Improvements in Hay Tedders or Hay Making Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hay Tedders or Hay Making Machines.
We JOSEPH STENNER and ROBERT STENNER both of the Lowman Iron
Works Fore Street Tiverton Engineers 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:-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hay machines
or tedders, in the mechanism described in our prior Specification No. 12399
dated 1891. The present invention has for object. (1) A means whereby the
prong or prongs are saved from damage should their points strike against any hard
substance in the ground or the wheels drop in a long gutter; (2) simplicity and
ease of removal or replacement of the prongs; and (3) durability of the joints
employed in working the forks, by the employment of double connecting rods.
We will now describe our invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of one of the forks with cover plate in position.
Fig. 2 shows a side view' of Fig. 1. In both these figures the forks are shown
in their normal position, that is to say, ready for turning up the hay..
Fig. 3 shows a side view with the fork turned back, as after coming in contact
with a stone or some hard substance.
Fig. 4 shows detail views of the end shoe or bracket to support the forks; said
shoe fits round lower end of the wood or metal operating haft.
Fig. 5 shows a sectional elevation of the triangular lever plate to which the
forks are secured.
Fig. 6 shows a sectional detail view of forks bolted in place.
Fig. 7 shows a front elevation of a portion of a hay tedder fitted with our
improvements.
Fig. 8 shows a side elevation of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 shows the method of superposing two pairs of forks to allow of same
being bolted in place.
a, Figs. 7 and 8, is a three-throw crank shaft driven by suitable gearing from the
wheel axle.
The crank pins are journalled in suitable bearings b, b, fixed one to each of the
three forked operating hafts c, c. These hafts carry at one end the forks and
fittings and at the other are attached to the ends of swinging or connecting
arms d, d, pivotted at their upper ends to some convenient rigid portion of the
machine. There are two of these arms d, d, to each of the hafts c, c, one preferably
curved as shown, and the other straight.
This method of mounting the fork hafts will increase their durability and
usefulness.
Referring now to the method of fixing the prongs, Figs. 1 to 6; e is a plate lever
of triangular shape, centred at e¹, to the tail of the bracket f, secured to the
lower end of the haft c. h, is a recoil spring held in place between lugs g, g';
one, (9), on bracket f, and the other (g), on the lever e, to return the forks to
their normal position.
k, is a recess formed on one side of the lever e, which receives the upper ends of
the forks I, 1.
A cover plate m, held in place by bolts m', secures the forks from slipping out.

page_text: From the above description it will be clearly seen that the action of the prongs
is automatic being free to turn back on the fulcrum e', and that they are returned
in due time to their normal position by the recoil spring h. The prongs can
also be more quickly and easily removed or replaced, than in our former method
of fixing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a hay tedder or similar machine the automatic deflecting or turn-back
action of the forks consisting of the triangular lever plate e, with its fulcrum e,
and lug g', bracket f, and lug g and recoil spring h, as herein described and set
forth.
2. In a hay tedder or similar machine, the special fitting for the more convenient
renewal or replacement of the prongs, consisting of the cover plate m, recess k, and
bolts mas herein described and set forth.
3. In a hay tedder or similar machine the combination of the inprovements
described in the two preceding claims, with the double connecting rods d, d,
attached to each of the fork operating hafts c, c, as herein described and set
forth.
Dated this 12th day of June 1896.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, Patent Agent.