IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th April
1869. A communication from abroad by Samuel Clark Ridgaway,
of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, United States of
America.
I, ALEXANDER CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, and of Rathbone
Place, both in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND
MOWING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in reaping and mowing
machines, and to raking attachments for the mowers, and has for its
object to simplify the construction of the framework and the mechanism
for operating the cutter bar, to provide simple and efficient means for
operating the rake, and a novel apparatus for adjusting the height of the
cutting apparatus and for throwing the rake attachment out of gear.
The Invention consists, 1st, in making the finger bar, that is to say,
the bar to which the fingers are secured, of one single piece, and in
extending it in an elevated position backward along the inner side of the
driving wheel, so that it will support the box in which the said driving

page_text: wheel has its bearings, and also the pole and all the other mechanism
connected with the driving of the cutting and raking apparatus and recl.
A very substantial and rigid frame is thus produced by this bar, as it
unites all the parts of the machine and braces them. The machine will
therefore operate with greater case and accuracy, and is not so apt to
have its parts work loose. The machines now in use which are not
provided with a rigid frame of the aforesaid description will, when
exposed to wear, very soon get out of order, as the small bolts connecting
their several parts commence to become loose, while those machines
which are made strong and substantial have an expensive, bulky, and
heavy frame. The improved frame or bar of this Invention is light, easily
made, and imparts the requisite strength.
The Invention consists, secondly, in securing upon the backward
extending portion of the aforesaid supporting bar a metal plate or bar,
which extends forward and is bent down and inward on or near the
ground, so that it will serve as a guard to protect the pitman connection
of the cutter bar from any obstructions on the ground, the said connection
working within the hollow of the guard. On this latter plate, which is
secured upon the backward extension of the finger bar, is also secured
the frame for supporting the rotating reel and an arm or arms that are
connected with the device for raising and lowering the cutting apparatus,
said device being fastened upon the pole which is sustained on the back-
ward extension of the finger bar.
The Invention consists, thirdly, in the form and construction of the
cast metal box, which is fastened upon the aforesaid backward extension
of the finger bar, and which supports the main driving wheel as well as
the pole and their respective appendages. The tubular axle upon which
the wheel is hung loosely projects from the outer side of the said box.
The pole or tongue is pivoted to the said box by a bolt passing through
the hollow axle that supports the wheel, so that the draft is thereby
applied to the centre of the driving wheel. The under side of the box
is grooved to embrace and fit upon the finger bar extension, so as to lap
over the edges of same to prevent lateral displacement. The inner side
of the box and the outer end of the fixed axle may also be provided for
sustaining the foot support for the rider, whose seat is supported either
directly on the back end of the finger bar extension or on a transverse
brace resting thereon. The said transverse brace lines and strengthens
the inner edge of the grain platform, whose front edge is lined by the
finger bar itself.

page_text: The Invention consists, fourthly, in a new mechanism for imparting
motion to the cutter bar. On the driving wheel is formed a conical or
flaring serpentine groove or track actuating a conical roller fitted upon an
arm that projects from a pivoted pin, so that as the said wheel revolves
it will by the serpentine track throw the end of the said arm alternately
back and forth to oscillate the said pin, the conical roller and groove
serving to overcome friction. By suitable pitman connections the motion
of the pin is transmitted to the cutter bar to impart reciprocating motion
to the same. This mode of moving the cutting bar is considerably
cheaper than the usual method by gearing heretofore employed and is not
so apt to get out of repair.
The Invention consists, fifthly, in a new mechanism for operating the
rake. This mechanism consists of a vertical arbor which has its bearings
in the back of the platform, and which is by a connecting shaft thrown
in gear with the driving wheel. On the upper end of the arbor is a
crank with an extension rod or bar on it. This extension rod or bar has
a lug or projection that is provided with a friction roller fitted into a
stationary cam groove which is supported on the platform. As the arbor
is rotated the extension bar which revolves with it is moved in and out
according to the shape of the cam grcove. The rake head is pivoted
near its front end to a swivel pin that is fitted upon the outer end of the
extension rod, while the rear end of the rake head fits through a swivel
pin which is supported on a stationary arm that projects from the back
of the platform. The latter swivel pin is lower than that to which the
rake head is pivoted, so that when the distance between the two swivel
pins is reduced, while the rotating crank is in rear of its arbor, the rake
will be clevated. The shape of the cam will while the rake is on the
platform cause the same to sweep in the required direction over the
platform.
The Invention consists, sixthly, in forming a rib on the platform, upon
which the cut straw will fall. This rib will hold the straw elevated
above the platform, so that the rake can sweep the same off without
scratching and injuring the platform, and consequently with less
friction.
The Invention finally consists in a novel arrangement of levers for
throwing the raking attachment in or out of gear, said levers being an
elbow crank arranged under the seat and a V-shaped rod extending to a
pinion on the transmitting shaft. A spring holds the pinion in gear with

page_text: a toothed wheel on the driving wheel whenever the rider does not
expressly throw them out of gear.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan or top
view partly in section of the harvester; Figure 2 is a vertical transverse
section of the same to show the driving wheel and its connections;
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section of the platform showing the
rake in two of its positions; Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section
showing the manner of attaching the finger bar to the platform; Figure 5
is a detail vertical longitudinal section showing the front part of the
finger bar and the box for holding the pole and driving wheel; Figure 6
is a detail plan view of the platform showing a modification of the
raking mechanism; and Figure 7 is a vertical section of the same taken
on the plane of the line x, x, Figure 6. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A in the Drawing represents the main driving wheel of the machine;
it is hung loose on a horizontal pin or axle that projects from the outer
side of a box B which is supported on a metal bar C. This bar C is
the finger bar, extending along the front of the platform D and carrying
the fingers b, b. On the right-hand side of the platform the bar C is
bent upward, as at c, and then in a horizontal direction backward, as
shown, its backward extending end d supporting the box B and with it
the wheel. To the rear end of the arm d is fastened by suitable bolts,
rivets, or otherwise a bar E which extends along the right-hand edge
of the platform, its front end being fastened to the main front part of the
bar C, as indicated in Figure 1. The outer end of the platform D is
supported by a wheel F of suitable size, which is hung on a pin e
projecting from a box or plate fastened to the platform. The bar C is
secured to the platform by means of two or more double plates f
fastened respectively to the upper and lower sides of the bar C by means
of bolts or rivets, and extending backward to lap over the upper and
lower faces of the platform, as shown in Figure 4. The upper plates f
extend forward beyond the bar C to lap over the cutter bar G which
rests on the shanks of the fingers b. The fingers are fastened with
their shanks by suitable screws to the under side of the bar C, the shanks
being T-shaped, so that their lateral extensions come in contact with
each other to form a continuous support for the cutter bar, as indicated
ia section in Figure 1. A beam g extends under the platform D near
the back of the same to give it the requisite strength, and has one end

page_text: or
secured to the bar E, as shown, while tho other end connects with a
rib / under the left-hand end of the platform. From the ends of the
platform project the ordinary shoes H, H, the one on the right-hand
side being connected with a shield i supported on the bar E, as shown.
The box B has downward projecting ears j, j, that lap over the edges of
the bar C to prevent lateral displacement of the box. The box is
fastened upon the bar C by means of screws or bolts, and has two
projecting lugs or ears K which embrace the back end of the pole I,
said pole being by means of a pin or bolt pivotted to the said lugs K,
as shown by dotted lines in Figure 5. This bolt passes entirely through
the hollow axle of the wheel A. The box B serves therefore not only
to support the wheel A and its appendages but also the tongue and all
the appendages of the latter. To the inner side of the box B and to the
outer end of the axle a bolt are or may be fastened the foot
supports m of the driver. In front of the box B is fastened upon the
arm d of the bar C a plate J, which has its front. end bent down and
back, as shown in Figure 2, so as to nearly reach the ground. It will
in this form act as a guard for the cutter bar pitman joint, said joint
working in the hollow of the guard, as shown. From the plate J
project ears or arms n, n, which serve as supports for the bars L that
carry the reel shaft K. The bars L are by a pin o fastened with their
lower ends to the cars n and may also be braced to the same, as shown.
The shaft K has its bearing in boxes that are formed on a bar M, said
bar having sockets that fit upon the supports L and adjustable on the
same. The reel shaft carries projecting reel arms of suitable con-
struction and arrangement. By means of a belt or cord p a pulley on
the reel shaft is connected with a pulley q that is fixed to the wheel A,
so that when the machine is drawn forward and the wheel A turned
the reel will also be revolved. To the upper ends of the cars n is
pivoted a short levers by a pin ", which lever is by a pin t connected
with a short arm u projecting from a lever N, said lever being pivoted
to an arm V that projects from the tongue or pole I. The lever N
works alongside a curved plate w, to which it can be locked in any
suitable position. Thus by means of the lever N, which has its supports
on the pole, the machine can be swung on the pin t to raise or lower
the cutting apparatus to any desired degree. On the inner face of the
wheel A is formed a serpentine groove x which extends along the
face of the wheel so as to be endless, as shown in Figure 1. Into this
groove fits a conical roller y which is hung on an arm z that projects

page_text: from a vertical arbor a. The arbor a¹ is hung in a box
fastened to
the back part of the arm d and has a long crank arm C at its lower
end, as shown. This crank arm extends forward into the guard J, and
is there pivoted to a rod d', which connects it with the outer
end of the cutter bar G. As the wheel A. revolves the roller y is
moved back and forth in its serpen tine groove x, whereby the arbor a¹
is rapidly oscillated. These oscillations being imparted to the arm C'
cause the cutter bar to be moved back and forth with the requisite
velocity. The number of strokes of the cutter bar during each revolution of
the wheel is equal to the number of waves in the serpentine groove.
Instead of being in the form of a groove the operating mechanism
on the wheel A may be a serpentine projecting track to give a similar
motion to a sleeve or pin that straddles it, or it may be a double groove
or track swinging the two ends of a pivoted bar.
I desire it to be distinctly understood that this part of the Invention
consists broadly in the employment of a serpentine groove or track on
a rotating wheel of the machine for imparting the requisite reciprocating
motion to the cutter bar whatever may be the connecting devices
between the said serpentine groove or track and the cutter bar. The
rake O is secured to a handle or bar e', which is by a pin f¹ pivoted to
a vertical stud f' pivoted to a vertical stud g¹ swivelled in the outer end
of a horizontal bar P. This bar P is fitted through a socket formed on
the crank of a vertical arbor Q that has its supports and bearings in the
back part of the platform D. A stationary grooved cam j¹ is secured
around the arbor Q to the platform, a pin K¹³ projecting from the bar P
fitting into the cam groove. The rear end of the rake handle e¹ is fitted
through a slotted swivel stud /, which is supported on a fixed arm m¹
that projects backward from the platform. As the arbor Q receives
rotary motion by suitable mechanism it carries its crank around with
it and with the same the extension bar P, which is by its pin K' moved
in and out as the same travels in the cam groove. The rake is thus
moved backward and forward and turned on the arbor Q to obtain the
requisite motion. The rear guide stud is placed below the level of
the supporting stud g', that is to say, supposing the platform D to be
level, so that the nearer the pin g¹ is to the more will the rake be
elevated. Thus, while the rake is over the front part of the platform,
as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3, it will be lowered as when
it is drawn backward. It is also shown in its elevated position in black
lines in Figure 3.

page_text: In Figures 6 and 7 is illustrated a modification of the rake mechanism.
The sole difference between this and the one above described is that
the extension crank P instead of being arranged to slide on the crank
of the arbor Q is by means of a pin ' pivoted to the same, whereby
the requisite motion is imparted to the rake, as before described. The
arbor Qreceives rotary motion from a shaft R which has its bearings in
pendants o', o', that project from the arm d and from the under side of
the platform. The shaft R carries a pinion p' gearing in a bevil pinion
of the arbor Q, while on the other end of the shaft R a sliding
pinion is arranged gearing in a toothed wheel & that is secured to and
forms part of the wheel A. The pinion r has a grooved shank, which is
connected with the backward extending arm of a V-shaped lever S, said
lever being at the junction of its arms pivoted by a pin t to an ear u¹
projecting from the arm d, as shown. The other arm of the lever S
extends from the pivot backward to a bell crank T, which is by a
horizontal pin V₁ pivoted to a vertical arm projecting from the plate E.
The horizontal arm of the lever T is by a spring w¹ thrown up so that
thereby the pinion 7" is held in gear with the wheel 8'. When however
by suitable power the horizontal arm of the bell crank is depressed, the
wheel will be moved on the shaft R to be out of gear. The raking
attachment can thus at any time be held out of gear when the machine
is backed or whenever desired. I have arranged the driver's seat U above
the back end of the arm d or bar E, so that the driver inay have his fect
on the steps m during the operation. When he desires to throw the
raking attachment out of gear he has only to press one foot upon the
lever T. As soon as he takes the foot off the lever J the spring w¹ is
at liberty to throw the pinion into gear. V represents a projecting
rib on the platform D; it is secured upon the face of the platform and
is so formed that it will be straddled by two of the rake teeth during the
raking operation, as shown in Figure 3. The cut grain will fall upon
and lay across this rib and will be readily swept along by the moving
rake, whose teeth need not reach to the surface of the platform as
required in the ordinary machines. The friction produced by the rake
teeth moving on the platform and the consequent injury of the latter
are thus avoided.