Improvements in Hay-tedding Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1892-Accepted. 18th June. 1892
DOMILELE
DIECIFICATION
Improvements in Hay-tedding Machines.
We, JOSEPH STEUNER of Fore Street Tiverton, and ROBERT STEUNER of
Barrington Street Tiverton in the County of Devon, Engineers and Ironmongers,
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 the agricultural implement known as a hay-tedder, and
has for object greater ease and convenience in the management and use of the
machine.
Our improvements are twofold and relate firstly to a lever and spring apparatus
for tilting the frame of the machine, when travelling on roads, or when turning at
the corners of ground where it is at work. A most important part of this device
is that it is self acting when passing over large gutters or other obstructions. The
second part of our improvements relates to an improved lever arrangement for
shifting the forks in and out of gear.
We will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 shews a side elevation of the lifting levers g, k, the connecting bar s, and
the iron bracket or standard t, in the slots of which the levers are pivotted and
travel to and fro. This bracket t, is placed at one end of the axle bar i, shewn in
Fig. 2, which figure displays an end elevation of the said levers and bracket, and of
the chain and wheel, and end bracket 2, and duplicate lever and bar g², s¹.
Fig. 3 shews a plan view of the same apparatus with the lever k, depressed
forwards in the tilting position, and the spring and rod u, v, visible in the rear of j.
These three figures relate to the lever and spring tilting apparatus, which consists
of the following parts.
The uppermost and most conspicuous part is the hand lever k, which has near its
lower end a sliding fulcrum formed by a short axle or crosspin b, on which revolves
a friction roller. This cross-pin b, connects the two forks of the lever and passes
through the quadrant shaped slot y, in which the friction roller upon it slides to
and fro. The slot y, has a locking recess c, at one end, which serves to detain the
lever k, temporarily at the end of its travel. At the extreme end of the lever k, is
another crosspin a, around which is another friction roller. This pin also connects the
forked ends of k, and passes also through the lever or crank arm g. This pin passes
through and travels in the curved slot z. The lever g, is connected rigidly to the lower
end of k, and projects at about a right-angle therefrom, thus forming a crank at
the end thereof. The outer end of the lever g, is jointed at w, to a vertical
connecting rods, the lower end of which is connected to the front part of the
machine frame, in such a way as to tilt the frame and lift the prongs or forks
when the lever k, is drawn to the forward end of the slot y, at c.
The inner end of g, is fixed to the end of the axle bar i.
The lever k, has attached to it the projecting plates d, in which are holes for
crosspins to regulate its travel and adjust the distance of the prongs or forks from
the ground. When the lever k, is drawn over to the extreme end of the slot, it is
caught by the detaining recess c, and in this position the lever and apparatus are
self-locked for travelling on roads.
A footboard can also be fixed on the frame of the machine, and when pressure is
applied to this, it assists to tilt the frame.
The specially novel and advantageous feature of the foregoing apparatus is, that it
works automatically when passing over gutters and other obstructions.
This peculiarity results from the facility with which the machine frame, when an
Dion B23

page_text: obstacle is encountered, rises in front and thus tilts from the working position to a
height corresponding to the distance which the lever k, is allowed to travel,
and when the obstruction is passed the machine automatically returns to its working
position.
This return is caused in the following manner. In the act of tilting the levers
rotate the axle bar i, which revolves in bearings fixed on the frame of the draft
shafts. As this shaft rotates it thereby brings into play the pulley j, (or a
quadrant) with the chain j', and rod r, attached, which movement compresses the
coiled spring u.
When the obstruction is passed, the spring ", compels the axle
bar i, and the other parts to return to their working position. In this way fracture
of the machine or of part thereof is often avoided.
The second part of our improvements is the device shewn in Figs. 4 and 5 for
working two sliding clutch pinions which throw the machine in and out of gear. It
consists of the hand lever p, fulcrummed to the sliding bolt p, working in the
special angular slot n, cut in the vertical plate m. The end of the lever Py is
pivotally connected by the bolt p², to the ends of the two horizontal connecting
rods q, q. The bolt p³, travels to and fro in a slot of its own behind the ends 9, 9¹,
the position of which is indicated by dotted lines. The ends of the rods q, q, are
flattened and bent to an obtuse angle with their stems, to which these ends are
swivelled at 9, 9. They are also bolted to the front of the plate m, through
the slots r,, by the bolts, 218. On the other end of each of the rods q, q¹
is a resistance spring similar to that shewn at 9, in Fig. 5, and a pivotted lever
similar to q®.
The effect of this is that on the lever p, being placed as shewn in the drawing, the
ends q, q', of the connecting rods are depressed and the rods drawn inwards,
whereby the ends of the levers q°, are thrust outwards, thus causing the clutches to
engage. By a depression at each end of the slot n, the lever p, is self locking at
each end of its travel.
The dotted lines in Fig. 4 shew the alternate position of the lever and rods
when the clutch is withdrawn. It will be observed that the angular slot 71, has
arms or spaces of unequal length from the apex.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a hay tedder or similar machine the combined hand action and automatic
lever and spring arrangement for tilting the working parts, consisting of the slotted
bracket t, the levers k, g, the rack d, the sliding bolts a, b, the axle bar i, the wheel
or quadrant j, the rod and spring u, r, the bracket, and duplicate lever and
bar g¹, s, the connecting rod s, as herein described and set forth.
2. In a hay tedder or similar machine the lever arrangement for engaging and
disengaging the pinion clutches consisting of the slotted plate m, the hand lever p
the bolts p, p, 33, the rods with jointed curved ends y. q', the springs 9³, and
levers 9, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 25th day of April 1902.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.