Year: 1896

page_text: Reprinted as amended in accordance with the decisions of the Comptroller Genera
dated the 16th day of March 1899 and the 16th day of May 1904.
Date of Application, 30th June, 1896-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1896
We GEORGE SPALDING and JOHN STEELE ROBBINS, both of 361 El Dorado Street,
Stockton, San Joaquin County, California, in the United States of America 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 and accompanying drawings, that is to say :-
This invention relates to improvements in plows and more particularly to rotary
disk plows.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of our improved plow.
Fig. 2 is a detail view in plan of the frame the parts being separated.
Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation of the driving seat.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 5 is a detail view in side elevation of the lever for raising and lowering the'
wheels.
.
Fig. 6 is a view of the lever taken from the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the lever, being partly in section to show construction.
Fig. 8 is a detail of the locking wheel and pawl of the lever.
Fig. 9 is a detail in section of the land wheel, showing the supplemental weights.
Fig. 10 is a detail in section of the furrow wheel, showing the supplemental weights.
Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views in section of the catting disks.
For the purposes of description we will let the Figures 1, 2 and 3 designate the
different beams of the frame. Thus we will denominate the land beam, 1; the draft
beam, 2; and the disk beam, 3. These beams we prefer to construct of steel in
11-beam or channel -beam form, for the reason that the flanges afford an
opportunity for latteral adjustment of the various attachments in perfect allignment,
while at the same time giving the greatest strength with the least weight of
material. The different beams are shaped substantially as shown-see Fig. 2 of
drawings and are joined by angle irons, or corner blocks, to which they are securely
bolted.
In large frames the land beam, 1, is shortened as shown to permit the team to
swing in near to the land wheel as is desired in making a short turn. Also the frame
is more evenly balanced on its wheels by this construction.
The land wheel, 4, is mounted on a bracket, which is bolted to the land beam, 1,
perforations being provided therefor. These perforations are repeated along the land
beam for adjustment laterally. They permit of varying the load on the disks and.
thereby adapting the instrument to different kinds of soil without changing the

page_text: weight of the wheels. This variation is produced by reason of the change of leverage
on the shoulder draft, it being greater as the weight is carried forward. This land-
wheel serves as the pivot about which the plow turns.
The frame is carried on the wheels, 4, 6, and 7, in moving to and from the location
of the work, and the former two are used for weighting the disks and gunging their
sinkage. For this purpose they are provided with the supplemental weights 8.8. and
9. 9, for the land and fourrow wheels respectively. The weights, 8. ... 8
are flat disks adapted to fit over the hubs, inside and out, and nest close. In practice
they weigh about 100 lbs. each, and may be used separately or together. They are
held in position by bolts. The weights, 9 ......9, are of approximately the
same weight and are of the sectional shapes shown in the drawings to nest in the
cone-shaped furrow wheel, 6. Similar weights are provided for the castor wheel, 7,
which is of the same shape as that of the furrow wheel.
The wheels, 4 and 6, are adapted to be raised and lowered. For this purpose
is provided with the lever mechanisins shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 of
drawings. Brackets 12 bolted to the beam of the frame are provided with rack bars
10, which are fitted and work in guide plates 11 which carry the wheels. The rack-
bars, 10, are adjusted and locked in position by means of the pinions, 13, and 14, and
the pawls, 15. The pinions, 13, and 14, are connected by the square rod or bolt, 16,
the square shape of which compels the two wheels to turn in unison. Where they
extend through the wings of the guide plate, which are thrown out to receive the
small pinions, 14, they are provided with the bushings, 17, and 18, which being
round on the outer surface permits the bolt to turn. At its outer end it is provided
with a similarly formed washer, 19, which serves the purpose of maintaining the
pinion, 13, in position while providing a round bearing for the lever, 20. The said
lever, 20, is of any suitable length and engages the pinion, 13, by means of a spring
actuated detent, 21, the head of which is mounted in guides on the lever 20, and
throws into the teeth of the said pinion. This detent is provided at the handle
of the lever with a bell-crank lever, 22, which withdraws, the detent from engage-
ment with the pinion when it is depressed. By this arrangement the engagement
of the lever, 20, with the pinion may be shifted without carrying the pinion round,
it being locked in position. The locking device is the pawl, 15, which is pivotally
mounted on the guide plate, 11, and is weighted to throw the flared tooth, 23, into
the inverted wedge-shaped hollows, 24, between the teeth of the pinion. All tendency
to dislodgment of the pawl is provided against by this construction, as the inclined
sides of both the tooth, 23, and the teeth of the pinion, drive the tooth into instead
of out of engagement...
When the pinion is to be rotated the pawl, 15, must be thrown out of engagement.
This we accomplish by the lever, 25, which is pivoted on the lever, 20, and the end
of which extends in front of the pawl. When the handle is depressed the end in
front of the pawl is thrown out against the pawl.and forces it out of engagement.
When the lever, 25, is released the pawl falls again into engagement.
When the plow, is provided with these weighted wheels, and the, raising and
lowering attachments above described, the wheels, 4, and 6, are raised when the plow
starts to work, and being lifted off the ground they become weights to assist in
sinking the disks, 30.
The disks, 30, are constructed of sheet steel of a circular shape, spun to a concave
eenter shape as shown. They are mounted in the brackets, 26, at the outer, ends of
which are the inclined bearings, 27. These bearings are flared outwardly toward the
front of the plow, and are adapted to receive the taper journals, 28, which are
provided at their foreward end with the bell shaped backing 29, to brace the disks
which rest against them. The disks, 30, are held in the hackings, 29, by a bolt 31,
which passes through the journal and is provided with a thread at the end to receive
a nut, 32, by which the disk, journal, and bearing are held together in position.
The washer, 33, is interposed between the journal and nut to prevent the former
pulling forward out of the bearing, and at the same time to form a dust and mud
guard for the bearing.

page_text: The brackets, 26, are balted securely to the beam, 3 and extend at, approximately,
an angle of 90° therefrom. The flanges of the beam, 3, maintain the brackets in
line.
The incline which is given to the bearing, 27, pitches the lower edges of the
disks, 30, forward and causes them to sink into the ground, when traction is applied.
This action relieves the necessity of weighting the frame as would otherwise be, to
drive them into the ground.
The disks, 30, are sharpened from the back forming the square conical portion, 34."
This square conical portion is formed to the line of draft, or direction in which the
plow is moving. By thus forming the cutting edge of the disks a small "land side"
is formed on each disk, which counteracts to a great extent the side thrust incident
to the disks, operating at the angle they do. This square conical sharpening further
removes the natural bulge of the material on the back of the disks next to the cutting
edge which on entering the ground has a tendency to raise the disc out of the furrow
by reason of the added friction on the front of them as they enter the ground.
The brackets, 26, in which the disks are mounted are adjustable latterally, the
beam, 3, being provided with a series of perforations to receive the bolts by which
the brackets are secured.
The last of the brackets 26 bracket-34, toward the land side of the plow is a tool box
carrying the bearing, 27, under it, and also forming a support for the seat, 35, and
foot rest 36. The seat and foot rest are both mounted on the flat spring, 37, the
lower end of which extends through slots in the foot rest and into a socket in the
rear of the tool box. By this arrangement the weight of the driver is carried over
the rear castor wheel, 7, and in such a position that in the event of a fall he would
be to the rear of the disks, 30, and out of danger. Also the tool box is in a convenient
location if the driver be either riding or walking. Also the seat and foot rest may
be disconnected readily and rapidly by being lifted out of the socket in which they
rest, when the former fall apart.
By placing the weight of the driver over the castor wheel 7, it is maintained
firmly in the furrow. The office of this castor wheel is to counteract, in con-
junction with the furrow wheel, 6, the side thrust of the disks, 30, by bearing
against the land side of the innermost furrows. It is for this purpose they are
constructed in the solid bell or conical shape, shown, whereby the side of the cone,
when the wheel is mounted on inclined bearings, will bear against the land side of
the furrow in which it is running.
The wheel, 7, is mounted on the end of the vertical extension, 38, of the extended
bar, 39, which is mounted in the bearings, 40, at the rear of the bracket, 26 34 This
construction permits the castor wheel, 7, to swing in either direction. In making, a
turn it acts as guide wheel. To prevent its swinging away from the land side of the
furrow when the weight of the side thrust is brought on it, we have provided the
chain check, 41, which admits of easy movement towards the land side but checks
any tendency to throw away from it. As the usual turns of the plow are toward
the land this check allows the turns to be made freely in that direction while
preventing any in the other.
The vertical extension, 38, is carried above the bar, 39, to carry supplemental
weights, 42, to hold the castor wheel the more firmly in its furrows.
This plow may be drawn by any suitable hitch, but the flexible chain, 43, with
the central draft ring, 44, is the hitch preferred, by us, especially in handling large
gang plows. We connect the draft tree to this ring which permits the employment
of many animals abreast.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1.-In-a-rotary plow-a-triangular shaped-frame-the-one-side-being-set-at-an-angle
to-the-line-of-deals-and-provided-with-flanges-extending-lengthwise-the-caid-side, in
combination-with-brackets for the-eutting-dicks adapted-to-be-attached-to-the-said

page_text: side-between-the said flanges, substantially-as--described;--and-for-the--purposes
specified.
2. In-a-rotary plow--the combination--with-a-frame--having--two-sides-the--one
extended-parallel-to-the-line-of-draft-and-the-other-at-an-angle-thereto, -of-a-flange
set-out-from-the-face-of-each-side;-a-land-wheel-mounted-on-the-side-parallel with
mounted-on-the-side-at-an-angle-to-the-line-of-draft-and-engaging-the-said
the-line-of-draft-in-a-bracket-engaging-caid-flange,-and- brackets-for-cutting-disks
substantially-as-described,-and-for-the-purposes-specified.
Aange
13. In a rotary plow the combination with a frame having two sides the one extended
parallel to the line of draft and the other at an angle thereto, of two carrying wheels
the one mounted stationarily on one side of the said sides of the frame and the other
adapted to be adjusted lengthwise of the other side of the frame, substantially as
described, and for the purposes specified.
24. In a rotary plow the combination with a frame having two sides the one
extended in the line of draft and the other at an angle thereto, of rotary cutting disks
mounted on the latter of the said sides and adapted to be adjusted laterally thereon,
a furrow wheel mounted on the side of the frame carrying the disks, and a land
wheel mounted on the opposite side of the frame and adapted to be adjusted for-
ward and back to form the pivot on which the plow will turn, substantially as
described.
35 In a rotay plow the combination of a frame carrying rotary cutting disks set
at an angle to the line of draft, with a guide wheel mounted on an arm extended to
the rear of the frame and pivotally mounted therein, and a flexible connection he-
tween the frame and arm to control the limit of the swing of the said arm in one
direction, substantially as described.
6. In-a-rotary-plow-the-combination-with-a-bracket-adapted-to-be-attached-to-the
frame--of-the-plow-and-provided-with-a-tapered-bearing,--of-n--sleeve-fitting-said
rotary entting
dick,-and-a-bolt-extending into the said sleeve-and-provided with a head-to-foree
the--caid-disk-against-the-bell-shmped-flange-of-the-said-sleeve, substantially-as
bearing-and-having-a-bell-shaped-flange-to-receive-the-cutting-diska
described.
7. In-a-rotary-plow-the-combination-with--a-disk-shaped-wheel,-of--supplemental
filling-weights-adapted-to-fit-within-the-hollow-of-the-suid-wheel,-and-fastenings-to
hold-the-said-weights in position,-substantially-as-described,-and--for-the-purposes
specified.
8. In-a-rotary-plow, the combination-of-a-draft beam,-with-a-brocket-attached-to
the-said-beam-and-provided-with-a-bearing-for-the-rotary-disk-pitched-to-advance
the-lower-edge-of-the-disk-forward-of-the-upper--edge, and--a-rotary-entting-disk
mounted-in-said-bearing-substantially-as-described.
0. In-a-rotary-plow,-the-combination-of-a-craft-beem;-with-rotary-entting-dicks
mounted-on-said-beam-at-an-angle-to-the-line-of-draft,-and-pitched-to-advance-the
lower-edge-forward-of-the-upper-edge,-substantially-as-described.
10. 4 In a rotary plow, a cutting disk having a concave face, and provided with a
square conical surface on the back of the disk forming the cutting edge, the angle
of the conical surface at the point of entry coinciding with the line of draft.
substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.
11. 5. In a wheeled plow and in the raising and lowering lever thereof, the combi-
nation with a bracket carrying the wheel journal, and having a vertical guide plate 11
attached to it, of a bracket 12 extended from the plow fraine and provided with a
rack-bar 10 adapted to slide in said guide plate, a pinion 14 mounted on said guide
plate 11 and engaging the said rackbar 10, and a pawl 15 mounted on said guide
plate 11 and having an inverted wedge-shaped tooth to engage a pinion 13, carried
on the same axis 16 as the pinion 14, substantially as described.
12.
In-a-wheeled-plough;-such-as-described; the-combination-of-a-lever-to-raise
and lower-the-wheels-and-a-locking-device-to-hold the lever-against--dislodegment
in either direction, substantially-as-described:

page_text: 13. In-a-plow-a-tool-box-consisting-in-an-extension-of-the-frame-to-the-rear-and
hollowed-to-form-a-receptacle-for-tools-substantially-as-described.
14. In-a-plow-the-combination with a rider's seat, of-a-spring-support-for-said
seat,-an-extension-from-the-frame-of-the-plow-having-a-socket-to-receive-and-hold
the-end-of-the-said-spring,-and-a-foot-rest-mounted-on-said-spring-above-the-said
extension;-substantially-as-described.
16. In-a-plow the-combination-with-a-rider's
the-end-of-the-said-spring,
seat,-of-a-spring-support-for-said
seat,-an-extension-from-the-frame-of-the--plow-having-a-socket-to-receive-and-hold
and-a-foot-rest-having-a-slot-to-engage the-said-spring
support-and-be-maintained in-position-thereby,-substantially-as-described.
Dated this 30th day of June. 1896.
EDWARDS AND CO.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.