IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Brigham and Richard Bickerton, of the Town
and Borough of Berwick-on-Tweed, Implement Makers, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Brigham and
Richard Birkerton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 9th February 1867.
We, JOHN BRIGHAM and RICHARD BICKERTON, of the Town and Borough of
Berwick-on-Tweed, Implement Makers, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," to be
as follows, that is to say:-
This said Invention consists essentially in the first place in driving the
working mechanism of reaping and mowing machines at two different speeds
by an internal and an external prime moving spur wheel attached to their
bearing, rolling, and driving wheel (or one of them when there are more than
one) in the same line, the one concentric within the other, or otherwise in
different planes, according as one pinion is used for working into both wheels
or a pinion for each is employed respectively, carried on the end of the first
motion shaft, which is placed within the annular space left, of some inches,
between the toothed peripheries of these wheels so as to be easily shifted into
gearing or motion with or by the large internal wheel when the machine is
required to cut grass or other light crop, and into gearing with the smaller

page_text: external wheel when it is required to cut grain or other heavy corn or crop,
and thus actuate the knives or cutters and delivery or other moving mechanism
of the machine at a fast or slow speed respectively as may be required; and
in the second place in a new or improved form or construction of the "tip"
or tilting board or platform of reaping and mowing machines (for delivering
the cut crops in sheaves or bundles upon the ground at intervals) by hinging
and tilting it at by preference between a fourth and a fifth of its whole width
behind the finger bar in two parts or pieces by a hinge and crank arrange-
ment near the joint or junction of the two parts in addition to the usual fixed
tilting joint or gudgeons, so that the depressing or turning of the crank tilts
the main or back part of the platform to its lowest position upon or near to
the ground (whether actuated by the attendant's foot or automatically by the
machine) and at the same time raises the smaller or narrow part of the
board in front through a greater arc than that due to the motion of the
back part so as to cause it to throw back the loose cut crop laying on
it faster and in a more compact sheaf upon the ground than the platform
would otherwise have done as heretofore constructed and tilted, and at the
same time cause it to be standing up or passing through an are at nearly a
right angle to its own normal position so as to hold up the crop being cut
during the interval of tilting and delivering before or until the crank has been
released or caused to lower it again and raise the back part to a straight line
or plane with it to receive the cut crop in a more compact heap in conse-
quence of being so held during that time. The said tilting and throwing
motion may also be given to the two parts of the delivery board by jointing
them to each other by stop hinges on their under side at about six inches
behind the finger bar, and making the whole tilt on the usual gudgeons near
the said hinged joint upon the back edge of the narrow front part by a pinion
wheel or short lever attached to one gudgeon actuated by the depression of a
toothed rack or segmental wheel or by a linked rod when a lever is employed,
each of which would raise the front part fast through a considerable are after
the back part was tilted upon the ground, and after throwing and delivering
the sheaf bring back and retain both parts in a straight line and normal position
to receive the cut crop, all as in the former crank arrangement. And these
several improvements of this said Invention ronder reaping and mowing
machines more generally useful and perfect in their action than they have been
as heretofore constructed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Brigham and Richard Bickerton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 7th August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
BRIGHAM and RICHARD BICKERTON, of the Town and County of Berwick-on-
Tweed, Implement Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent; bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and graut unto us, the said
John Brigham and Richard Bickerton, Her special licence that we, the said
John Brigham and Richard Bickerton, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said John Brigham and Richard Bickerton,
our executors, 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 AND MOWING
MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John
Brigham and Richard Bickerton, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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 we, the said John Brigham and Richard Bickerton,
do bereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the several illustrative figures, letters, nad
numerals marked thereon, the same reference letters and numerals iudicating
the same or corresponding parts in all the Figures, all of which we have
hereunto appended for the purpose of showing the best modifications and
means we are at present aware of for practically performing or putting our
said Invention into practice, that is to say:-
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an iron framed "buck eye" combined
reaping and mowing machine constructed in accordance with the Invention
for which Letters Patent were granted to us, bearing date the Ninth day or

page_text: September, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, and numbered 2310,
but also having in addition the new improvements applied thereto, constituting
one modification or application of this said Invention, the section being taken
on the line 1, 1, in Figure 2, through the improved tilting delivery platform;
Figure 2 is a plan of the same machine, corresponding to Figure 1, with the
driver's seat and platform removed for the purpose of showing the details
connected with these improvements for actuating the general gearing, knives,
and the cutter bar, at different speeds or velocities in relation to the speed at
which the rolling road wheels of the machine are drawn over the ground and
also to suit the particular kind of corn, grass, or other growing crop to be cut,
and through which the finger bar and cutters are drawn at the time for the
purpose of reaping or mowing the same; and which improved actuating
mechanism forms the first part of this said Invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are a sectional elevation and partial plan respectively of an
iron framed single horse and single driving wheel reaping and mowing machine
constructed in accordance with the Invention for which Letters Patent were
granted to us, bearing date the Twentieth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three, and numbered 751, showing another modification of
and a special application thereto of the said improvements in the actuating
gearing for driving the cutters and working mechanism at different speeds,
which forms the first part of this said Invention.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, and to the first part of this said Invention,
the modification therein shown of these inprovements consists essentially in
driving the working gearing and crank shaft 4 for actuating the connecting
rod 3 and cutters and cutter bar 1 and 2 of this reaping and mowing machine
at a slow speed by the externally toothed spur wheel 5 when the machine is
used for reaping corn or other heavy growing crop, and by the larger internally
toothed spur wheel 6 at a faster speed when it is used for mowing or reaping
natural or cultivated grass or other light growing crop, both wheels 5 and 6
being either bolted or cast on to the arms or web of one of the rolling and
driving road wheels C, in the same plane and concentric with each other, so
that the one pinion 7 on the end of the short transverse first motion shaft 8
may work or gear into the teeth of either of the wheels 5 or 6 by shifting either
the shaft 8 and pinion 7, or the main shaft or axle B and road wheel C,
carrying the actuating wheels 5 and 6 at their respective bearing blocks 8¹
and B' upon the frame A, the bearing blocks 8¹ and B¹ so required or made
to shift being made separate or detachable from the frame A, and fitted and
fixed firmly thereto by a broad sole, with short oblong holes and screw bolts
for the purpose. This fixing of the first actuating pinion 7 and shaft 8 in gear

page_text: with the large or small wheels 5 or 6 being effected in a substantial manner for
the time being to suit the kind of growing crop the machine then is required
to cut, the short first motion shaft 8 giving motion the bevil wheel 9 keyed
on it to the crank shaft 4 by the loose revolving pinion 10 coupled to its
shaft 4 by the spring clutch 11 furnished with a small forked clutch lever
handle projecting up through the platform of the seat adjacent to the driver's
hand (and which being arranged in very much the usual manner as adopted
for other such machines we have not considered it necessary to show the said
clutch hand lever in the Drawings), for engaging or disengaging the cutting
mechanism and gearing generally at pleasure.
a less difference of
the same pinion 7
In the modification shown in Figures 3 and 4 the two driving wheels 5
and 6 are arranged in different planes within the road wheel C, and two
pinions 7 and 7 mounted on the end of the shaft 8 (by preference cast.
together) to work in each wheel respectively, so as to give
speed to the gearing and cutting mechanism than when
only is made to gear into both of the driving wheels 5 and 6. Instead of
the large pinion 7' being made to gear into the large wheel 6 the smaller
one 7 may be made to gear into the large wheel 6 and the large pinion 7¹
into the smaller wheel 5; which arrangement would give a greater difference
of the two speeds to the gearing than by that shown and described in relation
to the two former modifications Figures 1 to 4. The disengaging and
engaging spring clutch 11 used in the modification shown in Figures 3 and 4
is fitted on the shaft 8 so as to couple the wheel 9, in this case left loose on
the shaft, instead of the pinion 10 which is keyed on the extreme end of the
crank shaft in this arrangement.
Another good arrangement for coupling and uncoupling the gearing may
be adopted by shifting the shaft 8 with the pinion 7 and wheel 9 keyed on.it
on end in its bearings, so as to disengage or engage either of these wheels.
with the wheels. into which they work, or otherwise by shifting either the
pinion 7 out of or into gear with the wheels 5 and 6, or the wheel 9 into or
out of gear with its pinion 10 by an ordinary clutch hand lever arrangement.
In this improved mode of actuating the gearing of reaping and mowing
machines and their cutting mechanism the driving road wheels C may be made
fast to their axles or shafts B, and revolve with them in their bearing blocks B',
or otherwise the wheels C may be made to revolve on the overhanging ends
of their axles B, as desired.
One modification of the improvements under the second part of this Inven-
tion, which consists of a new or improved form and construction of "tip" or
tilting delivery platform for reaping and mowing machines, is shown in

page_text: カラ
Figures 1 and 2, and consists essentially in forming and hinging the platform
in two parts a and a¹ firmly jointed and attached to each other by the strong
hinges 6, near the front part of the platform; the narrow front part a of the
platform. is mounted so as to tilt on the usual spindle or gudgeons c, working
in bearings in the bracket of the dividing guard d, carrying the outer running
wheel and the inner bracket d¹, both bolted to the finger bar e of the machine.
The back part a¹ of the platform, which is entirely supported by the "stop
hinges to the fore part a,. is, by preference, made of a light and strong con-
struction of bars fixed to the strong rail attached to the front part a by the
hinges 6, but the part a¹ of the platform may, when desired, be made of a light
flat board or plate. A spur pinion f is keyed on the inner end of the gudgeon c,
which. passes out through the journal bearing in the bracket d¹ gearing into
the segmental wheel f¹ fulcrumed on a stud in the bracket d'. The segmental
wheel is attached directly by its projecting arm f2, and the pendent con-
necting rod g to the actuating hand lever h mounted on a bracket projecting
up from the frame A adjacent to the driver or the attendant, so that either of
them can depress the bandle of the lever h, and so raise the connecting rod g
and segmental wheel f¹ at short intervals; this action turns the pinion f so as
to tilt or turn the hinges 6 and back part a¹ of the platform round the tilting
axle c. in an eccentric or crank-like path, and thus allow the back of the
platform to fall very low and cause the extreme back ends of the bars to fall
upon the ground while the front part a of the platform is tilted up through a
greater are, and at a faster rate, for some little time after the back part a' has
rested on the ground than is possible when the whole broad platform is made,
as usual, in one piece, which by this improved construction and action has the
effect of throwing back the loose cut crop laying on the whole platform a, a',
better and in a more compact bundle or sheaf at proper intervals upon the
ground than with tilting platforms as hitherto formed and tilted.
platform a, a, is shown in this tilted position in red lines in Figure 1, and in
transverse sectional elevation detached in Figure 5. At the same time the
sheaf is being so delivered the fore part a is caused to stand up or pass through
an arc at nearly right angles to the normal angular position of the platform
when receiving the cut crop, and so as to hold up the crop being cut while
tilting, until the release of the lever h allows the front part a to tilt down upon
the finger bar e and cause the "stop" crank lever action of the hinges b to
raise the back part a¹ of the platform to its proper angular position to receive
the cut crop. The weight of the connecting rod and other parts is so balanced
as to bring both parts a and a¹ of the platform to their proper straight angular
working position for receiving the cut crop when the hand lever is left free.
The

page_text: The crop being cut, may either be gathered on to the platform by the hand rake
and attendant, or by any of the usual arrangements of automatic reel gathering
mechanism worked by a belt or pitch chain from a pulley on the axis of one of
the road wheels C, and when so gathered a cam or other equivalent mechanical
action and motion may be taken either from the road wheel C or the axis of
the gathering reel to work the lever h or connecting rod g, so as to tilt the
platform, as previously described, at the proper times in relation to the quantity
of corn or other crop gathered on the platform. Instead of the pinion and
segmental wheel f and f' being used simple levers or "spanners" may be
fixed on the tilting axis c of the platform, either attached to a connecting rod
and lever, as herein described, or to a "foot tread" or iron bracket, and a
strap when actuated by lifting the foot; or, when desired, such "foot trend"
may be attached to the segmental wheel f¹, so as to tilt the precise arrange-
ment shown in Figures 1 and 2 by the foot of the attendant, who is gathering
in the crop, instead of by the hand and lever h, as herein described, and
instead of the segmental wheel f¹ a toothed rack on the lower end of the
connecting rod 9 may be made to work into the pinion f, so as to tilt the
platform, as herein-before described. And we consider that these several
improvements in accordance with this our said Invention render reaping and
mowing machines more generally useful, and more perfect in their action than
they have been as heretofore constructed.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we may observe in
conclusion that we do not confine or restrict ourselves to the precise details,
modifications, or arrangements which we have had occasion to describe,
delineate, and refer to, as many variations of and from they may be made
without departing from the main or essential features of our said Invention ;
neither do we claim to have invented the forms and constructions of many of
the parts or their modes of attachment which we have had occasion to describe
and refer to by themselves specially, as such have been used in various kinds
of reaping, mowing, and other machines, except in so far as these have
essential reference to or form parts of our said Invention; but what we
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the general construction and arrangement of the parts of reaping and
mowing machines, substantially in the new or improved manner herein
described and shown in the accompanying Drawing, or any mere modification
thereof.
Second, the actuating or driving the working gearing and mechanism for

page_text: giving motion to the cutters, cutter bar, or other mechanical movements
required in reaping and mowing machines at different speeds by the use of
two spur wheels attached to the rolling and driving road wheel of such
machines, substantially in the new or improved manner herein described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Third, the construction and arrangement of tilting delivery platforms of
reaping and mowing machines in two parts, and modes of actuating the same
by any of the several modifications described, all substantially in the new or
improved manner herein described and shown in the accompanying Drawings,
or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Brigham, have, on behalf of myself
and the said Richard Bickerton, hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
20, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
JOHN BRIGHAM. (L.S.)