Improvements in Snow Ploughs.
Year: 1895

page_text: Complete Specification Lelt, 8th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Snow Ploughs.
I, ROBERT WADSWORTH, of the Sanitary Implement Works, Thomas Street
Halifax, in the County of York, Sanitary Implement Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has reference to a snow plough which can be adjusted in width,
to clear various widths, to suit the various widths of streets and roads, and when
the work of clearing snow is completed the plough can be easily taken by one horse
to the yard or depôt where it has to be stored, & when not in use it can be closed
up or reduced in size, without dismantling, so that the space required for it to
occupy when stored away is comparatively small.
The plough consists of a V shaped framework which may be of wood or iron as
desired, fitted with wings which can be opened out to various widths and there
held by sliding bars & bolts, a screw arrangement or other means.
On the top of the ✓ shaped framework two longitudinal bars of wood or iron
are secured at a suitable space apart but parallel with each other, and to the fore
end of same two cross bars are secured.
To the said two cross bars a pair of shafts are attached into which a horse can
be yoked, and which may be two separate shafts to slide into sockets or irons, in
such manner that the shafts can be instantly removed, or may be a pair of shafts
framed together with two cross bars like an ordinary pair of waggon shafts, and
hung to the inner front cross bar by coupling irons which will admit of the shafts
being turned over on to the plough when the plough is not in use.
When required the plough can be fitted with two pairs of shafts for two horses
abreast.
To the two longitudinal bars, at a suitable distance from the hinder end of the
plough framework, a crank axle is mounted in bearings which allow the axle to turn
in same, and when the wheels are placed on the axle arms, and the cranks of the
axle are turned down by means of a worm & wheel device, the wheels press on the
ground which has the effect of raising or lifting the hinder part of the plough
framework and wings, quite clear of the ground; the fore end of the plough being
supported from the ground when so required by the horse in the shafts.
A spring catch arrangement is provided for holding the shafts down to the front
cross har of the plough when waggon pattern shafts are used, thus enabling the
fore end of the plough to be supported by the shafts when so required.
February 7th 1895.
ROBERT WADSWORTH.
I, ROBERT WADSWORTH of the Sanitary Implement Works, Thomas Street
Halifax in the County of York, Sanitary Implement Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be:
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention has reference to a snow plough which can be adjusted in width,

page_text: to clear various widths, to suit the various widths of streets & roads, and when the
work of clearing snow is completed the plough can be easily taken by one horse to
the yard or depot where it has to be stored, & when not in use it can be closed up
or reduced in size, without dismantling, so that the space required for it to occupy
when stored away is comparatively small.
The plough consists of a V shaped framework which may be of wood or iron as
desired, fitted with wings which can be opened out to various widths & there held
by sliding bars and bolts, a screw arrangement or other means.
On the top of the V shaped framework two longitudinal bars of wood or iron are
secured at a suitable space apart but parallel with each other, and to the fore end
of same two cross bars are secured.
To the said two cross bars a pair of shafts are attached into which a horse can
be yoked, & which may be two separate shafts to slide into sockets or irons in such
manner, that the shafts can be instantly removed, or may be a pair of shafts
framed together with two cross bars like an ordinary pair of waggon shafts & hung
to the inner front cross bar by coupling irons which will admit of the shafts being
turned over on to the plough, when the plough is not in use.
When required the plough can be fitted with two pairs of shafts for two horses
abreast.
To the two longitudinal bars at a suitable distance from the hinder end of the
plough framework, a crauk axle is mounted in bearings which allow the axle to
turn in same, and when the wheels are placed on the axle arms & the cranks of
the axle are turned down by means of a worm & wheel device, the wheels press on
the ground which has the effect of raising or lifting the hinder part of the plough
framework & wings quite clear of the ground, the fore end of the plough being
supported from the ground when so required by the horse in the shafts.
A spring catch arrangement is provided for holding the shafts down to the front
cross bar of the plough, when waggon pattern shafts are used thus enabling the
fore end of the plough, to be supported by the shafts when so required.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.
Fig. 1. Sheet 1. is a side elevation of my new snow plough in position for
ploughing.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the plough in position for running on its wheels when
ploughing is finished.
Fig. 3. is a side elevation of the plough when closed up & the shafts turned over
ready for being stored away.
Fig. 4. is a plan or top view of the plough when opened out to its widest
extent.
Fig. 5. is a plan or top view of the plough when closed up ready for being
taken to the yard or depôt where it has to be stored when not in use.
Fig. 6. is an elevation of the hinder end of the plough with sliding bars.
Fig. 7. is a detail view of the crank axle & fittings I make use of.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A is the V shaped framework which may be of wood or iron as desired, B are the
hinged sides or wings which can be opened out & set to various widths by the
sliding bars C. bolts D, plates or racks E, & long pins F. G. are the two longi-
tudinal bars of wood or iron which are described as being parallel with each other,
but this I find is immaterial, they can be fixed wider apart at the rear or hinder
end than at the fore end when desired, H are the two cross bars to which the
shafts J are attached by coupling irons K, or instead of the waggon pattern
shafts J, two separate shafts can be used, to slide into sockets or irons fixed to the
cross bars H. When required the plough can be fitted with two pairs of shafts
for two horses abreast in like manner as described & shewn by the drawings for
single horse, L is the crank axle on which a pair of wheels M are placed, N is a
worm wheel which is placed on the centre of the bed of the crank axle L, and by the
worm O, spindle P & winch handle Q it can be turned over in its bearings R, so
that the wheels M will rest on the ground & bear the plough clear of the ground

page_text: or vice versa.
S is a locking bar with spring T attached which locks into the
catches U for holding the shafts J down to the plough when the plough is required
to be run on its wheels M.
Figs. 8, 9 & 10 represents a screw arrangement for setting or holding the hinged
sides or wings B to various widths.
The screw device consists of a swivel V as shewn by Figs. 13 & 14 in the
inner part of which a mitre wheel having a screw thread formed through the centre
to receive a screw Y is placed, & on one of the round parts of the swivel V
another mitre wheel is placed, so that the two wheels work together, see
Fig. 12, the barrel of the mitre wheel W is long enough to receive a vertical
spindle Z. When the device is mounted in bearings as shewn by Figs. 8, 9,
10, & 11, by turning the vertical spindle Z with a winch handle, or when
preferred, a hand wheel can be used for the purpose, the screw Y will slide
through the swivel V and at the same time the swivel V will turn in its bearings
to the required arc which the opening of the hinged sides or wings B causes to
be necessary.
I do not claim this screw device to be novel as the same has been anticipated
in the Specification of my Patent No. 8568 A.D. 1886.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. Making snow ploughs with hinged sides or wings which can be opened out
& set to various widths as required to suit the various widths of streets & roads,
substantially as hereinbefore described & shewn by the drawings.
2nd. In combination with a snow plough with adjustable sides or wings, I claim
the use of a pair of wheels & axle so arranged that the wheels can be lifted
clear from the ground so that the plough will rest on the ground, or vice versa
the wheels can be lowered to the ground which will effect the raising of the
plough clear from the ground, substantially as herein before described & shewn
by the drawings.
3rd. In combination with a V shaped snow plough I claim the use of a pair
of waggon pattern shafts to yoke a horse in & which can be turned over on to
the plough when not in use, substantially as hereinbefore described & shewn by
the drawings.
L. L 1007