IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING PROVISIONAL SPFICATION
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry
Johnson at the Office of Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 12th November 1852.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
MACHINES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the application of a self-acting raker to
reaping machines, whereby the necessity of having an attendant to
remove the cut grain from the platform is obviated, the machine itself
being made to gather the grain or stalks into bundles, and deposit these
bundles behind the machine at regular intervals; and also a new form
of cutter. This cutter may be applied to existing reaping machines.
This cutter consists of a zigzag-shaped knife, having both front and
back eyes, serrated or sickle-edged, and riveted to a straight bar, over
which it projects on both sides. The sickle is cut on the upper side, an
the underside of the cutters is as nearly flat as possible, so that any

page_text: matter collecting on the dividing fingers, through which the knives
play and against which they cut, is removed by the back-cutting edge;
the principal feature being the making of the knife in this shape, and
serrating its edge in the rear, for the purpose of removing the clogged
matter.
In the same vertical plane with the centre of the axle of one of the
running wheels of the machine is fitted a vertical support, having a
rocking or partial rotatory motion in a footstep bearing at its lower
end, while its upper extremity works in a horizontal pillow-block, pro-
jecting from the frame-work of the machine. In a large opening in
the centre of the vertical support, and in the same horizontal plane
with the centre of a bevel wheel which works on a fixed stud in the
framework, is fitted a bent lever, one end of which is connected by a
ball and socket joint to the inside of the rim of this wheel. An anti-
friction roller is fitted to the other end of the bent lever, which works
in a slot in the end of a second lever: this lever is connected to the
shank of the rake. An iron rod connects the upper end of the
rake-handle with the upper extremity of the vertical support
herein-before described. Beneath this rod is fitted a strong blade-
spring for the purpose of steadying and supporting it as it ap-
proaches the lower point of its descent, and preventing the tremulous
motion of the rake, which would otherwise occur while it is extended.
To the vertical rocking shaft or support is suspended an iron plate,
baving teeth at its lower edge: this plate is fitted with coiled springs
at its hanging centres, for the purpose of keeping it pressed forward.
The action of this machine is as follows:-When a sufficient quantity of
cut grain has accumulated on the surface of the platform, the rake,
which is previously extended by the action of the levers herein-before
described, is caused to traverse across the platform, drawing with it the
cut grain, and compressing it into a bundle against the sheet-iron plate
herein-before mentioned. By a partial turn of the vertical support the
bundle is brought over the back edge of the platform, and as the rake
becomes extended it is allowed to fall to the ground in the track of the
machine. The support now turns back again, and the rake extended
to the further side of the platform in readiness for another stroke.

page_text: The principal features of this Invention are the serrated or zigzag
cutter herein-before described, and the mode of hanging the rake and
operating it from the bearing or propelling wheel of the machine, so
that it traverses across the bed or platform from the side next the
standing grain towards the side of the machine to which is attached the
draft-bar for collecting and compressing the grain against and between
a palm or hand, with or without a vibratory movement, which hand
with the rake, when the grain is thus collected, swings or turns for a
quarter of a circle or thereabouts, thus delivering the cut grain in, in
bundles, at convenient intervals, the rake opening or extending back-
wards when delivering the grain, and then, together with the palm or
hand, turning back for the similar collection of another bundle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said John Henry Johnson, in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 12th May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of November 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 and
grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special licence that
I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my execu-
tors, 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 Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REAPING MACHINES, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," being a
communication to me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing

page_text: "
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 I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 to the drawings hereunto
attached, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
The said Invention relates to various arrangements of machinery
apparatus, or means connected with apparatus, for mechanical reaping,
having special reference to the contrivance of a self-acting raker for
collecting the severed grain without the aid of a special attendant,
together with the attainment of a superior cutting action. And in order
that the said Invention may be properly understood, I shall now pro-
ceed to describe the several figures on the sheet of drawings hereunto
attached. Figure 1, on the sheet of drawings, is a side or longitudinal
elevation of a portion of a reaping machine, as fitted up according to
the improvements, and showing the raker drawn up to the position
which it would occupy on depositing the severed grain, a portion of the
wheelwork being broken away to show more clearly the raking details.
Figure 2, is a corresponding end view, looking upon the after or cut-
ting and raking end, showing the rake extended to take in the grain.
Figure 3, is a view of the actual raking lever detached. Figure 4, is
a front detailed view of the main open-frame spindle of the differential
raking action. Figure 5, is a side elevation of the reaping cutter, with
its crank and connecting rod alone; and Figure 6, is a corresponding
plan of the same.
The main frame of the reaper consists of the pair of longitudinal
wooden beams, converging until they meet at their forward extremities,
where they are connected to a pair of leading wheels not shown in the
drawing. Into these beams are morticed the two wooden standards
B, B', and the transverse rails C, which support the platform D; the
opposite ends of these rails being similarly morticed into the beam E,

page_text: which carries the framework F, forming the outer side of the plat-
form; this frame is connected to the tops of the standards B, B', by the
cross rail F, thereby firmly binding the whole of them. G, H, are
two running wheels, the small one G, being carried by two slotted
wrought-iron straps I, one on each side of the wheel; these straps are
bolted at their upper and lower extremities to the frame F, and
beam E. The straps I, being slotted vertically, the small running-wheel
may be raised or lowered as required, thereby affording facility for
adjusting the height of the outer or grain side of the platform: the
other side is adjusted in height by raising or lowering the height of
the plate J, which is in one piece, with the axle of the large running
wheel H. The plate J, clasps and is bolted when adjusted to the curved
plate K, fixed on the outer side of the standard B': the small running
wheel is fixed in its slot by simply tightening the nut L. A spur
wheel M, is secured to the "hub" or nave of the large running-wheel,
and consequently revolves with it, this wheel gearing into the small
pinion N, which is keyed into the outer end of the short shaft O: the
opposite end of this shaft works in a fixed bearing in the standard B,
and the end carrying the pinion N, works in a moveable bearing in the
lower portion of the vertical lever handle P; so that the driver who sits
in the seat Q, may throw the whole of the mechanism out of gear by
simply drawing forward the lever handle P. This handle works on the
fixed centre R, beneath the pinion N, and is retained in its position,
whether in or out of gear, by a projection on the side of the horizontal
handle S, which is kept firm up against the vertical handle by the flat
blade spring T. At U, is a slotted guide, through which the vertical
handle P, passes: it is secured by bolts to the side of the standard.
A small bevel pinion V, is keyed out to the centre of the shaft O, and
takes into the teeth of the large bevel wheel W. This wheel turns
loosely on a stud centre X, which is bolted at a slight angle to the
inner side of the standard B': a small socket is cast in the interior of
the rim of the bevel wheel, and into this socket is fitted loosely the
extremity of the bent lever Y, which works on a centre Z, in the ver-
tical supporting frame or open spindle a, a front view of which is
shown at Figure 4. This frame spindle is of cast iron, and rests at its

page_text: lower extremity in the footstep bearing b, which is bolted to the bottom
framework of the machine, its upper end working in the horizontal
bracket bearing e, secured to the cross-piece d, which connects the two
standards together. A socket c, is cast on the upper end of the open
frame a; and into this socket is fitted the lower extremity of the
angular or bent wrought-iron rod f, which is firmly secured in its place
by the pinching screw g. In constructing this machine the centre Z,
of the bent lever Y, must exactly coincide with the vertical and hori-
zontal planes of the fixed stud centre X, of the bevel wheel W, and it
is set at a distance from that wheel equal to the wheel's radius: the
upper extremity of the lever Y, carries an anti-friction roller h, which
works in the slotted portion of the lever i. This lever oscillates in the
fixed bearings .J, formed on the two wooden brackets k, which are let
into suitable openings in the frame a, and supported at their outer ends
by the rods ; an iron plate m, fitted with rake-teeth at its lower edge, is
hinged to the two extremities of the transverse piece n, which is at-
tached to the ends of the brackets k. This plate is kept pressed for-
ward by means of two coiled springs o, o, and is connected by means
of a link p, with the upper portion or arm of the bent lever Y; so that
the motion of this lever will be communicated, but in diminished
amount, to the plate m, the spring serving to bring it forward while
the lever Y, draws it back. An eye q, is formed on the upper extremity
of the angular rod f, to which is connected one end of the adjustable
rod r; the other extremity being jointed to the upper end of the wooden
rake-handle s. An iron clasp t, is fitted on to the rake-handle a little
lower down, and to double eyes on this clasp is connected the outer
end of the lever i; a strong flat blade spring u, is riveted on to the
oblique portion of the angular rod f, and a small projecting arm v, on
the connecting rod 7, presses down upon this spring when the rake is
extended, as shown in Figure 2, thereby maintaining the rake steady and
free from injurious vibration when in that position. The head w, of the
rake is firmly secured to its handle or shank by a number of diagonal
tie-rods a. The sickle-gearing consists of the bevel wheel Y₁ which is
keyed on to the shaft o, and gears into the bevel pinion z, on the short
vertical shaft 1, working in the upper and lower bearings 2, 3. A fly-

page_text: wheel 4, is keyed on to this shaft, and to its lower extremity is fitted a
small crank 5, (shown in Figure 1,) to the pin of which is attached one
end of the connecting rod 6, (Figures 5 and 6,) while the other end is
jointed in a peculiar manner to the forked end of the knife-bar 7.
In place of simply passing a bolt through the double eye of the fork
and the end of the connecting rod, as is usually done, the latter is
formed with a projecting cone on each side, which cones fit into corre-
sponding conical recesses in the interior of the fork, which latter is made
long enough to give it elasticity. When the rod 6, is to be connected to
the fork 7, it is inserted between the sides of the fork, and placed in
such a way that the conical projections shall correspond with their holes
or recesses; the screw-nut 8, is then tightened, which brings the sides
of the fork together, and consequently locking in the end of the con-
necting rod. By this arrangement the great inconvenience of the pin
which forms the joint being eventually flattened by the succession of
jars is entirely obviated, as the inherent spring of the fork allows
a little play to be given to the end of the connecting rod. The knife
itself is of a zigzag shape, and is fitted to the under side of the knife-
bar, the cutting-edge being at an angle of about forty-five degrees, or
rather less, to prevent clogging up the fingers or guides 9: the knife is
made angular or zigzag, both back and front, and projects a short dis-
tance beyond the back of the blade-bar instead of being flush with it, as
is usually the case; the front or cutting-edge of the knife is serrated
or "sickle-cut" on the upper surface, the back edge is also serrated; but
each alternate edge or angle of the zigzag is bevelled the reverse way;
but this bevelling may be either way. Figure 7, represents a de-
tached view of the underside of a zigzag knife or cutter, formed in
various separate pieces A, A, of any size, as shown in the drawing,
these separate pieces being riveted or otherwise secured to the knife-
bar B. Figure 8, represents a similar view of another shaped knife or
cutter, the cutting edges of which are undulating or curved instead of
pointed or angled. This knife may also be obviously formed either in
one piece or of several pieces A, A, as shown in the drawing, secured to
the knife-bar B. In both of these latter arrangements both front and
back edges may be serrated in the manner and for the
purpose herein-

page_text: before described. To facilitate the self-clearing of the fingers the
upper half which is laid over the knife is slotted at 10, so that any
foreign matter brought in by the traversing action of the knife will
work itself out again, thereby keeping the passage for the knife clean
and free from all obstruction. The outer end of the knife rests upon
a metal plate bolted to the underside of the beam E. The fingers 9,
are composed of two pieces, the lower half being bolted to the underside
of the platform, and having a flat upper surface, to which surface is
bolted, or otherwise secured, the upper half of the finger. This portion
is recessed or cut away at its under side to allow room for the passage
of the knife between the two halves, the underside of the knife blade
resting upon the flat surface of the bottom half of the finger. The reel
or beater 11, works in the ends of the two wooden bars or rails 12, 13,
which oscillate on fixed centres in the side of the fixed framework of
the machine. The ends of these rails or bars are adjusted in height by
turning them or their centres, thereby raising or lowering the recl or
beater 11, as the case may be; and when properly adjusted the rails
are fixed by tightening the nuts 14, in the slotted supporting rods 15,
which are secured at their lower extremities to the main framing. A
rotatory motion is given to the beater by the small pulley 16, fast on
the end of the short shaft O, over which pulley is passed a driving-
band 17, which again passes over the large grooved pulley 18, on the
shaft of the beater.
The action of this machine is as follows: The large running-wheel
H, being set in motion by the travelling of the machine, gives a cor-
responding rotatory motion to the large spur-wheel M, which communi-
cates a rotatory movement to the pinion N, and shaft O. The bevel
pinion V, on this shaft gives motion to the large bevel wheel W; as this
wheel revolves it carries round with it the end of the bent lever Y,
causing the lower arm of the lever to describe a cone of which the apex
is the centre Z, and the base the circumference of the circle described
by the socket in the rim of the wheel.
This peculiar movement, which involves an essentially novel me-
chanical action, gives the whole of the movements required for the
raker through a species of universal joint motion. The cutter is actuated

page_text: by the bevel wheel Y, which gives motion to the pinion Z, and crank
shaft 1, which produces the vibratory motion required.
On commencing to cut, the rake is drawn up as in Figure 1, but by
the time a sufficient quantity of cut grain to form a bundle has fallen
on the platform the rake has assumed the position shown in Figure 2.
It then traverses over the entire length of the platform, bringing
with it all the grain which the platform may contain. This movement
is effected as follows:
The lower arm of the bent lever Y, is carried round in the direction of
the arrow by the bevel wheel W, thereby depressing the upper end of
the lever, which gradually brings down the slotter end of the straight
lever i, and at the same time elevating the opposite end. This motion
will obviously tend to draw the rake inwards, elevating at the same
time the upper end of the rake shank or handle S, which is gradually
caused to assume a position nearer the vertical line through the action
of the radius rod r, which also allows the head of the rake to travel in a
plane nearly parallel with the platform, a slight rise being given to it as it
traverses over the platform. During this movement the descent of the
upper arm of the bent lever Y, allows the plate m, to be brought for-
ward by the springs o, so that the bundle is grasped between the
plate m, and rake w. The whole of this movement is effected by a
quarter of a revolution of the wheel W, and during this time no per-
ceptible change has taken place in the position of the cast-iron frame
support a, but as the wheel W, continues its course the frame a, with the
bundle of grain, will be turned round a quarter of a revolution, assuming
the position shown in Figure 1, or at right angles to its first position.
While this is going on no alteration takes place in the position of the
rake, with the exception of its being carried round with the support;
but when the wheel W, commences the third quarter of its revo-
lution, the upper arm of the lever Y, begins to rise in the slotted
end of the lever i, causing the rake to become extended over the back
of the machine, thereby allowing the bundle of grain to fall to the
ground. During the extension of the rake the plate m, is drawn back
by the ascent of the lever arm Y. The last quarter of the revolution of
the wheel W, causes the rake to be swung round in its extended position,

page_text: and brought again over the platform ready to gather another bundle.
By this arrangement the grain is more carefully handled and more
uniformly laid than by hand-raking, and consequently a slight saving of
grain is effected. It would be obvious to the practical man that the
action of the rake will be quickest where a quick movement is most
needed, as, for instance, while sweeping over the platform, and when
extending in the rear of the machine to deliver the grain. But when
the rake is nearly closed upon the grain, the peculiar action of the anti-
friction roller h, on the slotted end of the lever i, causes it to decrease in
speed, at the same time gaining power to compress the bundle of grain.
It is also obvious that by slight modifications in the gearing the rake
may be made to take bundles more or less frequently at the discretion
of the attendant, these bundles being deposited at regular intervals
in the rear of the machine as the latter proceeds. In order to
crowd the grain well into the cutters, inclined guides 19, 19,
are fitted to the platform sides; and that the rake may more readily
lay hold of the straws, the platform has a series of projecting ribs 20,
which keeps them raised above the surface, thus preventing the teeth of
the rake from passing over any of the straws without catching them.
Should the machine be required for the purpose of mowing, the reel or
beater should be set back and the arms shortened by driving them
through the shaft, the platform and raker being removed; this being
casily effected from the peculiar construction of the machine.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of the
said Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and there-
fore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,.-
First, the system or mode of raking or collecting reaped grain or
grass by self-acting apparatus attached to the reaping machine as herein-
before described.

page_text: Second, the application and use in reaping machines of the differential
action or movement for the purpose of raking or collecting the grain in
bundles as hercin-before described.
Third, the system or mode of actuating the raking movements
of reaping machines by causing the wheels or the ordinary rotating
parts of such machines to give a compound or combined partial
rotatory and vibratory action to an actuating universal-joint lever.
Fourth, the application and use in reaping machines for the purpose
of raking or collecting the grain in bundles of a universal-joint move-
ment, or a movement wherein two axes are disposed at right angles to
each other in the same moving framework, and actuated by a rotatory
lever describing a conical path.
Fifth, the system or mode of raking or collecting the reaped grain or
grass by self-acting mechanism of the reaping machine, acting both
across the line of travel of the machine, and parallel or nearly so there-
with.
Sixth, the application and use in combination with a reciprocating
vibratory movement of zigzag or other irregularly shaped knives or
cutters, formed either in one piece or in several pieces combined,
having both front and back edges so formed as to be cutting-edges.
Seventh, the system or mode of bevelling the back edge of the knife
wherein the opposite sides of the blade are bevelled and serrated, or
left plain consecutively.
Eighth, the application and use of slotted fingers in the manner and
for the purpose herein-before described.
Ninth, the system or mode of joining the knife-bar with its con-
necting rod by conical stud-pins as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and-fifty-three.