IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR REAP- AND OTHED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR REAP-
AND OTHED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE."
Canse
Sealed the 3rd November 1853, and dated the 31st August 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward
Newton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 31st August 1853.
.I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND GATHERING
CORN, GRAIN, AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to cut standing crops of various
kinds, and to gather or collect the corn or grain as it is cut, and convey
it to any suitable receptacle behind the cutters. It is well known that
some crops require a different mode of treatment and must be cut in
a different manner to others. One of the improvements comprised in the
present Invention relates to certain novel or improved modes of con-
structing and operating the cutters. One of these novel modes consists
in constructing the cutters somewhat in the form of a scythe, and com-

page_text: municating to them a somewhat similar motion to that adopted in hand
mowing. Three, four, or any other convenient number of the scythes are
mounted on centres at the bottom of a cylinder, and are made to rotate
around a common centre. There are a pair of these cylinders which
are mounted vertically in the machine; and by means of cranks or
excentrics, the scythes are made to protrude from the cylinders and
enter the standing crop; and being carried round by the cylinders
they are made to cut the stalks or straw of the corn or crop, which is,
by means of arms working in a similar manner to the scythes and
projecting from the sides of the cylinders, carried between the pair of
cylinders, and deposited behind.
This mode of gathering or collecting the cut crop is another of the
improvements sought to be protected. In some cases, the cutting
instruments above-mentioned may not be found to act satisfactorily. I
therefore propose, also, to use rotary cutters, and sometimes vibrating
cutters, in conjunction with the other improvements for collecting the
cut crop. The rotary cutters or the vibrating cutters are combined
with fixed blades, and will therefore act as shears, as is well known.
These moveable cutters are actuated by means of gearing in the
ordinary manner, and they must be arranged below the gathering cylin-
ders in curves corresponding to the curves of these cylinders, so that
the gathering arms may act more effectually on the crop as it is cut.
As the gathering cylinders carry the grain back to its receptacle in a
vertical position, it is also proposed to so arrange and construct such
receptacle that it may remain in such position as long as may be
required, so that it may be more convenient for the attendants to
bind it in sheaves. If desired, this receptacle, or crib as it may be
termed, may be provided with a door frame or wicket behind, and so
placed that when a given quantity of corn shall be received in the crib,
the wicket may be opened, and allow the proper quantity of cut corn
to be removed to form a sheave.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th February 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office. for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
license that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND GATHERING CORN,
GRAIN, AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE," being a communication from
abroad, upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said William,
Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):
The object of this Invention, which has been communicated to me
from abroad as aforesaid, is to cut standing crops of various kinds, and

page_text: to gather or collect the corn or grain as it is cut, and convey it to any
suitable receptacle behind the cutters. It is well known that some
crops require a different mode of treatment and must be cut in a
different manner to others. One of the improvements comprised in
the present Invention relates to certain novel modes of constructing
and operating the cutters; and one of these novel modes consists in con-
structing the cutters somewhat in the form of a scythe, and communi-
cating to such cutters or scythes a motion similar to that adopted in
mowing by hand. Three, four, or any other convenient number of the
scythes are mounted on centres at the bottom of a cylinder, and are
made to rotate around a common centre. There are a pair of these
cylinders, which are set vertically in the machine; and by means of
cranks, excentrics, or other suitable gearing, the scythes or cutters are
made to protrude from the cylinders, and enter the standing crop, and
being carried round by the gearing connected therewith, they are made
to cut the stalks or straw of the corn or crop; when cut it is caught by
means of arms that work in a similar manner to the scythes, and pro-
ject from the side of the cylinders. The corn or grain is by this means
carried between the pair of cylinders, and deposited be hind.
In some cases the cutting instruments above mentioned may not be
found to act satisfactorily; I therefore propose also to use rotary
cutters and sometimes vibrating cutters in conjunction with the other
improvements for gathering or collecting the cut crop. The rotary
cutters or the vibrating cutters are combined with fixed blades, and
will therefore act as shears, as is well known. These moveable cutters
are actuated by means of gearing in the ordinary manner, and they
must be arranged below the gathering cylinders in curves corresponding
to the curves of these cylinders, so that the gathering arms may act
inore effectually on the crop as it is cut.
As the gathering cylinders carry the grain back to its receptacle in a
vertical position, it is also proposed to so arrange and construct such
receptacle that it may remain in such position as long as may be
required, so that it may be more convenient for the attendants to bind
it in sheaves. If desired, this receptacle, or "crib as it may be
termed, may be provided with a door frame or wicket behind, and so
יי

page_text: placed that when a given quantity of corn shall be received in the crib,
the wicket may be opened and allow the proper quantity of cut corn
to be removed to form a sheaf.
Having explained the general construction of the machine, and the
principal features of novelty comprised therein, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the construction and operation of the parts, as
shewn in the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1, is a plan or
bird's-eye view of the machine, and Fig. 2, a side elevation of the
same. Fig. 3, is a plan view, drawn upon an enlarged scale, of the
top of one of the cylinders, to which the scythes and gatherers are
adapted. Fig. 4, is a horizontal section of one of the cylinders, also
drawn upon an enlarged scale, and showing the relative positions of
the gatherers I, H, J. Fig. 6, is a vertical section of the cylinder,
shewing within it in elevation the gatherers, each set being held by two
vertical shafts N, and M. Fig. 7, is a plan view of the two cylinders
A, and their relative position to the crib F, with the fingers L, reaching
from the channels K, (in the cylinders surface,) to the inside of the
erib. These fingers are employed to guide the corn into the crib, and
to prevent the straw from passing round the cylinder. Fig. 8, is an
elevation of one side of the crib; it may, however, if preferred, be con-
structed of four or five fingers on each side, and turned in the direction
in which the grain must be deposited.
When the machine is adapted to a cart body upon which persons
may stand to bind the grain, the crib will project directly backwards, as
shown in Fig. 7. The scythe or cutter is shewn detached at Fig. 9,
and when used in the machine it operates in the same manner as the
fingers or gatherers, and is projected from the cylinders in front, and
drawn within them at the rear. Fig. 10, is a lever, used for elevating
or depressing the front part of the machine, so as to make it cut close
to the ground or otherwise. Fig. 11, is an enlarged view of a rotary
cutter, made to lie beneath or above and close to the projecting fingers
G, Fig. 12, so as to cut like shears. Fig. 12, represents, in plan, the
plate upon or beneath which the rotary cutter, Fig. 11, lies. Fig. 13,
is a plan or bird's-eye view of a machine, in which the vibrating shears
are intended to be used. Fig. 14, a transverse vertical section taken

page_text: in the line A, a, of Fig. 13, and drawn upon an enlarged scale. The
cylinders are the same as described above, (Figures 1, 4, and 6.)
Fig. 15, is another vertical section, looking from the side of the
machine, taken in the line B, b, and shewing one cylinder with its
gatherers. Fig. 17, is a detached view of that part of the apparatus
of the vibrating shears which lies beneath the fingers in front of the
machine and fits close to them. Fig. 18, a horizontal section of one of
the cylinders.
The machine is placed on a cart body and mounted on two wheels,
with the machinery attached in front. The axle is set firm in the hubs.
Upon the axle is a spur wheel, (see a, a, Fig. 13.) driving a pinion
b, b. Upon the same shaft with the pinion is a bevil wheel, which, by
means of the vertical and horizontal shafts i, and k, drives the cylinders.
The shaft k, k, runs under the cylinders, and a bevil cog wheel upon it
drives each of them. Upon the same shaft with the pinion b, b, is
a spur wheel d, d, driving a pinion upon a third shaft e, e, on which
is a bevil cog wheel f, f, which drives the apparatus of the vibrating
shears (Fig. 17,) by means of a crank or excentric.
The fingers Z, (Fig. 13,) which catch the grain between them, lie
near the ground; they are made each with cutting edges, both sides
being bevilled off from the upper side, so that they are smooth and
flush on the under side.
The vibrating shears (Fig. 17,) are connected with these fingers on
the under side, so that each one of the pieces g, g, is hinged and
between the fingers, so as to cut on either side like a pair of shears.
The pieces g, g, are made to vibrate by means of a curved bar h, h,
Figures 15, and 17, each of the fingers or pieces g, g, being pivoted at
its rear point in the bar h, so that when the bars h, h, and i, i, (which
are connected firmly,) are moved back and forth across the machine,
this movement causes all the shears g, g, to vibrate, so as to cut all the
grain which comes between the fingers.
When the vibrating shears above described are used there is no
other cutter; but to adapt the machine to all kinds of grain and grass
scythes may be used. In this case the machine will be arranged, in
some of its parts differently, as follows:-The axle is firm in the hubs,

page_text: and extend from one wheel to the other, and upon the axle (or shaft) is
a mitre cog wheel that drives a vertical shaft C, Fig. 2, which reaches
above the periphery of the bearing wheel. Upon this is a bevil cog
wheel driving a horizontal shaft B. Upon the forward end of this shaft
is a bevil cog wheel, which drives one of the cylinders A, (see Figures
1, and 2,) which, by means of the pair of spur wheels E, upon the top,
drives the other. Thus, there are three pairs of mitre or bevil cog
wheels, by means of which the machinery is moved, and which are ren-
dered necessary in order to bring the scythes or cutters near the ground.
There is nothing peculiar in the construction of the "fills," but
the cart body has something peculiar in it. It is intended to have
space in the rear of the machine where a man or men could stand to
bind the grain as fast as it is cut; and for this purpose the cart body
is extended out backward, as partially shewn in Fig. 1; or an extra
cart, of light construction, might be added, and made to run upon two
extra wheels.
46
This cart body is so connected with the ordinary "fills" that the
driver can cause the machine to cut at the proper distance from the
ground. For this purpose the "fills" are hinged near the axle,
and an excentric lever provided (see Fig. 10). This lever is hinged
to a part of the cart body, and its lower curved end rests upon the
fills," so that the driver can any time, by moving it back or forward,
regulate the height from the ground of the scythes or shears. When
the scythes are used, the fingers used to separate the grain and protect
the scythes are long and curved on the under side (see Figures 1, and 2).
The shape of the scythes is shewn at Fig. 9, and the shape of the
gatherers at Fig. 4. The scythes and the gatherers act together, all
being placed within the cylinders, and thrust out by the action of the
slot U, Fig. 3, or the excentric groove acting upon the ends of the
guide rods M, which, as the cylinders A, revolve, are made to move
the scythes and gatherers nearer to or further from the centres of the
said cylinders. All these scythes and guides are hinged upon vertical
rods N, (see Figures, 4, 6, and 9,) and are governed by other vertical
rods M, which by running, as just described, in excentric slots in the
ends of the cylinders A, A, (Figures 3, 4, and 6,) act as guides to the
movements of the gatherers and scythes.

page_text: The cylinders are driven from above by the spur wheels E, Fig. 1, or
from below by the bevil gear and shaft k, k, as in Figures 14, and 15
There are nine gatherers to each cylinder, but a greater or lesser
number may be employed.
The use of the "crib" is to receive the grain as fast as it is cut.
It may be made to hold the desired quantity. If it is not to be bound
upon the cart, nor considered desirable to lay it along as if cradled,
.it may
be allowed to accumulate in the crib till there is enough for a
bundle, and then thrown upon the ground. To do this it would be
necessary to hinge a species of wicket or revolving rake, say, with four
arms at top and four below, and so arranged as to be at the command
of the driver, so that when the "crib" is filled, a quarter turn of the
wicket would catch the grain which is in the "crib," and throw it upon
the ground ready to bind.
When scythes are used it is necessary to keep them sharp; for this
purpose whetstones may be so placed that they can at will be pressed
against the edges of the scythes while in motion, and sponges satu-
rated with water may be used to whet them. Instead of scythes
or vibrating shears, the rotary cutter, Fig. 11, may be used. It lies
upon or under the plate Fig. 12, (as shewn by dots,) and cuts against
the fingers G, like shears. The speed of the revolution of the cylinders
is governed by the gearing. The scythes should cut from six to twelve
inches at each stroke.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to
me as aforesaid, I claim, in conclusion,-
First, the arrangement and combination of two cylinders A, A, with
cach other, for the purpose of cutting and bringing the cut grain into
the middle between them, and delivering it to the "crib," as above
described.
Second, the construction of the corn cutter W, Fig. 9, and corn
gatherers H, I, J, Figures 3, 4, and 6, so formed as to be drawn in
for the purpose of allowing the cylinders to throw the cut grain into
the crib as above described.
Third, the use of an excentric slot or channel U, to regulate the
movement of the fingers, as above described.
Fourth, the arrangement and construction of a crib F, (Figures 7,

page_text: and 8,) made to receive from the two cylinders A, A, and hold the cut
grain upright, as long as desired.
Fifth, the arrangement of a wicket, with four arms, more or less, to
throw the grain out of the crib in quantities sufficient for a bundle, as
above described.
Sixth, the use of the excentric lever X, to govern the position of the
cutters, as above described.
Seventh, the use of guides or fingers fitting in the channels, cut
round the cylinders for the purpose of guiding the cut corn, and pre-
venting it from passing round the cylinder.
Eighth, the construction of the rotary cutter (Fig. 11), and its
combination with the plate (Fig. 12), with which it forms shears, as
above described.
Ninth, the use and construction of the vibrating cutters (Fig. 17,)
in combination with the fingers or plates, (Fig. 13,) with which they
form shears, in the manner above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-four.
S
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)