Improvements in Scythes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
Improvements in Scythes.
We, KARL LUCAS, Foreman, and EMIL LEFLER, Engineer, both of Gräfenroda,
Thuringia, in the German Empire, 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:-
Scythes as heretofore usually made possess the disadvantage that the mower
is compelled to accommodate himself as regards the attitude of his body and the
position of his arms, to the position of the scythe, which latter position varies
according to the nature and condition of the turf or grass, the slope of the ground,
the mowing-width and other circumstances, whereby a considerable expenditure of
energy long practice and considerable skill are required without however executing
such an amount of useful work as ought to be the case. Further a lasting rigid
connection between the scythe blade and the scythe shaft cannot be effected, whilst
after each hammering out of the blade the setting or adjustment of the blade rela-
tively to the block, in order to render the scythe as convenient as possible for the
manipulation of the mower, requires skill and causes trouble.
The object of our invention is to obviate the aforesaid drawbacks and to this end
the said improvements comprise a device by means of which the scythe-blade can
be readily adjusted, relatively to the scythe-shaft and can, when adjusted be
securely and rigidly connected to the shaft.
The invention is shown in the annexed drawings in which Fig. 1 illustrates a
scythe-blade secured to the scythe-shaft by means of the improved adjustable
device.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3 a front elevation illustrating the scythe-blade fixed in a position, different
to that of Fig. 1.
is
A metal ferrule g is secured by means of screws h to the scythe-shaft a. The
upper end of this ferrule g which projects from the scythe-shaft a is open at the rear
and tapered, as illustrated in Fig. 2. On the plane front face of the ferrule
situated the adjusting piece b, which is pivoted to the sleeve by means of the
pivot . Otherwise securing the adjusting piece b in its respective positions can
only be effected by simultaneously fixing the heel e of the scythe-blade k, as
described more particularly later on.
A transverse slot / of segment shape is provided in the upper end of the adjusting
piece b.
A square onening in the heel e of the scythe-blade k permits a square bolt f
to pass through it, the transverse slot and a suitably arranged hole in the
ferrule g. The front end of the bolt f is provided with a head its rear end is
screw-threaded, permitting a screw nut d to secure the heel e of the scvthe blade k,
the adjusting piece and the ferrule g together. A boss e provided on the rear
of the heel e of the scythe-blade near its bottom end is allowed to penetrate through
a correspondingly shaped but somewhat larger opening m in the adjusting piece b
and to enter an opening n in the ferrule g of likewise larger dimensions than the
boss c.

page_text: On unscrewing the nut d the position of the adjusting piece b in relation to the
ferrule g as well as the position of the heel e of the scythe blade k in relation to
the adjusting piece band the ferrule g may be adjusted at will.
Fig. 3 illustrates that on sufficiently unscrewing the nut d or removing it
altogether from the screw bolt f, so as to allow the boss c to be released from the
two openings m and n, the scythe blade may be secured in a position close to the
scythe-shaft, which will be very advantageous in transporting the scythe.
The segment like slot 7 in the adjusting piece 6 in connection with its hole for
the boss c permits the scythe-blade to be fixed in various positions relatively to the
scythe-shaft, the nut d serving for rigidly securing it in its respective position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
1. A device for adjusting a scythe blade relatively to its shaft comprising a
metal ferrule fixed to the end of the shaft, an adjusting piece with segment like
slot in the top end pivotally fitted to the ferrule, and the heel of a scythe blade,
adjustably connected together by means of a screw bolt with nut substantially
as herein described for the purposes specified.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved scythe
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of V
1000
B. REICHHOLD,
24, Luisen Strasse, Berlin, Germany,
Agent for the Applicants.
B. REICHHOLD,
24, Luisen Strasse, Berlin, Germany,
Agent for the Applicants.