Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 6th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 17th May, 1887.
I THOMAS CLARKE of 223 Upper Thames Street London E.C. Lawn Mower Maker
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to the construction of lawn Mowers and to special parts
of the same whereby they are rendered lighter, more compact, and more efficient in
action than those at present in use. The journal boxes are fitted with a split metal
bush for compensating for the wear of journal by means of a set screw. The toothed
gear in the driving wheels are raised giving greater driving power. The handle is
fitted with excentric lugs for instantly fixing it to any height to suit the operator.
The revolving cutter frames of skeleton form are cast in one piece.

page_text: I THOMAS CLARKE, of 223, Upper Thames Street, London, do hereby declare the
nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
These improvements relate to the construction of Lawn Mowers and to special parts
of the same whereby they are rendered lighter, more compact and more efficient in
action than those at present in use.
The journal boxes are fitted with a split metal bush for compensating for the wear
of journal by means of a set screw.
The first part of this invention is represented at Figure 1 of the annexed drawings,
consisting of a metal bush A, split at B, the split being of such a width as to permit
of its being reduced in diameter or sprung to fit the journal C, as the journal becomes
worn, by means of a set screw D as at Figures 2 and 3, the bush A being provided
with a notch E against or within which the point of the screw abuts for the purpose
of ensuring compression without slip.
The bush A occupies a position within a collar F forming part of the frame of a
mowing machine and encircles the axlo C by which the cutting blades G are carried.
I have only shown one of the bushes in position at Figure 3 but the opposite end
of the cutters spindle is similarly fitted with the bush and set screw for adjustment
for securing the parallelism of the cutters G.
The toothed gear in the driving wheels are raised giving greater driving power.
According to the usual method of arranging the drive wheels of a Lawn Mower
the drive teeth which are on the inner surface are just within the periphery and when
working on soft ground as sometimes happens, the dirt enters between the shield and
the wheel, and clogs the teeth which interferes considerably with the proper working
of the machine. Now the object of the second part of this invention is to arrange the
teeth of the drive wheels at some distance within the inner periphery and to form an
annular chamber between the teeth into which a flange forming part of the shield can
engage, the channel forming a receptacle for dirt that may get within the drive wheel
and, will not interfere with the proper working of the same, this will be understood by
reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5, where H, H, are the teeth within an inner wall I of
the drive wheel J and K is the annular channel into which the flange L of the
shield F takes.
The teeth of the drive wheel are concentric with the axis but nearer to it, which
gives greater power to the pinion M which is mounted on the axle C of the cutters.
This plan of arranging the teeth of the drive wheel and making the channel K
facilitates a very easy operation of the cutters G and obviates one of the inconveniences
that exist in Lawn Mowers.
The handle is so fitted that by turning eccentric lugs it can be instantly fixed to
any height to suit the operator.

page_text: The next part of the invention will be understood by reference to Figures 6 and 7
where the handle N is pivotted at P to the inner side of the shield F this being
provided with an eccentric lug Q on which the handle N rests. The lug has an
outside plate R to enable it to be turned to suit the height at which the operator
desires the handles should be set.
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 Lawn Mowing Machine the split bush A on the axle C of the cutters G,
and the adjustment of the same to compensate for wear of the journal C by means of
the set screw D as described and substantially as shown at Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
annexed drawings.
2. Arranging the inside teeth H of a drive wheel J of a Lawn Mower at a distance
from the periphery and providing said wheel with an annular channel K as and for
the purpose described and substantially as shown at Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the annexed
drawings.
3. Fitting an eccentric lug Q in such a position that by simply turning the same,
the angle of the handle N of a Lawn Mower can be adjusted to suit the operator as
herein before described and substantially as shown at Figures 6 and 7 of the annexed
drawings.