AN IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL MACHINE OR IMPLEMENT FOR PLOUGHING, HARROWING, OR TILLING LAND
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Thirteenth day of July, in the seventh year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said William Edward Newton,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, an Invention of "AN
IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL MACHINE OR IMPLEMENT FOR PLOUGHING, HARROWING, OR
TILLING LAND," being a communication from a Foreigner residing abroad; in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said William
Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, par-
ticularly to describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,

page_text: as in and by the same, reference being thereunto nad, win more funy and av
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Wil-
liam Edward Newton, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):—
The machine or apparatus which forms the subject of the Invention for
which I have obtained the above in part recited Letters Patent, I intend to
denominate a plough harrow, or harrow plough, as it not only partakes of the
nature and performs the office of the ordinary harrow, but it may be also
employed with advantage in many cases in place of different kinds of ploughs
that are now in use. By the employment of this machine, the second plough-
ing operation, after the earth has been once turned up, is effected with much
greater rapidity than with the ordinary plough, and requires much less power.
It will act as a scarifier for cleansing foul lands, and for extracting from the
earth any
fibrous roots or things that might be injurious to vegetation. It is
also useful for breaking or turning up heaths or common land, and for
dragging or tearing up the roots of reeds in marshy lands, for cutting up hard
earth, and other similar purposes. The different uses to which this machine
may be applied will be sufficiently understood by inspecting the Drawing and
description which I have given herewith, and the advantages which it possesses
over the different systems of harrows at present in use, will be perfectly
evident.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The
Fig. 1 represents a general plan of the whole machine, drawn upon a scale
of one tenth the real size. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the
middle of the apparatus in the line 1, 2, of the plan view Fig. 1.
machine is composed of two principal parts, which are altogether distinct,
namely; first, the fore carriage, which consists of two wheels and a framing,
with the pole or shafts for three horses; second, the hinder carriage, which
also comprises two wheels, and the framing of the harrow plough, furnished
with seven, nine, or eleven teeth or tines.
I will now proceed to describe separately each of these two parts, and then
point out the advantages resulting from the entire arrangement when em-
ployed in the labour of cultivation.
Of the fore part or fore carriage:-In the barrows generally known as

page_text: three-wheel harrows, the fore carriage comprises only one wheel, which is
also of a small diameter, and merely serves as a support for the framing
of the hinder part. This arrangement of parts is particularly disadvan-
tageous, because it renders the draft of the implement very heavy. In
the improved system the fore carriage is, on the contrary, composed of
two wheels of a considerably greater diameter, and placed upon the same
or one common axletree, to which is connected the pole or shafts. This
arrangement on the one band very sensibly diminishes the friction or
resistance, and presents a more solid and regular point of support for the
hinder part of the carriage, and, on the other hand, allows the machine or
apparatus to be turned round with much greater facility and within a more
limited space. These two wheels are seen at A, in the Drawings, and are
about two feet in diameter. To the centre part of the axletree B, is bolted a
vertical bar C, of wrought iron. In the upper part of the bar C, a rectan-
gular mortice is made for the purpose of receiving a pin or bolt, by means
of which the end of the cast-iron swan's neck framing D is held
up. The
two shafts E, made of wood, are connected and bolted to the axletree and
cross piece F, to which are hooked or fastened the whipple trees G, G, G, that
are intended to receive three horses or oxen, which will be found to exert
sufficient power for the roughest and hardest work that this machine or
apparatus is intended to do. The upper end of the vertical bar C is sustained
and connected by two thin round iron rods a, to the cross piece F, as seen
in the Drawing at Figures 1 and 2, and it also carries another rod b, which
is curved, and is destined principally to support the cords or reins of the
horses. As the position of the fore part or fore carriage in reference to the
hinder part (such as the diameter of the wheels, and the space between them.)
should be ascertained (the greater or less amount of draft of the horses
depending thereon), the inventor has endeavoured to find out the most
convenient and advantageous arrangement of parts, and after making many
experiments he has arrived at the most satisfactory results.
Of the binder part of the machine, and of the principal parts of which the plongh
harrow is composed :-It is this second part of the apparatus which most parti-
cularly required, and has therefore received, the greatest improvements. It will
in fact be easily conceived, that in order to make such a machine applicable
to the various purposes of cultivation, and especially in distant localities, or in
lands of an altogether different quality, other arrangements than those already
adopted must be required. It will be necessary also to give the tines or
teeth various forms according to circumstances, and also to be able to regulate
them with facility and without loss of time. It is, lastly, necessary to make
.

page_text: the machine or apparatus firm and strong, and so as not to require any par-
ticular care on the part of the attendant, nor any knowledge of its parts.
One of the principal parts of the apparatus is the cast-iron swan's neck D,
which connects the framing of the hinder part with the axletree of the fore
carriage. This part, which is made sufficiently thick and strong to offer the
necessary resistance, without any fear of breaking, is constructed and arranged
in the manner shewn in the elevation, Fig. 2, in order to allow the large
fore wheels A, A, to pass underneath freely, when it is required to make a
short turn round. The head or end of this swan's neck is traversed by the
vertical rod C, bolted upon the middle of the fore axletree, upon which the
swan's neck rests, and supports itself firmly when the machine is in operation,
and when, on the contrary, the implement is not at work, as for example,
when it is passing along roads or ways, or going from one field to another,
the swan's neck is supported at the upper part of the vertical rod by means
of a cross pin or bolt of steel. To the other end of the swan's neck is con-
nected a set screws, which passes through a female screw made in the plate
or block c, which is furnished with two pivots or bolts that are free in the
branches or bearings which form the end of the swan's neck, and whereby it
may be raised or lowered at pleasure. This screw is furnished at its upper
end with a small screw d, the head of which carries a winch, whereby this
part of the machine may be easily worked by hand, and when the screw is
turned either in one way or the other, it raises or lowers the female screw in
the plate c, and thereby tends to raise the end of the swan's neck. In order
to effect this object, it is necessary that the screw should be held in an iron
collar e, which, without preventing it from turning freely by itself, holds it
securely in connection with the short cross piece f. The two ends of this
latter are supported by two bearings in the cast or wrought iron curved
pieces H, H, which are bolted upon the broadest side of the framing I of the
hinder part or carriage. The peculiar arrangement of this part of the
apparatus will be seen in the detached view, Fig. 3, which represents a vertical
section thereof taken in the line 3, 4, of Fig. 1, and drawn at one fifth the
real size, and double that of Figure 1. This part of the machine is intended
to regulate, during the progress of the apparatus), the inclination of the wrought
iron teeth or tines J, and the greater or less depth to which they enter
and are intended to cut the earth, and perform the work of the ordinary
plough in the second operation. It will be understood, that as the centre of
motion of the hinder part of the machine is situated immediately behind the
back cross piece I, that when the set screws is turned by means of the handle
or winch so as to lower the said screw, it tends to raise the first or fore or fore

page_text: row of teeth or tines, and if it is turned in the contrary direction so as to raise
the screw it tends to plunge the said tines further into the ground. The teeth
or tines J, which do the work, are generally nine in number, five of which are
connected to the cross piece I, and the other four to the cross piece I¹. The
form or shape of these teeth or tines should be determined and settled in such
a manner as to cut or plough up the ground with great facility by passing
under the crust which forms the surface. They should also be made very
firmly and strongly, because of the great resistance which they are likely
to experience; furthermore, they must be arranged in such a manner that
each tine may form a separate furrow without interfering with any adjoining
one, formed by any other tine. The framing may be so arranged as to carry
eleven teeth or tines instead of nine, or only seven may be employed. The
peculiar forms of tines represented in Figures 1 and 2 are used not only for
the second operation of ploughing, but also for preparing all sorts of seed
ground. They may also be exchanged for other tines which are straighter
and less edge-shaped, similar to those shewn at one fifth the real size in
Figs. 4 and 5, and which are peculiarly applicable for cleansing lucerne of
any growth. They may also be advantageouly employed, and perhaps are
more convenient than the former for cleansing foul land, and for extracting
from the ground everything that is likely to be injurious to vegetation. They
are often used for extracting the branches or roots which have been previously
cut in a wood which has been grubbed up.
Lastly, this arrangement or system of teeth may in its turn be exchanged
for knives with cutting edges, such as those shewn at one fifth the real size at
Figs. 6 and 7. An exchange of this description can always be made with the
greatest facility, as, in order to remove the first tines, it is only necessary to
unscrew the nuts which hold them firmly in their places in the cross pieces
I and I', and to put in their place, and in the same holes, those tines that are
required, and which may be done in a few minutes. The object of these
cutting knives is not without interest in a great many cases, and in many
localities. Thus, they are useful for breaking or grubbing up woods or
marshes, and for cutting in pieces the fibrous roots which are found in such
situations; they are also necessary for cutting up the roots of reeds or rushes
that grow in ponds or marshes, before operating on such land with the
plough. They may also be advantageously employed for cutting or breaking up
hard ground into strips, in order to prepare it for receiving the plough. All
these operations, which, under many circumstances, present great difficulties,
and often require a considerable degree of labour and skill, can now bo
effected with the assistance of this improved machine, and the different

page_text: descriptions of teeth and tines which are applicable thereto, without any
difficulty, and with the expenditure of less power, at the same time, however,
obtaining more satisfactory results with greater rapidity. This will be easily
understood when it is stated, that with the improved harrow plough six acres
of land may be operated upon with the assistance of three horses in the course
of one day consisting of ten hours; whilst with an ordinary plough hardly one
acre can be gone over with from two to three horses. With the three-
wheeled harrowes now in use, it is not only impossible to obtain the same
results, but the implement will require a much greater power to work. The two
cross pieces I and I¹ of the framing, which carries the teeth or tines, are made
of oak, strengthened by bolts, which prevent them from splitting, and render
them stronger and firmer. They are connected at their ends to lateral side
pieces K, and K', which are also made of oak. To the two side pieces above
mentioned the two wheels L of the hinder carriage are adjusted; these two
wheels are made of cast iron, and mounted upon axles, altogether independant
of each other. They are thus simply made to turn freely on short iron pivots
fixed at the lower ends of the wrought or cast iron racks M, the greater
portion of which is toothed, as seen in Fig. 2, and upon an enlarged scale at
Fig. 9; the pinions h, consisting of four teeth, gear into the teeth of these
racks, and are firmly fixed on the wrought iron shaft i, which turns in bearings
in the cast-iron framing N, which is bolted upon or otherwise attached to the
lateral side pieces K and K of the wooden framing. Upon the shafts or
axles i, and inside the apparatus, are fastened winches, whereby the pinions
may be turned by hand, and independant of each other. Now, it will be
easily understood, that according to the direction in which these winches or
cranks are turned, the entire framing, carrying the tines or teeth therewith, will
rise or descend; for the wheels, resting by the weight of the apparatus alone
firmly on the ground. It is evident that by turning the handles in order to
raise the framing, the axles of the pinions will raise themselves, and with them
their bearings or supports and the whole arrangement of the framing, whilst
the racks M will remain stationary in their place; and when the cranks are
turned in the contrary direction, the axles of the pinions and all the framing
will descend. By this means, therefore, the height of the teeth above or depth
below the surface of the ground on which the machine runs may be regulated
with nicety, (that is to say) the tines may be inserted more or less in the soil,
according to the nature of the ground and the work or labour to be performed.
Thus, by means of the racks and pinions, or by means of the set screw before
mentioned, the attendant or driver can always direct and regulate the move-
ments of the machine as he thinks proper, and according to the description of

page_text: work that is required. He can, according to the soil, lower or raise the front
row of tines a little more than the back row; and to effect this object it
will generally be sufficient to turn the small crank of the set screw one
or two turns. He can also, by means of the racks and pinions, raise
the whole of the hinder part of the carriage to such an altitude as will
place the teeth or tines above the level of the ground, so as to prevent
them from touching it, as would be required when passing along a road,
or from one field to another, or if it should be necessary to clear the teeth
from grass, or other extraneous matters. But in order that the hinder
framing that carries the tines should either, when at work or at rest, be made
to remain at any particular and fixed altitude, it is necessary to furnish each of
the axles or shafts i with grooved or toothed discs 1, which act in the same
way as ratchet wheels, and are made with as many notches or openings as the
little pinions cary teeth in order to stop at any point, and without allowing the
latter any play. This construction of catch or ratchet will be easily understood
by referring to Fig. 8 which represent a side view of a disc at one fifth the
real size, and seen also in Fig. 9, which is a vertical section of a portion of the
framing taken in the line 5, 6, of the plan view, Fig. 1. Into one of the notches
of each of the discs a sort of iron catch m is made to fall. This iron catch has
a handle at its upper end whereby it may be worked by hand, and a spring
placed behind it in the interior of the box which retains it against the support,
as seen in Fig. 9, and tends always to make it assume the inclined position
which is there represented, and which will not allow it to disengage itself from
the toothed disc, whatever shocks or blows the machine may happen to expe-
rience. When the pinions are required to be turned, it will be sufficient (in
order to disengage the catch) to press it against the spring, so as to bring it
into nearly a vertical position, and then to draw it up in this direction.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to me by
my correspondent abroad, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I
wish it to be understood that I lay no claim to any of the parts of the above
described machine or apparatus that have been before known or in use for
similar purposes, but I clain as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, the peculiar combination or arrangement
of parts above described, or any modification thereof as applied to the purposes
above mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
W. E. (L.S.) NEWTON.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Tenth day of January, in the
seventh year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said William
Edward Newton came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery,
and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form .above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-
fifth year of the reign of His late Maiesty King George the Third.