AN IMPROVED MOWING OR REAPING MACHINE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED MOWING OR REAPING MACHINE." A communication from
abroad by Joseph Evanno. of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1880.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED MOWING OR REAPING
MACHINE." [A communication from abroad by Joseph Evanno, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to an improved mowing or reaping machine, which is very
simple in construction and operation, and which works with great rapidity. In this
improved machine the part designed for cutting the grass or corn to be harvested
consists of scythe-blades turning around a vertical axis.
The construction of a machine embodying this Invention is clearly shewn in the
accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a plan of the said machine.
Figure 2 represents an elevation of the working parts thereof drawn to an enlarged
scale, and
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the said parts.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
a, a, are the wheels of the carriage, the axle of which wheels carries pulleys b, b,
whose motion is transmitted by cords, chains, or belts c to an intermediary horizontal
shaft d, which is for this purpose also provided with pulleys e, c. The shaft d
carries at one end a helicoidal or worm wheel f, which transmits rotary motion
to a vertical shaft g by means of a worm h mounted on a sleeve i keyed to the said
shaft g.
suitable
The shaft g is supported in a "goose-neck" standard or in a frame of any
kind mounted upon the carriage. The "goose-neck" standard is attached to the
carriage by means of a bolt, which serves as its axis, and upon which it is free

page_text: to rotate when necessary, as, for instance, when the blades are to be drawn under-
neath the carriage.
The shaft g has on its upper part a screw-threaded portion k, which passes through
a part of the standard j provided with an internal screw-thread, so that by turning
the hand-wheel in one direction or the other the scythes or blades m fixed to the
lower end of the shaft g are caused to approach toward or be withdrawn from the
ground. Above the blades m and upon the shaft are keyed flat springs n, upon
which smaller flat springs p press laterally. By reason of the rotation of the shaft g
these flat springs successively strike against a fixed rod q mounted on the underside
of the carriage. This rod is surrounded by a loose sleeve r, which facilitates the
passing of the springs over the rod q.
Any suitable clutch or disengaging gearing may be placed between the driving
axle and the shaft operating the cutters.
The operation of the said machine is as follows, that is to say :-As the machine
advances the shaft d is caused to rotate by means of the pulleys b, e, and the belts
or chains c. This shaft in rotating causes the vertical shaft g to revolve together
with the scythe-blades m, which thus cut the blades or stems of the grass or
corn.
The grass or corn thus cut down is carried away by the springs n and the scythes,
but the springs impinging upon the rod q stop for a certain time whilst the scythe
continues its movements, therefore the grass or corn is no longer supported and falls
to the ground, whilst the springs n after being sufficiently bent pass the rod q and
become straight again by their own elasticity assisted by the action of the small
springs p.
The blades or stems of grass or corn thus laid on the ground may then be
gathered and bound by an independent sheaf-binder or by any suitable sheaf-binder
mounted on this machine.
The form of the various parts and the manner of mounting the same may vary
according to the requirements of practical working without departing from the
principle of my Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th June 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED MOWING OR REAPING
MACHINE." A communication from abroad by Joseph Evanno, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to an improved mowing or reaping machine which is very
simple in construction and operation, and which works with great rapidity. In
this improved machine the part designed for cutting the grass or corn to be
mown or harvested consists of scythe-blades rotating around a vertical shaft or
axis.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shown various forms or modifications of
reaping and mowing machines constructed according to this Invention. In these
Drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan of one form of machine constructed according to the said
Invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the working parts thereof drawn to an enlarged
scale, and
Figure 3 is a similar view partly in longitudinal vertical section of the same.
Figures 5 to 34 illustrate modified arrangements of various parts of the said
machine hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
a, a, are the wheels of the carriage or vehicle; the axle of these wheels carries
the pulleys b, b, which, by means of cords, chains, or belts c, transmit motion
to an intermediary horizontal shaft d provided with pulleys e for this purpose.
Instead of the means for transmitting power above described, I in some cases
substitute the following, that is to say :-
1. I dispense with the horizontal intermediary shaft d and work the scythe-
carrying shaft g directly through the pulley e by crossing the belt c as shewn in
Figure 5.
2. I operate the shaft g by bevel-wheels 1, and retain the intermediary
horizontal shaft d, see Figures 6 and 8.
3. I operate the said shaft g by horizontal and vertical intermediary gear wheels
as shewn in Figures 12, 21, 25.
The shaft d carries at its outer end a helicoidal or worm wheel ƒ (Figure 1)
which transmits rotary motion to the vertical shaft g by means of a worm h
mounted on a sleeve keyed upon the said shaft g. This shaft g is supported on a
goose-neck standard j or in any other suitable frame mounted upon the carriage.
This goose-neck j is secured to the carriage by means of a bolt which serves as its
axis, and around which it is capable of turning when required, as, for instance,
when the blades are to be drawn beneath the carriage.
The shaft has at its upper part a screw-threaded portion k which passes
through a screw threaded portion of the goose-neck standard j, so that by turning
he hand wheel in one direction or the other the scythe-blades m keyed to the
ower end of the shaft g may be caused to approach nearer to or be withdrawn
urther from the ground.
To afford greater facility for thus adjusting the scythe-blades I may effect the
aising or lowering thereof either by a lever 2, as indicated in Figures 5, 10, 25, and
28, or if desired by means of pinions 3 or any suitable toothed wheels and an
ntermediary shaft 4, see Figures 6, 15, and 24. In some cases I use a special
rrangement of the shaft as shown in Figures 12 and 14.

page_text: Above the blades m and upon the shaft g are keyed flat springs or plates n which
are pressed sideways by small spring plates p. By reason of the rotation of the
shaft
the springs or plates n successively strike against a fixed rod q mounted
on the underside of the carriage. This rod is surrounded by a loose sleeve which
facilitates the passage of the springs n past the rod q.
Clutch or disengaging mechanism of any suitable construction may be placed
between the driving axle and the shaft by which the mowing devices are
actuated.
The operation of the machine is as follows, that is to say:-As the machine
advances the shaft d is caused to rotate by means of the pulleys b, e, and the belts
or chains c. The shaft d in rotating causes the vertical shaft g to rotate likewise,
and also the scythe-blades m, which thus cut the blades or stalks of grass, corn, or
the like.
The grass or corn thus cut down is carried away by the springs n, and the scythes,
but the springs abutting against the rod q will stop for a certain time, whilst the
scythes continue their movement. It follows therefore that the grass or corn
which is no longer supported, falls to the ground, whilst the springs or plates n,
after having bent to a sufficient extent, will pass beyond the rod q and become
straight again by their own elasticity, aided by the action of the small springs p.
The stalks or blades of grass or corn thus laid on the ground may then be
gathered and bound by an independent sheaf-binder, or by a sheaf-binder of any
suitable construction mounted on the carriage of my improved mowing or reaping
machine. The above described arrangement of the springs which serve to lay on
the ground the cut corn or grass may be varied to suit different soils, or
different methods of cultivating the same and of harvesting and according to the
crop to be harvested or other circumstances.
I have shewn in the accompanying Drawings several of such arrangements, which
I will now proceed to describe.
being
Figure 7 shows the springs arranged to cross each other, a second shaft
employed for this purpose. One of these springs n is provided with a hinge or is
pivotted at s, and a small spring p bears upon its end so as to bring the spring n
back to its normal position.
Figure 9 represents an analogous arrangement, the blades m being in a different
position.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 11, a small spiral or other spring is added
to assist in bringing the springs back into their normal position.
Figure 13 represents an arrangement in which I mount the springs or spring-
plates n and p upon two shafts 7 and 8, by which means the cut blades or stalks
of grass or corn are more perfectly gathered.
To disengage and also raise the crop which has been cut, I combine with the
scythe-blades, with a capability of revolving therewith, rakes 9 placed horizontally,
as shewn in Figures 16, 17, and 19. These rakes are provided with rollers 10,
which serve to support them from the ground and to guide them on a curved
metal-piece 11 during their various oscillatory movements.
I may however arrange these rakes in any convenient position relatively to that
of the scythes, and employ in combination therewith any suitable arrangement
of gearing or mounting.
Figure 17 shows a rotary rack which is adapted to be arranged vertically behind
the scythe m, and which if desired may be actuated by the pulley 12.
In the construction illustrated in Figure 18, the rake 9 is vertical and is mounted
on a shaft 13, actuated by toothed pinions. To this rake such motion may be
imparted that it will follow the metal guide 11, being guided by the rollers 10.
Figure 20 illustrates a modification, according to which I place the rake q by the
side of the blades m; and Figure 21 indicates the oblique position which the rakes
may assume when rising. In the latter case the rakes 9 are mounted on a collar 14
fitted on the driving pinion.

page_text: I will now proceed to describe various arrangements of gearing and spring
mechanism which may be employed.
In some cases I use small coiled springs w in combination with the flat springs n
and p (Figure 23), or I may fix this coiled spring w, as shown in Figure 26° on
each side of the articulations of the springs n. I also in some cases combine with
the preceding arrangement a piece Z which is operated by an excentric, and which
has the form of a stirrup; this piece is provided with hooks which are caused to act
on the springs n when a to-and-fro movement is imparted to them by the excentric
keyed on the small intermediary shaft v, the latter being provided with a driving
pulley for the purpose.
Figure 30 shows a modification of this arrangement, in which the hooks of the
piece Z are constantly brought back to their normal position by small springs
placed in the interior of the said piece or stirrup Z. In this case the excentric is
replaced by two studs striking against corresponding projections u, these projections
being actuated by the mechanism shewn.
Instead of transmitting motion to the mechanism of my improved machine by
belts, the same may be actuated by a crank A placed upon the axle of the carriage,
as shewn in Figure 22, or the axle itself may act as the crank, and would in this
case have the form of a crank-shaft, as shown in Figures 28 and 29.
Figures 24 and 25 represent other arrangements of driving mechanism which
may be adopted for imparting the requisite motion to the various parts of the
machine.
In Figure 31 I have shewn driving mechanism consisting simply of a shaft B
which receives motion from the axle of the carriage, and transmits such motion to
the scythe-carrying shaft by bevel gearing.
In Figure 32 the horizontal shaft d is shewn as consisting of two parts connected
by a screw-nut c¹ which permits the length of the said shaft to be varied.
In Figures 33 and 34 I have shewn another arrangement of driving mechanism
which consists in an intermediate shaft a¹ carrying pulleys b'. The shaft d' which
carries the cutting blades or scythes is driven by means of ropes e¹ passing over
intermediate pulleys f' placed between the pulleys b₁ and the shaft d'. Rotary
movement of the shaft a¹ is effected by means of the pulleys c* fixed upon the axle
of the carriage. The advantage of this arrangement is that the necessity of
employing toothed gearing is obviated, and consequently the breaking of teeth and
the repairs necessitated thereby.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In a mowing or reaping machine, a vertical shaft capable of endwise
adjustment, and provided at its lower end with scythe-blades in combination with
the springs for disengaging the cut crop.
Second. The provision for transmitting motion to the vertical scythe-shaft from
the axle of the vehicle, by mechanism consisting of pulleys and belts, substantially
as above described.
Third. The springs for disengaging the cut crop, combined and operating sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figures 7, 9, 11, 13, 23, 26, and 30 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. Providing for raising the scythe-shaft by means of a screw or
levers or toothed wheels, operating substantially as above set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Fifth. The modification of my Invention, whereby I provide for the transmission
of motion from the axle of the carriage to the scythe-shaft by means of a crank
and bevel-wheels, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The modification of my Invention wherein I combine with the said scythe-
blades, rakes which disengage and carry away the crop as it is cut by the said
blades, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The modification of my Invention wherein the said rakes are provided

page_text: with rollers to run on the ground and upon a metal guide, substantially as and for
the purpose described and as shown in Figures 16, 17ª, 18, 19, and 21 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Eighth. The modification of my Invention illustrated in Figures 33 and 34 of
the Drawings, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The combination of the parts as shewn in either or any of the forms or
modifications above described, or in any other substantially similar manner, all as
above set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)