IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Crichley, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING
AND MOWING MACHINES." - A communication from abroad by Robert
Bodington, of Melbourne, Victoria, in the Colony of Australia.
Sealed the 3rd January 1865, and dated the 7th July 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Crichley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
July 1864.
I, HENRY CRICHLEY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,. Iron-
founder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," to be as follows, that is to say:
Sheet A of the annexed Drawings represents a front elevation of the
machine.
Sheet B, a side elevation of the same.
Sheet C, certain detached portions shewing modifications of some of the
parts.
Referring to Sheets A and B: (1) is the travelling wheel toothed on its
inner periphery; (2) a timber bar supporting the axle of the travelling wheel,
also the general framing of the machine (3), and a bracket (4); (5) is a
pinion running in the toothed inner periphery of the travelling wheel, and
carrying upon its spindle a bevilled wheel (6) driving a bevilled pinion (7)
hung on the bracket (4). Upon the spindle of the pinion (7) is also mounted

page_text: a pulley (8), to which is attached excentrically a knife rod (9), thus imparting
an oscillatory borizontal motion to the knife (10); (11) is the platform, and
(12) the other running wheel; the same spindle that carries the pinion (5) and
bevilled wheel (6) carries also a driving pulley (13), provided with ordinary
clutch gear (14) to throw the mechanism above, in, or out of action; (15) is
a crossed band passing over the pulley (13), and over a second pulley (16),
which by means of bevilled spur gearing (17) drives the spindle (18), upon
the upper end of which a small toothed pinion engages in the wheel (19), the
peculiar form of which secures the peculiar action required for the rake (20),
which is circular, partly in a horizontal plane, as when it sweeps the platform,
partly in a vertical plane, as when it revolves with and around the shaft (21),
which carries the flys (22); the shafts of these flys are broken off for greater
convenience of space; the shaft (21) is tubular, with an internal connecting
rod from the wheel (19) to the bracket (23), by which the rake arm is sup-
ported, so that as the machine is driven the wheel (19) draws back the
bracket (23), upon which the rake arm is mounted to the extent permitted
by the slot (24), and thus from the angle at which the rake is fixed causes it
to sweep the platform, after which by the action of the same wheel (19) the
rake rises in a vertical direction, and is carried round the shaft (21) until it
again approaches the platform; (25) is the pole upon which the driving
seat (26) is fixed. The height at which the knives will work may be varied
by removing the screws (27), and the corresponding ones in the opposite
frame (28), shifting the platform and knife higher or lower and securing it
again by means of the set screws, the rake being also accommodated to any
change by shifting it upon the bar (23) by means of set screws also.
(Figure 8), Sheet 6, shews another mode of varying the height at which
the knife will cut by employing an adjusting screw (29) working the short
lever (30) upon a quadrant (31); this quadrant may be replaced by a bar
slotted in its length, the lever carrying the axle of the large wheel being
slotted also. To alter the height the bolt (32) must be released, the
screw (29) turned to the requisite height, and the bolt (32) re-secured, after-
wards altering the opposite end in the same manner.
(Figure 4), Sheet C, shews a modification of the pinion working into the
sliding wheel (19), Sheet A, and is a substitution for that pinion. By the
employment of this form, when the circular motion of the wheel (19) ceases,
the square part (x) of the pinion acts on the rack part of the wheel.
(Figure 5), Sheet C, shews another mode of forming the parts working the
rake arm.
(33) is a casting forming part of the hinge and block, through
which the connecting rod runs; (34) another casting forming the other part of

page_text: the hinge, seen in another view at (Figure 6), and carrying the arm of the
rake; a lever is cast with this part with a slot for pins of connecting rod ;
a modified form of shaft is also shewn in this Figure, the shaft (35) being
square in section instead of round, and solid instead of hollow, the casting (36)
forming a bearing for the shaft (35), and being cored allows the rod (37) to
pass through.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Crichley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th January 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
CRICHLEY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Ironfounder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
IIer reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Crichley, Her special licence that I, the said Henry
Crichley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Henry Crichley, 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Crichley, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly 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 Henry Crichley, 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 state-
ment, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
=
This Invention consists of certain improved arrangements and combinations
of mechanism forming machinery to be employed in reaping and mowing, and

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet A Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the machine; Figure 2
a side elevation; Figure 3 is a part elevation of a portion of the apparatus
shewing another mode of raising the platform and the knives, and of regu-
lating the height at which they are to cut; Figure 4 shews a form of pinion,
the particular office of which will be herein-after more explicitly described;
Figure 5 is a part section, part plan from above, shewing another mode of
working the rake arm, the sectional part being taken horizontally through the
travelling wheel; Figure 6 is another view of the parts carrying the rake
arm, shewn also in Figure 5.
Sheet B: Figure 7 is a front elevation, and Figure 8 a back elevation of
the principal portions of a machine, certain features of which are slightly
varied from that shewn in Sheet A.
Sheet C: Figure 9 is an elevation of the side of the machine opposite to
that shewn in Figure 2, Sheet A; Figures 10, 11, and 12 shewing details of
the mechanism employed for raising or lowering the apparatus upon the axles
of the wheels, and thus regulating the height at which the knives work.
Referring to Sheet A (Figures 1 and 2). (1) is the travelling wheel
toothed on its inner periphery; (2) a bar supporting the axle of the travelling
wheel, also the general framing of the machine (3), and a bracket (4); (5) is
a pinion running in the toothed inner periphery of the travelling wheel, and
carrying upon its spindle a bevilled wheel (6), driving a bevilled pinion (7)
hung on the bracket (4). Upon the spindle of the pinion (7) is also mounted
a pulley (8), to which is attached eccentrically a knife rod (9), thus impart-
ing an oscillatory horizontal motion to the knife (10); (11) is the platform,
and (12) the other running wheel; the same spindle that carries the pinion (5)
and bevilled wheel (6) carries also a driving pulley (13), provided with
ordinary clutch gear (14) to throw the mechanism above, in, or out of action;
(15) is a band passing over the pulley (13), and over a second pulley (16),
which by means of bevilled spur gearing (17) drives the spindle (18), upon
the upper end of which a small toothed pinion, shewn in detail (Figure 4),
engages in the wheel (19), the peculiar form of which secures the peculiar
action required for the rake (20), which is circular, partly in a horizontal
plane, as when it sweeps the platform, partly in a vertical plane, as when it
revolves with and around the shaft (21), which shaft carries the flys (22); the
shafts of these flys are broken off for greater convenience of space; the

page_text: shaft (21) is tubular, with an internal connecting rod from the wheel (19)
to the bracket (23), by which the rake arm is supported, so that as the
machine is driven the wheel (19) draws back the bracket (23), upon which
the rake arm is mounted to the extent permitted by the slot (24), and thus
from the angle at which the rake is fixed causes it to sweep the platform, after
which, by the action of the same wheel (19), the rake rises in a vertical direc-
tion, and is carried round the shaft (21) until it again approaches the platform,
when the horizontal circular motion again comes into play; (25) is the pole
by which the machine is horsed, and upon which the driving seat (26) is fixed;
this seat may if preferred be placed, as shewn at (26), by supporting it from
the framing of the machine. The height at which the knives will work may be
varied by removing the screws (27), and the corresponding ones on the opposite
frame (28) shifting the platform and knife higher or lower, and securing it
again by means of the set screws, the rake being also accommodated to any
change by shifting it upon the bar (23) by means of set screws also.
(Figure 3) shews another mode of varying the height at which the knife
will cut, by employing an adjusting screw (29) working the short lever (30)
upon a quadrant (31); this quadrant may be replaced by a bar slotted in
its length, the lever carrying the axle of the large wheel being slotted also
to alter the height, the bolt (32) must be released, the screw (29) turned to
the requisite height, and the bolt (32) re-secured, afterwards altering the
opposite end in the same manner. By this arrangement the whole of the
machine is raised or lowered upon the axles of the wheels, and not merely the
knives and platform.
(Figure 4) shews a detail of the pinion working into and at the back of
the sliding wheel (19), (Figure 1). By the form and action of this pinion,
when the circular motion of the wheel (19) ceases, the square part (a) of
the pinion acts on the rack portion of the wheel, and the horizontal circular
motion necessary for the rake to sweep the platform is thus imparted.
Figure 5 shews another mode of forming the parts working the rake arm;
(83) is a casting forming part of the hinge and block, through which the
connecting rod runs; (34) is another casting forming the other part of the
binge, seen in another view at Figure 6, and carrying the arm of the rake;
a lever is cast with this part with a slot for the pins of the connecting rod to
work in. Another form of shaft for the flys and rake is also shewn in this
Figure, the shaft (35) being square in section instead of round, and solid
instead of hollow, the casting (86), which is supported from the framing of
the machine, forming a bearing for the shaft (35), and being cored allows the
rod, as at (37), to pass through.

page_text: * The arrangement shewn in Figures 7 and 8 (Sheet B) varies but slightly
from that already described, as will be seen by a comparison of Figure 1 with
Figure 7; the latter embraces the employment of the square shaft (1) instead
of the cylindrical, as previously described, and some slight but unimportant
differences in the general framework and disposition of the parts. It also
comprises some modifications in the method of regulating the height at which
the cutters work by means of the quadrant previously alluded to. In these
Drawings the shaft carrying the flys and rake and the part of the frame sup-
porting the platform are removed for the sake of convenience, and as the
height regulating mechanism is more clearly detailed in the Drawings shewn
on Sheet (C), I shall proceed to describe that portion of the machine. The
quadrant rack (2) (Figures 10, 11, and 12) is secured to a cross bar (3)
of the frame, and further strengthened by the brace (4) attached to the bar
carrying the platform. The rack (2) is slotted to admit a pin upon the axle
of the wheel (5), which pin is secured by a nut (6), the radial bar (7), which
carries the toothed wheel (8) that works in the teeth on the inner periphery
of the wheel (5), carries at its opposite extremity a pinion (9) working into
the teeth on the rack (2). The precise form of this rack is better shewn at
Figure (12), in which Figure will be seen the holes (10) drilled through the
rack, and which are to receive a pin passed through the rack (2) and the
radial bar (7), which carries the axle, so that should the nut (6) at the back
of the quadrant get loose the pin would prevent the machine from falling to
the ground. It will thus be seen that the machine by means of leverage can
casily be raised or lowered bodily upon the axle of the wheel (5), but unless
a similar action took place upon the axle of the wheel at the opposite side of
the machine the cutters could not work in a horizontal plane. To effect this
the axle of the wheel (11, Figure 9) is hung upon a bent lever (12) secured
to the side framing (13), and produced beyond the pivot upon which it is
secured, and which pivot acts as a fulcrum to a point (14), where it is forked
to receive a pivotted block, through which a male screw (15) passes, upon
which screw the lever (12), and consequently the axle of the wheel (11), can
be raised or depressed by turning a nut (16) upon the screw (15), the
screw (15) having its bearing at (17) upon a flange on the side framing.
Thus both sides of the machine can be readily and equally adjusted, so that
the entire apparatus may be raised or lowered at will upon the axles of the
wheels, and thus the kuives are caused to operate at any required elevation
from the land.
Returning to Figures (7 and 8), (Sheet B), one other point of difference
requires notice. The driver's seat (2) is fixed upon an arm (3) secured to the

page_text: cross bar (4) of the framing, and the whole of the apparatus is stopped or
thrown into work by the action of his foot upon the lever (5) actuating the
clutch (6) upon the spindle of the toothed wheel working within the inner
periphery of the driving wheel (7).
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I do not confine myself to these precise
details; but that which I claim is, the general arrangement and combination
of the several mechanical parts, or the mere equivalents thereof, for producing
machinery to be employed for the purposes of reaping and mowing, substan-
tially as herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Crichley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
HENRY (L.s.) CRICHLEY.