IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MOWING, REAPING, AND SHEAF BINDING MACHINERY
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Edwin Phillips of Holborn Viaduct in the County
of Middlesex Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED
WITH MOWING, REAPING, AND SHEAF BINDING MACHINERY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Edwin Phillips at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1883.
JAMES EDWIN PHILLIPS of Holborn Viaduct in the County of Middlesex
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MOWING, REAPING, AND
SHEAF BINDING MACHINERY "
This invention has for its object improvements in and connected with mowing
reaping and sheaf binding machinery.
The first part of the improvements relate to that class of machine known as two
wheeled mowing and reaping machines where the draught pole is connected to the
axle of the main driving wheels, and in some cases in order to lighten the friction
of the cutter bar upon the land-a draught bar or rod has been employed and
attached to the front of the main frame.
According to this invention the draught pole is attached to the main frame at a
point intermediate of the axle and the front of the frame and to such a point that
the weight of the cutter bar upon the land is taken away to a greater extent than
heretofore and its travel over the undulations of the land thereby considerably
lightened.
The drivers seat is carried from a tube or bridge upon the axle of the main
wheels and to which is firmly connected a side piece or support which is secured
to the pole at a point in advance of the cut. To this side piece or support the
raising lever is attached which is connected by another lever to the lock lever so
that the outer end of the finger bar is tilted in excess of the distance raised by the
first lever.
To the axle-tube, or bridge, the drivers seat may be connected so that his weight
ends to lighten the weight of the draught pole.

page_text: The second part of this invention relates to the adaptation of a self binding
apparatus to such or other two wheeled machines and this is effected in the
following manner.
To the gearing frame I attach the framework carrying the elevating and binding
mechanism and to the centre line of the axis of the inner roller I find it advan-
tageous to joint or connect the cutter bar so that it is free to rise and fall according
to the inequalities in the surface of the land.
This roller or axis is at the inner end of the cutter bar and carries the delivering
apron which travels around another roller or axis at the outer end and serves to
convey the crop to the elevating or binding apparatus.
The binding mechanism may be so arranged as to be detachable when it is
desired to cut green crops or when the binding mechanism is not required.
The next part of this Invention relates to the endless travelling aprons of self
binding harvesters (upon which the cut crop falls and is conveyed from the
platform and in some cases between other bands for elevating it to the binding
apparatus) and consists in composing them of links or chains carrying laths or bars
mounted transversely. These chains are arranged to run upon pitch wheels and
serve to collect and convey the cut crop to the binding apparatus. The aprons as
heretofore adopted being subject to expansion and contraction according to the
state of the weather and crops and consequently having to be adjusted by straps
buckles or laces By the employment of such aprons much undue strain is put
upon the bearings thereby involving a much greater expenditure of power. To
prevent loose straws falling through the open work of the platform or other
travelling band or bands I thread or otherwise attach twine or tar moil or webbing
through the laths or transverse bars at distances between the pitch chains... I find
it advantageous to use that class of chain known as the detachable link or I may
uso a squaro link and an iron band connecting them together, and these bands
to receive the ends of the laths or any other convenient form of chain may bo
used.
It may be network connected between chains to convey the crop to the binding
apparatus or there may be flaps of canvas or other material upon the laths to cover
the openings to prevent loose straws falling through.
The bearings of the axes carrying the pitch chain wheels are capable of adjust-
inent by a screw or screws or their equivalents in order to tighten or slacken the
chains. The axes carrying the toothed chain wheels may be made of thin metal
tubing for lightness and strength.
In machines having the binding apparatus situated between the main road
wheel and the platform from which it is delivered to the binding apparatus I.
impart strength to the framework of such machine by carrying a support from the
main frame at sufficient height to allow the sheaf when bound to pass beneath it
and connected to the back of the platform which is elevated or set at a convenient
anglo or elevation to receive the cut crop. In the above arrangement the stubble
will act as an additional means of releasing the bound sheaf from the cradle or
binding apparatus.
The crop is delivered to the binding mechanism by chains bands or aprons and
the tying of the sheaves is effected by any well known means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Edwin Phillips in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th July 1883.
"
JAMES EDWIN PHILLIPS of Holborn Viaduct in the County of Middlesex
Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MOWING REAPING AND
SHEAF BINDING MACHINERY"
My said Invention has for its object improvements in, and connected with,
mowing, reaping and sheaf-binding machinery.
The first part of my said Invention relates to that class of machine known as
two wheeled mowing or reaping machines where the draught pole is connected to
the axle of the main driving wheels, and in some cases, in order to lighten the
friction of the cutter bar upon the land a draught bar or rod has been employed
and attached to the front of the main frame.
According to this Invention the draught pole is attached to the main frame at a
point intermediate of the axle and the front of the frame and to such point that
the weight of the cutter bar upon the land is taken away to a greater extent than
heretofore and its travel over the undulations of the land thereby considerably
lightened.
The drivers seat is carried from a tube or bridge upon the axle of the main
wheels and to the said tube or bridge is firmly connected a side piece or support.
which is secured to the pole at a point in advance of the cut.
.To this side piece or support the raising lever is attached which lover is connected
by another lever to the lock lever so that the outer end of the finger bar is tilted
in excess of the distance raised by the first lover.
To the axle tube or bridge the drivers seat may be connected so that its weight
tends to lighten the weight of the draught pole.
The second part of my Invention relates to improvements in adapting self
binding apparatus to machines constructed as lastly described or to other suitable
two wheeled machines, such adaptation being effected in the following manner.
To the gearing frame I attach the framework carrying the elevating and binding
mechanism and to the centre line of the axis of the inner roller I find it
advantageous to joint or connect the cutter bar as will be well understood so that
it is free to rise and fall according to the inequalities in the surface of the land.
This roller or axis is at the inner end of the cutter bar and carries the delivering
apron which travels around another roller or axis at the outer end and serves to
convey the crop to the elevating or binding apparatus.
The binding mechanism may be so arranged as to bo detachable when it is
desired to cut green crops or when the binding mechanism is not required.
Another part of this Invention relates to the endless travelling aprons of self-
binding harvesters (upon which the cut crop falls and is conveyed from the
platform, and, in some cases, between other bands for elevating it to the binding
apparatus) and consists in composing them of links or chains carrying laths or bars
mounted transversely.
These chains are arranged to run upon pitch wheels and serve to collect and
convey the cut crop to the binding apparatus. The aprons as heretofore adopted
being subject to expansion and contraction according to the state of the weather
and crops are adjusted by means of straps, buckles or laces. By the employment
of such aprons much undue strain is put upon the bearings thereby involving a
much greater expenditure of power.

page_text: To prevent loose straws falling through the open work of the platform or other
travelling band or bands I thread or otherwise attach twine or tarmoil or webbing
through the laths or transverse bars at distances between the pitch chains
I find it advantageous to use that class of chain known as the detachable link
or I may use a square link and an iron band connecting them together and these
bands to receive the ends of the laths, or any other convenient form of chain may
be used.
It may be network connected between the chains to convey the crop to the
binding apparatus or there may be flaps of canvas or other material upon the laths
to cover the openings to prevent loose straws falling through. The bearings of the
axes carrying the pitch chain wheels are capable of adjustment by a scrow or screws
or their equivalents in order to tighton or slacken the chains. The axes carrying
the toothed chain wheels are, in some cases, made of metal tubing, for lightness and
strength.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying drawings from which the nature
of my said Invention will be more clearly understood. Figure 1 is a plan and
Figure 2 a side elevation of a mowing machine, with one travelling wheel removed,
constructed in accordance with the first part of my said Invention. A. is the
draught pole, which is attached to the main frame B. at the point C. in advance of
the axle D. E. is the drivers seat which is shown connected to the slide bar F, the
said bar working through the guide G. on the draught pole A. In this example
the hand lever and quadrant H. for raising the finger bar I. are shown pivotted to
the bar F. however, it may be rivetted to the foot plate J. Figure 3. is a diagram
view of a two wheeled reaping machine, in which the cutter bar I is jointed or
connected at A. either to the main frame or the axis B of one travelling band or
apron as herein before described.
The binding elevators may be arranged in such a manner as to be easily detached
when desired for the purposes herein before described.
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively part front and side views drawn to a larger
scale of an elevating apron for the delivery of cut crops to the self binding
mechanism of harvesting machines. A is one of the pitch chains running on a pitch
chain wheel B. secured to a tubular axis b. C. are the transverse laths or bars
which are connected at each end to their respective links of the pitch chain. A
convenient form of mechanism for tightening or slackening the chains is by a
screw K. forming the bearing of the ends of either of the axes of the chain wheels.
A band of twine, tarmoil or webbing, as hereinbefore referred to, is shown at M.
Figure 4. The said screw K. works through a boss L. and is adjusted by lock
nuts a. a. or other suitable means.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention and in
what manner the same is performed, I would have it understood that what I desire
to claim by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent, are:-
First Attaching the draught pole of mowing and reaping machines to the main
frame at a point in advance of the axle, substantially as and for the purposes
herein before set forth and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Secondly-The adaptation of self binding apparatus to two wheeled machines
by jointing or connecting the axis of one of the rollers of the elevator to the joint
of the cutter bar substantially as hereinbefore set forth and illustrated with
reference to Figure 3.
Thirdly-The employment of chains and pitch chain wheels in the construction
of the elevators for the delivery of the cut crop to the self binding mechanism of 5
harvesting machines substantially as hereinbefore set forth and illustrated.
Fourthly In the construction of the aprons of self binding mechanism of
harvesting Machines the employment of transverse bars or laths the ends of which
are connected to their respective links of the pitch chains substantially as herein-
before set forth and illustrated
And fifthly. In the elevators of self binding mechanism of harvesting machines
6

page_text: , where transverse bars or laths are used the employment of twine tarmoil or
webbing threaded or attached at right angles thereto substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth and illustrated.
In witness whereof I the said James Edwin Phillips have hereunto set my
hand and seal this second day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three