IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES AND IN WHEELS FOR SAME
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Henry Tooley, of Dunstable, in the County of
Bedford, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES
AND IN WHEELS FOR SAME”
Sealed the 7th August 1877, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
Sealed the 7th August 1877, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
hen 2nd Wah
1877
Sealed the 7th August 1877, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 3rd February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Henry Tooley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd February 1877.
EDWIN HENRY TOOLEY, of Dunstable, in the County of Bedford, Engineer.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES AND IN WHEELS FOR SAME."
The first part of my Invention has reference to the raising and lowering of the
tines." For this purpose I provide a sliding bar supported on the frame of the
rake in guides, so that it can be pushed by the foot of the driver in order to engage
it with a clutch wheel fixed to or formed upon one of the bearing wheels of the
rake, (the sliding bar being provided at its end with teeth if preferred). By this
means the frame of the rake to which the bar is attached rotates with the wheel,
and becomes tilted forward upon the axle so as to elevate their "tines" from
the soil.
An automatic arrangement which is an essential feature in the Invention is also
provided to disengage the sliding bar from the toothed wheel, and allow the frame.
and "tines" to drop into their former position. To effect this an inclined tongue or
projection is formed upon the sliding bar, which tongue by coming into contact
with a pin keyed upon the axle or other convenient part by virtue of its inclination
draws the sliding bar out of gear with the clutch wheel, and, releasing the frame
and "tines," allow them to drop back to their former position. A spring may be
provided to cushion the shock of the falling frame and "tines."
To lock the tines in position a catch is attached to the sliding bar, which when
the frame and tines have fallen into position for work, the catch springs on to the
step and retains thereby the frame and tines in the desired position.
If preferred the catch can be attached to the step so as to catch the sliding bar.

page_text: .
The position of the step is adjustable which may be accomplished by winch, handle,
or set screw, or by any other equivalent mechanical means. The action of
pushing out or releasing the catch from the stop also throws the sliding bar
into gear.
When the attendant walks behind the machine, instead of rides, I have for that
purpose provided a lever connected to the sliding bar for throwing the same in and
out of gear and for raising the tines when desired; in this way the machine is
available for self-acting purposes or for manual delivery. When used for manual
delivery the lever aforesaid is caused to fall into an adjustable catch provided on
the stripper bar, the other end of the lever being attached to the toothed bar.
The adjustable catch on the stripper bar is placed there for regulating the depth of
the tines, and is a catch equivalent to that before described in connection with
the step.
The next part of my Invention refers to an arrangement for setting the frame
and "tines" at any required height in relation to the axle. I provide a screw
passing through a cross bar or stay fixed between the shafts of the rake; this stay
or cross bar is provided with a nut, or is itself prepared to receive the screw, the
upper end of which is provided with a winch handle, while the lower end bears
upon the swinging frame of the rake, so that as the screw is raised or lowered by
means of the handle, the frame and its "tines" are correspondingly canted upon the
axle into an elevated or depressed position."
My Invention further consists in the employment of a separate and distinct
frame projecting from the axle which supports the bar on which the tines are
mounted, or the tines themselves may be hinged to the frame.
"
My Invention lastly refers to the construction of wheels for horse rakes. For
this purpose I make the boss in two portions; one portion is made with recesses to
receive the spokes, and the other portion forms a flange which is secured by screws
to the first portion, having the spokes between them. By this means I can by
removing the screws take off the flange and remove the spokes; the recessed portion
of the boss being replaced by another, the spokes inserted, and the flange secured as
before; I obtain thereby virtually a new wheel at the expense and trouble only
of a new half boss.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Henry Tooley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
August 1877.
EDWIN HENRY TOOLEY, of Dunstable, in the County of Bedford, Engineor.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES AND IN WHEELS FOR SAME”
The first part of my Invention has reference to the raising and lowering of the
"tines." For this purpose I provide a sliding bar supported on the frame of the
rake in guides, so that it can be pushed by the foot of the driver in order to engage
it with a clutch wheel fixed to or formed upon one of the bearing wheels of the
rake, (the sliding bar being provided at its end with teeth if preferred). By this
means the frame of the rake, videlicet, the rocking frame to which the bar is attached
rotates with the wheel, and becomes tilted forward upon the axle so as to elevato
their "tines" from the soil.
An automatic arrangement which is an essential feature in the Invention is also
provided to disengage the sliding bar from the toothed wheel, and allow the framo
and "tines" to drop into their former position. To effect this an inclined tongue
or projection is formed upon the sliding bar, which tongue by coming into contact
with a pin keyed upon the axle or other convenient part by virtue of its inclination
draws the sliding bar out of gear with the clutch wheel, and releasing the frame
and "tines" allows them to drop back to their forner position. A spring may be
provided to cushion the shock of the falling frame and “tines.”

page_text: To lock the tines in position a catch is attached to the sliding bar, which when
the frame and tines have fallen into position for work, the catch springs on to the
step and retains thereby the frame and tincs in the desired position.
If preferred the catch can be attached to the step so as to catch the sliding bar.
The position of the step is adjustable, which may be accomplished by winch handle
or set screw, or by any other equivalent mechanical means.
The action of
pushing out or releasing the catch from the step also throws the sliding bar
into gear.
When the attendant walks behind the machine instead of riding, I have for that
purpose provided a lever connected to the sliding bar for throwing the same in and
out of gear, and for raising the tines when desired; in this way the machine is
available for self-acting purposes or for manual delivery. When used for manual
delivery the lever aforesaid is caused to fall into an adjustable catch provided on
the stripper bar, the other end of the lever being attached to the toothed bar. The
adjustable catch on the stripper bar is placed there for regulating the depth of
the tines, and is a catch equivalent to that before described in connection with
the step.
The next part of my Invention refers to an arrangement for setting the frame
and "tines" at any required height in relation to the axle. I provide a screw
passing through a cross bar or stay fixed between the shafts of the rake; this stay
or cross bar is provided with a nut or is itself prepared to receive the screw, the
upper end of which is provided with a winch handle, while the lower end bears
upon the swinging frame of the rake, so that as the screw is raised or lowered by
means of the handle, the frame and its "tines are correspondingly canted upon the
axle into an elevated or depressed position.
"
My Invention further consists in the employment of a separate and distinct frame
projecting from the axlo which supports the bar on which the tines are mounted, or
the tines themselves may be hinged to the frame.
My Invention lastly refers to the construction of wheels for horse rakes. For
this purpose I make the boss in two portions, one portion is made with recesses to
receive the spokes and the other portion forms a flange which is secured by screws
to the first portion having the spokes between them. By this means I can by
removing the screws take off the flange and remove the spokes, the recessed portion
of the boss being replaced by another, the spokes inserted, and the flange secured as
before, I obtain thereby virtually a new wheel at the expense and trouble only of a
new half boss.
And in order that my said Invention may be more completely understood, I will
now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, to be as follows:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a horse rake constructed according to my
Invention; Figure 2 is a front view, and Figure 3 is a plan of the same.
The "tines A are carried in a movable frame composed of two brackets B
and B connected in front by a tie bar C, and centred or pivotted upon the shaft D
of the machine. A bar E also extends between the said brackets, and upon this
bar E, the "tines" are centred at the same time that they are upheld at the proper
level by resting upon the shaft D, as shewn. The rake is supported by the shaft D
upon the wheels F, F, and the wheel F has a clutch G formed upon or fitted to it,
so that when the shifting bar H is moved towards the wheel F it engages with the
teeth of the clutch G, thus causing the swinging frame and "tines" to partake of
the revolving motion of the wheel F, and thereby elevating the "tines "A so as to
deliver their load. The sliding bar H is thrust into gear with the clutch G by the
foot of the driver who sits in the ordinary seat I, and operates the bar H by
pressing against the projection or tongue J. The bar H may, if desired, be, formed
with clutch teeth on its outor end.
An automatic arrangement is provided to shoot the bar H out of gear with the
clutch g and allow the "tines" A to fall into their normal position. This is effected
by means of an inclined tongue K formed upon the bar H, and arranged so as to

page_text: come into contact with a stud L on the shaft D when the frame and "Lines" are
sufficiently tilted. If, however, it should be desired to keep the "tines" A in their
elevated position (as may be necessary in traversing the rack from place to place or
over rough ground) the front of the tilting frame may be held down by a strut or
clutch M, centred upon the stop N and retained in a horizontal position by a link
(as shewn at Figure 3). when not required. The duty of the adjustable stop N is
to prevent the front of the swinging frame from rising, and for greater case of
adjustment a set pin a may likewise be employed. The tines A are prevented from
falling forward when in their elevated position by a bar o which extends entirely
across the machine, and which also to a certain extent cushions the shock of the
falling "tines" and frame when they have been released from the ratchet G. The
tongue or projection J on the sliding bar H should also operate to lock the "tines"
in position for work, by springing into gear with the step or stop N, and for this
purpose it should be formed as a hasp or catch; or if preferred such a hasp or catch
might be attached to the step or stop N; so as to engage and hold the sliding bar or
frame. The action of pushing out or releasing the catch from the step N also throws
the sliding bar into gear with the clutch.
1 When the attendant walks behind the machine instead of riding, I provide a
lever P projecting behind the machine, and connected to the sliding bar H which
may thus be operated from the rear of the machine as well as from the driver's
seat.
Instead of the stop or step arrangement herein-before described as employed to
set the frame and "tines" at the required height from the soil other means may be
employed, as for example, a screw passing through a cross bar or stay fixed between
the shafts of the rake, and provided with a nut to receive the screw, the upper end
of which may be provided with a bandle for turning it while its lower end bears
upon the swinging frame of the rake, so that as the screw is raised or lowered the
frame and tines are correspondingly canted into an elevated or depressed position.
Rakes constructed according to iny Invention may also be operated manually, as
shewn at Figures 4 and 4. In this case the sliding bar clutch and stop are
dispensed with, although otherwise the construction and arrangement of the machine
remains unchanged. A lever Q is employed to obtain the tilting movement of the
frame and "tines" This lever is centred upon the shaft D of the rake as a fulcrum,
and its continuation is attached to the bar E which carries the "tines" A. It will
thus be seen that as the outer end of the lever Q is raised, the frame and "tines"
are correspondingly elevated. The frame and tines are locked in position by causing
the lever to take into a recess or notch in an adjustable stop R fixed by a bolt to
the hinder bar S of the rake. As shown at Figure 4, the stop R has a slot formed
in it by which the stop may be shifted up or down so as to regulate the height of
the tines from the soil.
The last part of my Invention relates to the construction of wheels for horse
rakes, and is illustrated at Figure 5 of the accompanying Drawings. The boss of
my improved wheel is formed of two parts, vizt, the boss proper b and the cover or
washer c. The boss b is recessed with apertures corresponding in number to the
spokes employed. The spokes d having been placed in their recessos the flange or
cover c is placed on and secured to the hub b by screws e. When the hub b becomes
too much worn for further use the screws are removed and the flange c taken off;
the wheel rim and spokes may then be removed and a fresh hub supplied. I obtain
theroby virtually a new wheel at the expense and trouble only of a new half boss.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the mode of or
means for carrying the same into practical effect, what I desire to claim as my
Invention is as follows:-
First. Operating the "tines" of horse rakes by connecting the rocking frame with
the bearing wheel by means of a sliding bar and clutch teeth, substantially as
herein-before described and shewn.
Second. The means employed to obtain automatic disengagement and replace-
ment of the "tines," substantially as herein-before described and shewn.

page_text: Third. The employment of a screw passing through the cross bar or stay for
regulating and adjusting the height of the "tines" from the ground, substantially
as set forth.
Fourth. The employment of a lever whereby the machines are rendered available
for self-action or manual work, operating substantially in the manner herein-before
described and shown on the accompanying Drawings.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Henry Tooley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
EDWIN HENRY TOOLEY. (L.S.)