CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINES FOR MAKING HAY
Year: 1814

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
SALMON, of Wobourn, in the County of Bedford, Surveyor, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-third
day of August, in the fifty-fourth year of His reign, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Salmon, my exors, admors, and assigns, His especial
licence, full power, sole priviledge and authority, that I, the said Robert
Salmon, my exors, admors, and assigns, should and lawfully might, during
the term of years therein mentioned, make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINES FOR MAKING
HAY;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that if I,
the said Robert Salmon, shall not particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled
in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, that then
the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby
granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the same
(relation being thereunto had) may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert Salmon, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described

page_text: and ascertained by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the following descrip-
tion thereof (that is to say):-
My improvements in the construction of machines for making hay consist,―
First, in the particular construction and application of the revolving rakes,
whereby their fixing is simplified and facilitated, and their operation rendered
more certain and permanent.
Secondly, in the particular manner of giving motion to these rakes by an
internally cogged wheel, whereby many advantages are obtained; and the parts
of the machine described in the Figures and references hereunto annexed,
which I claim as my Invention, are particularly as follows:-
1st, making the axis of the carriage wheels and of the rake in the same
point, thereby admitting of the introduction of any sized wheels or rakes with
the opportunity of varying the speed.
2nd, making of all the cogged wheels so as to admit of being completely
boxed within the carriage wheel, thereby securing them from clogging, and
also making the frame and shafts less likely to clog.
3rd, making the movements of the rakes at such command that the driver
can constantly throw them off without stopping the horse; or in the case of
clogging or any extraordinary strain they shall throw out themselves, and give
notice when this occurs.
4th, making and applying the rail into which the rake or teeth are fixed
more simple, durable, and effective, as also so as more completely to turn out
of the way when meeting with obstructions, or when moving from place to
place, the same construction affording the opportunity to change them at
pleasure, and to admit of different rakes according to the crop, all which
improvements I do effect as by the references hereunder and Drawing hereto
annexed is described.
Fig. 1 and 2, horizontal plan and section of improved machine (the same
letter applies both to plan and section).-A, the acting carriage wheel on the
axis C. B, free carriage wheel, at liberty to turn on the other end of the axle.
C, axle rounded the whole of its length, except at the parts on which the
branch or plate F and ratchet wheel D are fixed, and at each end of this axle
are nuts which keep the sides together. D, ratchet wheel. E, spring bolt
fixed to the frame. F, branch or plate immoveably rivetted or fixed on the
square in the axle with pivots, at different distances from the centre, to admit
of different sized wheels to alter the speed of the cylinder I. G, wheel
turning on a pivot in the plate F. H, internally cogged wheel, fixed to and
turning with the acting carriage wheel, and working into the wheel G. I,
cylinder turning on the rounded part of the axle, and carrying round the

page_text: revolving rakes. K, wheel fixed on the end of the cylinder I and worked by
the wheel G. By the changing of these two wheels the speed of the cylinder
is altered. L, iron arms and wheel carrying the rakes. M, revolving rake
rails, rounded so as to turn in sockets in the wheel L, and revolving at the
extremities of the forks at the rate of about 5 to 2 of the circumference of the
carriage wheel, or thereabouts. N, frame. O, shafts. P, line for the driver
to pull back the spring bolt and set free the rakes when required.
Fig. 8, another way of applying my internally cogged wheel to give motion
to the axle, with the revolving rakes thereon, without a cylinder.-A, hubb
and part of the spokes of the carriage wheel, as before. C, axle rounded in
all parts, except where the wheel K and arms L are fixed on it. G, wheel
running on a pivot fixed in frame N. H, internally cogged wheel fixed on
the outside of the spokes of the carriage wheel and working into the wheel G.
K, wheel fixed on a square on the axle passing and working through the box
of the wheel, and in a contrary direction to the wheel.. L, part of the arms of
the iron wheel that carries the revolving rakes. N, frame communicating
with shafts, as in Figure 1 and 2.
Fig. 4, the ratchet wheel D and bolt E explained.-D, the ratchet wheel
fixed on the square at the end of the axle. E, the bolt sliding in an iron case,
with a spiral spring to keep it into the ratchet teeth, and this spring to be
strong enough to lock the ratchet and axle, and prevent the axle from turning,
except when any violent obstruction to the rakes takes place, at which time the
force of the obstruction, by overpowering the spring, will force back the bolt
and with considerable noise give notice of this event. The axle then is at
liberty to revolve and leave the rakes at rest, or at liberty to turn back.
N, part of the frame connected with the shafts. P, the string for the driver
to pull back the bolt at pleasure.
Fig. 5, the rake rail M and iron wheel L explained.-L, part of the iron
arins and wheel, being made with collars to receive the rake rail M. M, rake
rail, rounded where it falls into the collar so as to turn freely therein.
1, teeth as commonly made for carrying round the hay; 2, a wood or metal
wedge going into a socket in the wheel to keep the rake rail in its place, by
the taking out of which other rails with longer or shorter teeth, according to
the crop, may be instantly introduced; or the same rail may have a double row
of teeth, one long and the other short, either to be turned inwards out of use
at pleasure, while the other remains outwards to work.
Fig. 6, the spring for keeping the rakes to their work explained.-L, M,
part of the wheel and rake rail, as before. 1, the teeth or forks; 2, the wedge
to keep in the rail; 3, metal collar about an inch wide, fastened to the rake

page_text: rail against the sides of each wheel; 4, the spring acting on the projecting part
of the collar and keeping the spring up to its work, while the other end of the
collar rests on another part of the spring and prevents the teeth coming too
forward. From this construction of the spring the rakes, in case of violent
obstruction, will turn quite back, and again by the spring be brought into
action; or should only part of the rakes be required in use, the others may by
hand be turned toward the centre of the wheel out of action, or the whole
may be so turned when moving from place to place. 5, a socket to receive
the spring.
Having thus described my Invention and improvements, I do claim the
right of constructing the same with all the fit and proper materials; and altho'
the sized machine and number of rakes described appears the best for general
use to be worked by horse, I do claim the right of my improvements in making
machines of all other sizes, and with any number of rakes, as may be required
to work either by man or horse.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Salmon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fourteen.