IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wardell, of Stanwick, near Darlington, in
the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 26th October 1858, and dated the 1st May 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wardell, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
May 1858.
I, ROBERT WARDELL, of Stanwick, near Darlington, in the County of York,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REAPING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon a former Patent,
No. 904, granted unto me, the said Robert Wardell, on the First day of April,
1857, for "Certain Improvements in Reaping Machines," and the present
improvements which are described under four separate heads, consist,-
First, in an improved mode of transmitting motion to the conical and end-
less side delivery belts or travelling platforms (on which the corn or other
grain is conducted after it is cut), by a more simple and convenient arrange-
ment of the wheelwork thereof.
Secondly, in an improved mode of connecting the knives or cutting blades

page_text: to the machine, for the purpose of reducing the friction thereof, whilst they
are being moved laterally. This I propose to effect by supporting and guiding
the bar to which the knives are affixed between antifriction rollers suitably
placed.
Thirdly, in an improved mode of transmitting motion to the side delivery
rollers employed for keeping the heads of the corn, et cetera, up.
Fourthly, and lastly, in a self-acting tilting platform in lieu of the rotating
sheaf delivery prongs, described in the said former Patent of the 1st April,
1857, No. 904.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Wardell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WARDELL, of Stanwick, near Darlington, in the County of York, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Wardell, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Wardell,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Wardell, 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, 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
MACHINES" upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert
Wardell, 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 calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Wardell, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to certain improvements upon a former Patent, No.
904, granted unto me, the said Robert Wardell, as of the 1st day of April
1857, for "Certain Improvements in Reaping Machines," my present im-
provements are described under four separate heads, and consist,-
First, in an improved mode of transmitting motion to the conical endless
belt or travelling platform (on which the corn or other grain is conducted after
it is cut), by a more simple and convenient arrangement of the mechanism.
Secondly, in an improved mode of connecting the knives or cutting blades
to the machine for the purpose of reducing the friction thereof, whilst they
are being moved laterally. This I propose to effect by supporting and guiding
the bar to which the knives are affixed between antifriction rollers suitably
placed.
Thirdly, in an improved mode of transmitting motion to the side delivery
rollers employed for keeping up the heads of the corn or other grain.
Fourthly, and lastly, in a self-acting tilting platform in lieu of the rotating
sheaf delivery prongs, described in the Specification of the former Patent,
No. 904, of 1857, by means of which each sheaf may be of the same weight,
or nearly so.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, and have attached to these Presents a Sheet of illus-
trative Drawings marked with numerical figures and letters of reference,
similar letters being employed to denote corresponding parts in so far as such
parts appear or can be seen at each of such said Figures respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of the framework of a reaping
machine, showing the arrangement of my improved mechanism for transmitting
motion to the conical belt or travelling platform aforesaid; Figure 2 is an
elevation of the said mechanism; Figure 3, a detached portion thereof, herein-
after particularly described and referred to; Figures 4 and 5, are transverse
and vertical sections taken through the lines A, B, and C, D, respectively.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of my improved mechanism for transmitting motion
to the side delivery rollers; Figure 7 is a transverse and vertical section
through the line E, F, at Figure 6, shewing some of the wheelwork in eleva-
tion; Figure 6 also exhibits a top plan view of the before mentioned self-

page_text: acting tilting platform; Figure 8 is an end elevation thereof; and Figure 9,
a detached portion herein-after referred to. Figures 10 and 11 respectively
exhibit a side elevation and section of a portion of a knife bar, shewing my
improved mode of connecting them to a reaping machine for reducing the
friction of said bar.
I now proceed to describe the mechanism referred to under the first head
of my said improvements as follows:-
At Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, A, A, is a portion of the curved framing of a
reaping machine, constructed according to my former Patent of 1st April,
1857; B, C, D, are long spindles or axles carrying loose rollers, over which
the endless conical belt passes, as described and represented in the aforesaid
former Specification of 1857. The spindles B, D, have notched pullies a, b,
securely fixed thereon, over which the links of an endless chain E pass, for
advancing same, as also the conical belt which is connected to said chain by
holes formed in said belt, being passed over studs c, rivetted into a piece of
metal d, connected to the links of the chain, as exhibited at Figures 1 and 5.
G is a curved endless bar of round iron (shewn detached at Figure 3),
employed for guiding the chain E in a curved direction whilst in motion; this
is effected by connecting the parts e of the bar G to the framing A, as exhibited
at Figure 5; f are small rollers connected loosely to the pieces of metal d;
these rollers fit against the bar G, and as they roll over it, the chain is by
these means guided in a curved course; 9, 9, are rollers, (better seen at
Figure 4,) employed for supporting the chain at certain intervals.
A cheaper and more simple mode of maintaining the aforesaid conical belt
in proper position is by substituting an endless strap or belt of leather or
vulcanized india-rubber combined with a woven fabric similar to the driving
straps or bands extensively employed for driving shafting and machinery; the
pieces d would have to be rivetted to said strap or band, and said band might
be worked by passing same over a plain pulley, and the strap be kept tight by
an adjusting piece placed on one end of the shaft or spindle on which the
larger or driving pulley is fixed or by a notched pulley and eyelets in the strap,
whichever may be found best adapted for ensuring the advancing of the conical
belt.
I next proceed to describe the mechanism referred to under the second
head of my said improvements as follows:-At Figures 10 and 11, H, H' are
antifriction rollers fitted into the ordinary guide bar h, at or near the driving
end of the knife bar, or they may be fitted to both ends of the guide bar if
necessary, or throughout the entire length thereof at suitable distances

page_text: *
asunder; some of such said rollers I place on the top of the bar, and others
underneath the same. The bottom roller H¹ is represented at Figure 11
formed with a groove, in which the knife bar fits easily, the projecting
flanges keep the bar in its place by pressure from the upper roller H, which
is formed plain, as exhibited. I propose also to form the aforesaid rollers
hollow to hold lubricating material. The means heretofore commonly employed
of supporting the knife bar in the guide bar have been to let the knife bar rub
on the bottom of the groove in said guide bar, by which great friction was
occasioned, but by this improvement the friction is very much lessened.
.
I next proceed to describe the mechanism referred to under the third head
of my said improvements, as follows:-At Figures 6, 7, 8, I, K, L, M, N, O,
P, Q, R, S, are a train of bevil and spur wheels and pinions, arranged;
disposed, and actuated in the following manner :-The spur wheel I imparts
motion to the knife bar by the stud i, through the agency of the pinion K and
bevil wheels L and M; the clutch k is for throwing the wheelwork out of
gear when the knives are not required to be in motion. The bevil wheels
N, O, impart motion to the rollers T, U, and conical belt, through the medium
of the wheels I, P, Q, R, S; the clutch fork is for throwing this wheel-
work out of gear when the aforesaid rollers and belt are not required to be in
motion. The wheel P is fixed on the spindle m, and is connected to the
bottom roller T by a rod n, and the wheel S is fixed on the spindle B of the
conical belt for imparting motion thereto; the wheel R gears into the wheel P,
and by being connected to the top roller U imparts motion thereto. I would
here remark, that I have found it desirable in practice to make the top roller
larger than the bottom one, in the proportion of about 8 inches to 11 inches,
and I make the wheel R as much larger than the wheel P as will ensure the
two rollers moving through the same space in the same time, so as not to rub
the corn or other grain as it passes between them; the wheel Q is a carrier
wheel, gearing into the wheel S for imparting motion thereto, and to the
conical belt in the proper direction. Another mode of imparting motion to
the top roller U, is by fixing pulleys on the outer ends of the axes of the rollers
T and U, and passing crossed straps or bands o over them formed of vulcanized
india-rubber (as at Figure 9); by these means the wheel R. and its connecting
rod may be dispensed with, and the roller U be made as light as is consistent
with strength, the necessary pressure thereof on the corn or other grain being
produced by the elastic force of the india-rubber bands o, o, thereon.
I next proceed to describe the mechanism referred to under the fourth and
last head of my said improvements, as follows:-At Figures 6 and 8, V, W,

page_text: are two hopper-shaped pieces of wood securely fixed to the uprights p, p. The
bottom of each of the pieces V and W carries a rod q, q', into which are fixed
prongs r, s; those marked r are only on one side of the rod q, whilst those
markeds are at opposite sides of the rod q¹; t, u, are pullies respectively fixed
on the rods q and w; these pullies are connected together by a strap at x,
which is operated upon. by the weighted lever y. The operations of this
arrangement are as follows:-The corn or other grain after it has passed
between the rollers T, U, falls on to the prongs r, s, and when the weight of
the corn thereon is equal to that of the weight 2, the prongs r. then descend
and raise such said weight, and simultaneously with these movements the axis
of the prongs s rotates, and allows the sheaf to escape from the prongs r and s,
and be deposited on the ground ready to be bound up; after which, the
descent of the weight 2. again raises the prongs to receive and weigh another
sheaf, and so on in succession. The prongs s are brought into proper position
by striking against a stop lever X, exhibited at Figure 9. I do not intend to
restrict myself to the use of the prongs r, s, as in some cases it may be found
desirable to use plain surfaces of hinged sheet metal, or other suitable
material in lieu of the aforesaid hinged prongs. By the above arrangement
it will appear obvious that sheaves of uniform weight may be successively
produced, and the operations of weighing and discharging the same from the
machine be rendered self-acting, as above stated.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "Improvements in Reaping Machines," together with the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion, that I hereby declare my Invention to consist in,
and I claim,
First, the mechanical arrangements above particularly described, set forth, and
represented at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, of the annexed Drawings, for the purpose
of imparting motion to the conical belt in a more certain and efficient manner
than by the means before described in the Specification of the aforesaid former
Patent of the 1st April 1857.
Secondly, I claim the antifriction rollers at Figures 10 and 11, for the
purpose of reducing the friction of the knife bar, as above stated.
Thirdly, I claim the mechanical arrangements above particularly described,
set forth, and represented at Figures 6, 7, 8, of the annexed Drawings, for the
purpose of transmitting motion to the side delivery rollers T, U, in a more
simple and efficient manner than by the means before described in the
Specification of the aforesaid former Patent of the 1st April 1857.

page_text: Fourthly and lastly, I claim the mechanical arrangements above particularly
described, set forth, and represented at Figures 6, 8, 9, of the annexed
Drawings, as constituting a self-acting tilting platform, by the aid of which I
am enabled to produce a succession of sheaves of equal weight, or nearly so,
as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wardell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 28th day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
ARCHIBALD MOORE,
Corlton Hall,
Darlington.
ROBERT WARDELL. (L.S.)