The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-09-24
THE ELECTRIC PLOUGH IN GER
MANY.
Correspondence of the Progres sive Farmer.
WASHINGTON, D. @.

Ol May 18th, the state Department.
sent to Mr.. Otto Doederlein, Consul at
Leipzig, a request for report on the
Patent E'ectric Plough, and under
date of July Is. he transmits to the de-
partment the following inform alton on
the subject:
Mr.. @. Fl. Roberts, at Evansville,
Ind, is the inventor of an electric
plough, and inquired at the State De
partment for information on the plough
described in this report, hence the
same.
Messrs. Zimmerman & Co. are the
| manufacturers of the electric plough
in Leipzig, and it is from them that the
following information is obtained.
Although steam pIoughs in cODjunc
ton locomobiles have il the last thirty
wears shown great advantage over
manual and animal labor, several OBJ
iections thereto are irremediable, nota-
bly,, their cost; the expense of fuel and
attendance; the necessary water sup
ply; their z9 and weight, and their
inapplicabillty to small farms, for the
small farms form an important factor
in the question of national economy.
Size and weight are serious elements,
in view of the looseness of the soil un
der treatment. Lccomobiles, owing to
their long period of inaction during
the year, waste an immense amount OF
motive power. Moreover, the rate of
amortisation is, for such reason, very
high.
Electro motors, on the other hand,
are far less expensive to make; GRE
much lighter in their construction, and
consequently more portable, and they
can be used at a far greater distance
fron the actual source of power, thus
saving much in the shape of haulsge
IT;ne iocomobiIe, or for Ii Il fle6tiiiiEGg sing on a
large scale, a stationary engine, trans
fers its elementary power through an
electric motor to the See Saw, fitting
or balance plough, which motor is
mounted on the plough itself, thus
avoiding wire rope traction. The an
chor shaft of the motor sets in motion
double spur wheel, which, in turn
drives a pinioned shaft. A chain ex-
tending over the ueld end held taut at
both ends by trip lle grOoved anchors,
is worked by this a pendulum; while
the other pair of ends are secured to
the dynamo m achine. The friction of
the cable on the ground is avoided by
means of light cable-carriagfs fitted
with isolating nippers. These carriages
follow each motion of the plough auto
matte ally as the wheels are fitted into
forks which, pivoting in every direc
tion, answer to all the movements of
the plough. Five or six such cable
carriages, according to the length of
the area to be ploughed, are easily
watch by a boy who has to take care
that in reversing the motion of the
plough, they follow such motion.
A fitting plough for small husbandry
is fitted with two shares on each side.
In front of each of these is fore cutter
to prepare the ground. The frame and
body as also all other parts of the
plough, are made of iron ar steel, and
so strongly built that this plough is
powerful enough to cut burrows to the
depth of from 10 to II inches, even in
heavy clogging groun1. The plough
may also be fitted with underground
looseness which follow the plough and
loosen the subsoil to as much as 154
inches in depth, and do not turn it
over.
The iron frame of the tipping plough
bears in the center shaft the arrange
ment on which are two main wheels of
different diameters; these are adjust
able perpendicularly and turnable side
wise, The adjusting is easily effected
from the drivers seat by means of a
spiral and wheel, so the driver has the
plough under thorough control. An
| electric motor is mounted on the plough
frame. A spur, wheel is wedged into
the motor S anchor shaft. The motion
OF the electro motor is transmitted
from this sour-wheel with the aid of
an intermediate appliance to a roller
WIN d cnaln wheel. The dimensions
u TINS aPptance, which is made of
cast steel, are so determined that the
compass OF tbs chain wheel receives q
linear speed Of 70 NJ. in the minute
The plough l5 moved at this rata of
speed across the field by means Of the
chain, the links of which are 7 16 of an
inch thick. The chain is directed into
the chain wheel by guiding rollers in
such manner that the drawing, tautly
stretched chain end is constantly styiv-