IMPROVEMENTS IN HARROWS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, THOMAS JEFFERSON WILLIAMS, of Mt Lookout, Hamilton County, State of
Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARROWS," and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
The several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from
their use conjointly or otherwise will be fully hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings making part of this Specification,
Fig. 1, is a view in perspective of a harrow embodying my improvements, and
-Fig. 2, is a central vertical section taken through the shaft, of the main or large
cylinder, and through the journal bearing of the support of the platform, and the.
eye encircling said shaft and connected to the rod or link connecting the large
cylinder to the small cylinder.
The cylinder A, is central on the shaft or axle B, and is preferably rigidly secured
to said shaft.
The cylinder A, is provided with numerous teeth around its periphery, the teeth
being arranged in annular rows.
The harrow is provided with a main or draught frame-work. One form of main
frame-work is shown, and consists of the pieces or parts d', and cross-pieces d³.
These pieces are preferably covered with a platform R. To the main frame is
centrally connected the draught pole or shafts I. The main frame is supported
upon the ends of shaft or axle B. A preferred mode of connecting the frame and
the said shaft consists of the pieces or rods f. f, oue rigidly attached at its upper
end to forward piece d', and the other attached at its upper end to rear piece d'.
The lower end of each piece f is connected to a journal box or bearing on the
shaft B. This arrangement of pieces f, f, and journal box or bearing f¹ at one end
of shaft B, is duplicated at the other end of said shaft B. The harrow is also
preferably provided with a seat G, for the driver and the same is suitably
supported. The preferred means of support being as follows: The seat G, is
connected to and immediately upheld by a spring g, a desirable form of which, is
shown. The spring is in turn upheld by the main frame, 'to which latter the
spring is connected.

page_text: I will now proceed to describe the main and most important features of my
Invention, viz: To the rear of the main cylinder is a smaller cylinder or shaft D,
provided peripherally with annular rows of teeth E. This cylinder is centered on
a shaft K, and is preferably rigidly connected thereto.
When in use the teeth of
rear cylinder D, rest directly on the ground, as do also those of the main
cylinder A. The cylinder D, is so connected to the rest of the harrow as to be
free to rotate and to follow the undulations of the surface of the ground over
which the harrow passes, and consequently be free to rise and fall with said
undulations.
The preferred mode of connecting the cylinder D, to the harrow is as follows:-
One end of a link or connecting rod H, is pivoted to the shaft B, by an eye h
loosely encircling the shaft and free to turn thereon. The other end of the link H,
is pivoted to the shaft K, of cylinder D, by an eye h¹ and is free to turn thereon.
A similar link similarly connected is present at the other side of the harrow. This
link is kept in place by suitable means preferably by a nut or equivalent
fastening screwed or secured on shaft K, of cylinder D, and by locating the
eye h on shaft B, between journal bearing f¹ and the cylinder A. The mode in
which my invention operates in general is as follows:-When the harrow is drawn
forward the teeth a catch in the ground and break it up. As the teeth catch in
the ground the cylinder A, is necessarily rotated in the direction shown by the
arrow on the end of this cylinder, and the teeth a on the under side of this
cylinder pass rearward, and carry those portions of the loose clods which adhere to
the teeth against the adjacent teeth E, of cylinder D. This cylinder D, (or its
teeth) rests upon the ground, and (as the harrow is moved forward) its teeth catch
in the ground and break up the latter. They also rotate cylinder D, in the
*direction shown by the arrow upon the end of said cylinder, and carry any loose
clods adhering to them over and against the teeth a of cylinder A. The teeth a
and teeth E, moving in opposite directions thus mutually co-act to clear from
each other the adhering earth, while at the same time they pulverize the soil
thoroughly. The cylinder D, follows undulations of the ground, and is free to
rise and fall as the ground.rises and falls. It will easily pass over stones and other
obstructions. When made smaller than cylinder A, as is preferably the case, it
revolves faster than cylinder A, and its operation as a cleaner is thereby enhanced.
At, the same time the draught frame is free to tip up and down, and when so
tipped will not interfere with the action of the cylinders.
Any suitable description of teeth may be employed on the cylinders, but I prefer
to use those of a diamond shape in cross section. The teeth are suitably secured
to their respective cylinders A and D. I prefer to make the cylinders of wood, and
to secure the teeth by tightly inserting them, therein. When desired a washer f³
may be put on shaft B, outside of the eye f¹ and fixed in position by a set
screw f³, thus preventing any tendency of the eye f to spring off from the shaft B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a harrow the large toothed cylinder A, small toothed cylinder D, the latter
being located close behind cylinder A, and resting on the ground; both cylinders
being turned by their contact with the ground and revolving independently of one
another; the teeth of one cylinder passing between those of the other, the small
cylinder being drawn by yielding connections which leave it free to follow the
undulations of the ground independently of the frame and of the large cylinder,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. In a harrow the large cylinder A, and cylinder D, the latter resting on the
ground immediately in rear of the cylinder A, the teeth of the one cylinder passing
between the teeth of the other cylinder, each cylinder being free to follow the
undulations of the ground independently of the other cylinder, and each cylinder

page_text: being turned by the ground alone and independently of the other cylinder, the
journals or axis of cylinder D, being connected to the journals or axis of cylinder A,
by connecting rods or links, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
3. The combination of toothed cylinder A, shaft B, main draught frame,
supports fjournal bearing as f' links H, having eye h on shaft B, between journal
bearings f' and the cylinder A, and toothed cylinder D, having shaft K, the links H,
each having eye h¹ secured pivotally on shaft K, the teeth of cylinder A, engaging
between the teeth of cylinder D, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 18th day of Sues 1985