IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Arundell Oatey, of Wadebridge, in the
County of Cornwall, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 18th October 1870, and dated the 21st April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Arundell Oatey
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 21st April 1870.
I, WILLIAM ARUNDELL OATEY, of Wadebridge, in the County of
Cornwall, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," to be
as follows:-
:-
On the disc in combined reaping and mowing machines as now used
by some makers is fitted an outer spur wheel having teeth or cogs on
the inside of its rim, such construction of wheel being generally termed
internal spur wheel.
Now part of my Invention is to fit these machines with an additional
inner spur wheel of the ordinary construction, that is, having teeth on

page_text: the outside of its rim. The two spur wheels may be cast in one, or the
additional inner spur wheel may be attached to the disc by bolts and
nuts or other mechanical means suitable for such purpose. The two
wheels have one pinion in common, and either of them may be thrown
into gear by suitable apparatus, which is constructed substantially as
follows:-
The discs with the two wheels are carried one on each end of an axle,
the centre part of which is formed as an eccentric or crank which carries
a frame for the aforesaid pinion. By twisting the crank one way or the
other, which may be accomplished by suitable link or quadrant motion,
the pinion is thrown into gear with one or other of the wheels, or out of
gear altogether. When the pinion gears into the outer or internal spur
wheel the machine is made suitable for cutting grass, while when the
pinion gears into the inner or external spur wheel the machine is made
suitable for cutting corn. For the purpose of more effectually lubri-
cating the pin on the crank wheel I cause the ring of the latter to be
cast or formed with a cavity or hole (in which may be fitted or cast a
wrought-iron tube) of sufficient capacity to contain lubricating material
for several hours' supply to the pin. By means of a spiral or other
spring attached to the hinder part of the drawing frame and to the frame
of the machine itself I balance the weight of the machine in such a way
that the weight of it does not fall on the horse or horses when at work.
By the aforesaid improvements the following principal advantages are
obtained :—Giving the sickles their proper speed, so as to adapt the
same suitably for cutting grass or corn, the apparatus for that purpose
at the same time being so simple that an ordinary agricultural labourer
can work it without difficulty. Also, doing away with the present mode
of altering the motion wheels and pinions while no larger size tires are
added to the travelling wheels.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Arundell Oatey, Her special licence
that I, the said William Arundell Oatey, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Arundell Oatey, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Arundell Oatey, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Arundell Oatey, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the samo
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters of reference marked thercon, that is to
say :-
Combined reaping and mowing machines as now used by some makers
have fitted on the disc an outer spur wheel with teeth or cogs on the
inside of its rim, such construction of wheel being generally termed
internal spur wheel.
Now part of my Invention consists in fitting these machines with an
additional inner spur wheel of the ordinary construction, that is, having
teeth on the outside of its rim. The two spur wheels may be cast in
one, or the additional inner spur wheel may be attached to the disc by
bolts and nuts or other mechanical means suitable for such purpose.
The two wheels have one pinion in common, and either of them may be
thrown into gear by suitable apparatus, which is constructed substantially
as follows:-

page_text: The discs with the two wheels are carried one on each end of an axle,
the central part of which is formed as an eccentric or crank which carrieś
a frame for the aforesaid pinion. By twisting the crank one way or the
other, which may be accomplished by suitable link or quadrant motion,
the pinion is thrown into gear with one or other of the wheels, or out of
gear altogether. When the pinion gears into the outer or internal spur
wheel the machine is made suitable for cutting grass, while when the
pinion gears into the inner or external spur wheel the machine is made
suitable for cutting corn. For the purpose of more effectually lubri-
cating the pin on the crank wheel I cause the ring of the latter to be
-cast or formed_with_a_cavity_or_hole (in which may be fitted or cast a
wrought-iron tube) of sufficient capacity to contain lubricating material
for several hours' supply to the pin. By means of a spiral or other
spring attached to the hinder part of the drawing frame and to the frame
of the machine itself I balance the weight of the machine in such a way
that the weight of it does not fall on the horse or horses when at work.
By the aforesaid improvements the following principal advantages are
obtained-Giving the sickles their proper speed, so as to adapt the
same suitably for cutting grass or corn, the apparatus for that purpose
at the same time being so simple that an ordinary agricultural labourer
can work it without difficulty. Also, doing away with the present mode
of altering the motion wheels and pinion while no larger size tires are
added to the travelling wheels.
And in order that my said improvements may be more readily under-
stood I have illustrated the same by the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the inner side of the disc H of my com-
bined reaping and mowing machine with the pinion D gearing into the
internal spur wheel M, in which case the machine is suitable for
mowing; Fig. 2 is a similar view, but the pinion D is here shewn in
gear with the spur wheel I, in which case the machine is suitable for
reaping; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the disc H with
its axle E and crank in the centre, as shewn. This central-crank carries
a frame N, N, which is shewn in Fig. 4, which is a plan of the machine.
The frame N carries bearings or plummer blocks O, O, for the spindle P
of the pinions D, D. On turning the crank E one way or the other
the pinions are brought into gear with the internal spur wheel M or
with the spur wheel I and in the centre position out of gear altogether.
This is done by means of the lever A, which is shown separately in end

page_text: view and side view by Figs. 5 and 6 respectively. The lever is secured
in any of the above-named positions by means of a spiral spring which
pushes a catch tooth B into one of the three notches on the quadrant C.
The tooth may be pulled out of the notch by taking hold of the hook p.
The crank wheel F is shewn on the plan view, Fig. 4, and on a larger
scale by Figs. 7 and 8, the former being an end view and the latter a
cross section through the crank wheel and its pin G. The crank wheel
is cast with a cavity 1 in its rim, a wrought-iron bent tube forming
the core.
This tube forms a receptacle for oil for lubricating the pin,
which for that purpose has a passage 4. A screw plug 2 keeps the oil
receptacle closed.
The arrangement for balancing the pole is shewn on Fig. 9. The
spiral spring is bere shown attached to the drawing frame and to the
frame of the machine itself in such a way that it balances the weight of
the pole.
And having now described the nature of my Invention I claim the
following as my improvements in and applicable to combined reaping
and mowing machines,-
-
Firstly. The mode of throwing the pinions in and out of gear with
the spur wheels by means of fitting said pinions to a frame attached
to a crank or eccentric formed part of the axle of the discs, substan-
tially as herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The means described and shewn for lubricating the pin of
the crank wheel.
And, thirdly. The application of a spiral or other spring for balancing
the weight of the pole.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Arundel Oatey, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
ברדוח A I