IMPROVEMENTS IN ENDLESS CHAIN ROTARY DIGGING MACHINERY
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Ormrod Coffeen Evans at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th February 1870.
I, ORMROD COFFEEN EVANS, Citizen of the United States of America,
at present residing in Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENDLESS
CHAIN ROTARY DIGGING MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
c
-
The object of these improvements in endless chain rotary digging
machinery is to secure a far more thorough breaking up and comminu-
tion of soils than has hitherto been attained by this kind of implement,
and so to construct it that the same implement will dig unequal
dopths or disturb the subsoil several inches below the surface soil, and
comminute at the same time the surface soil into an even, open, and
loose seed bed. It is also so constructed that it may be drawn either
end foremost and do its work equally well. When required the improved
arrangement of implement may be run back and forward across a field.
without turning it whether drawn by horse or steam power. Machines
constructed in accordance with these improvements-may-be-used-in-pre-
paring grounds-for-seed,-or-by-detaching-a-part-or-parts-they-may-be-
used for cultivating root-and-other-growing-crops.
•
According to my present improvements in endless chain rotary
digging machinery a series of drum or broad faced wheels is arranged to

page_text: revolve side by side and in parallel planes within a suitable iron or wood
framework, over which drum wheels and over two corresponding series of
rollers placed at different levels the ono before and the other behind a
series of endless chains carrying teeth or digging forks pass. The
operation of these parts is such that as the implement is drawn over the
ground cach tooth is driven into the ground gradually and in successive
order so as simply by the weight of the implement to be forced into the
ground without breaking it in the first instance, but breaking and
upheaving the soil at the time the teeth leave the ground. By this.
means a great surface and depth may be dug over in a short time and
with comparatively little expenditure of power. The rollers are placed
in such equal relation to the drum wheels that when the ono set rests
on the chains on the ground the other is raised high enough to cause the
chains from the under side of them to the under side of the drum wheels
to form such an angle with the ground as will allow the teeth (as the
implement moves forward) to enter the ground in a nearly vertical
_position. When one sct of rollers_is forced down to the ground line the
opposite set of rollers are raised; or by tilting tho implement either way
cach set of rollers descends alternately to the ground whilst the other set
ascends, an arrangement which allows the implement to be worked
either end foremost equally well. And as each chain, together with its
drum wheel and rollers, forms an independent section of the implement
I make the implement to comprise three, five, or more sections, and tho
teeth in each alternate chain I make much longer or shorter than thoso
belonging to the other chains, and set the rollers to the chains having the
largest teeth outward from the drum wheels further than I set those
belonging to the shorter chains, and this in proportion to the difference
in the length of teeth and in such manner as to bring the longest
chains into the same plane and in line from the under side of the
rollers to the under side of the drum wheels with the shortet chains.
From this difference in the length of each alternate chain and difference
in the position of their rollers the teeth of the shortest chains break
the soil in advance of those in the longest chains. In this construction
of implement means are provided for breaking up portions of the subsoil,
and of comminuting the surface soil as well; but when it is desirable
to break up portions of the subsoil very deep the middle chain only
may be required to have longer teeth, and sometimes a single row only.
when intended to dig very deep, as the breaking of the soil laterally
or on each side of a tooth is in proportion to its length (when inserted),
.

page_text: and its velocity upwards in being lifted cycloidally out of the ground.
In implements such as are to be used for shallow surface work, the drum
wheels and one set of rollers only need be used, but in order to work
the implement either and foremost I provide two arms, one inside and
next each side frame of the digging frame, one end of each of which is
attached to and revolves upon the shaft supporting the drum wheels,
and into the others are inserted the ends of the roller shaft which they
support. This arrangement of parts allows the rollers to be lifted at
will from one side of the drum wheels over to the other, when the weight
of the rollers will be sufficient to hold them in a working position in
most cases without being locked to the digging frame. To work tho
implement one and then the other end alternately foremost, I provide
a rod of iron bent somewhat in the form of a "kettle bail," and attach
one end to one end of the digging frame and the other to the opposite
end in such manner that it may revolve or turn over from side to side
of the frame. To this rod I attach the power by means of a ring hook
and swivel. The ring slides upon the rod, and as the team turns the
attachment slides as drawn from one end of the implement to that of
the other. I provide for transporting the implement from place to place
by attaching on cach side of the digging frame (anywhere on the
vertical centre of the same so as to balance the weight) short axle arms
on which I mount carrying wheels when required. These arms are
hinged in such manner that when the wheels are removed they fall, and
hang at the side of the digging frame. Implements of small size are
provided with a pair of handles inserted in sockets on the outside and
near the end of the frame for the purpose of keeping the implement
upright while working, and so arranged that they may be easily removed
and inserted into like sockets in the other end of the frame. The chains
are formed in the way usual in this class of machinery, but the socket
plates in which the digging teeth have hitherto been secured in placo
of being formed in one piece are formed according to my present
improvements in two parts which interlock, the socket for the tooth
being formed partly in one half or part and partly in the other part of
such socket plate, the two parts being firmly bolted together so as to