IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR TILLING OR CULTIVATING 1B1SOIL
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Cradock Monckton, of the Parthenon
Club, Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, and William Clark,
of Upper Terrace, Islington, in the County of Middlesex,for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR TILLING OR CULTIVATING
1B1SOIL."
Sealed the 20th February 1857, and dated the 5th September 1.56.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Cradock
Monckton and William Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 5th September 1856.
We, HENRY EDWARD CRADOCK MONKTON, of the Parthenon Club, Regent
Street, in the County of Middlesex, and WILLIAM CLARK, of Upper Terrace
Islington, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR TILLING OR
CULTIVATING THE Soш," to be as follows:-
Our improvements in apparatus or machinery for tilling the soil relate, first
to the application of a rotatory tilling instrument for cutting up and inverting
the soil, which instrument has a longitudinal motion imparted to it in the
direction of the length of its axis simultaneously with its motion of rotation.
This rotatory tiller may consist of blades wound helically round the axis, but
of an increasing diameter, so that when rotating rapidly it will present the
гр."

page_text: form of a cone; or it may consist of a series of prong or tines, arranged to
present a similar appearance. The tilling instrument while rotating travols
with the axis advancing with the small end of the cone first, and produces a
trench or furrow, somewhat similar to that produced by a plough. This instru-
ment in its action cuts the soil from the land side, and advances parallel with
the trench or furrow, and with the small end of cone in advance. It operates
first on the surface soil, which it throws into the trench previously made, and
as the larger part of the cone advances it cuts deeper, and throws the soil
taken from the greatest depth, for the most part, on the top of that first
removed.
By making this tilling instrument double coned, that is, coned towards both
ends, it can be worked backwards and forwards, and so continue its workings
without the necessity of turning the machine round at the headlands. Two
or more of these tilling instruments may be worked in combination, so as to
cut a greater breadth of land during one traverse of the machine. These
tilling implements it is necessary to actuate by steam power, carried by a
machine travelling over the land, which we prefer should travel on the land
side, or unbroken land, the tilling instruments being overhung in the proper
position. By guiding the machine a little out of the parallel course at the
headlands a sufficient advance or movement in a sidelong direction will be
obtained. The steam machine is supported on suitable broad wheels, and
propels itself at a suitable rate, in proportion to the rate of rotatory motion
of the instrument; or it may be carried over the ground by any suitable
machinery of support having propelling power applied thereto.
Further improvements in machinery or apparatus for tilling land relate to
an apparatus which operates by means of a kind of digging motion. It con-
sists of successive rows or series of spade-like diggers, put in motion by means
of cranks or other suitable means. These diggers individually do not dig
deeper than about one and a half or two inches, but the successive rows are
placed at different elevations, forming an incline from the front to the rear of
the machine. In operating with this implement, an inclined trench or space,
equal to the area covered by the digging implements, and the machine is placed
therein; as it advances, by reason of the motion of the engine imparted to
the wheels of the carriage, or by the action of the diggers, each row across
the breadth of the machine enters the ground to the depth of two inches, and
tosses the soil in a backward direction, each successive row being deeper
than that preceding it, the last in succession, although only penetrating the
soil to the depth of two inches, yet by reason of its inclined position it is
digging the earth some eight or ten inches below the original surface. As the

page_text: machine progresses the diggers still maintain their relative position, and
thereby maintain the inclined trench or space in which they work, and advance
throughout the whole breadth of the field.
A modification of this machine consists in the application of a series of
rotary diggers in lieu of the vertical or inclined spade diggers. These consists
of cylinders with digging tines or teeth, the cylinders being placed one behind
the other, and each in succession at a lower level,so as to work in an inclined
trench or space, which their action maintains as the machine advances, as
before described. The cylinders should either be in such proximity that the
tines of the different cylinders clear each other of the soil, or be furnished with
stationary teeth to effect such clearance.
A further addition to these last machines consists in the application of two
scrapers, one on either side of the machine, which scrape ths surface soil from
the land on each side into the lower or deepest part of the trench as the
machine progresses.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Edward Cradock Monckton and William Clark in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
EDWARD CRADOCK MONCKTON, of the Parthenon Club, Regent Street, in the
County of Middlesex, and WILLIAM CLARK, of Upper Terrace, Islington, in
the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
Onethousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Henry Edward Cradock Monckton and William Clark, Her special licence
that we, the said Henry Edward Cradock Monckton and William Clark,
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Henry
Edward Cradock Monckton and William Clark, 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 MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR TILLING OR
CULTIVATING THE SOIL," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said

page_text: Henry Edward Cradock Monckton and William Clark, 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
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 date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, for myself and the
said Henry Edward Cradock Monckton, do hereby declare the nature of our
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference
being had unto the two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our improvements in apparatus or machinery for tilling the soil relate, first,
to the application of a rotatory tilling instrument for cutting up and inverting
the soil, which instrument has a longitudinal motion imparted to it in the
direction of the lengths of its axis simultaneously with its motion of rotation.
This rotatory tiller may consist of blades wound helically round the axis, but
of an increasing diameter, so that when rotating rapidly will represent the
appearance of a cone; or it may consist of a series of prongs or tines arranged
to represent a similar appearance. The tilling instrument while rotating travels
with the axis, advancing with the small end of the cone first, and produces a
trench or furrow,somewhat similar to that produced by a plough. This instru-
ment in its action cuts the soil from the land side, and advances parallel with
the trench or furrow, and with the small end of the cone in advance. It operates
first on the surface soil, which it throws into the trench previously made; as
the larger part of the cone advances it cuts deeper; and throwing the soil
taken from the greatest depth for the most part on the top of that first
removed.
By making this tilling instrument double coned, that is, coned towards both
ends, it can be worked backwards and forwards, and so continue its workings
without the necessity of turning the machine round at the headlands. Two
or more of these tilling instruments may be worked in combination, so as to
cut a greater breadth of land during one traverse of the machine. It is
necessary to actuate these tilling instruments by steam power, carried by a
machine travelling over the land, which we prefer should travel on the land
side, or unbroken land, the tilling instrument being overhanging in the proper
position for its work. By guiding the machine a little out of the parallel
course at the headlands, a sufficient advance or movement in a sidelong direc-
tion will be obtained to bring it in position to make the next furrow. This

page_text: steam machine is supported on suitable broad wheels, and propels itself at a
suitable rate, in proportion to the rate of rotatory motion of the instrument;
or it may be carried over the ground by any suitable machinery of support
having propelling power applied thereto.
Further improvements in machinery or apparatus for telling land relate to
an apparatus which operates by means of a kind of digging motion. It con-
sists of successive rows or series of spade-like diggers, put in motion by means
of cranks or other suitable means. These diggers individually do not dig
deeper than about one and a half or two inches, but the successive rows are
placed at different elevations, forming an incline from the front to the rear of
the machine. In operating with the instrument, an inclined trench or space
equal to the area of the digging frame and the machine is placed therein; as
it advances, by reason of the motion of the engine imparted to the wheels of
the carriage, or by the action of the diggers, each row across the breadth of
the machine enters the ground to the depth of two inches and tosses the soil
in a backward direction, each successive row being deeper than that pre-
ceding it, the last in succession, although only penetrating the new ground to
the depth of two inches, yet by reason of its inclined position it is digging the
earth some eight or ten inches below the original surface. As the machine
progresses the diggers still maintain their relative position,and thereby main-
tain the inclined trench or space in which they work, and advance throughout
the whole breadth of the field.
A modification of this machine consists in the application of a series of
rotary diggers in lieu of the vertical or inclined spade diggers. These consist
of cylinders with radial digging tines or teeth, the cylinders being placed one
behind the other, and each in succession at a lower level, so as to work in an
inclined trench orspace, which their action maintains as the machine advances,
as before described. The cylinders should either be in such proximity that the
tines of different cylinders clear each other of the soil, or be furnished with.
stationary teeth to effect such clearance.
A further addition to these last machines consists in the application of two
scrapers, one on either side of the machine, which scrape the surface soil from
the land on each side into the lower or deepest part of the trench as the
machine progresses. These side scrapers may be used with either of the
last-mentioned machines, but which scrapers are not necessary to the working
have machines

page_text: Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a machine constructed according to
the first part of our Invention, having a rotarytilling instrument; and Figure 2,
a side elevation of the same.
A, A, is a platform, mounted on two broad rollers B, B, which travel over
the land on the uncultivated part; a suitable steam engine is placed on the
platform. C is an ordinary upright boiler; and D, D, the cylinders, fixed to
wrought-iron plate frames E, fixed to the boiler and platform; F, the main
shaft of engine, fitted in suitable bearings in the frame E, E, and furnished
with cranks a, a, at each end, placed at right angles to each other; G, is the
tilling instrument, whose axis is supported by two arms H,H,connected with
the main shaft F, on which the whole is free to swing, for the purpose of
regulating the depth of the tiller G on the ground or raising it therefrom. Its
position is adjusted bymeans of other rod supports I, I, furnished with a screw
and nut, having a cross lever b, by turning which it may be raised or lowered.
The hollow shaft G¹,G',of the tilling instrument is furnished with cranks C,C,
at either end connected by rods K,K, with cranks a, a, of main shaft. The
same crank pins of cranks a, a, receive both the connecting rods of the engine
and the rods K, K; motion is communicated by the engine to the main shaft,
and thence to the tiller G by rods K, K, thus a continuous rotary motion is
transmitted to the tiller at the same speed as that of the revolution of the
engine. A bevel pinion d is mounted on the shaft F, which gears into the
wheel e on upright shaft f; another pinion g on the lower end of this shaft
gears into a wheel h fixed on the axis of roller B. By this means onward
motion is communicated to the whole machine simultaneously with the
rotatory motion of the tiller G, the tiller therefore advances in the direction of
the length of its axis, by which, with its rotatory motion, it cuts or forms a
semicircular trench, as seen in the cross section of the land in Figure 2. The
tiller G,G,is arranged in theform of a double-thread screw, each thread being
either of a continuous plate of metal, or of a number of tines or prongs,
arranged on the same principal as shewn in the Drawing,orinsome analogous
form; it is tapered or reduced in diameter towards both ends, and largest in
the middle, where it penetrates the ground to the greatest depth. The cross
section of the land represents one furrow or trench as previously cut, with the
tiller in position for making the succeeding furrow. It will be observed that
the small end of the tiller takes effect first on the land to be inverted andtilled;
the several red arcs show the way in which the land is operated on. The
small end of tiller in advance removes the upper surface to the depth of the

page_text: upper red arc and throws it into the previous trench or furrow, and as the
instrument progresses it gradually cuts deeper, and entering as deep as
the second red arc, pulverizes and throws that soil above the other and upper
soil previously removed and deposited in the trench; a deeper cut is taken as
the larger part of the tiller advances, and ultimately at its largest diameter it
completes the new trench, in which it removes the soil at the greatest depth,
and after pulverizing, deposits on the upper part of the soil previously removed.
In this manner the trench is cut the whole breadth of a field as in ploughing
when the motion of the machine is reversed, and a new trench or furrow cut.
By this means the soil is thoroughly inverted and pulverized, and at the same
time exposed to the atmosphere for a considerable length of time. The tiller,
as before mentioned, is made small at both ends, so that it may work in either
direction, and obviate the necessity of turning round at the headlands; there-
fore on arriving at those points the machine must be controlled so as to
advance in a transverse direction, which may be effected by guiding the
machine a little out of the direct course when it arrives at the headlands and
again setting it in the straight course. For this purpose the bearing rollers
B, B, have sliding bearings i fitted to their supporting standards L, as seen in
the back view of the p'atform Figure 3. The bearings i are fitted in slots and
are moved by suitable screws, either roller being traversed a little, according
as the direction of motion is desired to be changed. The other ends of the
axes of B, B, have the bearings ¹ free to turn in a socket in standards L', as
seen in Figure 4, to permit the sliding motion of the other end. In order
that the tines or teeth forming the tiller G may be kept free from soil and to
prevent its accumulating thereon, stationary prongs M, M, may be fixed to the
platform between which the revolving tines or teeth pass. Instead of employing
only one of these rotatory tillers, two or more may be combined and act in one
machine, so as to follow each other and cut a greater breadth of land at one
traverse of the machine. Two rotatory tilling instruments are represented in
combination in the plan, Figure 5, and in end view, with section of the land, in
Figure 6, in which two trenches or furrows are cut simultaneously. An
increased number of such rotatory tillers may be so combined and arranged as
to work on a considerable breadth of land at one traverse, and which may be
otherwise supported and carried over the ground than by the platform moving
on rollers, as represented. Rails or ways of support may be provided for the
traverse of the carriage. In Figures 5 and 6 the tilling instruments are
represented as smooth surface blades, or screw threads. In this case the
stationary clearing teeth must be dispensed with, and the pitch or rake of the
screw should hold such proportion with the rate of travelling that it provides

page_text: sufficient rubbing motion of the screws in the soil to keep their surfaces clear.
These tilling instruments are connected and driven by suitable rods and
cranks at uniform speed, as before described. To reverse the notion of the
machinery, the bevil pinion d is thrown out of gear with wheel e, and pinion d¹
thrown into gear with wheel e¹, which actuate pinion g' and wheel h¹,causing
the machine to travel in the opposite direction.
DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENT OR MACHINE No. 2.
Figure 7, Sheet 2, represents a side elevation of a tilling machine arranged
according to the second part of our Invention; Figure 8 a longitudinal
vertical section, and Figure 9 a transverse vertical section of the same. This
machine performs and operates, by a kind of digging motion, by means of a
series of sixteen spades or diggers. N,N,N,N, are four crank shafts, supported
in bearings, carried by a suitable framework of wood O, O. Each shaft N is
furnished with four cranks 1, 1, 1, 1, all placed at right angles to each other on
their respective shafts. Each crank carries a spade stem m, to which it
communicates motion by the revolution of the crank. The upper part of the
stems m, ir, are received in guides p. p, supported at the upper part of the
framework O,O. The stems are free to rise up and down and also to oscillate
freely in these guides p, p, while the spades perform the circular motion of the
cranks in the direction and as indicated by the red circles and arrows. All the
shafts N, N, are furnished with cranks r,r, at each extremity, by which they
are driven. These two cranks on each shaft are fixed at right angles to each
other, and the whole four on each side connected together and driven by means
of the connecting rods P, P. Motion is communicated to the first crank
shatt N¹ by means of connecting rods R, R, which communicate with the
cranks S, S, on the main shaft of a steam engine, which is an ordinary upright
portable engine, and will not require any description. The connecting rods
R, R', take on to the crank pins of outside cranks r¹, the pins of the two first
cranks being lengthened for that purpose, as will be understood by the cross
section, Figure 9; motion is thus communicated simultaneously to all the
spades T. The carriage is supported and travels on a broad roller U, which
acts as the driving medium. On the axis of this roller a bevil wheels is fixed
gearing into a piniont fixed on upright shaft u, shaft u carries a bevel wheel v,
geared into pinion w, fixed on a short shaft with the spur wheel x, which gears
into the pinion y fixed on the engine shaft. Thus rotatory motion is com-
municated to the roller, thereby propelling the carriage over the ground. The
rear of the machine, which is much lighter, is carried on broad wheels V,
which are furnished with a suitable axle, and mounted with a locking plate

page_text: moving on the upright pim z, whereby to steer or guide the carriage in its
onward motion. W is a lever for the purpose of moving and fixing the locking
plate and wheels V, V. In operating with this machine, an inclined trench is
dug somewhat roughly in the form of the cavity in which the diggers work,
over which the machine is placed and the whole frame lowered, bringing the
diggers or spades into the position shown when it is set in motion. It will be
observed that the spades occupy the whole breath of the machine. The first
series or breadth of spades dig to the depth of about two inches, more or less,
and throw the earth backwards, and continue to do so as the machine advances.
The next breadth of four spades T" penetrate to the depth of about four inches,
that is, through the soil previously thrown back,and two inches further into the
undisturbed soil, throwing the whole forcibly backwards to the rear of the
machine; the third series T penetrate the earth an additional two inches
and throw the earth back; and, lastly, the fourth series or breadth of spades 'T4
penetrate to the whole depth, & throw the soil up behind the machine in an
inverted and pulverized state; in this way the machine advances and maintains
the inclined trench during its working. It will be observed that the principal
weight comes on the front roller and on the untilled ground, while the rear,
which is comparatively of little weight, travels with its wheels on the tilled
soil. Instead of having these wheels behind, they might be placed on either
side of the machine. Z, Z, are two scrapers fixed to the framework of the
machine, which scrape
the surface soil on either side of the machine into the
trench at its deepest part. Only one of each of the four spades in the breadth
of the machine is represented in Figs. 7 & 8, in order to obviate confusion in
those Figs.
DESCRIPTION OF THE THIRD MACHINE OR IMPLEMENT.
Figure 10 represents a side view, partly in section, and Figure 11 a
transverse section, of a machine constructed according to our Invention, which
pulverizes and inverts the soil, in a manner somewhat similar to the machinery
or apparatus last herein described, and like that apparatus works in an
inclined trench, but instead of spade diggers it operates by means of the
rotatory motion of the parts. X, X, is the framework, mounted on wheels and
roller, as described with reference to the machine last herein-before mentioned,
and also with a portable engine to actuate the whole. The motion of the
engine is communicated by the connecting rods R, R¹, to the cranks 7, 4, and
by rods P, P, to the several shafts N, N, N, N, but which in this case have
no cranks intermediate of their length, as before, but are simply rotating shafts,
on which a number of tines or arms Y, Y, are fixed, and radiate from. It will

page_text: be observed that the radial tines or blades Y, Y, on the one shaft N are so
adjusted and arranged with those on the next shaft that in their revolution the
one passes between the other, the spaces between each being sufficiently wide
to permit the passage of the others; thus, in their revolution they cross each
other, as seen on the side view, and effectually clear each other of the soil that
may be liable to cling to the arms or tines Y during their operation. In these
views the tines Y are spread across the breadth of the machine in a direct line,
which need not necessarily be the case, as they may be distributed helically
around their centre, with this advantage, that the contact with the earth will
not be a series of blows, but will be uniform throughout the entire revolution.
It will be observed that the several sets of tines are placed at a lower level,
the one behind the other, so that the first, or that in advance, penetrates the
earth only about two inches and throws the earth backwards, the next in
succession penetrating two inches deeper, that is, four inches, the succeeding
one six inches, and so on, until the ground is operated on to the depth required
by the last of the series, which throws the soil up behind in an inverted and
pulverized state. The inclined trench is previously prepared for the working
of the machine as before-mentioned with reference to the other, which it
maintains throughout its operation on the land. Instead of placing the sets of
rotating tines so close together for the purpose of clearing themselves of the
soil as described, they may be placed further apart, so as not to cross each
In this case stationary tines should be fixed across the breadth of the
machine in a suitable position, so as to enter between the teeth of the rotating
tines for that
purpose. When so arranged and furnished, the rotating tines
may be much broader than represented, while the clearing comb of tines
should be very narrow, so that the rotating tines may pass easily between
them.
other.
Having described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which the
same may be performed, we declare that what we claim as of our Invention,
to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the arrangement and construction of rotating screw or helical
arrangement of tines of greater radii in the middle of its length than at its
extremity or extremities, such screw or arrangement of tines travelling in
the direction of the length of its axis, and operating on and inverting the
soil in tilling or cultivating, all as herein-before described.
Secondly, we claim the spade diggers working in and maintaining an in-
clined trench or space while operating in tilling or cultivating the soil
arranged and actuated as herein-before described.
Thirdly, we claim the rotatory tilling instruments working in and main-

page_text: taining an inclined trench or space while operating on and tilling or culti-
vating the soil arranged and actuated as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)

page_text: FIC..