IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TURNING PLOUGHS, ALSO APPLICABLE AS CULTIVATORS.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Catley, of No. 2, New Walk Terrace, in the City
of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TURNING PLOUGHS,
ALSO APPLICABLE AS CULTIVATORS.'
33
Sealed the 29th December 1877, and dated the 19th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Catley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th July 1877.
CHARLES CATLEY, of No. 2, New Walk Terrace, in the City of York. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM TURNING PLOUGHS, ALSO APPLICABLE AS CULTIVATORS."
My Invention relates to that description of steam ploughs in which a framing
carrying two sets of ploughs is turned round at the ends of the field, the one set of
ploughs being brought into action when the implement is travelling in the one
direction, and the other set when travelling in the contrary direction.
I construct such ploughs as follows:- A fratning having two sides sloping away
at an angle from each other, on each of which is one set of ploughs, is carried by
the cranked axle of a pair of travelling wheels, so that by turning the said cranked
axle in one direction or the other the framing of the two sets of ploughs is raised
or lowered to a greater or less height from the ground. The front end of the frame
rests upon a front steering wheel, which, by a steering mechanism, can be turned so
as to allow the implement to turn round as above described, or to travel in a curve.
On each sloping side of the frame are fixed bearings carrying a shaft rotatable
therein, and having fixed thereon skifes carrying the plough shares, so that by
turning the shaft in one direction or the other, the skifes in turning with it lift or
lower the ploughshares to a corresponding extent from or to the ground.
The two shafts have on their contiguous ends bevilled pinions both in gear with
one and the same bevil wheel, so that when the one shaft is turned so as to raise
its ploughs, the other shaft will be turned so as to lower the other set. On the
other end of each shaft is a disc having a notch at one point of its periphery, into
which, when the shaft is turned so as to bring the ploughshares into their lowest
position, a pawl on the frame catches so as to hold the shaft in that position.
On the before-mentioned cranked axle is fixed a toothed quadrant which is con-
מ.

page_text: nected by a chain or link to the one end of a V shaped or forked lever, or draught
bar, mounted on a vertical pin at the front end of the framing behind the steering
wheel; each arm of this draught bar is connected to one of the traction ropes
worked by the engine, so that when the implement has arrived at the one end of
the field, the rope from the engine at the other end in pulling at the one arm of the
draught bar for the purpose of turning the plough causes the bar in turning on its
pin to pull at and raise the quadrant, thereby also raising the crank of the axle
and lifting the framing together with the ploughs off the soil, the frame being held
in this position by a catch taking into the teeth of the quadrant. On the pull of
the rope being continued and the steering wheel being turned to the proper angle,
the implement will be turned round into the reverse position for cutting the next
set of furrows. When brought into this position the catch is released from the
quadrant, thus allowing the frame with the ploughs to fall again.
The pawl holding the shaft of the set of ploughs which have just been operating,
and which are consequently in the lowered position, is then also released, whereupon,
owing to the weight of the one set of ploughs balancing that of the other, the set
which is in the raised position will descend, raising the other set until they are in
balance, whereupon the first-named set is brought into the lowest position by means
of a lever inserted into boles in the before-mentioned disc on the shaft.
The quadrant on the cranked axle has a series of holes, into which a pin is
inserted, such pin coming in contact with a fixed stop, thus preventing the quadrant
from descending beyond a certain point. Thus, according as this pin is inserted in
one or other of these holes, the frame and ploughs are held in a higher or lower
position, according to whether the ploughs are required to cut a deep or a shallow
furrow in the soil. The lower end of the quadrant is also made to come in contact
with a stop when in its lowest position.
In order to bring the draught bar into position so that its pull shall be as nearly
as possible in the central line of resistance of the set of ploughs in operation, the
pin serving as fulcrum to the draught bar may be arranged to slide in a transverse
slot in the frame, so that it can be shifted to a point corresponding with such
'central line of resistance before the implement commences work. Owing to the
oblique pull put by the hauling rope in the first instance upon the one arm of the
draught bar, and the resistance offered by the quadrant, the draught bar would of
itself ride over in the slot from the one position into the other before it effects the
raising of the quadrant. Or in place of this arrangement I employ two separate
draught bars, each working on a pin in the line of resistance of each set of ploughs.
Both draught bars are connected at one end by a chain or link to the before-
described quadrant, while at the other end they are connected together by a link,
so that on pulling at the one draught bar for turning the implement, the said link
will cause the other draught bar to be pulled over so as to raise the quadrant and
frame in the manner above described.
The perfectly level position of all the ploughshares so as to cause them all to cut
furrows of the same depth, is insured by rendering the front end of the frame
adjustable in height on the bearings of the steering wheel. This may be effected
by arranging the said bearings to slide up or down in or on guides on the frame,
and supporting the latter by means of adjusting screws resting on the bearings. At
the back end of the frame is provided an adjustable skid wheel which rests upon
the soil and prevents the rear ploughs from penetrating beyond the desired depth
into the soil. At the front part of the framing is a transverse shaft projecting
some distance on either side, and carrying on each end an adjustable arm with a
rotatable disc at its end. The arms are fixed at different angles on the shaft, and
on commencing work the latter is turned so as to bring the one arm with its disc
into such a position, that on the movement of the plough tlie disc scribes a groove
in the soil in advance of the furrows that are being cut; and this groove is at such
a distance from the said furrows that when the plough is turned for cutting the
next set it can be properly gauged in position for this purpose by causing' the
central rib or flange on the steering wheel to travel along in the said groove.

page_text: The steering of the implement is effected by the attendant from a central seat on
the frame by means of a capstan wheel, the shaft of which has a pitch wheel, round
which passes a pitch chain gearing into teeth on the ring that carries the bearings
of the steering wheel.
The before-mentioned draught bar or bars is or are connected to the ring of the
steering wheel by means of a chain, so that on pulling over the draught bar, this
itself turns the steering wheel into position for turning the implement round.
The before-mentioned catch holding the segment is also controlled by a lever
within reach of the attendant, as is also the shaft carrying the scribing discs.
The above-described implement may be adapted to operate as a cultivator by
providing on the framing sockets or loops, into which cultivator tines may be fixed,
the shafts carrying the ploughs being reinoved from the frame when it is to be used
as a cultivator.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Catley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th January
1878.
CHARLES CATLEY, of No. 2, New Walk Terrace, in the City of York. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM TURNING PLOUGHS, ALSO APPLICABLE AS CULTIVATORS."
My Invention relates to that description of steam ploughs in which a framing
carrying two sets of ploughs is turned round at the ends of the field, the one set of
ploughs being brought into action when the implement is travelling in the one
direction, and the other set when travelling in the contrary direction.
I construct such ploughs as follows:-A framing having two sides sloping away
at an angle from each other, on each of which is one set of ploughs, is carried by the
cranked axle of a pair of travelling wheels, so that by turning the said cranked
axle in one direction or the other, the framing with the two sets of ploughs is
raised or lowered to a greater or less height from the ground. The front end of the
frame rests upon a front steering wheel, which, by a steering mechanism, can be
turned so as to allow the implement to turn round as above described, or to travel
in a curve. On each sloping side of the frame are fixed bearings carrying a shaft
rotatable therein, and having fixed thereon skifes carrying the ploughshares, so
that by turning the shaft in one direction or the other, the skifes in turning with
it lift or lower the ploughshares to a corresponding extent from or to the
ground.
The two shafts have on their contiguous ends bevil pinions both in gear with one
and the same bevil wheel, so that when the one shaft is turned so as to raise its
ploughs, the other shaft will be turned so as to lower the other set. On the other
end of each shaft is a disc having a notch at one point of its periphery, into which,
when the shaft is turned so as to bring the ploughshares into their lowest position,
a pawl on the frame catches so as to hold the shaft in that position.
On the before-mentioned cranked axle is fixed a toothed quadrant which is con-
nected by a chain or link to the one end of a V shaped or forked lever or draught
bar mounted on a vertical pin at the front end of the framing behind the steering
wheel;
each arm of this draught bar is connected to one of the traction ropes worked
by the engine, so that when the implement has arrived at the one end of the field,

page_text: the rope from the engine at the other end in pulling at the one arm of the draught
bar for the purpose of turning the plough causes the bar in turning on its pin to
pull at and raise the quadrant, thereby also raising the crank of the axle and
lifting the framing together with the ploughs off the soil, the frame being held in
this position by a catch taking into the teeth of the quadrant. On the pull of the
rope being continued and the steering wheel being turned to the proper angle, the
implement will be turned round into the reverse position for cutting the next set of
furrows. When brought into this position the catch is released from the quadrant,
thus allowing the frame with the ploughs to fall again.
The pawl holding the shaft of the set of ploughs which have just been operating,
and which are consequently in the lowered position, is then also released, where-
upon, owing to the weight of one set of ploughs balancing that of the other, the set
which is in the raised position will descend, raising the other set until they are in
balance, whereupon the first-named set is brought into the lowest position by means
of a lever inserted into holes in the before-mentioned disc on the shaft.
The quadrant on the cranked axle has a series of holes, into which a pin is
inserted, such pin coming in contact with a fixed stop, thus preventing the quadrant
from descending beyond a certain point. Thus, according as this pin is inserted in
one or other of these holes, the fraine and ploughs are held in a higher or lower
position, according to whether the ploughs are required to cut a deep or a shallow
furrow in the soil. The lower end of the quadrant is also made to come in contact
with a stop when in its lowest position.
In order to bring the draught bar into position so that its pull shall be as nearly
as possible in the central line of resistance of the set of ploughs in operation, the pin
serving as fulcrum to the draught bar may be arranged to slide in a transverse slot
in the frame, so that it can be shifted to a point corresponding with such central
line of resistance before the implement commences work. Owing to the oblique
pull put by the hauling rope in the first instance upon the one arm of the draught
bar, and the resistance offered by the quadrant, the draught bar would of itself ride
over in the slot from the one position into the other before it effects the raising of
the quadrant. Or in place of this arrangement I employ two separate draught
bars, each working on a pin in the line of resistance of each set of ploughs. Both
draught bars are connected at one end by a chain or link to the before-described
quadrant, while at the other end they are connected together by a link, so that on
pulling at the one draught bar for turning the implement, the said link will cause
the other draught bar to be pulled over so as to raise the quadrant and frame in the
manner above described.
The perfectly level position of all the ploughshares so as to cause them all to cut
furrows of the same depth, is insured by rendering the front end of the frame
adjustable in height on the bearings of the steering wheel. This may be effected
by arranging the said bearings to slide up or down in or on guides on the frame,
and supporting the latter by means of adjusting screws resting on the bearings. At
the back end of the frame is provided an adjustable skid wheel which rests upon
the soil and prevents the rear ploughs from penetrating beyond the desired depth
into the soil. At the front part of the framing is a transverse shaft projecting some
distance on either side, and carrying on each end an adjustable arm with a rotatable
disc at its end. The arms are fixed at different angles on the shaft, and on com-
mencing work the latter is turned so as to bring the one arm with its disc into
such a position, that on the movement of the plough the disc scribes a groove in the
soil in advance of the furrows that are being cut; and this groove is at such a
distance from the said furrows that when the plough is turned for cutting the next
set, it can be properly gauged in position for this purpose by causing the central rib
or flange on the steering wheel to travel along in the said groove.
The steering of the implement is effected by the attendant from a central seat on
the frame by means of a capstan wheel, the shaft of which has a pitch wheel, round
which passes a pitch chain gearing into teeth on the ring that carries the bearings
of the steering wheel.

page_text: The before mentioned catch holding the segment is also controlled by a lever
within reach of the attendant, as is also the shaft carrying the scribing discs.
The above described implement may be adapted to operate as a cultivator by
providing on the framing sockets or loops, into which cultivator tines may be fixed,
the shafts carrying the ploughs being removed from the frame when it is to be used
as a cultivator.
to my Invention.
Figs. 3 and 4 represent respectively a plan and a side view of the front part of the
plough with certain modifications to which I will hereafter refer.
Fig. 5 is an end view taken near the back end of the framing, shewing the
relative position of the skifes on the two sides when the one set is in action and the
other elevated.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section; and Fig. 7 an elevation shewing part of the shank
of a skife on its shaft mounted on the oblique back framing.
A, A, are the two sloping sides of the back framing which are connected to the
front framing B, B, the whole framing being supported on a pair of travelling
wheels C, C, by the cranked axle D which is mounted in bearings on the framing;
E is the front steering wheel mounted on the turning frame F which is worked by
a chain f¹ from the hand steering wheel f. On each of the sloping frames A is
mounted a shaft a, to which is attached the shanks of the skifes, shares, or other
ploughing implements G. The shafts a, a, have at their back ends bevil pinions a¹
gearing with a horizontal bevil wheel a mounted at the back end of the framing,
and at the front end of each shaft is a boss or disc a³ having holes for the insertion
of a lever, by which either shaft can be turned so as to raise or depress the set of
shares affixed to it; the two shafts a being connected through the bevil gear a¹, a².
When either shaft is turned to raise the one set of shares, the other shaft is also
turned in the same direction, depressing its set of shares as shewn in Fig. 5. The
discs or bosses a³ have each a pawl a engaging with a hole or notch to hold the
shaft in the position to which it is turned. On the axle D is fixed the toothed
arc d which is linked to a chain d' connected to the short arm H of a lever having
two longer arms H', H2, forming an acute angle with one another; each of these
arms having one of the traction ropes h1, h2, attached to it.
The fulcrum of the lever H may be stationary, as shewn in Fig. 1, or it may be
fitted to slide in a curved transverse slot H³, as shewn in Fig. 3, so that the lever
can take such a position as to bring the traction rope into the line of draught.
It will be seen that in turning the implement at the end of a bout, the lever H
puts a strain on the chain d, which acting on the arc d, partly turns the crank
axle D, and so raises the framing and ploughs off the ground, in which position
they are held by a pawl engaging the teeth of the arc d until the pawl is disengaged
by hand. The lever H may also be connected as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 by
chains as led by suitable guide rollers to the discs or bosses a³, so that the move-
ment of the lever H in the act of turning works the shafts a, a, and so moves the
shares. The axle of the steering wheel E is mounted in bushes e fitted to slide in
gabs of the framing and moved by screws e¹, so that the level of the framing can be
adjusted to give all the shares a cut of equal depth. Also a skid wheel K is
mounted near the back end of the framing in bearings adjustable by a screw and
hand wheel c.
For gauging the next set of furrows, guiding arms L (Figs. 1 and 2) may be
fixed one on each shaft a, so that one is down passing along in the last furrow
previously cut, so as to gauge the distance of the first furrow to be cut, while the
other arm is up clear from the soil; otherwise, a transverse shaft M (see Figs. 3
and 4) is mounted in bearings in the front part of the framing; and on this shaft

page_text: are fixed two arms, each carrying a disc, the arms being set at an angle to each
other, so that by turning the shaft M the one disc can be raised clear from the soil,
while the other is depressed either into the last furrow cut, or to scribe a guage line
in the soil as previously described. The shaft M is turned as required by a rod
m¹ extended back to within reach of the steersman for whom a seat is provided
at N.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I would have it understood that no claim is made to the
forked lever for attaching the traction ropes, nor to the use of such lever for
attaching the traction ropes, nor to the use of such lever in the act of turning
the implement for raising the shares or other ploughing tools, nor do I make any
general claim to the arrangement of a number of such tools on inclined frames so
that as they follow each other they plough or cut parallel furrows, but I claim in
respect of steam ploughs,―
First. Fixing a number of ploughing tools on one shaft mounted on the oblique
framing of the implement, so that by turning the said shaft partly round in
either direction, they are all simultaneously raised or lowered, substantially as
herein described.
Second. Connecting by gearing two shafts, such as are referred to in the preceding
claim, one at each side of the implement, so that the two sets of the ploughing tools
balance each other, and when the one set is raised the other is depressed, sub-
stantially as herein described.
Third. Arranging the fulcrum of the hauling lever to move in a transverse slot
so that the line of pull can be adjusted, substantially as herein described witli
reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. Providing the steering wheel with bearings adjustable in height so
that the level of the ploughing tools can be regulated, substantially as herein
described.
Fifth. The use for gauging the furrows to be cut of two discs mounted on
arms at opposite ends of a transverse shaft, so that by turning the shaft the one
disc is elevated clear from the soil, while the other is lowered either into the
last furrow, or so as to cut or scribe a gauge line in the soil, substantially as
herein described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Catley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this the Twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord Oue
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
CHARLES CATLEV