Improvements in and relating to Appliances for Mowing or Reaping.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1888.
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Appliances for Mowing or
Reaping.
I, WILLIAM FREEMAN, of the Star Boot Factory South Wigston near Leicester,
in the county of Leicester Boot and Shoe Manufacturer do hereby declare, the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to improvements in and relating to appliancos for mowing
or reaping whereby the hay or other cereal crops of every description can be cut
down or levelled by the employment of a series of horizontal revolving cutters or
knives of the shape and working to about the same angle as a mowing scythe and
arranged in such a manner that the mowing or reaping is done either in one revolu-
tion or several times during a revolution of the cutting blades, the said blades are
made and secured either separately or in pairs as desired, each pair forming a
crescent or half moon, and are placed that each set revolves in a contrary direction
upon a vertical spindle, the cutting edges being on the concave or inner sides of
the blades that each blade in one set in coming up to the corresponding blade in the
next, makes the cut by the concave edges of the blades gradually passing each other-
or I may use a central knife nearly oval in shape fixed upon a pin or vertical
spindle, the convexed cutting edges of which are at equal angles with the concave
edges of two or more arched or bowed knives firmly fitted at intervals thereon that
when revolving the points of the cutters, which are made in this case that both the
hollowed and, bowed sides of the blades have cutting edges, and take in the hay or
other crops which coming up between the horizontal cutting edges the mowing or
reaping operation is performed several times during one revolution of the circle of
cutters the said appliances are mounted in suitable bearings so that the cutters may
revolve when the machine is in motion either when pushed forward by hand or by
power the revolution ceasing when the machine is still. Sets of the before mentioned
cutters can be arranged longitudinally upon a long arm or shaft to cover a certain
width of ground each set revolving at one time or if sets of blades are employed, with
each pair or double pairs moving in different directions.
As many sets as desired can revolve at the same time in the manner described.
Agent for the Applicant..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Appliances for Mowing or
Reaping.
I, WILLIAM FREEMAN, of the Star Boot Factory South Wigston near Leicester in
the county of Leicester Boot and Shoe Manufacturer 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 refers to improvements in and relating to appliances for mowing
or reaping whereby hay or other cereal crops of every description can be cut down or
levelled by the employment of a series of horizontal cutters, or knives of the shape
or thereabouts, and working to about the same angle as a mowing scythe and arranged
in such a manner that the mowing or reaping, or trimming is accomplished either by
one revolution, or may be several times during a revolution of the cutting blades.
That my invention may be well understood reference is made to the drawings
accompanying this Specification of which,
Figure 1. is a side view of the appliance, or hand machine for mowing or reaping,

page_text: the circular cutter being fixed to work horizontally on the front of the carriage, or
frame of the machine A.
Figure 2 is a flat top view of the machine shown in the preceding figure.
Figure 3. is a side view of another form of hand appliance the revolving cutters
being in conjunction with a stationary knife d.
Figure 4. is a partly sectional view showing how the reverse motion is effected
when two cutters consisting of a series of blades revolve reverse ways in a mowing or
reaping machine.
Figure 5, is a side view of the edge trimmer and the means for obtaining the
reversing motion when two cutters are employed working reverse ways.
Figure 6. is a sectional view of the preceding figure.
The same letters of referenco represent like parts in all the figures.
The blades or cutters D, are made and secured to their respective spindles either
separately, or in pairs, each pai: forming a crescent or half moon, the cutting edges
being on the concave, or inner sides of the blades, or I may use a central knife nearly
oval in shape (see figure 2) fixed upon a pin or vertical spindle a', the convexed
cutting edges of which are at equal angles with the concave edges of the two, or
may be more than two howed or arched blades, or knives firmly fitted at intervals
radially that when revolving the points of the cutters will take in the standing lay or
other crops, and the mowing thus accomplished.
Upon reference to Figure 1. it will be found that the appliance for mowing by hand
is arranged having a frame or carriage A. carrying suitable bearings or supports B.
in which is placed the short horizontal shaft b' having the bevel wheels e mounted on
both ends which gear with the other bevel wheels c', the bevel wheel upon the main
driving shaft obtaining its motion by the movement of the driving wheel, or
wheels, E and transmitted to the bevel wheel mounted upon the vertical spindle a¹
which carries the radial cutters D, thus the cutters are operated upon by the move-
ment of the appliance. I provide a rest F, for the horizontal cutter, also a grass
guard G (shown in figure 2.) for a hand machine the handle H, is also provided, the
cutters shown in figure 2, may be made in one piece or-the-blades-moveable-and-
secured by screws as shown in dotted line the revolution of the cutters-being
stopped by the-appliance or machine not being in motion.
The appliance shown in figure 3 consists of a suitable bar A, upon the angle end of
which is fitted the small toothed wheel a² keyed on to the short horizontal spindle a
shown in dotted line gearing with the large driving wheel, or internal wheel, or dram
with the internal rack B, which when moved allows the blades, or cutters D, to
revolve and as they pass the stationary cutter d² the edges of the grass is mowed or
trimmed.
To obtain a reversing motion when two revolving cutters are used that they revolve
in opposite directions for cutting or mowing I employ the contrivances as shown in
figure 4. of the drawings wherein the driving wheel B, operates the pinion c, which
is driven from the inner edge of B, and is made fast to the hollow spindle a³ to the
outer end of which is fastened the top cutter D. The pinion c¹ is made fast to the
solid spindle a' and driving the bottom cutter D, when each revolve in opposite
directions.
In figure 5, we have a side view of the appliance shown in figure 3. consisting of
the internal wheel, or drum E, with internal rack B, the solid spindle a' driving the
outside cutter from a³, the hollow spindle a³ being made fast to the pinion a driving
the inside cutter and driven from F. the pinion a' is made sufficiently wide to be
driven from the rack B, and drive pinion as which is outside the drum E. The
bearings to carry spindles and pinions are not shown in figures 4, 5 and 6.
I may also fix the cutters that they cut borizontally either upon the under side of
the frame or carriage or any modification of same without departing from my inven-
tion, or I may affix the cutters as herein shown and described to ordinary mowing
reaping or edge trimming machines.
If the cutters are required to be used in sets they may be arranged longitudi-
nally upon a long arm, or extra shaft, at the side of the driving wheels and made

page_text: to revolve by bevel gearing to each, or by a flexible shaft such as Gare's Patent
Flexible shaft No. 14,985 of 1887. Each set of cutters revolving at the same time
by the movement of the appliance or machine whether worked by hand, or horse, or
steam power whichever the case may be.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
'
1. In a mowing or reaping machine a sories of revolving cutters D, actuated by
bevel wheels, or pinions c and c' or by other means, either as shown in the drawings,
or in sets as hereinbefore described.
2. In a mowing or reaping machine, the radial cutters D in conjunction with a
stationary knife or two sets of revolving cutters D. working reverse ways, operated
in the manner herein before described.
3. In an edge cutting and trimming machine the internal wheel, or dru.n E with
internal rack, and pinions operating revolving cutters D, as hereinbefore described.
4. Improvements in and relating to appliances for mowing or reaping by a series
of revolving cutters, D, operated in the manner, or by other equivalent means sub-
stantially as shown and herein before described.
Dated this 27th day or April
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Of the Central Patent Office, No. 19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester,
Agent for the Applicant.