Improvements in Connecting Rods, applicable to Reapers, Mowers, Pumps, and other Machinery and Apparatus where Reciprocal' Motion is Employed.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov.,. 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Connecting Rods, applicable to Reapers, Mowers,
Pumps, and other Machinery and Apparatus where Reciprocal'
Motion is Employed.
I, DANIEL JOHN CROSBY,, of Black Oak Farm, Kadina in the. Province of
South Australia, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Connecting rods as at present used for communicating reciprocal: motion are
made of the necessary length to suit the machine or apparatus on which they are
employed, and, being of a rigid character, maintain a fixed length.
It sometimes happens that the operated portion of the machine or apparatus
becomes obstructed or choked (for instance, in grain mowing and reaping and
binding machines, sticks, stones and bits of wire catch in the knife bar, and in
pumps obstructions occasionally pass the valves) and as the driving power cannot
be stopped or disconnected immediately; breakages take place iuvolving not only
loss of time but great expense for repairs.
Now by my invention I provide an automatic self-relieving connecting-rod, so
that when an obstruction or choke is met with, the rud accommodates itself in
length and in effect a disconnection is made. until the return stroke or until
the driving power is cut off or stopped and the obstruction drops out or is
removed.
This result is achieved by forming the rod in two parts, first, a sleeve or frame
provided with two bosses or bearings, and. second, a. slotted spindle or plunger
which passes through such bearings. The spindle or plunger is slotted and is
encircled by a coil spring of sufficient strength to stand the tension required, and
confined between keys carried in the slots. The spring is so set and fitted that
when the machine is working in a normal manner the rod acts as a rigid one, but
when an obstruction is met with, such. as before mentioned the slotted spindle slides.
through its bearings in the sleeve, compressing the spring and increasing or.
decreasing the length of the rod as necessary, and the operated portion is not
further actuated until the obstruction has been removed.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will describe the same.
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan of a simple form of my connecting rod.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views of the same.
;
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4, but shewing the rod shortened.
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 4, but shewing the rod lengthened.
Figure 7 shews portion of a mowing machine fitted with a rigid connecting rod.
Figure 8 is a similar view but with my self-relieving rod substituted for the
rigid rod.
The same letters refer to like parts in all the figures.
A is the spindle or plunger around which the spring B is supported. C is the
sleeve or frame between the bosses or bearings CC of which the spring B is
carried. E' Eare keys which pass through suitable slots D' D' in the rod. A and

page_text: confine the spring between them. Washers may be interposed between the ends of
the spring and the keys, if desired, but I consider it quite sufficient to form a flat coil
upon each end of the spring. G is the stud or pin to which the end of the knife
bar is connected when used for mowing machines and H is the eye or socket which
fits upon the pin of the driving disc of the machine.
The outer ends of the slots E' E' in the spindle A coincide with the inner faces
of the bosses C C so that the backs of the keys E' E' when the rod is of normal
length and working freely, bear against the outer ends of the slots D¹ D' and
against the inner faces of the bosses C₁ C. Should an obstruction be met with
on the forward stroke the rod is shortened, the key E is carried along with the
spindle A and the key E¹ bears against the boss C, thereby compressing the-
spring, as shewn in Figure 5. Should an obstruction be met with on the back-
ward stroke the rod is lengthened, the key E' is drawn along with the rod A
and the key E bears against the boss C3, the spring being compressed, as shown in
Figure 6.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the form or details
herein set forth. I have described the application of my invention to mowing'
machines. It will be obvious that it can be applied to pumps as well as to other
machinery and apparatus in which a reciprocal motion is employed and modifica-
tions of form and detail may be made as required without departing from the
principle of my invention..
Dated this 23rd day of June 1896.
Improvements in Connecting Rods, applicable to Reapers, Mowers,
Pumps, and other Machinery and Apparatus where Reciprocal.
Motion is Employed.
I DANIEL JOHN CROSBY of Black Oak Farm, Kadina in the Province of
South Australia, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Connecting rods as at present used for communicating reciprocal motion are
made of the necessary length to suit the machine or apparatus on which they are
employed, and being of a rigid character, maintain a fixed length.
It sometimes happens that the operated portion of the machine or apparatus
becomes obstructed or choked (for instance, in grain mowing and reaping and
binding machines, sticks, stones and bits of wire catch in the knife bar, and in
pumps obstructions occasionally pass the valves) and as the driving power cannot
be stopped or disconnected immediately breakages take place involving not only
loss of time but great expense for repairs.
Now by my invention I provide an automatic self-relieving connecting-rod,
so that when an obstruction or choke is met with, the rod accommodates itself
in length and in effect a disconnection is made until the return stroke or until
the driving power is cut off or stopped and the obstruction drops out or is
removed.
This result is achieved by forming the rod in two parts, first, a sleeve or frame.

page_text: provided with two bosses or bearings, and, second, a slotted spindle or plunger
which passes through such bearings. The spindle or plunger is slotted and is
encircled by a coil spring of sufficient strength to stand the tension required and
confined between keys carried in the slots. The spring is so set and fitted that.
when the machine is working in a normal manner the rod acts as a rigid one, but
when an obstruction is met with, such as before mentioned, the slotted spindle
slides through its bearings in the sleeve, compressing the spring and increasing or
decreasing the length of the rod as necessary, and the operated portion is not.
further actuated until the obstruction has been removed.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will describe the same-
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan of a simple form of my connecting rod.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views of the same.
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4, but showing the rod shortened.
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 4, but showing the rod lengthened.
Figure 7 shows portion of a mowing machine fitted with a rigid connecting rod.
Figure 8 is a similar view but with my self-relieving rod substituted for the
rigid rod.
The same letters refer to like parts in all the figures.
•
A is the spindle or plunger around which the spring B is supported. C is the
sleeve or frame between the bosses or bearings CC of which the spring B is.
carried. E' E' are keys which pass through suitable slots D' D' in the rod A and
confine the spring between them. Washers may be interposed between the ends of
the spring and the keys, if desired, but I consider it quite sufficient to form a flat coil
upon each end of the spring. G is the stud or pin to which the end of the knife
bar is connected when used for mowing machines and H is the eye or socket which
fits upon the pin of the driving disc of the machine.
The outer ends of the slots E' E' in the spindle. A coincide with the inner faces.
of the bosses C C so that the backs of the keys E' E' when the rod is of normal
length and working freely, bear against the outer ends of the slots D' D' and
against the inner faces of the bosses CC. Should an obstruction be inet with on
the forward stroke the rod is shortened, the key E is carried along with the
spindle A and the key E¹ bears against the boss C¹, thereby compressing the
spring, as shown in Figure 5. Should au obstruction be met with on the back-
ward stroke the rod is lengthened, the key E¹ is drawn along with the rod A.
and the key E bears against the boss C, the spring being compressed as shown
in Figure 6.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the form or details.
herein set forth. I have described the application of my invention to mowing.
machines. It will be obvious that it can be applied to pumps as well as to other
machinery and apparatus in which a reciprocating motion is employed and modifica-
tions of form and detail may be made as required without departing from the
principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what.
I claim is :-
1. In a connecting rod, a spring, supported and confined so that upon an
obstruction being met with by the operating part of the machine or apparatus
causing severe strain the spring is compressed and allows the length of the rod to
vary sufficiently to avoid breakage, substantially as set forth.
2. A connecting rod formed in two main parts with a spring and keys which
enable the rod to lengthen or shorten when obstruction is met with by the operated
parts substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A connecting rod consisting of two main parts, first, a spindle or plunger

page_text: encircled by a spring confined by two keys working in slots in the said spindle,
and, secondly, a sleeve or frame having two bosses or bearings through which the
spindle passes and between which are the keys and spring substantially as described
and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 12th day of November 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.