IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS FOR CUTTING OPEN DITCHES OR GUTTERS,
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Tucker Mallett of Street in the County of
Somerset for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS FOR CUTTING
OPEN DITCHES OR GUTTERS,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Tucker Mallett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th July 1882.
Thomas Tucker MALLETT of Street in the County of Somerset.
MENTS IN PLOUGHS FOR CUTTING OPEN DITCHES OR GUTTERS
"
" IMPROVE-
This Invention has for its object improvements in ploughs for cutting open
ditches or gutters.
The plough consists of an ordinary long framed iron plough, fitted with a flat
sole in front of which is a wide point or share one side of which slopes away
(in plan) under the mould board; the other side after similarly sloping for a short
distance is notched into the width of the sole this share is raised or lowered by
being pivotted on a pin and by having a continuation of it running backwards
and adjusted by a screw and lock nuts.
On the top of the point or share is the delivery board of steel, iron, wood or
other suitable material, this rises in a curve and then runs backwards and to one
side, by, which, means the sod as it is cut is lifted out of, and laid parallel with the
gutter and unturned.
On the side of the delivery board is the mould board of suitable material
adjusted laterally by a screw stay and set at the required angle.
Two disc coulters of steel or iron are carried by the plough beam in such a
manner as to be easily adjusted both vertically and horizontally, by which means
the width and depth of the gutter is regulated, the larger one is placed so as to
work alongside the sole and behind the notch in the point or share (already
mentioned) the smaller one is placed on the opposite side of the beam at the
required distance in advance of the share, these also can be set at an angle when
sloping sides are required for the gutter. In front of these is a wheel (carried
on a bell crank) which wheel can be raised or lowered by a handle, to regulate the
depth of work as requisite whilst the plough is in motion.

page_text: an arm m² and from this a rod passes to a hand lever p. By drawing back the
lever p the share and coulters of the plough are raised and they may be lifted
as the Drawing shows above the wheel and out of the ground. On the other
hand when the handle p is allowed to come forward the share and coulters
descend.
A pawl taking into a ratchet arc q locks the handle when the share is at the
depth required and this depth may be varied during working.
In the working of the plough the wheel, governs the depth of the ditch or
gutter and the distance between the coulters g. h. determines the width.
The share o is wider than the bottom of the ditch or gutter and it undercuts the
sod to be raised and cuts into the track of the coulter g.
The coulter A. follows immediately behind the point of the share and cuts down
into its track.
The front of the coulter h. is almost as far forward as the point of the
share and its edge is housed in a notch in the share. The sod is thus com-
pletely and simultaneously severed below and on the land side before reaching
the delivery board e which has only to lift it from the ditch or gutter. The
mould board then places it on the side with the least possible disturbance and all
ready to be replaced if desired.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim as novel in respect
to my ploughs for cutting open ditches or gutters.-
First. The combination of the share c, and wheel coulter h. the share over-
lapping the coulter so as effectually to detach the sod substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the delivery board e. and mould board f. sub-
stantially as described and acting to raise the sod out of the ditch or gutter and
deliver without turning it on the side.
Third. The combination in a ditch or gutter plough of a share c. wheel coulters
g and h. delivery board e. and regulating wheel 7. substantially as described.
Fourth. The improved ditch or gutter plough substantially as described and
represented in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Tucker Mallett have hereunto
set my hand and seal this third day of January in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.