Improvements in Lawn Mowing Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1889-Accepted, 31st Aug 1889,
PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lawn Mowing Machines.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM FOLLOWS, of Gorton, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
and Agricultural Implement Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inveu-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of lawn mower in which the grass is cut by
revolving knives in conjunction with a fixed bottom blade, and its object is to provide
a machine of light and simple construction and with fewer working parts than those
at present made.
It consists essentially in constructing a lawn mower having the cutting blades
revolving about the same axis as the driving wheels, without any back or supporting
rollers, and in the several parts or combinations of parts arranged for the construc-
tion and adjustment of the apparatus to this end.
In carrying out the invention two circular sides are provided between which the
cutting knives rotate. The spindle of the revolving knives passes through
a central
bearing in each of the circular sides and at the outer side receives the driving wheels
one on each end. The driving wheels are loose on the spindle which carries the
knives and can move freely thereon. On one end of the knife spindle is keyed or
otherwise secured a clutch working in conjunction with a small pinion or toothed
wheel so that the rotation of the pinion in one direction carries with it the spindle
but in the other direction allows the spindle to remain at rest. This pinion gears by
means of a suitablo carrier or train of wheels with internal teeth on the rim of the
driving wheel. The bottom knife blade is formed of curved shape in cross section
and is attached at each end to a sliding bracket which works upon a central projecting
boss on the circular side. These sliding brackets are each adjustable by a set-screw
on top bearing upon the boss and acting against a spring placed below the boss.
Instead of the spring which is preferred, one, two, or more set screws may be
employed to adjust the sliding brackets of the bottom blade. The spring is preferably
of strong steel wire which holds the bottom blade rigidly in its required position.
The handle is connected to the machine by a cross bar which at each end carries a
link or connecting bar pivoted or otherwise connected to it, the other end of each
link fitting over a boss on the outer side of the driving wheel. Lugs are cast on or
attached to the inside of one or both of the circular sides which engage with the cross
bar and prevent the sides rotating with the wheels. The handle fits into a socket
connected to the cross bar by a set screw or other suitable fastening by which
means its position may be altered to adjust the height of the bottom blade from the
ground. A box to receive the cut grass is hooked onto pivots or lugs on the circular
sides and held in position by a chain or band attached by a hook or otherwise to the
handle.
A machine as herein set forth can be constructed with few working parts of but
little weight and without guide rollers or their equivalent either back or front.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in Lawn Mowing Machines.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM FOLLOWS, of Gorton, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
and Agricultural Implement Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to that class of lawn mower in which the grass is cut by
revolving knives in conjunction with a fixed bottom blade, and its object is to provide
a machine of light and simple construction and with fewer working parts han those
at present made.
It consists essentially in constructing a lawn mower in which the revolving blades
or cylinder revolve about the same axis as the driving wheels, so that the apparatus
may be adjusted without the assistance of either back or front supporting rollers and
so that such rollers may be used or dispensed with as desired and in the several parts
or combinations of parts arranged for the construction and adjustment of the apparatus
to this end.
It will be fully described with reference to the annexed drawings in which the
several parts of the invention are clearly shown.
Fig. 1, is a front elevation partly in section showing the machine without supporting
rollers.
Fig. 2, side. elevation partly in section on line x-x, fig. 1.
Fig. 3, side elevation partly in section on line y-y.
Fig. 4, sectional elevation of driving wheel.
Fig. 5, section of driving shaft showing back of pinion in elevation.
Fig. 6, side elevation in section of the collecting box bracket and back plate, as
arranged for machine without supporting rollers.
Fig. 7, plan of driving wheels and cylinder axle showing attachment for carrying
back and front rollers when applied.
Fig. 8, side elevation partly in section showing roller bracket...
Fig. 9, perspective view of the machine.
The rotating blades or cylinder A, rotate between two circular sides B, which form
a sort of framing and a bearing or support for the cylinder shaft or spindle a, and
the bottom blade C. The shaft or spindle a, of the cylinder, passes through the
central bearings b, on circular side plates B, projecting outwards at each end to receive
the driving wheels D, which are loose on the spindle and capable of moving freely
thereon. On each projecting end of the cylinder spindle a, is fitted a small clutch E,
forming part of the spur wheel or pinion F. This clutch may be of any suitable
construction, so that the rotation of the pinion in one direction carries with it the
spindle, but in the other direction allows the spindle to remain at rest. This pinion
gears by means of a suitable carrier, or train of wheels f, with internal teeth d, on
the rim of the driving wheel D.
The bottom or stationary blade C, is of curved shape in cross section, and when
in position is approximately concentric with the cylinder. Attached to it at each
end is a sliding bracket II, which fits upon slides around the boss b, which forms the
bearing of the cylinder shaft. The sliding brackets H are preferably of the form
shown in fig. 2, which fit over. the boss b, and are held in position and adjusted by a
setscrew, and spring or by two setscrews. The setscrew, passes through the
top of the bracket H, and bears against the top of the boss and the spring h¹ is tightly
compressed, one end bearing against the under side of the boss b, and the other end
against a projecting piece on the lower edge of the bracket as shown and is prevented
moving from an upright position by a pin or stud ". The height of the bracket H,
is adjusted by moving the setscrew h, as it is unscrewed the spring moves the bracket
downwards and when screwed up the spring is compressed and the bracket raised.
Instead of the spring one or two setscrews may be placed at the underside of the
bracket as well as at the top, but I prefer the spring as the bracket can be adjusted

page_text: by the movement of one screw. The spring is preferably of strong steel wire which
holds the bottom blade rigidly in its required position.
The machine is preferably fitted with a handle I, comprised of a single bar
connected to the machine by a cross bar K, carrying a link or connecting bar M, at
each end, by means of a shoe or socket L, pivoted thereon. The driving wheels at
their outer sides are each provided with a boss m, over which the free ends of the
links M fit. The driving wheels D, and links M, are held in position by the set
screws screwed into the end of the spindle a, or by a pin passed through it transversely.
By this arrangement the spindle a is relieved of undue strain, and the movement of
the handle, although it is pivoted concentrically with the spindle a, does not interfere
with the free working of the spindle. Lugs N are cast or attached to the inside of
one or both of the circular sides B, which engage with the cross bar K, and prevent
the sides rotating with the wheels. The socket L into which the handle fits is connected
to the cross bar K, by a set screw k or other suitable fastening by which means its
position may be altered to adjust the height of the bottom blade from the ground,
and so regulate the height or length of cut.
A box O, to receive the cut grass is attached to the machine by hooks o engaging
with pivots or lugs o¹, on the circular sides and is held in position by a chain or
band P, attached by a hook p, or otherwise to the cross bar or handle. The back
plate R, which throws the cut grass forward is attached to the same casting on the
box O, as the hooks o, and is removed with the box, thus when the box is not in use
the cut grass is thrown out or delivered behind..
A machine as herein set forth can be constructed with few working parts of but
little weight and with or without supporting rollers or their equivalent before or
behind the cylinder as the height of the cut is regulated and adjusted without their
aid by the raising and lowering of the bottom blade C, the cylinder always being.
maintained at the same height above the ground.
For large machines, however, I prefer to apply rollers S (as shown in Figs. 7 and 8)
stretching across the machine both before and behind the cylinder to bear the weight
of the machine and prevent the cylinder cutting into the sod in case of a hillock
between the wheels or one of the wheels falling into a depression. Such rollers will
also permit of grass borders being cut to the edge as one wheel may be carried past
the edge while the rollers sustain the weight of and prevent the machine falling at
that end.
Referring to figs. 7 and 8, the bracket F, carrying the rollers S, is pivoted about
the same axis as the spindle a, on an extended portion of the boss b, which carries
the bracket H, of the bottom blade C. The box O, is carried by the bracket o¹,
which at one end engages with the snug t, and at the other rests on the boss s. As
the bracket T, is pivoted, and has a free movement about the spindle a, the rollers S
do not regulate or adjust either the height of the cylinder from the ground or the
length or height of cut, but support the weight of the machine when necessary.
The box O, being supported on the front roller S, throws the weight forward and
makes the machine easy to drive.
The height or length of cut is adjusted as hereinbefore described by raising and
lowering the cutting edge of the fixed blade C, either by altering the position of the
handle socket L, or by raising and lowering the handle to a sufficient extent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is
1. In a lawn mowing machine the combination with the bottom stationary blade,
of the sliding brackets such as H, fitted or sliding on bosses concentric with the
cylinder spindle and adjusted in height by a set screw at one side of the boss and a
spring at the other or their equivalent substantially as described.
2. In a lawn mowing machine the combination with the cross bar such as K, and
links such as M, which connect the handle to the machine, of driving wheels

page_text: having bosses to receive the free end of the links, substantially as described and
shown.
3. In a lawn mowing machine the combination with the handle, of the movable
socket L, the cross bar K, the lugs N, on the circular sides, and the links M, attached
to bosses on the driving wheels by means of which the handle is connected to the
machine and its position adjusted substantially as described.
4. A lawn mowing machine constructed and arranged so that the cutting height
may be adjusted without the assistance of supporting rollers or their equivalent
either back or front substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1889.
WM P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.