US5717A - Straw-gutter - Google Patents

Description

L. A. HARPER.

Straw Cutter.

Patented Aug. 15, 1848.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Lwgnphnr. Washington, D. C.

sans

L. A. HARPER, OF RUSSELLSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

STRAW-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. No. 5,717, dated August 15, 1848.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, LownnNoE A. HARPER, of Russellsville, in the county of Logan and State of Kentucky. have invented a new and Improved Straw Cutter o-r chopper, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in placing the wheel-work in such a manner as to act immediately on the back of the knife or cutter by a crank and pitman with great power and quick motion, the straw is moved forward under the knife by an eccentric wheel and camyoke, in the moment when the knife is fully above the strawthe arrangements are further so, that any scythe may be attached and used as a cutter or knife.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

At the annexed drawing is Figure 1, a front View; Fig. 2, a View from the right side; Fig. 3, a view from below showing a part of the machine.

In Figs. 1 and 2 is (A) the main bottom sill, 3 by 12 inches thick, 395 feet long: (B, B) the two front posts 2 12 inches and 5 feet long, framed in the bottom sills 13 inches apart: (C) the cap, 2gby 15 inches,

and 21 inches long framed on the top of the front posts and projecting over the flywheel: (D) a cross piece 2.1; by 3 inches and 2 feet long lapped infront of the main posts 15 inches above the main sill (A) the bearing of the knife is supported at one end of this piece, it also forms the bottom of the front of the cutting box: (E E) two headblocks 2g inches square 22 inches long framed through the main posts (B B) to support the wheel-work, fastened by long tenons and keys on the` outside. There is also a small piece confined between the main post-s in front for the purpose of preventing the knife (I) from raising the straw when in the act of cutting; a common steel plate (ct, a,) is confined in front of the box: (F) the main cogwheel, S inches diameter (the power is applied to the crank (g) which gears into a pinion (2)) 4 inches diameter on the main shaft ((Z) of the crank (f) and flywheel (W), the crank (f) being 3.15 inches long: (H) the pitman 18 inches long, of

its extremity opposite of the knife is movable by a slide box (o) at the block (K K) screwed to the box (U) at the back end: (L) the eccentric wheel inches diameter of cast iron confined on the shaft of the crank (f) before the pinion (b) with a groove in the edge for the yoke to run in: (M) the yoke, wrought iron, whole length 12 inches;v the lower end is confined to a cross lever (N) which moves the iron ratch (O), thelever passes through one of the posts (B) at (Z) and is confined with a movable joint bet-Ween two pieces of cast iron (g) screwed on the inside of the posts: (O) the ratch iron confined on the outer end of the lever with a small spring (t) to confine it to the face ratch wheel: (P) a double ratch wheel 8 inches diameter of cast iron with face and edge ratches (g) the ratch iron (O) works on the face ratch and the click ((1) on the edge ratches; this wheel is confined to the gudgeon of the front bottom roller (t), which is a wooden roller 4 inches diameter 13s;A inches long. There is another roller (u) immediately above the one described of the same diameter and length of cast iron and fluted; the straw passes between those rollers (t and u) the upper one is movable up or down in proportion of the body of straw that is between them; the upper roller receives its motion by the two cogwheels (R B). on the opposite side of the ratchwheel; two springs (s s) one confined on each side of the box (U) and presses on the gudgeon of the upper roller (u) at (T, T,) the hind leg 3 by 2-1- inches and 2 feet 4 inches long framed in' arms confined on the back end of the crank shaft (CZ) The bearings are all held down by cast boxes and screws.

F ig. 3 showing fro-m below the cutter, the movements of the movable block (K K) which may be moved with the shaft (I) by the sliding box v in or out, to adjust the knife before the box as required, and is fastened by the screws (y y) to the frame: There is also a slit piece (fw) of iron on both sides of the frame, attached to the roller (V) on its gudgeons, which move on pins (e e) and are kept stationary', by the screws (/L, In) for the purpose to draw the revolving leather or cloth (s) tight.

The advantages of my straw cutter depend more upon the arrangement of parts than any novel invention in those parts.

In most straw cutters, the fly wheel and apparatus for producing the feed motion are on the side of the machine, so as to be out of the way of the feeding, and delivery of the straw. T his requires much room, and makes the machine too heavy on one side. n other straw cutters, where knives are attached to the fly Wheel, there is this same objection.

ln all instances where the vibrating knife,

' similar to mine, working without a gate, has

been used. I believe the knife has either been worked directly, by hand, or a crank, and fly wheel have been used in front of the machine, and at one corner, thus making itunequally heavy, and interfering with the delivery of the straw, or the crank and fly wheel have bee'n directly in front, and some distance from the knife, thus Imaking the' knife diflicult to get at, and requiring additional posts to support those parts, or the crank and fly wheel have been placed behind the knife, and below the feed box, requiring a very high feeding trough, and attended with the disadvantages of requiring a treadle, or the stooping of the person, working;l the machine, and the pitmanattached to the knife, being in the way of the delivery of the straw.

l am not aware that the fly wheel and parts for operating the knife and feed rollers have ever been placed, as in my machine, above it and behind the knife in the manner specially set forth.

This arrangement gives me a steady machine, few operating parts, makes the crank easy to handle, from its position, removes all obstructions from the mouth of the box, while it brings the feeding box low down, and makes it easy to be supplied.

I therefore claim- Atrranging the fly wheel and the line of its shaft, and the parts for operating the feed rollers, with respect to the knife and feeding box, in the manner which I have above set forth.

L. A. HARPER. Witnesses z PETER voN SCHMIDT, LUND VASHINGTON, Sr.

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