REAPING MACHINE, is a machine intended to be used for cutting down standing corn.
In our article on AGRICULTURE, we have already given a chapter on machines for reaping corn ; but as the sub ject was then in its infancy, we promised to renew the consideration of it under the present head. We shall therefore lay before the reader a description of Mr. Scott's ingenious machine, which we have no douht will yet come into actual use; and also an improved form of Mr. Gladstone's reaping machine.
1. Description of Mr. Scott's Reaping Machine.
Plate CCCCLXXVIII. and CCCCLXX1X. Fig. 1. re presents the under frame part of the reaping machine ; this part supports Fig. 2. on four strong iron pillars, two of them are similar to Fig. A, the other two to Fig B, into the last mentioned two, a strong iron axis x is immovably fixed, on which turn the two roller wheels C and D, that carry the machine, as shown by Figs. 1. 3. and 4.
Fig. 5. represents the cutter ring, on which are screwed sixteen cutters, all toothed similar to that of a common reaping hook ; these cutters are made to cut the corn, against the front prongs, at the angle of 45°.
The form of the prongs to effect this is shown in Fig. 1. of which they form a part, as also in Figs. S. and 5.
The upper frame part of the cutter rings is represent ed by Fig. 6, and is fixed to it by four strong iron pillars similar to Fig. E.
Fig. 4. is a section of the whole machine, where a 6 cc represents the under frame part, as shown by Fig. I. c the frame ring as shown by Fig. 2. e b and f c the two pillars, as represented by Fig. B, which con nect this ring with the under frame part, and into these two pillars is fixed the strong iron axis x. C and D are the two roller wheels on which the machine moves. z is the cutter ring, as shown by Fig. 5. z y and z y are two of the pillars, similar to Fig. E, which connect the upper frame part of y y, Fig. 6. to the cutter ring Fig. 5. d d d d is a drum made of thin rolled plate iron, sup ported by six arms, two of them, r and a, only appear in the section, each of these arms have T, ends, for the better fixing of the drum, and it was strengthened by Loops of iron at both ends ; this drum carries twenty four collectors, similar to Fig. 7, that play in eyed studs,
see Fig. 12.
On the inside of the roller wheel C is fixed a ring level wheel u u of forty-eight teeth, which turns the level w heel 1, of twenty-four teeth; on the same axis with the wheel 1, arc two wheels fixed on a hollow axis, but which play freely on the axis of the wheel 1, the uppermost of these two wheels, marked 2, has twenty-five teeth that act in the teeth of the wheel 3, of twenty teeth; the small wheel 4, of ten teeth, turns the wheel 5 of thirty teeth ; on the top of the axis of the wheel 5 are fixed the arms that carry the drum ; on the top of the hollow axis of the wheel 3, is fixed a flange that is firmly bolted to the upper part of the frame of the cutter ring. The under end of the axis of the wheels I, 2, and 4, plays in a brass socket in the great axis, and the upper end in a bushed hole 0, in one of the arms of Fig. 2, and e f Fig. 4.
The hollow axis of the wheel 3 of 20 teeth, plays in a deep brass bush fixed into the centre of the upper frame ring Fig. 2, and e f Fig. 4., and the under end of the axis of the wheels 3 and 5 plays in a bushed socket in the great axis, and can be adjusted by the screw 9, Fig. 4.
There are two stubs on the under side of the wheel I, and other two on the upper side of the wheel 2; the stubs of the wheels I and 2 can be brought into contact or disengaged at pleasure, by means of the le ver L, Fig. 3. that pushes in or draws out a kind of slit wedge on an inclined part in the great axis, imme diately below the wheel 4, having its inclination contra ry to that of the wedge ; when the lever L is put into the notch in the roller wheel C will put the machinery in motion, and when it is put into the notch n, the ma chine may be moved forward and the machinery remain at rest.