AN IMPROVED LAWN-MOWING MACHINE
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED LAWN-MOWING MACHINE."-A communication from
abroad by Samuel Coit, of Hartford, Connecticut, United States of
America, Gentleman.
Sealed the 4th May 1869, and dated the 1st March 1869.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 1st March 1869, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
LAWN-MOWING MACHINE," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto

page_text: me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has
been communicated to me from abroad by Samuel Coit, of Hartford,
Connecticut, United States of America, Gentleman.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming a
part of this Specification:-
The said Invention relates to an improved hand machine for mowing
grass when it is desired to keep it shorn close, as in lawns and orna-
mental grass plats.
Figure 1 is a general perspective view of my improved lawn-mowing
machine; Figure 2 is a section of the revolving cutter and stationary
cutting bar to show the operation of the cutting edges.
A is the frame of the machine which is formed of two side plates of
cast iron secured together by a bolt at the back of the large roller B
and by the cutter H; B is a roller acting upon the ground and giving
motion to the screval wheels and revolving cutter; C, D, and E are a
train of geared wheels for multiplying the velocity and for conveying
motion from the roller B to the revolving cutter F. The large wheel C
is upon the same axis as the roller B and is attached to the roller by a
ratchet and pawl, so that it will be driven by the roller when the
machine is moved forward, but will be loose when the said machine is
drawn backward. This arrangement prevents the turning of the cutter F
in moving the machine from place to place. The wheel C may however
be firmly attached to the roller. The wheel E gears into a pinion on
the axis of the revolving cutter F and drives it rapidly in the direction of
The revolving cutter F is composed of disks b, b, b, b, fixed
to the axis, across the circumferences of which the steel cutters f,f,f,f,
are fixed in a spiral position by being bolted upon or inserted into the
disks. The axis of the revolving cutter runs at its ends in adjustable
boxes G so that it can be moved up and down to maintain the edges of
the cutters ff. f, f, exactly in such a position as to shear against the

page_text: edge of the stationery cutter bar H. The said stationery cutter is made
of steel, or of iron with a steel edge, and is bolted to the frame of the
machine under the axis of the revolving cutter F. I is a small roller
attached to the frame by the arms J, J, which contain the bearings
of its axlc. These arms are capable of adjustment by loosening and
tightening the bolts a, a, so that the roller I can be set higher or lower
as may be desired in order to regulate the distance between the bar H
and the ground. This roller also supports the forward end of the
machine when in usc. K is the handle for pushing or drawing the
machine. It is attached to the frame on each side at the points c and
can be used for pushing the machine in the position shewn in the
Drawing, or it can be reversed or turned over to the front of the machine
and be used for drawing it. When in use for pushing the machine it
can be made to rest on the projections d, so that by bearing down on the
handle the cutter and small roller I are raised from the ground. This is
convenient when it is desired to move the machine forward without
cutting, and the projections also serve as a support for the handle and
prevent its falling when not in use.
The operation of the said Invention is as follows:-When it is desired
to mow or shear off the grass upon a lawn the machine is adjusted by
means of the roller I to cut at the desired height, and is then pushed or
drawn over the lawn by means of the handle K. The roller B by its
friction on the ground drives the revolving cutter rapidly, and its edges f
acting against the edge of the stationary cutter H shear off the grass to
a uniform height. The cut grass is evenly spread over the sward and
serves to enrich the soil. The roller B follows the cutter and rolls down
the ground evenly and smoothly.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I claim,--
First. The revolving cutter composed of disks or their equivalents
with longitudinal spiral steel edges fixed to their peripheries, substan-.
tially as herein described.
Second. The adjustable forward roller I for the purpose of raising and
lowering the cutting mechanism and supporting the forward end of the
machine, substantially as hercin described.
Third. Attaching the reversible handle to the sides of the frame so
that it may be used either for pushing the machine from behind or
drawing it from the front, substantially as herein described.

page_text: Fourth. The combination of the handle K with the projections or
detent knobs d for the purposes herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this First day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)