US683833A

US683833A - Machine for gathering and loading hay.

Info

Publication number: US683833A
Application number: US5520201A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marshall Beck
Original assignee: DAVID K HILL; JACOB W SKINKLE
Current assignee: JACOB W SKINKLE; SABIC Global Technologies BV; DAVID K HILL
Priority date: 1901-04-10
Filing date: 1901-04-10
Publication date: 1901-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 1918-10-01

Description

No. 683,833. Patented (lot. I, I901.

M. BECK.

MACHINE FOR GATHERlNG AND LOADING HAY.

(Application filed Apr. 10, 1901.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet l.

Wfinesses W, W/MW/ No. 683,833. Patented Oct. I,- I90l. M. BECK. MACHINE FOR GATHERING AND LOADING HAY.

(Application filed Apr. 10, 1901.)

7 Sheets-Shani.

(No Model.)

No. 683,833. Patented Oct. I, I90l.

4 M. BECK.

MACHINE FOB GATHERING AND LOADING HAY.

(Application filed Apr. 10, 1901.) (N 0 M 0 d e l 7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Wi h-[Estates- Tu: Nonms rzrzni'oci'wow-umu. wnsummcm. u. c.

No. 683,833. Patented Oct. I, I9OI. m. Back.

MACHINE FOR GATHERING AND LOADING HAY.

- (Application filed Apn 10, 1901.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheat 4.

**** mum I if 4PM No. 683,833. Patented (lot. I, IQDIQ M. BECK.

MACHINE FOR GATHERING AND LOADING HAY. (Application flled Apr. 10, 1901.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

TH: uORms PETE! col. rumpuma wnsmus'mn. m J

Patented Oct. I, l90l.

7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

m. BECK.

MACHINE FDR GATHERING AND LOADING'HAY.

(Application filed Apr. 10, 1901.)

(No Model.)

No. 683,833. Patented on. I, l90l.

M; BECK. r i I MACHINE FUR'GATHERING AND LUA'DIIPIG HAY'.

(Application filed Api. 10, 1901.)

1... I' 'Illlll 7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

Ell: illl (No Model.)

MARSHALL BECK, or MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNQR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JACOB W. SKINKLEAND DAVID R. HILL, or ornoneo, ILLINoIs.

MACHINE FOR GATHERING AND LOADING HAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,833, dated October 1, 1901.

Application filed April 10, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARSHALL BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, county of Rock Island, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve-j ments in Machines for Gathering and Loading Hay; and I do hereby declare the follo,w ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which "it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of hay-loaders thatare attached to and drawn by the vehicle on which the hay is to be loaded, the loader in its passage across a field gathering the hay from the ground and delivering it onto the vehicle in a continuous operation.

The general objects of the invention are, first, to provide an improved draft arrangement whereby the loader may be hitched up to and unhitched from the wagon or other vehicle behind which it is to be drawn without requiring the operator to get under the wagon and without the necessity of a nice adjustment of the relative positions of the wagon and loader; second, to so mount the machine upon the ground-wheels as to obviate the necessity of a supporting-axle and allow the employment of a through-shaft that is relieved of all weight and has only the duty of driving the operative parts to perform; third, to combine what may be termed a double pick-up with afloating compressor, thereby increasing the gathering action and enlarging the capacity of the elevator to handle the hay; fourth, to provide a novel construction of the compressor itself, whereby it is adapted to yield at any point to adapt itself to the mass of hay on the elevator; fifth, to provide numerous novel details of construction combined and cooperating with the features hereinbefore mentioned in such manner as to produce the best results, all of which will be referred to in detail and hereinafter pointed out in the claims.

The foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the devices illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loader Serial No. 55,202. (No model.)

embodying my invention. Fig. 2 ,is an enlarged side elevation of the rear end thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the upper or discharge end thereof. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section through the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a .central longitudinal section through the portion of the machine shown inFig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail of the teeth on the elevating-cylinder. Fig. 7 isa longitudinal section through one end of the elevating-cylinder and its driving mechanism. Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section on the line 17 17 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section on the line l8 18 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a detail showing the connection between the compressorbars and the stripper. Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation more clearly showing the connection between the tongue and loader. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the complete loader from the rear, and Fig. 13 isa similar view of the entire machine from the left-hand side. Figs.

14: and 15 are respectively end and fragmentary side views of one end of the elevatingcylinder. Figs. 16 and 17 are details illustrating the manner of connecting the gathering-fingers to their. finger-bars, and Fig. 18 is a detail illustrating the cap by means of which the side bars of the stripper are sleeved upon the shaft of the floating gatherer. tongue connection.

This machine in a general way comprises features common to machines of this class, such as the triangular frame having the inclined side boards A, between which operates a compressor B and below which travels the upper reach of an elevating-carrier composed of side chains 0 and slats D, the frame be-- ing mounted upon a single pair of ground or traction wheels E, from which is driven the elevating-cylinder concentric with the axes of said wheels and around which works the lower end of the carrier, the upper end of the carrier working, as usual, around a pair of idle pulleys F, mounted in the upper forward end of the frame. To the rear of the elevating cylinder and suitably carried by the frame is a floating gatherer G, which is also driven from the ground-wheels, while extending forward from the machine is the Fig. 19 is a perspective detail of the usual tongue II, by means of which the loader is attached to the hay-rack, wagon, or other vehicle into which the hay is to be loaded. \Vhile these general features are common to several prior machines, their construction and mode of operation in the present machine are entirely novel, so far as I am aware, and not only admirably serve the intended purpose, but avoid numerous objections encountered by the same features in prior machines of this class when subjected to the exigencies of service.

In this machine there is no main axle in the ordinary sense of that termthat is to say, there is no axle extending between the ground-wheels and upon which the frame of the machine is supported. Instead thereof the shaft of the elevating-cylinder, which in the present machine is a cylinder mounted on an axis coincident with that of the groundwheels, is a freely-mounted shaft which does not carry any of the weight of the machine, not even that of the cylinder through which it passes and which it drives. On the contrary, the entire weight of the machine, including the elevating-cylinder and its operating-shaft, is carried directly by the groundwheels, upon which the frame of the machine has what I call a wheelbarrow-mount on each of said wheels. In other words, the hub of each ground-wheel is extended so as to form a hollow trunnion at either side thereof, and upon these hubs the frame of the machine is directly mounted. This is effected by having at each side of the machine a pair of parallel sills I, and between each pair of sills a ground-wheel E is located,each sill having bolted thereto on the under side a bearing-box .I, in each of which is journaled a reduced extension K on opposite ends of the hub L of the wheel. The outer end of the hub, which passes under the outer sill, is prolonged, so as to project asufficient distance beyond the sill to receive the hub of a pawlplate M, which is rigidly mounted thereon either by means of set-screws or other interlocking devices, such as the tongue andgroove connections N. (Shown more clearly in Fig. 8.) The pawl-plate M, which, in effect,

is simply a crank-arm on the wheel-hub, carries a spring-actuated pawl 0 near the outer end, which is adapted to engage a ratchetwheel P, whose hub Q is prolonged inwardly and rotates within the bore of the wheel-hub L. Into the bore of the inner end of the wheel-hub rotatively fits the hub of the disk or head R of the elevating-cylinder, which is thus supported directly in the hub of the ground-wheel and which will be described in detail farther on. It is sufficient to here state that the elevating-cylinder has companion heads at opposite ends, the two heads being rigidly connected by the finger-bars S, so as to form a cylinder, the hub of the head at the opposite side of the machine being in all essential respects a duplicate ofthat shown in Fig. 7 and is journalcd and are preferably duplicated at the opposite side i of the machine, the pawl and ratchet-wheel being of course there located beyond the outer sill and the ground-wheel being journaled beneath the pair of sills I in the same manner as shown in Fig. 7. Extending through the hubs of the ratchet-wheels and the hubs of the cylinder-heads is a powershaft T, which of course extends freely through the bore of each of the ground-wheels, but which is keyed or otherwise non rotatively secured to the hubs of the ratchetwheels and heads. In the drawings I have shown the power-shaft square in cross-section and provided the hubs of the ratchetwheels and of the heads with correspondinglysquared central bores, so as to afford a nonrotative engagement with the shaft without the use of keys or other means for producing this result. It will thus be seen that the power-shaft T has none of the duties of an axle to perform, does not subserve the purpose of an axle, and does not form any part of the frame structure of the machine. No weight is placed upon it, and it has only to perform the duties of a shaft for transmitting power to the driven parts of the machine, being itself freely though indirectly journaled in the hubs of the ground-wheels. The entire Weight of the elevating-cylinder is also carried directly by the hubs of the ground-wheels, which feel the weight thereof upon their inner peripheries or bores, while the Weight of all the rest of the machine is carried directly upon the outer peripheries of the hubs of the ground-wheels through the intermediacy of the side sills I, each pair of which has a wheelbarrow-mount upon one of the wheels.

It will be understood that the free ends of the driving-pawls O at opposite sides of the machine must point forward, so that as the machine is drawn forward upon the groundwheels they will engage the ratchet-wheels P and rotate the power-shaft T, and consequently drive the elevating-cylinder. When desired, as in traveling from field to field, these pawls maybe thrown out of engagement with the ratchetovheels by springing the ends of their actuating-springs U over the studs V on the pawl-plate, which raises and holds them out of action, in which case they would travel around the ratchets with the pawl-arm and wheel-hub, but allowing the ratchet, the powenshaft, the elevatingcylinder, and the parts driven thereby to remain at rest. All the other driven parts of the loader, particularly the floating gatherer, may be driven either directly or indirectly from the power-shaft; but the power is transmitted from one end of the shaft only, preferably the left-hand end, as shown in the drawings.

A spur-gear W is secured by screws, rivets, or otherwise to the outer face of the left-hand ratchet-wheel and engages a smaller gear X, mounted upon a stud bolted against the face of the outer frame-sill. The direction of retation of the smaller gear is therefore reverse to that of the larger, and it has cast therewith or riveted to the outer face thereof a driving sprocket-wheel Y,which is connected by a sprocket-chain Z with another sprocketwheel a, rigidly mounted upon the end of the shaft 6 of the gathering-cylinder G. This connection causes this cylinder to rotate in the reverse direction to the elevating-cylinder, so that the opposing sides thereof move in the same direction, while those portions moving over the ground move in opposite directions, as clearly indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. Thus the elevating-cylinder revolves forward at the ground-line with the travel of the ground-wheels while the gathering-cylinder revolves backward, which causes the side of the elevating-cylinder next to theground to pass backward over the same while the side of the gathering-cylinder next to the ground passes forward, the combined action of the two cylinders being to pinch the hay between them. It will also be noted that the gatheringcylinder is in a plane somewhat below the elevating-cylinder, so that the latter will pass over the hay upon the ground without engaging the same rolling down the high piles, while the gathering-cylinder acts as a rake to initially lift the hay from the ground and deliver it to the elevatingcylinder.

The gatherer is of the floating type--that is to say, it is so supported upon the frame of the machine that it may rise and fall to accommodate itself to the various inequalities of the ground and to ride over and clear obstructions on the ground without damage to itself. It is floated and driven in the following manner: The shaft 6 of the gatheringcylinder is journaled at its ends in a pair of float-bars c, which are pivoted at their forward ends to the frame of the machine, the pivot on the left side of the machine being afforded by the stud upon which the sprocketwheel Y is journaled. From the float-bars 0 project upward angularly-disposed arms d, constituting in effect, when taken in connection with the fioatbars, bell crank levers. The upper ends of the arms cl are connected by forwardly extending coil-sprin gs c with the frame of the machine, the connection of the springs with the machine being preferably ad- 3' ustable, so that the spring tension may be varied by some means, such as the threaded eyeboltf, into the eye of which the spring hooks, the threaded end of which bolt passing freely througha concaved nut-seat on the cross-frame bar g and having mounted thereon a ballformed threaded nut h, having a permanent handle for convenience of manipulation. The rear ends of the float-bars cand the upper ends of the bars d are connected by another bar 1' into a triangular frame, said bar "5 being perfothe tension of the sprocket-chain by which it 7 i is driven will not be affected by any change in its position, and also that by reason of the length of the gathering-cylinder, which in practice is about eight feet, but has very slight play at the pivotal point of the gatherer, will permit the independent rising and falling of the ends of the gatherer, so that should the ground rise under one end and remain level under the other end the work of the gatherer would not be materially interfered with and it would pick up the hay at either end as effectually as at the other. While the rotation of the shaft b causes a corresponding rotation of the gatherer-cylinder, at the same time and as a result of such rotation I am enabled to automatically and positively rock the gathering-fingers upon their axes, so that they will be caused to assume various tangential positions with relation to the periphery of the cylinder during their travel about its axis.

The sprocket-Wheel a is rigidly mounted in any suitable manner upon the shaft b, so as to rotate therewith, preferably by having the shaft square in cross-section and fitting in a correspondingly-squared central bore in the sprocket-wheel. The cylinder of the gatherer is composed of a pair of heads at opposite ends thereof, connected by a series of finger-barst, said bars being arranged in a circle about the heads a suitable distance from the outer peripheries thereof, each carrying a series of gathering-fingers extending tangentially therefrom and each being loosely journaled at its ends in said heads, respectively. The finger-bars are rocked in their bearings as the drum rotates by any appropriate means for that purpose, and the fingers are thus caused to change their positions relatively to the periphery of the cylinder as they revolve, projecting radially or vertically in passing nearest the ground and delaying or rocking backwardly as their points rise, so that at the strippingpoint their position is practically horizontal and-they recede or back out of the hay endwise at substantially a right angle with the stripper. The present invention is not limited to any particular means for producing this rocking motion of the gathering-fingers; but the arrangement which I prefer to employ is that illustrated and described in an application of even date herewith, where the same construction of gathering-cylinder and rocking fingers is employed in a side-delivery rake.

The gathering-fingers, besides having the rocking action just described, are also resilient, being preferably composed of strong spring-wire and are formed at their inner ends into coils of slightly-greater diameter than the diameter of the finger-bars t. These coils surround the finger-bars. The inner endof each coil terminates in a straight end and is seated in a kerf in the finger-bar and is held firmly therein by any appropriate means, but preferably by the means described in my application first referred to. Thus while the fingers have sufficient stiffness to perform the comparatively light work of gathering and lifting the hay they can still readily spring back under the more violent strain of contact with the irregularities of the surface, thus permitting the gatheringcylinder to float closely along the ground in easy reach of the hay and without being violently tossed up and down, as would inevitably occur in a floated cylinder having rigid gathering-fingers.

The position of the gathering-fingers at substantially right angles to the strippers after picking up the hay is clearly shown in Fig. 1, wherein the strippers 7 are shown in their preferred form, consisting of a series of metal straps rigidly secured to a stripper-board S at the extreme rear of the machine, whence they extend downwardly and. curve around the gathering-cylinder on substantially the same are as the periphery of the cylinder and close to the finger-bars, thus leaving practically the whole length of the gathering-fingers protruding below the strippers on the ground side for work and keeping the strip pers as far as possible away from ground contact. The strippers leave the gathering-cylinder tangentially at its forward side and extend to a point considerably above the cylinder, where they are rigidly secured to the lower compressor-yoke 9. The board 8 and yoke 9 are connected, braced, and spaced by an intermediate strap 10, oblique rods 50, and end straps or frame-braces 60, the latter lying beyond the ends of the gatherer-cylinder and having pivoted or rocking bearings upon the sleeve 1 of the shaft of the cylinder by means of the caps 11. The strippers and the connected parts forming their mountingframe constitute what may be called the stripper-section, and the free rocking mount of this section enables it to act auto matically and as an auxiliary compressor in harmony with the compressor-section proper, the two sections having a hinged connection, as will hereinafter be more clearly shown. By this arrangement the strippers are not only held in fixed relation to the gatherer-cylinder, but move therewith as the gatherer floats, so as to always be in proper position to strip the gathering-fingers. The forward reachof the strippers is on a curve substantially corresponding with the elevating-cylinder, although the fingers 12 of the elevat ing-cylinder do not reach in between the strippers and, indeed, do not extend quite to the strippers, but only close enough to cooperate with them, so as to form a continuous throat for the elevation of the hay after it is picked up by the gathering-cylinder for its delivery by the elevating-cylinder to the space between the elevating-carrier and the compressor. The fingers -12 of the elevatingcylinder are slightly-trailed spring-fingers, substantially like the gathering-fingers, each having a coil 13 formed therein and having its inner terminal clamped between a pair of parallel boards 14,which constitute the bars of the cylinder. To each end of each of these bars is secured a rigid finger 15, as shown more clearly in Figs l and 7,which fingers lie closely adjacent to the heads of the cylinder and being rigid assist the more positively in controlling the hay at the sides of the elevator, where it tends to mass and delay in the act of being separated from the hay left on the ground. These fingers being curved or trailed slightly withdraw into the carrier at an angle sufficiently approaching cndwise to strip cleanly out of the hay. The fingers 12 of the elevating-cylinder by reason of their flexibility and trailing form will accommodate themselves to the hay upon the carrier and will lie back and withdraw gradually from the hay by substantially end wise movement when necessary, so as not to disturb the mat or carrydown any of the hay onto the drum.

The elevating-carrier of my machine, like most other machines of this class, is composed of a pair of link chains (3 at opposite sides thereof, connected at regular intervals by a series of transverse slats D, such slats being attached at their ends to cars formed upon appropriate links. I prefer to drive the carrier by the slats, simply using the chains as a means for connecting the slats, and. therefore so far as any function which these chains have to perform their construction is immaterial, and plain bands, belts, or link chains of any character may be employed. Each elevating cylinder-head R (see Fig. 7) is provided with a circumferential flange 16, which is smooth on its exterior, and at theinner edge a radial flange 17 projects and is preferabl y curved inward and has therein at regular intervals notches 47, (see Figs. 2, at, and

14,) into which fit the slats D of the carrier, the chains G of the carrier running upon the flanges 16. Between the heads of the cylinder and secured to the bars 14 is one or more auxiliary driving-rings 48, having lugs 18, which are backwardly curved on their forward faces and arranged to lie just back of the slats when properly engaged by the heads of the cylinder. These auxiliary drivers afford rests for the long slats at one or more intermediate points and at the same time assist in driving, and thereby prevent undue bending of the slats when a heavy load is placed thereon. I also prefer to connect the slats at regular intervals by slack ropes,

which are substantially parallel with the chains 0. These ropes are simply for the purpose of forming a better support for the mat of hay during its elevation and serve to act as auxiliary stripping devices in conjunction with the slats for properly disengaging the hayfrom the elevating-fingers. The proportion and arrangement of these fingers and the slats of the carrier is such that a slat will time in between each pair of bars 14, so that in cooperating with the gatherer to pick up the hay the fingers will project almost wholly beyond the slats; but after carrying the hay up until it is firmly engaged between the carrier and the compressor the fingers begin to gradually withdraw from the mat of hay as the carrier leaves the elevating-cylinder at a tangent, the fingers trailing and yielding as may be necessary to withdraw from the hay without liability of carrying any of the hay down with them to wrap around the elevating-cylinder. As indicated in Fig. 7, the inner sillsI of the loader-frame are quite close to the outer edge of the flanges 16 of heads R, and the sills where they extend forwardly of the heads, as shown in Fig. 4, serve as guides to direct the descending ply of the carrier-belts onto the flanges and have also the function of holding the belts on the flanges and preventing lateral displacement.

The compressor in my present machine consists of a series of

long bars

19 and 23, lying edgewise substantially parallel to the upper reach of the carrier and in a plane slightly above the same. Each of the bars 19 has a pivotal or hinge connection at its lower end with the corresponding one of the strippers 7, the stripper being bent rearwardly just below the lower compressor-yoke 9 to form a shoulder for a strap 20 (secured to the end of the compressor-bar 19) to rest upon, the stripper also passing loosely and freely through the loop, so as to permit a pivoting or hinging action of the loop between the bend in the stripper and a cleat 21 on the stripper above the shoulder, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. The side bars 23 of the compressor project at their lower ends outside the carrier and are connected by braces 24 directly with the lower compressor-yoke 9 .by a pivot connection 25, so that they clear the rims of the traction-wheels far enough to permit the hay at the sides to pass freely and yet do not interfere with the flexibility of the connection between the compressor and the stripper. The upper ends of all the compressor-bars are provided with elongated bales or loops 26, which pass through eyes in the lower ends of hangers 27, depending from an upper compressor-yoke 28, the loop connection permitting the bars to slide endwise bodily forward or back above the face of the carrier independently of the movement of the yoke, as required in cooperating with the stripper and the gatherer. The yoke is rigidly connected by brackets 29 to the free end of an outside arm 30, which is pivotally connected at its lower end 31 with the side frame of the machine. The outside arms 30 at their forward ends rest normally upon a suitable bracket or shoulder 81 on the machine-frame, so as to support the upper compressor-yoke 2S, and consequently the upper ends of the arms, at a fixed minimum distance above the upper end of the carrier, keeper-loops 32, attached to the machine-frame, being provided around the outside arms 30 to serve as guides and upward stops therefor in their vibration.

It will be seen that the preponderance of weight of the stripper is forward of its rocking seat on the gatherer-cylinder axis and that this preponderance is augmented by the weight of the lower ends of the compressorbars. To support this forward weight and to prevent the hinge-connected ends of the stripper and compressor from falling down upon the face of the carrier, the yoke 9, from which the other parts depend, is given an independ out swinging seat or downstop on the main frame or, as preferred and show n herein, on the floating frame near its pivot on the main frame. This independent stop is provided by rods 22, which are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on the floating frame-pieces 61, their upper free ends working through eyes secured to the ends of the yoke. Cotter-pins through said rods above and below the eyes (see Fig. 13) constitute upper and lower limits for the movement of the yoke, the rods being provided with a series of holes for the cotter-pins, so that the range of action of the yoke may be adjusted to the requirementsof the work being done, and the rods being encircled by coil-springs 122 to hold the yoke down with an elastic pressure, which may be Varied by adjusting the upper cotters. The compressor when not at work or when working in thin hay thus rests its upper and lower yokes on downstops which hold it within a few inches of the carrier-face and substantially parallel with the carrier, but also, by reason of its yokes being freely mounted on the downstops, the hay can lift it at either end, side, or corner, substantially providing the exact amount of room required by the varying volume of the elevating hay and maintaining an equalized compression by the tilting of the compressor to adapt itself to the unequal distribution of the hay in the ele- Vator at any given time. 7

By trailing and pivoting the gatherer on the main frame, by rock-seating the strippersection on the gatherer cylinder axis, by hinging together the forward end of the stripper 8 section and the rear end of the compressor-section, by supporting the forward weight of the stripper-section, increased by the compressor-weight at that point, on the backward and forward swinging stop-rods brought up from the'main or floating frames, by slidably suspending the compressor-bars under their upper yoke, and by pivoting the supporting-arms of this yoke back on the main frame there is provision for every possible movement necessary in the parts so re lated, no matter how extreme the variations in service may be. As the gathering-cylinder is mounted in a position substantially horizontal to the pivot of its floating frame and the lower compressor-yoke in a position substantially vertical thereto, the parts being connected and both supported from the floating frame, it follows that when the gatherer floats up and down in passing over surface elevations the yoke must move forward and back in a like are of a circle around the pivot of the floating frame, since the gatherer and yoke have the same relative movement as the horizontal and vertical spokes in a revolving wheel. The forward-and-back movement of the yoke is permitted by the swinging mount of the stop-rod supporting it, and the compressor-bars supported upon the yoke are moved by its oscillations up and down the carrierface, their endwise shift being permitted bytheir sliding-loop connection with their upper yoke. During the endwise movement of the compressor-bars their parallel position to the carrier-face is substantially maintained by means of the parallel slides at the top end and of the substantially parallel movement of their lower yoke on the swinging stop-rods. XVith the gatherer up and the lower yoke down the compressor-bars have made their extreme forward and endwise movement. It while maintaining these relative positions an excessive quantity of hay should lift the extreme top end of the compressor, the upper yoke would come down the sliding loops sufficiently to compensate for the difference in the arcs, respectively, in which the yoke and the bars were rising. This position of allthe parts determines the relative location of the lower ends of the sliding loops, as to set them higher up the bars would lock the parts from taking the Various compensating positions necessary to work. If while the gatherer and the upper yoke are in their highest positions the lower' yoke be raised as part of the stripper-section, it would rock toward the rear, drawing the compressorbars endwisc down the carrier-face until the sliding loops would hang about centrally under the upper yoke. \Vith the lower yoke up and the gatherer and upper yoke down the compressor bars have made their extreme rearward and endwise movement and the upper yoke its extreme forward movement. This position of the parts determines the relative location of the upper ends of the sliding loops to avoid locking. \Vith the lower yoke dropped down also-that is, all parts on their lower stops, as shown in Fig. 13-the bars and slide-loops move forward to their middle positions the same as when all parts are raised to their limits. Owing to the looseness of all the pivot and hinge connections involved and to the considerable width of the machine all these varying positions can be taken at one side of the machine, while the corresponding parts at the other side are at rest or making other combinations, as the work may require.

In mounting the loader on two wheels the preponderance of weight is necessarily and naturally forward, and to support the machine when not attached to a wagon or not in use a swinging leg 33, attached to the frame of the machine forward of the wheels and below the carrier, is let down to rest upon the ground. lVhile at work the swinging leg is hooked up under the stub-tongue 34: (see Fig. 11) by any convenient means, such as the chain and fork shown in Figs. 1 and 19, and the tongue H is attached by any suitable means to the wagon reach. The tongue H is attached to the stub-tongue 34 at its rear only by the leveling-stirrup 85, which straddles the stub-tongue with its upper free ends,which are perforated, so thata pin 36 may be passed through perforations in the stirrup ends and through a slide 37, attached to the under side of the stub-tongue. The slide in, effect, constitutes a long slot, so that the tongue II may be moved backward and forward longitudinally, the leveling-bolt constituting a pivot therefor. At the forward end of the stub-tongue there is secured a transverse bar 38, provided at opposite ends with handles 388. (See Fig. 19.) The bar is notched on its under side at 39 to receive the tongue H, which is provided with an elongated slot 40 in its upper face, preferably covered with a metallic wear-plate, which also is a draft-plate and divides the slot into two parts, as clearly shown in the drawings, and down into one or the other parts of this slot projects the end of a draft pin or stud 41, depending from the stub-tongue just back of the handle-bar. In Fig. l the tongue H is shown in dotted lines as resting with its forward end upon the ground out of working position, and the swinging leg 33 is also down on the ground to support the machine. In Fig. 11 and in full lines in Fig. l the tongue is shown up in a horizontal position, as when attached to a wagon at its forward end. In this position the machine is supported by the wagon-reach r, to which the forward end of the draft'tongue is secured, preferably by means of a bar 7', suspended from the reach and extending through the socket r on the end of the tongue, the connection between the bar and the socket being made by a clevis r that is adjustably pivoted to the bar and is caught under the hook r on the socket. The object of this ar-' rangement is to avoid the necessity of going under the wagon to hitch or unhitch the loader. When the wagon is loaded, the first act in unhitching the loader is to let down the leg and by means of the handle 388 to lift up the frame, so that the leg will straighten out and support the loader Sllfficiently above and free of the draft-tongue to effect the disengagement of the draft-stud from the socket. This leaves the draftceases tongue supported by the clevis r at its front end and the leveling-pin 36 at its rear, and immediately that the stud 41 is free of the socket 40 the slide 37 permits the weight of the tongue to cause it to lurch or swing ahead, thus bringing the bar so that it hangs vertically and loosely within the socket. The draft strain being thus removed from the intel-locking parts,a quick lift of the tongue unhooks the clevis and tosses its free end out of the path of the hook long enough to permit the socket to drop from the bar. In hitching up the loader the operator has only to bring the socket 0 in line with the point .of the bar 0" and lift the front end of the tongue. As the socket rises the hook 7' passes the clevis and the latter drops under the hook by its own weight. As will be understood, the pole bears no weight either when hitching or unhitching, and being free to move endwise and sidewise by means of the slide 37 it is easy to get the hitch parts into line with each other, and no great care is required to adjust the wagon to the loader.

It is obvious that numerous changes in the form and construction of the various parts of my machine may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and all such changes are contemplated by the following claims. It will also be understood that some of the features of the invention are applicable to any machines which gather the hay from the ground, whether they load it upon Wagons or other vehicles for transportation or merely gather it for the purpose of raking orteddingit, especially the manner of mounting the frame and driving the parts and the construction and manner of supporting the floating gatherer.

Having thus described my in\'ention,what I claim is- 1. In a hay-loader, the combination of a stub-tongue rigid with the loader-frame, a draft-tongue having a disconnectable draft connection with said tongue, and a sliding pivotal connection between the draft-tongue and the stub'tongue.

2. In a hay-loader, the combination of a stub-tongue rigid with the loader frame, a folding leg pivoted to the tongue and adapted to support the frame in a slightly-elevated position, a draft-tongue having a disconnectable draft connection with the stub-tongue, and a sliding pivotal connection between the rear end of the draft-tongue and the stubtongue.

3. In a hay-loader, the combination of a stub-tongue rigid with the loader -frame, a cross-bar at the front end of the tongue having handles by means of which the loaderframe may be lifted, a pivoted foldable leg adapted to support the frame in a slightlyraised position, a depending draft-stud, a draft-tongue having a sliding pivotal connection with the stub-tongue at its rear end, and a socket or sockets in the upper side of the draft-tongue located and adapted to receive the draft-stud on the stub-tongue.

4. In a machine for gathering hay, the combination of axleless ground-wheels, extensions of the hubs of said wheels upon which the frame of the machine is mounted, a driving-shaft for the operative parts of the machine journaled in said wheel-hubs, and a driving connection from the wheel-hubs to the shaft.

5. In a machine for gathering hay, the combination of a pair of parallel frame-bars at the side of the machine, a ground-wheel having its hub provided with extended ends upon which said bars are supported with the wheel between them, a driving-shaft journaled in the hub of said wheel, driving connections from the shaft to the operative parts of the machine, and a driving connection between the wheel-hub and the shaft.

6. In a machine for gathering hay, the combination of a pair of parallel frame-bars at opposite sides of the machine, ground-wheels having their hubs provided with extended ends upon which said bars are supported with the wheels between them, a throughshaft for driving the operative parts of the machinejournaled in the hubs of said wheels, and a disconnectable driving connection between said whee'lhubs and the shaft.

7. In a machine for gathering hay, the combination of a pair of parallel frame-bars at opposite sides of the machine, ground-wheels having their hubs provided with extended ends upon which said bars aresupported with the wheels between them, a through-shaft journaled in said wheel-hubs, a cylinder carried by said wheels and having elevating-fingers, an oppositely-rotating cylinder carried by the loader-frame in rear of the wheels and I having gathering-fingers, an elevator rece1ving the hay gathered by said cylinders, connections whereby the two cylinders and the elevator are driven by the shaft, and driving connections between the shaft and the groundwheels. v

8; In a machine for gathering hay, the combination of axleless ground-wheels, an elevating-cylinder having a journaled connection with the hubs of said wheels, a drivingconnection between the cylinder and the wheels.

9. Ina machine for gathering hay, the combination of axleless ground-wheels, an elevating-cylinder provided with journals having bearings in the hubs of said wheels, a shaft extending through the journals of the cylinder, and a driving connection between the shaft and the ground-wheel hubs.

10. In a machine for gathering hay, the combination with the side bars of the machineframe, of axleless ground-wheels having hub extensions upon which said side bars are support-ed, a driving-shaft for the operative parts of the machine journaled in said wheel-hubs, driving-gears fixed upon said shaft outside the frame-bars, and a driving connection beelastically-suspended floating frame, a rotating fingered cylinder mounted in said frame, and a stripper composed of transverse bars in front and rear of the cylinder, with straps connected at their opposite ends to said bars and passing close beneath the cylinder, said cross-bars being connected together by side bars that are sleeved on the shaft of the cylinder so as to permit the stripper to rock about the cylinder-axis.

13. In a hay-loader, the combination of an elastically-suspended floating frame, a rotating fingered cylinder mounted in said frame, and a stripper composed of transverse bars in front and rear of the cylinder, with straps connected at opposite ends to said bars and passing close beneath the cylinder, said crossbars being connected together by side bars that are sleeved on the shaft of the cylinder so as to permit the stripper to rock about the cylindenaxis, and the upper bar being free to rise and fall independently of the floating frame and cylinder.

14. In a hay-loader, the combination of an elastically-suspended floating frame, a rotating fingered cylinder mounted in said frame, and a stripper composed of transverse bars in front and rear of the cylinder with straps connected at opposite ends to said bars and passing close beneath the cylinder, the floating frame and its gathering-cylinder being adapted to rise and fall independently of the front bar.

15. In a hay-loader, the combination of an elastically-suspended floating frame, a rotating fingered cylinder mounted in said frame, and a stripper composed of transverse bars connected together by straps passing close under the cylinder, the front cross-bar being free to move vertically with respect to the floating frame, and the rear one being connected to move with the floating frame.

16. In a hay-loader, the combination of a floating frame pivoted to the main frame and elastically supported at its rear end, a rotating fingered gathering-cylinder carried by said frame, and a stripper for the fingers of said cylinder, said stripper being composed of transverse bars connected together by straps passing close under the cylinder, the front transverse bar being vertically movable so as to permit the straps to have a movement about the axis of the cylinder.

17. In a hay-loader, the combination of a fingered elevating-cylinder carried by the main frame, an auxiliary fingered gatheringeylinder in rear thereof carried by an elastically-suspended floating frame, an elevator to which the hay gathered by the cooperation of the elevating and gathering cylinders is delivered, and a stripper for the fingers of the gathering-cylinders, said stripper being composed of transverse bars in front and rear of the cylinder connected together by straps passing close beneath the cylinder, and curving upwardly and forwardly over the elevating-cylinder, the front cross-bar being adapted to yield vertically away from said elevating-cylinder.

18. In a hayloader, the combination of a fingered elevating-cylinder carried by the main frame, an auxiliary fingered gatheringeyli nder in rear thereof carried by an elastically-suspended floating frame, an elevator to which the hay gathered by the cooperation of the cylinders is delivered, and a stripper for the fingers of the gathering-cylinder, said stripper being composed of transverse bars in front and rear of the cylinder connected together by straps passing close beneath the cylinders, and curving upwardly and forwardly over the main-frame cylinder, and at that point having a hinge connection with a yielding compressor overlying the elevator, the front cross-bar being adapted to yield vertically away from the main-frame cylinder.

19. In a hay-loader, the combination with the elevator, of an elevating-cylinder mounted in the main frame at the foot of the elevator, a floating elastically-supported frame carrying an auxiliary gathering cylinder below and in rear of the elevatingcylinder, and means for rotating said cylinders in opposite directions. i

20. In a hay-loader, the combination with the elevator, of an elevating-cylinder mounted on the main frame in fixed position relative to the elevator and the ground, and a floating elastically-supported frame carrying an auxiliary gathering-cylinder Whose position is automatically variable relative to the ground, the fixed cylinder and the elevator.

21. In a hay-loader, the combination with the elevator, of an overlying compressor, a yoke at the head of the elevator, and sliding connections between the compressor-bars and the yoke, said yoke being carried by arms pivoted to the elevator-frame, whereby it is free to rise.

22. In a hay-loader, the combination with the elevator, of an overlying compressor, a yoke at the foot of the elevator, and connections between the yoke and the compressorslats, the yoke being adapted to rise and fall.

23. In a hay-loader, the combination with the elevator, of an overlying compressor, a yoke at the foot of the elevator connected to the compressor, vertical rods pivoted on the elevator-frame, and having a sliding connection with the yoke, and springs to holdthe yoke down with an elastic pressure.

24. In a hay-loader, the combination of a floating fingered gathering-cylinder, a stripper for the fingers of said cylinder, an elevator, an overlying compressor for the elevator, and'a flexible connection between the lower end of the compressor and the upper end of the stripper.

25. In allay-loader, the combination of an elevator, an elevating-cylinder, mounted in fixed position on the frame at the foot of the elevator, an auxiliary gathering cylinder mounted in a pivoted floating frame in rear of the elevating-cylinder, a stripper for the fingers of the gathering-cylinder, said stripper being connected to the main frame so as to move with the floating frame, a compressor overlying the elevator carrier-belt, and a pivotal connection between the compressor and the stripper.

26. In a hay-loader, the combination of the main frame, a floating cylinder mounted in arms pivoted on the frame and having gathering-fingers, and a stripper for the fingers of the gathering-cylinder, said stripper consisting of straps connected to cross-bars in front and rear of the gathering-cylinder, and said stripper being pivotally mounted on the axis of the cylinder and free to oscillate and move vertically at its forward end.

27. In a hay-loader, the combination of the main frame having side bars, supportingwheels journaled in boxes on the under side of said bars, a slatted elevator-carrier having chains, an elevating-cylinder mounted coaxially with the supporting-wheels, and heads MARSHALL BECK.

Witnessesfi J AS. BARCLAY, WILSON P. HUNT.