IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS
Year: 1884

page_text: We JAMES HOWARD of Bedford in the County of Bedford and HENRY WILLIAM
GIBBS, also of Bedford aforesaid, Agricultural Engineers do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS to be as follows:-
1
This invention relates to the class of ploughs which have detachable fore-
carriages with two wheels on one axle tree, or a pair of axles attached to an
axle-bed.
The objects of the invention are:-
To facilitate the operations of ploughing;
To simplify the construction of ploughs; and
To increase their efficiency.
In ploughs with detachable fore-carriages in which the beam of the plough is
supported on the fore carriage, the angle of the axle and wheels presented to the
surface of the ground varies according to the depth at which the plough is set to
work, but it is important that the vertical position of the landside of the plough
should be maintained at all depths; and to accomplish this, various devices have
been employed.
To attain this result in a more simple and efficient manner than heretofore, we
propose to arch the axle-tree, and to mount upon the arc a sliding block or bracket
piece for supporting the forward end of the plough beam. The radius of the arc
we so calculate that the axle tree shall, while the plough is at work, maintain the
horizontal position of the sliding block or bracket piece, whatever its set position
upon the axle-tree may be for adapting the plough to work at different depths.
By this means we are enabled to maintain the vertical position of the landside
of the plough. In order to maintain a uniform width of furrow after the
adjustment of the block or bracket piece, we fit the block with an adjustable
gauge plate formed with lugs at its opposite ends, between which the forward end
of the beam lies.
This gauge plate serves to maintain the set distance between the beam and
the furrow wheel, and thereby to prevent any variation in the width of the
furrows.
To the axle is connected the usual draught bar, with adjustable lever for setting
the draught hook to the right or left, and the draught bar is connected to the
chain which passes below the axle tree, and thence to the beam to which it is
attached.

page_text: The draught of the cattle causes the underside of the forepart of the beam
(which is made with a broad flat surface) to bear upon the sliding block or bracket
piece of the fore carriage. Thus, whilst the cattle are moving forward, a connection
more or less rigid, is maintained between the beam and fore carriage, but on the
slackening of the draught at the end of the furrow the rigid connection ceases,
when the turning of the plough beam upon the fore carriage as well as the turning
of the plough for a fresh furrow is rendered easy, sufficient width to allow of a
slight lateral play of the beam between the lugs of the gauge plate is provided for
this purpose.
In making our improved plough, we propose to use, instead of the side-curved
beam of wood ordinarily used in what are known as Bulgarian ploughs, a
side-curved beam of steel or iron of a double channel or H section; and to give
additional stiffness without undue increase of weight, we fit to the land side of the
beam a ribbed bar, by preference of T section, extending from about the middle of
the beam to its rear end, at which point it is forged into a bow-shape, and thus
forms a sledge to facilitate the turning of the plough at the end of the furrow, or
when travelling to and from the field.
As a further improvement we dispense with the usual back stay of the body,
and in its place we bend forward the bottom part of the handle below the beam,
and securely fasten it to the body, and we bend back the end to form a suitable
bearing or support, for the heel piece of the landside, and by this means dispense
with a separate piece, while securing additional rigidity.

page_text: We, JAMES HOWARD of Bedford in the County of Bedford, and HENRY WILLIAM
GIBBS also of Bedford aforesaid, Agricultural Engineers do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS, 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 that class of Plough (whether single, double or
multifurrow) which has a detachable fore carriage with two wheels on one axle
tree or a pair of axles attached to an axle bed.
The object of the Invention is to facilitate the operations of ploughing.
In ploughs with detachable fore-carriages in which the beam of the plough is
supported on the fore carriage the angle which the wheels and axle form with the
ground line varies according to the depth at which the plough is set to work, but
it is important that the vertical position of the landside of the plough should be
maintained at all depths; and to accomplish this various devices have been
employed.
To attain this result in a more simple and efficient manner than heretofore we
adopt the arrangements of Ploughs shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Fig 1. Sheet I is a side elevation of an arrangement of plough and fore
carriage in general use in Eastern Europe with our improvements applied thereto;
and
Fig 2. is a plan view of the same.
In Sheet II, Fig: 3 is a front view of the fore carriage complete; and
Figs 4 and 5 represent the fore carriage in positions varying from that
of Fig 3.
A is the plough beam to which is bolted the plough body or standard B and
fitted as usual to the plough body are the sole plate b, the share b¹ and the
breast 6. C is the coulter attached to the beam in the usual manner.
The beam is made of rolled iron or steel by preference of I section (see Fig 1*)
and to its rear end is bolted the handle A¹ of wrought iron which is continued
down to the plough body and made fast to it and to the sole plate.
D is the fore carriage carried by a pair of wheels which run freely on a fixed
axle tree d. This axle tree (Figs: 3, 4 and 5) is bent to an arched or segmental
shape for the purpose to be presently described..
Mounted adjustably on this axle tree is a sliding block or bracket piece d³ for
supporting the forward end of the plough beam. The radius of the are we so
calculate that the axle tree d shall while the plough is at work, maintain the
horizontal position of the sliding block or bracket piece d' whatever its set
position upon the axle tree may be for adapting the plough to work at different
depths.
By this means we are enabled to maintain the vertical position of the landside
of the plough.
In order to maintain a uniform width of furrow after the adjustment of the
sliding block or bracket piece d¹ we fit the block with an adjustable gauge plate d³
formed with lugs at its opposite ends between which the forward end of the
beam lies.
This gauge plate serves to maintain the set distance between the beam and
the furrow wheel and thereby to prevent any variation in the width of the,
furrows.

page_text: -
To the axletree is connected the usual draught bar E with adjustable lever for
setting the draught hook to the right or left, and to the draught bar is connected
the chain e which passes below the axle tree and thence to the beam A to which
it is attached.
The draught of the cattle causes the underside of the fore part of the beam
(which is made with a broad flat surface) to bear upon the sliding block or bracket
piece of the fore carriage. Thus whilst the draught cattle are moving forward a
connection more or less rigid is maintained between the beam and fore carriage,
but on the slackening of the draught at the end of the furrow, the rigid connection
ceases when the turning of the plough beam upon the fore carriage as well as the
turning of the plough for a fresh furrow, is rendered easy.
The adjustable sliding block or bracket piece d' is shewn in side and end views
at Figs 6, and the gauge plate d in face view at Fig: 7.
The bracket piece is made by preference of angle iron pierced with holes to
receive a pair of screwed staples d³ which are intended to grip the axle tree and
hold the bracket piece in its set position. The screwed ends of these staples pass
through holes made in the gauge plate d², and by means of nuts screwed on them
the gauge plate is held firmly to the adjusted bracket piece. This gauge plate is
pierced with a row of holes for the reception of the screwed ends of the staples and
provision is thus made for its being adjusted end wise or laterally of the carriage.
To allow of the beam rolling upon the bracket piece when the plough is to be
thrown out of action the lugs of the gauge plate are: made at such a distance
apart as will provide for a slight lateral play of the forward end of the beam.
:.
Referring now to Fig: 3 it will be seen that the bracket piece is set in a central
position the depth of ploughing required being such as may be effected without
tipping the axle tree or fore carriage the depth being due solely to the difference of
diameter between the furrow wheel and the land wheel.
Fig: 4 shews the bracket piece set for the production of a shallower furrow.
Thus the bracket piece is shifted nearer to the furrow wheel and the fore carriage
is tipped and inclined towards the unploughed land.
;
At Fig 5 the fore carriage with its axle tree is tipped in the opposite direction
the bracket piece being shifted from the furrow wheel side to the land wheel side
of the carriage; thus in all three examples of position the adjustable bracket
piece will retain its horizontality and consequently the vertical position of the
land side of the plough will be maintained whatever depth of furrow is being
ploughed.
In Sheets III and IV of the drawings we have shown our Invention applied
under slight modifications, to a double furrow plough.
Fig: 8 is a side elevation; and
Fig 9 a plan view of this plough.
:
Figs 10, 11 and 12 are front views of the fore carriage showing it adjusted to
various positions to suit various depths of ploughing; and
Figs: 13, 14, 15 and 16 are detached views of the means used for maintaining
the plough body erect under all conditions of work.
The beam A is formed in this case with a frame A* constituting the rear
extension of the beam. To the parallel sides of this frame, the two plough
bodies B B with their fittings are respectively secured as are also the coulters C.
On the arched axle d of the fore carriage D, is mounted a traversing screw d*, such
screw being free to turn in bracket bearings standing up from the arched axle and
serving to give the lateral adjustment to the sliding block or bracket piece d¹.
This block the construction of which is best shown at Figs: 13 is fitted with
clipping pieces d³ which embrace the arched axle but there is no special provision
for clamping it after adjustment to the axle d.
The sliding block or bracket piece d' is fitted at its centre with a piece d'
(see Figs 14) forming a pair of cheeks to receive a loose nut d³ (see Figs 15) which
nut is threaded upon the traversing screw d* The opposite faces of this nut. are.

page_text: made convex to facilitate its rocking with the screw, the cheeks through which the
screw also passes being slotted to permit of this movement. Attached to the nut
is a transverse piece which bears against the ends of the cheeks and effectually
prevents the nut from turning with the screw. A winch handle attached to the
screw serves to turn it in either direction and thereby adjust the position of the
sliding block upon the axle d.
Fitted to the sliding block is the gauge plate d' which is slotted as shown at
Figs 16 to receive the clamping screws by which the gauge plate is secured in its
adjusted position to the sliding block d'.
By reference to Figs: 10, 11 and 12 it will be seen that the horizontality of the
sliding block and consequently the vertical position of the plough bodies is
maintained whether the fore-carriage be tipped to the land or furrow side as
explained with reference to the first described arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
The means above described with reference to the drawings for maintaining the
verticality of the plough body irrespective of the depth of furrow being ploughed
such means consisting in providing the fore carriage with an arched axle-tree or its
equivalent to receive an adjustable sliding block or bracket piece with gauge plate
on which the forward end of the plough beam bears.