IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING - AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1863

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 17th July 1863, and dated the 28th January 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Crichley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
January 1863.
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 :-
The object of this Invention is to lessen the draught of these machines,.
and to obtain either a back or side delivery in perfect sheaf. This is effected
in the following manner:-The travelling wheel is cast without arms, having
an internal rib, the inner periphery of which is geared, having flanges or ribs
up to the pitch line; running in this wheel are three pinions, one drives the
knife, the speed being attained by a pair of bevilled wheels; another pinion
merely keeps the ring or travelling wheel in its position; while the third
pinion drives that that works the delivery and also retains the travelling
wheel in its position. These three pinions run, as it were, in a geared
railway. A cast-iron bracket carries these pinions, and also the whole of the
machine. The spindles for the pinion driving the bevil wheel and the pinion
used as a guide are cast in the bracket, as also is the spindlo on which runs

page_text: the crank or fly wheel. The spindle of the crank or fly wheel and the spindle
carrying the bevil wheel are forged in one, thus adding strength to the
casting. The bracket is bored for the spindle of the other internal pinion, as
the first pulley has to drive the second pulley. On the bracket is cast a square
flanged place to receive the front bar of the shaft, which is bolted thereto.
In the bracket there are cast a series of holes to allow the knife bar to be
easily shifted higher or lower. The crank wheel and pinion is cast in one.
The top of the bracket is arranged to carry two uprights; the first is a fixture
carrying a pulley and pinion, the other upright forms part of the frame for
carrying the machinery for the fly and delivery rake. This frame is made to
oscillate. Through this frame runs a tubular shaft, having keyed upon it a wheel,
which wheel runs into the pinion above named, which being stationary causes
the wheel not only to revolve, but to give an oscillating motion to the frame
equal to the protuberance on the wheel. The wheels are kept in gear by the
spindle of the pinion running in a groove. On the inner end of the tabular
shaft is keyed a sort of face plate; this plate has cast upon it places to
receive the bent pieces of timber to form the fly; these are held in their
position by thumbscrews, and admit of easy alterations. On this plate is
also bolted a piece of timber for carrying the shaft of the rake. The rake is
made fast to this shaft, but by means of a set pin it can be easily raised or
lowered. On this shaft is fixed a short lever connected with another lever
running across the face plate. Attached to this lever is a rod running through
the hollow shaft, on the end of which is an universal joint. This is again
connected with a bell crank connected to a rod; this being held at its end, it
follows that as the frame oscillates the rake sweeps the platform, gradually
acquiring an angle of 90 degrees. The rake having cleared the board is
brought to its former position again by the forward oscillation of the frame.
The object gained by having the wheel above named is, that a proper speed
is given to the three wings of the fly, whilst a greatly reduced speed is
imparted to the rake at the moment of delivering the corn, either on the side
or back, thus discharging it without scattering; in order to effect a back
delivery the board must be shortened, and the rake made fast by disconnecting
the bell crank. The oscillation of the frame, besides giving a semicircular
motion to the rake and a reduced speed, keeps the end of the rake down
upon the platform as it revolves upon its own axis (the tubular shaft before
named). The speed of the fly should be just sufficient, to bring the standing
corn over the knife bar, so that it will fall nicely upon the platform. In
boreing out the crank wheel and pinion it should be recessed to hold oil.
The bevil wheel is cast with a long boss parallel, the ratchet and internal

page_text: pinion being cast in one. This is bored, and slips over the long boss of the
bevil wheel. At the back of the bevil wheel is a pall kept in the ratchet by
a spring, allowing the machine to back without driving the knife. In
working these two parts must be well oiled, as the wheels run loose on their
spindles they cannot be tightened; they will, however, if taken care of, wear
as long as any other part.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Crichley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th July 1863.
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 Twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry Crichley, Her special license 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 "IMPROVEMENTS 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 Inven-
tion, 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 my 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 Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of this Invention is to lessen the draught of these machines, and
to obtain either a back or side delivery in perfect sheaf.

page_text: Figure 1 is a front elevation; Figure 2 is a plan; Figure 3 a part end view
of Figure 1; Figure 4 are detached views of the driving bevil wheel, ratchet,
and cap; and Figures 5 and 6 are two side elevations with portions of the
shafts removed.
I will now proceed to describe the operations of this machine, which are
effected in the following manner :-Tbe travelling wheel is cast without arms,
having an internal rib, the inner periphery of which is geared, having flanges
or ribs up to the pitch line; running in this wheel are three pinions, one
drives the knife, the speed being attained by a pair of bevilled wheels, another
pinion merely keeps the ring or travelling wheel in its position, while the third
pinion drives that that works the delivery and also retains the travelling wheel
in its position. These three pinions run, as it were, in a geared railway. A cast-
iron bracket carries these pinions, also the whole of the machine. The spindles
for the pinion driving the bevil wheel and the pinion used as a guide are cast
in the bracket, as also is the spindle on which runs the crank or fly wheel.
The spindle of the crank or fly wheel and the two spindles for carrying the
bevil wheel are forged in one, thus adding strength to the casting. The bracket
is bored for the spindle of the other internal pinion, as the first pulley (F) has
to drive the second pulley (G). On the bracket is cast a square flanged
place to receive the front bar of the shaft, which is bolted thereto. In the
bracket there are cast a series of holes (P) to allow the knife bar to. be
readily shifted higher or lower. The crank wheel and pinion is cast in one, as
seen at (R). The top of the bracket is arranged to carry two uprights (A
and B), the first is a fixture, carrying a pulley (G) and pinion (E), the other
upright (B) forms part of the frame for carring the machinery for the fly and
delivery rake. This frame is made to oscillate. Through this frame runs a
tubular shaft (H), having keyed upon it a wheel (Z), into which wheel runs
the pinion (E) above named, which being stationary, causes the wheel (Z) not
only to revolve, but to give an oscillating motion to the frame equal to the
protuberance on the wheel (Z). At (K) the wheels are kept in gear by the
spindle of the pinion (E) running in a groove (N). On the inner end of
the tubular shaft is keyed a sort of plate (M); this plate has cast upon it a
place to receive the bent pieces of timber to form the fly; these are held in
their position by thumb screws (T), and admit of easy alteration. On this
plate is also bolted a piece of timber for carrying the shaft of the rake (V).
The rake is made fast to this shaft, but by means of a set pin it can be easily
raised or lowered. On this shaft (V) is fixed a short lever connected with

page_text: another lever running across the face plate. Attached to this lever is a rod
running through the hollow shaft, on the end of which is an universal joint
that is again connected with a bell crank connected to a rod; this being held
at its end, it follows that as the frame oscillates the rake sweeps the platform,
gradually acquiring an angle of 90 degrees. The rake having cleared the
board is brought to its former position again by the forward oscillation of the
frame. The object gained by having the wheel (Z) above named is, that a
proper speed is given to the three wings of the fly, whilst a greatly reduced
speed is imparted to the rake at the moment of delivering the corn either on
the side or back, thus discharging it without scattering; in order to effect a
back delivery the board must be shortened, the rake made fast by disconnecting
the bell crank. The oscillation of the frame, besides giving a semicircular
motion to the rake and a reduced speed, keeps the end of the rake down upon
the platform as it revolves upon its own axis (the tubular shaft) before named.
The speed of the fly should be just sufficient to bring the standing corn over
the knife bar, so that it will fall nicely upon the platform. In boring out the
crank wheel and pinion it should be recessed to hold oil. The bevil wheel is
cast with a long boss parallel, the ratchet and internal pinion being cast in
At the
one; this is bored, and slips over the long boss of the bevil wheel.
back of the bevel wheel is a pall, kept in the ratchet by a spring, allowing the
machine to back without driving the knife. In working, these two parts must
be well oiled, as the wheels run loose on their spindles they cannot be
tightened; they will, however, if taken care of, wear as long as any other
part. Instead of the ratchet before named, a strong stitching coupling may
be employed if preferred.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I claim, without confining myself to the
precise details herein described and illustrated, the general arrangement and
combination of the several parts of the machine, as herein more fully set forth
and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Crichley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
HENRY CRICHLEY. (L.S.)