US736590A - Corn-harvester. - Google Patents

Description

No. 736,590. PATENTED AUG. 18', 1903. G. D. FOSTER. CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZ, 1901. NO MODEL.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1 PATEKTED AUG. 18. 1903.

G. D. FOSTER. CORN HARVESTER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 2. 1901.,

6 SgEETB-SHEBT 2.

HQ MODEL.

THE News warns no. Pum'uumu, mew won. D, cv

PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903..

G. 1). FOSTER. CORN HARVBSTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1901.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 NO MODEL.

PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.

G. D. FOSTER.

CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1901.

6 SHEETS-$HBET 44 N0 MODEL.

PATBNTED AUG. 18, 1903.

G. D. FOSTER. CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. 1901.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEBT 5.

N0 MODEL.

m NwH mTo-ur wASmNGTON UNTTnn STAT S Patented August 18, 1903 GEORGE D. FOSTER, OF PRESTON, IOWA.

CORN-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,590, dated August 18, 19 03.

Application filed July 2,1901. Serial No. 66,853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. FOSTER, of Preston, county of Jackson, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oorn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto corn-harvesters, and refers more specifically to a machine of that class wherein the corn is cut and transferred to a platform and formed into a shock, which when completed is deposited in standing position upon the ground.

Among the'salient objects of the invention are to provide an improved shock-forming apparatus operating to automatically receive and transfer the severed corn to a platform, whereon the shock is formed ready to be delivered in completed shape; to provide improvements in the details of construction of an apparatus of the character referred to whereby the shock is built up progressively, commencing at the center and continually adding to the exterior in such a manner as to form a shock circular and symmetric when completed; to provide improved means whereby the successive accumulations of corn are held firmly during the building up of the shock; to provide improved means for affording an initial central support or mast around which the shock is formed and which mast is subsequently collapsed or retracted to permit the shock to be discharged in standing position; to provide improved means for transferring the shock to the ground, leaving it in upright position, and restoring the several parts concerned in the transfer to their normal positions in readiness for forming a succeeding shock; to provide improvements in the means whereby the corn is gathered, severed, and transferred to the shocking ap paratus, and in general to combine with a cutting mechanism a shock forming and transferring mechanism in such manner as to provide a simple, effective, and convenient machine capable of rapid operation and comparatively free from liability to get out of adjustment or repair.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and will be readily understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view, principally in side elevation, but in part shown in vertical section, with the tongue removed, taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2, of a corn-harvester embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation of parts of the platform and transfer-crane. Fig. 4 is an axial sectional view of the collapsible mast and connected parts. -Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail view, in side elevation, of one of the series of compressing-fingers and supporting-shaft therefor. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in plan of the grapple which forms a part of the transfer-crane. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the rotary platform and swinging conveyer, showing a slight modification or addition' to the conveyor mechanism sometimes found useful; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the auxiliary conveyor shown in side elevation.

Referring to said drawings, ldesignates as a whole a main frame, which is conveniently and in the present instance of rectangular form and arranged horizontally, comprising longitudinal members 2 3 4: and transverse members 5 6. Between the side frame members 2 and 3 is arranged the bull-wheel 7, which serves the combined functions of a supporting-wheel and drive-wheel for impart ing motion to the various movable parts, said bull-wheel being connected with the main frame by having its journals mounted in suitable castings (designatedSand 9) in a usual manner. The opposite side of the main frame is conveniently supported by means of a supporting-wheel 10, connected with the main frame in a usual manner, and at its front the main frame is provided with the usual draft rigging or tongue 11.

12 designates as a whole a shock-supporting platform supported by the main frame and comprising a central circular rotatable table 13 and surrounding stationary table 14, the rotatable and stationary parts being desirably and as shown in the present instance made flush with each other.

15 designates a frame member or support which is arranged to extend beneath the cenextended position.

tral portion of the rotatable platform and serves to support a suitable bearing-ring 16, upon which the center of the platform is rotatably mounted. Within a central aperture in the platform is mounted a casting 16, provided with a radial flange 16, having bear ing engagement with the bearing-ring 16 and so formed as to provide a centrally and vertically disposed cylindric socket or cup-shaped receptacle, open at its upper end and rising through the rotatable platform, but substantially closed at its lower end, said socket serving as a means of supporting a collapsible mast, (designated as a whole 17,) which forms when extended an initial supportabout which the shock is formed and rotates bodily with the platform. constructed and as shown in the present instance comprises a plurality of tubular sections (designated 18 to 22, inclusive) adapted to nest within each other telescope fashion and provided with suitable locking mechanism, whereby they may be locked together in The lowermost one of said mast-sections is rigidly secured in the socket of the casting l6, and each section, except the uppermost one, is provided with a longitudinal slot 23, through which extends a stud 24, mounted upon the section next in order, the length of said slots 23 being such as to limit the distance to which the telescoping sections may be extended. Each of the sections, with the exception of the uppermost, is likewise provided with a spring-catch 25, mounted upon the exterior of the section and working through a slot formed in its side and so located as to spring inwardly beneath the lower end of the next superposed section to lock the latter in fully-extended position, as shown in Fig. 4. Each of the spring-catches is so shaped as to provide a horizontal supporting portion 26, which rests squarely beneath the edge of the superposed section when in operative position, and an inwardly and downwardly inclined or beveled cam portion 27, so located that when the section next immediatelyabove the supported section telescopes within the latter its lower edge will engage the inclined cam portion and force the catch outwardly, so as to release the section supported thereby. By means of this construction itwill be obvious that if the uppermost section be released it will pass downwardly and force outwardly and release the catch of the next lower section, which latter will in turn descend and release the nextvcatch, and so on throughout the height of the mast. The catch which supports the uppermost section isadapt-ed to be released by an inclined projection 28, formed upon the lower end of a hollow sliding block 29, which is arranged within said uppermost section, and this block is normally held in its uppermost position, or that shown in the draw ings, by means of'an internal spring-catch 30, provided with an outwardly-extending lip or catch portion 31, which works through a suit- The mast 17 as preferably able aperture in the side of the hollow block and engages a corresponding aperture 32, formed through the side of the uppermost section. Means are provided for releasing the catch 30 by the operator while seated upon the drivers seat and after the shock has been fully formed, so as to collapse the mast, such means comprising a cord or cable 33, connected at one end with the catch, as indicated at 34,- extending thence over a guide-pulley 35, located radially opposite and inside of the catch, and extending thence downwardly through the hollow mast, through an aperture 36 in the socket of the casting 16, around a guide-pulley 37, thence radially outward beneath the platform to a point beneath that part of the stationary platform adjacent to the drivers seat, around a guide-pulley lo cated beneath the platform, (not shown,) and up through the platform to a handle 38, located so as to .be conveniently accessible to the driver. In order to permit the rotation of the mast without twisting the cord, a swivel 33 is interposed between the pulleys 35 and 37. It will be obvious that by simply pulling on the cord 33 the sliding block 29, located within the uppermost section, will be released and drawn downwardly to release the uppermost section, which will in turn release the next section, and so on until the mast is completely collapsed. The mast is extended or drawn up after the shock has been discharged by the operator simply taking hold of its upper end and drawing it outwardly and upwardly, its uppermost section being to this end provided with a suitable handle 39. It is necessary that some provision in the nature of fingers or projections be provided-to extend outwardly from the upper end of the mast in order to hold the upper ends of the first stalks which are'deposited against the mast in suitable relation to the latter, and to this end a plurality of fingers 40 are pivotally connected with the upper end portion of the sliding block 29 and arranged to extend divergently and radially out through suitable slots 41, formed through the sides of the top mast-section 22, these slots being ofsuch length as to permit the fingers to fold upwardly and inwardly as the block is drawn downwardly relatively to the section until the fingers have been drawn entirely within the mast-section, thus enabling the latter to telescope within the next lower section. The pivot-ears 42, with which the fingers 40 are connected, are located near the central por-.

proximately equal intervals apart around the circumference of the rotatable platform. As

a convenient construction each standard 43 consists of a rod, which is desirably tubular, seated in a socket-casting 44, bolted to the platform, as best indicated in Fig. 6, the standard being held from rotation in its socket by means of a lug or stud 45, mounted thereon and projecting into a slot 46, extending from the upper end of the socket downwardly throughout a part of its height. The object of this construction is to enable the standard to be readily lifted out or disconnected when desired. Upon each standard is mounted a plurality of spring compressing-arms 47, each desirably comprising a coiled-spring portion 48, formed to encircle the standard and having one end secured rigidly to the standard by being inserted through the latter, and an arm proper formed in continuation of the coil, so as to extend radially inwardly in position to bear against the mast when the shock-forming apparatus is empty and to bear against the stalks stacked around the mast with increasing pressure as the shock grows and the spring-arms are forced radially outwardly against the tension of their coils 48.

Describing now the cutting and transferring mechanism whereby the corn is cut and transferred to the center of the shock-forming apparatus, 49 and 50 designate a pair of gathering-fingers or guides mounted upon the main frame and arranged to extend forwardly therefrom approximately parallel with each other at such distance apart as to receive a row of corn therebetweeu as the machine is drawn along, the outerends of said gatheringfingers being pointed and arranged to diverge from each other, as best indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The gathering-fingers are of increasing height from their points rearwardly, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1, and are each provided with a pair of conveyerbelts 51 52, having projecting fingers 53, arranged at regular intervals apart and adapted to engage the cornstalks and carry them rearwardly between the two gathering-fingers to a set of conveyers 54 55, which receive the stalks at the rear ends of the gathering-fingers and convey them to the shock formed at the center of the rotating platform. Of the two conveyer-belts mounted upon each gathering-finger the longer belt 51 is arranged uppermost and extends from apoint near the extreme forward end of the gathering-fingers obliquely rearwardly and upwardly to a point near the rear end of the finger, while the lower and shorter conveyer-belt 52 extends parallel with the belt 51 from a point midway of the length of the finger rearwardly to the rear end of the latter, it being understood that the two longer belts 51 and the two shorter belts 52, one upon each gatheringfinger, are arranged laterally opposite each other. In order to thus support and operate said conveyer-belts, an upright drive-shaft 56 is mounted in suitable bearings in the rear end of each gathering-finger, the lower ends of each of said shafts being provided with a bevel-gear 57, which severallyintermesh with corresponding bevel-gears 58, mounted upon a transverse driving-shaft 59, supported beneath the front portion of the main frame. Upon the upright shafts 56 are mounted driving-sprockets 60, which carry the rear ends of the respective belts 52, while at their front ends said belts are trained about guide-sprockets 61, suitably mounted in the gatheringfingers adjacent to the points thereof. In order that the proximate sides of the conveyerbelts may follow the divergent and parallel portions of the gathering-fingers, additional guide-sprockets 62 and 63 are provided, about which the conveyer-belts travel, the former being each located at the juncture of the divergent portion of the finger with the straight portion thereof, while the sprockets 63 are severally located at the extreme rear ends or heel portions of the gathering-fingers, as indicated clearly in Fig. 2.

The conveyer belts 52 are driven from sprockets 64, mounted upon the same shafts 56 which operate the belts 51, while the for-' ward ends of said bolts 52 are trained around guide-sprockets 65, mounted upon shafts 66, arranged parallel with the shafts 56 and located at points intermediate the length of the gathering-fingers and adjacent to the inner edges of the latter. The belt 52 extends from the guide-sprockets 65 around lower guide sprockets 67, arranged upon the same shafts as and vertically beneath the guide-sprockets 63.

In order to support and drive the pair of conveyer-belts 54 55, a shaft 68 is journaled in suitable bearings vertically above the shaft 59, the upper end of said shaft being conveniently, and as herein shown, journaled in the rear end of the gathering-finger 50, while its lower end is supported in a suitable bearing or journal-box carried by the main frame. The shaft 68 carries at its lower end a bevelgear 69, which in turn meshes with a gear 70 upon the shaft 59.

Inasmuch as the conveyer-belts 54 55 convey the stalks to a constantly-accumulating shock, it is necessary that these conveyers should deliver to points farther and farther away from the center of the platform as the shock increases in diameter, and to this end said conveyer-belts are mounted upon what constitutes, in effect, a swinging frame constructed and arranged as follows:

71 and 71 designate upper and lower horizontal arms, each rotatably mounted at one end upon the shaft 68, so as to be capable of oscillatory movement thereon.

72 designates a shaft journaled in the outer or swinging ends of the arms 71 and 71', so as to extend parallel with the shaft 68, and upon the two parallel shafts 68 and 72 are mounted pairs of sprocket-wheels 73 74 and 75 76, respectively, about which are trained the conveyer- belts 54 and 55. Springs 77 are arranged to act upon the swinging arms 71 71 in such manner as to force the latter inwardly toward the center of the platform with a yielding pressure.

78 designates a swinging guard arranged to extend from the discharge end of the passage between the gatheringfingers inwardly toward the center of the platform adjacent to the conveyer- belts 54 and 55, said swinging guard being pivotally supported upon a vertical pivot 79, so that it may be swung with the swinging conveyer and being held yieldably toward the shock by means of a coiled contractile spring 80, connected at one end with the rear end of the gathering-finger frame 49 and extending thence to and connected with the swinging guard at a point intermediate of its length.

Aregular rotation is imparted to the rotary platform by means of a drive-shaft 81, mounted in suitable bearings 82 83 to extend horizontally beneath the platform, one end of said shaft being provided with a spur-gear 84,

which intermeshes with an annular rack 85,

mounted "upon the under side of the moving platform, while at its opposite end the shaft 81 is provided with a bevel-gear 86, which intermeshes with a corresponding gear 87,

mounted upon the drive-shaft 59. The shaft 59 is driven from a sprocket-wheel 88, mounted upon the main supporting or bull wheel, through the medium of a sprocket-chain 89, which extends from the sprocket 88 to a corresponding sprocket 90, mounted upon the end of the shaft 59.

' Describing now the cutting mechanism, 91 designates the finger-bar, which is mounted to. extend transversely beneath, the lower sides of the gathering-fingers 49 50 at a point some distance in advance of the rear ends of said gathering-fingers, said finger-bar being conveniently, and as shown herein, attached directly to the under sides of the gathering fingers. usual guard-fingers 92 and sickle-race, within which latter is arranged a reciprocatory sickle 93 of the usual type. In order to drive the sickle, a shaft 94 is arranged to extend horizontally forward parallel, but some distance below, the shaft 81, said shaft being supported in suitable bearings, as indicated at 95 96. Upon the rear end of the shaft 94 is mounted a pinion 97, which intermeshes with tion thereof and adjacent to the rear edge of the structure. In the preferred embodiment shown herein said crane comprises two main members-a crane-arm 103, mounted to oscillate about a vertical axis and having a swing- The finger-bar is provided with the ing arm 104, which terminates in a grapple 105, adapted to embrace and engage the top of the shock when the crane-arm is swung into position to overhang the center of the platform, and an upright mast or support 106 with which the crane-arm has pivotal engagement and which'serves also as a means of lifting the crane-arm bodily, as will hereinafter appear. Upon the stationary portion of the platform is mounted a casting 107, having a tubular or socket-like member 108, within which the lower end of the crane-arm is arranged to fit and slide so as to be capable of being lifted bodily upward and also of oscillatory movement therein, and at one side of the base of said casting the latter is provided with a second socket portion 109, within which the lower end of said mast 106 is rigidly seated. The upper portion of the socket 108 and the mast are united by means of a clamp or support 110. Similarly a clamp or support 111 is mounted at a higher point upon the mast 106 and provided with a bearing portion 112,Within which the crane-arm is journaled. The mast is provided with suitable guy-rods or stays 113, extending from its upper end downwardly to the main frame of the machine, and upon its extreme upper end is mounted a guide-pulley 114, over which is trained a cord or cable 115, one end of which is connected with a clip 116 upon the crane-arm, while its opposite end extends to and around a guide-pulley 117, mounted in a suitable bracket upon the main frame, and thence to and is connected with a hand-lever 118, working over a notched segment. In order to provide means for rotating the crane -arm about its vertical pivot, said arm is provided at a point immediately above the upper end of the socket 108 with a spur-gear 120, which has splined engagement with the crane-arm to permit the latter to reciprocate therethrough while retaining driving engagement therewith and which is confined against vertical movement. by means of a support or casting 121, mounted adjacent to the casting 107. The support 121 is provided with an eye 122, through which is arranged to reciprocate a rack bar 123, which intermeshes with the spur-gear 120 and extends from the latter horizontally forward through a suitable guide-bearing formed in the upper end of a bracket 124 and terminates in an eye 125, with which is connected an operatingrod 126, which extends forwardly to and is connected with a second hand-lever 127. The lever 127 works over a notched segment 128 substantially similar to that of the hand-lever 118, heretofore described. The length of the toothed portion of the rack and its engagement with the spur-gear 120 are such that by shifting the hand-lever 127 from one extreme of its movement to the other the cranearm will be oscillated from a position with its grapple vertically above the center of the rotating platform to a position in which the crane arm will extend in a direction approximately ninety degrees therefrom, in which latter position the shock will have been carried entirely off the platform in readiness to be lowered to the ground. It will be noted that both the levers 118 and 127, as well as the handle 38, connected with the cord whereby the mast is collapsed, are so located as to be convenient of access to the driver while seated upon the seat 129. The grapple 105 upon the end of the cranearm in the preferred construction shown herein comprises a pair of semicircular arms 130 131, arranged to cross each other and pivoted together attheir intersections tong fashion, one of said arms being formed rigid with and in continuation of the main shank 132, which is attached to the end of the cranearm, while the end 133 of the opposite arm 130 is arranged to extend in somewhat di- Vergent relation to the shank 132 when the arms are in approximately closed position. Upon the shank 132 is pivoted a link 134, the swinging end of which is adapted to engage a hook or stud 135 upon the shank 133, whereby the compressing arms are held locked together. In order to insure a more positive engagement of the grapple with the shock for the purpose of lifting the latter bodily, each of the embracing-arms is provided with an inwardly-extending prong 136, which is forced into the mass of stalks as the arms are brought into compressing engagement with the latter.

The operation of the apparatus constructed as described has been indicated in connection with the description of the mechanism, but may be briefly recapitulated as follows: The crane-arm being swung into a position in rear of the platform and assuming that the platform is empty, the several conveyers will be in the position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the mast extended into its upright position, and the compressing-fingers 4:7 resting in engagement therewith. As the machine is drawn along the gathering-fingers straddle the row of corn and direct the stalks into the throat or opening between said fingers, upon entering which they are engaged and carried rearwardly in a positive manner by the several prongs of the conveyer-belts. As the stalks reach the sickle they are severed and continue in their progress rearwardly between the gathering-fingers and are delivered to the space between the conveyer-belts 54 55 and the swinging guard 78. The several conveyor-belts working synchronously and continuously as the machine advances carry the stalks to the center of the rotating platform and lodge them in upright position against the mast, the stalks being held in upright position against the mast as they are carried away from the conveyers by the rotation of the platform by the several compressing-fingers 47 and the supporting-fingers 40. As the platform continues to rotate and the conveyers continue to discharge the stalks against the accumulating shock, the

latter is built up in continuous spirallayers, the compressing-fingers meantime yielding outwardly, but always confining the accumulated stalks until the shock has reached the desired size. The operator now stops the machine, swings the crane-arm into position for its grapple to embrace the top of the shock, (it being noted that the pivoted arm may be opened back out of the way as the crane-arm swings into position,) collapses the mast by pulling on the cord attached to the handle 38, then closes the grapple-arms upon the shock and locks them, and finally proceeds to lift the shock free from the platform and .deposit it by first throwing the handlever 118 forward, so as to lift the crane-arm and attached shock bodily and then shifting thelever 127 forwardly to rot-ate the cranearm to its delivering position, whereupon he releases the first-mentioned lever and lowers without beinglowered after ithas been swung free of the platform. Either method is practicable with the machine as constructed, but the latter method is more expeditious and preferred.

While the machine constructed and arranged as described will under normal conditions operate with entire satisfaction, yet it is sometimes found that in case of operating when a high wind is blowing there is more or less tendency of the first few stalks which are lodged against the upright support or mast being blown out of position, and I have therefore shown in Figs. Band 9 an auxiliary mechanism constructed to overcome any such difficulty. This mechanism, it will be understood, may be made as an attachment which can be applied temporarily or may be made a permanent part of the mechanism. As shown in said figures, the auxiliary attachment consists of a second swinging conveyor pivotally connected with the free end of the main conveyor. This device comprises a horizontal arm 137, pivotally connected with the outer vertical shaft 72, near the upper end of the latter, and carrying at its outer end a belt-pulley 138, around which extends a friction-belt 139, the opposite end of which is trained around a second pulley 140, mounted upon the shaft 72. The position of the tend adjacent to the upright mast, as shown clearly in Fig. 8. The pulley 140 is united by means of a sleeve connection with the adjacent pulley, which carries the conveyerbelt 154, so as to rotate with the latter, and thereby drive the friction-belt 139. By reason of the spring connection between the arm 141 and the shaft 72 the auxiliary conveyer is free to yield and swing relatively to the main conveyer, and inasmuch as the belt 139 is simply a friction-belt devoid of projections which would positively engage the stalks of corn the action of said auxiliary conveyer does not interfere with the stalks being properly lodged against the laterally-projecting arms of the mast, notwithstanding the auxiliary conveyer extends beneath the same.

While I have herein shown What I deem to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, yet it will be obvious that the details of construction may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to these details except to the extent that the same are made the subject of specific claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a corn harvester, the combination with a cutting mechanism and a conveyer mechanism, of a rotating platform to which said conveyer mechanism delivers,and means for initially supporting the corn in upright position upon said platform, adapted to be held removably in position above the platform,comprisinga vertically-arranged collapsible support rising from the center of the platform and adapted to be collapsed downwardlyto an extent to substantially withdraw it from within the shock before the shock is tied or lifted from its position:

2. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a cutting mechanism and a conveyer mechanism, of a horizontally-arranged rotatable platform to which said conveyer mechanism delivers, means for initially supporting the central portion of a shock upon said rotating platform comprising a collapsible mast constructed to collapse downwardly to an extent to substantially withdraw it from the shock before the shock is tied or lifted f rom its position, a series of compressing deremote from the axis of the shock, and means Y for discharging the shock from the platform.

4. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a cutting mechanism and a conveyer mechanism, of a horizontally continuously rotatingplatform to which said conveyer mechanism delivers, means for initially supmechanism, of a horizontally continuously rotating platform to which said conveyer mechanism delivers, means forinitially supporting the central portion of the shock comprising a collapsible mast adapted to be extended to rise from the platform to a height sufficient to support the stalks in upright position, during the formation of the shock and collapsible downwardly to an extent to substantially withdraw it from the shock before the shock is tied or lifted from its position, and means for discharging the completed shock from the platform, comprising a swinging crane provided with a grappling device adapted to engage the upper end of the shock and to lift the latter bodily from the platform.

6. In a corn harvester, the combination with a cutting mechanism and shock mechanism adapted to form a shock in upright position, of means fordischarging the shock comprising an elevated support, a crane-arm journaled to oscillate upon a vertical axis upon said support, and provided with a compress ing device adapted to engage the upper portion of the shock, means for lifting said cranearm, with its load bodily, comprising an overhead pulley, a cable attached to said cranearm at a point below said pulley and extending thence over the pulley, and means for rotating the crane-arm comprising a shiftable rack-bar having operative engagement with a gear operatively connected with the cranearm and a hand-lever operatively connected with said rack-bar.

7. In combination with a corn-harvester provided with mechanism for forming a shock in upright position upon the machine, means for discharging the shock comprising a stationary upright mast, a crane-arm, the body portion whereof is rotatably supported in upright position from said mast, a lifting-cable attached to said crane-arm and extending thence around an overhead pulley and means for supporting the lower end portion of the crane-arm body and imparting rotation thereto comprising an upright socket within which the crane-arm is seated, a gear having nonrotatable and sliding engagement with the body of said crane-arm and confined against axial movement with the latter, a rack-bar operatively engaged with said gear and a hand-lever operatively engaged with said rack-bar.

8. In a corn-handling apparatus, the combination with a shock-platform, and means for conveying the stalks thereto, of a tubular, supporting member mounted adjacent to said platform, a crane-arm rotatably telescoped within said tubular memberand adapted to be lifted vertically therein and provided with a compressing-arm forming a rigid extension of the cranearm proper, and a second compressing-arm pivotally connected with the first, and means for holding said arms in compressed engagement with an embraced shock or bundle.

9. In a corn-handling apparatus, the combination of a crane-arm rotatably telescoped with a stationary tubular supporting memher, a grappling device comprising a compressing-arm rigidly connected with said,

crane-arm, a second compressing-arm pivotally connected with the first, means for holding said arms in compressed engagement with a shock or bundle, said arms being respectively provided with inwardly projecting prongs adapted to sink into the mass of corn to insure a more positive hold therewith and means for lifting said crane-arm within said tubular support for the purposes shown.

10. In a corn-shocking apparatus, the combination with the supporting-frame, of a collapsible mast consisting of a series of tubular sections of successively smaller diameter and adapted to telescope into each other, and a series of spring-latches adapted to hold the respective sections in extended relation, each of said spring-latches, except the first, being adapted to be disengaged by the engagement therewith of a higher telescoping section and means for disengaging the first section, sub stantially as described.

11. In a corn-shocking apparatus, the combination with a rotating platform provided centrally with a cup-like socket, of a collapsible mast supported therein consisting of a series of short tubular sections of successively smaller diameter adapted to telescope within each other, a series of spring-latches respectively secured to the several sections and adapted to spring inwardly beneath the respective next higher sections when the latter are in extended position, said spring-latches being provided with internal inclined cam portions adapted to be engaged and forced outwardly by the downward passage of an upper section, a sliding block arranged in the innermost section adapted to release thelatch supporting the latter in its downward movement, a spring-latch adapted to hold said sliding block in uplifted position and a cable operatively connected with said spring-latch and extending thence downwardly through the mast and to a point accessible by the operator, whereby the mast may be collapsed after the shock has been formed and before its removal, for the purpose set forth.

12. In combination with a collapsible mast forming a part of a shock mechanism, a tubular upper section open at its upper end, a sliding block arranged within said section, a series of arms pivotally connected with said sliding block so as to move bodily with the latter, and longitudinallyextending slots formed through the sides of the top section and extending to the open upper end thereof, through which said arms project, said arms being adapted to be retracted and projected by the relative sliding movement of said block within the section.

13. In a corn-harvester, the combination with the main frame provided with a bullwheel, a supporting-wheel and a rotatable platform, of a pair of gathering-fingers arranged at the front of said frame, upper and lower conveyer-belts arranged to travel longitudinally upon each of said gathering-fingers whereby the stalks are carried rearwardly therebetween, while held in upright position, a cutting mechanism operating to sever the stalks during their passage between the gathering-fingers, a spring-pressed extension conveyer mechanism comprising upper and lower conveyers arranged to receive the stalks from the throat of the gathering-fingers and convey them in upright position to the traveling platform, the delivery end of said conveyer mechanism being adapted to shift relatively to the axis of the rotating platform and held yieldingly toward the center thereof, means for temporarily supporting the accumulated stalks in upright position upon the platform and means for discharging the shock from the platform.

14. In a corn-harvester, the combination with the main frame provided with a bullwheel, asupporting-wheeland a rotating platform, of a pair ofgathering-fingers arranged at the front of said frame, upper and lower conveyer-belts arranged to travel longitudinally upon each of said gatheringfingers whereby the stalks are carried rearwardly therebetween, while held in upright position, a cutting mechanism operating to sever the stalks during their passage between the gathering-fingers, an extension conveyer mechanism comprising upper and lower conveyors arranged to receive the stalks from the throat of the gathering-fingers and convey them in upright position to the traveling platform, the delivery end of said conveyer mechanism being adapted to shift relatively to the axis of the rotating platform, and being held yieldably toward said axis by spring-pressure, a

collapsible mast arranged at the axis of the platform, a series of compressing-fingers mounted upon standards located adjacent to the periphery of the platform and arranged to project inwardly to hold the accumulated stalks in position against said mast, and a swinging-crane mechanism mounted upon the main frame and adapted to lift the shock bodily and transfer it to a position in rear of the platform, substantially as described.

15. In a corn-harvester, the combination with the main frame provided with a bull- 5 wheel, a supporting-wheel and a rotatable platform, of a pair of gathering-fingers arranged at the front of said frame, upper and lower conveyer-belts arranged to travel longitudinallyupon each of said'gathering-fin- IO gers whereby the stalks are carried rearwardly therebetween, while held in upright position, a cutting mechanism operating to sever the stalks during their passage between the gathering-fingers, an extension conveyer mechan- 13 ism comprising upper and lower conveyors arranged to receive the stalks from the throat of the gathering-fingers and convey them in upright position to the traveling platform, the delivery end of said conveyor mechanism 20 being adapted to shift relatively to the axis of the rotating platform and being held yieldably toward said axis by spring-pressure, a

GEORGE D. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK (J. GOODWTN, SAMUEL N. POND.

collapsible mast arranged at the axis of the

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