USRE1777E - Improvement in harvesters - Google Patents

Description

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. SAXTON, OF GANTOJ, OHIO, ASSIGNEE, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

v OF HOSEA WILLARD AND ROBT. ROSS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 13,562,

dated November 3, 1357 ;,Reissne No. 1.777, dated September 27, R564.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that HosEA WILLARD, of Vergennes, in the county of Addison and State of Vermont, and ROBERT ROSS, formerly of same place, but now residing at St. Albans, inthe county ofFranklin, in said State, inventedcertai-n new and useful Improvements in Grain and Grass Harvesting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, making part'ot' this specification, and in which- Figure lis a plan or top view, showing one mode of applying said improvements when the machine is to be used as a reaper. Fig. 2 represents a front view of Fig. 1 with the leadingwheel removed to show the parts in rear of it more fully, the coupling-ar'm,.fngerbeam, and platform being shown in different positions to illustrate the liexible connection of the fingerbeam with the machine. Fig. 3 represents a section and side view on linew at', Fig. 2,when the parts are in the position shown in black lines. Fig. 4 represents in black lines a front v'iew of the machine when arranged for mowing, and in blue and red lilies two of the different positions which the ngerbeam and cutting apparatus are made to assume when being prepared or folded for transportation. Fig. represents a section on linesy y, Figs. l and 4, when the machine is arranged for mowing, as shown in black lnes,Fig. 4. Fig. 6 represents a plan or top view of tinger bar or beam F', shoe F, leading-wheel g", and part of the coupling-arm or finger-bar extension-piece E 5 and Fig. 7 represents a side'view of one of the fingers and an end or cross section of the finger bar or beam, showing how a part of the linger is made to rise up by the front edge of the bar to keep the cutter-bar from working forward.

` The side of the machine which runs next to thestandinggrainlcallthe inside7 and that which runs next to the cut grass or grain the outside.

In the accompanying drawings, the main frame, which is of rectangular form, is represented by letters A A A A. To the under side of parts A' A' are fastened the bearings of the main shaft orjournal of the driving and supporting wheels B B. To the inner hub of the latter` is fastened a ratchet wheel or device, a', while a similar ratchet device, a, is fastened to the outer hub or side of wheel B. Wheels B B', with their hub-ratchets, are fitted loosely ou shaft X. A sliding ratchet wheel or device, b', works on shaft X, and is so connected therewith as to be revolved when said shaft revolves, butis susceptible of a lateral movement, so that it can be moved in and out of action with ratchet a by means of pin c in lever O, whose front end is pi voted to the under side of piece B", fastened to the front of the frame. Pin c lits into a groove turned in the part b', so that the part b operates like a sliding'revolving clutch. A similar ratchet or clutch, b, is fitted to-be worked by lever C' on the outside of wheel B.

- C is the driver-s seat, which is fastened to the rear of the main frame, and in such a position as that levers O and C Iare both within his reach; c l

As the machine is drawn forward by tongue 0"' (shownin section) wheels B Brevolve, and when both or either of the clutches b b are in action, with their respective ratchets a a',

shaft X is caused to revolve, together with cogwheelD, fastened thereto, and which gears into cog-wheel D on the shaftX, supported atone end by hanger D", depending from piece A", andat the otherin a projection, d, from hanger D, in which the short crank-.shaft turns, the latter having on its rear end a bevel-gear, d, which is opened by bevel-gear d on the end of On the front end of the crank-shaft is fitted a balance-wheel, e, with a crank-pin, upon which is placed the outer end of the pitman e', which gives motion to the cutter-bar e", to

which are attached teeth f, which work as they vibrate through slotted open fingers f'..

The improvements which form the subject of this patent relate to that class of mowingmachines in which a ;loose"7 finger-beam is used-that is, a finger-beam so connected to the main frame that the entire Iingerfbeam, or either end thereof, can rise or fall to conform to the inequalities of the ground independent of the up and down motions of the main frame, and consist, first, in combining the finger-beam with a. single-draft coupling-arm, one end of which is hinged to a bracket or hanger connected to the outer front corner of the main frame, while the other end extends out by or under the inner front corner of the mainframe, and is there hinged to the heel of the ngerbeam or to the shoe which supports the same; second, in hiuging the coupling-arm to a bracket or hanger fastened to the front outer side or corner of the main frame, in combination with giving to said coupling-arm a brac- Y ing-support near the point or end where itis hinged to the heel of the tingerbeam or shoe which supports the same.

1t is not now deemed necessary to enter into a detailed description of the mowing and reaping machine represented in the drawings .further than is necessary to illustrate the invention which forms the snbjectof this patent, as the machine is described in detail in other patented divisions of even date herewith, and to which reference can be had.

` 'The finger-beam 1*", to which are fastened the fingers which support and hold the grass while it is being severed by the cuttersj', fastened to cutter-bar e, is fastened at its heel end to a shoe, F, which shoe has two lugs, g g, upon its upper side,and between which one end of a couplingarm, E', is hinged, the other end of a coupling-arm being hinged, pivoted, or jointed to a bracket, E, as seen atf. The coupling-arm has two holes, so that when the machine is to be used as a mower the heel of the finger-beam can be brought up close to the side of the machine, as seen in Fig. 4, while it can be set oft', as seen in Figs. t and 2, when 'the machine is used for areaper, so as tol leave an open space, X, vbetween the platform and inside ot the main frame, through which to deposit the gavels upon the ground. As the machine progresses on its wheels the coupling-arm is carried forward, and that in its turn carries forward the finger-beam and cutter, and as the coupling-arm is rigid laterally only, and its left end, to which the 1inger-beam is connected, free to rise and fall, the ijngerbeam necessarily rests on the ground. Therefore iu passing over undulating ground the ingenbeam will rise or fall at either or both ends, and sway up and down, as may be required, to conform to the surface of the ground.

`The coupling-arm is strong, and possesses sufficient strength to carry forward the'tingerbeam but as there would be great danger of its joint with the main frame giving way under a. sudden strain, if left` unsustained, a loop, E, is fastened to the inner front corner or side ot' the frame, and through which the coupling-arm is allowed to pass, and in which it is free to rise and fall. The loop gives a strong support or brace to the couplingarm near where the finger-beam is hinged thereto. It will thus be seen that by said improvements afront eut is obtainedthat is, the finger-beam which supports the cutter is sustained or extends out from the front inner side of the machine-whereby all the advantages due to such a position ot' the cutting apparatus are obtained, and that, too, by the use of a single hinged draft couplingr -arm arranged at right angles, or nearly so, to the line of motion ofthe machine.

Having described one mode ot' applying said improvements to practical use, the skill of the eonstrueter will be sufficient to apply them to the various mowing-machines in use, wherever applicable, and it is evident that it can be so applied to many machines inuse.

y What is claimed therefore as the invention of said WILLARD and ROSS is 1. The combination, with the finger-beam which supports the cutter or cutters, ot' a. single-draft coupling-arm, one end ot' ,which is hinged or jointed to a. bracket. or hanger connected to the front outer corner ofthe main frame, while the other end extends out by or under theinner frontcorner ofthe main frame, and is there hinged or jointed to the heel ot' the finger-beam, or to the shoe which supports the same, substantially as and for the purpose herein described. Y

2. Hinging the coupling which carries forward the linger-beam, as aforesaid, to a bracket or hanger connected or fastened to the front outer corner of the main frame, `in combination with giving to said coupling-arm a bracingsupport at a point near the inner side of the main frame, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto sub- Y' scribed my name.

JAMES A. SAXTON. In presence of- GEO. E. BALDWIN, S. SURBURG.

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