IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS FOR CULTIVATION BY STEAM, WATER, WIND, OR ANIMAL POWER
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Curror, of Twenty-five, Northumberland
Street, in the City of Edinburgh, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS FOR CULTIVATION BY STEAM, WATER,
WIND,
OR ANIMAL POWER."
Sealed the 2nd December 1873, and dated the 5th June 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Curror at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th June 1873.
I, DAVID CURROR, of Twenty-five, Northumberland Street, in the
City of Edinburgh, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS FOR CULTIVATION BY STEAM,
WATER, WIND, OR ANIMAL POWER," to be as follows:-
The object of the said Invention is by one operation to loosen and
pulverize the soil so as to leave it in a fit condition to receive seed. I
propose to effect this by an implement composed of a beater or scutcher
combined with a plough. The soil after being operated on by such an
implement will be pulverized and ready to receive the seed,

page_text: In carrying out my said Invention in practice I construct a frame
supported on carrying wheels and adjusting screws to determine the
height of said frame from the ground. I fit into said frame a plough
plate, sole plate, and coulter, so arranged that the furrow to be turned
up shall remain straight, and not turned to one side as usual. I fit at
the upper end of said plate a revolving beater or scutcher composed of
a series of projections from a drum or boss. The shape of the projections
may be various according to the nature of the soil. I fit a driving
spindle to said drum, so that by turning it rapidly the said projections
strike and pulverize the raised furrow which is forced into contact with
them by the advance of the plough through the ground. I fit a duct
pipe to a cistern on the said plough by which I moisten the plough plate
to reduce the friction of it passing through the earth. I propose also to
fit the said plough with a duplicate set of mechanism to enable it to
work the return furrow without turning the implement round.
I propel the said plough by steam, water, wind, or animal power.
The driving power may be fitted with two drums, which are driven in
succession, one of them acting as a pay out drum, while the other acts
as driver. A chain or wire rope is laid across the field, and I fit said
plough with a chain wheel to pull the said plough across the field at a
reduced speed compared with the driving drums.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Curror in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th December 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID 2
CURROR, of 25, Northumberland Street, in the City of Edinburgh,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the 3
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said David Curror, Her special
licence that I, the said David Curror, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said David Curror, 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
IMPLEMENTS FOR CULTIVATION BY STEAM, WATER, WIND, OR ANIMAL POWER,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said David Curror, 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 the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Curror, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The object of the said Invention is by one operation to loosen and
pulverize the soil so as to leave it in a fit condition to receive seed. I
propose to effect this by an implement composed of a beater or skutcher
combined with a plough. The soil after being operated on by such an
implement will be pulverized and ready to receive the seed.
In carrying out my said Invention in practice I construct a frame.
supported on carrying wheels and adjusting screws to determine the
height of said frame from the ground. I fit into said frame a plough.
plate, sole plate, and coulter, so arranged that the furrow to be turned
up shall remain straight, and not turned to one side as usual. I fit at
the upper end of said plate a revolving beater or skutcher composed of
a series of projections from a drum or boss. The shape of the projec-
tions may be various according to the nature of the soil. I fit a driving
spindle to said drum, so that by turning it rapidly the said projections
strike and pulverize the raised furrow which is forced into contact with
them by the advance of the plough through the ground. I fit a duct
pipe to a cistern on the said plough, by which I moisten the plough
plate to reduce the friction of it passing through the earth. I propose
also to fit the said plough with a duplicate set of mechanism to enable
it to work the return furrow without turning the implement round.

page_text: I propel the said plough by steam, water, wind, or animal power.
The driving power on the engine or windlass may be fitted with two
drums, which are driven in succession, one of them acting as a pay out
drum, while the other acts as driver. A chain or wire rope is laid across
the field, and I fit said plough with a chain wheel to pull the said 5
plough across the field at a reduced speed compared with the driving
drums.
"
Fig. 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan of my implement for culti-
vation. a" is a strong frame supported by wheels "6" and adjusting
hand screw CC C " to determine the depth of the furrow. The wheels “b”
are fitted on their periphery with inclined digging spades, which cut
into the ground for the double purpose of breaking it and to prevent
the wheels from slipping round. In certain cases I also substitute
prongs instead of the spades. Between the wheels "6" and on the
same spindle I fix a chain wheel "d" and connect it to a corresponding
wheel “e” on the spindle “ƒ” by an endless chain, which may either
be a pitch chain or common link. The diameter of the wheel "d" is
about double the diameter of the wheel "e" to increase the speed of
the spindle "f." On the spindle "f," at about three inches apart, I fix
a series of cast drums having steel or iron tines or spikes projecting
therefrom, and either cast into said drums or fixed securely, but capable
of being taken out for renewal. The diameter of the drums measured
over the said tines is about three times that of the wheel "e," so that
the point of the tines will move about six times as fast as the plough is
drawn through the soil. "g" is the plough plate and sole plate, which
is securely fixed to the framing by the brackets "h." The point or
cutting part is moveable, and may either be straight or angular. " i "
is the coulter, also fixed to the framing, and supported by a rest on "h."
"k" is a water tank fitted with a duct pipe "," which leads water from
the said tank to perforations in the plough plate and sole plate to keep
them moist, and thereby reduce the friction of the plough in passing
through the soil.
"m" is a wheel fixed to a swing bracket, which is

page_text: held by a catch in its present position till the plough has arrived at the
end of the bout. The catch is then withdrawn, and the wheel drops on
the ground, the jointed end causing the advancing plough to force itself
out of the furrow. The head is then drawn round for the return bout.
The wheel may then be raised into its former place by a lever, or the
drag chain can be fastened to it and passed over pullies, as shown in
Fig. 3, for the same purpose. I propose to make the frame in one piece,
bent into shape without welding.
Fig. 4 is an elevation, and Fig. 5 a plan to show a modification of my
said Invention. Similar reference letters refer to similar parts in all the
Figures. The carrying wheels "6" have no spades or prongs, and on
the same spindle is fixed a chain wheel in the centre line and a toothed
wheel close to it. The said toothed wheel is geared into a pinion on the
spindle "n." At one end of said spindle is a V grooved driving pulley
driven at a high rate of speed by hemp or wire rope direct from the
drums on the engine or windlass. The speed of said rope may be from
20 to 30 miles per hour, and through the pinion and chain wheel
described the speed of the plough will be reduced to from 2 to 3 miles
per hour with a corresponding gain in the power. "o" is a chain laid
across the field in the course of the implement. It is secured at the end
to an anchor of any suitable form, and it is passed over the chain wheel
on "6" and round the pullies "p," p," and delivered at one side in
such position as to be laid ready for the return bout. It will be thus.
understood by driving the pulley on spindle "n" the implement is self-
impelled along the said chain instead of being dragged by direct traction.
The cast drums and projecting tines on the spindle "f" are smaller than
in the other arrangement, and are driven at higher speed by an endless
chain connecting chain wheels on spindles "n" and "f." Under said
spindle is fitted a breaking roller which both lifts the furrow and assists
to break in on the under side.
"
Instead of the raising bracket and wheel "m I may also construct
the frame and other parts in duplicate, but reversed so as to pull the
implement backwards on the return bout and dispense with turning it
each time.
I also propose to fit road wheels to the framing for carrying the
implement to or from its work.

page_text: to steam the implement may be moved by water, wind, or animal power
instead, when these are more convenient.
Having described the nature of my said Invention and the manner in
which the same is or may be carried into effect in practice, I further state
that I do not restrict myself to the precise details described and illus- &
trated, as from the nature of the Invention these may be considerably
modified without departing from the principles on which my said Inven-
tion is based; what I desire to claim and secure by the said in part
recited Letters Patent are,-
First. The construction of a plough or implement to raise soil, and 1
the combination with said plough or implement of a revolving beater or
skutcher to pulverise the soil so raised, and prepare it by one operation
to receive the seed, substantially as described.
Second. The driving of said revolving beater or skutcher at a higher
speed than the plough, substantially as described.
Third. The moistening the plough plate by a tank of water and duct
pipe, substantially as described.
Fourth. The novel arrangement for raising the plough or implement
out of the furrow and for turning it to make the return furrow.
1
Fifth. The method of self-impelling the plough or implement by 2
winding a stationary chain or wire line laid across the field in the course
of the plough or implement, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Curror, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- 2
three.