CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING, LOADING, AND ARTED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Burch, of Craig Hall, near Macclesfield,
in the County of Chester, Carpet Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING, LOADING,
AND ARTED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE"
Sealed the 2nd April 1858, and dated the 24th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Burch at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th December 1852.
I, JOSEPH BURCH, of Crag Hall, near Macclesfield, in the County
of Chester, Carpet Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING,
LOADING, STACKING, AND STOREING GRAIN AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRO-
DUCE" to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists in a mode of reaping by means
of horizontally-revolving disks or wheels, each having cutters or sickles
attached to and projecting at equal distances from their periphery;
these disks revolve in opposite directions, and the sickles on each are
fixed. so as to operate upon the crop like a continuous stroke of
a

page_text: scythe and, by crossing each other as the disks revolve in different
directions, the cutting edges alternately come in contact, and have the
effect of and may be called revolving shears. The discs do not revolve
in exactly the same centers, in order that the advancing side of each
should project for the purpose of gathering up the straw at either side
of the machine. The disks are made to revolve either by the action of
the wheels of the machine or by other suitable means, and the forward
motion is obtained by placing the horses behind to push it forward,
upon the same principle as a man wheels a barrow or truck.
I also
adopt an upright shaft about the centre of the machine, to the top of
which is attached a drawing rope; and, in some cases, the usual mode
of drawing by the side may be adopted, or it may be driven by steam.
This Invention is also applicable for mowing and cutting all kinds of
agricultural produce. Guiding wheels are to be used, and a delivering
guide, as the machine advances. My improvements in loading, stacking,
and storeing grain and other agricultural produce consist in the use of
endless racks, webs, or cloths, which, being stretched upon rollers and
attached to a waggon or cart, or placed in a barn or rick-yard, will be
made the means of lifting, moving, stacking, or storeing the produce.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
...filed by the said Joseph Burch in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 23rd June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOSEPH BURCH, of Craig Hall, near Macclesfield, in the County of
Chester, Carpet Manufacturer, send greeting.
. WHEREAS -Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth. year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give andgrant unto me the said Joseph Burch, Her special licence that
I, the said Joseph Burch, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Joseph Burch, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time.

page_text: 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MA-
CHINERY FOR REAPING, LOADING, STACKING, AND STORING GRAIN AND OTHER
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Joseph Burch, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 1, the said Joseph Burch,.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, reference being had unto the drawings annexed
hereto, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
The nature of my Invention consists in a mode of reaping, mowing,
and cutting, by means of two horizontally-revolving discs or wheels of
several feet in diameter, having cutters or sickles attached to and
projecting from their peripheries. These disc cutters being placed
face to face upon each other, are made to revolve in contrary direc-
tions, and the sickles fixed on each so as to operate upon the crop like
the continuous stroke of a scythe; and by crossing each other as the
disc cutters revolve in contrary directions, the cutting edges alternately
come in contact, and have the effect of and may be called revolving
shears. An important novelty connected with the use of two disc cutters
is the mode of placing them so as not to revolve on the same centre.
The two centres are placed about an inch and a half apart, in order that
the sickle points on the advancing side of each disc cutter shall project
for the purpose of effectually gathering in aud cutting the standing
crop at each side as the machine advances. The disc cutters (as shewn
in the drawing) are made to revolve by the action of the large sup-
porting wheels, which are placed on a cranked axle, at a lesser distance
from each other than is described by the diameter of the sickle points

page_text: on the disc cutters. For the means of moving the machine, I use an
upright shaft, placed about its centre, and of sufficient height for the
drawing line, which is attached to the top of it, to clear the standing
crop. The horse draws obliquely on the cleared ground, several yards
before the machine, in the same manner as canal boats are towed along.
I also (as shown in the drawing) place the horse or horses behind the
machine, which is then pushed forward upon the same principle as
a man wheels a barrow before him, the machine being guided by the
attendant, who, by means of the handle, controls the small drum
guiding wheels under the disc cutters. Steam may also be used as
a motive power, the engine being placed at the end of the crop, and
the drawing lines led to the machine along the furrows. My improve-
ments for loading, stacking, and storing consist in raising and lifting
the produce by the use of an upright frame, having rollers for the
purpose of stretching and supporting, and a drum roller and handle
for the purpose of revolving the endless raising cloth, web, or rack. It
is to be used in a barn or stack yard. The straw or produce being laid
upon the raising cloth above the drum, is carried up over the top of
the frame as the cloth revolves. It is a substitute for the laborious
work of pitching, and will prevent the loss which frequently occurs by
shaking and knocking the produce about during the processes of
stacking and storing. When used for loading in the field, the frame is
to be attached to and dragged at the cart or waggon's tail, motion
being given to the raising cloth by wheels in contact with the ground.
I will now further describe my Invention with letters of reference to
the drawing: Fig. 1, is the side elevation of a reaping and cutting
machine; Fig. 2, is a plan of Figure 1; Fig. 3, is an end view of
Figure 1; Fig. 4, is an inverted plan of a part of Figure 1; Fig. 5,
is a side elevation of a stacking and storing frame; Fig. 6, is a plan
of Figure 5; Fig. 7, is a side elevation of a waggon-tail loading
frame: a, is the horizontal duplex supporting axis; the two ring
bearings upon it, b, and c, are out of centre, or excentric with each
other. D, is the upper disc cutter; it revolves upon the central ring
bearing b. 1, are the upper disc sickles attached to the periphery
of the upper disc. E, is the under disc cutter, which revolves upon the

page_text: ring bearing c. e 1, are the under disc sickles. f, is the crank axle, upon
which, at each end, the road supporting wheels are placed. g, is a geered
ring attached to one of the road wheels; it gives motion to the pinion
and shaft h, and by means of the bevel wheels i, and the shaft j, actuate
the crown piniensk, and 1; and by means of the crown geered ring m,
which is fixed to the disc cutter D, and the crown geered ring n,
which is fixed to the disc entter E, cause both disc cutters to revolve
in contrary directions. o, are small guiding drums; they are fixed
upon the centre p; and by means of the connecting rod 9, the lever
arm, the guiding shaft s, and the handle t, are made to guide the
machine. ut, is a frame and platform, which connect the duplex sup-
porting axes with the crank axle; the attendant stands upon this plat-
form and guides the machine by the handle t. v, is a shield guide
for throwing off the falling produce. w', are the shafts between which
the horse is placed, with his head towards the machine; a, is the
stacking and storing frame; 1, is the adjusting stay, which regulates
the height and angle of the endless raising cloth; y, is the drum roller
and handle for revolving it; y 1, is the tightening roller; y 2, is the top
delivering roller; y 3, are the supporting rollers; , the endless cloth
or rack; and a, z, the wheels on which the machine is moved.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and a way in
which it can be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to any particular form or dimensions, so long as the
peculiar character of my Invention be retained; and what I claim as
my Invention is,―
First, I claim the mode of reaping and cutting by the means and in
the manner herein described;
Secondly, I claim the mode of constructing a reaping and cutting
machine, having two horizontal disc cutters revolving in contrary
directions, and for using it for such like purposes as are herein
described;
Thirdly, I claim the mode of drawing and guiding a reaping machine
in the manner described;
Fourthly, I claim for the general combination herein described in
connexion with two revolving disc cutters; and,

page_text: Fifthly, I claim the mode of using a stacking, storing, and loading
frame, in the manner and for such like purposes as are herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Burch, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of June, One thou-
sand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOSEPH BURCH. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered (being first duly
stamped) by the within-named Joseph
Burch, in the presence of
PETER J. LIVSEY,
of Manchester.