Improvements in the Cutting Apparatus of Reaping and Mowing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Cutting Apparatus of Reaping and Mowing
Machines.
I, CHARLES EDGAR FRYE, of Wilton, in the County of Hillsborough and State
of New Hampshire, United States of America, Farmer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is to so construct a cutter bar for reapers and
mowers that each knife will be contained in an independent pocket and so that
all the knives or any one of them may be expeditiously and conveniently removed.
A further object of the invention is to provide a means whereby a single cap will
lock all the knives in position, thus exposing all the knives when said cap is
removed. A further object of the invention is to construct the seats for the
knives in a simple yet durable manner, and also to provide the knives with
shanks peculiarly adapted to the improved cutter bar.
According to. this invention the cutter bar is provided upon its upper face at
predetermined intervals apart with blocks or projections which are secured longi-
tudinally to the bar with spaces between them. The intermediate blocks at their
inner ends or the end facing the inner extremity of the cutter bar have a trans-
verse recess made in that portion of the block which is adjacent to the bar, form-
ing an inwardly extending horizontal lip. The inner portion of each block is
wider than the cutter bar while the outer portion or that portion which faces
the outer end of the cutter bar is of about the same width as the cutter bar; and
preferably the forward side faces of the outer portions of the blocks do not extend
to the forward edge of the cutter bar, thereby forming a slight ledge. In the
front end in the rear face of each of the blocks at their wider portions, a longitu-
dinal recess is made adjacent to the cutter bar.
Each blade comprises a body which is of the usual triangular shape being pro-
vided with bevelled side edges, and a T-shank the extended portions of the T
being separated from the body of the blade or knife by the recesses.
In connection with the cutter bar and its blades or knives a cap is employed
adapted to cover all the blocks and the shank portions of the knives or blades.
The under face of the cap is provided with chambers corresponding in number to
the number of blocks, the inner end wall of each of said chambers being recessed.
The blocks and likewise the caps may be made of one or a number of piece.
of metal as in practice may be found most desirable.
"
In assembling the parts of the cutter bar the shank portions of the blades are
entered at one side into the transverse recesses of the blocks and said shanks
at the opposite side are pressed downward until the recess in the shanks at that
side neatly receives the reduced portion of the block opposite the one having the
recess therein. In this manner the extended portion of the T-shank of the blade
will engage with the rear faces of opposing blocks while the rear end of the body
of the blade will engage with the forward faces of the said blocks and the side
of the blade which enters a recessed portion of a block will also enter the side

page_text: cuts or recesses and the blades can be removed only by drawing them upward,
first at the sides that engage with the plain surfaces of the said blocks. The cap
is now placed in position over the cutter bar, the chambers therein receiving the
blocks. The cap is then slid outward, or toward the outer end of the cutter bar
until the lips of the blocks have entered the end recesses in the cap chambers.
The cap is then forced to its locking position which will hold all of the blades
or knives in place, preferably by means of a set screw which is passed through a
head formed at the inner end of the outer bar.
The connecting rod by means of which the cutter bar is operated is preferably
passed over a polygonal or square block which is pivoted on a headed bolt entered
into the head on the inner end of the bar. When the rod is to be connected with
the block the cutter bar is raised, and after the connection between the rod and
cutter bar is effected, the cutter bar is dropped to its normal position and the
connecting rod cannot become detached and will operate the cutter bar with the
least possible amount of friction.
Dated this 17th day of Ma 1900
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
Improvements in the Cutting Apparatus of Reaping and Mowing
Machines.
I, CHARLES EDGAR FRYE, Farmer, of Wilton, in, the County of Hillsborough
and State of New Hampshire, United States of America, 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:-
The object of the invention is to so construct a cutter bar for reapers and
mowers that each knife will be contained in an independent pocket, and so that
all the knives or any one of them may be expeditiously and conveniently removed.
A further object of the invention is to provide a means whereby a single cap will
lock all the knives in position, thus exposing all the knives when said cap is
removed. A further object of the invention is to construct the seats for the
knives in a simple yet durable manner, and also to provide the knives with
shanks peculiarly adapted to the improved cutter bar.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cutter bar of short length;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the said cutter bar with the cap removed;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the cutter bar with the cap removed;
Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the cap.
The cutter bar A is provided upon its upper face at intervals with blocks or
projections B, between which spaces C are formed, which may be termed pockets
or chambers. Each projection or block B is longitudinally secured upon the
cutter bar, and each intermediate block B is provided at its inner end, or the
end facing the inner extremity of the cutter bar, with a transverse recess 10,
made in that portion of the block which is adjacent to the bar, forming an inwardly

page_text: extending horizontal lip 11. The inner portion of each block B is wider than the
cutter bar, while the outer portion 13, or that portion which faces the outer end
of the cutter bar, is of about the same width as the cutter bar; and preferably
the forward side faces of the sections 13 of the blocks do not extend to the forward
edge of the cutter bar, thereby forming a slight ledge. In the front and in the
rear face of each of the blocks or extensions 13 at their wider portions 12, a
longitudinal recess 14 is made adjacent to the cutter bar, as shown in Figures 2,
4 and 6.
Each blade D comprises a body 15, which is of the usual triangular shape, pro-
vided with bevelled side edges, and a T-shank 16, the extended portions of the T
being separated from the body of the blade or knife by recesses 17, as shown in
Figure 7.
In connection with the cutter bar and its blades or knives, a cap E is employed,
adapted to cover all the blocks B and the shank portions of the knives or blades.
In the under face of the cap E, as shown in Figure 5, chambers 18 are formed,
corresponding in number to that of blocks B, and in the inner end wall of each of
said chambers a recess 19 is produced. The blocks B and likewise the caps may
be made of one or a number of pieces of metal, as in practice may be found most
desirable.
In assembling the parts of the cutter bar, the shank portions of the blades are
entered at one side into the recesses 10 of the blocks B, and said shanks at the
opposite side are pressed downward until the recess 17 at that side neatly receives
the reduced portion 13 of the block opposite the one having the recess 10 therein.
In this manner the extended portion of the T-shank of the blade will engage with
the rear faces of opposing blocks B while the rear end of the body of the blade
will engage with the forward faces of the said blocks, and the side of the blade
which enters a recessed portion 10 of a block B will also enter the side cuts or
recesses 14, and the blades can be removed only by drawing them upward, first
at the sides that engage with the plain surfaces of the said blocks. The cap is
now placed in position over the cutter bar, the chambers 18 receiving the blocks B.
The cap is then slid outward, or toward the outer end of the cutter bar until the
lips 11 of the blocks B have entered the end recesses 19 in the cap chambers 18.
The cap is then forced to its locking position, which will hold all of the blades or
knives D in place, preferably by means of a set screw 20, which is passed through
a head B, formed at the inner end of the cutter bar."
The connecting rod by means of which the cutter bar is operated is preferably
passed over a polygonal or square block 21, which is pivoted on a headed bolt 22,
entered into the head B'. When the rod is to be connected with the block 21,
the cutter bar is raised, and after the connection between the rod and cutter bar
is effected, the cutter bar is dropped to its normal position and the connecting rod
can not become detached and will operate the cutter bar with the least possible
amount of friction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A cutter bar provided with projections upon its upper face at predetermined
intervals apart, the inner end of each of the projections being provided with a
lip and an under-cut longitudinal recess in its front and rear faces, the outer end
of each of the said projections being of reduced width, knives or blades having
T-shanks, the shank portions being arranged to enter spaces between opposing
blocks, and the heads of the shanks and the rear ends of the blades to enter the
undercut recesses in the said blocks, and a cap fitted for locking engagement with
the blocks on the cutter bar, for the purpose set forth.
2. A cutter bar provided with a series of projections or blocks upon its upper
face the said projections being spaced apart a predetermined distance, one end of
each of the projections or blocks being provided in its sides with undercut recesses,

page_text: a knife or blade secured in each of the spaces between the blocks, a portion of the
knife being arranged to engage the said side recesses and a cap arranged for
locking engagement with all of the projections or blocks, substantially las
described.
3. The combination, with a cutter bar provided with a series of blocks or
projections upon its upper face, one end of each block being provided with a
lip and having undercut recesses in its front and rear faces and knives or blades
secured in the spaces between the blocks and having portions arranged to engage
the recesses in the said blocks, of a cap provided with chambers adapted to receive
the blocks of the cutter bar, each chamber having an end recess to receive the lips
of said blocks, the cap being adapted for end movement and a locking device for
the said cap, substantially as described.
4. The combination, with a cutter bȧr provided with a series of blocks or
projections upon its upper face, one end of each block being wider than its
opposite end, the wider end of each block being provided with a lip and its sides
with undercut recesses, of blades or knives provided with T-shanks, the shanks
being adapted to enter the spaces between opposing blocks and likewise to enter
the side recesses of the blocks and that portion beneath the lips of the blocks,
a cap provided with chambers adapted to receive the blocks of the cutter bar,
each chamber being provided with an end recess to receive the lips of said blocks,
and a locking device whereby the cap may be held locked upon the said bar,
for the purpose specified.
5. The combination, with a cutter bar provided with a head at its inner end,
of a pin secured in the said head and having an enlarged outer end and a polygonal
block loosely mounted on the pin between the enlarged end of the pin and the
head of the cutter bar, the polygonal block being adapted to receive a connecting rod,
substantially as described.
1
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1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.