IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND MOWING
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Harwood, late of Mendlesham, and now of
Stowmarket, in the County of Suffolk, Esquire, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND MOWING."
Sealed the 27th July 1860, and dated the 11th February 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Harwood at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the:
11th February 1860.
I, WILLIAM HARWOOD, late of Mendlesham, and now of Stowmarket, in the
County of Suffolk, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND MOWING," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for reaping
and mowing, and the improvements are especially applicable to machines
similar to the machine described in the Specification of a. former Patent
granted to me, dated 30th October 1857 (No. 2759).
My first improvement consists in an improved means. of raising the finger.
bar and cutters off the ground when the machine is being moved from place.
to place; for this purpose I apply on each side of such machines a wheel
carried by one end of a bar, the other end of each of which bars is connected
to an axle which passes from side to side of the machine; this axle is so
placed, that on being turned partly round the wheels may be depressed on..to.

page_text: the ground, and the finger bar and cutters thereby raised; the axle may be
caused to make this partial revolution by means of a lever handle, or by other
suitable means. The finger bar and cutters may also by this means be kept
at a distance from the ground when cutting crops, if desired. In place of two
wheels, one on each side of the machine, one wheel only placed in the centre
of the machine may be employed.
My next improvement consists in constructing reaping and mowing
machines in such manner that the speed at which the cutter is driven may
from time to time be varied to suit different varieties of crops, as I have found
that some crops require the cutter to be driven at a greater speed than others.
When driving the cutter by a band or cord the speed may be varied by using
pulleys of different diameters, or by using conical pulleys; or if the cutter is
driven by means of toothed wheels, I arrange the wheels in such manner
that the speed at which the cutter is driven may be varied. In place of
giving motion to the spiked bands upon which the crops fall as they are cut,
and by which they are carried away to one side of the machine by means of
bevil wheels driving the front end of one of the rollers around which the bands
pass, as described in the Specification above referred to, I give motion to this
pulley at its rear end. For this purpose I place a pulley on the back end of
this roller, and transmit motion to it by a band driven from a pulley on an
axis which runs lengthwise of the machine; motion may be communicated to
this axis by means of a band or cord from the crank axis which gives motion
to the cutter, or in any other convenient manner. The rear end of this axis
is carried on the end of a lever fixed to the frame, so that by altering the
position of the lever, the pressure upon the band working the delivering
rollers is increased or diminished. The axis may be enclosed in a tube which
remains stationary, so as to prevent the axis winding up portions of the crop,
or it may have spikes fixed to it to assist the spiked bands in delivering the
crop. When cutting light crops, I hook on to one-side-of the frame, behind
the main travelling wheel, a board of sufficient size to receive the cut crop
from the delivering bands, and to carry boys to bind up the crop as the
machine moves along; this board may be supported by wheels, or be
suspended from the frame of the machine. In order to remove the grass
or similar crops as they are cut to one side of the machine, the delivering
bands are removed from the machine, and a board or plate is hooked behind
the finger bar to receive the crop as.it is cut. Above this board an axis is
mounted at right angles to the finger bar, and a board or boards furnished
with projecting teeth are connected to this axis by. means of a spring or
springs, which tend constantly to keep the board or boards. at a distance from

page_text: the axis. The axis is mounted at such a distance from the plate behind the
finger bar that when it is rotated the boards carried by the axis are caused to
sweep along the plate, they being pressed against it by the springs, and by this
means the crop is removed to one side of the machine. In the Specification
of the Patent above referred to was described a divider or apparatus for
disentangling the portion of the crop which, as the machine is moved forward
is to be cut by the cutters from the rest of the crop. I now apply across a
divider constructed in a similar manner to the one therein described, a spiked
band which passes around a roller carried by the divider, and around tho
roller which supports the spiked delivering bands, so that the spiked band
across the divider is driven by this roller, or it may be driven in any other
convenient manner; and by this means any of the crop which might
accumulate on the divider is carried on to the delivering bands to be delivered.
at the side of the machine; the spiked band is made to work between flanges
on the rollers around which it passes, so as to prevent any of the crop being
carried round with it. Also in place of, or in addition to, employing a divider
similar to the one described in the above-mentioned Specification, I employ a
band having projecting from it spikes or blades for disentangling the crops;
this band may be driven in any suitable manner, and the top roller around
which it passes is furnished with flanges to prevent any of the crop being
carried round with it. In order that the finger bar may be pressed with an
even pressure on the ground when the machine is being used for cutting grass,.
clover, or other crops required to be cut close to the ground, I attach the
shafts to the axle of the main driving wheel upon which the machine runs,
and I connect the front of the frame of the machine to the shaft at
intermediate of their length by springs, which constantly tend to lift the front
of the frame, and so press down the back of the frame to which the finger bar
is attached on to the ground. The force with which the springs press the
finger bar on to the ground may be regulated by any suitable means; or the
shafts may be prolonged beyond the axle, and the back of the frame be
attached to the ends of the shafts by springs which force the back of the frame.
towards the ground. In the Specification above referred to was described the-
use of a rotating reel for lifting the crop when laid before it is cut by the-
cutters.
point
Now, my next improvement consists in applying to reaping and mowing
machines a second reel to aid the first in lifting the crop, and also in order.
more effectually to lift the crop when laid curved prongs may be applied
to the bars or beaters of the reel or reels, so as to project from them, and so.
as when the reel is rotated to pass under the laid portion of the crop and lift

page_text: it up; provision may be made for turning the prongs partially round to release
them from the crop as they go out of action if required. In place of attaching
the connecting rod which transmits motion to the cutting knife direct to the
knife, as described in the Specification above referred to, I connect to the
knife a bracket which projects outwards; this bracket slides on guide rods,
and to it the connecting rod is attached. In order to be able to employ a
long connecting rod for giving motion to the cutter, I joint the frame, carrying
the crank axis which gives motion to the connecting rod, to the main frame of
the machine, so that when the machine is not at work this frame may be
turned up, and the width of the machine thereby diminished. In order to
keep the knives close to the finger bar as they become worn, I attach brackets
at intervals to the finger bar, and through these brackets screws pass, the ends
of which press on an iron bar lying parallel to the finger bar, and by screwing
up these screws the knives and finger edges may be pressed together to any
required extent.
My last improvement consists in placing the driver's seat of reaping and
mowing machines on one end of a bar which turns at its other end on a
centre, so that by turning this bar on its centre the seat may be moved to
either side of the machine, and it may be fixed in either position by means of
a pin; the seat is also capable of turning round on an axis on the end of the
bar which carries it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Harwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th August 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HARWOOD, late of Mendlesham, and now of Stowmarket, in the County of
Suffolk, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Harwood, Her special licence that I, the said William
Harwood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Harwood, my executors, 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,

page_text: 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 MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND MOVING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Harwood, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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 six calender months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
to
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Harwood, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for reaping and
moving, and the improvements are especially applicable to machines similar to
the machine described in the Specification of a former Patent granted to
me, dated Thirtieth October One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven,
(No. 2759).
My first improvement consists in an improved means of raising the finger
bar and cutters off the ground when the machine is being moved from place to
place; for this purpose I apply on each side of such machines a wheel, carried
by one end of a bar, the other end of each of which bars is connected to an
axle, which passes from side to side of the machine; this axle is so placed that
on being turned partly round, the wheels may be depressed on to the ground
and the finger bar and cutters thereby raised; the axle may be caused to make
this partial revolution by means of a lever handle or by other suitable means.
The finger bar and cutters may also by this means be kept at a distance from
the ground when cutting crops, if desired. In place of two wheels, one on
each side of the machine, one wheel only placed in the centre of the machine
may be employed.
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings shew a finger bar, having wheels applied
to it, in a similar manner to that above described, but in this arrangement the
wheels are carried by projections from the finger bar, as shewn, and a square
bar passes through holes in these projections, to which bar a lever handle is
attached, by raising or lowering which the cutters may be raised or lowered.
a is the finger bar; b, the wheels, one of which is placed near each end of the
finger bar; the axes of these wheels are carried by forks, which turn on pins
working in holes in the projections a' from the finger bar; these projections
have a square bar c passing through them, to which bar a lever handle c'.is

page_text: attached; the end of this lever may be set to any required height by being
placed in one or other of the notches in a bar d, carried by the frame of the
machine.
In place of two wheels, one wheel only placed in the centre of the finger
bar may be employed.
My next improvement consists in constructing reaping and mowing machines,
in such manner that the speed at which the cutter is driven may from time
to time be varied to suit different varieties of crops, as I have found that some
crops require the cutter to be driven at a greater, speed than others. When
driving the cutter by a band or cord, the speed may be varied by using pulleys
of different diameters, or by using conical pulleys, or, if the cutter is driven by
means of toothed wheels, I arrange the wheels, in such manner that the
speed at which the cutter is driven may be varied.
Figure 3 shews a side view, and Figure 4 a plan, of part of a reaping and
mowing machine, in which the cutting blade may be driven at two different
speeds. a is the main wheel of the machine, which has bolted to it a whcel
furnished with interior teeth, which give motion to the pinion b, on the axis of
which there is a bevil-toothed wheel c, which gives motion to the bevil pinion
d; on the axis d of this pinion there are two drums e, e, of different diameter.
On the crank axis f, which transmits motion to the cutter, there are also two
drums of different diameter, and by driving one or other of these drums by a
band from one or other of the drums e, e, the cutter may be driven at two
different speeds.
In place of giving motion to the spiked bands upon which the crops fall as
they are cut, and by which they are carried away to one side of the machine,
by means of bevil wheels driving the front end of one of the rollers around
which the bands pass, as described in the Specification above referred to, I
give motion to this roller at its rear end. For this purpose, I place a pulley on.
the back end of this roller, and transmit motion to it by a band driven from a
pulley on an axis which runs lengthwise of the machine; motion may be com-
municated to this axis by means of a band or cord from the crank axis, which
gives motion to the cutter, or in any other convenient manner. The rear end
of this axis is carried on the end of a lever fixed to the frame, so that by alter-
ing the position of the lever the pressure upon the band working the delivering
rollers is increased or diminished. The axis may be enclosed in a tube which
remains stationary, so as to prevent the axis winding up portions of the crop,
or it may have spikes fixed to it to assist the spiked bands in delivering the
crop. Figures 3 and 4 shew this way of giving motion to the delivering
bands is one of the rollers which carry the delivering bands on the rear end

page_text: of this rollor there is a pulley g'; this pulley is driven by a band or cord from
a pulley h', on the rear end of the axis h; the other end of this axis is con-
nected by a universal joint to the end of the axis d, as shewn, so that it will be
driven by it. The bearing which supports the rear end of the axis h is carried
5 on the upper end of the bar i; this bar has a number of holes formed through
it, and the bar is connected to the framing by a bolt passing through one or
other of these holes, and through the end bar of the framing k is a bar con-
nected at one end by a bolt to the bar i, at a point intermediate of its length;
the other end of the bark has also holes formed in it, through one or other of
which a bolt is passed; the bearing in which the rear end of the axis h turns
can therefore be fixed in any position, and the pressure on the band which
drives the delivery rollers may consequently be adjusted. When cutting light
crops, I hook on to one side of the frame behind the main travelling wheel a
board, of sufficient size to receive the cut crop from the delivering bands, and
to carry boys to bind up the crop as the machine moves along; this board may
be supported by wheels, or be suspended from the frame of the machine.,
Figure 3 shows in dotted lines a board supported at the side of the delivery bands.,
Z is the board hinged at its forward end to the back of the main framing of the
machine, and the rear end of the board is supported by a chain from the rear
end of the framing, which is supported by the curved rod m from the
standard m', projecting vertically from the main framing of the machine. The
board is not shewn at Figure 4.
In order to remove grass or similar crops as they are cut to one side of the
machine, the delivering bands and the rollers which carry them are removed
from the machine, and a board or plate is hooked behind the finger bar to
receive the crop as it is cut; above this board an axis is mounted at right
angles to the finger bar, and a board or boards furnished with projecting teeth.
are connected to this axis by means of a spring or springs, which tend con-
stantly to keep the board or boards at a distance from the axis. The axis is
mounted at such a distance from the plate behind the finger bar, that when it
is rotated, the boards carried by the axis are caused to sweep along the plate,
they being pressed against it by the springs, and by this means the crop is.
removed to one side of the machine.
Figure 5 shews a delivering apparatus arranged in this manner. a is the board.
fixed just behind the finger bar, so that the crop as it is cut falls in the board,
above this board there is an axis 6 at right angles to the finger bar; to this
axis a board c, furnished with projecting teeth, is connected, the board c being
urnished with a projecting rod which slides in a tube projecting radially from
he axis. Within this tube a spring is placed, as shewn, so that the board is

page_text: constantly pressed outwards from the axis, but yet when by the rotation of the
axis b, the teeth on the board c are brought in contact with the board a, the
board c may be pressed in towards the axis b, and the teeth on the board thus
caused to sweep along the board a, and the crop on the board will thus be
delivered at the side of the machine.
In the Specification of the Patent above referred to was described a divider
or apparatus for disentangling the portion of the crop, which as the machine
is moved forward is to be cut by the cutters from the rest of the crop. I now
apply across a divider constructed in a similar manner to the one therein
described, a spiked band which passes around a roller carried by the divider,
and around the roller which supports the spiked delivering bands, so that the
spiked band across the divider is driven by this roller, or it may be driven in
any other convenient manner; and by this means any of the crop which might
accumulate on the divider is carried on to the delivering bands to be delivered
at the side of the machine; the spiked band is made to work between flanges
on the rollers around which it passes, so as to prevent any of the crop being
carried round with it. Also in place of or in addition to employing a divider
similar to the one described in the above-mentioned Specification, I employ a
band having projecting from it spikes or blades for disentangling the crops;
this band may be driven in any suitable manner, and the top roller around
which it passes is furnished with flanges to prevent any of the crop being
carried round with it.
Figures 6 and 7 shew a divider having a band furnished with projecting
spikes or blades combined with it to facilitate the disentangling of the crop,
and also shews a band applied to the divider to take any of the crop that
might accumulate on the divider on to the delivering bands. a, a, is a divider
which consists of an inclined pole, having at its lower end a metal shoe a¹
which runs on the ground. This shoe has also connected to it a short bar a,
to which is hinged one end of a forked piece a³, which at its other end is
connected to the outer end of the finger bar; at the point a' on the forked
piece a is hinged one end of a bar or fork a'; the other end of this bar is
curved downwards, as shewn, and has holes formed through it, so that it may
be connected by a bolt to the framing b which carries the finger bar; the bar
or fork a at a point intermediate of its length is connected to the centre of a
wheel a. this wheel therefore serves as a support to the outer end of the
finger bar, and this end of the finger bar may be raised or lowered by placing
the bolt which connects the bar as to the framing b, through one or other of
the holes in the bar as, the divider also being hinged to the forked piece a³
may rise and fall freely. The pole a, a, is furnished with two rollers,

page_text: one at its lower and the other near its upper end; these rollers carry a band c
furnished with spikes or blades; on the axis of the upper roller b¹ there is
another roller 6, and this roller is driven by a cord from one of the rollers which
carry the delivering bands; by this means, as the machine is moved forward,
the band c will be driven and the teeth upon it will divide the crop. At the
upper end of the pole a there is a roller d, around this roller and around one
of the rollers which support the delivery bands, there is a band, not shown in
the Drawing, which carries down any portion of the crop that might accumu-
late on the pole a on to the delivery bands.
In order that the finger bar may be pressed with an even pressure on the
ground when the machine is being used for cutting grass, clover, or other
crops required to be cut close to the ground, I attach the shafts to the axle
of the main driving wheel upon which the machine runs, and I connect the
front of the frame of the machine to the shafts at a point intermediate of their
length by springs, which constantly tend to lift the front of the frame, and so
press down the back of the frame to which the finger bar is attached on to the
ground. The force with which the springs press the finger bar on to the ground
may be regulated by any suitable means; or the shafts may be prolonged
beyond the axle, and the back of the frame be attached to the ends of the
shafts by springs, which force the back of the frame towards the ground.
Figures 8 and 9 shew an arrangement of the above description for pressing
the finger bar on to the ground. n, n, are the shafts which are connected by
the iron bars n', n', to the framing of the machine near the axis of the main
wheel a; to the under side of the shaft on the side of the machine on which
the main wheel a is placed is hinged one end of the spring o, the other end of
this spring is connected to the front of the framing, as shewn; p is a screw
rod connected to a point intermediate of the length of the spring, this rod is
furnished with a nut, by means of which the spring may be drawn upwards,
and thus elevate the front of the framing of the machine, and press the finger
bar which is at the back of the machine on to the ground. This arrangement
is applicable when cutting crops which are required to be cut close to the
ground, but when cutting crops which do not require to be cut close to the
ground, I use the arrangement shewn in dotted lines, the front of the frame
being there shewn to be raised or lowered directly by means of a screw.
In the Specification above referred to was described the use of a rotating
reel for lifting the crop when laid before it is cut by the cutters. Now, my
next improvement consists in applying to reaping and mowing machines a
second reel to aid the first in lifting the crop, and also in order more effectually
to lift the crop when laid, curved prongs may be applied to the bars or beaters

page_text: of the reel or reels so as to project from them, and so as when the reel is
rotated to pass under the laid portion of the crop and lift it up. Provision
may be made for turning the prongs partially round to release them from the
crop as they go out of action, if required. Figure 10-shews a beater of a reel
having curved prongs applied thereto.
In place of attaching the connecting rod which transmits motion to the
cutting knife direct to the knife, as described in the Specification above
referred to, I connect to the knife a bracket which projects upwards; this
bracket slides on guide rods, and to it the connecting rod is attached. In
order to be able to employ a long connecting rod for giving motion to the
cutter, I joint the frame carrying the crank axis which gives motion to the
connecting rod to the main frame of the machine, so that when the machine is
not at work this frame may be turned up and the width of the machine
thereby diminished. Figures 3 and 4 shew this arrangement for giving
motion to the knife. q is the knife attached at one end to the lower part of
a plate q, projecting upwards; through the upper part of this plate there are
two holes through which pins r, r, projecting from the framing pass, and the
plate q' is capable of sliding to and fro on these pins; 's is a connecting rod
attached at one end to the plate q', and at the other to the crank s'; the axis
of the crank s¹ is carried by the frame t hinged to the main framing of the
machine, When the machine is not at work and it is desired to diminish the
width of the machine, the connecting rod may be disconnected at one of its
ends, and the frame t turned up on its hinges. In order to keep the knives
close to the finger bar as they become worn, I attach brackets at intervals to
the finger bar, and through these brackets screws pass, the ends of which
press on an iron bar lying parallel to the finger bar, and by screwing up these
screws the knives and finger edges may be pressed together to any required
extent.
Figures 1 and 2 shew this manner of keeping the knives close to the finger
bar. a, a, are the brackets fixed to the finger bar through which screws b¹, b',
pass; the ends of these screws press on a bar c³ resting on the top of the knife,
and by means of the screws b¹, 61, the pressure on the knife may be regulated
with facility. In place of the screws 6', ', pressing on a plate lying lengthwise
of the knife, they may press directly on the knife itself.
My last improvement consists in placing the driver's seat of reaping and
mowing machines on one end of a bar which turns at its other end on a
centre, so that by turning this bar on its centre the seat may be moved to
either side of the machine, and it may be fixed in either position by means of a
pin; the seat is also capable of turning round on an axis on the end of the bar

page_text: which carries it. Or in place of the axis on which the seat turns being carried
on the end of a bar, which also turns on a centre on the framing, the axis of
the seat may be carried by a square bar fitting in sockets on either side of the
machine, so that the seat may be placed on either side at pleasure.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Harwood, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
WILLIAM HARWOOD. (L.S.)