US863576A

US863576A - Lawn-mowing machine.

Info

Publication number: US863576A
Application number: US13491902A
Authority: US
Inventors: James H Auble
Original assignee: J H BROMWELL; JAMES J MCDONALD
Current assignee: J H BROMWELL; JAMES J MCDONALD
Priority date: 1902-12-12
Filing date: 1902-12-12
Publication date: 1907-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1924-08-20

Description

No. 863,576. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

' J. H. AUBLE.

LAWN MOWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEO.12,1902.

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n1: NQRRIS PBI'ERs ca, wasmmnou, nv c No. 863,576. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907. J. H. AUBLE.

LAWN MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 12.1902.

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JAMES H. AUBLE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-THIRD TO JAMES J. MCDONALD, AND ONE-THIRD TO I. H. BROMWELL, BOTH OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

LAWN MOWING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed December 12,1902. Serial No. 134,919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James H. AUBLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn-Mowing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The several features of my invention and the vari ous advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings making a part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts-Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents, in perspective, a part of each cutter bar. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the basal plates forming the cutter bar supports. Fig. 4 represents a vertical section of the cutter bars and of the knivesand connections. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the two knife plates and knives, illustrating a detail of construction. 'Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the spring plate. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the cutter, knife plates and knives and the spring plate in position thereon. Fig. Sis a view of the roller and its bar for receiving motion from the groove of the drum or hollow wheel. Fig. 9 is a vertical central section of the device shown in Fig. 8. Fig.

10 is a view, in perspective, of the discal plate and its' connections. Fig. 11 is a view, in perspective, of the device for raising and lowering the shaft of the rollers which in front support the cutter knives and their connections. Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view through the center of the mower. Fig. 13 is a view of the adjusting plate secured to the frame of the mower. Fig. 14 is a view in perspective of the adjusting and the adjacent roller, and parts of the knife frame, and of the adjacent ground power roller.

I will now proceed to describe my invention in detail.

The basal supporting frame A of the machine consists of the horizontal base plate A provided with vertical parts A A and with guards A A The guards perform the well known function of elevating the knives over any ordinary bank or similar obstruction in front of the machine. In some instances, these guards stop the advance of the machine against a rock or log, etc., before the knives can reach such obstrnc tion. The object of the guards is primarily to protect the knives.

To each vertical portion A of the frame is duly fixed, usually by bolts, a plate B preferably discal in outline, as shown. This plate carries a journal bearing B adapted to receive a shaft C. As each support A car main part or shank D of the handle.

ries a plate B, there are two plates B. The shaft C is thus at each end supported in a journal bearing B of its adjacent plate B. These plates B, B, carry the handle D. The latter has a bifurcated portion preferably consisting of the arms D D The handle may be in one with these arms or separate as shown. In the latter event, these arms will be duly fixed to the The lower part only of this shank D is shown in Fig. 1. The lower end of each arm D engages with the adjacent plate B, preferably as shown, namely: a pin B fixed to the plate is received in a hole at D in the arm. A key B (which is the preferred means of fastening the handle in place on the disk) is passed through an opening in the end of the pin and thus the arm D is held securely between the plate B and the key B The handle is free to oscillate on the pins B as pivots. The extent of oscillation of the handle is controlled by means of a lug D on the arm D because this lug is received into an areal slot or recess B in the plate B. Thus the handle is free to oscillate a given distance, namely: enough to allow the handle to conveniently be held by men of different heights, while operating the machine.

Each end of the shaft C extends through the adjacent bearing B and out beyond. tion, the shaft receives the hub E of the wheel or drum E. The outer face of each wheel E at a given part is recessed and at the hub there a set screw E is screwed through the hub and against or into the shaft, so as to set the shaft and the hub as one. Thus the drums E are fixed to the shaft C and turn therewith. At the same time as the shaft turns freely within the bearings B neither the disks B, nor the handle D in any-wise interfere with the rotation of the drums.

Each of the drums carries internally and near its circumference an endless groove or channel E", which alternately extends first to one side and then to the other side of the drum. In each groove E, is a roller F carried by a rod or bar F, slidable back and forth in a guideway B of the disk plate B. This bar F has at its rear end a slot or opening F A slot B in the lower side of the guideway allows the roller F on the pivot F fixed in the bar F to pass back and forth with the movement of its bar F without interruption. To hold the bar F down, and yet enable it to be reciprocated without friction, I provide a roller B rotating on or with a shaft sup.- ported in end supports B B In each of the slots F is received the upper end of an arm. One of these arms is attached to the plate which operates the upper row of knives and the other arm is attached to the plate which operates the lower or under row of knives. In the present illustrative example, the arm G at the left hand, Fig. 1, is connected to the upper knife or cutter On this outer por-.

plate H, and the arm G at the right hand, is connected to the lower knife plate K. The connection between each arm and its plate is preferably made by the screws G "his mode of connecting each arm G to its bar F allows the bar to work freely at all times and prevents any change of inclination of the arm from causing the bar F to bind in its guideway B The lower knife plate K rests upon the base plate A and the upper knife plate H rests upon the knife plate K. Upon the upper knife plate H is located the top plate L.

I form the plates A, K, H and L so as they shall not slide laterally on one another. Thus I form on the upper side of the plate A, longitudinal ridges Z of an inverted V-shape, in cross section, and on the under side of the plate K, I form longitudinal grooves Z of a V-shape in cross section. These grooves Z respectively receive the ridges Z of the plate A. In like mannor, the upper side of the plate K has longitudinal ridges Z and the under side of the plate H grooves Z and the ridges Z respectively engage the sides of the grooves Z So again, the upper side of the plate H has ridges Z and the under side of the securing plate L has grooves Z respectively receiving the ridges Z of the plate H. Thus together the ridges and grooves afford means of securely holding the respective plates A, B, H and L in position relative to one another.

The top securing plate L is connected to the basal plate A by bolts M, or rivets, preferably the former. These bolts M pass through the plates H, K, and are fixed in and to the basal plates A. By this means, the securing plate L is not only thoroughly secured to the basal plate A, but the intervening knife plates are also held between plate L and the basal plate A. Insomuch as these plates cannot separate, the grooves and ridges aforementioned hold the plates securely against slipping laterally out of position. As the plates H and K are slidable back and forth in the direction of their length, I provide in each of them long slots S. When the plates H and K are at their mid stroke, the bolt M which passes through these plates and through said slots will be at the midlength of the slots. Thus these slots permit the longitudinal movement of the plates K and H Without interfering with the bolt.

The means for holding the knives in position are as follows: The lower knife N is set into a depression K in the front edge of the plate K in an inclined position substantially as shown in Fig. 4 and is fixed therein by a suitable connection, preferably screws N The upper knife P is located in recess H and rests upon the lower knife and is slidable thereon. This upper knife P is compelled to move with the plate H by means of studs P each one secured to the plate P and passing up through a loosely fitting hole H in the plate H. The plate H does thus communicate its lateral motion to the knife P and at the same time the knife P is allowed to rest at all times closely'upon the knife N without strain.

In order to keep the knife P at all times close down upon the knife N and prevent its being separated therefrom, by reason of any substance the knives are cutting, slipping between the knives, and furthermore to insure a more perfect cut by the knives, I provide a spring R secured on the under side of the plate L, and secured by screws as R into the plate H. The forward end of this spring rests elastically hard upon the upper knife P and holds the front end of the latter hard down upon the lower knife N. The rear end of the knife P is securely held in position against the knife N by means of the set screw T screwed through plate H and down upon the rear or back edge of the knife P. Thus the knives are held elastically close together and perform their function of cutting with great accuracy and promptness.

Each roller V is mounted on a shaft V The height of these rollers above the ground should be varied according to the height above the ground at which the grass, etc., is to be cut. To accomplish this purpose, I provide two of the devices shown in Fig. 11, viz:W indicates a plate, provided with a slot W a hub W and lower hole W This plate is secured to its adjacent upright frame piece A by a screw W which latter through the hole W connects this plate to the frame A The shaft V passes through the hub W. The set screw W is in the slot W and is screwed to the frame piece. The slot W permits the plate W to be oscillated, and the height of the cutting blades above the ground to be varied. By this set screw, the desired position of the plate W is maintained, and so also is the desired position of the roller V relatively to the cutting blades.

The mode in which my invention operates is, in general, as follows, viz :The machine is supported by the rollers V, V, at front and by the large drums E, F, at the rear. The machine is moved forward, and the rollers and drums revolve. grooves E communicate a reciprocating movement to the rollers F F and each of these through the agency of its bar F communicate a reciprocatory motion to its arms G, G The latter moves its knife plate or bar back and forth'. Thus the series of knives on the respective knife plates move back and forth, the upper set in a direction opposite to the lower set. Thus the knives after the manner of shears, cut the grass, etc., which they come into contact with.

Some of the advantages of my machine have been already specified. Other advantages are obvious.

The ridges Z and grooves Z may be reversed relatively to the parts which now carry them.

What I claim as new, and of my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lawn mower, the wheel provided with the groove E", bar F provided with roller F engaging the sides of said groove, a guideway for the bar F, this bar F having a slot F an arm fitting in slot F", and a knife plate connected with said arm, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a lawn mower, the wheel provided with the groove E bar F provided with roller F engaging the sides of said groove, guide for bar F, the latter provided with a slot F", an arm fitting in slot F and a knife plate connected with said arm, and the friction saving roller B located to bear on the bar, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a lawn mower, the wheel provided with the groove E", bar F provided with roller F engaging the sides of said groove, guideway for bar F, the bar F having a slot F an arm fitting in slot F and a knife plate in connection with said arm, the disk B, carrying this guideway, and the friction saving roller B located at the guideway and adapted to bear upon the bar F, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4; In a lawn mower, the wheel provided with the groove E bar F provided with a roller F engaging the sides of said groove, guideway for bar F, this bar F having a slot F, an arm fitting in the slot F a knife plate in connection with said arm; the disk B, carrying this guideway,

The drums, by means of the and the friction saving roller B, located at the guideway and adapted to bear upon the bar F, at the midlength of the guideway, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

The combination of the disk B, the horizontal frame with the vertical flange mounted thereon, the spindle, a roller thereon, a plate having a hub receiving the spindle, and located against the outer side of said vertical flange, a pivotal bolt in the plate, the plate having a slot on the other side of the spindle from where the pivotal bolt is located, a set screw in said slot, the bolt and the screw being connected to the said vertical flange, the guideway connected to said disk B, a reciprocating bar working in said guideway, this bar passing through the disk, the cutter bar, the bar intermediate between the reciprocating bar and the cutter bar and engaged thereby, means for reciprocating these bars, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

(S. The combination of the horizontal frame A, with the vertical flange A mounted thereon, the spindle V-, roller V thereon, plate W having hub W receiving the spindle V and located against. the outer side of the flange A of the frame, pivotal bolt W in the plate, the plate having a slot W and set screw W in said slot, the bolt W and screw W being connected to portion A the guideway B connected to the disk B, disk B, reciprocating bar F in part located in the disk and working in said gnideway, the cutter blade the bar G for operating the cutter blade, and engaged by the bar F, roller B connected to disk B and bearing on the bar F, and a revolving wheel provided with a groove extending alternately back and forth, the bar F having a roller F this groove receiving the last namedroller, substantially as and for the purposes specitied.

7. The combination of the horizontal frame A, with the vertical flange portion A mounted thereon, the spindle Y roller V thereon, plate W having hub W receiving the spindle V and located against the outer side of the flange A of the frame, pivotal bolt W in the plate, the plate having a slot W, and set screw W in said slot, the bolt W and screw W being connected to portion A the guideway B connected to the disk B, disk B, reciprocating bar F in part located in the disk and working in said guideway, the cutter blade the bar G for operating the cutter blade and engaged by the bar F, and a revolving wheel provided with a groove extending alternately back and forth, the bar F having a roller F this groove receiving the last named roller, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In a mower, the combination of a shaft, a ground wheel concentric therewith and having a peripheral face to meet the ground, and interiorly provided with a cam groove or channel curved back and forth, and carrying at its center a bearing E receiving the shaft, means for setting it there, a reciprocating bar having a roller re ceived into said groove, a reciprocating cutter, means bctween the cutter and the reciprocating bar for reciproeating the cutter, a disk B concentric with the ground wheel and interfitting within its periphery and hung on the shaft, but stationary and supporting a guideway for directing the movement of the reciprocating bar, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In a cutting machine, the power ground wheels, each containing a channel extending alternately to the one side and then to the other side of the wheel, a cutter bar frame, the side extensions of the said cutter bar frame respectively located in front of the ground wheels, disks B, each located at the inner side of its ground wheel and supported on the main axle, driving mechanism between the power ground wheels and the cutting knives projecting into said channels, the cutter bar frame provided with vertical pieces A A the latter connected to the inner sides of the said disks, guards A A and the rollers V, connected to the frame at the outer sides of the frame pieces A and located between the adjacent ground wheels and the side extension of the cutter bar frame, and inside the line of its adjacent guard A substantially as and for the purposes specified 10. In a cutting machine, the power ground wheels, each provided with the channel or groove, extending alternately to the one side and then to the other side of the wheel, a cutter bar frame, the side extensions of the said cutter bar frame respectively located in front of the ground wheels, disks B, each located at the inner side of its ground wheel and journaled on the main axle, driving mechanism between the power ground wheels and the cutting knives engaging the sides of said channels, the cutter bar frame provided with vertical pieces A A the latter connected to the iner sides of the said disks, and the rollers V at the outer sides of frame pieces A and located between the adjacent ground wheels and the side extensionsof the cutter bar frame, and the plates W, having curved slots W connected to the outer sides of the pieces A and also connected to said pieces A by the pivotal bolts W and provided with the hubs W midway between the slots W and the pivots and the shafts V on which are mounted the rollers V, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JAMES H. AUBLE. Attest:

CHARLES A. MIN'rEN, K. SMITH.