US105395A - Improvement in harvesters - Google Patents

Description

PATENT FFICEc WILLIAM N. WHITELEY, or SPRINGFIELD, oHIo.

s IMPROVEMENT IIN HARVESTERS.

` Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 105,395, dated July 12, 1870.

To all whom it may concern: l Be it known` that I, WILLIAM N. WHIT- LEY, of Springfield, in the county of Clarke and State of Ohio, .have invented a new and Y 4useful Improvement in Harvesters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, kreference being'had to the accompanying drawing, in

whichr l i "Figure 1 is a perspective view of my machine. Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe same. Fig. 3 is side elevation of the same.. Fig. 4 is a perspective, showing action of gather-board. Fig. `5` is an eleyation of wheels and axle.Y Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of my machine. Fig. 7 is an outer side elevation of lthe same.. Fig. 8 is a rear elevation ot' secondary platform. Fig. 9 isa perspective, showing actionl of ,rake. Fig. 10 is an inner side elevatiouof `my machine;` Fig. 11, elevation of driving mechanismfor rake and cutters; Fig. 12, plan of the same; Fig. 13,. longitudinal section of reelpost` and bearingyFig. 14, section showing construction of clutch; Fig. l5, latch ot'tongue-` lever; Fig. 16, perspective view of my machine arranged as a mower.` .l

This invention yrelates to that class 'of har- 'vesters known as combinedmachines]7 which may be employed to reap grain, or may be arranged, by dctaching certain ot' its-parts, to -mow grass; and it consistsmore particularly in the arrangements whereby the same machine is enabled to cut grass, to cut grain-and deliver it at the rear ofthe machine upon the ground, to deliver it at the side of the machine -in'a gavel upon the-ground, or to deliver it :upon a table, where it may be bound in sheaves `byfattendants riding upon the machine, and 'peculiar arrangements of, devices for operat- 1 ing the rakes, theV clutches, and the construc- #tion of the machine. That othersmay understand more fully my invention, in its construction and opera-tion, I `willzparticularly describe it.

The frame is supported upon the continuous On top of the iron axle pieces E F G' aresecured, to form the rear portion of the main frame ot' the machine. The string-pieces E F G are connected at their rear ends by the cross-bar'H. The main platform'I and the cutting apparatus J are supported by the curved string-pieces K L, which extend backward over the axle A, and are bolted, securely to the tilnbers E G. The outer string-piece L is bolted at its front end to the outer end ofthe n-ger-barJ, and the ,'outer end of said bar is turned.-` upward, as at N at an angle of ninety degrees, or thereabout, to form a supporting-standard for the divider M, which extends forward and backward of the cutting apparatusin the usualunanner. The

-. The tongue-jointis further strengthened on the inner side by the lug or post R, which is Apreferably cast with the inner shoe P, and which extends upward and forms a bearin g for the pivot-bolt of said joint. i Thelever S is trmly bolted to the tongue Q alittle in advance of the tongue-joint, and extends thence backward, slightly inclined upward, so as to reach a position convenient to the hand of a person upon the seat T. By raising or depressingtherearend ofthe lever S, the ton gue-joint and cutting apparatus may be raised or depressed, as maybe desired.

A segment-rack or perforated latch-plate, U, is secured to the outer reel post V, in a po sition by the side of the lever S, and so that the spring-latch or 4detent W willA engage therewith to hold the lever S at the desired point. y

The principal platform I is connected, at its front edge, with the finger-bar J, as usual, and from thence it `curves backward and upward to the top of the axle A, where it becomes horizontal, and ends aglittle distance in rear of said axle.

The operative mechanism and gearing of the machine are located at its side, and attached to the side frame-piece F, (see Figs. 1l and 12.) rlhe prime motion is derived from the wheel C, to which is attached the internal gear A', which meshes with a pinion7 B', upon a.countershat't, C'. rlhe counter-shaft U' is mounted in bearings on the bracket D', which is bolted to .the side frame F, as shown in Fig. 16. rlhe bevel-driver E', also lnounted upon the shaft C', meshes with the bevel-pinion F', upon the cutter's crankshaft G', which extends forward below the side fralne F, and is mounted in bearings in t-he brackets D' and H'.

The cutter's pitman-crank wheel I' is secured to the forward end of the shaft G'. The cutters are thrown out of gear by moving a sliding ratchetsleeve, J', (which is fitted to the shaft G', and moves 011 a feather thereon,) so as to disengage it from the ratchet-teeth cut on the end of the hub of the pinion F.

To control the clutch-sleeve J', a rod, K', (with its box-bearing li secured rigidly to the bracket H',) is provided at one end with an ordinary clutchfork, L', and at the other it is linked to the bellcrank lever N. When the forward end of said lever N' is raised, then the cl'utclbsleeve J' is withdrawn, and the cutters are thrown out of gear, and when said lever is liberated, the spring' O', located within the sleeve-box M', immediately returns said clutch to its engagement with the pinion F.

In order to control said clutch conveniently I have employed a foot-lever, P', which is pivoted to the bracket H', and is provided with a lug, which projects underneath the lever N', so that, when said foot-lever is pushed forward, said bell-crank is raised up, and the sleeve J' is withdrawn. rI'he positions of the two levers are then such that their lines of motion are perpendicular to each other, and the clutch will remain withdrawn until the footlever is pushed backward again to release it.

A convenient stop to limit the forward motion of the foot-lever is provided by turning the forward end of thebell-crank lever -N outward at right angles, as shown at Q'. The driving-wheel C is provided with a long cylindrical hub, It', on Vits inner side, and upon said hub theclutch-sleeve S' is fitted. Said sleeve moves back and forth upon a feather on said hub, and is thrown forward into engagement with the chain-wheel T' by a spring, U', which is secured, by a screw, to the wheel C.

The chain-wheel T' drives the reel and rake direct from the master-wheel, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

rlhe clutch S' is controlled by means of a rod, V', which moves in a sleeve-box, W', and bears, at its outer end, an ordinary clutchfork.. The inner end of the rod V' is beveled and opposed to the wedge a, as shown in Fig. 14. When the wedge ais forced downward the clutch S is disengaged, and the chainwheel is out of gear; but when said wedge is withdrawn, the spring U' forces said clutch into engagementl again. The Wedge a is controlled by a hand-lever, b, located conveniently for the hand of the driver while u'pon his seat T.

rIhe driver's seat T is mounted upon legs c d bolted securely to the side frame F.

The reel is of that class known as open-head overhung reels, and its shaft c has its bearings in a long sleeve-box, f, (see Fig. 13,) which is bolted iirst to the reel-posts O V, the same being braced at the top by the crossbar h. At the outer end of said shaft is the chainwheel g, through which motion is transmitted to the reel. The reel-head i is secured to the reel-shaft by a screw or pin, and it is provided with arms to receive and hold the reel-arms j j. The shaft e extends to a point opposite the center of the reel to support the rake 7c, which revolves with and acts as a part of the reel.

The rake 7c is .provided with arms l, which are jointed to thelower end of one of the reelarms j', and is supported in the desired position by the rod m, crank n, and cam p. These parts operate as follows:

The cam p is a groove in acircular plate, p", secured to the reel-post O, and provided with a central orifice for the passage of the reelshaft c, upon which said plate 12"' is adjustable 'in the direction of the reels revolution. The

end of the crank a' dips into the cam-groove p, and controls the position and motion of the rake.

rIhe cam-groove p is circular, except during about one-eighth of its circumference, and, consequently, the position of the rake k in relation to the reel-blades is constant during the greater part of its revolution. As, however, the rake lo, in removing the gavel over the curved portion of the platform I, reaches the 'extremity of the curved portion of said platform, the pin a' comes in contact with an abrupt shoulder or angle, q, by which it is pushed upward toward the center or axis of revolution, and the crank n, rod m, arms l, and rake-head lo are correspondingly depressed or pushed away from said axis, and this receding motion, in connection with the forward motion of the rake, may be so arranged as to resolve into a line having any desired direction. Thus, as the rake k pushes the grain forward up the curved platform I, the cam p will be so adjusted that the pin n' will reach the shoulder q at the moment when the raketeeth have reached the point where the plat-4 form I becomes horizontal above the axle A, and thence the rake will project in a line parallel with the platform I for a short distance, or far enough to push the grain beyond said platform. These motions are clearly shown in Fig. 7. From the point of its greatest prolongation, the rake is returned to its position in the reel by an eccentric curve of the camgroove from the point q, until it re-enters'the regular curve about the axis of revolution.

. The rod mis adjustable, both vertically andY laterally, upon the-arm l, for the purposeof adjusting the position or extension of the rake LAH and said'adjustment may be secured by slots and bolts, lor.more economically, holes, as

shown. The brace .r extends'from theend ofv the reel-shaft etothe arm j', tostrcngthen and suppor'tfit'. Therakelhlead lc is provided i with a' high-shield, k, which is curved forward, as shown, and serves to compress the gavels as it stpushed alongY 'the platform. The divider M curves inward behind the cutting apparatusl a little, far enough to permit the grain-wheel B to travel within the line of cut, and it also. has an effect to compress the gavel laterally. A similar divider, u, located on the inner edge'of the cutting apparatus,

prevents any grain being pushed off the inner side of the platform.: V

My machine, as thus far described, will be capable of reaping grain, and delivering it in gavels at the rear of thereutters; or, by removing the platform I and the reel, it may be `dropper,it might be advisable to attach an j ordinary slat-dropper at thejrearof the platformI, or an inclined apron, to conduct the grain to the ground.

I will now describe those devices which I attach to the abovedescribed machine to cause it, first, to deliver *upon the ground at the side of the machine; and, second, to deliver to binders riding upon the machine. A

secondary platform, t, is laid upon the 'frametimbers E F G H, andupon this platform the grain is received from the main platform I. A long arm, fv, is secured, at its front end, to the axle A, and projects to a distance in rear of the cross-frame H, to which it is likewise bolted. The arm fw is jointed to the rear end of thearm fu, as sh-ownin Fig. 1, and the lastnamed arm Areciprocates back and forth over the platform u, and projects slightlybeneath the rear edge of the` platform I, which is curved, to correspond to the circular movement ofsaid arm w. The gather-board a is attached to the arm w, and, `as the latter sweeps over the platform, it removes whatever may be thereon toward and off the side of said platform. vThe reciprocations of the arm w and gather-board a are produced by a slotted pit-man, b', and a crank, c', the shaft d of which is driven from the. main wheel G `by means of th'e bevel-gears e f. (See Fig.

12.) The shafted has its bearings inV hangers g h', attached to the stringpiece F.

\ It is desirable that the motions of the gather-bo'ard a should be intermittent, so that it may be at rest while the gavel has been deposited by the rake la; and to attain this end easily, I make a slot, i,'at the crank-end of th e pitman bl, and the crank-pin passes through and plays in said slot., Aportion of each revolntion is thereby exhaustedin moving from one end' of said slot tothe other' without moving the gather-board.

By proper adjustment of the length of slot i and position of the crank c' in reference to the motion of the reel-rake, the operation of the rake and gather-board may b e made to alternate properly, and the gavel may be swept from the `side of the platform to the stubble-in i the manner commonly known as side-delivery.

It will generally be preferred, however, to

attach a binder-s stand and table to the side of platform t, and have the gavels bound before reaching the ground. To this end, therefore, I attach the foot-board or stand l to the rear corner of the frame F H, by means of hangers, as shown, and immediately behind said stand I mount the binders7 table m' upon arms p p. rIhe binders table m is in the form ol' two crescents joined or overlapping, so that each binder, vas he stands in the hollow edge of his table, has a circular table upv on which to bind his sheaf, andno moreV than one-fourth or one-third of a turn will be required for either to collect his gavel from the platform and transfer it to his table. It will now be observed that the axle A is placed at the point of juncture between the two platforms I and t, so that the said axle notonly forms a bearing or fulcrum on lwhich the machine is balanced, but it becomes possible to mount the driving and grain wheels upon a single continuous axle. becomes possible to employ, with -a side-cut machine, a grain-Wheel in diameter equal to the diameter of the driving-wheel, and capable of bearing its full proportion of the Weight of 'the machine.

The driversseat is located far back toward the driving-Wheel, and the weight of the bind-l ers' upon the stand t is so disposed as to coun- Vterbalance the extraweight of the machinein` front of the axle A, and cause it to rest .very

lightly upon the necks of the horses.

forth.

2. The removable platforms I and t, ar-4 ranged, in reference to the continuous axle A', substantially as described.

3. A tonguejoint, formed .by the Vframepieces FK and' shoe-lug R, arranged as de-v scribed.

4. The reel j, rake k, and gatherboard a',

moved in conjunction vby means of a chainv wheel and bevel-gear Wheel upon asleeve, T,

substantially as described.

5. In combination with the clutch-rod k', the lever N and P', constructed and operating substantially as described.

It; also then 6. The rake-head k and arms l l, jointed to 7. The crank-shaft d',slotted pitman b', and the arm jf, combined and arranged with the vibrating gather-board a', arranged to operate rod m, cranks n n', and cam p, so that the substantially as described.

rake will be driven out beyond the circumference of the reel, to discharge the gavel WILLIAM N. WHITELEY. from the principal platform, and returned within the circumference of the reel, to act as Witnesses:

a reeling beater and rake, substantially as de- WILLIAM T. STILWELL,

scribed. GHAs. EVANS.

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