IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND ROLLING LAND, AND IN STEAM ENGINES FOR THESE AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to The Honourable Walter Stuart, Master of Blantyre,
residing at Scribers' Cross, Sutherlandshire, and George Greig, of Harvieston,
Stonehaven, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING
AND ROLLING LAND, AND IN STEAM ENGINES FOR THESE AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 22nd January 1878, and dated the 31st July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Stuart and George
Greig at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st July 1877.
The Honourable WALTER STUART, Master of Blantyre, residing at Scribers' Cross,
Sutherlandshire, and GEORGE GREIG, of Harvieston, Stonehaven. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND ROLLING LAND, AND IN STEAM ENGINES FOR
THESE AND OTHER PURPOSES.'
For reaping we employ a traction engine, to the back end of which in rear of
the driving wheels we hang a finger bar and knife by links, in such a manner that
it can rise and fall to adapt itself to inequalities and so that it projects out at one
side of the machine. The axis from which the knife receives its to-and-fro motion
we drive direct by an endless cord or band from the crank shaft of the engine, which
is usually above the top of the boiler; this allows the knife bar to rise or fall without
the driving gear being affected.
We also construct the traction engine so that its running wheels may be driven
at two or more different speeds, as required, and we also in like manner provide
for varying the speed at which the knife is driven.
The finger and knife bar we make of much greater length than is usual in
ordinary horse-reaping machines, and we provide a stay from the fore part of the
engine to the outer end of the bar or to a point intermediate of its length.
The traction engine is provided with wheels suitable for an ordinary road, and
these wheels are formed so that rings can be put on them at one or both sides to
form them into rollers, and so that the front and back wheels together cover a strip
of ground equal to the entire width of the engine, or greater width. By thus com-

page_text: bining a steam roller and reaping machine we are enabled to roll the land at the
time of reaping or not, as may be desired.
In some cases, when the reaping knife is of considerable length, we use two or
more knives, or form the knife in sections jointed together, so that it may more
readily adapt itself to the inequalities of the land, and each section may be driven
by a separate connecting rod. We prefer to carry a rake in front of the engine.
For the proper clearing of the engine boiler of sediment we employ an endless
chain or screws round the water space of the fire-box, which may be actuated by
the force of the exit of the water through a plug or by power.
We also construct the engines on springs which act without throwing the driving
gear out of truth. To effect this we connect the two sides of the engine to the
main axle by means of levers, in such a way that when one side of the engine is
depressed the lever depressed acts upon another lever in connection with it and
produces the same depression on the other side of the engine; the driving shafts
are consequently kept in true parallel relation and the gear is consequently kept
in truth.
In place of using levers the same effect may be obtained by chains attached to
the sides of the engine, and passing under and over pullies carried by the axle.
We also provide a curved slot, in which the axle rises and falls in the framework.
The extent of curve in this slot will be regulated by the diameter of the pinion or
wheel which works the spur wheel on the driving shaft.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Stuart and George Greig in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th January 1878.
The Honourable WALTER STUART, Master of Blantyre, residing at Scribers' Cross,
Sutherlanshire, and GEORGE GREIG, of Harvieston, Stonehaven. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR REAPING AND ROLLING LAND, AND IN STEAM ENGINES FOR
THESE AND OTHER PURPOSES."
For reaping we employ a traction engine, to the back end of which in rear of
the driving wheels we hang a finger bar and knife by links, in such a manner that
it can rise and fall to adapt itself to inequalities, and so that it projects out at one
side of the machine. The axis from which the knife receives its to-and-fro motion
we drive direct by an endless cord or band from the crank shaft of the engine, which
is usually above the top of the boiler; this allows the knife bar to rise or fall without
the driving gear being affected.
We also construct the traction engine so that its running wheels may be driven
at two or more different speeds, as required.
The finger and knife bar we make of much greater length than is usual in
ordinary horse-reaping machines, and we provide a stay from the fore part of the
engine to the outer end of the bar or to a point intermediate of its length."
The traction engine is provided with wheels suitable for an ordinary road, and
these wheels are formed so that rings can be put on them at one or both sides to
form them into rollers, and so that the front and back wheels together cover a strip

page_text: of ground equal to the entire width of the engine, or greater width. By thus com-
bining a steam roller and reaping machine we are enabled to roll the land at the
time of reaping or not, as may be desired.
In some cases, when the reaping knife is of considerable length, we use two or
more knives, or form the knife in sections, jointed together, so that it may more
readily adapt itself to the inequalities of the land.
For the proper clearing of the engine boiler of sediment we employ an endless
chain or screws round the water space of the fire-box, which may be actuated by
the force of the exit of the water through a plug or by power.
We also construct the engines on springs which act without throwing the driving
gear out of truth. To effect this we connect the two sides of the engine to the
main axle by means of levers or rack and segment, as shown, in such a way that
when one side of the engine is depressed the lever or segment depressed acts upon
another lever or segment in connection with it, and produces the same depression
on the other side of the engine. The driving shafts are consequently kept in true
parallel relation, and the gear is consequently kept in truth.
In place of using segments and racks the same effect may be obtained by chains
attached to the sides of the engine and passing under and over pulleys carried by
the axle.
We also provide a curved slot in which the intermediate axis of the driving train
rises and falls in the framework.
In order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 is a plan of reaping and rolling machinery
constructed according to our Invention. It consists of a traction engine, to the
back end of which in rear of the driving wheels links A, A, are jointed. These
links are braced together so as to form a frame to which the finger bar B is fixed,
and behind the finger bar there is an axis and a pair of wheels C supporting the
link frame at the back. The finger bar B is similar to that commonly employed in
reaping machines, except that it of greater length and jointed, in order that it
may be able to conform to the irregularities of the ground. The knife also we
prefer to make in sections, which we connect the one to the other in such manner
as to enable the different sections to adapt themselves to the play of the parts of
the jointed finger bar. The knife receives its motion from a crank by means of a
connecting rod in the usual manner. At the outer end of the finger bar there is a
small carrying wheel, and a stay D connects this end of the finger bar with the fore
part of the engine. The crank for actuating the knife is at the lower end of the
inclined axis E, which by a bevilled wheel and pinion is geared with the axisl
The axis F is driven by means of a pulley at its end, and an endless cord passes
around the pulley and also around another pulley G upon the crank shaft of the
engine. G*, G*, are the main wheels of the engine, they are capable of being
widened to enable them to serve as rollers by fixing to them the rings G¹, GH; the
engine is supported in front by a ring frame H, within which an inner ring I is
able to turn upon rollers under the control of steering chains. The frame I carries
an axis, upon which are the two leading wheels K, K, and for the purpose of rolling
the land, when desired, rings K¹, K', can be fixed to the wheels K or to the axis
to form a roller as wide as the interval between the wheels G*, Gx. As an
alternative arrangement the fore part of the engine may be carried by wheels
indicated by the dotted lines at L, L.
Figure 3 is an elevation, and Figure 4 is a plan, partly in section, showing to a
larger scale a portion of the engine. M is the main axle, and N, N, are springs
fixed to it, and the body of the engine is suspended by links from the outer ends of
the springs. Thus the two sides of the engine are hung from the axle inde-

page_text: pendently, and but for the gear, we will now proceed to describe, would be able
to incline to the one side or the other which would tend to derange the driving
gear.
The mechanism by which an equal play of the two springs is ensured consists
of two racks O, O, attached to the axle, and gearing with teeth upon the levers P, P;
these levers are rigidly connected by the cross shaft Q, so that when one side of the
engine descends and depresses the lever P on one side, the motion is transmitted
to the other lever P, and a corresponding depression of the body of the engine on
the other side results.
The main wheels of the engine are driven by means of toothed wheels R, R, fixed
upon them and gearing with pinions upon a traverse shaft S, which also carries two
toothed wheels S¹, S¹, of different sizes, which can be driven by corresponding
pinions upon the crank shaft T of the engine. Either the one or the other of these
pinions can be made fast upon the shaft by a clutch, according as it is desired to
drive the engine at a faster or slower speed. The bearings which carry the trans-
verse shaft S are able to move along curved slots concentric with the crank shaft T,
and they are connected with the axle M. by links U, so that the shaft S is not
influenced by the play of the springs and the gear train is not interfered with.
Figure 5 is an elevation, and Figure 6 is a transverse section of the engine,
illustrating a modification of the arrangement for ensuring equal play of the springs
on the two sides of the engine; U, U, are two chains, they are each connected with
the axle at their ends in a convenient manner as the Drawing indicates. Each
chain passes up from the axle and around a pulley V. mounted upon the body of
the engine; it then descends and passes around another pulley W, also mounted on
the body of the engine but beneath the axle and on the opposite side. The chain
then ascends and its end is secured to the axle on the same side of the engine, that
is to say, on the side opposite to that to which the other end of the same chain is
made fast. It will be seen in this arrangement that when any vertical movement
of the pulley U on one side of the engine takes place, it compels a corresponding
movement of the pulley V on the other side.
Figure 7 represents an horizontal section of the lower part of the fire-box of the
engine, and illustrates the method in which we apply a clain to disturb the deposit
which takes place in this part of the boiler; W is an endless chain, it is passed
around pulleys at the four corners of the fire-box, and also around a. drum X which
is mounted upon a spindle, which passes out to the exterior of the boiler through a
stuffing box. When the spindle is turned by means of a crank handle applied at
its end the chain travels round and disturbs the sediment which is drawn out by
opening the mud-cock.
Figure 8 shows another arrangement in which screws are employed in the place
of the chain. The screws are marked Y, Y; they are separate the one from the
other, and their spindles are carried in bearings within the fire-box. They are not
driven from the outside, but when the mud-cock is opened the flow of the water
past them causes them to rotate.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we claim,―
First. The combination of a traction engine apparatus suitable for reaping, such
cutting apparatus being driven by the engine, and being connected to the back end
thereof in rear of the driving wheels by links in such manner as to project out at
one side of the machine and be able to rise and fall to adapt itself to inequalities
in the land, substantially as described.
Second. The adaptation to a combined traction engine and reaper of rings, which
can be applied when desired to widen the carrying wheels of the engine, forming
then into rollers, covering the entire surface over which the engine travels, sub-
stantially as described.
Third. In traction engines, in which the body of the engine is separately con-
nected on either side with the main axle by springs, the application of gear in such

page_text: manner as to ensure an equal deflection of the springs on the two sides of the
engine, substantially as described.
Fourth. The application to traction engines, and other engines having boilers of
the locomotive type, of endless chains or screws around the lower part of the water
space of the fire-box to agitate the sediment and facilitate its removal, substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Stuart, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.