IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hornsby, junior, and James Edwin Phillips,
both of Spittlegate Iron Works, Grantham, in the County of Lincoln,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Hornsby and
James Edwin Phillips at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 4th December 1863.
We, RIOHARD HORNSBY, junior, and JAMES EDWIN PHILLIPS, both of
Spittlegate Iron Works, Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REAPING ANT MOWING
MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping and mowing
machines. In constructing reaping machines we make an oblong or square
frame, and to the fore part of this frame we attach the pole in such a mauner
that it can be adjusted to any required inclination. At the rear end of the
oblong (or square) frame two uprights are fixed, they descend down from the
two corners of the frame, and to their lower ends the cutter bar is fixed, and
to give additional strength it is stayed to the fore part of the frame by
diagonal stays. Underneath the oblong frame, and near the fore part thereof,
the driving axis is carried in a suitable bearing, it receives motion by a pinion
upon it being made to gear with internal teeth in the periphery of the main
carryingwheel. The axis on which this wheel turns is fixed at each end inalever
arm; one of these arms is mounted and can turn on the driving axis, and the
other of these arms on a stud on the frame opposite the end of this axis. By

page_text: moving these arms on their centres, which is done by means of a screw gearing
with a quadrant fixed on one of the arms, the arms are caused to raise or lower
the carrying wheel and its axis as respects the frame of the machine, and in
this manner the distance of the inner end of the cutter bar above the land
may be adjusted. Behind the cutter bar, and inclining upwards from it, is a
platform, on to which the cut crop falls, and from which it is discharged by
apparatus herein-after described. The outer end of the cutter bar is kept at
the required distance from the ground by means ofawheel under the platform,
as is described in the Provisional Specification of a former Patent granted to
us, and dated 14th July 1863 (No. 1761); this wheel is mounted in a
frame, which is hinged to the back of the cutter bar at its cuter end, and the
back of the wheel frame is capable of being fixed to the platform above it,
and at any required inclination thereto; and, as will be seen, by varying this
inclination the height of the outer end of the cutter bar from the land may
be adjusted. In order that this wheel may travel the more freely, and be able
to avoid obstacles it may meet with, it is made to slide endways on its axis, as
well as to revolve thereon, but there are springs which tend to bring it con-
stantly to a central position. In order to lubricate this wheel its axis is made
hollow, and is filled with oil; holes are made in the centre part of the axis,
which is constantly covered by the wheel, to allow of the escape of the oil to
lubricate the nave of the wheel. The knife is driven in the usual manner by
a connecting rod and crank on an inclined axis, which by bevelled gear is
driven from the driving axis. The reel which lays the crop into the fingers
on the cutter bar to be cut by the knife is driven by a pitch chain passing
around a chain wheel on its axis, and also around another chain wheel on the
axis of the main carrying wheel. This chain wheel, and also the pinion on
the driving axis, can be thrown out of gear by clutches when it is desired to
stop the action of the working parts of the machine. These clutches are
actuated by levers, which at their outer ends are linked to a curved lever on
either side of the axis thereof, and by depressing this last lever (which is
done by the foot of the driver) the machinery is thrown out of gear; as soon
as the treddle is freed, springs return the wheels into gear. The delivering
platform before mentioned is supported in front by the cutter bar, and at the
back it is supported as described in our former Provisional Specification before
referred to, by an arched framing springing from the main oblong frame, and
passing over the platform to the rear end thereof. The delivery of the cut
crop from the platform takes place under this arched framing, it is effected by
means of two or more endless chains, parallel or nearly so with the cutter
bar, and at distances apart, by preference three chains are employed. At the

page_text: end next the standing crop the chains pass around pitch pulleys, all mounted
on the same axis, which is driven by bevilled gear from an axis which at its
other end has a bevilled pinion upon it gearing with a pinion on the axis of
the reel. The axis of the reel is adjustable in position, and for this reason
the connecting shaft is made telescopic, and it is also furnished with universal
joints, so that its length may be adjusted, and its position varied. The slack
of the chain which drives the reel is taken up by an adjustable pulley on
the arched frame which supports the platform. The endless chain nearest
to the cutter bar projects about as far as the inner end of the cutter bar; the
middle chain projects further, and the upper one is the longest of the three.
The chains have projections upon them at intervals, so that as they travel
they carry the cut crop along to the side furthest from the standing crop,
the lowest chain being shortest drops the root end of the straw first into
the stubble, whilst the ear end is still carried sideways by the upper chain,
and thus in laying the cut crop on the land it is turned partly round, so as to
place it as nearly as may be at right angles to the direction in which the
machine travels,as when so laid it is more conveniently gathered; this turning
action is rendered more complete by means of two or more bars projecting
from the side of the platform; these bars are curved downwards, and can be
adjusted so as to project more or less from the platform, as may be required;
they form an incline, down which the cut crop slides as it falls down off the
platform on to the land. Flanges on the pulleys round which the endless
chains pass lift the cut crop clear of the projections on the chain. It is
advantageous to make the projections on the lower chain shorter than those
on the upper chain or chains, as if the projections on the lowest chain are as
long as it is advantageous to make those on the upper chain or chains, the
forward end of the platform has to be raised too far from the land to work
efficiently. If it is desired to collect the crop into bundles before it is
delivered from the platform, we mount only one, or a very few teeth on each
chain, and use also bearing pieces on the platform to keep the cut crop as it
falls clear of the chains, and then the crop will not be thrown off from the
platform continuously, but only by the teeth when they come round, and con-
sequently it will be delivered in bundles. Or we cause the crop as it falls
continuously from the delivering platform, as in the former arrangement, to be
received on to a collecting rack, formed of parallel bars fixed at distances
apart into a front rail, which is hinged to the frame of the machine close to
the land; the rear end of this rack is, whilst the rack is receiving a bundle,
raised above the front end, but when sufficient is collected this end of the
rack is depressed down to the land by turning on its hinge joint, and then the

page_text: stubble projecting through between the parallel bars enters amongst the
bundle of cut crop, and cause it to slide off at the back of the rack;
the depression of the back end of the rack from time to time may be effected
automatically by the action of the machine if desired. The pitch chains which
we employ for delivering the crop we make by bending short lengths of stee
and the links are
or homogeneous iron rod into links, formed thus
لى
connected together by bending the ends of the one link round so as to make it
embrace the central part of the link next to it; the spikes upon the chain are
produced by leaving the ends of, say, every fourth or fifth link longer than
the rest, so that after passing around the next link they will project outwards
from the chain. In place of chains we sometimes employ endless bands of
steel or metal with holes formed in them at regular distances apart, and these
bands are suitable both for driving and also for the delivery platform. In
cases where the delivery of the crop on to the land immediately behind the
cutter bar is admitted, we make a simple machine by substituting for the
deliveringapparatusabove describeddeliveringapparatusconsistingofanumber
of parallel bars running lengthways of the machine, these in front are fixed
into a rail immediately behind the cutter bar, and jointed to it; the arrange-
ment works in a similar manner to the delivery rack already described as
applied to the side delivery machine. Up to this point, however, the arrange-
ment is not new, back delivery machines having before been made to deliver
in this manner. We, however, make the bars of metal in place of wood, as
heretofore; this enables us to make them much narrower, which gives more
surface for the action of the stubble. This improvement makes the arrangement
much more efficient than heretofore. The outer end of the cutter bar in
machines of this description we furnish with an adjustable wheel to support
it any required distance from the land; the axis of the wheel is carried by
one end of a bell-crank lever turning on a centre fixed on a guard piece
attached to the end of the cutter bar, the other end of the bell-crank lever
is connected with a screw, by means of which the lever can be set in any
required position, and the wheel raised and lowered as required. In making
compound machines, or machines to serve both for reaping and for mowing
meadow grass and similar crops, we employ two driving wheels on the same
axis, which is carried in stationary bearings on the frame. The wheels are
not fixed on the axis, but are connected with it by ratchets, so that in turning
one wheel may be able to remain stationary, or to revolve less rapidly than the
other. The cutter bar in mowing lays upon the land, and rises and falls in
passing over any inequalities there may be in it. The inner end of the cutter

page_text: bar is connected by a strong and stiff joint to a connecting rod, which at its
further end is jointed to the frame, and the cutter bar is also stayed to prevent
it yielding to the resistance of the crop by means of a stay, which is jointedto
it and also to the back of the frame by ball-and-socket joints, thus the cutter
bar is rendered perfectly firm and stiff in a horizontal plane, but nevertheless
is able to rise and fall freely. In order to lift the cutter bar over any obstacles
which may come in its way whilst the machine is at work, the following arrange-
ment is made; the cutter bar is turned up at its inner end and made into an
eye, through this eye a notched bar passes, which is also connected by a joint
with the connecting rod, linking the cutter bar with the frame. A chain is
attached to the notched bar, and by it the said bar can be raised with the
parts connected with it. As soon as the bar begins to rise, the eye of the
cutter bar drops into one of the notches, thus rendering stiff the joint between
the connecting rod and the cutter bar, so that as the chain continues to be
hauled up the cutter bar and connecting rod rise bodily, turning about the
joint which connects the said rod with the frame. For reaping when it is
required that the cutter bar should be carried constantly at some distance
above the land, the outer end of the cutter bar is supported by an adjustable
wheel, as in the back delivery machine already described; this wheel is
removed when the machine is required for mowing.
For the purpose of mowing lawns, and it may be also for mowing heavy
crops, and for reaping, I make a machine consisting of a frame carried on
wheels, and having directly in front of it a cutter bar and fingers with
oscillating knife, as in an ordinary meadow machine; at the back of the
machine are two handles like plough handles, for a man to hold when using
the machine and pushing it along before him. For lawn mowing there is
placed immediately at the back of the cutter bar a revolving brush, which
brushes away the cut grass into a trough or receptacle at the back. For
meadow mowing and reaping an inclined guide is employed to direct the cut
crop as it falls to the side of the implement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Hornsby and James Edwin Phillips in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 3rd June 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, RICHARD
5 HORNSBY, junior, and JAMES EDWIN PHILLIPS, both of Spittlegate Iron
Works, Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Richard Hornsby and James Edwin Phillips, Her
special licence that we, the said Richard Hornsby and James Edwin Phillips,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Richard Hornsby and James Edwin Phillips, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, 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 MOWING MACHINES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Richard Hornsby and
James Edwin Phillips, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of
one of us or them, 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 Hornsby, on behalf of myself
and the said James Edwin Phillips, 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, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in reaping and mowing
machines. In constructing reaping machines, we make an oblong or square
frame, and to the fore part of this frame we attach the pole in such a manner
that it can be adjusted to any required inclination. At the rear end of the
oblong or square frame two uprights are fixed; they descend down from the
two corners of the frame, and to their lower ends the cutter bar is fixed, and
to give additional strength, it is stayed to the fore part of the frame by
diagonal stays. Underneath the oblong frame and near the fore part thereof
the driving axis is carried in a suitable bearing; it receives motion by a
pinion upon it being made to gear with internal teeth in the periphery of the
main carrying wheel. The axis on which this wheel turns is fixed at each
end in a lever arm; one of these arms is mounted, and can turn on the
driving axis, and the other of these arms on a stud on the frame opposite the

page_text: end of this axis. By moving these arms on their centres, which is done by
means of a screw gearing with a quadrant fixed on one of the arms, the arms
are caused to raise or lower the carrying wheel and its axis, as respects the
frame of the machine, and in this manner the distance of the inner end of
the cutter bar above the land may be adjusted. Behind the cutter bar and
inclining upwards from it is a platform on to which the cut crop falls, and
from which it is discharged by apparatus herein-after described. The outer
end of the cutter bar is kept at the required distance from the ground by
means of a wheel under the platform, as is described in the Specification of a
former Patent granted to us, and dated 14th July 1863, No. 1761; this wheel
is mounted in a frame which is hinged to the back of the cutter barat its outer
end, and the back of the wheel frame is capable of being fixed to the platform
above it, and at any required inclination thereto, and, as will be seen, by
varying this inclination the height of the outer end of the cutter bar from the
land may be adjusted. In order that this wheel may travel the more freely,
and be able to avoid obstacles it may meet with, it is made to slide endways
on its axis, as well as to revolve thereon, but there are springs which tend to
bring it constantly to a central position. In order to lubricate this wheel, its
axis is made hollow, and is filled with oil; holes are made in the centre part
of the axis, which is constantly covered by the wheel to allow of the escape of
the oil to lubricate the nave of the wheel. The kuife is driven in the usual
manner by a connecting rod and crank on an inclined axis, which by bevilled
gear is driven from the driving axis; the reel which lays the crop into the
fingers on the cutter bar to be cut by the knife is driven by a pitch chain
passing around a chain wheel on its axis,and also around another chain wheel
on the axis of the main carrying wheel. This chain wheel, and also the pinion
on the driving axis, can be thrown out of gear by clutches when it is desired
to stop the action of the working parts of the machine; these clutches are
actuated by levers which at their outter ends are linked to a curved lever on
either side of the axis thereof, and by depressing this last lever (which is done
by the foot of the driver) the machinery is thrown out of gear; as soon as
the treadle is freed, springs return the wheels into gear. The delivering
platform, before mentioned, is supported in front by the cutter bar, and at the
back it is supported, as described in our former Specification before referred
to, by an arched framing springing from the main oblong frame, and passing
over the platform to the rear end thereof. The delivery of the cut crop from
the platform takes place under this arched framing; it is effected by means
of two or more endless chains parallel or nearly so with the cutter bar and at
distances apart by preference. These chains are employed at the end next

page_text: the standing crop; the chains pass around pitch pulleys all mounted on the
same axis which is driven by bevelled gear from an axis which at its other
end has a bevelled pinion upon it gearing with a pinion on the axis of the reel.
The axis of the reel is adjustable in position, and for this reason the con-
necting shaft is made telescopic,and it is also furnished with a universal joint,
so that its length may be adjusted and its position varied. The slack of the
chain which drives the reel is taken up by an adjustable pulley on the arched
frame which supports the platform. The endless chain nearest to the cutter
bar projects about as far as the inner end of the cutter bar; the middle chain
projects further, and the upper one is the longest of the three. The chains
have projections upon them at intervals, so that as they travel they carry the
cut crop along to the side furthest from the standing crop; the lowest chain
being shortest, drops the root end of the straw first into the stubble whilst
the ear end is still carried sideways by the upper chain, and thus in laying the
cut crop on the land, it is turned partly round so as to place it as nearly as
may be at right angles to the direction in which the machine travels,
as when so laid it is more conveniently gathered. This turning action is
rendered more complete by means of two or more bars projecting from the
side of the platform; these bars are curved downwards, and can be adjusted
so as to project more or less from the platform as may be required; they form
an incline down which the cut crop slides as it falls down off the platform on
to the land. Flanges on the pulleys round which the endless chains pass lift
the cut crop clear of the projections on the chain. It is advantageous to
make the projections on the lower chain shorter than those on the upper
chain or chains, as, if the projections ou the lowest chain are as long as it is
advantageous to make those on the upper chain or chains, the forward end of
the platform has to be raised too far from the land to work efficiently. If it
is desired to collect the crop into bundles before it is delivered from the
platform, we mount only one or a very few teeth on each chain, and use
also bearing pieces on the platform to keep the cut crop as it falls clear of the
chains, and then the crop will not be thrown off from the platform con-
tinuously but only by the teeth when they come round, and consequently it
will be delivered in bundles; or we cause the crop as it falls continuously
from the delivering platform, as in the former arrangement, to be received on
to a collecting rack formed of parallel bars fixed at distances apart into a
front rail which is hinged to the frame of the machine close to the land. The
rear end of this rack is, whilst the rack is receiving a bundle, raised above
the front end, but when sufficient is collected, this end of the rack is depressed
down to the land by turning on its hinge joint, and then the stubble pro

page_text: 11.
jecting through between the parallel bars enters amongst the bundle of cut
crop, and causes it to slide off at the back of the rack. Depression of the
back end of the rack from time to time may be effected automatically by the
action of the machine, if desired. The pitch chains which we employ for
delivering the crop we make by bending short lengths of steel or homogeneous
iron rod into links formed thus and the links are connected together
by bending the ends of the one link round so as to make it embrace the
central part of the link next to it. The spikes upon the chain are produced
by leaving the ends of, say, every fourth or fifth link longer than the rest, so
that after passing around the next link, they will project outwards from the
chain. In place of chains, we sometimes employ endless bands of steel or
metal with holes formed in them at regular distances apart, and these bands
are suitable both for driving and also for the delivery platform.
Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 is a plan, of a reaping machine, in
which our several improvements are embodied.
a, a, is the oblong (or square) frame, to the fore part of which a pole may
be attached, and in large machines we employ a pole. The machine shown
is, however, furnished with shafts for one horse only. The shafts or pole are
rigidly secured to the frame when at work, but the fastenings are so arranged
that the height of the shafts or pole can be readily adjusted. b, b, are
uprights fixed at the hinder corners of the frame a. c is the cutter bar; it
is secured to the uprights 6 by the metal brackets d', d', which form part of
the diagonal stays; e is the driving axis, and e¹ a pinion on it, gearing with
teeth within the maiu carrying wheelf, this wheel turns on an axis, which is
securely keyed into the lever arms g and g¹, the arm g is mounted on the
driving axis e and the arm g³ on a stud on the frame opposite thereto; y² is a
toothed quadrant formed on the arm 7 on its outer end beyond the axis of the
wheelf and gearing with the worm h mounted in a bearing on the frame;
by turning this screw by means of a handle at its upper end the cutter bar at
its inner end can be set at any required distance from the land without
deranging the driving gear; i is the platform to receive the cut crop, and kis
a wheel beneath it for supporting the outer end of the finger bar to which its
frame kis hinged or jointed; k2 is a long handle or arm projecting from the
back of the wheel frame, it has the stem k³ jointed to it on which is the clamp
or stop 4; this can be set in any desired position on the stem, and it serves
by resting against an eye or guide i fixed to the platform to keep the wheel k
depressed to any desired extent, and the cutter bar raised to correspond, but

page_text: a
it does not prevent the workman further depressing the wheel and raising the
cutter bar by pressing on the handle when any obstacle in the path of the
cutter bar has to be cleared. If it is desired to cut very high above the
ground to leave long stubble as cover for game, or for any other reason, then
the upper bolt connecting the handle 2 with the frame ¹ is removed and
shifted to its other hole, clearly shewn in the Drawing. A portion of the
wheel with its axis is shewn in section at Figure 3; the axis, which is made
hollow and closed at the ends, is fixed in the frame k¹ and the wheel is able to
rotate and also to slide upon it, but spiral springs tend constantly to bring it to
a central position. The central portion of the axis, which is always covered by
the boss of the wheel, is perforated at the bottom for the escape of the oil,
and there is also a hole or holes near the end of the axis and at the top for
the introduction of the oil. e' is a bevilled wheel on the driving axis, it gears
with the pinion on the inclined axis l, which at one end is carried
socket on the bearing of the axis e, and at the other end by a bearing bolted
to the outer upright b; 12 is a crank at the outer end of this axis, by means
of the connecting rod m it drives the knife n. The reel o is driven by a
pitch chain p passing around a chain wheel o¹ on its axis, and also around
another chain wheel ' on the axis of the wheel f; q, q, are clutches for
throwing the working parts of the machine in and out of gear, the one slides
the chain wheel f¹ on its axis and engages it with and frees it from the
wheelf, and the other acts on the pinion e rendering it tight or loose on its
axis; q, q', are the levers of these clutches, they are centred to brackets
from the frame a at g*, q*; a hole is formed in the outer end of each of these
levers for a link to pass through, and these links connect the levers q' with
the curved lever 1, the outer end of which forms a treadle or handle; q², q²,
are studs or rods fixed to the frame a, and entering other holes formed at the
outer ends of the levers q' they serve as guides to steady these levers, and also
to carry spiral springs which by pressing on the ends of the levers cause them
to return the clutches into gear as soon as they are left clear to move; r is a
catch to retain the curved lever r as long as is required that the working
parts should remain out of gear. The arrangement of these clutch levers and
connections is more clearly shown at Figure 4, which is a front view of these
parts. The bottom rail of the platform i is fitted and fixed to the cutter bar c,
and into this are morticed the rails 2,2, the upper ends of the same bars being
morticed or fixed to the rail 3. Over the frame, so made, planking is
applied, and the platform is held up in its position at the back by the arched
frame composed of the curved wooden bars and the inner upright b, to the

page_text: upper end of which latter the former is securely fixed and the joint is
stayed by the diagonal stay t. On the further side of the machine the plat-
form is supported and stiffened by a bar u to assist it in carrying the parts
which are here supported; this bar u is at the top, fixed under the top
rail 2 of the platform, and at the bottom it is fixed in a stiff iron shoe v¹ fixed
on the outer end of the cutter bar and forming part of the divider v. The end-
less chains w are to effect the delivery of the cut crop, they each pass around
two chain pulleys x, one at each end; the pulleys on the far side of the machine,
or the side next the standing crop, are all mounted on one roller x³, but on
the other side of the platform i the pulleys r are each on a separate axis.
The roller x has the bevilled pinion a² at its end which gears with the bevilled
wheel y¹ on the axis y; y2 is another pinion on the axis y at its other end, and
it gears with and is driven by the bevilled wheel o³ on the axis of the reel o.
For the purpose of adjusting the position of the reel o its bearings are arranged
to slide on their supports and to be clamped thereto by binding screws or
otherwise in any required position; z is the support for the inner end of the
reel, it is jointed at its lower end to the frame a, and some distance up it
is bolted to the elbow A which has several holes formed in it, so that the
reel may be brought forward or thrown back as may be required. The
elbow A also serves as a tie to the frame. B is the support for the other end of
the reel. It is jointed to a bracket C at the back of the platform, and some dis-
tance forward of this joint it is bolted to the flat metal bar D. This bar at
its lower end is jointed to the wooden bar u, and its upper end has several
holes in it, so that the bolt which connects it with the support B may be
shifted from hole to hole to throw the reel higher or lower, as may be
required. To admit of these adjustments without interfering with the driving
of the delivering apparatus the axis y has a universal joint at y³, and is made
telescopic at y4, one part of the axis being made tubular and the other enter-
ing within it; a pin prevents the rotation of one part without the other. The
bearing of the axis y at one end is in one piece with the bracket C, and at the
other end it enters a socket formed on the bearing of the reel axis. F is a small
chain pulley carried by a bracket which is able to slide up and down on the
inner upright b, and to be clamped in any position which may be required to
take up the slack of the chain p. The cut crop, as it falls on the platform i, is
taken by projections on the chains w, and carried off at the side of the platform,
and the pulleys have, as is seen, deep flanges, and these lift the cut crop out
of the teeth of the chains as it is carried over them. F',F, are the curved bars
for directing the crop as it falls from the platform; G is a tipping rack; it

page_text: is no' a necessary part of the machine, but is employed when it is desired
to deliver the crop in bundles. The crop falls from the platform i into this
rack which consists of a front rail hinged to the cutter bar and parallel bars
fixed into this rail at intervals. This rack, when it is up in the position shown
by the dotted lines, retains and holds the cut crop it receives, but when it
is dropped to the position shewn in full lines in the Drawing, the stubble
gets amongst the bundle of cut crop and retains it whilst the rack passes
from beneath it. Motion is given to this rack automatically by a worm on
the axis driving a worm wheel H, the bearing of which is carried by the
frame a.
This wheel II has a cam on its axis, and this acts on a friction
pulley on the lever I. One end of this lever is jointed to the frame a, and
the other to a connecting rod which is also attached to an arm on the rack
G. The cam once in each revolution of the wheel H drops the rack and
again raises it, for the remainder of the revolution it holds it stationary
in its highest position. The wheel II may be changed to vary the speed.
Figure 5 is a section taken through the platform i and other parts about
at the lowest chain; its shews the arrangement for delivering in bundles
by means of chains with teeth in parts only, together with bearing
pieces (marked K), to keep the cut crop out of contact with the portions
of the chain which are without teeth. In this arrangement, in order that
the teeth of the several chains should always act simultaneously, they should
be so adjusted with the pulleys r which drive them, that the chains may,
notwithstanding their varying lengths, all travel round in the same time.
The Drawing, Figure 5, together with the corresponding Plan, Figure 6,
shows clearly the manner in which the chains are made.
Figures 7 and 8 are Figures similar to Figures 5 and 6, but with a steel
band substituted for the chain. When such bands are employed they are
conveniently made about of an inch thick; they have holes formed in
them at regular intervals for the teeth of the pinion, and they are tempered
about to spring temper or rather softer. The projections or teeth are secured
to them by rivets.
In the arrangements herein-before described the following are novel and
important features:-
1st, the method of constructing the frame of the machine.
2nd, the method of mounting the main carrying wheel f
3rd, the method of lubricating the wheel k.
4th, the arrangement of levers for working the clutches q, q.
5th, the methods herein described of effecting the side delivery.

page_text: 6th, the combining a tipping rack or receiver with a side delivery appara-
tus, so that the rack or receiver may, when up, collect the cut crop into a
bundle, and then, by descending, discharge it by permitting the stubble to
penetrate the bundle and retain it.
7th, the employing chains constructed in the manner described to discharge
the cut crop from the platform of the machine.
8th, the employing metal bands as described for these purposes in place
of chains.
9th, the method of driving the delivery apparatus.
In cases where the delivery of the crop on to the land immediately behind
the cutter bar is admitted, we make a simple machine by substituting for
the delivering apparatus above described delivering apparatus consisting of
a number of parallel bars running lengthways of the machine; these in front
are fixed into a rail immediately behind the cutter bar and jointed to it.
The arrangement works in a similar manner to the delivery rack already
described as applied to the side delivering machine. Up to this point, however,
the arrangement is not new, back delivery machines having before been
made to deliver in this manner. We, however, make the bars of metal in
place of wood as heretofore; this enables us to make them such narrower,
which gives more surface for the action of the stubble. This improvement
makes the arrangement much more efficient than heretofore.
The outer end of the cutter bar in machines of this description we furnish
with an adjustable wheel to support it at any required distance from the
land. The axis of the wheel is carried by one end of a bell-crank lever
turning on a centre fixed on a guard piece attached to the end of the cutter
bar; the other end of the bell-crank lever is connected with a screw, by
means of which the lever can be set in any required position, and the wheel
raised and lowered as required.
Figure 9 is a side view, Figure 10 a p'an, and Figure Il a transverse
section, of a machine thus constructed; Figure 12 is a portion of a longi-
tudinal section of the same.
a, a, is an oblong frame, to which shafts are connected in front in
such a manner that they can be adjusted up or down. a¹, a', are uprights
fixed underneath the fore part of the frame; they are stayed by the diagonal
stays a, a, and the cutter bar is fixed to their lower ends. b is the main
carrying wheel, the bearings of its axis are fixed to the frame a.
b is a
circle of teeth on the wheel b, to drive the pinion c¹ on the axis c. This axis
turns in a long bearing c² fixed to the frame a, and at its further end it has the
bevilled wheel actuating the pinion & on the inclined axis d. The upper

page_text: end of this axis turns in a socket on the bearing c. Near its lower end is the
bearing a fixed to the frame a. There is a crank at the lower end of the
axis & which, by a connecting rod e, gives motion to the knife f. c4 is a clutch
lever for working the clutch c5, by means of which the pinion c¹ can be ren-
dered fast or loose on its axis, to stop or start the knife, as may be required.
A spiral spring co returns the clutch into gear as soon as the handle is left
free, as in the former arrangement. The delivery rack consists of a metal
tube g placed immediately behind the cutter bar h. At its ends are pivots
which turn in small brackets h' fixed to the cutter bar. g', g', are thin metal
rods, fixed parallel the one to the other to the tube g, so as to form a rack. i is
a treddle lever turning. on a fixed centre i¹ on the foot board k, which is carried
by metal brackets from the side of the frame a; and the further end of the
treadle lever i is connected by a link 22 with the arm g² fixed to the tube g;
thus, when the treadle i is forced down by the foot of the driver, the delivery
rack is held up in position to receive and retain the crop, which, as it is cut,
falls upon it; but when a sufficient quantity to make a bundle has been accu-
mulated, the workman takes his foot off the treadle and the rack then decends
into the position in which the Drawings shew it, and there the stubble, passing
up between the parallel bars g'iuto the bundle of cut crop, retains the bundle
whilst the delivery rack is drawn on from underneath it. Immediately the
rack is clear the driver again raises it by means of the treadle, and so the
work goes on.
Zis a divider fixed at the outer end of the cutter to the side
board thereof, and underneath the upper board is fixed the pin or centre m¹ of
the bell-crank lever m. At the end of one of its arms is a stud on which the
wheel n turns. This wheel supports the outer end of the cutter bar, and its
height from the land can be adjusted even whilst travelling, by means of the
screw o having the handle o¹ at its end. This is supported by a fixed bearing
at o³, and it passes through a nut at m² pivotted to the end of the upper arm
of the bell-crank lever m. The height of the inner end of the cutter bar is
adjusted altering the inclination of the frame a and the shafts. Novel and
important features in this machine are, first, the making of parallel bars g¹ of
the delivery rack of metal, instead of wood as heretofore, so that they may
be made thinner and consequently more efficient in their action; and, second,
the method or arranging and carrying the adjustable wheel n for supporting
the outer end of the finger bar.
In making compound machines, or machines to serve both for reaping and
for mowing meadow grass and similar crops, we employ two carrying wheels
and two driving wheels or pinions on the same axis which is carried in station-
ary bearings on the frame. The wheels or pinions are not fixed on the axis, but

page_text: are connected with it by ratchets or clutches, so that in turning, one carrying
wheel may be able to remain stationary or to revolve less rapidly than the
other. The cutter bar in mowing lays upon the land, and rises and falls in
passing over any inequalities there may be in it. The inner end of the cutter
bar is connected by a strong and stiff joint to the connecting rod, which at its
further end is jointed to the frame; and the cutter bar is also stayed, to pre-
vent it yielding to the resistance of the crop, by means of a stay which is
jointed to it and also to the back of the frame by ball and socket joints; thus
the cutter bar is rendered perfectly firm and stiff in a horizontal plane, but
nevertheless is able to rise and fall freely. In order to lift the cutter bar over
any obstacles which may come in its way whilst the machine is at work, the
following arrangement is made:-The cutter bar is turned up at its inner end
and made into an eye. Through this eye a notched bar passes, which is also
connected by a joint with the connecting rod linking the cutter bar with the
frame. A chain is attached to the notched bar, and by it the said bar can be
raised, with the parts connected with it. As soon as the bar begins to rise,
the eye of the cutter bar drops into one of the notches, thus rendering stiff
the joint between the connecting rod and the cutter bar, so that as the
chain continues to be hauled up,the cutter bar and connecting rod rise bodily,
turning upon the joint which connects the said rod with the frame. For
reaping, when it is required that the cutter bar should be carried constantly at
some distance above the land, the outer end of the cutter bar is supported by
an adjustable wheel, as in the back delivery machine already described. This
wheel is removed when the machine is required for mowing.
Figure 13 is a front view, Figure 14 a side view, and Figure 15 a plan,
of a machine of this description. In each of these. Figures a portion of the
cutter bar is removed.
a, a, is a wooden framing, to which is fixed the bearing of the axle 6¹ of the
two carrying wheels b, b. is the pole to which the horses are attached, and
it has the driver's seat upon it. 62, 62, are circles of teeth fixed to the wheels
b, b. d, d, are the two driving wheels or pinions; they are on the same axis
d; they are not keyed thereto, but are secured by ratchet clutches d²,d³, which
are clutches with inclined teeth so arranged that when the wheels 6 turn in a
backward direction, the axis d is not driven, but the inclines of the teeth force
back the clutches out of gear against the resistance of the springs d³, which,
however, return the clutches into gear as soon as the wheels b again go
forward. The same action takes place when one wheel b rotates more rapidly
than the other in turning. By means of a treadle e and clutch levers arranged
substantially as already described in respect to Figures 1 and 2, the two

page_text: clutches d², d, can be both thrown out and in at the same time to stop and
start the knife f, which is driven by means of the bevilled wheel d4 on the
axis d, gearing with a pinion g¹ on the axis g, which at its other end has a
crank g, and this, by the connecting rod h, drives the knife f. The cutter bar i
is firmly jointed at ¹ to the broad connecting rod or bar k, which at k¹ is
attached to the frame by a universal joint. 7 is a stay which supports the
cutter bar at the back, and keeps it up to its work. This rod has a ball at
each end; the one enters a corresponding socket on the finger bar, and the
other a socket fixed at the back of the frame. is the turned-up end of the
cutter bar. In the Drawing it is shewn as a separate piece, bolted on; it has
an eye in it, and m is a notched bar passing through this eye. It is jointed at
the further end to the connecting rod k, and has a chain n fixed to it which at
its other end is hooked on to the shorter end of the cranked lever o, and the
other end of this lever is formed into a handle by means of which the cutter
bar can be raised bodily to clear it of obstacles in its road. p is a fixed
quadrant, with holes in it, into which a spring catch o¹ on the lever handle o
drops, to retain it in any required position. q is a shoe on the inner end
of the cutter bar, to enable it to ride over inequalities in the land; and r
is a divider and shoe at the outer end of the cutter bar.
s is a scraper
board jointed thereto, to clear a path between the cut and the standing
crop. For reaping, the scraper board is removed, and for it is substituted
an adjustable wheel and other parts, as is shown at Figures 10, 11, and 12.
To carry the outer end of the cutter bar at any required distance from the
land, or for greater simplicity, a wheel may be used, which can be set at
any required height, but without the capability of adjustment whilst
travelling. For reaping, the inner end of the cutter bar is kept at the
required height by means of the lever o, and when reaping, one of the links
of the chain n is caught on a hook, not shown in the Drawing. On the
turned-up end of the cutter bar u is a fixed arc, in which is an adjustable
stop, and the end of the lever fresting against this stop keeps the cutter
bar at the exact elevation required, without however interfering with the
action of the lever o, by which the cutter bar may be further raised, if
required, to clear obstacles. In adjusting the height of the cutter bar in
this arrangement it will be seen that it is moved a short distance either
forward or backward in the machine. In order that the working of the
knife may not be thereby impeded, we prefer to make the driving crank
with a ball and socket, as is clearly shown at Figures 16 and 17.
Novel and important features in this machine are the method of arranging
the cutter bar to enable it to be lifted from end to end by the lever o, to clear

page_text: an obstacle, as shown and described; also, the use of a stay at the back of
the cutter bar, to support it, as described, and the connecting this stay with
the cutter bar and with the frame by ball-and-socket joints.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Hornsby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
RICHARD HORNSBY. (L.s.)