AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lewis Joseph Cohen, of Clifton Gardens, Maida
Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING."-A communication from
abroad by Thomas Ewbank, of New York, in the United States of
America.
Scaled the 12th July 1864, and dated the 19th January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lewis Joseph Cohen
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th January 1864.
I, LEWIS JOSEPH COHEN, of Clifton Gardens, Maida Hill, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING," communicated to me from
abroad by Thomas Ewbank, of New York, in the United States of America,
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an apparatus in which are employed one, two, or
more prongs, tines, blades, cutters, or arms having rotary motion communi-
cated to them, and constructed preferably in most cases with flattened,
sharpened, or cutting edges, for the purpose of cultivating the soil. They
are vertical or inclined, and formed or fixed on a vertical or inclined axis, to
which rotary motion is communicated, whereby they are caused to revolve for
the purpose of cultivating the soil. Or, instead of being, vertical or inclined,

page_text: the prongs, blades, or arms, or the axis which carries them, may be horizontal.
They may be fitted to a carriage by hinge and hasp or other contrivance for
readily moving them into or removing them from their place.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Lewis Joseph Cohen in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LEWIS
JOSEPH COHEN, of Clifton Gardens, Maida Hill, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto. me, the said Lewis Joseph Cohen, Her special licence that I, the said
Lewis Joseph Cohen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Lewis Joseph Cohen, 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 "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING," communicated to
me from abroad by Thomas Ewbank, of New York, in the United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Lewis
Joseph Cohen, 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 Lewis Joseph Cohen, 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 thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The ordinary mode of ploughing or cultivating heretofore employed may
be described as drawing a blunt instrument horizontally through the soil,

page_text: whereby the soil is partially desintegrated; whereas by the use of this
Invention the cultivation of the soil is effected by means of a rotating or
revolving fork or implement.
constructed in most
cases
This Invention consists of an apparatus, composed of one, two, or more
prongs, tines, teeth, blades, cutters, or arms, to which rotary motion is
communicated. These are
with flattened,
sharpened, or cutting edges. They are formed or fixed on a vertical axis, or
on an axis inclined from the vertical, and are thereby caused to revolve for
the purpose of cultivating the soil.
I now proceed to describe in what manner the Invention may be performed
with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cultivator shewn by way of example
as arranged for being worked by horse-power; Figure 2 shews details.
A is a frame or carriage with shafts A', A²; B is a drum on an axis H,
revolving in the carriage A. This drum acts as the bearing and driving
wheel. The axis H carries a bevelled toothed wheel' C, in gear with a
bevelled toothed pinion F, keyed on a vertical axis E, on the lower end of
which is the cultivator D, to which rotary motion is thus transmitted from
the drum B through the gearing C, F. The upper end of the axis E revolves
in a socket e on the carriage A, and its lower end works in a bracket G,
secured to the carriage; one side of the lower part of this bracket opens and
closes on a hinge joint at g, and when closed it is fastened by a hasp so that
the cultivator may be readily fitted in place and removed, but any other
convenient mode of supporting, mounting, fitting, or adjusting it may be
adopted. The cultivator shewn in Fig. 1 and 2 consists of two perpendicular
prongs with flattened or sharpened edges, or they may be described as two
strong narrow knife blades formed or fixed on the end of the axis E, but I
do not confine myself to the form or number of prongs or blades shewn in the
Figures, as others may be used. Some examples of these are represented in
Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. When three are used they should be disposed at
equal distances from the axis, as in Fig. 5. Examples of tracks of one
prong are shewn in Figs. 8 and 9, those of two prongs in Figs. 10 and 11,
and those of three prongs in Fig. 12. These tracks are cycloidal curves,
A coulter
varying from the form of wave lines to that of intersecting arcs.
5 or ploughshare may be fixed at the end of the carriage A, to throw up the
earth disturbed by the cultivator into furrows. The cultivator, though shown
in Figures 1 and 2 as arranged for being worked by horse-power, may be
worked by other power. When worked by steam the drum and shafts A', A
might not be needed. Figures 13 and 14 exemplify the cultivator arranged

page_text: for being worked by steam. The driving arrangement shewn in Figures
1, 2, 13, and 14, I consider most convenient for transmitting the required
motion to the cultivator, but any other convenient contrivances may be used
for the purpose. I wish it to be understood, that I do not restrict myself to
the means or contrivances shewn in Figures 1, 2, 13, & 14 (and described)
for communicating the required motion to the cultivator; also I do not
confine myself to the means shewn for supporting or carrying the cultivator.
Description of Fig. 13 (elevation), and Fig. 14 (plan). In this arrange-
ment the axis E of the cultivator D is worked by pinion F in gear with
bevel wheel C on crank shaft T, driven by steam engine S, supported in the
frame A; U is a wheel on shaft T, driving a wheel V on axle of the carrying
wheels W; is a handle working a pinion x in gear with segment y for
guiding the steering wheels w.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim the cultivator,
consisting of one, two, or more tines, teeth, prongs, blades, cutters, or arms,
capable of or having rotary motion, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lewis Joseph Cohen, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the year One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
THOMAS GEARING.
LEWIS J. COHEN. (L.S.)