IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Melville Thomson Neale, of 22, Buckingham Street,
Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
Sealed the 27th August 1878, and dated the 20th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Melville Thomson Neale at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th March 1878.
MELVILLE THOMSON NEALE, of 22, Buckingham Strect, Adelphi, in the County
of Middlesex. " IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
My Invention relates to harvesting machines arranged to collect the stalks of
wheat or other cereals, and bind them in bundles or sheaves.
In machines of the class to which my Invention is more particularly applicable,
and which are referred to in the Provisional Specification of my application for
Letters Patent, No. 4745, dated 13 December 1877, the stalks are gathered by
revolving beaters or dummies, and fall on a platform suitable to receive the stalks
as cut by the reaper knife. I call this the foreward platform. Behind it is another
or rearward platform, which I form with boards, planks, or bars, arranged with
intervening spaces for the passage of the ends of the rake or set of rods whereby
the stalks are swept towards the receiver, wherein they are held whilst being
bound.
The stalks collected on the foreward platform are passed on to the rearward plat-
form by a rake or brush, which I arrange and operate as follows:-The rake or
brush is carried at one end of a set of arms, which near their other ends are pivotted
or jointed to arms radiating from the axis of the beaters or dummies.
The rake or brush arms have a roller or projection which travels freely in a
stationary ring or cam path so arranged that when the axis revolves with the
beaters or dummies the rake or brush, which also revolves, does not travel concen-
trically with the axis; as the roller or projection travels in the ring or cam path

page_text: the rake or brush is caused to alternately somewhat recede from and approach the
axis. The rake or brush when about to force the collected stalks up the foreward
platform occupies a position about equidistant from the beaters or dummies at its
respective sides; but as the rake or brush advances up the platform it recedes some-
what from the axis so as to follow the inclined surface of the forward platform, and
deliver the stalks on to the rearward platform. On approaching the rearward end
of the foreward platform the rake or brush is caused to rise and move again towards
the axis into a position about equidistant from the beaters or dummies next it, pre-
paratory to operating upon another collection of stalks.
The construction of the ring or cam path (or paths) may be varied to suit cir-
cumstances; the same may be so arranged that by adjusting the position thereof
the action of the brush or rake may be controlled so that if required the rake
or brush may be made to rise and pass clear of stalks on the platform. Guides may
be provided to keep the rake or brush clear of the platform.
In connection with the chain wheel, whereby the axis of the beaters or dummies,
and rake or brush, is driven, I arrange a catch to prevent the axis being moved
round by the weight of the beaters or dummies, or of the rake or brush, or by the
action thereon of the wind.
In connection with the compressing arms whereby the stalks are raised and held
for binding I arrange a catch to retain the said arms in their backward or down-
ward position and prevent their swinging when not in use, and a cam device or
contrivance for causing the catch to release the said arms at the proper time.
In connection with the bobbin or reel carrying the binding material I apply a
device or contrivance whereby the bobbin or reel is left free to revolve whilst the
binding material is being pulled by the tying apparatus, but is arrested or impeded
when the pull ceases.
As will be obvious, the construction of the details of my Invention may be modi-
fied in various ways without departure from its distinctive features.
To ensure the free delivery of the sheaf after being bound, I sometimes provide a
plate, bar, or part, or plates, bars, or parts, so constructed as to be capable of down-
ward and upward movement which operate after the tying is completed, and assist
in ejecting the bound sheaf.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Melville Thomson Neale in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th September 1878.
MELVILLE THOMSON NEALE, of 22, Buckingham Street, Adelphi, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARVESTING MACHINES."
My Invention relates to harvesting machines arranged to collect the stalks of
wheat or other cereals, and bind them into bundles or sheaves.
In machines of the class to which my Invention is more particularly applicable,
and which are referred to in the Specification of Letters Patent, No. 4745, granted
to me the 13th December 1877, the stalks are gathered by revolving beaters or
dummies, and fall on a platform suitable to receive the stalks as cut by the reaper
knife. I call this the foreward platform. Behind it is another or rearward plat-
form formed with boards, planks, or bars arranged with intervening spaces for the
passage of the end of the rake or set of rods, whereby the stalks are swept towards
the receiver, wherein they are held whilst being bound.
The stalks collected on the foreward platform are passed on to the rearward plat-
form by a rake or brush, which according to my present Invention I arrange and
operate as follows:-The rake or brush is carried at one end of a set of arms which
near their other ends are pivotted or jointed to arms radiating from the axis of the
beaters or dummies.
The rake or brush arms have a roller or projection which travels freely in a
stationary ring or cam path so arranged that when the axis revolves with the
beaters or dummies the rake or brush, which also revolves, does not travel concen-
trically with the axis. As the roller or projection travels in the ring or cam path,
the rake or brush is caused to alternately somewhat recede from and approach the
axis. The rake or brush when about to force the collected stalks up the foreward
platform occupies a position about equidistant from the beaters or dummies at its
respective sides; but as the rake or brush advances up the platform it recedes some-
what from the axis so as to follow the inclined surface of the foreward platform and
deliver the stalks on to the rearward platform. On approaching the roarward end
of the foreward platform the rake or brush is caused to rise and move again
towards the axis into a position about equidistant from the beaters or dummies
next it, preparatory to operating upon another collection of stalks.
The construction of the ring or cam path (or paths) may be varied to suit circum-
stances; the same may be so arranged that by adjusting the position thereof the
action of the brush or rake may be controlled so that if required the rake or brush
may be made to rise and pass clear of the stalks on the platform, as will be presently
described.
Fig. 1 of the Drawings is a plan of one of my machines having a brush or rake
with its projection or roller and cam path or ring applied thereto according to my
Invention.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same machine.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine, with the foreward and rearward platforms
in section.
Fig. 4 shews in elevation a cam ring with additional cam path and shunting
plate or switch for the purpose of controlling the rake or brush.
The arms 5 of the brush or rake are pivotted to the arms of one of the beaters
or dummies at 5º. At the opposite ends of the arms 5 is attached a projecting
bracket or lever 6, having a pin or roller which travels in the fixed partially
excentric ring or cam pathway 7. The beaters or dummies are fixed to a horizontal
shaft or spindle 8, motion to which is transmitted by the pitch chain 9. When the
beaters or dummies revolve the rake or brush also revolves, but not concentrically
with the shaft or spindle 8, the pin or roller on the bracket 6 follows the course of
the fixed ring or pathway 7, so that when the stalks have been forced forward by

page_text: the beaters or dummies 3, and cut by the reaper knife, the rake or brush 4 is caused
thereby to follow the inclination of the foreward platform 1 and force the collection
of stalks on to the rearward platform 28, whence they are collected and bound.
On arriving at the rear end of the foreward platform 1 the rake or brush is caused
by the action of the pin or roller 6, and the fixed ring or. cami path 7; to rise in a
nearly perpendicular direction for some distance, and afterwards to regain its nearly
equidistant position before again descending to operate on another collection of
stalks.
For the purpose of causing the brush or rake to pass clear of and freely over the
foreward platform 1, when for want of sufficient stalks or other reason it is not
desired to force them over to be bound I sometimes provide a double or partially.
double fixed eam or pathway with a shunting plate or switch A jointed to a portion
of the ring or cam path at B, and held in an upward position by a spiral or other
spring C, as shewn in Fig. 4 of the Drawings.
A lever or handle D is attached to the shunting plate or switch A, and is con-
nected with a cord or other suitable connection E.
When it is desired that the rake or brush should miss or pass over the stalks
on the platform, the cord or connection can be operated by the attendant, and the
shunting plate or switch A caused to descend to the position shewn by dotted lines.
in Fig. 4. The roller or pin will thereupon pass into the outer path, and the brush
will be thereby lifted up free of the platform.
As will be obvious the construction of the details of my Invention may be modi-
fied in various ways without departure from its distinctive features, and my im-
provements may be applied to reaping machines differing more or less in construction,
from that shewn in the Drawings.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying it into practical effect, I desire it to be understood that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as secured to me under the Letters.
Patent first herein-before in part recited is,
ist. The method herein-before described of causing the gathering brush or rake 1
to follow thic inclined surface of the platform.
2nd. The method of controlling the action of the brush or rake, substantially as
herein-before described with reference to Fig. 4 of the Drawings.
İn witness whereof, I, the said Melville Thomson Neale, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
MELVILLE THOMSON NEALE: (L.S.)