IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Tenney Bousfield, of Britannia Works, Bedford, in
the County of Bedford, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HORSE RAKES."
Sealed the 18th May 1877, and dated the 13th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Tenney Bousfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1876.
EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of Britannia Works, Bedford, in the County of
Bedford, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES."
The chief object of this Invention is to simplify the construction of horse rakes,
and thereby to reduce their cost of manufacture.
The main frame of the implement is made by preference of two transverse
trussed timbers, and is carried clear above the tines in order that there may be no
impediment to the rocking of the tine frame, and no obstruction to the collecting
and delivery of the cut crops.
The travelling wheels are fitted to cranked stud axles which are securely bolted
to the frame, and are formed with sockets to receive the fulcrum rod of the tine
frame, the axis of which is coincident, or nearly so, with the axis of the stud axles.
Upon this fulcrum rod at suitable distances apart are cast bracket arms with socket
bearings at their extremities to receive a rod on which the tines are hung. This
rod is loose in its bearings to permit its receiving an axial motion.
The tines it is preferred to make in pairs, two tines being attached to the same
head in the manner to be presently explained. Each tine head is fitted with a link,
which link is connected to the fulcrum rod in such manner that when the tine
heads are depressed by the rocking of the frame, the tines will be lifted from
the ground. This lifting action, which is produced as heretofore by connecting the
cradle with the travelling wheels through friction bands or ratchet wheels and
pawls, I now propose to obtain by employing the tine rod as a substitute for the
special rock bar now used for this purpose.
The tine bar is fitted with a chain wheel or pulley, to which is attached a chain
or band that is laid around a chain wheel or pulley, loose on the fulcrum rod of the
cradle, and led thence to a foot lever near the seat of the attendant. By bringing

page_text: this chain or band to tension while the implement is in work the tine bar will receive
an axial motion, and thereby tighten the friction bands on the travelling wheels,
or if pawles and ratches are used put the pawles into gear and cause the travelling
wheels as they move forward to depress the tine frame and lift the tines clear of
the collected crop.
I will now explain the manner of connecting the tines to the tine heads, the
object being to facilitate the removal of a tine when broken or damaged, and its
replacement by a new one.
One mode of effecting this object is to cast the tine head as a forked or it may
be a hollow rectangular piece, with sockets to receive the tine rod, and below the
shoulders of the sockets to form recesses in the casting to receive the ends of the
tines.
A screw bolt passing through the tines and through a hole in the cross piece of
the tine head serves to secure the pair of tines firmly to the head. This arrange-
ment I propose to adopt for heavy horse rakes, and in that case I manufacture the
tines froin bar iron or steel of a section somewhat resembling a double-headed rail
for railways, tapering it down towards the point before bending it to the hooked
shape required.
For lighter rakes I use the ordinary round steel to form the tines, doubling back
one end thereof to form a loop for the reception of the tine rod, and to enable the
tines to embrace one side of the cast head. Recesses are made in the sides of the
head to receive the round steel, and the tines are secured in place by clamps that
are caused to bind against the round steel by means of a screw bolt passing through
the clamps and through a hole in the cross piece of the tine head.
In some cases I may find it convenient to group three tines together in order to
obtain the required weight upon the tine points.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Tenney Bousfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th June 1877.
EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of Britannia Ironworks, Bedford, in the County of
Bedford, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES."
The chief objects of this Invention are to simplify the construction of horse rakes,
to increase their efficiency, and to reduce their cost of manufacture. In attaining
these objects I employ substantially the same means of lifting the tines as that
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me in conjunction with James
Howard, and bearing date November twenty-seventh, one thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine, No. 3437.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a back elevation of the improved horse
rake; and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1.
In these Figures A is the main frame of the implement, which frame is made by
preference of two transverse timbers braced together by means of the shafts B.
This frame is carried clear above the tines in order that there may be no impedi-
ment to the locking of the tine frame, and no obstruction to the collecting and
delivery of the cut crops. C, C, are the travelling wheels fitted to cranked stud
axles C¹, which are securely bolted to the under side of the frame A. These axles
(see the detached view, Fig. 1) are formed with sockets to receive the fulcrum rod
D of the tine frame or cradle, the axis of which is coincident or nearly so with the
axes of the stud axles. Upon this fulcrum rod at suitable distances apart are keyed
bracket arins D1, D2, with socket bearings at their extremities to receive a rod E,
on which the tines F are hung. The arms D, which are keyed to the ends of the
fulcrum rod D, are cranked and constitute with the rods D and E what is known
as the cradle of the horse rake. These arms D strike against stops c, c, on the stud

page_text: axles C¹ when the levers fall, and they prevent injury to the cradle and levers when
the rake is accidentally backed. The tine rod E is loose in it bearings to permit
of its receiving an axial motion.
The tines it is preferred to make in pairs, two tines being attached to the same
head in the manner to be presently explained. Each tine head is fitted with a link,
which link is connected to the fulcrum rod in such manner that when the tine
heads are depressed by the rocking of the cradle the tines will be lifted from the
ground. This lifting action which is produced as heretofore by connecting the
cradle with the travelling wheel C, through friction bands G or (as their equiva-
lent) ratchet wheels and pawls, I now propose to obtain by employing the tine rod
E as a substitute for the special rock bar heretofore used for this purpose.
The friction bands G which embrace friction rings G' cast on the travelling
wheels are connected at one end with the cranked arms D, and at the other end to
arms E, keyed to the tine rod E. By rocking the tine rod in its bearings the
bands G will be tightened on their friction rings, and the rotation of the travelling
wheels as the implement moves forward will depress the tine axle E and cause the
tines to rise out of work and release the gathered crop. This rocking of the tine
rod to bring the friction bands G into action is effected by the attendant who,
mounted on the seat H, by applying his foot to the treadle lever I, which has its
fulcrum at I, and is connected at its lower end by a link 1 to an arm I³ keyed on
the tino rod E, gives the desired rocking motion to that rod. On his relieving the
treadle lever froin the pressure of his foot the bands G will be instantly slackened,
and the tines F will fall to the ground to resume the gathering action. In order
to raise the tines from the ground by hand, or when the implement is stationary
and to lock them in a raised position, the hand lever K is provided. This lever has
its fulcrum at K¹, and it is connected by a link K to a cranked lever K³ which
passes through a socket cast in one of the bracket arms D', and is secured to the
tine rod E by that rod passing through a hole in its extremity. By lifting the
hand lever K and bringing it to the dotted position of Fig. 2 the cradle will be
rocked and the tines raised froin the ground. To retain the tines in this position
the catch K is caused to take on to the hand lever K and hold it in the dotted
position.
I will now explain the manner of connecting the tines to the tine heads, the
object being to facilitate the removal of a tine when broken or damaged and its
replacement by a new one.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged views of the tine couplings, Fig. 3 being a plan
view of the tine head; Fig. 4, a side view; and Fig. 5, an end view showing the
tines in cross section.
F, F, are the tines made of the ordinary round steel, one end being doubled back to
form a loop for the reception of the tine rod E, and to enable the tines each to
embrace one side of a hollow rectangular cast head F¹.
Recesses are made in the sides of this head to receive the round steel, and the
tines are secured in place by clamps F that are caused to bind against the round
steel by means of a screw bolt F3 passing through the clamps and through a hole
in the cross piece of the tinc head.
In some cases I may find it convenient to group three tines together in order to
obtain the required weight upon the tine points.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 shew in side view, cross section, and plan, a modification of
my improved tine head. In these Figures F, F, are the tines fitted to the head F',
which is a cast-iron rectangular piece made with sockets to receive the tine rod E
and with recesses to receive the ends of the tines F. A screw bolt F³ passing
through the tines and through the centre of the cross piece F2 of the tine head
serves to secure by means of a nut the pair of tines firmly to the head. This cross
piece as in the arrangement of head above described receives the link & which
depends from the fulcrum rod D for the purpose of connecting the tines with the
fulcrum rod.
The arrangement of head shewn at Figures 6, 7, and 8, I propose to adopt for

page_text: heavy horse rakes, and in that case I, by preference, manufacture the tines from bar
iron or steel of a section somewhat resembling a double headed rail for railways, as
shewn at Fig. 7, tapering the bar down to the point before bending it to the hooked
shape required.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Horse
Rakes" and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,—
First. The cranked stud axles C₁ for the reception of the travelling wheels C,
such axles being socketted to form the bearings for the fulcrum rod D, as above set
forth.
Secondly. The tino rod E, which is capable of being rocked in its bearings in the
cradle D by a treadle I or its equivalent in combination with friction bands G or
their equivalent for bringing the same into action to rock the cradle and lift the
tines from the ground when the implement is in motion.
Thirdly. The hand lever K in connection with the tine rod E, as described for
rocking the cradle D and lifting the tines from the ground by the hand, or when
the implement is stationary.
Fourthly. The rocking cradle consisting of the fulcrum rod D, rocking tine rod
E, and crank arms D², for carrying the tines, as described.
Fifthly. The looped tines secured to the tine bar E by the head F¹ and its
attachments, as described.
Sixthly. The modified form of tine head shewn at Figures 6, 7, and 8, for
receiving and retaining the tines, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Tenney Bousfield, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD. (L.S.)