A IMPROVED MODE OF FIXING TEETH OR KNIVES TO THE ROD OR BACK OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Peter Furness, of Bradway, in the Parish
of Norton, County of Derby, Scythe Manufacturer, for the Inven-
tion of "A IMPROVED MODE OF FIXING TEETH OR KNIVES TO THE ROD
OR BACK OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES.”
"
Sealed the 3rd April 1872, and dated the 5th October 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Peter Furness at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th October 1871.
I, JOHN PETER FURNESS, of Bradway, in the Parish of Norton, County
of Derby, Scythe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED. MODE OF FIXING TEETH OR KNIVES TO THE ROD
OR BACK OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode or method of fixing or
fastening the teeth or knives of reaping or mowing machines to the rod
or back, the object of the Invention being to enable the teeth, knives or
cutters to be removed or replaced with ease, and without the necessity

page_text: of losing any important time in the reparation of the reaper or mower
in case of accident to any tooth or teeth.
In order to effect this object I propose to adopt two methods, the
first being to cut the bar or rod with dovetailed grooves or notches, and
to form the tangs or handles of the teeth or knives with corresponding &
flat shafts, which fit into the grooves by insertion. I cut or bore the
tang, shaft or handle of the cutter with a bore or aperture through
which a set screw is passed, travelling into a thread cut in the rod or
bar. The position of the screw is in the centre of the tang, and serves
in combination with the dovetail to secure the cutter in position.
1
In the second example I propose to dispense altogether with dove-
tailed grooves and cutter tangs, and to fix the cutters in grooved
recesses cut in the rod or back. I insert two pins, plugs or stems
into the rod, one on each side of the central screw; I then cut on
each side of the tang a corresponding aperture through which the 1
square or round pegs are made to enter and hold the cutter firmly in
position, in conjunction with the central screw which clamps the knife
or cutter to the rod or back.
By this Invention should any accident occur (during the working of
the reaper, or mower) to the knives, and it should be requisite to replace 2
a damaged knife by a new one, it will be easy for an ordinary attendant
to detach and substitute a knife merely by the aid of a. turnscrew,
whereby the central binding screw can be loosened and removed in
order to release the cutter or knife, a supply of which could be always
at hand in case of emergency, and all being made of an uniform size 2
they would fit the grooves of the rod or back.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Peter Furness in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 5th April 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN.
PETER FURNESS, of Bradway, in the Parish of Norton, County of Derby,
Scythe Manufacturer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
5 and grant unto me, the said John Peter Furness, Her special licence
that I, the said John Peter Furness, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Peter Furness, my 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 “AN IMPROVED
MODE OF FIXING TEETH OR KNIVES TO THE. ROD OR BACK OF REAPING AND
MOWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
5 said John Peter Furness, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, 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
O next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Peter Furness, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
-
My Invention relates to an improved mode or method of fixing or
fastening the sections, teeth or knives to the rod or back or cutter bar
of reaping and mowing machines, the object of the Invention being to
enable the sections, teeth or knives to be removed or replaced with ease,
and without the necessity of losing any important time in the reparation
of the reaper or mower in case of breakage or accident to any section,
tooth or knife.
In order to effect this object, I propose to adopt two methods, the
first being to cut the back rod or cutter bar with dovetailed grooves or
notches, and to form the tangs or handles of the sections, teeth or
knives with corresponding flat shafts, which fit into the grooves by
insertion, and are held in their true position by the overwrapping of
the projecting short upper surfaces of the bar or rod, and by an under

page_text: ledge cut lengthways on the rod or bar. The bar may be cither mado
solid or with lateral or side supports of the knives fixed as by rivet,
scrow, or soldered or brazed on, and may be made of any metal. I cut
or bore the tang, shaft or handle of the section, tooth or cutter with a
boro or aperture through which a set screw, screws, pin or pins is or arc 5
passed, travelling into a thread cut in the rod or bar, the knife being
what is termed a shouldered knife. The position of the screw or pin is
in the centre of the tang, and serves in combination with the dovetail
to secure the section, tooth or knife in position. The section tooth or
knife might also be inserted in slots or grooves cut in the centre or 1
lower side of the bar or rod.
In the second example I propose to dispense altogether with dovetailed
grooves and cutter tangs, and to fix the cutters on the upper surface of
the rod or back. I insert two pins, plugs or stems into the rod, one on
each side of the central screw; I then cut on each side of the tang a 1
corresponding aperture, through which the squaro or round pegs are
made to enter and hold the cutter firmly in position in conjunction
with the central screw, which clamps the knife or cutter to the rod
or back.
By this Invention, should any accident occur (during the working of 2
the reaper or mower) to the sections or knives, and it should be requisite
to replace a damaged knife by a new one, it will be easy for an ordinary
attendant to detach and substitute a knife merely by the aid of a turn-
screw, whereby the central binding screw can be loosened and removed
in order to release the cutter or knife, a supply of which could be always 2
at hand in case of emergency, and all being made of an uniform size
they would fit the grooves of the rod, back or cutter bar.
In order more fully to explain my said Invention I annex the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which the first example is shown
by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Fig. 1 being a plan view, Fig. 2 a back sectional 3
'clovation, and Fig. 3 a transverse section through C, D, of Fig. 1.
Similar letters denote corresponding parts in each Figure. a, a, are the
blades or knives, the rod, back or cutter bar, and c the fastening
the dovetail of the tangs is shown at Fig. 2.
screw;
The second example is shown by Figs. 4, 5, and 6, Fig. 4 being a 8
plan view, Fig. 5 a back sectional clevation, and Fig. 6 a transverse
section through A, B,. of Fig. 5. In these examples the knives a, a,

page_text: have three apertures cut in the tangs, the two side apertures receiving
the pins or plugs d, d, and the central aperture being threaded to receive
the tightening screw c, as in the first example.
The objects of the Invention may by these means easily be effected, as
it would occupy but little time to remove a knife and replace another in
case of need from accidental breakage or other cause, thus avoiding tho
necessity of sending the mower or reaper to be repaired, each implement
being provided with an additional set of knives ready for use.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would remark that I
do not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of the several
parts named, as the same may be modified or varied without departing
from the principles involved; but what I claim and desire to be secured
to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved
method of fixing or attaching the teeth, sections or knives of reaping
or mowing machines to the rod, back or cutter bar, 1st, by inserting
the dovetailed tangs of such knives in corresponding dovetails cut on
the surface of the rod or bar, where they are held by a screw and the
overwrapping edges and under ledge of the bar; and 2ndly, by
cutting or forming channels in the surface of the rod or bar, and cutting
three apertures in the tang to receive the central screw and the two side
pins, plugs or stoms inserted in the bar, all substantially as and for the
purposes herein specified and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Peter Furness, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
C. H. JOHNSON,
Surveyor,
Sheffield.
JOHN PETER FURNESS. (L.S.)