IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Simmons, of Rainham, Sittingbourne, in the
County of Kent. Agricultural Implement Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS."
Sealed the 12th January 1864, and dated the 22nd July 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Simmons at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd July 1863.
I, JOSEPH SIMMONS, of Rainham, Sittingbourne, in the County of Kent,
Agricultural Implement Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in ploughs, and the improve-
ments are applicable to that class of ploughs known as "the turn-wrist
ploughs." For these purposes in constructing a plough, the axle is arranged
so that it can be inclined either way; the fore end of the beam is attached to
the carriage by means of an upright bar, which at the lower end passes
through the axle in a mortice, or is fixed on the axle in such a manner that
the bar will retain its upright position whichever way the axle is inclined.
Above the axle is fixed a horizontal bar, in which there are several holes (or
notches), into which pins are introduced to regulate the upright bar according
to the depth it is desired to plough, and they are so arranged as to admit of
the bar allowing the axle to incline a like distance on both sides; the upper

page_text: end of the upright bar passes through the beam, which can be adjusted to the
height required by set screws or pins; through, or over, or under the beam a
lever is applied, which is received at the front end on to a suitable bearing con-
nected to but above the axletree. There is an opening in the lever through
which the upright bar passes, and is formed so as to allow the bar to be
inclined either way with the lever. The lever rests on the horizontal bar, and
is governed by the pins or notches before mentioned; the drafts are fixed to
the carriage by a strong hook in front, and the carriage is attached to the
plough by bars or chains, with or without screws or swivels, and bolted on
the sides of beam or stump, or pass to the back of stump, and fastened by
a pin. The whole of the arrangements are more simple, much stronger, and
less expensive than the old plan.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Simmons in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd January 186.4.
' TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
SIMMONS, of Rainham, Sittingbourne, in the County of Kent, Agricultural
Implement Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand cight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Ier heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joseph Simmons, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Simmons,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said Joseph
Simmons, 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,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PLOUGHS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph
Simmons, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said 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 tho
said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Simmons, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention bas for its object improvements in ploughs, and the improve.
ments are applicable to that class of ploughs known as "the turn-rist ploughs."
For these purposes in constructing a plough, the axle is arranged so that it
can be inclined either way. The fore end of the beam is attached to the
carriage by means of an upright bar, which at the lower end passes through
the axle in a mortice, or is fixed on the axle in such a manner that the bar
will retain its upright position whichever way the axle is inclined. Above the
axle is fixed a horizontal bar, in which there are several holes (or notches),
into which pins are introduced to regulate the upright bar according to the
depth it is desired to plough, and they are so arranged as to admit of the bar
allowing the axle to incline a like distance on both sides. The upper end of
the upright bar passes through the beam, which can be adjusted to the height
required by set screws or pins; through, or over, or under the beam a lever is
applied, which is received at the front end on to a suitable bearing connected
to but above the axletree. There is an opening in the lever through which
the upright bar passes, and is formed so as to allow the bar to be inclined
either way with the lever. The lever rests on the horizontal bar, and is
governed by the pins or notches before mentioned. The drafts are fixed to
the carriage by a strong hook in front, and the carriage is attached to the
plough by bars or chains. The whole of the arrangements are more simple,
much stronger, and less expensive than the old plan.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect. I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto.

page_text: the block c, it serves to guide the standard e in rocking, and to keep it steady;
fis the beam of the plough, it is slotted at the end, and the standard e passes
through it, and the beam is supported at any desired height on the standard;
this is done conveniently by collars 9, 9, secured to the standard by set screws
over and under the beam; h is an iron bar connecting the beam with the
under part of the block c, it is jointed at h¹. The standard e passes through
an opening or eye in the lever i, which pivots in front on an upright & fixed
on the block c and behind the standard e; the lever i lays upon a raill, also
fixed on the block c; this rail is perforated, and stops m can be secured in
the holes at any desired distance apart. When the plough is at work it is
guided behind by the ploughman at the yokes in the usual manner. In
ploughing in one direction one of the wheels a runs in the furrow, and in
returning the other wheel is in the furrow, as is shown by the Figures 2
and 3. The ploughman in guiding the plough keeps the standard e upright,
notwithstanding the inclination of the axle to either side. The stops mare
set at a distance apart to correspond to the depth of the ploughing; they are
to assist the ploughman in keeping the standard e vertical; when the stops are
properly placed the man in guiding the plough has only to press rather more
on the handle away from the furrow than on the other, and the stops and
lever i prevent the standard going too far over. One or other of the stops in
is used according as one or other wheel is for the time running in the furrow.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Simmons, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JOSEPHI SIMMONS. (L.S.)