Improvements in Reaping and Mowing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c., Act, 1883), as allowed by
the decision of the Chief Examiner of the 30th day of August 1893.
Improvements in Reaping and Mowing Machines.
I, JOHN MOORE of Langford Hall, Maldon in the County of Essex, Farmer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in reaping and mowing machines.
It is now usual in reaping machines to employ a recl to lay the growing crop
towards the cutters. Now I dispense with this reel and employ an endless apron
with tines upon it. The apron is mounted upon rollers on parallel axes one of
which is carried a short distance above the cutters and parallel to the finger bar
whilst the other is carried in front of the machine and above the growing corn.
The apron is driven so that on its under side where it comes against the corn it
travels rearward towards the cutters and so it draws the corn back and presents it
in a favourable position to be cut. The inclination at which the apron is carried
can be adjusted by means of a rack and screw or other suitable appliance.
This mechanism is also applicable to mowing machines.
In order to facilitate the transport of the machine I joint the pole in front of the
whipple trees, so that the fore part of the pole can be folded over; this obviates
the necessity of removing the pole in preparing the machine for transport as is the
present practice thereby much time and labour is saved.
Dated this 8th day of September 1890.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
1, JOHN MOORE, of Langford Hall, Maldon, in the County of Essex, Farmer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
5 be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object improvements in reaping and mowing machines.

page_text: It is now usual in reaping machines to employ a reel to lay the growing crop
towards the cutters. Now I dispense with this reel and employ an endless band or
framing with tines upon it. The endless band or framing is mounted upon flanged
pulleys on parallel axes one of which is carried a short distance above and in rear
of the cutters and parallel to the finger bar whilst the other is carried in front of
the machine and above the growing corn. The endless band or framing is driven
so that on its under side where it comes against the corn it travels rearward
towards the cutters and so it draws the corn back and presents it in a favourable
position to be cut. The inclination at which the endless band or framing is carried
can be adjusted.
This mechanism is also applicable to mowing machines.
In order to facilitate the transport of the machine I joint the pole in front of the
whipple trees, so that the fore part of the pole can be folded over; this obviates
the necessity of removing the pole in preparing the machine for transport as is
the present practice thereby much time and labour is saved.
Figure 1 of the drawings hereunto annexed is a plan view and Figure 2 a side
elevation of the endless band or framing and a portion of the frame of a reaping
or mowing machine.
A is the endless band or framing, B the tines or teeth upon it. CC' are the
flanged pulleys upon which the endless band or framing is carried. One flanged
pulley is free to be revolved around an axle D which is carried in bearings at its
ino ends. Preferably the axle is carried at about 3 feet 4 inches from the ground
and about 1 font 9 inches in rear of the cutter bar. The front flanged pulley C
is carried in bearings at the end of two arms which extend from the axle D and
are fast with it. E is a bent or curled spring fixed at one end to the axle D and
at the other end to the bearing block in which the end of the axle is carried. The
spring tends to support the endless framing or band approximately in the position
shewn in Figure 2 but allows of its front end being raised or lowered by the driver
pressing with his foot upon a treadle Fon an arm F which is fixed to the axle.
G is a bevil wheel fast with the roller C. This wheel has gearing with it a second
bevil wheel on a shaft H upon which are chain wheels of different diameters
either one or other of which can be driven by an endless chain driven by gearing
from the main driving wheel or wheels of the machine.
The wheels LJ being of different diameters admit of the endless band or
framing being driven at different speeds according as the nature of the crop that
is being cut may require. Provision is also made for setting the bearings of
the axle D forwards or backwards as may be required. The bearing block to
which the spring E is attached may for this purpose have slots formed through it
for the bolts which secure it to the bar K of the frame to pass through as shewn
in the drawing or if it be desired to make provision for giving a more extended
backward or forward movement to the bearing block this block may be made to
embrace the bar K and so that it can be made to clamp the bar at any desired part
of its length. In either case the shaft H is made telescopic so that the chain
wheels upon it may always remain in the same position.
The pole is hinged to the machine as above stated and at that point it is made
adjustable or so that it can be raised or lowered to alter the draft of the machine
EU as to balance it on two small swivel wheels in front. Ordinarily the pole is
rigid and the machine is balanced on the horses' necks. But when apparatus such
as above described is employed for laying the crop back as it is about to be cut
a rigid pole could not conveniently be used as too much weight would then be
thrown on the horses' necks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that
what I claim is :-
1. A reaping or mowing machine provided at the front with an endless band or
framing having tooth uraianting out wasle from it and mounted unon
a pair of

page_text: horizontal flanged pulleys one placed above and preferably somewhat in rear of
the cutters and the other at a distance in front of the cutters substantially as
described.
2. The construction of mechanism for laying the crop that is being cut by a
reaping or mowing machine towards the cutters substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of June 1891.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.