Improvements in Harvesting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harvesting Machines.
I, JAMES MACPHAIL, of Blue Island, in the County of Cook, State of
Illinois, United States of America, Master Mechanic, 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 :-
In nearly all grain harvesting machines of the present day there is provision
made for adjusting the main frame vertically upon the axle of the main or ground
wheel, for the purpose of raising and lowering the machine to regulate the height
of cut according to the length of grain. My present invention relates to devices
for effecting this vertical adjustment of the main frame on the axle. It consists in
certain special devices for effecting this result, the construction and operation of
which will now be described in detail, in emnection with such parts of the machine
as may be necessary for an understanding thereof; and the special improvements
which I believe to be new, and which 1 desire to protect by Patent, will then be
pointed out more definitely in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1, represents a side elevation showing a portion of the main frame and
ground-wheel of a harvester embodying my invention, looking from the stubble-side
of the machine:
Figure 2, a plan view of the upper or outer end of the worm-shalt with spring
and spring frame applied thereto;
Figure 3, a longitudinal, vertical section taken on the line 3. 3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4, a perspective view of the bracket detached, on which the uter end of
the worm shaft is mounted;
Figure 5, a similar view of the hanger in which the worm is mounted at
the wheel;
Figure 6, a plan view of the worm detached.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same parts
throughout.
In the said drawings A represents the main frame of a harvester, and B the
main or ground wheel, which is mounted on an axle, b, in the usual way. The
main frame illustrated is a metal frame, and only a portion of one of the side
bars, a, is shown, this being sufficient for present purposes. The side bar shown is
the outer or stubble side bar of the machine, and only the rear portion thereof is
illustrated. Well known means for adjusting the main frame vertically on the
axle are indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the side bar being cut away at
the axle and provided with the usual curved guides or sector-arms, C and C¹,
secured to the respective sections of the side bar, and one of them, C, being
provided with teeth or pins, c, and so sometimes called the "rack bar." Both
sides of the main frame are constructed alike in this respect, and the ends of the
axle extend through the openings between the sector arms, and a spur-pinion, D, is
mounted on the axle at this point, the teeth, d, of which are adapted to engage
with the teeth on the rack bar mentioned above. A gear-wheel, E, is also mounted
on the axle, and the pinion, D, is either cast in one piece with this wheel or rigidly
fastened thereto, so that the two will move together; the former construction of
casting together is preferred. This gear-wheel is of the type usually known as

page_text: screw or worm-gear, the teeth, e, on the rim of the wheel being slightly spiral.
In order to raise and lower the main frame, this gear-wheel is rotated on the axle
as usual, when, of course, the corresponding rotation of the pinion will raise or lower
the main frame, according to the direction of its movement, by reason of its
engagement with the rack-bar.
I will now describe my improved mechanism for turning this gear-wheel on the
axle. A yoke or hanger, F, is mounted loosely on the axle on the inside of the
gear-wheel; the body of this hanger may be a plate, or a skeleton frame as seen
in Figures 1 and 5, this skeleton frame being preferred, and at one end it is provided
with an aperture, f, which is adapted to the axle, so that the hanger may be slipped
upon the axle, which passes through this aperture, and thereby suspended there-
from just inside of the gear-wheel, as indicated in Figures 1 and 5. This per-
forated end of the hanger may, therefore, be called the upper end; and at the
lower end of the device there are formed two hooks, f, these honks being formed
by bending upward suitable arms, projecting from the lower end of the hanger, so
as to make the opening of the hooks upward, as seen in Figure 5. If the body of
the hanger is skeleton, as seen in the drawings, these hooks would be formed from
the extremities of the side bars, as indicated in the said, figure. They may be
strengthened if desired by langes, 2, on their under sides and joined by cross
bars,, and a free open space is provided between the two hooks to accommodate a
worm-gear or pinion which they are intended to carry, as will be presently described.
The hooks are constructed to provide an opening in the bend of sufficient width
to receive the rim of the gear-wheel on the axle, and the hanger is of such length
that, depending from the axle on the inside of the gear-wheel, it will drop to the
bottom of the said gear-wheel and the hooks pass down under the same and bend up
on the outside of the said rim, as indicated in Figures 1 and 5.
A worm, G, is constructed in a separate piece and adapted to be set into the
hooks at the lower end of the hanger, which are shaped to provide bearings for
this worm.
This worm is composed of a short shaft section or body, g, along the
central portion of which is the spiral or worm flange, g. At what may be called
the outer end of the shaft there is a collar or flange,, of about the same diameter
as the spiral flange, between which and the latter the shaft is smooth and round.
At the same distance from the said flange at the other end of the shaft there is a
similar collar, g³, leaving a similar clear space on the shaft between it and the
flange. These two round sections between the respective collars and the worm-
flange provide suitable journals for the worm, which are adapted to be seated in
the bottom of the two hooks, the latter being shaped for this purpose. The depth
of the hooks and the size of the worm are relatively such that, when the latter is
seated in the horks, it will be directly under the gear-wheel on the axle and with
the worm flange in engagement with the said gear-wheel, as seen in Figure 1. In
this mounting and arrangement of the several parts the worm is perfectly free to
be rotated in its bearings, thereby turning the gear-wheel in one direction or the
other to raise or lower the main frame, as already described. It will be evident
from the description that, when mounted together upon the axle in this way, the
worm will be secured in its bearings by the gear-wheel immediately over and
engaging with it, so that it cannot be displaced by any ordinary accident. It will
be evident, therefore, that in order to properly mount these devices upon the axle
they must first be grouped as they afterwards appear on the latter, that is, the
worm must be seated in the hanger and the latter then brought up by the side of
the gear-wheel until the worm is brought directly underneath and into engagement
with the said wheel, in which arrangement the central apertures or bearings of the
wheel and hanger will coincide and the two may then he slipped upon the axle
together, by which simple action all are secured in proper arrangement and
adjustment, as explained above.
So far as merely driving the worm is concerned, the driving shaft may be made
in one piece with the worm, but evidently this construction would be an incon-
venience at times, because the worm is secured to the axle as described above, and

page_text: so in order to remove the driving shaft for repairing or transportation of the
machine upon cars or other carrying structure, it would be necessary to remove
the adjusting devices from the axle. To avoid this difficulty I make the worm in
one short separate piece, as described above, and its driving-shaft proper in another
piece, providing means for coupling and uncoupling these two parts at will. As
shown in the drawings this is accomplished by providing, at what has been called
the inner end of the worm, an extension in the shape of a short lug or knob, g',
just beyond the inner collar, y, and terminating in a loop or ring, g. The shaft
proper, H, for rotating this worm is of ordinary construction, except that it is
provided at one end with an open hook, h, which is adapted to hook into the loop
just described on the inner end of the worm, thereby connecting the two so that
the rotation of the shaft will also rotate the worm. This device provides for
readily connecting and disconnecting the shaft with the worm at pleasure, without
disturbing the worm and adjoining parts after they are mounted on the axle. The
opposite or outer end of the shaft is provided with a square or angular head, h', for
the application of a crank as usual, by means of which the shaft is rotated whenever
desired to adjust the main frame. This outer end of the shaft is also mounted so
that it may be readily detached, so that the shaft may be entirely removed from
the machine wheneven desired. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, this mounting is
in connection with a spring, the purpose of which will be presently explained, and
this device I will first describe. A bracket, I, is cast or otherwise constructed of
metal of angular shape adapted to fit into the rear outer corner of the main frame,
as seen in Figures 4 and 1, the bracket being secured to the respective bars of the
frame by bolts or other suitable device. The web, i, of this bracket is adapted to
fit the rear cross-bar of the frame, and the web, i, the side bar, as indicated in
Figure 1, and there are short projecting lugs, 2, on each web adapted to set up
to the under edge of these respective bars. Two arms, 3, depend from the web, i,
and terminate in open hooks, i, as seen in Figure 4. A metal frame, K, is pro-
vided for the reception of the worm drive-shaft and adapted to be mounted in the
bracket, I. This frame is of general rectangular shape, but much greater in length
than width, and composed of side bars, 4, and what may be called end bars, k', k
though these latter are enlarged and shaped in circular form to provide a kind of
chamber or socket. The outer end, k, is constructed to form a complete cup-shaped
socket or recess upon its inner face, as seen in Figure 3, having a rebate or ledge, ³,
a little within the edge of the cup, as seen in said figure. Both of these
circular end pieces are provided with apertures or openings adapted to receive the
worm driving shaft, so that the latter may be mounted in this frame. The end
piece, k', is also provided with an extension, k, on its under side which is adapted
to pass inward underneath the shaft when mounted, as seen in Figures 1 and 3.
The opposite or inner end piece, 2, is similar to k', except that it is a plain, straight
sided cup, as seen in Figure 3, and is provided with a slut, &, passing down fron
the upper side thereof to the center and a little beyond, and adapted to receive the
worm driving shaft, so that the latter may be let right down through this slot to
its proper bearing in this end of the frame. Near its outer end this frame is
provided with side trunnions, k, on each of the side bars, which trunnions are
adapted to be seated in the hooks depending from the bracket, I, these parts being
so constructed relatively that the trunnions are readily set into or removed from
these journal bearings, and when mounted therein the frame is free to vibrate
on these journal supports. Just inside of the trunnions there are also side lugs, k7,
projecting out parallel with the trunnions and leaving a space between the two
adapted to accommodate the books, , when engaged with the trunnions, but
furnishing stops to arrest the upward swinging of the frame beyond a certain
point when these lugs come in contact with the depending arms, ³, as seen in
Figure 1. The frame, K, is mounted on the bracket by placing it in nearly a
vertical position when the truunions will slip into their seats, and then upon
throwing up the frame the lugs will pass up behind the bracket hooks and thereby

page_text: secure the trunnions in their seats, so that the frame cannot drop out or be detached
until turned down again. There is also provided a spring, J, which, as shown in the
drawings, is a coil arranged within the opening in the frame and extending
lengthwise thereof, surrounding the shaft when the latter is in place in the frame.
The spring is held in place by the cup at the inner end, which receives this end of
the spring, and by the under extension of the outer end of the frame explained
above and as seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. At the outer end of the
frame there is a washer, j, convex on one side to fit the cup at this end, and at the
other end a plain washer, j', adapted to fit the straight sided cup there located.
This frame is applied to the shaft, or in other words, the shaft is mounted therein,
by first placing the washers and spring upon the shaft and then arranging the latter
inclined away slightly from the outer end of the frame, so that at the inner end of
the latter the shaft will be outside of the end piece, as seen in dotted lines in
Figure 3. In this position the outer end of the shaft is thrust through its bearing
opening in the outer end of the frame, this latter opening being cut away to form an
incline, , below the shaft, thus making a flare at this part of the bearing which
accommodates the inclination of the shaft. After passing the outer end of the shaft
through this bearing a little way, the spring is compressed suffi iently to permit the
shaft to drop down through the slot to its proper bearing in the inner end of the
frame, and the ends of the springs with their washers are allowed to reach their
seats prepared in the respective ends of the frame, as described above. The
shaft is then mounted to the machine for work by mounting the frame in the
hooks of the bracket, as already described. The outer washer, j, is fastened to
the shaft by heating the washer and then shrinking on the shaft while the inner
washer is loose thereon. Obviously then, a sliding movement of the shaft inward
in its bearings on the frame will compress the spring, but at the same time the
latter will yield to permit this movement, and thus after mounting, the shaft may
be readily hooked into the loop on the worm and so properly connected therewith,
as seen in Figure 1.
This yielding or spring device is designed to prevent accidental breakage of the
gearing described above. It will be understood that upon applying a crank to the
shaft, the latter may be rotated in one direction or the other, thereby rotating
the worm and so turning the gear-wheel and spur on the axle to raise or lower the
frame, so as to adjust it vertically on the axle in the usual way. Now, in actual
operation in the field of a machine fitted with any gearing device for vertical
adjustment, there is liability to injury in the following way; if the ground-wheel
drops into a sudden depression, the shock to the machine is very great and gives
such a strong tendency to a downward movement of the main frame that sometimes
it is sufficient to break the gearing, which, of course, resists this downward
movement. Obviously, in the construction described and shown in Figures 1, 2,
and 3, such an accidental drop will tend to turn the gear on the axle backward,
which in turn brings a strain on the worm in a forward direction, producing a strong
thrust force on the worm toward the front of the machine. If the worm shaft is
held rigidly, so far as lengthwise movement is concerned, there is, of course, no
yielding of the worm under this thrust, and the force of the shock is so great
that sometimes the gear-teeth break and the machine is permanently injured.
Now, it will be seen from the description given above, that when such a shock
occurs the spring which holds the worm-sbaft up into ordinary working position
will yield, thus permitting a forward sliding movement of the shaft in its
bearings, which in turn allows the hanger to swing under the influence of the
thrust force mentioned above, and so gives a yielding movement to the worm
and its support sufficient to avoid any breaking of the teeth, and the liability of
injury mentioned above is entirely obviated. When the shock has passed it is
evident that the reaction of the spring under its increased tension will tend to
return the hanger and gearing to their original normal position, and in order to
secure this result the spring should be made strong enough to provide the required

page_text: When the
force for this purpose when compressed in the action described above.
frame is mounted as described and the shalt connected to the worm, the tension
of the spring will operate to hold the frame trunnions in their bearings, an 1 s
there is no danger of accidentally detaching the frame by the shocks and shaking
of the machine in actual use.
This spring safety device is useful and desirable in the construction and mounting
of the worm-gearing and the peculiar construction of the shaft with means for
readily connecting and disconnecting therefrom.
I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the actual details of
mechanical construction herein described and shown, as modifications in these
particulars may be made without losing the main characteristics of the invention
which have been set forth above.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is t be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a harvester, the main wheel and axle, in combination with the main frame
adjustable vertically thereon, pinions on the shaft adapted to engage with rack-bars
or sector-arms on the main frame, a screw-gear, E, mounted on the axle and
connected to one of said pinions, a yoke or hanger, F, mounted loosely on the axle,
depending therefrom at one side of the said gear, and terminating in open hooks, f,
turned around under the gear and inclosing the rim thereof, a short worm, G,
mounted in said hooks under the wheel, E, with which it engages, a frame, K,
pivotally mounted in a suitable support on the main frame, a driving-shaft, H,
detachably connected to the worm and mounted in said pivoted frame in which it is
free to slide lengthwise, and a spring, J, mounted in said frame and connected to
the shaft to normally hold it in working position, but yiel ling to permit the shaft
to slide forward and allow the worm support to swing in the same direction,
substantially as described.
2. In a harvester, the frame, K, provided with journals by which it is mounted
to a support on the main frame, in combination with the worm-shaft, H, mounted in
bearings in the respective ends of said frame and free to slide therein, the spring, J,
arranged in the central space of said frame and surrounding the shaft, a washer or
collar, j, secured to the shaft and loosely seated in the outer end of the frame, a
worm, G, connected to said shaft, hanger, F, loosely mounted on the axle and
having bearings for the worm, and gear-wheel, E, mounted on the axle and
connected with mechanism for raising and lowering the main frame, substantially
as described.
3. In a harvester, the main frame, in combination with the bracket, I, secured
thereto and provided with depending arms, 3, terminating in open journals or
hooks,, the frame, K, provided with trunuions, ke, adapted to fit said bearings,
shaft, H, journaled in the respective ends of said frame and free to slide lengthwise
therein, spring, J, arranged within the frame and held to the shaft at its outer end,
worm, G, connected to said shaft, and swinging hanger, F, depending from the
axle, in which said worm is mounted, substantially as described.
4. In a harvester, the bracket, I, secured to the main frame and provided with
depending arms, 3, terminating in journals, , open at one side, in combination
with the frame, K, provided with trunnions, k, fitting said bearings, and lugs, k²,
parallel to said trunnions and a little inside thereof, shaft, H, mounted in the
respective ends of the frame and free to slide therein, spring, J, arranged in said
fraine and acting normally to hold the shaft out in normal working position, swinging
hanger, F, mounted on the axle, and worm, G, journaled in said hanger, substantially
as described.
5. In a harvester, a shaft supporting frame, K, provided at its respective ends
with bearing apertures, the outer end aperture cut away to form an under incline, k,
and the inner end aperture having a slot, k, extending upward through the frame,
a worm driving-shaft, H, mounted in the end bearings of sail frame, spring, J,

page_text: arranged around the shaft and adapted to secure it in the frame, and a support on
the main frame in which the said spring frame is pivotally mounted, substantially
as described.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1895
JAMES MACPHAIL.