Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr., 1889
Complete Specificat.on Accepted, 1st June, 1839
I WILLIAM MCINTYRE CRANSTON of 36 Worship Street, Finsbury, in the county
of Middlesex, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
which has been communicated to me from abroad by The Walter A. Wood Mowing
and Reaping Machine Company of Hoosick Falls, New York, United States of
America to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in Mowing Machines and has for its object
to decrease the cost, and increase the efficiency of Mowing Machines, and to this end
the main frame is made of tubes or gas pipe and is triangular in form, the tubular
bearing in which the axle revolves forming the base, and the shoe support the apex of
the triangle.
The triangular tubular frame also forms a support for a triangular pitman which is
journalled in the frame at or near the axle, and is connected directly with the crank
wheel on the crank shaft parallel to the axle, and the cutting apparatus. By this
method of transmitting motion from the crank shaft parallel to the axle and journalled
in bearings in the frame at or near the axle to the cutting apparatus, a construction of
the frame is rendered possible, which will make more direct connections between the
axle and the shoe support, and the triangular frame forming such connection is the
form best adapted to withstand the strains and jars incident to the operation of
Mowing Machines, and can therefore be made much lighter than those frames now
generally in use.
In order that the triangular oscillating pitman may be readily mounted in its
bearing in the frame and upon the crank pin on the crank shaft wheel, a detachable
cap or cover for the ball bearing in the frame is provided, and in order that the
pitman may be readily connected with or disconnected from the cutting apparatus, it
is provided with a ball fitting into a socket in the sickle head which socket is provided
with a concave cap or cover fitting over the hall hinged to the sickle head and held in
place by a spring catch.
The ball joint connection between the lower end of the oscillating pitman and the
cutting apparatus is best adapted to the peculiar movement imparted to the pitman.

page_text: The spring catch is prevented from getting unfastened by two flanges east on the
sickle haul and projecting upwardly above the catch which is pivotted between the
flanges.
The seat standard and tongue frame is pivotted between two cars or lugs cast on
the main frame and is permitted an independent play irrespective of the movement of
the min frame carrying the pitman and cutting apparatus, and in order that the
required latitude of vertical play may be allowed the mower frame beneath the seat
standard and tongue frame, the triangular oscillating pitman is mounted in the under-
side of the main frame.
In order also that the cutting apparatus may have an undulatory movement to
follow the inequalities of the ground over which the machine passes it is pivotted to
the frame transversely to the axle and its pivots are in lin: or nearly so with the ball
joint on the frame.
By this arrangement the relative position of the cutting apparatas and the triangular
oseiſlating pitman is not changed and the register of the knife is always the same, and
the necessity of an intermediate link connection between the pitman and the knife
obviatel
In order that the pitman may be botter adapted to withstand the shocks and jars,
together with the strains incident to its operation it is cast integral with the bali
swivelled near the axle and a strengthening rit, is cast between its sides,
Motion is communicated from the axle to a pinion fast on a counter shaft on which
is a larger pinion or gear wheel meshing with a pinion on a crank shaft between the
counter slaaft and the axle.
Dated this 28th day of June 1888.

page_text: Improvements in Mowing Machines.
I WILLIAM MCINTYRE CRANSTON of 36 Worship Street, Finsbury, in the county
of Middlesex, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
which has been communicated to me from abroad by the Walter A. Wood Mowing
and Reaping Machine Company of Hoosick Falls, New York, United States of
America and in what manner the same is to be perforined to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in Mowing Machines and has for its object
to decrease the cost, and increase the efficiency of mowing machines, and to this
end the main frame is made of tubes or gas pipes and is triangular in form, the tubular
bearing in which the axle revolves forming the base, and the shoe support the apex
of the triangle.
The triangular tubular frame also forms a support for triangular pitman which
is journaled in the frame at or near the axle and is connected directly with the crank
wheel, on the crank shaft parallel to the axle and the cutting apparatus. By this
method of transmitting motion from the crank shaft parallel to the axle and journalled
in bearings in the frame at or near the axle to the cutting apparatus a construction of
the frame is rendered possible which will make more direct connection between the
axle and the shoe support, and the triangular frame forming such connection is the
form best adapted to withstand the strains and jars incident to the operation of
mowing machines, and can therefore be made much lighter than those frames now
generally in use.
In order that the triangular oscillating pitman may be readily mounted in its
bearings in the frame and upon the crank pin on the crank shaft wheel, a detachable
cap or cover for the ball bearing in the frame is provided, and in order that the
piiman may be readily connected with and disconnected from the cutting apparatus,
it is provided with a ball fitting into a socket in the sickle head, which socket is
provided with a concave cap or cover fitting over the ball hinged to the sickle head,
and held in place by a spring clip. The hall joint connection between the lower
end of the oscillating pitman and the cutting apparatus is best adapted to the peculiar
movement imparted to the pitman. The spring catch is prevented from getting
unfastened by two flanges cast on the sickle head and projecting upwardly above the
catch which is pivotted between the flanges.
The seat standard and tongue frame is pivotted between two ears or lugs cast on
the main frame and is permitted an independent play irrespective of the movement of
the main frame carrying the pitman and the cutting apparatus; and in order that the
entire latitude of vertical play may be allowed the mower frame beneath the seat
standard and tongue frame the triangular oscillating pitman is mounted in the
underside of the main frame. In order also that the cutting apparatus may have an
undulatory movement to follow the inequalities of the ground over which the machine
passes it is pivotted to the frame transversely to the axle, and its pivots are in line or
nearly so with the ball joint on the frame. By this arrangement the relative position

page_text: of the cutting apparatus and the triangular oscillating pitman is not changed, and the
register of the knife is always the same, and the necessity of an intermediate link
connection between the pitman and the knife obviated.
In order that the pitman may be better adapted to withstand the shock and jars
together with the strains incident to its operation it is cast integral with the ball♬
swivelled near the axle, and a strengthening web is east between its sides.
Motion is communicated from the axle to a pinion fast on a countershaft on which
is a larger pinion or gear wheel meshing with a pinion on a crank shaft between
the counter shaft and the axle.
Figure of the annexed drawings is a front perspective view of a machine 1
embodying this invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view, the seat standard, pole and draft attachment not being
shown.
Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the shoe support detached.
Figure is a perspective view of part of the frame detached.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the gear frame.
Figures 5 and 5 are datail views of the tubular frame.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pitman.
Figure 7 a perspective view of a detachable cover for the ball bearing in the
frame in which the pitman is mounted.
Figure 8 a view of a casting to which the draft rod is attached.
Figure a perspective view of the crank shaft and the crank wheel.
Figures 10 and 11 are plan views of the clutch showing it out, and in engagement
respectively.
Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 are details in perspective of the knife head and pitman
connection therewith.
A, A, are the carrying and driving wheels made of steel and loosely mounted on
the axle a which revolves in suitable bushings forming hearings therefor in the
tube a' which is preferably made of gas pipe. A suitable pawl and ratchat connection
is provided between each of the driving wheels and the axle a so that the axle is
caused to revolve by the advance of either or both driving wheels and so that a
This pawl
backwar! movement of either or both wheels will not turn the axle a.
and ratchet mechanism may be of any suitable well known form of construction.
Bis the gear frame (see Figure 5). It is preferably made of malleable iron, and
is clamped on to the tube a by the bolts b. (Figure 2) pissing through the gear
frame, through slots in the tube a' and through a clip in the underside of the gear
frame, the slot in the tube a through which the bolt passes rendering the frame rigid
with the tube a' upon the axle. The malleable iron casting is also similarly secured
on the tube a' and the relative position of the gear frame B and the casting ( with
reference to the tube a' is thus maintained.
Dis the shoe support and in order that the mower frame may ho inado as light
as possible and at the same time be adapted to best withstand the strains and shocks
incident to the operation of a Mowing Machine the shoe support D) is connected
directly to the casting and to the gear frame B which are, as before stated, secured
to the tubo a mounted on the axle by the tabular brace rods c, d and e. thus torming
a triangular tubular frame, the sides of the triangle having the axle for the base
the shoe support for the apex, and forming direct connection between the shoe
support and the axle. The triangular frame also affords a support for the triangular
oscillating pitman by which it is enabled to communicate motion directly from the
crank shaft mounted in bearings in the gear frame B paralel and in close proximity
to the axle and therefore able to form more direct connections betweed the shoe
support and the axle, and to throw the strains and jars incident to the operation of
the machine nearer to the axle.
The tube is holted to the shoe support at its inner end, the support being
suitably recessed on its under sido to receive the tube, and is bolted at its upper end
to the casting which is also suitably recessed on its under side to receive the tube.
The brace rod d is bolted to the shoe support D at d and runs from thence diagonally

page_text: The tubular brace role is
pward to the gear frame B to which it is bolted at dª.
olted to the outer end of the support D and runs from thence diagonally upward
little beyond the gear wheel I when it is bent at a little less than a right angle and
xtending upwardly is bolted in a recess formed therefor in the underside of the gear
rame. The brace rode besides strengthening the frame assists in supporting the
ountershaft and forums a shield for the gear wheel 1 preventing the latter being
roken by any obstacle against which the machine may be driven.
Securely pinned on the axle a is the main gear wheel G provided with the internal
gear teeth meshing with the pinion H secured to one end of the shaft H' revolving
n bearings b', ', formed therefor in the gear frame B.
Loosely mounted on the shaft H' is the internal gear wheel I meshing with the
pinion secured to one end of the crank shaft which revolves in bearings &³, 12,
formed therefor in the gear frame B on the axial side of the countershaft H¹.
The collar K is mounted on the shaft H' and is secured thereto by a spline and
groove so as to be capable of a longitudinal movement on the shaft, but cannot turn
thereon. The aijacent faces of the collar K and the gear wheel I are formed with
clutch teeth which when in engagement cause the gear wheel I to revolve with the
shaft H driving the crank shaft J¹.
The collar K is grooved at k to receive the fork k which is secured to one end of
the shaft sliding in a hearing k³ formed therefor in the frame B. A spiral spring k
is interposed between the frame and the hub of the fork. To the other end of the
shaft is secured a pin which passes through a slot in a projection formed on the
cam lever which is mounted on the shaft turning freely thereon. The cam
face of the lever bears against the frame and when the lever is turned forward
on shaft the cam face bearing against the frame, will, through the pin in
slot, slide the shaft and through the fork k' disengago the clutches; compressing
the spring which, when the lever is moved in the other direction will force the
clutches into engagement.
The shoo support is curvilinear in form being about a half circle and has pivoted
thereto at either end the shoe L the pivots at 1, 2, being in line parallel with the line
of advance of the machine so that the finger bar which is bolted to the shoe is
permitted with the cutting apparatus an undulatory movement to follow the
inequalities of the ground over which the machine passes. 1, 13, are guides bolted to
the shoe on either side to hold the knife in place and may be of any well known form
of construction, the same being true of the shoe, finger bar cutting apparatus, gag
iron, sent standard 1, raising and lowering devices 1, 1.
To the inner end of the crank shaft J' is secured the crank or balance wheel J' in
which is eccentrically secured the crank pin J. The crank shaft J' is parallel with
the axle and on the casting in line with the axis of the crank shuft Jis formed a
ball bearing to receive the ball N³ of the triangular pitman N¹.
The pitman N¹ is formed with a hole n' which passes over the eccentri: crank pin
in the crank wheel. The crank pin J³ is inclined with reference to the axis of the
crank shaft, and always points to the centre of the ball bearing in the frame which
is placed at the intersection of the axial lines of the crank pin and the crank shaft,
and it is evident that the lower end of the pitman which is connected to the knife
will be given a reciprocating movement as the crank wheel revolves.
In order that the pitman may be conveniently mounted in its ball bearing upon the
frame and upon the crank pin in the crank wheel a detachable cap or cover suitably
recessed is provided, which fits over the ball and is bolted to the frame at j.j. The
ball is cast hollow, and is fitted with some suitable absorbent of oil which works
through openings in the ball to lubricate the bearings.
The pitman is attached to the sickle or knife by a ball joint and inasmuch as it
moves at its lower end in the arc of a circle the bearing in the frame and in the
knife for the pitman should be in line at right angles to the axle or nearly so when
the pitman is at the centre of its throw.
It will be noticed from an inspection of Figure 2 that the ball arm socket joint in
the frame C and the pivotted connections of the shoe to its support D are in the

page_text: same line or nearly so, at right angles to the axle. It is sometimes necessary in
mowing to raise the outer end of the finger bar and it is also desirable that the
cutter lar should have a free up and down movement irrespective of the frame to
which it is secured, and by making the ball joint in the frame and the pivotted
connection of the shoe to the shoe support in line, or nearly so, these movements of
the cutting apparatus are permitted without changing the relative positions of the
triangular pitman and the cutting apparatus and the distance from the ball joint in
the frame to the connection of the knife will be the same regardless of the position
of the cutting apparatus and the pitman may be attached directly to the cutting
apparatus without the intervention of an intermediate link. It will also he noticed
that the pitman curves outwardly around the shoe, and that its forward end is in
substantially the same line as the cutting apparatus. The pitman is preferably made
of malleable iron and in order that it may le rigid and sufficiently strong to with-
stand the strain incident to its operation it is east in one piece with the hollow hall N,
and is furthermore braced by the intermediate webbing between its sides.
The
The hall M (see Figure 14) is provided with a short shaft which is driven
tightly in it bearing m in the pitman N. The knife head is formed with a
spherical eup, to which is pivotted at in the cap or cover m. The knife head is
formed with the two flanges m, between which is pivotted at m the spring
catch m, having the lug m" cast thereon, and between the lug m and a corresponding
Ing on the knife head is interposed a spiral spring m³. The lip m³ fits over the
lip on the cap piece, and the spring holds the cap in place over the pitman
ball, and by pressing down on the projection m" of the spring catch, the cup piece
will he released, and may swing up on its pivot in order to remove the pitman.
flanges m project upwardly a sufficient distance beyond the spring catch to prevent
its being unfastened by anything which may become caught on the pitman box. It
is desirable that there should be a ball joint connection between the pitman and the
knife, us it has been found that it is best adapted to the peculiar movement of the
pitman; and in order that the pitman may be readily disconnected from the knife,
the pitman box is formed with the hinged cover held in place by the spring catch,
which is the best form known at present to meet the desired end. The sat bracket
and standard T is pivotted between the ears tt of the pitman frame, and enrries the
pole T secured thereto at its forward end, and in order that there may be sufficient
play between the bracket T and the mower frame, the hearing in the frame B is
dropped somewhat below the gear frame, and the ball joint in the easting is formed
on the under side thereof, and the pitman is given ample room to oscillate beneath
the frame, and there is sufficient distance between the pole and the main frame to
allow the desired pivotted play of the frame upon the axle, beneath the pole.
The draft rod T is hooked into tha ring t¹ formed on the casting secured to the
brace rod d, and extends upwardly from thence over the friction roller mounted in
the casting secured to the underside of the pole. The evener is attached at the
underside of the pole to the forward end of the draft rod.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invon-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The webbed triangular pitman cast in one piece, and its integral ball, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with the aslo of a mowing machine of a triangular frame, the
shoe pivotted on the frame transverse to the axle, a crank shaft mounted in the frame
at or near and parallel to the axle, a crank wheel on the crank shaft, an oscillating
triangular pilman connected to the crank wheel and to the knife and the ball and
socket joint in the frame, at or near the axle in which the pitman is journalled,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the triangular mower frame pivotted on the axle, the seat
standard and pole frame pivotted at or near the axle on the mower frame, a crank
sluft parallel to the mower frame, the cutting apparatus and the triangular pitman

page_text: journalled in the under side of the mower frame by a ball joint, and connected to
the crank shaft and the cutting apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
4. The combination of the triangular mower frame pivotted on the axle, a crank
shaft mounted in the frame at or near and parallel to the axle, a crank wheel on the
crank shaft, the shoe pivotted to the frame transversely to the axle, a ball bearing
in the frame, in line with the pivots of the shoe, or nearly so, the cutting apparatus,
and the pitman mounted in the ball bearing in the frame, and connected with the
crank wheel and cutting apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with the axle and the frame pivotteil theroon, of a crank
shaft mounted in the frame parallel to the axle, a crank wheel on the crank shaft, its
eccentric pin, a socket in the frame in line with the crank shaft, the cutting apparatus,
the triangular pitman mounted on the crank pin, connected with the cutting
apparatus, and journalled in the socket on the frame by a ball joint, and a detachable
cup secured to the frame over the ball, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. The combination of the crank shaft parallel to the axle, of the triangular mower
frame formed of tubes, and having the axle of the mower for its base, and the shoe
support forming the apex of the triangular tubular frame, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
7. The combination of the shoe support, the tubular bearing mounted on the
axle, the gear frame clamped to the axle by bolts passing through slots in the
tubular axle bearing, and the tubular brace rods c, d, and e bolted or secured rigidly
to the shoe support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
S. The combination with the tubular axial bearing of the gear frame B and the
frame C clamped to the tabular axial bearing by bolts passing through slots in
the axle bearing, of the tubular rods c, d, and e, and the shoe support, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
9. The combination of a gear wheel secured to the axle, a countershaft mounted
in the frame, parallel to the axlo, and carrying a pinion meshing with the gear on
the axle, a crank shaft mounted in the frame between the countershaft and the
axlo, intermeshing gears on the crank and countershafts, a crank wheel carrying
an eccentric pin secured to the crank shaft, a ball bearing in the frame, in line
with the crank shaft, the shoe pivotted to the frame and carrying the cutting
apparatus, and a triangular oscillating pitman mounted in the ball bearing on the
frame, and connected directly to the crank wheel and cutting apparatus, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
10. The combination with the pitman provided with a ball, of a socket formed
on the knife head to receive the ball, a cap fitting over the ball and pivotted to
the knife head, and a spring catch adapted to hold the cap in place on the ball,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
11. The combination with the ball joint connection between a pitman and a scythe
head, of a cover fitting over the ball on the pitman, a spring catch to hold the cover
in place, and projecting flanges on the knife head to cover the spring catch, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
12. The combination with the triangular pitman mounted on the inclined eccentric
crank pin, and the crank shaft, of a ball joint on the frame in which the pitman is
swivelled and a removable cap to cover the ball joint, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.