Improvements in the Construction of Single and Double Action Haymaking Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1887
Complete Left, 7th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Jan., 1888
Improvements in the Construction of Single and Double Action
Haymaking Machines.
I, JOHN HOCKEY of Chard, Somerset, Agricultural Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to improve the construction of haymaking machines,
and increase their efficiency for double action, that is for backward and forward
action, by the application of a catch or clutch box thereto, and constructed as
hereafter described. The motion of the clutch mechanism is changed or thrown in
or out of action by turning or changing the position of a cam plate or disc by which
the teeth or catches are set for forward, backward or neutral movement, all as
required.
The further object of my invention is to obtain a resilient action of the fork carriers,
for which purpose, according to my invention I affix the said fork carrier bars to the
drum or shaft by means of hollow or tubular telescopic arms or spokes and spiral or
helical springs.
According to my invention the clutch or catch box is composed of a flanged disc
running loosely on the shaft which carries the drum and fork bars. The flanged
disc is formed on its outer face with a spur-pinion which gears either with internal
spur teeth on the driving wheel, or is caused to gear with a spur wheel carried
centrally thereby according to the direction of motion required to be communicated
to the loose disc. The loose disc is formed on the inner periphery of its flange with
projections, and is revolved by means aforesaid against another disc, fixed to the
same shaft, and carrying in radial slide guides on the face thereof or pivotted to the
said face, pawl-shaped teeth or catches the ends of which are given by means of
springs, a tendency to be carried against the projections on the flange of the loose
driven disc and the pawls are so set as to take against the said projections in opposite

page_text: directions to one another; the said pawls are each provided with a pin passing
through slots in the fixed disc by which they are carried and entering cam shaped
slots in an adjustable plate. The position of the catch pins are decided by the
position of the movable cam plate, by which means one or other or all of the catches
may be held away and prevented from taking against the projections of the loosely
driven disc. The cam plate is conveniently carried by the drum axle partial
rotation about same shifting the relative positions of the cam slots with regard to
the catch pins therein; the cam plate is provided with a handle for convenient
adjustment by the operator.
The portion of the shaft left exposed, I preferably cover with a stationary tube
carried by a bracket from the framework this arrangement preventing the hay
winding round the rotating shaft.
On the shaft are keyed bosses which carry tubular radiating arms in which latter
I place spiral or helical springs. To the fork carrying bars of the machine are fixed
brackets which embrace the tubes. The brackets on the fork carrying bars are
acted on by plungers which enter the open ends of the radial tubular arms and rest
on the helical springs placed therein thereby giving to the fork-carrying-bars the
desired resiliency of action in a rotative direction, for preventing over-strain and
breakage or injury to the parts of machine.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Single and Double Action
Haymaking Machines.
I, JOHN HOCKEY of Chard, Somerset, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to improve the construction of haymaking machines,
and increase their efficiency for double action that is for backward and forward
action by the application of a catch or clutch box thereto and constructed as
hereafter described. The clutch mechanism is changed or thrown in or out of
action by turning or changing the position of a cam plate or disc by which the
teeth or catches are set for forward backward or neutral movement all as required.
The further object of my invention is to obtain a resilient action of the fork carriers
for which purpose according to my invention I affix the said fork carrier bars to the
drum or shaft by means of hollow or tubular telescopic arms or spokes and spiral
or helical springs.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood and carried into effect
I will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings. Similar
letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the said drawings.
Fig. 1 is a sectional plan of so much of a haymaking machine as will be
necessary to illustrate the positions and arrangement of clutch box, resilient fork
carriers and parts connected therewith constructed according to my invention and
applied to a double acting haymaking machine of otherwise ordinary construction.
Figure 2 Sheet 2 shews in vertical part section a catch or clutch box detached
from the machine and drawn on a larger scale than the machine shewn at Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line X Y of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an elevation
of the cam plate or disc for governing the positions of the catches or pawls.
Figure 5. Sheet 3, shews in vertical section a slightly modified form of catch or
clutch box constructed according to my invention and as shewn applied on a smaller
scale at Figure 1; Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line X¹ Y¹
of Figure 5, and Figure 7 is an elevation shewing the cam or slotted disc for
governing the positions of the catches or pawls.
Figure 8 Sheet 2 is a plan of the bracket and spring arrangement for allowing the
fork bars a resilient action in a rotative direction when necessary; Figure 9 is a left
hand sectional elevation, and Figure 10 is a right hand elevation of same: Figure 11
shews the position assumed by the bracket head on such rotative action taking place.
According to my invention the clutch or catch box Ax is composed of a flanged
disc A Figures 1 to 7 running loosely on the shaft B which carries the drum and
fork bars C. The flanged disc A is formed or provided on its outer face with a spur
pinion D which gears either with internal spur teeth Ẹ on the driving wheel F shewn
at Figure 1, or may be caused to gear with a spur wheel G carried centrally thereby

page_text: by operating a lever, not shewn on the drawings but which is usually fulcrummed on
the framework of machine. The lever has its end pivotted by a pin to the bearing
blocks H carrying the fork shaft B; these bearings H are formed to slide in slots H
so that the spur pinion D may be caused to gear either with the spur wheel G or the
teeth E all according to the direction of motion required to be communicated to the
loose disc A.
The loose disc A is formed on the inner periphery of its flange with projections A¹
Figures 2 to 7 and is revolved by means aforesaid against another disc B¹ fixed to
the shaft B. The disc B¹ Figures 23 and 4 is provided with radial slide guides B³
carring pawl shaped catches B³ which by springs have a tendency given them to be
carried in the direction of the projections A¹ and they are so shaped or set as to
take against the projections A¹ in opposite directions to on another.
In some
cases and especially where it is preferable that the catches or pawls
should be pivotted in the manner of ordinary pawls instead of sliding in grooves,
I arrange the interior surface of the disc B' as shown at Figures 5, 6 and 7 where
the pawls B³ have their ends fitting and turning or hinged in recessed parts or
pivotted to the projection B2 and are held in the direction of the projections A¹ of
the loose driven disc by springs as in Figures 2, 3 and 4 bein in other respects
similar to the clutch shewn in these latter figures.
The said pawls B³ are each provided with a pin J J passing through slots J¹ J¹
Figures 3 and 6 in the fixed disc B₁ and entering cam shaped slots J2 J3 in an
adjustable plate J. The position of the catch pins J are devided by the position
of the movable cam plate Js by which means one or other or all of the catches may
be held away and prevented from taking against the projections A¹ of the loosely
driven disc A. The cam plate J³ is conveniently carried by the drum axle Ba
partial rotation about same shifting the relative positions of the cam slots J³ J³
with regard to the catch pins J J therein; the cam plate J³ is provided with a
socket to receive handle J for convenient adjustment by the operator. By the
application of the hereinbefore described clutch to double action hayinaking machines
I am enabled to construct the barrel of the machine in one and which whole barrel
is kept in action while turning the machine either right or left, and also the weight
is thereby considerably reduced; another advantage which I gain by the employment
of gearing constructed according to my invention being that in case of a sudden
stoppage of the machine the drum can
" over run "that is to say it is not suddenly
stopped by the gearing and breakages from this cause are prevented.
The portion of the shaft B Figure 1 left exposed I preferably cover with the usual
stationary tube B¹× carried by a bracket from the framework or by other means,
this arrangement preventing the hay winding round the rotating shaft B.
On the shaft B are keyed bosses C₁ which carry tubular or hollow radiating
arms C in which latter I place spiral or helical springs.
To the fork carrying bars C of the machine are fixed bracket pieces C³ and the
bars C are held or supported from the tubes (2 by bracket extensions C*, one end
being fixed to the tubular arms C2 and the other ends embracing (by means of
straps) the circular part of the bracket pieces C³, best seen at Fig. 9. The said
bracket pieces C³ are formed with extending ears slightly rounded and the flat
surfaces so formed are acted on by flat headed plungers C³× which enter the open
ends of the radial tubular arms C and rest on the helical springs placed therein
thereby giving to the fork carrying bars the desired resiliency of action in a rotative
direction for preventing overstrain and breakage or injury to the parts of machine.
The normal position of the fork carrying bar C is shewn at Figure 10, but should
the forks meet any obstruction liable to injure same the bar C would be partially
or sufficiently rotated into the position shewn at Figure 11, the extended cars of the
bracket piece C³ acting on the flattened end of the plunger C³x and compressing the
spring. By this arrangement and construction of radial arms and resilient fork
carrying bars I obtain increased simplicity and lessen the weight of the barrel and
at the same time provide protective cases for the spiral springs and also by the
pressure of the springs acting centrally on the fork carrying bars I am enabled to

page_text: give the same degree of tension to the rake heads in both directions, this being of
especial advantage in double action machines.
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 haymaking machines the construction and employment of catch or clutch
box Ax composed of loose flanged disc A having projections A', with pinion D, and
fixed disc B on shaft B carrying spring catches or pawls B' together with pins J
and cam plate J³ in combination with spur wheel or wheels on driving or running
wheels F and whereby the efficiency of such machines is increased for either
backward or forward action all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth
and with particulars reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
2. In double acting or other haymaking machines the tubular radial arms C2
enclosing spiral or helical springs the plungers Cax acting on the bracket pieces C³
on fork bars Cheld to arms C2 by bracket extensions C whereby I obtain an even
tension of the forks in either direction, lessen the weight of the barrel and increase
the efficiency and simplicity of the machine and also form a case or protection for the
spiral springs substantially as described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1, 8,
9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The general construction and combination of parts forming my improved
haymaking machine and essentially consisting of clutch or catch box Ax and radial
tubular arms C enclosing spiral or helical springs, plungers C³×, bracket pieces C³,
extensions C, and parts in connection therewith all substantially as herein described
and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings together with any mere
modification or modifications thereof.
Dated this 7th day of December 1887