THE IMPROVEMENT OF APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR REAPING
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Phillips, of Offchurch, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "THE IMPROVEMENT OF APPARATUS
OR MACHINERY FOR REAPING."
Sealed the 19th December 1854, and dated the 23rd June 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Phillips at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
June 1854.
I. CHARLES PHILLIPS, of Offchurch, in the County of Warwick, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "THE IMPROVEMENT OF
APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR REAPING" to be as follows:-
It consists of improvements in three operations performed by machinery for
reaping. The first of these improvements is for favourably disposing the
standing crop, by giving it that inclination that will cause it when cut to fall in
the most favourable position for being compacted into well-formed sheaves.
The second improvement is in the mode of cutting. The third improvement
is in the mode of removing the corn from the machine when cut, a part of this
last improvement consisting of the means whereby the corn in the act of falling
from the cutters will be separated from that which has fallen and is being
removed. The first of these operations has hitherto been performed by an appa-
ratus that has been called a reel. This apparatus is very similarly constructed
by all the makers of the reaping machines to which it is applied, but is probably
best known as applied to the machines called Bell's, made by a well-known

page_text: maker named Crosskill. In these machines it is thus constructed and appea
-A rotating axle suspended in suitable bearings at each side of the machine
passes directly across the machine; and projects on one side far enough for the
attachment of a pulley, by which it is made to rotate. Around this axle, about
two feet from it and parallel to it, fixed to the extremity of arms projecting
from it, are six bars, extending lengthwise across the machine over the breadth
of crop that the machine is made to cut. These bars are placed at equal
intervals, parallel to each other, and being six in number, and all about two
feet from the axle, it-follows that they occur at intervals of about two feet.
This apparatus thus constructed is made to rotate in that direction by which
each bar moves directly backwards with reference to the progressive motion of
the machine at the instant when it is vertically under the axle, and directly
forward at the instant when it is vertically above it. This being the construction
and motion of this apparatus, it follows, that if the axle be adjusted to pass
above the top of the crop to be cut, and vertically over or a little in advance of
the cutting apparatus, but not so far above the crop but that the bars as they
revolve will pass below its upper surface, the bars as they revolve in the part
of their course that is under the axle will give an inclination of the crop
towards the cutting apparatus. This description of an apparatus that is already
known will enable me to give a more intelligible description of that in which
my improvement on it consists.
....I employ two axles parallel to each other, and at a sufficient distance asunder
to allow the revolving parts on each, when revolving in the same direction, to
clear each other (that distance of necessity), and as much farther as experience
may determine to be best for accomplishing the purpose of my improvement.
One of these axles in a machine of the same width as Bell's will be of similar
length, similarly placed, and similarly driven to the axle just described with
reference to Bell's machine; the other will be in advance of it, cither horizon-
tally in advance, or at such a departure from the horizontal position as may be
found most expedient in use, this particular being made capable of adjustment
to suit circumstances. This additional axle will not require any projection
outside either of its bearings for the fixing of a pulley by which to drive it.
The method by which it will be driven will be quite intelligible when the
other parts, of the apparatus are explained. Centred to each axle, so as to run
as is commonly called true, will be two pulleys or wheels, with a groove round
cach of all four, suitable for an endless cord or belt to run in. These pulleys
or wheels will be one of them at each end of each axle, close to the side of the
machine, but within the bearings in which the axis rotate, and the diameter
which I now consider to, be best suited for the purpose of my Invention will

page_text: be from three to four feet. I believe they will be better to be all four of the
same diameter, and certainly it will be expedient, if not necessary, that the
pair on each axle should be of the same diameter. Round each wheel, to and
from the other wheel on the same side of the machine, in a state of moderate
tension, but not crossing itself, will run an endless cord or belt, and from the
endless cord or belt on one side of the machine to that on the other side of the
machine will pass a series of bars, transverse to the course of the machine's
motion, parallel to the axles at equal intervals of from one to two feet, with one
extremity of each bar made fast to one endless cord or belt, and the other
extremity to the other endless cord or belt. These bars are intended to per-
form in a more perfect manner the same office that the revolving bars of the
reel in Bell's machine perform. By imparting rotarty motion to the driven
axle of this apparatus in the same direction that the axle of the reel of Bell's
machine is driven, the desired motion will be given to the whole apparatus;
and the bars, instead of acting on the crop only for an instant in the direction
required for the intended purpose, will act in that direction over a much more
extended time and space, will much more effectually incline the crop to be
cut into the desired position, and, acting over a much longer space of time, will
do it without that rapid motion which causes the grain to be shed.
My improvement in cutting consists in the use of a series of rotating cutters,
made of circular plates of steel, with one continuous cutting edge round the whole
circumference, which may be either a plain knife-like kind of edge, or a finely
serrated sickle-like kind of edge, each cutter centred and running on an axis or
spindle. These cuttres, all of equal diameters, will be placed to range in a line
across the front of the machine at equal distances asunder, the axes or spindles
being vertical, and consequently the cutters horizoutal; and as they should all
run in the same plane, it follows of necessity that the diameter of the cutters
must be something less than the intervals betwixt their centres. These cutters
will all run in the same direction, and the cutting will be performed by the
edge of each as the edge is running backwards, with reference to the direction
in which the machine moves; each cutter will be supported betwixt two pointed
plates, one of these plates giving a bearing to the lower end of the axis or
spindle and the other to its upper end. The points of these plates will extend
forward beyond the cutters into the crop, and the points of each pair that give
bearings to the same cutter must be so connected as to prevent any of the crop
getting betwixt them. The upper series of these plates will be placed in a
plane above the cutters, parallel to the plane in which the cutters rotate, and
the lower series in a parallel plane below it. The edges of the plates that
give bearings to each cutter will extend beyond the cutter on that side on

page_text: which it is intended that it should not cut, and will extend slightly over the
adjoining cutter on that side, so as to support the crop against the action of
that adjoining cutter, whilst the opposite edges of these plates, the edges
towards the side that is intended to cut of the cutter, to which the plates give
bearings, will not extend so far as the edge of the cutter, nor so far by a space
sufficient for a free passage of the crop, as the edges of the plates that give
bearings to the adjoining cutter on that side. To the axis or spindle of each
cutter will be fixed a pulley or sheave, the diameter of which must be so small,
that the cord or band by which it will be driven will not, where it is in contact
with it, extend so far as the edge of the cutter; and in a line across the machine
behind the cutters will be a series of pulleys or sheaves running on vertical
axles or spindles, the number of these pulleys or sheaves being such, that there
shall be one with its axis in a line directly behind a point midway, or about
midway, betwixt the axis of each cutter, and the axis of the adjoining cutter on
each side of it. By this arrangement of pulleys an endless cord or band in a
state of sufficient tension passing from a driving pulley on one side of the
machine round the front of the pulley of the first cutter on the same side of
the machine, thence backwards round the back side of the first pulley on the
same side of the machine of the back series of pulleys, thence forward round
the front of the pulley of the second cutter, thence backwards round the
back side of the second pulley of the back series of pulleys, thence forward
round the front of the pulley of the third cutter, thence backwards round the
back side of the third pulley of the back series of pulleys, and in like manner
round each pulley of both series, but so that it, the endless cord or band, nowhere
crosses itself; and having in this manner gone round both series of pulleys,
returning by suitable conducting pulleys to the driving pulley, it, the endless
cord or band, by motion of the driving pulley in the right direction, will give
the cutters the motion suitable for cutting. The operation of cutting may be
continued for a longer time without sharpening the edges of the cutters, and
indeed may at all times be better performed by giving support to the crop
against the action of the cutters at points nearer to them than can be given by
the direct action of the plates that give bearings to the spindles of the cutters,
and that have been described as giving this support to the crop. For this
purpose, I should fix to the upper surface of the under plates, or to the under
surface of the upper plates, and at the edges that have been described as giving
support to the crop, a piece of wood or other suitable substance, in such a
position that the edge of each cutter at the part where it is intended to cut
shall run in a groove or mortise provided for it in the wood or other substance
that may be used.

page_text: My improvement in removing the corn from the machine after it has been
cut, and keeping that which has fallen from the action of the cutters separato
from that which is in the act of falling, is as follows; but before I proceed to
describe this part of my Invention, I will remark that I consider it to be best
suited to machines like those now well known a Hussey's and McCormick's,
in which the corn when cut falls on to a horizontal platform. My method of
accomplishing the first of these purposes (namely, removing the corn from the
machine after it has been cut,) is by actuating two rakes, by means of suitable
intervening mechanism, by and from a shaft or axis, placed on one side of the
machine in a position parallel or about parallel to the plane of the platform on
which the corn when cut falls, and also parallel or about parallel the the sides
of the machine, and to the lines in which the various parts of the machine
undergo progressive motion whilst the machine is at work; and by so actuating
them, the two rakes, (the teeth of which rango in the direction of the progressivo
motion of the machine, and should be so curved from their tips that the con-
cavities of the teeth of each rako are directed towards the concavities of those
of the other,) that the tips of the teeth of one shall pass down on one side of
the machine, betwixt the side of the machine and the corn lying on the plat-
form, and the tips of the teeth of the other pass down in the same manner on
the other side of the machine, and then the tips of the teeth of each pass
across the machine, below the level of the corn on the platform, till the tips of
the teeth of each meet or cross, so that the corn that was lying on the platform
shall be grasped between the teeth of the two rakes; then I cause them, the
two rakes, to be so further actuated by and from the shaft or axis, that they will
lift the corn in their grasp over the side of the machine, over the shaft or axis,
and descending with the tips of their teeth near to the ground, separate cach
from the other, and deposit the corn on the ground on that side of the machine
on which the actuating shaft or axis is. The parallel positions of the shaft or
axis before described I consider to be the best and most convenient; but the
purposes to be accomplished by this part of my Invention may be accomplished
by it with a very considerable departure from these positions. My method of
accomplishing the second of these purposes (namely, keeping the corn which
has fallen from the action of the cutters separate from that which is in the act
of falling,) will be, to cause a screen or shield to intervene betwixt the corn
that is falling from the action of the cutters and that which is lying on the
platform, about to be removed by the action of the rakes. This screen or
shield, placed in front of the rakes, will accompany them in their to and fro
motion, betwixt the platform of the machine and the ground on the side of the
machine where they deposit the corn. To cause the effect of this part of my

page_text: Invention to be more complete, I should prevent the but end of the sheaf or
parcel of corn to be removed from projecting forward beyond the lower edge
of the screen or shield, for which purpose 1 should make the platform of the
machine to slide backwards and forwards, and cause it to slide backwards about
the space of a foot during the time when the rakes are passing over the last
foot but one of their course towards the platform of the machine, and slide
forward the same distance during the time when the rakes are returning over
the same space as that over which they were passing when it slid backwards,
that is, should cause it, the platform, to slide, forward during the second foot
of the course of the rakes in the direction in which they move to deposit
the corn.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Phillips in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd December 1854.1
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS, SHALL: COME, I, CHARLES
PHILLIPS, of Offchurch, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did. for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give, and grant unto me, the said
Charles Phillips, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Phillips, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Phillips, 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 "THE IMPROVEMENT
OF APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR REAPING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Charles Phillips, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, 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 Charles Phillips, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention; and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures written thereon:--
The Drawings are made to a scale of an inch to a foot, except Figures 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, all of which are made to a scale of three inches to a
foot. The parts in the Drawings that are of a light brown colour are to be
considered as made of timber or wood; those parts that are of a darker brown
colour are cords or driving bands; those parts that are of a faint black colour
are to be considered as made of cast iron; those that are of a light blue colour
are to be considered as made of wrought iron; those of a darker blue as made
of steel; and those of a yellow colour as made of brass. The letters and figures
written on the Drawings are designed to indicate the several parts that have
to be described, and in some instances they are written on the parts that they
serve to indicate, but in other instances they are written at a distance from
the parts they indicate; in all of which latter instances a dotted black line is
drawn from them, the indicating letters and figures, to the parts respectively
that they serve to indicate, there being in a few instances two black dotted lines
from an indicating letter, or indicating letter and figure, to the part that it or
they serve to indicate, in all of which last instances the two lines are drawn, to
show that the two parts to which they are so drawn are but one part, either ono
in substance, or one so far as their action is concerned. In some of the Figures
parts are shewn in section, and where this is done the section is shewn in the
customary manner by parallel lines across the parts shewn in section. Where
the parts that are hid from view behind other parts can be made more intelli-
gible by their position being shown by dotted lines on the parts by which they
are hid, this method of shewing them is adopted, but it is avoided in all
instances where it is considered that it would tend to confuse. The dotted
lines used for this last purpose will be easily distinguishable from the dotted
lines by which the above-named indicating letters and figures are connected
with the parts they serve to indicate. In Figure 20 in the Drawings are four
parallelograms; one described by red lines, one by blue lines, one by brown
lines, and one by black lines; these (which serve respectively to define in part
the parts shewn in Figures 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, in the Drawings,) I shall
hereafter call squares, although, according to the true signification of the word
Square, they may not properly be so called.
Having given the foregoing explanations, I shall now proceed to a
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: frame as it is seen in the left-hand elevation of the machine or apparatus at
Figure 19, the left-hand side of the machine being considered to be that side
of it that is to the left hand of a person following, and (as will hereafter be
described) guiding it, that side of it being the side towards the stubble or
corn that has been cut, and the right-hand side of it being the side towards
the standing corn. Figure 3 is a cast-iron frame on the left-hand side of the
machine, shewn as it is seen in a left-hand elevation. Figure 4 is a cast-iron
frame on the right-hand side of the machine, shewn as it is seen in a left-
hand elevation. Figure 5 is a cast-iron bracket, bolted to the outside and
towards the fore part of the cast-iron frame shewn at Figure 3, this bracket
giving bearing to two partially rotating shafts, hereafter to be described, and
being shewn in this Figure (Figure 5) as it is seen in a front elevation
(Figure 20). Figure 6 is a cast-iron bracket, bolted to the outside and at
the back part of the cast-iron frame shewn at Figure 3; this bracket being
also shewn in this Figure (Figure 6) as it is seen in a front elevation, and
besides giving bearing to the two partially rotating shafts that the bracket
shewn at Figure 5 gives bearing to, giving bearing also in the brass bush at
the lower end of a downward projecting part that is absent from the bracket
shewn at Figure 5, to the backward end of the partially rotating shaft, of a
part which I shall call the bridle-rod, my reason for calling this last-named
part a bridle-rod being the similarity of its action to the action of parts in a
steam engine that are known by that name. Figure 7 is a cast-iron bracket,
shewn as it is seen in plan, that is bolted to the bracket shown at Figure 6,
and gives bearing to the forward end of the partially rotating shaft of the
bridle-rod. Figure 8 is the bracket last described, shewn as it is seen in
front elevation. Figure 9 is an apparatus for inclining the corn immediately
in front of the machine into a suitable position for being cut.
This apparatus
is designed to accomplish in a more perfect manner the purpose sought to be
accomplished by the part called the "reel," in the reaping machines known
as Bell's and McCormick's, and hereafter I shall call it the reel, although,
according to the true signification of the word reel, that as a name for it may
not be strictly correct. This Figure shews this apparatus as it is seen in plan,
and I have shewn it separately from the Figures that represent the machine,
and have omitted to shew it in those Figures, because I consider that both
it and the cutting apparatus will be better understood by neither being shown
in the same Figure with the other. The attachment of this apparatus to the
machine will be perfectly understood from the manner in which in this Figure
(Figure 9) and in Figure 10 it is shewn to be attached to fragments of the
cast-iron frames. Figure 10 represents the reel as it would be seen in a left-

page_text: band clevation. Figure 11 is a fragment of the chain by which the reel is
driven; and this being a well-known kind of chain for driving machinery, and
as it will be perfectly well understood by means of the Drawing, it will
require no further description or explanation. Figure 12 is a representation
of the cutting apparatus as it would be seen in a left-hand elevation of the
machine, but it is shewn as broken away from the machine for the purpose of
showing it on the larger scale of three inches to a foot. Figure 13 represents
the cutting apparatus as it would be seen in a right-hand elevation, and in this
Figure it is shewn as broken away from the machine, for the same reason as
it is so shown in Figure 12. Figure 14 is a plan of the cutting apparatus,
drawn to a scale of three inches to a foot, certain parts (of which there is a
plurality, and of which each one is exactly the same as the others,) being
removed, for the purpose of shewing more clearly the parts beneath; and
another part, in most respects similar to those that are removed, being shewn
broken, where the part broken away would hide a pulley from view. This
Figure also is shewn as broken away from the rest of the machine, and the
direction of the progressive motion of its parts is the same as that of a right-
hand elevation; it is the reverse of that of the plan of the machine shewn
at Figure 18. In this Figure (Figure 14) are a series of mortised blocks of
wood, each of which is marked g, where shewn; and Figure 15 is a represen-
tation of one of these blocks as it is seen in right-hand clevation. Figure 16
is a representation of one of them as they appear in plan; and Figure 17 is a
representation of a section of one of them as shown in plan, the section
being a horizontal plane through the mortise, for the purpose of showing more
clearly the shape of the mortise. Figure 18 is a plan of the machine, from
which the reel is omitted, for reasons already stated, and the direction of the
progressive motion of which is indicated by the arrow above the plan. Figure
19 is a left-hand elevation of the machine, the progressive motion of which is
indicated by an arrow in front of it, the reel being omitted. Figure 20 is a
front elevation of the machine, the reel being omitted. Figure 21 is a
representation, as seen in front elevation, of the parts betwixt the red line and
the blue line that cross the plan in Figure 18, that are included within the
square described with red lines on the front elevation in Figure 20. Figure 22
is a representation, as seen in front elevation, of the parts betwixt the blue line
and the brown line that cross the plan in Figure 18, that are included within
the square described with blue lines on the front elevation in Figure 20; the
brown line crossing the plan not being throughout a straight line, but bent at
a certain part, to avoid section of a part that should be shewn entire in the
Figure next to bo described, this part being that which is shewn separately in

page_text: Figures 7 and 8. Figure 23 is a representation, as seen in front elevation, of
the parts betwixt the brown line and the black line, first in order from the
front of the machine, that cross the plan in Figure 18, that are included within
the square described with brown lines on the front elevation in Figure 20.
Figure 24 is a representation, as seen in front elevation, of the parts betwixt
the two black lines that cross the plan in Figure 18, that are included within
the square described with black lines on the front elevation in Figure 20.
Figure 25 is a representation, as seen in back elevation, of the parts betwixt
the two black lines that cross the plan in Figure 18, that are included within
the square described with black lines on the front elevation in Figure 20.
A is the front axle of the reel, having a rotary bearing at each end; at one
of its ends in a bar, by which it is supported from the left-hand iron frame of
the machine (the frame shewn at Figure 3), and at its other end in a bar, by
which it is supported from the right-hand iron frame (the frame shewn at
Figure 4). A is the back axle of the reel, behind the axle A', and paralle!
to it, baving rotary bearings in the same bars as the axle A¹ has. On each of
these axles are two wheels, with a cord groove round the edge of cach; one of
them is situate immediately within each of the rotary bearings, and they are
all considered to be made of wood except the naves, which are considered to
be made of cast iron, into rabbets, in which are fastened their wood arms.
These wheels are all of the same dimensions, and are marked respectively B',
B, B, and B'; B' being on the front axle, and at the left-hand side of the
machine; B, on the back axle, and at the left-hand side of the machine; B³,
on the front axle, and at the right-hand side of the machine; and B', on the
back axle, and at the right-hand side of the machine. Round B' and B2 in
their cord grooves is the endless cord a', and round B and B' in their cord
grooves is the endless cord a², and all the wheels. being of equal dimensions,
and their axles parallel, the cords a' and a will be of equal length; but these
equalities of the wheels and cords are by no means essential; nevertheless, I
consider their being so to be the most convenient mode of construction.
Fastened to cach of these endless cords a' and a are fourteen bars, at equal
intervals, parallel each to the others, and all parallel to the axles A' and A²;
and at intervals, corresponding to the intervals betwixt these bars, are notches
or openings in the wheels B', B, B, and B', into which as they (the wheels)
rotate the bars pass. These bars are all marked b. On the projecting
extremity of the axle A, at the left-hand side, is a driving pulley C', with
snugs on its edge, by which with chain, such as is shewn at Figure 11. this
apparatus (the reel) is driven. The driving motion imparted by the chain to
the pulley C is from the pulley C, seen in Figures 18, 19, and 20, on the

page_text: may
at any
left-hand side of the machine. In many positions of the reel the direct course
of the driving chain would be through the bracket shewn separately from the
machine at Figure 5, to avoid which a conducting pulley will be required to
direct the chain out of the straight course, either above or below the bracket,
according to the position in which the reel may be required to be placed. This
pulley may be fixed by means of a suitable shifting attachment, either to the
left-hand iron frame or to the bracket itself that is required to be cleared of
the chain. In this kind of gear the chain is not required to be in a state of
complete tension; nevertheless, different lengths of chain will be required, for
which purpose pieces of chain should be provided of various lengths, with a
steel flat link at each end of each piece, by which means a piece of suitable
length may be used to make the entire chain the length that it
time be required to be. Or strap gear may be used for driving this part of
the machine, in which case the pulleys C¹ and C² must be without snugs,
and the length of strap then required would be regulated in the usual way by
buckle or by laces. In the motion of the reel, the bars 6 move forward in
their course over the axles A¹ and A, and backwards in their course under
those axles; and the axles A' and A being so adjusted that they progress
above the level of the ears of the standing crop, whilst the bars b, in their
course backward under those axles, pass below the level of the ears, it is
evident not only that the corn on which the bars are acting will be inclined
towards the machine, but it will be much more inclined than it would be by
the old reel, with bars revolving round a single axle at a fixed distance from
it, and the required inclination will be given by this kind of recl at a slower
speed and with more certainty than can be given with tho reel that has
hitherto been in use.
I shall next describe my improvements in cutting. d, seen in Figures 18,
19, and 20, is the main driving pulley of the cutting apparatus; d³, seen also
in the last-named three Figures, is a conducting pulley, for conducting the
endless driving cord f, in its required course; and d³, seen in Figures 18 and
19, but better seen in Figures 12, 13, and 14, is also another conducting
pulley, serving the same purpose as d². All these pulleys yet named as con-
nected with the cutting apparatus, together with the pulley ', run on fixed
axes or spindles d and d', running in opposite directions on the same axis or
spindle; but all the pulleys hereafter to be named as connected with the cutting
apparatus are made fast to their axes or spindles, which run in bearings that
are considered to be bushed with brass, as is shewn in the upper bearings of
the spindles of three of the cutters, all of which (the cutters) are marked,
these three being the first, the sixth and the seventh from the right-hand side

page_text: of the machine. Reference will now be better had to Figures 12, 13, and 14.
The endless cord f, having passed round the conducting pulley d³, passes
next nearly across the machine, and then round a conducting pulley d', thence
to the first on the right-hand side of the machine of a series of pulleys
marked d, one of which is fixed on each of the spindles of the cutters
immediately on its respective cutter; thence it (the cord f) passes round the
first on the right-hand side of the machine of a series of conducting pulleys
marked d, and alternately in regular succession passing round the pulleys d
and do, it passes from the last of the pulleys do, round the pulley ', to the
under side of and round the main driving pulley d', from which its course
was first traced. In describing the course of the endless cord f round the
pulleys, I do not mean that it passes completely round any of them; it would
be worse than useless that it should do so. By passing round them I mean
that it passes no further round them than its course and use necessarily
require. The cutters are circular dises of steel, with cutting edges (that may
be either plain or serrated) round their whole circumferences; they, with the
pulleys by which they are directly driven, being keyed or cottered to the
vertical spindles on which they rotate. The bearings of the spindles of all
these rotating parts in Figures 12, 13, and 14, are at their lower ends in one
continuous plate extending across the machine, from which project forward a
series of points, one for each cutter, and one extra beyond the last cutter from
the right-hand side of the machine, the upper bearings being in a series of
separate plates, the same in number as the points that project from the under
plate. The second, third, fourth, and fifth of these plates from the right-hand
side of the machine, and the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth, from
that side, are shewn as removed, for the sake of shewing clearly the rotating
parts, and the course and action of the cord f. The position and configura-
tion of all these last-described parts, and also that with reference to them that
remains to be described, will be readily understood by reference to the Draw-
ings, and more especially by reference to Figures 12, 13, and 14. Each of
the upper series of plates is bolted to the timber bed of the machine by a
bolt or screw pin, that passes first through the under plate, then through the
timber, and lastly through the upper plate, which is then screwed down to its
position by a nut on the bolt or screw pin, by which mode of fastening a
number of the upper plates may be removed without disturbing the under
plate, these bolts or screw pins by necessary consequence fixing the under plate
also. Betwixt the point at the forward extremity of each of the top plates
and the extremity of its corresponding point of the bottom plate is a wedge of
wood, of the same thickness as tho part of the timber bed of the machine to

page_text: which these plates are bolted, and this wedge, whose edge extends from the
tip of the under point to the tip of the upper plate, is bolted and secured in
its proper position by a bolt or screw pin, passing first through the under plate,
then through it (the wedge), and then through the upper plate, on which a nut
secures all three parts. On each projecting point of the under plate, except
the first point on the right-hand side of the machine, is a block of wood
marked 7, each having a mortise through it, in which the edge of the cutter
on each side of it runs. These blocks will be perfectly understood by refer-
ence to Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, and to the foregoing descriptions
of these Figures, more particularly those of Figures 15, 16, and 17. The
use of each of these blocks is to support the straw of the standing corn
against the action of the cutter to the right-hand side of it. The action of
the cutting apparatus will now be readily understood. The endless cord f,
being driven in the direction indicated by the arrows, that are shewn in its
course, such motion will be given to the cutters that each of them will cut
against the mortised block g, that is, to the left-hand side of it.
The part that I shall now describe is the mechanism by which the cut corn
is delivered from the machine in a state ready for being bound into sheaves.
E is the main driving toothed wheel, this wheel and the pulleys c and d being
all three securely bolted or otherwise fastened together, and running freely on
the axle on which they are placed, except when pinned to the wheel C. This
wheel C' is one of the carrying wheels on which the machine progresses, and
by a pin through a snug projecting forward in the drawing from the inner end
of its nave, it is, when the machine is at work, made fast to the wheel E and
to the pulleys c and d', and when the machine is merely travelling from place
to place this pin is removed. The axle on which the wheel C, the toothed
wheel E, and the pulleys c and d rotate, has a projecting flange in contact
with the iron frame on the left-hand side of the machine, which is considered
to be fastened by rivets to that frame. C is the carrying wheel on the right-
hand side of the machine, which, being the side towards the standing corn, it
(the wheel C) is placed within the frame. This wheel has a fixed axle in its
nave, which has one of its ends running in a bush in the frame, and the other
end in a similar bush in the cast-iron curb D. The toothed wheel E drives.
the toothed wheel 1, on the latter of which is a crank pin, and this crank pin
is connected with the lever II on the shaft 1', by the connecting rod G. By
means of the crank pin on the wheel F, the connecting rod G and the lever H,
the wheel F gives a to and fro rotary motion through the sixth part each way
of an entire rotation, and the toothed segments ' on the shaft I', driving the
toothed segment h² on the shaft I, the shaft I makes a to and fro rotation of

page_text: half a complete rotation each way, at the same time that the shaft I makes
its to and fro, rotation each way through a sixth part of an entire rotation.
From the shaft I project the two arms which are fixtures to it, K' and K², in
the ends of which, opposite to the ends at which they are fastened to the shaft
12, they give rotary bearings to the shaft I', to which are fixed as fixtures the
two parts N'and Ne, which I shall hereafter call links. N' is plainly seen in
Figure 20, but N is more plainly seen in Figure 23. The configuration of
these two parts is better seen in these two Figures (Figures 20 and 28), but
their places on the shaft I are better seen in Figures 18 and 19, and best in
Figure 18. These links N¹ and N° give rotary bearings to the shafts I' and I;
the shaft I forming with the five teeth, each marked q', a rake, and the shaft
1, forming, with the five teeth, each marked g, another rake. These rakes
meet each other about three inches to the left-hand side of the middle of the
machine, and by so doing take the corn lying in the machine into their grasp,
and the rotary motions of the shafts l'and I cause them to convey it out of
the machine over the left-hand side, where, by means that will hereafter be
described, they deposit it on the ground. From the shaft Is projects the lever
O, and bolted to the right-hand frame of the machine is the cast-iron arm or
casting, to which is pivoted the catch P, the action of which will be readily
understood by reference to the Drawings. This catch P allows the lever O to
descend on its return from the outside of the machine without affecting its
position, but when the lever O has descended to the level, at which it is
shewn, a part of the catch P, by the mere weight of the catch, passes over
it (the lever 0); therefore, when the lever with the apparatus with which
it is connected ascends, it is compressed by the catch P, and thus the
teeth of the rake q¹ are made to pass across the machine to that part where,
by means hereafter to be described, they meet the teeth of the other
rake; and if the mechanism be examined geometrically, it will be found,
that owing to the upward motion of the rakes, the tips of their teeth
cross the machine nearly in a straight line. The precise length that the
lever O should be I have not yet been able exactly to ascertain, but by
means of a small model of it, and the apparatus that are concerned in its
action, I have been able to ascertain that the length shewn is within less
than a quarter of an inch of the length that it should be. The shafts 15 and I°
are geared together by the toothed segments ¹ and , by means of which the
teeth of the rakes are made to move simultaneously towards and simultaneously
from cach other. The configuration and action of these parts and will be
better understood by reference to Figure 22; their places on the shafts I and
16 will be better understood by reference to the Figures 18 and 19. The teeth

page_text: of the rakes are made to close together, as has already been expleined, by the
catch P compressing the lever O; they are made to open or separate by means
of the spring k, which has one of its ends pinned to the segment 2, and the
other end pinned to the segment ; the action of this spring (as is indicated
by arrows, on Figure 22,) being to force the pins that pin it to the segments
towards each other. The configuration of the segments and prevents the
teeth of the rakes from being forced farther asunder than they should be by
the action of the spring k. From the shaft I³ projects a lever marked 7, to the
end of which, in the manner shewn in the Drawings, are pivotted, so as to
have a rising and falling motion, and falling by their own weight, the parts
marked n' and n², which I shall hereafter call locking bars; these parts are seen
in Figures 18, 19, 20, and 21, but they will be best understood by reference
first to Figure 21, and then by comparison of their appearance in that Figure
with their appearances in the other three. From the shaft I° projects the
lever m, which is made up of two sides, bolted together at their extremities
through a cylinder of wood, by which means an opening in it (the lever m) is
formed, through which the locking bars n' and n³ pass, resting on a pin that
crosses the opening in the lever, that pin being indicated by the Figure 1 in
Figures 18, 20, and 21. On the under edge of each of the locking bars n¹
and is a catch; that on n¹ being about seven inches and a half from the
centre of the pin, by which it is pivotted to the lever 1, and that on n being
about five inches and a half from the centre of the same pin. These catches
both take hold of the pin 1 in the lever m. The locking bar n² serves to hold
the teeth of the rakes together when they have closed and taken hold of the
corn, by means of the lever O, acted on by the catch P. The locking bar n¹
serves to hold the teeth of the rake, after they have opened and discharged the
corn, from opening too wide to clear the left-hand side frame of the machine
on their return into the machine. The method by which these locking bars
n and are caused to release their hold of the pin 1 in the lever m will
hereafter be explained. It is evident, that with no more than has already been
explained, the rakes would swing about with nothing to direct their proper
course; but to do this, and to keep the links N¹ and N always in a vertical
position, the rod L, which I have before called the bridle-rod, is pinned to the
link N at one of its ends, whilst its other end is a fixture to the shaft I³, this
shaft having rotary bearings in the brackets, shewn separately at Figures 6, 7,
and 8. The pin by which this bridle-rod is pinned to the link N is marked 2
in the Figure 23, which is the Figure by reference to which, and by comparison
with the other Figures, this part of the apparatus will be best understood.
The pin by which the bridle-rod L is pinned to the link N may be either a

page_text: fixture to the bridle-rod, and have rotary motion in the link, or it may be a
fixture to the link, and have rotary motion in the bridle-rod. The motion of
the bridle-rod describes a vertical semicircular plane, through which the shaft
Jpasses; therefore to allow of this motion, the slot in the bridle-rod through
which it (the shaft I*) passes, is required. This will be best understood by
reference to Figure 23, where the shaft 1 appears in section.
On the upper
and back part of the frame on the right-hand side of the machine, pivotted to
the support, and with one of its arms resting on a pin of the support, is
the catch p, which has two arms, one of which, when influenced by its own
weight only, rests on the pin of the support 3, whilst the other is in a vertical
position. The pivotting of this catch to the support must be loose enough
to allow it always to fall by its own weight when not otherwise acted on into
the positions shewn in the Drawings, and its own configuration will prevent its
ever falling by its weight into any other position. All the remarks last made
with reference to the catch p apply equally to the catch P. With little further
explanation, the action of all the parts that have yet been explained as con-
tinuous from the wheel F will be readily understood. Taking the machine in
the position shewn in the Drawings, its motion forward would cause rotation
of the wheel F, by which the rakes would rise out of the machine, and in rising
the catch P would close the rakes, and cause them to take hold of all the corn
lying in the machine; the locking bar catching the pin 1 of the lever m, and
holding the rakes together, the locking bar n' would almost immediately lift
the catch p and pass it; and when the wheel F had made half a rotation, the
points of the teeth of the rakes would be out of the machine, and at their
nearest state of approach to the ground outside of the machine on its left side;
but before reaching this point, the end of the locking bar n² would have taken
a bearing on the bridle-rod L, by which means the pin 1 of the lever m would
be thrown out of gear of the locking bar n², and the sheaf of corn would be
deposited on the ground by the spring & throwing open the teeth of the rakes:
but at this stage of the motion the teeth of the rakes would be thrown no
further open than is allowed by the catch of the locking bar n' being in gear
with the pin 1 of the lever m. In this state the rakes would pass into the
machine till within a short distance of the next quantity of corn to be removed,
when the locking bar n' would take a bearing on the catch P, and being thereby
thrown out of gear of the pin 1 of the lever m, the rakes would spring fully
open, ready to take up another sheaf of corn as soon as the wheel F had fully
completed its rotation. When the bridle-rod, in its motion either way, has
reached the vertical position, it would, with no more than has yet been
explained, have nothing but its own momentum to secure its continuance in

page_text: its proper course, and that would not at all times be a sufficient dependance,"
though generally it might perhaps be relied on; therefore, on the backward
extremity of the bridle-rod shaft Is, and outside its bearings, I place as a fix-
ture the crank r, and on the backward extremity of the shaft I, and outside its
bearings, I place as a fixture the double-armed crank o, the shorter arm of
which stands vertical in the Drawings, as does the crank r, and the longer arm
of this crank o extends horizontally towards the middle of the machine. In the
extremity of the crank r is a crank pin, and in the extremity of the short arm
of the crank o is another crank pin, the centre of the crank pin in the crank r
being the same distance from the centre of the shaft I³, as the centre of the crank
pin in the short arm of the crank o is from the centre of the shaft 1; and these
two crank pins are connected by the connecting rod or link s, and by this
connection of these two crank pins the correct motion of the bridle-rod L is
secured at that point of its motion, either way, where there is no other security
for it. This link or connecting rod s is shewn as made of brass, principally for
the sake of making it more distinguishable from the other parts near it; but I
consider also that it would be cheaper to make it (light as it may be) of brass
than to make it of cast iron, and bush the holes in which the crank pins rotate
with brass. It is but a very small part of the whole time that the rakes are.
within the machine in the position in which they are shewn in the Drawings,
but whilst they are there no corn should be falling on them, as much of it would
be carried away and littered about in a very objectionable manner; therefore
to guard against this I provide the screen M, which is a fixture to the shaft I',
at its forward extremity outside its bearing in the arm K¹; I show the frame
only of the screen M, to avoid hiding the parts behind it. The spaces in this
frame must be filled up either with parchment, woven fabric, or wire gauze.
Thus constructed, the corn whilst the rakes were in the machine would fall
against the screen, and when the rakes and screen had ascended out of the
machine, that which had accumulated, which would not be more than a tenth
part of a sheaf, would fall in its proper position into it (the machine). Were
the butt of the sheaf to project beyond the screen, some objectionable litter of
the corn would be consequent, on some of the falling corn being carried away
by it. To prevent this, the platform Q is made to shift instead of being made
a fixture, shifting backward through the space of a foot during that part of the
motion of the rakes in which they are passing through the first sixteen inches
of the last thirty-two inches of their course into the machine, and shifting
forward through the same space of a foot whilst the rakes are returning
through the same part of their course out of the machine as that in which it
shifted backward during their motion into the machine. This shifting of a

page_text: foot, I think, will be sufficient, when it is considered that the corn falls much
backwarder on the platform Q, owing to the forward motion of the machine,
than it would do if the machine were stationary whilst the corn was falling.
Across the platform Q are the five bars or strips of wood marked j, on which
the corn falls, the teeth of the rakes reaching below the level of these
bars. In Figure 19, parts of the wheel C³, parts of the pulley d', and
parts of the wheel F, are broken away, to shew these strips or bars marked j.
The platform Q is in the (Drawings shown in its backward position, and it
is shifted to and fro by a motion of the pulley v', and to understand this part
of the apparatus readily, reference should be had to Figures 24 and 25, as
well as to Figures 18, 19, and 20. From the pulley ', in one direction,
the cord w passes round the pulleys 2, 3, and v', to be fastened to the middle
of the front edge of the platform Q, and also from the pulley v', in another
direction, passes the same cord w round the pulleys and , to be fastened to
the middle of the back edge of the platform Q. This cord w should be so
fastened as to be in a state of tension, and it should be made a fixture to the
pulley v', at the point where the Figure 3 crosses the edge of that pulley in
Figure 25. The pulley v' is a fixture to its axis, and on its axis is fixed the
double-armed lever a, and to the long arm of the double crank o is attached to
its crank pin one end of the rod u, whilst at the other end of that rod is a pin,
which, passing through the long slot in the cast-iron stay or brace marked t,
gives in the course of its motion the necessary motion to the lever a, by which
the pulley is made to shift the platform Q. The pin on the rod a ranges to
and fro through nearly the whole length of the slot in the brace or stay t but it
is only whilst it is betwixt the parallel parts of the long and short arm of the
lever, that it gives any motion to that lover. R is a stay or distance bar,
by which the two sides of the machine are braced together at their front and
upper part. This part is removed when the reel is attached to the machine,
the axle A serving as a brace at that time. T, T, and T3, are three
pieces of timber mortised together and bolted to the machine to form a frame
to receive the handles V and V2, by which a person following the machine
guides it after the manner that a steerage drill or plough is guided. S is the
hook, to which the horse that draws the machine is attached to it by trace
gear. W is a counterpoise to the rakes and all the other apparatus that bear
on the arms K' and K. This counterpoise is of the right weight about to
balance the parts that weigh against it, but the whole are shewn more than
three times heavier than they would be required to be. This is done to
make them plain and intelligible on the small scale of an
inch to a foot.
A sheet metal casing should extend from the curb D over the wheel C², to

page_text: prevent the corn falling on it, but this casing has been omitted from the
Drawings for the purpose of shewing the wheel.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the various improvements are to be performed, I will remark that I do not
confine myself to the precise details used, but shall consider my claims to
extend to anything and everything for the purpose of reaping, in which either
or any of the peculiar modes of action of any of my improvements are retained
or used; and I claim as my Invention for the improvement of apparatus or
machinery for reaping,-
First, the use of bars, cords, chains, or other suitable instruments for in-
clining the corn into a suitable position for being cut, that are caused by revolving
round two or more axles to act on the corn over a larger space than they
would act over at any given velocity of motion by revolving round a single
axle. I especially claim for this purpose the peculiar method herein described
with reference to Figures 9 and 10 in the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
I also claim all variations of mechanism producing the same effect on the corn
by the same peculiar mode of action.
Secondly, I claim the use of a series of rotating circular cutters or of rotating
cutters, each with one continuous cutting edge, either plain or serrated, having
the corn to be cut supported against their cutting action by projections from
the machine. Breaches might be made in the edges of the cutters herein
described, and thereby the oneness of the continuous edge would be nominally
destroyed; nevertheless, were this done, I should still consider my Invention
to be retained, which I define, in addition to the peculiarities already described,
to consist of the use of a series of rotating cutters that have the corn supported
against their cutting action by projections from the machine, the cutters
effecting a long drawing cut on the corn.
Thirdly, with reference to the method herein described of delivering the corn
from the machine, I will remark that it is the same as the most important part
of that for which I obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent, bearing date the
Third day of November 1852, with such differences only of configuration and
other particulars as are necessarily consequent on the action in the present
case, being from the side of the machine, instead of being from the back of it
and what I now claim as my Invention, with reference to this part of the
apparatus is, causing the apparatus that conveys the corn out of the machine
to convey it over the side of the machine, which I consider to be far preferable
to conveying it round the back part of the side of the machine, as has been
done by the makers of a reaping machine, for which Her Majesty's Letters
Patent were granted, bearing date the Twelfth day of November 1852, this

page_text: latter method causing much more unfavourable displacement of the corn than
that which is caused by the method I now claim. I will remark, respecting
this last claim, that I make it only with reference to apparatus that, for the
purpose of removing the corn, gripes it or takes hold of it on opposite sides.
My claim briefly expressed is for the use of a griping apparatus that lifts the
corn over or off at the side of the machine. I do not pretend to claim merely
raking it off at the side; this, I believe, has already been done.
Fourthly, I claim as another of my improvements the use and construction
of machinery for reaping, in which a screen is used for the cut corn to fall
against during the interval when an apparatus behind it is moving the corn
across the machine for the purpose of its being conveyed therefrom.
Fifthly, I claim as my Invention the use of a shifting platform, as herein
described, as an auxiliary to render the effect of the screen herein described
(the use of which is last claimed) more perfect.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Phillips, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
CHARLES PHILLIPS. (L.S.)