IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE MANUFACTURE OF MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Whitaker and Robert Jones Powell, both of
Wrexham, in the County of Denbigh, Agricultural Engineers, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE MANUFACTURE OF MOWING AND REAPING
MACHINES."
Scaled the 1st October 1878, and dated the 5th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Whitaker and Robert
Jones Powell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April
1878.
JOHN WHITAKER and ROBERT JONES POWELL, both of Wrexham, in the County
of Denbigh, Agricultural Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES."
In knives and finger bars, as ordinarily constructed, the knife is apt to gum fast
by reason of a peculiar gummy substance from the grass that collects between it
and the bed, consequently the knife gets raised from its proper bed, and besides
increasing the friction prevents the knife giving a clear cut; it is to obviate this
defect that the first part of our Invention is designed. It consists in making a
series of perforations in or between the bottom sections of the finger bar, so that
as the knife works over them any dirt existing on the bar may be scraped into the
perforations and so pass away. It is always desirable to cause the various sections
to abut against each other, so these perforations (when, as we prefer, they are
placed between the sections) cannot extend the entire breadth covered by the knife,
we therefore make perforations in the knife to cover the remaining space.
The second part of our Invention relates to the guard apparatus. This we make
of the malleable or wrought "angled iron," and guard somewhat in the usual way;
but to prevent the inconvenience and danger of using a bolt, which is liable to come
undone and let the guard fall and always requires a spanner to adjust it, we use
the usual rivet at one end, and in place of the bolt have a spring, pin, or clutch,

page_text: This spring, pin, or clutch has a helical or other spring pressing it into its normal
position, holding the guard fast; but by pulling out the head or button of the pin
it becomes disengaged, and the guard can be raised so as to enable the attendant
to remove the knife for sharpening.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Whitaker and Robert Jones Powell in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th October 1878.
JOHN WHITAKER and ROBERT JONES POWELL, both of Wrexham, in the County
of Denbigh, Agricultural Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES."
In knives and finger bars, as ordinarily constructed, the knife is apt to stick fast
by reason of a peculiar gummy substance from the grass that collects between it
and the bed, causing the knife to rise from its proper bed, thus increasing the
friction and preventing the knife from giving a clear cut; it is to obviate this
defect that the first part of our Invention is designed. It consists in making a
series of perforations in or between the bottom sections of the finger bar, so that as
the knife works on them any dirt existing on the bar inay be scraped into the
perforations and so pass away. We prefer to construct the various sections
abutting against each other, and the perforations placed between the sections partly
slotted out of each section.
The second part of our Invention relates to the guard apparatus. This we make
of the malleable or wrought "angle" iron and guard somewhat in the usual way;
but to provent the inconvenience and danger of using a bolt, which is liable to come
undone and let the guard fall and always requiring a spanner to adjust it, we use
a rivet at one end, and in place of the bolt have a spring, pin, or clutch. The
spring, pin, or clutch has a helical or other spring pressing it into its normal
position, holding the guard fast. By pulling out the head or button of the pin it
becomes disengaged, and the guard can be raised so as to enable the attendant to
remove the knife for sharpening.
In the Drawing given herewith,-
Fig. 1 is a plan of a finger bar of the ordinary construction, but perforated at A;
Fig. 2, an enlarged section through V, W, of Fig. 1, in which B is the finger bar;
C, the plate forming the guide for the knife, tooth, and backing; and D, the steel
facing, against which the knife works; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through X, Y,
Fig. 1.
* B is the finger bar; D, the steel face plate rivetted to B; A is the perforation.
We have not shewn the knife, as we use either the ordinary or almost any other
form of knife, and do not claim any special arrangement.
Any kind of perforations in the finger bar can be used, but we prefer those
shown in which the hole in the finger bar is countersunk to more easily allow the
gummy matters to pass through, as in Fig. 3.

page_text: Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan of device for holding the knife in place; Fig. 5, end
view of same, partly in section, through Y, Z, Fig. 4.
Fig. 1 shews the apparatus shut; Figs. 4 and 5, open.
E is a casting of malleable iron secured by bolts, as shown, to the finger bar B;
F is a bolt passing through a boss G, cast on the upper part of E. A spiral (or
other) spring H offers a resistance to this bolt being pulled out; I is the guide for
the slide block of the knife to work in, formed by the flange J, on the upper part
of E and the top of the finger bar
K is a plate or lever furnished with handle L, and pivoted to E at M; N is a
hole in K, so that the end of the bolt F can enter and lock it when shut down, as
in Fig. 1; O is a lug or guard on K, to prevent the bolt F being accidentally struck
by a stone or other obstruction when travelling. To release the knife the bolt F
is pulled back, when the plate or lever K can be thrown back and the knife pulled
out, the top of plate K is bevelled as shown at a.
Having now described our Invention, and the best mode known to us of carrying
it into effect, we wish it to be understood, that what we believe to be new and
desire to claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The manufacture of reaping and mowing machines with finger bars slotted
or perforated, for the purposes described.
2nd. The mode of securing the guard holding the knife in place by spring
resistance instead of by the operation of a screwed bolt, substantially as described.
3rd. The combination of the spring bolt F with the plate E and plate or lever K,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Whitaker, for and on behalf of myself
and the said Robert Jones Powell, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this First day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WM. P. THOMPSON,
6, Lord St.,
Liverpool,
British & International Patent Agent.
JOHN WHITAKER. (L.S.)