Improvements in Grain Binders.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEWART, of Chicago, in
the County of Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America, Master,
Mechanic.]
Improvements in Grain Binders.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:
The present invention relates mainly to the binding mechanism of a grain binding
harvester, and more especially the devices for compressing the bundle and the
tripping device, though other parts are included by relation. A description in
detail of so much of the binding mechanism as directly involves this invention and
such other parts as may be necessary to an understanding and working thereof, will
now be given, reference being made to the drawings, and the improvements which
are believed to be new and which it is desired to secure by Letters Patent will
then be designated more definitely in claims. As the invention relates to only a
certain portion of a grain binder, a full binder is not shown and the rest of the
machine is dispensed with entirely.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1, is a front elevation of a portion of a grain binder embodying my
improvements; Figure 2, a plan view of the same with the upper or bent portion.
of the binder frame removed;
Figure 3, a cross section, taken on the line 3-3, of Figure 2, looking in the
direction of the arrow; Figure 4, a similar section taken on the line 4-4, of the
same Figure 2; Figure 5, a similar view taken on the line 5-5, of Figure 2, and
looking in the direction of the arrow;
Figure 6, a view of the parts shown in Figure 5, when unlocked for the discharge
of bundles;
Figure 7, a sectional view, on the same line (7, 7) as Figure 3, but with the
packer arms removed and with the crank arm on the compressor in the open space in
the cam rim on the binding shaft wheel;
Figure 8, a detail section, on the same line (8, 8) as Figure 5, showing the stop
devices, just before coming into connection in full lines, and in dotted lines just
after connection is made and the clutch disconnected to stop the binding shaft ;
Figure 9, a detail vertical section on the line 9-9, of Figure 2;
Figure 10, a detail plan showing the packer shaft, adjacent end of binder shaft,
the clutch gearing mechanism for connecting the two shafts, and the compressor
with its arm for disconnecting the clutch members;
Figure 11, a detail section, on the line 11-11, of Figure 10, looking in the
direction of the arrow; Figure 12, a similar section, on the same line (12, 12) of
Figure 10, but looking in the opposite direction, toward the other member of
the clutch;
Figure 13, a detail plan section taken on the line 13-13, of Figure 12;
"

page_text: Figuro, 15, a detail. vertical section, showing a portion of the binder shaft, gear
wheel and flange thereon, 'taken on the line 15-15, of Figure 2; and,
Figure 16, a bottom plan view of the hooked guide-lever, shown in Figure 15,
detached.
In these drawings, Figures 1 to 10 inclusive are upon one scale and the remaining
figures are upon another and enlarged scale...
In the drawings A represents the usual bent support for the binding arm and its
driving shaft, a representing the horizontal tubular bearing for the driving shaft,
and a', on the upright arm rising from the front end of said bearing, a second
tubular bearing for the binding arm shaft, these two devices, though not shown,
being mounted in their bearings and connected together in the usual way. The
usual tube, B, for the upper support of the binder frame, is mounted in the ordinary
way, and the binder frame is connected thereto by arms or straps, b, b', the first
near the front end of the binder and the second near the rear end thereof. The
front connecting device is fastened at its lower end to the tubular bearing a, and
the rear one in like manner to an extension, a³, secured to the rear end of a and
extending, thence rearward, this extension being angle-shaped, as seen in Figures 3
to 8 inclusive. The two adjacent ends of these pieces lap and are secured together
by a flange, a passing outward from the tubular bearing a underneath the
horizontal member of the angular extension a. The connecting arms are mounted
loosely on the supporting tube B, so that they may slide lengthwise thereof for the
usual adjustment of the binder. There is also a third connection between the
binder frame and this tubular support. It is a forked or two-part arm, C, arranged
between the other two supports and near the rear one. This device consists of two
arms, c, c, which are fastened at their upper ends to a block, c, which is mounted
loosely on the same tubular support as the arms b, b', so as to slide back and forth
thereon. These arms spread a little as they pass down towards the main portion
of the binder frame and are secured to the angular extension a2 by means of
angular brackets, e, one member of which is fastened to the upper or horizontal
web of the latter and the other to the outer sides of the said bars. From these
points of fastening the bars are projected forward or outward so that they extend
considerably beyond the lower ends of the other supporting arms.
extensions are practically parallel and are for a purpose which will be hereafter
described.
These
The binder shaft, D, is journalled in the arm a and bracket support, a', on the
same part of the frame but considerably further to the rear. A large gear wheel, E,
is fixed on the binder shaft near its inner end, the ring of gear teeth, e, being on the
interior of the rim el, which also has, upon its exterior, a kind of notch or stop, e
obtained by gradually thickening the rim for a little distance before the stop face
is reached. The wheel is secured. to its shaft by means of arms, e, and the rim is
flange-like, projecting rearward from the outer ends of the said arms. At the front
of this wheel there is a flange, e, of less diameter than the rim of the wheel and
broken away a considerable portion of the distance, as seen in Figures 3 and 7.
One end of this flange is just a little in front of the stop on the rin, and a short
distance in front thereof the flange is enlarged inwardly somewhat, as seen at e
in Figure 15.
A kind of hook lever, F, is constructed with a small circular inner end, f, a
semi-circular seat for which, e, is provided in the flange projection but is not
constructed to hold it therein. A little way from this joint end this hook lever
has a perforation, f1, and at its outer end is turned upward and backward upon
itself, forming a kind of hook, f, which passes up around the front end of the
flange. This hook lever is held in place on the wheel by means of a pin, F1, set
in the flange, passing inward through the aperture in the lever and 'some distance
beyond the same, having a nut, f, on its inner end and a spring, f, arranged
between the nut and the lever, as seen in Figures 3, 7, and 15. It will be seen
that the normal position of this hook lever under the influence of the spring is
with the hooktend outward as far as possible, but this end may be compressed or

page_text: forced inward by any suitable means, the spring yielding for this purpose, as
indicated in dotted lines in Figures 3 and 15.
:
The packer arm shaft, G, is journalled in the bracket arm a and the rear
binder frame strap 6. It is provided with cranks, g, as usual, on which the packer
arms, G¹, are journalled. The packer arm shaft runs forward to the binding shaft
gear-wheel, but for some distance at its forward end is a plain, smooth section, g'.
At the front extremity of the shaft there is a collar or ring, g, and a short tubular
shaft, H, is mounted loosely on the crank shaft just inside. of this collar. The
shaft H is provided at its front end with a fixed gear pinion, h, which is arranged
within the internally geared wheel on the binding shaft and engages with the teeth
thereof, as seen in Figure 4. At the other or rear end of this tubular shaft there
is an enlarged circular clutch-receiver and holder, h. The back of this
clutch holder is entire, but the face or front is cut nway in irregular form, leaving
a bearing flange, h, and solid section, 3, between said bearing and the outer rim.
An opening, h, is cut in the rim of this clutch receiver, just at one side of the
connecting section 2, and in the edge of the said section adjacent to this opening
there is provided a concave recess or seat, ; at the opposite side of this opening
the flange rim of the clutch holder is enlarged inwardly somewhat to provide a
kind of inwardly projecting point, 1°, the outer face of which is preferably slightly
concave, as seen clearly in Figure 12. The bearing flange / projects beyond the
rin of this clutch holder, the extension being about the same in width as the
portion enclosed within the rim. A clutch lever, I, is mounted within the holder .
This lever is substantially of angular form, one arm, i, being provided with a short
journal, ', which is seated in the concave recess . This arm is curved slightly
to correspond with the tubular bearing, and the longer arm, 2, is joined to the
outer end of the short arm on a curved line and extends thence outward, through
the opening in the rim of the holder, at an acute angle to the short arm.
The two
curved edges of these arms, at their meeting inside the holder, form a kind of
point, on circular lines, and there is a side projection or flange, 3, extending
outward from this short arm and of the same contour as the arm itself, thus fitting
over the outer portion of the bearing flange . The long arm of the lever is
also provided at its outer end with a projection, i, extending outward in the same
direction as the side flange on the short arm within the holder. An actuating
spring, J, is arranged within the holder, being secured at one end to the rim of the
latter on the side of the section opposite to the concave seat ; thence it
extends on a curve around the inside of the holder and at its outer end, which is
free, fits up against the concave edge of the short arm of the lever, but is not
fastened thereto. This spring is always under tension and therefore its normal
action will turn the clutch lever outward until it is stopped by the junction between
the two lever arms coming in contact with the edge of the opening in the rim
adjacent to the bearing for the lever pivot. This is the working position of the
said clutch lever and is seen in Figures 6, 8, and 12, the latter being in dotted
lines. The companion member, K, of the clutch-is of the same general contour
as the member h', but it is secured to the packer arm shaft G by means of a
tubular projection, k, which is fastened to said shaft. by rivet or bolt. The inner
face of the disc portion of this clutch member K sets up against the extremity of
the tubular flange of the opposite section, as seen in Figure 14, the projecting
edges of the flanges on the two members being thus brought almost into contact.
On the inner face of the rim flange of the clutch member. K. there are pro-
jections, ',, extending radially inward and having their sides or faces curved.ou
a concave, as seen in Figure 11. These curved faces at their juncture form. an
edge parallel with the shaft on which the holder is mounted. Only two are shown
in the drawings, but the number may be increased if desired. The outer. face. of
the projecting flange on the short arm of the lever corresponds in curvature. with
the curves of these two projections in the adjacent holder, and, when the said lever
is free to move under the tensile force of its spring, this flange will be thrown out
against the inside of the rim on the adjacent holder. and, when brought in contact

page_text: with one of these inner projections on the latter, the two members will be clutched
together. This position of the lever, by means of which the two members of the
clutch are connected, is shown in Figures 6, 8, and 12, the latter in dotted lines.
Obviously the short shaft H is thus connected to the packer arm shaft and must
revolve therewith. As stated above, the gear pinion on the outer or forward end
of this shaft engages with the interior gear of the wheel on the binder shaft, so
that rotation will at once be communicated to the latter and the binding mechanism
· proper set in motion.
It is well known that in the operation of grain binders the binder arm and
knotting mechanism must remain at rest during the formation of the gavel, and of
course, in order to secure this effect, some means must be provided for disconnecting
the two members of the clutch and holding them in this relation until the gavel is
formed and ready for binding, when there must also be provision for relieving the
restraint upon the clutch mechanism, so that it will automatically be brought into
working connection, as described above. This mechanism will now be explained.
The compressor arm, L, against which the gavel is formed by the packer arms, is
pivoted at its lower end to a supporting arm, l; which is rigidly fastened to a short
shaft, M, mounted in bearings below the horizontal stationary portions of the
binder frame, a, a². This shaft at the front end extends a little beyond the side
flange on the binder gear-wheel E and reaches back thence to a point about
midway between the two arms of the forked support to which the packer arms are
connected. The compressor arm is sustained upon its support by means of a bent
or curved projection extending outward and bending or curving downward, the
upper portion, l, of which is larger than the lower portion, P, and the latter is
slotted nearly its entire length, the outer ends being joined, however, by a short
cross-piece, . The space between these two parts of the arms is adapted to
accommodate the supporting bar, l, to which the compressor-arm is pivoted, and
the latter is mounted on this bar by passing the free outer end of the latter through
this space and securing the lower end of the compressor arm to this support by a
pivot bolt,, passing through any one of a series of apertures,, along the arm.
A spring, 1, is arranged upon the lower divided section before the compressor
is applied to its support, and, when thus applied, the free end of this support is
passed underneath the lower end of the spring, the latter being held, when the
parts are fixed in working position, between the said support and the stop formed
by the enlargement of the upper portion of the curved arm, the relation of the
parts being such that, normally, this spring is under sufficient tension to keep the
compressor in substantially upright position, as seen in full lines in Figures 3, 4,
and 5. Near the other end of the shaft M there is secured a large but short
arm, N, which is arranged in the same vertical plane as the projecting flange on
the front face of the binder gear-wheel E and carries at its outer end a roller, n,
arranged to contact with said flange and of course free to drop into the open space
where the latter is broken away. At its other end this arm is provided with two
short lugs, one, n', on the right-hand edge of the arm, as seen in the drawings, and
the other, n³, on the left-hand edge, as seen in the drawings, the former being
about at right angles to the length of the arm and the latter in line therewith.
Both lugs, however, are of sufficient length to come in contact with the tube a, as
the shaft to which the arm is attached is turned in one direction or the other,
thereby limiting the throw of the arm. About midway the length of the shaft M,
which may be called the compressor shaft, there is secured an arm, O, by means
of a tubular collar, o. This arm is fixed on its shaft in a position so that when the
compressor is upright the arm will extend downward and inward somewhat, being
arranged in a plane a little in rear of the outwardly extending clutch arm.
arm extends just a little beyond the outer end of the clutch arm and at its
lower or outer end is provided with a short lug, o', extending toward the front of
the machine at a right angle to the body of the arm and in practically the same
plane as the stud or projection on the outer end of the longer clutch arm, being
normally within or underneath the latter.
This

page_text: As already explained, the packer arms G₁ are mounted, as usual, on cranks of
the packer shaft. At their outer ends they are connected by rods, P, with
brackets fastened to the outer faces of the respective members of the forked
arm C. These brackets, p, p, are of substantially triangular shape, the wider
part or base of the triangle being fastened to the respective fork arms, while short
and somewhat tapering arms depend from this plate section and terminate in
tubular lugs, p, p, extending outward horizontally in opposite directions. The
connecting rods P are hinged or pivoted at their lower ends to the outer
extremities of the respective packer arms and at their upper ends are in like
manner connected to the tubular lugs on the said brackets, the respective rods
being provided with short bends at each end standing substantially at right angles
to the main body, which end bends form the respective journals for the hinge
connection between the stationary brackets and the outer en ls of the packer arms.
In the same vertical plane as the rim of the binder gear-wheel E there is
arranged an arm, Q, loosely mounted at its upper end upon the angular extension a'.
It is secured to the upright web of this angular bar by means of a long bolt, 7,
passing through said web and an aperture, q', larger than the bolt and near the
upper end of the arm. The bolt projects out beyond the arm and is provided with
a nut, g on its outer end, between which and the outer face of the arm there is a
spring, which is intended to be always under tension, for the purpose of holling
the arm in working position. The outer or lower end of this arm is provided with
a small roller, q', which is adapted to run on the rim of the binder wheel and is
held in contact therewith by the action of the spring just described.
connection of the arm to its support, however, is sufficiently yielding to permit its
lower or roller end to move outward slightly, the spring yielding for this purpose
and operating to keep the roller end of the arm always in contact with the rim of
the binder wheel. The full deck of the binder is not shown in the drawings, but
in Figures 3 to 8 inclusive a portion of this deck or incline, K, is shown in section.
It will be understood, of course, that the grain is delivered from the elevator to
this deck or incline and moves down toward the compressor, the packing arms
assisting in this and forcing the grain up against the compressor.
The
The operation of this mechanism is as follows: The relative positions of the
mechanisms referred to, during the formation of the gavel, are shown in Figures 3, 4,
and 5, the first-named in full lines. Only the packer arms will be operative during
this period; but as the gavel is formed against the compressor by the action of the
packer arms, the upright compressor will yield outward slightly, as indicated by
dotted lines in Figures 3 and 5. This will of course turn slightly the shaft M and
in a direction to give a limited upward turn to the outer end of the stop arm O, so
that it will clear the outer end of the long arm of the clutch lever, as shown in
dotted lines in Figure 5. Under the influence of the clutch spring, already
described, this will at once connect the packer shaft with the short tubular shaft
mounted loosely on its front end, and the gear pinion at the front end of the latter
being in engagement with the driving gear on the binding shaft, the latter is set in
motion. Up to this point of starting the binder, the short arm N at the front
extremity of the shaft M has the roller at its outer end just in connection with the
front or starting end of the flange on the binder shaft, as seen in full lines in
Figure 3, or rather it will rest on the upward bend or hook of the lever F, but the
latter, having an elastic support, will yield a little to permit a slight turning of
the compressor shaft, which releases the clutch lever, and this results in connecting
the two members of the clutch and so starting the binder shaft by the revolution
of the internal gear-wheel thereon. The roller on the arm N passes at once from
the supporting hook to the rim on the binder gear-wheel, in which position it is
held by contact with the rim until the binding of the bundle is completed. The
direction in which this binding gear moves during the operation of binding is
indicated by arrows in Figures 3, 4, and 7, so that the front end of the flange on
the binder wheel will be the end where the hooked lever is located. It will be
understood that there is a constant pressure upon the compressor,: during the

page_text: operation of binding, through the force of the packers working on the bundle.
This is resisted so that the binding is continued until the binding wheel has turned
far enough to bring the rear end of its flange underneath, the roller arm, which is
.long enough for the binding of the bundle. As soon as this point is reached there
is nothing to longer support the roller arm, and the latter, immediately drops into "
the open space within the flange, which permits the compressor to drop into the
position shown in Figures 6 and 7, both in full lines. The bound bundle is then
of course discharged, either directly upon the ground or upon a bundle carrier
attached to the machine. Very, soon the hook end of the flange referrel to will
again reach the roller arm, when of course it will be caught by the bent hook end
and lifted out of the recess. This result is produced just before the outward arm
of the clutch lever reaches the projecting lug on the arm O, which, as stated in the
description, is in about the same plane as the corresponding projection on the
clutch arm. The stop lug on the arm, however, is below the lug on the lever, so
that, when the outer end of the clutch lever-arm i is brought around a little further,
it will come in contact with the projection on the arm O and of course will then be
turned on its pivot sufficiently to disengage the clutch, bringing the parts into the
position shown in full lines in Figure 5 of the drawings, and a new gavel will be
formed, when the same operation of binding will be performed again. The stop e
on the rim of the binding gear-wheel is for the purpose of preventing this wheel
from moving in the wrong direction after the binding has been completed and the
bundle discharged as described. This is effected by means of the stop arm Q. the
outer end of which is elastically held against the rim of the wheel, and the little
roller thereon drops from this stop, just as the wheel rests, from the disconnection
of the clutch described and as seen in Figures 3 and 4. Obviously the binding
gear cannot turn now in a reverse direction, but only in the regular working
direction, when the machine is again ready to bind a bundle. The wheel E,
provided with circular flange e, partially cut away, as described above, and the
hook lever F, elastically pivoted to the inside of said rim and arranged with
reference to the latter, as stated, may be used with stopping and starting devices
differing from those here shown and described, provided the general function
remains the same.
The forked or two-part arm C has a double function; it not only constitutes an
additional support for the binder frame on the tubular journal to which it is
connected, but, by the extension of its lower ends outward beyond the binder
frame, it supplies convenient and reliable means for the link connection of the
packer arms, simple, but convenient and efficient in every way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the samo is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a grain binder, the binder shaft; the driving wheel fixed thereon and
provided with the internal gear; the packer shaft; a short tubular shaft loose on
the forward end of the packer shaft, provided at one end with a pinion engaging
with the said internal gear of the driving wheel, mounted in suitable bearings
midway its length, and provided at its other end with a clutch; a second clutch on
the packer shalt adapted to engage with the first clutch; and devices for operating
the said clutches.
2. In a graiu binder, the binder shaft in combination with a binder. wheel fixed
on the end thereof, and provided with a circular side flange, e', extending part-way
around the wheel; a spring device mounted on said flange; the compressor-arm
rock-shaft; a coinpressor-arm-mounted on said rock-shaft; an arm, N, provided
with a roller adapted to travel on the flange e, mounted on said rock-shaft; a trip-
arm, O, mounted on said shaft, and a clutch mechanism adapted to engage the
binder wheel with a pinion mounted on the packer shatt, adapted to be operated
by the trip-arm, O, substantially as described.
...
3. In a grain binder, the binder shaft, in combination with internally-geared

page_text: binder wheel fixed on the rear end thereof and having a forwardly projecting,
circular side flange, e extending part-way around the wheel, a lever, F, mounted
within said rim at the front end thereof and provided with a loop or hook at its
outer end extending around and above the forward end of the rim, an actuating
spring within the rim, arranged normally to hold the hooked end of the lever
outward beyond the flange, a compressor arm shaft journalled outside of said wheel
and extending to the rear thereof, and an arm, N, fastened to the forward end of
said compressor-shaft, provided with a roller on its outer free end arranged to
contact with the flange on the binding wheel during the operation of forming and
binding the bundle, but dropping through the opening in said flange to permit the
dropping of the compressor and discharge of the bundle, when the binding of the
latter is completed, substantially as described.
4. In a grain binder, a revoluble wheel provided with a circular flange on one
side and partly cut away, in combination with a hook lever elastically pivoted at
one end to the inside of said flange and provided at its outer end with a bend or
book turned around a little way over the front end of the flange, the width of the
hook space being considerably greater than the thickness of the flange, and a
device connected with the binding mechanism and operated by the said flange and
hook to stop and start the binding mechanism, as required in a grain binder,
substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of October 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.