IMPROVEMENTS IMPLEMENTS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LAND BY STEAM POWER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Robert Hay Fisken, of Leeds, in the County
of York, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IMPLEMENTS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LAND BY STEAM POWER."
IN
Sealed the 29th December 1876, and dated the 11th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Robert Hay Fisken
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th July 1876.
THOMAS ROBERT HAY FISKEN, of Leeds, in the County of York, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LAND BY
STEAM POWER."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the design and construc-
tion of implements used in the cultivation of land by steam power for the
purpose of reducing the cost of the apparatus necessary for the efficient cultivation
of a farm.
The ordinary steam plough is constructed to make furrows of a definite width,
the depth to which the land is to be ploughed can be varied within certain limits,
but the width of the furrows (or their distance froin each other) cannot be varied,
because those parts of the implement which are concerned in cutting and turning
the furrow are secured or made fast to the frame of the plough and always remain
at the same distance (laterally) from each other. If it is desired to make furrows
of a different width it is necessary to use a different plough in which the cutting
and turning parts are placed at the requisite distance from each other, and this
renders steam ploughing unduly expensive and prevents its more general adoption.
Attempts have been made to render the same plough capable of making furrows
of different widths, by constructing it in such a manner that the distances between
the parts concerned in cutting and turning the furrow can be varied, but it is
found in practice that this can only be done to advantage within very narrow
limits. If those limits are exceeded the plough does not make good work and a
farmer therefore cannot cultivate his land properly unless he has two or more
ploughs of different kinds.
Now according to my Invention I accomplish the desired object by constructing
the frame of the plough in three distinct parts, connected together by means of
bolts or other suitable appliances, so that the different parts of the frame can be
Price 61

page_text: secured or fastened together or separated at pleasure. The middle part of the
frame usually assumes the shape of a trapezoid, but it can be made of any other
shape that may be found practically convenient, and it carries the travelling wheels
and the steering gear.
The parts concerned in cutting and turning the furrow, such as the coulters and
the skives (which carry the ploughshares and mould boards) are secured or made
fast to the two end or outer parts of the frame which are similar to or rather
counterparts of each other.
The other parts of the plough may be secured to or connected with the middle
part of the frame, or with the two outer parts of the frame, as may be found most
convenient.
The middle part of the frame, which is a very costly portion of the plough, serves
equally well for all kinds of work, and by securing or fastening to it various outer
parts of the frame, having attached to them cutting and turning parts of different
sizes, various kinds of work can be performed in a satisfactory manner.
At present a farmer requires two or three different ploughs to cultivate his land
properly, but by adopting my present Invention he will require only one middle
frame and two or three pairs of end or outer frames, whereby a considerable saving
of expense will be incurred.
My Invention is applicable to cultivators, scarifiers, and other implements used
in steam cultivation, as well as to steam ploughs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Thomas Robert Hay Fisken in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th January 1877.
THOMAS ROBERT HAY FISKEN, of Leeds, in the County of York, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LAND BY
STEAM POWER."
This Invention which relates to improvements in the design and construction
of implements used in the cultivation of land by steam power has for its object
the reducing of the cost of the apparatus necessary for the efficient cultivation of
a farm.
The ordinary steam ploughs are constructed to make furrows of a definite width,
the depth to which the land is to be ploughed can be varied within certain limits,
but the width of the furrows (or their distance from each other) cannot be varied
because those parts of the implement which are concerned in cutting and turning
the furrow are secured or made fast to the permanent frame of the plough and
always remain at the same lateral distance from each other. If it is desired to
make furrows of a different width, it is necessary to use another plough in which
the cutting and turning parts are placed at the requisite lateral distance from each
other, and this renders steam ploughing unduly expensive and prevents its more
general adoption.
Attempts have been made to render the same plough capable of making furrows
of different widths by constructing it in such a manner that the distances between
the parts concerned in cutting and turning the furrow can be varied; but according
to the methods hitherto proposed it is found in practice that this can only be done
to advantage within very narrow limits, which, if exceeded, the plough does not
make good work, a farmer therefore cannot cultivate his land properly unless he
has two or more ploughs of different kinds.
Now according to my Invention, which is equally applicable to cultivators, steam
ploughs, scarifiers, and other implements used in steam cultivation, and which is
illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings in Figures 1 to 5, I accomplish
the desired object by constructing the frame of the plough or cultivating implement

page_text: in three distinct parts 1, 2, which I connect together by means of bolts 3, or other
suitable means which will allow of the different parts or frames being secured or
fastened together or separated at pleasure. The middle frame 1 usually takes the
shape of a trapezoid, but it can be made of any other practically convenient shape,
and it carries the travelling wheels 4 and the steering gear and regulating screws,
which, however, are not shown on the accompanying Drawings, as they do not form
part of the Invention.
The parts concerned in cutting and turning the furrows, such as the coulters and
the skives 6 (which carry the ploughshares 7 and moulds boards 8), or the tines 9
which cultivate are secured or made fast to the two end or outer frames 2 which
are similar to each other. Figures 1 and 3 represent a four-furrow frame 2, and
Figure 4a three-furrow frame 2.
The other parts of the plough may be secured to or connected with the frame 1
or with the frames 2 as most convenient.
The middle part of the frame which is a very costly portion of a plough serves,
according to this Invention, equally well for all kinds of work, and by securing or
fastening to it various end frames having attached to them cutting and turning
parts of different sizes, shapes, and widths apart, various kinds of work can be per-
formed in a satisfactory manner.
By adopting this Invention a farmer instead of requiring two or three different
ploughs to cultivate his land properly, will require only one middle frame and two
or three pairs of end or interchangeable frames carrying various cultivating parts
or implements, whereby he will avoid considerable expense.
On the annexed Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my
improved steam plough or cultivating implement; Figure 2 a plan view of the
middle or common frame thereof; Figures 3 and 4 plan views of the end removable
or interchangeable frames thereof; and Figure 5 illustrates in plan view how end
cultivating frames carrying tines or other end frames or implements can be bolted
on or attached to a common middle frame.
From the foregoing it will be seen that any kind of agricultural implement used
in steam cultivation of land can be attached to the common middle frame, and
thereby save considerable outlay.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the construction of
the frames of ploughs, scarifiers, cultivators, and other implements used in the steam
cultivation of land in three parts, the middle part being permanent and adapted
for use in combination with various end parts, the latter being removable and inter-
changeable, and fitted with ploughshares, scarifying, and cultivating tines or other
implements used in steam cultivation for the purposes specified and substantially
as above described and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Robert Hay Fisken, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
THOMAS R. H. FISKIN. (LS.)