Improvements in Mowing Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
Improvements in Mowing Machines.
I, WILHELM WIPPERMANN, of Hagen, Westfalia, Germany, Manufacturer, 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 relates to an improved mowing machine of that system, where
a circular knife turning round a vertical spindle is used instead of reciprocating
knives of saw shape; by means of a peculiar arrangement of parts and by a very
simplified driving gear I have succeeded to reduce the necessary power so much
that my new machine can be easily worked by a man though it may also be used
for animal power. The knife spindle is carried in antifriction bearings and the
transmission of power to the same from the driving or road wheels is direct,
without any intermediate gear, except a pair of bevil wheels for transmitting
the power of a horizontal shaft to the vertical knife shaft. The use of a large
chain wheel connected to the road wheel allowing to increase the speed required
for the knife shaft without any other intermediate gearing
For driving or pushing on the machine I have arranged handles connected
with the frame work in a special manner so that no shocks are transferred to
the man driving the machine and a special arrangement is also introduced for
keeping the knife at a desired minimum distance from the ground, preventing
the same to run into the ground and also to leave stubbles of too great a length
and thus assisting the labourer in balancing the machine so that he can use
all his force for driving and pushing on the machine.
Besides this the machine is provided with a self-sharpening device, by means
of which the knife in turning round is always sharpened.
The new machine is shown on the accompanying drawing in which:
Fig. 1 is a vertical view partly in section;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation seen from the left side of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a plan.
On the axle of the road wheels a carrying the frame c is mounted a chain
wheel transmitting the power on to a chain wheel al by a chain ², thereby
increasing at the same time the speed; the wheel is keyed to a shaft e carried
in suitable bearings on the frame c. The bearings of the axle bare adjustable
by serews in order to be able to adjust the lengthening of the chain 2 in
consequence of wear and tear of its links and connecting bolts. Bevil wheels h
transmit the power to the vertical knife shaft i carried in antifriction bearings k¹
of the cross girder of the frame; by means of arms the circular or ring
shaped knife m is fixed to the shaft i, from which it follows that in pushing on
the machine the knife is caused to rotate.
Slides thereby determine the distance of the knife from the ground, these
slides may be made adjustable in height.
Directly above the knife are arranged the fingers on a half circular frame
fixed at the rear to the frame c.
A vertical guard plate 7 of partly circular form is fixed to the frame p,

page_text: preventing the cut grass from falling into the machine, whereas a sort of a
rotating rake or scraper r, fixed to one of the arms, throws the same out of
the machine sideways.
In order always to sharpen the knife automatically there are fixed, in the rear
part of the machine on a carrier s, steel cheeks t which slightly touch the knife,
so that in passing underneath the same it will always be sharpened.
.
The machine is set in motion by a labourer taking hold of the handles and
pushing it forwards; these handles are held in bearings on the frame c; they
form double armed levers, to the fore arms of the same are rivetted springs w
held together with the frame c by eyes or clamps & allowing free movement of
the springs in longitudinal direction but preventing the springs and the handles
from being raised from the frame. By means of this arrangement I attain that
no shocks, caused by the wheels passing over uneven ground, are transmitted
to the arms of the labourer, they being taken up and balanced or neutralized by
the springs a and thus prevent fatiguing and tiring the man.
This arrangement in combination with the slides n also assists the man in
properly balancing the machine so that he has not to carry the weight of the
fore part of the same and that he can exert all his power for pushing the machine
forwards and for cutting the grass and therefore the knife can be rotated at a much
higher speed than would be the case otherwise and this of course increases its
efficiency.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1 In a mowing machine the combination of a circular or ring shaped knife m
with a vertical shaft i, carried in antifriction bearings said shaft being set
in motion by bevil gearing h, a horizontal shaft e carried in suitable bearings
on a frame c and having a chain wheel fixed at one end, a chain trans-
mitting motion to the chain wheel from a chain wheel d fixed to the shaft b
of the travelling wheels a, the whole as described and illustrated and for the
purpose set forth.
2/ In a mowing machine as specified in Claim One the combination of the
frame c with handles n held in bearings on said frame and having their fore
arms connected to the frame by means of springs w and eyes in order to prevent
shocks of the wheels in passing over uneven ground from being transmitted to
the arms of the man handling the machine as described and illustrated.
1.
3/ In combination with the rotating ring shaped knife a scraper or rake
fixed to the arms e of said knife, a guard plate and fingers o, said fingers and
guard plate q being fixed to a frame ? as described and illustrated and for the
purpose set forth.
4/ In a mowing machine with a rotating knife m the combination of said knife
with steel cheeks t fixed on a carrier s immediately over the knife in order to
sharpening the knife automatically when passing underneath the steel cheeks,
the whole as described and illustrated and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 29th day of July 1899.
WILHELM WIPPERMANN,
Per Karl J. Mayer.
Agent.