IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Anson Wood, of Albany, in the County
of Albany, and State of New York, in the United States of
America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING
MACHINES"
Sealed the 14th August 1874, and dated the 22nd May 1874.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Anson Wood
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 22nd May 1874, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ANSON WOOD, of Albany, in the County of Albany, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING
MACHINES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my.
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first
Inventor thereof.
.

page_text: reel arms at the option of the attendant, and to follow the different
paths incident to the performance of such different functions.
Thirdly. In the combination of a vertically pivoted track for giving
direction to or controlling the path of the arms when acting as a rake
arm with a cam on the rake shaft which causes said track to auto-
matically move outward to engage with and control the arm, and a
spring for withdrawing said track after such rake arm has passed by.
And, lastly. The Invention consists in certain details of construction
and arrangement for carrying into effect the above recited improvements,
as hercin-after fully explained.
But that those acquainted with machines of the kind referred to may
fully understand my Invention, I will proceed to describe the same in
detail by aid of the accompaning Drawings.

page_text: secondary or bevel wheel and crank shafts. C, C, are two independent
carrying and driving wheels mounted on the common axle B. The
frame A with its several sleeves referred to is cast in one piece, and by
preference with tapering turned journal boxes b inserted in the mould
prior to casting the frame. In practice the thimble or journal boxes b
are mounted upon rods corresponding to the journals of the shafts or
axles and placed in the mould, and the frame being cast around them
comes from the mould ready to receive the journals. By making the
thimbles tapering in form in their external outline they may when they
become worn be readily driven out and replaced by new ones. D is the
tongue piece or plate provided with a sleeve at its rear end surrounding
the axle B, and with longitudinal vertical ribs & forming a socket for
the tongue D', and on either side thereof with a foot rest d¹ for the
driver sitting in seat E. The angle of relation between the frame A
and tongue piece or frame D is determined by an adjustable link c, or if
desired the adjusting pin may be withdrawn leaving the two frames free
to vibrate on the axle independently of each other. F is the coupling
sleeve connected with the lower or forward end of the crank shaft
sleeve A*, in such a manner as to be free to rotate thereon and upon the
inner side of the sleeve. F is a perforated socket e to receive the upper
end of the brace or coupling rod G, see Figures 2, 5, 6, and 7. The
forward end of the sleeve A* is provided with a lip or spur a', between
which and the flange or collar a² the coupling sleeve F is secured and
has its bearing as shown. The socket e is open on its rear end to permit
the introduction of a friction spring a* and also of the nut g* which
secures the inner end of the brace G and a slot or notch as at the forward
end of the socket permits the passage of the holding spur a', after which
the sleeve F is turned to the proper position for being connected to the
finger bar by the rod or brace G, and the spur a¹ serves effectually to
retain the coupling sleeve F on the crank shaft sleeve A*. The
spring a* by its friction prevents a too free movement of the coupling
sleeve or collar on the crank shaft sleeve and serves to give an elasticity
to the connection between the two, making it in effect a yielding elastic
joint. Other forms of spring or friction device may be substituted for the
spiral spring shown. The outer or free end of the rod G is pivoted at g to
the thrust shoe H, which at its rear end is swivelled loosely in a pendent
bracket on the rear of the main frame, the connection between the shoe
and the bracket being such as to permit the shoe to rock and roll freely
on its longitudinal axis and also to allow the forward end or shoc part

page_text: to rise and fall in following the surface of the ground, or to be adjusted
for passing obstructions and for transportation, the coupling sleeve F at
the inner end of the brace G moving with said brace, and the pivotal
connection of the brace and shoe H also serving to permit the freedom
of movement of the shoe, as described. The shoe part proper of the
brace H is expanded in width underneath and forward of the pivot g
and extends laterally on each side of said pivot to form a suitable
support for the finger bar H', and at its inner edge is provided with a
vertical lip or flange h, which when the finger bar rests upon the ground
in a horizontal position extends up to within a short distance of the
inclined brace G, and serves by coming in contact therewith to restrict
the downward movement of the outer end of the hinged finger bar
within the desired limits. I is a sleeve mounted and turning upon the
coupling brace G, extending nearly its entire length and provided at its
outer end with a spur i, adapted when the sleeve I is rotated to move
underneath the coupling brace G, and between said brace and the
flange on the shoe H for blocking and still further limiting the
downward movement of the outer end of the finger bar, and for enabling
the driver by means of the usual lifting lever and chain to readily raise
said outer cnd for passing obstructions or for other purposes, and causing
the cutting apparatus to turn or be raised on the crank shaft sleeve as a
centre. To the inner end of the sleeve I is attached a weighted or
spring arm j for holding the dog or spur i out when not required for
raising the outer end of the bar as explained, and to the outer end of
this lever is connected the lower end of a cord or chain j¹ which at its
upper end is connected with the lower forward arm of a foot lever J
arranged in convenient position to be operated by the driver for rotating
the sleeve I and blocking the finger bar H' against downward deflection,
as explained. K is the crank wheel and k the pitman connected there-
with; L is a curved shield attached to flanges or lips on the upper and
lower faces of the coupling sleeve F, and curved outward or forward of
and around the crank wrist, as shown in Figure 3, in such manner as
to move with said sleeve and to maintain a uniform relation thereto, and
also to the coupling and pitman rods. The lower end of the pitman rod
is bent backward at right or nearly right angle and enters an eye or
perforation in a swivel block / which is connected at its upper end or
edge by a horizontal pivot with upright lugs on the inner end of the
sickle bar, this construction allowing the vibration of the shoe referred
to without any cramping of the pitman. Just in front of the lower

page_text: bent arm of the pitman is located a spring holder M consisting of an
arm lying parallel with the sickle bar of a length equal to or greater
than the throw of the crank, and with its rear face resting against the
pitman for holding it engaged with the sickle bar. This holder is pro-
vided with an arm or lug extending forward at an angle of 90° more or
less to its rear face, and pivoted at its forward end at m in a socket or
between upright lugs formed on the forward or runner part of the shoe,
and in rear of this pivot is located a spring n which serves to uphold the
bar or pitman holder M in proper position for keeping the pitman con-
nected with the sickle bar. By pressing the holder down the pitman
can be readily disconnected from the sickle.
In describing the improvement in the raking and reeling attachment
according to. the second part of my Invention in respect to Figures 8, 9,
and 10, to be applied when the machine is to be used as a reaper, while
such attachment may be applied to the machine above described with
such slight modifications as will suggest themselves to the skilled
mechanic, thus constituting what is called a combined machine. I prefer
in the following description of these improvements to describe them
with reference to a single wheel rigid bar machine such as is now by
preference employed when the machine is adapted to the sole purpose of
reaping, and in this respect C₁is the main ground or driving wheel
which is mounted upon a stub axle connected with the forward end of
an adjustable sector plate A', which at its rear end is mounted and turns
upon an extension of the sleeve a¹ which forms the outer main frame
bearing for the pinion shaft. The main frame A which at its rear end
is provided with the sleeve bearings a for the pinion shaft extends
thence forward and is provided at its forward end with vertical flanges d
for the reception and adjustment of the pivoted tongue. Between the
bearings a and tongue the frame droops into runner or shoe form, is
expanded in width, and at its inner drooping side A2 is provided with a
suitable socket for the reception and retention of the inner end of the
finger bar H¹ placed about opposite the tread of the driving wheel.
Between the inner end of the finger bar and the drive wheel, and about
in the same transverse plane with the former is located the vertical rake
pivot N supported in a supplemental rake frame or standard N¹ which
is bolted to the top of the main frame A, and upon this pivot or shaft N
is mounted the crown or bevel wheel O, to the upper face of which or to
a rotating head connected therewith the rake and recl arms P arranged

page_text: either radially or tangentially, as preferred, are pivoted in any usual or
preferred manner. The upper end of the crown wheel sleeve is armed
with a spur pinion o either cast with or keyed to and turning with said
sleeve and crown wheel, and above the pinion o a horizontal arm Q, also
constituting a case or cover, is secured to the stationary rake shaft or
pivot N, and in the outer end of this case or arm Q, which inclines
slightly forward from the line or plane of the finger bar, is mounted a
second pivot or shaft q, the upper end of which is provided with a
rotating head R to which the reel and rake arms P are connected by
links p. The lower end of the link shaft or pivot q is armed with a
pinion o¹ of the same size as the pinion o on the crown wheel sleeve,
from which motion in the same direction and at the same velocity is
imparted to the pinion o' through an intermediate pinion o³, mounted
on a pendent pivot q¹ in the arm or enclosing case. The arrangement
of the link shaft q and its rotating head R to which the links p are con-
nected eccentrically to the rake shaft N serves to impart the rising and
falling or vertical movements of the rake and recl arms necessary to
enable them to pass the drive wheel and the driver seated on the
machine, and to permit the rake heads P¹ to descend into the standing
grain and to pick up lodged or fallen grain and present the same to the
cutters and deposit it after it is cut on the platform. The point ať
which the rakes descend into the grain may be regulated if desired by
the adjustment of the arm Q forward or backward relatively to the plane
of the cutting apparatus. The links p are jointed and extensible, the
two parts being connected, one p at one end to the head R, and at the
other end to the outer end of the part p', which at its inner end is pro-
vided with a pivot ¹ mounted in a socket 7 in the rake arm. A. spring
surrounding the pivot within the socket serves by its tension to
prevent any yielding or extension of the jointed link when the arms P
act as reel arms only, and in which case they pursue an uniform path;'
but when the arms P are caused to act as rake arms, as herein-after
explained, the spring yields and permits the deflected parts p, p, to
approach a right line effecting an elongation of the link necessary to
permit such change of path. After the rake head has passed over the
platform and discharged the grain the tension of the spring retracts it
to its former position for passing the wheel on its return movement and
causes it to resume its normal position of reel beater. If preferred the
parts of the link may be made to slide by each other, as shown at p*;
and a spring attached to angle arms or spurs p² on the pivoted end of

page_text: each, as shown, may be applied to contract the link, or draw its parts
together after the arm has acted as a rake arm, as described.
The devices for giving direction to the arms P when acting as rake
arms are as follows:-A horizontal segment S provided on its outer face
with horizontal lips or flanges s, s³, is connected by a vertical pivot near
or slightly in rear of the centre of its length with an arm N2 of the rake
standard N', a spring & surrounding said pivot, serving by its tension to
draw and hold the forward end of the segment inward toward the rake
shaft and out of the way of the rake and reel arms, its inward movement
being limited by a stop t¹. The flanges s, s¹, form between them a
curved horizontal groove or way, and friction roller u mounted on a
horizontal stud on a lug or bracket u¹ attached to the rake and reel arm P
moves within said groove when the arms act as rakes, but freely passes
by the upper flanges when the segment S is withdrawn for permitting
the arms to act as gcathering arms or reel beaters only. Upon the
lower sleeve of the crown wheel O and resting upon a shoulder on the
supporting standard N¹ is placed a cam sleeve V feathered to and
rotating with the crown wheel sleeve but free to slide up and down
thereon and held in place by a spring v.
A cam V¹ formed upon or
attached to this rotating sleeve V acts upon a friction roller w mounted
upon the forward end of the pivoted way S at each revolution of the
rake shaft and forces said end outward, causing the friction roller u to
engage with the grooved way S as the rake arm P passes over the
cutters, thereby retaining said arm in its depressed relation until the
rake head connected therewith has swept the grain off the platform,
when it is lifted again as before explained. The cam V₁ may be dupli-
cated if desired, and thus one, two, or more of the rake heads may be
made to act as rakes as desired. In turning corners, or whenever the
condition of the grain is such that it is desired to allow it to remain
longer upon the platform than it would if acted upon by the regular
rotation of the cam V', said cam may be raised by sliding its sleeve
upward on the sleeve of the crown wheel O, and thus causing it to pass.
over the roller w and without actuating the same, and this is accom-
plished by the driver in his seat pressing his foot upon a lever W and
thereby through links x and levers W₁ and W2 or other convenient
arrangement for the purpose, acting upon said sleeve overcoming the
tension of the spring and raising the cam, which as soon as the
pressure of the hand or foot is withdrawn is returned to its normal
:

page_text: position by the spring v and again throws the rake track into action as
before. The crown or rake wheel O is driven by a bevel pinion on the
forward end of a longitudinal shaft, the rear end of which is provided
with a bevel wheel which engages with and is driven by a bevel pinion.
on the pinion shaft, but any preferred arrangement of driving mechanism
may be used. Such parts of the machine as are not particularly referred
to and described may be constructed in any usual or preferred manner.
Having thus described my Invention, and means by which the same.
is carried into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the exact details shown and described, as the same may be
varied without departing from the peculiar character of my Invention,
but what I do claim is,-
- First. The combination of the rotating sleeve I and dog or spur i with
the coupling arm or brace for preventing the downward deflection of the
outer end of said bar and enabling the driver to raise the same, as set.
forth.
Second. The combination of the rotating sleeve I provided with the
locking spur i, with the weighted arm j and foot lever J, as and for the
purpose specified.
Third. The crank shaft sleeve A* provided with the spur a¹ in com-
bination with the coupling sleeve or collar F, substantially as described
and shown.
Fourth. The coupling sleeve F in combination with the friction
spring a*, arranged and operating substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of the grass shield or guard L with the
swivelling coupling sleeve F, to which the vibrating coupling arm is
bolted in such manner as to cause such shield to move with the coupling
sleeve and arm, as described.
Sixth. The yielding spring pitman holder M applied to the shoc H
and operating to hold the pitman connected with the sickle bar, as
specified.
Seventh. A cast metal harvester frame provided with tubular re-
ceptacles for and in combination with removable tapering thimbles b,
substantially as described.
Eight. The eccentrically arranged rotating head R to which the reel
and rake arms are linked in combination with mechanism for imparting

page_text: a positive rotation to said head in the same direction with and timed to
those of the rake and reel shaft, substantially as described.
Ninth. The rotating eccentrically arranged head R in combination
with the supporting arm Q which also serves to cover or enclose and
protect the gearing for operating said head, substantially as specified.
Tenth. The yielding or extensible links p, p, connecting the rake and
recl heads with the eccentric pivot or head R in combination with the
retracting spring n², operating as described.
Eleventh. The flanged or grooved track S connected by a vertical
pivot with its supporting standard, and operating substantially in the
manner and for the purposes specified.
Twelfth. The cam V₁ rotating with the rake and reel shaft in com-
bination with the vertically pivoted way or track S, arranged and
operating as set forth..
Thirteenth. The cam sleeve V feathered upon and rotating with the
crown wheel sleeve, as described, and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Anson Wood, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
TUTT TTAM
ANTOAN TH