IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, PARTS OF THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE FOR THE OBTAINMENT OF MOTIVE POWER FOR GENERAL PURPOSES
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Henry Johnson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th July
1854. A communication.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR EFFECTING AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, PARTS OF THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING
APPLICABLE FOR THE OBTAINMENT OF MOTIVE POWER FOR GENERAL PURPOSES,"
communication from abroad, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates generally to the improved arrangement and con-
struction of machinery or apparatus for effecting agricultural operations, for
which Letters Patent for Great Britain were granted to me on or about
the 10th day of May 1853, as arranged for digging or working land. The
improved agricultural machine consists of an open framework of wood and
metal, running upon a pair of large loose wheels set in front of the actual
digging details, and capable of being drawn by horses, with shafts or traction
gear, in the usual manner. The framework is extended downwards to carry the
transverse shaft of the digging or working cylinder, behind which shaft, at the
extreme hind end of the machine, is a bearing or supporting roller, for relieving
the frame of a portion of its dead weight. The transverse digging shaft has
keyed upon it a metal cylinder, on which are bolted a set of arms for carrying

page_text: the digging bars or knives. These arms are set at equal distances apart upon
the circumference of the cylinder, and they radiate outwards, their outer ends
having bolted or rivetted to them a corresponding set of bars or diggers running
from end to end of the digging cylinder. The edges of these bars, which are
either plain or serrated, are set so that on the revolution of the cylinder they
are the most favourably disposed for entering the earth; and they are either made
to run parallel with the digging axle, or are set spirally or inclined thereto;
or these bars may be formed in double angular lengths, so as to present points
and inclined surfaces to the earth during working. The digger is actuated by
a pair of horizontal steam engines, set one on each side of the frame, the con-
necting rods of the two cylinders being respectively jointed to cranks revolving
horizontally. These cranks are fast upon vertical spindles, the lower ends of
which have keyed upon them bevil wheels, gearing with larger bevil wheels,
fast one on each end of the digger shaft. These larger bevil wheels are
concealed quite within the two open ends of the digger cylinder, so that the
latter can work quite close down to the surface of the land without endangering
the action of the gearing. The same vertical driving spindles have each a
bevil pinion, gearing with a corresponding pinion on the after end of a short
horizontal shaft running longitudinally, this latter shaft having upon it a clutch
and double bevil pinion arrangement for driving an intermediate bevil wheel
in alternate directions. The gearing is precisely the same on each side, and the
two intermediate bevil wheels are fast upon the two ends of a transverse shaft,
set just behind the main carrying wheels of the machine. This transverse
shaft has upon it a pair of metal pullies, formed with india-rubber or other
elastic surfaces, each of which surfaces is opposed to the broad periphery of
one of the main carrying wheels; with this arrangement, as the digging goes
on, the digging bars are kept well fed up to their work, by the propelling action
given to the main carrying wheels from the engine shafts through the elastic
drums. The attendant can at pleasure disengage this system of driving, by
means of a quick screw or other movement, which shall draw the elastic drums
out of contact with the main carrying wheels. A windlass in front of the frame
is fitted up for the purpose of tipping the frame. A transverse frame piece
or levelling board is attached to the frame behind the digger, for the purpose
of smoothing off the earth after the disturbing effect of the digger, and at
the same part a seed sower may also be attached. The leveller and seed box
details are arranged on the same general plan as already described in the
Specification of my Patent of 1853.
My Invention relates also to the obtainment of motive power by the use of
a vertical tubular steam boiler, which, when applied to my agricultural machine,

page_text: is disposed upon a central platform upon the frame between the two driving
steam cylinders. This boiler consists of an external conical shell; or this shell
may be a flattened cone. This shell forms the water space for the boiler feed.
The bottom is formed by a narrow water space, inclined or angled, to suit the
flue tubes, the lower ends of which open into this water space. The tubes are
conically disposed; (that is to say,) they are set in a wide ring, enclosing the
fire bars at the bottom just above the bottom water space, whilst they slope
towards each other, to form a narrow ring at the top. The upper ends of the
tubes open into an over-bead steam chamber. The flue tubes may be thus set
in any number of rings or lines, taking care to break joint in each row or
series. In this way the tubes form a species of hollow cone for the reception
of the heat as the furnace current rises directly up from the bars, and works
through or between the flue tubes, thus giving off a most effective heating
power, the whole of the tubes being enclosed by an outer shell set within the
water space shell.
shell. Any waste steam from the chamber above may be blown
down into heating sections disposed inside the feed water shell.