IMPROVEMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER FOR ACTUATING SUCH IMPLEMENTS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH THE APPLICATION OF STEAM POWER
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Lawrence Taylor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
April 1859.
I, SAMUEL LAWRENCE TAYLOR, of Cotton End, in the County of Bedford,
Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, IN OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER
FOR ACTUATING SUCH IMPLEMENTS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED WITH THE
APPLICATION OF STEAM POWER," to be as follows:-
My improvements in agricultural implements relate principally to imple-
ments to be actuated by steam power, and consist, first, in the arrangements
of single or double-breasted ploughs on a shaft or axis, the one of a pair or
half the number of a series being arranged above the axis, and the other half
below the axis, and so that the one will plough in the one direction and the
other in the opposite direction, the only change required being the turning of
the ploughs on the axis about half a revolution. A bar of the framework is
placed parallel with and under the axis, and acts as a stop to the ploughs to
hold them in position in and out of action. I also mount and arrange subsoil
ploughs, scarifiers, and other instruments of culture in a similar manner
either to act separately or in conjunction in the same frame with the first-
named ploughs. The ploughs and other implements, instead of being set to
turn on the common axis in the plane of their direction of ploughing, may
be arranged so as to turn over in the direction at right angles thereto.
Secondly, in the application of jointed paring instruments to the sole of
ploughs to be used for paring the subsoil or the surface of the land. I place
these parers on bolts or joints, on which they can move so as to be set wider,

page_text: or narrower in order to pare a greater or less width. I also apply a small
spud before each parer, and small hoes set in the reverse direction to the
parers so as to cut a little beyond their breadth, and beyond the points of the
parers.
Thirdly, in the arrangement of scarifiers, rakes, and other implements of
husbandry on an axis or axes, which has a locking plate and a spring catch
applied, which, when left go, allows the instruments to rotate on the axis, and
thus relieves them from any accumulation of matters that may clog their
working; the next retaining notch in succession may retain the instruments
out of action, or allow of a sufficient revolution to bring them or others on the
same axis again into action, which may be assisted by the attendant, if
necessary.
The fourth part relates to implements of cultivation dragged by horses, and
consists in mounting and fitting the drag frame on the fore wheels and
carriages in such manner that it has an oscillating motion in two directions,
the one at right angles to the other, so that the fore wheels may always take a
fair and uniform bearing on the land, no matter how uneven it may be.
The fifth part relates to engines for actuating agricultural implements, and
consists, 1st, of a rotary engine formed by a solid cylinder, or it may be cast
hollow and with suitable arms & centre to fix it on its axis; this cylinder has
cavities in its periphery, which is partially covered by a segmental case
suitably packed and held up to the periphery. It is furnished with steam
passages, which regulate the admission and exit of steam to the cavities in the
periphery, which admission and exit of steam to and from the cavities impel
and give rotary motion to the cylinder. One or more of these segmental cases
may be applied to the periphery.
2nd. Of a method of heating the feed water, and at same time protecting
parts of the boilers of engines employed for actuating these implements; I
partially surround the smoke box with a water tank from which the feed
pump draws, and I also form the smoke box end or door of a double casing to
contain the feed water. For further heating the feed water, I insert a tube
through the body of the boiler from the fire box to the smoke box; in this
tube or cylinder I place a number of small pipes, which form the passage of
the feed water from the pump to the boiler, while the enclosing tube forms the
eduction of the steam from the cylinder to the blast pipe or escape aperture in
the smoke box or other suitable discharge.
3rd. The application of a water partition from back to front of the fire box,
which can be disconnected by simple means, having a blow-off valve arranged
and regulated like a safety valve and with a hand lever to blow off at pleasure;

page_text: also the application of two doors to furnaces furnished with water partitions,
one on the right, the other on the left, so as to readily feed the divisions of
the fire.
4th. Another improvement in these boilers consists in introducing a
chamber below the body of the boiler behind the furnace, in which are a series
of small tubes through which the products of combustion pass, as also around
the chamber which is connected with the main body of the boiler by suitable
tubes so jointed as to be readily connected or disconnected for repairs or other
purpose.
The last part of my Invention refers to a platform for traversing implements
of culture actuated by steam power at the headlands preparatory to their
operation in the opposite direction to that in which they have just performed,
which platform also forms the anchor or hold of the pulley over which the
traction rope passes.
This platform is made with a sliding part and a
stationary part; the stationary part forms the base resting on the ground,
which is held thereto by suitable prongs or holdfasts entering the ground; the
pulley is mounted on the sliding part, and the operating implement advances
on to the sliding part, suitable ways being provided for it to rise upon after the
implement is on the slide; this part is traversed on its guides or rollers in the
direction required, and is moved the necessary distance to be traversed side-
ways by the implement, before commencing to operate in the opposite
direction.
When the implement has proceeded on its opposite course, the lower part of
the platform is free to to be shafted ahead preparatory for another movement
as before. I sometimes mount and suspend this shafting platform on a small
carriage carried by one or more rails sustained by uprights at an elevation
above the ground; such standards may either rest on suitable feet or on
wheels on which to traverse the headland. When the implement is landed on
this platform, the platform and implement is traversed on the supporting rail
or rails in the required direction previous to another bout. When the imple-
ment leaves the platform, the standard or platform carrier is traversed on the
headlands in readiness for another shafting operation. The traction rope
pulley is anchored in any suitable manner.