US601261A - Mower - Google Patents

Description

(No Mo del.)

M. KANE.

MOWER.

No. 601,261. Patented Mar. 29,1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT V OFFICE.

MAURICE KANE, OF AUSTIN, ILLINOIS.

MowERQ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,261, dated March 29, 1898.

Applicationflled December 5, 1896. Serial No. 614,576. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAURICE KANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Austin, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mowers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mowers.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the tendency of the finger-bar to swing or vibrate vertically and independently under the influence of its counterbalancing is counteracted.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the finger-bar is relieved of the tension of its counterbalancing-spring when said bar encounters rough or uneven ground or other obstructions, whereby said finger-bar closely follows the surface of the ground over which it travels.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially; in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement, all as will be more fully hereafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a mower, parts broken away and parts in transverse section, with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

In the drawings reference-sign A designates the main frame B, the supporting-axle therefor; G, the traction-wheel; D, the tongue; E, the finger-baryF, the means for operating the same; G, the bell-crank lever for supporting the finger-bar; H, the spring connected at one end to the main frame and at the other end to said bell-crank lever, whereby the fingerbar is yieldingly counterbalanced, and J is a drag-bar for the finger. These parts so far mentioned maybe of the usual or any wellknown or convenient construction and arrangement.

The operation and function of the counterbalancing-spring H is'well understood to be to counterbalance the finger-bar, and the ten sion of said spring is so adjusted as to support the weight of the finger-bar when said finger-bar is normally in position for work, the force of said spring being exerted upon the finger-bar through the bell-crank lever G and the connection K from said bell-crank lever to the finger-bar and in a direction to elevate the floating finger-bar. I have found that when the finger-bar encounters an uneven place or other obstruction tending to raise the same such tendency is aided by the force or tendency of the counterbalancingspring H, thereby resulting in an undue Vibration or movement vertically of the fingerbar away from the surface of the ground. This independent vertical vibration or movement of the finger-bar is objectionable for the reason that it results in an uneven cutting of the grass, and, moreover, the tendency of spring H is to prevent the ready return of the finger-bar to its normal position when the obstruction is passed. In order to avoid the objection noted, I provide means for counteracting the force of spring H, thereby relieving the finger -bar of the tension of such spring and permitting gravity to return the finger bar to its normal position. In the drawings I have shown a form of operating means embodying the principles of my invention wherein I mount a stop L upon the fixed part of the frames'ay, for instance, the tongue Din position to be engaged by the hook P upon one end of a rod M, pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon the bellcrank lever G. A spring 0 may be provided for normally maintaining the hooked end P in position to engage the stop L. A rod Q,

connecting the upper end of rod M and one end of a foot or other form of lever B, conveniently arranged to be readily accessible to the driver, affords means for readily disengaging the hooked end P of rod M from stop L when occasion may require.

From this construction bar of the influence of said spring when said bar is moved vertically by passing over an obstruction, and hence enabling the finger-bar to return by gravity to its normal position when the obstruction is passed. In order to provide a suitable adjustment of this counteracting means, I may pivotally mount the stop L, as shown, and provide said step with a slot, as indicated at S, through which passes a securing-bolt T. By this construction any desired adjustment of the point in the vertical vibration or movement of the finger-bar where the counteraction occurs may be secured.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the finger-bar encounters an obstruction which tends to raise the same and which tendency is aided by the force of the counterbalaneing-spring II, which force is appliedconstantly in a direction tending to elevate the fingerbar, the tendency of such rising movement is to rock the bell-crank lever G. The engagement of the hooked end of rod P, however, with stop L resists such rocking movement of the bell-erank lever, thereby overcoming the influence of spring II upon the finger-bar, and hence permitting gravity to return said bar to its normal position when the obstruction is passed. \Vhen it is desired to raise the finger-bar in the usual manner for transportation and the like, the driver, through lever B and connection Q, rocks rod M about its pivot out of position for the hooked end thereof to engage the stop L, thereby permitting the bell-crank lever G to be rocked in the usual manner. In this construction it will be seen that the footlever B and connection Q not only effects a disengagement of the rod M from stop L, but also serves as a means to rock the bell-crank lever to elevate the finger-bar.

It is desirable to avoid a rigid stop of the rocking motion of bell-crank lever G during the vertical vibrations or movements of the finger-bar under the influences as above indicated. To accomplish this result, I provide means for inter-posing a yielding stop. I have shown an operative embodiment of the idea, wherein I provide a projection A upon the bell-crank lever G, with an elongated slot therein, as indicated, and through which slot passes the rod M, and I interpose spring 0 between such projection and the collarNon such rod M. In other respects the construction and arrangement is practically the same as above explained. By the provision of a spring 0, arranged as shown, it will be seen that when the finger-bar rises under the influences mentioned, thereby rocking the bellcrank lever G in the direction in which the force of spring II is exerted, such rocking mot-ion causes the hooked end P of rod M to engage stop L; but such engagement does not effect a rigid stop, as by mounting the rod M to slide freely through the slot in projection A the movement of said rod M with the bellcrank lever is arrested, while a continued movement of the bell-crank lever effects a compression of spring 0, between projection A and collar N, and hence a portion of the force of spring II is yieldingly counteracted by the force of spring 0.

In order that rod M may be rocked about its pivot to disengage the hooked end P thereof from stop L, and also in order that said rod may have a relative movement endwise when its hooked end P engages stop L, I arrange the pivot-pin N, through the head or sleeve N of which rod M passes, to project freely through an elongated slot B in bell-crank lever G. Thus a desirable range of play of the pivot-pin N is provided.

It is believed that from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation will be readily and fully understood.

Of course it will be understood that many variations and changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts would readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and a form of operative means embodying the same, and having explained the construction, function, and mode of operation thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

1. In a mowing-machine, a finger-bar, a counterbalancing-spring therefor, and means for yieldingly counteracting the force of such spring; as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a mowing-machine, a finger-bar, a bell-crank lever, a spring acting through said bell-crank leverto balance the finger-bar, and a yielding stop arranged to limit the rocking motion of said bell-crank lever; as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a mowing-machine, a finger-bar, a bell-crank lever, a spring acting through said bell-crank lever to balance the finger-bar, and a yielding stop arranged to limit the rocking motion of said bell-crank lever; as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a mowing-machine, a finger-bar, a bell-crank lever, a spring acting through said lever to balance said bar, a rod pivot-ally mounted on said lever but capable of independent movement endwise relative thereto, an adjustable stop arranged to be engaged by said rod, and a spring interposed between said rod and lever, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. I11 a mowing-machine, a finger-bar, a bell-crank lever, a spring acting through said lever to balance said bar, a rod loosely pivoted on said lever,whereby said rod may rock and also move endwise with respect to said 1 o is mounted, a spring interposed between said projection and said pivot-pin, and a stop arranged to be engaged by said rod, as and for the purpose set forth.

In Witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of December, 1896.

MAURICE KANE.

Witnesses:

S. E. DARBY, M. I. CAVANAGH.

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