IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATING LAND
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Allin Williams, of Baydon, in the County of
Wilts, Farmer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATING LAND."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Allin Williams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th June 1854.
I, JOHN ALLIN WILLIAMS, of Baydon, in the County of Wilts, Farmer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTE IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATING LAND" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an arrangement of plough or cultivating apparatus
for working land, whereby a much superior cultivating effect is obtainable than
is possible with the common or other existing forms of ploughs or cultivators.
The plough is contained in a rectangular framework of timber or other
material, made long and narrow, according to the number of ploughs or actual
cutters fitted into the machine. This framework is carried at its front end
upon a pair of large wheels, running loose upon separate axles, and the axles of
these wheels are at different levels, to suit the inequality of surface over which
the machine travels in ploughing. At the hind or stern end, the support is
obtained from a smaller running wheel, set upon a swivel centre. Suitable
apparatus is attached at the front end, where the large wheels are placed, to
receive the shafts or other hauling gear for the horses. At the hind end of the
frame are a set of vertical holders or guide slots to receive the ends of a set of
horizontal longitudinally disposed levers or bars, carrying the ploughshares

page_text: or cultivators, the front ends of such bars or levers being fitted with eye pieces
to slide up and down, as required, upon a corresponding set of vertical guide
spindles. Either one or more such ploughing bars or lever beams may be
employed, but there is a convenient number. They are quite free to move up
and down, and the ploughs are set at the required height for working, or are
removed altogether clear of the earth by a transverse roller or drum, set near
the hind end of the machine, and projecting at one end to carry a hand wheel,
for the convenience of the ploughman in adjusting. The pulley has a ratchet
arrangement at one end to retain it in position, and over the roller are wound
three short chains, connected to parallel link pieces, passing to the front end of
the framing. The other ends of these links carry chains, each passing over a
pulley in a front frame-piece, and descending to the front ends of the plough
bars or levers. Similarly, the back roller has upon it other three chains,
descending to the back ends of the plough bars; thus, by turning the roller or
pulley at the back, the ploughman or attendant can raise or lower all the plough
bars simultaneously and evenly at each end. He has besides a separate means
of individual adjustment of the front ends of the plough bars, by separate
back lever handles and setting pins, from which levers short chains pass to the
longitudinal parallel links, before referred to as passing to the front end of the
framing. The attendant has also another handle at the back of the framing,
set on a longitudinal spindle, running forward to a rack and pinion movement,
for effecting the cross traverse of the adjustable frame at the front end, carrying
the front supporting chain pulleys for the plough bars.
The attendant can thus set the frame, together with the upper ends of the
vertical guide spindles, over to one side or other, so as to set and incline over
the ploughs, as may be needed in practice. During ploughing, one of the
large front wheels runs in and is steadied by the outside furrow, cut by the last
previous traverse of the plough, whilst the front wheel on the other side runs
upon the unploughed ground. The ploughshares or cutters are set one behind
the other, as regards the direction of the plough's traverse; that is to say, for
example, the off-plough or cutter begins to cut first, the centro one next, and
the near one last; and as the back running wheel follows immediately behind
the newly cut furrow on the near side of the plough, this wheel thus receives a
guide from the newly-formed furrow. When not used as a plough, the machine
may be turned into a scarifier or cultivator, by substituting a suitable cutting,
working, or clearing apparatus, upon a bar or lever, like those of the
ploughs.
A long back lever is fitted to the frame behind, to afford the ploughman the
means of bearing over the whole frame to the right or to the left, as he may

page_text: find desirable, in adjusting the machine during ploughing, and a handle
may also be attached, for the purpose of compelling the ploughs to enter the
earth in case of chance refusal. In scarifying or cultivating under circumstances
where the earth is level, an arrangement is added for shifting the near wheel
axle to suit the absolute level.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Allin Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th December 1854.
year of
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ALLIN WILLIAMS, of Baydon, in the County of Wilts, Farmer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Allin Williams, Her special license that I, the said John
Allin Williams, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said John Allin Williams, my executors, administrators, or 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,
usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PLOUGHING AND CULTIVATING LAND,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Allin Williams,
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 Allin Williams, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
inent, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to an arrangement of ploughs or cultivating
apparatus for working land, whereby a much superior cultivating effect is
obtainable than is possible with the common or other existing form of ploughs

page_text: or cultivators. The ploughs are contained in a rectangular framework of timber
or other material, made long and narrow, according to the number of ploughs
or actual cutters fitted into the machine. This framework is carried at its
front end upon a pair of wheels, running loose upon separate axles, and the
axles of these wheels are at different levels, to suit the irregularity of surface
over which the machine travels in ploughing. At the hind or stern end, the
support is obtained from a smaller running wheel, set upon a swivel centre.
Suitable apparatus is attached at the front end, where the large wheels are
placed, to receive the shafts or other hauling gear for the horses. At the hind
end of the frame are a set of vertical holders, or guide bars or slots, to receive
the ends of a set of horizontal longitudinally disposed lever beams or bars
carrying the ploughshares or cultivators, the front ends of such bars or lever
beams being fitted with eye pieces to slide up and down, as required, upon a
corresponding set of vertical guide spindles. Either one or more such
ploughing bars or lever beams may be employed, but three is a convenient
number. They are quite free to move up and down, and the ploughs are set
at the required height for working, or. are removed altogether clear of the earth
by a transverse roller or drum, set near the hind end of the machine, and
projecting at one end, to carry a hand wheel, for the convenience of the
ploughman in adjusting. The pulley may have a ratchet arrangement at one
end and upon it, to retain it in position, and over the roller are wound three
short chains, connected to parallel link pieces, passing to the front end of the
frame. The other ends of these links carry chains, each passing over a pulley
in a front frame piece, and descending to the front ends of the plough bars
or lever beams. Similarly, the back roller has upon it other three chains,
descending to the back ends of the plough bars; thus, by turning the roller or
pulleys at the back, the ploughman or attendant can raise or lower all the
plough bars or beams simultaneously and evenly at each end. He has besides
a separate means of individual adjustment of the front ends of the plough bars
or lever beams, by separate back lever handles and setting pins, from which
handles short chains pass to the longitudinal parallel links, before referred to,
as passing to the front end of the framing. In place of the drum or roller,
herein-before referred to, a set of loose pulleys may be used, over which are
passed the chains requisite for elevating the plough bars or lever beams, in
which case the adjusting hand wheel and drum is dispensed with. The
attendant has also another handle at the back of the framing, set on a longi-
tudinal spindle, running forward to a rack and pinion movement, for effecting
the cross traverse of the adjusting frame at the front end, carrying the front
supporting chain pulleys for the plough bars or lever beams. The attendant

page_text: can thus set the frame together with the upper ends of the vertical guide
spindles over to one side or other, so as to set or incline over the ploughs, as
may be needed in practice. During ploughing, one of the large front wheels
runs in, and is steadied by the furrow cut by the last previous traverse of the
plough, whilst the front wheel on the other side runs upon the unploughed
ground. When not used as a plough, the machine may be turned into a
scarifier or cultivator, by substituting a suitable cutting, working, or clearing
apparatus, upon a bar or lever beam, like those of the ploughs. A long back
guiding lever is fitted to the frame behind, to afford the ploughman the means
of bearing over the whole frame to the right or to the left, as he may find
desirable, in adjusting the machine during ploughing, and a handle may also be
attached to each plough beam, for the purpose of compelling the ploughs to
enter the earth in case of chance refusal. In scarifying or cultivating under
circumstances where the earth is level, an arrangement is added for shifting the
near wheel axle to suit the absoluto level.
And in order that my said Invention may be more readily understood, I
shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed. Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings represents a side
elevation of my apparatus for ploughing or cultivating land, as fitted with three
plough bars or lever beams, one of the bars or beams being represented as
raised out of the ground; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the same.
Figure 1 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings represents a longitudinal vertical section
of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a front view of the same; and Figure 3 repre-
sents a back elevation of the machine. The details on Sheet 3 of the Drawings
will be herein-after more fully referred to. The ploughs or other cultivating
instruments A are contained in a rectangular framework B, of timber or other
material, made long and narrow, according to the number of ploughs or cul-
tivating instruments fitted into the machine. This framework is carried at its
front end upon a pair of large wheels C, C¹, running loose upon separate axles
D. D'. The axles of these wheels are at different levels, to suit the depth of
furrow to be made, or the inequality of surface over which the machine travels
in ploughing or cultivating the land. The support is obtained at the hind or
stern end from a smaller running wheel E, set upon a swivel centre F, bolted
to the framework, and capable of lateral adjustment by the slots G, G. The
shafts or hauling gear for horse or steam power is fitted on to the transverse
bar H at the front end of the machine. A set of vertical holders or guide bars
I, I, are fitted at the back end of the machine, to receive the slotted ends of the
horizontal lever beams or bars J, J, carrying the ploughshares or cultivators.
The guide bars I are dropped at their lower ends into receiving holes drilled in

page_text: the horizontal supporting bar K, which is bolted to the under side of the framing,
and are secured at their upper extremities to the rectangular transverse bar L
which is bolted to the upper portion of the framework. The mode I adopt-for
securing the upper ends of the guide bars serves also to secure the segmental
bars M, which answer as guides to the lever handles N. The upper ends of these
segment pieces are slotted vertically and horizontally, the transverse holding
bar L being passed through the horizontal slot, whilst the vertical guide bars I
are passed through the vertical slot of the segment pieces, and the whole are
firmly held together by a pinching screw O, at the back of the segment pieces
M. The front ends of the bars or lever beams J, J, are fitted with fork pieces
or double eyes J', by which they are jointed to blocks P, P, thereby allowing
the plough beams to rise or fall in the rear, on meeting with any obstruction or
great irregularity in the ground. The blocks P slide up and down the set of
vertical spindles Q. Q, corresponding to the guide bars I, I. These spindles
are formed with an eye at their lower extremities, which eye fits in between the
fixed transverse bars R, R, and is secured therein by a transverse pin or bolt
S. The upper ends of the spindles are fitted with a collar T, having a short
projecting stud U formed upon it, which drops into suitable slots V, in the front
bar of the wrought-iron frame W. The plough bars or lever beams J, J, are
elevated at both ends simultaneously, or in a horizontal manner, by the front
and back chains X, X', attached thereto. The hinder chain is left rather
slacker than the front chains, so as to allow of a slight vertical play taking
place in the hind end of the plough beams. These chains pass respectively over
the front and back set of loose pulleys Y, Y. A short length of chain Z is
attached at one end to each of the lever handles N, N, and after passing over
the pulleys Y', is connected to the back end of the link pieces b, b, which are
connected at their front ends with the front chains X. The back chains X¹
are attached to the chains Z, close to the pulleys Y', so that by drawing down
any one of the lever handles N, it will be obvious that both ends of the beam
or bar J will be elevated simultaneously, thereby raising the ploughs or other
cultivating implements from the ground vertically, and whilst the beams are in
a horizontal position. This lift may be regulated or the cultivating instruments
retained at any desired elevation by inserting a stop pin at any desired part of
the segment pieces. When the lever handles N are depressed to their fullest
extent they are retained in a hooked catch c, formed for that purpose on the
lower ends of the segments. A short handle d.is fixed on to the back end of
each of the beams or bars J, whereby the attendant may raise or depress the
hind portion of each beam or bar individually, for the purpose of clearing the
ploughs or cultivators from dirt when they are clogged, or for the purpose of

page_text: more effectually entering them into the ground. Another handle e is also
situated at the back of the machine, under the control of the attendant. This
handle is fixed on to the back end of the spindle or rod f, which is fitted with
a pinion g at its opposite extremity. This pinion gears into a series of rack
teeth, formed on one end of the hind bar of the sliding wrought-iron frame W,
which works in slots in the plates h, bolted to the outsides of the main framing.
By turning the handle e in one direction or the other, a lateral traverse is given
to the frame W by the attendant, thereby inclining slightly the vertical
spindles Q, Q, and consequently giving a corresponding lateral inclination to
the coulters and "turn furrows" of the ploughs, which will enable them to
turn the furrows more efficiently when ploughing a hill side or sidelong ground.
During the operation of ploughing, the off side front running wheel C runs in
and is steadied by the furrow cut by the last previous traverse of the plough,
whilst the corresponding wheel C', on the opposite or near side of the machine,
runs upon the unploughed ground. This involves the necessity of having the
near side wheel higher by the depth of the furrow than the off side wheel, and
this raising or adjustment of the near side wheel may be effected either by a
nut and screw, or by a spur pinion i and rack j. The lower end of the rack j
has an eye formed in it, which eye encircles the axle D' of the wheel C', as clearly
shewn by the details at Figures 1 and 2, on Sheet 3 of my Drawings, which
represent respectively a side view with the wheel removed, and a corresponding
back view of the elevating or adjusting mechanism. The axle D' is forged in
one piece, with a square boss k, which slides vertically along the rectangular
bar or rod 1. On the axis of the spur pinion i is keyed a ratchet wheel m,
which is retained in position by a detent o, secured to the inside of the main
framing. A square shank p is formed on the end of the axis of the pinion i,
and an ordinary spanner employed for turning the same when required for
raising or lowering the running wheel C. The ploughshares or cutters are
set one behind the other, as regards the direction of the plough's traverse, so
that the off or right-hand plough or cutter begins to cut first, the second one
next, and the near one last; and as the back running wheel E follows imme-
diately behind the newly-cut furrow on the near side of the plough, this wheel
thus receives a guide from the last formed furrow. It will be observed,
on referring to the Drawing, that the beams or bars J have a slight upward
bend formed in them behind their ploughs, in order to afford sufficient space
for the turning over of the next furrow by the neighbouring plough in the
frame. Figures 3 and 4 on Sheet 3 of my Drawings represent in side elevation
two beams or bars, fitted with drags, paring shares, or cultivators; and
Figures 5 and 6 are corresponding plans of the instruments, shewing the

page_text: mode of connecting them to the beams or bars J. A cast-iron socket is
fitted on to the beams or bars J, and a vertical slot down one side of these
sockets admits the upper end of the scarifier or cultivator, which is secured
firmly therein by means of a wedge or key; an ordinary plough coulter q' may
be fitted to the beam in front of each skim cultivator, to enable it to cut the
depth of a common plough, if required, thereby performing the work of the
plough without turning the furrow. It will be obvious, on referring to
the Drawings, that the framework may be greatly shortened, and consequently
the machine lightened, by using two ploughs in place of three, which arrange-
ment I propose to adopt in cases where the general nature of the ground is
too heavy for a three or more plough machine. Another modification of this
machine consists in employing four ploughs fitted into one frame, two of the
ploughs turning the furrow to the right and the other two to the left. In
using this machine, two ploughs only are used at one time, the other two being
elevated; and when the furrow is completed the machine is turned round, and
the ploughs last in action are elevated, whilst the other two ploughs are let
down and brought to work, thus enabling the machine to turn over two
furrows both going and returning, and turning their furrows all one way. This
arrangement will not involve the necessity of having a longer frame than will
be requisite for a machine with two ploughs, as the ploughs in the two sets of
beams or bars will be opposite each other, although in each set one plough
will be placed a short distance behind the other. A short machine containing
two right-hand ploughs may also be fitted with two left-hand beams or bars
carrying pairing shares, so that the two operations of paring and ploughing
may be effected at one and the same time, by means of the ploughs passing
over in the second traverse the ground previously pared in the first traverse by
the paring shares in the left-hand beam. By the herein-before described
arrangements it will be obvious that the whole of the cultivating instruments
will adjust themselves to the nature of the ground, as each beam or bar con-
taining such instruments is enabled to rise or fall accordingly; thereby the
whole of the ploughs will cut furrows of equal depth, although the ground may
be most uneven. By fitting land-pressers or clod-crushing dises into bars or
beams working on the centre or eye J' in the front end of the bar or beam,
an efficient presser or clod-crusher will be obtained; the presser, or rather the
integral parts forming such presser or clod-crusher, adjusting themselves to the
surface of the ground, whatever may be the nature of such ground. A number
of additional slots and holes are made in the bars R, in the wrought-iron
frame W, and also in the transverse supporting bar K (the latter, however,
are hidden in the Drawings), for the purpose of affording facility for the intro-

page_text: duction of a greater number of bars, or for spacing out the distances between
the ploughs, whereby the width of furrow may be regulated.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my 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 confine 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 my 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 peculiar construction and arrangement of the framework of the
machine, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of arranging or disposing one or more ploughs
or other cultivating instruments in one frame, each separate instrument being
capable of adjustment, at the will of the ploughman or attendant, by means of
lever handles and front pulleys and chains connected to the front end of the
beams or bars J.
Third, the system or mode of forming the lever beams or bars for holding
the ploughs, skim cultivators, and drags, with an eye or joint at J', as herein-
before described and illustrated in the Drawings.
Fourth, the peculiar arrangement and position of the hind running wheel E,
which is made to run always in the furrow last formed by the set of ploughs,
though situated at or near the centre of the framework.
Fifth, the application and use of the transverse sliding frame W, for the
purpose of inclining the ploughs laterally, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the system or mode of working or actuating the transverse frame W,
as herein-before described.
or
Seventh, the system or mode of making the ploughs or cultivators self-
holding, by causing the back end of the beams carrying such ploughs
cultivators to bear against vertical guide bars or guide slots, situated at the
back end of the machine, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Allin Williams, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN ALLIN WILLIAMS. (L.S.)
JOHN ALLIN WILLIAMS. (L.S.)