IMPROVE- MENTS IN REAPING MACHINES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Corbett at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th July 1866.
I, THOMAS CORBETT, of Shrewsbury, in the County of Salop, Agricultural
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REAPING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to the platforms of reaping machines, that is,
to that part of a reaping machine on which the grain or plant cut by the
sickle is received.
My Invention relates, secondly, to the application of the mechanism
herein-after described to reaping machines for the purpose of effecting a side
delivery of the grain or plant cut, the said delivery being either in sheaf
or swathe.
In constructing the platforms of reaping machines according to the first
part of my Invention I proceed as follows:-I apply a cylindrical bar or
tube of iron or other material at the back of the cutter bar and parallel with
the back of the said cutter bar, the said cylindrical bar or tube turning on its
axis in bearings in the frame of the machine and the shoe, or it may be
attached to the cutter bar. I fix on the said cylindrical bar or tube, by means
of screws or otherwise, a series of iron or other clips or sockets, the said clips
or sockets being fixed at a distance from each other equal to that which the
laths or bars constituting the platform are required to have; I make the
said laths or bars of a triangular figure in cross section, the flat sides being
turned upwards and angles being consequently presented downwards; I fix

page_text: The laths
the laths or bars to the clips or sockets by screws or otherwise.
or bars may be fixed at right angles to the cutter bar or at any other required
angle. Instead of connecting the clips or sockets for the reception of the laths
or bars to the cylindrical bar or tube in the manner described the said clips or
sockets may be cast in one piece with the cylindrical bar, or the said clips or
sockets may be otherwise connected to the said cylindrical bar without
departing from the nature of my Invention. I apply to the said cylindrical
bar or tube a foot iron for the reception of the foot of the man employed in
working the machine, and also a stop which by coming in contact with the
cutter bar prevents the platform from being raised to high.
Although I prefer to make the bar or tube to which the laths of the
platform are attached of a cylindrical figure as described, yet if only that side
of it which is turned towards the cutter bar is made of a semi-cylindrical figure
it has the same or nearly the same effect.
By constructing the platforms of reaping machines according to my Inven-
tion the opening between the bottom of the platform and the cutter bar, which
is formed when the platforms of the ordinary construction are lowered,
avoided as well as the consequent inconvenience which arises from the grain
striking into the said opening and preventing the cutter bar being easily
cleared.
The mechanism constituting the second part of my Invention for effecting
a side delivery of the grain is constructed as follows:-To a platform, either
constructed in the manner constituting the first part of my Invention or any
other platform of a reaping machine, I apply an apparatus such as is usually
employed for swathing barley or other short grain. The said apparatus
consists of a curved plate or plates attached to the cylindrical bar in a direction
diagonal to the cut of the machine. When the platform is raised the grain
cut falls on the platform by depressing the platform, when sufficient grain
has accumulated the stubble strikes up between the laths and carries the cut
grain against the curved plate by which it is guided to the side of the machine,
When the grain is to be swathed instead of collected into sheaves, I make
the platform stationary, the top surface being nearly on a level with the cutter
bar, over which the grain is conducted by the stubble, and is afterwards
delivered in swathe on one side by the curved plate. The curved plate is
connected to the cylindrical bar by sockets which work loosely on the bar so
as to allow the said curved plate to rise and fall as it passes over inequalities
on the land. To prevent the curved plate moving inwardly towards the main
framework of the machine I apply a fast collar working up against the clips or
sockets which connect the apparatus to the cylindrical bar. In using this

page_text: apparatus the attendant seated on the machine applies his foot to the foot
iron and raises the platform for the reception of the cut grain; sufficient
grain being accumulated on the platform for a sheaf, he withdraws his foot
and the weight of the sheaf depresses the platform; the stubble strikes up
between the laths or bars of the platform and so takes off the sheaf, which is
delivered by the curved plate at the side of the machine, thereby forming a
clear track for the horses when they next come round.