IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SINGLE-FURROW, DOUBLE-FURROW, AND TRIPLE-FURROW PLOUGHS, AND ALSO OF A WHIPPLETREE TO BE USED IN COMBINATION THEREWITH
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Sleep, of Crofthole, near St. Germans, in
the County of Cornwall, Agricultural Implement Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SINGLE-FURROW, DOUBLE-FURROW,
AND TRIPLE-FURROW PLOUGHS, AND ALSO OF A WHIPPLETREE TO BE USED IN
COMBINATION THEREWITH."
aled the 21st August 1877, and dated the 24th February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Sleep at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th February 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY SLEEP, of Crofthole, near St. Germans, in the County of
Cornwall, Agricultural Implement Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SINGLE-FURROW, DOUBLE-FURROW, AND TRIPLE-FURROW PLOUGHS, AND ALSO OF
A WHIPPLETREE TO BE USED IN COMBINATION THEREWITH."
This Invention relates to certain improvements founded upon and connected with
an Invention of "Improvements in Ploughs, such Improvements being Applicable
to Single-furrow, Double-furrow, and Triple-furrow Turn Wrest Ploughs," for which
Letters Patent bearing date the 25th day of February 1874, No. 705, were duly
granted to John Davey.
The present Invention consists in improvements in single-furrow, double-furrow,
and triple-furrow turn wrest ploughs, which are convertible by detaching the one,
two, or three left-handed ploughs, or vice versâ, into the form or style of right-
handed ploughs, and also in the construction of an improved whippletree, and
attaching the same to such ploughs.
According to the combined arrangement a single-furrow, double-furrow, or triple-
furrow plough is constructed, but this Invention chiefly relates to the construction
of double-furrow turn wrest ploughs, having four separate bodies, shares, and mould
plates, which separate bodies carry shares and mould plates, and are attached to the
plough beam or beams by one or more eccentric bolts, wheels, discs, or collars, and
are held to the same by a nut being fixed to each on the opposite side of the body
or beam, these eccentrics being so arranged as to raise and lower the share points,
as required, by the same working in a slotted hole in the beam or body of the
plough.

page_text: The plough beam or beams is or are arranged with a wide part in each in a
suitable position to carry the plough body or bodies, and at the part at which
plough body or bodies is or are fastened on. Such wide part is for the purpose of
attaching the bodies one over the other independently of each other, so that either
the left or right handed set or sets of ploughing tools may be detached, thus
forming the implement into a right or left handed ploughs, as required, otherwise it
would constitute a turn wrest plough.
To the fore end of the front beam is attached a horizontal perpendicular boss,
which carries the front or furrow wheel or wheels, which is or are cutirely self-acting,
and alway running in the furrow when ploughing either the right or left handed
way, provision being made by means of suitable arrangements for raising and lowering,
expanding and contracting such wheel or wheels, so as to produce a perfect
adjustment, and also the application of two wheels, which are placed one over the
other for the same purpose together with the boss and other attachments connected
therewith, each running alternately in the furrow.
To the fore end of the back beam is a slotted hole which carries the draught
chain, and acts so as to regulate the height or any other mode of draught.
In most double-furrow ploughs a steerage wheel is provided, and operated upon
by a lever, but by the present Invention the steerage is effected by arrangements
in connection with the draught part of the plough, by which the attendant has
perfect control over the implement by means of the stilts. The hind part of the
frame is suspended on a wheel. The said last-mentioned wheel is attached to the
stilts, which are hung to the frame, and at the headlands are vertically reversed, and
held in a proper working position by a self-acting catch, or other suitable arrange-
ments, such operation being effected whilst the plough lies in a horizontal position,
and suspended on the two land wheels.
Whether the before-named wheels are attached to the stilts or not the stilts are
hung and locked in the same form and by the same mechanical arrangements.
In combination with the foregoing mechanical arrangements I also employ a treble
whippletree, which is formed out of a straight bar of iron, the ends having swivel
crooks, and the centre being of a triangular shape, or in the form of a truncated
conc. In the centre of the whippletree is a joint for the purpose of holding the
upright or vertical beam to which the horses and implement are attached.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Sleep in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
August 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY SLEEP, of Crofthole, near Saint Germans, in the County of
Cornwall, Agricultural Implement Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SINGLE-FURROW, DOUBLE-FURROW, AND TRIPLE-FURROW PLOUGHS, AND ALSO OF
A WHIPPLETREE TO BE USED IN COMBINATION THEREWITH."
My said Invention relates to certain improvements founded upon and connected
with an Invention of " Improvements in Ploughs, such Improvements being
Applicable to Single-furrow, Double-furrow, and Triple-furrow Turn Wrest Ploughs,"
for which Letters Patent bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, No. 705, were duly granted to John Davey.
The present Invention consists in improvements in single-furrow, double-furrow,
and triple-furrow turn wrest ploughs, which are convertible by detaching the one,
two, or three left-handed ploughs, or vice versâ, into the form or style of "right-
handed ploughs," and also in the construction of an improved whippletree, and
attaching the same to such ploughs.
According to the combined arrangement a single-furrow, double-furrow, or triple-
furrow plough is constructed, but my said Invention chiefly relates to the construction

page_text: of double-furrow turn wrest ploughs, having four separate bodies, shares, and mould
plates, which separate bodies carry shares and mould plates, and are attached to the
plough beam or beams by one or more eccentric bolts, wheels, discs, or collars, and
are held to the same by a nut being fixed to each on the opposite side of the body
or beam; these eccentrics being so arranged as to raise and lower the share points,
as required, by the same working in a slotted hole in the beam or body of the
plough.
The plough beam or beams is or are arranged with a wide part in each in a
suitable position to carry the plough body or bodies, and at the part at which the
plough body or bodies is or are fastened on; such wide part is for the purpose of
attaching the bodies one over the other independently of each other, so that either the
left or right handed set or sets of ploughing tools may be detached, thus forming
the implement into a right or left handed plough, as required, otherwise it would
constitute a turn wrest plough.
To the fore end of the front beam are attached horizontal and perpendicular
bosses, which bosses carry two wheels one over the other. The front or furrow
wheel or wheels is or are entirely self-acting, and always running in the furrow
when ploughing either the right or left handed way, provision being made by
means of suitable arrangements for raising and lowering, expanding, and contracting
such wheel or wheels, so as to produce a perfect adjustment, and also for the
application of two wheels, which are placed one over the other for the same
purpose, together with the horizontal and perpendicular bosses and other attach-
ments connected therewith, each running alternately in the furrow.
To the fore end of the back beam is a slot which carries the draught chain, and
acts so as to regulate the height or any other mode of draught.
In most double-furrow ploughs a steerage wheel is provided, and operated upon
by a lever, but by my present Invention the steerage is effected by arrangements in
connection with the draught part of the plough, by which the attendant has perfect
control over the implement by means of the stilts. The hind part of the frame is
suspended on a wheel. The said last-mentioned wheel is attached to the stilts,
which are hung to the frame, and at the headlands are vertically reversed and held
in a proper working position by a self-acting catch or other suitable arrangement,
such operation being effected whilst the plough lies in a horizontal position, and
suspended on the two land wheels, or a disc or horizontal wheel is employed for the
purpose.
Whether the before-named wheels are attached to the stilts or not the stilts are
hung and locked in the same form, and by the same mechanical arrangements.
In combination with the foregoing mechanical arrangements I also employ a
treble whippletree, which is formed out of a straight bar of iron, the ends having
swivel crooks, and the centre being of a triangular shape, or in the form of a
truncated cone. In the centre of the whippletree is a joint formed for the purpose
of holding the upright or vertical beam to which the horses and implement are
attached.
I will now proceed to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature of my said
Invention will be morely clearly understood.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a turn wrest plough; Figure 2 is a plan or top view
of the same.
Figure 3 shews the wheel and boss of the front beam which carries the furrow
wheel or wheels.
Figure 4 represents the land or back beam, shewing the slotted head of the land
beam, draught chain, and land wheels attached.
Figure 5 shews the back part of the land beam.
In Figure 6 the handles or stilts are shewn at F, F, F, the same being connected
with the hind wheel E, E¹, and being kept in position by means of the self-locking
piece G, G¹, G³, G³; such self-locking piece or latch can be thrown out of gear when
the plough is turned over to its horizontal position, so as to allow the handles or
stilts to be reversed, and again used to secure the rigidity of the latter.

page_text: "
Figure 7 represents the whippletree, being a bar for two horses with a crook at
each end, and having a joint C, C', formed in the centre for the application of C, C²,
as shewn in Figure 8, to which the centre horse is attached at B₁, the plough being
attached to the crook E³.
My said Invention is applicable to all ploughs of the description above mentioned,
whether the same are actuated by horse, steam, or other motive power.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to me by the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, are,―
First. The construction and application to ploughs, such as herein-before men-
tioned, of two wheels one over the other, each running in the furrow alternately,
and attached to the front end of the front beam, bosses being provided for ex-
panding or contracting the wheels, so as to take a wider or narrower furrow, or
raising or lowering the wheels, as may be required, substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described and set forth, or any mere modifications thereof.
Secondly. The arrangement and mode of actuating the draught portion of the
plough, hind wheel or wheels, and handles or stilts, substantially as herein-before
described and set forth, or any mere modifications thereof.
And, Thirdly. A treble whippletree which has a vertical joint and beam in the
centre thereof for the centre or third horse to draw from, and which beam acts as
an indicator, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described and set
forth, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Sleep, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM HENRY SLEEP. (L.S.)