US67885A - Improvement in harvesters - Google Patents

Description

L.v G. KNIFFEN.

Moweri Patented Aug. 20, 1867.

@Sluiten tatrsfatmt @fitta L. c..l KNI FFnN, o r WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS; Letters Patent No. 67,885, cZatecZ August 20, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that l L. G. KNXFFEN, of the city and county of Worcester', and State of Massachusetts, have `invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvest-ers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specication, and in which Figure 1 represents a view in elevation of `my improved harvester. The red lines behind the main axle represent the reaper attachment, while the colored'lnes in front of that axle show the position of the parts when'the cutting apparatus is raised and folded up.

i Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the main axle.

Figure. 3 is a diagram showing the gearing.

Figure 4 is a view of one of the baching'ratchets.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section through the coupling-arm, at the line a: w of rig. 1.

Figure 6 shows the details of thelifting-lever.

Figure 7 shows similar views of part ofthe tilting-lever; and

Figure 8 is a plan or top view ofthe socket and lifting devices.

p Myinvention relates to that class of two-wheeled hinge-joint harvest-ers which can be converted from mowers into reapers, and from front-cut to rear-cut machines, or vice versa, and more especially to machines in which the main frame, the gearing, and the drivers seat are all maintained in one relative position by a. rigid tongue or shafts, while the cutting apparatus is so connected to the mainl frame by coupling-arms as freely to rise and fall to conform to the undulations of the ground over which it is drawn.

The improvements herein claimed consist, tiret, in a. socket which acts as a support for the lifting-lever, and as a dctent to hold 'the finger-beam when folded up; second, in combining with a right-angled lifting-lever a swinging ratchet to hold the cutting apparatus, as hereinafter described; third, in combining a liftinglever and a swinging ratchet with the mainframe and cutting apparatus, substantially as hereinafter.` described; fourth, .in so combining a lifting-lever and a. tilting-lever that the driver may, by a single movement, either lift the linger-beam horizontally or turn it up vertically, at pleasure.

In the accompanying drawings, which exemplify one convenient mode of carrying out my invention, two driving and supporting-wheels A A are shown as turning loosely on the main axle B, to which suitable backing ratchets a are iirmly secured, so as to turn with the axle.` A tongue, E, is attachedto the bed-piece, and supports a frame, F, which carries the lifting devices and drivers and rakers seats. The main gear-wheel G drives a corresponding spur-pinion on a counter-shaft mounted in brackets projecting from the bed-piece D, and carrying twospur-whccls H H. These v heels are mounted loosely on the counter-shaft, and can be .alternately thrown into or out of gear by a sliding-clutch and feather operated by a hand-lever, h. They gear into corresponding pinions LI on the crank-shaft, mounted in the same brackets so as to rotate parallel to the main axle. The wheel H is of a diameter greater than its fellow, while the corresponding pinion I is of less diameter than its fellow, so that by changing from one set to the other the speed of the cutters Acan be increased or diminished at pleasure to adapt the machine to the change from a reaper to a mower, or m'ce versa. A coupling-arm, J, is pivoted to the bracket d in line with the crankshaft z', and is curved in the peculiar form shown in the drawings. The coupling-arm is braced by a diagonal lever pivoted to a down-hanger secured to the bedpiece D. The finger-beam K is pvotcd to the coupling-arm by means of a shoe, L, formed of the peculiar shape shown in the drawings, and having a loop, l, to t on a corresponding stud, 7c, on the coupling-arm, and a yoke or fork, Z, to encircle the tubular part k of the coupling-arm, through which the pitman M passes. The fork is clasped upon the coupling-arm by a bow-spring, Z2, which slips into loops on the yoke, and is held by square shoulders on its ends, as clearly shown in iigs. -1 and 5. By this means the finger-beam and coupling-arm are firmly connected so as to resist lateral strain, while the inger-beam is free to swing round. the coupling-arm to allow `either end to rise o1' fall to conform to the undulations of the ground. The cutters are vibrated by means of a bell-crank or elbow-lever pivoted to play horizontally on the shoe L, and driven by the pitman M. The cutting apparatus' is raised or lowered by means of a bell-crank lever, N, pivoted to 'play vertically in a socket, 0, attached to the inner front corner of the frame. The toe of this lever is connectedfto the nger-beam by a cord nl e .v

or chain, n. A swinging ratchet, nl, is likewise hung to this toe by its upper end, so as to pass through a. loop, n2, in the bracket. As the `lever rises the ratchet rises cndwise through its loop, and its gravity causes it to swinglforward, so that when the lever is released the'tceth abut against the front part of the loep and prevent.

the descent of the finger-beam. The ratchet is released from the loop hy the foot of the driver acting on a treadle, P2. The hand-lever N', which. works the lifting-lever, is net .perni-.tnently attached thereto, but is pivoted concentrically with it, 'and vvWorks against a shoulder', o, on it, so that by {irst moving the hand-lever laterally a little way, it can be vibrated without al'ecting the lifting device. The above-described device lifts the finger-beam horizontally only. `In order, however, to lift its outer end, so as to fold it up against the main frame, I attach an arm, P, to the shoe L, in rear of but parallel to the inger-bcarn, and connect said rod hyalink, p, to a curved rocking-lever, Pl, vibrating on the nsame pivot as the hand-lever N, and 'moving both coneentrically and parallel therewith. The hand-lever N abuts against a shoulder, o', on this rocking-lever similar to that on the lifting-lever, and can thus be made to act upon it at pleasure. By moving thislever backward the outer end of the arm P is depressed, while the divider end of the finger-beam is correspondingly elevated, the eouplingar'm J serving as a fulcrum. I am thus enabled to lift 'the outer end of the finger-beam and to `raise it horizontally by theuse of a single lever. W'lien thus raised the finger-beam can be Acaught by .the hook Y on the plateO, and thus held up for transportation, (see tig. 8;) The horses are attached to a Ydoubletree or evener,R, which is connected by a chain, 1', to the brace-rod, and slides in a loop,.e, underneath the tongue. By this device the pull of the team tends to lift the .cutting apparatus and thus diminish its pressure upon the ground. By adjusting the rear end of the chain higher or lower, `which can readily be done by a short post on the brace-bar, the angle ofthe draught, and consequently the lifting strain exerted, can be varied at pleasure. I i

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters latent, is

1. The socket-plate O, constructed to act both as a support for the lifting and tilting mechanism, and as a detent to hold the finger-beam vertical when folded for transportation,substantially as described. f'

2, The combination ofthe lifting-lever with the swinging ratchet, arranged and operatingas described.

3. The combination and arrangement, substantiallyas described, of the socket,vthe lifting-lever, and the swinging ratchet with the main frame and cutting apparatus.

4. The combination, substantially as described, of the lifting-lever, the tilting-lever, andthe hand-lever, for the purpose of either lifting ortilting the cutting apparatus.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

L. G. KNIFFEN.

Witnesses:

Guo. A. KIMBALL, WM.v S. BIcKFoRD.

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