Improvements in Mowing and Reaping Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by Monsieur BARRALLON, of St. Etienne (Loire), in the
Republic of France, Landlord.]
Improvements in Mowing and Reaping Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
In the mowing and reaping machines heretofore employed the grass and the straw
or the like are cut by blades to which a reciprocating movement is imparted. The
cutting is effected in the same manner as in shearing machines, a fixed comb retains
the grass or the straw, and the knife cuts between every two teeth of the comb. The
aforesaid reciprocating movement must be very rapid in order to ensure a favourable
result with the machine.
For actuating the knives use is generally made of a crank disc and connecting rod
but in the rapid motion of the latter constant oscillations and trepidations are
produced which cause the rapid deterioration of the machine, and breakages are of
frequent occurrence.
Now the present invention is designed to obviate the serious inconveniences above
referred to. According to this invention the said reciprocating knives are dispensed
with, and I employ in lieu thereof a kind of band-saw or an endless blade provided
with cutting teeth or other equivalent means, as hereinafter set forth.
Mowing and reaping machines embodying my said invention may have the general
appearance of other machines of the same class, since the essential difference may
only consist in the replacement of the above mentioned knife by a band-saw or an
endless toothed blade.
Referring to the accompanying drawing in which similar letters designate corre-
sponding parts of the improved mowing and reaping machine.
Figure 1 is an end elevation of the said machine, the band saw or endless blade
being arranged to pass around the rollers or pulleys D, E, F, G.
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the axle of the machine.
Figure 3 is the plan of the machine, a portion of the latter being shown in
section.
Figure 4 represents a detail.
Movement is imparted to the above mentioned band saw or endless blade by the
driving wheels A through the medium of toothed wheels a, b, c, d, f, g, h, i, j or any
other suitable device in such a manner that the number of revolutions of the roller or
pulley D around which the band saw or endless blade passes will be considerably
greater than that of the said driving wheels.
The two sides of the endless blade are arranged to pass at a short distance from
each other and are held in this position by the two guide pulleys F G which can be
shifted in their support and thus enable the position of the blade to be adjusted
with great precision.
A designates the driving wheels; B the axle of these wheels; and C the frame of
the machine. 1 is the driving pulley for the band saw or endless blade. Ę the
tension-pulley and F G are guide pulleys for the same, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, are
toothed wheels for increasing the velocity.
H is a kind of share which parts the grass, straw or the like to be mowed for the
passage of the head of the band-saw or endless blade, I designates teeth between
which the blades of grass straw or the like to be cut down will pass in the operation
of the band saw or endless blade.
K is the pole. K² the swing tree and S drivers seat.

page_text: The operation of the improved machine is very simple. When the horses put to
the machine move, the wheels A, through the medium of the aforesaid toothed
wheels, impart to the band saw or endless blade a very rapid motion. In the forward
motion of the machine the blades of grass or straw will pass between the teeth I and,
being seized in opposite directions by the two sides of the saw, will be cut down in
succession. Only one of the sides of the band saw or endless blade may be used for
the cutting in which case the other side is adapted to pass through a guard of sheet
metal or through any other space reserved for this purpose as indicated in Figure 4.
The plate J serves to throw the grass to one side so as to prepare the way for
the next passage. In the transport of the machine, such as on the road, the device
for holding the band saw or endless blade is raised, and the machine is supported
only upon the two wheels A as in other machines of the same class.
In lieu of the above mentioned band saw or endless toothed band, I can employ,
other equivalent means, such as for-instance a device consisting of an endless band
apron chain, or the like, upon which a suitable blade or blades are secured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
First. In mowing and reaping machines the employment of a band saw or endless
blade having cutting teeth, or toothed blades mounted upon an endless band, apron,
chain, or the like, substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.
Second. The improved mowing and reaping machine arranged substantially as
above described.
T
oth day of
September 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.