IMPROVEMENTS IN HAYMAKING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, JOHN JACKSON, of Black Swan Tannery, City of Ripon in the County of
York, Tanner and Currier do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HAYMAKING MACHINES," 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 that class of haymaking machines having revolving
rakes, and has for object the gathering up of the newly cut grass more
effectually than has heretofore been done, especially where fields are formed into
what are known as "lands," or alternate ridges and hollows, and guiding and
delivering said grass into such position that it is within the range of the revolving
rakes (the circumference of which is a few inches above the surface, of the ground)
and by them spread over the field for being dried, and also turned over when
required. For this purpose I use a flexible gathering apparatus or "sweep" which
is capable of adapting itself to the configuration of said lands without tearing up
the "sward." This flexible "sweep," I make by preference of metal, and is
provided with fingers on its front or leading edge, which on the forward movement
of the machine, pass under the newly cut grass in the hollows as well as on the
crown of the said lands, and which is caused to pass up the inclined surface of said
flexible "sweep," the rear or upper edge of which is formed into a number of
finger-like projections for supporting the grass until the tines of the revolving
rakes which pass during their rotation between said projecting parts, come into
contact therewith, carry it round and throw it off at the back of the machine and
cause it to be distributed lightly over the ground. And in order that the grass, by
the centrifugal force of the revolving rakes, may not be thrown off towards the
front of the machine, I place a suitably formed hood or guard extending from the
front to the upper part of the machine, the curved part of this guard may be
concentric with the axis of the rotating rakes, and is open towards the back thereof, .
where the grass is thrown off.
.
I mount the carrying wheels and the rotating rakes on one common centre, and
make the axle in two parts which meet in the centre of the breadth of the
machine. Each part of the said axle has a collar or groove at its inner end, so as
to form a shoulder for keeping it in position, which is effected by means of a
coupling which embraces the parts in such wise that when the machine is travelling
ל

page_text: in a straight line the two parts and the coupling rotate together as one, but are
free to rotate in said coupling differentially when the machine deviates from a
straight course...
On each half length of the said axle is mounted a series of rakes which rotate
therewith, motion being imparted thereto independently from the carrying wheels
respectively, by means of a combination of "nog wheels," pitch chains and spur
gearing, or by spur gearing alone, so that the machine may deviate from a straight
course as above referred to without liability to breakage of the said driving gear.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation of a
machine according to my Invention. Fig. 2, a back elevation, and Fig. 3, a plan,
one half of which shews one series of the rotating rakes, and gearing for driving
the same.. a, a¹, are the two parts of the axle with collars a", at their inner ends.-
b, the coupling for embracing and joining the same. c, c, are the carrying wheels,
one of which is mounted on the outer end of each axle, d, a "nog" or chain wheel
fixed to the wheel c, which by means of the pitch chain e, imparts motion to a
corresponding "nog" wheel f, to which is connected a spur wheel g, which takes
into and drives the pinion h, on the axle a, together with the rotating rake i.
The carrying wheel c¹, and axle a¹, are similarly furnished with driving gear
and rotating rake. as above described with reference to the carrying wheel c, and
axle a.
The other half plan shews the flexible gathering up part j, with projections or
fingers j', in front for taking up the grass, and finger-like projections 7, at the back
for supporting the grass ready for the action of the revolving rakes as previously
mentioned,-, is the hood or guard for preventing the grass from being thrown
forward.
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
1st. In a haymaking machine such as hereinabove described. A flexible gathering
up part or sweep such as j, provided with projections or fingers, at its front
or leading edge, and finger-like projections k, at the rear edge thereof,
substantially as and for the purposes-hereinabove described and illustrated.
2nd. In a haymaking machine such as hereinabove described, making the axle
upon which are mounted the carrying wheels and the rotating rakes, in two.
lengths or parts, with a collar or its equivalent at the inner end of said
parts, mounting the said two parts in a line with each other, connecting
them by a coupling such as b, so that cach part of the axle is free to rotate
therein when required substantially as and for the purposes hereinabove
described and shown in the Drawings.