Improvements relating to the Reels of Harvesting Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Reels of Harvesting Machines.
We ALEXANDER MCGREGOR of Albion Iron Works, Leigh, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, and HENRY BURCH of the same place, Draughtsman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in the means for operating and
driving the gathering reel of harvesting machines, and relates in the first place to
the arrangement for supporting the same and readily changing its position,
according as the nature of the crop to be operated upon may require.
Instead of jointing the reel frame directly to the upright rocking frame which
is carried in bearings at the forward end of the seat board we make use of an
intermediate frame which forms a joint or link between the reel frame and the
upright frame, and is kept in a vertical position by means of an
arm which
extends backwards and is jointed to the top of an upright bar or back link
which is parallel with the rocking frame and carried by a bearing on the seat
board at the back of the bearing for the rocking frame. On the same pin which
connects the lower part of the intermediate frame to the top of the upright
rocking frame we pivot a lever having its forward end connected by a link to a
stud or joint pin in the reel frame at a point preferably nearer the joint by which
the latter is connected to the upper part of the intermediate frame than that
of the connection of the link to the end of the lever and the pin on which the
lever is pivotted; so that the reel frame shall have a greater travel in proportion
to the lever than if the points of connection were equal. Or the points of
connection may be so arranged that they can be adjusted, so that the movement
of the lever may have a greater or less effect on the reel frame as may be desired.
To the arm at the back of the intermediate frame is formed or secured a rack
quadrant so that by means of a sliding bolt or catch on the side of the lever
gearing into the rack and actuated by a spring handle attached to the lever, the
latter, and with it the reel frame, may be moved or detained in any desired
position, up or down.
In order to secure the rocking frame, and with it the reel frame in any desired
position backwards or forwards; either to the back of the former, or to the upright
bar or back link which is parallel with it we form or secure a bar which is curved
to a radius corresponding with the distance of its point of attachment from the
bearing of the member to which it is attached or forms a part; this curved bar
passing through the catch box which is secured to the seat board or formed in one
with the bracket which carries the bearings for the back link and rocking frame.
A series of holes or teeth are provided in the curved bar, which admit of its
being secured by a spring catch in the catch box in any desired position. In order
to release this spring catch we carry by preference, a square bar back from the
same, parallel with the seat board, and place a foot pedal on this square bar and
connected to the foot rest so that when the latter is moved backwards or forwards,
the foot pedal will slide along the square bar and always be in the same relative
position for being actuated by the driver's foot. According to the arrangement
described, it will be seen that the driver can by means of the single lever move the
reel, which is carried by the forward end of the reel frame, up or down and
backwards or forwards; it being held by the sliding bolt in the rack quadrant in
the desired position up or down, and by the curved bar and spring catch in the
desired position backwards or forwards. It will be also seen that by the use of
the intermediate frame the point of connection of the reel frame is always directly

page_text: over the point of connection of the lever, and admits of the backward and forward
movement without changing the relative positions of the lever and the reel frame,
as would be the case if the reel frame where connected to an extension of the
rocking frame above the joint to which the lever is attached.
We have described the upright, the intermediate and the reel frames as such,
but they may be simply bars of one member each only, and jointed to each
other; in such case, the outer end of the part carrying the reel is kept in position
sideways by means of an upright radiating rod or pipe acting as a guide and
suitably stayed for the purpose, the rod or pipe and its stay being attached by
joints to the lower part of the machine so as to admit of the backward and
forward movement of the reel.
According to another method for regulating the backward and forward
movement of the reel, we dispense with the foot arrangement and make use of
a separate upright lever connected by a rod to either the rocking frame or the
back link which is parallel with it, and arranged in a position convenient to the
driver; the lever being provided with the necessary spring catch to gear into a
fixed rack quadrant so that it may be detained in any desired position.
Or as a modification of the previously described single lever arrangement, and
likewise dispensing with the foot apparatus, we mount a second spring handle on
the single lever and by means of rods and a bell crank placed in such position
as to be unaffected by any up and down movement of the lever, we actuate a
sliding bolt or catch which gears into a fixed rack quadrant having its arc centred
from the bearing which carries the rocking frame.
In order to assist the backward and forward movement, more especially in the
arrangement described where a single lever operates these movements together
with the up and down ones; we make use of a horizontal cross-piece or link having
one end jointed at a point near the lower end of the rocking frame, and the other
at a similar point near the lower end of the back link which is parallel to it; the
cross-piece forming a connection between the two, at equal distances above their
bearings. Beneath this cross piece we place a spring, having an upward pressure
on the same, so that when the rocking frame and back link are moved either
backwards or forwards, this spring is compressed; the pressure being greatest at
the most backward or forward positions. The spring, by preference a spiral one,
can be placed in a box or tube which is formed in one with the bracket which
carries the bearings for the rocking frame and the back link central between the
bearings and the spring box can be continued below the bottom of the bracket and
recessed into or through the seat board, and in order to guide the spring and
prevent its upper end from travelling backwards and forwards with the cross-piece,
we make use of an arm or radius-bar centred on one of the bearings and having a
friction roller at the top of its outer end which bears against the underside of the
cross-piece; the lower part of the outer end of the arm being adapted to fit on the
upper end of the spring, or on a plunger which is guided by the spring box
and forced upwards by the spring.
Although we have described the cross-piece as being attached at each end, and
the spring placed between the points of attachment, we do not confine ourselves to
this particular arrangement; as either end of the cross-piece may be extended
beyond the point of attachment, and the spring placed under this extended end.
Or the back link may be discontinued below the point of connection to the cross-
piece and the latter extended backwards and connected to a short bar corresponding
to the otherwise lower part of the back link, and carried in a bearing similar, to
that described for the back link.
According to a modification of the arrangement the spring may be placed in an
inverted spring-box, secured to, or formed in one with the cross-piece and by means
of a plunger or other suitable arrangement be made to press on a roller which
travels on a fixed surface parallel with the cross-piece.
As a further modification of the arrangement, we make use of a horizontal spiral
spring acting on an extension of either the rocking frame or the back link, below

page_text: the bearing of the same. This spring is placed on a rod which is connected to the
before mentioned extension, and is slightly compressed between two collars or
washers which are free to slide on this rod in the direction for further compressing
the spring; but are prevented from going asunder the one by a shoulder formed on
the rod, and the other by an adjustable nut or fixed collar.
The washers in their extended positions are made to fit between two fixed
abutments or between the ends of a fixed spring box through which the rod passes;
so that when the rod moves forward the outer washer compresses the spring, and
when the rod moves backwards the inner washer compresses the spring.
In all the arrangements previously described we have adopted a spiral spring as
being more readily applied; but we do not wish to confine ourselves to any
particular form of spring, the main feature of this part of the invention being the
application of a single spring to assist the backward movement of the reel when it
is at its forward position, and give a similar assistance to the forward movement
when it is at its most backward position.
vice versa.
The second part of this invention relates to the gearing for giving a rotary
motion to the reel, and to the manner of readily changing the speed, so as to be
able to run it faster when it is desired to pick up laid crops. On a horizontal
shaft which is driven by any convenient arrangement from the other working parts
of the machine, we mount a clutch which is driven by the shaft but is free to slide
endways so that its teeth may gear into corresponding teeth formed on the side of
each of two spur wheels of slightly different diameters, and which are placed on
the shaft, one on either side of the clutch, so that when the teeth of the latter are
in gear with one of the spur wheels the other is free to revolve on the shaft, and
The clutch may be shifted into gear with one or the other of the wheels
by any ordinary arrangement of levers and rods so as to be convenient for the
driver to operate without leaving his seat. Parallel with the horizontal shaft is a
"back-gear" consisting of two spur wheels connected together or keyed on a shaft
which is carried in suitable bearings; the one of the back gear wheels gearing into
the larger spur wheel on the horizontal shaft and the other gearing into a smaller
one; so that when the clutch is moved into gear with the larger spur wheel the
motion is communicated to the smaller spur wheel by means of the back gear, and
when the clutch is moved into gear with the smaller spur wheel the latter is driven
at the same speed as the horizontal shaft. On the back of this smaller spur wheel
is formed or cast a bevel pinion which gears into a bevel wheel at the lower end of
a radiating shaft which is connected to the horizontal shaft by a bridle and drives
the reel in the ordinary manner. By arranging this gearing so that the ordinary
speed, or that which will be most in use, is that in which the bevel pinion is driven
direct at the same speed as the horizontal shaft, the back gear is running idle
except at such times as the higher speed is required.
The next part of the invention relates to the construction of the bridle or
radiating bearing which retains the before mentioned bevel wheel in gear with the
bevel pinion. Between the inner face of the latter and the face of the bearing
which supports the outer end of the horizontal shaft, and on the said horizontal
shaft we mount a crosshead having a right angled stem on which the bevel wheel
is free to revolve; and in order to keep the same in gear with the pinion, we form
a recess in the cross head to receive the head of a pin which passes through the
centre of the stem and is continued up within an extension of the boss of the bevel
wheel and secured to it, so that the pin shall revolve with the wheel the latter
revolving outside the stem and the pin revolving inside the same; the before
mentioned head to the pin resisting the thrust of the bevel gear. Within a further
extension of the boss of the bevel wheel we secure the square or otherwise formed
radiating shaft, by preference in such manner that it may be disconnected at will,
and that by also uncoupling the link which connects the outer end of the lever to
the reel frame as mentioned in a former part of this Specification, the reel frame
may be folded backwards and the reel assume a position over the grain platform so
as to obviate the necessity for removing the reel for transit.

page_text: We have described the gearing as applied to a horizontal shaft, but a similar
arrangement may be applied to an inclined shaft; in which case the above
mentioned bevel gear is formed to the desired angle and instead of the bridle
connecting the radiating shaft the latter is connected to the bevel wheel by means
of a universal joint or other suitable coupling.
According to another arrangement for giving two speeds to the reel, the before
mentioned horizontal shaft is discontinued at about half its length, and a spur
wheel secured to the overhanging end of the same gives motion to another spur
wheel having a different number of teeth and secured to the outer end of a shaft
which carries the bevel pinion for giving motion to the radiating shaft. By
changing these spur wheels from one shaft to the other the necessary variation can
be made in the speed of the reel.
Dated this 9th day of June 1893.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Reels of Harvesting Machines.
We ALEXANDER MCGREGOR of Albion Iron Works Leigh, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, and HENRY BURGH of the same place, Draughtsman, 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 :-
This invention has for its object improvements in the means for operating and
driving the gathering reel of harvesting machines, and relates in the first place to
the arrangement for supporting the same and readily changing its position,
according as the nature of the crop to be operated upon may require.
The invention will be readily understood from the following description on
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Instead of jointing the reel frame a Fig. 1 directly to the upright rocking frame b
which is carried in bearings c at the forward end of the seat board d we make use
of an intermediate frame e which forms a joint or link between the reel frame and
the upright frame, and is kept in a vertical position by means of an arm el which
extends backwards and is jointed to the top of an upright bar or back link f which
is parallel with the rocking frame and carried by a bearing c¹ on the seat board at
the back of the bearing for the rocking frame.
On the same pin g which connects the lower part of the intermediate frame to
the top of the upright rocking frame we pivot a lever having its forward end
connected by a link to a stud or joint pin in the reel frame at a point preferably
nearer the joint, by which the latter is connected to the upper part of the
intermediate frame, than that of the connection of the link to the end of the
lever hand the pin on which the said lever is pivotted; so that the reel frame shall
have a greater travel in proportion to the lever than if the points of connection
were equal. Or the points of connection may be arranged that they can be adjusted,
so that the movement of the lever may have a greater or less effect on the reel
frame as may be desired.
To the arm e' at the back of the intermediate frame is formed or secured a rack
quadrant e so that by means of a sliding bolt or catch on the side of the lever
gearing into the rack and actuated by a spring handle attached to the lever, the
latter, and with it, the reel frame may be moved or detained in any desired position.
up or down.
In order to secure the rocking frame, and with it the reel frame in any desired
position backwards or forwards; either to the back of the former, or to the upright
bar or back link which is parallel with it, we form or secure a bar j which is

page_text: curved to a radius corresponding with the distance of its point of attachment from
the bearing of the member to which it is attached or forms a part; this curved
bar passing through a catch box k which is secured to the seat board or formed in
one with the bracket which carries the bearings for the back link and rocking
frame.
A series of holes, or teeth are provided in the curved bar, which admit of its
being secured in any desired position by means of a spring catch which is carried
in the catch box k.
In order to release this spring catch, which is or may be in the form of a pin
upon a short arm acted upon by a suitable spring, the spindle to which the said arm
is secured and which has its bearing in the catch box, is continued back from the
same parallel with the seat board; the continuation being by preference, formed of
a square bar l, this square bar passing through a corresponding square hole formed
in the axis of the foot pedal which is mounted in a bearing formed in the foot
rest; so that a partial rotation of the foot pedal in its bearing may rock the
square bar sufficiently to release the spring catch.
In order that the foot rest may be placed in the desired position for the feet of
any of the various drivers who may at different times be operating the machine, it
is often considered an advantage to be able to adjust the foot rest backwards or
forwards. According to this present arrangement, when this adjustment is effected,
the foot pedal slides along the square bar so as to be always in the same relative
position to the foot rest and convenient to the driver's foot, and at the same time
be able to communicate the necessary rocking movement to the square bar.
According to the arrangement described, it will be seen that the driver can, by
means of the single lever h move the reel, which is carried by the forward end of
the reel frame a up or down and backwards or forwards (see dotted lines Fig. 1);
it being held by the sliding bolt in the rack quadrant e in the desired position up
or down, and by the curved bar jand spring catch in the desired position backwards
or forwards. It will be also seen that by the use of the intermediate frame e
the point of connection of the reel frame a is always directly over the point of
connection of the lever, and admits of the backward and forward movement
without changing the relative positions of the lever and the reel frame, as would
be the case if the reel frame were connected to an extension of the rocking frame
above the joint to which the lever is attached.
We have described the upright, the intermediate and the reel frames as such,
but they may be simply bars of one member each only, and jointed to each other,
in such case the outer end of the part carrying the reel is kept in position sideways
by means of an upright radiating rod or pipe x Fig. 5ª Sheet 2 acting as a guide
and suitably stayed for the purpose, the rod or pipe and its stay being attached by
joints to the lower part of the machine so as to admit of the backward and forward
movement of the reel.
j
Acccording to another method for regulating the backward and forward
movement of the reel, we dispense with the foot arrangement and make use of a
separate upright lever m, Fig. 2 connected by a rod m' to either the rocking frame
or the back link which is parallel with it, and arranged in a position convenient to
the driver; the lever being provided with the necessary spring catch to gear into
a fixed rack quadrant m² so that it may be detained in any desired position.
Or as a modification of the previously described single lever arrangement, and
likewise dispensing with the foot apparatus, we make use of an arrangement shown
in Figs. 3 and 4 Sheet 1 and mount a second spring handle n on the single lever o
and by means of rods and a bell crank p placed in such position as to be unaffected
by any up and down movement of the lever, we actuate a sliding bolt or catch which
gears into a fixed rack quadrant y having its arc centred from the bearing which
carries the rocking frame.
In order to assist the backward and forward movement, more especially in the
arrangement described wherein a single lever operated these movements together
with the up and down ones; we make use of a horizontal cross-piece or link r

page_text: Fig. 1 having one end jointed at a point near the lower end of the rocking frame ↳ and
the other at a similar point near the lower end of the back link f which is parallel to
it; the cross-piece forming a connection between the two, at equal distances above
their bearings. Beneath this cross piece we place a spring, having an upward
pressure on the same, so that when the rocking frame and back link are moved
either backwards or forwards this spring is compressed; the pressure being greatest
at the most backward or forward positions. This spring, by preference a spiral
one, can be placed in a box or tube c² which is formed in one with the bracket
which carries the bearings for the rocking frame and the back link, central
between the bearings; and the spring box can be continued below the bottom of
the bracket and recessed into or through the seat board, and in order to guide the
spring and prevent its upper end from travelling backwards and forwards with the
cross-piece, we make use of an arm or radius-bar s centred on one of the bearings
and having a friction roller at the top of its outer end which bears against the
underside of the cross-piece; the lower part of the outer end of the arm being
adapted to fit on the upper end of the spring, or on a plunger which is guided by
the spring box and forced upwards by the spring.
Although we have described the cross-piece as being attached at each end, and
the spring placed between the points of attachment, we do not confine ourselves to
this particular arrangement; as either end of the cross-piece may be extended
beyond the point of attachment, and the spring placed in position under this
extended end. Or the back link may be discontinued below its point of connection
to the cross-piece as shown in Fig. 5 Sheet 1 and the latter extended backwards
and connected to a short bar t corresponding to the otherwise lower part of the
back link, and carried in a bearing similar to that described for the back link.
According to a modification of the arrangement the spring may be placed in an
inverted spring-box, secured to or formed in one with the cross piece and by means
of a plunger or other suitable arrangement be made to press on a roller which
.travels on a fixed surface parallel with the cross piece.
As a further modification of the arrangement, we make use of a horizontal spiral
spring u Fig. 2 acting on an extension of either the rocking frame or the back link
below the bearing of the same. This spring is placed on a rod u¹ which is connected
to the before mentioned extension, and is slightly compressed between two collars
or washers which are free to slide on this rod in the direction for further com-
pressing the spring; but are prevented from going asunder, the one by a shoulder
forined on the rod u' and the other by an adjustable nut or fixed collar u².
The washers in their extended positions are made to fit between two fixed
abutments w, or between the ends of a fixed spring box through which the rod
passes as shown in Fig. 5ª Sheet 2; so that when the rod moves forwards the outer
washer compresses the spring, and when the rod moves backwards the inner washer
compresses the spring.
In all the arrangements previously described we have adopted a spiral spring as
being more readily applied; but we do not wish to confine ourselves to any particular
form of spring the main feature of this part of the invention being the application
of a single spring to assist the backward movement of the reel when it is at its
most forward position and give a similar assistance to the forward movement when
it is at its most backward position.
The second part of this invention relates to the gearing for giving a rotary
motion to the reel, and to the manner of readily changing the speed, so as to be
able to run it faster when it is desired to pick up laid crops. On a horizontal
.shaft 1, (Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 Sheet 3) which is driven by any convenient arrangement
trom the other working parts of the machine, we mount a clutch 2 which is driven
by the shaft 1 but is free to slide endways so that its teeth may gear into corre
sponding teeth formed on the side of each of two spur wheels 3 and 4 of slightly
-different diameters, and which are placed on the shaft, one on either side of the
clutch, so that when the teeth of the latter are in gear with one of the spur wheels
-the other is free to revolve on the shaft, and vice versa. The clutch may be shifted

page_text: into gear with one or the other of the wheels by any ordinary arrangement of levers-
and rods so as to be convenient for the driver to operate without leaving his seat..
Parallel with the horizontal shaft is a "back gear" consisting of two spur wheels 5.
and 6 connected together or keyed on a shaft which is carried in suitable bearings;:
the one of the back gear wheels 5 gearing into the larger spur wheel 3 on the
horizontal shaft and the other (6) gearing into the smaller one (4) so that when
the clutch is moved into gear with the larger spur wheel 3 the motion is com--
municated to the smaller spur wheel 4 by means of the back gear, and when the
clutch is moved into gear with the smaller spur wheel 4 the latter is driven at the.
same speed as the horizontal shaft. On the back of this smaller spur wheel 4 is.
formed or cast a bevel pinion 7 which gears into a bevel wheel at the lower end
of a radiating shaft 9 which is connected to the horizontal shaft by a bridle 10 and.
drives the reel in the ordinary manner.
By arranging this gearing so that the ordinary speed, or that which will be most
in use, is that in which the bevel pinion is driven direct at the same speed as the
horizontal shaft; the back gear is running idle except at such times as the higher-
speed is required.
The next part of the invention relates to the construction of the bridle or
radiating bearing which retains the before mentioned bevel wheel 8 in gear with.
the bevel pinion 7. Between the inner face of the latter and the face of the.
bearing 11 which supports the outer end of the horizontal shaft 1 and on the.
said horizontal shaft, we mount a cross head 10 having a right angled stem on,
which the bevel wheel 8 is free to revolve; and in order to keep the same in
gear with the pinion, we form a recess in the cross head 10 to receive the head
of a pin 12 which passes through the centre of the stem and is continued up.
within an extension of the boss of the bevel wheel and secured to it, so that.
the pin shall revolve with the wheel, the latter revolving outside the stem and.
the pin revolving inside the same; the before mentioned head of the pin
resisting the thrust of the bevel gear. Within a further extension of the boss.
of the bevel wheel we secure the square, or otherwise formed, radiating shaft 9,
by preference in such a manner that it may be disconnected at will, and that
by also uncoupling the link which connects the outer end of the lever to the:
reel frame as mentioned in a former part of this Specification, the reel frame.
may be folded backwards and the reel assume a position over the grain platform
so as to obviate the necessity of removing the reel for transit.
We have described the gearing as applied to a horizontal shaft, but a similar
arrangement may be applied to an inclined shaft, in which case the above mentioned.
bevel gear is formed to the desired angle, and instead of the bridle connecting the
radiating shaft the latter is connected to the bevel wheel by means of a universal.
joint or other suitable coupling.
According to another arrangement for giving two speeds to the reel, the before-
mentioned horizontal shaft is discontinued at about half its length, and a spur
wheel secured to the overhanging end of the same gives motion to another spur
wheel having a different number of teeth and secured to the outer end of a shaft.
which carries the bevel pinion for giving motion to the radiating shaft. By
changing these spur wheels from one shaft to the other, the necessary variation can.
be made in the speed of the reel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what.
we claim is :--
1. The combination with the reel frame of an intermediate frame connecting the.
same to the rocking frame substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
2. The intermediate frame e connecting the reel frame to the rocking frame, with.
the arm el connected to the back link f, substantially as described.
3. The combination of the curved barj with the catch box k and the self adjusting:
foot pedal for actuating the spring catch, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The horizontal cross piece attached to the rocking frame and the back link,
in combination with the spring for assisting the backward and forward movement
of the reel and the modifications thereof, substantially as described.
5. The further modification having the horizontal spring for assisting the
backward and forward movement of the reel substantially as described.
6. The arrangement of clutch and gearing for changing the speed of the reel
combined and operating substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of March 1894.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.