IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the " International
Patent Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN MOWING
MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Samuel Coit, of
Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America.
'Sealed the 1st March 1870, and dated the 7th January 1870..
•
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 7th January 1870, pursuant to, the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the " International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
-
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES," and have petitioned Her Majesty: to
grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal

page_text: Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it
has been communicated to me from abroad by Samuel Coit, of Hartford,
Connecticut, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming
a part of this Specification:-
In the said Drawing are shown the several parts which when put
together make up a working machine, the object being to show in the
Drawing itself as much as possible the form and construction of each
distinctive part or portion of the machine. The said Invention consists
in the combination and arrangement of the parts that enter into the
construction of the operating parts of the machine and the combination
of special parts for special purposes.
Figure 1, is a pian or top view of this invention.
Figures 2 and 3. are outside views of the sides or framework of the said
machine.
Figures 4 and 5 are wheels and stud plates upon which the said wheels
are hung and by which they are adjusted to secure a proper elevation,
and allow it (the machine) to glide easily and freely over the ground.
Figure 6 shews the girts by means of which the sides are secured
firmly together.
Figure 7 is a fixed or double stationary straightedge cutter blade.
Figure 8 is a spirally formed rotating cutter having the toothed wheel
by which it is driven secured upon one end of its axis bearing.
Figure 9 shows a ground roller which supports the framework and
from the revolution of which motion or action is imparted to the working
mechanism of the machine.
Figure 10 shows a shaft having a toothed wheel secured upon each end
thereof for transmitting motion from a toothed wheel arranged upon the
axis of the ground roller to the revolving cutter.

page_text: Figure 11 shows a driving toothed wheel having a ratchet formed
thereon, and which in use is fitted closely and turns freely upon the axis
or shaft of the ground roller.
Figure 13 is flanged collar which is fitted and secured firmly upon the
shaft of the ground roller outside of and in close proximity to the
driving gear, having a spring pawl device (see Figure 12) arranged
therein, which will allow the ground roller to turn backward without
imparating motion to the mechanism of the machine.
. The spring pawl J can be so constructed that it
may be held away from
the ratchet K at pleasure, so that the machine can run forward or
backward without turning the cutter.
Figure 12 shows the details of the pawl device which are arranged in
the said flange collar. This pawl works in the notches of the ratchet,
and when the machine is pushed forward imparts motion to the whole
working mechanism.
Figures 14 and 15 are caps which cover the boxing (and the mechanism
arranged therein) formed on the sides or framework of the machine.
Figure 16 shews oscillating arms arranged upon the shaft of the
ground roller, and adjusted to their proper position by means of bolts or
screws working through slits formed in the side framework, by means of
which the operator pushes the machine before him.
The sides or framework as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are designed to
be made of cast metal having the boxing A, B, to receive the cover and
protect the toothed wheels C, D, E, F, from being clogged or otherwise:
injured, or rendered inoperative by exposure. These toothed wheels may
be varied in size, number of teeth, and otherwise to secure the desired
number of revolutions of the revolving cutter, and the easy working of
the machine; the wheel C may have its ratchet teeth cast or otherwise
formed thereon; the orifices 1 and 2 are made in the framework having.
proper reference to suitable bearing, surface for the shaft G of the roller
H, as also those 3 and 4 for the shaft I; suitable guide ways J are also
formed in the framework in which the sliding adjustable journal boxes K¹
are fitted so as to be raised and lowered as desirable by means of set
screws L for the purpose of adjusting the cutting edge of the revolving
cutter M in close proximity with the edge of the stationary double edge
cutter Q. These journal boxes K' are fitted closely to the ways J. so as
to be easily raised and lowered as required and held firmly in the desired

page_text: position by means of the set screws L. They are also provided with
bearings 5 and 6 to receive the bearings of the revolving cutter M.
I propose in the manufacture of these machines to arrange cutter blades
upon and near the outer edge of the cutter plate M having slits formed
therein for the passage of fastening bolts into the revolving cutter plate,
for the purpose of adjusting, fastening, and changing them from time to
time as may be desirable to compensate for wear, breakage, and the like.
N, N, are caps for covering the boxing A, B, and are secured thereon
by screws so that they can be easily and quickly removed and replaced.
O, O, are toothed or rack surfaces formed on the framework, having
slots O² formed therein for the reception and play of the fastening bolts P,
the object of which is to adjust and firmly secure the studs 0³,.also
having teeth or rack surfaces to fit the surface O, so as to be easily
adjusted up or down to the desired place, and held firmly in said
position by means of fastening bolts P. These studs O³ are provided
with an axis pin upon which the wheels R are secured; the object of
these wheels is to hold the front portion of the machine at its proper
height from the ground. They are constructed of larger diameter than
the ordinary guide wheels of lawn mowers, and are adjustable to any
required position on the machine, so that when the machine is reversed
in its position (or, in other words, when the top side is turned down to be
the under side) the machine rests upon the wheels R and by raising
the adjustable arms. S the machine is readily and easily propelled from
place to place. This is an important feature in the construction and
adaptation of the machine to the different conditions required, as it makes
the machine easier of propulsion when in use as a lawn mower, and allows
it to be moved from one location to another with less power, and there is
no danger as in ordinary mowers where the propelling or driving wheels
or rollers are used to transport the machine of operating the machinery|
that revolves the cutter, as these wheels are not connected to any of the
parts that are used for revolving the cutter and simply turn on
adjustable axles. Bosses are also formed on the inner side of the frame-
work and near the lower edge directly under the boxes K' for the purpose
of securing the ends of the double edge stationary cutter Q; one end of
the arms S is placed upon the shaft of the roller H, and is further
secured to the framework by screws or bolts working through the
slits T formed in the framework, the outer ends of these handles are
connected by a cross bar U.
•

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,―
First. The combination of the roller H, flange collar (fast on the
shaft G, and having a spring pawl arranged therein) with the ratchet on
the toothed wheels C which freely revolve upon the shaft and give
motion to the revolving cutter through intermediate toothed wheels
when all the parts are constructed and arranged to operate in the
manner and for the purpose described.
Second. The roller H on the shaft G having a flanged collar and
spring pawl, the ratchet teeth on the wheel C, inclosed toothed wheels C,
D, E, F, and intermediate shaft revolving adjustable cutter M, transverse
cutter Q, adjustable wheels R, and adjustable arms S, all constructed and
arranged with relation to each other and the frame of the machine in
the manner and for the purpose described.
Third. The arrangement of the wheels R upon the adjustable axles
with relation to the frame and the operating devices for the purpose
of transporting the machine upon the said wheels in the manner
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
'WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.) .
Witness,
HARRY WRAIGHT,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.