IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH STEAM PLOUGHS TURNING AT THE HEADLANDS." TO FACILITATE THEIR MECHANICALLY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Turnill, of Sawtry, in the County of Huntingdon,
Agricultural Machine Owner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
CONNECTED WITH STEAM PLOUGHS
TURNING AT THE HEADLANDS."
TO FACILITATE THEIR MECHANICALLY
aled the 20th February 1877, and dated the 7th December 19
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Turnill at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1876.
HENRY TURNILL, of Sawtry, in the County of Huntingdon, Agricultural Machine
Owner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH STEAM PLOUGHS TO FACILITATE
THEIR MECHANICALLY TURNING AT THE HEADLANDS."
The object of this Invention is the construction of steam ploughs, and in arrange-
ment of mechanism or appliances to facilitate their turning at the ends of the
field for ploughing in the reverse direction in contradistinction to moving to-and-
fro end on as now done.
My plough is constructed with a kind of triangular frame at the rear mounted
upon wheels, and carries a double bar arrangement of frame at each side to which
the ploughshares are attached. The bars with the ploughs are raised when the
machine has to be turned by the pull of the draught rope or chain of the engine
on the opposite side of the field, the rope or chain being caused, to act through
other chains upon a quadrant or triangular-shaped lever, which is hinged or jointed
to a portion of the main frame. One point of the triangular-shaped lever is con-
nected to the double bars, and turns on the main frame joint to the desired height
when a catch on a hand lever takes under a lug or projection on the double bar
frame, and receives the weight of the frame for the time. The hand lever is within
reach of an attendant, who has a seat provided close to the steering gear by which
the direction of the plough is governed while at work. The ends of the double
bars on each side ride in slots in a portion of the main frame at both ends, and lift
together in a parallel manner.
The fore end of the plough is of rectangular shape and carries under it the
steering wheel, the frame of which has a double chain connected, in order that

page_text: when the engine rope or chain from the opposite end acts upon to turn the plough
the particular end of the double chain serves to pull the steering wheel round to
the desired angle for turning purposes.
The engines for operating my plough are placed at opposite sides of a field, and
while the rope of one is pulling the other is giving its rope off, which trails along
the ground behind, the two. ropes being attached to separate draw bars arranged
at the same end of the machine. The two draw bars or poles are attached to the
main frame by bolts which enable them to slew over from the rear, the front ends
being connected by a cross bar also secured loosely by bolts.
It will be understood that the slewing of the draw bar on one side lifts. the
ploughs on the opposite side out of and above the ground, and vice versa, in order
to clear it in the reverse travel.
Instead of using two engines one only may be employed, and then the end of the
second rope may be carried by an anchor.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Turnill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th June
1877.
HENRY TURNILL, of Sawtry, in the County of Huntingdon, Agricultural Machine
Owner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH STEAM PLOUGHS TO FACILITATE
THEIR MECHANICALLY TURNING AT THE HEADLANDS."
The object of this Invention is the construction of steam ploughs, and in arrange-
ment of mechanism or appliances to facilitate raising the shares out of the ground
prior to the apparatus being turned, and also to facilitate the turning of the plough
at the ends of the field for ploughing in the reverse direction in contradistinction
to moving to-and-fro end on, as is now done with ploughs which are arranged at
each end of a frame and tilted.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a side view and Figure 2 a plan of
my plough; it is constructed of iron, preferably deep angle iron, in a triangular
form as at A, A. This frame is mounted upon internal wheels B, B, and carries an
open girder or double-bar arrangement of frame or beam C, C, at each side, to which
the plough bodies D, D, are attached. The bars or beams C, C, are fitted to slide
vertically up and down in slotted or socket plates E, E, to enable the ploughs to
be raised when desired. These socket plates are rigid with the main frame bars
A, A, and the plough beams C, C, are lifted by the action of the draught rope a of
the engine on the opposite side of the field, which engine is put into work when
the plough has completed its travel by the pull of the opposite engine. This rope a
is attached to one of the pull levers F, which is fitted upon a stud G of the main
frame A, the lever being caused to turn upon its stud in order that its short arm F
may act through the chain H upon a quadrant or triangular-shaped lever I, which
is hinged or jointed at J to a portion of the main frame, the plough beams C, C,
being hung therefrom by the loop chains K, K. One point of the triangular-shaped
lever I is connected to the main frame A to enable it to turn on the joint pin J to
bring the end L to the desired height, and also the ploughs on that side when a
catch M on a hand lever is caused to take under a lug or projection N on the plough
body, bar, frame, or beam, and maintain them in the raised position, the catch
taking the weight of the ploughs for the time. The band lever of the catch M is
within reach of an attendant, who may be seated at P, which seat is fitted close to
the steering gear wheel Q, by which the chain T is operated to steer the front
wheel R, and consequently the direction of the plough while at work cutting furrows.
There are two hand steerage wheels, one on each side of the implement, so that
the attendant may sit immediately over the set of ploughs which is in work.
The ends of the double bars or beams C, C, on each side ride in slots in the socket

page_text: plates E, E, forming a portion of the main frame, and the beams on either side lift
together, and also the ploughs in a parallel manner.
The depth of the work may be regulated by means of skid wheels attached to
the plough beams C, C, in a way well known to implement makers.
The fore end of the plough or machine, also preferably of angle iron, carries
under it the steering wheel drum on which the steering chain T is wrapped. The
levers F, F, have their front ends attached to this drum by chains U, U, in order
that when one of the levers F has been moved round upon its stud, and the
ploughs on the opposite side raised clear of the ground, a continued pull of the
draught rope a acts upon the chain U, and this slews the drum and front wheel
round to the desired angle, whereby the plough or machine becomes turned ready
for the reverse travel.
The engines for operating my ploughs are placed at opposite sides of a field, and
while the rope of one is pulling the other is giving its rope off, which trails along
the ground behind the plough, as will be understood by referring to Figure 3.
The two engine ropes are attached to separate draw bars arranged at the same end
of the machine.
It will be understood that the slewing of the draw bar on one side lifts the
ploughs on the opposite side out of and above the ground, and vice versa, in order
to clear it in the reverse travel.
Instead of using two engines one only may be employed with the ropes arranged
on what is called the "round-about " sytem.
To give solidity and rigidity to the main frame I fit a main longitudinal
central bar X, as shown, to which and to the main frame the transverse bars Y, Y,
are fixed.
To balance the frame I provide a castor wheel Z at, each side of the fore part,
as shown, so that the weight of the machine is carried fore and aft and at the sides,
which ensures a fair distribution of the weight and obviates any undue strain being
put upon the plough body, bars, or beams C, C.
Instead of having one front wheel and two castor wheels at the sides the plough
may be made with two wheels similar to the front wheel placed nearly in the
positions in which the castor wheels are shown. These two wheels may be mounted
on separate turntables and on separate axles, and both connected with the steerage
gear.
It may be observed that one of the special features of my plough is that each
hauling rope is attached to the implement by a separate draught bar and stud, and
that these bars and studs are placed not in the central line of the implement, but
side by side at points at some distance from said centre, and at or near to the
central lines of resistance, whereby the plough is kept square to its work.
Another special feature in my plough is each draught bar F when turned on its
pivot or joint pin G lifts the opposite set of ploughs out of and above the ground
without affecting the position of the other set of ploughs or the main frame.
Another special feature in my plough is the method of fitting or attaching the
plough body, carrying frame, or plough beam to work in the socket plates of the
inain frame to enable the frame C to move in a vertical parallel manner.
I am aware that a draught stud G has been fixed behind the steering wheels of
steam cultivators, but this has hitherto been in the central longitudinal line of the
machine, and with a draught bar or pole affixed, said draught bar being of ✓ shape,
so that a side pull-on one leg or arm of the V effects a raising of the tines, together
with the main frame of the cultivator, clear of the ground when it is necessary to
turn the machine.
I do not therefore claim as novel the fixing of a stud behind the fore frame, nor
the raising of the ploughs by a side action of the draught bar, but do consider it
novel to use two studs at a distance from the central line of the machine, and to fit a
distinct draught bar on each stud in order to raise each set of ploughs separately
and vertically from the ground.
I therefore claim as my Invention,―

page_text: * The method of attaching the plough beams to main frame by making them to slide
in slots or grooves, as herein described and as shown in the Drawings.
Secondly. I claim the combination of appliances by which the pull on the hauling
rope is made to raise the set of ploughs previously in work without raising the
main frame, such raising being effected through the intermediation of draught
bars pivotted to the frame in the way described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Turnill, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
seven.
HENRY TURNILL. (L.S.)