is
supported by a curved arm T mounted on the axle of the wheel A, and provided
with a toothed segment or rack t. Two vertical rods V, L, having their lower ends,
one attached to the joint bolt in the tongue socket, and the other by the means of a

page_text: hook to the rear of the machine, are provided with perforations for the purpose of
adjusting the lifting lever K, one end of which is pivoted to the lifting bar and the
other provided with a spring catch v, which gears into the teeth or notches of the
said segment.
By suitable adjustments of the two supporting bars V and L the frame can be set
at any required elevation and inclination, whilst the pitch of the cutter can be
instantly changed and adjusted at any time. by a movement of the lever.
The machine can be readily taken to pieces by any ordinary unskilled work-
man for storage, transportation, or repairs, and can be as easily put together
again.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st May 1878.
(A
EDWARD PRIMEROSE HOWARD VAUGHAN, F.C.S., of 67, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED. HARVESTING MACHINE."
communication from abroad by Orville Cooley and Myron M. Oliver, of Brockport,
in the County of Monroe, and Steven E. Sherwood, of Conesus, in the Livingston,
both in the State of New York, in the United States of America.)
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of grain har-
vesters, the object of such improvements being to combine in one machine to as
great an extent as possible extreme simplicity, lightness, and strength, and also to
obtain a complete adjustability of the several parts of the machine with relation to
each other, and with reference to the work to be done.
The main points of the Invention consist, -
First. In the construction of the main frame.
Secondly. In the mode of supporting the pinion shafts.
Thirdly. In the combination of the main pinion shaft with the driving shaft of
the cutter and the driving shaft of the rake, in such a manner that a single backing
ratchet shall prevent the reverse movement of the main pinion shaft from being
communicated to either of the said other shafts.
Fourthly. In the mode of yoking the main pinion shaft to the main driving
wheel.
And, Fifthly. In the mode of supporting and adjusting the main frame of the
machine.
The nature of the Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed
Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the inner end of the machine, shewing
certain parts in section. Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken at the
line x, x, of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan of the frame casting, shewing the arrange-
ment of the several pinion shaft standards.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts in the several Figures.
A is the main driving wheel, having an internal gear rim a cast upon or attached
to the grain side thereof, and also having a circumferential flange a¹ projecting from

page_text: the middle of its tread, in order to hold it in place on "side hills." C is the plat
form, the same being bolted or otherwise secured to the floor plate D of the main
frame, and on a level therewith. E is the tongue connected to the inside corner of
the main frame, and having a diagonal brace rod e extending to the outer corner of
the main frame. F is the rake standard carrying the raking and reeling mechanism,
which is of the same character as that employed in the "Johnston harvester," for
which Letters Patent were granted to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, bearing date
the 4th day of August 1868, No. 2444, and which being well known and under-
stood need not be described.
Upon the floor plate D of the main frame is a casting H of the plan outline
shewn in Figure 3 and having two vertical standards i, i, for the support of the
main pinion shaft I, two similar standards m, m, for the support of the cutter shaft
M, and one similar standard n for the support of the driving shaft N, which operates
the rake shaft.
The upper ends of the standards are made concave in the line of their respective
shafting, and tubular shaft bearings or boxes o, o¹, o², respectively are mounted upon
them and strapped firmly down by staples, which are countersunk in recesses on the
outer side of the standard, and extend down through the bases of the latter, and
through the floor plate, and are provided with screw nuts beneath the frame, by
which they can be tightened up, loosened, or removed whenever it is requisite.
The front end of the shaft N also bears in a socket or box n, attached to the rake
standard below the bevel gear wheel. The main pinion shaft receives motion from
the gear rim a, through a small pinion i2, and communicates it to the cutter shaft
by means of gear wheels g, g', and to the rake shaft by means of gear wheels r,,
the wheels g, r, being cast in one in order that they may be thrown out of action
simultaneously by a single backing ratchet 12, as will be clearly understood from
Figure 1.
The tubular bearings of the main pinion shaft form part of a yoke shewn at Y,
one arm of which extends to and is supported loosely upon the axle of the wheel
A. The pinion is thus held always in gear, and at the same time the main frame is
permitted to be raised and lowered, or tilted to any required position. The arm Y
thus connected to the driving wheel extends directly to the inner end of the tubular
bearing o, and is connected to the outer end of the said bearing by a diagonal brace
or braces y, cast in one piece with it and the tubular bearing, a mode of con-
struction which secures great rigidity and strength, whilst it involves no great
weight of metal.
The axle of the main driving wheel A is a short shaft or stud S, which does not
turn with the wheel, and upon the projecting end of the said shaft or stud the
driver's seat W is mounted and rigidly attached, as shewn in Figure 1 on the side
of the wheel opposite to the frame.
The lifting bar is shewn at U, the forward end thereof being provided with a slot
connected with a stud washer on the side of the tongue. The said lifting bar is
supported by a curved arm T, mounted on the axle of the wheel A, and is provided
with a toothed segment or rack t. Two vertical rods V, L, having their lower ends,
one attached to the joint bolt in the tongue socket, and the other by the means of
a hook to the rear of the machine, are provided with perforations for the purpose of
adjusting the lifting lever K, one end of which is pivoted to the lifting bar and the
other provided with a spring catch v, which gears into the teeth or notches of the
said segment.
By suitable adjustments of the two supporting bars V and L the frame can be set
at any required elevation and inclination, whilst the pitch of the cutter can be
instantly changed and adjusted at any time by a movement of the lever.
The machine can be readily taken taken to pieces by any ordinary unskilled work-
man for storage, transportation, or repairs, and can be as easily put together
again.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what

page_text: I consider novel and original, amd therefore claim as constituting the said Invention
are,―
First. The construction of and mode of supporting and adjusting the main frame
of the machine in the form herein-before described and set forth.
Secondly. The combination of standards forming a part of the main frame, and
having concave tubular upper ends, with tubular bearings for the shafting, and with
staples extending down to or through the frame, by which the tubular bearings
are strapped in place upon the standards, substantially as herein-before described.
Thirdly. The combination of a continuously rotating main pinion shaft, driven
from the traction wheel with the cutter shaft and rake shaft, and with the backing
ratchet, by which both the cutter and rake are simultaneously stopped or driven,
substantially as herein-before described.
And, Fourthly. The combination of the before-mentioned yoke with the traction
wheel, the main frame, and the pinion shaft, substantially as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Primerose Howard Vaughan, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
E. P. H. VAUGHAN. (L.S.)