An Improved Combined Lawn-roller and Portable Motor, and Apparatus connected therewith.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th 'Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th Deo., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Combined Lawn-roller and Portable Motor, and
Apparatus connected therewith.
.
T, WILLIAM JOHN STEPHENSON-PEACH of Askew Hill, Repton in the County
of Derby, Mechanical Engineer, Teacher of Engineering to Repton School and
Cheltenham College, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
=
The object of my invention is to provide a power driven lawn roller for large
lawns, garden. paths, carriage drives and the like and which may also be used for a
variety of purposes to which a motor can be applied such as pumping and the like;
and also in the case of an electric motor being used to provide a device for keeping
the cable stretched overhead by taking up the slack in same as the apparatus moves
about.
In carrying out my said invention I provide an electric motor of any suitable
type or description or I niay if desired substitute for this a small oil engine placed
upon any suitable frame; attached to the motor shaft or spindle for the purpose of
relieving the shock to the mechanism is a suitable coupling box driving a worm
on a short spindle gearing into a worm wheel, the worn and worm wheel being
enclosed in an oil tight case of cast iron or other suitable metal or material having
adjustable bearings for the said shafts, one end of the worm wheel shaft passes out
at the side of the oil tight case and has its end carried by a bracket fixed to the
frame of the apparatus, this shaft carries a small chain or sprocket wheel which
conveys motion by means of a chain which may be provided with any anitable oil
tight or dirt proof casing to another chain wheel of larger diameter fixed to the
axle of a pair of driving rollers, or I may substitute a cord and grooved pulleys for
the aforesaid chain and sprocket wheels if desired. The aforesaid axle being free
to revolve in the said rollers but having any. suitable friction clutch communicating
motion to either or both of the said rollers as desired, when put into gear by means
of hand levers. The bearings of the axle of the rollers are carried in adjustable
horn-blocks for tightening the chain when required.
The apparatus is steered or turned by means of one or preferably two front
rollers or wheels mounted upon an axle carried by a swivelling bracket or lock
affixed to the front of the frame and operated by a vertical shaft attached or fixed
to the aforesaid' swivel bracket; the vertical shaft being carried by a hollow pillar
or other suitable support; to the upper end of the said vertical shaft is keyed or
otherwise suitably attached a steering lever which is carried to the back of the
frame in a couvenient position for the operator to work. Instead of the steering
lever may substitute a cord or chain fixed to the movable part of the swivel
bracket or lock the two ends of the said chain or cord passing over or round guide
pulleys to the back of the frame or carriage of the apparatus, and wound upon a
drum, carried by a bracket in front of the operator and being actuated by any
suitable steering wheel.
On the back of the apparatus is attached a frame carrying au adjustable saddle
or any suitable form of seat for the operator, this frame also carries an adjustable
scraper to remove the mud, soil or the like from the rollers.
In the case of an electric motor being employed I provide a device for taking
up the slack in the cable for conveying the electric current from the dynamo to

page_text: the motor, the said device consisting of a frame of any suitable material carrying
at the top or other part a spindle upon which are mounted any suitable number of
grooved pulleys, below which is placed another spindle carrying grooved pulleys
but arranged to slide up and down the said frame and having a weight or weighta
to compensate for the weight of the cable and keep the same tight while in use.
The aforesaid electric cable is attached to terminals carried by a suitable frame or
arch fixed to the roller carriage. It will therefore be seen that as the roller moves
about the cable will always be stretched tight and kept overhead between the upper
part of the roller carriage and the compensating device above described.
Dated this 6th day of March 1895.
'
али
Apparatus connected therewith.
I, WILLIAM JOHN STEPHENSON-PEACH of Askew Hill, Repton in the County
of Derby, Mechanical Engineer, Teacher of Engineering to Repton School and
Cheltenham College, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
mauner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide a power driven lawn roller for large
lawns, garden paths, carriage drives and the like and which may also be used for a
variety of purposes to which a motor can be applied such as pumping and the like,
and also in the case of an electric motor being used to provide a device for
keeping the cable stretched overhead by taking up the slack in sume as the
apparatus moves about.
•
Referring to the drawings which form a part of this Specification.
Figure 1 is a sectional clevation on line a. a. of Figure 3,showing my improved
combined roller and motor.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of same.
Figure 3 is a plan of same.
Figure 4.is a front elevation of my improved apparatus for taking up the slack
in the electric cable when an electric motor is used in connection with my
invention.
Figure 5 is an end or side elevation of the latter.
: In carrying out my said invention I provide an electric motor of any suitable
type or description or I may if desired substitute for this a small oil engine or any
other suitable motor placed upon any suitable frame; attached to the motor shaft
or spindle A for the purpose of relieving the shock to the mechanism is a suitable
coupling box B driving a worm C on a short spindle D gearing into a worm wheel. E,
the worm and worm wheel being enclosed in an oil tight onse F of cast iron or
other suitable metal or material having adjustable bearings for the said shafts, one
end of the worm wheel shaft G passes out at the side of the oil tight case and has
its end carried by a bracket H fixed to the frame 1 of the apparatus, this shaft
carries a small chain or sprocket wheel J which conveys motion by means of a
chain K which may be provided with any suitable oil tight or dirt proof casing, to
another chain wheel L of larger diameter, fixed to the axle M of a pair of driving
rollers N, N', or I may substitute a cord and grooved pulleys for the aforesaid
chain and sprocket wheels if desired. The aforesaid axle M being free to revolve
in the said rollers but having any suitable friction clutch O communicating motion
to either or both of the said rollers as desired, when put into gear by means of

page_text: hand levers P, P. The bearings of the axle of the rollers are carried in adjustable
horn blocks Q, Q', for tightening the chain when required.
The apparatus is steered or turned by means of one or preferably two front
rollers R, R', or wheels, mounted upon an axle S carried by a swivelling bracket T
or lock affixed to the front of the frame as shewn in section on Figure 1 and
operated by a vertical shaft U attached or fixed to the aforesaid swivel bracket;
the vertical shaft being carried by a hollow pillar V or other suitable support; to
the upper end of the said vertical shaft is keyed or otherwise suitably attached a
steering lever W which is carried to the back of the frame in a convenient position
for the operator to work. Instead of the steering lever I may substitute a cord or
chain fixed to the moveable part of the swivel bracket or look and the two ends of
the said. chain or cord passing over or round guido pulleys to the back of the
frame or carriage of the apparatus, and wound upon a drum, carried by a bracket
in front of the operator and being actuated by any suitable steering wheel.
On the back of the apparatus is attached a frame X carrying an adjustable
saddle Y or any suitable form of seat for the operator, this frame also carries an
adjustable scraper Z to remove the mud, soil or the like from the rollers.
For varying the speed or reversing the motion in the case of an electric motor
being employed I pivot a lover and fix a quadrant with suitable notches to the
frame of the apparatus conveniently for the operator; this lever actuates any
suitable form of switch in connection with a resistance frame or coil, this latter
device being of any well known description is not shewn upon the drawings. I also
provide a device for taking up the slack in the cable for conveying the electric
current froin the dynamo to the motor, the said device consisting of a frame 1 of
any suitable material carrying at the top or upper part a fixed spindle 2 upon
which are mounted any suitable number of grooved pulleys 3, below which is placed
another spindle 4, carrying grooved pulleya 5 but arranged to slide up and down
the said frame which may be slotted or otherwise suitably prepared for the purpose
and having a weight or weights 6 to compensate for the weight of the cable and
keep the same tight while in use. On the top of the pulley frame I is mounted a
swivelling bracket 7 carrying a grooved pulley 8, so arranged as to guide the
electric cable 9 in whatever position the machine or apparatus may be in relation
to the said frame 1. The aforesaid electric cable 9 is connected to the machine or
apparatus by means of swivelling terminala 10 (see Figure 2) carried by a suitable
frame or arch 11 fixed to the roller carriago. It will therefor be seen that as the
roller moves about the cable will be always stretched tight and kept overhead
between the upper part of the roller carriage and the compensating device above
described.
Where available this arrangement of pulleys may be suspended from a conveniently
placed tree or high building.
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. In combination, a motor with shaft A driving the roller shaft M through the
medium of the coupling-box B, worm C, worm wheel E and chain or other
gear J, K, L, the said roller shaft M revolving freely in its bearings but being
provided with friction clutches 0, 0, for putting the rollers N, N', in or out of
gear, eaid clutches being operated by hand levers P, P. Frout steering wheels or
rollers R, R' whose axle S is carried by a swivel bracket T operated by a steering
lever W through the medium of a vertical shaft U working in a hollow pillar V.
A frame X carrying eeut Y. All in combination and substantially as described
and illustrated.
2. In combination an electric motor and a roller, with device for taking up the
slack in electric cable 9, said device consisting of a slotted or other suitably
prepared frame 1, a fixed spindle 2 and a loose sliding spindle 4 weighted as at 6,
both spindles with grooved pulleys 3 and 5, a swivelling bracket 7 carrying grooved

page_text: pulley 8 at the head of the frame 1; the electric cable 9 being connected to the
machine or apparatus by means of swivelling terminals 10 carried by a frame or
arch 11. All'in combination and substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 4th day of December 1895.
W.SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.