IMPROVEMENTS IN HARROWS, RAKES, CULTIVATORS, AND SIMILAR FARMING IMPLEMENTS.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
"
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HARROWS, RAKES, CULTIVATORS, AND SIMILAR FARMING IMPLEMENTS.' A
communication from abroad by George Wilkins Martin, of Port Hudson, in
the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, United States of
America.
aled the 15th June 1877, and dated the 22nd February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February 1877.
{E
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN HARROWS, RAKES, CULTIVATORS, AND
SIMILAR FARMING IMPLEMENTS." A communication from abroad by George Wilkins
Martin, of Port Hudson, in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in harrows, rakes, cultivators, and
similar farming-implements, by which they may be made more effective for work,
stronger and more durable in use, and whose rake or cultivating teeth may be
readily taken out of the frames for being sharpened, and replaced rigidly for use.
According to this Invention the teeth of the harrows, rakes, or cultivators are
provided with tapering ends having wood screw threads cut thereon to be screwed
into holes in the frame from the bottom upward.
The cultivating plough teeth may be supported by a brace that is also attached
to the frame by a screw bolt at a point back of the tooth. The common rake
teeth require no brace, and are directly attached to the frame. The teeth are
screwed up to such a depth that from half an inch to an inch of solid wood remains
above the ends of the same for the purpose of preventing the water from getting
in and settling around the metal, and rotting and binding wood threads. The
socket holes for the teeth are bored from the bottom up, and larger at the lower
part than at the upper end, so that when the teeth are screwed in the wood binds
firmly on the top end of the tooth or other implement. The threaded end cuts its
ID 672

page_text: own way, and leaves sufficient solid wood above the point where the strain is
greatest. The lower ends of the teeth may be rounded off without reducing their
strength, the edges being cut sharp so as to break the ground in effective manner.
The frame of the harrow or other implement is strengthened by lateral bolts or
screws to prevent the splitting or cracking of the frame when exposed to the
weather, or to the strain of the teeth. The cultivating teeth may be readily taken
out of their frames and sharpened, and screwed in again without injury to their
frames, or one kind of teeth may be taken out and replaced by other teeth, so as to
use the implement for different kinds of work.
The old frames are liable to split by the teeth being driven through and fastened
by nuts, being exposed to the influence of rain so that the water may enter, exerting
a rotting influence on the frame and making the teeth loose, but these objections
are all overcome by this Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARROWS, RAKES, CULTIVATORS, AND
SIMILAR FARMING IMPLEMENTS." A communication from abroad by George Wilkins
Martin, of Port Hudson, in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in harrows, rakes, cultivators, and
similar farming implements, by which they may be inade more effective for work,
stronger and more durable in use, and whose rake or cultivating teeth may be
readily taken out of the frames for being sharpened, and replaced rigidly for use.
The Invention consists of the teeth of harrows, rakes, and cultivators being
provided with tapering ends having screw threads cut thereon to be screwed into
the frame from the bottom upward.
The frame is strengthened by lateral stiffening bolts to prevent splitting by strain
of teeth and influence of weather.
The accompanying Drawing illustrates the Invention, and represents in Figure 1
a top view, and in Figure 2 a sectional side elevation of the improved harrow or
other implement.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two Figures.
A represents the frame of the improved harrow, rake, or cultivator, which may
be made of any shape, size, or dimensions, and to which the cultivating implements
B are attached by providing the top ends of the teeth B with wood screw threads a,
and screwing them into holes of the frame from the bottom upward.
The cultivating plough teeth B may be supported by a brace B¹, as shown in
Figure 2, that is also attached to the frame by a screw bolt at a point back of the
tooth. The common rake teeth require no brace, and are directly attached to the
frame. The teeth are screwed up to such a depth that from half an inch to an inch
of solid wood remains above the ends of the same for the purpose of preventing
the water from getting in and settling around the metal and rotting the binding
wood threads. The socket holes for the teeth are bored from the bottom up, and
are larger at the lower part than at the upper end, so that when the teeth are
screwed in the wood binds firmly on the top end of the tooth or other implement.
The threaded end cuts its own way, and leaves sufficient solid wood above the
point where the strain is greatest. The lower ends of the teeth may be rounded
off without reducing their strength, the edges being cut sharp so as to break the
ground in effective manner.
The frame of the harrow, or other implement, is strengthened by lateral bolts or.

page_text: screws C to prevent the splitting or cracking of the frame when exposed to the
weather or to the strain of the teeth. The cultivating teeth B may be readily
taken out of their frames and sharpened, and screwed in again without injury to
their frames, or one kind of teeth may be taken out and replaced by other teeth,
so as to use the implement for different kinds of work.
The old frames are liable to split by the teeth being driven through and fastened
by nuts, being exposed to the influence of rain so that water may enter, exerting a
rotting influence on the frame, and making the teeth loose. This is all overcome
by the present improved method of fastening the teeth, and strengthening the frame
by lateral bolts.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. A harrow, rake, or similar agricultural implement having its rake or
cultivating teeth attached by wood screw threads into tapering holes of the frame,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. A harrow or other implement having its rake or cultivating teeth secured
to the frame by wood screw threads at the upper ends and by back braces, sub-
stantially as described.
3rd. A harrow or other implement having its rake or cultivating teeth secured
to the frame by wood screw threads cut at the upper ends, the teeth being
extended from the bottom upward, and leaving a thickness of solid wood above
the ends, substantially as specified.
4th. A harrow or other implement having its teeth supporting frame strengthened
by lateral bolts against splitting, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
A. M. CLARA. (L.S.)