30 
Report on the Agricultural Implements at 
angle formed by the crank-pin when in the position shown in the drawing, 
and the position of the crank-pin when the guide-crank has made half a 
revolution. We have thus a double lever, which is pivoted to the frame at F, 
to which the knife is attached at h, while the gear C is the other end of the 
lover. When the teeth of the two gears A and C are in contact, as shown in 
the drawing, the point h is at a standstill, and the knife is at one extremity of its 
stroke. But the forward motion of A will bring all the teeth of C successively 
in contact ; and when the guide-crank has made one-quarter of a revolution, 
the point h has reached the position A 3 ; and when half a revolution has been 
made by the crank, and the centre of the crank-pin is in the position shown by 
the line at h A , the arm has reached the point h 2 , and the knife-bar has made 
a stroke in one direction. The next half of the revolution will bring the teeth 
of the gear C in contact with the gear A on the opposite side ; and this 
causes the arm to move back to its original position, and the cutter-bar has 
completed one motion. The rotary motion of the gear-wheel A is thus con- 
verted into a reciprocating motion in the most direct manner, and without 
any further loss by friction than what is due to the vibration of the wheel C 
on the gimball-joint. The guide-crank performs the function of a balance- 
wheel also, and the motion of the point h is identical with the motion pro- 
duced by an ordinary crank and pitman. To produce one vibration of the 
cutter-bar the 48 teeth of the oscillating gear come in contact with the teeth 
of the driving gear, and of these teeth at least six are in contact all the time. 
Thus the wear is evenly distributed ; the rapid serpentine vibrations of the 
oscillating gear are very pretty. 
Fig. 22. — Teeth of Otis Bros, and Co.'s Haymaker Mowing-Machine. 
In Fig. 22 the teeth are shown : x x represents the pitch-line of the 
driving-gear A, whilst y y represents the pitch-line of the wheel C ; and the 
large number of teeth in contact all the time constitutes a strong point of 
superiority in this machine. The advantages claimed for this invention over 
ordinary gearings are as follows : — The rotary motion of the driving-wheel is 
converted into a reciprocating motion, and transmitted to the cutter-bar by 
one gear-wheel, without the use of two, and sometimes three, intermediate 
shafts. Forty-eight teeth are successively in contact to produce one vibration 
of the cutter-bar, whilst in the ordinary gear only -gV of the number of teeth of 
the driving-gear can be used for each vibration. IJsing the whole periphery 
of the driving-wheel for each vibration, and having so large a number of teeth 
in contact at once, allows of the gear being reduced to one-third the ordinary 
size, with three times the working surface. The cutter-bar of the " Hay- 
maker " is attached to the arm of a lever pivoted to the frame, 24 inches long, 
whilst the driving-gear A operates upon an arm of the same lever, which is 
3i inches long. This secures a very powerful and direct motion, and all who 
saw this elegant device, either rotating in the hall or working in the field, 
were impressed with its simplicity and efficiency. The cutter-bar was rigid, 
and could not be tilted ; hence the work after the roller was bad. But this is 
a detail that can be easily altered, and has nothing to do with the principle 
by which the power is communicated. There is only one rotating bearing 
besides the axle, being that of a small fly-wheel which tends to give regu- 
larity and steadiness of motion. The machine is perfectly silent in running ; 
and, as will be seen by reference to the Table, the draft was very reasonable. I 
was very favourably impressed with this machine. 
As I am describing novelties, it will not be out of place to allude briefly 
to two inventions of Mr. W. Farr Goodivin's, which were subjected to trial, 
