Improvements in Sheaf-binding Reaping Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sheaf-binding Reaping Machines.
We, JAMES WALLACE, and ROBERT WALLACE of the Castle Douglas Foundry,
Castle Douglas, in the County of Kirkcudbright, North Britain, Engineers and
Founders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to
say:
This invention has for its object to provide improved conveying mechanism for
moving the cut crop across the platform upon which it falls and for elevating it at
the side and delivering it into the binding mechanism, the said improved conveying
mechanism being simple, durable, not liable to get out of order, and unaffected by
moisture which is so injurious to the canvas aprons ordinarily employed.
In carrying out the invention two endless pitch chains are used, and are guided
by pulleys and otherwise so as not only to move the crop horizontally across but
also to elevate it at the side. The endless chains have jointed to them bars which
are by preference tubular and which extend from one chain to the other; and
these bars have fixed in them prongs which project up through slots or narrow
openings in or between metal plates or sheets or wooden boards forming the
horizontal platform and the inclined elevator surface. Each bar has its ends
jointed to the chains by means of tubular bosses fixed to it and fitting freely on
pins formed or fixed on links of the chains and projecting laterally and inwards
therefrom. Each boss is made with a wing or flange at one part and at another
part has a portion cut away, and a lateral projection on the chain pin extends into
the cutaway part of the boss, which cutaway part allows of a limited turning
movement of the boss on the chain pin. As each bar passes along the platform
and up the inclined elevator the wings on its end bosses ride on fixed guide rails
and cause its prongs to be erect so as to act on the crop and move it to the binding
mechanism. The guide rails terminate at the top of the elevator, and then the
bars are free to turn to a certain extent on the chain pins; and the prongs turn
backwards but continue to exert some pressure on the crop so as to satisfactorily
deliver it to the binding mechanism.
The endless chains are driven by sprocket wheels at the top of the inclined
elevator; and as the chains pass round these sprocket wheels and return downwards
and pass under the platform, the prongs of the bars are in positions in which they
occupy little space and do not interfere with any other parts of the machine, the
action of the lateral projections of the chain pins limiting the extent of turning
movement of the bars, as herein before mentioned. When the bars are returning
under the platform their prongs are in a position parallel or nearly parallel to the
platform, thus occupying little space and being prevented from catching on the
ground by bottom boards or metal sheets over which they pass. As each bar
passes up round the pulleys at the dividing end of the platform the wings of their
bosses immediately engage upon the guide rails and cause the prongs to become
erect.
The endless chains pass under guide pulleys at the angle between the platform
and elevator, in returning from the elevator, and at the inner or upper side of the
said angle the chains may pass under short plain guides or antifriction rollers.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of July 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Sheaf-binding Reaping Machines.
We, JAMES WALLACE, and ROBERT WALLACE of the Castle Douglas Foundry,
Castle Douglas, in the County of Kirkcudbright, North Britain, Engineers and
Founders, 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 has for its object to provide improved conveying mechanism for
moving the cut crop across the platform upon which it falls and for elevating it at
the side and delivering it into the binding mechanism, the said improved conveying
mechanism being simple, durable, not liable to get out of order, and unaffected by
moisture which is so injurious to the canvas aprons ordinarily employed.
In carrying out the invention two endless pitch chains are used, and are guided
by pulleys and otherwise so as not only to move the crop horizontally across but
also to elevate it at the side. The endless chains have jointed to them bars which
are by preference tubular and which extend from one chain to the other; and
these bars have fixed in them prongs which project up through slots or narrow
openings in or between metal plates or sheets or wooden boards forming the
horizontal platform and the inclined elevator surface. Each bar has its ends
jointed to the chains by means of tubular bosses fixed to it and fitting freely on
pins formed or fixed on links of the chains and projecting laterally and inwards
therefrom. Each boss is made with a wing or flange at one part and at another
part has a portion cut away, and a lateral projection on the chain pin extends into
the cutaway part of the boss, which cutaway part allows of a limited turning
movement of the boss on the chain pin. As each bar passes along the platform and
up the inclined elevator the wings on its end bosses ride on fixed guide rails and
cause its prongs to be erect so as to act on the crop and move it to the binding
mechanism. The guide rails terminate at the top of the elevator, and then the bars
are free to turn to a certain extent on the chain pins; and the prongs turn
backwards but continue to exert some pressure on the crop so as to satisfactorily
deliver it to the binding mechanism.
The endless chains are driven by sprocket wheels at the top of the inclined
elevator; and as the chains pass round these sprocket wheels and return downwards
and pass under the platform, the prongs of the bars are in positions in which they
occupy little space and do not interfere with any other parts of the machine, the
action of the lateral projections of the chain pins limiting the extent of turning
movement of the bars, as herein before mentioned. When the bars are returning
under the platform their prongs are in a position parallel or nearly parallel to
the platform, thus occupying little space and being prevented from catching on
the ground by bottom boards or metal sheets over which they pass. As each bar
passes up round the pulleys at the dividing end of the platform the wings of their
bosses immediately engage upon the guide rails and cause the prongs to become
erect.
The endless chains pass under guide pulleys at the angle between the platform
and elevator, in returning from the elevator, and at the inner or upper side of the
said angle the chains may pass under short plain guides or antifriction rollers.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings in which
Fig. 1. represents a reduced size of platform and elevator, with part of the sheet
iron covering removed to show the cross bars with their prongs in position, the
winged bosses A A are also seen on the fixed rail B on which they slide. The
line B1 represents the binding table.

page_text: Fig. 2. is a full size end elevation of the winged bosses A A which are fixed on
both ends of cross pronged bars, the part C being the wing which slides upon the
fixed rail B.
Fig. 3. is a section of Fig. 2. at the line D E showing the cut-away part and
likewise the tube F into which the pin H Fig. 5. enters, and in which it is free to
turn one fourth of a revolution.
Fig. 4. is a plan of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5. is a full size link of the chain employed, showing the pin H and lateral
projection H 1.
The pin and lateral projection H and H1 Fig. 5. being inserted in tubular
boss F Fig. 2 which boss is fixed to cross pronged bar, propels the bar along the
fixed rail B Fig. 1. till it reaches top of elevator where rail terminates, on reaching
end of rail the wing C being deprived of its support causes the bar and consequently
the prongs to tilt backwards and withdraw themselves from the grain which they
have delivered on to the binding table. The prongs having tilted backwards
remain in this position and so occupy little room in returning underneath the
platform till they reach the divider end of platform round which they are carried
by means of the chain, at this point the prongs present themselves at an angle
of 90 degrees from the upright, but the wing C Fig. 2. immediately engaging the
end of the fixed rail B Fig. 1. the prongs are tilted forward to the same extent as
they were tilted backwards at the upper end of elevator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be clearly
understood that we make no claim to this invention as a chain elevator, being well
aware that various chain elevators are in the market, but what we claim is.
(1) The tilting device as applied to such, and the mechanical parts which enable
the same to be performed.
(2) The application of a link of the formation herein shown and described.
(3) The application of the tubular winged bosses herein shown and described.
Dated this Fifteenth day of March 1894.
JAMES WALLACE.
ROBERT WALLACE.