USRE1770E - Improvement in grain and grass harvesters - Google Patents

Description

- '1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J'. RUSSELL PARSONS, OF HOOSICK FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNEE OF T. HONEY, OF BRISTOL, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN AND GRASS HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 14,409, dated March 11, 1856; Reissue No. 1,77()` dated SeptemberBO, 1861.

To all whom 'it may concern; y

Be it known that BENJAMIN T. RONEY, formerly ofthe city of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, now of the borough `ot' Bristol, in said State, invented certain new and uselul Im provementsin Mowingand Reaping Machines; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in constructing a Inachine with two distinct frames separate from `but dependent upon each other. One frame is the permanent or gear frame, to which are attached the supporting-wheels, the drivingwheel, and the gearing for producing the motion to be transferred to the second part of my 'machine,which I call the movableor cutter frame. The motion for operating the cutters, produced by the driving-wheel and .gearing on the gear-frame, is communicated by a band or chain from a pulley on the said gear-frame to a pulley on thecntter-lrame. These two frames lare so adapted to each other, by means hereinafter fully explained, that thecutter-frame, and consequently the cutting apparatus, may be elevated or lowered and oscillate 1ongitudinally and laterally on the gear-frame, allowing the cutters to conform themselves to the undulations of the ground, and to operate on level or uneven ground without disturbing the tightness and efficacy ofthe above-mentioned driving band or chain.

In order that the cutter-frame and consequently the cutting apparatus may the more readily and easily adapt themselves to undulat- V ing ground, I place in the projections, usually known as the master-guard7 teeth-or shoes, rollers situated in advance of the cutters and resting on the ground.- These rollers relieve theiinger-bar from friction with the ground, and likewise prevent the points ot' the masterguard teeth or those of the cutters from piercing the soil and obstructing the progress of the machine.

The cutting apparatus consists of a series ot' levers having their fulcrums or pins screwed or otherwise bolted to a permanent bar, which I denominate the fulcrum-bar. One end of cutters, projecting from a bar which, fits against the front of the fulcrum-bar. This bar, with its projecting cutters, I term the cutter-bar.

The slotted bar and cutter-bar are so connected a's to move together, the fulcrum-bar acting as their guide. A reciprocating motion is imparted, by means hereinafter described to these bars, which gives to the cutter-levers a vibrating motion, so that in operating the machine the upper and lower knives or cutters move in contrary directions. By this arrangement but one half ot the motion required by the cutters of ordinary mowing and reaping machines is required by the cutters of my machine.

I construct the pins which form the lulcrums of the cutter-levers with beveled heads, and for receiving these heads I countersinkthe top ofthe holes in the cntter-levers. The-beveled sides of the head, however, are of such a dilferent-inclination to the beveled sides of the countersink in the levers that the outside edge of the head only bears (when the machine is at rest) against the outside edge ot thc countersink. The holes, too, in the cuttenlevers are somewhat larger than the diameter ofthe pins which form the fulcrums. The object of this arrangement is, in order that the moment the stalks ol' grain or grass are presented'to the combined action of upper and lower cutters, the levers will tilt over and bring the edges of their'cutters in close contact with those ofthe lower cutters, this tilting of the levers taking place every time they reverse.

When my machine has to be used for reaping I attach to the front ofthe cutterframe a supplementary frame, having at each end rollert with endless bands for carrying the grain olif to one side of the machine, in a manner common to other reapers. To prevent the trouble of attaching connections to the operating parts of the gear-frame for turning these collars, I attach to the lower portion of the supso that when the machine is in operation they as well as theirrshafts will turn, and by means of bands and wheels, hereinafter described, op-

erate the above-mentioned rollers.

In orderto enable others skilled iu the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure lis a side ele- Y vation of my improved machine as arranged for mowing. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line l 2, Fig. 1, lookingin the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of Fig. 1 also looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a ground plan of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a `longitudinal sectional elevation on the line 3 4, F-ig. 4, showing the supplementary frame as attached when. the machine is used for reaping. Fig. 6 is a face view of the supplementary frame as it appears when looking in the direction of the arrow, Figli; Figs.7 and 8, sectional Views on the line 6, Fig. 1, and illustrating the adjustability of the cutter-frame; Fig. 9, an enlarged plan of part of the cutting apparatus; Fig. l0, a transverse section 'on the line 6 7, Fig. 9; Fig. 1l, a section still further enlarged, showing the manner of connecting the cutter-lines to the fulcrumbar.

The'same letters of reference allude to similar parts throughout the several views.

A, A', and Az'are three longitudinal beams, tied together at the front end by the crosspiece Band at the rear end by the cross-piece B'. C, C', C2, and Ca are four upright pieces, secured at the bottom to the longitudinal beams A and A', and at the top to the bars D and D',and connected together in front bythe transverse barE and at the back bythe crosspiece F. The above parts form what I term the permanent'7 or gear frame of the machine.

At the end of the bars D and D' is secured, hy means ofy staples a a, so as to be adjustable, a frame composed of the side pieces, G and G', and the strong cross-piece H. On this fra-me is secured the seat I for the driver.

Underneath the cross-bar H, and swiveling on a pin attached to the same, is the lever J, tothe opposite ends of vwhich are jointed the whiftletrees K and K', for securing the traces of the horses.

To the under side of the longitudinal pieces A' and A2 are secured the boxes b b for the shaft c, and to the latter is attached the driving-wheel L, havinginternal teeth, which gear into the teeth of the pinion-d on the shaft e. This shaft revolves in boxesff, secured to the top of the longitudinal beams A and A2. .The shaft e is furnished with a clutch, g, which has projections fitting into/similar projections on the pinion d, so that by withdrawing the clutch from the pinion the movement of the shaft e is instantly stopped. The shaft e is also furnished with a pulley, h, hereinafter referred to.

M is an axle-tree, secured tohangers i I17,

which are attached to the underside ot the longitudinal beams A and A2 of the gear-frame. Ou the end of this axle-tree is hung the ,supporting-wheel N.

0 is a beam, secured under and across the front end of the beam A'. A', and A", and resting on the bar P, attached hy means of upright pieces] to the front axle-tree, Q, on the ends of which are hung the heels R and R'. A pin, lc, passing through the axle-tree Q and bar l? into the beam O, allows'the frame, with the wheels R and R', to swivel, similar to those of an ordinary wagon. A bent bar, S, having its two ends attached to the axle-tree Q and passing through a staple, Z,on a piece projecting from the under side of the beam A2, serves to steady and guide the frame as it is being turned by means of the crank-handlem,whicli forms a part of or is otherwise attached to the vertical spindle n. The latter passes through and is guided by the cross-piece F, its end bearing in a holein the longitudinal beam A'. The spindle a is furnished with a` cross-piece, q, the ends of which are connected by means of rods r r to eyes fastened near each end of the axle-tree Q, thus allowing the operator on the seat I by simply turning the handle m to guide the machine as it is drawn over the ground. y

T and T' are longitudinal beams, connected together in front by the beam Naud at the back bythe cross-piece V. They are further connected together byla third crosspiece,W,which has two lugs, t, coinciding with and bearing against two similar lugs, u, secured to the. top of the longitudinal beams A and A'. The cross-piece W, has likewise two beveled pieces,-c, (see Figs. 7v and 8,) bearing against the inside ofthe longitudinal pieces Aand A'. A curved piece, resuspended from and secured to the cross-piece B' of the gear-frame, tits into a slot in the back cross-bar V. Thus the movable frame, composed of the longitudinal pieces T and T' and cross-pieces U, V, and W, with attachments, more fully described hereinafter, is maintained laterally and longitudinally in its proper position as regards the gear-frame bythe lugs t and u, beveled piece e, and suspended piece w still it may be readily raised and lowered L with the lugs tand a as the point of vibration, and likewise may be raised to an angular position laterally with the gear-frame, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, and more fully alluded to hereinafter.

'lo the opposite ends .of the cross-bar U of the movable frame aresecured the diagonal bars X and X', which are bent toward the bottom and terminating inthe master-guard teeth or shoes X and X', each of which is furnished with a small roller, y, resting on the ground in advance of the cutters'. Near the point where the arms X and X'are bent they areeonneeted together by the fulcrum-harY. (See Fig. 9.) At the back ofthis fulcrum-bar, and fitting snugly against it, is another bar, Z,and in front is the cutter-har 2, which is connected to the bar Z by the cross-pieces 3 and 3' in such a manner that both bars may move together, the t'ulcrum-bar being the guide. A series of cutter-lgs, 4, have their fulcrums on pins 5 screwe luto the fulcrum-bar Y on one end. These levers have points projecting downward into oblong slots in the bar Z, as seen in Fig. 9. The other ends are furnished with cutters 6, having their sides and points beveled to a sharp cutting-edge, the under side of the cutters beiner flat. The cutting projections from the cutting-bar 2 are beveled ou the under side, the top being dat, so that the flat surfaces of upper and lower cutters are contiguous to.

each other.

It will be observed on reference to Fig. 11 that the pins 5, which form the fulcrnms of the levers 4, are peculiarly arranged as regards the latter. The beveled heads of the pins do not tit accuratelyinto the countersiuk of the levers, but on the top edgeonly, the sides of the countersink having a greater inclination thanthose of the beveled heads. The diameter of the pins, too, is somewhat less than the eyes of the levers 4 through which they pass. The object ofthis arrangement will be apparent hereinafter.

From the cross-piece 3 projects a pin, 7 litting between the prongs of the forked arm f the bell-crank lever`8, the otherarm of this lever being connected by means of the rod 9 to the pin on the crank-wheel 10, which is attached to the shaft 11, the latter having its hearings in the brackets 12, secured to the cross-har U ot' the movable frame-of the machine. To the shaft 11 is secured avpulley, 13, around which passes a strap, 14, from the pulley h.

The machine, as above described, is arranged and adapted for mowing only. The apparatus to be attached when used for reaping will be referred to hereinafter. The horses are situated outside and one ou each side of the body ot' the machine, the traces beingsecured to the whietrees K and K', and the breast-chains of the horses to the ends ot' the cross-bar E. 'Ihe distance between the whittletrees and the crossbar E maybe regulated so as to be adapted to horses of different size, by sliding in or out' the pieces G. As the machine is drawn over the ground the rollers y in the master-guard teeth or shoes X pass over any inequalities on the surface, causing the movable or cutter frame to oscillate and adjust itself to such inequalities or undulations as seen in Figs. 1 and 5, thejunctionof the lugs t and u being the center of oscillation. This movement of the cutter-frame in no way affects the proper working ot' the machine or the effective operay tion of the cutters, for as the rollers y rise over elevated ground and raise the cutterframe the points of the lugs t on the bar YV will bear against the tops n of the gear-frame and have a tendency to project the whole of the cutter-frame slightly' forward. Thus the band or chain 14 will be maintained tight around the surfaces of both pulleys h and 13 at whatever position the cutter-frame may be lnediately the reversing motion occurs.

in respect to the gear-frame and -it is not only to the longitudinal vibration of the cutter-frame that the latter remarks apply, but to vthe lateral oscillation also, for the projecting pieces u are so constructed as to allow the said cutter-frame to he moved laterally atan angle either on one side or the other, as seen in Figs,

,7 and 8, according to the undulations ot' the ground over which the rollers ypass. It will be easily seen4 that the same remarks also apply to instances in which the front wheels, R and It', may drop either together or separately into ruts or rise over any projections on the surface of the ground. As the machine is drawn over the ground motion is com municated from the driving-wheel L through the pinion ,cl to the shaft e and pulley h, thence through the chain or band 14 to the pulley 13 and shaft 11, and through the crank-wheel 10 and connecting-rod 9, communicating motion tothe hell-crank lever 8,vvhich im parts a reciprocating motion to the bar Z and cutter-bar 2, and consequently a vibrating motion to the cutterlevers 4, which work o n the pins 5, screwedlinto the permanent -t'ulcrum-bar Y. The peculiar arrangement of these screws in respect to the levers 4 has been already described in reference to Fig. 11 and this arrangement is such that immediately the edges of the cutters Gon the levers 4 bear the stalksof grain or grass against the cutting-edges on the bar 2 the said levers lhave a tendency' to tilt over, so'as to bring the cutting-edges of their cutters in close and immediate contact with the cuttingedges on the har 2, fand the stalks submitted to their action are divided much more eiectually than by knives passing through lingers in the usual way. As the machine is in operation this tilting of the levers 4 takes place im- By my arrangement of causing the cutter-levers 4 to move simultaneously with the slotted bar Z and cutter-bar 2, it is evident that but onehalf the movement required in ordinary machines is sutlcient in this instance. Consequently the movements of the machine are quicker and more efficient.

Vhen the machine has to be used for reaping, l employ the frame shown in Figs. 5 and 6, composed of two longitudinal pieces, 15 and 15', connected together by the cross-pieces 16 and 16', and furnished at each end with rollers' 17 and 17', having three recesses for receiving theendless bands 18 18 18, which pass from one roller to the other. The upper end of the spindle of the roller 17 projects above the top of the longitudinal beam 15, and is furnished with a bevel-wheel, 19, gearing into a similar bevel-wheel, 20, on the shaft 2l, which has its bearings in the brackets 22 and 22, secured to the longitudinal beam l5. On the shaft 21 is a pulley, 23, around which passes a chain or band, 24, down to and around the pulley 26 on the shaft 25. The latter has its bearings on brackets 27, secured to the lower longitudinal beam 18, each end of the'shaft being furnished with a wheel, 28.

The frame above described is attached by means of screw-bolts to the cross-beamUof the cutter -frame, and rests toward the bottom against the diagonal arms X X', as seen distinctly in Fig. 5, the wheels 28 resting on the ground, so that as the machine is drawn over the ground the Wheels with their shaft will turn, and through the strap 24 give motion to the shaft 21, and consequeentlv through lthe Wheels 19 and 20 to the rollers 17, causing the bands to traverse and carry the grain-stalks as they are cut by the cutters above described to one side ot' the machine. It will be seen that I obtain the motion for accomplishing this end Without connections tothe moving parts of the gear-frame.

Having now-described the nature of my inveutionand the manner in which the same is carried into eect, Iwish it to be understood that I do not claim exclusively'double cutters 'operating simultaneously, nor the vuse ot' vibrating cutters, nor belts for carrying oft' the grain to one side ofthe machine, nor a cutting apparatus which con forms itself to the surface conform itself both longitudinally and laterallb7 to the uudulatious ot' the ground, a roller located in reference to the cutters and operating substantially as described.

3f Combining` a supplementary frame supporting an endless belt and a cuttingr apparatus which conl'orrnsitself to the surface ofthe ground with wheels supporting it and actuating a belt, as described.

` B. T. RONEY.

Witnesses:

B. F. GrLKEsoN, LEWIS M. WHARTON.

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