US255939A - Oochbane - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. F. OOGHRANE.

MOWING MACHINE.

No. 255,939. Patented Apr. 4,1882.

FjgIL z 2 A 6 Y A E b 11 9 L: 1 0 al I M W WITNESSES: INVENTOR' S: wmwuwm dswlkowsm ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Phnm-ulhn mpher, Wnhinglnn l7.C

(No ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. P. OOGHRANE.

MOWING MACHINE.

N0. 255,939. Patented Apr. 4,1882.

INVENI 0R:

Q0 61w QAML A'I'T ORNEI N PETERS. Fholn-Lilhograplvar. washm um D, C.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

a Sheets-Sheet 3. W. P. GOGHRANE.

INVENT 0R:

WM-M W. Qoclwowu.

BY JSMlnL murm- ATT ORNEY.

N4 PETERs. PhutmLifllugnpher. Washin ton 0,0.

UNITED STATES PATENT Onrrcn.

\VILLIAM F. COGHRANE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MIOWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,939, dated April 4, 1882.

Application filed December 6, 1881.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, WM. F. COOHRANE, a resident of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mowing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull,clear, and exact description of theinvention, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of mowing-machines, embodying in simple and effective manner the novel mechanical movement for which Letters Patent of the United States were granted to me November 30, 1880, No. 234,906, and adapting thereto a novel arrangement of planetary gear.

It consists, first, in placing upon the main shaft of the machine an extended, forked, conical sleeve or spider turning loosely upon the shaft, and whose arms support and carry two beveled pinions. These pinions revolve within and engage an outer stationary annular gear and mesh with an inner central pinion upon the hub of a beveled-gear wheel, which turns loosely upon the main shaft and engages a pinion upon. a diagonal crank-shaft, driving the cutter-bar. This bifurcated spider, which produces a movement of the planetary gear, is coupled with the main axle, constituting the prime motor by means of a suitable clutch. This part of my invention secures greater strength, durability, and compactness and greater facility and accuracy of adjustment of the gear than has heretofore been attained in this class of machines, and permits the use of a strong and simple frame with decided economy of material.

My invention consists, secondly, in combining,with the spherically-jointed shoe described in my patent of November 30, 1880, a radial arm projecting to the main frame and combined with a tilting lever on said frame, whereby the guard-fingers attached to the shoe are readily elevated or depressed.

It consists, thirdly, in providing an independent lever, governed and controlled by suitable clutches and catches, and placed within reach of the drivers hand and foot for raising the cutter-bar from the ground by turning it about the-spherical joint of the shoe.

It consists, fourthly, in an improved joint between the knife and the socket of thepitman-coupling, whereby the knife can be removed from the finger-bar by drawing it there from toward its outer end and the pitmancoupling be readily reached as required for ad justment or removal.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top view of my improved mowing-machine; Fig. 2, a similar view with the upper portion of the casing on the main shaft removed and the upper division of the spherical joint,.con-

nect-ing the shoe and cutter-bar with the main frame, cut in horizontal section, a portion of the gear and of the connection of the cutterbar with the pitman being also broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the main shaft and the hub of the main bevel-wheel in line m w of Fig. 2, illustrating the arrangement of planetary gear. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, through the tinger-bar, knife-heel, and pitmau-coupling in line y y of Fig. 2, illustrating the mode of fastening the pitman-coupling to the knife.

Fig. 5 is a section in line 2 z of Fig. 2, illustrating the device for elevating or depressing the guardfingers by means ot'an arm extending radially from the spherical joint of the shoe; Fig. 6, a section on an'enlarged scalein line to w of Fig.1,illustrating the combination of the seat and tongue of the mower with the main frame and the construction and arrangement of an independent lever for lifting the cutter-bar.

A A are the wheels, and B the axle, of my improved mowing-machine. One of thewheels rotates freely, upon the axle, while the other is fitted with a pawl to engage the axle and produce its rotation when the machine is running forward.

B is a sleeve encircling the axle, and which is enlarged centrally at 0, Fig. 2, to receive the gearing for transmitting motion from the axle to the cutter-bar. Over the opening 0 is secured a semi-cylindrical covering-plate, C, which is confined upon the case B by means of heavy bands W W encircling the same on either side of the opening '0. (See Fig. 6.) From this covering-plate 0 extends the footboard 0, to theinnerside of which is attached the tongue of the machine. (See Fig. 1.) The covering-plate O is fitted with a hinged lid,

s Q r 255,939

0', over the opening 0, permitting ready ac-' cess thereto, and upon this lid is secured the standard supporting the drivers seat, as shown in Figsland dot the drawings. Within the opening 0 a sleeve, E, is fitted to turn loosely upon the axle near the center thereof. This sleeve is formed with two lateral diverging arms, constituting with the sleeve a-bifurcated conical spider. Each of the two arms terminates in a stud or spindle, forming ajour- 11:11 for a beveled pinion, E, and these pinions mesh outwardly into a stationary beveled annular gear, F, Figs. 2 and 3, fixed to the easing, and inwardly with a central beveled pinion,G, upon the hub of alarge wheel,H, which turns loosely upon the axle. This wheel His provided with beveled teeth formed upon the face of its outer rim, (see Fig. 2,) and which in turn engage a beveled pinion, 1, upon a crankshaft, J. The bifurcated spider E is thrown into gear with the driving-axle by means ofa simplcclutch,Y, upon the axle, which is thrown forward to engage the spider by means of a spring, a, and is withdrawn and disengaged by means of a cam, Z, on the outer end of a rod, 1), projecting to the outer side of the easing from a collar on the clutch, as shown in Fig. 2. The shoe is supported in the customary position at one side of the machine by means of a fra me extendingoutward and downward diagonally from the casing at c. This frame consists of a central tubular arm, L, braced and strengthened by two smaller lateral tubular rods or arms, L L, converging as they project toward the shoe, the frame being completed by suitable heads receivingand confining said tubular arms, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The lowerhead ot' the frame LL L terminates in a hollow sphere, M, and the shoe M of the machine is formed with ahemispherical socket adapted to closely fit upon said sphere, and is secured thereto by means of a cap, N, Fig. 4, also formed with a hemispherical socket, which, being made to cover the sphere, is then securely bolted to the shoe, thus completing a ball-and-socketjoint between the shoe and frame.

The crank-shaft J extends from the gearing on the main shaft through and supported within the tubular arm L, and terminates within the hollow sphere M in a crank, J, the diameter of the sphere being sufficient to permit a free rotation of said crank therein.

The inner end of the finger-bar O of the machine fits into a recess formed in the shoe at its rear end, so as to be firmly supported thereby and be confined by a projection from the upper division or cap of the spherical joint,

through which passes a single bolt, which serves to secure the whole. The cutter-bar P is thus brought in line with the end of the crank-shaft, and it is connected with the end of the crank by means of a pitman-rod, Q, coupled to the crank with a ball-and-socket joint and to the cutter-bar by means of ajoint formed within a sliding head, R, which traverses freely in a tubular guide formed in a prothe sliding head R.

jection, S, which extends radially from the cap of the spherical joint, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The wall of the inner hollow sphere, M, inclosing the crank, is cut away sufficiently to admitof the passage of the pitman-rod through it and allow its proper free movement. The sliding head B is divided longitudinally to admit of the insertion of the ball of the joint into the spherical socket formed between the divisions. The outer end of the sliding head It is coupled with the cutter-bar by means of lugs s s, projecting up from the bar into recesses in the head, so as to form an interlocking-joint therewith, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The recess in the finger-bar, within which the cutter-bar reciproeates, is adapted to permit a withdrawal of the cutter-bar therefrom outwardly lengthwise when it is released from A bolt passing upwardly through the inner end of the cutter-bar, the two divisions of the head R, and centrally through the ball forming the joint of the pitman-rod therewith, serves to unite these parts securely. The central aperture in the ball, through which the bolt passes, is properly enlarged to admit of a play of thejoint, as required.

As in this device the knife-heel remains separate and independent of the sliding sockethead, it may be made of such thickness as that, so soon as released by the withdrawal of the bolt T, the knife may be drawn out and removed from the outer end of the cutter-bar, instead of, as heretofore, at its inner end, the knife-caps being suitably enlarged to permit the knife-heel to slide endwise under them. The pitman-conpling may also by this device be readily reached for removal or adjustment.

An arm, U, projects radially from the hemispherical socket of the shoe (as shown in Fig. 5) at a right angle with the cutter-bar and at such an inclination upward as to reach the easing on the axle, whereit terminates within a slot frmed vertically in a projection, X, from the casing, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The head of this radial arm U is engaged by a strap or collar, 1, on the end of a curved jointed link, 2, which connects it with a lever, 3, whose lower end is forked to embrace a segmental lug, 4, projecting upward from the top of the casing transversely thereto, and to which the jaws of the lever are pivoted. The lever 3 is made tubular, and a bolt-rod, 5, is inserted longitudinally therein to project down between its jaws and drop upon the face of the segmental lug 4, (see Fig. 5,) so as to engage one of a series of holes or notches therein. The rod 5 is forced downward by a coiled spring, causing it to engage the recess in the lug automatically, and so look the lever. The upper end of the rod projects from the lever, so that it may be readily drawn up and unlocked, as required, to permit the lever to be swung forward or backward, this movement of the lever serving by means of the connecting-link 2 to elevate or depress the end of the arm U, and thereby tilt the shoe, and so elevate or depress the finger-bar. When the finger-bar has been thus properly set and adjusted it is secured and locked in position by the action of the boltrod 5. The spherical joint of the shoe also permits the finger and cutter bars to be readily raised or turned up into a vertical position for transportation, and this movement is accomplished by the driver at pleasure by means of an independent upright lever, 6, pivoted to the side of the foot-board within easy reach of the drivers hand. (See Fig. 6.)

Upon the fulcrum of the long upright lever 6 is pivoted a notched disk, 7, from which a short radial arm or lever, 8, projects horizontally, its outer end being coupled with the inner end of the cutter-bar or the outer end of the shoe by means of a strong light chain, 9. A spring-actuated dog, 10, engages automatically the notches in the upper periphery of the disk 7, and is released therefrom at will by means of a small crank-lever, 11, pivoted to the outer end or handle of the long lever 6, and whose shorter arm is connected with the pawl by means of a suitable coupling rod or link, 12. When the dog 10 is left free to engage the disk 7, if the long lever 6 be drawn back, it will oparate by means of the dog and disk to turn up the arm 8, and thereby draw up the shoe and cutter-bar.

The lower arm of a small crank-lever, 13, Fig. 6, pivoted below the disk 7, engages automatically a series of ratchet teeth or notches on the lower side of said disk and operates thereby as a check to prevent the arm orlever 8, which now upholds the shoe, from dropping back when the dog 10 on the long lever 6 is lifted. This permits the latter to be disengaged and thrown forward to take a second hold upon the disk for the purpose of lifting still higher the arm 8 and the shoe and cutterbars carried thereby. The longer arm of the crank-lever 13 projects upward through the foot-board, (see Fig. 7,) so as to be readily reached by the operatorsfoot. Pressure thereon will serve to disengage the lever from the ratchet on the disk 7, and thereby leave the arm 8 free to drop back andlower the shoe and cutter-bar.

The long lever 6, in connection with the short arm 8, afi'ords powerful leverage for lifting and foldingover the shoe and cutter-bar into an upright position, so that the latter are managed with ease.

The stationary beveled annular gearF, Figs. 2 and 3, affords great strength to meet the resistance of the supplemental gear. Its conical shape gives greater radial strength to its rim than if made straight or parallel. The beveled gear introduced in the planetary system admits of an easier and more accurate adjustment of the pinions to each other than could otherwise be obtained, for theintermeshing of the planet-wheels or other pinions is thereby varied and regulated at pleasure by simply lengthening or shortening the hubs.

The employment of the bevel-wheel H to drive the pinion I on the crank-shaft permits also said pinion to be of greater diameter atits apex than is usually the case.

The conical shape of the outer case, 0, is not only neat, but produces a stronger frame with less weight of material.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a beveled stationary annular gear, F, fixed to encircle the main driving shaft or axle B, of a conical bifurcated sleeve or spider, E, placed upon said shaft to rotate therewith, and carrying upon its diverging arms beveled pinions or planetwheels E E, adapted to engage said annular gear and to mesh centrally into apinion upon the hub of a gear-wheel, H, rotating upon the main shaft B, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of the inverted bevelwheel H, turning loosely upon the main shaft B, with the beveled pinion I upon the crankshaft J on one side and with planet-wheels E E engaging a pinion upon its hub on the other, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination, with the shoe M and its spherical joint M N, of an arm, U, extending radially from said joint, a slotted guide, X, upon the casin g G, and a lever, 3, pivoted to said casing for the purpose of elevating or depressing the shoe and its cutter-bar, substantially as herein set forth.

4. The combination, with the sphericallyjointed shoe and thefinger-bar carried thereby, of a pivoted arm, 8, upon the main frame, actuated by an independent lever, 6, and dog 10, en gaginga notched disk upon the axis of said arm 8, and controlled by a spring-actuated catch-lever, 13, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. In combination with the finger-bar O, the cutter-bar 1?, adapted to be withdrawn endwise from the same, and provided with lugs on its inner end, the pitman-head B, having recesses adapted to receive said lugs, and means for securing the cutter-bar and pitmanhead together, whcreby an interlocking-joint is formed which will admit of a ready release and withdrawal of the cutter-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

I In testimony whereofI havesigned my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 7

WM. F. GOGHRANE.

Witnesses:

Roscoe O. HAWKINs, A. B. Com.

Images