IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PLOUGHS CULTIVATORS AND SIMILAR IMPLEMENTS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Walker, of the firm of Walker & Co., of
Whitstable, in the County of Kent, Farmers for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1883.
THOMAS WALKER, of the firm of Walker & Co., of Whitstable, in the County of
Kent, Farmers " IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PLOUGHS CULTIVATORS AND
SIMILAR IMPLEMENTS
"
My invention relates to ploughs but is also applicable to similar implements
such as cultivators. When working in stiff or heavy land it is found that, under
certain conditions, the soil will stick or adhere to the front of a plough-breast or
mould-board, therby rendering it almost impossible to form a clean furrow and
greatly increasing the draught upon the horses; under these circumstances it is
frequently necessary to employ an extra man, for the purpose of keeping the parts
clean, thus causing extra expense.
The chief object of my invention is to obviate these difficulties and to provide
means whereby a plough-breast or mould-board may be kept constantly clean. For
this purpose I arrange upon some convenient part of a plough, a water-tank of suitable
size and shape (which will vary according to the construction of the plough),
having attached to it brackets or arms, by means of which it may be firmly
secured to the said plough; connected to this tank is a pipe, which is led to the
point where it is desired that the water should drop, the outlet preferably being
turned towards the tail of the implement, in order that the soil should not get
into it and choke it up; by allowing the water to drop upon the front of a plough
breast or mould board clogging is prevented, as the water acts as a lubricant. In
order to regulate the quantity of water issuing from the tank, I provide the said
pipe with (or otherwise suitably arrange) a cock, having a lever and a handle
or rod connected to it, placed in such a position that the ploughman or other
person is able to adjust the said cock as desired. I sometimes provide a cultivator
or seed drill with a water tank having a number of pipes connected with it,
whereby the water can be allowed to drop on that part of the tines or shares
where the soil is most likely to adhere.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th August
1883.
THOMAS WALKER, of the firm of Walker and Co., of Whitstable, in the County
of Kent, Farmers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PLOUGHS, CULTIVATORS,
AND SIMILAR IMPLEMENTS
33
My invention relates chiefly to ploughs, but is also applicable to similar
implements such as cultivators.
When a plough is worked in stiff or heavy land, the soil, under certain con-
ditions, will stick or adhere to the front of the plough-breast or mould-board,
thereby rendering it almost impossible to form a clean furrow, and greatly
increasing the draught upon the horses;-under these circumstances it is frequently
necessary to employ an additional attendant to keep the parts clean, thus increasing
the cost of ploughing.
The chief object of my invention is to obviate these inconveniences by providing
means whereby a plough-breast or mould-board may be kept constantly clean; for
this purpose I arrange upon some convenient part of the plough one or more
wate. tanks, which will vary in size and shape according to the construction of the
plough, and each of which is provided with means for firmly securing it thereto.
One or more pipes are connected with the said tank or tanks and conducted to
the point or points whero it is desired the water should drop, the outlets preferably
being turned towards the tail of the implement in order that the soil shall not
get into the said pipes. By allowing the water to drop upon the front of the
plough-breast or mould-board, sticking or clogging is prevented, the water acting
as a lubricant.
In order to regulate the quantity of water issuing from the tank, I provide a
cock having a lever and a handle or rod connected therewith, and placed in such
a position that the ploughman or other person can adjust the said cock as desired.
I also fit a nozzle on the end of the said pipe and provide means for attaching the
same to the coulter of a plough, all as hereinafter described. But I may provide
other suitable means for regulating the flow of water from the tank or tanks, if
desired.
I sometimes provide a cultivator, a steam plough or similar implement with one
or more water-tanks having a number of pipes connected therewith whereby
the water can be allowed to drop on the tines or other parts at the points where
the soil is most likely to adhere to them; each of the said pipes being provided
with a cock and nozzle for the purposes herein specified.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously applied to a plough.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the said plough with a tank and pipe attached
thereto.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the water tank shewing the cock and part of the
pipe attached thereto.
Figure 3 is an end view of the same.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation shewing the nozzle and part of the pipe and the
means for attaching the said nozzle to the coulter.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the same, and
Figure 6 is a section on the line y, y Figure 5.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.
a represents the water-tank which is provided with two pairs of arms a' forming
"

page_text: clamps which fit upon the beam b of the plough. One of the arms a³ of each pair
has a thumbscrew c passing through it, for securing the tank to the said beam. A
cock d is fitted at the lower part of the tank a and is provided with a handle d'
having a slot d². A rod e is adjustably attached to the handled by means of a
bolt d passing through the said slot. This rod extends as shewn to within easy
reach of the person using the plough. A pipe f of india-rubber or other suitable
material is connected at one end to the cock d and its other end is provided with a
nozzle g fitted with a screw-cap h which can be removed for the purpose of cleaning
the pipe. The said nozzle has three apertures g' and an aperture is sometimes
formed in the screw-cap to permit the water to flow from the said pipe.
To afford means for facilitating the attachment of the said nozzle to the coulter
and its removal therefrom, I provide a holder i for the nozzle and I fix this holder
to the coulter by means of a clamp or hinged strap k and a set screw l, and I fix
on the said nozzle a flat plate m which will fit into the said holder, the latter
being moreover provided with a ring n to receive the screw-cap of the said nozzle
and thus hold the latter in position. By arranging the nozzle in the position
shewn in the drawing the water will drop upon the soil as the share enters it and
the plough-breast or mould-board will thus be properly lubricated. The tank a is
sometimes provided with a strainer as at a*, Figure 2.
It is obvious that I may modify the construction and arrangement of the
various parts above described without departing from the nature of my said
invention.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim :-
First. The combination, with a plough or similar implement, of means for
supplying water to the plough-breast or other part of the implement, substantially
as described and for the purpose specified.
Second. The device for attaching the nozzle to the coulter of a plough, substan-
tially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Walker have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Third day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty three
THOMAS WALKER
(L.S.)