Year: 1889

page_text: I ALEXANDER MCGREGOR of Albion Iron Works Leigh in the County of Lancaster
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:-
This invention has for its object improvements in mowing and reaping machines
and relates in the first place to that part described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me bearing date the 22nd day of April 1887 No. 5858, in which
the lifting apparatus is placed on the main frame and the tipping lever on the draught
plate.
Instead of attaching the link which connects the arm of the tipping lever to the
main frame in the ordinary manner I place the lower end of the link A¹ on an
excentric or the arm of a crank A² as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the annexed
drawings, formed or fixed on a shaft or spindle A, which passes through a tube or
bearing formed in the forward part of the main frame B.
On the other end of this shaft A, I key or secure the lifting lever C, so that when
it is actuated the excentric or crank being attached to the tipping link A¹-the
forward part of the frame rises, and with it the whole of the lifting apparatus; thereby
raising the finger bar to a much greater height than can be done by the ordinary
lifting lever.
The driver's seat D being supported from the back of the main frame, this additional
height is gained without any extra exertion on the part of the attendant, as his
weight balances the forward part of the frame.
I prefer to place the excentric or crank A2 in such a position on the shaft A, that
it shall not begin to actuate the tipping link A¹, until the lifting lever C has noved
through a distance sufficient to take up the slack of the lifting chair C¹, so that its
action in raising the forward part of the frame B, shall be greatest at the finish, or as
the lifting lever C assumes the position most convenient for the attendant.
As a modification of this part of the invention, instead of fixing the lifting lever C
direct to the shaft which actuates the tipping link, I place it in an independent stud
or pin E (Fig. 2) and connect it by means of a rod or link F to a crank G, on the
shaft A, at the opposite end to the excentric or crank which connects it to the tipping
ID 1 173

page_text: link A. Or instead of the rod F and crank G 1 actuate the shaft A by means of
segments of toothed wheels, placed, one G¹ on the shaft A, and one F¹ on the lever C,
and gearing into each other as shown in Fig. 3.
According to the next part of my invention in order to adjust the length of the
lifting chain C¹ I make use of an arrangement shown in Fig. 3, and front view
Fig. 4. I form the quadrant H with a lug I having a hole through which I pass
the screwed end of the hook J, to which the chain is attached. In order to keep the
nut K (which secures the hook J) in the desired position, I form a recess in the
upper side of the lug I into which the nut K, fits and is prevented from turning after
the necessary adjustment is obtained.
The third part of my invention is an improvement on that part of the before
mentioned Letters Patent which relates to the manner of raising the outer end of the
finger bar directly the lifting lever is actuated. This part of the invention is also
applicable to all mowing and reaping machines in which the finger bar is connected
to the main frame by means of a double jointed hinge bar, and is illustrated by
Figs. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 and 11 on the drawings.
On a pin L (Fig. 5) centred near the joint M, which connects the hinge bar N, to
the main shoe O, I place a locking lever P having a curved extension P₁ at its lower
end which presses on a pin or roller Qin the heel of the main shoe O, I connect the
other end of the lever P to the ordinary lifting chain S, and I make use of another
chain T direct from the lifting lever quadrant or hook J, to the hinge bar N, I so
arrange the outer or locking lever chain S that on actuating the lifting lever the
outer end of the finger bar R, shall be lifted the desired distance before the inner
or direct chain T begins to act. As soon as the direct chain gets the weight
(owing to its being attached to the hinge bar at a point nearer the joint which
connects the same to the main frame B) it gradually relieves the outer or locking
lever chain, and causes the outer end of the finger bar to recede or rise in a slower
proportion than the inner end, thereby with the same expenditure of power allowing
the inner end to be lifted a greater height than when the outer end continues to
maintain the lead over the inner end, due to its greater distance from the centre on
which the hinge bar works.
The direct or «
compensation" "chain T will be found to be in the correct position
for raising the inner end of the finger bar, when the machine is used as a reaper,
the outer chain and locking lever being then removed.
According to a modification of this part of the invention, instead of using the
horizontal locking lever with its curved end pressing the heel of the main shoe O
downwards I make use of an upright locking lever Pas shown in Fig. 6, with its
lower end P1 pressing the heel of the main shoe O, outwards.
This arrangement admits of a greater distance between the point of connection
of the locking lever chain S and the direct one T, but in either case I make the
necessary difference to maintain the compensating movement obtained by using the
additional chain I connected direct to the hinge bar N.
As a further modification of this third part of my invention I place the upright
lever P on the pin M, which connects the hinge bar N, to the main shoe O as shown
in Fig. 7, allowing its lower end V to press directly on the heel of the main shoe, and
in order to obviate the use of a longer lever than is required when the lever has an
excentrically curved end and is placed on a pin away from the main joint M, I make
use of a small pulley W in the top end of the lever P, around which the outer
chain S is passed and connected to the hinge bar N, sufficiently distant from the
joint M to admit of the lever P working the pulley (acting as a purchase) allowing
the outer chain S, to travel double the distance passed through by the lever P.
In order to obtain a more direct pull for the diagonal chain when the upright
lever is used, I sometimes make use of a pair of quadrants H, H', as shown in
Fig. 1 ; the outer one H, being set at the required angle, and having teeth or
cogs Y on its inner face which gear into corresponding teeth on the outer face of
the upright quadrant H¹ in the manner of a pair of bevil wheels; sufficient teeth
only being required for the distance the quadrants have to pass through.

page_text: As another modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, I connect the two.
chains the one to the locking lever and the other to the hinge bar, at or near the
same distance from the main frame, and in order to obtain the compensating
movement I make use of a quadrant having two chain grooves, the one (H¹) of
a larger radius than the other (H) as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
Fig. 11, is an arrangement whereby the direct pull is obtained in cases where only
the one (diagonal) chain is used. I place the quadrant at the necessary angle and
form teeth on its inner face to gear into corresponding teeth on the side of the lever
socket C.
The fourth part of my invention relates to the manner of securing the connecting
rod head to the crank pin and lubricating the same.
In a former Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, bearing date the
16th day of May 1888 No. 7248 I describe a bushing having a blank end separating
the bearing from the oil chamber; the oil passing through a small hole in the
blank end.
According to this part of my present invention, instead of forming the bushing
with a flange to be retained in the recess in the crank wheel by means of an annular
plate or washer I form the flange on the connecting rod head itself; so that the
latter can be formed of a material which does not require a bushing as shown in
Figs. 12 and 13, or it may be provided with a bushing screwed, rivetted or ther-
wise secured, but formed without the flange as shown in Fig. 14.
In order to introduce the washer a for securing the flange into the recess in the
crank wheel; I form it in halves as shown in Fig. 15. and make use of an additional
washer having its outer diameter the same as the other one so as to fit into the
recess in the crank wheel, but having the hole, or inner diameter, large enough to
pass over the flange of the connecting rod head. This extra washer bis first passed
over the flange and the halves of the washer a placed behind it, and the whole
inserted in the recess in the crank wheel and secured by the buttons or other suitable
means as described in the above mentioned Specification.
When the connecting rod head is formed of a material which does not require a
bushing, I form the head with a blank cord c, Figs. 12 and 13, or when the bushing
is used I form the blank end the same as shown in Fig. 14 and in either case, I make
use of the small hole d communicating from the oil chamber e to the bearing f
I prefer to have the hole d in the upper part of the blank end, so that it may be
above the level of the oil in the chamber, but the hole can be made through the body
of the connecting rod head, or formed by a groove between the head and the bushing
as shown in dotted lines at g Fig. 14. The cap forming the oil chamber e is screwed
on the outside of the head and not on the bushing as described in the former
Specification.
The fifth part of this invention relates to the mode of securing the outer end of
the connecting rod to the knife head in a more effectual manner and without the
necessity for the drop latch described in the before mentioned Specification No. 7248
A.D. 1888.
I make the part of the knife head where it attaches to the connecting rod, of a
globular shape, as shown at h Fig. 16, and I form the end of the connecting rod of
two plates i, k, either welded as shown at Fig. 18, rivetted as shown at Fig. 16 and 17,
or otherwise secured to the main part of the rod, and having cup-shaped recesses
and on their inner side which fit on the ball, of the knife head, the plates
forming a fork on the end of the rod of sufficient length to admit of its being
sprung open so as to receive the ball.
I am aware this ball and socket mode of connection is not new, it having been
previously used by other uakers of mowers and reapers on similar machines; but
my improvement consists in the manner of adjusting and securing the plates forming
the fork so that they shall grip the ball sufficiently tight to avoid any looseness in
working, but not so as to cause any undue friction; while at the same time it can
be instantly released without altering the adjustment

page_text: In one of the plates-by preference the forward one k as near the socket as con-
venient, I stamp or form a slotted recess to receive the tee head m of a bolt m*
which passes through a hole in the bottom of the recess and through a corresponding
hole in the opposite plate; the bolt being secured by a nut n at the outer side of
the back plate i. This nut is so adjusted on the bolt that the proper pressure is
obtained when the tee-head is turned crossways outside the recess in the forward
plate and to retain the tee-head in this position, slight hollows are formed on
either side of the recess which prevent the tee-head from turning until a key or
spanner is used to turn it. Or it may be prevented from turning by means of a
spring catch, lock plate, or other suitable device.
;
The recess in the forward plate plate is sufficiently deep to allow the tee-head m
of the bolt m¹ to enter therein so far that the plates i, k of the fork can be sprung
open to release the ball g from the socket ¹, without disturbing the nut n which
secures the bolt m*. The nut is prevented from screwing or unscrewing by
means of a pin n¹ passing through notches in the outer face of the n and through a
bole in the bolt mx; the notches socorresponding with the hole, that when adjustment
is required to compensate for wear of the ball and socket, the pin n' can be removed,
and the nut n turned to the required tightness.
By a modification of this part of the invention, I form a recess o, on the outer
side of the back plate i as shown in Fig. 18 to receive the nut n and prevent it
from turning; and allow the bolt mx to unscrew itself from the nut n every time
the tee-head m is turned to release the ball g from the socket i¹, k¹ and screw
itself to the same position when the tee-head m is turned to tighten the fork i, k.
In this case the nut n has to be removed from its recess when any adjustment for
wear is required.
The last part of my invention relates to the manner of communicating the tractive
force directly to the cutting apparatus. The arrangement will be better understood
by a reference to the drawing Figs. 19 and 22.
On the draught pole p I secure a slide q on which is placed a bracket carrying
the whipple trees s and having arms descending on either side of the draught pole
and connected by a pint to the forward end of the draught rod u.
This arrangement places the whippletrees s on the upper side of the draught pole p,
but when it is desired to place them underneath, the slide q can be fastened under the
pole p, the bracket placed upside down and the draught rod u connected to the
pin V.
In order to overcome the tendency of the draught rod u to lift the cutting apparatus
from the ground more than is found necessary for the easy working of the machine-
instead of connecting the said draught rod u direct to the hinge bar, I attach it to a
bridle lever w, the forward part of which is jointed to the hinge bar and the back
end held by a link y which is connected to a point on the main frame of the
machine.
As the hinge bar x rises either by the action of the lifting apparatus, or by uneven-
ness of the ground over which the machine is travelling instead of allowing the
draught rod and bracket r to go forward as would be the case if the rod was connected
direct to the hinge bar the action of the bridle lever wand the link y is such that
the point of connection with the draught rod is made to travel in a direction corres-
ponding or nearly so, with the are it would describe if the forward end of the
draught rod were jointed directly to the draught pole.
In this manner the whole of the tractive force is applied to the work without
detracting from the flexibility of the hinge bar x, but in some cases I provide extra
holes in the bridle lever w so that the point of connection can be altered and thereby
cause the tractive force to slightly lift the cutting apparatus or otherwise, according to
the nature of the crops to be operated upon. I also prefer-instead of connecting the
bridle lever to the hinge bar by a rigid joint to allow it to rise and fall, either by
means of a slotted hole as shown at z in Fig. 19 or by means of an extra link
as shown in Fig. 20 or other convenient arrangement.

page_text: 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:-
First. The arrangement for raising the forward part of the frame of mowing and
reaping machines by means of the lifting lever acting directly or indirectly on a crank
or excentric connected to the lower end of the tipping link substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 1. 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement of an extra or compensating lifting chain connected
direct to the hinge bar in combination with the ordinary chain connected to or actuating
the horizontal locking lever substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5. 6
and 7.
Thirdly. The arrangement for obtaining the compensating movement when the
chains are connected at or near the same distance from the main frame by using a
quadrant with chain grooves of a different radius as described with reference to Figs. 8
and 9.
Fourthly. The arrangement for giving the direct pull to the diagonal chain as
described with reference to Figs. 10 and 11.
Fifthly. The arrangement of the connecting rod head as shown and described with
reference to Figs. 12, 13, and 14, having the flange on the said head in combination
with the blank end separating the bearing from the oil chamber.
Sixthly. The manner of securing the flange in the recess of the crank wheel by
means of the washer divided in halves and the extra washer as described with reference
to Figs. 12. 14 and 15.
Seventhly. The combination of the blank end formed in the connecting rod head
with the cap forming the oil chamber screwed on the outside of the connecting rod
head and the small hole, either through the blank end communicating from the oil
chamber to the bearing as described with reference to Figs. 12 and 13.
Eighthly. The combination of the flanged connecting rod head fixed substantially as
aforesaid, with a bushing having a blank end with the cap forming the oil chamber
screwed onto the outside of the connecting rod head, a small hole being made either
through the said blank end or through the head and bushing substantially as shown
and described with reference to Fig. 14.
Ninthly. The adjusting arrangement for the ball and socket joint of the knife head
having the bolt with the nut screwed to the same and the recess for the tee-head of
the bolt to pass into when the jaws are sprung open substantially as described with
reference to Fig. 16 and 17.
Tenthly. The arrangement having the recess for the tee-head in combination with
the recess to prevent the nut from turning; the bolt screwing in the nut when the
tee-head is turned as described with reference to Fig. 18.
Eleventhly. The combination with the draught poll, of the reversible draught
bracket and slide 9 as described with reference to Figs. 19. 21. and 22.
Twelfthly. The bridle lever having the slotted or double jointed connection to the
hinge bar as described with reference to Figs. 19 and 20.
Thirteenthly. The bridle lever in combination with the draught rod and the reversible
bracket on the draught pole as described with reference to Figs. 19 to 22.
Dated this 7th day of March 1889.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.