Improvements in Reaping or Mowing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1992-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reaping or Mowing Machines.
I, LUDWIG JANKOWSKI, of Melmo, West Prussia, Timber Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a machine for mowing or reaping corn etc. and it has for
its object to cut the corn by means of several scythes which are placed side by side
and are made to perform a semi-circular cutting movement as the machine travels
along. After each cutting movement the scythes are swung or drawn back in such
a manner that they do not touch the standing corn.
any
The frame of the machine consists of three parts arranged in the form, preferably,
of a right-angled triangle, the scythes, of which there may be desired number,
being fitted on the oblique bar forming the hypothenuse of the triangle. As the
machine travels along, the scythes are operated by means of a cog wheel which is
carried on the axle of the back wheels and which gears with a pinion on a crank
shaft which is carried in bearings on the frame. Connecting rods extend from the
cranks to the gearing which actuates the scythes. The connecting rods, by means
of the gearing, give the scythes a fast reciprocating or swinging motion.
The scythes are, preferably, so arranged relatively with each other, that, when
one scythe is at the commencement of its cut the second has finished half its cut
and the third has completed its cut. This arrangement gives the same effect as one
continuous cut.
To prevent the scythes, at their backward movements, striking the standing corn
and to enable them to cut. the corn evenly they are so operated by means of a
cam-groove and pin" action or its equivalent that a combined circular and
backward or radial movement is given to them so that they clear the corn.
$6
The
cam for each scythe may be formed of two discs so fitted together as to give a
crescent or sickle shaped groove along which the pin on the arm of the scythe
travels and draws the scythe backwards. By this arrangement, at each mowing
stroke of the scythes, they are thrust outwards and are also caused to perform a
circular mowing action whilst at the return or back stroke they are drawn inwards
towards their centre of motion.
This machine is similar in its action to hand mowing, and, as the scythes work
simultaneously and continuously, so long as the machine is drawn forward, the effect
is similar to that of a line of mowers.
Dated this 13th dev of July 1802
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reaping or Mowing Machines.
I, LUDWIG JANKOWSKI, of Melmo, West Prussia, Timber Merchant, 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 a machine for mowing or reaping corn etc., and it has
for its object to cut the corn by means of several scythes, which are placed side by
side and are made to perform a semi-circular cutting movement, as the machine
travels along. After each cutting movement, the scythes are swung or drawn back,
in such a manner that they do not touch the standing corn.

page_text: The frame of the machine consists of three parts, arranged in the form, preferably,
of a right-angled triangle, the scythes, of which there may be any desired number,
being fitted on the oblique bar forming the hypothenuse of the triangle. As the
machine travels along, the scythes are operated by means of a cog wheel, which is
carried on the axle of the back wheels, and which gears with a pinion on a crank
shaft, which is carried in bearings on the frame. Connecting rods extend from the
cranks to the gearing which actuates the scythes. The connecting rods, by means
of the gearing, give the scythes a fast, reciprocating or swinging motion.
The scythes are, preferably, so arranged relatively with each other, that, when
one scythe is at the commencement of its cut, the second has finished half its cut,
and the third has completed its cut. This arrangement gives the same effect as one
continuous cut.
66
To prevent the scythes, at their backward movements, striking the standing corn,
and to enable them to cut the corn evenly, they are so operated, by means of a
cam-groove and pin" action, or its equivalent, that a combined circular and
backward or radial movement is given to them, so that they clear the corn. The
cam for each scythe may be formed of two discs, so fitted together, as to give a
crescent or sickle shaped groove, along which the pin on the arm of the scythe
travels, and draws the scythe backwards. By this arrangement, at each mowing
stroke of the scythes, they are thrust outwards and are also caused to perform a
circular, mowing action, whilst, at the return or back stroke, they are drawn inwards
towards their centre of motion.
This machine is similar in its action to hand mowing, and, as the scythes work
simultaneously and continuously, so long as the machine is drawn forward, the effect.
is similar to that of a line of mowers.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings whereon :-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine.
Fig. 3 is a back end elevation of the machine.
Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, are detail views to an enlarged scale.
Referring to the drawings, whereon the same reference letters, wherever repeated,
indicate similar or like parts :-
The frame of the machine consists of three parts A, A1, A2, arranged in the form,
preferably, of a right-angled triangle, as shown at Fig. 1. The parts A, A¹, are
connected together by the oblique bar A². The scythes B, of which there may be
any desired number, are fitted in connection with the bar A². As the machine
travels along, the scythes B are operated by means of a cog wheel C, which is
fitted on the axle a of the two back wheels B1, B2, of the machine. The cog wheel C
gears with a pinion c, carried on a crank axle or shaft D, which is carried in
bearings on the frame. Connecting rods E extend from the cranks & of the crank
axle D to the gearing which actuates the scythes. The connecting rods E are
forked at their ends, as shown at Figure 2. A small wheel or other suitable catch E¹
is fitted on the end of each fork. The catches El catch in the teeth of wheels e,
carried on short spindles, fitted on the bar A². The wheels e gear with pinion
wheels e, fitted at the upper ends of vertical axles b, carried in the upper and lower
bars A2 (see Fig. 2). The scythes B are fitted at the ends of shafts or arms C',
which pass through guide brackets, secured to the axles b, and also through slots C²
made in said axle b. The guide brackets are forked at their lower ends and
have friction rollers ¹ in them on which the arms C' rest. The slots C² have also
rollers fitted in them. The connecting rods E, by means of the gearing e, e¹,
actuate the axles 6 and thereby give the scythes a fast, reciprocating or swinging
motion.
The scythes B are, preferably, so arranged relatively with each other, that, when
one scythe is at the commencement of its cut, the second has completed half its cut,
and the third has completed its cut. This arrangement gives the same effect as one
continuous cut.

page_text: 5
To prevent the scythes at their backward movements striking the standing corn,
and to enable them to cut the corn evenly, they are caused to perform a combined
circular and backward or radial movement, so as to clear the corn. To effect this,
the shafts C' of the scythes are pushed in and out radially, by means of pins, fitted
on the shafts or arms C¹. The pin of each arm projects through a crescent-shaped
slot F (see plan view Figs. 6 and 7), made in the disc casings G¹, which form the
bases or supports of the axles b. In each disc casing G is a fixed semi-circular
disc G (see also vertical sections Figs. 4 and 5), and also a pivoted crescent-shaped
cam g, having, near one end, a pin or peg h, against which rests a plate spring H,
secured on the pivot g'. This spring has a tendency to hold the crescent-shaped
cam in the position shown at Fig. 7. Now supposing the scythe B, (Figs. 5 and 7),
has finished half its cut and is in the position shown at Fig. 7, it will be seen that its
pin is in the outer space or groove left between the crescent-shaped cam gaud the
edge of the casing G', and that said cam, at its upper end, is pressed by the spring H
close against the semi-disc G, whilst at the lower end, the can is moved away
from the disc, and bears against the periphery of the casing G'. As the scythe B
is swung round, in the direction of the arrow, the pin f traverses the outer groove,
and when near the end of its stroke, it presses back the cam into the position shown
in dotted lines at Fig. 6. The pin, when at the end of the stroke, passes round the
lower point of the cam g, and bears against the disc G. Immediately the pin f
clears the lower end of the cain g, the latter is forced, by the action of the spring,
into the position shown in full lines at Fig. 6, so preventing the return of the pin, by
the same way, at the back stroke of the scythe. The scythe has now completed its
forward cutting movement, and is caused to return in a backward sweep by the
reversed action of the toothed wheels e, e', driven from the connecting rods E. As
the scythe swings backward, its arm C is gradually drawn inwards, by the action
of the pin f, which now presses against the inner edge of the cam g, until the pin
attains the position shown in full lines at f, Fig. 6, when the shaft will be drawn in
to its full extent, as the pin will then be in its nearest position to its centre of
movement, namely, the axle b. After the pin f, in the backward movement of the
scythe, passes by the position shown in full lines at f, Fig. 6, the shaft C' will
be gradually thrust out again, as the pin travels along the curved surface of the
disc G, until it reaches the point, representing the full outward position, shown
in dotted lines at f', which is just clear of the upper and tapered end of the
crescent-shaped cam g. As soon as the pin f clears the upper point of the cam, the
cam is, at once, forced, by the action of the spring H, against the semi-disc G, so
that it assumes the position shown at Fig. 7. When the pin reaches the point shown
in dotted lines at 1, the scythe is ready for a second forward cutting movement,
and, as the cam g is closed tight against the semi-disc G, the pin f will be forced to
travel along the outer edge of the cam g, in the same manner as at the previous
stroke. The amount of radial or backward and forward action of the arm C' and
scythe, depends on the breadth, at its widest part, of the cam g.
The rollers h¹ and enable the scythe and shaft C' to be easily travelled, or
forced, in and out.
As all the scythes operate in a similar manner, to the one hereinbefore described,
their combined effect is similar to that of a line of mowers.
Fig. 4 shows one of the scythes in the inward or back position, whilst Fig. 5 shows
the same scythe in the outward or cutting position. It will be noticed that, in the
one case, (Fig. 4), the pin f is shown as traversing the space between the cam g and
semi-disc G, whilst, in the other case, (Fig. 5), the pin f' is shown as traversing the
outer space between the cam g and the casing G'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The general arrangement or combination of parts of the mowing or reaping

page_text: machine, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the drawings
annexed.
2. A reaping or mowing machine, in which one or more scythes are so reciprocated,
as the machine is pulled forward, that they cut the corn or grass at their forward
cutting strokes, and clear the standing corn or grass at their backward strokes,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
3. The combination with the shaft or arm C¹, carrying the scythe, and having a
pin for equivalent made on, or fitted to it of the semi-disc G' and crescent-shaped
cam g, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 13th day of October 1892.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.