US17678A - Improvement in harvesting-machines - Google Patents

Description

J. K. HARRIS.

Harvester.

No. |7,6?8. Patented June 30, 1857.

UNITEDr STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN K. HARRIS, OF ALLENSVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTINGfMACHINES.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN K. HAaRIs, of Allensville, in the county of Switzerland and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Harvesting-Machines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

The chief object of my invention is to give a uniform and easy motion to the cutting apparatus.

The functions of a harvester-cutter require that the necessary advance of the fingers and frame should be accompanied by a constant and uniform action of the knives at all points of their stroke, more especially iu cutting grass, which requires a uniform and quick stroke ot' the cutters to prevent clogging. In machines employing crank and cam motions the cutterbar, although it moves very quickly at midstroke, moves slowly while the crank or cam passes the dead points of its stroke, thus imparting to the cutters a rapid succession of slow and quick motions, which is the main cause of their choking. The various expedients--such as dierent forms of fingers and knives and of actuating and transmitting mechanism-which have been resorted to fall so far short of removing this evil that the team has often to be driven beyond its proper speed in order that the motion of the knives at the slow periods may still be sufciently rapid to prevent choking.

In the aecompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the machine as adapted for mowing; Fig. 2, a detached view of the pinion and segment; Figs. 3 and 4, side elevations of the respective inner disks or faces of the combined drive-wheels, and Fig. 5 an axial section through the line K m of Fig. 3.

The cutter-frame a and tongue b are severally secured to the axle in such manner as to admit of their independent vertical motion.

Of the cheeks by which the tongue is secured to the axle theinner one, c, is of somewhat extended diameter, and is pierced with apertures, as represented. A pin, d, being inserted in one of these, limits the ascent ofthe frame a to any extent desired, while its rise or fall may be eased or restrained by a spring, g, projecting from its front end and confined between the adjustable pins cf.

The cutters t' and fingers j may be of usual construction.

K K' are two wheels of similar form and dimensions, which, being both made fast to one axle, com pose together the duplex drive-wheel- K K. A beveled face is formed on the inside of each of these wheels near its periphery, on which are arranged alternately oblique sets ot' two or more cogs, 7c 7c.

L is a beveled pinion with two sets of teeth obliquely arranged, corresponding to those on the drive-Wheels, with which they mesh alternatingly.` The consecutive sets ofcogs on each wheel respectively are placed just so far apart as to permit the escape and free backward rotation of the side of the pinion which has been last advancing. In the illust-ration here given there are three of the cogs 7c 7e in each set, forming as many concentric circles of cogs, ot' which those composing the inner circles are pitched7 one tooth in advance of the next tooth outside in the same set. Hence the teeth on the pinion and those on the drive-wheel where they engage with the pinion range Vin lines pointing obliquely forward and upward, the effect of which is that the match-teeth of the respective sets engage always deep in gear, and (without danger of iuterferin g with each other or hanging7 on the back vibration of the pinion) impart a more sustained, easy, and extended vibration to the pinion at a constantly-uniform speed than would result from the use of single teeth. lIf desired for greater 'stren gth, the backs of these teeth may be bucketed, as they are only required to work one way.

The rear end of the pinion-shaft mis mounted with a segment, u, having teeth formed on its periphery,which mesh into a straight rack, o, on the cutter-bar.

Attached byV `a hinge to` the beam a are springs q q', which, during the'working of the machine, confine between them alug, 1), on the cutter-bar, by means of which the force derived from the momentum of the cutter-bar is at the completion of each stroke transferred to the spring, and becomes available on the returnstroke to overcome the inertia of the bar. By

this means the concussion and jar which would otherwise occur at each change of stroke is prevented, while the even and unirorm reciprocating motion of the cutters is sufficiently preserved, the length 0f stroke of the knife increasing as the radius of the segment n exceeds that of the rocking pinion L l l'.

Upon the least increase of labor in the cutters the stress on the pinion tends to raise the bar from the ground, and thus the weight of the entire frame and its appurtenances is made to enforce the action of the cutters, while at the same time the increased downward pressure of the drive-wheel increases its traction or hold on the ground.

s is a small lever attached to the duplex spring q Q', which, while said spring is in action, rests on the beam a'. By raising thislever the spring is withdrawn from operating on the lug p, allowinga more extended motion to the cutter-bar, at which time (the pin d being removed) a slight elevation ofthe frame a, by means ofthe handle r, brings the cogs on one side of the pinion L into contact with those of one ofthe drive-wheels in an inverse direction, rotating the pinion until lthe cogs thereon attain a vertical position, and thus throwing the cutting apparatus out of gear. The pin d being then inserted in a hole of the' cheek c underneath the frame, and the latter steadied by means ofthe handle 1', the machine maybe conveyed freely from place to place on its own wheels without imparting motion to the cutting mechanism.

The means of throwing the cutting apparatus out of gear may, if preferred, consist of a suitable lever connecting with the cutterbar to move it in either direction until the cogs on the pinion are brought into a vertical position, as sta-ted. A device equivalent to this will in any event be desirable for throwing the machine in gear when desired.

The lever s may be conlned in the desired position by any customary means. v

The handler is available, also,while themachine is in action, to temporarily elevate the finger-bar h, and enable it to pass over obstructions.

Amachine of this construction may be drawn easily by one horse, instead of requiring two, three, or more. Y

An inferior modilication of my plan may consist of a single drive-wheel gearing at/ opposite extremities of its disk int-o two pini ms, each having but one set of cogs and both attached to thc segment-shaft.

This machine may be adapted to harvesting grain by the application of a reel and other customary appliances.

Having thus described my machine, what I claim therein as new and of my invention islmparting tothe cutter-bar of harvestingmachines a uniform reciprocating motion by means of the duplex drive-wheel K K', when used in combination with the rocking pinion L, said wheel and pinion being geared by means of alternate and oblique sets' of cogs k 7c' l Z', in the manner above set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

JOHN K. HARRIS. Attest:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, Oor. KNIGHT.

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