IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR TILLING OR CULTIVATING LAND
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tasker, the younger, of the Firm of William
Tasker and Sons, of Waterloo Iron Works, near Andover, in the County
of Hants, Engineer and Agricultural Implement Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR TILLING OR
CULTIVATING LAND."
Sealed the 31st October 1861, and dated the 21st May 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tasker at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st May 1861.
I, WILLIAM TASKER, the younger, of the Firm of William Tasker and
Sons, of Waterloo Iron Works, near Andover, in the County of Hants,
Engineer and Agricultural Implement Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR TILLING OR CULTIVATING LAND," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions and arrangements of
windlasses to be employed in tilling or cultivating land by steam power.
According to one arrangement, a suitable frame mounted on a pair of wheels
(or a carriage having four wheels) is used, having the axle crossing the frame,
which axle may carry the whole or be separate. On this axle are placed two
or more drums (on which the hauling ropes for dragging the cultivating

page_text: implement, are coiled) such drums revolving freely round the axle as a centre.
Between these drums, and revolving on the same axle as a centre, is placed a
pulley wheel or rigger, which will receive the power from the engine, and
transmit it to the drums by the following arrangements:-On the boss or centre
of the pulley, and revolving with it is fixed a toothed wheel gearing into a
second toothed wheel fast on a short spindle revolving in suitable bearings
fixed in the interior of the drum or drums, and extending in a horizontal
direction with the main axle to the opposite side of the drum revolving with it.
On the opposite end of this spindle another toothed wheel is fixed gearing into
a spur wheel revolving on the same axle as the drums, on the boss of which
wheel a catch box is fixed, a similar catch box being placed on the main axle
moving thereon in a horizontal direction over a feather let into the axle, a slot
in the catch box preventing its rotating when brought in contact with the catch
box on the centre of the toothed wheel, which is effected by a suitably arranged
lever. Or, by a modified arrangement, a pulley wheel, as above described, is
placed between these drums and revolves on the same axle as a centre, this wheel
having a catch box on its boss or centre, and a pinion revolving on the same axle
with a corresponding catch box on its centre capable of being connected or
disconnected with or from the pulley by any suitable means. A second toothed
wheel revolving on a separate shaft, carried by any suitable means, gears with
the before-mentioned pinion, and transmits power and motion to the drum,
gearing as it does with an internal cog wheel fixed to the drum. On the
circumference of the drum a suitable recess or groove is turned, and a strap of
iron with wooden blocks, or otherwise, encircles it, which can be brought in
contact with the drum, thus forming a break. By simply moving the lever to
throw the catch boxes out of gear, the break is caused to descend on the drum,
and any amount of pressure can be obtained at will.
According to a second construction of windlass, it is proposed to have a
suitable frame mounted on a pair of wheels with axle running across the frame
(this axle may carry the drums, or a second axle may be used); on this axle
revolve the two drums carrying the rope, a toothed wheel being fixed on one
side of the drum gearing in a pinion fixed on a suitable shaft revolving in
suitable bearings immediately above the before-mentioned drums, and receiving
power from the engine through an ordinary pulley wheel fixed on one end.
These improvements consist more particularly in the mode of connecting.or
disconnecting or throwing these drums alternately out and into gear which is
accomplished in the following manner:-On the side of the frame (and for
convenience, immediately over the main axle) is placed, a hollow tube or
column having a pillar turned to fit the interior of the column, and moving in

page_text: a vertical direction freely within it, having on its top the plummer blocks and
suitable brasses with the shaft on which the pinion or pinions are keyed,
revolving in them. A suitable lever is brought to act on the vertical pillar,
I causing it to rise in the tube, and consequently with it the pinion shaft and
pinion, the same lever simultaneously causing a band of iron, with wood blocks,
or otherwise, to be brought in contact with a suitable groove or recess formed
in the circumference of the drum, and acting as a brake having any amount
of pressure applied, and being in itself self-acting; or by a slight modification
of this plan, the pinion gearing into the before-mentioned toothed wheel on the
drum may be allowed to revolve freely on its shaft when the drum is out of
action, its boss or centre being provided with a clutch, there being a corre-
sponding clutch on the same shaft, moving over a feather let therein, and
capable of being united with the clutch on the pinion, so as to fix the pinion,
when required, as the driver or means of conducting power from the engine to
the drum of the windlass.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Tasker in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
21st November 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TASKER, the younger, of the Firm of William Tasker and Sons, of Waterloo
Iron Works, near Andover, in the County of Hants, Engineer and Agricultural
Implement Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, thio
said William Tasker, the younger, Her special license that I, the said William
Tasker, the younger, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Tasker, the younger, 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, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR TILLING OR CULTIVATING
LAND," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Tasker,
the younger, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing

page_text: under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the samo to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imine-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Tasker, the younger, do hereby
declaro 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 statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions and arrange-
ments of windlasses to be employed in tilling or cultivating land by steam
power.
According to one arrangement a suitable frame mounted on two or more
wheels is used, having the main axle crossing the frame, such axle serving
either to carry the entire mechanism and supporting wheels, or a separate
axle for the supporting wheels may be used if preferred. On this axle I place
so as to revolve loosely thereon a drum or a pair of drums, on which the wire
hauling rope or ropes intended for dragging or hauling the cultivating imple-
'ments is or are coiled. Between the drums, when two are used, there is
placed a large driving pulley, which also rotates loosely on the main axle and
receives the power from the engine by an ordinary driving strap, such power
, being transmitted to one or other of the two drums as required by the
following arrangements:-On each end of the centre boss of the driving
pulley and revolving with it is keyed, or otherwise secured, a
spur pinion
gearing into a spur wheel fast on a short spindle, which revolves in suitable
bearings secured to the interior of each of the winding drums, such spindles
extending across the width of the drums in a direction parallel to the main
axle or shaft, and being carried round with their bearings by the rotation of
the drums. On the outer or opposite end of each of these spindles is keyed
.or secured a second spur wheel or pinion, which gears into a spur wheel
baving either internal or external teeth, this wheel also revolving loosely on
the main axle, but being capable of being locked or prevented from rotating
when desired, either by the aid of an ordinary clutch box or friction cone, or
by means of a break strap applied to the circumference of the wheel. So
long as these spur wheels are left free to revolve on the main axle the drums
will remain out of action or at rest, but so soon as the spur wheels are locked
prevented from rotating, the pinions on the outer ends of the spindles
inside the drums will travel round the spur wheels and carry the drums round
or

page_text: with them. Or, according to another modification it is obvious that in lieu
of the two pinions being secured to the boss of the driving pulley, as berein-
before described, they may be fitted loosely on to the main axle, and rendered
capable of being coupled with the boss of the driving pulley when required by
any ordinary clutch mechanism. These pinions gear with corresponding spur
wheels fast on separate shafts, supported in suitable bearings secured in the
interior of each of the winding drums, and carried round with their bearings
by the rotation of the drums. A second spur wheel or pinion fast on the
outer or opposite ends of each of these spindles gears into a spur wheel having
either internal or external teeth fixed permanently on the axle or main shaft.
Thus by this modification in order to stop the drums, I simply disconnect the
first pinion from the driving pulley in place of releasing the last wheel of the
train of gearing which, as I above stated, is a fixture on the main shaft or
axle; each drum may be surrounded by an ordinary break strap, for the
purpose of regulating their motion. The movement which disengages the
clutch mechanisin may be made to act simultaneously upon the break straps,
so as to apply the break immediately the driving pinion is thrown out of
gear.
According to a third modification a frame mounted on a pair of running
wheels is used carrying an axle, upon which are fitted loosely the winding or
hauling drums (or these drums may be fitted loosely on to a separate axle), a
toothed wheel being fixed on the side of each drum, and gearing into a pinion"
fixed on a shaft revolving in suitable bearings, and situate immediately above
the drums, this shaft being driven from the engine by means of a strap and
driving pulley keyed thereon. The drums above mentioned are alternately:
thrown in and out of gear by lifting the driving pinions out of contact with
the spur wheels on the drums, for which purpose I propose to mount the
bearings which carry the second or pinion shaft upon the upper ends of two
pillars which slide vertically within hollow guiding columns supported by the
main framing. A lever or levers is brought to act upon the pillars, causing
them to rise in their hollow guiding columns, thereby lifting the shaft and its
bearings, and consequently disengaging the pinions from the teeth of the
drum wheels, the same movement may be made to apply a break strap to a'
groove or recess formed in the circumference of each of the drums, the strap
thus acting as a break, which will enable any amount of friction to be applied:
to the drums; or in lieu of the vertical sliding pillars and guiding columns
required for elevating the pinion shaft, this shaft may be carried in stationary
bearings in any position relative to the winding drums, according as the frame
of the windlass is supported on two or on four wheels, the pinions being fitted

page_text: loosely on such shaft, but provided with a suitable clutch box mechanism,
which will admit of their being coupled or not with their shaft, according as
the drums are required to be thrown in or out of action.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Figure 1 on the annexed Sheet of Drawings represents a side elevation of
one form of my improved windlass; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the
same; and Figure 3 is an end elevation, and partial section of the windlass
corresponding to Figure 1.
A, A, are two cast-iron beams, connected together by the wooden cross bars
B, B', and forming in combination therewith the main framing of the windlass,
which framing is supported upon the axle C, suitable bosses being made in
the beams A for the axle to pass through, and for the reception of keys,
which serve to secure such beams on to the axle; D, D, are two supporting
or running wheels fitted loosely on to each end of the axle, and serving to
facilitate the transport of the windlass, which may be conveyed to the required
locality by a horse, the usual shafts E, E, being fitted to the frame for that
purpose. On the longitudinal centre of the axle C, and revolving loosely-
thereon is placed the main drawing pulley F, and on each end of the boss of
this pulley is secured a spur pinion G, G', gearing respectively into the spur
wheels H, I, fast on the inner ends of the short shafts or spindles I, I,
revolving on bearings K, K, K', K' bolted to the interior of each of the
winding drums L, L'. These drums are situate one on each side of the driving
pulley, and rotate loosely on the axle C. On the outer ends of the spindles
are keyed the spur pinions M, M', which gear respectively with the internal
toothed wheels N, N', also turning loosely upon and supported by the axle C.
The outer periphery or circumference of these wheels N, N', is grooved or
recessed to receive the wooden friction blocks of the break straps O, O', which
straps are secured at one end to the cross bar D' of the framing, whilst their
opposite extremities are connected to the ends of the break levers P, P¹, by
means of the adjusting screw spindles and nuts Q, Q', which afford facility for
tightening up the straps, so as to compensate for the wear of the break blocks.
The break levers-work on the fixed studs or spindles R, R', carried by the
brackets S, S, and S1, S1, bolted to the main framing, and are bent or cranked
in such a manner that on depressing the free ends of the levers the breaks will
be applied to the break wheels; T, T, are curved guiding straps bolted to the

page_text: rear ends of the beams A, A, and provided internally with a number of pro-
jecting studs or stops a, a, which enable the levers to be held down at any
desired position, according to the break power to be applied, by passing the
lever handles under any one of the stops referred to. The upper stops serve
also to sustain the weight of the lever handles, and to keep the breaks out of,
action whey they are not required to operate. The action of this windlass is
as follows:-On motion being imparted to the driving pulley by the strap.
or driving belt U, which passes round a pulley on the main shaft of the engine,.
the pinions G, G¹, will transmit a rotatory motion to the spur wheels H, H',
and to the smaller spur wheels or pinions M, M', which latter by gearing into
the internal teeth of the break wheels N, N', will have a tendency to impart
a rotatorý motion to such wheels, causing them, if no obstruction be offered, to
revolve freely on the axle C as a centre, but without imparting any motion to
the winding drums. Now, supposing the break O to be applied to the wheel N
by depressing the lever P, so as to prevent the wheel N from rotating, the
pinion M will then travel round the stationary internal toothed surface after
the manner of the well-known "sun-and-planet" motion, and carry round along.
with it the winding drum L, to the interior of which the bearings of the pinion
shaft I are bolted, the rotatory motion of the drum continuing so long as the
break strap is applied, but on releasing or elevating the break handle the
wheel N is free to rotate again, and as it offers less resistance to the pinion M
than the winding drum L, it follows that the break wheel will be driven, and
the drum will remain at rest. The motion of the drum, above described,
serves to haul the plough or other implement employed across the land by
winding up the wire rope V attached thereto, the return rope V₁ on the drum
L being simultaneously unwound or drawn off as the implement progresses,
such second drum being left free to be rotated by the drawing off of its rope by
releasing its corresponding break wheel N¹ from the action of the break strap.
Thus, in working by this windlass, each drum is alternately thrown into and
out of action by simply applying their respective breaks; or both drums, may
be stopped or thrown out of action when requisite, without necessitating the
stoppage of the engine. It is obvious that a sliding clutch box working on a
feather on the axle, and made to engage with a corresponding clutch on the;
boss of the break wheels might be employed for stopping the rotation of such
wheels in lieu of the break strap; but I prefer to use tho break as it comes
into action more gradually, and is free from the sudden shocks attendant upon
the use of the clutch boxes. Or, if preferred, ordinary friction cones may be
substituted for the clutch boxes, in which case many of the objections to such
boxes would be overcome. In place of making the wheels N, N', with internal.

page_text: teeth they may be constructed similar to ordinary spur wheels, suitable pro-
vision being made for holding them stationary when desired, as herein-before
described, but such an arrangement would not admit of the large diameter of
wheel obtained by the internal toothed plan, and would consequently involve a
certain loss of power.
Figures 4 and 5 represent another arrangement of mechanism for driving the
winding drums. C' is the main axle; L, one of the winding drums loose
thereon; C is the driving shaft carrying the main driving pulley F and spur
pinion G, which is keyed thereon. The pinion G gears into the spur wheel N,
fast on the side of the drum L, and is disconnected therefrom by raising the
shaft C. This is effected by depressing the lever P which works on a centre R,
and passes through a slot in the pillar or support a, sliding vertically in the
guiding column b, bolted to the main framing A. This pillar carries the
bearing ċ of the shaft C, and when elevated causes the pinion G to be discon-
nected from the teeth of the spur wheel N. Simultaneously with this disen-
gagement of the pinion the break O on the end of the lever P is applied to
the inner surface of a flange formed on the side of the wheel N; thus stopping
the motion of the drum. The shaft C should work in spherical bearings so
that one end only may be elevated according to the drum which is to be thrown
out of gear. It is obvious that in lieu of elevating the shaft C, the pinions
thereon may be connected or disconnected with the shaft by an ordinary clutch
box arrangement.
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 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 general constructions, arrangements, and combinations of machinery
or apparatus to be employed in the cultivation of land by steam power as
herein-before described.
Second, the peculiar construction and arrangement of windlasses to be
employed in the cultivation of land by steam power as herein-before described
and illustrated by my Drawings.
Third, the system or mode of transmitting motion to the hauling drums of
windlasses employed in the cultivatiou of land by steam power by means of
the well known "sun-and-planet" motion, or any mere modification thereof, as
herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of transmitting motion to the hauling drums of
windlasses employed in the cultivation of land by steam power by the aid

page_text: of a shaft or spindle provided with a spur wheel and pinion, and carried
in bearings fixed inside the drum or drums, to be rotated as herein-before
described.
Fifth, the system or mode of transmitting motion to the hauling drums of
windlasses employed in the cultivation of the land by steam power by the aid of
a shaft or spindle with pinions fixed thereon, working in toothed wheels fixed on
the drums on which the ropes are coiled, and capable of being connected or
disconnected by the elevation of such pinions and shaft or by suitable clutch
box mechanism, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tasker, the younger, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
WILLIAM TASKER, JUNIOR. (LS.)