USRE1007E - Improvement in mowing-machines - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.v E. BALL. I Mower.

No. 1,007.- YReissued July 17, 1860. Y

NA Pij'iks. Mamma. WMM, D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EPHRAIM BALL, OF CANTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENI. IN MOWING-MACHINES.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 18,788, dated December 1, 1857; Reissue No.831, dated September'27, 1859; Reissue No. 1,007, dated July 17, 1860.

To all whom it muy concern:

Beit known that 1EPHRAIM BALL, of Canton, in the county Stark, in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip' "tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make a part of this speciiication, and in which- Figure 1 represents a rear view of the ma' the linger-beam raised up at its right or outer.v

end toward the machine to pass over an obstacle, and the dotted red lines showing the linger-beam in two diierent positionsraised off the ground and turned up toward the machine to pass over obstacles or through gates. Fig. 2 represents a side view of the machine, looking'in the direction of arrow l, Fig. 1, when the machine is mowing on levelvground, a part of the main frame bengrepresented as broken away to show the position of the gearing. Fig. 3 represents a section on a line A B, Fig. l., looking in the direction of arrow 3, the tinger-beam being shown in the highest position, represented in red dotted lin'es Fi g.,l. Fig. 4 represents a detached view of a portion of one of the main wheels and a portion of its gearing, a part of the pinion which gears into one ofthe main gear-wheels being represented as broken away, together with its shield, to show one ot' the ratchetwheels with its pawls,.spring, and case, and by which motion is communicated from the main wheel to 'the main gear-shaft. Fig.5

' represents a detached plan or top view of one of the pinions on the main gear-shaft, together with its ratchet-wheel and pawl, the top of the case -which covers the ratchet-wheel being represented as broken away to show the relative position ofthe parts. Fig. 6 represents a y plan or top View or' my machine, a portion of DIVISION A.

l the peripheries of the wheels B B being broken away to show the gear-wheels..

or more of the several parts or branches ot' part ror parts may be used in connection with proper frames and gearing, althoug'h different from those' herein described," which are proportioned and arranged with reference to the use of the whole of the parts together; and it machines in use.

One mode of my applying each ot' my improvements to practical use being shown in this machine, it is unnecessary to specify the manner of applying the parts respectively to othermowingmachines,sincetheordinaryskill of the constructer will be sufcient for that purpose.

That branch of' my improvements which is the subject of this patent consists, first, in

combination with curving up the coupling-arm as' it extends toward the machine, whereby the joint of the right end of the coupling-arm is as near the ground as possible, while by curving up the couplin g arm all danger ot' its catching and dragging cut grass is avoided.

It further consists in arranging the drafthinge ofthe iinger-beam above the plane of the cutters yand in advance of the heel ofthe finger'- beam, whereby the joint of the coupling-arm with the shoe is well protected and the heel of the linger-beam guarded against suddenl elevations and shocks.

It further consists in hinging the right end of the coupling-arm R to vthe shoe'b'y a hinge whose axis of motion is on a line with that of the draft-hinge ofthe ringer-beam, which hinge connects with the main frame, in combination with so arranging said hinges as respects the mainframe and finger-beam that the strain due to drawing the finger-beam forward will .be borne by one end of the main frame, while the lateral strainl through the coupling-arm will be borne by the Aother end of the'inain frame, whereby the axis of the right hinge of the coupling-arm is the axis of motion of the finger- Whenever it may be expedient to use one my improvements separate from the rest, such is obviousfth'at several parts of my improvement are applicable to various other mowinghinging the right end of the coupling'arm lt tolugs which rise up from the top of the shoe l, which supports the heel of the finger-beam, in

beam when the outer end thereof is raised above its heel, and whereby the strain on the main frame is divided between the front and rear of the main frame, so that a narrow frame can be used without danger ofits being twisted out of shape or broken by the operation of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, A A A A represent the main frame ot' the machine, being of rectangular form, and which is supported on the axles c a of the independent driving and supporting Wheels B B as it is drawn over the ground by the rigid tongue C.

Spur-wheels D D are secured to the inner sides ofthe spokes ofthe wheels B B, the spurwheel D being secured to wheel B and spurwheel D to wheel B. The spur-wheels D D gear into small pinions E E, which play loosely on the 4ends of the main gear-wheel shaft F, which runs in suitable bearings attached to the underV side ofthe central beams, A' A', and near the front ot' the main frame.

To the shaft F there are attached two shields or ca ses, G G, within each of which a pawl, b, is secured, and thesepawls catch into ratchetteeth on the wheels H, one of which is attached to the inner side of each of the pinion-wheels E E', orto a disk, E", which is placed between the ratchet-wheels H and pinion-wheels E E', for the purpose of closing up the outer ends ot' the cases G G', but which are fastened securely to their respective ratchet and pinion wheels, so that each pinion-wheel with its disk or shieldE" and ratchet-wheel H turn together and are loose on the shaft F. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) Small springs c are attached to the inside of the cases Gr G-one in each case-for the purpose of keeping the pawls b in the ratchetteeth of wheels H when the machine is drawn forward, but which allow the pawls b to slip over the teeth on the ratchet-wheels H when the machine is backed, so that gears I and J, crank-shaft K,'pitman N N', and cutters O remain stationary when the machine or either side is not advanced forward.

The inner end or'heel of the finger-beam P is rigidly secured to the lower double runner or forked ends, Q Q, of a strongmetallic draftshoeor brace-bar, Q, the forward end of which extends upward and forward, and is hinged between lugs i t of a wrist or swivel, z", which is free to turn on an axis'parallel to the line of motion of the machine in a piece, j, attached to piece j' by a screw-pivot, the piece j being bolted irmly to ithe under side of the inner projecting. part A, ofthe main frame, while the `wrist or swivel-piece i' is held in place by nut k.

` To sustain the shoe or brace-bar Q in its lateral relative position `as respects the main Y frame, a coupling-arm, R, is hinged at its right end between the lugs B R', which project up from the left side of the shoe ory hin ged bracebar Q, while its left end is hinged on a line with the longitudinal center of the crank-shaft wK, between lugs ll, projecting down from a hanger, B, which is firmly bolted to the rear under sides of the pieces A A ofthe main frame.

The object in curving up the coupling-arm, as shown in the drawings, is to avoid the catching and dragging along of cut grass which may happen to get piled or rolled up by the horses feet, or from any other cause.

The hinge by which the shoe that supports the heel of the finger-beam is drawn forward is arranged in advance of the cutters and above the frame of the linger-beam, whereby the right hinge of the coupling-arm is well protected from injury as the machine advances, while the heel of the finger-beam is guarded against sudden shocks, since any obstruction in the path of the shoe acts on its front first, and thus gradually raises the heel of the iinger-beam, which is free to rise and fall, and also to have a lateral rolling or wabbling motion independent ot' the main frame.

1n order, also, to have the strain on the main frame as equally divided as possible, I hinge the coupling-arm to one end ofthe main frame, or so that the lateral strain from the ingerbeam shall be communicated to the main frame on the'opposite side ot' the axes ofthe supporting-wheels from'that which bears or receives the strain due to the draft of the finger-beam. In other words, I so connect the shoe to which the inger-beam is attached as that the strain necessary to draw or carry the finger-beam forward shall be sustained by one end of the main frame or on one side of the axes of the supporting-wheels, while the. lateral strain through the coupling-arm, whichl is hinged to the main frame on a line with a longitudinal center of the tingerbeam,as fully shown inthe drawings, shall be sustained by the opposite end of the main frame. One way in which this can be done is shown in this machine, where the shoe is extended forward so as to form a brace, and is connected by a yielding, connection to the front of the machine, while the coupling-arm is hinged to the rear of the machine.'

By placing the right hinge ofthe couplingarm nearly as low as the bottom ofthe lingerbeam and at its heel, the up-and-down motion of the outer end of the'iinger-beam is more free and unrestrained than if the hinge were on top of the nger-beam, since in the latter case that portion of the nger-beam below the hinge would act as a lever to resist the free rising of the outer end of the finger-beam. Consequently the nearer the hinge is to theA ground the less leverage or resistance there will be to the free rising of the `outer end lot' the finger-beam.

I do not deem a more detailed description of the machine necessary, since parts of my said machine are more fully set forth in other. patents to me of even date herewith.

What I'claim under this patent as my inl vention is-s- 1. Hinging the right end of the couplingarm R to the lugs B.' It', in combination with 5curving up the coupling-'arm as it extends to` Ward the machine, substantially as shown and set forth. K y

2. The combination of the shoe or brace bar which supports the heel of the fingerbeam with the hinge by which it is drawn, arranged above the plane of the cutter and in advance of the heel of the linger-beam, substantially as set forth.

3. Connecting the coupling-arm to the shoe by a hinge whose axis of motion is on a line withv that of the draft-hinge ofthe ngenbeam, in combination with so arranging said hinges as respects the main frame as that the strain due to the draft or drawing of the linger-beam EPHRAIM BALL.

Witnesses: g

DANIEL GoTsHALL, D. H. BARMER.

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