IMPROVE- MENTS IN REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: We JAMES HOWARD and GEORGE GIBBS both of Bedford in the County of
Bedford Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REAPING MACHINES" to be as follows:-
The objects of the present invention are to increase the efficiency and to simplify
the construction of self-delivery reaping machines of the class referred to in the
specification of Letters Patent N° 3545 AD 1875 granted to James Howard
and Letters Patent No 1857 A D 1879 granted to James Howard Edward Tenney
Bousfield and George Gibbs.
In a machine constructed according to our improvements the framework is made
entirely of steel and wrought iron, and is so arranged with reference to the main
axle of the driving wheel that the required adjustments to suit variations in the
crop may be effected from the driver's seat whilst the machine is in motion.
The main wheel carrying the ordinary internally toothed ring is placed within &
frame of wrought iron or steel, which is carried by the main axle. Firmly attached to
this frame is a suitable bracket in which is the bearing for the axle of the pinion that
gears with the ring on the main wheel. On this axle the platform for supporting
the gearing of the raking and cutting mechanism is hinged To the front of this
platform (which we term the gear platform) the draught pole is connected, and to
its side the grain platform is securely hinged by a double connection which when
the machine is at work is made rigid, but when it is necessary to transport the
machine from one locality to another the bolt or other device for making this
connection rigid is readily removed and then the grain platform is free to be turned
up at right angles to its working position. For regulating the height of the cut
on one side we provide an adjusting worm and rack. The said worm is mounted
upon the aforesaid main frame and the rack is jointed to the gear platform.
The axle of the wheel for supporting the grain platform and regulating the
height of the cut upon the other or grain side is carried upon a lever which has
its fulcrum at the underside of the grain platform, and is readily secured in any
desired position for regulating the height of cut by a spring catch engaging in a
notched or perforated plate or quadrant fixed on the side of the grain platform.
The rakes are made automatically controllable by means of a barrel upon which
is cast or otherwise suitably formed a series of projections whereby the number of
rakes which are to sweep or to clear the platform at each revolution of the rake
shaft, is determined according to the position of an adjustable lever carrying a
1

page_text: friction roller which is intended to come into contact with one or other of the series
of projections The number of projections, in each row or series of the same, on the
barrel will correspond with the desired number of changes of the rakes; The
barrel on which these projections are arranged occupies a vertical position and at
its top or upper portion is provided with a spur wheel or a ring of teeth geared
with a pinion on the rake shaft. By this arrangement the said barrel is protected
against the accumulation of grit or dirt which would interfere with its proper
action.
The general arrangement of the cam and switch for determining the path of the
rakes is.similar to that described in the Specifications above referred to; but by
our present improvements we introduce a notched catch-plate, which is secured to
the stem of the switch, and with which a spring bolt engages. As long as the
spring bolt remains in the first of the notches the rakes after gathering the uncut
corn to the knife, rise above the platform without sweeping off the grain. The
spring bolt is automatically withdrawn each time a projecting piece on the barrel
comes in contact with an adjustable lever for operating the spring bolt.
In addition to the automatic spring bolt above described another bolt is provided;
this bolt engages with a second notch in the aforesaid catch plate and is arranged
to be operated by a pedal in convenient proximity to the drivers seat. By this
arrangement, at the will of the driver, the switch can be locked and all the rakes
made to pass above the platform without sweeping off the cut grain.
Our improved machine is provided with the switch described in the specification
of the said Letters patent granted to James Howard dated October 12th A D 1875
No 3545 and the controllable raking mechanism is so applied to the said machine
that in case of accident to or derangement of this mechanism the said machine
can without loss of time be worked as an ordinary self delivery reaper without
the use of the said automatic controllable mechanism.
Dated this 10th day of Iun 1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicants.

page_text: .
Figure 3 a side elevation, of a machine constructed according to our improvements.
Figure 4 is a plan, partly in horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 2, drawn
to an enlarged scale.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
In our improved machine, the frame-work is made entirely of steel or of wrought
iron. The said frame-work is so arranged with reference to the main axle of the
driving wheel that the required adjustments to suit variations in the condition of
the crop may be effected from the driver's seat whilst the machine is in motion.
A is the main frame which is of wrought iron or steel and is provided with the
bearings A*. B is the main or driving wheel which is provided with the ordinary
internally toothed ring B¹. The said driving wheel is placed within, or enclosed
by, the frame A, which is carried by the main axle C. This frame A is provided
with a bracket A¹ which supports, in a suitable bearing, one end of the axle D of
the first-motion pinion D¹ which gears with the toothed ring B₁. The frame A is,
moreover, provided with an extension A* which supports the other end of the
axle D. By this peculiar construction of the main frame we are enabled to
introduce into our machine a novel and important feature, viz:-the provision of
bearings or supports at both ends of each of the aforesaid axles. A platform E,
which supports the gearing of the raking and cutting mechanism, and which we
term the gear-platform is fitted on the axle D with a capability of turning freely
thereon. F is the draught-pole, which is connected to the front of the gear-
platform E by means of a frame F' hinged at F" to the said platform. G indicates
the position of the grain-platform which is secured to the side of the platform E
by hinge-joints at G. When the machine is at work, this double connection is
made rigid, but when it is necessary to transport the machine from one locality to
another the bolt or other device for making this connection rigid is readily removed,
and then the grain-platform is free to be turned up into a position at right angles
to its working position.
For regulating the height of the cut on one side of the machine, we provide an
adjusting worm H fixed on a rod or spindle H¹ provided with a crank-handle.
This worm gears with a worm-wheel H³ on the back of which is fixed a pinion H³

page_text: gearing with a rack I. The worm-wheel H' is mounted on a shaft which is
supported in a bearing carried by the main frame A, and the rack I is jointed at I¹
to the gear-platform E.
The regulation of the height of the cut upon the other or grain side of the
machine may be effected by any convenient means; for example, in some cases, the
axle of the wheel for supporting the grain-platform G at this side of the machine
is, for this purpose, carried by a lever which has its fulcrum at the underside of the
grain-platform, and is readily secured in any desired position for regulating the
height of cut, by a spring-catch engaging in a notched or perforated plate or
quadrant fixed on the side of the grain-platform.
The rakes are automatically controllable by means of a barrel or drum J, upon
which are cast, or otherwise formed, series of projections J arranged to act upon a
lever L, so that the number of rakes which are either to sweep or to clear the
platform at each revolution of the rake-shaft K can be determined by altering the
position of the said lever L relatively to the series of projections on the barrel J,
as hereinafter described.
The number of projections in each row or series of the same on the barrel J will
correspond with the desired number of changes in the action of the rakes. The
barrel or cylinder J is arranged with its axis vertical, and is provided, at its upper
end, with a spur-wheel J³, or a ring of teeth geared with a pinion M on the rake-
shaft K. By this arrangement, the said barrel J is protected against the
accumulation of grit or dirt which would interfere with its proper action.
The general arrangement of the cam N and switch O for determining the path
of the rakes is similar to that in the machine described in the specification above
referred to.
.
In that machine, there is no provision for adjusting the rakes to act otherwise
than in such a manner that either each alternate rake will sweep the platform or
all of the rakes will rise above the platform. But by our present improvements
we provide for adapting the machine to work either in this manner, or to vary its
action according to the adjustment of the controlling mechanism herein described.
For this purpose, we combine, with the switch, a notched catch-plate P, which is
fixed on the stem or spindle O' of the said switch O, and is acted upon by a
spring P¹, which tends to hold the switch O in position to permit the rakes to
sweep the platform.
The lever L is provided with a friction-roller L' and is fitted to slide up and
down upon a square rod 1, the extremities of which are fitted in bearings in the
brackets so that, when either of the projections J¹ acts upon the said lever, the
rod will be partially rotated.
The adjustment of the lever L relatively to the series of projections on the
barrel J is effected by the following means, viz:-A rod or bar is fitted to slide
in the brackets and is formed with a notch into which fits the segment * on the
back of the lever L, so that this lever can be moved up and down by the said bar
without interfering with its action. A lever is pivotted at one end to the
upper bracket, its other end extending into proximity to the driver's seat.
The rod or bar 12 is coupled to this lever at . The driver can, therefore, readily
adjust the lever L to the desired position without leaving his seat. The lever l³ is
provided with a projection to engage with one or other of the notches in the fixed
bar and thereby hold the lever L in the desired position. A spring 17 tends to
press the lever 13 against the bar 16 and hold the projection 5 in either of the said
notches. A projecting arm s is formed or fixed on the rod l, and a sliding bolt Q is
coupled to the said arin. This bolt is acted upon by a spring q, which tends to hold
one end of the said bolt in the notch p of the plate P. As long as the spring-bolt Q
remains in the notch p; the rakes, after gathering the uncut corn to the knife, rise
above the platform G and pass over the saine without sweeping off the cut grain;
but, when the spring bolt Q is withdrawn from the notch, the switch Ŏ will
be moved by its spring into position to permit the rakes to sweep. the platform.
The withdrawal of the said spring-bolt is automatically effected by the lever L,

page_text: each time one of the projections J on the barrel J comes in contact with the said
lever. The short arm of a rake in passing around the cam N inside the switch O,
will move the said switch into position to cause the succeeding rake to clear the
platform, the spring bolt Q again engaging in the notch p and remaining in.
engagement therewith until the lever L is acted upon by another projection J'.
In addition to the automatic spring-bolt Q above described, another bolt R is
arranged, in combination with the catch-plate P, to engage with a projection p¹ on
the said plate. This bolt is coupled to a lever R¹ connected with a pedal S by the
rods R R³ and the bell-crank R, and arranged to be operated by the said pedal,
which is in convenient proximity to the driver's seat. By reason of this arrange-
ment, the switch O can, at the will of the driver, be locked so that all the rakes will
pass above the platform G without sweeping off the cut grain.
Our improved machine is provided with the switch described in the specification
of the said Letters Patent granted to James Howard, dated October 12th, A.D. 1875,
No 3545, and the controllable raking mechanism is so applied to the said machine
that, in case of accident to, or derangement of, the said mechanism, the said machine
can, without loss of time, be worked as an ordinary self-delivering reaper, without
the use of the said automatic controllable mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
First. The frame so constructed as to enclose the main or driving wheel and
carry the bearings for both ends of the main axle and the bearings for both ends of
the first-motion pinion axle, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. The platform or frame E hinged to the main frame and forming a base or
foundation for the raking and cutting mechanism and provided with a double
hinged connection in front for the draught-pole and with a similar connection at
one side for the grain-platform, substantially as set forth.
Tbird. The combination, with the main frame and gear platform, of the worm
and worm-wheel, the pinion, and the rack, substantially as above described, for
raising and lowering the said platform with its gearing and cutting mechanism,
for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination of the improved automatic controlling mechanism
substantially as above described with a switch similar to that described in the
specification of the said former patent N° 3545, whereby we provide for the
adjustment of the mechanism to adapt the machine to operate as an ordinary
self-delivery reaper, in the event of accident to the said controlling mechanism,
substantially as set forth.