Improvements in Harvesters.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1890-Accepted, 29th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harvesters.
I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from Cyrus H. McCormick, of Chicago, in the
County of Cook, State of Illinois, one of the United States of America,) and in what
manner the same is to be performned to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to harvesters provided with automatic binding mechanism,
and to "band-hinders or low-down harvesting machines.
Until within the last few years, such harvesters have been built with frames
constructed chiefly of wood. Lately, however, the sill-frames and the elevator-frames
have been made of metal. Wood is neither so durable nor so light as metal of
equivalent strength; it, moreover, works loose from its fastenings, and, when wet,
swells and bursts away from the metal parts of the frame, and rots rapidly when
exposed.
In the present invention, the use of wood has been avoided so far as practicable,
and less framework than usual is employed outside the main wheel; the binding
mechanism being brought closer in and supported in a simpler manner than
heretofore.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view shewing, partly in plan and partly
in horizontal section on the lines 1-1 in Figs. and 5, a portion of a harvester
constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan displaying the ends
of the platform and the elevator-sill-frame; Fig. 3 being partly a plan and partly a
horizontal section on the lines 3-3 in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 is a side elevation;
portions of the machine being omitted. Fig. 5 is an end elevation representing the
elevator-frame and part of the platform-frame. Fig. 6 is a view on the line 6-6 in
Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section, on the lines 7-7 in Figs. 1 and 4, shewing
the way in which the binding mechanism is mounted. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view,
partly in elevation and partly in section, on the line 8-8 in Fig. 2, illustrating the
elevator and part of the platform-frame. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view serving to explain
the construction of the elevator. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are views on the lines 10-10,
11-11, and 12-12 respectively in Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the seat-
support and certain details; Fig. 14 being a section on the line 14-14, Fig. 3.
Figs. 15 and 16 are detail-views shewing the clutch mechanism; the former being a
vertical section on the line 15-15 (Fig. 16) and the latter a plan. Fig. 17 is a view,
partly in side elevation and partly in section, on the line 17-17, Fig. 15. Fig. 18 is
a section on the lines 18-18 in Figs. 2 and 8, illustrating the method in which the
inner roller for the platform-apron is carried. Fig. 19 explains the way in which
the binding attachment (see Fig. 7) is mounted. Fig. 20 is a section on the line 20-20
in Fig. 2. Fig. 21 is a section through the platform and the elevator-frame.
Figs. 22 and 23 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of an alternative form of
tightener for the driving chain."
In this invention, the sills and girts of the base-frame are, with the exception of the
front sill, preferably formed of square piping. A is the rear sill and A' the front sill
of the platform. The front sill is of angle-iron. The sheet metal bottom is supported
by the front sill, the rear sill and intermediate parts. A2 is the rear elevator-sill,
which is blocked up from the corresponding platform-sill A by means of a double
chair a (Figs. 5 and 9); although independent chairs may be used. A³ is the front
elevator-sill, which is blocked up from the front platform-sill A' or finger-bar by
means of two chairs a¹ and a (Figs. 7 and 8); the inner one of which is flanged and
bolted to the finger-bar. The bolt a passes through the finger-bar, the inner chair a
and the adjacent elevator-sill. The front and rear elevator-sills are united on one side

page_text: of the main wheel by the girt B and on the other side thereof by the girt B¹. The
girt B is secured by bolts b. B2 is a brace of angle-iron secured to the girt B by
the bolt and to the sills by the bolts a³ and b². C is the main wheel mounted
loosely, as usual, on an axle c. The latter carries at each end a pinion c¹, which
engages with and is guided by a rack-guide (bolted to the two adjacent cross-girts,
so that the height of the wheel may be adjusted. For effecting the adjustment, a
worm-wheel secured to the axle, beneath the casing C² and operated by a worm-
shaft C³, may be employed. The wheel ( carries a sprocket-wheel D, which drives a
smaller sprocket-wheel D₁ by means of a chain d, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6).
The wheel D¹ is mounted on the driving shaft D, which turns in bearings d' and d²
bolted respectively to the girts B and B. The shaft D2 drives the shaft D³ (which is
supported in bearings projecting from the girt B¹) through a bevel-wheel d³ and a
bevel-pinion d'. A sprocket-wheel D' for the apron-chain is keyed to the rear end of
the shaft D³; the apron-chain serving to communicate motion to the elevator-and
platform-aprons and to the reel. To the other end of the shaft D3 is keyed a crank-
disc D, from which projects a crank-pin d³ for communicating motion, through the
pitman D, to the reciprocating cutter. For the purpose of tightening the chain
which connects the sprocket-wheel D with the sprocket-wheel D₁, a subsidiary
sprocket-wheel E (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) is employed. To enable the wheel E to be
adjusted, and so that the adjustment when effected may not be disturbed by the adjust-
ment of the main wheel, the axle e upon which the said wheel E rotates projects from
a bracket E¹ pivoted at e¹ to a bar E2; one end of which is supported by the
axle c and the other end by the shaft D2. bolt, which passes through a
slot in the bracket E', serves to lock the bracket in position upon the bar E2
after the adjustment of the chain. Instead, however, of the means just described
for tightening the chain which connects the wheel D with the wheel D¹, the more
simple means shown in Figs. 22 and 23 may, if preferred, be adopted. A collar e* on
the axle c is connected with a yoke e (which partly encircles the shaft D²) by means
of a strong flat spring E³. The pinion E is mounted in the free end of an arm E,
which terminates in a disc e. The arm may be clamped in any desired position by
means of a bolt e; the surfaces of the disc and the yoke which are in contact with
one another being serrated or roughened. The tightening wheel E, by reason of the
spring-connection E³, is free to yield when a severe strain, owing to a sudden start
or a jar, has to be sustained by the chain. The wheel D' is not keyed to the shaft D²,
but is connected therewith by a sliding clutch F, which is pressed into engagement by
a spring. The clutch F may be drawn back out of engagement by a short lever Fi,
which is pivoted to a bracket f¹ projecting from the rear sill. The outer end of the
lever F is united by a link with a crank f* on the end of a rod F³ (Fig. 5), which
is mounted in bearings on the rear sill and the rear elevator-board, and terminates
near the driver's seat. The clutch, in order to be strong enough to resist a sudden
strain of the chain upon the wheel D₁, is supported by a sleeve F (Figs. 15, 16 and 17)
secured to the shaft D²; the arms f³ of the clutch sliding through projections fon
the sleeve. The strain on the arms is taken by the sleeve F; this construction
being therefore much stronger than the usual one in which the clutch is held
by a feather and feather-way. The elevator-sides G and G¹ correspond with what
in ordinary machines are known as front and rear elevator-boards. They are
made from sheet steel; each being strengthened by an inturned flange g at its
lower edge. They extend from the lower sills to the head of the elevator, and
at their upper ends are supported by the outside struts. The front strut G2
(Figs. 3, 4 and 7) is shown as a flat steel bar bolted to the front sill and
carrying a bracket gl to which the tubular support G for the binder-frame is secured ;
the strut G² being finally bent into suitable shape and bolted to the upper end of the front
elevator-side, as in Fig. 8. The rear elevator-strut G³ is preferably made of angular
steel having a flange 3 fastened to an offset g³ from the corner bearing-bracket
(Fig. 1), and is finally bolted to the head of the rear elevator-side, as in Fig. 5. The
strut G³ is bent at g to allow space for the play of the crank used for adjusting the binder.
It is necessary to make the rear strut stronger than the front strut on account of the
1

page_text: position of the gearing. His a brace of angular steel bolted to the rear platform-sill,
to the rear elevator-side and to the rear front elevator-strut. It carries the bracket hi
for the rear end of the tubular bar for supporting the sliding binder-frame. At the
front of the machine, a flat steel brace H' is bolted at its foot to a forward
extension H' from the angle-iron brace B, and rises obliquely therefrom to about the
height of the seat-plank, and is then bent backwards and carried horizontally past the
elevator-side G, to which it is connected, and is finally bolted to the strut G² near
the bracket g'. The tubular bar G is prolonged as illustrated in Fig. 4 to overhang the
front of the machine, so as to give a wide range of adjustment to the binder, which in
the old construction could not be obtained. It is connected to the rack-guide C¹ in
Fig. 4 by a bracket 2, which is preferably forked and secured by nuts, as shown;
thus bracing the framework together. Standards K (Figs. 1 and 7) are bolted to and
rise obliquely outward from the girt B', and carry at their upper ends anti-friction
rollers &, upon which rests the outer tubular frame-bar K' of the binding attachment.
The transverse frame-bars 2 of the binder-frame are holted to the foot of the post-
frame K. Sleeves on the hinder-frame take over the tubular inner supporting
guide-bar and are situated immediately beneath the inside tubular frame-bar of the
At the head of
binder-frame. This construction makes the harvester very compact.
the elevator is bolted a wooden shaft L (Fig. 8) formed with a longitudinal groove l
for the reception and adjustment of the upper edge of the binder-leck I'. The shaft
is supported by brackets bolted to the bottom flanges of the elevator-sides G and G³.
The sleeve M of the binder-shaft is supported in a bearing m on a bracket m' bolted
to the rear elevator-strut. This sleeve carries a sprocket-wheel M' through which the
binder is driven. M² is a crank-rod having its outer arm m² connected by a link m²
with the sliding binder-frame, and its inner arm locked to the segment M³ adjacent to
the seat.
Bolted to a bracket n (Figs. 7 and 8) secured to the forward end of the
girt B is a square pipe standard N, which is bent forward so that its upper vertical
end may be brought in front of and be fastened to the elevator-side G. The standard
carries at its upper end a bracket N' (Fig. 4) formed with a segmental rack n',
with which the tilting lever N2 engages. The latter is connected by a link n² with a
bracket N³ on the draft-tongue N, which is hinged at n³, and serves to raise
or depress the forward edge of the harvester-platform. The bracket N³ contains
a series of perforations n so that, by causing the link n to engage with any
particular perforation, the action of the lever can be adjusted. The hammer-
strap or clip n for the whiffle-tree is shewn as being part of the bracket N³.
The draft-tongue is connected by a hound Ns with the outer corner of the sill-
frame at a point directly in front of the outside girt; the pivoted bearing for the
hound being preferably formed in an extension n on a bracket No bolted to the
girt and the front sill. The standard N also carries an adjustable bearing n' for
one end of one of the swinging reel-supports N7; the other bearing as being fixed to the
top of a standard N on the bar H. O is a steel bar bolted at its front end to
the reel-standard Ns and at its rear end o¹ by a bolt o to the rear brace H. The
bar 01 (Fig. 3) is bolted at one end to the bar O and at the other end o³ by a
bolt o to the brace H. Between the bars and O' is secured the double rack-
standard 02 for the reel-lever. Further back, the bars support a metal plate 0³ to
which the seat-standard of fitting against the snugs os and carrying the seat 0
is attached. The plate 0 serves, moreover, as a cover for a sheet metal tool-
box 0, placed between the bars 0 and O' and furnished with a hinged lid (). The
heel of the cutter-bar runs in a guideway p formed in the upper face of a bracket P
(Fig. 18) bolted to the under side of the upper horizontal flange of the finger-bar or
front sill. A keeper p' takes over the heel. A long flange p from the foot of the
spacing bracket bolted to the top of the finger-bar serves to confine the rear edge
of the heel. P¹ is the bearing for the shaft p which drives the reel. This bearing
is cast in one piece and has three legs; one leg p₁ (Fig. 9) being secured to the
brace H by the bolt which holds the end o³ of the bar O₁; another leg p³ being
secured to the elevator-side G and the apron-guide; the remaining leg p' being bent
downwards and secured to the bar 01 (Fig. 3). The locking segment M³ for the

page_text: lever by which the binder is adjusted is cast in one piece with the bearing P¹. Each
of the upper sheet metal elevator-guide-bars Q is formed with two flanges qq (Fig. 7)
to guide the edges of one of the aprons. The upper flange supports the upper part
of the apron; the lower flange keeping the lower part of the apron in place. The
flanges are bent as shewn in dotted lines at g' to cover the gudgeon of the roller at the
head of the elevator, and prevent the apron from catching. Each of the lower sheet
metal elevator-guide-bars Q¹ is formed with a single flange 92 along its upper edge to
guide the upper part of the other apron; the lower part of the apron being supported,
in case it sags too much, by the flanges at the lower edges of the elevator-sides G
and G. The flanges 92 92 are bent as at q³ to cover the gudgeon of the roller at the
foot of the elevator. The bars Q and Q¹, besides supporting the aprons, serve to brace
the elevator-sides G and G¹. A bracket Q2 containing bearings for the upper
elevator-drums Q³ and Q and the butter-apron-driving drum Q' is secured to the
upper part of the strut G² (Fig. 8). The drum Q is driven by the drum Q through
the bevel-gearing 9ª 9º.
The bearings or bushes for the several drums are preferably made detachable. For
instance, the bearing (Fig. 10) for the drum Q3 is formed in one piece with a cast
iron bracket R, which is bolted to the strut G and has a second bearing in which one
end of the drum Q₁ is mounted. By detaching the bracket R, and also the
bracket Q2, the drums Q³ and Q can be readily removed. In Figs. 11 and 12, the
bearings or bushes are shewn as being separate from the bracket R' by which they
are carried. The bush is provided with studs 72, which fit into recesses on the
inner side of the bracket. The bearing has studs which fit into recesses in a
projecting sleeve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. A harvester constructed substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a harvester, the combination, with the main wheel, the sprocket-wheel carried
thereby, the main wheel axle, the driving shaft, and the sprocket-wheel mounted
thereon, of the radius-bar extending from the driving shaft to the main wheel axle,
the subsidiary sprocket-wheel, and the adjustable bracket for the subsidiary sprocket-
wheel pivoted to the radius-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a harvester, the combination, with the main wheel, the main wheel axle, the
driving shaft, and gearing between the main wheel and the driving shaft, of the cutter-
shaft mounted in bearings on the outer girt and carrying at one end the crank-disc
and at the other end a sprocket-wheel for the apron-chain, and the bevel gearing
between the driving shaft and the cutter-shaft, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
4. In a harvester, the combination, with the cutter-shaft mounted on the outside
girt and the crank-disc carried thereby, of the pitman connecting the heel of the
cutter-bar with the crank-pin on the crank-disc, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
5. In a harvester, the guide-way for the heel of the cutter-bar formed in a
bracket bolted to the under side of the upper horizontal flange of the finger-bar
and provided with a snug on one side and a ledge on the other side, substantially as
described.
6. In a harvester, a framework comprising front and rear elevator-sills, a transverse
girt on each side of the main wheel for uniting such sills, and a forked angle-
iron brace connected to the sills and to the centre of the inside girt, substantially as
described.
7. In a harvester, the combination, with the main wheel, the sprocket-wheel carried
thereby, the main wheel axle, the driving shaft, and the sprocket-wheel and the bevel
wheel mounted thereon, of the cutter-shaft carrying the sprocket-wheel for the apron-
chain and the crank-disc for the cutter-bar, and the bevel pinion for gearing with the
bevel wheel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 8. In a harvester, the combination, with the sprocket-wheel on the driving shaft, of
the sliding clutch, the lever, the link and the crank-rod terminating near the seat,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In a harvester, the combination, with the sprocket-wheel on the driving shaft, of
the clutch and the sleeve secured to the said shaft and serving to support or hold the
clutch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
10. In a harvester, the combination, with the elevator-aprons, of the sheet metal
elevator-sides having their lower edges flanged, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
11. In a harvester, the combination, with the elevator-aprons and the elevator-apron-
drums, of the sheet metal elevator-sides and the angle-iron apron-guides, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
12. In a harvester, the combination, with the sheet metal elevator-sides and the
elevator-apron drums, of the sheet metal guide-bars bolted to the clevator-sides, each
guide-bar having two flanges, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
13. In a harvester, the combination, with the sheet metal elevator-sides and the
elevator-apron-drums, of the angle-iron apron-guides, each guide having a single
flange, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
14. In a harvester, a framework comprising a rear sheet metal elevator-side, and
an angle-iron seat-bracket extending from the platform-sill to the height of the seat-
plank and then carried horizontally to the rear outer elevator-strut and bolted
thereto and to the elevator-side aforesaid, substantially as described.
15. In a harvester a framework comprising a sheet metal elevator-side at the roar
of the machine, and an angle-iron strut rising from the outer girt to the top of
elevator-side aforesaid and bolted thereto, substantially as described.
16. In a harvester, a framework comprising a front elevator-side of sheet metal,
and a metal seat-bracket holted to the end of the forked brace from the inner
elevator-girt and rising therefrom past the elevator-side to which it is bolted, and then
turned back and again bolted to the elevator-side and finally to the front elevator-
strut, substantially as described.
17. In a harvester, a framework comprising a front elevator-side, a metal seat-
bracket, and a bent elevator-strut rising from the front corner of the machine and
bolted to the elevator-side aforesaid, substantially as described.
18. In a harvester, a framework comprising front and rear elevator-struts, and a
guide-bar for the inner end of the binder-frame attached to the struts aforesaid,
substantially as described.
19. In a harvester, a framework comprising front and rear elevator-struts, and a
tubular support for the binder-frame borne by the struts aforesaid and prolonged to
overhang the front of the machine, substantially as described.
20. In a harvester, a framework comprising front and rear elevator-struts, and a
tubular support for the binder-frame borne by the struts aforesaid and sustained
centrally by the rack-guide bolted to the outer cross girt, substantially as described.
21. In a harvester, a framework comprising a tubular support for one side of the
binder-frame arranged over the outer rack-guide, and standards for the other side of
the binder-frame bolted to and rising obliquely from the outer girt, substantially as
described.
22. In a harvester, a square pipe standard supported by the front elevator-sill,
bolted to the front of the elevator-side, and serving to support the tilting lever and
its bracket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
23. In a harvester, the combination, with the tilting lever and the segment with
which it engages, of the draft-tongue, the bracket thereon and the connecting link,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
24. In a harvester, a framework comprising metal brackets at the front and rear
of the elevator, and a metal seat-support formed by the bars O and O¹, substantially
as described.
25. In a harvester, the seat-support and the tool-box arranged substantially as
described and shewn.

page_text: 26. In a harvester, a seat-support having a double segment for the reel secured
thereto, substantially as described.
27. In a harvester, a seat-support having its rear ends bolted to the horizontal flange
of the angle-iron brace H and its front end bolted to a bracket on the brace H¹,
substantially as described.
28. In a harvester, the employment of removable bearings or bushes, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
29. In a harvester, a bearing for the reel-shaft cast in one piece and having three
legs, the legs being respectively bolted to the elevator-side G, the brace H, and the
seat-support, substantially as described.
D
011
T
3000
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM.