Improvements in Reaping and Mowing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1892-Accepted. 18th June 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reaping and Mowing Machines.
I, CHARLES THOMAS BURGESS, of Brentwood, in the County of Essex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In reaping and mowing machines as now commonly made the crank axis by
which the cutter bar is driven receives motion by a bevil wheel on its upper end
gearing into a bevil wheel which turns loosely around a shaft that is driven by
toothed wheel gearing from the main driving wheels of the machine. The bevil
wheel which is mounted loosely upon the shaft is driven from the shaft by a toothed
pinion which is fast with it gearing into a toothed wheel on an axis on which also
is a pinion that gears with a toothed wheel fast on the shaft.
This intermediate axis I carry by eccentrics in such a way that by turning the
eccentrics it can be moved away from the driving shaft and the toothed wheels
so put out of gear. I also make the intermediate axis in such a way that it
can readily be slidden out endwise from the toothed wheel and pinion which are
upon it to allow of these being changed for ones of larger or smaller diameter-so
as to vary the speed at which the crank shaft is driven."
The eccentric at one end of the axis has a lever handle upon it by which it can
be turned. The arm carries a catch bolt which may be made to catch into one or
other of three notches in the circumference of a fixed arc. When in one end
notch the wheels may be in gear for the quick speed and when in the centre notch
these wheels may be out of gear. Or if the larger intermediate wheels are being
used the wheels may be in gear when the catch is in the centre notch and out of
gear when it is in the other end one. The whole of the gear wheels may be
enclosed in a casing as is now common.
The casing I make as usual with a readily removable lid so that the casing can
readily be opened whenever it is desired to change the intermediate wheels for ones
of larger or smaller diameters.
The driving wheels of the machine I make as usual with projections from their
circumference to give the ground a greater hold upon them when the machine is
being drawn over the land when reaping or mowing-and in order that these pro-
jections may not be injured when the machine is being drawn along high roads I
provide each wheel with a band by which its circumference can be embraced. The
band at one point or more is divided crosswise and its ends tend to separate one
from the other.
When a band is to be applied to a wheel it can be done without raising the
wheel off the ground by holding the band with the division in it downwards and
then slipping the band over the circumference of the wheel with the exception of
chat portion of it which is resting on the ground. Then by drawing the machine
orwards so as to give a half turn to the wheel the division in the band will be
brought to the top and its two ends can be drawn together and locked so that the
and then forms a perfect tyre.
If the band is made in segments one of such segments may be placed in position
nd the machine may be drawn forwards until the wheel stands upon it when the
ther segment or segments may be connected to form the tyre.
Dated this 17th day of Auơnst 1801
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reaping and Mowing Machines.
I, CHARLES THOMAS BURGESS, of Brentwood, in the County of Essex,
Engineer, 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 :-
In reaping and mowing machines as now commonly made the crank axis by
which the cutter bar is driven receives motion by a bevil wheel on its upper end
gearing into a bevil wheel which turns loosely around a shaft that is driven by
toothed wheel gearing from the main driving wheels of the machine. The bevil
wheel which is mounted loosely upon the shaft is driven from the shaft by a toothed
pinion which is fast with it gearing into a toothed wheel on an axis on which also
is a pinion that gears with a toothed wheel fast on the shaft.
This intermediate axis has also been carried by eccentrics formed on its ends in
such a way that by turning the eccentrics it can be moved away from the driving
shaft and the toothed wheels so put out of gear. The eccentric at one end has
for this purpose had a lever handle projecting from it by which it can be turned
and the handle has carried a catch bolt which can be made to catch into one or
other of two notches in the circumference of the fixed arc to hold the toothed
wheels in or out of gear.
According to my invention I make the intermediate axis in such a way that it
can readily be slidden out end wise from the toothed wheel and pinion which are
upon it to allow of these being changed for ones of larger or smaller diameter, so
as to vary the speed at which the crank shaft is driven, and the circumference of
the fixed arc, I make (if two speeds are to be provided for) with three notches in
it into one or other of which the catch bolt of the lever may be made to engage.
When in one end notch the wheels may be in gear for the quick speed and when
in the centre notch these wheels may be out of gear. Or if the larger intermediate
wheels are being used the wheels may be in gear when the catch is in the centre
notch and out of gear when it is in the other end one. The whole of the gear
wheels may be enclosed in a casing as is now common.
The casing I make as usual with a readily removable lid so that the casing can
readily be opened whenever it is desired to change the intermediate wheels for
ones of larger or smaller diameters.
Figure is a side elevation and Figure 2 a plan of driving gear constructed in
the above manner. The larger intermediate wheels are shewn in place for the
slow speed.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the axis which carries the intermediate wheels and
the eccentrics at its ends.
A is a portion of the crank axis by which the cutter bar is driven and A¹ a bevil
pinion on its end. B is a bevil wheel with which the pinion A¹ gears and which
turns loosely around the shaft which is driven by toothed wheel gearing from
the main driving wheels of the machine. B¹ is a pinion fast with the bevil wheel B
and gearing with a toothed wheel D that turns loosely around an axis E. D' is a
pinion fast with the wheel D and gearing with a toothed wheel C¹ which is fast on
the shaft C. E' are eccentrics on the ends of the axis E these eccentrics are
supported in the frame F which also carries the axes C and E in the ordinary
manner. G is a lever arm fast with the eccentric E' which is at one end of the
axis E. G' is a catch bolt on the arm G which can be made to engage with any
one or other of three notches H1 H2 H3 in an arc H which is fast with the frame F.
The eccentric E¹ on the other end of the axis E is not in one piece with this axis
but is locked to it by a pin E² which is passed through it and through the axis.
When this pin is removed the axis E can be drawn away and intermediate wheels
of smaller diameter be substituted for those previously in use-the axis can then

page_text: be passed back through these intermediate wheels and the eccentric when turned
into proper position be again secured on to its end.
The driving wheels of the machine I make as usual with projections from their
circumference to give the ground a greater hold upon them when the machine is
being drawn over the land when reaping or mowing-and in order that these pro-
jections may not be injured when the machine is being drawn along high roads I
provide each wheel with a band by which its circumference can be embraced. The
band at one point or more is divided crosswise and its ends tend to separate one
from the other.
When a band is to be applied to a wheel it can be done without raising the
wheel off the ground by holding the band with the division in it downwards and
then slipping the band over the circumference of the wheel with the exception of
that portion of it which is resting on the ground. Then by drawing the machine
forwards so as to give a half turn to the wheel the division in the band will be
brought to the top and its two ends can be drawn together and locked so that the
band then forms a perfect tyre.
If the band is made in segments one of such segments may be placed in position
and the machine may be drawn forwards until the wheel stands upon it when the
other segment or segments may be connected to form the tyre.
Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section and Figure 4 a plan of a portion of
a driving wheel so fitted with a protecting band around it.
Figure 5 is a cross section through the coupling by which the ends of the band are
coupled together.
Figures 6 and 7 arc side and plan views of part of the circumference of the
wheel where pins are used to keep the protecting band from sideway movement.
I is a portion of the outer circumference of the wheel with longitudinal and
transverse projections I' upon it in the ordinary manner. K is the protecting band
its ends which are to be coupled together are in the construction shewn in the
drawing bent over inwards into a hook form in such a way that these bent over
ends may lie between two of the transverse projections I¹ on the wheel. L L are
two parts of a clamp by which the two parts of the band are to be drawn and held
together they are made in such a way as to embrace the rim of the wheel
and for inclined pieces L' L' on each to enter the hooked ends of the protecting
band.
When the band has been placed around a wheel in the manner above described
the inclined pieces of the two parts of the clamp are inserted into the hooked ends
of the band and then the two parts of the clamp are drawn together by a screw
bolt M. The inclines then draw together the two ends of the band and tighten the
band around the wheel. If desired the band may in addition at one or more
points of its inner face be provided with pins N N standing out from it to come on
opposite sides of one or more of the longitudinal projections I¹ which stand out
from the wheel. I do not restrict myself to the precise construction of clamp
above described for drawing and holding together the ends of the band as it may
be modified in various ways.
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. The construction of the toothed wheel gearing used for giving motion to the
crank axis by which the cutter bar is driven substantially in the manner herein
before described to enable the speed at which the bar is driven to be varied.
2. The means substantially as herein before described for securing protecting
bands around the circumference of the driving wheels of reaping and mowing
machines.