IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adam Carlisle Bamlett, of Thirsk, in the County
of York, Agricultural Engineer, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS
IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 11th April 1871, and dated the 17th October 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adam Carlisle Bamlett
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 17th October 1870.
I, ADAM CARLISLE BAMLETT, of Thirsk, in the County of York,
Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has been designed to effect certain useful improvements
in reaping machines, mowing machines, and the kind known as combined
reaping and mowing machines.
The first part of the Invention relates to reaping machines in which
the corn is raked from the platform by self-acting rakes, which are

page_text: mounted either on an inclined axis or are guided by a cam or cams;
and in order readily to regulate the speed at which the rakes are driven
(and consequently regulating or varying the size of the sheaves) I form
either on the rake shaft or the bracket which carries the rakes two or more
-spur wheels in one, each being smaller than the other, necessitating a
corresponding increase in the size of the pinion, which will cause an
increased speed to be given to the rakes, there being as many separate
pinions as there are wheels. These pinions I prefer to fit loosely on their
spindle, and I drive them with a fast key. Another method will be to fit
two spur wheels and pinions of varying, only one pair being operated or
in work at one time, but either pair may be connected or disconnected
by a clutch movement, and this arrangement will give one variation of
speed to the rakes. When the rakes are mounted on an inclined axis
I make the dummies or fans hinged at their centres, and guide them by
à cam, so that when passing. over the platform they shall rise to a con-
siderable height above it so as not to interfere with the corn on it. In
order to give motion to the rakes direct from the main axle I fix a spur
wheel on it, and another one a little above it, which gives motion to a
pinion and wheel that drives the rakes: The upper and lower spur wheels
are connected by a bridle wheel, so as to allow the position of the main
wheel to be altered in order to regulate the cutting height of the knife.
By another method I give motion to the rakes through a pitch chain,
a chain pulley being fixed on the main wheel or axle; another one is
fixed on the pinion shaft which gives motion to the rakes, it being con-
veyed from one chain pulley to the other by a pitch chain; and in order
to keep it tight I use a tightening pulley, which is mounted at one end
of a bell-crank lever; this lever is mounted on the frame or bracket
which carries the driving wheel, the other end is connected to the finger
bar, which has the effect of keeping the chain tight when the position of
the driving wheel is altered for regulating the cutting height of the knife.
The second part of the Invention relates to machines as adapted for
mowing. Where the pole is jointed to the front of the frame I connect
the lever which raises the cutters off the ground to one of the pole irons,
so that it will raise both the frame and the cutters.
In combined reaping and mowing machines, in which the frame, that
carries the gearing and other working parts is made to slide on a tube
bracket (through which the main axle runs), and to which the draft pole
is fixed, I fit to the tube bracket a short pole, the front end of which is

page_text: supported by a swivel wheel, and the main axle I joint (or otherwise
attach) the draft pole to the tube bracket. This arrangement enables
the machine to adapt itself better to unlevel ground. In order to reduce
the quick speed at which the knife is driven in mowing machines to a
slower speed for reaping I mount on the main axle at the inner side of
the machine an internal wheel of larger diameter than that at the outer
or other side of the machine, and as the intermediate shaft (which carries
a pinion at each end of it) is parallel with the main axle it must have a
larger pinion at its inner end, so as to gear with the larger internal
wheel. The increased size of this pinion will give a reduced speed to
the knife. Either the whole frame may be made to slide on the tube.
bracket, or intermediate shaft may be made to slide in its own bearings:
from one internal wheel to the other, or vice versa, in to increase the
speed as required. When the intermediate shaft is made to slide in its
own bearings it may be placed at either side of the machine; it will
answer about as well at one side as the other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Adam Carlisle Bamlett in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 17th April 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I; ADAM
CARLISLE BAMLETT, of Thirsk, in the County of York, Agricultural
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, 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 Adam Carlisle Bamlett, Her special licence,
that I, the said Adam Carlisle Bamlett, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Adam Carlisle Bamlett, 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
REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others).

page_text: that I, the said Adam Carlisle Bamlett, 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 Adam Carlisle Bamlett, 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 in writing, reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention has been designed to effect certain useful improvements
in reaping machines and mowing machines, and the kind known as
combined reaping and mowing machines.
In
The first part of the Invention relates to reaping machines in which
the corn is raked from the platform by self-acting rakes, which are
mounted either on an inclined axis or are guided by a cam or cams.
order readily to regulate the speed (as required) at which the rakes are
driven (and consequently regulate or vary the size of the sheaves) I form
and place, either on the rake shaft or the bracket which carries the rake
arms, two or more spur wheels in one, each being smaller than the other
(i.e., decreasing in size from the largest one upwards or downwards),
necessitating a corresponding increase in the size of the pinion which
drives the smaller of the rims of this double or other "multiple" wheel,.
so that it will when required to be used cause an increased speed to be
given to the rakes. There are as many separate pinions as there are
wheels (or rims forming this "multiple" wheel), and these pinions when
required to be used I prefer to drop or fit loosely on their spindle, and I
drive and secure them thereto with a fast key.
By another method I employ two (or more if required) spur wheels
and pinions of varying size, only one pair of which are operated or in
work at one time, and either pair when required are connected or dis-
connected by a clutch movement, but this arrangement will only allow
of one variation of speed (i.e., two different speeds) being given to the
rakes.
I would here remark that that part of my Invention which was
described in the paragraph in my Provisional Specification which men

page_text: tions the hinging the dummies or fans at their centres, and guiding
them by a cam (when the rakes are mounted on an inclined axis), I
now hereby disclaim, as, since filing my said Provisional Specification,
I have found that the same is not so new or useful as I then considered
5 it to be.
In order to give motion to the rakes direct from the main axle I fix a
spur wheel thereon, and another one a little above it, which imparts
motion to a pinion on its own shaft, and this to the wheel that drives
the rakes. The upper and lower spur wheels I connect by a "bridle”.
wheel, so as to allow the position of the main axle to be altered in order
to regulate the cutting height of the knife.
I would likewise here remark that a second method described in my
Provisional Specification of giving motion to the rakes I have since
found will not be calculated to fully answer its intended purpose, and I
3 now therefore disclaim this said part of my Invention, and I wish it to be
understood that I confine myself to the method herein-before immediately
described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
The second part of the Invention relates to machines as adapted for.
mowing. Where the pole is jointed to the front of the frame I connect.
the lever which raises the cutters off the ground to one of the pole irons,
so that it will raise both the frame and the cutters at the same time.
In combined reaping and mowing machines in which the frame that
carries the gearing and other working parts is made to slide on a tube
bracket (through which the main axle runs), and to which the draft pole
is fixed, I fit to the tube bracket a short pole, the front end of which is
supported by a swivel wheel, and about midway between the swivel
wheel and the main axle I joint (or otherwise attach) the draft pole to
the tube bracket, this arrangement enabling the machine to adapt itself.
better to unlevel ground. In order to reduce the quick speed at which
the knife is driven in mowing machines to a slower speed when required
for reaping, I mount on the main axle at the inner side of the machine
an internal toothed wheel of larger diameter than the one at the outer
or other side of the machine, and as the intermediate shaft (which carries
a pinion at each end of it) is parallel with the main axle it is provided
with a larger pinion at its inner end than at its outer end, so as to gear
with the larger internal wheel. The increased size of this pinion when
operated upon by the larger internal wheel gives a reduced speed to the

page_text: knife. Either the whole frame that carries the gearing may be made to
slide on the tube bracket, or the intermediate shaft may be made to slide
in its own bearings from one internal wheel to the other in order to
increase or reduce the speed for mowing or reaping as required.; and
when the intermediate shaft is made to slide in its own bearings the
larger internal wheel may be placed at either side of the machine, as it
will answer about as well at one side as at the other.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Im-
provements in Reaping and Mowing Machines," I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may
be performed or carried into practical effect; and in order that the
same may be distinctly understood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet
of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with
figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation thereof, that is to say:—
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figures 1 and 2 illustrate
the first part of my Invention. a represents the axis on which the rakes
are mounted; and for the purpose of regulating the speed at which the
rakes are required to be driven (and so regulate or vary the size of the
sheaves), I fit or place (either on the rake shaft or the bracket which
carries the rake arms c) two (or more) spur wheels d (Figure 1) cast or
otherwise formed together or in one (according to the number of speeds
at which it is required to drive the rakes and the corresponding desired
varying sizes of the sheaves) and bolt these to the rake arms c, see
Figure 1. These wheels d may be made of any required sizes to suit
the desired speeds of the rakes and sizes of the sheaves, and any required
number (for these purposes) may be formed together. This difference
in the size of the wheels d necessitates a corresponding difference in the
size of the pinions which respectively drive the same (see Figure 1), and
when the larger detached pinion e there shown is placed on the spindle f
which receives motion from the intermediate spindle in the usual
manner, and drives the smaller rim of the "multiple" wheel d, the
rakes will be driven at a greater speed than if the smaller pinion g and
the larger rim of the "multiple" wheel d were used. The pinions e, g,
I prefer to drop or fit loosely on their spindle f, and I drive and secure
them thereto with a fast key, as shewn detached; or the two pinions
'may be cast or formed together with a space between them of a little
more than the breadth of the teeth, and caused to slide up or down on

page_text: its spindle from one rim to the other as may be required, and then fixed
by a pin or set screw.
Figure 2 represents a second method. In this case I fix two separate
varying sized spur wheels h, i, on the rake shaft A (which is mounted in
suitable bearings), and these are rotated (according to the speed of the
rakes and the size of the sheaves required) by means of pinions j, k,
running loose on their shaft. Only one pair (a wheel and a pinion)
work at one time, and when it is desired to change the speed of the rakes
and alter the size of the sheaves either pair may be connected (engaged).
or disconnected (disengaged) by a simple clutch movement 1. This
arrangement, however, only allows of two different speeds being given
to the rakes, so that only two different sizes of sheaves can be obtained.
A modification of this part of my Invention is shewn at Figure 2*.
Three wheels and three pinions are here shewn; each pinion has a boss
cast on it, and a hole is drilled through both boss and spindle, and the
rakes are driven by a pin being passed through any of the holes as may
be required.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the mode or manner in which I give-or
impart motion to the rakes from the main axle m.
I fix thereon a spur
wheel n, and connect it by a bridle wheel o (held in the self-adjustable
arms p) to another wheel q (which when in one position, and as shewn
in Figure 5, is slightly above it, and in Figures 3 and 4 is in the same
horizontal line therewith, according to the position of the "bridle "
wheel o), which wheel q imparts motion to a pinion r (on the same shaft
as itself), and this to the wheels that drives the rakes. By connecting
the wheels q and n by the self-adjustable "bridle" wheel o the main
axle m can be altered (as shewn by the dotted lines, Figure 3) so as to
regulate the cutting height of the knife as required.
The second part of the Invention is illustrated in Figure 6. t represents
the draft pole, which is jointed at u to the front of the frame v; w is the
spring lever which is used to raise the cutters off the ground, and by
connecting it to one of the pole irons x by a connecting link y it will
at the same time raise the front part of the frame. The connecting
linky is made with holes by which the front end of the frame can (if
necessary) be raised without raising the cutters off the ground, simply
causing them to cut higher, the fingers maintaining a parallel position
with the frame.

page_text: In combined reaping and mowing machines (in which the frame 11
that carries the gearing and other working parts is made so as to slide
on a tube bracket (through which the main axle 4 runs from one side
of the machine to the other), and to which the draught pole 4' is jointed
at 3, 3, to enable the machine readily to adapt itself to any inequalities
in the surface of the ground, I fit to the tube bracket (Figure 7) a
short pole 1, supported at its front end by a swivel wheel 2, and at any
convenient parts 3, 3, I joint or otherwise conveniently attach the draft
pole 4 to the tube bracket, which arrangement greatly facilitates the
even and proper working of the apparatus over ridge and furrow land.
Figures 7, 8, 9, illustrate the improved manner of reducing the quick
speed at which the knife is driven in mowing machines to a slower
speed suitable for reaping. At the inner side of the machine I mount
on the main axle 4 an internal toothed wheel 5 of larger diameter than
the one 6 at the other or outer side of the machine. The intermediate
shaft 7, which runs parallel with the main axle 4, carries two pinions 8, 9,
one at each end thereof, the larger one 8 being at its inner end, so as to
gear when required with the larger internal wheel 5; and when these
two (the wheel 5 and pinion 8) are in gear the knife is consequently
driven at a slower speed, and is so readily adapted for reaping. The
knife receives its varying motion from the speed at which the inter-
mediate shaft 7 and the bevil wheel 10 are driven, that is, from which
internal wheel 5 or 6 they are driven. Either the whole frame 11 may
be made to slide on the tube bracket z, and be secured thereto by a bolt
at 12* or 12, or the intermediate shaft 7 may be made to slide in its
own bearings 13, as shewn in Figure 9), from one internal wheel to the
other, in order to increase or reduce the speed for mowing or reaping as
desired; but when the intermediate shaft 7 is made to slide in its own
bearings (as represented in Figure 9) the larger internal wheel 5 may be
placed at either side of the machine.
A modification of this part of my Invention is shewn at Figure 10.
The two internal wheels here used are both of one size, but the inter-
mediate shaft runs at a slight angle to the main shaft, as in Figure 10,
which allows the pinion 8 to be made larger in diameter than the
pinion 9.
It will be seen that this modification of Figure 9 can be as
readily applied to Figure 7.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in Reaping and Mowing Machines," together with the

page_text: manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my In-
vention the several improvements in reaping machines and in mowing
machines, and in combined reaping and mowing machines, substantially
as herein-before described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, or any mere modification thereof, constructed or arranged
and operating in substantially the same or a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adam Carlisle Bamlett, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
ADAM CARLISLE BAMLETT. (L.S.)
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor and Patent Agent,
1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn,