US645395A - Mowing-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 645,395. Patented Mar. l3, I900. H. L. HOPKINS. MOWING MACHINE. (Application filed Jan. 23, 1899. Renewed Jan. 29, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

0 o m B: r a M d e t n e t a P .E m w MA on G m w M i 9 1 5 4 6 0 N (Application filed Jazz. 23, 1899. Renawed Jan. 29, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

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- Patented Mar. l3, |900'.-' n. HOPKINS. MOWING MACHINE. (Application filed Jan. 23, 1899. Renewed Jan. 29, 1900.

. 4 Shady-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. l3, I900.

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NITED HARVEY L. HOPKINS, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR O'F-TWO-THIRDS TO CHARLES H. POPE, OF SAME PLACE, AND MERWIN D. HOPKINS, OF WEST EATON, NEW YORK.

MOWlNG-MACHINE.

'sPncI FIcA'rIoiv formingpart of Letters Patent No. 645,395, dated March 13, 1960. Application filed January 23, 1899. Renewed January 29, 1900. Serial No. 3331. (N model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARVEY L. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing in M0- line, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mowing-Machines; and

' I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to IO which it appertains to make and use the same. The principal objects of the invention are to transmit the power to drive the cutter-bar by means of an improved arrangement of spur-gearing between the main axle and a crank-shaft journaled parallel therewith in bearings at the front end of the gearingframe, to drive the cutter-bar from such a shaft through the intermediacy of a pitman so connected to the crank of the shaft at one end and to the bar at the other as to have a continuous gyratory motion transversely to its length instead of the usual lengthwise reciprocations, to provide an arrangement for applying a stored up power to the cutter.

crank-shaft whenever the same is stopped or retarded by the clogging of the cutters or from any other cause, to furnish novel means whereby the driver may clutch and unclutch the cutter-operating gearing, so as to throw the entire train of wheels and shafts into and out of motion when desired, to give the driver better command over the tilting or rocking motions of the cutter-bar by an improved foot-operatable mechanism, to enable him to raise and lower the cutter-bar by utilizing his weight on the end of a foot-lever as an auxiliary or supplementary to the lifting effect of the hand-lever, to lessen the weight and friction of the parts resting upon the ground and to aid the driver in handling the machine by elasticallyconnecting the inner shoe with the tongue-frame at a point near the axle, so as to transfer to the axle a portion of its weight, to guide and stiffen the inner end of the cut- 5 ter-bar by providing a novel construction of head for the bar and combining it with an improved guide secured to the shoe, and, finally, to improve the constructional details of the above-referred-to and other features ing-wheels.

with a view to enhance the general efficiency 56 and ease of operation of the whole machine.

The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein the same parts wherever shown are denoted by the same reference characters.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of the complete machine from a point in front and near the inner shoe. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the cutter drive mechanism and parts of the tongue and gearing frames from a point in rear and near the outer supporting-wheel. Fig. 3 is anelevation of a portion of the axle, showing particularly the clutch-sleeves and the main drivegear of the cutter-operating train. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of one of the clutch-halves. Fig. 5 is a detail of the ring or ferrule to which the rear outer end of the tongue-brace is secured. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the rod which forms a part of the foot-operatable tilting mechanism. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic detail of the cutter, showing crank and the cutter-bar and pitman. Fig. 8 is a face view of the head of the crank-shaft. Fig. this a perspective of the cutter-bar head. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the guide for the same. Fig.

11 is a perspective inner face view of the hammer-balance or fly Wheel. Fig. 12 is a similar view of the cam-disk which is fixed on the cutter crank-shaft and -cooperates with the hammer-wheel. Figs. 13 and 14 are sectional views of the parts shown in Figs. 11 and 12 assembled, showing theirdifferent relative positions. Fig. 15 is a perspective detail of the clutch-shifting lever, and Fig. 16 is a side elevation of a modified form of the crank-head. Fig. 15 is a perspective View, of the opposite side of the lever from that shown in Fig. 15.

Referring to the views, a a denote the driv- They are loose on the axle b and have an ordinary backing ratchet connection therewith. Disks d are rigidly secured to the axle and fit snugly against circular boxes 6 on the hubs of the wheels.

The gearing-frame, except in the particu-, lars hereinafter explained, is substantially the same as in the machine illustrated and described in my patent of November 11, 1884, No. 307,948. It is denoted byf in the accompanying drawings and has a tubular sleevelike portion g, through which the axle extends and by means of which the frame is pivotally supported at the rear. At the side nearest the inner wheel the frame has a downward extension 7L, and nearer the center on the upper side there are two upstanding legs or projections 41 i, to which by means of corresponding downwardly-extending flanges jj the ten gue-frame is pivotally connected above and in nearly the vertical plane of the axle, so that the tongue-frame can rise and fall without affecting the position of the gearingframe, and so also that the gearing-frame can swing on the axle without materially affecting the position of the tongue-frame.

The gearing-frame extends forwardly from the axle, as best shown in Fig. 1, and at a point near its front end has hinge-jointed thereto by means of a two-way joint-piece k the arm Z, which extends downwardly and laterally and carries the shoe mof the cutting apparatus, which occupies the usual position in front and approximatelyin the plane of the inner wheel, from which point a thrustbar 12 extends rearwardly to the downward extension h from the tubular portion of the gearing-frame under the axle. The arm Z is connected to the joint-piece K by the pin It, so as to permit the finger-bar to be lifted off the ground. In double-jointed machines the usual coupling-piece connecting the inner shoe with the main frame and permitting the cutting apparatus to freely move vertically independently of the frame takes the place of this arm, and the joint-piece itself is connected to the frame by the pin .11, so as to permit it and the finger-bar and guards to tilt freely as the shoe runs over the ground. The connection is substantially that of my patent above referred to.

- The tubular portion of the gearing-frame is only about half the length of the axle, and journaled loosely on the axle and abutting snugly against the left-hand end of the frametube is the main wheel 0 of the cutter drivegearing. This wheel is a spur-gear. It meshes into a spur-pinion 19,;iournaled on a stud projec-ting laterally from the side of the gearframe. This pinion has rigid with it a speeding spur-gear q, that engages an idle s-purpinion '1', which is also journaled on a stud projectingoutward fromtheside of the frame, and this idler-gear, with asimilaridlert, similarly studded, which gears directly with and drives the cutter crankshaft s by means of a spur-pinion t, fixed on the shaft midway between its ends.

In order to throw the entire train of cutter drive-gears out of action when the cutter-bar is stopped, I provide the following-described clutch arrangement between the main gear 0 and the supporting-wheels or axle. The gear g is fast on one end of a short sleeve 16,

which has an annular toothed clutch-half i) at its other end, the gear and clutch-half being therefore rigid with each other and both being normally loose on the axle. Upon the axle, near its outer end and projecting inwardly from the ratchet-disk d, is a tubular collar 10, which is rigidly secured by means of a through-pin 1, so as to be in effect a part of the axle itself. Whenever the axle turns, this collar turns with it; but the sleeve it of the main gear 0 never turns with the axle unless locked to the collar 20 by the engagement of its clutch-half o with a mating clutchhalf 1/ on the end of a sliding sleeve a", which incloses the axle between the sleeve 11/ and the collar to. This sleeve xhas an interlocking connection y with the collar w, so that it is also in effect a part of the axle and revolves whenever the axle turns. This interlocking connection is formed, as best shown in Fig. 3,

by cutting away opposite portions of the adjacent ends of the sleeve and collar, the object of this arrangement being to permit the sleeve 00 to be moved lengthwise on the axle for the purpose of engaging its clutch-half with that of the gear-sleeve LL or allowingthe sleeve 't! and its gear 0 to be disconnected and remain at rest. A pin p passes through the axle between the hub of the gear 0 and the end of the box on the main framef to prevent the main frame from sliding on the axle and pressing against the gear. In order to connect and disconnect this clutch, I locate springs s between the interlocked ends of the collar and sliding sleeve, these springs tending to force the clutch-half t" into engagement with its mate on the sleeve of the gear 0, thus providing an automatic arrangement for locking the clutch and holding it normally closed. To open the clutch, a lever 2, which is pivoted on the stud t", upon which the speed-gear q is journaled, extends up- Wardly and rearwardly and lies normally between the flanges 4 4. of the clutch-halves o 4). Beyond this point the lever has a lateral extension 7, which curves behind the gear 0 into a position near the foot-rail 3, so that it can easily be reached and operated by the driver. The meeting faces of the clutch-half flanges 4 4 are oppositely inclined, as best shown in Fig. 3, and the lever is provided on opposite sides with cams 5 5. On depressing the lever the oppositely-inclined flanges of the clutch-halves cause the parts to be forced away from each other a sufficient distance to disengage their teeth, and in order to prevent the accidental dislodgment of the lever and in a measure lock the parts open I provide the flanges of the clutch-halves with annular grooves or gutters 6 between the rows of teeth and the inclines of the flanges, so that when the lever is pressed home its cams will be caught and held in said grooves.

As will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2, the tongue is located nearer the inner than the outer wheel, and this, together with the grassward extension of the cutting apparatus,

IIO

would cause injurious side draft were not some counteracting provision madein the mawheel sufficiently farther away from the.

tongue (which is the line of draft) to overcome this side draft, and it is characteristic of the above-described sleeve-like connection of the gearing-frame and axle that it allows of the use of longer or shorter axles in the same machine by simply using differentlength sleeves a: between the main gear 0 and the outer wheel, which, it will be understood, allows me to locate the outer wheel nearer to or farther from the line of draft, as may be required by difierent lengths of cutter-bars. In machines of this description it is desirable that the tongue should have some connection with the axle near its outer end in addition to its connection therewith through the gearing-frame, and I therefore sleeve on the axle immediately next to the ratchet-disk of the outer wheel and between it and the outer end of the collar to a ring or thimble 8, having a forwardly-projecting plate 9, and to this plate I bolt the rear end of a forwardly and inwardly extending pole-brace 10, which runs diagonally and connects with the tongue at a suitable point to provide a strong rigid strut or brace. A washer c is placed on the axle between the thimble and the collar w, and a pin 1 is driven through the axle and collar just inside the washer.

As before stated, the cutting apparatus is hinge-jointed to the front end of the gearing-frame by means of a two-joint piece 70, and the frame swings on the axle, so as to permit its front end to rise and fall with the cutting apparatus as the latter rises and falls in following the undulations of the ground. The peculiar connection of the cutting apparatus to the gearing-frame gives a capacity for its guards or fingers to tilt or rock upwardly and downwardly without materially affecting the position of the frame, thejoint-piece rocking in these movements on the pin 11. This rocking or tilting of the guards goes on automatically within certain limits, and a freedom of motion in this respect is required in order that the cutter-bar may easily follow the irregularities in the surface. At the same time there must be a limit to the downward tilt of the guards in order to regulate the height of cut of the knives, and I provide an arrangement for this purpose consisting of the bar 12, pivotally connected at its front end to the upper end of the joint-piece la and extending rearwardly to a point just over the axle and in proximity to the position of the drivers left foot, where by means of slots 13 it has a sliding connection with the bolt 14, which connects the tongue and gear frames together. The slots 13 are ofa length corresponding to the maximum movement of the bar, or, what is the same thing, the maximum tilt of the guards, and in order to regulate the amount of downward tilt to suit different characters of ground and grassI fix a pin 15 in the extreme end of the bar, and on this pin I pivot an eccentric foot-operatable cam c, the outer edge of which is preferably provided with notches or serrations c and the rear edge has a projection 0 by means of which the driver-may work it up or down. As the pin 15 is fixed in the outer end of the bar and the front part of the cam works between it and the bolt 14, it will be seen that as the points of the cams surface of increasing eccentricity engage the rear side of the bolt the effect is to shorten the slots 13 in the bar at their rear ends, and this operates to limit the forward movement of the bar and the downward tilting of the guards. In order to hold the cam c in the positions to which it is set after being tilted upward automatically or by hand, as hereinafter described, and prevent the jolting and jarring of the machine from accidentally disengaging it, I provide a spring z, coiled around the pin 15 and reacting laterally between the cam c and bar, and the end of the bolt 14 is also furnished with an enlarged head to hold the bar thereon.

For the purpose of effecting the above-de scribed rocking or tilting by hand, as well as for raising the cutting apparatus from the ground to pass obstructions or to go from one point or field to another, I provide the usual lifting-lever Z and chain a. This chain is connected to the inner shoe ata pointin advance of the pin 11, on which the joint-piece It turns as the guards are tilted, the result of which is that by pulling on the lever the guards are first rocked or tilted upwardly, and

continued pulling on the lever lifts the cutting apparatus fIO'lll the ground. There is nothing new in the chain connection per so; but I combine with it a novel arrangement of auxiliary lifting-lever and chain whereby the driver may utilize his weight to assist him in doing this work as follows: E is the foot-lever referred to. It is pivoted at its front end between two small lugs Z rising from the frame, and a chain t, attached to the lever about midway of its length, extends up to and is connected with the hand lever, all as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In its normal position the foot-lever occupies a substantially-horizontal position,with its rear end below or a little to the right of the seat, so that it can be easily reached by the drivers foot and especially is in a position and arran gement where the driver by simply standing upon it can without exertion add his whole weight to the force with which he pulls on the hand-lever in lifting the heavy cutting apparatus. The front end of the foot-lever E is extended somewhat forward of its pivotal lugs Z so as to contact with the frame when the lever is lifted, and in this way I prevent the lever from flying up out of reach of the drivers foot when not in use and also provide a stop to limit the forward movement of the hand-lever, which of course limits the extent of drop to the cutting apparatus and gearing-frame. The rear end f of the lever E is turned at a right angle to its length to provide a step or rest for the drivers foot.

For the purpose of counterbalancing the weight of the cutting apparatus and gearingframe as a whole and lessening the weight and friction of the suspended parts on the ground and throwing as much as possible of the weight of these parts on the drivingwheels, as Well as to assist the driver in the ini tial movement of the parts, I provide a compound coiled spring 3 s, which is connected to the inner shoe and extends diagonally upward and rearward and is attached at its up per end to the tongue-frame at a point above and forward of the axle, as best shown in Fig. 1. This spring is made in sections 3 and s loosely connected together about midway of the springs total length by hooks or loops F. In order to perform the work for which they are intended, these springs must be heavy and strong, and this of course makes them stiff laterally and hard to bend or deflect sidewise. It is necessary, however, in lifting the cutting apparatus for transportation that this compound spring should flex, bend, or double up easily, for in the continued upward movement-ot' the parts it ceases to exert any upward pull, and from that point until the parts reach the upward limit of their movement it would really oppose this movement were it not capable of folding or bending, and it is for this purpose that I have constructed it in sections and loosely connected them together. Of course there may be any number of sections and kind of connections between them without departing from this feature of the invention. In connection with this counterbalance-sprin g I sometimes employ a frame-balance coilspring 3', for a purpose which will be clearly understood from the following explanation: The finger-bar F is rigidly secured to the shoe m, and the latter is in turn secured in the same manner to the arm 1, which extends upwardly and projects stubbleward from the shoe. The shoe of course rests upon the ground,and the gearing-frame being free to swing on the axle and being connected at its front end to the end of the arm Z bears with considerable weight on the arm at a point stubbleward of the shoe. The finger-bar, shoe, and arm Z all being rigid are, in effect, a lever whose fulcrum is the point where the shoe rests on the ground, and it will now be understood that any weight bearing down on the end of the arm Z will tend to raise the outer end of the finger-bar, or, in other words, to balance the finger-bar on the shoe. The gearing-frame furnishes this balancing-weight; but as the weight of the frame is constant and the Weight of the finger-bar varies with its length in any machine adapted to finger-bars of different lengths it is necessary to make some provision for proportioning the actual amount of weight which is thrown on the stubble end of the arm Z, for if the frame bears on the arm with the proper weight to balance, say, a ten foot bar it would more than balance the weight of a seven or eight foot bar. Hence the frame-spring s" is employed, and its ottice tual weight of the gearing-frame and finger-Q bar is so proportioned to each other as to se cure this balance of the bar, the frame-spring will not be required; but should a shorter bar be used with the same gearing-frame it would be necessary to use the spring in order to obtain the best results, and it should have a strength and tension proportional to the amount of the weight of the gearing-frame which it is desired to take off the end of the arm Z. Such being the individual function of the frame-spring, its combination and cooperation with the compound spring will be readily understood. The function of the former is more particularly that of a balancingspring, and the latter has the function of a counterbalance-sprin g. The one counterbalances the apparatus as a whole-that is to say, it supports a part of its Weight by being connected to it at a single point (the shoe)- and the other so balances the weight to be lifted around or upon this same point as to enable the counterbalance-spring to perform its work to the best advantage and in the easiest manner. The two springs thus con tribute to obtain such an elastic suspension for the greater part of the weight of the cutting apparatus as to leave approximately the same amount of weight pressing on the ground at each end of the finger-bar, thus forminga support for the bar that is sensitive enough to take all the unnecessary weight off the ground without destroying its freedom of movement at either end or preventing the outer end from following closely the undula tions of the ground.

I have devised and adapted to the driving of the cutter-bar what I believe to be a new mechanism. The gearing by means of which the power necessary to reciprocate this cutter is transmitted to the cutter crank-shaft has already been explained; but the mechanism which I will now describe is independent of any particular means or gearing for driving the shaft itself and relates rather to the arrangement of the shaft and the manner of transmitting its motion and power to the cutter-bar or other part to be driven.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the crank-shaft s will be seen journaled in bearings at the front end of the gearing-frame parallel with and having a constant relation to the main axle. It rises and falls bodily with the gearframe, with which it also has a constant relation, but always maintains its distance from and parallelism with the axle. The front end of the gearing-frame has two bearings 16 16, and a webbing or casing-like portion 17 of the frame connects the bearings and forms a partial housing for the pinion t on the shaft .9, which extends through both bearings and has a crank-head 18 on the end next the cutter bar and certain other parts which I will presently describe on the other end. The pinion t is thus located between the two bearings of the shaft, and it is driven in the manner and by the means already described. On its grassward end the shaft 8 has a crank-head 18, provided with crank- arms 20 and 21, the latter being of greater length than the former, for a purpose that will be described farther on. It will be understood from Fig. lthat as the shaft revolves these crank-arms rotate in a plane parallel with the line of draft of the machine, and in order to accommodate their movements the gearing-frame is cutaway, as shown at 22. These crank-arms are provided with means for the attachment thereto of the ordinary pitman 23, such means consisting preferably of hemispherical sockets 2a 24, and a cap 25, also having a similar socket, which cap when in place encircles the ball or knob on the end of the pitman and securely conmeets the same to its driving-crank. The sockets in the crank arms are preferably formed in their outer peripheral faces, as best shown in Fig. 8, and the faces of the two arms are alike in size and shape, so that the cap 25 will fit either. The crank-head is also provided with a counterbalance or fly weight 26, which is adapted to be secured to either crank-arm in the same way as the cap 25, and the cap and weight are made interchangeable,

so that they may always be on opposite arms no matter which arm may for the time being carry the pitman. Ordinary screws 27 are provided to secure the cap and weight in place.

No novelty is claimed herein in the construction of the pitman or the cutter-bar, and as the latter occupies the same general position that is usual in this class of machines no particular novelty or consequence is claimed for its location except in its relation to the crank-shaft s, and here certain characteristics of the invention are to be noted-viz., that the point of connection between the pitman and the cutter-bar is preferably in the same or substantially the same vertical plane as the shaft and that the cutter-bar and outer end of the pitman are necessarily normally out of the line of the shaft. It is not essential that the cutter-bar should be in the vertical plane of the shaft, but the best results are obtained when this is so. Unless, however, the cutter-bar is out of the line of the shaft there would be no movement imparted to it by the pitman, and herein resides an important feature of the invention, for all cutter-bars are adapted to be raised and lowered, and by virtue of my present arrangement this raising and lowering of the bar is made to effect the throw of the pitman and the knives, a result which I believe to be entirely new. At the same time the detachment of the outer end of the pitman from the cutter-bar and the removal of the bar in all positions of the crank are not interfered with, as the arrangement permits the connection and disconnection of the parts in the usual manner.

Such being the construction and arrangement of the parts composing the immediate cutter-driving mechanism, the operation will be best understood on reference to Fig. 7,

which is a diagrammatic View looking rearward along the tongue. The crank-shaft s and the cutter-bar O are represented in their normal relative positions as to height, and it being borne in mind that the two are in approximately the same vertical longitudinal plane it will be understood that the pitman 23 will be given a bodily gyratory rotation transversely of its length as the crank-head revolves. The extent of this movement will be greatest at the crank-head, and it gradually diminishes to the opposite end of the pitman, where its connection with the cutter-bar constitutes, in effect, apivot on and around which that end of the pitman rotates, its length describing in its movements a conoidal figure. If this pivot (the cutter-bar head) were in the line of the crank -shaft extended, as indicated in the upper position in Fig. 7, the figure described by the revolving pitman would be a true cone and there would be no movement of the cutter-bar; but the cutterbar head is normally out of the line of the shaft, as shown in the lower position of the figure, and of course the outer end of the pitman must approach and recede from the too crank-head as the shaft rotates, for the pit- 1 man no longer describes a true cone in its revolutions, hence the reciprocations of the cutter-bar, and it follows from the foregoing that the nearer the cutter-bar approaches the line of the crank-shaft the less motion it will have and the farther it is away from it the greater amount of movement it will have. In the machine shown herein the finger-bar F and shoe m are fixedly secured to the arm I, and this arm has no bodily up-and-down movement independently of the gearingframe. Gonsequen tly the crank-shaft and the cutter-bar preserve approximately the same distance apart, as the frame and shoe-arm and finger-bar all rise and fall together in the normal working of the machine. When, however, the cutting apparatus is lifted off the ground by the driver to pass obstructions or to go from one place of cutting to another, the cutter end of the pitman is made to approach the line of the crank-shaft, and when lifted to pass ordinary obstructions will be substantially in the position shown in the upper part of Fig. 7. The first effect of pulling on the lifting-chain is to rock or tilt the'guards upwardly until the bar 12 can go no farther. The gearing-frame and the cutting apparatus then go up together until the further upward movement of the frame is stopped by its coming in contact with the tongue-frame. Oontinned pulling on the chain turns the arm upward on its joint-piece connection with the gear-frame, when the point of connection between the cutter-bar and the pitman comes in line with the shaft and motion ceases in the bar, though the pitman continues its revolutions, from all of which it will be understood that the act of lifting the cutter-bar causes it to cease its motion without the necessity of disconnecting any of its operating mechanism, and it is to be further noted that the discontinuance and resumption of its motion are gradual and without shocks or jars.

On the opposite or stubble end of the crankshaft 8 I provide an arrangement for storing uppower when the cutter is working normally and bringing it. into action whenever the cutter becomes clogged or the movement of the shaft is retarded from any other cause. This mechanism I term a ham mer-balancej for the reason that it is a balance or fly wheel that is arranged to deliver a hammer-like blow for the purpose of giving an increased impulse to the shaft whenever it needs tem porary assistance. .The device acts automatically as follows: The shaft extends some distance stubbleward of its bearings and carries at its outer end a comparatively-heavy balance-wheel 28, which instead of being secured to the shaft is loosely journaled thereon. This wheel on its inner face is provided with an inclined or wedge-shaped surface29, terminating in an abrupt shoulder 30. Fixedly secured to the shaft just outside of its stubbleward bearing is a disk 31, having on its face adjoining the fiy-Wheel the reverselyinclined wedge-shaped surface 32 and the abrupt shoulder 33. The fiy-wheel is normally held in contact with the disk 31 by the yielding pressure of a coiled spring 34 reacting between a collar on the end of the shaft and the outer face of the wheel. The rotation of the shaft carries the disk 31 around in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 12that is to say, with the incline 32 always in advance of the shoulder 33-and the fly-wheel is rotated by the engagement of its oppositely-inclined surface 29 with the surface 32 of the disk, the spring 34: holding the Wheel against the disk with sufficient pressure to prevent the shoulders 30 and 33 from slipping past each other in this direction after this wheel has acquired the speed of the shaft. The spring may be made adjustable to vary this pressure, if desired. It will now be understood that the fly-wheel revolves with the speed of the shaft, although really loose upon it, with the abrupt shoulder 30 advancing, as indicated in Fig. 11. So long as the shaft continues to revolve at its normal rate the disk and wheel rotate togetherin the manner described; but should the motion of the shaft be suddenly retarded or stopped by the clogging of the cutters or from any other cause the momentum of the fly-wheel would keep it going, the inclined surfaces and the pressure of the spring not hindering, but rather favoring, such action, the wheel would passthe disk, and its shoulder 30 would catch up with and deliver a sudden blow against the shoulder 33 of the disk. The eifect of this blow would be to add a momentaryimpulse to the shaftgvhich of course would be transmitted to the cutters. To thoroughly understand the action of this mechanism, it must be borne in mind that the force with or by which the whole machine is driven-viz., the draft of the teamis a yielding one and that the draft is constantly varying. The action is clearly illustrated on Sheet 4: of the drawings and seems to require to further explanation. I believe the mechanism and the result effected to be broadly new and desire my claims to have a commensurate interpretation.

For the purpose of better guiding and controlling the cutter-bar I provide the cap 35, which is bolted to the heel end of the fingerbar and has a hooked flange 36 along its front edge, under which slides a vertical rib or flange 37 on the rear edge of the knife-head. The cap 35 is conveniently made with an oilcup 38, and the knife-head is provided with an auxiliary rib 39 midway of its width and which overlaps the edge flange 37 and extends some distance farther along the knife. This middle flange fits snugly in front of the cap 35 and aids in guiding and st-eadying the movements of the knife.

Referring again to the crank-head on the shaft 5, it is well known among makers of mowers and reapers that after the machines have been working for a time and become worn the outer end of the cutter-bar sags rearward from the position itoriginally occupied, which in newmachines is a little forward of a line drawn at right angles to the tongue. This requires such readjustment as generally involves the substitution of a longer pitman, for as the outer endof the bar sags back the distance from'the knife-head to the cutter crank-shaftincreases, and unless a longer pitman is used the location of the throw of the sections in the guard-fingers is changed. In other words, the correct registrationof the knife is destroyed. Again, in a machine having the sections partly or nearly worn awaya longer stroke is required to give these sections a full cut. My crank-head affords a perfect remedy for both of these troubles. The arms of the crank-head are ofdilferent lengths, so that moving the pitman from the shorter to the longer crank-arm increases the stroke for worn sections more especially. Sockets in the arms are in different vertical planes, so that moving the pitman from the stubbleward to the grassward socket preserves the proper registration of the knives. Any desired number of arms and sockets may be used. Fig. 16 shows the sockets of the crank-head located in different planes, as just described, the arms of the head being arranged at an oblique angle to the shaft 5. I do not, however, desire to be limited to this feature.

Having thus described the invention, I wish to be understood as contending for a comprehensive interpretation of the claims, not believing the invention to be limited to any mere details of construction or arrangement of its parts, but that it. admits of a wide variation in the same without departure from its spirit or scope.

What I claim is 1. In a mower, the combination with the driving-wheels and axle, of a gear on the axle for driving the cutter-operating gearing, a sleeve fixed on the axle, a clutch-half rigid with the driving-gear, an intermediate sleeve loose on the axle interlocking with the firstmentioned sleeve and having a clutch-half at the end next the driving-gear, and means for moving the intermediate sleeve to throw the cutter drive-gear into and out of operation.

2. In a mower, the combination with the driving-wheels and axle, of a gear on the axle for driving the cutter-operating gearing, said drive-gear having a clutch-half, a sleeve fixed on the axle, and an intermediate sleeve loose on the axle, saidsleeve having a clutch-half at one end, and an extensible interlocking connection with the fixed sleeve at the other.

3. In a mower, the combination with the driving-wheels and axle, of a gear on the axle for driving the cutter-operating gearing, said drive-gear having a clutch-half, a sleeve fixed on the axle, an intermediate sleeve loose on the axle having a clutch-half at one end, and an extensible interlocking connection with the fixed sleeve at the other, and springs interposed between the ends of the interlocking sleeves.

4. In a mower, the combination of the axle and driving-wheels, the gearing-frame, the

sleeve 10, the disk cl, the thimble 8, the washer c, the pin 1, and the brace 10 connected to the thimble and extending diagonally forward and connected to the tongue.

5. In a mowing-machine, the combination of a pair of oppositely-facing clutch-halves, a clutch-shifting lever having \vedging-cams on opposite sides, peripheral flanges on the clutch-halves, and annular grooves between the clutch-teeth and the outer edge of the flanges to receive the wedging-cams on the lever.

G. In a mower, the combination of the gearing-frame, the cutting apparatus connected thereto so as to rock or tilt, a longitudinallyadjustable bar connected at its front end with the cutting apparatus and having a slot at its rear end, a frame stud or bolt passing through said slot, an eccentric foot-cam pivoted in the end of the lever, and reacting between the lever and the stud on the frame,

said cam being free to be moved in either direction by the foot.

7. In a mower, the combination of the gearing-frame, the cutting apparatus connected thereto so as to rock or tilt, a longitudinallyadjustable bar connected at its front end with the cutting apparatus and having a slot at its rear end, a frame stud or bolt passing through said slot, an eccentric foot-cam pivoted in the end of the bar, and having its edge provided with notches or serrations to engage the stud on the frame, and a spring to prevent the accidental disengagement of the cam.

S. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the tongue-frame, the gearing-frame, a hinge jointed connection between said frames, a hand-lever, a foot-lever behind the hand-lever, and a flexible connection between said levers, said foot-lever having an extension forward of its fulcrum that is adapted to contact with the frame to limit the forward movement of both levers.

9. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the gearing-frame, the cutting apparatus hinge-jointed thereto, the tongue-frame hinge-jointed to the gearing-frame, a hand-1ever on the tongue-frame with alifting connection to the cuttiii g apparatus, a foot-leverpivoted on the gearing-frame in proximity to the axle, and a flexible connection between the levers, said foot-lever having an extension forward of its pivot abutting against the gearingframe and serving to limit the forward movement of the hand-lever.

10. In a mower, the combination of the gearing-frame sleeved on the axle, the cutting apparatus hinge-jointed to said frame, the tongue-frame hinge-jointed to the gearingframe, and a counterbalance-spring connection between the cutting apparatus and the tongue-frame, said connection consisting of a plurality of springs linked or loosely connected together.

11. In a mower, the combination of the gearing-frame sleeved on the axle, the cutting apparatushingejointed to said frame, the tongue-frame hinge-jointed to the gearingframe,;and the jointed counterbalancespring connecting the inner shoe with the tongueframe.

12. In a cutting apparatus for mowers and reapers, the combination with the cutter-bar head having a vertical tongue or rib along its rear edge, of a holder having a groove in which the tongue Works, and a supplemental tongue or rib on the head which works against the front edge of the holder.

13. The combination with a revolving shaft, of a crank-head provided with a plurality of arms having sockets for the connection therewith of a pitman, and a cap for securing the pitman in either of the sockets.

let. The combination with a revolving shaft, of a crank-head provided with arms of differentlengths, duplicate sockets in said arms for attaching a pitman to the head, a cap for securing the pitman in either of the sockets,and a detachable counterbalance adapted to be attached to either arm.

15. The combination with a revolving shaft, of a crank-head provided with a plurality of arms having sockets for the connection therewith of a pitman to either of said arms, a cap for securing the pitman in either of the sockets, and a detachable counterbalance adapted to be attached to the arm opposite the one to which the pitman is connected, said cap and counterbalance being interchangeable.

16. In a cutter-bar-driving mechanism for mowers and reapers, the combination of a revolving shaft, a crank on the shaft rotating in a plane transverse to the cutter-bar, an arm pivoted at its inner end and carryingthe inner shoe at its opposite end, and a pitman or rod connected at one end tothecutter-bar and at the other to the crank without intermediate support between said bar and crank.

17. In a cutter-bar-driving mechanism for mowers and reapers, the combination of a revolving'shaft, a crank on the shaft rotating in a plane transverse to the cutter-bar, and a pitman or rod connected at one end to said cutter-bar and at the other to the crank, the reaction of the cutter-bar being endwise on the shaft through the intermediacy of the I pitman.

18. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the driving-wheels and axle, a revolving shaft for driving the cutter-bar, said shaft having a fixed relation with the axle, a cuttor-bar having a variable relation with the axle, a crank revolving in a plane transverse to the cutterbar, aspur-pinion on the crankshaft, a spur-gear on the axle, intermediate driving connections between said pinion and gear, and a pitman or rod connected at one end to the crank of theshaft and at its other to the cutter-bar without intermediate support between said crank and bar.

19. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the driving-wheels and axle, the gearing-frame hung on the axle so as to rise and fall at its outer end, a revolving shaft journaled in said frame parallel with the axle, a spur-pinion on the shaft adapted to be driven from a spur-gear on the axle, a crank on the shaft revolving in a plane transversely to the cutter-bar, and a pitman or rod connected at one end to the crank and at the other to the cutter-bar, without intermediate support between said crank and bar.

20. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the driving-wheels and axle, the gearing-frame hung on the axle so as to rise and fall at its outer end, a revolving shaft journaled in said frame parallel with the axle, a spur-pinion on the shaft, a spur-gear on the axle, intermediate spur-gears on the frame, between said gear and pinion, a cutter-bar having a connection with the gearing-frame so as to tilt or rock automatically, a crank on the shaft revolving in a plane transverse to the-cutter-bar, and a pitman connected at one end to the crank and at the other to the bar, said pitman extending only lengthwise the shaft and bar and having no other support than its connections with the bar and the crank, the connection being as described, viz., so that the reaction of the cutter-bar comes endwise on the crank-shaft lengthwise through the pitman.

21. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the driving-wheels and axle, the gearing-frame hung on the axle so as to rise and fall at its outer end, a revolving shaft journaled in said frame parallel with the axle, a spur-pinion on the shaft, a spur-gear on the axle, intermediate spur-gears on the frame between said gear and pinion, a cutter-bar having a connection with the gearing-frame so as to be rocked or tilted, a crank on the shaft revolving in a plane transverse to the cutter-bar, and a pitman connected at one end to the crank and at the other to the bar, said pitman extending only lengthwise the shaft and bar and having no other support than its connections with the bar and the crank, the connection being as described, via, so that the reaction of the cutter-bar comes endwise on the crank-shaft lengthwise through the pitman.

22. The combination of a revolving crankshaft, a rod or pitman connected at one end to the crankand extending in the general direction of the shaft so as to have a gyratory motion imparted thereto, a device connected to the opposite end of the pitman out of line with the crank-shaft whereby said device is adapted to be reciprocated in a direction lengthwise of the crank-shaft by the pitman, and means for adjusting the device to be reciprocated toward and from the line of the crank-shaft; whereby the longitudinal throw of the pitman may be varied.

23. In 'mowers and reapers, the combination of a revolving cutter driving crankshaft extending in the general direction of the cutter-bar, a pitman extending in the same general direction and connected at one end to the crank and at the other to the cutter-bar, and mechanism for raising and lowering the cutting apparatus; whereby the movement of the cutter-bar may be stopped by lifting the cutter-bar from the ground without disconnecting any of the moving parts.

24c.v The combination of a revolving shaft, a balance or fly wheel journaled on and having a normally-frictional engagement therewith, and means for causing'the wheel to positively engage the shaft on the stoppage or retardation of said shaft.

25. The combination of a revolving shaft, a balance or fly wheel journaled on and having a normally-frictional engagement therewith whereby it is driven by the shaft, anda positive engagement therewith whereby it is adapted to drive the shaft by its own momentum.

26. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the cutter drive-shaft, a balance or fly wheel loosely journaled thereon so as to revolve independently of the shaftin one direction only, a disk fixed on the shaft adjacent to the wheel, a spring holding said wheel and disk yieldingly together whereby the wheel is driven by the shaft and disk, a projection on the wheel, and an abutment on the disk against which said projection is adapted to strike and to drive the shaft and disk only when the wheel revolves faster than the shaft,

and permitting the parts to slip when the shaft revolves faster than the wheel.

27. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the 'cutter drive-shaft, a balance or fly wheel loosely journaled thereon, a disk fixed on the shaft adjacent to said wheel, a spring for holding the wheel and disk normally together, opposite inclines on the adjacent faces of the wheel and disk whereby the wheel is driven yieldingly by the disk and shaft, a square shoulder on the wheel, and an opposing shoulder on the disk against which the wheels shoulder is adapted to strike so that the shaft and disk may be positively driven by the wheel by its own momentum.

28. The combination of a revolving shaft, a balance or fiy wheel journaled thereon so as to revolve independently of the shaft in one direction only, and having a spring held in frictional'engagement therewith whereby said wheel is yieldingly revolved by and with the shaft, and an abutment on the shaft against which the wheel strikes only when the speed of the shaft is reduced below that of the wheel, whereby said wheel is permitted to slip by the abutment on the shaft when the shaft revolves faster than the wheel, and whereby the wheel becomes positively engaged with the abutment and drives the disk and shaft when the wheel revolves faster than the shaft.

29. The combination with a revolving shaft, of a crank-head provided with a plurality of arms having sockets for the connection therewith of a pitman, and a cap for securing the pitman to either socket, the said sockets being placed and revolving in different planes,

'so that changing the pitman from one socket to another changes the location of its throw.

30. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the driving-wheels and axle, a gearingframe, a transverse crank-shaftjournaled in and supported by said frame and driven by gearing from the axle, a cutting apparatus freely movable vertically with respect to the gearing-frame, and a pitman or rod connected at one end to the cutter-bar and at the other to the crank of the shaft without intermediate support between said bar and crank.

31. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the driving-wheel and axle, a gearingframe hung on the axle so as to rise and fall at its outer end, a transverse crank-shaft journaled and supported in said frame and driven by gearing therefrom, a cutting apparatus freely movable vertically with said gearingframe, and a pitman or rod connected at one end to the cutter-bar and at the other to the crank of the shaft without intermediate support.

32. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the driving-wheels and axle, a gearingframe, a revolving shaft journaled in the gearing-frame, an automatically-tiltable cutting apparatus, a crank on the shaft revolving in a plane transverse to the cutter-bar, and a pitman or rod connected at one end to the cutter-bar and at the other to the crank without intermediate support between said bar and crank.

33. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the driving-wheels and axle, a gearingframe, a cutting apparatus adapted to be lifted bodily, a revolving shaft journaled in bearings in the gearing-frame, a crank on said shaft rotating in a plane transverse to the cutter-bar, and a pitman or rod connected at one end to the cutter-bar and extending from the inner shoe across the intervening space between the shoe and the gearing-frame and connected at the other end -to the crank of the shaft without intermediate support be'= tween said bar and crank.

84:. In mowers and reapers, the combination of the driving-wheels and axle, a gearing frame extending forward of the main axle, a revolving shaft journaled in said frame and having a crank rotating in a plane transverse to the cutter-bar, a cutting apparatus the inner shoe of which is approximately in line with the inner wheel, and a pitman or rod connected at one end to the cutter-bar and extending from the inner shoe across the in tervening space between the shoe and the gear-frame and connected to the crank without intermediate support between said bar and crank.

35. In mowers and reapers, the combine;

tion of the driving-wheels and axle, a gearingframe, a revolving shaft journaled in said frame, a crank on the shaft rotating in a plane transverse to the cutter-bar, an arm pivoted at its inner end and carrying the inner shoe at its opposite end, and a pitman or red connected at one end to the cutter-bar and at the other to the crank without intermediate support between said bar and crank, and said pitman being detachable from the cutter-bar in all positions of the crank.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY L. HOPKINS. WVitnesses:

MERWIN D. HOPKINS, J. M. HOPKINS.

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