IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CULTIVATING APPARATUS OR IMPLEMENTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rainforth, senior, and William Rainforth, junior,
of Brayford Head, Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CULTIVATING APPARATUS OR IMPLEMENTS."
Sealed the 6th February 1877, and dated the 16th August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Rainforth, senior,
and William Rainforth, junior, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 16th August 1876.
WILLIAM RAINFORTH, senior, and WILLIAM RAINFORTH, junior, of Brayford Head,
Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CULTIVATING
APPARATUS OR IMPLEMENTS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in steam cultivating apparatus,
and it has for its objects the provision of means for automatically raising the tines
(and the frame carrying the same) out of the ground during the turning of the
cultivating implement at the headlands, and for retaining the same in such raised
position till the implement is completely turned into the position ready for the
return journey, and for regulating and adjusting the depth to which the tine framo
can be lowered, and consequently the depth to which the tines can insert them-
selves into the ground.
The means we employ for raising the tine frame at the time mentioned are as
follows:-On the fore or steering wheel shaft we centre a peculiarly formed lever,
the fore part of which is V shaped, and the hinder part of which is formed as a
quadrant. To each extremity of the quadrant we attach a chain, and we pass
these chains rearward, and connect them to a common chain which passes under
and partly around a pulley carried by the tine frame (centrally of its transverse
measurement) to the free end of the fore bar of a second peculiarly formed lever,
which consists of the said fore bar situated centrally of a transverse fulcrum shaft
(running above and parallel with the shaft of the hinder or travelling wheels, and
carried by bearings or supports affixed to such latter shaft) and of two rear bars
situated at the extremities of the said fulcrum shaft. These rear bars at their free
ends are connected by links to the reannost bar of the tine frame.

page_text: The action of this part of our Invention is as follows:-The rope from the
traction engine at the headland towards which the implement is being drawn is
connected to one of the arms of the V part of the lever first mentioned, and thus
draws the implement along the other rope (the trailing rope for the time being)
from the traction engine at the other headland being connected to the other of the
arms of the V part of the said lever. When the implement is drawn to the head-
land by the first rope it is necessary to turn it, so that it may be drawn in the
reverse direction by the other traction engine and rope, and to allow of it being
turned without excess of strain upon the implement, and without any considerable
or unnecessary expenditure of power, it is advisable and necessary that the tines
should be raised out of the ground, so that the least resistance shall be offered to
the turning of the implement.
The especial object of our Invention is to effect simultaneously both the turning
of the implement and the automatic raising of the tines out of the ground, and this
is effected immediately the implement is drawn to the headland by the traction
engine at that headland. The rope from the traction engine at the other headland
is then actuated, and it draws the arm of the first-mentioned lever to which it is
attached and partially turns the quadrant round; this tightens one of the chains
and pulls upon the common chain passing under the said pulley, which causes the
fore arm of the second mentioned lever to be drawn down, and the rear arms
thereof to be raised, and these latter being linked to the tine frame lift it till
the tines are clear of the ground; a continuance of the action of the said rope
⚫then completes the turning of the implement with ease and the minimum of
resistance.
The tine frame may be retained in such raised position by means of catching and s
releasing it automatically at the times required, or by means requiring partial
manipulation. In one modification we employ a curved bar monnted loosely upon
and projecting rearward of the said fulcrum shaft, and which works in connection
'with a handle on an under transverse shaft, which at each end is provided with a
catch hook and is carried by the sides of the tine frame. These hooks catch upon a
.the travelling shaft when the tine frame is raised to the proper height by the
.turning of the implement by the traction engine, as above described, and at the
same movement the curved bar drops down at a part where it is notched, and
engaging the handle of the catch hook shaft prevents the said hooks slipping or being
removed from the travelling shaft. When the implement is completely turned the 3
man in charge raises the curved bar to clear the handle, which he then pulls, this
raises the hooks and releases the tine frame, which then drops down, and the
forward motion of the implement commences. The curved bar is made with pin
holes, in which a pin is loosely placed to regulate the rearward or roleasing move-
ment of the handle according as the tine frame is set deep, medium, or light, and 4
so that it shall not go beyond the reach of the man. Or this releasing move-
ment of the handle may be effected automatically by the use of a counterbalance
weight or otherwise. The depth to which the tine frame can descend when free
from such retaining contrivances, and consequently the depth to which the tines
can enter the ground, we regulate by standards carried by the sides of the tine
frame, and through which the shaft of the travelling wheels passes, and by screwed
rods working in connection therewith, and which can be raised or lowered in the
standards to regulato the depth to which the time frame shall fall, they in the
descent of the latter coming against a suitablo stop plate carried on the travelling
shaft,
5

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Rainforth, senior, and William Rainforth, junior, in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th February 1877.
WILLIAM RAINFORTH, senior, and WILLIAM RAINFORTH, junior, of Brayford
Head, Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CULTIVATING
APPARATUS OR IMPLEMENTS.'
"
This Invention relates to certain improvements in steam cultivating apparatus
or implements, such as cultivators, harrows, and drags, and it has for its objects
the provision of means for automatically raising the tines (and the frame carrying
the same) out of the ground during the turning of the cultivating implement at
the headlands, and for retaining the same in such raised position until the imple-
ment is completely turned into position ready for the return journey, and for
lowering the same when the implement is in such position, and for regulating and
adjusting the depth to which the tine frame can be lowered, and consoquently the
depth to which the tines can insert themselves into the ground.
Such being the nature and objects of our said Invention we will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be distinctly
understood we have annexed hereunto two Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof,
and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with
those in the following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
On the annexed Drawings Figure 1 (Sheet 1) represents a plan view of a steam
cultivating implement adapted with our present improvements; and Figure 2
(Sheet 2) represents a side olevation thereof, the near travelling wheel being
removed.
The means we employ for raising the tine frame at the time mentioned are as
follows: On the vertical shaft 1 an upward continuation of the fork 2 of the fore
or steering wheel 3 we centre a peculiarly formed lever 4, the fore part of which
is V shaped, radiating as arms 5, 6, from a boss 7 surrounding the shaft 1, and the
hinder part of which lever is formed as a quadrant 8. The spindle 9, upon which
the wheel 3 revolves, projects beyond the fork 2; see Figure 1, so that rings may
be slipped over it when necessary, and a horse yoked thereto to draw the imple-
ment in travelling, or from field to field, or where traction engines cannot be
casily used. The arms 5, 6, are strengthened by a strut 10, and the quadrant 8
is bolted to arms 11 radiating rearward from the boss 7. To the extremities of the
quadrant 8 we attach chains 12, 13, which we pass rearward and connect to n
common chain 14, which passes under and partly around a pulley 15 to the free
end of the fore arm 16 of a second peculiarly formed lifting lever 17. The pulley 15
is carried by a fork 18 centred vertically in the centre longitudinal bar 19 of the
tine frame 20, and thus can adapt itself to all positions of the chain 14. The
lever 17 consists of the said fore arm 16 situated centrally of a transverse fulcrum
shaft 21, and of two rear arms 22 situated at the extremities of the shaft 21.
This shaft runs above and parallel with the axle 23 of the hinder or travelling
wheels 24, and is carried by bearings or supports 25 keyed or bolted to the axle 23.
The free ends of the arms 22 are connected by links 26 either directly to the rear-
most bar 27 of the frame 20, or to short rods or spindles 28 which are carried by
the frame, as shown in Figure 1.
The action of this part of our Invention is as follows:-The rope 29 from the
traction engine A. at the headland, towards which in the direction of the arrow 30
the implement is being drawn, being connected to the arm 6 of the lever 4 draws
the implement along the other rope 31 (the trailing rope for the time being); from
the traction engine B at the other headland is connected to the arm 5 of the lever.
When the implement is drawn to the headland A. by the rope 29 from the engine,
there it is necessary to turn it, so that it may be drawn in the reverse direction by
the rope 31 from the engine B, and to allow of it being turned without excess of
-

page_text: strain upon it, and without any considerable or unnecessary expenditure of power,
it is advisable and necessary that the tines 32 should be raised out of the ground,
so that the least resistance shall be offered to the turning of the implement.
-
One especial object of our Invention is to effect simultaneously both the turning
of the implement and the automatic raising of the tines out of the ground, and this
is effected immediately the implement is drawn to the headland A by the engine
there. The rope 31 from the engine at the headland B is then actuated, and it
draws the arm 5 of the lever 4 in the direction of the arrow 33, and partially turns
the quadrant 8 round on the shaft 1 in the direction of the arrow 34; this tightens
the chain 13, which pulls upon the chain 14 passing under the pulley 15 and draws
down the fore arm 16 of the lever 17, the rear arms 22 of which are thus raised,
and these being linked to the frame 20 lift it till the tines are raised clear or
almost clear of the ground; a continuance of the drawing of the rope 31 then
completes the turning of the implement with ease and the minimum of resistance.
Tho tine frame 20 is retained in such raised position during the turning of the
implement, and released upon the completion of the turning thereof by the following
means: 35 represents a curved lever or bar, mounted loosely upon and projecting
rearward of the shaft 21, and working in connection with a slotted bar or lever 36
keyed on an under transverse shaft 37 carried by bearings 38 bolted to the
frame 20. Near each end of the shaft 37 we key thereon a catch hook 39 provided
with a small wheel or roller 53 and formed with a depending spur 40 (see Figures
2 and 3), these spurs, as the frame 20 is raised to the height required, as above
described (the dotted line 41 represents the top of the frame 20 in its raised
position) come against the under side of the axle 23, which causes the shaft 37 to
turn in its bearings, so as to raise its lever 36 and cant the catch hooks 39 on to
the upper side of the axle 23; the raising of the lever 36 through a slot 42 in
which the lever 35 passes thus raises the latter until the bottom of the slot 42
comes opposite a notch 43 in the lever 35, when the latter falls, and its notch
engages with the slot of the lever 36, by which means the hooks 39 are for the
time being prevented slipping off or being removed from their hold on the axle 23
(see Figure 3), and the tine frame is thus supported. The levers 35 and 36 are
connected by a chain 44 which passes under a roller 45 on a rod 46 supported by
the frame 20, as shown in Figure 1. When the implement is completely turned
the man in charge raises the lever 35, so as to free the lever 36 and pull it by
means of the chain 44; this reverses the turning of the shaft 37 and raises the
hooks 39, releasing the frame 20, which then drops down simultaneously with the
commencement of the forward motion of the implement. The fall of the lever 36
may be regulated by a pin or projection on the lever 35, or by a catch 47 keyed
centrally of the shaft 37, and which comes in contact with the upper face of the
bar 19. The depth to which the frame 20 can descend when freo from such
retaining contrivances, and consequently the depth to which the tines 32 can enter
the ground, we regulate by standards 48 bolted to the sides of the frame 20, and
stiffened or supported by a tie rod 49, and through which the axle 23 passes, and
by screwed rods 50 working in connection therewith, and which rods can be raised
and lowered in the standards 48 by hand wheels 51 to effect the required
regulation; the lower ends of the screws 50 carry stop plates 52, which in the
descent of the frame 20 come against the axle 23 and prevent further descent of
the frame.
Having now described the nature and objects of our said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, we would remark in conclusion that we claim as our Invention, the novel and
peculiar application and use in combination in steam cultivating apparatus, such as
cultivators, harrows, and drags, of the above described combinations of parts for
automatically raising the tines (and the frame carrying the same) out of the ground
during the turning of the cultivating implement at the headlands, and for retaining
the same in such raised position until the implement is comptetely turned into
position ready for the return journey, and for lowering the same when the imple-

page_text: ment is in such position; and for regulating and adjusting the depth to which the
tine frame can be lowered, and consequently the depth to which the tines can
insert themselves into the ground, the whole being substantially as described and
as illustrated on the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Rainforth, senior, and William
Rainforth, junior, have hereunto set our hands and seals this Thirteenth
day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.
W. RAINFORTH, SEN³. (L.S.)
W. RAINFORTH, JUN³. (L.S.)