IMPROVE- MENTS IN REAPING AND GATHERING MACHINERY
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of the firm of
Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Patent Agents, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REAPING AND GATHERING MACHINERY."-A communi-.
cation.
Sealed the 8th September 1853, and dated the 20th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 20th April 1853..
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of the firm of Robertson,
Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agents, do hereby déclare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND GATHERING MACHINERY
follows:-
i
This reaping and gathering apparatus consists of a cart (the two
wheels of which are the motors of the machinery) and "cradling"
On the
apparatus, or cutting and gathering apparatus, attached.
axle, between the motor wheels, is a bevel cog wheel, which is
connected with a bevel pinion on a shaft under. the machinery,
and lying longitudinally with the cart body. This shaft drives, by

page_text: means of bevel gear, the rotating cradles, the "cradles" being a
cutting and gathering apparatus. On the bottom of the circle are
scythes or knives, which cut the grain in the revolution of the
wheel or cradle; and to gather the grain there are curved fingers,
as in the ordinary hand cradle, which convey what is cut to the inside,
where a man stands ready to throw it out to the rear part of the cart,
where it can be bound, and either thrown out on to the ground, or con-
veyed to the outskirts of the field.
The following is a more minute description. Figure 1, plan of
whole machine, looking down from the top. Figure 2, side elevation
of the same. Figure 3, plan of the bottom, shewing the gearing.
Figure 4, the cutting disc, with the knives, &c. Figure 5, the centre
platform. Figure 6, section of the same. Figure 7, elevation of the
cutting disc and fingers. Figure 8, section shewing its gearing. Figure 9,
rear end of the machine. The cart wheels, which are the motors, may
be made like ordinary cart wheels, except that they should have broad
tyres. They should be about 4 feet in diameter, and may be placed
under the body of the machine, as represented; or outside, like the
arrangements in ordinary vehicles. The latter is thought the better
plan. The axles must be permanently set in the hub of the wheels, as
in railway trucks. Upon the axle of the wheels is a bevel cog wheel.
Into this gears a pinion upon a shaft F, lying beneath the body of the
machine, longitudinally; on the forward end of the shaft is another
bevel cog wheel, which drives the cutting apparatus, see Figure 8,
where H, is a circular disc, beneath which is a bevel pinion P, gearing
into the pinion Q, on the horizontal shaft F. The stem or pivot O,
Figure 8, on which the cutting apparatus revolves, is secured to the
bar S, running across the body of the machine beneath. The pinion P,
is permanently secured to the underside of the disc, and is made to
revolve with it upon the stem O. On the top of this permanent stem
is set firmly the the central platform B, Figure 5, upon which the man
stands who is to throw out the grain, when cut, for the binders. Around
the edge of the disc H, is the cutting rim K, upon which are fastened
the knives or scythes D. The. "cradler" (that is, the apparatus of
fingers L, and guards M, upon which they are placed,) is mounted upon

page_text: the disc H, Figures 4, and 7. The guards M, are segments of cylinders,
set on end upon the disc H, two, three, or four of them. Upon
these are secured the fingers L, which extend from the guards out to
the outer side of the rim, and then curve in the same manner as the
scythe or knife. The seythe and fingers, in their general arrangement,
constitute an ordinary cradle or apparatus for cutting grain. The edge
of the rim K, is made sharp, so that if the knives fail to cut the grain,
the edges of the disc will do it. The spiral guides A, Figures 1,
and 2, are for conveying the grain, when cut, through the channel
of the spiral to the centre. By the motion of the scythes the grain is
cut, and the fingers force the grain into the spiral channel; the buts of
the grain rest upon the rim K, until the grain is deposited in the
centre. These guides may be made of strips of wood, bent round to
the proper shape, or of iron. They can be steadied or braced in their
position by standards of iron (if carried high enough to let the grain
pass under,) connected with the body of the vehicle near the pole or
shafts. The entire platform, should it require steadying, may be braced
in the same way. The elevators C, are for lifting up the grain when
lodged. They are shaped in front like sledge runners, and will gene-
rally-rest on the ground, to govern the height that the grain should be
cut. The elevators are few or many, as may be desired; a dozen
would be enough. They are thin strips, fastened bencath the forward
part of the machine, and set edge up; their purpose is also to prevent
the knives striking upon stones or roots; and it is evident that the
grain may be cut at any desired height from the ground by the relative
positions of the shafts and the body. This may be varied at will..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Archibald Brooman, in the Great Seal
Patent Office, on the 19th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of the firm of Robertson, Brooman,
and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agents, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
'Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteentli year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Richard Archibald - Brooman, Her
special licence that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my ex-
ecutors, administrators, and assigns, or 'such others as I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and as-
signs, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND
GATHERING MACHINERY," communicated to me by a foreigner residing
abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
'Letters Patent.
'
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say: .
The nature of this Invention consists in the adaptation of the common
grain cradles to machinery. The apparatus, constructed according to
the Invention, consists of a cart (the two wheels of which are the
motors of the machinery) having the cradling apparatus or cutting and
gathering apparatus attached. On the axle between the motor wheels
is a bevil cog wheel, which is in gear with a bevil pinion on a shaft
under the. machinery and lying longitudinally with the cart body.
This shaft drives, by means of bevel gear, the rotating cradles, the
"cradles" being the cutting and gathering apparatus. On the bottom

page_text: of the circle are scythes or knives, which cut the grain in the revolution
of the wheel or cradle; and to gather the grain there are curved fingers,
as in the ordinary.hand cradle, which convey what is cut to the inside,
where a man stands ready to throw it out to the rear part of the cart,
where. it can be bound, and either thrown out on to the ground,
or conveyed to the outskirts of the field.
Figure 1 of the drawings hereunto annexed is a plan of the
whole machine, looking down. upon the top. Figure 2, a side éleva-
tion of the same.. Figure 3, a plan of the bottom, shewing the
gearing. Figure 4, the cutting disc, with the knives, &c. Figure 5,
the centre platform. Figure 6, a section of the same. Figure 7,
an elevation of the cutting disc and fingers. Figure 8, a section,
shewing its gearing; and Figure 9, a rear end of the machine. The
cart wheels, which are the motors, may be made like ordinary cart
wheels, except that they should have broad tyres. They should be
about four feet in diameter, and may be placed under the body of
the machine, as represented, or outside, like the arrangements in
ordinary veliicles. The latter is thought the better plan. The axles
must be permanently set in the hub or nave of the wheels, as in railway
trucks. Upon the axle of the wheels is a bevil cog wheel, into which
Frears a pinion upon a shaft F, lying longitudinally beneath the body of
the machine. On the forward end of this shaft is another bevil cog
wheel, which drives the cutting apparatus: see Fig. 8, where H, is a
circular disc, beneath which is a bevil pinion P, gearing into the
pinion Q, on the horizontal shaft F. The stem or pivot O, Figure 8,
on which the cutting apparatus revolves, is secured to the bar S, running
across the body of the machine beneath: The pinion P, is permanently
secured to the under side of the disc, and is made to revolve with-it
upon the stem O. On the top of this permanent stem is set firmly
the central platform B, Figure 5, upon which the man stands who is to
throw out the grain when cut for the binders. Around the edge of the
disc H, is the cutting rim K, upon which are fastened the knives or
scythes D. The "cradler," that is, the apparatus composed of the
fingers L, and the guards M, upon which they are placed, is constructed
upon the disc H, Figures 4, and.7 The guards M, are -segments of

page_text: cylinders, set on end upon the disc H, two, three, or four of them.
Upon these are secured the fingers L, which extend from the guards
out to the outer side of the rim, and then curve in the same manner as
the scythe or knife. The scythe and fingers, in their general arrange-
ment, constitute an ordinary cradle or apparatus for cutting grain. The
edge of the rim K, is made sharp, so that if the knives fail to cut the
grain the edge of the disc will do it. The spiral guides A, Figures 1,
and 2, are for conveying the grain, when cut, through the channel of
the spiral to the centre. By the motion of the scythes the grain is cut,
and the fingers force the grain into the spiral channel; the buts of the
grain rest upon the rim K, until the grain is deposited in the centre.
These guides may be made of strips of wood bent round to the proper
shape, or of iron. They can be steadied or braced in their position by
standards of iron (if carried high enough to let the grain pass under)
connected with the body of the vehicle near the pole or shafts. The
entire platform, should it require steadying, may be braced in the same
way.
The rate of motion required for the cutting apparatus will depend
upon circumstances, but it is evident that it should be about the same
as the scythe or cradle in the hands of an expert mower or cradler. It
will also depend on the amount that it is thought advisable to cut at
each stroke. The motion of the horse may be assumed at two miles au
hour, and the amount to be cut at each stroke six inches, there being
three knives on the disc. The rate of cutting will be readily determined
by calculation; thus, the wheels being four feet in diameter, and geared
so as to turn the cutting apparatus eight times to one, the disc, with its
three knives, would revolve once each second, and cut in that time
eighteen inches.
The elevators C, are for lifting up the grain when lodged; they are
shaped in front like sledge runners, and will generally rest on the ground
to govern the height that the grain should be cut. The elevators are
few or many, as may be desired: a dozen would be enough; they are
thin strips, fastened beneath the forward part of the machine and set
edge up; their purpose is also to prevent the knives striking upon stones
or roots; and it is evident that the grain may be cut at any desired

page_text: height from the ground by the relative positions of the shafts and the
body, which may be varied at pleasure.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
First, the construction of the floor in the centre, upon which a man
may stand to gather the grain:
Second, the construction of the rim K, to which the knives are
attached, for the purpose of giving the buts of the grain a bed to stand
upon while being carried through the channel to the centre: And,
Third, the construction of a spiral channel within the guards for the
purpose of gathering the grain within the central space.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
R. A. BROOMAN. (L.S.)