IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION APPLICABLE TO MOWING REAPING AND OTHER MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Spence of 8 Quality Court Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex Patent Agent for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION APPLICABLE TO MOWING REAPING
AND OTHER MACHINES" A communication from abroad by Jean Coirarrd of
Paris in the Republic of France Mechanical Engineer
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Spence at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1882.
WILLIAM SPENCE, of 8 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING
MOTION APPLICABLE TO MOWING REAPING AND OTHER MACHINES" (A commu-
nication from abroad by Jean Coirarrd of Paris in the Republic of France
Mechanical Engineer.)
This Invention has for its object a method of transmitting motion applicable
principally to mowing and reaping machines, but also applicable to other machines.
This method consists essentially in a wheel toothed on its two side faces, the top
of the tooth of one face corresponding to the centre of the space on the other face
or nearly so: two spring contact pieces mounted in the forked ends of a lever are
alternately engaged with the said toothed wheel or cam, thereby receiving by the
rotation of the wheel an alternating motion which can be transmitted to other
mechanism as required.
When applied to a mowing or a reaping machine the said method of transmitting
motion avoids almost entirely the dead point of the saw or cutter, the immobility
of which while the machine traverses any space or distance, has the inconvenience
of choking the saw or cutter, and of causing it to pass over the grass or herb
without cutting it, especially when this is short or soft.
The said method which may be called an escapement motion, permits to be
easily obtained, in the application mentioned above by way of example, the rapid
motion of the connecting rod and the saw or cutter, the speed of which is
proportional in all cases to the number of teeth of the cam or escapement wheel,
requiring however the employment of much less power than in the methods
hitherto known.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Spence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th August
1882.
WILLIAM SPENCE of 8 Quality Court Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING
MOTION APPLICABLE TO MOWING REAPING AND OTHER MACHINES" (A commu-
nication from abroad by Jean Coirarrd of Paris in the Republic of France
Mechanical Engineer.
This Invention has for its object a method of transmitting motion applicable
principally to mowing and reaping machines but also applicable to other machines.
This method consists essentially in a wheel toothed on its two side faces the top
of the teeth of one face corresponding to the centre of the space on the other face
or nearly so; two spring contact pieces mounted in the forked ends of a lever are
alternately engaged with the said toothed wheel or cam thereby receiving by the
rotation of the wheel an alternating motion which can be transmitted to other
mechanism as required.
When applied to a mowing or a reaping machine the said method of transmitting
motion avoids almost entirely the dead point of the saw or cutter the immobility
of which while the machine traverses any space or distance has the inconvenience
of choking the saw or cutter and causing it to pass over the grass or herb without
cutting it especially when, this is short or soft.
The said method, which may be called an escapement motion permits to be
easily obtained (in the application mentioned above by way of example) the rapid
motion of the connecting rod and the saw or cutter the speed of which is
proportional in all cases to the number of teeth of the cam or escapement wheel
requiring however the employment of much less power than in the methods
hitherto known.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings in which are represented the parts of apparatus above
referred to

page_text: which is a vertical plate d the position of which is adjusted by means of the
screw this screw serves also to compensate for the wear of the contact pieces
is a cover which on being removed allows the contact piece to be withdrawn when
it is required to repair or replace it.
The contact pieces A A' by alternately engaging with the teeth of the wheel E
will be caused to communicate an alternating motion to the lever B which motions
can be thence transmitted to other mechanism by and suitable means.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed communicated to me from abroad as aforesaid I hereby
declare that what I claim as of the said Invention is.
The mode or method of transmitting motion herein before described consisting
essentially in the use of a wheel toothed on its two side faces and in the teeth of
which work two spring contact pieces mounted in the forked ends of a lever to
which is thereby imparted an alternating motion which can be transmitted as
required through any suitable combination of mechanical parts.
In witness whereof I the said William Spence have hereunto set my hand
and seal the Fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness
W. H. SPENCE
8 Quality Court
Chancery Lane.
WILLIAM SPENCE. (L.S.)