Improvements in and relating to Ploughs.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ploughs.
I, WILLIAM YARDLEY HOLLAND, of Fisherwick Park, near Lichfield, in the
County of Stafford, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention consists in so constructing a turn-rest plough that the mould-
board or breast together with share can be turned from one side of the plough-
frame to the other side of the frame without the user of the plough leaving his
working position between the handles of the plough.
In carrying out my invention I utilize any suitable plough-frame and front
wheels and mount and connect the mould-board or breast in the improved
manner hereinafter described.
I provide a double-ended catch-plate each end of which is formed with a
tapered projection catch or clutch.
I bolt or otherwise secure the catch-plate to the concave inner-face of the
breast.
The breast or mould-board carrying the catch-plate is mounted or connected
with or to the plough-frame to turn on a pivot or pivots.
I next provide a pair of clutch-levers and secure them horizontally across the
upper edge of the plough-frame, the outer ends of the clutch-levers terminating
in the form of projecting catches or clutches for use in the manner hereinafter
referred to.
The back ends of the clutch-levers are each provided with a pin-hole; project-
ing ears are secured to the plough-frame and the back-ends of the clutch-levers
are each connected to the frame-ears by means of a hinge-pin which is passed
through holes in the ears and through holes in the back ends of clutch-levers
so that the clutch-levers both move on the hinge-pin to form a hinge-joint.
I provide a pair of spring-pins or spring-cores by preference under the clutch.
levers, over each spring-pin is passed a powerful spiral-spring, the lower ends of
the spring-pins are connected to the plough-frame and the upper ends are con-
nected to the clutch-levers in such a manner that the springs in their normal
expanded position bear against the under-side of the clutch-levers and support
such clutch-levers in an horizontal position.
I next provide a treadle-frame which consists of two side-arms shaped in the
following manner :-
The side-arms of treadle-frame are of such length as to reach some 12 inches
(more or less) in front of the clutch-levers and are connected to the plough-frame
at such forward end by means of a pivot-pin passing through one side-arm thence
through the edge of the plough-frame or through an eye-piece secured to plough-
frame, thence out through the other side-arm, both side-arms then curve out-
wartls from their pivotted back ends so as to pass over, under or through the
clutch-levers, the side-arms then curve inwards until at the ends the distance
across would be about 4 inches (more or less) a block of wood metal, or other

page_text: suitable material is then placed between the two front ends and the block secured
in position by means of a bolt or bolts, or instead of the block of metal, a metal
shoe or a shoe of any other suitable material can be provided to clip and receive
the front ends of the two side-arms, in either of such cases the front end of the
treadle-frame is formed of a convenient width to receive the foot of person using
my improved plough.
My improved turn-rest plough made in the manner hereinbefore described is
used in the following manner:-
The breast is moved on its pivots to that side of the plough suitable for use in
starting a furrow, the person using the plough would then lift his foot on to
the forward end of treadle-frame and press the treadle-frame down slightly until
the projecting catch or clutch on end of the clutch-lever hanging over first side
of plough passed under the first catch or clutch of the catch-plate secured to
mould-board or breast, the person using the plough would then take his foot off
the treadle-frame thereby causing the spiral-springs under the clutch-levers to
again exert pressure against the clutch-lever continuously and thus securely
lock the mould-board to the clutch-lever, the plough would then be drawn in
the usual manner to cut a furrow, the ploughman when at end of furrow would
put his foot on the foot-rest of treadle, press downwards and thereby release the
first catch of the clutch-plate secured to the inside face of breast or mould-board
from contact with the catch or clutch on end of first clutch-lever, the mould-
board or breast would then turn on its pivots falling flat on the soil under plough-
ing, the ploughman would then lift the handles of the plough to allow the breast
or mould-board to pass under the plough to the other or second side, then by
the action of lowering the plough, the mould-board or breast-plate would con-
tinue to move on its pivots, rising until in a suitable position for the clutch or
catch of the second clutch-lever to engage with the second end of catch-plate
secured to inner face of mould-board or breast-plate, in a precisely similar manner
to that herein before described in relation to first side of plough.
I am aware that turn-rest ploughs are made and used the mould-board or breast
turning on pivots so as to pass to either side of the plough and I am also aware
that the movable mould-board of such plough is secured in position by means of
a hook connected to the plough-frame, but the person using such old-style turn-
rest plough must at the end of a furrow leave the working-position between the
handles or the plough to unhook the mould-plate or breast-plate from the first
side of plough then return between the handles to lift the plough so that the
breast-plate can pass under to second side, then from between the handles to
second side of plough to re-hook the breast-plate to plough-frame, then back
again into working position between the handles.
By the use of my improved automatic turning mechanism much time is saved
at the end of each furrow which amounts to a large total per acre and therein
consists the utility of my invention.

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention consists in so constructing a turn-wrest plough that the mould-
board or breast together with share can be turned from one side of the plough-
frame to the other side of the frame without the user of the plough leaving his
working position between the handles of the plough.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings
the manner in which my invention is constructed and used.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the central portion of a turn-wrest plough
showing the breast or mould-board and its supporting frame.
Figure 2 represents a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents an end view of Figure 1 with the handle bars shewn broken
off and the treadle-lever in cross section.
Figure 4 represents an end view shewing the clutch-levers worked by means
of an upper spring.
Figure
represents an isometrical view of the clutch-lever carrier used with
the spring m as shewn at Figure 4.
Figure 6 represents an isometrical view shewing the formation of tenon on
both ends of the arch-piece t shewn at Figure 4.
Figure 7 represents an isometrical view shewing the T shaped fastenment at
the end s of arch-piece q.
Figure 8 represents an isometrical view of central portions of clutch-levers fl
and g.
In carrying out my invention I utilise any suitable plough-frame and wheels
and mount and connect the mould-board or breast in the improved manner herein-
after described.
I provide a double-ended catch-plate c each end of which is formed with a
tapered projection catch or clutch 7. I then bolt or otherwise secure the catch
plate e to the concave inner face of the breast b.
The breast or mould-board b carrying the catch-plate is mounted or connected
with or to the plough-frame to turn on a pivot or pivots e. I next provide a pair
of clutch-levers f and y and secure them horizontally across the upper edge of
the plough-frame, the outer ends of the clutch-levers terminating in the form of
projecting clutches h for use in the manner hereinafter referred to.
The back ends of the clutch-levers f and g are each provided with a pin-hole;
projecting ears are secured to the plough-frame a and the back ends of the
clutch-levers are each connected to the frame-ears by means of a hinge-pin k
which is passed through holes in the ears and through holes in the back-ends
of clutch-levers so that the clutch-levers both move on the hinge-pink to form
a hinge-joint.
I provide a pair of spring-pins or spring-cores 7 in some cases under the clutch-
levers, over each spring-pin is passed a powerful spiral-spring m, the lower ends
of the spring-pins are connected to the plough-frame a and the upper ends
are connected to the clutch-levers f and g in such a manner that the springs m
in their normal expanded position bear against the underside of the clutch-levers f
and and support such clutch-levers in a horizontal position.
Instead of providing the two lower spring-pins and the two lower springs mas
shewn in position at Figures 1, 2 and 3, I prefer in some cases to provide one
upper spring-pin as shewn in detail at Figure 5, such pin being formed as
an addition to the central car j, the root of the spring-pin is provided with a
disc or washer, such disc or washer forming a bed to receive the spring m¹ which
is passed over the spring-pin to rest on the disc or washer as clearly shewn at
Figure 4.
pass
next provide the arched piece q which is pierced with a pin-hole and passed
over the pin to rest and bear over the spring m¹, the ends of the arch
through the clutch-levers fl and g, the lever f¹ is shewn at Figure 4 as pierced
with a slot w through which the T shaped end s is threaded before the levers fl

page_text: and are connected to the snugs so that the end s can be moved to lock under
the slot w, the other end passing through a similar hole or slot win the lever g
and being secured thereto by means of the nut r, or both ends of the arch y can
be forn.ed as shewn at Figure 7, or both ends can be secured by means of nuts r.
Over the arch g I provide a second arch the ends of such arch being formed
with tenons passing through the slots win the levers f' and g¹.
The spring-pin passes through the arch and supports such arch as shewn
at Figure 4, then by adjusting the nut v over the lower nut, the arch tis secured
in position so as to exert the desired pressure against the clutch-levers f¹ and g¹.
This upper spring arrangement answers exactly the same purpose as the lower
duplicate spring arrangement shewn at Figures 2 and 3.
I next provide a treadle-frame which consists of two side-arms shaped in the
following manner:-The side-arms of treadle-frame are of such length as to
reach in front of the clutch-levers f and g and are connected to the plough frame
at such forward end by means of a pivot-pin o passing through one side-arm,
thence through the edge of the plough-frame or through an eye-piece secured
to plough-frame, thence out through the other side-arm, both sile-arms then
curve outwards from the pivoted front ends so as to pass over, under or through
the clutch levers, the side-arms then curve inwards until at the ends the distance
across would be about four inches (more or less), a block of wood, metal or other
suitable material is then placed between the two back-ends and the block
secured in position by means of a bolt or bolts, or instead of the block of metal
a metal shoe or a shoe of any other suitable material can be provided to clip and
receive the back-ends of the two side-arms, in either of such cases the back end p of
the treadle-frame is formed of a convenient width to receive the foot of person
using my improved plough.
My improved turn-wrest plough is used in the following manner:
The breast is moved on its pivots e to that side of the plough suitable for use
in starting a furrow, the person using the plough would then lift his foot on to
the back-end of treadle-frame at p and press the treadle-frame down slightly
until the projecting clutch hon end of that clutch-lever hanging over the first
side of plough passes under the first catch of the catch-plate e secured to mould-
board or breast b, the person using the plough would then take his foot off the
treadle-frame thereby causing the spiral-spring M under the clutch-
lever to again exert pressure against the clutch-lever continuously
and thus securely lock the mould-board b to the clutch-lever f, the
plough would then be drawn in the usual manner to cut a furrow, the plough-
man when at the end of furrow would put his foot on the foot-rest p of treadle,
press downwards and thereby release the first catch of the catch-plate e secured
to the inside face of breast or mould-board from contact with the clutch f
on end of first clutch-lever, the mould-board or breast would then turn on its
pivots e falling flat on the soil under the ploughing, the ploughman would then
lift the handles of the plough to allow the breast or mould-board to pass under
the plough to the other or second side, then by the action of lowering the plough,
the mould-board or breast-plate would continue to move on its pivots e rising
until in a suitable position for the clutch of the second clutch-lever to engage
with the catch on the second end of catch-plate c secured to inner face of
mould-board or breast-plate b in a precisely similar manner to that hereinbefore
described in relation to first side of plough.
I am aware that turn-wrest ploughs are made and used the mould-boards or
breast of which turn on pivot so as to pass to either side of the plough and I am
also aware that the movable mould-boards of such ploughs are secured in position
by means of a hook connected to the plough-frame, but the person using such
old-style turn-wrest plough must at the end of a furrow leave the working position
between the handles of the plough to unhook the mould-plate or breast-plate
from the first side of plough then return between the handles to lift the plough so
that the breast-plate can pass under to second side, then from between the handles

page_text: to second side of plough to rehook the breast-plate to plough-frame, then back
again into working position between the handles.
By use of my improved automatic treadle actuated clutching mechanism much
time is saved at the end of each furrow which amounts to a large total per acre
and therein consists the utility of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;-
A turn-wrest plough the breast of which is held in its working position on either
side of the plough frame by means of the clutching ends of a catch-plate secured
to the plough breast taking contact with either of two clutch-levers which project
over the two sides of the plough-frame, a treadle being hinged to the plough-
frame to bear on both of the clutch-levers, such clutch-levers, being supported by
means of springs so that the person operating the plough can after having
ploughed a furrow put his foot on the treadle, depress it and thereby release one
engaged clutch-lever from one end-clutch of the breast-catch-plate to permit the
breast to radiate on its pivots and fall on the ground that is under the process of
ploughing, so that the person operating the plough can lift the plough-frame
slightly by means of its handles and so permit the breast to radiate further on
its pivots and pass to the opposite side of plough-frame where the second over-
hanging clutch-lever would engage with the second clutch-end of catch-plate
and so secure the breast in the required position ready to cut another furrow,
such reversal of the breast being effected without the operator leaving his position
between the handles of the plough.
WILLIAM YARDLEY HOLLAND.
Witness:-
:-
ALFRED W. TURNER,
International Patent Agent,
Cobden Buildings, 67, Corporation Street, Birmingham.