Improvements in the Transport Attachments and Constructional Details of Sheaf Binding Harvesters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
Improvements in the Transport Attachments and Constructional
Details of Sheaf Binding Harvesters.
I, ALEXANDER MCGREGOR, of Albion Iron Works, Leigh, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
My invention in the first place relates to the method of, and means for, attaching
the transport wheels, axis and connections to the frame of sheaf binding harvesters,
as also to the pole connection to the platform and the manner in which the same
is secured at the divider end of the machine.
In my former Patent No. 13865 A.D). 1897 I have shown on sheets 1 and 2 at
Figures 1 and 1* the former figure showing the construction of the rear part of
the frame in which the method of connection to the platform 6 is shown by the
splice plate and the rear transport axle bracket a².
The front part of the platform is similarly connected and has a corresponding
front axle bracket.
For convenience of reference to the drawings of my said former patent I have,
so far, similarly lettered the drawings accompanying my present specification and
in Fig. 1 I have shown a transverse section of a portion of a harvester with the
transport wheels c and axis & attached. This transport tube or axis is inserted
at the front, and passing over and guided by extensions el on the bracket e project-
ing from the main axle quadrant, and under the tube or axis d, whence it passes
along through the opening in the rear axle bracket. The said bracket e, e¹,
serves to support the axle d mid-way, and prevents any deflection thereof when
the transport takes the weight of the machine. Now this tube or axis d at the
front end is provided with a tubular distance piece or sleeve f shrunk on or other-
wise firmly connected thereto, and this sleeve is provided with an arm f having
a jaw at its extremity which receives a flange or tooth r (see Fig. 1) formed
immediately under the forward point of the main draught bracket 8, and serves
to prevent the said sleeve f and tube or axle from turning, and to a great extent
removes the strain from the said tube or axle d of this extended length thereof that
carries the front transport wheel. At the rear of the machine I slide a loose
sleeve 7 on to the protruding transport tube or axle, and in the face of the said
sleeve at g' I form an opening or notch corresponding with a web or projection /
on the rear axle bracket a², or frame, by which this sleeve is similarly prevented
from turning on the tube or axle d, when the rear transport wheel c is attached.
To effect the connection between the platform and the end of the pole, I employ
a transverse bar i having at its front end an angle bracket j with say two pins k
protruding inwards through holes formed in the upper angle or flange of the
finger bar, as shown at Fig. 2.
The operator standing at the rear of the machine, can readily hook these pins
in the holes in front, whilst to secure the same at the rear end, a bolt passes
through the small bracket attached to the rear frame of the platform.

page_text: The pole having been detached from the main front draught bracket 8 is con-
nected to a similar fastening a³ on the transverse bar i shown in the perspective
sketch Fig. 3. The grain wheel or axle plate or rack having been removed, see
Fig. 4, the bracket m under the pole (to which the diagonal draught stay is
attached when at work) is provided with a transverse projection m' which drops
into the space formed by the top of the divider rack guide » and is bolted firmly
thereto by a J shaped bolt m³ passing through the boss m² formed in the said
bracket m.
I find this to be a very rigid plan, enabling the attachment or
removal of the transport simple and expeditious.
The next part of my invention relates to the locking of the crank handle o
shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 which effects the raising and lowering of the grain
wheel axle rack. There is a tendency for the handle to turn back owing to the
vibration or jolting of the machine on rough land, and I have found a convenient
way of locking this handle o when it is in the downmost position, is by a hinged
catch attached to the framework of the platform to allow the handle to be
turned in the direction for raising the platform, but by being turned up as shown,
it prevents the handle from turning in the other direction."
In the specification of my said former patent relating to the tipping arrange-
ment, the notched quadrant is shown at Fig. 7 Sheet 3, and bolted to the main
front upright, and the locking latch operates at that point. As the driver who sits
behind the machine cannot see into which notch of the quadrant the catch is in.
I attach a graduated dial 9 Fig. 4 to the axis of the tipping lever at the rear of
the machine, against which an indicator point will show to the driver at a
glance the relation of the degree of tilt to the height of cut at which the machine
had previously been set, and in which notch of the front quadrant he is thereby
enabled to resume operations, in cases where he may have had to lift the cutter
bar over obstructions or in cases of running empty for example.
In driving the knotting mechanism it has been usual for the large driving wheel
to be keyed on to the main knotter shaft, and the crank pin has been usually
rivetted, or otherwise fixed near the periphery which in the case of bevil gearing
may interfere with the root of the teeth.
In place of keying the wheel to the shaft and the crank pin to the wheel, I form
a crank on the end of the said knotter shaft as shown in prospective at s Fig. 5.
and I simply slide the wheel on to the knotter shaft and fix it in position relative
thereto by means of two lugs formed on the said wheel near to the periphery
between which the crank arm fits and is driven.
In my said former patent and in referring to the compressor axis crank at the
front end, I have described a latch to lock the same when the compressor is in
position to receive the sheaf and which is automatically released by the trip in
the usual way, but where occasion may arise to release this latch and with it the
compressor arm from its locked position I extend it as shown at Fig. 6 and form
an eye at the end. (or it may be a hook) to indicate its object and to enable it to
be lifted and thereby release the compressor arm at any moment if necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. In the transport attachments of sheaf binding harvesters, providing the
tube or axis d with a tubular distance piece or sleeve f securely fixed thereto, said
sleeve having an arm f' at its front end in which is a jaw f3 at its extremity
into which jaw the flange or tooth r of the draught bracket as fits and by which
the said sleeve and axis d is thereby supported and prevented from turning sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. In the transport attachments of sheaf binding harvesters, providing
the tube or axis d with a tubular distance piece or sleeve securely fixed thereto,
said sleeve having an arm at its front end in which is a jaw at its extremity into
which jaw a part of the draught brackets fits and by which the said sleeve and axis

page_text: is thereby supported and prevented from turning, in combination with a central
supporting bracket e e and sleeve 9, in the manner and for the purposes herein
set forth.
Third. In the transport attachments of sheaf binding harvesters, the application
to the platform 6 of a transverse bar i provided with an angle bracket having
inward protruding pins fitting into corresponding holes in the finger bar and
attached by a bolt passing through a bracket at the rear end as herein set forth.
Fourth. In the transport attachments of sheaf binding harvesters, forming the
diagonal stay or pole bracket m with transverse webs m' on the underside, capable
of dropping into a corresponding recess in the axle rack guide n and locked thereto
by the shaped bolt m³ passing through a boss formed on the said bracket, or any
mere modification thereof, in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fifth. In sheaf binding harvesters in which the tipping lever is at the rear of
the machine and connected as to admit of regulation in a notched quadrant at
the front of the machine, the employment of an indicator r and dial q attached
to the fulcrum of the said tipping lever at the rear of the machine, in the manner
and for the purpose herein set forth.
Sixth. In the knotter driving mechanism of sheaf binding harvesters, the form-
ing of a crank on the end of the knotter shaft, and sliding the large driving wheel
on to the said shaft and fixing it in position relative to the said crank by means of
lugs formed on the said wheel between which the said crank arm fits as herein
set forth with reference to Figure 5.
0011 of Nomor 1807