Improvements in Multiple Furrow Plough Frames.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Multiple Furrow Plough Frames.
I GEORGE THOMAS MORECROFT of Sutton Scotney Micheldever in the 'County of
Hants Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
I employ as has hefore been proposed, a plough frame which is drawn to and fro,
over the land without turning fully round at the headlands but turning partially-so
that in each successive bout or traverse of the implement the plough frame inclines
in equal and opposite directions to the line of draught.
I also employ, as has before been proposed "turn wrest" plough bodies in pairs,
which in each successive bout or traverse of the implement incline in equal & opposite
directions to the line of draught.
According to my invention provide a main straight beam or girder, upon the
unploughed land, side of the plough bodies; to the plough-land side of this girder I
attach strong brackets extending outwards & downwards to about the angle of a
hexagon; to the lower ends of which I fix the beam carrying the plough bodies, and
the two beams thus bracketed together, the one lower than the other, with a space
between, form the frame of the implement, which is carried in a horizontal position,
upon two fore carriages one at either end of the frame, each having a pair of wheels.
The frame is drawn to & fro over the land making only a partial turning motion at
the headlands through an angle of about 60 degrees or less; the wheels of each fore-
carriage being alternately the leading & trailing wheels of the implement. Either
pair of wheels may be steered by a man from a position it may be, midway of the
frame. In order to bring the furrow wheel of each forecarriage alternately into
the position for steering down the old furrow, and trailing down the one last cut;
a movement of the frame upon the forecarriages is necessary, in addition to steering
the wheels and reversing the draught at the headlands-As has before been pro-
posed, (by the forecarriages being connected with the frame by means of a joint)
this movement is effected; the joint hitherto being placed either on the centre line of
ibe beam carrying the ploughs, or upon the ploughed-land side of this beam. In my
invention I place the joint connecting the frame with the forecarriages on the
unploughed-land side of the beam carrying plough bodies, it may be between the
two beams, or upon the main girder of the frame, in such a manner that the girder
ends overlap the joints, sufficiently to give the movement of the frame upon the
forecarriages, and its complete support thereon, without the ends of the main girder
passing up to through-or-beyond-the bearing line of the forecarriage wheels
though they may do so if desired.
Datel this Sixteenth day of Januar 1880
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Multiple Furrow Plough Frames.
I GEORGE THOMAS MORECROFT of Sutton Scotney, Micheldever in the County of
Hants, Engineer and Contractor do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of the frame of a
multiple plough and in the means of connecting the same with fore and aft swivelling
carriages.
For this purpose I employ that kind of multiple furrow plough which is drawn to

page_text: and fro over the land without turning fully round at the headlands but which turns
partially so that in each successive bout or traverse of the implement the plough frame
inclines in equal and opposite directions to the line of draught.
The plough bodies which I employ are of the kind known as turn rest plough
bodies fitted in pairs to studs or axes set at right angles to the plough beam and
inclining downward so as to be capable of inclining in equal and opposite directions
for each successive traverse of the implement each set of ploughs entering the ground
and bringing their respective pairs out of work automatically by the reverse draught
of the implement.
The fore and aft swivelling carriages which I employ to support and direct the
course of the plough frame with its ploughs are of the kind hitherto employed for this
purpose constructed so as to allow the necessary swivelling movement to take place
about vertical axes.
These vertical axes have hitherto been placed either on the ends of the beam
carrying the plough bodies or upon brackets fixed or projecting from the "furrow"
side of this beam.
My invention consists in placing the joints or vertical axes about which the
swivelling motion of the fore and aft carriages takes place upon the land" side
of the beam carrying plough bodies and in effecting certain improvements in the
construction of the frame and fore and aft carriages of a multiple furrow plough of
the kind hereinbefore referred to as hereinafter described.
According to my invention I provide a main girder and on its "furrow” side I
attach strong brackets extending outwards and downwards to about an angle of 60°.
To the lower ends of these brackets I fix a beam for carrying the plough bodies.
The two beams thus bracketed together-the plough beam lower than the main
girder with a space between, form the frame of the implement which is carried in a
horizontal position upon two swivelling forecarriages, one at either end each having
two travelling wheels of unequal diameters, either set of two wheels being actuated
by separate band steering wheels from a position about midway of the frame.
The implement is not intended to turn fully round at the headlands but turns
partially through an angle of about 60° or less, the wheels of each swivelling carriage
becoming alternately the leading and trailing wheels of the implement.
To begin work upon land having no existing furrows the frame is regulated by
means of lifting scrows so as to lower the ploughs with the frame into a position to
run level in the ground though supported on fore and aft carriages having wheels of
unequal diameters. In this manner the first traverse or bout is made over the land,
the larger wheel of the leading carriage coming into position for running in an old
furrow (one furrow distant from the share cutting line of the first plough) and the
larger wheel of the trailing carriage in position for running in the furrow last cut.
Before the implement commences the return bout, the large wheel or any of the
other wheels that were raised or lowered to cut the first furrows are regulated again
so as to raise the ploughs and the frame sufficiently to allow the larger wheel of
each swivelling carriage to run in a furrow while the smaller wheel of each
swivelling carriage travels upon the unworked land at the "land" side of the
implement.
For each return journey at the headlands it is necessary to alter the position of
the frame upon the swivelling carriages in order that the larger wheel of each
carriage may always run in its proper furrow-the larger wheel of the leading
carriage in the old furrow and the larger wheel of the trailing carriage in the furrow
last cut.
"
The vertical axes or joints which provide for the swivelling movement of the leading
and trailing carriages I place upon the "land" side of the beam carrying the
plough bodies, it may be upon the main girder of the frame, or beyond it on its
land
side or between the main girder and the beam carrying the plough bodies in
such a manner that when the joint nuts are sufficiently tightened the entire frame
is resting or boaring upon the fore and aft carriages at the girder ends which con-
siderably overlapping the joints and being provided with small rollers take their

page_text: bearing on a rail which braces the forecarriage a little short of the axle line of its
wheels, thus allowing the frame or the carriages to swivel laterally when pulled over
by the draught rope acting on levers and rods suitably attached and at the same time
giving the frame complete and sufficient support upon the swivelling carriages
without the main girder necessarily passing up to, through, or beyond the direct
bearing or axle line of either set of two travelling wheels.
The accompanying drawings show an implement with the joints arranged and the
frame and forecarriages constructed in the manner herein before described. In all the
Figures the same reference letter indicates the same part. Figure 1 is a plan view
of the implement showing its working position in its traverse over the land. A plan
of its position in the return bout, after completing the partial turning motion at the
headland is also here shown in dotted lines. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the
implement with left hand ploughs in action and right hand ploughs at rest showing
the means for raising and lowering the four travelling wheels by hand screws and
steering either pair by the hand steerage wheels placed about midway of the frame.
Figure 3 shows the frame supported on its fore and aft swivelling carriages with their
joints tightened up so as to allow the frame to swivel and at the same time obtain
complete support upon these carriages without the main girder ends passing up to,
through, or beyond the direct bearing or axle line of either set of two travelling
wheels. Figure 4 is a plan of the girder and plough beam bracketed together,
forming the frame of the implement, also showing the position of the swivelling joints
and pulling studs. Figuro 5 is a plan of the forecarriage one of which fits up
under the girder at each end and is there secured by the joint nut. Figure 6 is a
side view of the forecarriage showing the joint pin in position for attaching it under
the frame. Figure 7 is an end view or section of the frame showing the angle at
which the brackets are secured and in dotted lines is seen the turnrest skipe attach-
ment with left hand plough in action and the right hand plough at rest.
A is the main straight girder of the frame B BBBBB are the brackets. C is the
beam carrying the plough bodies. DDDDDD are the left hand ploughs in
action EEEEEE are the right hand ploughs at rest. F F are the levers to which aro
attached the ropes for hauling the implement to and fro across the land. G is the
rod coupling these levers together HH are the rods which connect the levers FF
with the arms or brackets II these latter being mounted in the form of a stirrup
upon the forecarriage plates JJ. K is a rod which couples the two forecarriage
plates JJ so that either the carriages move simultaneously or allow the girder ends
to traverse laterally at the same moment upon the rails N N, the joint pins MM
being the centres of this movement. 00 are the studs or draught pins round which
also the levers FF turn partially when pulled over by the trailing rope which becomes
the draught rope in the return bout of the implement. PPPP are the stops
screwed into the stirrups I I. so that they come in contact with either side of the end
brackets B B and prevent any further movement laterally of either frame or carriages
than is necessary to bring the larger wheel of each set of two wheels into position
for their furrows with each successive bout of the implement. QQ are the larger
furrow wheels. RR are the land wheels SS are the hand steering wheels T is the
seat for the man when steering the implement. Each forecarriage has its two wheels
coupled by the rods UU so that land and furrow wheels move simultaneously when
actuated by their hand wheels SS working a worm and segment on each land
wheel's vertical axis. V is the old furrow marking the position of the large leading
whocl when running on unploughed land without a furrow in the first bout. W is
the furrow last cut, XXXX are the lifting screws with handles for raising and
lowering the frame or wheels. YY are arrows showing the direction of the imple-
ment in the first bout the arrows Z show its direction in the return bout. In order
to bring the wheel out of the furrow and move the frame over to fresh land for the
return bout the leading wheels are steered out on to the headland in the direction of
the unploughed land just at the time the implement approaches the engine or wind-
lass. This act of steering carries the frame over into a position that might be
represented by an upright line drawn midway or thereabouts between the plan

page_text: view of a first bout and the dotted line plan of the return bout in Figure 1. This
completes the draught of the one bout and the wheels are left reversed by the steerer
through his hand wheel S so that the same motion is continued by the frame running
over further on to fresh land when the reverse pull of the other engine or windlass
commences. Very little of this reverse travel is needed to complete the position of
the frame for the return bout, for the mechanical swivel of the frame upon its forc
and aft carriages also assists in throwing the wheels further into the position for
the return bout and they are then set straight for running down the last furrow and
held fast in their position by the worm and segment steerage; the former trailing
wheels remaining in their old position now become the leading wheels and steer the
implement, the larger wheel of the two running again down the furrow it formerly
trailod in. Meanwhile the six ploughs formerly resting have come into action being
drawn into the ground by the reverse pressure of the land coming in contact with
their moulboards directly the frame commences the return bout, and as they thus
revolve partially round their inclined studs or axes they convey their partners of the
other hand viz. the ploughs DDDDDD to a position of rest well clear of the
work. Immediately the other engine or windlass commences to pull with what was
formerly the trailing rope the lever F to which it is attached shown standing out at
right angles to the frame (Figure 1) makes a partial movement round its pulling
stud until it gains the position for the return pull the rod G has also simul-
taneously pulled over the lever F standing previously in the straight line of draught,
causing it likewise to move round its stud O the rod H at the same time pulling the
arm or stirrup I which at once compels both forecarriages to swivel laterally or each
end of the frame to move over in the opposite lateral direction upon its roller ends
across the rail N of each forocarriage (the weight of the implement on the wheels will
prevent or generally prevent the carriages themselves swivelling laterally) but the
fateral traverse of the beam ends through the joint pins M M of the forccarriage is an
easy alternative motion and through the rod K the action of both end is simul-
taneous till the stops PP come in contact with either side of the ond brackets BB
and prevent any further swivel; so that the implement is then hauled down the land
in its return bout. These movements are repeated with each successive bout or
traverse of the implement over the land the steersman on his soat T merely reversing
his position with each traverse.
These details of pulling with levers and connecting rods together with the
automatic draught into action of the turnrest plough bodies, form no part of my
invention, neither do I claim swivelling the frame on fore and aft carriages or turn-
tables broadly as certain arrangements for accomplishing this object have hitherto
been proposed or adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven™
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is.
1. The construction of multiple furrow plough frames substantially in the manner
herein before described.
2. Fixing the vertical swivelling joints upon tho unploughod or "land" side of a
beam carrying plough bodies; it may be upon the main straight girder or beyond
it on its "land side or between the main girder and the beam carrying the plough
bodies substantially as described.
Dated this 17th days of Ontahan 1000
AYRTON & THOMAS,
Agents for the Applicant.