Improvements in Harvesters.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harvesters.
I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from Cyrus H. McCormick, of Chicago, in the
County of Cook, State of Illinois, one of the United States of America,) 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, first, to a special method of constructing light sheet metal
platforms for harvesters, and, secondly, to means for tightening the aprons employed
in such machines.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan of a platform constructed according
to this invention; the conveyor being removed to expose the apron-tightener. Fig. 2
is an enlarged detail-view of the apron-tightener and of a portion of the platform near
the divider-end. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the platform. Figs. 4 and 5 are
detail-views showing respectively in elevation and in plan the guide for the forward
bearing of the tension-drum. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 display, in side elevation, in end elevation
and in plan respectively, sundry details of the apron-tightener.
In a platform constructed according to the present invention, the rear sill A, the
divider-girt and other beams are preferably made of square piping; the finger-bar or
front sill B being, however, formed of angle-iron. The latter has a forwardly-extending
upper flange b, to which the guard-fingers B are bolted, and a rearwardly-extending
bottom flange for receiving and supporting the front edge of the sheet metal
bottom C. The rear edge c of the bottom C is turned up and then secured as
hereinafter explained. The divider-edge of the bottom C does not quite reach
the divider-girt, but terminates beneath the tension-drum of the conveyor-apron,
where it is supported by the beam (, which extends from the finger-bar to the rear
sill. To the rear or inside vertical face of the finger-bar, and running from a point
close to one drum to a point adjacent to the other, is secured a bar D of angle-iron,
the upper horizontal flange of which extends towards the rear; such bar serving to
strengthen the finger-bar, and acting as a guide or support for the front edge of the
conveyor-apron. The apron does not quite reach to the rear of the platform. A sheet
metal extension E is fastened to and slopes upwardly and forwardly from the rear sill,
and is turned down to form a flange e, the upper part of which serves as a lateral
guard to the rear edge of the apron, while the lower part is in contact with the
flange c. The flanges c and e are secured to a bar F of angle-iron, the horizontal
flange of which is at the top and serves to support and guide the rear edge of
the apron.
The
G is the tension-drum situated at the divider-end of the platform and mounted in
bearings g carried by sliding blocks H which play in guides H; the latter being
respectively attached to the finger-bar and to the platform near the flange c.
inner ends of the bearing-blocks are connected by a bar I, which is parallel with the
drum. A bell-crank lever K is pivoted to each end of the bar; these lovers being
Between
united by an oblique rod L, which passes through an eye on the bar I.
the eye and one of the levers, the rod is surrounded by a helical spring 1, the force
exerted by which tends to turn the levers in opposite directions and to press both
bearing-blocks toward the rear sill. By means of a nut 1, the tension on the spring,
or the operating positions of the levers, may be varied. A notch m is cut in the free
end of each lever; the part m being thickened, as shewn. Each part m¹ bears
against a lug m² on one of the guides H with a pressure determined by the tension
on the spring; the sliding bearing-blocks being forced outward and the apron thereby
tightened.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. In a harvester, the improved construction of platform, substantially as described
with reference to Figs 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
2. In a harvester, the improved means for tightening the apron arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In a harvester, a platform comprising a finger-har having a rearwardly-extending
lower flange, a sheet metal bottom secured to the lower flange and turned up at the
rear, and a sheet metal extension fastened to the turned-up part of the bottom and to
the rear sill, substantially as described.
4. In a harvester, a platform comprising a finger-bar, a sheet metal bottom fastened
to the rearwardly-extending lower flange of the finger-bar and turned up at the rear,
a sheet metal extension connected to the rear sill and having a flange secured to the
flange on the bottom, and the beam between the finger-bar and the rear sill for
supporting the bottom at the divider-edge, substantially as described.
5. In a harvester, a platform comprising a finger-bar, a sheet metal bottom fastened
thereto and turned up at the rear, a sheet metal extension for connecting the bottom
with the rear sill, and two apron-guides, one being bolted to the rear face of the
finger-bar, and the other to the turned-up and turned-down parts of the bottom and
sheet metal extension, substantially as described.
6. In a harvester, the improved finger-bar and apron-guide substantially as herein
described; the same consisting of a finger-bar of angle-iron to which an apron-guide
of angle-iron is fastened, the rearwardly-extending upper flange of the guide supporting
the forward edge of the apron.
7. In a harvester, the combination, with the tension-drum, the sliding bearing-blocks,
the bar by which the bearing-blocks are connected, the guides, and the lugs in the
guides, of the bell-crank levers, the rod whereby the same are united, and the spring
surrounding the rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
8. In a harvester, the combination, with the tension-drum, the sliding bearing-
blocks, the bar whereby the bearing-blocks are connected, the guides, and the lugs in the
guides, of the bell-crank levers engaging with the lugs, the diagonal rod for uniting
the levers, the eye on the connecting bar, and the helical spring situated between the
eye and one of the levers, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
9. In a harvester, the combination, with the tension-drum, the sliding bearing-
blocks, the bar whereby the bearing-blocks are connected, the guides, and the lugs in the
guides, of the bell-crank levers, the rod for uniting the same, the eye on the connecting
har, the helical spring, and the means for effecting adjustment situated at the end of
the rod between the spring and one of the levers, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Dated this 28th day of January 1890