IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CULTIVATING IMPLEMENTS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Backhouse, of Armley, near Leeds, in the
County of York, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
CULTIVATING IMPLEMENTS."
Sealed the 4th August 1874, and dated the 5th February 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Backhouse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th February 1874.
I, JAMES BACKHOUSE, of Armley, near Leeds, in the County of York,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Improvements
IN STEAM CULTIVATING IMPLEMENTS," to be as follows:-
My improvements have reference not only to what are termed steam
cultivators but part of such improvements are also applicable to steam
ploughs, and are as hereafter described.
To the drag bar I couple all the tines or tilling tools at the top by
suitable levers and connecting rods. The tines or tilling tools are lifted
by these rods and levers, being actuated by a triangular drag bar. This
drag bar is carried on the centre beam in which a slot hole is provided

page_text: so as to allow the drag bar to slide backwards, which backward motion
is obtained by the action of the tail or reversing rope, motion being
given thereto from some suitable motive power.
By the backward movement of the drag bar in the slot the levers or
arms and rods which are attached thereto arc actuated, and motion is
conveyed to the tines or tilling tools; by these means the points of the
tines or tilling tools are raised clear off the ground. After the tines or
tilling tools have been raised clear off the ground they are held in
position as long as required by a suitable catch brake or equivalent
means.
When the tines are required to be used or let into the ground again
they are relieved from the catch brake or equivalent.
The action of the draft rope draws the drag bar forward into its
original position, whereby the tines or tilling tools are again forced into
the soil. The draft rope and tail rope arc by preference attached to the
drag bar by means of a bell-crank lever, whereby the tail rope is held
clear of the implement.
Secondly. When preferred I provide a fixed radial draw bar on which
are fitted, so as to slide freely, the couplings to which the draft rope and
the tail rope are attached. By this arrangement in whatever direction
the draft rope is pulled the coupling for the same adapts itself to the
line of draft.
The radius of the draw bar is taken from any suitable point behind
the steering wheels. This arrangement of draw bar admits of larger
steering wheels being used.
In order to raise the tines or tilling tools out of the ground I employ
a crank axle of ordinary construction. The travelling wheels run loose
on the axlc; in the naves of cach wheel I mount and fix a ratchet
wheel into which is made to work a pawl carried on the axle.
When the implement is moving forward the pawls ride over the teeth
of the ratchet wheels producing no effect. But when the cultivator is
being turned round a backward motion is given to the wheels by the
action of the tail rope. The pawls in this backward motion are caught
in the ratchet wheels, the crank axles of the wheels are thereby carried
round with the wheel, and so doing the frame carrying the tines or
tilling tools is caused to raise at the same time lifting with it the tincs

page_text: or tilling tools. A stop is provided to prevent the crank revolving any
further than required.
In order to assist in lifting the frame I provide an arm or prop which
when the action of the cultivator is being reversed comes in contact
with the ground, and assists in raising the frame carrying the tines or
tilling tools.
In the old style of cultivating implements it has been the custom to
make the tines or tilling tools rigid; this has been the cause of serious
breakages in cultivating implements. For preventing these breakages I
employ a compensating arrangement which admits of the tines or tilling
tools lifting or rising when they come in contact with any undue
pressure, such as from large stones, roots, and the like.
I fix the tines or tilling tools on radial arms; these are mounted in
suitable bearings so as to move freely. The required pressure or
sustaining power is given to the tines or tilling tools by spiral or other
springs or their equivalents.
My Invention consists further in arranging rope porters so as to be
self-steering as hereafter described.
In a suitable position with regard to the rope pulley which is mounted
in a frame of ordinary.construction I provide one or more pullies or
rollers. The rollers or pullies are arranged in their bearings so that
they may be moved backwards or forwards by the variable angle of
the rope.
To one or both of the arms carrying the rollers is coupled the front or
steering wheel by means of suitable rods. The axle of the steering
wheel is mounted on a suitable carriage to admit of its being turned to
any suitable angle to accomodate itself to the variable position of
tlie rope.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said James Backhouse, Her special licence that I,
the said James Backhouse, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said James Backhouse, 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 STEAM CULTIVATING
IMPLEMENTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Backhouse, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Backhouse, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 :---
My improvements have reference not only to what are termed steam
cultivators but part of such improvements are also applicable to steam
ploughs and are as hereafter described.
In order that my Invention may be completely understood, reference
is given to the accompanying four Sheets of Drawings.
Sheets 1, 2, and 3 represent various arrangements of machine
constructed according to my Invention.
Sheet 4 shews an arrangement of rope porter.
The first part of my Invention is shewn in Sheet 1 in which Figure 1 is
a side elevation, and Figure 2 a plan looking at the top.
To the drag bar a I couple all the tines or tilling tools at the top by
suitable levers c and connecting rods d. The tines or tilling tools are

page_text: direction the ropes are pulled the couplings b and c for the same adapt
themselves to the line of draught.
The radius of the draw bar a is taken from any suitable point behind
the steering wheels f. This arrangement of draw bar admits of larger
steering wheels being used.
In order to raise the tines or tilling tools out of the ground I employ
a cranked axle g, which is shewn on Sheet 4, Figures 3 and 4, and is of
ordinary construction. The travelling wheels j run loosely on the axle g;
in the naves j¹ of each wheel I mount and fix a ratchet wheel
which is made to work the pawls i carried on the axle g, as shewn.
into
When the implement is moving forwards the pawls i ride over the
teeth of the ratchet wheel / producing no effect. But when the
cultivator is being turned round a backward motion is given to the
travelling wheels ; by the action of the tail rope e. The pawls in this
backward motion are caught in the ratchet wheel h; the crank axle g of
the wheels are thereby carried round with the wheel and in so doing the
frame carrying the tines or tilling tools 7 (Sheet 2) is caused to rise, at
the same time lifting with it the tines or tilling tools 1. A variable stop
pin m is provided to prevent the crank revolving any further than
required; this part of the arrangement is shewn on Sheet 3, Figure 1.
In order to assist in the lifting of the frame I provide an arm, lever,
or prop n, which, when the action of the cultivator is being reversed,
comes in contact with the ground and assists in raising the frame
carrying the tilling tools.
Instead of the above described arrangement of arm, lever, or prop n,
I sometimes by preference construct it as shewn on Sheet 4, Fig. 4, in
which 1 is the ground line, and 2 the arm, lever, or prop, carried on the
stud 3 on the framework, or in other suitable bearings.
When the implement is travelling in the direction shewn by arrow
the arm, lever, or prop 2 rides on the soil and, if required, can be lifted
clear therefrom, but when the implement is reversed the arm, lever, or
prop 2 comes in contact with the ground and assists in raising the crank
axle 4.
In the old style of cultivating implements it has been the custom to
make the tines or tilling tools rigid; this has been the cause of serious
breakage in cultivating implements. For preventing these breakages I

page_text: employ a compensating arrangement which is shewn on Sheet 3. This
admits of the tines or tilling tools lifting or rising when they come
in contact with any undue pressure such as large stones, roots, and the
like.
I fix the tines or tilling tools o on the radial armis p, these arms are
mounted in suitable bearings q so as to move freely. The required
pressure or sustaining power is given to the tines or tilling tools by
spiral springs or their equivalents, the spring being supported at the
back and retaining its position by means of the bars and rods which
are attached to the framework u.
My Invention consists further in arranging rope porters s
.so as to be
self-acting, as shewn on Sheet 4; Figure 1 represents a side elevation;
Figure 2, a plan looking on the top.
In a suitable position with regard to the rope pulley a which is
mounted on a frame of ordinary construction I provide one or more
pulleys or rollers c. The rollers or pulleys care arranged in their
bearings or carriers d so that they may be moved backwards or forwards
by the variable angle of the rope e.
To one or both of the arms d carrying the rollers c is coupled the
front or steering wheelf by means of a suitable rod or rods g.
The axle
of the steering wheel fis mounted on a suitable carriage to admit of it
being turned to any required angle to accomodate itself to the variable.
position of the rope.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in
conclusion that I do not limit myself to the exact limits, details, and
configuration of parts I have explained and shewn, as the same may of
course be varied or modified without in any way departing from my
Invention, but what I do claim and desire to be secured to me by
Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The arrangement, construction, and application of moveable
drag bar and parts connected therewith, shewn on Sheet 1, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Secondly. The means employed for lifting the tines or tilling tools
out of the ground, and parts connected therewith, shewn on Sheet 1,

page_text: and the mode of attaching the times or tilling tools to the drag bar,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Thirdly. The arrangement, construction, and application of radial
draw bar and parts in combination therewith, shewn on Sheets 2 and 3,
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Fourthly. The arrangement, construction, and application of ratchet
arrangement shewn in the naves of the travelling wheels on Sheets 3
and 4, for causing the tines or tilling tools to be lifted out of the ground
and lowered into it, substantially as and for purposes herein set
forth
and the mode of attaching the tines of uning tools to the drag Dal,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Thirdly. The arrangement, construction, and application of radial
draw bar and parts in combination therewith, shewn on Sheets 2 and 3,
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Fourthly. The arrangement, construction, and application of ratchet
arrangement shewn in the naves of the travelling wheels on Sheets 3
and 4, for causing the tines or tilling tools to be lifted out of the ground
and lowered into it, substantially as and for purposes herein set
forth
Fifthly. The arrangement, construction, and application of arm, lever,
or prop n, substantially as shown on Sheet 3, and for purposes
herein set forth.
Sixthly. The arrangement, construction, and application of com-
pensating apparatus to admit of the tines or tilling tools rising on
coming in contact with any undue pressure, substantially as and for
purposes herein set forth.
Seventhly. The arrangement and combination of the various parts
forming each cultivating implement, shewn on Sheets 1, 2, and 3,
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Eighthly. The arrangement, construction, and combination of the
various parts forming the rope porter, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Backhouse, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this the First day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
JAMES RACKHOUSE
JAMES BACKHOUSE. (L.S.)