IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward James Coleman, of Hyde Park, in the County of
Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, at present residing
at Brixton, in the County of Surrey, England, and Frederick Joseph Bird, of
Stroud, in the County of Gloucester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by George
Pye, of Hyde Park, in the County of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, United
States.
Sealed the 5th January 1877, and dated the 8th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward James Coleman and
Frederick Joseph Bird at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th
July 1876.
EDWARD JAMES COLEMAN, of Hyde Park, in the County of Norfolk, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, at present residing at Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, England, and FREDERICK JOSEPH BIRD, of Stroud, in the County
of Gloucester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES." A com-
munication from abroad by George Pye, of Hyde Park, in the County of Norfolk,
State of Massachussetts, United States.
This Invention relates to improvements in reaping and mowing machines for
giving motion to the knife, whereby I construct an improved harvester.
The Invention consists-
1. Of a wheel attached to one of the ground wheels, or to the axle thereof,
having a periphery fluted transversely, the flutes being semi-elliptical, or of a curve
graduated from a true semicircle, and the combination therewith of a rocker arm,
having anti-friction rollers on each end which run in the flutes, whereby by means
of intervening mechanism the usual sawing motion is imparted to the knife.
2. Of a frame secured to the axle for connection with the draft bar, and for a
bearing for the rocker arm and knife operating mechanism and shoe.
3. In constructing such frame we have a hinged section to admit of the knife
bar being, raised to a perpendicular position by the operation of suitable lever
mechanism

page_text: 4. Of a cam adjustment operating within the rocker arm sleeve throwing the
rocker arm in and out of engagement with the flutes..
5. Of the knife bar having hinged connection with the drag bar and knife cutting
in line with the axle, whereby the knife bar can be elevated to a perpendicular
position and the knife to have a cut central with the wheels.
The following details are illustrative of those that may be adopted with advan-
tage A frame is secured to the axle, to which the draft pole is rigidly attached
by bolts. A wheel fluted transversely on its periphery, the concaves being part of an
ellipse or graduated from a circular curve, and this wheel may be keyed to the axle
or bolted to one of the ground wheels laterally. A rocker haying on each arm an
anti-friction roller, which travels in the peripheral concaves or flutes of the fluted
wheel, and oscillates the rocker arın for operating the knife through the medium of
a knuckle and levers connected with the knife at the shoe, and imparting to the
knife the usual sawing motion in the knife bar. The frame is formed of two sections
hinged together. the joint being at a right angle to the axle. One section is fixed
and the other movable. To the movable section is secured the shoe by a drag bar,
which shoe by means of a lever or other suitable mechanism can be lifted vertically,
the knife thus becoming elevated to an upright position to allow it to pass over
obstructions or the machine to pass through a narrow passage. A cam of irregular
triangular shape operating in a notch in the rocker shaft, which slides under à cap
secured to the frame. When the cam is turned by the lever connected with its
shaft the shaft is moved thereby, bringing its rocker arms in or out of engagement
with the flutes of the fluted wheel, and thereby the knife action can be either
stopped or maintained as desired. The drag bar is hinged at its upper end to the
frame, and the knife bar is hinged to the lower end by a pintle. A lever is
fulcrumed on the frame or on axle, and connected to the shoe by a chain, or by
other suitable device. By means of this lever held fixedly at any adjusted position
the shoe can be raised from the ground, thus elevating the knife bar horizontally.
The drag bar bears on the ground in line with the traction of the wheels, and the
knife bar is hinged thereto in line with the axle, hence the knife has a central cut.
To the knife bar, or the mechanism to which it is attached, is sometimes secured a
wheel, which serves the purpose of taking off the weight of the knife, and also
facilitates the motion thereof.
It is evident from the foregoing description that the usual board to catch the
grain as cut, with the ordinary cam motion for delivering same, may be applied to
this Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Edward James Coleman and Frederick Joseph. Bird in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th January 1877.
EDWARD JAMES COLEMAN, of Hyde Park, in the County of Norfolk, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, at present residing at Brixton, in the
County Surrey, England, and FREDERICK JOSEPH BIRD, of Stroud, in the County
of Gloucester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES." A com-
munication, from abroad by George Pye, of Hyde Park, in the County of Norfolk,
State of Massachusetts, United States.
This Invention relates to improvements in reaping and mowing machines for
giving motion to the knife, whereby I construct an improved harvester.
The Invention consists-
1. Of a wheel attached to one of the ground whicels, or to the axle thereof, having
a periphery fluted transversely, the flutes being semi-elliptical or of a curve gra-
duated from a true semicircle, and the combination therewith of a rocker arın
having anti-friction rollers on each end which run in the flutes, whereby by means
of intervening mechanism the usual sawing motion is imparted to the knife.

page_text: 2. Of a frame secured to the axle for connection with the draft bar, and for a
bearing for the rocker arm and knife operating mechanism and shoe.
3. In constructing the said frame with a hinged section to admit of the knife
bar being raised to a perpendicular position by the operation of suitable lever
mechanism.
4. Of a cam adjustment operating within the rocker arm sleeve throwing the
rocker arin in and out of engagement with the flutes.
5. Of the knife bar having hinged connection with the drag bar and knife cutting
in line with the axle, whereby the knife bar can be elevated to a perpendicular
position and the knife to have a cut central with the wheels.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1 is a top view of a machine embodying my Invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional
elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a section in the line a, a, Fig. 1.
In these Figures, A is a frame secured to the axle B, to which the draft pole C is
rigidly attached by bolts D. E is a wheel fluted transversely on its periphery, the
concaves being part of an ellipsis or graduated from a circular curve; this wheel
may be keyed to the axle or bolted to one of the ground wheels laterally. F is a
rocker, having on each arm an anti-friction roller G, which travels in the peripheral
concaves or flutes of the wheel E, and oscillates the rocker arm for operating the
knife H through the medium of the knuckle I and levers J connecting with the
knife at the shoe K, and imparting to the knife the usual sawing motion in the
knife bar.
The frame A is formed of two sections hinged together at b, b, the joint being at
a right angle to the axle. One section is fixed and the other movable. To the
movable section is secured the shoe K by the drag bar M, which shoe, by means of
the lever L or other suitable mechanism, can be lifted vertically, the knife thus
becoming elevated to an upright position to allow it to pass over obstructions or
the machine to pass through a narrow passage. N is a cam of irregular triangular
shape, operating in a notch in the rocker shaft P, which slides under a cap Q secured
to the frame A. When the cam is turned by the lever R connected with its shaft T
the shaft P is moved thereby, bringing its rocker arms in or out of engagement with
the flutes of the wheel E, and thereby the knife action can be either stopped or
maintained as desired. M is the drag bar hinged at its upper end to the frame A,
and K is the knife bar hinged to the lower end by the pintle V. L is a lever ful-
crumed on the frame or on axle B, and connected to the shoe by a chain X, or by
other suitable device. By means of this lever held fixedly at any adjusted position
the shoe can be raised from the ground, thus elevating the knife bar horizontally.
The drag bar bears on the ground in line with the traction of the wheels, and the
knife bar is hinged thereto in line with the axle, hence the knife has a central cut.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put in practice,
we declare that we claim-
First. The wheel E having peripheral transverse graduated flutes and rocker F
having anti-friction rollers G, operating in combination for imparting by means of
lever mechanism the ordinary motion to the knife, substantially as herein-before
set forth and described.
Second. The frame A mounted on the axle B for attachment of the draft pole
and bearings for the operating parts, substantially as herein-before set forth and
described.
Third. The frame A constructed in two sections hinged together, the moveable
section supporting the shoe K for elevating the knife perpendicularly, substantially
as berein-before set forth and described.
Fourth. The cam N applied to the rocker shaft P to withdraw the rocker arms
from engagement with the concaves of the wheel, for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Fifth. The knife bar R hinged to the drag bar M pivotted to the frame A, the cut
of the knife being in line with the axle B centrally of the wheels, substantially as
herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Joseph Bird, on behalf of myself and
the said Edward James Coleman, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
FREDERICK JOSEPH BIRD. (L.S.)
Witness,
T. MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Association Ld.,
21, Cockspur Street,
S.W.