494 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



form its work as efficiently wlien the tine barrel is 

 revolving in its backward or reverse action. To adapt 

 the tine to its two kinds of work then, Mr. Thompson 

 has given it a double instead of a single extremity— the 

 end of the tine branching off into two parts, one being 

 highly-curved, the other being nearly straight. In one 

 form these two liaes or ends are completely separated 

 from each other ; in another form the two tine points 

 are connected together by a thin metal web. A speci- 

 men of Nicholson's (of Newark-upon-Trent) hay- 

 making machine was exhibited at the stand of the 

 Agricultural Engineers Company. The distinguishing 

 features of this machine are — first, the lightness of the 

 whole, obtained by the use of tubular iron shafts and 

 the substitution of wrought-iron for cast ; second, in 

 the simplicity of its driving gearing. The forward 

 motion of the tine barrel is obtained in the usual way 

 by means of a wheel and pinion ; but the reverse-action 

 is obtained without the intervention of an intermediate 

 pinion as usually employed. How this is efficiently 

 done and in a very simply way we shall now explain. 

 The central axle-box of the main driving or wheel- 

 carrying axle is not of small diameter and solid as is 

 usually the case, but is of large diameter and hollow. It 

 forms, in fact, a flat cylindrical case, to the outside of 

 which the spokes of the driving wheel are fixed. The 

 main axle passes through the central boss or stud of the 

 case. On one side of the case a spur wheel (a) of the 

 usual form is cast ; on the other, an annular wheel (b), 

 that is, the inside ring of the case at one side is pro- 

 vided with teeth. To the part of the hollow axle car- 

 rying the tines, which revolves within the case, two 

 pinions (a small one c and large d) are keyed. The 

 hollow axle is capable of being moved out and in, and 

 kept in any desired position by three catches. By 

 placing the middle catch in gear, the two pinifins (c and 

 d) are placed midway between the spur wheel (a) and 

 the annular wheel (b). In this position, although the 

 machine is in motion, the tine barrel receives no motion. 

 But by putting the second catch in gear, the small 

 pinion (c) engages with the spur wheel (a), and the 

 forward motion of the tine barrel is produced. By 

 putting the third catch in gear, the small pinion 

 (cj, is disengaged from the spur-wheel (a), and at 

 the same time the large pinion (d), engages with the 

 annular wheel (b), and the reverse motion is produced. 

 The action of an annular wheel and an internal pinion 

 is such that both revolve in the same direction. That of 

 a spur-wheel with a pinion, or of two spur-wheels, pro- 

 duces movement in the contrary directions. Hence, by 

 the use of the movements Mr. Nicholson obtains a for- 

 ward and a reverse movement of the tine-barrel with 

 the utmost degree of simplicity. 



At the same stand a specimen of Smith and Ashby's 

 hay-making machine was exhibited ; it is now manufac- 

 tured by Messrs. T. W. Ashby and Co., of Stamford. 

 This machine has for a long time possessed a high repa- 

 tation, and its success may be said to have been the 

 prompting means in inducing other makers to rival it if 

 possible in efficiency of operation and accurate adjust- 

 ment of parts. In this machine each tine is supported 



by double bearings, and fitted with two steel springs, so 

 that the heaviest crops are thrown up without clogging. 

 Each tine is capable of being placed in two positions, 

 and is so fixed that if it meets any obstruction it gives 

 way to it and passes it over. The bars of the revolving 

 frame are not fixed permanently to it, but are jointed 

 at the ends to the radial bars of the frame. Each tine 

 ij fixed by a bolt and a nut to this moveable bar, which 

 carries five tines along its length. The upper side of 

 the bar carries an iron shoe with circular end, through 

 which the end of the tine passes, and on the surface of 

 which it is screwed down. Against this shoe the end of 

 a long steel spring presses, which serves to keep the tine 

 bar, and consequently the tines, in any position desired. 

 The tines, for instance, can be turned down so as to be 

 parallel to the springs, and thus be placed out of all 

 action ; or they may be pulled outwards, and placed in 

 the position of full work. The action of the spring is 

 such that when the tines come in contact with any 

 obstruction they give way and allow the obstruction to 

 be passed. 



In the three machines noticed, the means employed 

 to raise the tine barrel further from, or lower it nearer 

 to the ground, are nearly identical in principle. In 

 Messrs. Thompson's machine, the axle (b) of the re- 

 volving tine frame is placed in the upper part of the 

 gear-box, in such a position that it is above yet a little 

 behind the main driving axle (a) : the gearing box has 

 thus a tendency to fall towards the g: ;ud ' ; but this is 



prevented or regulated by the lever } c, the end of 

 which nearest the horses passes through a stud fixed to 

 the shaft of the machine, and is actuated by a screwed 

 nut. By lengthening the rod or lever c b, in the 

 direction from c to b, the point b is depressed, and the 

 tine barrel lowered towards the ground ; but by screw- 

 ing up the rod b c, and shortening it, the point b is 

 brought nearer to a position directly above the point a ; 

 so that the tine barrel is raised from the ground. 



In Mr. Nicholson's machine, the end c of the rod b c, 

 is provided with a small quadrant containing a few 

 teeth, these engaging with the teeth of a small pinion, 

 the axle or shaft of which works in studs bolted to the 

 shafts, and the ends of which are provided with handles, 

 by which to work the pinions. By working these, and 

 raising or lowering the toothed quadrants at the ends of 

 the levers, the tine barrel is raised or lowered accord- 

 ingly. 



In Messrs. Smith and Ashby's machine the end c of 

 the lever c & is jointed to the end of a small lever, which 

 is fixed to the end of a spindle, provided at its end with 

 a small segmental rack, with the teeth of which engages 

 an endless screw. By working with an appropriately 

 fixed handle this endless screw, the segmental rack is 

 brought round, and the levers attached to its spindle 

 pull forward or shove back the gearing box, and with it 

 the tine barrel. 



It is always interesting to trace the successive im- 



