A MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL.
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Samson, of Le Vol Farm, St.
Brelade's Bay, in the Island of Jersey, Channel Islands, for the Invention
of "A MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL.'
FROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Samson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th April 1860.
I, WILLIAM HENRY SAMSON, of Le Vol Farm. St. Brelade's Bay, in the
Island of Jersey, Channel Islands, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a machine or apparatus that can be so arranged
as to perform the several and successive processes of paring, scarifying and
ploughing the soil or other processes that may be required in the cultivation
of land, by simply changing the implements with which the same is accom-
plished. This is effected in the following manner: A frame made of wrought
iron or steel or other suitable metal or material is supported by wheels.
this frame are attached the certain implements for the different processes,
To

page_text: for paring and preparing the ground, a series of paring shares or tines are
attached thereto, arranged diagonally to the direction of motion, and imme-
diately behind the said paring shares or tines are discs, to which are attached
pronged forks or single tines, as may be found preferable for tearing and scat-
tering the ground, which are fixed on a shaft to which motion is imparted by
the rolling of the wheels supporting the frame, and by an arrangement of
screws and levers, the frame and consequently the implements attached thereto.
may be raised or lowered accordingly as may be required for the nature of
the soil or ground. The shaft carrying the pronged discs may be removed frome
the frame, and also the paring shares or tines, and a combined ploughshare, and
mould board attached thereto, or other implement as may be required.
To the same frame can also be fixed a rake or harrow and by
placing it more or less diagonally to the direction of motion, the
distance between the furrows will be greater or less accordingly to facilitate
the turning of the machine, a ratchet or other similar contrivance, controlled
by a spring, is attached to the axle of the hind wheels for the purpose of per-
mitting the machine or apparatus to be turned without causing the pronged
discs to revolve.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Henry Samson, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY SAMSON, of Le Vol Farm, St. Brelade's Bay, in the Island of Jersy.
Channel Islands, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria. by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unte me, the said
William Henry Samson, Her special licence that I. the said William Henry
Samson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I. the said William Henry Samson. 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 Inven-
tion for "A MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Henry Samson, my

page_text: 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 per-
formed, 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 William Henry Samson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement :-
To
This Invention relates to a machine or apparatus that can be so arranged
as to perform the several and successive processes of paring, scarifying, and
ploughing the soil, or other processes that may be required in the cultivation
of land, by simply changing the implements with which the same is accom-
plished. This is effected in the following manner, a frame made of wrought
iron, steel, or other suitable metal or material is supported by wheels.
this frame are attached to certain implements for the different processes.
For paring and preparing the ground, a series of paring shares or tines are
attached thereto arranged diagonally to the direction of motion, and imme-
diately behind the said paring shares or tines are discs, to which are attached
pronged forks or single tines, as may be found preferable for tearing and scat-
tering the ground. which are fixed on a shaft to which motion is imparted by
the rolling of the wheels supporting the frame, and by an arrangement of
screws or levers the frame and consequently the implements attached thereto
may be raised or lowered, accordingly as may be required for the nature of
the soil or ground. The shaft carrying the pronged discs may be removed from
the frame and also the paring shares or tines, and a combined ploughshare, and
mould board attached to a stem or stems substituted in the place of the paring
shares or tines, or any other suitable implement as may be required. To the
.same frame can also be fixed a rake or harrow, and by placing it more or less
diagonally to the direction of motion, the distance between the furrows will
be greater or less accordingly. To facilitate the turning of the machine, a
ratkhet or other similar contrivance controlled by a spring is attached to
the axle of the hind wheels to facilitate the turning of the machine or
apparatus.
Having thus stated the nature of the Invention, that it may be more fully
understood will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
forming part of this Specification, in which the same letters of reference
indicate like parts.

page_text: In Sheet I, Fig. I represents a plan; and Fig. 2 a longitudinal elevation of
the machine with the ploughs and the pronged or forked discs arranged
obliquely or diagonally to the direction of motion of the machine or apparatus.
Part of this Figure is shewn in section through the line 6, 7, see Fig. 1, for
the purpose of more clearly exposing the working parts.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 1 represents a plan of part of the machine with the
pronged or forked discs arranged transversely to the direction of motion of the
machine or apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the slotted bar S,
see Sheet 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 4, a cross section of the pronged or forked discs;
and Fig. 5 a front elevation of the same; Figs. 6 & 7, elevation and plan
of the machine suitably arranged for hand traction.
The machine or apparatus is constructed with a wrought or cast-iron
framing. or a framing made of any other suitable material A, A, A, see
Sheet I, and is supported and tied together by cross pieces B, B, which also
serve to maintain and hold certain working parts of the machine fixed thereto,
such as the shaft K carrying the pronged or forked discs D, D, D, and the
combined paring shares and mould boards C, C. The framing A, A, A, is
supported on the hind wheels E, E, and the fore or steering wheels F, F, or
by a single guide wheel. Fixed on the axle or shaft L, carrying the hind
wheels E, E, is a spur wheel G which is in gear with a pinion H, which runs
loose upon the short stud or shaft p, Fixed to and turning with the spur
pinion His a bevel wheel 1 which gears into one of a similar or any other
size M, therefore one revolution of the hind wheels will make several of the
shaft K, the number of revolutions varying according to the comparative sizes
of the wheels G, H, I, and M. but I prefer that the shaft K makes six revo-
lutions to the hind wheel's one. The pronged or forked discs D, D, D, are
fixed on the shaft K and revolve with it. The said shaft K is supported by
bearings b, b, b, fixed to the frame A, A, and the cross or transverse bars B, B.
These bearings may be raised or lowered between guides provided for that
purpose by means of keys or other similar contrivance, and when the keys are
entirely withdrawn the shaft with the discs may be taken out which is re-
quired to be done when the machine is to be used for other purposes than to
tear and scatter the surface, prepared by paring shares or tines C, d. These
paring shares or tines d are constructed with a mould board C attached,
shaped in such a manner as to turn the furrow on edge in the best position
to receive the full blow of the prongs or forks fixed on the discs D, D. The
paring share D forms part of a stem V; these stems are fixed to the

page_text: machine by means of sockets X, X, X, screwed or fastened to the cross pieces
or transverse bars B, B, B, and in which said sockets they are fitted and slide
in, and may be lowered or raised according to desire, and fixed at any height
by means of the set screws e, e, e, or other like equivalent of the same. The
front end of the frame is supported by the steering wheels F, F, to which it is
attached by means of a bar O. This bar is connected to the axle by the
socket h, through which the axle slides, and is fixed at any desired position
by a set screw or other suitable contrivance. The notches on the shackle or
holdfast T fixed to the framework of the machine are for the purpose of
changing the position of the pulling chain according to the number of ploughs
at work, so that the force exerted by the horses or other motive power may
be always in a line with the centre of greatest resistance, and to regulate the
width of furrow. The notches at m on the axle of the steering wheels are
made for the same object. The lever P is for raising or lowering the fore
part of the machine, the said lever having a fulcrum at Q, the upper extremity
of a swivel Q' in which works the bar O on turning the machine. To the
extremity of the shorter end of the lever is jointed a chain R or connecting
rod, which is fastened to the end of the framework of the machine or appa-
ratus. The lever P works in or is guided by a slotted bar S provided with
catches S2, S3, as shewn in Sheet 2, Figs. 2 and 3. On depressing the end of
the lever working in the slotted bar S, the chain R lifts the machine, and on
raising the said lever the opposite result is obtained. The framework of the
machine being guided by the sockets O' & 03 sliding on the upright bar O,
this may be also effected by means of a screw or other similar contrivance.
Thus the depth of working can be regulated, and the working parts raised
from the surface of the ground for travelling on the road or transporting the
machine. The wheel U fixed to the corner of the frame A is to give addi-
tional support to the same. The said wheel turns on a small shaft or pin
held by the bar U', which is held to the frame by an arrangement of keys
and sockets as shewn at n, or by set screws or other suitable contrivance
the height of this wheel U may be thus adjusted to requirement. Y, Y, are
ratchets arranged to each hind wheel, the action of which is as follows:-The
faces of the ratchets are provided with teeth in the ordinary manner, and are
pressed in together by a spring or springs t, t, one part of the ratchet r slides
freely on a key or keys fixed on the shaft (or the axle may be squared on the
part on which the ratchet slides, and thus dispense with the keys). The
ratchet always revolves with the shaft, the remaining part is fixed to the
wheel and revolves with it loosely on the shaft. When the machine is tra-
velling in the proper direction, the part of the ratchet fixed on the wheel

page_text: turns the shaft also by its teeth engaging in those of the part r sliding on keys
on the shaft, but when turning the machine, or on turning the wheel in the
opposite direction the teeth slide over each other; the play of the part r
on the keyed shaft being regulated by the spring or springs, t. Thus
although each wheel aids in giving motion to the shaft L, and.consequently
to the pronged or forked discs D, they can revolve independently of each other.
These ratchets Y, Y, also serve as catch boxes, for by separating or drawing
them out of gear by means of the lever Y¹, one end of which works in a groove
made in the part y, the wheels no longer turn the shaft L. therefore the
revolving discs and toothed wheels remain at rest.
The depth of working of the machine behind may also be regulated, by the
following arrangement:-Two levers A', A', of equal lengths, whose fulcrums
is the shaft L. of the hind wheels are attached or fastened firmly together
by a foot board Z to which is fixed the hand lever qg. The shorter extremities
are jointed to the framework of the machine at 3 and 5, the pinion shaft or
pin p passing through a hole made in the extremity of one of them, and in
which it works freely. y, y, are guides to the said levers A', A'. On
depressing the foot board Z, and consequently the longer ends of the levers,
the machine is raised, and vice versa, and at the same time the wheels G and
When adjusted to
Hare kept in gear as the levers turn upon the shaft L.
the proper height or depth the position may be maintained by a stud or peg
passing through the levers into holes provided or made in the guides y, v. or
by any other similar or suitable contrivance. To keep up a constant speed of
the pronged or forked dises D, D, and to increase the adhesion antl power of the
hind wheels to turn the same, a band of iron, provided with spikes or thin
teeth z, z, z, may be placed on the exterior circumference of the wheels. By
turning the nut of the screw bolt 2, which is fastened to the two ends of the
band they are drawn forcibly together and tightened firmly on the rim or
exterior circumference of the wheel; this arrangement permits the convenient
removal of the band when not required, as when travelling on the roads or
when the machine is not at its work. The pronged or forked discs D, D, are
so constructed that the forks or prongs may be changed for single or other tines
as may be required for the nature of the ground to be operated upon.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 4 is a cross section, and Fig. 5 a front elevation of a
pronged disc. The prongs, forks, or tines are fastened to the disc by bolts a, a,
or other suitable means easy of removal, and the stem of the tines also enter
into slots made in the rim of the discs for securing them in the proper position.
That the force necessary to turn the said discs may be equally distributed
throughout each revolution, they are fixed on the shaft K in such a manner that

page_text: the prongs or tines follow helically or spirally round the shaft, so that only one
strikes the soil or ground at a time. A chain is fastened or hooked to the
notched shackle or holdfast T, the other end being connected to the ring i, and
to the opposite side of which are attached two chains 1. 1, fastened to the splinter
bar N, to which shafts or other gear may be attached for either single, double,
or any number of horses as may be required, or any other motive power.
The combined paring shares and mould boards C, d, held by the stems
V, V, V, to the framework of the machine may be removed, and in their places
substituted an equal number of combined plough shares and mould boards,
turnfurrows, or other like tools or implements for the cultivation of the soil,
suitably arranged with stems like those indicated by V, V, V, whose places
they would occupy, and he fixed to the machine in the same or a similar
manner.
In Sheet 2, Fig. I. is a plan representing another arrangement of the fore
or working part of the machine. In this the shaft K. carrying the discs 'is put
transversely to the direction of motion of the machine; by this means the bevel
wheels I and M are dispensed with, the shaft K being driven direct by incans of
the spur wheels G, G. and pinion H, but the remaining parts of the machine
are constructed substantially in the manner as herein-before described, and the
same description is applicable to its illustration and the comprehension of its
working.
'
The chief advantage, of the arrangement shewn in Sheet I. is, that the
earth or soil is thrown to the side of the implement, thus leaving a furrow open
for the tread of the horses, and which regulates the width of ground taken each
time by the machine.
Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal elevation, and Fig. 7 a plan of a similar
machine or apparatus as herein-before described, but of a smaller size, and
made suitable for traction by hand power, and is also applicable to hoeing
between drilled crops or rows. This may be supported at the front by a single
guide wheel, but the general purposes and arrangements are substantially
the same as in the machine or apparatus described in Fig. 1, Sheet 2, with
the exception of the following:-The hind wheels E. E, may be moved so as
to change the width between them to travel between the rows of crops, and
fastened at any position by means of a key, set screw, or other suitable
contrivance. To the hind part of the machine and partly embracing the
revolving discs is a guard Z, which prevents the soil thrown back by the
revolving discs from falling on or burying the young crops when hoeing
between the rows. The sides of this guard Z may be adjusted or brought
nearer together to suit any width of row, and one or more of the revolving discs

page_text: may be removed for the same purpose.
handles fixed to the hind part of the frame.
The machine may be guided by
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention, and
the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I would have it understood
that I do not bind myself to the precise details herein described and shewn
in the accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing
from the principle of my Invention; but what I claim is a machine or apparatus
for the cultivation of the soil, constructed and arranged substantially in the
manner as herein-before described and shewn in the accompanying Drawings
and applicable to the different purposes as herein explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Samson, have hereunto,
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
JOSEPH WILLCOCK,
89, Chancery Lane.
(L.S.) WILLIAM HENRY SAMSON.