Improvements in Harvesters.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harvesters.
A communication by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STEWART, of West Pullman, in the
County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester,
both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to machines for harvesting grain, in which the grain is out
and automatically bound upon the machine; but the improvements in the present
case relate to the harvester proper and not to the grain binder.
The invention consists in improvements of several parts of the harvester, all of
which will be hereinafter fully described and designated in connection with the
description of the construction and operation of a complete harvester, in which
the invention is embodied in one practical form, as is necessary to understand the
several improvements, which improvements will be pointed out more definitely in
the claims.
Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of a harvester embodying the invention, the
central portion of the platform being broken away;
Figure 2, a front elevation of the same, the outer portion of the platform being
broken away;
Figure 3, a plan view of the butt evener, detached;
Figure 4, a detail section of the same, taken on the line Z, Z, of Figure 2;
Figure 5, a cross-section of the machine, taken on the line 5, 5, of Figure 1 and
looking towards the stubble;
Figure 6, a detail section, taken on the line 6, 6, of Figure 1, looking inward.;
Figure 7, a front elevation of the ground-wheel and raising and lowering
mechanism, detached ;
Figure 8, a detail side elevation of the raising and lowering device, detached;
Figure 9, a perspective view of the lower portion of the platform and gear frame
in skeleton ;
Figure 10, a detail section on the line 10, 10, of Figure 11 of the rear portion of
the driving gear shown in Figure 6 ;
Figure 11,
rear elevation of the same;
Figure 12, a detail plan showing the pitman connection to the knife-bar;
Figure 13, a front elevation of the same;
Figure 14, a cross-section of the same, taken on the line 14, 14, of Figure 12;
Figure 15, a perspective view of the knife-head, detached;
Figure 16, a detail plan of the hinged end of the end board on the.incline; and'
Figure 17, a rear elevation of the same.
Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, are on one and the same scale.
Figures 10 to 17, inclusive, are also upon one and the same scale, but considerably
enlarged from the former.
In general organisation the machine is of ordinary type and those parts which
are well-known and common to all harvesters will require no special description.
The harvester is a metal-frame machine, in which usually the skeleton frame is
composed almost entirely of steel bars. This general frame may be said to consist

page_text: of three parts; the platform frame A; the main gear frame, B; and the upright
or elevator frame C, all of which parts are firmly secured together, so as to make
practically a single structure. Only certain parts of the platform frame need be
mentioned. It has, as usual, side sills, a a', the former the front and the latter the
rear sill and both extending nearly to the main wheel. These sills are joined
together at the stubble side of the machine by a cross-sill, a², and at some distanco
inside the latter by another cross-sill a³, which is located considerably inside of the
main wheel and about at the foot of the elevator. The forward ends of these cross-
sills extend a little distance in front of the front sill a and are then bent upward,
so as to form short upright posts, a', standing a little distance in front of the front
platform sill, as seen in Figure 9. The gear-frame B consists of a single bar b,
bent to form three sides of a rectangle and arranged horizontally with its free ends
inward. The front side of this bar is fastened, respectively, to the upper ends of
the upright portions a' of the cross-sills a² a³. The rear side of this bar is fastened
at its free end to the inside post of the rear section, c, of the upright or elevator
frame. A cross-bar & runs from front to rear of this bar, just over the cross-sill a³
of the platform frame. At its front end it is secured to both the front of the bar b
and also the upright a'. At its rear end it is fastened to the rear portion of the
bar and also to a gear block D arranged between the said bar and the cross-sill
below, thus forming a support for the rear end of the cross-bar, b¹ and so also for
the-rear section of the bar b. A brace bar 2 extends across from one upright a* to
the other at the front of the frame, being raised a little from the level of the
platform frame and secured to each of the said uprights. The bent bar extends
out considerably beyond the platform frame on the stubble side, as seen in
Figures 1 and 9. The upright or elevator frame C is composed of front and rear
sections c, c', which are bent, as seen in Figures 1 and 2.
The inner or upright portion or post of the front section c extends down to the
platform frame and is there fastened; but the similar part 3 of the rear section
extends down near to the cross-brace and is there secured to the upright a², as
seen in Figure 9. The two outer posts, c, of the front and rear sections, extend
down only to the horizontal bar b on which they rest and to which they are
fastened, as also seen in Figure 9. The main or gear wheel E is arranged at the
stubble end of the platform frame and in the space between the cross-bar¹ and the
outer end of the bar b. This wheel is loose on its axle, e, as usual, and the axle is
provided with pinions e' which run in the gear sectors E' for raising and lowering
the frame on the wheel axle in the well-known way, these sectors being suitably
fastened to the steel frame of the machine.
The lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the machine will now be
described. A worm gear wheel is fixed on the main axle, just outside the main
wheel. A worm F on the front end of a long shaft is mounted, so as to engage
with this worm gear wheel. The front end of this shaft is mounted in a bracket.FI
of peculiar construction. The body or centre of the bracket is tubular to provide
a bearing for the shaft and from this body there depend two arms f slightly
separated from, but parallel with each other, thus forming a kind of fork; and the
extremities of these arms are bent to form a kind of hook/". These bends are
adapted to hook around the main axle, as seen in Figures 6 and 8, thus providing
for the attachment of the bracket to the axle and supporting it thereon, the arms
of the bracket, in this position, embracing the worm gear, as seen in Figure 7.
The worm shaft extends back to the rear of the machine, where it is supported in
a small bracket f³, and its rear end is constructed for the application of a crank, by
means of which it may be turned. Obviously the rotation of this shaft will rotate
the main axle by means of the worm gearing and so adjust the frame up and down
on the main axle by means of the pinions and gear sectors in a well-known way.
It will be seen that the bracket F is loosely connected to the axle and obviously
is readily detachable therefrom. This is accomplished by turning the worm out of
the gear, while the wheel is held motionless, as seen in Figure 8, when it is evident
that the bracket may be unhooked from the axle and then the whole device may

page_text: This is
be removed from the macliine by simply unscrewing the bolt that fastens the rear
bracket to the frame, or pulling the shaft forward out of this rear support. The
position of the bracket and shaft may be readily reversed, so that the shaft will be
below the axle, instead of above, as seen in the dotted lines in Figure 6.
sometimes desirable, especially in loading the machine for transportation when, the
main wheel being stationary, the bracket may be applied as seen in the said dotted
lines and the frame readily run up or down, as may be desired. A chain wheel e
is mounted on the axle e on the inside of the main wheel and connected to the
latter, so as to turn therewith; and to this wheel is applied a chain et which also
runs over a chain pinion G fixed on a shaft g which is sleeved on a shaft g', the
latter being passed through a pendent arm G2 on the bar and into a proper seat
in the block D and secured by means of set-screws in each seat, one of which 9 on
the pendant, is shown in Figures 6 and 11. By loosening these screws this shaft
can be taken out and the sleeve shaft with its attachments removed. A large
bevel-gear G' is also fastened to the shaft g outside of the pinion G and next to the
block D which is provided with a projecting flange d on its inside face, within
which this wheel is arranged. The block D is also cut away near its forward end,
80 as to provide an opening, d¹ to the bevel gear at this point. The crank-shaft H
is arranged along the outside of the block' D, being mounted at its front end in a
bracket bearing which is detachably fastened to an upright post, 63, of the
frame; while at its rear end it is mounted in a sleeve bracket I which is also
detachably fastened by bolts to the outer face of the block D, as seen in Figure 5.
This bracket I is provided with a long sleeve portion through which the shaft
runs, from which rises, near its rear end, a short post and near its front end a
similar post which, however, is bent forward. The shaft itself is provided at its
front end with the usual crank, or crank wheel which drives the cutter, and with
a common loose bevel gear pinion which is adapted to engage with the bevel
gear G through the opening in the block D, herebefore mentioned, and is clutched
to the shaft, when in engagement therewith, by an ordinary clutch device ³.
The pinion is slid upon the shaft to engage or disengage with the bevel
wheel and clutch by means of an arm mounted in the two posts of the
sleeve 1, adapted to slide back and forth therein, and bent down, at its forward
end, to engage with the collar of the pinion in the usual manner. A spring h³
is wound around the sliding arm h which operates to hold the pinion in gear
normally, and a shipping lever he is provided for operating this arm to throw the
pinion out of gear whenever desired, this lever being mounted on the sleeve
bracket 1. It will be seen from this description that, by simply removing the
bolts which fasten the sleeve bracket I to the block D, the rear end of the crank
shaft and all of its attachments are at once detached from the frame of the
machine, and in a like manner by removing the fastening bolts of the forward
bracket h, this shaft may be entirely detached from the machine, a provision very
desirable for purposes of repair. A self tightening pulley 9² is provided for the
drive chain which tends, owing to the direction in which the chain.et moves, to
tighten the said chain & draw the pulley g³ nearer to the pinion G. It is mounted
in a bent arm 93 which is pivoted to the inner face of the block D close to
the inclosing rim of the bevel gear, as seen in Figure 10, and the arm is of
such length that it tends to be swung towards the pinion G by the motion of
the chain e, so as to bring the pulley close up to the chain pinion G so that
there is only just about room for the chain to pass between the two, as seen in the
same Figure 10.
The outer portion of the pivoted arm is bent downward and rests upon a bar y¹
between the gear block and arm G so as to prevent the dropping of the pulley
support, and the arrangement of the parts is such that the pulley extends up
somewhat in front of the chain pinion, as seen in Figure 10, and so after the chain
is applied and the tightener mounted in position, it will always and positively
compel the chain to engage with the pinión because of the slight space between the
two, as will be seen from the arrangement shown in the said Figure 10.

page_text: $
The knife bar Jis of ordinary construction and is provided with a head is to
which one end of the pitman. is connected, the other end being connected to the
crank h as usual. The guide within which this knife-head slides and by which it
is held to the frame is, however, of peculiar construction and mounting. This
guide K is fastened to the front sill a of the platform frame. This sill and also
the rear sill a¹ are Z-bars of angle iron and the guide is fastened to the upper
flange of the bar, as seen in Figures 13 and 14. For convenience of attachment
the guide is made in two parts kk, each of which is provided with flat lugs adapted
to seat' the two pieces respectively upon the upper and lower face of the bar flange,
in which position they are fastened to the bar by bolts ³, passing through the lugs
and the bar. Each of these pieces has a double right angled bend at its edge so
as to form a lip k, within which the knife-head is received, held and guided, being
provided with flanges j' which are received within the lip. guides for this purpose,
as seen in Figures 13 and 14. The knife-head is free to slide back and forth
within this guide, the pitman-pin,, moving freely in the open space between the
two lips. This provides a very simple but at the same time efficient means of securing
the knife head in place and guiding it in its reciprocation. At the same time it is
readily detached from the bar, to which it is fastenert, for repairs, or any other
purpose necessary. This construction also dispenses entirely with the shoe which
is ordinarily used in these machines, the guide, as already stated, being fastened
directly to the front sill of the platform. The crank shaft H is so low down at its
front end that the crank is brought nearly on a line with this guide for the knife-
head, as seen in Figure 2, so that the thrust of the pitman is nearly in a direct line
with the reciprocation of the knife-bar, thus relieving the friction occasioned by
the arrangement of the crank some distance above the plane of the knife-bar.. The
elevator L is of any ordinary construction, set at an incline to elevate the grain
over the main wheel and supported by the platform frame and upright frame C,
as usual.
The butt adjuster M is secured to the upper end of the front side bar of tho
elevator, as seen in Figure 2. The butt adjuster itself is of the endless apron type
and its particular construction and also that of its driving. devices need not be
described; but the device for attaching the adjuster to the elevator and the
particular arrangement of the former in relation to the elevating aprons are, it is
believed novel. The adjuster is attached to the elevator by means of a bracket N
which is of skeleton construction, as seen in Figure 2. This skeleton may be said
to have a central body a through which the extended shaft of the upper roller
of the under elevator apron is passed for the purpose of driving the apron or belt
of the adjuster. This forms the central point for the attachment of the bracket to
the elevator, as seen in the said Figure 2. From this central portion what may be
called arms radiate in different directions. One, n', projects out beyond the lower
edge of the side bar at about right angles thereto. Another, n, extends up along
the same edge. A third, n³, extends out radially toward the upper edge of the
side bar l; and a fourth short arm n extends slightly downward and inward from
the centre. The arms and n³ are also connected by a curved arm or brace n³
which is extended slightly beyond its junction with the arm n³. At the upper
end of this bracket there is also a wide flange n which extends inward at right
angles to the main portion of the bracket over the upper end of the side bar l
and also down somewhat below the lower edge of the latter, as seen in
Figures 2 and 3.
"
The bracket is fastened to the side bar in the following way—
In addition to the shaft, the shaft. of the bead roller of the upper elevator
apron also passes through this bracket at the junction between the armin and the
brace bar n. Then the bracket is further secured by scrow bolts 3-2-1 passing
respectively, through the arm at, the extremity of the brace. n and the junction of
the latter with the horizontall flange near the extreme upper end of the side bar l
Similar bolts 4 also pass through the said flange n into the upper end of the eaid
bar, as seen in Figure 3. The inner roller m of the butt adjuster is mounted by

page_text: giving its shaft bearings, respectively, in the bracket arm a¹ and the projecting
flange n, as seen in Figures 2 and 4, and the arrangement of these parts is such
that the shaft of this roller will be carried in so as to stand about on a line with
the inner face of the side bar 7, as seen in Figure 3, and, as seen in the same figure,
this will carry the apron or belt of the butt adjuster at its upper end in slightly
beyond the front edge of the elevator aprons. As beretofore constructed, so far
as my correspondent knows, the mounting of the butt adjuster has been such that
it stands at the outer edge of the side bar and this arrangement leaves a corner
between the upper end of the adjuster and the upper end of the elevator aprons,
within which the butts will be received, and as they are not caught at once by the
adjuster, there will be some hesitation in the movement of the butts and a consequent
tendency to clogging or tangling.
71.
In the present construction and arrangement described above, there is no
possibility of this result, for as the belt of the butt adjuster is a little inside the
front edge of the elevator aprons, the butts will drop at once into contact with the
ádjuster and come immediately under its influence.
Very considerable difficulty has been experienced heretofore in the breakage of
the bracket support for the adjuster, owing to shrinkage of the elevator inclined
frame. With the construction of this bracket described above and the peculiar
means of fastening by bolts at the several points mentioned, this difficulty has been
entirely obviated.
The tail board O is attached, as usual, to the upper end of the rear side bar 1 of
the elevator. It is mounted on this bar by means of a bracket P fastened to the
side bar and a suitable bracket o on the tail board. This latter bracket is provided
with lugs o' through which the pivot pin Q passes and in which it is made fast by
shrinkage. The bracket P is also provided with a lug near its lower end which
is adapted to receive the lower end of the pivot pin. The upper bearing of this
pin is, however, pivoted in a small supplementary lug bracket R which is bolted to
the bracket Pas seen in Figure 17 and, of course, is readily detachable therefrom.
This supplementary bracket is also provided at its upper end with a fixed disc 7.
having notches in its upper face. A spring S is fastened at one end to the upper
end of the pivot pin, coiled around the latter and then bent outward at right angles.
to the pin, thereby providing a short arms which is adapted to engage with any
oue of the notches in the disk r. It will be seen then that the tail board may be
adjusted at any angle desired by moving this bent arm of the spring from one
notch to some other in the disc, as seen in Figure 16 and it will also be seen that
the device provides an elastic fastening for securing the board in any adjustment,
so that it yields readily as may be required in changing conditions of the grain,
the spring, of course, being comparatively light for this purpose. The lug bracket R
is made independent and detachable to provide for the mounting of the parts, as
described, as it will be seen that with the fixed pivot pin this could not be readily
accomplished without a detachable bearing somewhere. The bracket P is in
construction and means of fastening to the side bar quite similar to the supporting
bracket of the butt adjuster, as will be seen on comparing the brackets shown,
respectively in Figure 1 and 2.
As shown in the drawings, there is provided the usual driving mechanism for
the elevator belts and binder, consisting of a chain T running over suitable
sprocket wheels and pinions and driven by a chain pinion, on the rear end of the
shaft H. This is ordinary mechanism, however, and requires no description here,
as it does not constitute any part of the present improvements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a harvester, a gear frame B consisting of the single bar b bent as specified
and the cross bar b' in combination with the cross sills, a² a bent upward at their
forward ends to form uprights a' and the posts c³ ³, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In a harvester, the platform sills a a' in combination with the cross sills a² a*
extended in front of the platform sills and bent upward, as specified, the gear
frame, the gear block D, and the post c³ of the rear upright section c,
substantially as described.
3. In a harvester, a main frame adjustable vertically on the main wheel axle, in
combination with a worm wheel e fixed on said axle, a worm F to engage therewith,
and the bracket F1 having the arms f1 adapted to embrace the said worm wheel
and provided with hooks adapted to hook loosely around the axle, but readily
detachable therefrom, substantially as described.
4. In mechanism for adjusting the main frame of a harvester vertically on the
main axle, the worm wheel e fixed on the axle, in combination with the worm F
and a detachable bracket F in which the worm is mounted, provided with curved
open hooke,, whereby it is adapted to be loosely connected to the axle on either
the upper or lower side thereof, substantially as described.
5. The gear block D mounted between the cross bars of the platform and gear
frames, in combination with the bevel gear G', chain driving pinion G on the same
shaft, crank shaft H mounted on the block on the opposite side to the said bevel
gear G' and the sliding pinion on said shaft adapted to engage with, the said
bevel gear through an opening in the block, substantially as described.
6. The gear block D, in combination with the crank shaft H and a supporting
bracket I in which said shaft is mounted, attached to one side of said block and
detachable bodily therefrom, substantially as described.
7. The gear block D, in combination with the crank shaft H the sleeve bracket I
fastened to the side of said block by removable bolts and the bracket h detachably
fastened to a suitable support at the front of the machine, whereby the said crank
shaft and its supporting brackets may be readily detached and bodily removed
from the machine substantially as described.
8. The driving chain e in combination with the chain pinion G, the swinging
support, tightening pulley mounted in said support and arranged with only
about sufficient space for the chain between it and the said pinion, and mechanism
for driving said chain in a direction tending to pull the swinging support toward
the pinion G, substantially as described..
9. The drive chain, in combination with the chain pinion G, the angular pivoted
support g³, tightening pulley 9 mounted thereon, mechanism for driving said chain
in a direction tending to swing the said pivoted support toward the pinion G and
the stop g arranged and operating, substantially as described.
10. The front platform sill a, in combination with the guide K composed of the
two sections k k fastened directly to the web of the said sill, and the knife bar J
provided with a head j adapted to reciprocate within the said guide, substantially
as described.
Dated this 8th day of October 1894.