Tilton's Stalk Cutter

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This machine is designed to cut standing corn, the center wheels passing between the rows, and there being a cutter bar on each side, it cuts two rows of corn at once. Our engraving is a perspective view of the machine, showing thoroughly the construction and arrangement of the parts, A being the shafts, and B the traction wheels whiijh rotate as the machine is drawn along the ground, and by means of a cog wheel, C, on their outside edges, they give motion to the cutters. The shafts and cutter bar are attached and suspended from the axle of the wheels by the yoke, M, which is of metal and sufficiently strong to support the weight and strain upon it. P is the whiffle-tree to which the horses is attached. From the shafts, A, there extends up a cover, b, on the top of which is the driver's seat, 0, from which, without moving, the driver can throw the cutters in and out of gear as desired by the lever, N, which is connected with the journal in which the vertical shaft, F, with its pinion, E, rotates. The lower end of this shaft, F, has a bevel wheel upon it that gives motion by another wheel, G, to a horizontal shaft carrying bevel wheels, I J. This horizontal shaft and gearing is on the top of the cutter bar, D, on the lower side of which cutters, H K, move by their axis passing through the cutter bar, and terminating in bevel wheels which are rotated by I and J. To the underside of the cutter bar, D, a stationary cutter, L, having a curved shape, is placed, and the moving cutters being sickle-shaped, they take in their rotation, as the machine is drawn along, a sickle-full of corn stalks and bringing them against the stationary cutter, L, cut them evenly and clearly off, which is the great advantage of sickle-shaped cutters. Two or more cutters can be placed on one shaft, so that each machine will have eight cutters, there being a bar and connecting pieces exactly similar to the one described on the other side of the wheels, B. The machine works well, and it is remarkably simple andcomplete, compact and strong. The inventor is William S. Tilton, of Boston, Mass., from whom any further information can be had. It was patented June 17, 1856.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 46This article was published with the title “Tilton's Stalk Cutter” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 46 (), p. 361
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican07241858-361b

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