IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR CONTROLLING AND DETERMINING THE CONVERSION OF REEL BLADES INTO RAKE BLADES, OR VICE VERSA, IN REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William McIntyro Cranston, of Worship Street, Finsbury,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR
CONTROLLING AND DETERMINING THE CONVERSION OF REEL BLADES INTO
RAKE BLADES, OR VICE VERSA, IN REAPING MACHINES." Partly a communi-
cation from abroad by the Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine
Company, Hoosick Falls, New York, U. S. A.
Sealed the 4th June 1878, and dated the 8th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William McIntyre Cranston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th April 1878.
WILLIAM MCINTYRE CRANSTON, of Worship Street, Finsbury, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR CONTROLLING AND DETERMINING THE
CONVERSION OF REEL BLADES INTO RAKE BLADES, OR VICE VERSA, IN REAPING
MACHINES." Partly a communicaton from abroad by the Walter A. Wood Mowing
and Reaping Machine Company, Hoosick Falls, New York, U. S. A.
The object of this Invention is improved appliances for controlling and deter-
mining the conversion of reel blades or dummies into rake blades, or vice versa, in
a reaping machine, in order that the sizes of the sheaves may be regulated according
to whether the crop be heavy or light.
The improvements are based upon an Invention previously patented by me, and
dated the 22nd July, in the year 1874, No. 2564, in which by the movement of a
bar having lugs upon it the number of reel blades of a reaping machine could be
caused to act as rake blades for removing the cut crop from the platform,
The present Invention relates to certain detail modification of apparatus, by which
this shift of recl blades to rake blades or rake blades to recl blades is made
automatic when once set by the driver, by the movement of a tooth-ended quadrant
lever, causing a ribbed rod to be moved endwise to bring lugs upon it over one or
other of a series of toothed pinions, said pinions having cone-shaped shoulders, upon
which the lugs upon the ride can ride during a part of the rotation, and the lug to

page_text: drop into a recess in the shoulder under the action of a spring. The full-down
action of the lug causes a knuckled lever to move and allow the switch or catch
lever to be moved towards the centre of the head clear of the path of the next
blade arm roller, and enable it to ride in a level part of a cam race in the head to
be converted into a rake, and the blade be thereby caused to travel over the plat-
form to sweep the cut crop off. The pinions are of different diameters, conse-
quently they travel at different speeds, therefore according to the speed of rotation
of the pinion into whose recess the lug upon the rod takes so will a reel blade be
caused to act as a rake blade, or vice versa. Thus if the ribbed rod be shifted
towards one end by the quadrant-shaped lever, say, to the front part of the machine,
the lug nearest that end is brought to bear upon the cone of the larger coned
pinion, which has, say, 20 teeth, this number corresponding to those upon the driver
pinion on the stem of the rotating head. This cone has, as before stated, a recess
in it for the lug to drop into by the action of a spring. There will thus be one
reel blade converted into a rake blade or a rake blade into a reel blade at each
rotation of the head, but if the rod be shifted that its lug bears upon the cone of
the next sized pinion, which has, say, 16 teeth, every fourth blade would be con-
verted into a rake or to a reel blade. Again, should the lug be moved to bear upon
the cone of the next sized pinion, which has, say, 12 teeth, every third blade would
become a rake or a reel blade; and again, should the lug be caused to bear upon
the cone of an eight-toothed pinion, every alternate blade would become a rake or
reel blade; but should the lug be moved to clear the last-named cone pinion all the
blades would act as rake blades, and a delivery of grain in swath form would result.
The rod with the lugs upon it has a feather or keyway cut in it of greater width
at its outer end than at the inner end, so that a lever which takes over it is not
influenced by any movement it may have when the lug has been shot past the
smaller pinion; in this condition all the blades act as rake blades.
The lever last referred to is connected by a three-legged lever, by which the
knuckled lever is operated. One of the legs has a cord connected between it and a
foot plate within reach of the driver, to enable him to operate the switch or catch
plate, and thereby convert a reel blade into a rake blade, or vice versa, indepon-
dently of any action from the coned pinion that may then have the lug upon it.
By this means should the grain crop be lumpy or extra strong at one part of the
field than at another, an extra rake blade now and again thrown into action will
sweep it off. This operation can be effected while the machine is travelling.
Instead of the lug dropping into a recess in the cone to convert a reel blade into
a rake blade the reverse arrangement may be fitted, viz., the lug may be lifted
for that purpose, in which case the pinions may have a projection for the lug to ride
over.
The pinions may be arranged around the driving pinion, and a lever may be
shifted by hand on to either of the pinions, each of which has a lug upon it to act
upon and lift the lever at each rotation, or the lever may drop into a recess.
Another arrangement of appliances for the same purpose is composed of a stepped
series of pinions in the same casting, or in separate castings, but combined to act
as one, each two pinions having an annular collar of smaller diameter to form
hollows between the pinions, into which hollows wipers or lugs upon other pinions
are free to play or run at each rotation of the stepped pinions, with which the other
pinions are always in gear. Each of the other pinions are loose, and of different
diameters to run at different speeds, and the wipers or lugs project beyond the
periphery of the pinions to permit one of them to ride against a sliding and ad-
justable lug or tappet carried by a rod, from which the latch plate or switch of the
cam race can be actuated to convert a reel blade into a rake blade, or a rake blade
into a reel blade when necessary, according to the "sett" of the tappet upon the
rod, the distance at which the tappet is "sett" when the machine is at rest or in
motion being regulated by the attendant in proportion to the strength or fulness of
the crop to be reaped.
The casting of stepped pinions is koyed upon the rotating stem of the reel carrier,

page_text: but the loose pinions are mounted upon a separate pin on the main frame, the rod
carrying the adjustable tappet, or it may be a rod with a fixed tappet, as described
in the first arrangement, and governed by a quadrant lever, being controlled by a
plate or other appliances found convenient for the purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William McIntyre Cranston in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
8th October 1878.
WILLIAM M'INTYRE CRANSTON, of Worship Street, Finsbury, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR CONTROLLING AND DETERMINING THE
CONVERSION OF REEL BLADES INTO RAKE BLADES, OR VICE VERSA, IN REAPING
MACHINES.' Partly a communication from abroad by the Walter A. Wood Mowing
and Reaping Machine Company, Hoosick Falls, New York, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to provide for that class of reaping machines
which employs for delivering the cut grain from the platform a series of toothed
rake blades attached to a common hoad which rotates in a horizontal plane, which
blades, by appropriate mechanism, are susceptible of being converted from rake
blades to reel blades or dummies, or vice versa; an automatic apparatus placed
under the control of the operator of the machine capable of such adjustment while
the machine is at rest or in motion, as will determine and regulate the action of all
the blades employed either as rakes or beaters, and in such a way that all the
blades inay consecutively act as rakes, or all act consecutively as beaters or dum-
mies, or every second, third, fourth, or other specified blade may, by such automatic
mechanism, be assigned to duty either as rake or beater at the option of the
operator with the view of accommodating the action of the rake to the size of the
gavel accumulated on the platform of the machine, according as the crop may be
heavy or light.
In carrying out this Invention I employ, attached to the hub or hollow sleeve
of the rotating head which carries the check pieces or other provisions to which the
inner extremities of the arms of the blades are pivoted, a toothed wheel which
engages with one of a train or series of toothed wheels of variable diameters inclosed
in a suitable case, each equipped either with a lug or socket of the character and for
the purposes herein-after more fully described, which toothed wheel first named is
constructed with such a number of teeth as will be a multiple of the whole number
of rakes or blades employed in the machine. Of the two factors employed in
determining the number of teeth of the wheel attached to the hub or sleeve of the
rotating head before named, one represents the number of rakes employed in the
machine, and the other determines the relative difference between the number of
teeth found in any one of the train of wheels aforesaid and the wheel of the series

page_text: ranking next to it in diameter, either larger or smaller; in other words, the
difference between the number of teeth in any one of the train of toothed wheels,
and that of the next larger or smaller in diameter should agree with the number of
teeth in each section of the driving toothed wheel corresponding to the sectional
interval between the radial centres of the rake blades.
The subject matter of this Invention constitutes an improvement upon the In-
vention upon which Letters Patent, No. 2564, bearing date July 22d, 1874, were
issued to me, and the mechanism embraced in this Invention is capable of being
applied to and of controlling any or all of the several systems of devices therein
shown for effecting the conversion of rake blades into dummies or beaters, or vice
versa, without resort to more than ordinary skill and expedients.
This Invention is shown in the accompanying Drawings as applied to the same
species of reaper as that shown in my previous Patent before alluded to; tho prin-
cipal differences consisting in the employment on the top of the cam head of a switch
latch of slightly different construction and operation from that formerly used and
shown in said Patent, No. 2564, as well as in the use of a greater number of rake
blades, five being shown in this case.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a perspective view of a reaper of the character
described with iny improved automatic rake controlling apparatus attached.
Figure 2 exhibits a plan view of the same machine with a portion of the fixed
can head and the rotating rako head as well as three of the rake blades and their
appurtenances broken away or removed so as to expose to view the train of toothed
wheels before mentioned as well as the axially movable rotating lug bar, through
which the specific functional influence of each of the toothed wheels of the train
aforesaid, is, through suitable connections transinitted to the switch latch on cam
head and ultimately to the switch, within the cam head of which the adjustment
determines the path of travel of the bowls upon the ends of the short inwardly
projecting shanks of the rake arm sockets.
Figure 3 is a view of the top of the fixed cam and of rotating head underneath
carrying five rake arms. The position of the switch latch and its connections are
seen, and a portion of the construction of the cam faces and path of travel of the
friction bowls, within or under the cam head, are seen in dotted lines.
Figure 4 is an elevation of so much of the main standard of the machine with
rotating rake head, fixed cam, and their respective appurtenances attached as serves
to illustrate the means adopted for communicating motion from the rotating lug bar
to the stem of the switch latch.
Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section (indicated by dotted line x, x³, of Figure
6) taken through the axes of the toothed wheel on hub of rotating head and of that
one of the train of wheels, with which the former engages, and from which it
receives its motion. This view also shows in cross section one form of the lug on
the rotating lug bar, and the cone face of the toothed wheel as well as the shape of
the socket with which the said lug co-operates, the latter being indicated by dotted
lines. In this Figure is also indicated the character of the movement of the lugbar,
which, when under the influence of either of the socket cam wheels in the train, acts
as a rock shaft, and communicates the desired movement to the belt crank situated
beneath the grooved upright shaft or stem.
"
Figure 6 exhibits a plan view of one exemplification of the train of toothed
wheels inclosed in a suitable box or case, which is herein-after termed a
gear box,"
together with the rotating lng bar before named and the segmental lever by which
the same is axially adjusted; also in horizontal cross section the vertical grooved
stem about which the rotating rake head revolves, and the hub of said head. The
several parts forming the connection between the rotating lug bar and one arm of
the bell crank are also seen.
Figure 7 shows in vertical cross section the rotating rake head with one rake
depressed, thus leaving the bowl shank of rake arm socket in an upright position
with bowl in the race, which permits the ruke blade to clear the platform of the

page_text: accumulated cut grain. A part of main cam is broken away to expose the interior
view of cam faces as well as connection between switch and switch Intch.
Figures 8 and 9 exhibit modifications of toothed cam wheels and the projections
or lugs of lug bar equipped with friction rolls; also such a disposition and arrange
ment of the lugs upon the bar as secures all desired results with a less number of
lugs than shown in Figure 6.
Figure 10 is an amplification on an enlarged scale of the interior dotails of the
fixed cam including switch and tail piece, the upper plate thereof with its appur-
tenances being removed for that purpose.
Figure 11 is a detail view in plan and elevation of the switch and tail piece.
Figure 12 represents in plan and elevation views of another form of switch latch
designed to be used in connection with the arrangement of cam gears shown in
Figure 8, and where the style of switch, shown in Figure 10, having the longest
stern projection, is employed.
The main ground or driving wheel is marked A, and carries the driving gear B³,
which engages with and drives pinion B on shaft S. Upon shaft S' is fixed bevel
gear C which drives bevel pinion D of the crank shaft. F is the pitman through
which motion is imparted from the crank shaft last named to the cutter blade in
the ordinary way. In rear of bevel gear C on shaft S₁ is placed another bevel
wheel or gear through which and its companion (located beneath shield Su) motion
is communicated to driving pinion X, which in turn rotates the revolving rake
head G. Rake head G rotates upon or around a fixed standard or stem k set in a
projecting arm D¹ of standard A¹, as seen in Figures 4 and 7, and has a depending
hollow hub or sleeve E", to the lower end of which is attached the toothed driving
wheel or gear i. Upon the upper sido of rotating head G are arranged in radial
order about its periphery the several pairs of cheeks L³, L', between which are
pivoted the rake-arm sockets L, L, &c. Each of said sockets L has an internally
projecting shank H", which shank carries at its extreme end the friction bowl e.
Near the hub of said rake head upon its upper surface, and in rear of each shank is
a back stop or lug F, of which the function is to arrest or limit the elevation or
back throw of the rake blade.
Vertical stem is constructed with a longitudinal groove or channel extending its
entire length, which permits a connecting wire, cord, or chain c to work freely
therein. To the top of stem k is firmly attached the stationary cam head H
containing cam faces of peculiarly warped shape, and so disposed as to constitute
the walls of a torsional race for the travel of the bowls upon the shanks of the rake
arm sockets. Upon one side of the cam head an additional path of travel for the
bowls is provided, the exterior race or the one lying next to the periphery of the
cam head on the side towards the platform being the one followed by the shank of
the arın socket when the blade is acting as a rake, the inner race being followed by
the bowl while acting as a reel blade, beater, or dummy. Between the two paths
just ahead of the point of their divergence is pivoted upon stud w, Figure 10, the
oscillating switch C. To the same stud is also pivoted a vibrating guide or tail
piece D. Switch O' is constructed with a stern projection y, upon which the bowl e
acts while passing over the same in making its circuit of the outer or raking race,
crowding such projection inwardly, and as a consequence swinging the opposite end.
of the switch around against the outer wall of the principal race, and thereby
opening the port of the inner or dummy race for the ingress of the next advancing
bowl e.
In the Drawings two forms of switch are shown, one in dotted lines in Figure 3,.
and the other in plan and elevation in Figure 11. They differ from each other in
the length of stern projection y, the one shown in Figure 3 being short enough to
allow the front point of the switch to swing freely upon its pivot after one bowl
has passed stern projection y and before its successor in its advance movement lias
reached a point opposite the front end of switch C². When the form shown in
Figure 10 is used every blade cannot be converted into a rake blade, and the highest

page_text: number attainable is the conversion of every alternate blado into a rake, as herein-
after explained.
From the upper edge of switch C', near its forward end, a lug x, Figures 4, 7, and
10, protrudes upwardly through a slot provided therefor in the top of cam head H,
as seen in Figures 2 and 3. This lug is acted upon by the free end of a torsion
spring a, which is coiled about stud w and secured in place by means of a cap J
bolted down to top of stud w. The arm a of this spring is adjusted upon that side
of lug, which allows the exerted force of the spring to throw the front end or
point of the switch around to the inside, so as to open the port of the exterior cam
race, as seen in Figures 3 and 7.
The function of the tail picce D' is to span or bridge the breach made in the
exterior wall of the interior race by the transit of the bowl e of the rake arm from
the point where it leaves the stern projection y of the switch to the point where
the separate paths of travel of the bowls through the exterior and interior cam
races merge into a single common track.
Upon the top of cam head H are constructed two projecting ears cll, cl, between
which is pivoted the lower portion I of the switch latch. This form of latch is
composed of two parts, viz., the lever last mentioned and the vertically movable
portion K. provided with fulcrum lug n on which it oscillates. The portion KI
designate as the "nose piece," and it is pivoted at 11 to the lower end of lever I.
By depressing lever 1 the outer end of the nose piece K is forced down so as to
obstruct the return movement of switch lug when the same has been forced
outwardly to the limit of its sphere of action. The outer arm of lever I is held up
in position by the spiral spring d, the upper end of which finds a bearing around a
depending pintle on the under side of the extremity of lever I, and the bottoin en<l
finds a seat in a socket constructed therefor in the upper end of stem k.
To the extremity of long arm of lever I, at b, a cord or wire is attached, which
extends downwardly through channel ul of stem k to the posterior arm g³ of rock
lever g, to which it is attached. Rock lever g has three legs or arms, as seen in
Figure 4, viz., the posterior ³ above alluded to, which extends from the pivotal
hub or centre, back under the bottom of stem k, the central vertically depending
arm g, to which the cord S leading to the pedal lever attached to the seat
standard V, Figures 2 and 4, is fastened, and which is under the control of the
driver's foot, and the horizontal anterior arm g¹, to which the link f' is attached,
by which connection is made through lever P with partially rotating lug bar O.
Just beneath rake head G the gear box R is bolted or otherwise firmly fastened
to the side of standard A' by bolts v, v, Figure 4. This gear box contains or
supports the train of toothed cam wheels before referred to, which are driven by
driving wheel i on hub of rotating head G, and also contains rotating lug bar O
and segment lever Q and its appurtenances, by which the axial movement to and
fro of lug bar O is effectuated. This gear box when in use is protected by a cover
suitably fastened, and bearing an inscription of numerals or other characters upon
its exterior, so disposed with reference to the radial position of the segment lever Q
as to indicate to the operator the specific conjunction of lugs on lug bar with cam
wheels existing in the box.
The details of construction and rationale of operation of one modification of this
apparatus for converting rake blades into reel blades or reel blades into rake blades
may be deduced from a consideration of Figure 6 of the Drawings. It will be seen
that the cam gears a², a³, a³, and as are arranged within the box R, so that the
largest a engages with the driving gear i on hub of rake head G, and the others 5
succeed in regularly diminishing order to the smallest.
Upon the upper surface of each cam gear shown is constructed a concentric
conical elevation of about the surface configuration scen in Figure 5, and shown in
plan at in Figure 6. A small portion of this conical elevation is recessed away
on one side of the axis or hub of each of said gears, as shown at m on gear a. The 5
lateral walls of this recess are made sloping, as seen in same Figure, which shape is

page_text: designed to facilitate the easy reception and expulsion of the lug upon the lug bar,
designed to co-operate therewith.
The partially rotating bar O is constructed of a length to admit of such axial
movement in its bearings constructed in the edge of box R as will bring some ouc
of the lugs n', n, or ni, into juxtaposition with some one of the cam gears a³, a',
a, or as, or out of co-operation with all of thein, as may be desired. It is cylin-
drical in form to facilitate rotation, is provided with one or more lugs of the same
or similar shape to that shown in cross section in Figure 5. The adjustment of the
lug bar with reference to the cam gears is such as to keep the arm or lever P in a
position substantially horizontal when the under sido of the lug rests upon the top
of the cone face of the gear, and so that when the recess or cam socket m rotates
under the lug the lug will fall into the recess, thereby causing a partial rotation
of the lug bar, and consequently a depression of the end of arm P. Such movement
will be facilitated by the expansive force exerted by spring d on or against tho
under side of lever I on top of cam head H, and thence through the intermediato
connections upon the lever P.
The lug bar is also constructed with a longitudinal slot or way at one end, as
shown at and n of Figures 4, 6, and 8. In this slot or way works a lug or
feather constructed in the bore or eye of the hub of lever P, which fits that part
of the slot marked n. The portion marked next to the end of the bar is of such
width circumferentially that the greatest rotary movement capable of being exerted
on the lug bar by the cam gears will not effect any elevation of the end of lever P,
and consequently will not influence the operation of the switch latch or switch. A
portion of the body of the lug bar is provided with a series of circumferential
ribs t, t, t, extending partially around the bar, which answer to the teeth of a rack,
and are constructed in this peculiar form as to offer no obstacle to the rotation of
the lug bar. In co-operation with these circular pack teeth t, t, t, the teeth of the
segment of lever Q engage. The gear box R is provided with an oblique or other
convenient projections, to which segment lever Q is pivoted by bolt or pin f,
Figures 4, 6, and 8. The under side of the segmental arm of lever Q has a pro-
jecting lug u, shown in dotted lines in Figures 6 and 8, which is adapted to find
loginent in the notches underneath it of projections 8, marked in Figures 6 and 8
with numerals. A spiral spring p working under the head of pin f, and against
the upper surface of the lever holds the lug u securely in any notch to which it may
have been adjusted, and effectually prevents any longitudinal derangement of
bar O.
In Figure 6 I have shown the lug n" in engagement or juxtaposition with cam
gear a, which relative position of the several parts by reason of the peculiar
adjustment of the distances between the several lugs precludes the possibility of
any other lug being at the same time acted upon or influenced by any other cam
gear. In this position lug u rests in notch marked numeral 4, and while this
adjustment continues every fourth blade will act as a rake, as will be herein-after
more fully explained. Now a movement of the segment lover to notch 3 will
destroy the combination shown, and by throwing the lug bar towards lever P.
(which direction is also towards the front of the machine) will bring lug n into
conjunction with cam gear a³, and thus establish communication, which converts
every third blade from a dummy from a reel blade to a rake blade. Swinging
lug u into notch 5 brings lug n¹ into conjunction with cam gear a³, and secures as
a result the conversion of every fifth blade from a reel blade to a rake blade. The
adjustment of the segment lever over notch 2 brings lug n into conjunction with-
cain gear a, and makes a rake of every second blade, while the further rotation of.
the segment lever in the last-named direction brings lug u into notch O, thereby
carrying the lug bar so far to the rear as to bring the wide portion of the longi-
tudinal way into the eye of the hub of lever P, where the lug bar can rotato with-
out influencing lever P or any mechanism connected therewith.
In the modification of this automatic apparatus, shown in Figure 8, I employ a

page_text: less number of cam gears than in the system shown in Figure 6, and uso a less
number of lugs on the lug bar.
The elevated concentric cone faces are slightly different in form from the faces
shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this modification I provide cach projecting lug i, j, with
friction rollers 11 and 12, the offices of which are to facilitate the passage of the
cam sockets m, m, under the said projecting lugs as well as to relieve or reduce tho
friction generated by the contact of the lug with the cam gear during the remainder
of its revolution.
The system of gears and lugs here shown is susceptible of all the combinations
incident to the devices shown in Figure 6, except one, viz., it cannot be adjusted so
as to convert all the blades into rake blades.
It seldom occurs that a crop of grain is met with of growth so heavy and luxuriant
as to require in process of reaping the employmeut of all the blades consecutively
as rakes; and where this is not the case I prefer to use the fewest members of the
system possible for the purpose of both simplifying the apparatus and of diminishing
friction.
conduces to the most
The arrangement of antifriction lugs shown in Figure
limited movement of segment lever Q to effect the various changes or adjustments
of the lugs with reference to the cam gears.
The arm g' of bell crank g is connected with the lever P by the connecting link f'.
Its upper portion is threaded, and screws into a swivel nut c'in the end of the lever
P, Figures 4 and 6. The office of the swivel nut and screw is to regulate the
adjustment of or between switch latch K and the lug bar O, the rotating motion of
which in one direction is controlled by spring &, and in the other by the action of
the cam gears.
When it is desired to change the combination between the cain gears and lug bar
while the machine is in motion, the operator presses his foot on pedal U, thereby
causing arm gl of bell crank g to be forced upwardly and through the intermediate
connections, the lug of the lug bar O is lifted or rotated out of engagement with the
cam gears. While in this state, lug bar O may be freely moved endwise in its
bearings by means of the segment lever Q, and the same can be set in any
desired notch, as indicated by the numerals on the gear box. Upon releasing
pedal U, spring & resumes its activity, and the lugs on lug bar O return to
their duty in connection with the cam gears.
Ordinarily when the machine is at work, and some one of the cam gears is in
adjustment to control the action of the blades, latch lever I is held down by
the action of the cam face of the cam gear during the greater part of its revo-
lution;
and as a consequence, switch C' is locked out in the position seen in
Figure 10, or so that the bowls on the rake arm shank follow the inside cam race,
or act as dummies, and this status is only interrupted when the cam socket m co-
operates with one of the lugs on the lug bar O, which can occur but once during
each revolution of the cam gear.
Cam gears having a greater number of teeth than the driving gear may be en-
ployed in the train of cam gears, provided the before-mentioned ratio between the
number of teeth on such larger cam gear, and the number of teeth on the driving 4
gear i be maintained.
When from any cause, such for instance as the variable growth of the crop, it
becomes desirable to clear the platform of the accumulated grain at unequal intervals,
either of time or of area passed over; the action of the automatic apparatus may be
suspended by throwing lug bar O out of action as before described, and under these 5
circumstances the action of the blades may be controlled by the operator through
the agency of pedal U, and its connections with switch C'.
Having thus described the functions and construction of the several details of
this Invention, I will here describe the operation of the same as attached to a reaper
of the character previously alluded to.
Presupposing that the machine is to be set at work to reap an ordinary heavy
5

page_text: crop of grain, one sufficiently heavy for instance as to require every fourth blade to
be called into play as a rake to sweep the gavel from the receiving platform, the
operator if in his seat, either by pressing his foot on pedal lever U, or by pressing
his hand on lever I, as is most convenient, forces down spring d, and thus neutralizes
all tendency of the lug bar O to bind upon or against the cam gears in the gear
case. This being done, segment lever Q is then moved, so that lug u thereon shall
fall into sockot or groove indicated by numeral 4, as seen in Figure 6. Here it is
securely held by spring p. Lug n" now stands opposite or over cam gear a¹, and
in position to co-operate therewith. Cam socket m is turned to the side opposite
lug n While in this position and until socket m in making its circuit rotatos
around under lug n", lever P will remain in the elevated position shown in full lines
in Figure 5, and latch stem I will be drawn down, leaving latch K depressed in
position to lock switch O¹ back in the position shown in full lines in Figure 10, the
imonent the first shank H" passes stern projection y.
The mesh or combination of driving gear i with the train of cam gears is so
arranged that the lug n¹ will drop into and ride out of socket m, while the bowl e
of one of the rake arm shanks is passing over the interval between the front and
rear points of switch C', or between the positions occupied by letters x and y on
switch C¹, shown in Figure 10. Keeping this fact in view, it will be seen that in
whichever position switch C¹ may happen to be at the moment of starting, the
passage of the first shank will leave it locked out, so that the blade next following
and each successive one will take the inside race or track, until socket m comes
under the lug on the lug bar.
The commencement of the descent or entrance of lug into socket m of the
cam gear is arranged to occur just as one of the bowls e is passing stud win the
inside race, and before its immediate successor has advanced to a point to enter
upon its new path of travel. As the lug bar continues its rotation over towards
the cam gear caused by its lug sinking into the socket m, the lever P by means of
connecting link f¹ forces down arm g¹ of bell crank g, consequently elevating the
opposite arm g³, thereby relieving the restraint on spring d, which being thus left
free to exert itself expansively, forces latch stem I upwardly, and as a result, the
hinge end of nose piece K is depressed, and the same oscillating upon fulcrum lug
n is forced upwardly out of engagement with lug a, of switch C, leaving the same
freed from all restraint, except the force exerted by spring a, which accordingly
exerting itself, throws switch C¹ around into the position indicated by dotted lines
in Figure 10, thus closing the port to the inside or dummy race, and leaving the
port to the outside race unobstructed for the entrance of the next shank of the rako
arm socket, which following the same, will descend into position to sweep the
accumulated cut grain or straw from the platform. This accomplished, bowl e of
the last-named rake in entering upon the last stage of its journey through the
outside race, encounters stern projection y of switch C' in its track, and in passing
the same crowds it towards the hub or centre of movement of the rake head, as in-
dicated in full lines in Figure 10, thereby carrying the front point of switch C₁ to
the outside, and as a result re-establishing passage for the next bowl through the
5 inner or dummy race. During the execution of the last-described movement, the
rear can face of socket m has encountered lug n in its progressive movement, and
has forced the same upwardly, thus causing an elevation of lever P, and through
the intervening mechanism before described, a resultant depression of the nose
piece of the switch latch K. This depression is maintained throughout the com-
O pletion of the ensuing revolution of the cam gear, and by blocking lug of switch
C³, prevents spring a from throwing the same back, so as to open the outside or
rake race until socket m of the cam gear has revolved, so as to co-operate again
with lugn. The same recurrence of movements is kept up as long as the same
cam gear remains in action.
5
I have shown in Figure 6 a train of four cam gears having respectively 20, 16,
12, and 8 teeth, propelled by a driving gear on rake head having 20 teeth. Or the

page_text: principles before enunciated, when lug bar o is put in combination with cam gear a³,
every fifth blade will act as a rake blade, and all the others as reel blades.
When put in combination with cam gear a¹, every fourth blade will so act, and
when put in combination with cam gear a³, then every third blade will so act; and
when in combination with cam gear a², every alternate blade will act as a rake
blade, and the other as a reel blade or dummy, and when lug bar O is moved in its
bearings so as to throw all the cam lugs out of action or combination with the cam
gears, and bring the wide portion of slot or way in the lug bar into the eye of
lever P, then all the blades will act as dummies or reel blades, and no delivery of
the grain whatever by the rakes will take place.
Instead of the lug dropping into a recess in the cone of the cam gear to convert a
reel blade into a rake blado, the reverse arrangement may be fitted, viz., the lug
may be lifted for that purpose, in which case the pinions may have a projection for
the lug to ride over.
The cam gears may be arranged around the driving gear, and a lever may be
shifted by hand on to either of the cam gears, each of which has a lug upon it, and
lift the lever at each rotation. Or the lever may drop into a recess.
This will be understood by reference to Figures 13 and 14, elevation and under
plan view respectively.
1, 2, 3, and 4, are pinions or gear wheels arranged around the driving gear i, as
to be driven direct by it. Each of the pinions has a projection 5, or it may be a
recess over or into which the roller 6 on the end of the lever 7 rides as the pinion
against which it is sett to act rotates. The levor has a collar 8 encircling the slider
9, the two moving downwards when the roller is depressed, and upwards after the
roller has passed the projection 5 under the return action of the spring d, which is
fitted on the upper end of the fixed central stem h, to draw up the wire c as ex-
plained for the previous arrangement. The collar 8 has a locking bolt fitted in its
neck or throat, to engage into a hole (of which there are four, one for each gear
wheel) in the central stem k, to prevent the collar moving round, except when
moved by hand, which can easily be done by an attendant withdrawing the bolt
and then moving it round the desired distance for the roller 6 to be acted upon by
another of the gear wheels, when it is necessary to shift or alter the number of reel
or rake blades as before explained.
The slider 9 is guided by the key or feather 11, so that its connection with the
wire c is not affected by any movement the collar may havo around it.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
The controllable and convertible rake and reel blade mechanism applied or affixed
to a reaping machine as herein-before described, and as shown in the annexed
Drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12 thereof, whether said machine
has five or any other number of blades.
Secondly. I claim the employment in or to a reaping machine of coned and
recessed pinions or gear wheels, in combination with an adjustable and oscillating
bar having lugs upon it as in the annexed Drawings, Figures 5 and 6, by which
the conversion of reel blades into rake blades, or vice versa, can be determined and
controlled or governed as described.
Thirdly. I claim the modified arrangement of coned and recessed pinions or gear
wheels, an adjustable and oscillating lug bar described with reference to Figures 8
and 9 of the annexed Drawings, as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourthly. I claim all modifications or equivalents for coned and recessed pinions
or gear wheels in train as described, when acting in unison with an adjustable and
oscillating lug bar for establishing a variable sett yet defined number of reel blades
and rake blades respectively in a reaping machine.
Fifthly. I claim the arrangement of apparatus described with reference to Figures
13 and 14 of the annexed Drawings, or any modification thereof, in which a train
of pinions or gear wheels is fitted around a driving pinion for the purpose of con-

page_text: trolling and determining the conversion of reel blades into rake blades, or vice versa,
in reaping machines, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William M'Intyre Crauston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
W. M. CRANSTON. (L.S.)