Improvements in Mowing Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mowing Machines.
I, HERBERT PERCY SAUNDERSON, of Kempston Road, in the County of
Bedford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in mowing machines, which consists of
an attachment or apparatus fitted to any designed machine.
The object of my invention is to prevent grass and other crops being cut by the
machine and from being blown forward by the wind, thereby causing the machine
to leave an undue length of stubble, and also the attachment assists the machine
when cutting laid and tangled crops, by the action of the beaters which tend to
keep the cutter bar clear, and prevent the clogging of the machine; which enables
blown, or tangled grass to be cut in a better manner.
This invention is constructed with two or more beaters attached to a shaft by
means of flat steel springs, these springs give relief to the beaters in case they
strike any undue obstruction when in action. The shaft is carried by a bracket
which slides up or down a square iron standard. The bracket is kept up to the
adjusting collar by a coil spring which gives relief downwards when the pole
comes in contact with the shaft. The standard is held in position by a casting
which engages with a casting in such a manner as to allow the standard to be
tilted backwards or forwards and held in the desired position. The casting is
made in various forms so as to fit on different makers machines, but it is arranged
to fit the casting with the standard in all cases or manufacturers may cause their
machines to be adapted to take my attachment.
The standard is attached to the inside shoe of the machine, or to the inside end
of the cutter bar, so that it may cause the apparatus to rise and fall with the bar
over uneven ground, and the like.
The beater shaft which is carried by the bracket and extended through it has
affixed thereto a universal joint. The shaft is then continued under the mower
pole as far as the outside mower wheel. A driving wheel is here attached to the
shaft, which running on the ground gives motion to the beaters direct. A flat
spring is attached to the pole in front of, and comes down to the shaft with a
bearing to receive it, and serves the double purpose of a pressure spring, giving a
better grip to the wheel and a brace to the shaft.
Dated this 30th day of March 1896.
J. P. BAYLY,
18 Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Mowing Machines.
I, HERBERT PERCY SAUNDERSON, of Kempston Road, in the County of
Bedford, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in mowing machines.
The object of my invention is to prevent grass and other crops being cut, by a
mowing machine, from being blown forward by the wind, thereby causing the
machine to leave an undue length of stubble, and also the said attachment assists
the machine, when cutting laid and tangled crops, by the action of the beaters,
which tend to keep the cutter bar clear, and to prevent the clogging of the
machine, which enables, blown or tangled crops to be cut better.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed
to describe the accompanying drawing thereof. reference being had to letters
and figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1, is a front elevation.
Fig. 2, is a plan of the driving wheel and gear.
Fig. 3, is a view of an alternate attachment.
In carrying my invention into practice I construct two or more beaters A
attached to a shaft B by means of flat steel springs C which are fastened to the
casting Q, which is held in any desired position ou the shaft. B by a set screw,
this enables the beaters to be adapted for different makes of machines. These
springs C give relief to the beaters in case they strike obstructions when in action
such as the whippletrees of the mower. The shaft B is carried by a bracket D,
which slides up or down a square iron standard E. The bracket D is kept up to
the adjusting collar L by a coil spring F which gives relief downwards should
the pole come in contact with the shaft B B, or the bracket D may simply be held
in place by a set screw. The standard E is held in position by a casting G which
engages with a notched casting H in such a manner as to allow the standard E to
be tilted backwards or forwards and held in the desired position. The casting H
is made in various forms as H.R. Fig. 1, H.S. Fig. 3, so as to fit on different
makers machines, but it is arranged to fit the casting G with the standard E in all
cases, or manufacturers may cause their machines to be adapted to receive my
attachment. The standard E with the castings G and H are attached to the
inside shoe P Fig. 1, or to the inside end of the cutter bar M at the back Fig. 3,
and being rigid with it the apparatus does not collide with, but makes all the
movements of the cutter bar, over uneven ground and the like. The beater shaft B,
which is carried by the bracket D, and is extended through it, has here affixed an
universal joint I. The shaft B B being connected to this is then extended under
the mower pole as far as the outside mower wheel. A driving wheel J is here
attached to the shaft, which, running on the ground, gives motion to the beaters
direct. Flat springs K K Figs. 1, and 11, (or a single spring can be used if
desired) are attached to the pole by a casting O over the reel shaft B B and
coming down to it with a bearing N to receive it, and these springs serve the
double purpose of pressure springs giving better grip on the ground to the wheel J
and a brace for the shaft B B. It will thus be seen that the apparatus contains
no gearing, but is driven by an independent wheel J, which leaves the full power
of the mower wheels still applied to the cutting of the grass only as usual, and the
universal joint I allows the free movement of the cutter bar, and does not
encumber the movement of the mower to any extent. By using various forms of

page_text: the casting H the attachment can be used on almost any mower in existence, and
it can be attached or taken off from a machine in a few minutes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a mowing machine, the combination of the various parts to form the
apparatus and fully described in the above specification for the purpose specified.
2. The combination of a reel to a mowing machine, having flat springs for arms,
and being attached to the machines by connecting pieces as H and G, substantially
as herein described and according to the accompanying drawing.
3. The combination of the parts for driving the wheel by an independent wheel
as J and universal joint I on the shaft, substantially as herein described and
according to the accompanying drawing.
4. The combination of the shaft B B and driving wheel J and flat springs K K
on the pole, substantially as herein described and according to the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 24th day of December 1896
J. P. BAYLY,
18 Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.