Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 24th May, 1887.
I, FREDERICK NISHWITZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Millington,
in the County of Morris, and State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following, statement :-
-
I will describe specifically the particular organization illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, without, however limiting myself to the specific details of construction
therein shown.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine without a sulky.
Fig. 2, a side elevation.
Fig. 2, a transverse section on the line 2x 2× of Fig. 1, omitting the teeth.
Fig. 3, a detail plan view of one end of the machine on a larger scale..
Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of a modified construction in which cutting disks
are carried upon the rear gang-bars.
Fig. 6, a perspective view of the form of tooth employed on the front gang-bar.
Fig. 7, a similar view of the tooth used upon the rear gang-bar.
Fig. 8, a sectional view on a larger scale showing the manner in which the cutting
edge of the tooth is ground. The grinding is the same for both forms of tooth shown
in Figs. 6 and 7, and but one end view is therefore necessary.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11, detail views showing the use of similar teeth upon the front and
rear gang-bars.
Fig. 12, a sectional view on a larger scale of the tooth shown in Fig. 9.
Fig. 13 is a detail view on a somewhat enlarged scale, showing the connection of a.
harrow tooth with the front gang-bar.
Fig. 14, a section through Fig. 13 on the line 14, 14.
Figs. 15 and 16 are detached views illustrating the castings for connecting a tooth
with the gang-bar.
Fig. 17, a detail side view illustrating the manner of connecting a tooth on the rear
gang-bar.
Fig. 18, a detail end view of the matter shown in Fig. 15.

page_text: Fig. 1, a detan DottoT
the rear gang-bar.
UL
Une vising wron
CONTIGOS
Fig. 20 is a detail view of the clamping casting by means of which the harrow
tooth is, locked in position in the casting shown in Fig. 17.
Fig. 21, a detail view of a casting, which is, bolted to the front and rear gang-bars
and serves to hold the connecting hinge-links.
Fig. 22, a detail top view illustrating the manner of connecting the spurs or crushing
teeth to the front gang-bar.
Fig. 23, a perspective view of the improved harrow arranged in connection with a
carrying sulky.
and
Fig. 24 is an end elevation of the same..
The front gang-bar A is preferably formed of angle-iron and the draft-yoke A' is
connected to it by hinge connections A. The pole A³, which is preferably bifurcated
at its rear end, is bolted to the draft yoke at a as shown in the full lines in Fig. 1 ;
or may be shifted to adapt the machine to three horses, as indicated by the dotted
lines, the draft yoke being made sufficiently wide for this purpose. In either position
the pole is braced by a brace-rod a', one end of which is bolted to a cross-piece con-
necting the bifurcated sections of the tongue, and the other end to the draft-yoke A'.
The double-tree a² is connected by a pivot bolt, as usual, with a draft stub or bar a³
(seen in the plan view, Fig. 1, and in Figs. 2 and 2×) which is secured at a to the
draft-yoke and has its rear end connected by a bolt with a link pivoted to a
projecting car or staple secured centrally on the front face of the gang-bar A. The
same bolt a serves as a pivot for a hand-lever B which passes through a slot in the
seat-standard. The forward end of the seat-standard is pivoted to a bar C, having its
lower end bolted to the draft-bar, a³, its upper end being bolted to the rear end of a
rod or link C, the forward end of which is held by the same bolt, C, which connects
the draft-rod a³ and the double-trec. That portion of the hand-lever prolonged
beyond its pivot a extends rearwardly and is connected by a pivoted rod B2 with the
seat-support B. Similar pivoted rods B are connected" with each side of the seat-
standard and extend to the upper face of the rear gang-bar E. The hand-lever is
locked in its various positions by a pivoted rack-bar B which engages a pin on the
side of the lever. At three points-preferably near the ends and middle-the front
and rear gang-bars are connected by hinge connections F.
There are two hinge connections between the front and rear gang-bars formed by
interlocking links made preferably of round iron. The links Y on the rear gang-bar
are in the form of a staple, while those, Y, on the front bar have a twist in the middle
forming eyes which interlock with the staple links Y to form hinge joints. The free
ends of each piece are secured to the gang-bar by a casting S, shown in detail in
figure 21. The figure is a view of the under side of the casting. It is preferably
formed at one end with two fingers s bent at right-angles to embrace the corner of the
angle iron or gang-bar. The opposite side is formed with a bent lug or finger s¹,
which embraces the edge of the gang-bar. On each side of the bolt-hole is formed
a depression or socket in which the ends of the bent hinge-links fit. As clearly seen
in Fig. 3, the clamping-bolt which passes through the casting and gang-bar will
firmly hold the ends of the hinge-links inserted in the sockets s in the castings. The
construction is identical for both the front and rear gang-bars.
The construction gives a flexible machine which may be readily conformed to the
conditions of the soil upon which the harrow is, working.
A most important part of my invention relates to the harrow teeth, and to the
manner of connecting them, with the gang-bars, and these I will now proceed to
describe.
The front gang-bar A has its angle or corner toward the front, with one flange or
side extending upward and the other to the rear, and is provided with trailing harrow-
teeth, which act upon the soil with a draw or knife cut, arranged alternately with
short flat crushing spurs.
The spurs are connected to the gang-bar in the manner illustrated specially in
Figs. 3 and 22; that is, the spur G is clamped upon the bar by a casting G¹ formed

page_text: with a hole g for the passage of the clamp-bolt which passes through the gang-bar,
spur, and casting so as to firmly clamp the three together. To prevent the spurs from
turning on the bolt, the casting G¹ is formed with lips or lugs g at each rear corner
which turn down against the rear edge of the gang-bar, so that when the bolt is
screwed up tightly the flat faces of the lugs g bearing upon the rear straight edge of
the gang-bar prevent the parts from turning. The upper face of the casting Gis
formed with a right-angled 'recess or socket for the reception of an endwise-moving
adjusting bar, as appears more fully below. The manner of connecting the trailing
teeth on the front gang-bar appears more specially from the enlarged views, Figs. 13,
14, 15 and 16.
The casting H, of which Fig. 16 is a top view, lies flat upon the upper face of the
gang-bar, and the clamp-holt H¹ extends through the hole H².
The end of the twisted trailing tooth I lies flat upon the casting H and is formed
with a recess or notch I' in its end edge which fits around a stud or projection hon
the casting H; and with a depression 12 in its face into which a stud or lug on the
casting Henters. The tooth is shown specially in Fig. 6, and the relation of the tooth
and casting H is indicated by the full and dotted lines in Fig. 13. Obviously, with
this engagement between the tooth and casting H they will have to move together if
either be turned upon the bolt H'.
The endwise moving adjusting bar K lies upon the upper face of the tooth, and
over the bar and bolt H' is placed a casting L of which Fig. 15 is a bottom view.
This casting is formed with a bolt-opening L' elongated somewhat in the direction of
the length of the gang-bar, ihrough which the clamp-bolt H' passes, and with a
transverse depression or socket LP in which the adjusting bar K fits. It is also formed
with an opening L³ elongated in a direction parallel with the side of the tooth; or, in
other words, at right-angles to the elongation of the bolt-hole L. A stud on the
casting H enters the opening 13 when the casting is placed in position, as above.
mentioned, and as fully shown in fig. 13. The casting L is also provided with a
stud I which enters an aperture K' in the bar K. All the parts are clamped together
by a suitable nut. If the clamp-nut be loosened and the bar K moved endwise, the
effect will be that the bar will move the top casting L by reason of the interlocking
joint LK, and this will accomplish the rocking of the bottom casting H. on the
clamp-bolt. H by reason of the interlocking connection between the upper and
lower castings Land H. By loosening all the clamp nuts, therefore, the entire gang
of teeth on the bar may be rocked upon the clamping-bolts so as to throw their outer
ends either to one side or the other, as may be desired.
The particular means for moving the adjusting bar, and the purpose of giving the
teeth this horizontal swinging adjustment, are presently described; but before doing
so I desire to refer more particularly to the teeth and their connections with the
gang-bar.
Upon reference to Fig. 6 it will be noted that the teeth for the front gang-bar are
twisted about midway of their length, and are similarly shaped on both sides of a
central transverse line, sockets 12 for engagement with the lugs on the casting H being
formed on opposite sides of each tooth in corresponding positions near its ends.
Obviously, it is entirely immaterial which end of the tooth is connected to the gang-
bar, as above described. This being the case, of course the teeth may be reversed
end for end for any reason desired. This capacity in a trailing knife-cutting tooth
forms one of the distinguishing features of my invention.
Upon reference to Fig. 3 the arrangement for shifting the adjusting bar K will be
clearly understood. An eye-bolt embraces a bolt on the gang-bar, and its
opposite screw-threaded end passes through a socket in a lug formed in a bracket
secured to the shifting-bar. A check-nut is provided on each side of the lug. By
loosening the clamp-nuts on the ends of the various bolts H₁ the bar K may, by
means of the devicos just described, be shifted endwise io rock all of the trailing teeth
upon their bolts.
Of course the harrow may be built without the capacity of rocking the teeth

page_text: horizontally, and any suitable devices for connecting the teeth with the bar may be
employed.
It will be observed that the teeth are not perforated. This I consider an advantage
for the reasons that they are not weakened at the points of connection with the gang-
bar; and there is no aperture in the trailing end of the tooth to collect rubbish. The
details shown are those which I prefer to employ, and I also prefer to use the
endwise-shifting bar in order to rock the teeth horizontally upon the bolts H¹; but
the invention is not limited to such an operation, nor to the particular details of
construction or specific form of teeth shown.
I will now describe the manner of connecting the teeth on the rear gang-bar.
This bar is formed of angle-iron, having the apex or corner turned to the top and
front.
The devices for connecting the teeth to the rear gang-bar are shown more
especially in Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 20. A casting P, of which Fig. 19 is a bottom
view, is formed with a bolt-hole p for the passage of the clamping bolt P which also
passes through the gang-bar. When in position, the upper face of the casting P is
drawn up against the under face of the gang-bar. The casting is widest at its front
end, and is narrower and curved laterally towards the rear. In this curved rearward
extension is formed a curved socket 1 in which the thicker or upper edge of the
curved harrow tooth O fits. The casting P is formed with lugs p against which the
side of the tooth O is clamped, as seen more especially in Fig. 18. This clamping is
accomplished in the following manner: Upon the side of the tooth O near its end is a
depression or socket o, and when the tooth is in position in the casting P, it will be
firmly held therein by a clamping casting Q, shown in detail in Fig. 20 and also in
Fig. 18. This casting formed with an opening through, which the clamp-bolt P1
passes, and on one side has a teat or enlargement Q', which fits in the socket o in the
side of the tooth. The opposite side is formed with a curved widened end which fits
in a correspondingly curved shoulder or side-piece p³ of the casting P. When,
therefore, the nut on the bolt P is screwed up, the casting Q will clamp the side of
the tooth against the lugs or shoulders p² and the parts will all be rigidly held in
position.
I prefer to make the rear teeth adjustable by swinging them horizontally with
reference to their clamping bolts; and to accomplish this purpose I form upon the
upper face of the casting Pa shoulder or block against which an endwise-moving
shifting-bar R works.
Opposite each tooth the shifting-bar is formed with a socket or aperture in which a
lug on the upper face of the casting P engages. The edge of the shifting bar
adjoining the gang-bar extends under the gang-bar somewhat, so that it is held
against vertical movement. By loosening the clamp-bolts of the several teeth, and
shifting the bar end wise, the teeth will be swung upon their pivotal clamping bolts,
and their outer ends turned either one way or the other to a limited extent. The
manner of effecting this adjustment is precisely the same as that described in con-
nection with the teeth on the front gang-bar, and is clearly shown in Fig. 3. Specific
description is therefore unnecessary.
This part of my invention is also not limited to the special details or specific
formation of the teeth and the connection with the gang-bar, as such matters may be
varied.
Upon reference to Figs. 6, 7 and 8 it will be perceived that the teeth for both the
front and rear gang-bars are formed with like ends; in other words; they are alike ou
each side of a central transverse line; and as before described, the teeth for both bars
are so formed that either end may be connected with the gang-bar without changing
the cutting relation of the teeth to the soil.
By such an organization I accomplish a very useful and economical result; that is,
.when the ends of the teeth have become worn-down or dulled from constant use in
gritty soil, the entire gangs of teeth may be reversed end for end and the machine
practically equipped with entirely new sets of cultivating devices. So far as I am

page_text: aware I am the first to propose or accomplish such a result in connection with trailing
cutting teeth of the general character described.
The material of which I prefer to make the teeth is rolled steel of the general
cross-section illustrated in Fig. 8, which is an enlarged sectional view on the line 8, 8,
of the tooth illustrated in Fig. 7. The view shows the socket o by means of which
the tooth is clamped in position on the gang-bar. An enlarged cross-section of a
tooth I for the front gang-bar would be identical, and it is therefore unnecessary to
illustrate it.
As before remarked, the sockets o or 12, by means of which the connection of the
teeth with the gang-bars is effected, are in each tooth formed on opposite sides near
the ends, so that when the teeth are reversed their cutting relation to the soil will not
be changed.
As seen in Fig. 8, the cutting edge of the tooth is ground off or beveled, as
indicated at o, on the side in which the clamping socket o is formed. Both teeth I
and are similarly ground on the side in which the clamping socket I² or o is
formed; and about the middle of the tooth the grinding is of course changed from
one side to the other. By using hollow-rolled steel, the teeth are self-sharpening, and
as they wear the cutting edge is not materially impaired.
Preferably the hollow-rolling is on one side only; if therefore the shape of the
tooth due to this cause was not modified at one end, when the tooth was reversed the
hollow side would come against the straight faces of the lugs . It is desirable to
avoid this, and I therefore at one end of the tooth change the shape so that the tooth
will be hollow on the side upon which the opening 12 or o is formed. This is very
readily done by the dies in which the teeth are struck or formed into the shapes
illustrated.
In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, I have indicated teeth of another character which may
be connected with the gang-bars in the manner illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18.
My improved reversible trailing teeth will by preference be mounted in gangs upon
a common gang-bar in substantially the manner illustrated; but I do not limit them
to such use, as they might be mounted in gangs arranged obliquely to the line of
draft; and instead of being mounted on a common gang-bar each tooth might be
carried on an individual support.
Figs. 4 and 5 do not require specific description. The construction illustrated is
that shown in the other figures, and already described, with the exception that on the
rear gang-bar cutting disks are mounted on rearwardly-extending arms in the place
of the trailing teeth illustrated in the other figure. The rearwardly-extending arms
to which the disks are attached may have their flattened ends clamped to the gang-bar
by bolts and nuts without the intervention of a casting.
Lugs on the upper faces of the arms engage in apertures in an endwise-shifting bar
in the same manner and for the same purpose described in connection with Figs. 17
and 18.
I will now describe the connection of a carrying sulky with my improved machine,
as shown in Figs. 23 and 24.
Sulky or carrying wheels U are shown as mounted upon crank stud-axles U bolted
to the main axle V. The axle may, however, be straight and have the wheels mounted
directly on its ends. A lever V is shown as rigidly connected with the axle in
convenient proximity to the driver's seat; but the lever or axle-rocking device.or
mechanism need not necessarily be mounted on the axle. By rocking the lever back
and forth the main axle will be rocked and the harrow raised or lowered with reference
to the carrying wheels, as presently appears.-
Between the rocking axle and the harrow there are three hinge-connections, X¹,
one near each end of the harrow, and one about the middle. The construction may
be as follows: Brackets or eye-bolts projecting from the axle are hinged or pivoted
to brackets X2 on the upper face of the rear gang-bar, and from each pivot-bolt of
such hinge connection a pivoted rod or link X2 extends to and is pivotally connected
with the front gang-bar in any suitable way. Of course this pivotal or hinge
connection between the sulky and axle, which is arranged parallel with the gang-bars

page_text: and preferably in quite close proximity to them, may be formed in any suitable way.
The machine is held in any position in which it may be thrown by a detent-arm W
pivoted on the front gang-bar at w and engaging with notches a in a curved rack X,
one end of which is connected with the under side of the axle, and its opposite end
with the lever V. This is a simple and compact construction, retaining all the
flexibility of the harrow proper. By removing the hinge-connections X' the harrow
may readily be detached from the sulky when desired.
The driver from his seat on the machine may rock the main axle to lower the
carrying wheels into the position indicated by full line in Fig. 24, when the machine
may be transported without contact of the harrow teeth with the soil. Or the axle
may be rocked to elevate the carrying wheels and permit the teeth to rest upon the
soil. This organization gives the capacity of regulating the depth of cut of the
teeth.
Having now described my invention embodied in a machine of practical and
efficient construction, its general method of operation will be readily understood
by those skilled in the art.. I desire, however, to call special attention to several
features.
As to the horizontal, adjustment or swinging of the teeth on their clamp bolts,
I prefer to give the gang this capacity in order to perfectly adapt them for work in
all kinds of earth. For instance, where the soil is covered with loose weeds or trash
of any kind, it is desirable to bring the teeth on the front and rear gang-bar more in
line with each other, so that they will cut through the trash and prevent liability of
the machine clogging. This position of the teeth is indicated by the dotted lines in
Fig. 3. Where, however, the machine is operating upon soil upon which the weeds
are standing, then the teeth should be set further apart, as indicated by the full lines
in Fig. 3, so as to thoroughly operate upon all portions of the surface traversed and
cut out the weeds.
1 am aware that gangs of rearwardly-projecting teeth have been provided with
means for adjusting them horizontally I am also aware, broadly speaking, that
heretofore curved trailing teeth, having a twist or curve in them to turn up the carth
and to cut under the soil, have also been used in combination with adjusting devices
of the general character described.
The castings S for connecting the hinge-links with the gang-bars have their bolt-
holes elongated in the direction of the length of the gang-bars. The purpose of this
arrangement is to allow a certain amount of play to the gang-bars in adjusting the
endwise-moving bar to swing the teeth horizontally. Of course in every instance
when the proper adjustment has been made it would be best to screw up all the clamp
nuts so as to hold the parts in their adjusted positions.
Having special reference to the side elevation, Fig. 2, it will be perceived that the
rocker shape or curve in the rear teeth is more marked than in the teeth of the front
gang. One purpose of this is to permit of the rear gang-bar being placed higher
than the front gang-bar, as clearly seen in the figure, so as to afford a large area of
discharge for the debris or loose earth cut up by the front gang of teeth. The
general curve or rocker shape of the teeth also causes them to act upon the soil more
favorably and with greater case than if their lower edges in said view presented a
straight line.
The general type of machine described is one invented by me and known to the
trade as the Acme."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is-
1. The combination of a support or carrying-beam, and an end for end reversible
trailing knife-cutting harrow tooth projecting rearwardly therefrom and having a
continuous cutting edge.
2. The combination of a support or carrying-beam, and an end for end reversible
trailing knife-cutting harrow tooth adapted to be attached to the support by
either end.

page_text: 3. The trailing knife-cutting harrow tooth formed with substantially like ends
and adapted to have either end secured to a carrying bar, substantially as set
forth.
4. The combination of a carrying bar, carved or twisted harrow teeth substantially
similarly shaped on opposite sides of their central transverse lines, and mechanism
whereby the teeth may be secured by either end to the bar.
5. The combination of a carrying bar, unperforated trailing knife-cutting harrow
teeth formed with substantially like ends, and clamping mechanism whereby the teeth
may be secured to the carrying-bar by either end, substantially as set forth.
6. A curved trailing reversible harrow tooth formed of hollow rolled steel and
similarly shaped on opposite sides of a transverse central line.
7. The combination of a carrying-bar, end for end reversible trailing harrow teeth
shaped so as to present a rocker-shape or curved lower edge from end to end in side
elevation, and mechanism for attaching the teeth to the bar by either end.
S. The combination of a front gang-bar having harrowing or cultivating devices
upon it, a rear gang-bar arranged upon a higher plane, end for end reversible curved
or rocker-shaped harrow teeth upon the rear gang-bar, and devices for securing said
rocker-shaped teeth to the gang-bar by either end.
9. The combination of a flat knife-cutting harrow tooth formed with a depression in
its flat side for engagement with a clamping or holding device, a carrying-bar and
devices for securing the tooth to the bar.
10. The combination of a carrying-bar, trailing knife-cutting harrow teeth formed
with substantially like ends and curved between their ends, and devices for connecting
the teeth to the bar by either end.
11. The combination of a carrying-bar, harrow teeth formed with substantially like
ends and twisted between their ends, and devices for securing the teeth to the bar by
either end.
12. The combination of a gang-bar, end for end reversible trailing harrow-tecih
formed with a twist or curve to adapt them to cut under and turn the earth, devices
by which the teeth may be secured to the gang-bar by either end, and adjusting
mechanism for swinging the rear ends of the teeth horizontally, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
13. The combination of a front gang-bar, twisted trailing end for end reversible
harrow-teeth having flat ends for attachment to said bar, a rear gang-bar, and sinuous
or S-shaped end for end reversible trailing teeth on the rear bar.
14. The combination of a front gang-bar having end for end reversible trailing
teeth thereon which act on the soil in a uniform direction or manner on both sides of
the central draft line; a rear gang-bar; and end for end reversible trailing-teeth on
the rear gang-bar which act on the soil in a uniform manner on both sides of the
central draft-line.
15. The combination of the front gang-bar, the casting H formed substantially as
illustrated, the adjusting bar K, the upper casting L formed substantially as
illustrated, the harrow-tooth I and the clamp-bolt.
16. The combination of the rear gang-bar, the casting P. formed substantially as
described, the harrow-tooth provided with a socket or depression near its end, the
clamp casting Q, and the clamp-bolt.
17. The combination of the gang-bar, the rearwardly projecting harrow-teeth, the
castings or clamping devices by which said teeth are connected with the gang-bar,
the sliding adjusting bar connected with said castings, and the adjusting bolt for
effecting the adjustment of the sliding-bar.
18. The combination of the gang-bar, the harrow-tooth formed with a notch upon
its end, a casting or fastening device by means of which the tooth is connected with
the gang-bar having a lug or projection which enters the notch in the end of the
harrow-tooth, and clamping devices for holding the parts together.
19. The combination of the front gang-bar or frame, the draft-yoke or frame, the
laterally shifting pole, and the shifting diagonal brace a extending from the yoke

page_text: to the pole and adapted to be shifted to either side of the pole according to its
position.
20. The combination of the axle, the carrying wheels, a trailing-tooth harrow
having its transverse gang-bar or bars which carry the trailing teeth arranged in
front of the rocking axle, a hinge or pivotal connection extending from the axle to the
harrow, and mechanism for rocking the axle, for the purpose set forth.
21. The combination of the rocking axle, the carrying wheels, mechanism for
rocking the axle, a trailing tooth harrow, hinge or pivotal connections between
the harrow and axle, a rack carried by the axle, and a pivoted detent mounted on the
harrow, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
22. The combination of the rocking axle, the wheels, a trailing-tooth harrow
consisting of flexibly connected transverse gang-bars carrying trailing cutting teeth,
pivotal rod-connections between the axle and transverse gang-bars of the harrow at
or near the ends of the gang-bars, and mechanism for rocking the axle, for the
purpose set forth.
23. The combination of the rocking-axle, the wheels, a trailing-tooth harrow
consisting of flexibly-connected transverse gang-bars carrying trailing cutting teeth,
hinge or pivotal connections between the axle and harrow, the mechanism for rocking
the axle whereby the relation of the flexible harrow to the soil is varied.
Dated this 18th day of February 1887.