IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hellard, Reaping Machine Manufacturer,
of North Street, Taunton, in the County of Somerset, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
Sealed the 27th March 1861, and dated the 2nd October 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Hellard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd October 1860.
I, ROBERT HELLARD, Reaping Machine Manufacturer, of North Street,
Taunton, in the County of Somerset, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," to be
as follows:-
1st, the preventing of the knives or cutting apparatus from choking by the
employing a continuous 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 wing revolving rake suspended over
the knives or front part of the machine, which being in continual motion is
constantly clearing the corn or grass from the knives, and thus preventing
their choking or cloging, and I prefer the rake when only a two-wing rake is
used, much the shape of an American horse rake or hay collector, and sus-
pended over the machine, as may be best adapted to meet each particular
reaper and mower for which it may be required, thus securing the exclusive
right of the continuous revolving rake of what shape, kind, or size soever.
2ly, the useing a dividing or joint platform, so that the back or hinder part
shall be moveable, being raised, lowered, or removed altogether, whilst the
front part may be stationary.
3, the useing a pliable platform hung with hinges or other flexable sub-
stitute to the front part of the machine, so that the platform shall readily fall

page_text: or rise with the uneaven surface of the land, thereby lessening the wearing
friction.
4, the bearings of the reel vanes to work in slots, so as to be able to shift
the reel vanes forward or backward to meet the position of the standing
corn.
5, the caseing with iron or other suitable material that part of the driving
wheel or cogs that require protection from the dirt when working, also the
applying a scraper to the outer parts of the wheel.
6, adopting sliding bars or slots to the reel vane arms to act something
similar to a screw in a common carpenter's plane iron, for the purpose of
lengthening or shortening the arms, thus meeting the requirements of corn or
grass of all heights, also the applying metal or other grooved plates attached to
the reel, roller, or cross bar, for the purpose of portably securing the arms, so
that they can be removed at pleasure for the convenience of transit or
packing.
7, the useing chains of any sort instead of leather or other belts for driving
the pullies that work the reel vanes, the roller or rollers between the knives
and the platform, the continuous revolving rake, and for the universal joint
pullies.
8, the employing universal joints to work the rollers on which the travelling
canvass platform, endless band or bands revolve.
9ly, a revolving octagon roller or rollers of any shape as may be most
suitable (and that was not secured in a former Patent of mine, sealed the
Ninth September 1859), for the purpose of throwing the corn or grass, as cut,
back on the platform, the said roller or rollers to be placed immediately behind
the knives, or between the knives and the platform.
10, a shield swather made of iron, board, or any other suitable material, for
the purpose of bringing round from the platform the top parts of the corn and
grass, whereby the swath is laid at right angles or nearly so with the line of
the machine's motion; and I prefer useing merely a kind of triangle piece of
board hung in a sloaping direction to the side of the machine, but do not
confine myself to the size, shape, or manner of hanging or fixing it.
11, a path-clearing shield or track clearer having no bearing on the ground,
the object being to prevent the grass or crop falling at all on that part of the
land over which the machine will travel in its cutting the next round.
12th, the application of a double revolving cradle for receiving the corn, as
cut, from the travelling canvass belts or platform, and depositing it in sheaves
on the ground ready to be tied up, each cradle stoping in its round or revolution
by suitable apparatus applied for that purpose, until it has received sufficient

page_text: for a sheaf, when it turns, and thereby empties itself, and the other cradle
immediately commences filling, and so on.
13, the joint wheel for turning the corners easy, so fixed as to be always
self-acting.
14, the lever that raises and lowers the knives next to the standing corn to
act without interfearing with the self-acting of the joint wheel, not requiring to
be thrown out of gear in turning the corners.
15th, edged tooth segment wheel and pinion wheel, for the same to give
revolving motion to the universal joints or rollers for working the endless band
or other platform.
16, flanged pulley wheels with dug in them for receiving the chain bands
that work the reel vanes, the octagon or other rollers behind the knives, the
continuous revolving rake, and the universal joints.
17, a pullie guide working in an iron or other suitable slat for tightening or
slackening the long chain that works the pullies of the reel vanes.
18, a double divider for dividing the uncut grain from that abt to be cut.
The under divider being fixed, but the long top divider, which has a socket
hole in it near the point, acts as a shoe to slip on to the under divider as
circumstances require. The top divider has also a joint or hinge near the
point, and a stay or pin at the other end, so as to be easily raised or lowered.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Hellard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th March 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
HELLARD, Reaping Machine Manufacturer, of North Street, Taunton, in the
County of Somerset, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Hellard, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Hellard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Robert Hellard, 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

page_text: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Hellard, 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 Robert Hellard, 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:-
First, the preventing of the knives or cutting apparatus from choking, by
the employing a continuous two or more wing revolving rake, suspended over
the knives or front part of the machine, which, being in continual motion, is
constantly clearing the corn or grass from the knives; and I prefer the rake,
when only a two-wing rake is used, much the shape of an American horse
rake or hay collector, and suspended on the machine, in the manner as may
be best adapted to meet each particular reaper and mower for which
be required.
may
Secondly, the using a dividing or joint platform, so that the back or hinder
part shall be moveable, being raised, lowered, or removed altogether, whilst
the front part may be stationary.
Thirdly, the using a hanging travelling canvass or other revolving platform
in a frame hung with hooks and eyes, hinges, universal joints, or any other
flexible substitute to the front part of the machine near the knives, so that
the platform shall readily fall or rise with the uneven surface of the land, and
being easily removed for the convenience of packing.
Fourthly, the bearings of the reel vanes to work in iron or other slots, so as
to be able to shift them forward or backward, also barrels or round wood rods.
for reel vanes.
Fifthly, the casing with sheet iron, or other suitable material, that part
of the driving wheel or cogs that require protection from the dirt when
working, also the applying a scraper to the side and outer part of the said
wheel.
Sixthly, adopting sliding bars or slots to the reel vane arms, to act something
similar to a screw in a common carpenter's plane iron, for the purpose of
lengthening or shortening the arms, thus meeting the requirements of corn or

page_text: grass of all heights; also the applying metal or other grooved plates to the
reel roller or vane cross-bar, for the purpose of portably securing the arms,
so that they can be removed or folded back with a hinge or other substitute;
also a loose collar under the pulley, stayed with a moveable pin for throwing
it in and out of gear at pleasure.
Seventhly, the using chains of any sort, instead of leather or other belts, for
driving the pullies that work the reel vanes, the roller or rollers between the
knives and the platform, the continuous revolving rake over the knives, and
for the universal joint pullies that may work the revolving platform.
Eighthly, the employing universal joints to work the rollers on which the
travelling canvass platform endless band or bands revolve, and the using
sliding bearings or slots to contract or extend the distance of the rollers from
each other.
Ninthly, a revolving roller or rollers of any shape, as may be most suitable,
between the knives and the platform, that was not included in a former
Patent of mine, March Eleventh, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine,
for the purpose of throwing the corn or grass as it is cut back on the platform,
and preventing the cutting off short ears.
Tenthly, a shield swather or swathing apparatus made of iron, board, or
any other suitable material, for the purpose of bringing round from the plat-
form the top parts of the corn and grass, whereby it is delivered on the ground
at right angles or nearly so with the line of the machine's motion; and I
prefer using merely a kind of triangular piece of board hung in a sloping
direction to the side of the machine, and for sheaving a rake is hung near
the same for dividing the swathe into sheaves.
Eleventhly, a path shield clearer on the side next to the standing crop,
having no direct bearing on the land, the object being to prevent the grass
or crop falling on that part of the ground over which the machine has to
travel in its cutting the next round, and a tract clearer on the other side; I
also attach a lever-bar alongside the finger-bar across the machine for raising
and lowering the knives.
Twelfthly, the application of a double revolving cradle for receiving the
cut crop from the travelling canvass or other platform and depositing it in
sheaves on the ground; I also provide a double outer frame for protecting the
gearing parts on which the inner or axle of the main driving wheel or wheels
rest, the draft being in a direct line from the inner frame.
Thirteenthly, the joint wheel by the standing corn or crop so fixed to
machines as to be always self-acting, not requiring manual or corporeal aid
for turning the corners.

page_text: Fourteenthly, the lever that raises and lowers the knives next to the standing
crop, to act without interfering with the self-action of the joint wheel when
turning the corners.
Fifteenthly, edged tooth segment wheel with any number of cogs or teeth,
and pinion wheel for the same, to give revolving motion to the universal
joints and rollers for working an endless band or other platform; also a
lever and catch spring or stay attached to the side of the driver's seat, for
throwing the knives in and out of gear, and a lever and rack for raising and
lowering the knives, the lever extending to a wheel near the joint of the
knife bar.
Sixteenthly, flanged pulley wheels with dugs, ribs, or cogs in them for
receiving the chain bands that work the reel vanes, the roller or rollers
immediately behind the knives, the continuous revolving rake over the
knives, and the universal joints for communicating revolving motion to the
platform.
Seventeenthly, a shifting pulley guide working in an iron or other suitable
slot for tightening or slackening the long chain that works the pullies of the
reel vane.
Eighteenthly, a double divider for dividing the uncut grain from that about
to be cut. The under divider may be stationary, but the top divider I prefer
with a socket hole in it near the point, to act as a shoe to slip on to the under
divider as circumstances require. The top or long divider has also a joint
or hinge near the point, and a moveable pin or stay at the other end, so as to
be easily raised, lowered, or removed.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the continuous revolving rake over the knives for the purpose herein-
before described.
Secondly, the using a dividing or joint platform as herein-before described.
Thirdly, the using a pliable or hanging revolving platform in a frame, as
set forth in the foregoing particulars.
Fourthly, the bearings of the reel vanes to work in slots, so as to be
easily shifted, and the using barrels or round wood rods for reel vanes.
Fifthly, the protecting the driving wheel from clogging by sheathing the
exposed parts, and using scrapers.
Sixthly, using sliding bars or slots to the reel vane arms, and grooved
plates and a loose collar under the pulley.
Seventhly, I claim the using of chains of any sort, instead of leather or
any other kind of belts, for the purposes before described.

page_text: Eighthly, the employing universal joints to work the platform revolving
rollers, and the adopting sliding bearings in slots to contract or extend the
distance of the said rollers.
Ninthly, revolving rollers, or rollers between the knives and the platform,
for the purposes herein-before described.
Tenthly, a shield swather, and a rake for dividing the swathe into sheaves.
Eleventhly, a shield path clearer on the side next to the standing crop, and
a tract clearer the other side; also a lever bar across the machine behind the
finger-bar, for the purposes herein-before described.
Twelfthly, a double revolving cradle for delivering the crops in sheaves;
also a double outer frame, on which the inner or axle of the driving wheel or
wheels rest.
Thirteenthly, the joint wheel on the side of the standing crop, so fixed as
to be self-acting, not requiring any corporeal aid or personal attention in
turning the corners.
Fourteenthly, the lever on the side of the standing crop, for raising and
lowering the knives to act independent or without interfering with the self-
action of the joint wheel in turning the corners, the lever not requiring to be
moved or thrown out of gear in order for the said joint wheel to turn the
corners easily.
Fifteenthly, edged tooth segment wheel and pinion wheel for the same,
and lever and catch spring or stay, and lever, rack, and wheel, to be used
in particular places in the machine, and for the purposes herein-before
described.
Sixteenthly, flanged pulley wheels, with dugs, cogs, or ribs in them, the
roller or rollers between the knives and the platform, the continuous revolving
rake over the knives, and universal joints for communicating revolving motion
to the platform.
Seventeenthly, a shifting pulley guide for the long chain working the pulley
or pullies of the reel vane.
Eighteenthly, a double divider, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Hellard, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
ROBERT HELLARD (TO)
ROBERT HELLARD (1)