IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE HOES AND TURNIP THINNERS."
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Holmes, George Thomas Holmes, and
Frederick Robert Holmes, of the City of Norwich, in the County of
Norfolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
HORSE HOES AND TURNIP THINNERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Holmes, George
Thomas Holmes, and Frederick Robert Holmes at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 13th June
1874.
We, JAMES HOLMES, GEORGE THOMAS HOLMES, and FREDERICK
ROBERT HOLMES, of the City of Norwich, in the County of Norfolk,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “IMPROVE-.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE HOES AND TURNIP THINNERS," to be as
follows:
1
This Invention consists in certain improvements in horse hoes and
turnip thinners, and by means of which the spaces between the plants
are cleared with greater facility and efficacy than heretofore, and the

page_text: length of such spaces can be regulated by an arrangement of the hoe
discs or bosses, as herein-after mentioned, whilst the process of steering
when used for two or more rows at once is greatly facilitated and
rendered more accurate.
The apparatus can be made so as to be adjustable for flat-work hocing
or ridge hoeing, as may be desired.
The hoes (which are of the ordinary form and description) aṛc fixed
radially on discs or bosses, which revolve at an angle to the direction of
locomotion. Two or three of such discs or bosses are employed, each
having two or more hoes mounted thereon, the disc or boss nearest to
the body of the machine being mounted on one end of a horizontal
hollow shaft, and the other disc or boss being mounted on a shaft running
and working through the centre of the said hollow shaft. The distance
between the discs or bosses may be regulated by means of loose washers.
At the opposite ends of the two shafts are fixed bevel wheels, both of
which are worked or driven by means of a bevel wheel attached to a
vertical shaft, which last mentioned shaft is set in action or rotated by
motive power transmitted from the axle of the carriage or traction
wheels of the machine to a transverse horizontal shaft arranged to be in
connection with the axle of the carriage or traction wheels, and thence
to the said vertical shaft by means of the necessary arrangement of
spur wheels and bevel gearing. This gearing and hoes are attached in
such a manner around the central axle and vertical shaft, but so far
independent of the position of the axle or carriage wheels as to allow of
the frame or frames to which the hoes and discs are attached to be
moved in any direction for steerage, and for raising or lowering the
hocs, the speed of the rotation being regulated by modifications in the
arrangement or adjustment of the said wheels, as will be understood
by persons conversant with machinery of this description.
By the above-described arrangement the discs or bosses are caused to
revolve in opposite directions, and thus two different and distinct cuts
are made, the forward hoe beginning the cut, and the other revolving in
the opposite direction, finishing the same, or each hoc can be arranged
so as to make a complete cut, leaving a bunch between each.
The relative position and angle of the hoes and the respective discs or
bosses when making the separate cuts can be changed by altering the
relative position of the teeth on the bevel wheels at the opposite ends of

page_text: the shafts, the object of such arrangement being to regulate the distance
to be hoed between each plant. Two rollers or wheels attached by
suitable bearings to the framework of the machine are placed on cither
side and regulate the depth of the cut of the hoes. The edges of
the said rollers or wheels are rounded, and the bearings thereof, together
with those of the vertical and horizontal shafts, are arranged to slide
upwards and downwards in a telescopic manner, as will be well under-
stood, in order to adjust the machine to the operation of ridge hoeing.
The whole of the frame of the machine takes its bearing from and
around the axle of the carriage or traction wheels, and, when desired, a
lateral swinging motion is given to it by the attendant in charge by
means of suitable levers and handles attached thereto, whereby the
operation of steering is greatly facilitated.
Although the above description is confined to one set of discs it is
obvious that by such arrangements, as will be well understood, two or
more sets may be employed. It may here be mentioned that the hocs.
are placed out of work by means of a lever and chain by which they are
raised from contact with the carth, or the like object may be effected in
any suitable manner.
A modification of this Invention consists in transmitting motion to
the before-mentioned vertical shaft through a shaft or spindle fixed in
juxtaposition to the axle of the carriage or traction wheels, and which
is driven or rotated thereby by means of a spur wheel or pinion gearing
into the teeth of a wheel on the said shaft or spindle, the face of which
latter wheel is bevelled and gears into and drives a bevel wheel attached
to the vertical shaft, and thus the whole of the machinery is actuated.
In this case a horizontal swinging motion is given when desired to the
body of the machine, which latter takes its bearings from the shafts or
spindles above mentioned for the purpose of steering, which operation is
thereby placed more under the control of the attendant than is ordinarily
the case.
Another modification of this Invention consists in rotating the hoe
discs by means of an endless band or chain, the same passing over a
drum or wheel on the axle of the carriage wheels, and over the periphery
of a toothed bevel whcel fixed by means of suitable arrangements, so
that the teeth of the same gear into and drive two bevel wheels fixed
respectively on the opposite faces of the hoe dises, which latter are thus
rotated in opposite directions to each other, as before described.
.

page_text: The hoes are sometimes caused to work by a cranked shaft and levers
placed in such a position as to make it convenient to fix brushes or
scrapers to clean the hoes when working in moist or wet land, a reverse
action being given to the hoes. The driving and steerage arrangements
are such as before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Holmes, George Thomas Holmes, and
Frederick Robert Holmes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, JAMES
HOLMES, GEORGE THOMAS HOLMES, and FREDERICK ROBERT HOLMES,
of the City of Norwich, in the County of Norfolk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said James Holmes, George Thomas Holmes,
and Frederick Robert Holmes, Her special licence, that we, the said
James Holmes, George Thomas Holmes, and Frederick Robert Holmes,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said James Holmes, George Thomas Holmes, and Frederick Robert
Holmes, our 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 Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE HOES AND TURNIP THINNERS,"
upon the condition amongst others) that we, the said James Holmes,
George Thomas Holmes, and Frederick Robert Holmes, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the dato
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Holmes, George Thomas
Holmes, and Frederick Robert Holmes, do hereby declare the nature of
our 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 annexed Drawings, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :—
Our said Invention consists in certain improvements in horse hoes and
turnip thinners, and by means of which the spaces between the plants
are cleaned with greater facility and efficacy than heretofore, and
whereby the length of such spaces can be regulated by an arrangement
of the hoe discs or bosses, as herein-after mentioned, whilst the process
of steering when used for two or more rows at once is greatly facilitated
and rendered more accurate.
The apparatus can be made so as to be adjustable for flat work hoeing
or ridge hoeing, as may be desired.
The hoes, which are of the ordinary form and description, are fixed
radially on discs or bosses which revolve at an angle to the direction of
locomotion. Two or three of such discs or bosses are employed, each
having two or more hoes mounted thereon, the disc or boss nearest to
the body of the machine being mounted on one end of a horizontal
hollow shaft, and the other disc or boss being mounted on a shaft
running and working through the centre of the said hollow shaft. The
distance between the discs or bosses may be regulated by means of loose
washers. At the opposite ends of the two shafts are fixed bevil wheels,
both of which are worked or driven by means of a bevil wheel attached
to a vertical shaft, which last-mentioned shaft is set in action or rotated:
by motive power transmitted from the axle of the carriage or traction
wheels of the machine to a transverse horizontal shaft arranged to be in
connection with the axle of the carriage or traction wheels, and thence
to the said vertical shaft by means of the necessary arrangement of spur
wheels and bevil gearing. This gearing and hoes are attached in such a
manner around the central axle and vertical shaft, but so far independent
of the position of the axle or carriage wheels as to allow of the frame or
frames to which the hoes and discs are attached to be moved in any
direction for steerage and for raising or lowering the hoes, the speed of
the rotation being regulated by modifications in the arrangement or
adjustment of the said wheels, as will be understood by persons con-
versant with machinery of this description.

page_text: By the above-described arrangement the discs or bosses are caused to
revolve in opposite directions, and thus two different and distinct cuts
are made, the forward hoe beginning the cut, and the other revolving in
the opposite direction, finishing the same, or each hoe can be arranged so
as to make a complete cut, leaving a bunch between each.
The relative position and angle of the hoes and the respective discs or
bosses when making the complete cuts can be changed by altering the
relative position of the teeth on the bevil wheels at the opposite ends of
the shafts, the object of such arrangement being to regulate the length
of distance to be hoed between cach plant. Two rollers or wheels
attached by suitable bearings of the framework of the machine are
placed on either side, and regulate the depth of the cut of the hoes.
The edges of the said rollers or wheels are rounded, and the bearings
thereof together with those of the vertical and horizontal shafts are
arranged to slide upwards and downwards in a telescopic manner, as will
be well understood, in order to adjust the machine to the operation of
ridge hoeing. The whole of the frame of the machine takes its bearings
from and around the axle of the carriage or traction wheels, and when
desired a lateral swinging motion is given to it by the attendant in
charge by means of suitable levers and handles attached thereto, whereby
the operation of steering is greatly facilitated.
Although the above descriprion is confined to one set of discs it is
obvious that by such arrangements, as will be well understood, two or
more sets may be employed. It may here be mentioned that the hoes
are placed out of work by means of a lever and chain by which they are
raised from contact with the earth, or the like object may be effected in
any suitable manner.
A modification of our said Invention consists in transmitting motion
to the before-mentioned vertical shaft through a shaft or spindle fixed in
juxtaposition to the axle of the carriage or traction wheels, and which is
driven or rotated thereby by means of a spur wheel or pinion gearing
into the teeth of a wheel on the said shaft or spindle, the face of which
latter wheel is bevilled and gears into and drives a bevil wheel attached
to the vertical shaft, and thus the whole of the machinery is actuated.
In this case a horizontal swaying motion is given when desired to the
body of the machine, which latter takes its bearings from the shafts or
spindles above mentioned for the purpose of steering, which operation is

page_text: cutter spindle "k." This spindle passes through a hollow arm "h, h,"
which has at "", "," round bearings formed to go into the lower ends of
the swinging frame f, f. By this arrangement it will be readily seen
that the steerage arrangement is easily attached either by a lever at s
or may be steered direct by the handles at t without making any
variation in the position of the gear wheels with each other.
The Drawing represents the means by which the speed of the cutters
at "" may be regulated by changing the wheel on the lower spindle,
and consequently increasing or decreasing the distances at which the
plants are to be left in the rows.
The form of the cutter is shewn in this Drawing, and also in Figure 6.
One method of fixing a spring cleaning brush or scraper is shewn at v,
the same being regulated by a screw. 20 represents a wheel, which is
also shewn in Figure 8, and which has a wide periphery, and is of a
shape suitable to fit the sides of the ridge. The said wheel is capable of
being adjusted upwards or downwards on the arm for the purpose of
regulating the depth of the cutters. This Figure represents one frame
and cutter only, but two or more cutters can be worked in the framing
and by the same arrangement.
In Figure 2 the swinging frame and gearing generally are the same
as shown in Figure 1, but the motion is communicated to a cranked
shaft as shown at a, a. The peculiarity of this motion will also be seen
by reference to the section shown in Figure 9. The crank shaft in the
centre of the machine is provided with two cranks. Levers are fixed to
the bearings, which surround the crank at b, b, the levers k carrying the
hoes at each end 1, 1, 1, 1. On the top is a round rod or guide c, c, which
is fixed perpendicularly or at right angles or thereabouts to the levers,
and runs upwards through guides d, d, attached to a part of the frame
above. These hoes are made adjustable as to the width of the rows by
the shanks being made to slide in and upwards, as shewn in Figures 2
and 5. By this method of fixing the hoes two cranks carry four hoes,
as shewn in section in Figure 7, and by making the hoes to pass over
cach other, as shewn in Figure 2, whether by two or more cranks, the
great difficulty of having to place the hoes so far apart and behind each
other is entirely overcome, and a great advantage obtained. This
arrangement of the hoes in which they pass over each other as the

page_text: machine proceeds on its work is absolutely necessary to all hoes having
a crank motion. The hoes are so fixed as to pass over each other if
driven by a crank motion, whether the arrangement is that each hoe is
driven by a separate crank or as described. The action of the hoes or
cutters can be reversed, and the same are arranged so as to make two
cuts between each bunch, and as is shewn in the Drawing, the correct
distances and perfect motion are obtained so as to leave the plants at
regular intervals, as desired. Spring or lever scrapers or brushes are
thus easily attached, as shewn in the section, Figure 9. Various shaped
hoes may be used with either single or double shanks, and may set in a
bevil manner or may be made with circular cutting edges for different
kinds of land.
.
· Figure 3 shews the arrangement of the crank motion with all
necessary bevil gearing, and having an upward and downward swinging.
motion, and also a side swinging motion from the frame for steerage.
a is the carriage wheel; b, the centre of the axle; c is the swinging
frame, which is fixed on the bearings, as shewn in Figure 1, but swings
perpendicularly. The bevil wheel m is made so as to slide on the axle,
and a pinion n is fixed on the upright. shaft at g, having a bevil wheel o
at the bottom end communicating motion to the pinion p, fixed on the
crank shaft at, r. The upward and downward motion is obtained from
the swing frame c, c, and the side swing motion is obtained by the
framing s, s, which carries the hoes 7, 1, and crank shaft, being attached
to the same swing frame at t, t. v is a brace carried to the frame for
support. The arrangements as to the working of the hoes is the same
as before described.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 are sectional views of the machine shewing the
steerage, spring, and lever scrapers or brushes, and working of the
hocs.
•
Figure 4 is a modification of Figure 1 as to the working of rotary
hoes, the steerage being of the same description as that shown in-
Figure 3, the gearing however being arranged to suit the steerage..
a, are the carriage wheels; b, the centre of the axle, around which axle
are formed bearings having eccentric ends and working into the brackets
at c, by which the spur wheels d may be changed to alter the speed, the
centres being brought nearer to c, or farther apart by the eccentrics.

page_text: through which the axles pass being turned; e is the centre of the shaft
to which the bevel wheel f is fixed, communicating motion to the
upright shaft g. At e projecting bosses are formed to receive the
swinging frame h, and through which, at the bottom thereof, the upright
shaft passes, having on the bottom end thereof a bevil wheel / com-
municating motion to two bevil wheels i, i, which are fitted in a sleeve
or boss sliding on the spindle k, carrying the cutters 1, 1, at the other
end. The last mentioned spindle runs through a frame j, j, which is
also made to turn or swing on the upper swinging frame k, having a
brace to the same corresponding to Fig. 3, as before described. The
brackets and plates are fitted to the wooden bed m, which is of a round
form at each end; such ends are booped and holes are provided for the
reception of a pin n for setting at each end. By turning the bed it will
be seen that the centre of the shaft c is brought higher up, carrying
with it the swinging frame h, and the lower frame j, j, as is necessary
when working on high ridges. Two cuts can be made between each
bunch by driving a hollow shaft at and double cutters with the same
gearing, as shewn.
Fig. 5 is an adaptation of the crank to a machine without any
special steerage, the same being guided by the handles t, and which
would usually be worked with traces, although shafts can be attached
if preferred. One pair of gear wheels m and n, the pinion n only is
changeable for different speeds and distances. The same arrangements
as to the hoes working over each other is adopted, but the crank spindle
has one crank and an overhanging crank pin e fitted into a wheel k,
which answers the purpose of a fly whecl. The top guides for the
rods d, d, shew a modification of the joint. A similar arrangement of
lever and spring scrapers is also carried out in this modification of the
machine.
Fig. 6 is a section shewing an end view and swinging top frame and
cutters (represented in Fig. 1), and shewing that two frames or sets
are intended to be used, and a right and left hand threaded screw fitted
to draw in each set or expand to the width of the rows, the carriage
wheels also being made adjustable. The same arrangement illustrates
the swinging motion of Fig. 2, but as only one spindle is necessary
with the crank shaft only one set of this gearing is fixed in the centre

page_text: and mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before
described and set forth.
In witness, whereof, I, the said George Thomas Holmes, on
behalf of myself and the said James Holmes and Frederick
Robert Holmes, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 5
Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-four.
GEORGE THOMAS HOLMES. (L.S.)