Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr:, 1887.
--Complete Left, 4th-Jan:, 1888-
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
Communicated from abroad by MICHAEL HUMPFNER, of Frankfort on the Main, in
the German Empire, Mechanician.]
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 68 Fleet Street in the City of London, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This improved hand apparatus or hammer for beating out scythes presents, as com-
pared with similar hammers, such as heretofore constructed, the advantages of having
a direct action and being capable of developing an immense power; of being easily
manipulated, and of great durability.
According to this Invention, I provide a hammer to which a suitable guide imparts
an up and down motion, in the slot of a frame or stand. This guide serves to raise
the hammer connected thereto by means of a projection, provided at its upper end
with a roller and by the aid of a three armed cam, actuated by a handle, such hammer
being subsequently dropped down with great force, while being furthermore impelled
by a spiral spring, as soon as the above mentioned projection leaves the eccentric
curve of the cam and returns to its normal position. In consequence to this direct
raising action of the hammer, the spring can be made of comparatively great strength,
thus imparting to the former a great striking power. I further provide, in a nearly
parallel direction to the anvil, a bent bar or plate forming a convenient and accurate
guide for the scythe. Within the said anvil is arranged a moveable bolt, of hardened
steel, which can be secured below by means of a nut.
This improved apparatus which is about 30 centimetres in height, and weighs about
44 kilogs. can be used in fields by screwing it in a slanting position upon a suitable
board which is secured by the left foot of the operator, who rests upon his right knee,
and turns the handle with his right hand, while, with his left hand, he moves the
scythe through the above mentioned bent guide.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hand Apparatus or Hammer for Beating out
Scythes.
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 68 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the
following statement (reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the
letters and figures marked thereon) that is to say :—
This apparatus for beating out scythes differs mainly from other similar machines,
as hitherto known, on account of its peculiar and novel guiding contrivance which has
for its object to entirely obviate the spreading out of the scythe blade, which has been
unavoidable in beating out scythes by mechanical means, as hitherto practised.
The accompanying drawing shows a perspective view of the apparatus.
A is the beating-out hammer, it is connected to a guiding block A', which travels
in a slot a of the upright or standard B. This hammer is provided, at its upper end,
with a boss or projection A2, against which a three toothed cam C strikes, whereby the
guiding block, and with it the hammer are raised, the latter being rapidly let down
under the action of the spiral spring D, as soon as the boss A2 leaves the eccentric
curve of the cam. The force of the spring D can be regulated by the set screw M
(which is made hollow to permit of the hammer shaft rising), and this regulation is
effected by hand in such a way that the striking power of the hammer is thereby
decreased in a corresponding manner as the beaten track of the scythe is becoming
enlarged, owing to the metal thinning out. The set screw M is provided with a
groove m into which engages the point of a pin z, controlled by a spring z¹, in order
to prevent any alteration in the position of the screw taking place during the working,
The guiding contrivance for the scythe consists of the curved guiding ring F provided
with two guiding feet or supports n, n', the support n' of which is capable of travelling
in a slot x,
of the anvil Y, and of being adjusted by the screw O, while the support n
is secured in position so as to move upon its axis only.
In consequence of this one-sided motion or displacement of the guiding contrivance,
the latter is gradually brought into an oblique or slanting position under the tail piece
of the hammer, so that the metal of the scythe which is being thinned out is struck by
the tail of the hammer in a path or line which is in a slanting or oblique direction to
the cutting edge of the scythe blade, and thus the spreading out of the scythe is
rendered impossible.
In the straight path or line guidance hitherto resorted to the whole beaten track or
portion of the blade is uniformly moved frontwardly and rearwardly, so that the tail
of the hammer strikes a straight and full blow upon the thinned out track, that is to
say strikes parallel to the cutting edge of the scythe blade and hence causes the spreading
out before mentioned.
The difficulty which has obtained with all guiding contrivances hitherto known to
hold the scythe at a proper angle for the hammer track is entirely removed in this

page_text: improved machine, while the arched anvil head in connection with the guiding ring F,
resting upon its feet or support n, n', at an angle of about 15° ensures a correct position
of the scythe whereby the beating out is effected independently of practice and skill,
to which fact great importance is attached by experts in the art.
To prevent the set screw O from being loosened during the working of the apparatus,
a steel spring-blade v is fixed to the upright or standard and presses against the edges
of the screw O so as to firmly hold the latter in position.
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 :-
In machines for beating out scythes, a guiding device for the scythe adjustable on
one side and serving to gradually bring or feed the said scythe in a slanting or
oblique position to the hammer tail, consisting of a guiding ring F, moved by a
screw O and describing a curve in its path, and provided with two guiding feet or
supports n, n', towards which the surface of the ring F is inclined, not at a right
angle, but at an angle of 15° more outwardly, in order to enable the scythe being held
in the correct position while the blows struck for the beating out operation (whose
direction relatively to the cutting edge of the scythe blade is constantly being changed)
prevent the blade from spreading out, all substantially as herein before described, and
as shewn with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 4th day of January 1888.
ERNEST DE PASS,
68, Fleet Street, London, E.C.