CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander McGregor at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1883.
ALEXANDER MCGREGOR of Leigh in the County of Lancaster
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
"
"IMPROVE-
These improvements relate more particularly to the general construction arrange-
ment and adaptation or combination of parts of mowing and reaping machines, and
they have reference
First to that class of machines in which the cutter-bar is connected to the gear
frame by means of a double hinged floating joint or extension bar, and consists of
an improved arrangement of the frame-work and gearing (which latter is completely
enclosed) combining greater simplicity and economy of parts with the most perfect
facility for quickly repairing, replacing or renewing the same. The first notion
spur wheel is formed or cast in one with the pawl or ratchet box, which box is
keyed or fixed firmly on the main axle: this wheel gears into a pinion keyed or
fixed firmly on the outer end of the counter shaft: both this wheel and pinion are
enclosed in a recess or box formed or cast in the frame and are completely enclosed
from dirt or other extraneous matter; on the other or inner end of the counter
shaft is placed a second motion spur wheel having a ring of clutch gear teeth
formed or cast on one side: this second spur wheel is free to revolve on the counter
shaft which at this part is reduced in diameter some quarter or three eighths of
an inch less than the main portion; the shoulder formed by this reduced part bears
against the wheel and keeps it in its place: a prolongation of this reduced part
forms the inner bearing or journal of the counter shaft: The inner end of the
enlarged portion of the counter shaft has two parallel key grooves cut in its
opposite sides, these grooves are cut by preference the same depth as the reduced
portion of the counter shaft and run from the shoulder a sufficient distance to allow
of the sliding in and out of gear of the clutch. This clutch has two feathers or
keys fixed or cast in it which feathers or keys fit into the grooves cut in the
counter shaft, this prevents the clutch from turning independently, while at the
same time it is free to slide lengthways along the counter shaft. This forms an
important part of the improved arrangement, as it will be seen that the counter
shaft, having no fixed keys or pins can at any time be instantly withdrawn and
the wheel and clutch removed or replaced.

page_text: The second motion spur wheel gears into a spur pinion formed or cast in one
with a bevel wheel, which latter is free to revolve on the main axle, both the bevel
wheel and the second motion spur wheel are shielded or contained in a recess or
box formed or cast in the main frame near the opposite side (or it may be nearer
the centre of the main frame) from the first motion spur wheel and pinion and like
the latter are completely enclosed from dirt or other extraneous matter by means
of a hinged cover. On the opposite end of the main axle to that on which is
keyed the first motion spur wheel another pawl or ratchet box is fixed this pawl or
ratchet box is made so as to slide on to the main axle and is prevented from
turning by a fixed key sunk into the main axle, but which can be at once removed
on the withdrawal of the pawl or ratchet box. The main axle can then be at
once withdrawn and the bevel wheel can be instantly removed or replaced.
The second part of my invention consists of an improved arrangement of lever-
catch and lock for the main shoe hinge joint to enable the cutter bar on being
lifted by the lifting lever to rise parallel or nearly parallel with the ground while
at the same time the main shoe hinge joint and cutter bar are perfectly free to
follow the undulations of the ground when cutting. The lever catch is also arranged
so as to retain the cutter-bar in a vertical position when travelling on the road.
The lever-catch is jointed to the double hinged floating joint or extension bar at
a point near to the main shoe hinge joint, the inside end is attached to the lifting
lever chain and is free to rise and fall a certain distance; the other or outside end
has a tongue or projection formed on its under side which is carried down under
the main shoe hinge joint so as to nearly touch the back end of the main shoe, on
the back end of the main shoe is placed a removable pin or stud. This pin or stud
is so placed that when the machine is at work and the chain is loose, the bar is
free to rise and fall at its outer end, without the pin or stud coming into contact
with the tongue or projection, when however the driver operates the lifting lever
which tightens the chain and thereby raises the lever catch the tongue or projecting
piece is brought into contact with the pin or stud and this at once locks the joint
In reaping, when the joint is required to act freely and not to lock, the pin or
stud is simply removed. In order to retain the bar in a vertical position the lever
catch has a projecting catch or latch formed on its top side, when the cutter bar
is raised vertical, a stud or projection on the main shoe raises the projecting catch
and locks itself, the weight of the cutter bar hanging by the chain on the other
end of the lever retaining the catch.