IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER CULTIVATORS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Greig, of Harvieston, Stonehaven, in the County of
Kincardine, Scotland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND
OTHER CULTIVATORS.”
Sealed the 16th March 1877, and dated the 3rd October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Greig at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1876.
GEORGE GREIG, of Harvieston, Stonehaven, in the County of Kincardine, Scotland,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER CULTIVATORS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam cultivators.
My Invention consists in connecting a series of discs in a frame to be drawn by
steam power; these discs are so arranged that they are drawn through the land at
an angle so as to displace part of the soil and act as a pulverizer.
The discs can either be made to revolve on the shaft at the desired angle, or
they can be put on straight and the frame drawn out of centre so as to run slightly
sideways on.
The lateral pressure produced by pulling the discs at an angle is counteracted by
having the one half of them cutting in the opposite direction to the other half.
These frames of discs may be worked in conjunction with harrows in the ordinary
frame, or in a seperate frame provided with a steerage. Horse cultivators may
be similarly constructed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Greig in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd April
1877.
GEORGE GREIG, of Harvieston, Stonehaven, in the County of Kincardine, Scotland.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND OTHER CULTIVATORS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in steam and other cultivators.
I construct cultivators intended more especially to be worked by steam power
with one or more series of discs mounted upon an axis or axes, in such manner that

page_text: they are free to revolve, and I connect the axis or axes with a frame adapted to be
drawn to and fro over the land without turning. The axes are inclined to the line
of draft, so that the discs when drawn through the land displace and pulverise the
soil.
In some cases I incline the axes in opposite directions in order that the lateral
thrust of one series of discs may be balanced by that of the other series, or I employ
a land wheel as in ploughs to sustain the lateral thrust. When thus constructing
a plough-like implement I prefer to dish the discs which causes them to cut a cleaner
furrow.
In order that the soil may be thrown the same way in whichever direction the
implement travels I so arrange the axis or axes of the discs that they can be made
to incline in either direction to the line of draft, or in some cases I mount the discs
on eccentrics upon the axis in such manner that by turning the axis half round the
required change is made in the inclination of the discs. When a furrow wheel is
employed I cause the position of the axis on the frame to be changed when the
direction of the draft is reversed, so that the leading edges of the discs may occupy
the same positions relatively to the furrow wheel in either way of working.
Sometimes when several series of discs are employed I apply steering gear, so that
the implement may be guided by steering the leading series of discs. At other
times I provide separate carrying wheels in connection with the frame of the
implement, and I arrange steering gear in connection with these wheels.
In some implements I employ together with discs as described frames provided
with teeth or tines acting in the manner of an ordinary harrow. The implements
above described may be drawn by horses, or discs may be arranged in horse
implements to work in the manner indicated.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section; and Figure 2 is a plan of a cultivator
constructed according to my Invention. a, a, is a rectangular frame to which the
draft ropes b, b, are attached; c, c, are axes connected with the frame a in such
manner that they can turn around the perch pins d, d, so as to incline to the frame
as the Drawing indicates; e, e, are discs mounted upon the axes c so that they can
turn freely and independently the one of the other; f is an axis carried by the
frame between the axes c; it has other discs y upon it, they are mounted so as to be
free to turn upon eccentrics fixed upon the axis, and when desired the axis f can be
turned half round by means of the lever handle fi at its end so as to reverse the
inclination of the discs; h, h, are rollers mounted at the ends of the frame a, each
has a worm wheel upon it, and a worm i engages with the worm wheel, so that by
.turning the steering wheel k which is on the same shaft with the worm, the roller h
can be rotated and made to wind and unwind the chains and to draw the axis c,
to which the ends of the chains are attached into an inclined position, and so to
guide the implement; m is the seat for the steersman. The leading axle c and the
discs upon it are employed in steering in whichever direction the implement travels,
and the hinder axle is set over to incline its discs in a direction opposite to the
direction of the discs g. The dotted lines n, n, indicate road wheels which are
removed when the implement is put to work.
Figure 3 is an elevation, and Figure 4 is a plan of another cultivator constructed
according to my Invention. In this implement the frame is provided with carrying
wheels, and to these the steering gear is applied. Beams o, o, are connected with
the frame as the Drawing shews in such manner that the distance from the ground
can be adjusted, and to these beams the bearings of the axes carrying the discs are
connected by chains, so that the discs bear on the land by their own weight and
the weight of the axle and other parts connected with them.
Figure 5 is a plan of an implement similar to that last described, but with a

page_text: frame carrying tines between the two sets of discs operating on the land in the
manner of an ordinary harrow.
Figure 6 is a plan of another form of cultivator constructed according to my
Invention, and working in the manner of a plough with a furrow wheel to sustain
the lateral thrust; a, a, is the frame of the implement, it is supported upon three
wheels in such manner that its height from the ground can be adjusted, and the
two land wheels are steerable by well known arrangements not represented in the
Drawing to guide the implement and maintain a straight furrow; b, b, are the
draft ropes connected with the frame a at the ends; c is the axis carrying the discs.
It is so carried upon the frame that when the direction of the draft is changed its
ends can traverse along the frame until the axis assumes the position indicated by
the dotted line c¹; d, d, are the discs; it will be observed that they are dished which
causes them to leave a cleaner edge on the land side of the cut. I sometimes
employ two furrow wheels which may be set at an angle.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details represented upon the Drawings, but I claim,-
First. The construction of cultivators, substantially as described and represented
in the Drawings.
Second. The construction of cultivators with discs free to revolve about an axis
or axes inclined to the direction in which they are drawn through the land, sub-
stantially as described.
Third. The construction of cultivators with inclined discs in such manner that the
direction of draft can be reversed, and a corresponding change made in the inclination
of the discs, substantially as described.
Fourth. The construction of cultivators with inclined discs and with land wheels
to sustain the lateral thrust of the discs, substantially as described.
Fifth. The construction of cultivators with inclined discs dished in such manner
as to cause them to leave a cleaner edge on the land side, substantially as
described.
Sixth. The construction of cultivators having inclined discs and a furrow wheel
in such manner that when the direction of draft is changed the axis of the discs is
moved to another position, such that the cutting edges of the discs maintain the
same relative position in respect to the furrow wheel, substantially as described.
Seventh. The construction of cultivators with inclined discs and with steering
gear applied to the axes of the discs, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Greig, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
GEORGE GREIG. (L.B.)