CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING, MOWING, AND SHEARING MACHINERY
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 232, Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF REAPING, MOWING, AND SHEARING MACHINERY."
Sealed the 31st July 1877, and dated the 3rd February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd February 1877.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 232, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex. CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING, MOWING, AND SHEARING
MACHINERY."
"
First. The object of this Invention is providing that class of agricultural machine
employed for reaping or mowing with a peculiar form and construction of cutter,
the use of which will enable such machine to cut or sever standing crops of agri-
cultural produce with greater facility and expedition than cutters now in use.
Hitherto the teeth of the cutter bars of reaping and mowing machines have had their
cutting edges made V shaped, arranged to work or slide over over or through teeth
formed on the under finger bar, the action of such cutting teeth when closing upon
substances gathered up between the teeth of the finger bar is direct and abrupt,
thereby effecting a kind of chopping or squeezing action which prevents the
machine doing the quantity of work proportionate to the power expended. In
contradistinction to the use of such teeth I provide the cutter bar with teeth which
are in a great degree convex on their cutting edges, the peculiar formation of which
enables the cut to be made with the minimum amount of power, as the gradual
contact of the cutting edges beginning near the root of the teeth proceeds with a
gentle curve-like cut up to the points, effecting thereby in a most perfect manner
the true-shear like cut as distinguished from the chop or sudden jarring action
experienced when cutting with the angular form of teeth.
Second. The improvements relate to a novel construction of reaping or mowing
machine designed for use by small farmers or others, and consists in mounting
cutting plates similar to those described in the Specification of former Patents
granted to me in the year 1873, and numbered 1228 and 1696, for clipping and
shearing, only that in the present case the said plates are made of a size pro-

page_text: portionate to the purposes for which the machine is intended to be used. These
cutter plates with their elastic bearing surfaces are mounted on rollers, the position
of which regulates their distance from the ground, and also enables the machine to
ride over ruts or inequalities in the ground whilst at work. The wheels supporting
the machine are provided with gearing which enables them when travelling to
transmit through the medium of cains, crank discs, and levers or equivalents
therefor a vibratory motion to the cutter plate. The framing of the machine is also
provided with shafts into which a horse or other animal can be placed for drawing
or pushing the same.
Lastly. In that class of clipping or shearing instrument which is intended to be
driven by an elastic rotating cord 1 provide the framing thereof with two handles,
one on the top and the other behind; the back handle is hollow and supports a
spindle, one end of which terminates in a face cam, crank disc, or other equivalent,
its opposite end being connected to a rotating driving cord similar to that before
mentioned. If a crank disc is used the crank pin of same gives motion to a working
lever coupled with the cutter plate, the working of which transmits thereto the
necessary motion for clipping or shearing. The upper and rear handles secured to
the framing of this class of power clipper enable the operator to regulate the pressure
of the cutters on the skin of the animal, and also guide the cut in any direction
required with ease and facility.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August
1877.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 232, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex. "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING, MOWING, AND SHEARING
MACHINERY."
First. The object of this Invention is providing that class of agricultural machine
employed for reaping or mowing with a peculiar form and construction of cutter, the
use of which will enable such machine to cut or sever standing crops of agricultural
produce with greater facility and expidition than cutters now in use. Hitherto the
teeth of the cutter bars of reaping and mowing machines have had their cutting
edges made V shape, arranged to work or slide over or through teeth formed in the
under finger bar, the action of such cutting teeth when closing upon substances
gathered up between the teeth of the finger bar is direct and abrupt, thereby
effecting a kind of chopping or squeezing action which prevents the machine doing
the quantity of work proportinate to the power expended. In contradistinction
the use of such teeth Ì provide the cutter bar with teeth which are in a great degree
convex on their cutting edges, the peculiar formation of which enables the cut to be
made with the minimum amount of power as the gradual contact of the cutting
edges beginning near the root of the teeth proceeds with a gentle curve-like cut up
to the points, effecting thereby in a most perfect manner the true shear-like cut as
distinguished from the chop or sudden jarring action experienced when cutting with
the angular form of teeth.
to
Second. The improvements relate to a novel construction of reaping or mowing
machine designed for use by small farmers or others, and consists in mounting
cutting plates similar to those now in use for horse clipping purposes, only that in
the present case the said plates are made of a size proportionate to the purpose for
which the machine is intended to be used. The under combe or gathering plate
and elastic cutting plate are mounted on rollers, the position of which regulates the
length of grass or other substances cut when severed by the knives, and also enables
the machine to ride easily over the ground when at work. The wheels or rollers
supporting the machine are provided with gearing which enables them when

page_text: travelling to transmit through the medium of cams, crank discs, and lovers, or their
equivalent a vibratory motion to the cutters. The machine can be pushed by hand
or drawn along by a horse or other animal.
Lastly. The Invention has reference to clipping or shearing machinery employed
for cutting hair or wool, from the backs of animals, and has reference to the con-
struction of such machines which are intended to be worked by rotating flexible
cords or cords and rods.
According to the improved arrangement of such instrument I provide the cutters
with a handle which is hollow and supports a spindle, one end of which terminates
in a face cam, crank disc, or other equivalent, and its opposite end in a coupling
which enables it to be connected with a rotating driving cord, or rotating rods or
tubes connected in lengths by flexible elastic cords, the rotation of which transmits
through the spindle disc and levers a rapid vibrating motion to the cutter plate.
In order that the Invention and the manner of performning the same may be well
understood, I will now proceed to describe the several Figures on the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, for the purpose of illustrating what at present
I believe to be the best inodification and arrangements for carrying my several
improvements into practical effect.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a reaping or harvesting machine, shewing more
particularly the arrangement and construction of the knife and finger bars.
Fig. 2 represents a detached view of a portion of the knife bar, shewing its con-
nection with the driving disc, and Fig. 3 represents an end section of the finger and
knife bars.
In these Figures the cutter or knife bar a is provided with teeth which are in a
great degree convex on their cutting edges, and are arranged to work to and fro
upon the finger bar b by means of the crank and gearing c, in manner similar to the
cutter bar of ordinary harvesting machines.
The peculiar formation of the convex cutting edges of the knives which are inde-
pendantly secured to their bar enables the cut to be made with a ninimum amount
of power, as the gradual contact of the cutting edges beginning near the root of the
teeth proceeds with a gentle curve-like cut up to the points.
The class of reaping or mowing machine designed for use by small farmers or
others is shewn at Figs. 4 and 5, and represents the same respectively in plan and
elevation. In these views d, d, is the framing of the machine supported on the
wheels e, e, and rollers ff, the latter being employed more particularly in connection
with lawn mowers. The framing & to which the under plate g is secured, and upon
which the cutter plate (to which the knives , h, are separately secured) slides is
capable of adjustment. The driving of the cutter plate during the time the machine
is in motion is obtained through the medium of the gearing i and toggle jointed
levers i', or other equivalent form of driving may be adopted. The framing dis
provided with a reversable shaft or handle k, which enables the machine when at
work to be pushed or drawn along.
In Figs. 6 and 7 is shewn arrangements of shearing apparatus which I prefer to
use in connection with power driving apparatus, and from which motion is trans-
mitted to the said shearing instrument by rotating flexible cords constructed, by
preference, as shewn at Figs. 8 and 9, the former of which is composed of lengths of
rods and tubes coupled together by flexible elastic cords encased with spiral or
platted round or flat wire, or of one continuous elastic flexible cord, plane or encased
with round or flat wire throughout its entire length or at distances apart, as shewn
at Fig. 9; the flexible cord so constructed can, if desired, work or rotate inside tubes.
The cutting portions of the instrument are connected to the hand l, which according
to one arrangement I make hollow, as shewn at Fig. 6, and supports the spindle m;
one end of this spindle terminates in a crank disc n, and the opposite end o is
coupled to a flexible rotating driving cord p direct or by ball-and-socket joints,
which for convenience I place at either end of the flexible driving cord constructed

page_text: as shewn, in accordance with the designs shewn at Figs. 8 and 9, or in a manner
somewhat similar. This flexible driving cord can be connected for driving, as
described, either at the rear of the handle, as shewn at Fig. 6, or at the top in front
of the operator's hand, as shewn at Fig. 7. The handles in either case are so con-
structed that the operator can regulate the pressure of the cutters on the skin of
the animal and at the same time guide the cut in any direction with ease and
facility.
▸
Having now described the nature of my said Invention together with the manner
of performing or carrying the same into practical effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein shewn and described, but
what I claim is,-
First. The improved form and construction of the knife or cutter a, and the
application of the same for the purposes of cutting, mowing, reaping, or shearing, in
manner substantially shewn and described herein.
Second. The construction and arrangement of the machine to be employed for
reaping, cutting, or mowing, shewn and described herein at Figs., 4 and 5.
And, lastly. The arrangement of the power shearing instruments, shewn at Figs. 6
and 7, together with adaptations thereto of rotating driving cords and ball-and-
socket joints, or universal joints to be used in the manner and for the purpose, as
herein substantially described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunt set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.