USRE512E - Improvement in grain and grass harvesters - Google Patents

Description

. a machine embracing my improvement.

XVM. H. SEYMOUR, OF

PATENT Orme BROOKPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIM'SELF -AND DAYTON S. MORGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN AND GRASS HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 9,476, dated December 14, 1852; antedated October 25, 1852;

Reissue No. 512, dated December 1, 1857. v

DIvIsIoN B.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SEYMGUR, ot' Brockport, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harvesting-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specitication, and in which- Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of Fig. 2 represents a view in perspective of the rigid supplemental frame in which the bearings for the gearing are combined, detached from the main frame ofthe machine; and Fig.3 represents a plan or top view of the machine.

Heretofore there has not been devised any practically-successful mode of 'supporting the raker or forker on a reaping-machine upon the rear side of a platform, from which the grain is discharged at its end when the rear ot' the platform was unsupported by one or more wheels under or behind it, supplemental to the maingwheels of the machine. When the rear of the platform was supported by supplemental wheels such support prevented the machine from adapting itself suiiicien tly to the varying surface ot' the lield to cut a stubble of the rcquisite evenucss, especially in short grain, which it isalways desirable, and iu most cases necessary, to cut very close to the ground. Such supporting-wheels behind the platform also rendered the turning of the machineI at the ends ofthe swaths more diflicult. They likewise increased its draft, its cost, and the expense ot' keeping it in repair. lVhere a space for the discharge of the gavel is left between the end of the platform and the driving-gear the usual connection between the rear of the platform and the main frame is of course interrupted, and the platform thereby materially weakened, which en hances the difficulty ofcoutrivinga plan for supporting on the rear of such platformsaraker or forker without wheels beneath or behind the place onv which he rests. I have, however, succeeded in contriving such a plan and my invention consists in combining a supporting-rail with the outer end ofthe main frame, the rear of the platform, and the stand for the forker in such manner as to give the necessary auxiliary support to bis stand and to the rear side ot' the platform withoutthe aid of supplemental wheels.

T he machine represented in the accompanying drawings consists of a strong frame carryinga platform, A, and supported by two wheels, one, B, to support the inner side of the machine, or that next the standing grain, and the other, O, at the outer side. The latter is titted with a cog-wheel to drive the gearing, which imparts motion to the cutter. and reel. The front edge of the platform A is fitted with a reciprocating sickle,D,of the usual construction, and with fingers, a, to enter between the stalks of standing grain and support them while being cut by the sickle. This sickle derives its reciprocating motion from a crank, F, with which it is connected by a link-rod, E. The crank F is turned by a pinion, G, driven by a bevelwheel. H, on the inner end of a counter-shaft, I, whose outer end is fitted with a pinion, J, which gears into an internal spur- \\'liecl,K,0n the side ofthe main driving-wheel O. The shafts of this train of gearing are supported in suitable bearings in an auxiliary `frame, L, which, being made rigid and strong,

(in this instance it is made of cast-iron in one piece,) keeps all the diierent parts ot' the gearing in their proper relative positions.

As it is not essential that the outside journal of the driving-wheel .should be supported in the supplemental frame when an internal gear-wheel, K, is used, this frame, to render it lighter, is made to support the inside journal only of the driving-wheel, the otherjonrnal being supported'by a bearing, b, in a standard, M, which has a number ot' such bearings at dili'erent elevations corresponding to like bearings, b', in the frame L.' rlhese series of bearings b b are for the purpose ot' supporting the frame higher or vlower on the axle ofthe driving-wheel, the opposite side ot' the frame being in like manner supported higher or lower in corresponding bearings for the supporting-wheel B, thus setting the platform A at a greater or less elevation from the ground to carry the cntter at a correspondingly-varied height, that it I may sever the grain higher or lower, as may be deemed expedient.

The reel for bearing the grain against the sickle and inclining it over the platform, so that when cut it will fall thereon, is supported by two posts, O, erected near the front ofthe outer end of the frame. These posts have a series ot' bearings formed in them to support the shaft P at different heights to adapt the reel to the cutting ot' grain of diiferentlengths, and the outer end ofthe shaft projects beyond the reel, so that .the bearings in the posts by which it is supported are outside ofthe plane Y in which the outer ends of the vanes or ribs P turn. These vanes are supported by spokes P2, extending from a central hub, P3, at the inner extremity of the reel-shaft; but the spokes may be passed through the shaft in the usual manner, if preferred, the sole difference which it is necessary to make between this reel and those commonly used being to extend its shaft beyond the outer ends of the vanes far enough to give room for two bearings at a sufficient distance apart to hold the reel steady without the necessity of employing a post to support its inner end. The reel is rotated by means of a belt which encircles a pulley, N, on the end of its shaft, and another pulley, Q, on the inner end of the counter-shaft I.

A triangular frame, R, is erected over the driving-wheel upon the outer side of the main frame to support the seat S and foot-board T of the driver or director of the machine. The foot-board has a lever, U, pivoted to it, by means of which a clutch on the counter-shaft can be shifted to throw the same into andout of gear with the internal spur-wheel K. From the frame It a rail, V, extends, by means of which the rear of the platform and theforkers stand W are rmly supported. The stand W and railing X around it are to support the per son who discharges the cut grain from the platform at suitable intervals. This stand allows the forker to perform his work in an easy andnatural position, in which he is free to sweep his fork from end to end of the platform to remove the cut grain, and by having two forks of different shapes, which he can exchange from time to time, he can work with his right and left hand foremost alternately The ample size and convenient arrangement of the stand permits the forker to change his posture at will, which facility is of great practical importance, as the seat for the raker or forker usually employed on harvesting machines only admits of his sitting in a single position, and that one which' restrains the freedom of his movement to an extent which exacts an undue exertion of particular muscles, and thus exhausts his strength much sooner than if he was free to change his posture from time to time to ease one set of muscles by bringing another set into play.

The rear side ofthe platform and the stand f'or the forker are supported by a strong rail, V, extended from the outer side ot' the main frame across the space for the discharge of the grain, and at such distance above the ground and the platform that it will not hinder orobstruct the discharge of the gavel or disturb the same when discharged. This mode of supporting the rear side of the platform and the stand for the forker supercedes the caster-wheel that has sometimes been used for that purpose, and it also compensates for the support that is afforded by thedraft-pole in those machines in which such a pole is extended backward from the platform and upheld behind by one or more wheels. o

The machine is drawn by a team harnessed to a draft pole, Y, which projects from the frame in front of the driving-wheel.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the stand or rest W upon the rear side of the platform for the person who rakes oit' the grain, and with the platform, of a strong rail, V, firmly secured to the outer side of the main frame and extending thence along the rear side of the platform to support it and the stand forthe forker, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WVM. H.. SEYMOUR.

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