IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES AND IMPLEMENTS FOR PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATING LAND, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Collett Homersham, of Adelphi Terrace,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES AND IMPLEMENTS FOR PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATING
LAND, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES "
Sealed the 10th October 1861, and dated the 4th May 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Collett
Homersham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 4th May 1861.
I, WILLIAM COLLETT HOMERSHAM, of Adelphi Terrace, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES AND IMPLEMENTS FOR PLOUGHING AND CULTI-
VATING LAND, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention with reference to engines when portable, consists, in the first
place, in making one or more of the travelling wheels in the form of hollow
discs, so as to adapt such wheel or wheels for containing water in substitution
for the ordinary tender. These wheels are constructed with an inner and an
outer disc forming together a water chamber, and are furnished with a pipe
or pipes for the purpose of delivering the water as required, during their
revolution, into a tank fixed in any convenient part of the boiler.
My Invention with reference to engines consists, in the second place, in the
D

page_text: insertion of vertical partitions in the body of the boiler extending upwards
through a portion of the steam space for the purpose of dividing the water
space, so as to prevent the water from being thrown to one end of the boiler
when the engine is travelling up or down hill; also for the purpose of causing
the water when fed into the boiler at the smoke-box end thereof to come in
contact with the heat at the greatest distance from the furnace, thereby
economising the consumption of fuel. A valve is inserted in each partition,
by means of which a communication may be opened between one water
chamber and another, when desired, through suitable gear worked by a
handle. These valves are kept open when the engine is standing or running
on level ground. The partitions in the water space and the arrangement for
feeding the water into the boiler, so as to bring the water of the lowest
temperature in the boiler in contact with the heat nearest the chimney,
may be adapted and applied to other forms of boilers and their seatings.
And my Invention further consists in adapting and applying ropes or chains
covered with beads of cast iron or other suitable material to convey the power
of the engine to the travelling wheels, so as to render a portable engine self-
propelling. The ropes so covered work into V-pulleys of suitable form, which
it may be preferable to line with lead or other soft material. Ordinary steel
rope is well adapted for this purpose, but ropes and chains of other materials
can be employed.
I also apply for the same purpose, in conjunction with a tightening pulley
or pulleys, ropes or chains working into plain pulleys, which may have their
inner surface slightly serrated, or with or without the tightening pulleys into
V-pulleys fitted with sliding self-acting clips, which are caused to grip and
release the rope at suitable points in their revolution.
My Invention with reference to implements for ploughing and cultivating
land consists, in the first place, in forming a cultivator with prongs or tynes, so
connected with the frame as to be easily raised out of or caused to enter the
ground whether the implement is in action or not. The 'tynes when out of the
ground can be quickly adjusted to present their cutting edges to either end of
the implement, and thus permit of its being worked in both directions. The
tynes of this or any other form of cultivator, or somewhat similar implement,
I make out of T-iron, of the usual form and suitable dimensions. The front
or cutting edge of the T-iron it is preferable to have rolled in steel. The
frame is supported principally on two wheels at the centre; there are also
wheels at the ends, and the tynes are so arranged and adjusted as to cause
all the strain and weight to rest on the centre, wheels and the one that is in
advance, whichever way the implement is working. This arrangement no
21233

page_text: only permits the back wheel to be raised off the ground, but the
implement can be steered by moving the wheel that is in advance, though
it may be found more efficient to move the main wheels.
And my Invention under this head relates, in the second place, to arrange-
ments wherein several ploughs are placed at each end of a frame, in order that
they may alternately come into and go out of action, and consists in raising or
lowering each set of implements horizontally, or nearly so, by means of levers
or other suitable mechanism, thereby obviating the tendency of the set of
implements that are out of action to raise the others out of the ground
through their momentum when the cutting shares meet with a sudden obstruc-
tion. The frame may be of any suitable form, and supported on two or more
wheels, but I prefer to have three wheels, with the wheel at each end so
arranged that the wheel in advance, whichever way the implement is working,
may be raised from the ground, if required. On both cultivator, and plough,
when used in conjunction with the capstan or endless rope system, I mount
two drums, by which to regulate the length of rope..
And my Invention consists, in the last place, in making the swivel at the
joints of traction ropes with a taper spindle or tension pin, and entirely of
steel, thus rendering the swivel more compact for a given strength in passing
round pulleys.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Collett Homersham in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th October 1861..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
COLLETT HOMERSHAM, of Adelphi. Terrace, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said, William Collett Homersham, Her special license that I, the said William
Collett Homersham,my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Collett Homersham, 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

page_text: Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINES AND IMPLEMENTS FOR PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATING
LAND, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Collett Homer-
sham, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Collett Homersham, 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
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in Engines and Implements for Ploughing
and Cultivating Land, l'arts of which Improvements are also applicable to
other Purposes," consists, with reference to engines when portable, in the first
place, in making one or more of the travelling wheels in the form of hollow
discs, so as to adapt such wheel or wheels for containing water in substitution
for the ordinary tender. These wheels are constructed with an inner and an
outer disc, forming together a water chamber, and are furnished with a pipe
or pipes, for the purpose of delivering the water as required during their
revolution into a tank or cistern fixed on any convenient part of the boiler.
My Invention with reference to engines consists, in the second place,in the
insertion of vertical partitions in the body of the boiler, extending upwards
through a portion of the steam space, for the purpose of dividing the water
space so as to prevent the water from being thrown to one end of the boiler
when the engine is travelling up or down hill; also for the purpose of causing
the water when fed into the boiler at the smoke box end thereof to come in
contact with heat at the greatest distance from the furnace, thereby econo-
mizing the consumption of fuel. A valve is inserted in each partition, by
means of which a communication may be opened between one water chamber
and another when desired through suitable gear worked by a handle. These
valves are kept open when the engine is standing, or when it is running on
level ground. The partitions in the water space, and the arrangement for
feeding the water into the boiler so as to bring the water of the lowest
temperature in the boiler in contact with the heat nearest the chimney may
be applied to other forms of boilers and their seatings.
And my Invention further consists in adapting and applying ropes or chains,

page_text: covered with beads of cast iron or other suitable material, to convey the power
of the engine to the travelling wheels, so as to render a portable engine self-
propelling. The ropes so covered work into V pulleys of suitable form, which
it may
be preferable to line with lead or other soft material. Ordinary steel
rope is well adapted for this purpose, but ropes and chains of other materials
can be employed. I also apply for the same purpose, in conjunction with a
tightening pulley or pulleys, ropes or chains working into plain pulleys, which
may have their inner surface slightly serrated; or with or without the tight-
ening pulleys I employ ropes or chaius working into V pulleys, fitted with
sliding self-acting clips, which are caused to grip and release the rope at
suitable points at their revolution.
My Invention, with reference to implements for ploughing and cultivating
land, consists in forming a cultivator with prongs or tynes so connected with
the frame as to be easily raised out of or caused to enter the ground, whether
the implement is in action or not. The tynes when out of the ground can be
quickly adjusted to present their cutting edges to either end of the implement,
and thus perinit of its being worked in both directions. The tynes of this or
other form of cultivator, or somewhat similar implement, I make of T-iron, of
the usual form, and of suitable dimensions. It is preferable to have the front
or cutting edge of the T-iron rolled in steel. The frame of the implement is
supported principally on two wheels at or near the centre. There are also
wheels at the ends, and the tynes are so arranged and adjusted as to cause.all
the strain and weight to rest on the two centre wheels, and the wheel that is
in advance, whichever way the implement is working. This arrangement not
only permits the wheel at the back to be raised off the ground, but the imple-
ment can be guided or steered by moving the wheel that is in advance, though
it may be found more efficient to move the main wheels. When the cultivator
is used in combination with the capstan or endless rope system, I mount two
drums, by which to regulate the length of rope.
And my Invention consists, in the last place, in making the junctions of
traction ropes
with hollow taper spindles and tapered tension pins, the ends of
the ropes being inserted in the said spindles, and spread out so as to fit tightly
in the hollow part thereof, by driving a wedge or wedges into the core of the
rope. By this means the joint is rendered more compact and pliable for a
given strength in passing round pulleys.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed, by
the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented some of
the parts above referred to.
:

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portable engine with my improvements applied
thereto, and Fig. 2 is a partial end view, with one of the wheels for containing
water, shewn in cross section. The wheel is constructed with two discs A, A,
forming a water chamber B, and is furnished with a pipe C, with an open
mouth at the outer end (shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1); for the purpose of
taking up the water as the wheel revolves, and conveying it to the pipe D in
the axle, whence it is delivered to the feed cistern of the boiler. The quantity
of water allowed to pass through the pipe D is regulated by the plug E.
In Fig. 1 are also represented by dotted lines at F, F, the vertical partitions
in the body of the boiler herein-before referred to, by means of which the
water space is divided so as to prevent the water from being thrown to one
end of the boiler when the engine is travelling up or down hill, and also to
cause the water when fed into the boiler at the smoke box end to come in
contact with the heat at the greatest distance from the furnace. G, G, are the
valves, inserted one in each partition, and worked by suitable hand gear, for the
purpose of opening a communication between one water chamber and another
when required. The partitions F, F, and the arrangement for feeding the
boiler in the manner above stated, may be adapted and applied to other forms
of boilers and their seatings. The boiler may also be raised on its fore
carriage, by means of a screw or other suitable mechanism when the partitions
are not inserted, in order to prevent the water from being withdrawn from
the heating surface at the fire box end when the engine is travelling down
hill. The engine is guided by means of the bar H, connected to the fore
carriage, the inner end of which bar is acted upon by a worm driven by
suitable gearing, shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1, or the outer end is acted
upon by horse-power in the usual manner.
Fig. 3 is a section, full size, of a portion of one of the pulleys used for
carrying the rope by which the power of the engine is transmitted to the
geering of the driving wheels. I shews the sectional form of the V-pulley;
K,K,are the sliding clips fitted into grooves, and working within the inclines
I, I, and bearing on the loose ring L. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 1,
that as the rope M. presses on the sliding clips K, K, they will be brought
together, and thus caused to grip the rope for a distance of about a fourth of
the circumference of the pulley, the sliding clips at the same time being placed
in the position either to receive or to liberate the rope at the required points,
without causing any transverse strain on the rope. This rope sets in motion
a shaft at the front of the boiler, on which are two clutch boxes and pinions,

page_text: the latter gearing with wheels fixed to the driving wheels. The clutch boxes
allow of either driving wheel being thrown out of gear when required in
passing round corners. The same arrangement for giving motion to the rope
may be adapted and applied for working a traction rope in steam cultivation,
or for other purposes. And I sometimes substitute the pitch chain and wheel
for the gripping pulley and rope in the driving gear of the engine.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, and Fig. 5 a plan or horizontal view, of my
improved cultivator; Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken in the line A, B,
of Fig. 5, shewing mechanism for raising, lowering, and reversing the prongs
or tynes, one of which is shewn in transverse section at Fig. 7.
It will be seen on reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6, that the prongs or
tynes are raised or lowered by means of the handle N through the gearing
shewn, and they may be reversed by withdrawing the key O, shewn in Fig. 6,
the tynes being provided with suitable key ways to admit of their being
adjusted to work in either direction. The mechanism for raising, lowering,
and reversing the tynes may be varied, and in some cases I use double tynes,
as represented by double lines in one instance in Fig. 4, whereby the necessity
for reversing the tynes is obviated.
In Fig. 7 the full lines represent the section of the tyne in the line F, F,
of Fig. 4, and the dotted lines the normal form of the T-iron, and the
section of the tyne in the line C, D. The double etching shews the cutting
edge of the tyne, which it is preferable to have rolled in steel; but the form
of tyne represented may be cast in steel or other metals.
*1.
Fig. 8 represents the junction of two ends of rope. P, P, are the hollow taper
spindles in which the ends of rope are inserted; these spindles are tapered in-
ternally as well as externally, the hole at the outer end being of the same diameter
as the rope,and increasing towards the inner end; Q are the wedges (which
may be of iron or wood, but I prefer a combination of the two) driven into the
centre of the rope, which generally consists of a hempen core: The swivel
is of the ordinary construction, except that the tension piu R is made taper.
When a swivel is not required I substitute two links of an ordinary chain,
as shown at Fig. 9, which are found to be sufficiently pliable.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as
of my Invention is,-
First, the use in portable engines of travelling wheels constructed so as
to be capable of containing water in substitution for the ordinary tender.
Secondly, the insertion of vertical partitions in the body of the boiler,
thereby dividing the water space, for the purpose of preventing the water from

page_text: being thrown to one end of the boiler when the engine is travelling up or
down hill, and also for the purpose of causing the water fed into the smoke
box end of the engine to come in contact with the heat at the greatest
distance from the fuel, as herein-before described.
Thirdly, the insertion of the said partitions in boilers of other forms be-
sides that represented.
Fourthly, communicating motion to ropes by means of sliding clips
working within inclines, and bearing on a loose ring, as herein-before
described.
Fifthly, the combination and arrangement of the parts forming the
cultivator, shewn at Figs. 4, 5, and 6, in which the prongs or tynes are
capable of being raised, lowered, and reversed in the manner herein-before
described.
Sixthly, the use of prongs or tynes of the form represented and
described.
And, lastly, the mode of forming the junctions of ropes by means of hollow
taper spindles and tapered tension pins, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Collett Homersham have here
unto set my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one
W. COLLETT HOMERSHAM. (L.S.)
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
50, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Patent Agent.