IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURNWREST PLOUGHS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Howard, of Bedford, in the County of
Bedford, Agricultural Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURNWREST PLOUGHS."
Sealed the 27th April 1869, and dated the 3rd February 1869,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd February 1869.
I, JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricul-
tural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURNWREST PLOUGHS," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to simplify and to increase the
efficiency and durability of that class of implements styled turn wrest
ploughs which, whether working to or from the starting end of the field,
will turn the furrow slices all in the same direction, thus leaving neither
ridges nor open furrows.
The plough is constructed with two bodies, one right-handed and the
other left-handed, which are fixed on opposite sides of a common beam,

page_text: the heads of their respective frames being secured to the beam by screw
bolts which pass through both heads and through the beam. The con-
struction of beam which I propose to use is somewhat peculiar; it is
formed of two bars trussed or strutted at the middle and for the greater
portion of their length, and terminating at both ends in solid portions.
The foremost end carries the head and hake of the plough and the latter
the handles. The portion carrying the handles is made cylindrical to
allow of the beam turning on its axis without the handles in order to
invert the plough bodies at pleasure, and it is provided with a short
feather for keying the handles to the beam when the plough is in use.
That portion also of the beam to which the wheel carriage is connected
is made cylindrical, in order that the beam may turn freely in the
carriage bearing. At the sides of the trussed or hollow portion of the
beam the coulters and skim coulters (a double set being used) are
mounted independently of each other, the fixing of the same in their
proper positions being facilitated by this arrangement of beam. When
the plough is at work the beam is made fast to the wheel carriage by
means of a spring bolt or catch, which is capable of withdrawal through
the action of the handles when drawn back to free their socket from the
feather which fixes them to the beam. The spring bolt is connected with
the handles by means of a rod. By drawing back the handles, the
slight endway motion allowed them will suffice to act upon the spring
bolt or catch through the rod and draw it out of action. This is done
when the plough has arrived at the land's end and it is desired to throw
over the beam and bring the uppermost plough body into action in licu
of that which has just completed a furrow. A slight effort of the
ploughman and the draught of the horses in turning will effect this
inversion of the plough bodies, and the plough is then again ready for
action. The plough beam carries a horizontal T head to which is
pivotted a vertical hake for receiving the swivel link of the draught
chain. The T head is provided with holes by which the ploughman can
"notch" or adjust the swinging hake to the desired line of draught for
either direction of the plough's course. The form of the hake is such as
to leave the draught link or chain free to drop when the beam is turned
over and thus adjust itself to the proper level with respect to, the
ground.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Howard in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HOWARD, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Agricultural Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Howard, Her special
licence that I, the said James Howard, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Howard, my executors,
administrators, and 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURNWREST PLOUGHS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Howard, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
,
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Howard, do hereby declare
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 Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say)
-
The object of this Invention is to simplify and to increase the
efficiency and durability of that class of implements styled "turnwrest"
ploughs which, whether working to or from the starting end of the field,
will turn the furrow slices all in the same direction, thus leaving neither
ridges nor open furrows.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shews the improved plough in
side elevation, part of the wheel carriage being cut away; Fig. 2 is a
plan view of the same partly in section; and Fig. 3 is a front elevation
of the wheel carriage detached from the plough beam.
The plough is constructed as is usual with two bodies A, A', (one
right-handed and the other left-handed) which are fixed on opposite sides
of a common beam B, the heads of their respective frames being secured
to the beam by screw bolts which pass through both heads and through
the beam, as shewn at Fig. 1. The construction of the beam B is some-
what peculiar; it is formed of two bars trussed or strutted at the
middle and for the greater portion of their length, and terminating at
both ends in solid portions. The foremost end of the beam carries the
head band hake 6' of the plough, and the rear end of the beam carries
the handles C. The portion to which the handles are fitted is made
cylindrical to allow of the beam turning on its axis without the handles
in order to invert the plough bodies at pleasure, and it is provided with
catches or teeth which fit into notches formed on the sliding socket or
collar that carries the handle, and thus serve to lock the handles to the
beam while the plough is in use. D is the plough carriage fitted with a
pair of running wheels and capable of adjustment (through the action
of a vertical screw d) to any height to suit the work in hand. That
portion of the beam B to which the wheel carriage is connected is made
cylindrical and rests in a bearing of the carriage, it being so arranged
that the bearing has no end motion therein although it is free to turn
when required in the carriage bearing. At the sides of the trussed or
hollow portion of the beam the coulters E, E, and skim coulters F, F,
(a double set being used) are mounted independently of each other, the
fixing of the same in their proper positions being facilitated by this con-
struction of beam. When preparing the plough for work the beam is
made fast to the wheel carriage D by means of a spring catch G pivotted
to the beam and pressing against an adjustable notched plate g made fast
to the carriage. This catch is capable of being withdrawn through the
action of the handles when drawn back to free their socket from the
catches or teeth which lock them to the beam. The spring latch G is
connected with the handles C by means of a side rod c, Fig. 2. By
drawing back the handles the slight endway motion allowed them will
suffice to act upon the spring latch through the rod c and draw it out of
action. This is done by the ploughman when the plough has arrived at
the land's end and it is desired to throw over the beam and bring the

page_text: uppermost plough body A¹ into action in lieu of that which has just
completed a furrow to renew the ploughing in the opposite direction. A
slight effort of the ploughman coupled with the draught of the horses
while in the act of turning the beam end for end will effect this inversion
of the plough bodies. The spring latch being now set free it will fly
back and catch into the notch of the plate g', thus locking the beam to
the carriage as before. The plough will then again be ready for action.
To the horizontal T head b at the front end of the plough beam is
pivotted the vertical hake 6' which receives the swivel link 6 of the
draught chain. The T head is provided with holes by which the plough-
man can "notch" or adjust the swinging hake to the desired line of
draught for either direction of the plough's course. The form of the
hake (see Fig. 1) is such as to leave the draught link or chain free to
drop when the beam is turned over, and thus adjust itself to the proper
level with respect to the ground.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements
in the Construction of Turnwrest Ploughs," and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under
the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,—
First. Connecting the handles and the wheel carriage of a turnwrest
plough to the beam and to each other, as described, so as to lock and set
free the beam for the purpose above set forth.
Second. Combining the head and hake in the manner and for the
purpose above described.
Third. The arrangement of beam above described for facilitating the
attachment of the plough bodies and the double sets of coulters thereto.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Howard, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
JAMES HOWARD (L..8.)