IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES. SPFICATION left.
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hornsby, James Edwin Phillips, John
Innocent, and George Thomas Rutter, all of the Spittlegate Iron
Works, Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left. by the said Richard Hornsby,
James Edwin Phillips, John Innocent, and George Thomas Rutter
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 7th October 1875.
We, RICHARD HORNSBY, JAMES EDWIN PHILLIPS, JOHN INNOCENT,
and GEORGE THOMAS RUTTER, all of the Spittlegate Iron Works,
Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES,"
to be as follows:
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to some of us,
No. 2523, in the year 1866, was described applying to reaping machines,
in addition to the rakes which clear the platform, other rakes which act
A

page_text: in a similar manner to lay the standing crop towards the cutters, but
which as they approach the leading edge of the platform are by
governing apparatus raised above the platform, so that they are pre-
vented from delivering the cut crop from it, and in the Specifications of
other Patents, No. 3289, in the year 1872, and No. 1816, in the year
1874, were described improved means of controlling the movements of
the rake arms.
In the latter Specification we described an arrangement in which the
movements of the rakes were controlled by linking the arms which
carried them to collars turning upon axes inclined to the axis round
which all of the rakes revolved, the rakes which were to deliver the cut
crop from the platform being linked to a collar turning upon one such
inclined axis, and the rakes which were not to deliver the cut crop being
linked to a collar on another inclined axis.
According to our present Invention we modify this arrangement of
delivery apparatus in such a way that the driver of the machine may for
a time prevent any of the rakes from delivering the cut crop from the
platform. For this purpose the rake arms carry rollers, which as the
rakes sweep over the platform pass below a fixed guide which prevents
the rake from rising away from the platform. This guide we make
moveable, or provide its leading edge with a switch, which can be
shifted by the driver of the machine moving a lever or treadle, so that
when turning around corners or whenever the driver pleases he can shift
the guide or switch into a position to raise the rakes and prevent any of
them from delivering the cut crop from the platform. To allow the
rakes to be thus raised the links which support the rake arms are
connected to the arms by a sliding joint, or chains might be used to
connect the rake arms to the collar. We also connect the links to the
collars by ball-and-socket joints to allow them to move freely.
In some cases we connect the arms of all the rakes to a collar on one
inclined axis, and control the movement of the guide or switch
automatically by means similar to those described in the Specification,
No. 1816, in the year 1874, so that every second, third, fourth, or other
rake may be caused to deliver the crop, as desired.
Instead of using the links a continuous cam may be used, and the
rake arms may be jointed to the rake axis in the manner shown at
Figure 6 of the Drawings annexed to the last mentioned Specification.

page_text: We also employ in connection with such arrangements apparatus by
which the action of the rakes can be varied from time to time as desired
without changing the gearing or stopping the machine, so that the crop.
may be delivered more or less frequently as desired. For this purpose
the axis which carries the rake arms has upon it two, three, or other
number of toothed wheels of different diameters, which gear with other
wheels loose on a hollow shaft parallel with it, but any one or other of
which can be set fast with the shaft by a feather on a sliding bolt which
passes up through the hollow shaft. The hollow shaft has at its lower
end a projection or projections upon it, which as the shaft revolves.
work the switch in a similar manner to that described in the Specifi-
cation last mentioned, and according as the speed of the hollow shaft is
varied so either the second, third, or fourth rake is caused to deliver the
crop as required.
.
The sliding bolt, which passes up through the hollow shaft above
mentioned, can be raised or lowered to set any one or other of the
toothed wheels fast upon it by a lever acting upon its lower end, and
this lever can be retained in position for any one or other of the wheels
to be fixed upon the hollow shaft by means of a catch taking into
notches in a fixed quadrant. This arrangement for governing, whether
the second, third, fourth, or other rake, shall be called upon to deliver
the cut crop from the platform without stopping the working of the
machine, may be applied to other arrangements in which cams with
moveable switch pieces are employed for controlling the movement of
the rake arms to cause any one or other of them to deliver the cut crop
as desired.
In combination with the use of automatic apparatus for causing either
the second, third, or other rake to deliver the crop from the platform of
reaping machines we also use lifters and dividers carried by joints at
their rear end to enable them to adapt themselves to inequalities of
the ground.
When the rake arms of the delivery apparatus of reaping machines
arc opposite to one another, and when their movements are controlled
by a cam in a similar manner to that described in the Specification of
the last-mentioned Patent, and where any of the rakes can be caused to
travel over the platform without coming in contact with the cut crop
thereon by means of a switch piece we link together the arms which arọ

page_text: opposite to one another, in order that the weight of the arm which has
to rise to pass clear of the platform may be partially balanced by the
rake arm opposite to it, the cam in this case passing only partially
around the rake axis, so that the movement of the rake opposite to the
rake which is over the platform may not be interfered with.
The rake axis may be driven in the manner described in the Specifi-
cation of the last-mentioned Patent, or the rake axis may be carried
down below the bottom of the bracket by which it is carried, and have
a bevil wheel fixed upon it just below the bottom of the bracket, and be
driven by a bevil pinion on an inclined hollow axis having at its lower
end another bevil pinion gearing into a bevil wheel on the intermediato
axis which is driven from the ring of teeth on the driving wheel.
The hollow axis above mentioned is made to turn freely upon a rod
which is fixed at its ends to parts of the frame, and thus serves to tic
the frame together.
When the driving wheels of reaping and mowing machines are formed
with wooden spokes we make one side of the boss of the wheel removeable,
so that when this side of the boss is taken away the inner ends of the
spokes may be inserted sidewise into the recesses in the boss which are
to receive them. The moveable side may then be put on and drawn
tightly against the spokes by bolts and nuts. By this arrangement if
by shrinking of the wood the spokes become loose they can readily be
tightened up without taking the wheel to pieces.
If the spokes of the wheel are of wrought iron we use two sets of
spokes coming from opposite sides of the boss; the two sets of spokes
are caused to cross one another, and at their outer ends are fixed to
angle iron rings on the interior of the tyre. The side of one of the angle
iron rings is flush with one side of the tyre, whilst the other angle iron
ring is some distance from the opposite side of the tyre, so that the
spokes of the wheel may not come in the way of the toothed wheel
which is driven from the ring of teeth on the boss of the wheel.
5
The bosses of wheels made in either of the above ways may have
applied to them an inner removeable boss, the ring of spur teeth by which
they are to transmit motion to the several parts of the machine may also
be removeable, so that either one or other of them may be readily taken
away and renewed whenever required.

page_text: To supply the rollers on the rake arms with oil we drill a hole length-
wise of the pin, upon which the rollers turn, and plug the end of the
hole with a screw plug.
Through the socket and upper side of the pin we drill a cross hole,
through which oil may be supplied, and also another hole on the under
side of the pin through the part upon which the roller has to turn, to
allow the oil to pass between the pin and the roller.
To ensure the delivery of the crop in sheaves or bundles without
scattering between one sheaf and another, we place upon the surface of
the platform a row of teeth capable of turning upon a joint at the lower
end; these teeth are each held erect by a spring. When a delivery rake
sweeps over the platform the teeth yield and allow the crop to be swept
off. As soon as the rake has passed the teeth return and stops the crop
which is then accumulating from being drawn off from the platform
with the sheaf which is being delivered.
In place of the teeth being separate they may be carried by a head
capable of turning in bearings, and similarly acted upon by a spring
or springs; or in place of teeth a board may be used in a similar
manner.
In order to be enabled to change a two-wheel mowing machine with
jointed finger bar into a reaping machine with self-raking delivery, we
take away the knife and finger bar used for mowing, and substitute for
it a finger bar with the fingers pointing in the opposite direction; this
bar has a platform attached carrying the rakes. The rake axis may be
driven by a tumbling shaft and universal joints from the axis of the
main wheel, or it may be driven by an endless chain, or otherwise.
Provision is also made for reversing the pole, and for changing or
reversing the ratchets of the driving wheels.
The connecting rod employed in reaping and mowing machines to
drive the knife we make forked at the end which is connected to the
knife, and each arm of the fork has a conical projection upon it to enter
corresponding recesses in the opposite sides of a block of india-rubber
or other clastic material, and are drawn together by a bolt and nut to
wedge firmly into the block, the elastic block being suitably secured to
the knife bar; or the elastic block may be omitted, and the conical pro-
jections cuter recesses in the knife bar end, and be similarly held

page_text: a catch to drop into the rack teeth to lock the machine in its downward
position. In both cases a spring coupling is interposed in the length
either of the rod or chain.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Hornsby, James Edwin Phillips, John
Innocent, and George Thomas Rutter in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, RICHARD
HORNSBY, JAMES EDWIN Phillips, John INNOCENT, and GEORGE
THOMAS RUTTER, all of the Spittlegate Iron Works, Grantham, in the
County of Lincoln, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Richard Hornsby, James
Edwin Phillips, John Innocent, and George Thomas Rutter, Her special
license that we, the said Richard Hornsby, James Edwin Phillips,
John Innocent, and George Thomas Rutter, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Richard Hornsby,
James Edwin Phillips, John Innocent, and George Thomas Rutter,
our exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Richard Hornsby, James Edwin
Phillips, John Innocent, and George Thomas Rutter, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, or under the hand and scal of one of us or
them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within

page_text: six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Hornsby, on behalf of
myself and the said James Edwin Phillips, John Innocent, and George
Thomas Rutter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
that is to say :-
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to some of us,
No. 2523, in the year 1866, was described applying to reaping machines,
in addition to the rakes which clear the platform, other rakes which act
in a similar manner to lay the standing crop towards the cutters, but
which, as they approach the leading edge of the platform, arc by
governing apparatus raised above the platform, so that they are prevented
from delivering the cut crop from it, and in the Specifications of other
Patents, No. 3289, in the year 1872, and No. 4174, in the year 1874,
were described improved means of controlling the movements of the
rake arms.
In the latter Specification we described an arrangement in which the
movements of the rakes were controlled by linking the arms which
carried them to collars turning upon axes inclined to the axis, round
which all of the rakes revolved. The rakes which were to deliver the
cut crop from the platform being linked to a collar turning upon one
such inclined axis, and the rakes which were not intended at any time
to deliver the cut crop being linked to a collar on another inclined
axis.
According to our present Invention wo modify this arrangement of
delivery apparatus in such a way that the driver of the machine may
for a time prevent any of the rakes from delivering the cut crop from
the platform. For this purpose the rake arms of the delivering rakes
carry rollers, which as the rakes sweep over the platform pass below a
fixed guide, which prevents the rake from rising away from the plat-
form. We provide the leading edge of this guide with a switch, which
can be shifted into a position to raise the rakes and prevent any of them
from delivering any of the cut crop from the platform. To allow the
rakes to be thus raised the links which support the rake arms are
connected to the arms by a sliding joint, or chains may be used to

page_text: connect the rake arms to the collar. We also may connect the links
to the collars by ball-and-socket joints to allow them to move freely.
When it is desired to have the power of employing every rake to
deliver we connect the arms of all the rakes to a collar on one inclined
axis, and we control the movement of the switch automatically by
means similar to those described in the Specification, No. 4174, in the
year 1874, so that every second, third, fourth, or other rake may be
caused to deliver the crop as described.
We also employ, in connection with such arrangements, apparatus by
which the action of the rakes can be varied from time to time as desired
without changing the gearing or stopping the machine, so that the crop
may be delivered more or less frequently, as desired. For this purpose
the axis which carries the rake arms has upon it two, three, or other
number of toothed wheels of different diameters which gear with other
wheels loose on a hollow shaft parallel with it, but any one or other of
which can be set fast with the shaft by a feather on a sliding bolt which
passes up through the hollow shaft. The hollow shaft has at its lower
end a projection or projections upon it which, as the shaft revolves, work
the switch in a similar manner to that described in the Specification last
mentioned, and according as the speed of the hollow shaft is varied so
either the second, third, or fourth rake is caused to deliver the crop as
required.
The sliding bolt which passes up through the hollow shaft above
mentioned can be raised or lowered to set any one or other of the
toothed wheels fast upon it.
In the annexed Drawings Figure 1 shows an elevation partly in
section of a portion of a reaping machine arranged according to our
Invention, and in such manner that each of the rakes can at pleasure be
employed to deliver the cut crop from the platform.
a is a portion of the frame of the machine; b, the main wheel; c, the
finger bar; d, a cranked bar fixed to the frame, and serving as an axle
about which the rake carrier e is able to turn freely; the rake arms ƒ, of
which there may be 3, 4, 5, or other number, are jointed to the rake
carrier e, and are able to move in a vertical direction; c¹ is an internal
ring of bevilled teeth, with which gear a bevilled pinion, and so the
rake carrier is rotated, carrying the rake arms with it, as in other well-

page_text: known machines. On the other end of the cranked bar d is a collar g
and chains or it might be straps pass from this collar and sustain the
rake arms when they are not otherwise supported. Each rake arm also
carries by means of a bracket h a roller i which can rotate upon a pin j
fixed into the bracket. There is also fixed to the frame an incline k,
with which the roller i comes into contact as the rake teeth approach
-the-fingers of the machine, and so long as the rake teeth are passing
along the platform the rake is sustained more or less by the incline to
prevent the teeth bearing too heavily upon the platform. The incline k
is shown separately at Figure 2; it is provided with a switch /¹, which
can turn about an axis so as either to allow the roller i to run along the
incline k, as already described, and when the switch is thus placed the
rake arms, each in succession, clear the platform, or the switch can be
set so as to direct the roller i to another incline 2, and then so long as
the switch is thus placed the rake arms pass each in succession without
touching the crop on the platform; * is a moveable portion of the
upper incline which yields to allow the roller i to pass when it is
running upon the incline k. The switch ¹ is worked automatically in
the following manner :—
'
An arm upon its axis is connected by a rod m to one arm of the bell-
crank lever n, and a spring acts upon the other arm, which when free to
do so holds the switch / in the position in which it is shown in Figure 2,
but the lever n is also connected by another link with a slide o which
has an oval hole in it and embraces a tubular axis p, which appears in
section in Figure 3. The axis p carries a cam p', which each time that
the axis revolves acts upon a nib o¹ projecting from the under side of
the slide o and so presses back the slide, causing it to move the tongue k¹
(with which it is connected through the parts m and n) into such a
position as to allow the rollers i upon the rake arms to pass along the
lower incline k.
The cam p¹ may, if desired, be so formed as to act twice in cach
revolution.
The tubular axis p receives motion in the following manner-Upon
the cranked bar d three toothed pinious q', q, q³, are able to turn freely,
and they can be rendered fast to the rake carrier e so as to turn with it
by means of a sliding clutch "; this clutch is held in by a spring, but
the wheels are thrown out of gear whenever the driver pulls upon a

page_text: and
cord which is attached to the clutch lever. The wheels q', q², q³, gear
with other wheels s', s², s³, mounted loosely upon the hollow axis P,
within this axis there is a sliding bolt t with a nib upon it which projects
through a slot in the side of the axis and enters into a notch formed for
it in one or other of the wheels 81, 82, 83. In the position shewn by the
Drawings, the bolt being in its highest position, the nib upon it engages
with the wheel s' and renders this wheel fast with the axis p.
t¹ is a
handle which is able to slide along the bolt t, being held between two
springs which tend to keep it midway between them; the handle itself
is in two parts, as the Drawing indicates, and one slides on the other in
a way which will be readily understood from the Drawing, so that the
handle may be set and cocked at pleasure in one or other of three
holes which communicate the one with the other. When the handle
has been moved from one hole to another the bolt follows it as soon as
the rotation of the wheels s¹, s, &c., brings the notches in them to
coincide so that the nib may be able to pass from one to the other.
These arrangements give the operator great control over the delivery of
the crop when the wheels are in gear; the delivery will be effected
cither by the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th (or it might be the 3rd, 4th, or 5th) rake,
according as the handle is placed in the upper, middle, or lower hole,
or the operator can cause every rake in passing to clear the platform,
and then what is practically a swathe delivery is obtained. This he
does by throwing the clutch out of gear when the switch is raised.
Or again, the operator can at pleasure hold off the delivery for any time
that he may desire by throwing the clutch out when the switch k¹ is
down in the position in which it is shown at Figure 2.
In some cases in place of connecting the rake arms with the collar g
by chains or straps, or by other such like means we use rods attached
by ball-and-socket joints, and the joint upon the rake arm is so arranged
as to be able to slide along it; this arrangement is shown at Figure 4.
Figure 5 shows a modification of the inclines and ², and the parts
in connection therewith. In place of the switch ¹ we employ an arm k³
turning upon an axis and carrying a roller k, which is shown in two
positions in the Figure. When it is in its lowest position it does not
influence the rake arms, but when it is raised inclines f* on these arms
come against it and consequently the arms are raised and the rollers i
upon them are landed upon the upper incline k². The portion *** of
this incline is of spring metal; it yields downwards to some extent when

page_text: the roller is passing over it and allows it to descend easily, and on the
contrary when the roller passes beneath it it yields in an upward
direction.
Instead of using the links a continuous cam may be used, and the
rake arms are then jointed to the rake axis in the manner shown at
Figure 6 of the Drawings annexed to the last mentioned Specification,
No. 4174.
The arrangement for governing, whether the second, third, fourth, or
other rake, shall be called upon to deliver the cut crop from the plat-
form without changing the gearing or stopping the working of the
machine, may be applied to other arrangements in which cams with
moveable switch pieces are employed for controlling the movement of
the rake arms to cause any one or other of them to deliver the cut
crop as desired.
In combination with the use of automatic apparatus for causing either
the second, third, or other rake to deliver the crop from the platform of
reaping machines I also use lifters and dividers carried by joints at
their rear end to enable them to adapt themselves to inequalities of the
ground.
Figure 6 is a plan of a machine having rakes actuated and governed
as already described. a is the divider with a joint at a¹ to allow its
point to rise and fall, following the inequalities of the ground; is the
lifter at the other end of the finger bar; it is attached with a similar
joint at 6'.
Where controlled rakes or rakes governed in the manner described are
employed it is very important that the lifter and divider should be.
jointed so as to get well under the crop, otherwise the rakes will in some
cases be liable to beat down the crop, especially on the lifter side, and
cause the ears to pass into the cutting apparatus.
When the rake arms of the delivery apparatus of reaping machines
are opposite to one another, and when their movements are controlled
by a cam in a similar manner to that described in the Specification of
No. 4174 in the year 1874, and where any of the rakes can be caused to
travel over the platform without coming in contact with the cut crop
thereon by means of a switch piece we link together the arms which arc
opposite to one another in order that the weight of the arm which has

page_text: to rise to pass clear of the platform may be partially balanced by the
rake arm opposite to it, the cam in this case passing only partially
around the rake axis, so that the movement of the rake opposite to the
rake which is over the platform may not be interfered with.
The rake axis may be driven in the manner described in the Specifi-
fication of the last-mentioned Patent, or the rake axis may be carried
down below the bottom of the bracket by which it is carried, and have
a bevil wheel fixed upon it just below the bottom of the bracket and be
driven by a bevil pinion on an inclined axis. Figure 7 is an elevation partly
in section of a raking apparatus arranged in this manner; it resembles in
the main that already described in respect to Figure 1, except that the
rake arms are not controlled during any part of their travel by means of
the cranked bar d and collar g, but in place thereof they are connected
in pairs so that the opposite rakes tend to balance each other, and the
inclines and are made of such a length that one at least of each
pair of rakes is at all times controlled by them. During a part of its
course the roller i of each rake arm leaves the cam whilst the opposite
rake is clearing the platform, so that it may not interfere with the action
of the switch when it is desired to bring it into operation to divert the
rollers from the lower incline to the upper incline ².
When the driving wheels of reaping and mowing machines are
formed with wooden spokes we make one side of the boss of the wheel
removeable, so that when this side of the boss is taken away the inner
ends of the spokes may be inserted sidewise into the recesses in the boss
which are to receive them, the moveable side may then be put on and
drawn tightly against the spokes by bolts and nuts. By this arrange-
ment if by shrinking of the wood the spokes become loose they can readily
be tightened up without taking the wheel to pieces.
If the spokes of the wheel are of wrought iron we use two sets of
spokes coming from opposite sides of the boss, the two sets of spokes
are caused to cross one another, and at their outer ends are fixed to
angle iron rings on the interior of the tyre. The side of one of the angle
iron rings is flush with one side of the tyre, whilst the other angle iron
ring is some distance from the opposite side of the tyre so that the
spokes of the wheel may not come in the way of the toothed wheel
which is driven from the ring of teeth on the boss of the wheel.

page_text: The bosses of wheels made in either of the above ways may have
applied to them an inner removeable boss. The ring of spur teeth by
which they are to transmit motion to the several parts of the machine
may also be removeable, so that cither one or other of them may be
readily taken away and renewed whenever required. The first of these
arrangements is shewn by the Figures 8 and 9, where a is the boss of
the wheel; b, the inner removeable boss; c, ring of spur teeth also
removeable and bolted to the inner boss 6; d, d, are the spokes of the
wheel; e, the felloes; and f, the tyre.
The arrangement with wrought-iron spokes is shown at Figure 10.
The spokes a are fixed to two angle iron rings b, c, and the boss d is cast
upon the inner ends of the spokes. e is the inner boss; and ƒ, the tyre
fixed to the rings b and c.
To supply the rollers on the rake arms with oil we drill a hole length-
wise of the pin upon which the rollers turn, and plug the end of a
hole with a cork or screw plug.
Through the socket and upper side of the pin we drill a cross hole,
through which oil may be supplied, and also another hole on the under
side of the pin, through the part upon which the roller has to turn to
allow the oil to pass between the pin and the roller. This arrangement
is shown at Figure 1; it will be observed that the pin j is hollow, it
receives a cork or plug at j', it is filled with oil by the hole j², and the
oil flows to the interior of the roller i by the perforation j³.
To ensure the delivery of the crop in sheaves or bundles without
scattering between one sheaf and another we place upon the surface 2
of the platform a row of teeth capable of turning upon a joint at their
lower end; these teeth are cach held erect by a spring. When a delivery
rake sweeps over the platform the teeth yield and allow the crop to be
swept off; as soon as the rake has passed the teeth return and stop the
crop which is then accumulating from being drawn off the platform
with the sheaf which is being delivered.
In place of the teeth being separate they may be carried by a head
capable of turning in bearings and similarly acted upon by a spring or
springs, or in place of teeth a board may be used in a similar manner.
The position which these teeth occupy is indicated at c, c, in Figure 6; 3
and Figure 11 shows an clevation, partly in section, of one of the teeth

page_text: separately; Figure 11* is a plan. a is the tooth; it is fixed upon a pin
or axis b, which is carried so as to be able to turn in a small casting c,
which is bolted down to the platform of the machine; d is a vulcanised
india-rubber ring acting as a spring to keep the tooth erect, but yielding
to permit the rakes to pass.
separately; Figure 11* is a plan. a is the tooth; it is fixed upon a pin
or axis b, which is carried so as to be able to turn in a small casting c,
which is bolted down to the platform of the machine; d is a vulcanised
india-rubber ring acting as a spring to keep the tooth erect, but yielding
to permit the rakes to pass.
Figure 12 shews another arrangement, in which a coiled spring is
employed.
Figure 13 is a section showing the arrangement when the teeth are
all connected together.
Figure 14 is an elevation of the same to a smaller scale; the spring is
not shown; a coiled spring at one or both ends may be employed.
In order to be enabled to change a two wheel mowing machine with
jointed finger bar into a reaping machine with self-raking delivery we
take away the knife and finger bar used for mowing and substitute for
it a finger bar with the fingers pointing in the opposite direction; this
bar has a platform attached carrying the rakes.
The rake axis may be driven by a tumbling shaft and universal joints
from the axis of the main wheel, or it may be driven by an endless chain,
or otherwise.
Provision is also made for reversing the pole, and for changing or
reversing the ratchets of the driving wheel.
Figure 15 is a plan of a portion of a combined reaping and moving
machine as represented in the Drawing, it is prepared for reaping. It
is, as will be seen, fitted with a reaping finger bar provided with a
platform and rake gear; and the rake gear is actuated from the wheels
in a very simple way by means of a tumbling shaft or shaft connected
with universal joints at each end. The cutting apparatus in the
arrangement shown by this Figure works in front of the main wheels in
mowing as well as in reaping, as is usual in combined machines, and
this Figure is given to illustrate the usual position and arrangement of
the cutting apparatus in combined reaping and mowing machines;
Figure 16 however shows our improved arrangement for reaping, the
finger bar carrying the fingers upon the other side of it, and
being cranked, so that the line of the knife remains unchanged
opposite the connecting rod by which it is worked. The pole of
the machinc is reversed in position at the same time that the finger

page_text: bar is changed; it is unclamped from the bridge piece which carries it,
brought round to the back, and clamped on again in position for the
machine to be drawn in the opposite direction. The main wheels now
precede the cutting apparatus. It is also necessary to change over the
main wheels from end to end of the axle in order that the ratchet
apparatus may work correctly.
The arrangement of the ratchet apparatus which we employ to allow
the wheels to turn freely in a backward direction without influencing
the mechanism is shown at Figure 17. a is the axle; is a ring or
disc mounted loosely upon the axle and having notches 6 formed in it
to receive pawls; c is a portion of the boss of the main wheel; it also
has a disc fixed upon it, upon which the pawls d and springs e arc
mounted; thus the wheels drive the axle when rotating forward, but not
when turning in the opposite direction. The axle has a toothed ring
fixed upon it to drive the cutting apparatus.
It will be seen that changing over the wheels from end to end of the
axle reverses the operation of the pawls.
Figure 16 shows a reaping platform fixed to the finger bar and raking
apparatus driven by an endless chain.
The connecting rod employed in reaping and mowing machines to
drive the knife we make forked at the end which is connected to the
knife, and each arm of the fork has a conical projection upon it to enter
corresponding recesses in the opposite sides of a block of india-rubber
or other elastic material, and are drawn together by a bolt and nut to
wedge firmly into the block, the elastic block being suitably secured to
the knife bar. Or the clastic block may be omitted, and the conical
projections enter recesses in the knife bar end and be similarly held
together by a bolt and nut, so that as they become worn they may be
drawn closer together.
Figure 18 shows the arrangement where a vulcanized india-rubber
block is employed. a is the india-rubber; b, the forked connecting rod;
and c,.
the end of the knife bar.

page_text: gateways we divide the platform and finger bar in the middle, and
connect the parts together by a hinge joint.
When the machine is at work the two parts of the platform and finger
bar are rigidly connected, but when out of work the outer part of the
platform may be turned over out of the way, and a wheel be applied to
the fixed half of the platform to support it. This arrangement is seen
in Figure 6. The finger bar is in two pieces, and d is a casting fixed to
the outer end of it. The casting has a socket through which the pin e
fixed to the inner end of the finger bar passes. The piu at its outer end
receives a washer and a key; the platform also
end, and there is a joint at f
is divided from end to
When it is desired to reduce the width of the machine the knife
having been withdrawn a bolt is taken out, and then the outer end
of the finger bar and the portion of the platform attached to it can be
turned into an upright position. A small carrying wheel is .then
attached to the casting d by bolts. The bolt passes through the
casting d, and through the inner end of the finger bar, and when in its
place renders the joint perfectly rigid.
To reduce the friction upon the cutting knife and to allow the cut
crop to pass back freely over it we employ separate wearing picces fixed
at intervals to the finger bar for the back of the knife bar to rest against
at the same time that we use narrow straight clips for holding the knife
down.
Figure 20 shows the clips and wearing pieces which we use in
combination. a is the finger bar with its fingers; b, are the narrow
straight clips without any shoulders, on which the crop can hang;
and c are the separate wearing pieces fixed at intervals to the front edge
of the finger bar to give a sufficient bearing to the back of the knife
bar.
To improve the cutting of the cutting apparatus we use fingers of a
pitch of about 2 inches from centre to centre. In this case the fingers
have to be made much narrower than usual, and great difficulty has
been experienced in making them of sufficient strength. We make such
fingers in one piece, of wrought metal or malleable iron or steel, so that
the finger may be as strong as possible at the end of the slot formed
through it, which is the point at which the fingers are most liable to
break.

page_text: Figure 21 shows the fingers which we employ, but we make no claim.
in respect to such fingers.
The inclined shelf which passes partly around the outer side of the
platform, in place of being fixed as in reaping machines now made, we
carry by a pin joint at the front, and by a rack or adjustable connection
at the back to allow of the shelf being lowered when cutting low or laid
crops, and for being raised when cutting tall crops. This arrangement
is shown at Figure 6. h is the inclined shelf, which in place of being
fixed to the platform as heretofore is attached by a pin joint at h³, and
by an adjustable stem or upright connection at h².
To raise or lower the cutters, in place of connecting a rod to the
quadrant and moving the rod to and fro by a nut screwing on to it, as
described in the Specification No. 4174, in the year 1874, we connect a
rod as before to the quadrant, and have upon it a rack for a toothed
wheel on an axis to gear into, and a catch to drop into the rack teeth to
lock the machine in its downward position. A spring coupling is
interposed in the length of the rod. Figure 22 is an elevation, and
Fig. 23 is a plan of this arrangement. a is the frame; b, the pole ;
c, the rod passing to the quadrant, on which is the axle of the main
wheel; d is a spring box connecting the rod c with the rack e; f is a
pinion upon an axis g, which when turned gives motion to the rack, and
through it to the quadrant, and so raises and lowers the frame a. The
axis g is carried by the forked bracket h fixed to the frame; it is turned
by the handle i, which has a tooth upon it, and is made to engage with
the teeth of the ratchet wheel & fixed on to the axis. is a pawl taking
into the teeth of this ratchet and locking it; the pawl is tripped by
hand in order to let the frame down; m is a hollow axis surrounding the
axis g, and free to turn upon it; m' is a lever handle on the axis m, by
which it can be bolted in any required position, the handle carrying a
spring bolt taking into notches in an arc n which is fixed upon the
frame a; m³ is an arm on the axis m, from which a link o passes down
to the pole. Thus, by moving round the axle m the inclination of the
frame of the machine is adjusted as may be required, and as the finger
bar moves into the frame the points of the fingers can by this arrange-
ment be inclined downwards more or less, as the operator may desire.
is a locking pawl taking into the rack e.
P
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, we would have it understood that we

page_text: claim the improvements in reaping and mowing machines, substantially
as herein described and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Hornsby, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
RICHARD HORNSBY. (L.S.)