IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HARROWS AND OTHER TILLING IMPLEMENTS.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rainforth, senior, and William Rainforth, junior,
of Brayford Head, Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HARROWS AND OTHER TILLING
IMPLEMENTS.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Rainforth and
William Rainforth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd
July 1877.
WILLIAM RAINFORTH, senior, and WILLIAM RAINFORTH, junior, of Brayford Head,
Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION, OF
HARROWS AND OTHER TILLING IMPLEMENTS.
"
This Invention, which relates to improvements in harrows and other similar
tilling implements, has for its object the raising or lifting of the frames. carrying
the tines out of action when turning a corner, or releasing the tines from. an
accumulation of switch grass and the lowering of them into action, when required
in a horizontal position, so that all the tines shall clear and enter the ground at the
same time.
The Invention consists in the application and use of a novel and peculiar arrange-
ment of levers adapted to the frame to be lifted and lowered in such a manner that
the frame can be lifted and lowered as required by hand with great ense...
The foremost of these levers we pivot centrally, or nearly so, of its length to the
fore part of the tine frame, and its forward end we form as a bifurcation or fork,
which works in a collar fast on the steering or front wheel spindle, and its rear end
we forin with a slot, in which works a pin on the forward end of a second lever
pivoted somewhat forward of its centre to a bracket bolted to the frame, and the
rear end of which lever we form with a slot, in which works a pin on the forward
end of an arm connected to or forming part of a compound bell-crank quadrant-
notch lever, forming part of the existing arrangement by which the frame is tilted
or lifted only at its rear end. With this arrangement, by simply raising by hand
Price 61

page_text: the quadrant lever, its forward arm depresses the rear end of the bracketted lever,
the forward end of which, being thus raised, raises the foremost lever, and thus
raises the frame, the forward end of this lever working in the collar on the steering
wheel spindle acting as its fulcrum. By lowering the quadrant lever the reverse
action takes place. By these means in combination with the usual cranking of the 5
rear axle and the other means above referred to, by which the frame is at present
tilted or lifted only at its rear end, the frame is lifted and lowered horizontally as
desired, allowing of the tines being accurately set to any depth required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Rainforth and William Rainforth in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd January 1878.
WILLIAM RAINFORTH, senior, and WILLIAM RAINFORTH, junior, of Brayford Head,
Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln. ."IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
HARROWS AND OTHER TILLING IMPLEMENTS.'
"
This Invention, which relates to improvements in harrows and other similar
tilling implements, has for its object the raising or lifting of the frames carrying the
tines out of action when turning a corner, or releasing the tines from an accumu-
lation of switch grass and the lowering of them into action when required in a
horizontal position, by hand, so that all the tines shall clear and enter the ground
at the same time.
The Invention consists in the application and use of a special arrangement of
levers adapted to the frame to be lifted and lowered in such a manner as that
the frame can be lifted or lowered (as required) by hand with great ease.
This particular arrangement of levers is illustrated on the accompanying Sheets
of Drawings as adapted to a harrow, which is otherwise shown as of the usual
construction, and this illustration will equally suffice to illustrate the application
of the levers to other similar tilling implements.
Figures 1 and 2 represent the harrow in its raised and working positions.
1 represents the foremost of the said levers, and this lever we pivot at 2 centrally,
or nearly so, of its length to the fore part 3 of the tine frame 15, which is formed
with a strengthening piece 27, and its forward end 4 we form as a fork or boss
through which the spindle 5 of the front or steering wheel passes, the boss
being retained between collars 7 bolted to the spindle; and its rear end 8 we form
with a slot 9, in which works a pin 10 on the forward end 11 of a second lever 12,
pivotted at 13, somewhat forward of its centre, to a bracket 14 bolted to the
frame 15, and the rear end 16 of which lever we form with a slot 17, in which
works a pin 18 on the forward end 19 of an arm 20, fast on the rear axle 25, or
connected to and working in connection with a quadrant notch lever 21 forming
part of the existing arrangement by which the frame 15 is tilted or lifted only at
its rear end 22. With this arrangement, by simply raising by hand the lever 21
from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 1, its arm 20 depresses
the end 16 of the lever 12, the end 11 of which being thus raised, raises the
lever 1 and the spindle 5 on which it is set, and which when the tines 23 are in
work has an inclined position as shown in Figure 2, and thus raises the frame 15
in a horizontal position as shown in Figure 1. By lowering the lever 21 the reverse

page_text: action takes place. By these means, in combination with the usual cranking 24
of the rear axle 25, and the other means above referred to, by which the frame is
at present tilted or lifted only at its rear end, the tine frames of harrows and other
similar tilling implements can be lifted and lowered horizontally with great ease
by hand as desired, whilst also allowing of the tines being accurately set to any
depth required as usually done.
The spindle 5 is perforated at different parts as at 26, to enable the boss 4 of the
lever 1 to be set higher or lower thereon in order that the tine frame may be set
horizontally or in a slightly tilted position, tilting upwards towards the front,
depending upon the nature of the soil in which the implement is about to work.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, we would remark in conclusion that we claim as our Invention, the
application to harrows and other similar tilling implements, and the use (in com-
bination with the above described usual means by which the time frames thereof
are at present tilted or lifted only at their rear ends when being raised out of work)
of the levers 1, 12, and 20-21, the centre lever thereof being bracketted to the tine
frame, and the other levers being connected to the bracketted lever and to the frame
as above described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, the
same being for the purpose of raising or lifting and lowering the said tine frames
out of and into action, when required in a horizontal position, by the easy manipu-
lation of the levers, and so that all the tines shall clear and enter the ground
together.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Rainforth, senior, and William
Rainforth, junior, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighteenth
day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
W. RAINFORTH, SENR. (L.S.)
W. RAINFORTH, JUNR. (L.S.)