IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by Frank Grant Johnson, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 20th December 1878, and dated the 8th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th July 1878. -
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents;
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN MOWING MACHINES."
[A communication from abroad by Frank Grant Johnson, of Brooklyn, New York;
United States of America.]
Lawn mowing machines or lawn mowers are usually provided with cutting blades
actuated by a traction cylinder or roller through the agency of intermediate gearing
wheels, so that the motion or rapidity of action of the cutters is determined solely
by the speed with which the apparatus is forced over the ground, and always in
arbitrary proportion thereto, whatever the speed may be. The cuts are usually
about six to the foot, or two inches apart, at whatever speed the machine moves
over the grass. Moreover these machines are complicated and heavy, and there-
fore necessarily expensive; they are easily damaged, and their use is therefore
limited.
The object of the present Invention is to obviate the above-named disadvantages,
while retaining the simple rotating blades.
My improved mower is made with a special viow to simplicity of construction,
strength, and efficiency; it will perform more and better work for the force exerted
than ordinary lawn mowers now in use; and, moreover, it may be manufactured at
a cost considerably less than those ordinarily used.

page_text: My improvements permit a great reduction in the number of parts or pieces to
make up the apparatus, allow general simplicity of construction, and ensure
increased relative strength of the working parts, and their simple and direct action;
a greatly reduced weight is obtained, and the rotation of the cutting knives is
rendered independent of and distinct from the movement of the machine over the
ground.
In cutting lawn grass that has grown too long, or become dry, the cuts should be
effected by a sharp clip and close together, as is usually done by my mower by
crowding the apparatus slowly over the ground and revolving the hand wheel, so
that the cutters shall clip the grass several times in an inch if necessary. I can
therefore cut long dry or wet grass equally well, can turn sharp angles, and work
close-along and around borders, fences, shrubberies, trees, and the like.
The said improved machine has a handle or guiding shaft made of gas pipe, and
bent into the required shape, the left-hand-leg being straight and of the proper
length is bent at right angles, and prolonged a few inches to form the handle
proper; then it is bent again, and prolonged parallel to and about three-fourths of
the length of the right-hand lever, when it is bent outward to a short distance,
then turned again at a point equal to the length of the cutter shaft bearings, and
then prolonged parallel to and to the same length as the right-hand limb. The two
ends or extremities of this bent handle are cut by screw threads that take a socket
formed upon each of two peculiarly-shaped carrying plates. A flat cutter plate of
steel is secured at either end to the bottom edges of the said carrying plates. A
transverse bar or brace and tie rod may be secured to the said carrying plates.
These plates have a portion of their interior cut away, forming a kind of goose
neck, the upper limb of which carries a projecting boss for the two bearing or
carrying wheels. The rotating spiral cutters are held by cross plates attached to
either end of the cutter shaft. Steel journals are cast in the end of this shaft.
One journal passes partly through the carrying plate in which it rotates; the other
journal has upon its extreme end a geared pulley securely fastened outside of one
of the carrying wheels, the opposite wheel being held on its boss by a friction plate
and screw. A sliding collar with a set screw is fitted upon the straight leg of the
handle, and has on its outer edge a leg or boss for a grooved hand wheel, which
carries a band, belt, or chain, that also passes around the said pulley. By sliding
the collar to and fro the said band is made tight or loose at will.
The diameter of the carrying wheels determines the height of the cuts of the
grass, and upon these wheels the machine is moved quickly or slowly, as desired,
and on turning the grooved hand wheel by its handle the said pulley is rotated, and
the cutters are driven at any velocity required.
Set screws are provided for adjusting and regulating the edges of the rotating
cutter blades to and fro with the stationary cutter plate.

page_text: of the said mower will be complete. A transverse bar or brace and tie rod may be
secured to the plates F, F, if necessary. These plates F, F, have a portion of their
interior cut away, forming a kind of goose neck, as shewn in Figure 2, the upper
limb of which carries a projecting boss, as shewn at I, Figure 3, for each bearing or
carrying wheel E. G, G, are the rotating spiral cutters, held by cross plates
attached to either end of the cutter shaft. H, H, are steel journals cast in the end
of this shaft; that at the right hand passes partly through the plate F, as shown in
Figure 3, and rotates therein. The left-hand journal, being longer, has upon its
extreme end a geared pulley D, securely fixed outside of one carrying wheel E, the
opposite wheel E being held on its boss by a friction plate and screw at H¹. B is
a sliding collar, with set screw b, fitted upon the straight leg of the frame or handle,
and having on its outer edge a lug or boss for a grooved hand wheel C, which
carries a band, belt, or chain C', that also takes around the driving wheel D. By
sliding the collar B to and fro the band C' is made tight or loose at will.
The diameter of the wheels E determines the height of the cuts of the grass, and
upon these wheels the machine is moved quickly or slowly, as desired, and on
turning the wheel C by its handle the pulley D is rotated, and the cutters G are
driven at any velocity required.
The set screws and j are provided for adjusting and regulating the edges of the
rotating cutter blades to and fro with the stationary cutter plate L, as described.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I do not claim generally the use of a hand wheel as described, but I
claim,――
First. The curved plates constituting the carriers of the working parts, that is to
say, the axles of the cutters, the bearing wheels, the pressure knife, and the
adjusting screws, substantially as described.
:
Second. The driving wheel and the adjustable sliding sleeve combined, arranged,
and operating in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The revolving cutters and the carrying shaft, with its long and short
bearings, combined with the bearing plates, the supporting wheels, and the driving
wheel, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with the cutters of a lawn mower of an independent
adjustable hand wheel, an endless band or chain, and a pulley secured to the cutter
shaft, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of the rotating cutters, the stationary pressure knife,
the curved plates, the carrying wheels, the wheel C, and the guiding frame or
handle A, combined and arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
th