CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PARED SPADING MACHINE
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Godfrey Reynolds, of Bristol, in the State
of Rhode Island, United States of America, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN PARED SPADING MACHINE"
Sealed the 5th August 1862, and dated the 1st March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Godfrey Reynolds
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st March 1862.
I, SAMUEL GODFREY REYNOLDS, of Bristol, in the State of Rhode Island,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER SPADING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
In my improved spader a series of spades at the rear of the machine
operate successively upon the ground, raise it, and pulverize it, the spades being
actuated in a peculiar manner by means of cranks, as will be hereafter more
fully described. The operating parts are carried by a platform, upon which is
placed a suitable steam boiler and engine, from which motion is communicated
to the driving shaft; this boiler may even be replaced by a hot air engine, or
by any suitable power by which the machine may be rendered locomotive. A
short horizontal shaft which runs in stationary boxes in the frame of the
machine is caused to revolve by being geared with the main shaft, and carries
a bevel gear, with which engages a gear upon an inclined shaft, upon tlie

page_text: lower end of which shaft is a gear which engages with a bevel gear within the
rim of one of the driving wheels, the two driving wheels being secured per-
manently to the same axle, and thus the machine is propelled over the surface
of the ground whenever the engine is in operation; and in order that the speed
at which it is driven may be varied as the tenacity of the soil may require,
any number of gears of different relative sizes may be employed for the
purpose of connecting the short horizontal shaft above mentioned with the
main shaft, the gears being so arranged as to shift in and out of gear with
their fellows. The spading apparatus is carried by a frame composed of
quadrants and rods. This frame pivots upon the ends of the main shaft, and
is elevated or swung up on its pivots for the purpose of regulating the depth
to which the spades are allowed to enter the ground, and also to clear them
from the ground when the machine is to be transported from place to place by
means of gears upon a shaft which engage with rack teeth upon the bottom
of the quadrants; the frame is held in the desired position with the spades
either in or out of operation by bolts passing through the framework on each
side of the machine, and working in slots in the quadrants, the heads of the
bolts being drawn hard against the quadrants by nuts. The spade carriers
are suspended from a series of cranks, which are all connected into one rigid
bar, the ends of which revolve in bearings in the quadrants. These cranks
have all an equal throw, but they are arranged at different angular distances
around the axis, so that the spades shall follow each other in their action and
strike the earth successively as they descend one after another. At the middle
of the length of the series of cranks, and within its centre in their axis of
rotation is a gear which engages with a gear upon the main shaft, and thus
the cranks are rotated around their common axis; at this point there is a
supporting bar which is attached to the rods, which, together with the
quadrants, compose the frame which carries the spading apparatus, and has
a bearing, in which rotates an axle connected with the series of cranks, and in
their centre of rotation; this bar thus serves to support and sustain the
cranks, and there may be as many of them employed as may be deemed
necessary in any given case, the number varying with the number of spades
employed, and with the strength of the cranks and their connections. Two or
more sets of gears may also be employed at different points along the main
shaft and the crank shaft, for the purpose of driving the latter (or a con-
necting rod and crank at the ends of the shaft may be used). The cranks are
all connected into one rigid bar with their pivots by means of arms, and they
are thus enabled to rotate around a common central axis without being con-
nected with a continuous axle, which would interfere with other moving parts

page_text: of the machine. The spades are attached to their carriers by screws, or
otherwise, and may be of any desirable shape or required strength. From
the carriers. rise rods, which slide through the bearings or boxes, by means of
which the spade carriers are suspended from the cranks; the rods are.
are con-
nected together above the bearings or boxes by.bars which rest upon the top
of the boxes. Suspended from the pivots with which the cranks aro connected
is a shaft, the ends of which slide in slots made vertical, or nearly so, in.
metallic plates. This shaft carries a series of arms or shackle bars, of which
there are two for cach spade carrier; these shackle bars aro connected with
the crank carriers, and thus as the carriers are elevated and depressed by the
cranks, they are also vibrated a certain distance around the shaft, and the
spades are caused to move in a curve very nearly vertical while the spade is
descending to enter the ground, and then outwards to loosen and break up
or turn the earth. In certain cases the shackle bars may be dispensed with,
the lower ends of the spade carriers being caused to work through slots or
holes in the frame, or they may be driven by cranks, but this arrangement I
do not consider so good. It will be observed that the motions of the spades
in the machine will constantly vary either in direction or velocity with respect
to each other, by which they will be prevented from clogging and carrying up
the earth between them however close they may be placed to each other. For
the purpose of avoiding the breaking of the spades or any parts connected
with them, or the spades encountering any obstruction, such as stones, logs, or
1. particularly unyielding stratum of earth, the rods which suspend the spado
carriers from the cranks are not connected rigidly with the machinery, but are
pressed down to their work by springs, and bear up against the under side of
the bearings or boxes by which the spade carriers are suspended from the
cranks; when the spades strike an obstruction which they cannot penetrate
the springs yield, and the rods are forced up through the bearings or boxes.
Other means may be employed for effecting this yielding of the spade to avoid
breakage or injury without materially departing from my Invention; for
instance, the spades may be attached to the end of long spring handles like
hoe handles, and be operated by cranks above. It is also obvious that the
spades should be endowed with some capability of yielding in a horizontal
direction, that they may not be broken or bent should they encounter an
unyielding obstruction when they are thrust out to pulverize the soil; this
may be accomplished by making the rods above mentioned of spring steel, or
by connecting them with the shackle bars by strong spiral springs. By placing
the spades behind the carrying wheels the latter are caused to run only upon
the unploughed ground, and a great economy of the power required to drive

page_text: the machine is the result, and the freshly moved ground is not compressed.
Upon the end of the main shaft is a pulley, from which a band or chain runs
to a similar pulley upon the end of a shaft, upon which are two cranks, to
which are connected the handles or shafts of a harrow, which is connected
with the spading machine in the following manner :-A shaft furnished with
harrow teeth is pivoted to the handles, so that as the harrow proceeds the
harrow teeth rotate in contact with the soil. A harrow frame, composed of
separate bars which project in between the circles of rotating teeth, and which
are also furnished with teeth which enter the ground and drag along through
it. The harrow frame is suspended from the handles or shafts by a rod. It
is obvious that in whichever way this harrow is drawn while one set of teeth
rotate through the soil, the other set drag longitudinally through it, and that
these two sets of teeth while undergoing this counter action are in the
immediate vicinity of each other, thus crushing and grinding the clods between
them, instead of merely striking or moving them to one side, as is the case
with the simple rotating or dragging harrow. The action of the harrow when
connected with a machine of this character by means of cranks, as above
described, is peculiar, whether the harrow rotate or not, and whether it be
composite or composed of a single set of similar teeth, for on the motion of
the crank in one direction the harrow will be caused to advance, and on the
return movement of the crank it will recede from tho machine, and it will
thus keep up a continual back-and-forth motion through the ground, which
will greatly aid in crushing the clods and pulverizing the soil; it will also be
seen that the shafts or handles of the rake are raised and depressed every
revolution of the cranks to which they are connected, thus giving A peculiar
rocking motion to the harrow, which assists the teeth in clearing themselves,
and also facilitates their operation. That the barrow may not be fouled or
clogged by stones the teeth should be obtuse pointed, and stout.
It is manifest as the two carrying wheels are fixed to the same shaft that
some method of turning the machine will be required at the ends of the furrows.
For this purpose the following device is employed :-Upon each side of the
machine is a post, which has at its lower end a broad circular foot, the post
and foot being held up by a pawl, upon which enters a notch in the post, the
lever being held elevated by a hooked rod, or otherwise. On arriving at the
end of a furrow the post is dropped upon the ground, and another pawl is
pushed by a sliding bar into a notch in the post, and the lever is brought
down and locked under a catch, by which means the weight of one side of the
machine is thrown upon the foot, and the adjacent wheel is raised from contact
with the ground; if now the action of the machine be continued, it will pivot

page_text: round upon
the foot, spading up a semicircular piece as it goes round, and as
the foot is directly in advance of the extreme side spade, the spades are
brought into the proper position to commence work without leaving an
unspaded strip. It is obvious that the post must be in line with the axis of
revolution of the main wheels.
The method in which the machine is guided or steered by the conductor
will now be described:-At the advance end of the machine is a third carrying
wheel, which is pivoted to a turntable, consisting of a horizontal plate and
vertical side plates, the wheel pivoting in the side plates, and the whole turn-
table rotating horizontally upon a vertical axle in a frame rising from the
platform before mentioned; the lower plate of the turntable rotates in a
circular opening in the platform, and at the advance edge of this opening a
circular rack is secured, the teeth of which engage with a pinion upon the
lower end of a windlass shaft, the lower end of which is stepped into the plate;
this shaft is steadied by the top plate of the turntable, or by a bar projecting
therefrom; attached to the frame is a stationary platform, upon which the
conductor stands to guide or steer the machine by operating the windlass. It
is obvious that the third carrying wheel should be so turned that its axis shall
pass through the centre of the post which carries the fork whenever tho
machine is to be turned; in lieu of the arrangement above described, the rack
may be placed upon the turntable, and the pinion upon the platform. In
certain soils the momentum. of the revolving spades with the parts attached
thereto would be sufficient to cause them to penetrate the earth even were
the springs dispensed with, but I prefer the construction above described as
that which is best adapted to all soils, and most conducive to lightness and to
celerity of operation. Instead of the device of lever and pawls for raising and
lowering the foot, a steam jack. or worm gear and cog wheel to be operated
by the engine may be used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Godfrey Reynolds in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
GODFREY REYNOLDS, of Bristol, in the State of Rhode Island, United States
of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of March,. in the year of our Lord 1862,

page_text: in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me; the said Samuel Godfrey Reynolds, Her
special license that I, the said Samuel Godfrey Reynolds, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Godfrey
Reynolds, 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 of "CERTAIN IMPROVE -
MENTS IN POWER SPADING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Samuel Godfrey Reynolds, 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 calender months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Godfrey Reynolds, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the samo
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
bereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say)
Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2, a rear elevation; Fig. 3, a side elevation; Figs. 4,
5, 6, and 7, details to be referred to hereafter.
In my improved spader a series of spades at the rear of the machine operate
successively upon the ground, raise it, and pulverize it, the spades being
actuated in a peculiar manner by cranks, as will be hereafter more fully
described. The operating parts are carried by a platform A, upon which is
placed a suitable steam boiler B, and at C are seen the cylinders of the pro-
pelling engine, through the piston rods D of which and the cranks E rotary
inotion is communicated to the driving shaft G, the cranks being set at right
angles to each other. This boiler may even be replaced by a hot air engine or
by any suitable power by which the machine may be rendered locomotive.
The details of the boiler and engine, as they form no part of my present
Invention need not be further described. II is a short horizontal shaft which
runs in stationary boxes in the frame of the machine, and is seen in position in
Figs. 1 and 2.
It is caused to revolve by being geared with the main shaft G,
and carries a bevil gear I, with which engages a gear K upon the inclined
shaft L. Upon the lower end of this shaft is a gear M, which engages with a

page_text: bevel gear (not seen in the Drawings) within the rim of one of the driving wheels
N, the two driving wheels being secured permanently to the same axle, and thus
the machine is propelled over the surface of the ground whenever the engine is
in operation. The power for the revolution of the axle H is communicated
from the main driving shaft through the gears a and b, and in order that the
rate of progress of the machine may be varied as the tenacity of the soil may
require it, any number of gears c, d, of different relative sizes may be employed
for the purpose of connecting the shafts G and H with each other, the gears a
and c being so arranged as to shift in and out of gear with their fellows. The
spading apparatus is carried by a frame composed of the quadrants F and rods
Q and R. This frame pivots upon the ends of the main shaft G, and is
elevated or swung upon its pivots for the purpose of regulating the depth to
which the spades are allowed to enter the ground, and also to clear them from
the ground. when the machine is to be transported from place to place by
means of gears fupon the shaft S which engage with the rack teeth g upon
the bottom of the quadrants. The frame is held in the desired position with
the spades either in or out of operation by bolts passing through the frame-
work on each side of the machine, and working in slots h in the quadrants,
the heads e of the bolts being drawn hard against the quadrants by
nuts (Fig. 2). The spade carriers O are suspended from a series of cranks m
which revolve around the axis of the pivots T in the quadrants F. These
cranks have all an equal throw, but they are arranged at different angular
distances around the axis; so that the spades shall follow each other in
their action and strike the earth successively as they descend one after
another. At the middle of the length of the series of cranks and with its
center in their axis of rotation is a gear V, which engages with a gear W
upon the shaft G, and thus the cranks m are rotated around their common
axis. At this point there is a supporting bar X, which is attached to the
rods Q and R, and has a bearing in which rotates an axle n connected with
the series of cranks, and in their center of rotation; this bar thus serves to
support and sustain the cranks, and there may be as many of them employed
as may be deemed necessary in any given case, the number varying with.
the number of spades employed and with the strength of the cranks and their
connections. Two or more sets of gears, V. and W may be employed at
different points along the shaft G and the crank shaft for the purpose of
driving the latter (or a connecting rod and crank at the ends of the shaft may
be used). The cranks are all connected into one rigid bar with their pivots T
and n by means of arms i, Fig. 6, and they are thus enabled to rotate around
a common central axis without being connected with a continuous axle which

page_text: would interfere with other moving parts of the machine. The spades U are
attached to their carriers O by screws or otherwise, and may be of any desirable
shape or required strength. From the carriers O rise the rods Y, which slide.
through. the bearings or boxes. p, by means of which the spade carriers are
suspended from the cranks m. The rods Y are connected together above the
bearings p by bars 2, which rest upon the top of the boxes p. Z is a shaft
suspended from the pivots T by the rods P; the ends of this shaft slide in
slots made vertical or nearly so in metallic plates A². This shaft carries a series
of arms or shackle bars t, of which there are two for each spade carrier.. These
shackle bars are connected with the carriers O at q, and thus as the carriers are
elevated and depressed by the cranks m they are also vibrated a certain distance
around the shaft Z, and the spades are caused to move in a curve represented.
in Fig. 7 very nearly vertical while the spade is descending to enter the ground
and then outwards to loosen and break up or turn the earth. In certain cases
the shackle bars t may be dispensed with, the lower ends of the spade
carriers being caused to work through slots or holes in the frame,, or
they may be driven by cranks, but this arrangement I do not consider so.
good, as that represented in the Drawings.. It will be observed that
the motions of the spades in the machine represented in. the Drawings will
constantly vary either in direction or velocity with respect to each other, by
which they will be prevented from clogging and carrying up the earth
between them, however close they may be placed to each other. For the
purpose of avoiding the breaking of the spades or any parts connected with
them, or the spades encountering any obstructions such as stones, logs, or a
particularly unyeilding stratum of earth, the rods Y are not connected rigidly
with the machinery but are pressed down to their work by springs u, which
are seen broken away to show the rods Y in Fig. 4, but which surround these
rods and bear up against the under side of the boxes p. When the spades
strike an obstruction which they cannot penetrate, the springs u yeild and the
rods Y, are forced up through the boxes p as seen in Fig. 4; other means may
be employed of effecting this yeilding of the spade to avoid breakage or injury
without materially departing from my Invention; for instance, the spades
may be attached to the ends of long spring handles like hoe handles, and be
operated by cranks above so as to have very nearly tho motions which they
have in the machine represented in the Drawings.
It is also obvious that the spades should be endowed with some capability
of yeilding in a horizontal direction, that they may not be broken or bent
should they encounter an unyeilding obstruction, when they are thrust out to
pulverize the soil; this may be accomplished by making the rods Y of.spring

page_text: steel, or by connecting them with the shackle barst by strong spiral springs.
By placing the spades behind the carrying wheels N the latter are caused to
run only upon the unploughed ground, and a great economy of the power
required to drive the machine is the result, and the freshly moved ground is
not compressed. Upon the end of the main shaft G is a pulley B², from
which a band or chain C runs to a similar pulley D2 upon the end of a
shaft E, upon which shaft are two cranks 2, to which are connected the
handles or shafts F2 of a harrow, which is connected with the spading machine
in the following manner :-A shaft G³, furnished with harrow teeth w, is
pivoted to the handles F, so that as the harrow proceeds the harrow teeth
rotate in contact with the soil. H2 is a harrow frame composed of separate
slots or bars which project in between the circles of rotating teeth w, and
which are also furnished with teeth x, which enter the ground and drag along
through it. The harrow frame H2 is suspended froin the arms F by a rod y.
It is obvious that in whichever way this harrow is drawn while one set of
teeth w rotate through the soil, the other set a drag longitudinally through it,
and that these two sets of teeth while undergoing this counter action are in'
the immediate vicinity of each other, thus crushing and grinding the clods
between them, instead of merely striking or moving them to one side, as is the
case with the simple rotating or dragging harrow. The action of the harrow
when connected with a machine of this character by means of cranks, as above
described, is peculiar, whether the harrow rotate or not, and whether it bo
composite, like the one represented in the Drawings, or composed of a single
set of similar teeth, for on the motion of the crank in one direction the harrow
will be caused to advance, and on the return movement of the crank it will
recede from the machine, and it will thus keep up a continual back-and-forth
motion through the ground, which will greatly aid in crushing the clods and
pulverizing the soil. It will also be seen that the shafts or handles of the
rake aro raised and depressed every revolution of the cranks, thus giving a
peculiar rocking motion to the harrow, which assists the teeth in clearing
themselves, and also facilitates their operation. That the harrow may not be
fouled or clogged by stones the teeth should be obtuso, pointed, and
stout.
1.
It is manifest that as the two carrying wheels N are fixed to the same shaft
that some method of turning the machine will be required at the ends of the
furrows. For this purpose the following device is employed:-Upon each
side of the machine is a post 12, which has at its lower end a broad circular
foot K, the post and foot being held up in the position seen in Fig. 3. by the
pawl L upon the lever M, which enters' a' notch in the post, the lever being

page_text: held elevated, as seen, by a hooked rod N, or otherwise. On arriving at the
end of a furrow the post I is dropped upon the ground, and another pawl O²
is pushed by a sliding bar P into a notch in the post, and the lever is brought
down and locked under a catch Q; by which means the weight of one side of
the machine is thrown upon the foot K, and the adjacent wheel N is raised
from contact with the ground. If now the action of the machine be continued
it will pivot round upon the foot K³, spading up a semicircular piece as it goes
round, and as the foot K is directly in advance of the extreme side spade,
the spades are brought into the proper position to commence work without
leaving an unspaded strip; it is obvious that the post I must be in a line with
the axis of revolution of the wheels N.
The method in which the machine is guided or steered by the conductor
will now be described. At the advance end of the machine is a third carrying
wheel R, which is pivoted to a turntable, consisting of a horizontal plate S³,
and vertical side plates T. The wheel R³ pivoting in the side plates T², and
the whole turntable rotating horizontally upon a vertical axle at U2, in a
frame V rising from the platform A. The lower plate S3 of the turntable
rotates in a circular opening in the platform, and at the advance edge of this
opening a circular rack W is secured, the teeth of which engage with a
pinion a³ upon the lower end of a windlass shaft 3, the lower end of which is
stepped into the plate S; this shaft is steadied by the top plate A³ of the
turntable, or by a. bar projecting therefrom. B³ is a stationary, platform
attached to the frame V2, upon which the conductor stands to guide or steer
the machine by operating the windlass C³. It is obvious that the wheel R
should be so turned that its axis shall pass through the center of the post I
whenever the machine is to be turned.
In lieu of the arrangement above described the rack Ws may be placed
upon the turntable, and the pinion a³ upon the platform.
In certain soils the momentum of the revolving spades, with the parts
attached thereto, would be sufficient to cause them to penetrate the carth,
even were the springs u dispensed with, but I prefer the construction above
described, as that which is best adapted to all soils, and most conducive to
lightness and to celerity of operation.
Instead of the device of lever and pawls here shown for raising and lowering
the foot K, a steam jack or worm gear and cog wheel to be operated by the
engine may be used.
"
Having now set forth the nature of this. Invention, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under
the above recited Letters Patent I claim,-

page_text: The combination of the series of cranks m set in a curved or spiral line, and
the shackle bars t, or their equivalents, with the spade carriers O, for the
purpose of giving the required motion to the spades, as shown in Fig. 7, to
enter the ground, pulverize the soil, and clear themselves, as described.
2nd, I claim the yeilding spade carriers, operating as set forth, for the
purpose specified.
3rd, I claim, in combination with a power spading machine the pivot K³
placed within the axis of the bearing wheels, and operating as set forth.
4th, I claim the combination of a mechanical spading machine with a
barrow, when the harrow follows the machine, and is operated by cranks, in
the manner substantially as set forth, for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Godfrey Reynolds, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Nineteenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord 1862.
Witness,
SAMUEL GODFREY REYNOLDS. (L.s.)
Bristol, Rhode Island.
ESEK. BROWN TALLMAN,
Providence,
Rhode Island.