IMPROVEMENTS IN HARROWS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Howard, of Bedford in the County of Bedford,
Agricultural Engineer, and Edward Tenney Bousfield of the same place,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howard and Edward
Tenney Bousfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
8th June 1882.
JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricultural Engineer,
and EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of the same place, Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN HARROWS
"
Our improvements relate to a novel manner of constructing the frames and
fastening the teeth or tines of harrows.
Our improved harrows are constructed with longitudinal bars which may be
either straight, zig zag, or curved. These longitudinal bars are formed of iron or
other suitable metal rolled with a groove or channel, for receiving the ends of the
transverse bars hereinafter described. The said longitudinal bars are perforated
at suitable intervals to receive the ends of the said transverse bars.
These transverse bars have at one or both ends a mortise or hole into which the
tine or tines fit. The extreme ends of the transverse bars are screwed or shaped
to receive a wedge, the position of the mortice or hole being such that when the
end of the transverse bar is passed through the perforation in the longitudinal
bar and tightened by the nut or wedge the tine will impinge upon the ribs of the
longitudinal bar above and below the hole so that the said tine will be securely
gripped between the sides of the hole and the edges of the longitudinal bar.
The transverse bars are in some instances made tubular with screw bolts passed
through them and the longitudinal bars each of the said bolts being provided with
nuts or wedges for securing the bars together so that the tines will be gripped
between the sides of the holes and the ribs of the longitudinal bars.
As a modification in the construction of our improved harrow the transverse bars
may be dispensed with and a series of the longitudinal bars fastened together to

page_text: form a framework. In this modification each tine is held in position by a metal
block or piece with a hole through it and a screwed shank or shanks with a nut or
nuts thereon; this piece also connects the longitudinal bars together.
To afford additional security to the tines against vertical displacement we groove
or indent the said tines near their upper ends so that they project slightly over
the ribs of the longitudinal bars.
We employ by preference rectangular channelled or grooved bars as their pro-
jecting ribs offer facilities for the impingement of the tines and their consequent
secure fastening but the same object may be attained by the use of bars of other
sections and in some instances we use two bars placed together with a space
between them.
•
In constructing harrows according to our invention, two longitudinal bars or
beams with their transverse bars- are, when fitted together, complete for the
purposes of what are termed two-beam harrows; when it is required to construct
what are termed four-beam harrows we unite two of these two-beam sections; for
this purpose we find it advantageous to use angular metal pieces grooved or
channelled and wide enough to span or clasp the above described longitudinal bars.
Or we may unite the two sections by other suitable means. This manner of
uniting the two parts or sections is not advantageously applicable when the afore-
said tubular transverse bars are used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Howard and Edward Tenney Bousfield in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th December 1882.
JAMES HOWARD of Bedford, in the County of Bedford Agricultural Engineer,
and EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, of the same place Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HARROWS."
Our invention relates to harrows, and comprises a novel manner of constructing
the frames and fastening therein the teeth or tines as hereinafter described,
Our improved harrows are constructed with longitudinal bars which are either
straight, zig-zag, or curved. These longitudinal bars are formed of iron or steel,
by preference of a double channelled or H shape in transverse section; but ribbed
bars of other sectional forms, or plain rectangular bars, may be used in the
construction of our harrows.
The said longitudinal bars are combined with transverse bars which, in some
instances, have at one or both ends a mortise or hole into which the tine or tines
fit. The extreme ends of these transverse bars are screw threded or they may be
shaped to receive a wedge, the position of the mortise or hole being such that when
the end of the transverse bar is passed through the perforation in the longitudinal
bar and tightened by a nut or wedge, the tine will impinge upon the ribs of the
longitudinal bar above and below the hole so that the said tine will be securely
gripped between the sides of the hole and the hedges of the longitudinal bar.
The transverse bars are, in some instances, made tubular and have screw-bolts
passed through them and the longitudinal bars, the said bolts being provided with
nuts or wedges for securing the bars together, so that each of the said tines will
be gripped between the side of a hole and the ribs of the longitudinal bar.
As a modification in the construction of our improved harrow the transverse
bars may be dispensed with, and a series of the longitudinal bars fastened together
to form a framework.
In some instances, in our improved harrow, each tine is held in position by the
aid of a metal block, clip, or piece. Each of the said blocks is grooved and shaped
on one side to clip and bed itself on the channelled bar, and recessed on the other
side to receive the head of the tine; in some instances the latter, as well as the
block or clip, is perforated to receive the transverse bolt which passes through
the longitudinal bars, the tine blocks, and the hollow cross-pieces, as hereinafter
described
These tine blocks or clips afford greater security against the displacement of the
tines in the direction of the stress upon them when in work, and also allow the
tines to be placed conveniently at any desired angle with regard to the longitudinal
bars
The said blocks or clips may be so formed as to permit the tines to assume
different angles by being reversed or otherwise adjusted, as hereinafter setforth.
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a harrow constructed according to the said
invention
Figure 2, is a transverse section of a portion of the same on the line x x
Figure 1.
Figures 3. 4. 5 are plans illustrating various modifications in the construction of
the said harrows.
Figures 6. 7. 8 are transverse sections on the lines y¹, y², y³, Figures 3, 4 and 5
Figure 9 illustrates the construction of our harrow modified by the substitution
of diagonal connections for the straight transverse bars.
Like Letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.
a, a are the longitudinal bars; b, b are the cross or transverse bars; c, c are the
tines; d, d are the blocks or clips.
The general arrangement of the parts of our improved harrows in various forms

page_text: or modifications thereof may be readily understood by reference to the above
named figures of the drawings, but we will now describe the construction of these
parts by the aid of the remaining figures which illustrate details and modifications
of the same.
In Figures 10 and 11 we have shewn in plan and transverse section a portion of
a harrow in which the longitudinal bars a are formed of channelled iron, and the
transverse bars b have in them holes or mortises in which the tines c are held.
The end of the cross-bar b enters between the ribs of the bar a so that when the
said bars are drawn tight by the nut or nuts e the tine c will be firmly gripped
and held between the side b³ of the bar b and the edges of the said ribs.
This manner of securing the tines in place is modified in various ways as will be
seen by reference to the drawings hereinafter described
Figures 12 to 14 illustrate a modification of this feature of our invention,
Figure 12 being a plan, Figure 13 a side sectional elevation and Figure 14 a
transverse section on the line y*, y*, Figure 12, In this instance the transverse or
cross bars or pieces b are hollow or channelled and have a bolt b¹ extending through
them and through the longitudinal bars a, the tines c, and the tine blocks or clips d,
the said bolt being secured by a nut or nuts e, or by other suitable means. The
hollow cross-bars b may be of any suitable form in cross-section, We make them
preferably as shewn in Figures 13 and 14, the ends of the cross bar being notched
and fitted between the ribs of the longitudinal bars.
that
Figure 15 is a plan and Figure 16 an elevation, partly in section, and Figures 17
and 18 are similar views, illustrating other modifications of our invention;
is to say, these views show arrangements wherein we use modified forms of tine-
blocks and transverse fastenings. The transverse bars or stretchers b as shewn
in Figures 17 and 18 are solid, and have enlarged ends 6* through which we punch
or otherwise form holes or mortises. The tines c are passed through the said holes
or mortises in the said cross-bars, and secured therein by the endwise pressure of
the transverse bolts or screws, each tine being firmly gripped between the side d'
of the mortise in the tine block, and the side 6 of the mortise or recess in the
transverse bar b as shewn. In the arrangement shewn in Figures 15 and 16 the
mortise is formed partly in the block d and partly in the lateral projection or lug b³
of the tubular cross-bar b, the tine being secured in its place therein by the endwise
pressure which causes these parts to impinge forcibly on the said tine as above
described.
We sometimes use solid cross-bars in combination with the tines and tine-blocks
as shewn in Figures 19 and 20 which are sectional front and side elevations. In
this modification of our invention the said transverse bars or stretchers b are made
of flat or round iron and they have collars 6 formed thereon which bear against
the tines; from these collars the said bars extend through the said tines c, the
blocks d and the longitudinal bars a outside of which they are secured by nuts e
as shewn, the tines being, in this case, gripped between the said collars and the
blocks.
Convenient methods of providing for the adjustment of the tines to different
angles according to our invention are shewn in Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24. In
Figures 21 and 22 which are side views of a portion of a harrow; the tine ¿ is
perforated and the bolt 6' extends through the same, the longitudinal bars a, and
the block d as above described. The said block has its recess which receives the
head of the tine widened obliquely as shewn in Figure 22 so that the said tine
may occupy a perpendicular position, as shewn in full lines, or may be set to an
angle corresponding with the oblique or inclined sides of the said recess as shown
in dotted lines. To allow for an intermediate position of the tines when required,
a suitable recess is formed in the opposite side of the tine block or clip, and the
said block is reversed as shown in Figure 21. In Figures 23 and 24 which are a
plan and side elevation of a portion of a harrow, the transverse bars are constructed
as in Figures 17 and 18 and arranged in combination with a block or clip having
an oblique groove for the head of the tine.

page_text: In some instances, when we use the form of cross bar shewn in Figures 15
and 16, we may dispense with the clips or blocks, and arrange the tines b to
impinge or bed themselves upon or in recessed portions of the ribs of the
longitudinal bars as shewn in Figures 25 and 26, their security being obtained by
the endwise pressure which ensures the tines being tightly gripped and held
between the said bars a and the projecting lugs of the hollow cross-bars b as above
described.
,
The harrow shewn in Figures 1 and 2 has its tines constructed and secured in
place in the manner particularly described with reference to Figures 10, 11, 25 and 26.
In Figures 3 and 6 we have shewn a pair of longitudinal bars a united by cross-
bars b and bolts b', the construction of the said cross-bars the tines c, and the tine-
blocks d, and manner of uniting and securing the same being such as described
with reference to Figures 15 and 16. In Figures.4 and 7 which shew another
pair of longitudinal bars a united by cross bars or stretchers b we employ the
construction and arrangement particularly described with reference to Figures 17
and 18. And in Figures 5 and 8 we have shewn the pair of longitudinal bars a
in combination with the modified form of cross bars b and other parts, as particularly
described with reference to Figures 19 and 20.
In Figure 9 we have shewn a form of our improved harrow in which, instead of
forming the transverse connections of the frame of straight bars, we use the
bars a arranged diagonally between the bars a. In this modification of our
invention, each tine c is held in position by a metal block or clip d with a hole
through it, and an eye-bolt d* with a screwed shank and a nut; or by a screw-
bolt d passed through the head of the tine which in this case is perforated. In
either case the bolt which holds the tine serves also to secure together the bars a
and a* of the frame.
In constructing our harrows two longitudinal bars or beams with their transverse
bars, are, when fitted together, complete for the purposes of what are termed two-
beam harrows; when it is desired to construct what are termed four-beam harrows,
we unite two of these two-beam-sections; we find it advantageous to use angular
metal pieces grooved or channelled and wide enough to span or clasp the above
described longitudinal bars as shewn in Figures 1 and 2. This manner of uniting
the two parts or sections is not advantageously applicable when the aforesaid
tubular transverse bars are used, In this case we unite them by the through
transverse bolts.
Having thus fully described our said Invention and shown how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, we wish it understood
that we claim the improvements in harrows consisting in the novel features of
construction hereinbefore described, that is to say-
First, The improvements relating to the employment of a tine fitted into a
mortise or hole in the transverse bar, and secured therein by being held or gripped
tightly between the side of the mortise and the longitudinal bar, substantially as
set forth.
Second. The improvements relating to the employment of the block or clip,
constructed as described, in combination with the bars of the frame and the tine
(with or without provision for the angular adjustment of the latter) substantially
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Tenney Bousfield for myself, and on
behalf of the said James Howard, have hereunto set my hand and seal this
Seventh day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two
•
EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD (L.S.)