CERTAIN IM- PROVEMENTS IN HARROWS FOR HARROWING LAND
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Summerton, of Smethwick, in the County
of Stafford, Agricultural Machinist, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN HARROWS FOR HARROWING LAND."
Sealed the, 18th April 1863, and dated the 17th October 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Summerton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th October 1862.
I, JOHN SUMMERTON, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Agri-
cultural Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN HARROWS FOR HARROWING LAND," to be as
follows (that is to say) :-
My improvements consist in forming the parts of a triangular shape, which
by preference I form from cast iron, the same having flukes or projections on
both sides, the points or angles of which being towards the line of draught or
in one direction, and larger on one side than the other. These angular pièces
are connected by links or rings in the order so as to equally distribute the.
effect of the flukes or projections over the surface of the ground in the process
or operation of harrowing. The great advantages in using the angular fluked:
parts are that they maintain the general expansion of the harrow without the
use of stretchers, as well as to vary its use to the land or work required, either

page_text: by using the greater or small projections, and the drawing them over the land so
that the flukes shall point towards the line of draught or in the reverse direction.
In connecting the triangular parts together I prefer using a split ring which
readily admits of being inserted in the desired eye or eyes of the angle parts,
and by turning the ring around it, becomes thoroughly connected, because
each ring would be connected to three angle pieces, therefore the spilt
ring offers facilitates for attachment, notwithstanding a ring, formed of a
rod of iron, say about four inches diameter more or less, the ends being
flattened and pierced for receiving a rivet, will be quite as efficient and simpler
than the split ring. When a sufficient number of these parts are put together,
so as to extend about 7 feet square, more or less, they are in condition to be
attached to a draught bar which is fitted with suitable links and hooks to take
into the rings on either end, so that the harrow may be drawn over the land in
the direction required, or used with either side downwards. By these improve-
ments the land may be thoroughly cleaned, and turf land scratched more or
less as desired or necessary in cleaning or distributing manure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Summerton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th April 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SUMMERTON, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Agricultural Machinist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Summerton, Iler special license that I, the said John Summerton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Summerton, my 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, exer-
cise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
HARROWS FOR HARROWING LAND," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Summerton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,

page_text: 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 date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Summerton, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
My improvements consist in forming the principal parts making the harrow
or implement of a triangular radial shape, which, by preference, I form from
cast iron, the same having flukes or projections on both sides, the points of
which curve forward in the direction of the line of draught and are larger on
one side than the other. These angular pieces are connected by links or
rings in the order as to equally distribute the effect of the flukos or projections
as the harrow passes over the surface of the ground in the process or operation
of harrowing. The great advantages in using the angular fluked parts or their
equivalents are that they maintain the general expansion of the harrow without
the use of stretchers, as well as to vary its effect to the land or work required,
either by using the greater or smaller projections, and the drawing. them over
the land so that the flukes shall point towards the line of draught, or in the
reverse direction if required. In connecting the triangular parts or..pieces
together I prefer using a split ring which readily admits of being inserted in
the desired eye or eyes of the angle parts, and by turning the ring around..it
thereby becomes fully connected, because each ring would be connected to
three angle pieces, therefore the split ring offers the greatest facilities; for
attachment of the parts, notwithstanding, a ring, say about four inches
diameter, more or less, formed of rod iron, the ends being flattened and pierced
for receiving a rivet, will be quite as efficient and simpler than the split ring,
or, if preferred, the front part forming the triangle may be divided into a double
hook, as will be hereafter seen, or so fashioned as also to form the means of
general attachment. When a sufficient number of these parts are put
together so as to extend about 7 feet square, more or less, they are in a con-
dition to be attached to a draught bar which is fitted with suitable links and
hooks to take into the rings on either end, so that the harrow may be drawn
over the land in the direction required, or used with either side downward;
By these improvements the land may be thoroughly cleaned and levelled,
and turf land scratched more or less as desired or necessary in cleaning, or
for the better distribution of manure.
:
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a side view drawn half
size of a triangular fluked part, the direct line of draught being in the direction

page_text: of the arrow, and (as will be hereafter seen) when a suflicient number of them
are ringed together by rings passing through the eyes, here seen at A and B,
the larger flukes C and D may be downward or reversed so as to allow the
smaller ones E and F to be in operation; and if, from the nature of the soil
or work required, instead of making A the line of draught, the draught tackle
may be reversed, so as to pass the flukes over the land in a contrary direction,
or in the direction of the arrow G.
Fig. 2 represents the back or tail view of Figure 1, representing the eyes B, B
and the draught eye A in front, but obscured by the flukes D and F, the two
after eyes are marked B and B', and their accompanying flukes C and E,
and C and E¹.
Fig. 3 is a top view of my improved harrow united together by circular
rings in the order for work, the draught eyes marked A, A, &c. of the first
row being attached with chains to the draught bar H, to which are attached.
the necessary links and connections for concentrating the draught to the ring I,
and, if preferred that the harrow should be drawn in an oblique direction over
the land, either of the hooks J and K can be shifted to either of the eyes L or
M, so as to shift the line of draught from the centre on either side, and, if
preferred, rings may be applied to the front eyes A, A, &c., and the chains
may terminate with hooks in the manner as exhibited detached in an end
view of the draught bar and gear at Fig. 4, by which means the line of draught
may be entirely reversed by disconnecting the bar and draught gear in the
front and attaching them behind by passing the hooks at the end of the chains,
as exhibited and described at Figuro 4, into the several rings N, N, &c.,
Figure 8, and by way of keeping the outer angle pieces in place, or rather to
prevent their being unduly strained in passing over heavy land, they may
be connected together by chain links as exbibited at P, P, P, P, or otherwise
as preferred.
Fig. 5 is an edge view of Figure 3, showing the flukes projecting from the
triangular pieces, as described in Figures 1 and 2. Thus far the general
object and purpose of my Invention must be seen, but in order to facilitate
repairs and construction where facilities for casting are not obtainable, the
parts which I have hitherto termed angle pieces may be readily forged, in
which case they may be variously shaped and connected without affecting the
general purpose of their utility, as, for instance, Fig. 6 represents an angle
piece with the draught eye and corresponding flukes formed on a separate
part marked Q, and united to the part R, R, by the pin S and screw, which
pin is shown detached at Fig. 7, with its shank terminating in a point for the
purpose of forming an additional fluke, and a back or end view of Figure 6

page_text: I have exhibited at Fig. 8; and as a further modification, the angle piece R, R,
may be forged, cast, or otherwise formed with an eye, as exhibited at T,
Fig. 9, and the front part marked U fashioned with a hook for passing through
the same, as here shown, terminating in the front with lateral hooks for
hooking in or connecting it to the angle pieces next in succession, as indicated
the dotted lines V, V.
Fig. 10 represents the part U in the above Figure in a reverse position,
part R in connection with it being represented in dotted lines; the
o of the lateral hooks W, W, entirely obviates the necessity of using
rings; as described and exhibited at Figure 3. Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, are
drawn in the same proportion as that of Figure 1, about 6 inches to the foot,
but the size and proportion of the angle pieces with their flukes and means of
connection may be varied according to requirement, and I will further add
that, as a means of producing the angle parts, I have found that casting them
of common iron in chills advantageous, as it leaves them hard, thereby making
the flukes more enduring on hard stony ground.
Having thus given a general description of my Invention, and the best
means that at present I have discovered of giving effect to the same, I wish it
understood that I claim the construction of harrows generally as described,
without confining myself to the details, provided the spirit of my Invention is
preserved, which is that of using angle parts or pieces for maintaining exten-
sion, having flukes formed on one or both sides of the same, preserving the
convenience of being drawn over the land in any position.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Summerton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
26, Ann Street, Birmingham.
JOHN SUMMERTON. (L.S.)