Improvements in Cultivators.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Cultivators.
We, JAMES EDWARD RANSOME and FREDERIC WILLIAM GARRARD, both of
Orwell Works, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In some sorts of cultivators more especially those in which spring tines are
employed, it is usual to mount the tines on secondary or sectional frames which at
their fore ends are jointed to the main frame, and springs are made to press upon
the sectional frames to hold the tines to their work. The pressure is applied by
means of a lever handle which also serves to lift the frames out of work."
According to this invention we provide additional or outside sectional frames to
carry tines which follow in the wheel track and also work outside of it, thereby
breaking up the wheel track and also increasing the width of the work and enabling
the implement to approach closer to growing plants.
The additional sectional frame consists of two bars one on either side of the
wheel and a cross bar connecting their rear ends. This cross bar is immediately
behind the wheel and it carries a tine or a pair of tines.
The side bars of the additional sectional frames are jointed immediately in front
of the road wheel to a bracket rigidly fixed to the main frame. The pressure and
lifting gear is arranged upon the axle; it consists of an arm extending rearwards
from the axle, the frame is suspended from it by a chain or otherwise and it carries
a spring which presses on the top of the frame."
The axle can be turned by a lever handle with which it is provided and so all
the sectional frames can be lifted simultaneously, the additional frames with the
others, or by turning the axle in the opposite direction the pressure of the springs
can be brought to bear with more or less force on the sectional frames.
Sometimes we provide the pivots for the additional sectional frame immediately
below the axle one on the inner and the other on the outer side of the wheel.
The inner pivot is upon a lug or arm on the main frame and the other is upon
a similar lug or arm on the bracket which in this case extends around the wheel
and meets the axle at its outer end.
Sometimes we apply spiral pressure springs to the sectional frames in the
following manner :-On the top of the sectional frame and near to its hinder end a
fixing is secured by straps in such a way that its position may be adjusted to suit
the arrangement of the tines.
A rod or stem is jointed at its lower end to this fixing and projects upwards
from it; around the stem there is a coiled spring, it rests preferably upon a disc or
abutment near the lower end of the stem. An elongated eye is formed in the stem
at its upper end and a pin passes through the eye. The pin is carried upon an
arni projecting rearward from an axis which is either the axle of the road wheels
or a sleeve thereon. This axis can be turned by ineans of a lever handle or like
appliance and it can be locked in any position. When by drawing back the lever
handle the arms are depressed they bear upon the coiled springs and the pressure
is transmitted through the springs to the sectional frames.
When the handle is moved in the contrary direction the pressure is at first
relieved and then the sectional frame is lifted, the pin reaching the upper end of

page_text: the oye of the stem and then lifting it and the frame to which the stem is
attached.
The spring tines are of flat spring steel of the usual S form and according to
this invention, in order to obtain without extraneous aid increased stiffness and
strength at the upper end of the tine and sufficient flexibility at the lower part,
the tine is made of spring steel which is rolled taper; in these tines the thickness
gradually increases in passing from the point to the head.
The tines may also be made ench of two thicknesses of flat spring steel connected
at the extremities. The bar may be either doubled upon itself or if in two pieces
may be joined at the head of the tooth. In the bow of the tines the two
thicknesses are apart leaving a space.
The outer part strengthens the inner part and while preserving the strength and
flexibility of a tine made of a single bar, is less liable to breakage.
In order to give a semi rigid tine a similar action to that which is obtained by
the use of spring steel tine-we connect the tine with a spiral spring acting on its
upper end. This spring may either be so placed as to act by direct pressure or
tension or it may be coiled on the bar on which the tooth turns, one end being
connected with the bar and the other end with the tooth.
We attach the S form tines to the sectional frames by means of clips arranged
as follows:-Upon the flat cross bar of the frame a saddle piece rests, its upper
face is grooved and curved and the upper end of the S form tine beds itself firmly
in the groove.
A corresponding top piece or cap fits on over the top of the
tine, and both the saddle and the cap have lugs on opposite corners. A staple
secures the parts in place, it extends beneath the bar of the frame across from side
to side of the tine and its ends which project upwards through the lugs receive
locking nuts on their upper ends.
The groove in the cap is so formed as not to present a sharp angle or edge in
contact with the tine.
For seed sowing we arrange two seed distributors upon the main frame each
extending nearly half ncross the implement and each driven from the wheel on the
same side with it. A central space is thus left free between the seed distributors
and in this space levers for controlling the implement may be situate; the
arrangement has also other advantages.
Dated this 27th day of February 1896
J. E. RANSOME.
F. W. GARRARD.
Improvements in Cultivators.
We, JAMES EDWARD RANSOME and FREDERIC WILLIAM GARRARD both of
Orwell Works, Ipswich in the County of Suffolk Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In some sorts of cultivators more especially those in which spring tines are
employed, it is usual to mount the tines on secondary or sectional frames which at
their fore ends are jointed to the main frame and springs are made to press upon
the sectional frames to hold the tines to their work. The pressure is applied by
means of a lever handle which also serves to lift the frames out of work.
According to this invention we provide additional or outside sectional frames to
carry tines which follow in the wheel track and also work outside of it, thereby
breaking up the wheel track and also increasing the width of the work and
enabling the implement to approach closer to the growing plants.

page_text: Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the annexed drawings illustrate this part of our
invention. Figures 1 and 3 are plans and Figures 2 and 4 are site elevations of
portions of the implement.
In Figures 1 and 2 the additional sectional frame is hinged on pivots G G
immediately in front of the road wheel one pivot being on the main frame A,
and the other on a bracket B rigidly fixed to the main frame A.
In Figures 3 and 4 the additional sectional frame is hung on pivots G G
immediately below the axle H. The sectional frame consists of two bars C C one
on either side of the road wheel and a cross har D connecting their rear ends.
This cross bar D is immediately behind the wheels, and it carries a Line E or a
pair of tines E and F. The inner pivot G is upon a lug or arm N on the main
frame A and the other is upon a similar lug N on the bracket B which extends
around the wheel and meets the axle H at its outer ends.
The arrangement for lifting in Figures 3 and 4 the outside sectional frames and
depressing them is the same as that applied to the ordinary sectional frames
between the wheels, and consists of an arm I or arms II mounted and turning on
or with the axle and actuated by a hand lever M in the saine manner as described
in Bamford's Patent No. 17,209, 1894.
The frames are suspended by chains K attached to the end of the arms 1 and
they are depressed by a flat spring L connected with the arın I bearing on the
top of the frame and actuated by the same lever M.
In Figures 1 and 2 we show arms as above described turning on or with the
axle for lifting the sectional frames and we use the same arins for conveying
the pressure put on them by the lever M, to the sectional frames. Instead of flat
pressure springs as in Figures 3 and 4 we use spiral springs L placed on
connecting rods or stems K, which stems are connected at their lower ends to
cross bars O, on the sectional frames and at their upper ends to the rear end of
the arms. The springs rest on bearings on the cross bar O and pressure is
conveyed to them by the rear end of the arms. The stem is slotted at P and a
pin R in the arm works up and down in it, and forms a connection between the
stem and the arm and allows the spring to be more or less compressed, the same
stem also takes the place of the chain shown in Figures 3 and 4 and is used for
lifting the frames out of work.
The cross bar O is adjustable on the frame to suit the arrangement of the tines.
Another part of our invention relates to the construction of the spring teeth or
tines. Flat spring steel tines of the usual S form are, in order to obtain without
extraneous aid increased stiffness and strength at the upper end of the tine, yet
with sufficient flexibility at the lower part, rolled taper in the width as shown in
Figures 9 and 10 or in thickness as shown in Figures 11 and 12. Or we make
the tine of two thicknesses or pieces of flat spring steel connected at each end as in
Figures 13 and 15. In the bow of the tines, the two pieces are apart leaving a
space as shown. The outer part strengthens the inner part and while preserving
the strength and flexibility of a tine made of a single bar, is less liable to
breakage. The tine may be made in one piece turned over at its upper end as
shown Figure 14.
In Figures 16 and 17 we show a semi-rigid tine similar in its action to a spring
steel tine. The tine is connected with a spiral spring a acting on its upper end, this
spring is coiled on a bar on which the tooth turns, one end of the spring being
connected to the bar and the other end to the tooth.
Figures 5 and 6 show another arrangement for semi rigid tines, a spiral spring b,
is interposed between the upper curve of the tooth e and the continuation of that
part of the tooth e, that is fixed to the sectional frames, this continuatione may be
part and parcel of the tooth or it may be a separate piece, either bolted to the
tooth or to the sectional frame.
Another part of our invention relates to an arrangement for attaching S form
tines to the sectional frames. We provide clips such as are shown by Figures 7
and 8. Upon the flat cross bar D of the frame, a saddle piece U rests, its upper

page_text: face is grooved and curved or if the upper end of the tine is flat the upper face of
the saddle piece U is made accordingly. The upper end of the S form tine beds
itself firmly in the groove. A corresponding top piece or cap V fits on over the
top of the line and both the saddle U and the cap V have lugs on opposite corners.
A plate W extends beneath the bar D of the frame across from side to side of
the time and two bolts are passed through this plate the saddle and the cap; the
bolts receive lock nuts on their upper ends. A staple may be used in place of
the plate and bolts. The groove in the cap is so formed as not to present a
sharp angle or edge in contact with the tine.
For seed sewing we combine with our cultivator two seed distributors upon the
main frame as shewn by Figures 18 and 19 each seed box X, extends nearly half
neross the implement and ench driven from the road wheel on the same side with
it, but by coupling up the seed distributing spindle between the two boxes X,
both seed distributors may be driven from one road wheel. A central space Y is
thus left free between the two seed distributors X X and in this space brake
levers for controlling the implement may be situated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performel we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The application of outside sectional frames to spring tooth cultivators
substantially as shewn and described.
2. The arrangement of spiral springs and connecting rods substantially as
shown and described for applying pressure to the sectional frames of cultivators.
3. Tapered flat spring steel teeth for cultivators substantially as shown and
described.
4. Spring steel teeth for cultivators made of two pieces of different curvature
connected at each end substantially as shown and described.
5. The application of spiral springs to the upper ends of the teeth of cultivatora
substantially as shown and described.
6. The clip for holding teeth of cultivators, substantially as shown and
described.
7. In cultivators in accordance with our invention a seed or manure box made
in two parts which may be driven independently by either road wheel sub-
stantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 20th day of November 1896.
J. E. RANSOME.
FRED. W. GARRARD.