Tractor and Mowing Machine Combined.

Progress, Volume III, Issue I, 1 November 1907, Page 28

Tractor and Mowing Machine Combined.

The considerable degree of success which has attended the introduction ot the mternal combustion motor into the field of agricultural enterprise has led many farmers, who are generally 'of a conservative disposition to adopt this compact form ot power generator in me form or other The uses to which a petrol or paraffin engire may be put 01 the farm are innumerable, but the purposes for which such an engire is more generally apphed are the haubng of ploughs, harrows, reapers, binders and other implements, which previously were drawn b\ horses Our readers are probably ta uihar v.ith the Fvel, the Saunderson and other agricultural tractors that are m as«j throughout Great Britain and abroad, bnt the following description is of a new machine, which embodies tractor, reaper and portable power plant, the invention of Mr. \V. Sharp, mechanical engineer, of Lower Ridge, Barrowneld, Lancashire. Iwo of these machines have been n.ade by Mr. Sharp, and are operating very successfully in the BarrowfieH district" Of one of them with the inventor driving wewithholdamllustration This particular machine has clearly demonstrated its ability to cut three acres of grass per hour, at a, cost of sixpence per acre for labour, fuel, and oil The question ot forming a syndicate or otherwise arranging for manufacture m large qm.ntities, is under consideration. As certain British and foreign patents are still pending we are able only to gv c < general outline of the design and constr action of the machine. A two-cylinder engine is fitted, and petrol is used as the "fuel tor the two experimental machines • it is hoped howe\er that paraffin may be used in the future. The rvlmders are S3mm in diameter, and the piston stroke is Il."mm High-tension ignition with coil and accumulator is eiu ployed and a large, gillec-tube radiator is fitted :n front of the tractor The power of the engme is trans mitted from the engme to the rear road wheels through o cone clutch of the leather-to-metal type, and a differential countershaft and spur pinions which mesh with internal- toothed rings that are bolted to the rear wheels Only one gear-ratio is prcvided, but this is so arranged as to be available for travelling in either direction and gives a ve r ) easy revering mot-on Referring to our sectional view of the countershaft casing it will be seen that a be\?l pimon transmits the drive to either of two bevel wheels ; these are loosely mounted on a shaft and their inner faces are pro\ ided with ratchet teeth Ihe central sliding ptece is operated by means of a bridle and a lever the latter of which projects through the casing aud is in a convenient position for manipulation bv the driver , the central, shdinir member «s arranged to slide on feather*, and ratchet teeth similar to those on the bevel wheels, are cut in its sides. Ihe form of these teeth is such that there is never any possibility of. " missm^ gear,"

and the manoeuvring of tbe machine in the ofttimes close quarters of a farmyard is made perfectly easy. To the lid of the differential case is fitted an arm ; this is iomted to a support m the middle of which 1=; a sliding plunger. When the arm is depressed, the plunger passes through a hole in the hd of the casing, and applies a band brake which is mounted on the differential gear. In order to transmit pow<=r to the cutter-blade an eccentric sleeve and connecting rod are provded , these are brought into operation by means of a hand lever (A ), shown m the plan vie \of the tractor. The hand lever is fixed to a short longitudinal shaft (B), mounted on two bearings which are fixed to the frame , the forward end of the shaft is bent as shown, and it engages with the forked end of a bent cross-sh?ft (C). Two hanging levers are fixed to the latter shaft, and their ends carry a clutch bridle, for the purpose of engaging or disengaging the positive clutch (D). That portion of the clutch which is marked (E) is free on the shaft and it has an eccentric turned on it. When the positive clutch is in mesh, the eccentric imparts movement to a reciprocating or rocking arm, to which the cutter blade is attached by means of a toggle- jointed lml ; it is thereby reciprocated by the throw of the eccentric. To tilt the points of the cutter, so as to bring them down to their work from time to time as roquired, a hand \e\ er is employed. The lower arm of this lever has, in engagement with it, ? hook or ca + eh connected to a chain link attached to the finger-bar of the cutter. \\ hen the hand lever is pulled back, it raises the cuttei out cf action, and the lever then enters a notch in a eros" -piece fixed to the support lor the steering rod, as shown in the side elevatiou of these parts. The length of the cutter-blade is live feet ; tm& is consuleiably longer than the blades of an ordinary horse drawn reaper and a much wider strip of gra=s can therefore, be mown at one cut.

The steering gear of this machine is somewhat novel ; the support for the steering rod consists ot an upright bracket, which carries an mternallvthreaded socket or bearing Ihe steering is effected by means of a long shaft or rod, screwed to suit the threaded socket this ro I inclines, downwards to the leading axle, and its lower end terminates in a ball This ball is fitted into a cup- c haped socket screwed into the near side axle-arm '1 he two axle-arms are connected together by means of a front connecting rod in. the usual manner. We can understand that this arrangement may be produced at a low cost, and if the machine is used as a reaper only, there is no reason why it should not prove itself stift enough for the purpose, but if the machine is to be used on hard lumpy roads, such a method of steering might not last long. The forward end of the main frame is supported on serru-elhptical springs and the road wheels are of the type usually to be found on all agricultural motors. The general arrangement of the complete machine is such that )ts operation is controlled with perfect ease by the driver. The motor and reaper, being combined m the ore construction render trailer-

couplings and their atten' ant eviK unnecessary. The drawings show that the addition of a pulley for belt transmission cf power to fixed or portable machines has been considered, but such an arrangement has not been incorporated m the machine which is illustrated on this page.