IMPROVements in ReapING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Moorhouse Augustus Thompson, of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
Agricultural Engineer, for an Invention of " IMPROVements in ReapING AND
MOWING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Moorhouse Augustus
Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April
1880.
MOORHOUSE AUGUSTUS THOMPSON, of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Agricultural
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in reaping and mowing machines whereby
protection for the gearing will be obtained and the thorough lubrication of the same
effected, and also the height of the finger beam or bar from the ground may be
readily adjusted and the inclination of the fingers be altered at will by the driver
from his seat during the working of the machine, and the Invention further
relates to the means employed for ensuring an even cut to the corn or other produce
irrespective of the height at which the finger beam may for the time being
be set.
In carrying out my Invention as applied to manual delivery machines, I place all
the gearing necessary for actuating the working parts in a trough like or dish
shaped casting which is swung from the axle of the driving wheels in any suitable
manner. The front side of this casting has an inclined extension forward which
carries the bearings for the axle on which the crank for actuating the knife bar is
mounted, and to the end of this inclined extension is pivotted the usual supporting
arm with which the finger beam is connected.
This supporting arm may be strengthened by suitably placed stays or struts so
as to be able to resist the strain on the joint when the machine is in action.
The gearing is enclosed by a cover, which may consist of a second dish-shaped
casting of slightly larger dimensions than the first, and which is mounted in an
inverted position upon the axle of the driving wheels.
The cover carries a socket to receive a pole when the machine is to be drawn by
two horses, or the stem of a pair of shafts when only one horse is employed.
One one side of this socket is a stud pin to receive a bell crank lever, one arm of
which is connected by a link rod with the end of the inclined extension of the lower

page_text: casting, and the other arm is prolonged to form a handle by means of which the
driver may from his seat raise or lower at will the inclined extension and the
supporting arm with the finger beam attached. An axial motion will thus be given
to the finger bar, the effect being to change the inclination of the fingers for the
purpose of ripping into and raising laid portions of the crop ready for cutting
or passing over any inequalities in the surface of the ground. Suitable means is
provided for maintaining the bandle in any given position, and also for raising
and maintaining the finger beam when the machine is passing from place to
place.
The oil for lubricating the gearing and working parts is contained in the bottom
of the lower casting, and the principal gear wheels dip into it and communicate the
lubricant to the other working parts.
Scats for the driver and the raker are provided and the driving clutch is thrown
in and out of gear by a lever which is worked by a counter-weighted arm suitably
placed within reach of the foot of the driver, and so arranged that it will lock the
clutch in either position as required.
In order to ensure that the crop shall be cut evenly irrespective of the setting of
the finger beam. 1 remove the regulating wheel from its usual position in front of
the near side shoe and place it at the heel of the shoe or in rear of the finger
beam. The wheel which supports the offside. shoc must be placed in a position
corresponding to that of the regulating wheel.
By thus placing the regulating and off side wheels the height of the finger beam
from the ground will be the same along the whole of its length, and the crop will
therefore be evenly cut at whatever position the finger beam is set.
The appliances common to reapers will be adapted to the machine when it is to
be used for reaping.
It will be obvious that my improvements may if required be employed in
connection with a self delivery reaper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Moorhouse Augustus Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th October 1880.
MOORHOUSE AUGUSTUS THOMPSON, of Berwick upon Tweed, Agricultural
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
"
This Invention relates to improvements in reaping and mowing machines
whereby protection for the gearing will be obtained, and the thorough lubrication
of the same effected, also the height-of the finger. beam or bar from the ground
may be readily adjusted and the inclination of the fingers be altered at will by
the driver from his scat during the working of the machine, and the Invention
further relates to means for ensuring an even cut to the corn or other produce
irrespective of the height at which the finger bar may for the time being
be set.
The
In carrying out my Invention as applied to manual delivery machines, I place
all the gearing necessary for actuating the working parts in a trough-like casting
which is swung from the axle of the driving wheels in any suitable manner.
front side of this casting has an inclined extension forward which carries the
bearings for the axle on which the crank for actuating the knife bar is mounted,
and to the end of this inclined extension is pivotted the usual supporting arm with
which the finger bar is connected.
The gearing is closed in by a cover mounted upon the axle of the driving
wheels.
The cover carries a socket to receive a pole when the machine is to be drawn by
two horses, or the stem of a pair of shafts when only one horse is employed.
On one side of this socket is a stud pin to receive a bell-crank lever one arm of
which is connected by a link rod with the end of tho inclined extension of the
trough shaped casting, and the other arm is prolonged to form a handle by means
of which the driver may from his seat raise or lower at will the inclined extension
and the supporting arm with the finger bar attached. An axial motion will thus
be given to the finger bar, the effect being to change the inclination of the fingers
for the purpose of ripping into and raising laid portions of the corn ready for cutting,
or passing over any inequalitics in the surface of the ground.
'
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shows in plan view a harvesting machine
constructed according to my Invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; and Fig. 3 a
back elevation of the same, the finger and cutter bars being broken off in the last
named Figure to economise space; A, A, is a pair of travelling wheels fitted by
means of pawls and ratchet wheels as usual to their axle B.
C is a semi-cylindrical hollow casting formed with hollow trunnions to receive
the axle B. This casting, which is shewn detached and in partial section at
Figures 4 and 5, constitutes with its cover a casing for the gearing and also
a trough for the reception of oil or other lubricant for the gearing by which
motion is transmitted from the main axle B to the cutter-bar and forms also a
trough for the reception of oil or other lubricant for that gearing.
Mounted loosely on the axle B and within this casting is a spur wheel D which
is made fast to its axle when required by a clutch E, as will be presently
explained.
Gearing into this wheel D is a spur pinion F which runs loosely on a counter-
shaft made fast to the sides of the casting C. This pinion F is cast in one with a
spur wheel F', their connection being through a short sleeve or elongated hub.
Into the wheel F' gears a pinion G mounted loosely on the axle B and carrying
on its side a bevil wheel G¹. Gearing into this wheel is a bevil pinion H keyed to
a shaft H which has its bearings in an inclined sleeve C¹ projecting from the front
of the casingC..

page_text: The forward end of this shaft H carries a crank plate H³ which connects through
a rod Hs with the cutter bar I for the purpose of communicating the requisite
reciprocating motion thereto; K is a cover for closing in the goaring which is
mounted in the trough C. This cover consists of a hollow inverted casting
having side bearings which rest upon the hollow trunnions of the casting C and
by means of strap pieces attached to these bearings, the two castings are
connected together in a manner that will permit of their independent adjustment
axially.
The cover K is formed at its front with a socket K¹ to receivo a draught beam or
pole K to which the draught horse or horses will be attached. Bolted to the
socket K¹ and at right angles thereto is a bracket arm L which carries bearings for
a chain pulley shaft L' fitted with and actuated by a hand lover L. Attached to
the pulley of this shaft is a chain which is connected with the arm M that
serves to support the finger bar N. This supporting arm is hinged to the
underside of the sleeve extension C' and is jointed as usual to the inner shoe of the
finger bar.
By actuating the hand lever L' the chain will be caused to raise or lower tho
supporting arm M, and thus determine the elevation of the finger-bar from tho
ground to suit the crop to be harvested.
In order however to provide for lifting the finger-bar over obstructions and also
to adjust the dip or inclination of the fingers I provide the following contrivance :-
Mounted loosely on the inner end of the chain pulley shaft L is a bell crank
lever O the vertical limb of which terminates in a handle. This bell crank lever
1 connect by a rod O' with the sleeve extension of the casting C so that by pulling
back the hand lever I am enabled to tip the casting C, and thereby through
the supporting arm A to tip the finger bar and change the inclination of the
fingers to the ground. At the same time I am enabled to raise the finger-
bar and thus enable it to clear any obstruction that may lie in the path of
the machine. This raising of the finger-bar is due to the manner in which it
is mounted,
Referring now to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the shoes N', N%, of the finger bar
are each provided with a supporting wheel situated in rear of the finger-bar, and
that upon these wheels bears the main weight of that bar. As therefore the finger-
bar is tipped by the pulling back of the hand lever O, it will rise on the axles of its
supporting wheels as upon a fulcrum, and will thus clear any obstruction that may
lie in its way.
The hand lever O and also the hand lever L2 work over notched sectors, and are
provided with spring catches which drop into the notches of their respective sectors
for the purpose of locking the hand levers in any desired position.
P is a standard attached to the cover K and carrying at its upper end a weighted
tumbler arm P which is pivotted thereto.
A pin standing out from this weighted arin near its centre of motion enters a
longitudinal slot in a rock lever P, which is pivotted to the standard, and extends
down through the cover K into the casting C. The lower end of the rock lever P³
is forked to embrace the clutch E on the main axle B, and it serves to throw that
clutch in or out of action at the desire of the attendant.
Qis the seat for the attendant, who, being placed near the band levers, is in a
convenient position to employ them when the finger bar requires either permanent
or temporary adjustment.
In order to start the machine it is only necessary to throw the clutch E into gear
with the clutch teeth on the hub of the wheel D, and the forward traverso. of
the implement will then set in action the goaring onclosed in the hollow
castings C, K.
When a bout is completed the attendant will throw over the weighted arm Pl
into the position shewn in Fig. 1, and the clutch being thereby disengaged the
motion of the cutter bar will be arrested.
It should be remarked that when the implement is intended to carry a platform

page_text: a post for the seat of the raker may be fitted to the casting C, as shown by dots
at R, Figures 2 and 3.
From the foregoing explanation respecting the mounting of the finger bar upon
supporting wheels in roar of that bar, it will bo understood that the height of the
finger-bar from the ground will be the samo along the whole of its length,
and the crop will therefore be evenly cut at whatever position the finger bar may
be set.
It will be obvious that my improvements may if required bo employed in
connection with a self delivery reaper.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in
Reaping and Mowing Machines," and explained the manner of carrying the saino
into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent, I claim,-
First. Arranging the gearing within a closed casing in the manner and for the
purpose above set forth.
Secondly. The arrangement above described, whereby through a hand lever the
attendant is enabled to raise the finger-bar clear of an obstruction and alter the
dip or inclination of the fingers during the working of the machine.
Thirdly. The means above described for maintaining the parallelisin of the finger-
bar with the ground, and thereby ensuring an oven cut throughout the length of
the finger-bar.
In witness whereof, I, the said Moorhouse Augustus Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Second day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
M. A. THOMPSON. (L.S.)