Improvements in Grain Binding Harvesters.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1394-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grain Binding Harvesters.
I ALEXANDER MCGREGOR of Albion Iron Works Leigh in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the construction of grain binding harvesting machines,
and the same will be readily understood from the following description and the
three sheets of drawings annexed and hereafter referred to.
According to the first part of my invention the gear frame of the machine
is constructed of similar channel section wrought iron or steel bars to that
described in the Specification accompanying the application for Letters Patent
No. 11424, A.D. 1893, but instead of forming the outer bar of the frame in one
piece, the front and back arms are formed separately and connected on the outer
or stubble side of the road wheel by means of a similar bar to that which connects
them on the inner side, of the road wheel as shown in Fig. 1 Sheet 1 in which
a represents the front arm of the frame a¹ the back arm, a² the outer side frame
a³ the inner side frame, and b the road wheel. Fish plates as shown in Fig. 2 Sheet 1
are inserted in the double channel spaces at a' and a³ in a similar manner to that
described in the before mentioned Specification as applied to the inner side frame.
Or the brackets which carry the crank shaft bearings may be inserted between the
bars in the manner shown in Fig. 3 (Sheet 1) the brackets being formed with ribs
on each side which fit between the ribs of the channel section bars in lieu of the
fish plates.
The stubble end of the front bar of the frame may, be continued out and bent
upwards in the manner shown in Fig. 4 (Sheet 1) and formed to carry the roller c
which supports the binding apparatus. Or the frame may only be continued out
sufficiently far for attaching the bracket d as shown in Fig. 5 Sheet 1.
In order to give more clearance to the road wheel, the front bar of the frame is
bent diagonally forwards at a Fig. 1, and the main draught bracket e is secured at
this diagonal bend.
The finger bar of the cutting apparatus is secured to the front arm of the frame
by means of a locking plate in a similar manner to that described in the before
mentioned Specification, and in order to give greater firmness and a more secure
attachment for the main shoe, the latter is formed in the manner shown in Fig. 6,
g being the holes for the bolts by which it is secured to the finger bar; g' the lip
over the cutting edge; g² the ear for attaching the inside divider; g³ the ear for
attaching a stay to same; g' the guide for the knife head; and go the angle piece
for attaching the upright bar f which supports the forward end of the seat board,
and to which the lower part of the elevator end and the front bottom bearings for
the elevator roller spindles are secured. Immediately over the angle piece g³, and
firmly secured to the upright barf (Fig. 7 Sheet 1) is the draught bracket h,
which has its draught eye h¹ in a line, or nearly so with the main draught
bracket e, Fig. 1, and in order to resist the great strain on the upright bar f, and
the consequent tendency to disarrange the front part of the elevator frame caused
by the pull of the horses on the bracket h, the latter is formed with a boss /³ to
receive the tie rod i which is carried to the back of the machine and secured by
preference to the bracket j which carries the bark for supporting the back of the
seat board; or it may be secured to any other convenient part of the back of the

page_text: According to a modification of this arrangement, instead of the draught bracket h
being a separate part secured to the upright bar f, it may be formed or forged in
one with the same, a similar provision being made for attaching the tie rod as in
the previous arrangement.
The bracket j which carries the bar k for supporting the back of the seat board
and receives the tie rod from the draught bracket, may also be formed to carry
the bearing for a horizontal shaft which communicates motion from the back
or elevator chain to the gathering reel; the chain wheel m being in the track of
this chain and also being interchangeable on the shaft, so that the speed of the
gathering reel may be varied if desired.
The main driver, or road wheel (Fig. 8 Sheet 2) is formed with a wrought iron
or steel tyre n encircling a bent hardwood felloe n', and supported by a series of
radial spokes n' by preference tubular which are cast, screwed or otherwise secured
into the centre boss or nave n³. The outer ends of the spokes are screwed, and
each is provided with a flange nut n* (a section of which is shown in Fig. 9 Sheet 2)
which can be screwed outwards on the tubular spoke so that the projection n° at
the end of the nut may fit into a corresponding recess formed in the felloe n' and
the flange of the nut may press against the inner face of the felloe; thereby
admitting of the nave being adjusted so as to be central with the tyre, and firmly
retained in position.
The flange may either be formed in one with the nut or it may be formed
separately.
The nave is formed with a sleeve nº, Fig. 10 for running on the main axle o and
it is also formed with the flange n' to which the first motion wheel p is secured.
Or instead of forming the sleeve in one with the nave it may be formed separate,
as shown in Fig. 11 Sheet 2 the nave q to which the tubular spokes are cast or
otherwise secured and the flange q¹ to which the first motion wheel is secured being
formed in one and secured to the loose sleeve r. When this latter arrangement is
adopted, the nave may be formed of malleable cast iron with a separate plate as
shown in Fig. 12 Sheet 2, the spokes being held in the spaces & between the main
part of the nave s¹ and the plate s by means of bolts or rivets s³.
As a further modification, the sleeve may be formed in one with the flange to
which the first motion wheel is secured, and the nave may be formed separate and
secured on the sleeve; the particular object of this and the previous arrangement,
being for the more ready renewal of the sleeve when worn, without necessitating
a more expensive replacement.
As a still further modification, the sleeve may be formed in one with the first
motion wheel, thereby dispensing with the flange, the nave being formed separate
and secured to the sleeve.
The outer end of the grain platform is raised or lowered by means of a face
worm A (Fig. 13 Sheet 2) gearing into a rack B to which the axle C for the grain
wheel is secured; the face worm being secured to the end of a spindle D which is
carried in bearings E and F arranged parallel, or nearly so, with the outer bar G
of the platform frame.
To the outer end of the spindle D is secured a socket H to which the crank
handle I is jointed. A spring latch K is pivotted to the socket and provided with
an outer catch K¹ which retains the handle in an extended position when it is
desired to operate the spindle; and an inner catch or catches K2, so that when
the handle is folded over into a rest formed in the bearing F as shown in Fig. 14
Sheet 2 it is securely locked therein, and the spindle is prevented from any liability
to turn which might be caused by the jolting of the machine.
In order to resist the thrust of the cam-wheel L (Fig. 15) which actuates the
knot tying apparatus, and also to take up any slackness which may be due to
the wear of the face of the discharge arm socket M against the face of the
bearing of the knotter frame N, the back of the discharge arm socket is formed
with a spiral and step face M' which gears into a corresponding spiral and step
face formed at the forward end of a loose pipe or collar P which encircles the

page_text: binder shaft and fills the space between the back face of the discharge arm
socket M and the forward face of the discharge arm socket Q, and is provided with
a set screw P or other suitable means of securing it in any desired position on the
shaft.
When it is desired to take up any slackness, the set screw M2, which secures the
discharge arm socket M to the shaft, is slackened, as is also the set screw P¹ that
secures the loose collar P. The latter is then turned on the shaft so that its
spiral face may press against that of the discharge arm socket at M₁ sufficiently
to force it to the desired position when the socket and loose collar are each again
secured.
The loose collar may be formed with the spiral face at either one end or the
other, or it may be formed with spiral faces at both ends as shown in Fig. 16; in
either case the face of each discharge arm socket next the collar, must be formed to
match the adjoining face of the collar.
The upper part of the plate R, Fig. 17 Sheet 2 which forms the front end of
the elevator, is secured to the recessed plate S, which is similar to that described in
the before mentioned Specification, but according to this particular arrangement the
recessed plate is formed with a space or rebate at S³ between it and the elevator
end plate sufficient to receive the web of the main upright angle bar T to which
it is firmly secured. The recessed plate is provided with the bearings S1 and S2
for the bushings of the elevator roller spindles, and a bearing for the bushing of
the extra roller spindle, which bushing is by preference inserted from the outside
and on the end of which spindle is secured the bevel wheel U which keeps the
bushing in its place and gears into the bevel wheel U¹ to which the buttor crank V
is secured; the bracket W which carries the buttor crank shaft being secured to
the recessed plate in the manner shown.
In order to maintain the connecting rod in its correct position on the crank pin
and at the same time admit of its ready removal when it is desired to withdraw
the knife from the finger bar; the crank pin X (Figs. 18 and 19 Sheet 3) is formed
with an annular groove X', and the outer face of the connecting rod Y is provided
with a drop latch Y¹ that fits into the annular groove and is retained in its position
by means of the spring Y' until it is raised by the attendant for the purpose of
removing the connecting rod.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The gear frame of a harvesting machine formed of separate channel section
bars with the fish plates at the connection of the outer side frame to the front and
back arms of the frame substantially as set forth.
2. The gear frame of a harvesting machine formed of separate channel section
bars with the brackets for the crank shaft bearings at the connection of the outer
side frame to the front and back arms of the frame substantially as set forth.
3. The gear frame of a harvesting machine formed of separate channel section
bars and having the outer or "stubble" end of the front bar extended and formed
to carry either the supporting roller for the binding apparatus or a bracket for the
said roller substantially as set forth.
4. The main draught bracket secured to the diagonal bend in the front arm of
the gear frame substantially as set forth.
5. The general construction of the gear frame of harvesting machines substan-
tially as set forth.
6. The main shoe constructed in the manner shown and described in combination
with the draught bracket which is secured to or formed in one with the upright bar
substantially as set forth.
7. The main shoe with the draught bracket secured to or formed in one with the
upright bar in combination with the tie rod from the draught bracket to the back
of the machine substantially as set forth.

page_text: 8. The combination with the draught bracket of a tie rod connected to the back
supporting bracket or to another convenient part of the back of the machine
substantially as set forth.
9. The back supporting bracket, having the bearing for the horizontal shaft in
combination with the tie rod to the draught bracket substantially as set forth.
10. The road wheel constructed in the manner described in reference to
Figs. 8, 9 and 10, substantially as set forth.
11. The road wheel constructed in the manner described in reference to Figs. 11
and 12 and the modifications thereof substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with the outer raising spindle, of the folding handle for
actuating the same and the spring latch with the catches for retaining the handle
either in its extended or its folded position substantially as set forth.
13. The arrangement for taking up the back-lash of the knotter cam wheel by
means of the adjustable collar with a spiral face or faces, substantially as set
forth.
14. The recessed plate S, (Fig. 17) formed with the rebate to receive the main
upright angle bar between it and the elevator end substantially as set forth.
15. The bracket for carrying the buttor crank shaft secured to the recessed plate
in such a manner that the bushing for the extra roller spindle can be inserted from
outside the recessed plate, substantially as set forth.
16. The arrangement substantially described and shown at Fig. 17 of the
drawings.
17. The manner of securing the connecting rod substantially as described in
reference to Figs. 18 and 19.
Dated this 30th day of March 1894
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.