Statement of the case.

NELSON PLATT, OF OTTAWA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 6,517, dated June 12, 1849.

To all whom it may concern :

Be it known that I, Nelson Platt, of Ottawa, in the county of La Salle, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in machines for cutting and raking grain or grass by animal power, of which the following is a full and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of this specification, in which—

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus, showing its several parts in connection and ready for operation. Fig. 2 is a top view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, a portion of the frame being removed to expose the rake and sickle. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the line, xx, of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view of the stop and catches by which the auxiliary rake is turned down to take the sheaf of grain from the first or principal rake detached from the machine. Fig. 6 is a view of a section of the chain and cutters in various positions.

The same letters indicate the same parts in all the figures. The machine as represented in the accompanying drawings, is mounted upon three wheels, the hindermost of which, A, is hung upon a pivot or vertical shaft, a, which is turned by the attendant, to govern the course of the machine when in motion, by means of a steering wheel, b, secured upon its upper end. The other or front wheels, B, are secured in the usual manner upon the opposite ends of an axle, C, upon which the frame D is suspended, together with its platform, the cutters, E, reel, F, first rake, G, and second rake, H, with the mechanism required to operate them severally. The frame D is raised and lowered upon the axle C, which acts as its fulcrum for the purpose of

Statement of the case.

elevating and depressing the cutters to adapt them to cutting off the grain at different heights from the ground by means of the segment-racks c and pinions d, the former attached to the back end of the frame D, the latter the beam J. The pinions d are turned by the quadrant lever or sector d', and the latter is moved by a rope or chain, f, which is drawn up and let down by the windlass i, to which it is attached. The windlass is provided with a pawl or stop to hold it at any position it may be necessary to place it in the adjustment of the cutters, and for the purpose of raising the cutters up to be out of the way and pass over obstructions with which it might otherwise come into contact in moving along the road from one place to another.

The horses or other animals employed to propel this machine are harnessed to a whifletree, g, attached to the beam J, on either side of which they travel. The beam J also connects the wheels A and B B, and supports the steering apparatus, and likewise supports the man who guides the machine and drives the team.

The swing-frame D consists of two principal beams, D' D', suspended to the axle C by arms h h, projecting from their upper side, and braced so as to give them the requisite firmness and strength. Upon the rear end of these beams the studs ii are erected, to which the rack cc are secured. Upon the front end of these beams D' D' the double platform K is placed, in which the endless chain cutter E and the first or principal rake are secured and operate, and also the side platform, L, upon which the sheaf is conveyed by the second rake. Upon these platforms are placed the frame for supporting the reel F, and the wheels and shafts which operate it, also the frame for supporting the wheels, shafts, &c., which operate the rakes, with the guards or partitionsj, to prevent the grain both from falling off the platform and also from getting entangled in the machinery.

The object for which I use the reel F is the same as that for which it is used by others-namely, pressing the grain