US165461A - Improvement in mowing-machines - Google Patents

Description

`C. WHEELER, lr.

Muwing-Machine.

Patented .lluly 13,18175.

L MM 2 lg i Ld! vWLm/.Smm/ l UMTED STATES A'rENr @Errea oYnEEUs WHEELER, Jn., oE AUBURN, NEW YORK. i

lMPROVMENTlN MOWlNG-.MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l65A6l, dated July 13, 1875; application filed March 17, 1875.

To all whom -it may concern:

Be it known that I, CYREnUs WHEELER, Jr., of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined or Interchangeable Beaping and Mowing Machines; and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the machine as it appears when adapted for mowing, reference being had to theaecompanying drawings, inaking a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents in perspective the machine asit appears when arranged for mowing. Figs. 2 and 3 represent portions of the machine detached, to better show their forms and co-operative parts.

The subject-matter of this application relates to the machine as arranged for mowing;

and the invention consists in the several combinations of devices, as hereinafter particularly stated, for adapting the machine to the mowing of grass or other crops, as will be ex plained.

ln lthe drawing, A represents a frontframe, and B a rear frame.` The main axle G passes through a sleeve or boss on the frame A, and the frame B is hinged to bosses or bearings on the sleeve of the frame A, so that both frames may move, one independent of the other, but always about the main axle U as a center of motion. rlhe main axle C is supported and carried infthe main driving and supporting wheels D D', the perimeters of which are furnished with two sets of lags, a and b-the former to give a better hold upon the ground, the latter to prevent the machine from slipping downward when working on inclined ground. The platform E is hinged to the front or gear frame A, so as to be readily raised to get at the gearing, which is covered by it, for oiling, Src. On the rear portion of the cover or platform is a tool-box, protected by a hinged cover, j, and a catch or hasp, 7o, fastened to the frame A, passes up through the platform E, through the tool-box, and through the lid or cover j, where it is caught by a hook or keeper, Z, so that one fastening secures the cover and platform in place. Upon the platform E is fastened an angular abutment, F, in or against which the seatsupport Gr and the seat H are sustained. The pole I is fastened to the frame A, and the draft-bars J are bolted thereto, as shown in the drawing. The finger-bar, guards, and cutters are shown in the drawi-ngs, and need no special description, as they are well known and understood. The outside divider N is made adjustable on the sub-shoe N by means of a bolt going into one of the series of holes r. The track-clearer T is pivoted to the shoe N, as seen in the drawing, and a slide or bolt, c, on the track-clearer may be set so as to take upon any one of the shoulders 1 upon the rear ofthe shoe N, so that while said track-clearer cannot drop helow the particular shoulder it is adjusted to or for, it is free to rise above that point whenever forced I to do so by the grass. There is an .eye or ring, 2, on one o f the lingers of thev track-clearer, for taking over a support, w, on the pole I, when the machine is folded up for transporta.- tion to or from the eld. To the rear of the cutter-frame B, which is of cast metal, and near to the inside'wheel D, I bolt a Y-shaped piece, W, of wrought-iron, and, by means of wrought-iron cross-braces X Y, firmly unite this piece W to the rear part of the frame B. As this pieceW has mainly to support the cutting mechanism and its appliances, it is necessary that it should be of wrought-iron, and of strength sufficient to' endure the strain it is subjected to. Z is a coupling-piece, through which the cutting mechanism is united to the wrought-iron piece W; and as this coupling-piece serves other purposes-viz., as a shield and support for a raising and lowering mechanism, and for a gagging mechanismit is made of cast-iron, owing to its shape and form. The coupling-piece Z is connected to the wrought-iron piece W by a bolt, z, which serves as a pivot, about which the frame and the coupling-piece may move as occasion may require. In a recess formed in the face of the coupling-piece, next to the cutting apparatus, is securely fastened a sustaining plate or yoke, A', from which project two downwardly-bent arms, B', one at each end thereof, and t0 the lower ends of these bent arms the inside shoe I3 is pivoted by bolts b passing through the arms B and through lugs c c', cast upon or with said shoe P. As the shoe P supports and carries the finger-bar, cutting apparatus, outside divider, and track-clearer, all these parts can rise and fall about the pivotal points b as a center, even to folding up the cutting apparatus thereon, so as to carry it on or against the frame of the machine. In the coupling-piece Z, and behind the plate Af, there is supported, so as to turn freely, a shaft, d', which has a crank-arnnc, attached to one of its ends, and lying within the hollow portion of the coupling-piece, and to thc end of this crankarm e is attached a chain, j", which is connected to the vibrating beam E', pivoted to a standard, F, at thc point g', said standard being cast with or upon the front frame A of the machine. On the opposite end of the shaft d, from and at right angles to the arm e, is another crank-arm, L, which is connected bya lilik, i', to a gag-lever, j', pivoted by one of the bolts b, and so made as to take upon the heel ofy the inside shoe P, and gag up the finger-bar and cutting apparatus, this gagging apparatus or mechanism heilig operated from the drivers seat H, through or by means of the lever G and the vibrating beam E. 'The lever l is arranged for tipping the points of the lingers; it is curved rearward and downward, and pivoted to the frame B underneath and a little in advance of a vertical plane through the main axle C. On the lever l there is a sprii1gbolt,o, operated by a thumblever, 9, and a rod, l0, and said bolt, when raised, swings over an arc-piece, w', also attached to the frame B, but above the` main axle C, the lever pivotal connection being below it. The bolt c', when dropped into any one of the notches in the arc-piece fw', holds the finger-bar in the position into which it has been tipped by the lever l. rlhe operator, through the lifting-lever G', can raise up the cutter-frame until its projection 1j/ comes.

against the stop x on the frame A, which defines or limits the extent of the upward moltion of said frame 5 and when these two parts fr y are brought together, and the raising motion of the lever G is continued, the outer end of the finger bar is gagged up, and can be so held up or let down, at pleasure, by the mechanism above described. The box portion of the gear-frame vA extends some distance behind the vertical plane of the main axle, about which it, as well as the rear fra-me, swings. The rear of this box portion is slotted, as at 15, so that the forward part of the sleeve or frame B, that incloses the crankshaft, and as seen at 16, may enter and play through, and at the same time be laterally supported by the sides of said slot or opening. This gives the rear frame additional strength or ability to resist the heavy strains that must be borne by the rear frame, and at a different point from that immediately at'and around the main axle. By means of the connectingrod q, attached to an arm, r', fast on the coupling-piece Z, and projecting rearward therefrom, and to a lug, s, on the lever I', the tipping of the points ot' the'guards or fingers may be accomplished. vThe lever I, though pivoted to the frame B at 8, is forward of the main axle C, about which the two frames vibrate.

l/Vhat I claim is- ,1. The gag-leverj, incombination with the lever G', vibrating beam E', rocking bar d', and its vcrank-arms e and h', and chain and link attachment, so as to be operated by the driver from his seat, substantially as described.

2. Thevpendent gag mf, attached to the frame A, in combination with the projection y on the frame B, to limit the free upward motion of frame B, as described and represented.

3. The hinged coupling-piece Z, for connecting the cutting apparatus to the cutter-fra1ne, th`e said coupling serving also as a shield for the arm e and rock-shaft-d, as described and represented.

4. The combination of the frame B, wroughtiron Y-shaped frame W, and cross-braces X Y, to form a support for the coupling-piece Z, as and for the purpose described.

5. The construction of the gear-box, p rojectin g rearward ofthe main axle, and slotted, as at 15, to allow the sleeve B to enter and play through, as and for the purpose described and represented.

6. rBhe quadrant or arc W on the rear frame, but projected over and forward of the axle C, in combination with the lever I', hinged to the rear frame below the axle, so as to bring said lever Within convenient reach ot' the driver upon his seat, as and for the purpose described and represented.

`7. The slotted abutment F, in combination with the seat-support G, for the purpose ot trausposing, reversing, -andholding the seat, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

8. rlhe rod q', in combination with the lever I and arm r on the coupling-piece Z, for the purpose of tipping the points of the guards or rocking the cutting apparatus about the pivotal rod or bar z, as described.

9. The gear-cover E and tool-box coverj, separately hinged, but both fastened by the same hook orhasp 7c l, as described and shown.

GYRENUS XVHEELER, Jn. Vvlitnesses:

A. B. SToUGHToN, EDMUND MAssoN.

Images