USRE1009E - Improvement in mowing-machines - Google Patents

Description

E. BALL.-

n eissued July 17 1800.

Mower.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. BALL.v

- Mower:4 y

Reissued my 17, 1860.:

Ipass over obstacles or through gates.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EPHRAIM BALL, OF CANTON, OHIO.

` IMPROVEMENT I'N IVlOWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No'. 18,788, dated December l, 1857; Reissue No' S31, dated September 27, 1859; Reissue No. 1.009, dated July-17, 19.60.

DIVISION C. i

To all whom, it naa/y concern;

Be it knownthat I, EPIIRAIM BALL, of Can-y surface, the blue lines showing one position of the finger-beam when mowing/on an uneven surface, with its left end raised to conform thereto, the red line showing the position of the finger-beam when mowing on an uneven surface, which raises the entire linger-beam, the dotted black lines showing the position of the finger-beam at its right or outer end toward the machine to pass over an obstacle,`

and the dotted red lines showing the fingerbeam in two different positions raised off the ground and turned up toward the machine to Fig. 2 represents a side view of the machine, looking in the direction of arrow 1, Fig. 1, when the machine is moving'on level ground, a part of the main frame being represented as broken awry to show the position of the gearing. Fig. 3 represents a section on a line, A B,- Fig. `1, looking in the direction of arrow 3, the finger-beam being shown in the highest position zepresented in red dotted lines, Fig. 1. Fig. i represents a detached view of a portion of one of the main wheels and aportion of its gearing, a part 0f the pinion which gears into one of the main gear-wheels being represented as broken away, together -with its shield, to show one of the ratchet-wheels with its pawls, spring, and ease, and by which motion is com-V nmnicated from the main wheels 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 ease which covers the ratchet-wheel being represented as broken away to show the relative Position' of the parts.

Fig.'6 represents aplan or top view of my machine, a portion of the peripheries of thewheels B B being broken away to show the position of the gear-wheels. f

Vhenever it may be expedient to use one or more of the several parts or branchesof my improvements separate from the rest, such part or parts-may be used in connection with the proper frames and gearing, although different from those herein described, which are proportioned and arranged with reference to thense of the whole of the parts together; and it is obvious that several parts of my improvements are applicable to various other mowing-machines in use. i

One mode of applying each of my improvements to Ypractical, use being shown in this machine, it is unnecessary to specify the manner of applying the parts, respectively, to other mowing-machines, since the ordinary skill of tl1e`constructer will be suiiicient for that purpose.

That branch of my improvements which is the subject of this patent consists, first, in so arranging and combining the hangers which support the crank-shaft and left end of the coupling-arm with certain parts of themain frame as that the hangers shall answer the purpose of a series of braces to the main frame, to keep it from twisting during the operation of mowing.

It also further consists in so constructing and combining the hinged cutting apparatus and finger-beam with a main frame as that no part of the iinger-beam shall project by the rear of the main frame, nor any portion of the main frame by the rear of the finger-beam.

It also further consists iny combining the coupling-arm and the finger-beam with the slotted metallic part S, whereby the cutting apparatus and finger-beam are prevented from falling over against the main frame when the outer end thereof is raised up toward the main frame to pass over obstructions, and wherebya portion of the weight of the finger-beam will rest on the left hinge of the coupling-arm after the outer end ofthe inger-beam has been raised to a certain inclination, and thus relieve the attendant from the necessity of sustaining the entire weight ofthe finger-beam to pass over or by an obstruction.

p D vto wheel B.

In the accompanying drawings, `A A A A l due to the operation of the machine, I provide represent the main frame of the machine, being of rectangular form, Vand which is supported on the axles a c 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 vof the spokes of the wheels B B, the spurwheel D being secured to wheel B and spur The spur-wheels D D gear into small pinions E E', which play loosely on the ends ofthe main gear-wheel shaft F,which runs in suitable bearings attached to the'under side of the center beams, A A', and near the front of the main frame.. Y

To the shaftF there are attached two shields b, is secured, and these pawls catchinto ratchvet-teeth on the wheels H, one of vwhich is attached to the inner side of each of the pinion wheels E E, or to a disk, E, which is placed between' the ratchet -wheels H and pinionwheels `E E, for the purpose of closing up the outer ends of 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 shield E and ratchet-wheel H, turn together and are loose on the shaft F. (See Figs. 7 and A8.) Small springs c are attached to the inside of the cases G G, one in each case, for the purpose of keeping the pawls b in the ratchet-teeth of the wheels H when the machine is drawn forward, but which allows the pawls b to slip over the teeth on the ratchetwheels H when the machine is backed, so that the cutters are not operated Yin backing the machine, .nor docs one pawl or ratchet interfere with the free movements of the other. Consequently if one wheel moves faster than the other it operates the cutters, and, there' fore, turning the machine from the standing laterally through the standing grass, unless the team is stopped and the machine is backed, which occupies considerable time.

Near the center of the shaft Fis fastened the main gear-wheel I, which gears on a bevelwheel, J, at the upper end of the inclined crank-shaft K, which runs in suitable bearings, K K, attached to the under side of thepieees A A', and by which the pitman and cutters are operated. (See the drawings.) Y

In a mowing-machine it is important that the frame should be narrow as possible, since with a narrow framey there is much less difficulty in passing between stumps, stone heaps, and similar obstructions. Vith anarrow main frame, however, there is less convenience for bracing, and to enable the machine to be made narrow, and at the same time have the necessary strength to withstand the twisting strain the main frame with two parallel center pieces. A A, which are bolted or otherwise rmly fastened to the front and rear cross-pieces of the main frame. I` then form and construct the hangers which support the crankshaft K and the left end of the coupling-arm R so that they will reach from one piece A to the other, and to which theyare iirmly bolted, their centers being curved down, as shown in the drawings. By this arrangement of parts the hangers, which support the crank-shaft K and the left end of the coupling-arm B, are made to answer the further functions of strong braces to hold the main frame' in its proper position, even though it is quite narrow. In mowing on rough land, quite large obstructions-such as stumps Aand stone heaps-are often met with,

when it becomes necessary to raise or turn up the outer end of the finger-beam. This, however, involves the construction-of the machine with reference to certain conditions in order to avoid several objections. First, the fingerbeam must not only be hinged at its heel, but the main frame must be so constructed as to permit an attendant to freely approach the 'finger-beam from the rear, so as to avoid "bepart of the main frame while the machine was being moved; third, the connections with the heel of the finger-beam must be such as to rise with it, or else they are liable to be broken in passing over an obstruction in the path of the heel of the linger-beam; and, fourth, theconstruction and arrangement of the main frame must also be such that no part of it will pro-.1. ject laterally in rear of the cutting apparatus or finger-beam, for if it does, the raising up of the finger-beam will allow the obstruction, if

of any size, to strike against. the laterally-pro` jecting portion of the main frame.

In the construction of my machine all of the above conditions havebeen carefully observed. c The guide or metallic part Sis made of three parts-viz., the part which rests on the run n'ers Q Q, just in front of the heel of the 1inger-beam,the part which extends backv over the heel of the linger-beam, and the part under which the inner cutter works-and the whole is riveted permanently to the runners Q Q in front of the iinger-beam, so that the whole device is as rigid and permanent for all practical'purposes as if the parts were soldered to# gether, or even made in one piece. The heel of the cutter-bar works in a recess, S, formed in Ythe part S, while the heel of the finger-beam is passed in under and in rear of the part S and above the runners Q Q, where it is held by bolts passing through runners Q Q, finger-beam, and part S.

In using my machine, if an obstruction happehs to be in the path of the outer end of the finger-beam,raising or turning the finger-beam up toward the machine, as shown in' dotted black lines, Fig. I, is generally found sufficient. When, however, it becomes necessary to raise both the heel of the finger-beam as` well as the outer end thereof, after the fin-k ger-beam has been raised into the position as shown in dotted black lines, Fig.A 1, an attendant pushes the finger-beam toward the machine until the metallic part S and fingerbeam P strike against the coupling-arm, when both the finger-beam and coupling-arm can be raised up, as shown in red dotted lines, Fig. l. If it were not for the resistance afforded by the finger-beam and metallic part S, there would be danger of throwing the finger-beam over upon the machine in raising it up t0 pass over large obstructions r through gates, and thus endanger the safety of the driver, and also render the cutting apparatus liable to be broken. Another advantage vresulting from the above arrangement is that the attendant does not have to sustain the whole weight of the finger-beam and cutting apparatus, since a portion is borne or rests on the left hinge of the coupling-arm just as soon as the fingen beam or metallic part S strikes against the coupling-arm, while before that the heel of the finger-beam is free to rest on the ground.

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

What I claim under this patent as my invention is- 1. The combination of the hangers which support Vthe crank shaft and coupling-arm with the/ central pieces, A A', whereby 'the hangers are made to perform the additional function of braces to the main frame, substantially as set forth.

2. So constructing and combining a hinged finger-beam with a main frame as that no part of the finger-beam will project by the rear of the main frame, nor any part of the main frame by the rear of the finger-beam, whereby an attendant can freely approach the fingerbeam from the rear and raise up the outer end thereof to avoid an obstruction, while the heel of the finger-beam is free to rest on the ground and to conform to the inequalities thereof y independently of the up and down motions of the main frame, substantially as set forth.

3. rPhe combination of the coupling-arm and finger-beam with the slotted metallic part S,

whereby the nger-beaui and cutting appara-Y tus7 when turned up toward the main frame to avoid and pass obstructions, will be prevented from falling over against the main frame, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the finger-beam with the coupling-arm, and a stop whereby a portion of the weight of the finger-beam, as it is raised up bodily after the outer end has been turned up to pass an obstruction, will rest on the left hinge of the'coupling-arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

EPHRAIM BALL.

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