US1648775A - Cotton-chopping machine - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Shee t 1 A. M GREGER COTTON CHOPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1926' Nov. 8, 1927.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A M GREGER COTTON CHOPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1926 i mm Zlwuemtoz 04' M Gre er.

Nov. 8, 1927.

Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,775 A. M GREGER I COTTON CHOPPING MACHINE Filed D80. 15,' 1926 4 ShGBtS-SIIEBt 3 I 7 I 7? 3 w 95 9 I I It Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,775 I A; MCGREGER COTTON CHOPPING MACHINE 7 Filed Dec. 15, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 if lHa .4

PatentedNov. 8, 1927.

ea'renr QFFICE.

AAROH TaZoGEEGEl-e, F SPRIR :VILLE, MESSI'SSI'PPI.

COTTON CHOIPING MACHINE.

Application filed December 15, 1926. Serial 1%.. 155,006.

This invention relates to cotton choppers, andhas for one of obgects to provide a machine of this character which shall include.

an arm mounted for reciprocation transversely of the machine, blades carried by the arm and adapted to cut stands of cotton during the movement of the arm from and its return to" its initial position, means for actuating the arm, and means by which the initial position of the arm may be easily and quickly adjusted to and secured in the required position with respect to the longitudinal center of the machine. 1

. A further object of the invention is to provide a. machine of the character stated which shall include. means by which the arm may be easily and quickly adjust-ed vertically with respect to the machine and secured in adjust ed position so as to position the blades at the required distance from the ground.

A further object of the intention is to provide a machine of the character set forth wherein the actuating means shall be ad'- justable to permit the length of the stroke of the arm and blades to be varied as conditions require.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character set forth wherein the blades shall be connected to the arm in a manner to permit them to yield laterally on coming in contact with a stump or rock so to prevent them from being broken or detached from the arm.

li ith the foregoing and other oliijccts inview, the nature of which will become ap- 'iarent as the description proceeds, the invention consists of a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cotton chopping machine constructed inaccordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane extending longitudinally and centrally through themachin-e,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on a horizontal plane extending longitudinally through the means for adjusting the blade carrymg arm with respect to the lUDfIItIKllnal center of themachine.

through the means for actuating the blade carrying arm,

Figure ,6 is vertical plane Figure 1,

Figure 7 is vertical plane Figure 6,

Figure 8 is vertical plane Figure 6,

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the horizontal plane indicated by the line 9-9 of Fig. 8,

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the horizontal plane indicated by the line 1010 of Figure 7, and I Figure 11 is a sectional view takenon the verticalv plane indicated by the .line'11 11 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in the several views of which like reference char' acters denote like parts, 1 designates the ground wheels, 2 the axle and 3 the main frame of the machine. The wheels 1 are a sectional view taken on the a sectional view taken on the indicated by the line 7-7 of a sectional view taken on the indicated by the line 8--8 of free of connection with the axle 2 whilerotating rearwardly, and are connected to the aX-lewhile rotatingforwardly by ratchet wheels 4 and pawls of which the former are fixed to the axle and the latter to the wheels. The frame provided with bearings 6 for the axle 2, and is equipped with a pole 7, doubletree 8, singletrees 9, and a breast yoke, not shown. The ends of the doubl'etree 8 are connected to the frame 3 by chains A footboard or platfornill, upon which a. seat 12 is mounted, is secured to the downwardly offset rear end portion of the frame 3.

A yoke or hang-er 13, which is vertically disposed and extends transversely of the frame 8, is mounted for vertical adjustment at the front end of the frame in bearings 14,.

indicated by the line 6-6 of frame 3 between the axle 2 and platfo- 111 11, and the standard 16 is provided. at its upper end with a rearwardly extending notched sector 17. A lever 18 is fixed at one end to and extends forwardly from a shaft 19 which is ournaled in the standards 16 and 16 adjacent their upper ends. The front end of the lever 18 is connected to the yoke or hang-e 13 by a flexible member 20. Alever 21 is fixed at one end to and extends rearwardly from the shaft 19, and is provided at its rear end with a handle 2 which is located adjacent the seat 12. The lever 18, shaft 19 and lever 21 provide means by which the operator may easily and quickly adjust the yoke or hanger 13 upwardly or downwardly with respect to the frame 3. The yokeor hanger 13 is secured in adjusted position by a spring pressed dog 23 which is carried by the lever 21 and engages-the notched sector 17. The dog 23 is under the control of a. finger lever 2a which is carried by the lever 21 adjacent the handle 22 and connected to the dog by a rod 25.

' An arm 26 is connected at its upper end to the yoke or hanger 13 for reciprocation with respect thereto in a plane extending transversely of the machine. The blades 27 are adapted to cut stands of cotton during the movement of the arm 26 from and its return to its initial position. The arm 26 is connected to the yoke or hanger 13 by a bolt 28 which is secured to the arm and a grooved roller 29 which is journaled on the bolt and supported by the guide rails or tracks 15 of the hanger. As the arm 26 is connected to the yoke or hanger 13 it may be vertically adjusted to support the blades 27 at the required distance from the ground. To permit the arm 26 to be adjusted vertically with respect to the yoke or h anger 13, it is provided with a vertical row of bolt receiving screw threaded sockets 26.

The blades 27, which are located at opposite sides of the arm 26, are carried by the head 30 of a stem 31 which is journaled in the arm for movement about a vertical axis. The arm 26 is provided with a socket for the reception of'the stem 31 and with a recess 33 for the reception of a lug 34- on a bar 35. The recess 33 intersects the socket 32 and opens out through the rear side of the arm 26. Lugs 36 are fixed to the stem 31, and are positioned in the recess 33 in contact with the lug 34-. A bar 37 is fixed to the front side of the arm'26, and to gether with the bar is horizontally disposed and extends in opposite directions beyond the arm. The bar is supported for movement toward and from the arm 26 by bolts 33 fixed to the bar 37, and is constantly urged in the direction of "the arm by springs 39 carried by the bolts. The blades 27 are thus yieldmgly supported in normal position with respect to the arm 26, and due thereto will yield laterally on coming in contact with a stump or stone, with the result that they will not be broken or detached as the result of such contact.

A carriage 4-0 is mounted forreciprocation transversely of the machine upon a guide rail or track ll which is carried by the frame 3. It is equipped with grooved rollers l2 which contact with the upper and lower sides of the guide rail or track l1, and is provided with a vertical groove 43 for the reception of a wrist pin 4. L carried by a disk 45. The disk 15 is provided with a radial series of screw threaded sockets 46 to permit the wrist pin 44; to be adjusted thereon with respect to its axis. The arm 26 is connected to the carriage 4-0 by guides l7 for inoven'ient therewith and for vertical adjustment with respect thereto, through the medium of the yoke or hanger 13. The disk 4:5 is fixed to a shaft 48 which is journaled in a bearing 49 supported for adjustment transversely of the machine. A guide rail or track 50 supports the bearing 49 and is carrier. by the frame 3. The rotation of the disk .25 reciprocates the carriage 40 and with it the arm 26 transversely of the machine, and the movement of the carriage and arm may be varied to increase or decrease the stroke of the blades 27 by adjusting the wrist pin it Wltl'l-IQSPQCt to the axis of the disk 15. I

A power shaft 51 is journaled on the frame 3. and is driven fromthe axle 2 by a chain 52 which passes about sprocket wheels 53 and 54 fixed to the shaft and axle, respectively. A housing 55 is provided for the chain 52 ant. sprocket wheels 53 and 54:.

A gear wheel 56 is slidably fixed to the shaft 51, and is provided with two rows of gear teeth 57 and 58 with one of which meshes a pinion 59 fixed to a transmission shaft 60. The shaft 66 is connected to the shaft 4-3 to elfect the rotation of the disk 45 while the machine is in forward motion. The shaft 60 is sectional, and the sections 61, 62 and 63 thereof are connected by universal joints 6-1 so as to permit the bearing 4:9 to be adjusted when conditions require the changing of the initial position of the arm 26 with respect to the longitudinal center of the machine. The shaft section 62 consists of telescopically associatedparts 62 and 62 to permit the effective length of the shaft 60 to increase or decrease during the adjustment of the bearing 4-9 and to permit the endwise adjustment ofthe shaft section 61 so as to position its pinion 59 in engagement with the teeth 57 or teeth 58 of the gear wheel 56 so as to vary the rate of rotation of the shaft 60 and consequently the stroke of the blades 27. The shaft section 61 is rotatably and slidably mounted in a bearing 65 which is carried by the frame 3. A housing 66 for the gear wheel 56 and the i i i i ii.

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which posit-ion it meshes with the pinion 59,

by a spring 07, andthe movement of the gear wheel under the influence ofthe spring is limited by a shoulder ('38 on the shaft 51. hen it is desired to move the pinion 59 from engagement with the teeth 57 into engagement with the teeth 58 or fro-1n engagement with the teeth ,58 into engagement with the teeth 57, so as to vary the stroke of the blades 27, the gear wheel 56 is first moved laterally out of engagement with the pinion -9, the shaft 51 is then adjusted to 1 position the pinion 59 in alineinent with the desired teeth and locked in adjusted position, and the gear wheel is thence released to permit it to be moved into engagement with the pinion by the spring 67. The gear wheel 56 is under the Control of a lever 09 pivoted at to the frame 8. A vertical shaft- 71 is journaled in the housing 66, for rotation about a vertical. axis and is provided at its lower end with a forwardly extending forked crank 72 which is engaged in a groove in the hub 73 of the gear wheel 56. The-shaft 71 is provided at its upper endwith a laterally extending crank 74 to which the lever 69 is connected by a link-75. The lever 69 isheld against casual movement by a spring pressed dog 7 6 which is carried thereby and engages a notched sector 7 7fixed to the fra1ne8. The dog 76 is under the control of a finger lever 78 which is pivoted tothe lever 09 and connected to the dog by a rod 79. As the shaft 71 is mounted for rotation about avertical' axis, and as its cranks 7 2 and 7 .1- are arranged in rig-ht angularly related planes, it will when turned as the result of the forward rocking of the lever 69 swing its crank 72 in a. direction to move the gear 56 out of engagement with the pinion 59 against the tension of the s 'iri-ng (37. Vhen the lever 69 is rocked rearwardly, the shaft 71 will be turned in a direction to swing its crank 72 in the opposite direction and thus permit the spring 67 to more the gear 56 into engagement with the pinion 59. The shaft section 61 is adapted to be moved in an endwise direction to effect the engagen'ient of the pinion 59 with either the teeth 57 or teeth 58 of the gearwheel 56 through the medium of a lever 80 which is pivoted as at 81 to the bearing 65. A collar 82 fixed to the shaft section 61, a casing 83 surrounding and having a rotatable connection with the collar and shaft section, and a link 8 1 connected as at 85 to the lever 80 and having a forked end connected as at 86 to the casing 83, connect the lever 80 to the shaft 61. The lever 80 is secured against casual movement bya spring pressed dog 87 which is carried thereby and engages a notched sector 88 fixed to the bearing-65. The dog 87 is under the control of a finger lever 89- carried by the lever 80 and connected to the dog by a rod 90.

The means for adjusting the carriage 40 and securing it in adjusted position so as to vary the initial position of the arm 26 and blades 27 with respect to the longitudinal center of the machine, comprises a rack bar 91 connected as at 92 to the bearing 49and slidably supported upon the guide rail or track 50 by guides 93. A pinion 94 meshing with the rack'bar 91, is fixed to a shaft 95 journaled in a bearing 96 carried by the frame 3. A second pinion 97 is fixed to the shaft 95 and meshes with pinions 98 and-99. The pinion 98 is fixed to a shaft andthe pinion 99 to a shaft 101. The shaft 100 is journaled in the bearing 96 and in a bearing 102 loosely connected to the axle 2, and consists of sections connected by a universal ioint 103. The shaft 101 journaled in the ling 96 and a bearin 104: loosely connocted to the axle 2, and consists of sections connected by a universal joint 105'. The bearings 102 and 104i are maintained in rela ti vely spaced relation by a spring 106 mounted between them upon the axle 2. Gear wheels 107 and 108 are loose on the axle 2 and mesh with pinions 109 and 110 fixed to the shafts 100 and 101,respectively. Means for establishing a driving connection between the gears 107 and the axle 2 when it is desired to adjust the bearing 19 and the parts associated therewith to the left, is under the control of a pedal 111, and means for "establishing a: driving connection between the gear 109 and the axle 2 when it is desired to adjust the bearing and the parts associated therewith to the right, is under the control of a pedal 112. The adjustment of the bearing 19 varies the initial position of the awn-26 and the blades 27 with respect. to the longitudinal center of the ma chine.- The pedals 111 and 112 are pivoted to-the platform 1.1 forwardly of the seat 12. These means are similar, and each comprises'a drum 1.13 fixed to each. of the gears 107 and' 108,,adisk 114; fixed to the axle 2, a split band 115 pivoted as at 115 to the drum and normally out of contact with the annular wall thereof, a link 116 pivotally connected to the free ends of the band, and a disk 117 to which the link 11.6 is pivotally connected as at 116. The disks 117 are loose'on theaxle 2, and are adapted to be held against movement, to effect the expanding of the bands 115, and thus lock the gears 107 and 108 to the axle 2, by means of the pedals 111 and 112, split bands 11'8'mounted inv their grooved peripheries, I

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i the result that the gears 107 and 108 will be rotated by the axle 2. It will thus be seen that when the pedal 111 is depressed, the initial position of the arm 26 and blades 27 will be shifted to the left, and that when the pedal 112 is depressed the initial position of the arm and blades will be shifted to the right. When the pedals 111 and 112 are under pressure, the driving connection between the axle 2 and gears 107 and 108 is broken, and the initial position'of the arm 26 and blades 27 will remain fixed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent lJO-lil'iOSG skilled in the art to which the invention ap 'iertains. \Vhilc I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the structure which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the iiivention as claimed.

VJ hat is claimed is 1. A cotton chopping machine comprising a frame, an arm, blades carried by the arm, a carriage for supporting the arm and mounted on the frame for reciprocation transversely of the machine, means for actuating the carriage and mounted on the frame for adjustment transversely of the machine, and means for adjusting said first means and securing it in adjusted position.

2. A cotton chopping machine comprising a frame, an arm, blades carried by the arm, a carriage for supporting the arm and mounted on the frame for reciprocation transversely of the machine, means for actuating the carriage and mounted on the frame for adjust ment transversely of the machine, and means for adjusting said first means transversely of the frame and securing it in adjusted position, said first means being also adjustable to permit the extent of the reciprocation of the carriage to be varied.

3. A cotton chopping machine comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for reciprocation transversely of the machine, an arm provided with blades, means securing the arm to the carriage for movement therewith and for vertical adjustment with re spect thereto, means for actuating the carriage and mounted on the frame for adjustment transversely of the machine, means for adjusting the carriage actuating means and securing it in adjusted position, and means for adjusting the arm vertically with respect.

to the carriage.

4. A cotton chopping machine comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for reciprocation transversely of the machine, means for actuating the carriage, an arm provided with blades, means securing the arm to the carriage for movement therewith and for adjustment vertically with respect thereto, a hanger, means mounting the hanger on the frame for vertical adjustment, means for adjusting the hanger, and means connected to the arm and associated with the hanger for movement with respect to theadjusting the bearing, a shaft journaled in the bearing, means for rotating the shaft, a carr age supported by the frame for reciprocation transversely of the machine, means establishing an operative connection between the shaft and carriage, an arm associated with the carriage, and blades carried by the arm. 7

6. A cotton chopping machine comprising a wheel supported frame, a bearing mounted on the frame for adjustment transversely thereof, a rack bar connected to the bearin a pinion meshing with the rack bar, means for turning the pinion in opposite directions for effecting the adjustment of the bearing,

a shaft journaled in the bearing, means for a rotating the shaft, acarriage mounted on the frame for movement transversely of the machine, means establishing an operative connection between the shaft and carriage, an arm associated with the carriage, and blades carried by the arm.

7. A cotton chopping machine comprising wheels, an axle, a frame, a bearing mounted on the frame for adjustment transversely of the machine, a rack bar connected to the bearing, a pinion meshing with the rack bar,

gears loose on the axle, shafts engaged'with the gears and connected to the pinion, means by which a driving connection may be established between either of the gears and the axle to effectthe adjustment of the bearing,

a shaft journaled in, the bearing, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement transversely of the machine, means establishing an operative connection between the shaft and carriage, means for rotating the shaft,

an arm associated with the carriage, and

blades carried by the arm.

8. A cotton chopping machine comprising a .wheel supported frame, an arm movably mounted on the frame, means for operating the arm, a stem rotatably carried by the arm, blades carried by the stem, means yieldingly holding the stem against rotation with respect to the arm, saidmeans comprising lugs carried by the stem, a bar with which the lugs contact, means movably connecting the bar to the arm, and means urging the bar in the direction of the lugs.

9. A cotton chopping machine comprising llo a wheel supported frame, an arm, means movably supporting the arm and mounted on the frame for reciprocation transversely of the machine blades carried by the arm, a 5 bearing adjustably mounted on the frame, means for adjusting the bearing, a shaft jonrnaled in the bearing, means establishing a driving connection between the shaft and said first means, a flexible and extensible transmission shaft connected to the first named shaft, and driving means for the transmission shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my. signature.

AARON MCGREGER.

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