USRE3874E - Improvement in cornstalk-cutters - Google Patents

Description

- mounted on wheels B B, to the front end of front end by joints or hinges a.

Uri'rrnn STATES PATENT Orifice.,

G. W'. COLE, OF FABMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORNSTALK-CUTTERS.

Specification ['oining part ofLetiers Patent No. 39,214, dated July 14, 1863; Reissue No. 3,874, dated March 8, 1870.

To @ZZ whom, it nm/y concern:

Be it known that I, GIDEoN XV. GoLn, of Farmington, county of lFulton, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cornstalk-Cutters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view, one wheel being removed; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, like letters designating like parts in all the figures.

The invention relates to a machine for cutting up standing cornstalks on the tield; and it consists in the employment or use of a series of cutters arranged on radial arms, which are secured to the shaft, that is journaled in a swinging frame which is provided with an adjustable weight, in combination with another frame connected thereto, both swinging frames being hung below and connected to the main frame, which is mounted on wheels; also, using gatheringhooks, which are attached to the front end of the forward swinging frame; also, attaching to the main frame a windlass, by means of which the swinging frame and cutters can be elevated to any desired height above the surface of the ground when the machine is not in use or turning, &c.

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

A -represents a rectangular frame, which is which frame the draft-pole C is attached.

On the rear end of the frame A is secured the drivers seat D.

Under the frame A is a rectangular frame, E, which is connected tothe frame A at its The swinging frame E extends back from the front end of the'frame A a distance about equal to the distance between the axle of the wheels B B and the front end of the frame A. Under that part of the frame A back of the said axle is another frame, F, composed of two side pieces, F F, and a foot-board, G, the front end of the two side pieces being held apart the width of the frame A by a foot-board, G, to which they are secured, their rear ends being connected to the frame A by means of the rods c, on the ends of which are hooks which hook into staples a/ a in the frames AF, and their front ends extended over the rear end of the frame E, -andare connected thereto by joints or hinges b.

Between the two sides of the swinging frame E is a shaft, cl, on which the hubs e e are placed and keyed. Extending from these hubs are ra dial arms f, on the outer ends of which are secured the cutters H, which are parallel to the shaft d and extend beyond the hubs e e, so as to be nearly equal in length to the distance between the side pieces of the frame E. These cutters are allowed to rotate freely yin the frame E, and to this frame is secured a bar, I. Attached to this bar is a curved rod or bar, J, which extends upward .and back, as seen in Fig. 1. On the curved rod or bar J, by means of the staples or eyes f, is hung aweight-bar, K. Attached to each end of this weight-bar K is a rod, g, the lower end of which passes into and turns freely in the sides of the frame E. In the rod or bar J are several holes, and there is also one 'in the staple f. By placing the hole in the staple over one of the holes in the bar J the pin h can be passed through, thus holding the weight-bar K in any desired position.

To the axle of the lwheels B B is attached a windlass, L.

Io the rear end of the swinging frame E is attached a rope, M, the other end of which is attached to the windlass L.

To the front end of the frame E there are attached two pendent hooks, N N, one being` attached to each side. These hooks are curved forward and nearly or quite touch the ground as the machine moves forward. rlhese hooks have their shanks bent in a horizontal position at their upper ends, which pass through the forward part of the frame E and are allowed to turn freely therein.

Attached to the outer end of the horizontal part i i are springs `o, which have a tendency to keep the hooks N in a downward position, or to their work, the frame A, when the machine is at work, being in an inclined position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Its operation is as follows: As the machine isvdrawn forward the hooks N N will gather the lodged stalks in line with the cutters H,

' to the frame A. in consequence of having the springs O 0 atand enable them to cut the stalks into pieces as they'passover them. The cutters have a sufficient pressure given them to perform this work by means ofthe weight-bar K, which may be adjusted to and secured at any desired position on the curved bars J by means of the pin h, which passes through the staple f and bar J, as hereinbefore described. The farther back the weightbar K is placed the greater will be the pressure exerted on the cutters H; or if more pressure is required, it can be obtained by the driver pressing with his feet on the foot-board G. The critters H are kept'in a horizontal position and prevented from incliningoto either side of the row of stalks, as

the swinging frame Eis attached to the frame A, which is mounted on wheels, thereby keeping the axle d always parallel to the axle attached The hooks N N are allowed,

tached to them, to yield or give to any obstruction they 1n ay meet, thus preventing them from beinginj urcd. In moving or transporting the machine, the hooks N N are turned backward, with their fronts uppermost, and held in that position by means of the hooksj, attached to the bar I, and the inner ends of the frames'E and F are elevated, so as to raise the cutter H above the ground, by winding the rope M arourull:I the windlass L. The adjustv ment of the weight-bar K also serves to balance the frame A, counterpoisiug the weight of the do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- v l. The combination ol' thc frames A and E` and the cutter H, when operating as and for the purpose shown and described.

2. The combination of the swinging frames E and F with the frame A, when constructed substantially as an d for the purpose shown and described.

3. The combination of the frame E, curved rod 4or bar J, and adjustable weight-bar K,sub stantially as shown and described.

4. The combination of the gatheringhooks N with the springs O, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

5. The windlass L, secured to the axle on the frame A,in co mbination with the. frames E and F, substantially as and for the'purpose specilied.

G. XV. COLE.

A. G. GRIDLEY, G. W. WHITMER.

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