AN IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT OR MACHINE FOR FORKING AND PULVERIZING LAND
Year: 1871

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Lawes at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th June
1871..
I, THOMAS LAWES, of No. 65, City Road, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT OR MACHINE FOR FORKING AND PULVERIZING LAND,"
to be as follows:-
•
This machine is substantially of the following character, that is to
say:-
-
Firstly. It consists of a frame of wood or iron, or other suitable
material, to which an iron shaft is fixed in bearings at each end and
secured to the frame. On this shaft are placed a number of wheels of
suitable diameter and thickness, filling up the space inside between the
sides of the said frame. On the outside surface of each wheel a number
of spikes are fixed; these spikes are curved and pointed, and are made
sufficiently strong to turn up the earth, and of a length necessary to
penetrate into the soil the required depth, the shaft and the wheels
revolve separately.

page_text: Secondly. Behind these spiked wheels there can be secured to the
frame another shaft, on which is placed a row of revolving circular
plates, which may be made of iron of suitable diameter and thickness
with toothed or saw-like edges, which edges of these plates might
extend some inches within the border of the spiked wheels, and between
each of the said revolving circular plates "cleaners" (to prevent the
clogging of the soil between the said plates) constructed of iron or
other suitable material can be placed, or instead of the said revolving
plates a number of wheels having spikes fixed on the frame or periphery
thereof, as herein-before described in the first part of this Specification,
may be used.
Thirdly. Outside the frame at each end of the spiked wheel shaft is
fitted an iron casting, at the ground end of which is a wheel of suitable
dimensions. On the opposite end upwards these castings are connected
by an iron bar extending across the machine above the iron spikes, to
which bar two others are fastened pointing backwards and connected
with an iron screw, by which the said castings are made to move back-
wards and forwards, and thus the machine is raised or lowered at
discretion. This screw is held in its place by two standards fixed one
at each end of the frame, and connected by an iron bar reaching from
one to another. A bar or shaft for one or more horses is fixed in
front of the machine. When at work the wheels are suspended, and
the weight of the machine resting on the ground presses the spikes into
.it, and then being pulled forwards turns up the earth, whilst the circular
plates pulverize it and keep the spiked wheels clean.
Fourthly. The said revolving plate arrangement herein-before described
in the second part of this Specification, may, if deemed desirable, be
used without the said wheel and spike arrangement herein-before
described in the first part of this Specification, and the said wheel and
spike arrangement may, if deemed desirable, bo used without the said
revolving plate arrangement, in which latter case "cleaners" might be
used between the wheels of the said wheel and spike arrangement.