Improvements in Mowing Machines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 28th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 3rd June, 1887.
Improvements in Mowing Machines.
We, WILLIAM JAMES BURGESS and CHARLES THOMAS BURGESS of Brentwood in
the County of Essex, Engineers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:—
In machines now used for mowing grass crops there is always an inclined board at
the end of the cutter bar to throw the cut crop which falls on to it away from the
standing crop so as to leave a clear track for the wheels of the machine when it makes
the next cut. One of the wheels of the machine running in the track last cleared
and the other wheel in the track cleared at the previous cut.
The portion of the cut crop which is so deflected to one side is compacted together
and unless it be soon tossed about by hand or by a hay making machine it remains
moist long after the other portion of the crop has become comparatively dry.
To remedy this and also to assist the drying of the whole of the crop we form the
mowing machine in such a manner that the crop is tossed as well as being cut by it.
To effect this we provide grass tossing mechanism such as is commonly used in
hay making machinery. The rakes or prongs being in the arrangement we prefer
carried by a sleeve capable of revolving around the axle and being driven from it by
speed gearing or otherwise.
When the tossing mechanism is mounted upon the axle in the above manner we
drive the knife by gearing on the outer side of the wheel which is next to the cutter
bar as in machines heretofore commonly made by us.
It is not necessary that the sleeve should always be made to revolve upon or con-
centrically with the axle it might be eccentric to the axle and mounted so that it
could be raised or lowered if adjustment were required.
In order to cause the grass to fall lightly on to the ground from the tossing
mechanism and also to cause it to be spread over the surface and if desired to be
directed in its fall, also to counteract any disturbance that may be caused by wind, we

page_text: provide a guide board or boards, rod or rods or it might be a canvas sail against
which the whole or a portion of the crop is thrown by the tossing mechanism or which
is used simply as a shield against the wind.
Although we prefer to mount the tossing mechanism between the main wheels as above
described we do not confine ourselves to this arrangement as it might be mounted
outside the main wheels or on a separate axle at the back and be driven either from
the main wheels from which motion is given to the cutter bar or by a separate wheel
or wheels The tossing mechanism also need not necessarily be always parallel with
the main axle, it might in some cases be set at an angle thereto. In place also of
revolving tossing mechanism reciprocating tossing mechanism might be employed.
Dated this 29th day of July 1886.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Mowing Machines.
We, WILLIAM JAMES BURGESS and CHARLES THOMAS BURGESS of Brentwood in
the County of Essex, Engineers, 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 machines now used for mowing grass crops there is always an inclined board at
the end of the cutter bar to throw the cut crop which falls on to it away from the
standing crop so as to leave a clear track for the wheels of the machine when it makes
the next cut. One of the wheels of the machine running in the track last cleared
and the other wheel in the track cleared at the previous cut.
The portion of the cut crop which is so deflected to one side is compacted together
and unless it be soon tossed about by hand or by a hay making machine it remains
moist long after the other portion of the crop has become comparatively dry.
To remedy this and also to assist the drying of the whole of the crop we form the
mowing machine in such a manner that the crop is tossed as well as being cut by it.
To effect this we provide grass tossing mechanism such as is commonly used in
hay making machinery. The rakes or prongs being in the arrangement we prefer
carried by a sleeve capable of revolving around the axle and being driven from it by
speed gearing or otherwise, so that the tossing mechanism acts on the swathe which
was cut in the preceding passage of the machine.
When the tossing mechanism is mounted upon the axle in the above manner we
prefer to drive the knife by gearing on the outer side of the wheel which is next to
the cutter bar as in machines heretofore commonly made by us.
It is not necessary that the sleeve should always be made to revolve upon or con-
centrically with the axle it might be eccentric to the axle and mounted so that it could
be raised or lowered if adjustment were required. In order to cause the grass to fall
lightly on to the ground from the tossing mechanism and also to cause it to be spread
over the surface and if desired to be directed in its fall, also to counteract any
disturbance that may be caused by wind, we provide a guide board or boards rod or
rods or it might be a canvas sail against which the whole or a portion of the crop is
thrown by the tossing mechanism or which is used simply as a shield against the
wind.
Although we prefer to mount the tossing mechanism between the main wheels so
as to act on the swathe cut at the preceding passage of the machine as above described
we do not confine ourselves to this arrangement as it might be mounted outside the
main wheels to act on the swathe cut at the second preceding passage of the machine
or it might be on a separate axle at the back and be driven either from the main
wheels from which motion is given to the cutter bar or by a separate wheel or wheels.

page_text: The tossing mechanism also need not necessarily be always parallel with the main axle it
might in some cases be set at an angle thereto. In place also of revolving tossing
mechanism reciprocating tossing mechanism might be employed.
Figure 1 of the drawings hereunto annexed shews a back end view. Figure 2 a
vertical longitudinal section, and Figure 3 a plan view of a machine constructed in
the manner we prefer for carrying out our invention. Figures 4 and 5 shew
separately the mechanism we use for allowing the teeth of the tossing mechanism to
give way should they meet with obstruction and for bringing them back with certainty
to their normal position so soon as the obstruction has been passed. Figure 6 is a
plan view of an arrangement in which the axle of the revolving hay tossing mechanism
is separate from the axle of the main wheels of the mowing machine and mounted in
rear of it. Figure 7 is a plan view of an arrangement in which the axis of the
tossing mechanism is at an angle to the axle. Figure 8 is a back view and Figure 9 a
vertical longitudinal section of a machine in which reciprocating tossing mechanism
is used. Figure 10 is a plan view of an arrangement in which tossing mechanism on
an axis at an angle to the axle is placed in rear of the cutter bar.
In the machine shown at figures 1 to 5 the gearing for giving motion to the knife
is placed on the outer side of the wheel on that side of the machine from which the
knife projects as in machines now commonly made by us and as is described in the
Specification of a Patent No. 1503 in the year 1865 and revolving tossing mechanism
is mounted upon the axle of the main wheels.
A is the sleeve which turns loosely upon the axle and which carries the forks-it is
driven from the axle and at a quicker speed by a toothed wheel B fixed on the axle
gearing into an intermediate pinion C which by a wheel fast with it drives a pinion D
fixed on the sleeve. Arms E projecting from the sleeve carry at their ends rods or
axes F from which the tossing teeth project. Normally the teeth are held radially to
the axle or at any desired angle to the radius by the action of springs G but as is
usual in hay making machinery can yield should the teeth in revolving come against
any solid obstacle-preferably however we provide in the manner shewn at Figure 5
for allowing these teeth a greater amount of backward movement than is common in
ordinary hay making machinery and for bringing these teeth back again to their normal
position so soon as the obstacle has been passed. To effect this each axis F has fixed
to it a plate H to which is secured another plate I by a bolt passed through a hole in
this latter plato and through a slot in the plate H. The plate I carries a roller which
rests against the spring G and the spring also bears against the plate at I¹ and holds
the teeth in a radial position. If however as the teeth are revolved around the axle
they encounter any obstacle they can as shewn by the dotted lines in figure 5 turn
through a large are and yet be brought back by the springs to their normal position.
J is a shield or guard above the top of the tossing mechanism and at its two sides.
KK are curved guide rods in rear of the tossing mechanism and fixed to the back
of that side of the shield which is at the cutter bar side of the machine.
Where the rods are furthest from the tossing mechanism much of the tossed crop
is not affected by the rods but falls clear of and passes below them but where the rods
are brought near to the tossing mechanism the grass thrown up by this mechanism is
caught by the rods and slides backwards along them and is thereby carried away
from the cutter bar side of the machine. This is important as it not only leaves a
clear track for the outer wheel of the machine when the machine again comes round
but it also distributes that part of the swathe which is the thickest it having been
previously compacted together by the action of the track board at the end of the
cutter bar. In this respect therefore the rods act differently from a track board—a
track board consolidates the swathe, and the part which is acted upon by it becomes the
thickest portion of the swathe the guide rods on the other hand can be made to carry
the portion of crop which is caught by them and carry it clear and deposit it on the
opposite side of that portion of the crop which has had time to drop before being
caught by the bars.
The use of guide rods acting in this way forms an important part of our invention
and we use them with tossing mechanism applied to mowing machines whether the

page_text: tossing mechanism be placed behind the cutter bar or between the wheels or outside
the wheels so as in each case to distribute and deliver lightly the portion of the crop
which is compacted together by the track board. In place of guide rods narrow
boards or sails held up at a distance from the ground so that some of the tossed crop
may pass below without being affected by them may be used we however prefer to
use rods as above described.
Figure 6 shews our invention applied to another well known form of mowing
machine in which the gear for driving the knife is inside in place of outside the
wheel on the cutter bar side of the machine. With such machines the revolving
tossing mechanism may advantageously be carried on a separate axle L as shewn and
be driven by an endless chain M from a chain wheel loose on the main axle and
driven by gearing from the axis N.
The axis L is shewn to be parallel with the axle of the main wheels but it might be
somewhat inclined thereto if preferred.
Figure 7 shews a plan view of another arrangement in which the revolving tossing
mechanism in place of being mounted on the axle of the main wheels or on an axis
parallel therewith is mounted on an axis at an angle to the axle.
In the drawing it
is shown to be placed at right angles to it but it might be inclined at any desired
angle as indicated by the dotted line.
Tossing mechanism set in this position would act mainly upon the portion of the
swathe which had been compacted by the trackboard and which as above mentioned
is the portion which most requires to be at once shaken out.
Figures 8 and 9 shew a way in which reciprocating tossing mechanism may be used
in place of revolving mechanism.
In this arrangement the prongs or forks are jointed to arms O which are coupled to
cranks on a revolving axis P and are also at their upper ends connected to one end of
links Q which at their other end turn on fixed pins R. The axis P is as shown
driven by a pinion upon it gearing with an internally toothed wheel fast with the
driving wheels.
In place of the tossing mechanism being adapted as in each of the arrangements
shewn in the drawings hereunto annexed to act upon the swathe previously cut by the
machine in its preceding round it might be placed on the outer side of the outer
wheel to act on the swathe made on the second preceding round.
When tossing mechanism is placed immediately in rear of the cutter bar the axis
of the tossing mechanism may be at an angle to the axle of the main wheels-so as
to throw the tossed crop far enough to the side to clear a passage for one wheel of the
machine or a still wider track for both wheels and for the horses.
Mechanism for tossing sidewise that part of the swathe which is next to the
standing crop so as to distribute it evenly and lightly and to clear a track for one
wheel of the machine when it next comes round is shewn at Figure 10. It will be
seen that in this case the mechanism serves entirely or in part instead of a trackboard.
It is also desirable in this case to use guide rods not only just in rear of the tossing
mechanism but also at the opposite end of the cutter bar to ensure that a clear track
shall be kept for each of the main wheels..
If the cutter bar of the machine is only a short distance in front of the axle of the
main wheels as is the case in many mowing machines as now made the end of the
axis of the tossing mechanism may advantageously be coupled by a universal joint to
a driven wheel mounted upon the end of the axle of the main wheels in place of being
mounted upon another short axis as in the machine shewn at Figure 10. By the use
of tossing mechanism in combination with the cutting mechanism of mowing machines
as herein before described we are able to break up the swathes of a crop immediately
after they have been cut and before they have become matted together so that the
tossing is easily effected and as the grass has not had time to dry and its seeds are
consequently not liable to be shaken out from it, the grass can be shaken without risk
of the seeds being lost-a loss which often arises from the use of ordinary hay
making machines.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. The combination with the cutting apparatus of a mowing machine of mechanism
for tossing or tedding the crop cut during the previous passage or the passage before
that of the machine.
2. The combination with the cutting apparatus of a mowing machine of tossing
or tedding mechanism mounted upon the axle of the main wheels or upon an axis
carried behind this axle substantially as described.
3. The combination with the cutting apparatus of a mowing machine of tossing or
tedding mechanism on an axis which is set at an angle to the axle of the main wheels
of the machine substantially as described.
4. The combination with the cutting apparatus of a mowing-machine of mechanism
for tossing or tedding the crop and of rods, boards or sails in rear of the tossing
mechanism to direct the crop in its fall substantially as described.
5. The combinations herein before described of cutting and tossing or tedding
mechanism.