IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William McIntyre Cranston and Thomas Culpin, both of
Worship Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Agricultural Engineers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES.".
Sealed the 28th December 1878, and dated the 13th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William McIntyre Cranston
and Thomas Culpin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
13th July 1878.
WILLIAM MCINTYRE CRANSTON and THOMAS CULPIN, both of Worship Street,
Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Agricultural Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HARVESTING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to,-
First. To detail improvements or mechanical appliances to be adapted to the
combined reaper and binder Patented in the year 1875, No. 2629, by W. M. Cranston,
one of the parties hereto.
Secondly. To mechanical appliances to be fitted either to the before-mentioned
combined reaper and binder, or to other binders, to which they are applicable.
The main features of the present Invention are,-
1. To jointing the platform of a combined reaper and binder that it, i.e., the
platform, may be turned up to reduce the width of the machine for passing along
narrow lanes or through narrow gateways.
2. To fitting rack and pinion appliances at the main bearing wheel portion of a
combined reaper and binder, that by means of a chain working from a drum a
raising or lowering of the machine may be effected.
3. To fitting a horizontally worked reel to a combined reaper and binder, that it
shall when raised or lowered, by means of a hand lever, move in a parallel manner
to suit the height of crop, without interfering with the action of the reel rotating
mechanism.

page_text: 4. To fitting a sliding plate or cup socket in connection with the axis of a reel,
that it, i.e., the reel, may be set at any desired angle, and be there secured to suit
slightly laid or inclined grain straws.
5. To pivotting the blades of a horizontal reel, that they may be canted or thrown
out of the horizontal.
6. To fitting eccentric gear wheels upon or in connection with the binder arm
shaft, that its speed of rotation and power may be adjusted to suit the particular
crop.
7. To fitting a double segmental tooth-faced wheel upon the rotating shaft of a
binder arm, to enable the arm to travel at a faster speed during one portion of its
rotation, or when retiring from and approaching a sheave gavel, and at a slow yet
powerful speed while the gavel is being formed and tied up.
According to the first part of our Invention we hang or suspend the roller axle
that carries the inner end of the horizontal endless apron or belt of a combined
reaper and binder upon brackets projecting from the main frame, so that it serves
also as the hinged pin upon which the platform or framework forming one can be
turned up to reduce the width of the machine. This method of hingeing the
platform is specially applicable to those combined reapers and binders to which an
inclined vertically fitted endless apron receives the grain straws from the horizontal
one, and carries them up and over the main frame into a receptacle in which the
binding is effected, but we reserve the right to hang and hinge the platforms of all
other combined reaping and binding machines.
According to the second part of our Invention we fit internal tooth-shaped
brackets to the main frame and gear pinions into them, the pinions being upon the
axes of the main bearing wheel.
On one end of the axle on which the pinions are fixed is a wheel, in the groove in
which a chain is secured, the chain taking a lap or a half lap around the wheel, and
with its opposite end attached to a drum, this having a ratchet toothed end for the
reception of a paul to hold the drum at any desired part.
The axis of the drum is fitted vertically in brackets within the main frame, and
has a square end, over which a key or spanner can be fitted, by which to turn the
drum.
The pinion sockets are secured to the main axle, on which the main bearing
wheel runs loosely, the pinions taking the weight of that end of the machine by
their teeth being in contact with the teeth of the quadrants, so that when the
machine has to be raised or lowered to suit the height of cut or for other purposes
the drum has to be turned in the required direction, when the paul taking into the
required tooth will hold it securely.
According to the next part of our Invention we fit a kind of trunk or hollow
socket as the axis of the sprocket wheel which is used for revolving the reel.
The trunk or hollow socket has upon its outer end a couple of arms or projections,
forming, in conjunction with other like arms or projections on a rod, an universal
joint, so that the rod which passes towards the reel may move up and down within
the socket as desired.
The fore end of the rod has keyed to it other projections, which form with
projections on the reel axis another universal joint, the reel axis being short and fitted
within clip pieces, from which it, with the reel, can be removed when desired by
removing a key from each clip piece and a pin or bolt from one of the universal
joints. When so removed the reel can be straddled across the elevator, this being
an advantage when the platform has to be turned up, as described in the first part
of our Invention.
The clip pieces form part of a link motion, from which two rods project to the main
frame, where their ends hang upon bolts. The back portion of the clip pieces form
a journal or bearing for the reel, and is supported by a bracket attached to a bar, so
that it may be raised or lowered by means of a hand lever fitted near the driver's
seat. The reel is composed of a series of blades projecting from a socket at one
end only, and as they move up and down they always do so in a parallel manner,

page_text: by reason of their axis and the clip pieces moving in that way, the universal
joints permitting the rod to take any desired angle without interfering with the
rotation.
According to the next part of our Invention we fit a plate or other appliance to
the projection of a connecting bar, and another plate or appliance to the frame
forming part of the clip pieces of the reel axle, the two plates, or they may be cup
and socket, being capable of adjustment, to set the reel blades at an angle to the
horizontal position, and so incline the grain straws towards the knives while the
machine is in motion.
According to the next part we pivot each blade to the reel at about its centre
and connect a bar to one end. The bars pass at an angle through guide straps on
the blade arms, and are attached loosely to a kind of sleeve on the axle, so that by
moving the sleeve along the axle the blades can be set out of the parallel from the
inner or from the outer end, as desired.
According to the next part of our Invention we fit a spur wheel excentrically
upon its axle pin on the side of the binder frame, and cause this to gear into
another wheel, also fitted excentrically upon its axle pin, this having a plate
which can be moved round and secured to a back plate in the required position to
suit the varied speed of rotation at which the binder head may travel during
complete revolution, it being essential that the head travels at a greater speed at
one part of its revolution than at another.
The back plate has a bevil pinion upon it, geared into by a corresponding pinion
on a shaft receiving its motion from the main bearing wheel, or other moving
appliance, in the ordinary manner.
According to the next part of our Invention we fit a couple of bevil pinions on
the vertical shaft, and cause these to gear alternately into teeth formed on two
portions of the face of a plate fixed upon the shaft of the binder head.
The teeth on the plate are arranged at different distances from the centre in
segments of two concentric circles.
The plate is adjustable upon its shaft in any suitable manner, to enable it to be
adapted to the position at which the change from fast to slow, and vice versa, may
take place, for the purpose explained with reference to the appliances in the former
paragraph.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William McIntyre Cranston and Thomas Culpin in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th January 1879.
WILLIAM MCINTYRE CRANSTON and THOMAS CULPIN, both of Worship Street,
Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Agricultural Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HARVESTING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to,-
First. To detail improvements or mechanical appliances to be adapted to the
combined reaper and binder Patented in the year 1875, No. 2629, by W. M. Cranston,
one of the parties hereto
:

page_text: Secondly. To mechanical appliances to be fitted either to the before-mentioned
combined reaper and binder, or to other binders to which they are applicable.
The main features of the present Invention are as hereafter described, and shown
in the annexed Drawings, and consists,
1. In jointing the platform of a combined reaper and binder, that it, i.e., the
platform, may be turned up to reduce the width of the machine for passing along
narrow lanes or through narrow gateways.
According to this first part of our Invention we hang or suspend the roller
axle A, which carries the inner end B of the horizontal endless apron or belt C of a
combined reaper and binder, upon brackets D, D, projecting from the main frame E,
so that it serves also as the hinge pin upon which the platform F, or framework
forming one, can be turned up to reduce the width of the machine, as shown by the
full line in Figure 1, the platform being held in that position by the strap G and
bolt H. The strap G is loosely bolted to the platform, so that when the bolt H is
released it rests clear of the endless belt. I is a small wheel attached to the
platform when turned up, to run upon the ground and support it. This wheel may
be the ordinary "oft or outer wheel" removed from the divider board if desired.
This method of bingeing the platform is specially applicable to those combined
reapers and binders to which an inclined vertically fitted endless apron J receives.
the grain straws from the horizontal one, and carries them up and over the main
frame E into a receptical in which the binding is effected. We reserve the right to
hang and to hinge endless apron platforms to all other combined reaping and
binding machines, in the manner set forth.
According to the second part of our Invention we fit internal toothed quadrant-
shaped brackets L, L, as in Figures 2 and 3 of the annexed Drawings, to the main
frame E, and gear pinions M, M, into them, the pinions being upon the axle of the
main bearing wheel P.
On one end of the axle on which the pinions are fixed is a wheel Q, in the groove
in which a chain R is secured. The chain takes a lap or a half lap around
the wheel Q, and has its opposite end attached to a drum S, this having a
ratchet toothed end for the reception of a paul T, to hold the drum at any desired
part.
The axis of the drum is fitted vertically in brackets within the main frame, and
has a square end, over which a key or spanner can be fitted, by which to turn the
drum.
The pinion sockets are secured to the main axle, on which the main bearing
wheel runs loosely, the pinions taking the weight of that end of the machine by
their teeth being in contact with the teeth of the quadrants L, L, so that when the
machine has to be raised or lowered to suit the height of cut, or for other purposes,
the drum is turned in the required direction, the paul taking into the required
tooth, to hold it secure.
According to the next part of our Invention, which is represented at Figure 4 of
the annexed Drawings, we fit a kind of trunk or hollow socket U as the axis of the
sprocket wheel V, which is used for revolving the reel.
The trunk or hollow socket has upon its outer end a couple of arms or projections,
forming, in conjunction with other like arms or projections on a rod X, an universal
joint, so that the rod X, which passes towards the reel, may move up and down
and be set at an angle within the socket U as desired.
"The fore end of the rod X has keyed to it other projections, which form, with
projections on the reel axis, another universal joint Y, the reel axis a being short
and fitted within clip pieces b, b, from which it, with the reel, can be removed by
releasing a key from each clip piece and a pin or bolt from one of the universal
joints. When so removed the reel can be straddled across the elevator, this being
an advantage when the platform has to be turned up, as described in the first part
of this Invention.
The frame c of the clip pieces form part of a link motion, from which two
rods d, d, project to the main frame E, where their ends hang upon bolts or hook

page_text: eyes e, e. The frame c of the clip pieces b, b, form a journal or bearing for the reel,
and is supported by a bar f, so that the reel may be raised or lowered by means of
a hand lever fitted near the driver's seat. The reel may be composed of a series
of blades h, h, projecting from a socket at one end only, as at h', Figures 5 and 6,
and as they move up and down they always do so in a parallel manner, by reason
of their axis and the clip pieces moving in that way, the universal joints permitting
the rod X to take any desired angle without interfering with the rotation.
According to the next part of our Invention we fit a plate i, Figure 5, or the
appliance, Figure 7, to the bar f, and another plate or appliance to the frame c,
forming part of the clip pieces of the reel axle, the two plates, or they may be cup
and socket, being capable of adjustment by loosening the bolt ; to set the reel
blades at an angle to the horizontal position, and so encline the grain straws towards
the knives while the machine is in motion.
The next part of our Invention is shown in Figure 6, this representing a portion
of a recl for a reaper or a binder and reaper combined. The blades h, h, are pivotted
on the arms n, n, that they may be slewed round or set at an angle to the horizontal
while the machine is in action by the driver moving the hand lever g and rod g';
the motion being transmitted through the rods l, l, to correct the side inclination of
the grain straws, and to cause them to fall fairly upon the platform. Pivotting of
the reel blades in this manner is applicable to all reapers having a revolving reel
moving upon a horizontal-axis.
The next part of our Invention consists in pivotting each blade h, h, as in
Figure 4, of the reel at about its centre k, k, and connect a bar to one end. The
bars pass at an angle through guide straps m, m, on the blade arms n, n, and are
attached loosely to a collar or sleeve p on the axle a, so that by moving the sleeve
by a hand lever p³, as in Figure 6ª, along the axle the blades can be set out of the
parallel, from the inuer or from the outer end, as desired.
According to the next part of our Invention, which is shown at Figures 8 and 9
of the annexed Drawings, we fit a spur wheel q eccentrically upon its axle pin on
the side of the binder frame r, and cause this pinion to gear into another wheel 8,
also fitted eccentrically but loosely upon its axle pin. This wheel 8 has a plate t, to
which the wheels can be secured by a bolt or key, to hold it in the required
position to suit the varied speed of rotation at which the binder head may travel
during its complete revolution, the axle of the upper wheel s being the driver of
the binder head and other appliances connected with it.
The lower wheel q is upon the axle of the bevil pinion u, geared into by a
corresponding pinion on the shaft v, receiving its motion from the main bearing
wheel, as in the previous Patent, or by other moving appliance in a well known
manner.
According to the next part of our Invention we fit a couple of bevil pinions w, w,
Figure 10, on the vertical shaft v, and cause these to gear alternately into teeth
formed on two portions of the face of a plate x fixed upon the shaft y of the binder
head.
The teeth on the plate are arranged at different distances from the centre in
segments of two concentric circles.
The plate is adjustable upon its shaft in any suitable mariner, to enable it to be
adapted to the position at which the change from fast to slow, and vice versa, may
take place, for the purpose of determining the speed of travel of the binder head,
which is variable with different kinds of crops, heavy or light, and has to be
adjusted to suit.
Figure 11 is a general view of a combined reaper and binder, in or to which the
several improvements herein-before described are affixed, the reel and its short shaft
being alone removed from their supporting clip pieces and straddled across the
elevator, and secured in that position, as explained, to facilitate the machine
travelling along narrow lanes or through narrow gateways, the platform being
turned up and held securely by its strap and bolt.

page_text: .
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,-
First. Jointing or hingeing the platform of a combined reaper and binder upon
or from the axes or axial line of the inner roller carrying the horizontal endless
apron or belt, that it, the platform, may be turned up on that axis to reduce the
width of the machine.
Secondly. We claim jointing or hingeing the platform of the combined reaper and
binder Patented by W. M. Cranston on the 24th July, 1875, No. 2629, from the
inner axis of the horizontal endless apron, as described, and as shown in the annexed
Drawings, Figure.
Thirdly. We claim the particular combination of appliances as described, and as
shown at Figures 2 and 3 of the annexed Drawings, of combined reapers and
binders.
Fourthly. We claim the method of slewing or setting the reel of a combined
reaper and binder at an angle to the supporting bar, as set forth, and as shown by
the annexed Drawings, Figure 5, for the purpose described, while the machine is in
motion.
Fifthly. We claim arranging the blades of a reel of a combined reaper and
binder that they can be set at any suitable angle on their arms while the machine
is in motion, as set forth, and as shown in the annexed Drawings, Figure.
Sixthly. We claim the rotator trunk U and parallel rod appliances connected
therewith, as herein-before described and shown, by which the raising and lowering
of the reel of a combined reaper and binder can be effected in a parallel manner,
without interfering with the rotation of the reel or the disconnection of any part or
stoppage of the machine, as set forth.
Seventhly. We claim pivotting the reel blades on the reel arms of a harvesting
machine, that they, i.e., the blades, may be set at an angle from the axis of the reel,
for the purposes described, whether to a reaper alone or to a combined reaper and
binder, as set forth.
Eighthly. We claim the eccentric gear and the method of adjusting or determining
the variable speed of rotation or travel of a binder head of a grain straw binding
machine therefrom, as described with reference to Figure 5 of the annexed
Drawings.
Ninthly. We claim the double or segmental face toothed wheel, Figure 9, in
combination with and acted upon by two pinions on the same shaft for operating
the binder head of a grain straw binding machine, and for adjusting and deter-
mining the desired variable speed of rotation or travel, as set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said William McIntyre Cranston and Thomas
Culpin, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
nine
W. M. CRANSTON. (L.S.)
THOMAS CULPIN. (L.S.)