1858-06-07 James Ferrabee Patent No 1277 P02

Ferrabee's Impts. in Machinery for Cutting, Collecting, & Spreading Grass, &c. 

whereby the sections may be moved nearer to or further from the centre, for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the diameter of the said cylinders. In reference to the cutting part of the apparatus, I propose, instead of attaching the fixed blade to a ledger bar screwed to the main framework of the machine, and mounting the cylinder in bearings also attached to the main 5 framework as usual, to form a frame or carriage by casting it in one piece of a curved shape, and I arrange the ledger bar and bonnet to receive the fixed curved blade, and the ends to receive the cylinder carriages; the cutting parts are fitted to the carriage, and the whole is attached to the framework of the machine in such a manner that it can be easily removed and be replaced by 10 duplicate parts, if necessary.

This arrangement gives great strength to the machine, and ensures perfect action of the cutting parts.

For adjusting the cylinder to and from the fixed blade, I use a lever link and two set pins, and so arrange them as to admit of the cylinder being 15 adjusted from the top side of the machine without using nuts, the carriage being at the same time rendered quite secure.

To secure the even action of the machine, and to facilitate the turning of the larger machines, I use between the driving roller and the cylinder one roll or two or more small rolls that are made to revolve separately or a bar, 20 or in suitable bearings, and I connect them to levers which extend to the back of the machine, thereby enabling the attendant to raise the cutting parts instantaneously, and to regulate the length of the cut when running over uneven places.

To insure the delivery of the grass into the collecting box, and to prevent 25 its falling before the cutters, I employ a light revolving board or brush, which wipes or pushes it forwards into the box.

In constructing machines to deliver the grass behind or before the cutters, I dispense with the ordinary driving rolls, and mount the whole cutting part in a suitably arranged framework between the carrying wheels, the cutting 30 cylinder being so arranged that it may be driven at either end, or both, at pleasure, and the carrying wheels are so disposed as to have the axis immediately, or nearly so, over or above the axis of the cutters, for the purpose of O following the inequalities of ground.

The length of cut is regulated by turning a handle, or moving a lever, and 35 the cutting parts are preserved in their proper position by suitable guide rolls. The whole of the cutting parts are mounted in an independent frame, and are attached to the axis of the carrying wheels, which also communicate motion to the driving gear.