IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAND SCARIFIERS OR CULTIVATORS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER Agricultural ImPLEMENTS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Pritchard, of Melbourne, in the Colony
of Victoria, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LAND SCARIFIERS OR
CULTIVATORS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
Agricultural ImPLEMENTS.”—A communication from abroad by David
Edwards, of Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Blacksmith.
Sealed the 16th January 1872, and dated the 20th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Pritchard at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th July 1871.
I, CHARLES PRITCHARD, of Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria,
now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
LAND SCARIFIERS OR CULTIVATORS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO OTHER AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS," a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of certain improvements upon an Invention
for which Letters Patent have been obtained, dated the Eleventh day of

page_text: October One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, No. 2956, and
intituled "Improvements in the Construction of Land Cultivators," parts
of my present improvements being applicable to various other agri-
cultural implements.
The first part of my improvements consists in a new arrangement of
the framing of the implements in question by which I am enabled to
produce a more compact and efficient cultivator than by the Invention
described in the said former Specification. I still use the zig-zag bars
therein referred to, but instead of having one long one on each side I
have two, one shorter than the other, the shorter one being on the inner
side. The foremost end of all these zig-zag bars is connected to the
centre bar, and the hinder end of all of them is connected to one bar
running across the back of the implement as before.
The second part of my improvements consists in the substitution of
a moveable for a fixed collar on the vertical spindle in front of the 1
machine. This moveable collar is adjustable by means of a set screw
passing through it into small cavities made for the purpose in the vertical
spindle.
The third part of my said improvements consists in a mechanical
arrangement for counteracting the effect produced on agricultural 2
implements when some or one of the wheels is or are travelling over
ground having an unequal surface and is especially suitable for my
cultivator. In some instances one side or one half of the implement is
from this cause lifted from the ground to such a height as to preclude
its working. In order to prevent this as much as possible I provide an 2
axle having a wheel on each end. This axle has a vertical slot in the
middle of it underneath the central part of the axle and attached to it.
I construct a semicircular bar also having a vertical slot in the centre
so as to be in the same line with the slot in the axle. These two slots
act as guides to a spindle the end of which passes through them and 3
rests upon the axle by means of a collar made on it. When this
spindle is placed in position it is kept from sliding about in the slots
by means of a bolt passing through it and the axle, this bolt forms
the centre upon which this spindle works. The said spindle supports
one end of the implement; in my cultivator it supports the front end, 3
and by reason of its having freedom to work laterally it adjusts itself
to the position which it may be required to assume. When the ground
is level it is upright, but when the ground is rough and uneven it

page_text: oscillates from side to side in unison with the machine. In order to
equalize the draught I attach two links to the axle at equal distances
on either side of the centre bolt and connect them together as well as
a third one proceeding from a collar on the upper portion of the vertical
spindle by means of a pin passing through the ends of all three and
attaching them to an iron flap to which the motive power is applied.
These three links should be of equal length.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Pritchard in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
PRITCHARD, of Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, now of No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles Pritchard, Her special licence that I,
the said Charles Pritchard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Charles Pritchard, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
LAND SCARIFIERS OR CULTIVATORS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE.
TO OTHER AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS," a communication to me from abroad
by David Edwards, of Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Blacksmith,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Pritchard,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Pritchard, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing
forming a part of this Specification:-
This Invention consists of certain improvements upon an Invention
for which Letters Patent have been obtained, dated the Eleventh day of
October One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, No. 2956, and
entitled "Improvements in the Construction of Land Cultivators," parts
of my present improvements being applicable to various other
agricultural implements.
The first part of my improvements consists in a new arrangement of
the framing of the implements in question by which I am enabled to
produce a more compact and efficient cultivator than by the Invention
described in the said former Specification. I still use the zig-zag bars
therein referred to, but instead of having one long one on each side I
have two, one shorter than the other, the shorter one being on the
inner side. The foremost end of all these zig-zag bars is connected to
the center bar, and the hinder end of all of them is connected to one
bar running across the back of the implement as before.
The second part of my improvements consists in the substitution of
a movable for a fixed collar on the vertical spindle in front of the
machine. This movable collar is adjustable by means of a set screw
passing through it into small cavities made for the purpose in the
vertical spindle.
The third part of my said improvements consists in a peculiar
mechanical arrangement for counteracting the effect produced on
agricultural implements when some or one of the wheels shall be
travelling over ground having an unequal surface, and is especially
suitable for my cultivator. In some instances one side or one half of
the implement is from this cause lifted from the ground to such a height
as to preclude its working. In order to prevent this as much as possible
I provide an axle having a wheel on each end. This axle has a vertical
slot in the middle of it underneath the central part of the axle and
attached to it. I construct a semicircular bar also having a vertical slot
in the centre so as to be in the same line with the slot in the axle.
These two slots act as guides to a spindle the end of which passes
through them and rests upon the axle by means of a collar made on

page_text: it. When this spindle is placed in position it is kept from sliding about.
in the slots by means of a bolt passing through it and the axle, which
bolt forms the centre upon which this spindle works. This spindle
supports one end of the implement in my cultivator; it supports the
front end, and by reason of its having freedom to work laterally it
adjusts itself to the position which it may be required to assume.
When the ground is level it is upright, but when the ground is rough
and uneven it oscillates from side to side in unison with the machine.
In order to equalize the draught I attach two levers to the axle at equal
distances on either side of the centre bolt and connect them together as
well as a third one proceeding from a collar on the upper portion of the
vertical spindle by means of a pin passing through the ends of all three
and attaching them to an iron flap to which the motive power is
attached. These three links should be of equal lengths.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows my improved land scarifier or cultivator with the first
improvement herein referred to, namely, the second zig-zag bar marked
A, by which it will be seen that the machine is shortened and rendered
more compact.
Figure 2 is a perspective view, and Figure 3 a plan of my improved
cultivator (having ploughshares instead of scarifying teeth) with the
second and third improvements herein referred to.
And Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a front and side view of the
third improvement hérein referred to shown separately.
The second improvement consisting of a movable collar is marked B.
The third improvement is marked thus,-axle C, wheels D, slot in
axle E (shewn in Figures 2 and 3), semicircular bar F, slot therein G,
spindle H having collar on it marked I resting on the axle, central bolt
J, links attached to axle K, link attached to spindle L, pin M,
connecting the links to flap N.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing same, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth and described;
but I claim,―
First. The construction of that description of land scarifier or
cultivator illustrated in the Drawing with a double line of zig-zag bars
in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

page_text: Second. The use of a movable collar in the vertical spindles in front
of such machines, substantially as herein described.
Third. The peculiar mechanical arrangement herein described and
illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 without confining myself to the
length of the vertical spindle or to the size of any of the parts or to its
use for land scarifiers or cultivators only, but claiming it for any kind
of agricultural implement to which it may be applied.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Pritchard, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
WM. ROBT. LAKE.
CHAS. PRITCHARD. (L.S.)