IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE RAKES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Howell and Thomas Hardy, both of Poole,
in the County of Dorset, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE RAKES."
Sealed the 15th October 1867, and dated the 20th April 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Howell and
Thomas Hardy at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 20th April 1867.
We, EDWARD HOWELL and THOMAS HARDY, both of Poole, in the County
of Dorset, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OP HORSE RAKES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain improved combinations of mechanism in
the construction of horse rakes, whereby much of the manual labour hitherto
required for raising the teeth of the rake for the purpose of relieving them of
the matters which they have accumulated is avoided and dispensed with,
whilst the teeth are enabled to rise and fall so as to adapt themselves to any
irregularities of the ground over which they are working, the attention and
labour of the rake attendant being confined to moving a small hand lever.
The greatest part of the power required to lift the teeth in order to discharge
the load is derived from a spring, which spring may be made of steel or of
any other suitable elastic material, the same being applied for two purposes,
that is to say, the lifting of the teeth to discharge the load, assisted by a little
power derived from the horse, and to actuate the transverse bar herein-after

page_text: mentioned to suit the different kinds of work to be done. These operations
will be understood by reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1, in Sheet 1, represents an elevation of a horse rake constructed
in accordance with this Invention, Figure 2 being a plan view of the same.
A is a spring, one end of which is attached to a part of the framework, the
other end being fixed to a bar attached to the transverse lifting bar J. The
spring A is extended by the falling down of the teeth, which rest in their
descent on the transverse lifting bar J, the latter being fixed to the bars G, G,
which respectively turn on the centre K. The weight of the teeth brings the
transverse lifting bar low enough to make the line of tension between the
spring and the centre L on the levers or bars G, G, below the centre K on
which the teeth turn, thus allowing the spring to pull the transverse bar away
from the teeth. In order to discharge the load the attendant moves the band
lever I, which is connected by two rods with the clutches D, D, (similar
arrangements being fitted at each side of the machine, although only one is
shewn in the Drawing). On the band lever being actuated the clutches D, D,
are forced into the clutches C, C, which latter continually revolve with the
travelling wheels, and derive their motion from endless chains or bands which
pass over a grooved pulley on the centre of each travelling wheel. The
clutches C, C, are loose on the crank spindle E until the clutches D, D, (which
are fitted to slide on a square part of the crank spindle) are forced into the
clutches C, C, when the crank spindle E is turned round. The crank is
attached by means of a slotted connecting rod P to the bar G, G, the latter
being connected to the transverse lifting bar J. As the crank E moves the
bar J is raised up to the teeth in the first place, and in its onward motion
assists the spring A to lift the teeth. As soon as the crank E has passed the
point most distant from the centre K the weight of the teeth assists the onward
motion of the crank, and the teeth thus become the propelling instead of the
resisting power, by which the clutches D, D, are forced out of the clutches C, C,
leaving the rake to travel any distance until the attendant repeats the
operation.
Instead of actuating the clutches by means of the endless chains or bands,
as before described, the clutches may be placed on the centres of both travel-
ling wheels. This arrangement is shewn in Sheet 2 of the Drawings. J is
the transverse lifting bar, and G, G, the bar before referred to, as shewn in
the other Drawings; C is a clutch which fits loose on the centre of the
travelling wheel, having at its back a pin T (shewn in Figure 3), which pin
when the clutch C is in motion travels in the groove Y. When it is wished to
discharge the load the clutch D is pushed into gear by the hand lever, as pre-

page_text: viously described; this causes the clutch C to revolve, which in so doing acts
upon the connecting rod S at X, carrying it forward until it arrives at the
recess in the groove Y at 2. The rod S is attached to the bar G, G, and as
it ascends the teeth of the rake also ascend until X arrives at 2, when the
pin T is allowed to pass X. As soon as the pin T has passed 2, X falls back
by the weight of the teeth acting on the transverse bar J. The pin T on the
clutch C travels forward in the groove Y until it meets ✗, where it remains
until the clutch D is again placed in gear.
A further portion of this Invention consists in making the sockets of the
teeth to overlap each other, by which arrangement they are made double the
width of the distance from centre to centre of the teeth, instead of being, as
they have hitherto been constructed, of the width of centre to centre of the
teeth. The result of using such wider sockets is that they will possess much
greater strength and durability than those previously employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Howell and Thomas Hardy in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 19th October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDWARD
HOWELL and THOMAS HARDY, both of Poole, in the County of Dorset, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Edward Howell and Thomas Hardy, Her special licence that we,
the said Edward Howell and Thomas Hardy, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Edward Howell and Thomas
Hardy, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OP HORSE RAKES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Edward Howell and Thomas Hardy, our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,

page_text: and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Edward Howell and Thomas Hardy,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our said Invention consists in certain improved combinations of mechanism
in the construction of horse rakes, whereby much of the manual labour hitherto
required for raising the teeth of the rake for the purpose of relieving them of
the matters which they have accumulated is avoided and dispensed with,
whilst the teeth are enabled to rise and fall so as to adapt themselves to any
irregularities of the ground over which they are working, the attention and
labor of the rake attendant being confined to moving a small band lever.
The greatest part of the power required to lift the teeth in order to discharge
the load is derived from a spring, which spring may be made of steel or of
any other suitable elastic material, the same being applied for two purposes,
that is to say, the lifting of the teeth to discharge the load assisted by a little
power derived from the horse, and to actuate the transverse bar herein-after
mentioned to suit the different kinds of work to be done. These operations
will be understood by reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1, in Sheet 1, represents an elevation of a horse rake constructed in
accordance with this Invention, Figure 2 being a plan view of the same.
A is a spring, one end of which is attached to a part of the framework, the
other end being fixed to a bar attached to the transverse lifting bar J. The
spring A is extended by the falling down of the teeth, which rest in their
descent on the transverse lifting bar J, the latter being fixed to the bars G, G,
which respectively turn on the centre K. The weight of the teeth brings the
transverse lifting bar low enough to make the line of tension between the
spring and the centre L on the levers or bars G, G, below the centre K on
which the teeth turn, thus allowing the spring to pull the transverse bar away
from the teeth. In order to discharge the load the attendant moves the hand
lever 1, which is connected by two rods with the clutches D, D, (similar
arrangements being fitted at each side of the machine, although only one is
shewn in the Drawing.) On the hand lever being actuated the clutches D, D,
are forced into the clutches C, C, which latter continually revolve with the
travelling wheels, and derive their motion from endless chains or bands which
pass over a grooved pulley on the centre of each tra clling wheel. The

page_text: clutches C, C, are loose on the crank spindle E until the clutches D, D, (which
are fitted to slide on a square part of the crank spindle) are forced into the
clutches C, C, when the crank spindle E is turned round. The crank spindle
is attached by means of a slotted connecting rod P to the bar G, G, the latter
being connected to the transverse lifting bar J. As the crank E moves the
bar J is raised up to the teeth in the first place, and in its onward motion
assists the spring A to lift the teeth; as soon as the crank E has passed the
point most distant from the centre K the weight of the teeth assists the
onward motion of the crank, and the teeth thus become the propelling instead
of the resisting power, by which the clutches D, D, are forced out of the
clutches C, C, leaving the rake to travel any distance until the attandant
repeats the operation.
Instead of actuating the clutches by means of the endless chains or bands, as
before described, the clutches may be placed on the centres of both travelling
wheels; this arrangement is shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of Sheet 2 of the
Drawings. J is the transverse lifting bar, and G, G, the bar before referred
to, as shewn in the other Drawings; C is a clutch which fits loosely on the
centre of the boss of the travelling wheel, having at its back a pin I (shewn
in Figure 1) which pin when the clutch C is in motion travels in the
groove Y. When it is wished to discharge the load the clutch D is pushed
into gear by the hand lever I, as previously described; this causes the clutch C
to revolve, which in so doing acts upon the connecting rod S at X, carrying it,
forward until it arrives at the recess in the groove Y at 2; the rod S is
attached to the bar G, G, and as it ascends the teeth of the rake also ascend
until X arrives at 2, where the pin T is allowed to pass X. As soon as the
pin T has passed 2, X falls back by the weight of the teeth acting on the
transverse bar J; the pin T on the clutch C travels forward in the groove Y
until it meets X, where it remains until the clutch D is again placed in gear.
Another modification of our said Invention consists in placing the clutches
on the centres of both travelling wheels, instead of actuating the same by
means of the endless chains or bands, as before described. This arrangement
will be understood by reference to Figures 3 and 4 on Sheet 2 of the annexed
Drawings. J is the axle running through the frame, and which axle is also the
transverse lifting bar; G, G, are the bars before referred to; C and D are clutches
on the centres of the travelling wheels. To discharge the load the clutches are
made to gear by the hand lever I; this causes the clutch C to turn, giving.
motion to the transverse bar J, which motion raises the teeth; the teeth being
raised to the required height, the clutches are disengaged by the cam W (on
the rod V) striking the frame at U; this action will allow the teeth to fall

page_text: again on the ground, where they will remain until the hand lever I is again
operated by the attendant.
A further portion of our said Invention consists in making the sockets of
the teeth to overlap each other, by which arrangement they are made double
the width of the distance from centre to centre of the teeth. The result of
using such wider sockets is that they will possess much greater steadiness than
those previously employed.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, we would observe in conclusion
that we do not claim each of the several and distinct parts of the mechanism
herein-before described as being of our Invention, neither do we limit or
restrict ourselves to the precise details herein-before mentioned, as variations
may be made therefrom without departing from the principles or main features
of our said Invention; but what we consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as constituting the Invention secured to us by the said herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, are,-
Firstly, the use of a spring to assist the horse in lifting the teeth of the rake,
as substantially herein-before described, or any mere modifications thereof.
Secondly, communicating the power derived from the horse in lifting the
teeth through both travelling wheels.
Thirdly, the construction of the sockets of the teeth of the rake of double
width, so as to overlap each other, as herein described.
And, fourthly, the combination and arrangement of parts and mechanism as
and for the purposes substantially herein-before described and set forth, or any
mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edward Howell and Thomas Hardy
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventeenth day of October,
in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
JAMES GOWARD,
Waterloo,
Near Poole.
EDWARD HOWELL. (L.S.)
THOMAS HARDY.
(L.S.)