A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF PLOUGH
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Murison, of Itlaw, in the County of Banff, North
Britain, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF
PLOUGH."
Sealed the 24th April 1877, and dated the 28th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Murison at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th October 1870.
FRANCIS MURISON, of Itlaw, in the County of Banff, North Britain.
OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF PLOUGH."
" A NEW
This Invention has reference to a new or improved general construction or
arrangement of a double plough each pointing and cutting or ploughing when
traversed or drawn in the opposite directions, with mould boards or plates end to
end in the middle and on one side, so as to turn the mould or furrow all in the one
way or on the one side (according as it was begun), and thus nake a more level
or regular surface, which will greatly facilitate the after operations of sowing,
harrowing, cleaning, and reaping, or other work, than that done by ploughs as
heretofore constructed.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention consist in having the frame of the
plough bodies proper in the form of a strong, straight, deep bar or rail in a line.
with the vertical cutting side of the ploughs, with the two opposite ends or strong bars
bolted or rivetted to them, curved down in an ordinary manner to suit the inside
of the plough bodies or front cutting curved edge of the mould boards or plates,
and socket back end of the usual flat solid pointed socks which cut and form the
bottom of the furrow pointing in opposite directions, the two extreme back ends
of the mould plates being made to coincide and meet or abut in a joint in the
middle, where they are riveted or bolted together by an overlapping plate on the
inside, leaving the outside of both to turn over the mould or furrow on the same
side, as before stated. The whole is carried on a broad rimmed angled wheel,
carried and rotating on a lateral stud in or on the lower bent end of a strong
vertical stem or "shank " secured in a large eye or boss in the said plough frame,
and running in the hollow between the frame and the wide middle part of these
mould boards or plates, and with its lower inner edge running in the bottom of
the furrow nearly close into the vertical cut side. Two lateral stays projecting

page_text: out and down from the rail, one on each side of the wheel, to the outer turning-
over parts of the mould plates to strengthen them, and also serve to carry two
scrapers nearly close to the circumference of the wheel at the sides to clean any
mould off it which may adhere thereto in whichever direction it may be turning.
The top end of the strong stem or shank of the wheel projects above the frame or
rail of the plough bodies, so as to form the swivelling and carrying centre of the
main draw beam or frame, "shipped" on it by an eye in the middle of this main
beam cottered to it above, and with a straight part projecting forward from the
eye bearing on the upper straight part of the plough frame below, so that according
to whichever plough it is swivelled over it can be coupled thereto by a sliding
locking bolt or wedge on top taking into one or other of two keepers, holdfasts, or
clips kneed over above. This bolt is actuated in a slide by a rod carried back to a
handle swivelling on one of the cross stays of the ordinary guiding "stilts" or
handles, secured to and projecting up from the back end of this main drawing and
swivelling beam above, which in front is arched up and carried forward and fitted
with the ordinary buckles or sockets for carrying the coulter and the stem of the
front guiding wheel for regulating the depth of the cut or drill, and with the
ordinary vertical and horizontal lateral hole and pin coupling stem and bow at
the front end of the draw beam for attaching the hooks or chains of the drawing
"swingle trees of the horses. This double plough therefore is really carried or
balanced on its central wheel, so that the plough and body not at work is tilted up
clear of the ground by the guide handles, and by the act of drawing; and when it
gets to the end of each furrow the attendant draws out the front locking bolt by
the handle near him, and then turns the horses so as to swivel the whole upper
drawing beam and handle frame, end for end, or half round, until the locking bolt
comes in a line with or under the holdfast or clip over the other plough frame,
when he slides in the wedge and locks the two frames, and tilts down the plough
that was up before, and cuts and turns a fresh drill with the locked plough to the
opposite end; then he reverses the action with the other plough at each end alter-
nately as before to cut each drill in succession, always turning it on the same or
outer side of the plough and its double mould boards.
رو
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Murison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th April
1877.
FRANCIS MURISON, of Itlaw, in the County of Banff, North Britain. 'A NEW
OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF PLOUGH."
My said Invention relates to a new or improved general construction or arrange-
ment of a double plough for cutting and ploughing one furrow at a time when
traversed or drawn in opposite directions, with two mould boards or plates placed
end to end in the middle and on one side only, so as to turn the mould or furrow
all the one way or to the one side (according as it was begun), and thus make a
more level or regular surface, which improvements will greatly facilitate the after
operations of sowing, harrowing, cleaning, and reaping, or other work, as compared
with the ordinary method of ploughing heretofore practiced.
And in order that the nature and novelty of my said Invention may be fully
understood I will now proceed to describe the several Figures on the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing
the best modes and means I am at present aware of for putting the same into effect
or practice, the same letters of reference indicating the same or like parts in all the
Figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 are a plan and side elevation of the plough as constructed in
accordance with my said Invention,

page_text: Figure 3 is an end elevation of the fore part of the plough, showing the position,
action, and mode of mounting the leading guide wheels, Figures 4 and 5 being
enlarged detached side and plan views of the muzzle or bridle part of the plough,
while Figure 6 is a side view and cross section showing the method of locking
the upper beam F to the body or plough frame A when swivelled into position.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the frame of the plough bodies proper consists of a
strong straight deep bar or rail A in a line with the vertical cutting side of the
ploughs, each end A¹ of which is angled or curved down in an ordinary manner to
suit the inside of the plough bodies or front edge of the mould boards or plates B,
and socket for the back end of the usual flat solid pointed socks C which cut the
bottom of the furrow, and one of which is fixed in front, and another at the rear
of the plough bodies, so as to point and cut in opposite directions, according to the
traverse of the plough. The two extreme back ends B¹ of the mould plates B are
preferably made to coincide and meet or abut in a joint in the middle, where they
are rivetted or bolted together by the overlapping plate b on the inside, leaving
the outside of both mould boards clear to turn over the mould or furrow on the
same side from either direction, as before stated. The whole plough is carried on a
broad rimmed wheel D, preferabiy ridged, and carried and rotating on a lateral
stud d in or on the lower bent end of a strong vertical stem or shank" d secured
in a large eye or boss E in the said plough frame A, this wheel D running in the
space between the frame A and the wide middle or outward curved part B¹ of the
mould boards or plates B, and bearing on the bottom of the furrow nearly close
into the vertical cut side. Two lateral stays e project out and down from the
rail A, one on each side of the wheel D, to the extreme curved or turning over
parts B¹ of the mould plates to strengthen them, and which also serve to stay the
back ends of the face plates e¹ of the plough, and carry two scrapers e¹ nearly close
to the circumference of the wheel D at the sides to clean any mould off it which
may adhere thereto in whichever direction it may be turning. The top end E¹ of
the strong stem or shank d of the wheel D projects above the frame or rail A of the
plough bodies so as to form the swivelling and carrying centre F¹ of the main draw
beam or frame F, which is "shipped" on to it by an eye F¹ in the middle of the
beam, and cottered to it above by the cotter pin f, the straight part F11 of the
beam projecting forward beyond the eye Fl and bearing on the upper straight
part A of the plough frame below, so that according to whichever plough it is
swivelled over it can be coupled thereto by a sliding locking bolt or wedge f¹ on top,
taking into one or other of two keepers, holdfasts, or clips a, a¹, kneed over above.
This bolt or keeper f¹, shown particularly in Figure 6, is actuated in a slide G by a
rod G¹ carried back to a handle g swivelling on one of the cross stays g¹ of the
ordinary guiding horns or handles H, secured to and projecting backwards up
from the back end of the main drawing and swivelling beam F, which in front is
arched up and carried forward as usual at F1, and fitted with the ordinary buckles
or sockets H¹ for carrying the coulter H and the stem I of the front guiding
wheels J for regulating the depth and breadth of the cut or drill.
Referring to Figure 3 it will be seen that the axles J¹ of these leading and
guiding wheels J are kneed inward and pass up through eyes or sockets J" at the
opposite ends of an oscillating cross bar K, in which they are fixed by cotters, pins,
or pinching screws, the cross bar K oscillating by an eye K¹ on a lateral stud / or
kneed part of the carrying stem I, which in turn is passed through a socket in or
on a buckle I on the part F1 of the beau F, and fixed thereto by a pin or pinching
screw I. The lower part of the stem I is formed of angle irou of a short T shape,
against the under cross arms L of which the heads of the screw pins in the cross
bar K abut, as each wheel alternately runs in the furrow, this oscillation of the
bar K permitting the use of two wheels of equal diameter, which are thus self-
adjusting, according to the direction in which the plough is traversed, the one
running on the land and the other in the furrow alternately, the depth of the
furrow being regulated by raising or lowering the position of the stem I in the
beam F, and fixing it by the pinching screw I" or equivalent means. The fron

page_text: end of the beam F is fitted with the ordinary vertical hole and pin coupling
stem F fitted with an improved horizontal muzzle or bridle M with a segmental
recess M in it, in which an antifriction roller m in the shackle of the draw
hook m rolls so as to enable these to shift freely from end to end of the bridle M
as the horses turn round for a new furrow, and to suit the direction of the draught,
the play of the roller being regulated by pins n placed in the front rim of the
muzzle M. This double plough therefore is really carried or balanced on its central
wheel D, so that the plough and body, as B2, Figure 2, not at work is tilted up
clear of the ground by the guide handles or horns H lowering the other body B₁
into ploughing position; and when it gets to the end of each furrow the attendant
draws out the front locking bolt f¹ by the handle g near him, and then turns the
horses so as to swivel the whole upper drawing beam and handle frame F, H, end
for end, or half round, until the locking bolt f¹ comes in a line with or under the
holdfast or clip a¹ over the other plough frame, when he slides in the wedge f¹,
locks the two frames A and F, and lowers down the plough that was up before in
readiness to cut and turn a fresh drill to the opposite side of the field with the
locked plough; then he reverses the action with the other plough at each end alter-
nately as before to cut and turn each drill in succession always on the same or outer
side of the plough and its double mould boards.
Although I prefer to use two guiding wheels J in the manner described it is to
be understood that when desired one wheel may be used mounted in an ordinary
manner on the lower end of the stem I, and raised or lowered by pinching screws
to regulate the depth of furrow.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction or arrangement and combination of the parts
forming the double plough for ploughing in opposite directions and turning the
furrows all the one way, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown
in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The application and use of the central bearing wheel D and the mode
of mounting and carrying the plough bodies and framing thereon, substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The mode of swivelling the beam F, F¹, and handles H on the stem of
and over the bearing wheel D, and the means or apparatus for locking the beam to
the frame A below, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in
the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The mode of carrying and mounting the leading or guide wheels on an
Oscillating bar so as to render them self-adjusting when running alternately on the
land side or in the furrow, the depth of the furrow being regulated by adjusting the
position of the stem I carrying the oscillating bar K, substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Murison, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
TRTOON
FRANCIS MURISON. (L.S.)