US781397A - Lawn-mower. - Google Patents

Description

PATBNTED JAN. 31, 1905.

L. BROWN. A LAWN MOWEN.'

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29, 1904.

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'LAWN MOWER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 29. 1904.

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Patented' January 31, 1905.

- UNITED STATES PATENT iEEIoE.

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LEvI BEowN, or EIorIMONn INDIANA, AssIeNon '.To

MowEEfoo., orv RICHMOND, INDIANA.

vTEE E. a N. LAWN LAwN-lvlowER.

SPEGIFICATIQN forming para of Letters Patent No. 791,397, dated January 31, 1905.

l Application filed February 29, 1904. Serial No. 195,916. l Y

.To fr/ZZ whom/tt may concern.)

Be it known that I, LEvI BROWN, a citizenof Improvements in Lawn-Mowers; and vI hereby declare the following to be a full,cl ear,

and exact specification ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled .in the art toK Vwhich it appertains to make and use the same. f l The object of my present invention, broadly speaking, is the provision of an improved..` lawn-mower in which a maximum of mechanical efficiency will be developed with a minimum of power applied, while at the same time providing a machine composed of a minimum of mechanical parts consistent with the work` it is adapted to perform. l

Another generic object is to provide a lawn-v l .mower which will beneat, artistic, and attractive in appearance, compactand symmetrical in its proportions, strong anddurable in construction, positive in action,v,and capa-V ble of a'wide scope-of usefulness and eiiciency. l

A further object-isthe provision of a lawnmower constructed in accord with well-known` mechanical principles and along scientific .lines wherein the. size, weight,and strength of the various parts have been carefully and accurately determined, and the interactions .and cooperation of the various essential ele? ments are so nicely accounted for that each part fills its own specific sphere and all are" combined into a harmonious whole to pro- .duce a mechanical ensemble and to attain other specific advantages which will presently be referred to. i ,A specific object of my invention is topprovide alawn-mower in which the variou'sparts and mechanisms are lso positioned and ar'- Vranged that the weight of the machine will be principally in the rear of the cutting edge,

- more especially true when the machine is .to'obtain irs-thefprovision of means whereby the cutting,V ed'geofy my machine may be adjusted. vertically, and that without throwing the machinegout of alinement, and whereby `the machine Amay lbe adjusted for cutting higher o'rlower; as desired, and means where- -by said adjustment may be accomplished easily and quickly. i A

A-still' further object I have accomplished is the provision of animproved and novel boxing for main journals whereby said journals may be easily removed and whereby the portion of the boxing most likely to wear or damage may be easily replaced by a new mem-l ber.

. A further'andperhaps the most important ObjectistheDrQvision of selfacting clutches or gears, one foreach end of the mainshaft, wherein their actions are purely automatic and noiseless, dispensing with the greater proportion of. friction and resulting in aminimum of ease in operation; and, finally, an-` sol tical adjustment and completely inclose and Y thecutting mechanism, while at the same time preserving the proper relationship of the parts with reference to each other and to the surface of the ground or sward; the novel and accessible boxing for the main journals; the automatically-operatingguards for said clutches; the relative location of the various parts, and the several necessary and. accessory elements which will presently be explained.

My invention consists in a lawn-mower containing the several distinctive features stated and the relative disposition of the several parts, substantially as particularly described otherwhere in this specification, and in the legitimate combinations herein set forth with reference to each other and to the entire machine. In this construction I have attempted to coordinate, systematize, and harmonize a variety of mechanical movements and to bring into line with the general scheme of operation a number of mechanical operations and devices which heretofore have had a more or less independent existence in order that in my present construction as a mechanical entity there will be no discordant elements.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification for a visualization of my preferred construction, Figure 1 shows a top plan of a lawn-mower embodying in its composition the means for obtaining the abovenamed objects. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a lever I employ for adjusting certain of the parts of my mechanism. Fig. 3 is an outside end elevation of the left-hand side of my lawnmower, which view, it Will be understood, is identical with the opposite or right-hand side ofthe machine. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of my mower, taken on theline X X of Fig. 1 and taken in the direction of the arrows.` Fig. is a detail introspective view of one of the ground-wheels, and it also shows an end view of one of my clutch members. Fig. 6 is a central cross-section of one portion of the mechanism, taken through one of the ground-wheels and clutch member thereof on the line Y Y of Fig. 5 and as taken in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a detail showing an inner face end view of one of the boxingsfor the reel-axle. Fig. 8 is a detail top plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a detail plan of a portion of the gear of the ground-wheels.

Similar indices refer to and denote like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

With all of the above-designated views and objects in mind I will now take up the description of my invention in detail, which I will referto as briefly and compactly as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that my construction is dimerous-that is, that the parts located at each side of my machine are equipollent and identical in construction. Therefore for convenience of description I will refer to the parts shown on the left-hand side by certain characters and will simply designate on the drawings the corresponding parts on the righthand side of the machine by a related designation or subindice.

I will first refer to the ground-wheels, which wheels are designated by the indices A A', and each consists of an outer circumferential band, having its periphery cross-ribbed or serrated to form a traction-surface, with a flange extending centerward from the outer edge of the band, with spokes integrally connecting the said flange with the hub portion a. The said band portion of the wheels has an internal spur-gear disposed across atan angle that is to say, a series of cogs a disposed across at an angle to the axial direction on the inner face of the band and equally spaced therearound. The said hubs rt project somewhat into the interior space of the wheels, as is indicated in Fig. 6, and with journal-bearings therein, as shown.

The letters BB denote the relatively stationary bridge members, concentric with the wheels A A, which consist, essentially, of an outer segmental rim of less dimension than the inner dimension of the band of said wheel, with spokes` extending centerward, carrying the central outwardly-extending pintle 71, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. rlhe said rim portion of the member B B is open or segmented at one portion of its circumference, as is indicated in Fig. 5, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.- The member B B' is in Fig. 6 shown positioned in connection with the wheel A A/, and the wheel A A is revolubly mounted thereto by means of the pintle 7; being inserted in thehub a of the wheel A A@ secured by the tap-bolt 1 1, extending axially from the Outside centrally into the pintle and clamping the washer 2 2 against the outer face of the wheel. Extending axially from the inside into the pintleb is a screw 3, shown in Figs. l and 5, oppositely disposed to the bolt 1, and is for the purpose presently stated. Extending inward from and integral of the member B B is the protuberances B1 B, having an internal cavity to receive the ends of the cross-arm C, with its ends entering the said cavities and secured therein by the set-screw 4t and 4J, as Ishown. The said cross-arm C is of a length to space the members B and B' to the requisite distance apart for the swath to be cut, and it is surrounded by the thimble l), which thimble is rotatable on the cross-arm C and extends to and between the protuberances B1 and B1', as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Extending rearward and inclined slightly upward from the center of the thimble D is a protuberance D', having an open cavity extending thereinto at a right angle to the thimble D, in which cavity one end of' the lever 5 is adapted to be inserted for the purpose presently made apparent. Extending rearward and slightly downward from each end of the thimble D are the fingers Dl D". The purposes of this will be explained hereinafter.

rlhe characters BE B L denote the rearwardly-extending members of the framework of my machine, which are integral with and l extend to the rear from the members B B. On the outer face of the members BE BE are formed the ears El and E2 to provide means for the attachment of the forks of the propelling-haft (not shown) and which may be of any desired construction, and between the I rear points of the members BE and BE' is revolubly mounted the sward-roller 6. Through the members BE and BE', below the said ears,

.are formed segmental and substantiallyvertical slots 7, approximately as sh'own in Figs. 3 and 4.

v The indicesFF' denote the adjustable plates movably mounted over and separated from the member B B', with their tail portions overlapping and contacting with the inner face of are threaded on said bolts, as shown in Fig.

3. On the upper ends of the extremities of the plates F F' are hangers F1 F2, in which are secured the respective ends of the cross-stay G, secured therein by the set-screws 9 and 9".

The letter H denotes the mainshaft. (Shown in cross-section in Figs. 4, 5, and 7, portions thereof inpFigs. 6 and 8, while-in Fig. 1 it is located limmediately below the stay G, and therefore is not apparent.) The shaft H ,is

supportedby the respective boxings I and I',

(which will presently be referred to in'detaih) passes through apertures therefor in the plates F and F', and on the ends thereof arevloosely and revolubly mounted the bevel-gear pinions J, (only one of which appears in the drawings.) The bevel-gear of the said pinions are so formed and positioned as*v to mesh with the Lgears to of the respective-,wheels A and A', as is indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. On the shaftH is secured the spiders 10 10' 10", to which are securely mounted the spiral knives 11, plural in number and as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The said boxings I I'` are shown most clearly v in Figs. 6, 7 and8-and are of novel construction, their body portions being secured to the plate F F', with their secondary members locking in the chimes thereof, the two parts surrounding the shaft H, to which they may be adjusted by the set-screws 1212', as shown.

The letters K K'denote an arm-pivoted aty one end by the s crew 3 and then extending rearward and downward, passing between the plate F F and the member B B' and with an aperture'therethrough in which operates the shaft H. It will now be seen that the `shaft H and the plate F F-l may be raised and lowered, (within the limits Yof the two rear spokes of the member B B',) with the screw 3 as its pivotal point. In order to allow of saidmovements and toretain the plate F F' in the position shown, I have devised a parallel movement--that is, I extend a web 13 across between the twolower spokes of themembcrs B B', and in the center of this web is pivoted by .the screw 14 one end of the arm L, the other @ach other, as indicatedn Fig. 4.. pivoted to' the outer .ends of the fingers AD1 D1' by the rivets 16 are the upper ends of the links M M',

`the lower ends of said links being pivoted to the arms K K' .by the rivets 17. It will now be seen that by inserting the lever 5 in the protuberance D' the lever 5 can be moved back and forth, which of necessity will raise and lower bar N, and on each end of the bar N is anintegral axially-extending pintle 21, (only'one appearing in the drawings,) which extend into and operate in a correspondling aperture formed through the members F F', and then, by means of the twoy pairs of set-screws 20 2O 20' 20', the bar N may be secured in the desired position to adjust its blade '22 in the proper cutting relationship with the edge of the knives 11. v v 'v The operation of the clutch-and-pinion mechanisms will now'be referred to and are most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. v'Secured to the shaft H by the screw 23, as in Fig. 6, is the minor .member O of the clutclnwhile the major member P of the clutch is integral with the gear-pinion J, above referred to. It will now be obvious that should the machine be pushed forward over the sward-that is, in a direction to the left when referring to Fig. -the wheels A A', traveling revolubly on the sward, will support and carry all of said parts of the l machine, also that as the said wheels revolve the inclination of the gears ci", meshing with similar gears-of the pinion J, will by the forward thrust cause the pinion J IOO to traverse inward, thus causing the face P of the 'clutch toengage and fay with the face of the member O ofthe clutch, thus causing the shaft H to revolve forward with a multiplied motion, also if thel forwardl movement of the machine be discontinued the gear J will be discontinued, while the revolution of the shaft H, carryingthe knives, may continue, eventuating in `at once throwing the member P out of engagementwith the member O, and the members of the clutch will continue out of engagement with each other until the groundwheels are again rotated forward, thus dispensing with any cause for clicking as the shaft and knives continue to revolve.

The letter Q denotes thel guards of identical construction, (only one of them appearing in the drawings,) which guards are primarily for protection of the respective clutch-and-pinion mechanisms.l Said guards consistof a cap, disposed over the pinion, as shown, and secured by the screw 24 to the arm K K' and IIO - will be apparent that I have produced an improved lawn-mowing machine embodying the objects elsewhere referred to, and while I have illustrated and described the best means now known to me for carrying out the principles of my invention I desire that it be fully understood that I do not restrict myself to the exact details of construction shown, but hold that anyslight changes or variations therein as would suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic would clearly fall within the limits and scope of my invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention and the preferred manner for its construction, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. A lawn-mower of the character described having the ground-wheels provided with angular internal gears formed around their bands, a stationary base member for each of said wheels with means for revolubly mounting the respective wheels thereon, a crossstay connecting said base members, a main member integral with the respective base members having a segmental vertical slot in the rear portions in rear of the ground-wheels, a ground-roller mounted between the rear points of said main members, an adjustable plate overlying the inner faces of the respective main members with their rear ends adapted to be adjusted thereto within the limits of said slots, a reel-shaft extending through between and beyond said adjustable plates, an arm pivoted to the axis of each base member and pivoted around said reel-shaft, a second parallel arm pivoted to said base member and to the adjusting-plates,and means for lowering and raising said reel-shaft froml a single point,all substantially as shown and described.

2. A lawn-mower having in combination, a two-part frame, a pair of ground wheels mounted to said frame, the angularly-disposed teeth formed in the bands of theground-wheels, a cross-arm connecting the members of the frame, a ground-roller mounted in the rear between the members of the frame,an adjustable plate disposed over each of the members of the frame, a cross-stay connecting the adjustable members at their tops` means for securing the adjustable members at their rear to the members of the frame, a pair of pivoted parallel arms for guiding the adjustable plates vertically at each end of the machine, a shaft carried by said adjustable plates, a series of spiral knives mounted on said shaft, a pinion revolubly mounted on each end of said shaft each pinion having its teeth disposed at an angle to mesh with the angularly-disposed gear-teeth formed in the band of the adjacent ground-wheel, a clutch member integral with the said pinions, and an oppositely-disposed clutch member secured to the shaft whereby the forward movements of the grouml-wheel will cause the members of the clutch to engage with each other to revolve the shaft, all substantially as shown and described.

3. A lawn-mower having in combination, a two-part relatively stationary frame, a pair of ground-wheels revolubly mounted to the sides of the frame, a ground-roller mounted between the members of the frame, a pair of plates adjustably mounted to the respective members of the frame, a cross-stay connecting the said plates, a pair of pivoted parallel arms for guiding the adjustable plates vertically, a shaft carried by the adjustable plates, a series of knives mounted on said shaft, a pinion revolubly mounted on each end of said shaft, a clutch member integral with each of said pinions, and oppositely-disposed clutch members secured to the shaft and adapted to engage with the respective clutch members as the machine is moved forward the shaft will be revolved and as the machine is moved backward the clutches will be disengaged, all substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a lawn-mower, the col'nbination with a relatively stationary frame mounted on ground-wheels and means for its propulsion, a pair of plates adjustably mounted to the respective members of the frame, a cross-stay connecting said plates, a pair of pivoted parallel arms at each end of the machine for guiding the plates vertically, a main shaft carried by the adjustable plates, a series of knives mounted on said shaft, a pinion mounted revolubly on each end of said shaft, a clutch member integral with each of said pinions, and a clutch member secured to the shaft, substantially as described,

5. In a lawn-mower, the combination of a main frame, a pair of ground-wheels mounted on the frame, angularly-disposed teeth formed in the band of the grouml-wheels, an adjustable frame mounted within the main frame and pivotally connected with the main frame concentric with the ground-wheels, means for securing the adjustable frame to the main frame at desired elevations, the main shaft and a cutter-bar carried by and adj ustablo with the inner frame, the spiral blades carried by said shaft, means for adjusting the cutter-bar in relation with the knives, the lever for verti cally adjusting said inner frame, a clutch mounted to each end of the main shaft wherel )y the said shaft will be revolved by and with a multiplied speed from the forward revolutions of either or both of the grouml-wheels, and an adjustable guard for each of said clutch mechanisms, all substantially as shown and described.

6. In a lawn-mower, the combination with arigid frame united by a cross-arm having a thimble therearound, a pair of ground-wheels mounted to the frame, an inner frame mounted for vertical adjustment with reference to the rigid frame, a shaft extending through and between the end members of the inner frame, a two-part interlocking boxing secured to each of the end members of the inner frame for the support of said shaft, an arm pivoted at one end to and near each end of the shaft and pivoted at the other end tothe main frame concentric with the ground-wheels, a bar parallel with the said arm one end being pivoted to the main frame and the-other end pivoted to the inner frame, a link'pivoted to and extending up from the said arm and pivoted to the respective fingers extending out from -said thimble, means in the center of ,said thimble for turning it on said cross-arm, and means for adjustably securing the inner frame to the main frame after being adjusted, all substantially as shown and described.

frame to the stationary frame at each end of the machine, a link pivoted to each of said fingers of the thimble and extending -to and pivoted with the upper parallel arms, means for securing the rear ends of the adjustable framein connection with the stationary frame, the shaft carrying a series ofy spiral blades and the adjustable cutting-bar carried by said inner frame, and the automatic clutches and pinions connecting said shaft with the groundwheels,all substantially as described andl shown andk for the purposes set forth.

8. Ina lawn-mower, the combination of a rigid frame mounted on ground-wheels, the cross-arm uniting the extrememembers of the frame, a thimble revoluble on said cross-arm,

n a finger extending out from near each end of said thimble, the ground Wheels revolubly mountedat each end to said frame, an inner frame mounted for vertical adjustment' with reference to the rigid frame, a rotatable shaft extending through and between the end members of the inner frame, atwo-part interlocking boxing carried by each of the end members of the inner frame in which boxing said shaft is adapted to revolve` arms pivoted near each end of the shaft with their opposite ends pivoted to the mainframe concentric with the ground-wheels, bars parallel with each of said arms one of the ends being pivoted to the main frame and the otherend pivoted to the inner frame, a link pivoted to and extending up from each of said arms and pivoted to the respective fingers extending out from said thimble, means central of said thimble for rotating i atively stationary frame mounted on groundwheels, meansfor the propulsion of the mower j manually,.a pair of plates adjustably mounted to the respective members of the frame, a crossstay connecting said plates, a pair of pivoted parallel arms located at each end of the mower for guiding said plates vertically, a main shaft carried by the adjustable platesa pluralityy frame, a thimble revoluble on said cross-arm, a pair of identical fingers integralwith and extending out from the end portions of said thimble, theground-,wheels mounted revolubly to said frame, an inner frame mounted for vertical adjustment with reference to the vrigid frame, a rotatable shaft extending through and between the end membersof the inner frame, a two-part interlocking boxing permanent to `each of the end members of-the inner frame by which boxings said shaft isv carried, arms pivoted at one end near each end of the shaft with their opposite ends pivoted'to the main frame concentric with the ground-wheels, bars parallel with each of said arms one of the ends being pivoted to the main frame and the other end pivoted to the inner frame, a link pivoted to and extending up from each of said arms and pivoted to the respective lingers of said thimble, means for rotating said ithimble on said cross-arm, and means for securing the i'nner frame to the main frame after the frame has been adjusted, all substantially as described.

l1. In a lawn-mower, the combination, of a relatively stationary frame carried by a pair of ground-Wheels each having a rim, angularlydisposed gear-teeth formed interiorly of said wheels, a movable frame mounted to and between the members o f the stationary frame, a pair of interlocking two-part adjustable boxingscarried by the two outer opposite members of the'inner frame, a shaft carried by said boxings with its ends extending into the interior space of said wheels, a bar mounted between the lower parts of the secondary cross-arm uniting the extreme members of the y IOO c1 uteh with the teeth of said pinions disposed i In testimony whereof I have hereunto subat an angle and meshing with the gear-teeth scribed my name in the presence ol two suh- IO 0f their respective ground-\vheels, means for scribing Witnesses.

raising and lowering said shaft and bar indefr i 5 pendent of the ground-Wheels and main frame, LEVI BRO b' and means for securing said shaft and bar in Witnesses: their adjusted positions, all substantially as J. M. LONTZ,

described. R. W. HANDLE,

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