IMPROVEMENTS MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Heury Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North
Britain. Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS."
A communication
Sealed the 29th September 1853, and dated the 10th May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th May 1853. .
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MA-
CHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS" to be
as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the obtainment of a machine or
instrument by which most of the operations of farming may be carried
The machine consists of a common box cart, with two wheels
about five feet in diameter. with broad ties, drawn by two horses.
Immediately in front of the axle is placed an upright tubular boiler

page_text: and engine; from the axle of the cart, and outside of the wheels, is
suspended a framework extending about eight feet behind the cart, to
the extremities of which framework is suspended a revolving cylinder,
into which are affixed a series of steel pointed picks, spades, or knives;
the framework is supported by a platform attached to the axle of the
cart, and arranged on two wheels rolling immediately in front of the
cutting cylinder of equal tire, but less diameter than the cart wheels.
An apparatus and screw is attached to the platform for raising and
depressing the whole framework and cutting cylinder to any required
guage; the cutting cylinder derives its motion from the steam engine,
the gearing being attached to the axle of the cart, the whole being
suspended from one common centre. The horses are used only for
drawing the machine over the ground, having no connection whatever
with the cutting apparatus. Immediately behind, over the cylinder
and at the end of the framework, is attached a box, behind which is
affixed a roller giving motion to a brush seed sower arranged in the
box, which acts as a leveller to the pulverized carth.
The machine can be adapted to purposes of draining by reducing the
length of the cylinder, the apparatus being so arranged as to admit of
its cutting to any required depth.
To the machine, by the removal of the pulverizing and draining
apparatus, may be attached a reaping or mowing platform.
The cart containing the motive power, with the boiler and engine,
may be applied to general farm purposes, such as thrashing, cleaning
grain, cutting wood, pumping water, &c.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 10th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of g
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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 com-
municated to me from abroad for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 John Henry Johnson, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say:
The said Invention relates to various arrangements of mechanism,
apparatus, or means by the agency of which most of the mechanical
operations connected with farming may be carried on in a speedier,
more efficient, and economical manner than has been hitherto accom-
plished. Such machinery consists: Firstly, of an improved implement
or operating apparatus to be used for digging, pulverising, levelling, or
drilling and rolling the soil, the sowing of seeds, and the depositing of
manure; this series of operations being performed either simul-
taneously or successively, according to circumstances. Secondly, of
an improved mechanical apparatus for reaping and mowing. Figure 1,
on Sheet 1, of the Drawings hereunto attached is a longitudinal vertical

page_text: section of one modification of the improved mechanism, with the digger
or soil loosener, and the seed sowing apparatus and levelling box and
roller attached. Figure 2, on the saine Sheet is an external longitu-
dinal elevation of the same machine; and Figure 3, is a longitudinal
elevation of the digger or soil loosener detached. In this arrangement
the machine consists mainly of a box cart A, supported on the pair of
large running wheels B, made with very wide tyres or rims to pre-
vent them from sinking too deeply into the soil, and upon a second or
hind pair of smaller wheels C, which run loose on the two extremities
of a hollow or tubular axle set in the fixed framing D, of the machine.
This framing is supported at one end by the axle of the large wheels
B, and is tied together by a tie rod and transverse bar E, at the
opposite end. It is through the centre of this bar that the raising and
lowering screw F, is passed; this screw having upon its upper end an
adjusting hand wheel G; the lower end of this screw is connected to
a transverse bar H, connecting the two sides of the moveable frame I,
supported at one end by the main axle fitting loosely thereon, the
opposite end being suspended over the soil, and carrying the soil-
breaking or digging cylinder or cylinders J. This roller consists of
two or more discs K, K, through which pass the longitudinal bars
L, L. These bars carry the picks, forks, or knives M, M, of any
convenient form. These picks are bolted on to the bars I, at suitable
distances asunder, according to the nature of the ground to be operated
upon. The discs K, K, of the cylinder J, are secured to the tubular
shaft N, through the centre of which is passed a tie rod O, which is
fitted at each extremity with shoulders inside and a nut outside the
journals or bearings of the shaft N, carried by the framing I. A pair
of brass bushes may be bolted to this framing to receive the journals of
the digging cylinders, the said framing being composed either of wood
or of boiler plate. A rapid rotatory motion, in the direction of the
arrow, is communicated to these cylinders through the pinion P, keyed
on to the shaft N; this pinion gears with the spur wheel Q, on the
shaft R, which may be made tubular for the sake of lightness. At S,
is a bevel wheel keyed on to the same shaft, and gearing with a
similar wheel T, on the tubular shaft U, shewn in red lines in Figure 2,

page_text: and resting at one end in a suitable bearing in the moveable frame I.
The opposite end of this shaft carries another bevel wheel V, which
gears with the corresponding wheel W, on the first motion shaft X.
In order to allow of the shaft U, being moved with the framing I, it
works at its inner end in a tubular bearing fitted loosely on the axes
of the main pair of running wheels B, B. The driving shaft X, is
made tubular, and revolves loosely on the axes of the large running
wheels; and a driving pulley Y, and fly wheel Y', are keyed on to this
shaft, which is driven by a pitch chain, spur wheel, or belt Z, passing
round the smaller pulley a, which is carried by the fixed stud b, bolted
to the side of the vertical tubular boiler c. To a stud pin d, in the
pulley a, is attached the lower end of the connecting rod e, shewn by
a single dotted red line in Figure 1. The opposite end of this rod
is connected to the piston rod of the vertical inverted steam cylinder f,
which is secured by bolts or otherwise to the side of the boiler. The
slide and steam chests y, are fitted to the top of the cylinder, the steam
ports of which are so arranged that the steam enters the upper portion
of the cylinder direct from the steam chest by a port passing through
the end of the cylinder. The opposite steam port is connected with
the steam chest by a passage down the outside of the cylinder. By
this arrangement the lubrication of the cylinder and slides is accom-
plished with great facility by fitting an oil cup 1, on to the top of the
steam chest; the oil thus passes direct into the steam chest, and thence
into the interior of the cylinder, through the steam port in the cover.
The steam slide is actuated by an eccentric i, secured to one side of the
pulley a, and consequently turning loosely with it on the fixed stud b.
The upper end of the eccentric rodj, is attached to the horizontal arm of
the bell-crank lever k, the extremity of the vertical arm of which passes
through a slotted eye in the end of the valve spindle 7. The working
portions of the Invention are covered by the levelling box m, which
contains the seed chamber n. This chamber contains a circumferen-
tially grooved cylinder or roller o, which is made to revolve by a cord
passing from an external pulley p, on the axes of the cylinder, to another
pulley g, on the shaft of the roller. The light roller r, serves to carry
the weight of the end of the levelling. box m, as it passes over the

page_text: pulverized soil; the opposite side of the said box being attached loosely
to the platform or framing D, thereby allowing the roller r, to raise or
lower the levelling box m, according to the inequalities of the soil, and
also, when weighted, to press down the soil: it is carried by the small
brackets s, s, which are bolted to the box m. A pair of brushes t, t, are
fitted inside the seed chamber, and press slightly against each side of
the grooved cylinder. By this means the seeds are prevented from
escaping, excepting by the circumferential grooves in the cylinder; each
groove corresponds with a separate seed duct u, which deposits the seeds
in the ground. The machine is drawn by horse power in the direction of
the arrow by suitable shafts, and the earth is thrown up into a heap
inside the levelling box, which is tied by a cord and spring v, to the
axes of the large running wheels, to prevent it from being displaced by
the pressure of the earth inside. Figure 1, on Sheet 2, of the Draw-
ings, represents a longitudinal vertical section of the same machine,
with the cultivating apparatus removed, and a reaping apparatus substi-
tuted; and Figure 2, is a corresponding plan of the same. The parts
of this machine which correspond with that referred to in Sheet 1, are
indicated by corresponding letters. The reaping platform I, in this
arrangement is hinged to the axle of the smaller running wheels C, C,
by the link piece J, and is supported and adjusted in height by the
screw F, and hand wheel G. This screw passes freely through the
cross-bar E, of the fixed frame D, as herein-before described in reference
to Figure 1, of Sheet 1, of the Drawings, and is attached at its lower
end to the transverse bar K, to which are jointed at each extremity the
links L, L. These links are jointed at their lower ends to the bar M,
which is attached to the under side of the reaping platform. It will
thus be seen, that by raising or lowering the screw the height of the
cutting platform may be adjusted accordingly as it may be required for
reaping or mowing. The rotatory motion of the cutters N, is obtained
from the driving shaft X, by the bevel wheel W, which is keyed on to
it. This wheel gears with the corresponding bevel wheel o, fast on the
end of the inclined shaft P. The lower extremity of this shaft is con-
nected by a universal joint to the short shaft Q, working in fixed
bearings R. R. attached to the under side of the moveable platform. A

page_text: small bevel pinion S, keyed on to the end of this shaft, gears into a
similar wheel T, fast on the transverse shaft U. To this shaft are
keyed a number of bevel pinions V, V, which severally gear with the
bevel pinions w, w, fast on the short stud a, which works in bosses in the
platform and in footstep bearings at their lower ends; such footstep
bearings serving also as the supports for the shaft U. The upper
surface of the pinions w, w, are recessed to receive the curved blades
or scythes N, which are secured to them by screws. The blades or
cutters, which may be made with a plain or serrated edge, revolve in
the direction of the arrows, and give a circular cut through the standing
grain or grass, which is gathered in by the serrations or fingers y', on
the front edge of the platform. As the grain is cut it falls into the
series of receiving arms,, which are hinged to the rails 1, 1. These
arms are kept closed by flat blade springs 2, 2, pressing beneath
their under sides. In reaping by this machine it is moved in a con-
trary direction to that adopted when it is employed as a cultivator;
for effecting this the horses are reversed in the shafts to bring their
heads in the direction of the cart. Whilst reaping, two or more
attendants may be employed for binding the sheaves. As fast as a pair
of arms are filled, the attendant on that particular pair presses down
the grain, and the blade springs and arms opening out allow the
sheaves to fall through on to the platform, where it is bound in the
ordinary manner, the arms being again filled by the time the sheaf bas
been bound and deposited on the ground. By placing the cutting gear-
ing above, instead of below, the platform, and covering it in with a piece
of boiler plate to protect it against the grass, the machine will be still
more applicable for the purpose of mowing, the platform being capable
of being brought nearer the ground than when the gearing is placed
beneath it. It will be obvious that by a very slight modification in the
mechanism, and the addition of another engine, the large pair of run-
ning wheels B, B, may be driven by the steam engine itself, thus
making the implement a locomotive machine. This may be accom-
plished by keying a driving pulley on to the main axle, and driving it by
belt similar to the mode shewn of driving the hollow shaft X, in
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the Drawings. Figure 1, on Sheet 3, of the

page_text: Drawings represents a plan of another modification of the cart and
actuating mechanism, with the digger or reaping mechanism removed.
Figure 2, is a corresponding vertical section of the same. Figure 3, is
a corresponding end view. Figure 4, is a detailed section of the steam
cylinder and slide valve; and Figure 5, is a corresponding plan of the
same. In this arrangement the body of the cart A, is much shortened,
thereby rendering the whole apparatus more compact than the arrange-
ment previously described. The boiler B, which is of a similar con-
struction to the boiler shewn in Sheets 1, and 2, is carried at the end of
the cart, at one side, to allow sufficient room for the cranks of the
driving shaft C, which is shewn broken away at one end. In this arrange-
ment two steam cylinders D, D, are employed, and these are bolted to
the sole plate E, by brackets F, cast upon them for that purpose. This
sole plate has also bolted to it the bearing brackets G, G, which carry
the bearings for the main shaft, and also the guide studs H, H. The
driving shaft C, is fitted with a double and single crank I, J, and
carries a pair of eccentrics K, L, which actuate the slide valves;
the eccentric K, also works the feed pump plunger M. The eccentric
rod K', is connected to the short rocking shaft lever N, and actuates
the slide spindle O, by means of the short vertical lever P, fast
on the opposite extremity of the shaft. Over this shaft is fitted, to
work loosely, the tubular rocking shaft Q, the short lever R, of which
is actuated by the eccentric rod L'. This shaft gives motion to the
valve spindle S, by the vertical lever T, cast upon it. These two rock-
ing shafts are carried in the bearings U, U, which are secured to the
top of the boiler. The steam pipes are shewn in red lines, and the
exhaust pipes in blue lines, the latter opening into the chimney V. The
internal arrangement of the slide valves is shewn in the detached
vertical section and plan of the cylinder, Figures 4, and 5. The tops of
the steam chest W, and the cover X, of the cylinder, with the valve
chests, are held in their places by the four bolts Y. The valve chest
itself, with the valve face, is cast in one piece, and fitted into an annular
recess at %, formed round the edge of the cylinder. The boiler rests
upon a series of bearers a, which are laid across the top of the water
tank b. This tank may be supplied by a hose or other convenient means,

page_text: obstructions, such as
accordingly. The rap-
the water being drawn from it through the feed valve c, and fed into the
boiler through the pipe d. In order to prevent the straw (if employed
as a reaping machine) from interfering with the mechanism, or to pro-
tect the engineer from the spikes of the digging roller, when used, a
wooden grating e, is fitted to the end of the cart. Another grating f, is
also let into the flooring in order that any serious
large stones and roots, may be seen and avoided
ing or digging mechanism is actuated in a manner similar to that de-
scribed with reference to Sheets 1, and 2; of the Drawings. When the
digging roller is to be attached, the outside framing marked I, in
Sheet 1, of the Drawings is attached to the main axles of the large run-
ning wheels g; such framing being of course shorter in proportion to
the reduced length of the cart; the axle h, of the large running
wheels is bent, being passed beneath the bottom of the cart; the work-
ing portions i, of the axle being prolonged into the interior of the cart
to carry the moveable frame j, which works on the fixed centre k;
this frame carries the axle of the small running wheels n, to which is
hinged the reaping platform 7, which is raised or lowered by the hand
wheel and screw m; the frame j, may be raised by the chain n', for
the purpose of elevating the small wheels n, and thereby throwing the
whole of the weight of the machine on to the large wheels g, thereby
greatly facilitating the turning or management of the machine.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not con-
fine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I
have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features
of the said Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,
First, the general arrangements and construction of machinery,
apparatus, or means for accomplishing agricultural operations as herein-
before described.
Second, the system or mode of digging or disintegrating the soil,

page_text: and of reaping, mowing, and performing other agricultural operations,
by means of mechanism actuated directly by steam power, but traversed
or conveyed over the land by horse or other separate power, the same
being applicable for the cutting of drains.
Third, the application and use in digging or pulverizing operations
of a digging or soil loosening cylinder, which is driven at a high velocity
by steam power.
Fourth, the application and use of spring-hinged arms for receiving
the cut grain or other crop, as hercin-before described.
Fifth, the application and use of a hollow or tubular driving or first
motion shaft, arranged to work loose upon the axle of the supporting
running wheels, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the system or mode of driving the main running wheels,
whereby the machine is rendered self-locomotive, as herein-before
described in reference to Figure 1, on Sheet 1, of the Drawings.
Seventh, the simplified arrangement and use of the steam cylinder
and valve and gearing, as herein-before described.
Eighth, the application and use of the levelling box or grating and
roller in conjunction with a seed box or manure distributor, as herein-
before described.
Ninth, the system or mode of sowing or distributing seeds and
manure by apparatus driven by the travelling motion of the machine,
as herein-before described.
Tenth, the system or mode of effecting agricultural operations, as
herein-before described, by the use of a machine in which the horses
or actuating medium go before the pulverizing apparatus in digging
preparing, and sowing, and behind it in reaping and mowing.
Eleventh, tho system or mode of arranging the platform wheels,
either in the same plane or in a different plane, with the large running
wheels, as herein-before described.
Twelfth, the system or mode of supporting the digging cylinder or
rotatory arms by means of a frame carried on fixed centres in the body
of the cart, and capable of adjustment vertically, as described and
referred to in Sheet 1, of my Drawings.
Thirteenth, the mode of facilitating the turning of the machine at the

page_text: headlands by elevating the hind or trailing wheels, and thus throwing
the whole weight of the implement upon one pair of wheels.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of November, One thou-
sand eight hundred and fifty-three.
J. HENRY JOHNSON.