A CLOD CRUSHER, LAND PRESSER, OR PULVERIZER
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Comins, of South Molton, in the.
County of Devon, Agricultural Implement Maker, for the
Invention of "A CLOD CRUSHER, LAND PRESSER, OR PULVERIZER."
Sealed the 30th July 1853, and dated the 31st January 1853.
i
PROVISIONAL-SPECIFICATION left by the said James Comins at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 31st January-1853.**
I, JAMES COMINS, of South Molton, in the County of Devon, Agri-
cultural Implement Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A CLOD CRUSHER, LAND PRESSER, OR PULVERIZER" to be
as follows:
This Invention consists in a new mechanical combination and
arrangement of parts constituting an agricultural machine, denomi-
nated "A CLOD CRUSHER, LAND PRESSER, OR PULVERIZER," which may be
made either with or without travelling wheels; in either case the
.clod crushers are attached to the framing of the machine, and are
arranged and disposed in the manner exhibited by the Drawing
hereunto annexed.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, exhibits a side elevation of a machine for crushing
clods of earth, pressing and pulverizing land constructed according
to this Invention. Figure 2, is a top plan view of such machine.
Figures 3, and 4, exhibit clod crushers of different forms. At
cach of the foregoing Figures similar letters of reference are em-
ployed to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts
appear or can be seen at each of the Figures respectively. At
Figures 1, and 2, A, A, marks the shafts of the machine; B, B,
the framing to which such shafts are attached in the manner exhibited;
C, C, cylindrical shaped axes securely fixed to each side of the framing
B, B; D, D, cast iron crushers, pressers, and pulverizers, mounted
by holes through their centres or bosses E, upon the axes C, C, in
the order exhibited at Figure 2. It should be observed that the
crushers, pressers, and pulverizers D, D, inay have their edges or
peripheries serrated as denoted by a, a, at Figure 1, or they may be
of the forms exhibited at Figures 3, and 4; or the said edges or
peripheries may be made plain instead of being serrated, and one
or other of these forms may be used; or each crusher may have the
edge thereof differently formed as above mentioned; or they may be
arranged and disposed in such manner and of such forms as prac-
tice may suggest; and, if necessary, a grass or clover seed machine
may be attached to the crushing machine, and be worked thereby;
or a machine for distributing manure may be attached thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said James Comins in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 30th July 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES COMINS, of South Molton, in the County of Devon, Agricul-
tural Implement Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January,

page_text: in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three,
in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said James Comins, Her
special licence that I, the said James Comins, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Comins,
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 "A CLOD CRUSHER, LAND PRESSER, OR PULVERIZER,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Comins,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 Comins, do hereby de-
clare 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 (that is to say):
My Invention consists in a new mechanical arrangement and
combination of parts constituting an agricultural machine, which
I denominate a clod crusher, land presser, or pulverizer; and
an important feature in my said Invention consists in the use and
application of two sets of rollers mounted upon two distinct and
separate axes placed parallel or nearly so to each other; the object
and intention of such arrangement being to render the said rollers
self-cleansing. And in order to explain my said Invention as com-
pletely as possible I will proceed to describe the best means I am
acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, refer-
ence being had to the illustrative Drawing hereunto annexed, and
forming part of this iny Specification, and to the numeral figures
and letters of reference marked thereon respectively as follows:

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, exhibits a side elevation of a machine for crushing
clods of eart, pressing and pulverizing land, constructed according
to my said Invention; Figure 2, is a top plan view of said machine;
Figure 3, is a side elevation; and Figure 4, an edge view of one of
the parts hereafter referred to shewn detached from the other parts
of the machine. At each of these Figures I employ similar letters
to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can
be seen at each of the Figures respectively. At Figures 1, and 2,
A, A, marks the shafts of the machine; B, B, the framing to which such
shafts are attached; C, C¹, are cylindrical shaped axes of wrought
iron, the ends whereof are securely affixed to each side of the framing
B, B; D, D¹, cast iron rollers, with plain or serrated edges, formed
with bosses d, d, through which a hole is bored true, so as to fit
around the axles C, C', which are also turned true and cylindrical;
and upon
these axles the rollers D, D¹, are arranged and disposed
side by side in the order exhibited at Figure 2. I would remark
that I am aware of "an agricultural implement having been made
in which the rollers employed for crushing the clods of earth have
been arranged and disposed side by side upon an axle, but the.
rollers when thus arranged have been found to clog upon wet or
heavy land. And I propose to obviate this objection by the use of
two sets of rollers, arranged and disposed as exhibited at Figure 2,
where it will be seen that the rollers D' take into the spaces
between the rollers D, D, so that as each of the separate rollers upon
one shaft rotate, they will have the effect of cleansing or removing
the earth which may adhere to the rollers upon the other and
opposite shaft.
would remark that for the purpose of transporting
the machine from place to place when out of use wheels of the
ordinary kind may be affixed upon one or other of the axles C, C',
or to any other convenient part of the machine, as denoted by dotted
lines. And further, if necessary, a grass or clover seed machine,
may be attached to the above-mentioned clod crusher, land presser,
or pulverizer, and motion imparted thereto in any suitable manner.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be and may be performed, I desire it
to be distinctly understood that I do not claim the exclusive use of
any of the separate parts above mentioned and referred to, except
in so far as the same may be employed in combination and for the
purposes of iny said Invention; neither do I claim the use of
distinct and separate rollers, as I am aware of the same having been
practised before in the construction of agricultural machines; but
what I claim is the combining together of two or more sets of
rollers mounted upon distinct and separate axes as herein-before
particularly described, set forth, and represented by the illustrative
Drawing hereunto annexed, and constituting my Invention of a
clod crusher, land presser, or pulverizer.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Comins, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three.
20 Witness,
WN. COLE, Accountant,
South Molton, Devon.
JAMES COMINS. (L.S.)
Agricultural Implement Maker,
South Molton, Devon.