IMPROVE. MENTS IN MACHINES FOR HARVESTING AND BINDING GRAIN
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Liverpool and London Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR HARVESTING AND BINDING GRAIN" 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 the mounting of harvesting or harvesting and
binding machines temporarily upon truck wheels standing at right angles to the
main or road wheel in order that the machines may be conveniently transported
from place to place, and carried endwise through gates and other narrow
passages.
It has special reference to those machines which are provided with means for
raising and lowering the main frame with respect to the wheel, and the aim of the
Invention is to render the frame adjusting mechanism available for the purpose of
placing the machine on the truck wheels in order to avoid the necessity for the
special appliances and for the troublesome changes in the connection of the parts
as hitherto required.
With this end in view the Invention consists essentially in combining with the
main frame and removable truck wheels, adjusting mechanism connecting the
frame and main wheel, and adapted without change, reversal, or disconnection of
its parts to elevate the frame with respect to the wheel, or elevate and suspend
the wheel within the frame, this adjusting mechanisin being provided with
locking devices whereby it may be secured against movement in either direction
at will.
The above combination permits the frame to be lifted with respect to the main
wheel while the latter rests upon the ground, in order to permit the application
of the truck wheels, after which the same mechanism serves to elevate the main
wheel within the frame and secure the same in its elevated position.

page_text: It is known that it is old to apply removable truck wheels to harvesters and
other machines at right angles into the main wheel, and also that it has been
proposed to employ a frame adjusting mechanism which could be disconnected
and reversed to lift the main wheel and hold the same in suspension.
This construction avoids the excessive trouble and delay required to effect
the disconnection and reversal of the adjusting devices which are necessarily
located within the frame in such position as to be exceedingly difficult of
access.
In the accompanying Drawings are represented the machine as provided with
the improved adjusting mechanism, but it is to be distinctly understood that any
equivalent mechanism may be employed for carrying out the method which forms
the main subject of the Invention.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings ;-
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a harvesting machine mounted upon a
truck.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the axle and part of the truck showing also the frame
bars and the devices by which they are connected to said axle.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts represented in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation illustrating in detail the mechanism by which the
vertical adjustment of the frame and wheel is effected, the rack plates being
omitted.
Fig. 5 is a similar elevation illustrating the rack plates and pinions.
Referring to the Drawings, A represents the main frame of a harvester, which
in the present instance is provided with the usual elevator frame and adapted to
receive an automatic binding machine, which is however omitted. B represents
the usual main or road wheel by which the main frame is carried and motion
imparted to the operative parts of the machine. This wheel is mounted as usual
upon a horizontal axle C, the ends of which are fixed within pinions D, arranged
to travel within upright slotted rack plates E, bolted firmly to the main frame, so
that by the rotation of the axle the pinions will be caused to travel up and down
the rack plates, the rotation in one direction when the wheel rests upon the
ground serving to elevate the main frame with respect to the wheel, and the
rotation in the opposite direction when the frame is otherwise supported serving
to lift the wheel with respect to the frame.
For the purpose of imparting a positive rotation to the axle in both directions,
and of locking the same at the required point, it is provided at one end with a
sprocket-wheel F, from which an endless chain G, extends backward around a
second sprocket-wheel H. The second wheel H is preferably of smaller size than
the other, and is mounted on one end of a short horizontal shaft sustained in
suitable bearings on the main frame, and provided at the outer end with a wheel I
which is constructed with holes or sockets a to receive an operating lever, and
also with a series of ratchet teeth 6 to engage with a locking dog or pawl c which
is pivoted to the main-frame. By inserting the bar or lever in the sockets of the
wheel I, and turning the latter as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, motion is
transmitted through the chain and sprocket wheels to the axle which is revolved
in such direction that the pinions upon its ends elevate the main frame which is
automatically locked in its elevated position by the engagement of the pawl c
with the ratchet wheel.
If instead of revolving the wheel I in the direction above described the
pawl c be disengaged and the wheel revolved in the opposite direction, the effect
will be to revolve the axle and pinions in such manner as to lower the main
frame with respect to the road wheel, or if the frame be supported, to elevate the
wheel with respect to the frame.
For the purpose of automatically locking the parts when thus operated, and of
maintaining the wheel in an elevated position after being raised, a second dog d
is pivoted to the main frame and arranged to engage in sockets or recesses in the

page_text: wheel I. It is preferred to employ two independent dogs for the reason that
either will act automatically upon the other being thrown out of action. If
preferred, however, a single dog arranged to engage in square notches or teeth
in the wheel may be employed to lock the same against rotation in either
direction. When thus constructed however the dog will not be automatic in
its action but will require to be thrown into and out of its locked position by
band.
In providing for the carriage of the machine constructed as above upon
temporary wheels, an axle K is provided as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of sufficient
length to extend transversely across the main frame from side to side, and upon
each end of said axle is placed a ground wheel L.
or other
In proceeding to mount the machine the dog d is thrown out of action and the
is then revolved until the
dog c placed in an operative position. The wheel
main frame sustained by the main wheel resting upon the ground is elevated
a sufficient distance to permit the axle K to be placed thereunder with the wheels
upon its ends, as represented in Fig. 3. The axle having been thus placed, and
having been secured to the main frame by means of vertical bolts
temporary fastening devices, the dog c is thrown out of action, the dog'd placed
in an operative position, and the motion of the wheel I reversed, the effect of
which is to throw the weight of the machine wholly upon the axle K, and to lift
the main or road wheel B upward within the main frame, so as to be carried
thereby above and clear of the ground, as plainly represented in Fig. 1. The
machine being thus mounted, the usual draft pole or tongue employed at the front
is next attached at the inner end of the frame at right angles to its original
position, connecting it with the plate i on the frame by means of a transverse
pink, and also connecting it to the frame by means of the lateral braces l, and the
upright brace m. The plates or castings to receive the end of the tongue and the
ends of the lateral braces are made of the form shown, or other suitable form, and
bolted to the frame as represented. The lateral braces are those commonly
employed in connection with the tongue when in its usual position. The upright
brace m is mounted at its upper end on the transverse rod or tube n, which is
secured to the harvester frame as usual for the purpose of giving support to an
automatic binding mechanism. The lower end of the brace m may be provided
with a series of perforations to admit of the draft pole being adjusted vertically.
The machine mounted as above upon the transverse axle will be found practically
balanced thereon, while the tongue having a rigid connection with the frame
admits of the machine moving from place to place with ease and safety.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, as communicated to me, and in what manner the same is to be
performed I declare that what I claim is:
1st. In combination with removable truck wheels, a harvester frame, a main
wheel therein, and intermediate mechanism substantially as described forming a
permanent connection between the wheel and frame and acting to raise either in
respect to the other, and locking devices whereby said mechanism may be caused
to retain the frame upon the wheel, or to suspend the wheel within the frame
at will.
2nd. In combination with the main frame and rack plates, the main wheel, the
axle provided with pinions and chain-wheel, the endless chain, the actuating
wheel therefor, and the two alternately acting automatic pawls adapted to lock
said actuating wheel against rotation in opposite directions.
3rd. In combination with removable truck wheels substantially as described, a
harvester frame, the main wheel, the main axle, the rack plates and pinions
connecting the axle with the frame, the endless chain, the chain wheels to actuate
and hold the axle, and means substantially as described for locking the chain
5 against motion in each direction.

page_text: 4th. In combination with removable truck wheels, the harvester frame provided
with rack plates to receive the axle, the main wheel, the axle provided with the
pinions and chain wheel, the endless chain, the chain wheel on the frame, and the
two alternately acting pawls; whereby the parts may be locked against motion
in opposite directions alternately.