US16855A - Improvement in mowing-machines - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,855, dated March 17, 1857.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN TAGGART, of Roxbury, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Mowing-Machine; andldoherebydeclarethat the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l denotes a top view of the said machine; Fig. 2, a side elevation of it; Fig. 3, a horizontal section taken through its cutters and their head or frame.

My machine, when in use, is intended to be pressed instead of being drawn forward, although by arrangingits thills so thatthey shall extend toward the front instead of in rear of the said machine, as shown in the drawings, it may be drawn over a surface to be mowed.

In constructing my said machine I employ a frame or carriage, A, mounted on a single axle, B, carrying two wheels, C C, disposed with respect to one another andthe frame, as, shown in the drawings. Besides said wheels; the axle has a set of thills, D, projecting backward from it; and it also carries a drivingpulley, E, around which and another pulley, F, an endless bandorchain,G, is placed. This latter pulley is fixed on a horizontal shaft, H, extending across the front part of the frame A, and carrying a bevel-gear, I, that engages with a bevel-pinion, K, fixed upon a vertical shaft, L. On the lower end of the said shaft is a sprocket-wheel, M, the samebeing arranged within the cutter-head or lrame N at or near one end of the same, While another such sprocket-wheel, O, is placed at the opposite end of the frame. Around these two sprocketwheels and within the cutter-head an endless belt or chain, P, travels, the same having jointed toit a series of triangular knives or cutters, R R. Each of these cutters consists of a triangular plate of steel, provided with a joint-hole at or near the vertex of its lesser angle, and so that the cutter may turn horizontally on a joint-pin, a, and Work or play through the endlesschain and against a guide or surface, S or S', arranged between the sprocket-wheels and within the cutter-head, as shown in Fig. 3, and also in Fig. 4, which isa transverse section of the cutter-head, the

knives, and the endless chain. The bearingsurface S is arranged at a distance from the such a manner as to keep the knives R in the proper position for cutting the grass, as shown in the drawings.

Just in rear of the tiret-mentioned sprocket- Wheel I arrange a stationaryY knife-Sharpener, T, formed of two blades of steel, c d, arranged together, as seen in Fig. 2, and so that during the revolution of each knife about the sprocket-wheel not only shall its cutting-edge be carried between the blades of the knifeshapener and against the same, so as to be sharpened by them, but that said blades shall force the knife entirely back Within the cntter-head, 0r so far within the same as to prevent the knives from acting against and cutting any grass `or grain which may lie on the cutter-head or be in rear of it. While the knives are passing along the front part or guide, S', they will extend beyond the cutterhead, and so as to cut the standing blades of grass and with drawing strokes,77 the guide S' performing the office of maintaining the knives in proper position for euttingt%',\frass. When the machine is pushed forward against the grass its endless chain of cutters will be put in rotation in such manner as tccause them to mow the grass and keep themselves sharp.

I do not claim a series of cutters in their application to grain and grass harvesters. Neither do I claim a knife-Sharpener; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l A series of rotary cutters working in receses or guides S S', in combination with a knife- Sharpener, T, when the said parts are constructed and arranged for operation in the manner and for the purpose as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

VJOHN TAGGART.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr.

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