IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING MACHINERY
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents.
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING
MACHINERY." A communication from.abroad by William Van Anden; of
"New York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 6th May 1862, and dated the 27th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th November 1861.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents; 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING
MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
1
This Invention relates to certain novel arrangements of parts in reaping and
mowing machines, whereby their action will be more completely under com-
mand, and their transfer from field to field will be facilitated. The frame
which has the gearing of the mower attached thereto is suspended upon
trunnions secured upon the sides of a collar or box working on the axletree
of the propelling wheels, for the purpose of making the cutters secured to the
lower end of the frame self-adjustable, and causing them to adapt themselves

page_text: .
to the surface of the ground, whether the inner or outer end of the cutter bed
be lifted or depressed in passing over slight inequalities in their track. For
transmitting the motion from either of the travelling wheels to the cutter bar
a compound or double-acting coupling box is used. This coupling box is so
combined with the driving wheels and gearing of the machine that each driving
wheel, through the agency of clicks taking into ratchet teeth within the box,
may act thereon independently of the other to operate the gearing which
transmits the motion to the cutter-bar crank, and thus permit the machine to
be worked to the right or left to cut the grass or other standing crop. The
main frame by being suspended upon trunnions, as above mentioned, will
preserve the gear wheels in their relative working positions with regard to the
vibrations of the frame, and without reference to the rigid motions of the axle
of the travelling wheels. In combination with the main frame and travelling
wheel guide boxes are used for the purpose of holding the frame at right
angles to the axle, and at the same time allowing it to have a rocking motion
on the trunnions before mentioned. The eye of the cutter. bar instead of
being rivetted or welded on to the bar as usual, is formed by bending a
portion of the bar in the shape of an inverted U, so that the connecting rod
for operating it will work directly upon the bar. The bed is fitted with a shoe
for the outer and inner ends of it. For regulating and supporting the cutters
at a uniform distance from the ground, the outer bed is fitted with shoes at
its outer and inner ends, capable (by reason of a series of holes with which
they are provided) of receiving a vertical adjustment. The cutter bed and
cutter bar attached thereto are suspended from the main frame of the imple-
ment by a frame, hinged thereto, which when unlatched allows the cutter bed
to be elevated, and thrown back across the front of the mower frame to permit
of the machine passing through gateways.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME-I-ALFRED=
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself; Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alfred Vincent Newton; Her special license, that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my 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, exercisé, and vend; within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MOWING AND REAPING MACHINERY," being a communica-
tion from abroad by William Van Anden, of New York, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal; should parti-
cularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, 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 I; the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, relates
to certain novel arrangements of parts in reaping and mowing machines,
whereby their action will be niore completely under command, and their
transfer from field to field will be facilitated. The frame which has the
gearing of the mower attached to it is suspended upon trunnions secured upon
the sides of a collar or box working on the axletree of the propelling wheels
for the purpose of making. tlie cutters secured to the lower-end-of the frame
self-adjustable, and causing them to adapt themselves to the surface of the
ground, whether the inner or outer end of the cutter bed be lifted or depressed
in passing over slight irregularities in their track: For transmitting the
motion from either of the travelling wheels to the cutter bar. a compound
or double-acting coupling box-is used. This coupling box is so combined with
the driving wheels and gearing of the machine that each driving wheel,
through the agency of clicks, taking into ratchet teeth within the box may act
thereon indépendently of the other to operate the gearing..which transmits the
motion to the cutter bar crank, and thus permit the machine to be worked to
the right or left to cut the grass or other standing crop. The eye of the cutter
bar instead of being rivetted or welded on to the bar, as usual; is formed by

page_text: bending a portion of the bar in the shape of an inverted U, so that the con-
necting rod for operating it will work directly upon the bar; the expense
therefore of welding or bolting on, an eye, as is commonly the case,.will thus
be avoided. For regulating and supporting the cutters at a uniform 'distance
from the ground the cutter bed is fitted with others at its outer and inner ends
capable (by reason of a series of holes with which they are provided) of
receiving a vertical adjustment. The cutter bed and cutter bar attaclied
thereto are suspended from the main frame. of the implement by a frame
hinged thereto, which when unlatched allows the cutter, bed to be elevated
and thrown back across the front of the mower frame to permit of the machine
passing through gateways, &c.
In the accompanying Drawings, forming a part of this Specification, Fig. I
is a plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3
is à transverse section taken through the line x x of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a
detached sectional view of the frame, shewing the method of suspending it
upon the propelling wheel axle; Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the trunnions
and frame taken through the line x2, x2, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section of the com-
pound coupling box detached; Figures 7 and 8 are obverse and reverse views of
the interior of the coupling box; Figs. 9 are views of the cutter bar and con
necting rod, exhibiting the method of forming the connecting rod eye; Fig. 10
is an end view of the adjustable shoe on the outer end of the cutter bed; and
Fig. 11 is a detached view of the cutter bed elevator, shewing the cutter
reversed or thrown back across the front of the frame of the machine.
A is the axle of the propelling wheels B', B²; C is the frame, which may
be made of wood or metal as desired. For portability, however, I consider
metal the best, and especially as adapted to the improved method of hanging
it on the axle A, so as to have a self-adjustable rocking motion to accommo-
date the cutters to any inequalities of the ground. This is effected by means
of a box or collar D, adjusted on the axle A, and having trunnions E on its
opposite sides to form bearings for the support of the frame adjusted upon a
box F, forming an arch over the axis A. To one side of the box F, the metal
is extended as at f%, and bent or rounded so as to form a suitable bearing
for the main driving gearing wheel G to rotate on. The object of this is to have
this wheel as well as all the other gearing-wheels, H, I, and J-operating in
connection therewith to propel the cutter bar suspended on the frame C, so
that in its rocking on tlie trunnions the several wheels will keep in gear, and
thus work smoothly, though subject to a constant rocking or vibratory motion.
To prevent the frame from having any sideway motion, boxes K, K, are
secured to the side rails of the frame over the axle A, so as to permit it to

page_text: have a sufficient amount of up-and-down motion, but no lateral or sideway
motion. L is a compound coupling box adjusted upon the axle A, and between
the main driving gear wheel G and propelling wheel B. The object of this
compound coupling box is to connect both the propelling wheels B and B²
'with the gearing wheel G, so that whether the machine is 'turned to the right
For left to cut the grass; the cutters will be alike operated. This is effected by
having the wheel B'-fixed permanently upon the axle A, while the other B
'works loosely upon it, so that when the latch M attached to the upper side of
the coupling box is dropped into its seat in the main driving gear wheel G
the click or pawl-Nattached to the inner face of the hub B acting upon
the ratchet on the inner circumference of the coupling box L, will operate the
gearing wheel G for propelling the cutters' when making the turn from right
to left round the wheel Bas a centre of motion. . To operate the gearing for
propelling the cutters from left to right round the wheel B² as a centre of
motion, the pawl N2 in the reverse or opposite half of the coupling box Lis
adjusted upon a disc or plate-N³ attached permanently to the axle A, so that
as the axle and wheel B attached thereto -rotate; the pawl N² engaging into
the ratchet on the inner circumference of this half of the coupling box will
operate the gearing wheels, and thus either propelling wheel may act inde
pendently of the other to permit the machine to be turned to the right or left
hand at pleasure! To keep the pawls down upon the ratchets small pressing
springs are employed. Pis the cutter bar connecting rod, attached at one
end by a crank pin to the fly wheel Q, and at the other taking into an eye or
loop R, formed in the end of the cutter bar S. The eye or loop is formed by
bending up the bar to fan-inverted U shape, 'when forging the bar. This
obviates welding eyes to the bar (which if not well done is liable to crack and
wear loose) or forging independent or separate pieces of metal into eyes to be
bolted or screwed to the bar. To prevent the loop or eye from straightening
out, a plate of metal 7 having an opening in it to fit over the eye is bolted to
the cutter bar, and thus holds the Ufrom opening. The experience of men
using mowing machines has developed the fact that no amount of bolting is
capable of resisting for any length of time the constant jar of the rapid vibra
tory motion of the cutter bar, and though welding eyes upon the cutter bar
may be considered an advantage, yet the tendency to burn or harden the metal
just at that point shews that it does not make a durable fixture. The method
above described therefore not only simplifies the making of the eye, but at the
same time obviates the objections to the other methods referred to. T is an
adjustable shoe secured to the outer and inner ends of the cutter bed. These
-shoes have a series of holes in them to permit of their being raised or

page_text: lowered on the ends of the cutter bed. The object of this arrangement is to
support the cutters steadily while passing over the ground, and at the same
time graduate their distance from it. Z is a metal frame secured by a joint
to the side rail of the frame C. To the lower end of the frame Z, and at
right angles to it, is secured by rivets or other suitable means the cutter bed
p2, so as to form a permanent and solid connection with the frame, and thus
hold it rigidly as a bed plate for the cutter bar to vibrate on: To reduce the
friction necessarily incidental to the working of the cutter bar on a bed plate
hinged to the shoe of the machine; as is commonly the case where the cutter
is intended to be folded back, to hold the cutter frame firmly down upon the
frame of the machine, a button or binding screw is secured to the under side
of the front rail of the frame C, and a toe (see Fig. 11) is formed on the heel
of the frame C to fit into a groove cut in the shoe at the inner end of the cutter
bed, so that when the button is adjusted upon the frame Z and the toe fitted into
its seat, the whole will be solidly and securely held together to keep the cutters
in an extended position for work. When not required for work, the button is
unloosed, and the cutter frame may then be folded back across the front of
the machine; as shewn in Fig. 11. V is a lever attached to the bed board W
of the machine (secured on the propelling axle A) and operating on the back
end of the frame C for the purpose of elevating the cutter bed from off the
ground when passing over any obstructions; ✗ is the pole or shaft attached
directly to the axle A, and operating independently of any connection-with the
frame; Y is the driver's seat, which is elevated upon the bed board W; and
supported upon the axle A.
Having now described the novel arrangement of parts constituting the
Invention of "Improvements in Mowing and Reaping Machinery," as com-
municated to me from abroad, I wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent I claim,―
First, the use of the trunnions E, or equivalent device, working on the
axle A in combination with the frame C, as a means for suspending it, so
that it may have a self-adjustable up-and-down vibratory or rocking motion
-upon-the-stationary-axle-A, substantially-as-described.
Secondly, the use of the frame. C when suspended upon trunnions, as herein-
before set forth, in combination with the gear wheels G, H, I, and J, or
equivalents, for operating the cutter bar, so that they will preserve their rela-
tive working positions with regard to the vibrations of the frame, and without
reference to the rigid motions of the axle A or propelling wheels mounted.
thereon.
Thirdly, the use of the guide boxes K, in combination with the frame C

page_text: and axle A, substantially as described, for the purpose of holding the frame at
right angles to the axle A, and at the same time allowing it to have a rocking
motion on the trunnions, as herein-before set forth.
Fourthly, the use of the compound or double-acting coupling box L, made
and operating substantially as described, in combination with the axle A, pro-
pelling wheel B2, and "gear wheel G, or their equivalents, for the purposes
herein-before set forth.
Fifthly, the use of the eye or loop R, formed in the end of the solid cutter
bars of an inverted U shape, as described, in combination with the plate, for
holding the ends of the loop from opening.
Sixthly, the use of an adjustable auxiliary shoe T, in combination with the
cutter bed, for the purposes berein-before described.
Seventhly, the use of the cutter bed folding frame Z, in combination with
the cutter bar and frame of the machine, substantially as described, and for
the purposes herein-before set forth.
Lastly, the combination and arrangement of all the parts herein-before claimed
as a general combination to make a complete working mowing and harvesting
machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)