US36430A - Improvement in harvesters - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES lPATENT ()rrrcno -WILLIAM VAN/ANDEN, or POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORKa IMPROVEMENT INv HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,4309datcd September 9, 1862, f

To all whom/.2lb may concern:

Be known that I, WILLIAM VAN ANDEN, of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in` Machinery for Mowing and Reaping Grass and Grain, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following. to be a full description vof the same. Y

The nature of my invention consists, first, in making the rail of the frame of the machine on the side next to the cutter in't'wo parts',`so that the lower part may turn or rotate on a center pin secured into the end of the upper or stationary part of the rail when disconnected from the end of the front rail of the frame7 for the purpose of folding back the cutter-bar secured to the outer end of the adjustable part of the side rail. A Y

The second part of my invention consists in combining the cutter-bed and cutter-bar attached thereto with the lower end of lthe adjustable part of the side rail, so as dto unite the cutter-bed and frame of the machine together as one solid fixture, when the adjustable portion of the side rail is locked securely upon the end of the front rail, for the purpose of j making what may be called a A rigid cutterbar,77 in contradistinction to a hinged cutterbar, the object being to ,cause the cutters to work with less friction as well as less jar upon the frame than is the case with machines having hinged cutter-bars attached to the shoe or end of the frame. 4

rI he third part of my invention consists in adjusting the propellingwvheel on the axle of the machine next to the cutters on the inside of theside rail, for the purpose of combining the said wheel with the driving gear-wheel of the machine, and also accommodating the oscillating motion of the frame.`

The fourth part of my invention consists in the method of balancing the frame upon a knife-edge shoulder or hub formed upon the axle of the propelling-wheels, so that when surrounded by a suitable box secured upon the middle rail of the frame it prevents the frame from sliding from side to side on the axle, and

\ at the same time permits it'to have an oscillat' ing motion.

The fifth part of my invention consistsv in t the combination of the cutter-bar elevator-' lever with the table-board immediately ,be-f hind the drivers seat, so as to make the frame ofthe machine act like a lever of the first order, the prop ,or axle being between the weight and the power, in contradistinction to the application of the third order of the lever commonly used in mowinglmachines to lift the cutters from off the ground.

The sixth part of my invention consists in the method of combining an adjustable driver? s seat with the table-board of the machine,so o as to make a single thin fiat plate of steel stiff enough to support the driver, and yet elastic enough to make a `spring-seat, and thus cheapen the cost of making a spring-seat.

The seventh part of my invention consists in combining a pole,Y suspended from the end ,of the table or bed board of the machine by a sliding joint, with an oscillating mower-frame and drag-chain, for the purpose of allowing the cutter-frame to have the same pressure at all times on the surface ofithe ground without regard tothe elevation or depression of the pole.

The eighth part of my invention consists in the method of taking up and locking the drag,

chain by means of a staple passing through the sides of the pole and having on its back end a screw and binding-nut, so that when a link of the chain is passed through the eye of the staple and the nut drawn up it binds upon the flattened portion of the link, and thus holds it solidly and securely, and prevents any slip or backlash, as is the ,case when the chain slacks up if held by a hook.

The ninth part of my invention consists in arranging and operating the cutter-bar of a sidewise-oscillating mower-frame, suspended on the axle of a two-wheel mowing-1n achine, to

ythe vfront end of the machine, instead of arranging and operating it to the back end of lthe frame, or on a line, or nearly so, with the propelling-wheel axle. Y Y Y But to describe my invention more particularly, I will refer to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specic/atiomthe same letters of reference, wherever they occur, referring to like parts.

Figure 1 is a'plan view. of the machine.

. 4 wia same. i Fig. 10 is a detached side view of the drivers seat, showing its mode of combmation with the table-board. Fig. 11 is a front viewof .the same. Fig. l2 is a detached cut sectional view of the compound coupling-box. Fig.`13 is a detached side view of the interior of the coupling-box for operating the propelling-wheel at the right-hand of the driver.I

Fig. 14 is a detached side View of the interior ofthe coupling-box for operating the propelling-wheel to the left ofthe driver.

Letter A is the axle, and B and B are the propelling-Wheels. i B? is arranged on the axle so esto be inside of the frame on the side of the cutter-bar. The object of this is to allow the frame tohave an oscillating motion, and also permit a rotating motion in a section of the side rail of the frame to reverse the cutter-bar. K

C is the frame, which is made or" metal, though it may be made of Wood, or wood and metal combined, as thought best.- This frame is designed to be self-adjustable. -Forthis purpose a solid knife-edge shoulder or hub, D, is formed on the axle, so as to be about in the middle of the frame, to balance it. Upon this is secured a box, E, which is permanently` fixed to the middle rail ofthe frame, and thus allows the hub D free space to rotate andhave sufficient play for a vibratory motion' in the frame, yet preventing any slipping of it from side to side .on the axle.

To one side of the box E is formed a bea-r-` ing, d2, upon which is adjusted the main driving gear-wheel F. The object ofthis is to have this wheel as well as all the other gear-wheels,

G, H, and I, operating in connection therewith to propel the cutter-bar suspended upon the frame C, so that in its rocking onthe knifeedge bearing theseveral wheels will keep in gear, and thus work smoothly, though subject to a constant rocking or vibratory motion. To prevent the frame from having anysidewise lateral motion, boxes J J are secured on the side rails ofthe frame over` the ends of the axle, so as to permit it to have a suiicient up-Y and-down motion, but no lateral'or sidewise motion.

j listed upon the axleA between the propellingwheel Bzand main driving gear-Wheel F. The

object of this vcompound coupling-box is to connect both the propelling-wheels B and B2` with the gear F, so that whether the machine is turned tothe right orleft the cutter will be operated. This is efected by having the -wheel B fixed permanently upon the axle A, while the wheel B2 works loosely uponit, so that when the latch L, attached. to the upper side of the coupling-box, is dropped into its seat in the main gear-wheel F the click orp'awl M, attached to the inner face of the hub B2, acting upon the ratchet on the inner circumference of thecoupling-box K, willoperate the gear-wheel F for propelling the cutters when making the turn from right to left round the wheel B as a center of motion.

To operate the gearing for propelling the" cutters from left to right round thewh eel B2, as a center of motion, the pawl M2 in the reverse or opposite half of the coupling-box is adjusted upon a disk or plate, m3, attached permanently tothe axle A, so that as the axle and wheel B', attached thereto, rotate, the'pawl M3, engagi n into the ratchet on the inner circumference of this half of the coupling-box, Vwill operate the gearing-wheels, and thus either propelling-` `Wheel `.may act independently of the other to permit the machine to be turned `to the right or left hand at plea-sure. To keep the pawls down upon the ratchets small springs are secured to them for that purpose.

` Letter N is the cutter-bar connecting-rod, attached at one end to the rim of a 'ily-wheel,

O,- and at the other into an eye formed on the i end of the cutter-bar l?.

Letter Q is `an adjustable shoe secured to the heel of the cutter-bed R by `means of two vertical ear-pieces, g2, on its back edge, in each of which are two or more holes for the insertion of binding-screws g3, secured into studs qt, formed on the upper side of the cutter-bed.` Theobject of this method of making theishoe adjustable is to make it so that the shoe will have a 4forward or backward inclination or pitch, -if desired, or adjustedon a plane, and at the same time, in consequence of the earpieces being above'the bed, allow the s hoe to press the ground with elasticity.V To the opposite or outer end of the cutter-bed B is secured, by bolts or rivets, a fixed guard-piece,. o, so as to form a part of the cutter-bed, and

thus atall times preserve a relative position with. reference to the endwise motion ofthe cutters' and without regard 'to the set of the adjustable runner or shoe (j, secured to its outer face by binding-screws Q7, inserted through adi y justing-holes in the shoe and ends q of the fixed guard-piece. This adjustable runner or shoe works vertically against theA face of the `fixed guard-piece, and not under it, and is made with three or more adjusting-holes in each end, so as to permit its being set at pleas- I ure to cut long or short stubble, `as may be desired.

v Letter K is a compound coupling-box ad! ing thereon in suitable guides) is riveted solidly to the ends of a side rail, C2, of the frame of the machine. The object of this is to The cutter-bed (having the cutter-bar workmake-a rigidcutter-bar-that is,\to have! no joint in the cutter-bar or vcutter-bed at their junction with the shoe for the purpose of elej vating them, as is commonly the `case in mowingl machines, and thus make the cutter-bar v vibrate smoothly and evenly through the slits jin the fingers to cut the grass, and at the same time prevent, in a great measure, all noise and jar incidental to the wear of hinged cutterbars.V By my invention the cutter-bed is made to be a solid portion of the frame when the machine is working; but when not in use, and it is requisite to elevatethe cutter-bar to pass through gateways or over roads, it may be done by disconnecting the section C ofthe side rail of the frame at the outside of the propelling-wheel B2 from the end lof the'front rail, C, ofthe frame ofthe machine. This is done by withdrawing a pin, Ci, from ythe eye of a bolt, C, holding both together. Thispermits the adjustable portion ofthe rail ,Cl thaving the cutter-bed attached thereto) to rotate upon the center pin, C6, securedfto the under side of the adjoining parts of the rail C and C, and'holding them from separating,

A and thus the operation of reversing or elevating the cutter-bar is accomplished with the same facility and without disconnecting the cutter-bar connecting-rod, as in hinged cutterbars.

Letter S is a metal flooring or table securedupon the upper side of the axle A in suitablev bearings for that purpose. l

T is the drivers seat, having -secured to its front lower edge a thin plate of spring-steel, t, whiclris inserted into a socket, t, and sliding loop tl, secured to a solid metal standard, f5, formed upon the flooring or table. The object of this arrangement is to make an adjustable spring-seat for the driver, and' at the same time cheapen the cost of the spring, as by my method of combining the spring with the stiffenerat the back of it, a less quantity of steel will be required, as well as bei'ngmorc easily made. M

Letter Uis a cutter-bar elevator-lever adjusted upon the back end of the table or flooring S to the left hand of the drivers seat, s0 as tooperate upon the back end of the frame of the machine, and thus make the frame operate as a lever ofthe first order to llift the cutter-bar, and at the same time make the weight of the frame behind the aXle assist the driver in elevating the front end yof it, instead ofcompelling him to lift the entire weight, as

is the casein mowing-machines where the cutter-bar lever is adjusted to work'on the front end of the frame. l

Letter vV is the pole to' which the horses are attached. This pole is made to be self-adjustable with reference to the action of the cuttersin passing over inequalities in the surface ofthe ground, but not in the track of the horses. This is effected by making an 0blong slot, V2, in the front end of the table or flooring, (to which the pole is attached,') so that the king-bolt V", for holding them together, will be able to slide backward and forward in it as the cutter-bar falls into or rises out of the hollows in the surface of the ground, in consequence of thc weight and draft of the machine being carried forward by the dragchain XV, secured to the front rail of the frame and the pole. The operation of this is that the draft of the machine is sustained by the chain. Therefore, if the cutter-bar falls into a hollow, the pole slides back vupon the table yto compensate 'for its depression, while in rising out of a hollow the tendencyistodraw or slide forward, and thus in either case' allow Vthe cutter to follow the surface Aof the ground,

instead of being carried over them, as would be the case if the pole were secu-red to the frame rigidly.

Letter X is an adjustable staple, having at its backend a screw and\bindingnut. The

vobject of this is to hold the drag-chain from slipping or having 'any backlash when slackingV up, as would lbe the case if a hook were used; and as it is important, in a machine operating on the principle of my invention, to have the relative positions of the cutterbar, frame, and pole certain and constant, to make the machine work successfully, the method of holding the drag-chain assumes an importance of more si gniicance than would appear at first view; and therefore the necessity of the special `device I have invented for that purpose.

Having now described my invention, I will proceed to set forth whatl claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesn l. Making a section of t-he side yrail of the' i frame next to the cutter and in front of the axle adjustable by connecting the same to the end of the stationary part of the rail by-.a center pin, so that when its lower end is-disengaged from the end of the front rail of the frame, it may Vrotate on the center pin, substantially as hcreinbefore described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the cutter-bed (with the cutter-,bar working thereon) with the adjustable. section of the side rail, substantially as hereinbefore `described, and for the purposes set forth. i

3. The combination of the propeller-wheel on. the side next to the cutter of a two-wheel mowing-machine with a frame having an Oscillating motion transversely of the path of the machine, when the said wheel is arranged on the outside of the side rail of the oscillating frame,` substantially as hereinbefore described. Y

L The use of thesolid or fixed knife-edge bearingor shoulder formation on the propelling-wheelaxle as a bearing oirwliich to balance the frame of the machine and prevent it from slippingfrom side to side thereon, in combination with the said frame and bearing d2 of the main driving gear-wheel F, substantially as hereinbefore described, 'and for the purposes set forth.

` 5. The combination of the cutter-bar eleva tor-lever with the back end of the flooring or ytable and frame of the machinebehind the axle ofthe propelling-wheels, substantially as hereinbefore described, and for the purposes set forth.

6. The method of making an adjustable spring drivers seat, 'in combination with the fixed or solid standard or springstiffener projecting upward from the back' edge of the table or ooring, substantially as hereinbefore described, and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination of the self-adjustable compensatingpole with a frame having an oscillating motion transversely of the 'path of the machine and drag-chain, arranged and operating as hereinbefore described, and for the purposes set forth. d ,y V

8. The use ofthe adjustable staple for locking the drag-chain, in combination with a selfA adjustable compensating-pole and drag-chain -attached to an oscillating mower-frame, sub

stantially as hereinbefore described, and for i the purposes-set forth.

9. The arrangement of the cutter-bar of a mower-frame having angoscillating motion transversely of the path of the machine, and two propellingwheels, so as'to operate forward of the axleof said propelling-Wheels, slibstantially as hereinbefore Set forth. i

NVM. VAN ANDEN.

i Vitnesses:

F; BLANKENHORN,- JOSEPH C. HARRIS.

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