IMPROVEMENT IN THE SYSTEM OF AND APPARATUS FOR FARM CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON of the Liverpool and London Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the invention for IMPROVEMENT IN THE
SYSTEM OF AND APPARATUS FOR FARM CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The nature of the invention will be more fully ascertained from the following
statement.
FIRST.
To place in the hands of farmers, gardeners, and others who require it a powerful
steam, self-propelling locomotive machine and apparatus, supported and propelled
at each end by means of an endless railway (more particularly described herein-
after) encircling and travelling round in conjunction with two or more broad
wheels or rollers, which machinery and apparatus are suspended high enough
above the ground to permit them to pass and travel over the growing crops until
they have attained the height of four feet, more or less, without injuring them, in
order to cultivate, hoe, earth up, and repeatedly stir the soil between the drilled
rows of grain or root crops. This machine is by preference, made of four steel
lattice girders, suitably braced transversely, and covered with a strong and
creosoted plan flooring appearing like, and forming a species of portable or
locomotive bridge which may be made of different lengths to suit the circumstance,
but at present intended and shown on the drawings to be about 66 feet long by
15 feet broad, cultivating and harvesting a strip of land about 50 feet wide,
leaving both ends of the locomotive bridge overhanging about eight feet from the
inside of the two endless railways and bearing wheels, on which ends are carried the
requisite motive power, coal bunks, water tanks, etcetera, all properly housed and
sheltered from dust, dirt, the weather, and from the liability while working, of setting
fire to the grain crops, buildings, etcetera. Also employing as an auxiliary, when
necessary, and where the surface of the land is very hilly, uneven or swampy,
winding, drums with wire ropes, mounted on large cart wheels, or grooved pulleys

page_text: or sheaves, one set at each end to haul the locomotive bridge forward and
backward, and to aid in the locomotion over the land at different rates of speed to
suit the work on hand, and capable when required, by means of the electric or
other similar artificial light, 'to do its work in the night-time almost as well as in
the day-time. Where the boundaries of a farm are irregular, and the lay of the
land from the existence of deep ravines and gullies, or otherwise, will not permit
of its being divided into exact strips of 50 feet wide, or thereabouts, I would
shorten the length of the locomotive bridge to suit such farm.
Or, if necessary or desirable, the length of the locomotive bridge may be
gradually increased (so as to take and cover much wider strips of land, without
adding much to the first cost of the whole machinery and apparatus) by merely
placing a third set of three bearing wheels in line under the centre of the loco-
motive bridge, travelling on the bare ground between two rows of the drilled
grain or other crops, so arranged with strong springs or by hydraulic pressure, as
to support and relieve the locomotive bridge of a sufficient portion of its weight
but not enough in any case to injure or affect the proper steering qualities of the
endless railway at each end,-the effect of increasing the length of the locomotive
bridge being more a question of consuming more fuel and doing more work in a
given time than the expense incurred in lengthening the locomotive bridge.
SECOND.
As far as possible by means of machinery and suitable apparatus, driven by
suitable motive power, to effectually substitute for the old fashioned ploughs,
cultivators, clod-crushers, rollers, harrows, seeders and similar traction implements,-
involving the work of five or six expensive operations before producing a complete
seed bed, a series of quick-rotating and reciprocating implements suspended over
the whole width of the strip of land to be cultivated and spanned by the locomotive
bridge, both vertically and horizontally, capable of self adjustment as to the depth
the rotating implements have to penetrate beneath the uneven surface of the land,
in order to produce a more thorough and accurate pulverization and aëration of
the soil. And also by means of a series of partly flexible tubes, suspended under
the locomotive bridge in a line between and sometimes directly behind the rotating
implements, connected with a seed sower, placed on the locomotive bridge, and
immediately over the rotating implements, to sow the seed the required width and
depth, the whole apparatus being propelled with a slow progressive movement,
producing a seed bed 50 feet wide, more or less, and any length that circumstances
may dictate, provided the length is not too short, so as to avoid the too frequent
transfers of the locomotive bridge from one strip of land to another, and consequent
loss of time (hereafter referred to and shown in the drawings).
THIRD.
In' so arranging and attaching in a vertical and horizontal position, to a self

page_text: FOURTH.
In order to secure the most accurate travel and steering of the locomotive bridge,
so that the dropping of the seed in a straight line from the seed drills, and then
the rotating and working of the several implements between the rows of grain
etcetera, may be effectually attained, I lay out the farm or block of land to be,
cultivated, in parallel strips of the proper width, to suit the distance or span
between the endless railway and bearing wheels of the locomotive bridge, forming
parallel paths or roads accurately prepared, graded and levelled as much as possible,
for the passage to and fro of the locomotive bridge, which, by means of its great
weight, endless railway and broad bearing roller wheels, consolidate and harden
the surface of the bare ground, soil, or sod, into permanent roadways or tracks
never to be broken up or cultivated, but to be used and kept in repair solely for
the purpose of this invention. By these means I am enabled to entirely dispense
with the employment of all parallel lines of iron railway, wooden sleepers, ties
etcetera arranged upon the cultivated land, except for the two headland tramways,
which may be distant from one to several miles apart, as circumstances may
require. To enable also the steerman to have an unerring line to steer by, I cause
to be indented and impressed into these permanent paths one or more shallow and
slightly bevelled grooves, formed by projecting rims or flanges attached to the
centres of the peripheries of the bearing wheels, or at the sides or other convenient
places, when I am obliged to use the hauling wire ropes and naked bearing wheels
alone, but when employing the endless railway alone, or in conjunction with the
wire ropes, I then use small pilot wheels in front and rear of the endless railway,
capable of adjustment, for the same purpose of indenting shallow grooves into the
hard ground at or about the centre of the paths; in both cases, however, I add a
small pointer three or four feet long in front of wheels and endless railway,
attached to the locomotive bridge, and as close above and in line with the shallow.
grooves as possible, so that the least inclination to the right or left can be
distinctly goon from the tan of the Innomative hrides he the steeraman

page_text: demand. The bags of grain are carried from the locomotive bridge to the
headland, to be then shifted on the truck already mentioned, by means of small
hand trucks to avoid lifting and handling, and a fresh quantity of empty bags
taken on board from the headland truck, repeating the same operation until the
whole work of harvesting is completed.
3rd. In harvesting in very warm climates where the grain is fully ripe and dry
before reaping, such as Australia, India, the Western States, and the North West
Territories of Canada, it is very often the practice to thresh the grain immediately
after it is reaped, first binding it into sheaves, for the sole purpose of making it
more easily handled-the threshing machine following closely after the reapers in
the same field, the threshed grain bagged and sometimes shipped the same day on
very many large farms.
Now in this my third plan of harvesting, it is intended by these improvements,
to do away entirely with the work of binding machines and employment of hand
labor to handle, feed and attend the threshing machines, horse powers, and, in lieu
thereof to lead and carry the crop. of grain, immediately after it is reaped, in a
continuous swath up the slatted and revolving aprons to the several threshing
machines, the grain being bagged and carried to the headland already mentioned,
and the straw allowed to fall behind the shakers, spread out in a good condition to
be burnt if thought fit to so do, or raked up by rakes attached to the locomotive
bridge at any future time, and carried to the headland if so required, to be stacked
there, or be drawn to the barn by the headland truck. It will thus be seen that
these long headland trucks are the only connecting links between the locomotive
bridge working on the land, and the buildings composing the farm-steading, on
each headland, for the express purpose of carting all the crops off the soft
cultivated land, avoiding all the injurious effects of treading, poaching, and in
several other ways consolidating the surface of the soil, first, by a variety of
traction implements, then by men and animals, the long headland trucks are
therefore one of the most important elements in carrying out this invention
namely dispensing with a very large portion of the constant heavy and tedious
manual labor now required to successfully farm any paying quantity of land, and
with the slight exception of two horses for the headland, of doing away entirely
with the necessity of employing animal power. For it is well known that one
good horse can, on a good moderately level tramway draw at least a ten ton load
at each trip, which will be quite sufficient to keep both the locomotive bridge and
the two headland trucks well employed, and when working in harmony with each
other ought and can do all the carting off the land required for a 1200 acre-
farm, so that as far as housing all the crops in the granaries and barns, and
the supplying the steam engines on the locomotive bridge with fuel and water
are concerned, two horses are all that are needed, one at each tramway and
headland.
SIXTH.
In the harvesting of root and such like crops, several plans will readily suggest
themselves to the intelligent farmer and market gardener, to suit different
circumstances, as there are ample means provided for attaching to both sides of the
locomotive bridge and to the duplicated angle iron frame, used for the reaping and
mowing, any of the numerous and improved potato and turnip diggers, and landing
the roots (as described for the grain crop) on to the locomotive bridge, which has
a clear and unobstructed deck of 50 feet long by 15 wide, with plenty of power
close at hand to do all the work required for such purposes. The angle iron
frames above mentioned are made capable of adjustment, and may be raised and
lowered the required distance above the ground to suit the crops, they are also
provided with wooden flooring the whole length so as to enable them to carry
several working hands to do most of the work required for a root, fruit, and cotton
crop, such, for a distance, as weeding and thinning out roots of all kinds, picking
and gathering strawberries, cotton, etcetera. The onward progress of the locomotive

page_text: bridge being set to travel in all such cases, very slowly, to accommodate that
particular class of work.
SEVENTH.
Having described the manner of hoeing and earthing up between the rows of
grain crops etcetera, where the seeding and drilling is continuous and where the
locomotive bridge has only to be transferred endways on the two headland
tramways, to take up the new 50 feet strip of land for all the purposes mentioned;
but where the crop is not sown and drilled in rows, but planted in hills like the tea
plant, from 4 to 6 feet from centre to centre, or sometimes like Indian Corn, of a
much less distance, and where transverse hoeing etcetera is required, and has to. be
done as well as the longitudinal hoeing a low turn table is then employed, made in
the usual manner, either with or without antifriction rollers, about 8 feet in
diameter, and place it on one of the headlands, but at one of the corners of the
frame (so as to take advantage of the side road and open space to get turning
room,) and place the centre of the turn-table in the centre of the outside path,-
one of the endless railways is made to mount on top of the turntable, is scotched
there, and thrown out of gear with the engine-the endless railway at the other
end of the locomotive bridge being driven round until the locomotive. bridge
assumes a position on the sideland of the farm, at right angles to where it had
worked before, to repeat the same class of work transversely, except that at every
50 feet strip of land the vertical rotating tools are lifted up out of the ground
simultaneously (by proper machinery shown and described hereafter), to avoid
cutting and breaking up the permanent paths already described and alluded to, and
so invaluable for the purposes of this invention. The transverse work is necessarily
more expensive to do and tedious to perform on account of having to lift all the
cultivating tools so often at every pathway. The moving of the locomotive
bridge endways on the side lands is done in the same manner as on the headlands
except that there is no necessity of laying down several miles of railroad the
whole length of the farm, but only a stretch about double the length of the
locomotive bridge made in convenient lengths for the horses to move endways at each
successive time the locomotive bridge comes back to take up a new strip to work
upon. Two low trucks are employed to move the bridge on the tramways on both
the headlands and the sideland (hereafter shown and described) The endless
railway is also applicable for all kinds of traction engines to secure a bite and
propelling power for the driving and bearing wheels travelling over farm land and
on common roads, especially when ploughing and cultivating. When the traction
engine is employed in ploughing etcetera with a slight alteration, the turntable
previously described is adopted for turning the locomotive bridge from the
headlands to the side lands or elsewhere. For instance, if from outside to outside'
of the two endless railways be 12 feet wide, and the engine is ploughing a width
of 14 feet, then the turntable will be made large enough to accommodate one side
of the endless railway when mounted on it, to be about a foot distant from its
central pivot, so that when the endless railway on the opposite side is driven
around a half circle the engine and railway will be exactly in the proper position
to take up a fresh strip of land to plough etcetera immediately alongside the
previous stretch operated upon.
a more
With the aid of the accompanying drawings I will now proceed to give
detailed description of the several parts when put together in their proper order,
the same letters referring to similar parts in all the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a front longitudinal elevation, and Fig. 2 is a plan of my modern steam
farmer as it would appear when hoeing or cultivating a strip or stretch of land
50 feet broad, or including a space taken from the inside of one set of bearing
wheels to the outside of the other set on the opposite end, of about 54 feet.
The endless railway is left out in this view, but shown more in detail in a
subsequent drawing, for the sake of clearness ;-a, a, are the paths or roadways
prepared, graded, and their surface hardened and consolidated as already described;---

page_text: .
laid out in lengths as long as possible to avoid the too frequent changes and
transfers of the locomotive bridge at the headlands, because in applying steam
economically to the work of the farm, the saving of time, incurred by stopping
and interruptions, is the essence of the entire undertaking; b, b, are the projecting
rims or rings on the bearing wheels c, c, for the purpose of impressing or indenting
shallow grooves h¹, h¹, in the paths, from one to two inches deep, and slightly
bevelled upward and rounded off at the corners in order to make a visible clean
cut, and an unerring line for the steersman to steer by, for lacking some such like
contrivance it would be almost impossible to drop the seed in line in the drills, or
work the series of vertical tools between the rows of grain etcetera, or in fact to
carry out the intention of this invention to the extent desired.
The vertical and tubular spindles, lettered d represent the arms or handles, on
• the lower end of which the series of revolving and cutting tools, marked e are
screwed on to or otherwise securely fastened by any of the well known appliances.
On the left end of this view is shown the toola e about 6 inches in diameter first
working. between rows of the wheat plant, two or three inches above the ground,
and then further to the right working up two or three feet higher, 12 inches apart.
In the centre of the view, every alternate spindle b is allowed to remain idle, while
their mates carry and work tools from 12 to 18 inches in diameter, as found
necessary, in rows of turnips, sugar beet and potatoes, 2 feet apart.
Further toward the other end of this view is seen the reciprocating harrow f
3 feet long by 1 foot broad, having 36 sharp-pointed steel teeth, suspended and
propelled by the two 6 inch cranked discs f³, harrowing and producing a finely
raked seed bed 4 feet broad, after, which follow the seeding tubes, set apart the
required distances, to suit the crop (more clearly shown on a larger scale in the
subsequent drawings); g is a sub-soil scuffler, capable of cutting, stirring, and
lifting up the sub-soil 2 or 3 inches (but not inverting it) from a depth of 18 inches
or more if required.
This tool g is well adapted for summer fallowing and invigorating old, exhausted,
heavy wheat lands, breaking up and stirring the subsoil hard pan invariably
formed and caused by the long and constant use of the plough and similar traction
implements. The working tools e, f, g, can be made of any particular pattern,
size, or shape, to suit the fancy or whims of the purchaser, without detracting from
the principle in the least; but the main feature of the invention consists in
introducing for the first time to the farmers and agriculturists a motive power
apparatus having a series of revolving and reciprocating cutting tools auspended
over the land to do their work, and producing a perfect seed bed, with the seed
deposited at the one and the same time of operation; not bearing or treading on the
surface of the land like ploughs and similar traction implements necessarily have to
do to accomplish their work, besides having to go over the land several times for an
inferior result.
The spindles & slide up and down in the series of cylindrical shafts h on the
upper ends of which are keyed fast the mitre wheels, i, gearing, at right angles
into the mitre wheels j, which latter are also keyed fast to the long, horizontal,
and tubular main shaft k seen dotted through the wooden box covering partly
broken to show a portion of the main shaft and mitres.
This box covering is made of stout planking the side of which is capable of
removal for purposes of oiling and access to the shafting and gearing, and is firmly
fastened to the flooring, m, of the locomotive bridge; n, are a series of light cast
steel brackets, through which work and rotate the upright shafts h, sustained in
their positions by means of broad collars fast on their lower ends. The manner of
self adjusting the rotating implements to the proper depths they would have to
penetrate the surface of the soil, also the adjusting of the seeding tubes, and the
manner of lifting and lowering the spindle d telescoping into the cylindrical
shaft h, will be more fully explained hereafter, by means of separate drawings;
o is the seed box placed and fastened on top of the box, ↳, partly drawn and
→ 4

page_text: broken off at each end, the balance of the length only dotted in along the transverse
sectional view.
Shaft o which reaches the whole length of the seed box, and is driven at the
ends by the pitch chain o³ in gear with the bearing wheels c, c, is also shown in
the separate drawings last mentioned.
I now come, to describe the construction of the locomotive bridge which is
formed and made up of four angle steel latticed and longitudinal girders, p, and
the transverse girders of a similar make q and angle braces r, better seen dotted in
the plan, Fig. 2, and also more fully shown in cross section, Fig. 3; the whole is
stiffened laterally and held more firmly together by means of the 3 inch tongue
and groove flooring, n which is, previously to bolting on, well creosoted to resist
the action of the weather. It is computed to carry a load of 20 tons to the
headlands, when equally distributed over the flooring between the spaces occupied
by the motive power at each end, that is, the product of a crop of wheat 2 miles
long and 50 feet wide, or about 14 acres at 40 bushels to the acre, in addition to
the weight of the machinery, et cetera; 8, 8 are two small sheds or cabooses, one
at each end, made of some non-combustible material to protect the machinery
.connected with the motive power, from dust et cetera, and also to prevent any fire
taking place from sparks or coals of fire escaping from the boiler furnaces, besides
having an efficient spark arrester attached to the smokestack; the exhaust steam'
is conducted into the water supply tanks underneath the flooring, three in number'
at each end of the locomotive bridge, lettered "tank," instead of into the smoke-
stack. The vertical engines tt are placed as close as possible in front of the
boilers. The spur and mitre gearing the friction clutches etcetera, both for driving
the main shaft k, and the gearing employed for propelling the locomotive bridge
of which there are three plans, are hereafter referred to. The bearings for all the
gearing are supported at each end on the two transverse girders, g¹, g¹, which
girders are then in their turn, supported on the transverse channel iron framework
v, v, of the bearing wheels. Although not shown on the drawings, the engines are
intended to be properly balanced on each side of the cranks; w, w, are two fly
wheels which may be used for other purposes than those already specified; xx are
two small winding drums, one at each end for the sole purpose of hauling the
locomotive bridge end ways on the headland railway y, as seen in Fig. 3 by means
of the small wheels z, ; between the three large bearing wheels a¹, a¹, a¹; these
two wheels zz, one set at each end, are lifted up when not wanted, and pressed
down on the headland railway when required to suspend the locomotive bridge to
move it endways by means of the two hydraulic cylinders b¹, b¹.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the manner of attaching the cylinders b¹, b' and wheels z
to the frame vv is more clearly seen. An important point in the design and
construction of the locomotive bridge is the placing of the weight of the driving
gearing and motive power machinery, also the fuel and water, immediately over
and outside the two points of suspension or bearing wheels, acting to a large
extent as a counterpoise to all the workmen, cultivating and harvesting machinery
suspended between these two points, including also the heavy load it has to carry
to the headlands at harvest time.
This over hanging weight will have a great effect in equalizing the pressure
on the bearing surfaces of the endless railway, the wheels and the paths a, a,
producing a better bite or friction on the latter, and obtaining more steering
power; c¹, c¹, are levers, two at each end, connected by the rods d³, d³, and the
spur pinions and racks e¹, e¹, placed under the flooring for the purpose of throwing
the large and powerful friction clutches f¹, f¹, out of gear; retaining the clutches
in gear is done by the powerful spiral springs g¹, g', encircling the crank shaft and
pressing against the movable disc of the friction clutch; it is by and through these
two levers and one clutch at one end that the steering of the locomotive bridge is
enabled to be controlled with only one man, the action of steering being as follows
the steersman standing alongside the two levers c¹, c', in front and at either end
of the locomotive bridge, immediately behind and above the front pilot wheel, and
.

page_text: (
a small pointer shown hereafter, and keeping a good look out that both the latter
and the shallow grooves h¹, h¹, on the paths as already mentioned, keep in line
together, but as soon as he perceives there is a tendency of the pointer in front of
where he stands, to incline toward the centre of the strip of the land then being
operated upon, that is a certain indication that his end of the locomotive bridge
is progressing too fast, and that it is in advance of the opposite end; he accordingly
retards his progression by merely throwing out of gear for a moment the clutch
behind where he stands, until the pointer, and the shallow groove h¹, agree
to fall into line again; if on the other hand the point should incline to the outside
of the strip of land operated upon, then the steersman reverses bis last action to
secure the contrary result.
As it will be almost impossible to maintain the same pressure of steam in both
boilers at such a distance apart, a small iron pipe i is fixed under the flooring m,
seen dotted in plan Fig. 2, the open ends of which pass through or alongside and
enter at near the top of the steam spaces of both boilers, equalizing the pressure of
both boilers to within a pound or two, keeping both the cylinders and the governors
up to their work, preventing any back lash in the gearing, giving equal progression
to each end of the platform bridge; and thereby securing a more correct steering;
,, are the levers supplied to the friction clutches k¹, k¹, in connection at each
end of the main shaft k, which is driven by the two engines with two separate
sets of spur gearings, to suit the varied speeds the cultivating implements may
require, or allowed to remain idle if necessary while the propelling gear may have
to be in use.
The improved Endless Web Railway is confidently expected to take grip or bite
enough on the surface of the permanent paths a, a, to absorb all the power given
out by the two engines, that will be required for propelling the locomotive bridge
over moderately level ground; but where the land is very hilly or swampy, and
where the web of transverse planks might and is very likely to slip and slide
through watery mud, further when all the power of the engine would be applied
for any class of work requiring traction only,--such for instance, as cutting one or
more deep trenches for pipe tile draining, or open trenches for surface draining,
which is a class of work very necessary and important in an agricultural point of
view in all such cases just mentioned, I recommend the addition of two wire ropes
anchored ahead and attached through winding drums at each end of the platform
bridge as shown in Figs. 30 and 31, hereafter more particularly described.
Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation of the locomotive bridge taken on the
line A-B, Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line C-D, and Fig. 8 is a front
elevation.
It will be seen that the two outside bearing wheels c, c, are both driven simul-
taneously, and always work in unison with each other, no matter in which
direction they are driven, by means of four powerful endless pitch chains ¹, which
gear into, first, the four large pitch chain wheels, m³, fast on the two bearing wheel
axles n¹; the pitch chains 2, then gear with the two double toothed pitch chain
pinions o¹, fast on the slow motion shaft p¹, connected through the countershaft q',
to the engine shaft r all driven by stout spur gearing properly speeded, as seen
and drawn in full in front elevation, and with dotted lines in transverse section.
The centre bearing wheel c and its two small neighbouring wheels 8¹ are kept in
their places by the carriage spring t, the three of them bearing up about a third of
the load to be carried the first to prevent the planks u¹ from buckling up on uneven
surfaces, and loosing their bite and hold on the ground and secondly, distributing
the load on five bearing wheels instead of two; w', are the pilot wheels already
referred to, two at each end and side of the locomotive bridge, with their central
rims b, to form and indent the grooves h¹ h¹ on the permanent paths for the
purpose of giving the steersman an unerring guide to steer by, either by night
or day; they are loosely but firmly attached to the channel iron transverse
frames v, v, are raised and held there and lowered when required through the
double set of jointed levers y'.

page_text: There are several ways and plans that a steering guide line can be marked on the
permanent paths, other than those shown and described, but it is unnecessary to
mention them, judging those shown quite sufficient supposing them to be the lengt
expensive to keep in repair and the most unerring for the purposes sought to be
attained. The pointer already mentioned, in connection with the steering, is
merely a thin piece of wood slightly bowed at one end, very similar to one of the
ribs forming the cradle of a cradling scythe. The outside bearing wheels c, c, at
each end of the locomotive bridge are turned up true on their own axle centres,
and are cast or otherwise made with semicircular indentations 21, to receive and fit
loosely the broad steel or malleable hinges a², which are securely riveted through
the two and a half inch wood planks u', to countersunk steel plates or washers on
the under side, as well as though the hinges themselves as on the upper side,
which are made slightly concave to fit the circle of the bearing wheels as shown in
Fig. 6, the whole of the planks u¹ being so hinged and firmly held together that
they form a continuous web of endless bearing surface, their own weight as they
pass round on the top being sufficient to bring up any slack there may be, and the
excessive strain on the joint of the hinges as in doing their work, is prevented a
good deal, by their close fit and a large friction surface obtained through the two
half diameters of the two outside bearing wheels c, c.
Fig. 9 is a cross section of the two middle and longitudinal girders taken
through the vertical spindle d and the vertical cylindrical shaft h showing the
manner in which the lifting lowering and self adjusting of the rotating tools e
is performed;-n are the brackets cast with journals to receive the ends of the
shaft h in which the latter work and are sustained in their vertical position
bearing on the broad.collars h². The shaft h at its upper end carries the mitre
wheel revolving around the open end of the tee pipe b* kept water-tight_by
means of the tapering brass bush or gland screwed and fastened into the shaft h.
The two hydraulic pipes d, one at each side of the main shaft k inside the box
covering connect with hydraulic cylinder placed alongside the steam engines at
each end of the locomotive bridge. These two cylinders do all the lifting and
lowering connected with the bridge, and all connected with the cultivating
implements. Both the hydraulic cylinders and the pumps are of the common
type usually employed in such work, and it has therefore been thought
unnecessary to show them on the drawings for the sake of clearness; e* is a
tube connecting the under side of the piston f', with the well g' formed at
the upper end of the cylindrical shaft h. The tubular rod d works through
hydraulic packing at 3, forming an abutment for the fluid to press against,
the working piston f raising the tubular rod d with its rotating implement
fast at its lower end working loosely through a collar and stud pin attached
to the centre of the balancing beam, the latter being attached loosely by bolts at
each end to the upright tubes r³, which in their turn carry the two small rollers (*
by means of the forked and cranked ends shown. Guide holes are made in the
brackets n and the lugs m³, through which the tubes, are guided and free to rise
and lower as acted upon by the rollers. It will be seen that the latter sustain
all the weight of the working implements, tubular rods d, and piston h³, besides
the weight of their own attachments. The stud pins n³ on the inside of the collar
of the beam are furnished with loose steel thimbles that work in a groove turned
on the end of the spindle & the latter passed through the head of the cultivating
implement e so as to permit the free flow of the atmosphere into the cylinder
shaft h above the piston h², and although there will not be weight on each of the
rollers, pressing on the land, still there will be quite sufficient to keep them down
to their work and sustain the rotating implement e to its proper depth in the soil,
the several depths being regulated when required by the sets of graded hoes on the
ends of the upright tubes ³ to which the ends of a ballasting beam j³, are attached
loosely. If however, the pressure is to be taken off the surface of the earth
immediately after its pulverization, that particular roller ³, can be lifted up a few
inches out of work and fastened by a pin across and on the top of the bracket n,

page_text: these changes involve a loss of time at each headland to alter the pin from one
side of the bracket n to the other, and it is not desirable if it can at all be dispensed.
with. The small rollers are made double to permit the balancing beam to work
freely and the faces of their tires can be made the width required for their work.
From the foregoing it will be readily seen that as soon as the pressure is put on
the hydraulic cylinders on top of the locomotive bridge passing through the two
tubes d' and e³, to the under side of the piston h² (the pressure being much in
excess of the weight to be lifted) that all the apparatus attached to the lower end
of the tubular spindle d will be lifted up and sustained there as long as necessary,.
and then as soon as the pressure is taken off and the proper quantity pumped,
sucked, or drawn back out of the cylindrical shaft h', the tubular spindle d, will
gradually fall down until sustained by the rollers described.
In describing the above lifting, lowering, and self adjusting apparatus, it should
-be here remarked that the self adjusting rollers 12, are intended more for the
purposes of sowing the seed and adjusting the seed tubes to the proper depth, also
doing now and then, some of the more precise work between the rows of grain,
than to be employed for all and every class of cultivation of the farm, for it is
presumed the surface of the land after being worked by this apparatus for a few
seasons will be sufficiently level and will not require the self adjusting rollers, but
merely the lifting apparatus only, when the depth of cultivation is regulated by
simply fastening the two cross pins through one of the graded holes shown at the
upper ends of the upright tubes, for the proper depth required, the pins resting
on and carried by the cross brackets n, but free to move upward when required to
be lifted. Another mode is shown of raising and lowering the cultivating
implements in Fig. 24 to be hereafter described, but the hydraulic system is to
be preferred as suitable also for raising and lowering all the other work already
mentioned.
Fig. 10 is a side and Fig. 11 an end elevation of the long headland truck
employed in conjunction with the locomotive bridge in carting off all the crops of
the land to the several granaries, barns and other buildings composing the farm
steading. It is a most important and the only link by which the locomotive bridge
is enabled to remove the harvested crop to its proper destination on the farm.
This truck has to carry as heavy a load as the bridge and is composed of three.
steel lattice girders a³, of about half the depth of those [used in the locomotive
bridge, but to make up for that it has a third set of central bearing wheels 6³; all
the three sets of wheels b³, are arranged and carried by the transverse channel iron
girders c³, the axle boxes of which are similar to those of the locomotive bridge.
d³ are two water tanks one at each end to supply the steam engines with water
the coal being brought in bags and shifted from the truck to the locomotive bridge
by means of the small hand trucks already referred to for shifting the bags of
wheat. The tanks when delivering the water are placed alongside those of the
locomotive bridge, and being upwards of a foot higher, once the connection is made
through a short piece of hose four or five inches in diameter, the present supply of
water is soon transferred from one set of tanks to the other; enough at least for
half a days work can be brought at one trip from the farm steading; so also for
the supply of coal or other fuel.
Figs. 12 and 13 are a plan and longitudinal elevation of the locomotive bridge
showing the rims or flanges b at each side of the bearing wheels c the latter being
made in two halves leaving an open space to receive the grooved sheaves p³, which
work loose on the axies of the inside or middle bearing wheels c better seen in
Fig. 21. The wire rope after passing a half round on the sheaves 22 is then
carried up and passed two thirds around the grooved sheaves q³ working in
bearings carried by the frame 8, it is then led down crosses, and is passed a half
round on the sheaves p², and again is then led out in the opposite direction to
which it entered, held up off the ground, and guided by the two double concave
thimbles tas indicated by the arrows. The sheaves q, are made fast to the spur
wheels u³, which are driven by the spur pinions v², in connection with the gearing

page_text: on the engine shalt similar to that shown and described in Figs. 1 and 2. w³, are
two low headland trucks strongly built as shown, and is the plan adopted for
transferring the locomotive bridge on the headlands from one strip of land to
another when the endless railway is used, instead of when the naked bearing wheel
and wire rope are employed alone as here shown;-the locomotive bridge as
already described and shown in end view Fig. 3, is lifted high enough to clear the
rims or flanges 6 off ground by means of the two hydraulic cylinders b¹
transferring all the weight of the locomotive bridge onto the two trucks w³, when
as already mentioned, both trucks and locomotive bridge are hauled ahead on the
headland by means of the small winding drum a, and wire rope anchored ahead.
The main shaft k is driven similarly to that already described, except that in some
cases spur gearing y² is used in conjunction with the mitre gearing j. as found
most convenient. The pitch chains 22, and ³, one set at each end of the locomotive
bridge, better seen in cross section in Fig. 14, are intended to be applied to a
smaller class of locomotive bridges when employed for a lighter class of work, such
as for market and fruit gardening etcetera. The pitch chain 3, it will be seen is
prevented from getting out of gear and kept up to its work by the four small
grooved rollers, with the three pitched chain wheels, fast on the axles of the
bearing wheels c These two views are very similar to, those shown before, except
the parts described.
The mode of operation is as follows.
1st. By the laying out and adapting the arrangement of the permanent paths, a
on a farm, without the necessity of resorting to a very expensive employment of
iron rails, wooden sleepers etcetera, which would cost at least ten times the price of
the best farm in the country.
2nd. By adapting the unerring line mark indented on the said paths a for the
purposes of steering.
3rd. By the design and application of so locating and placing the motive power
and then attaching the cultivating implements to a steel lattice girder bridge, with
the ends overhanging as to obtain a clear and unobstructed deck or flooring
for the several implements and machines to be employed for the purposes for
accomplishing the work of the frame, such as cultivating, seeding, or harvesting
and carting the crop off the land.
4th. By the use and application of an endless web railway as shown and
described for the purposes set forth, also for the use and application when thought
fit, of the arrangements for propelling the locomotive bridge, with wire rope
mounted on winding drums and large cart wheels as well as with grooved wheels,
as shown for the purpose of aiding the locomotion.
Fig. 15 is a front view of the digging machine, which has already been the
subject of letters patent, with so much of the locomotive bridge and main driving
shaft at one end as is necessary to exhibit the manner of driving the digging
cylinder and its connection with the locomotive bridge. Fig. 16 is an end
elevation of the same, both views showing the digging cylinder lowered about,
nine inches in the ground. They are made about 12 feet 6 inches long, one placed
at each end of the locomotive bridge with their working spades, picks or
mattocks, facing in one direction digging two strips of land at one time and
amounting together to 25 feet, when on the return journey the middle strip of
25 feet is dug up by another pair of cylinders having their working tools facing
the opposite direction to those cylinders placed and carried at the end, each pair
working alternately and taking two bouts to complete one strip of land of fifty
feet. When invigorating exhausted heavy clay land by digging to an extra depth,
so as to bring up to the surface the subsoil thoroughly inverted, that the action of
the atmosphere frost and rain, ameliorate it and render it more fertile, it may be
necessary to use only one cylinder at a time as this class of work takes a great
deal of power and will not be required to be repeated on the saine land for a long
time, for it is presumed that summer cultivation between the rows of grain etcetera,

page_text: with a vertical rotating tool, will keep the land in good heart, especially if green'
manuring be resorted to as before mentioned.
x is a shaft with mitres at each end, gearing with the two inclined shafts es,
connected with the main shaft k, the digging cylinder f³ on which the spading
tools are bolted from the inside, is made of boiler plate one fourth inch thick,
thirty inches diameter, the tools y¹ being about twelve inches long by eight or.
nine inches wide disposed on the cylinder in zig-zag fashion, and digging about
two inches outside each end of the cylinder, so as to allow it to lower, when at
work, into a trench or cut formed by the tools v¹. The digging cylinder and the
shaft ¹, are connected together at both ends by the two pitch chains g³, and pitch
chain wheel and pinion h³, completing the connection with main shaft k, the
channel iron frame i³ is carried on the ends of the shaft x which works in bearings
carried by the brackets 3 fast on the locomotive bridge, and acts as a centre for
raising and lowering the channel frame by means of the hydraulic cylinder k³,
acted upon by the hydraulic machines already spoken of next the motive power at
each end of the bridge.
Fig. 24 is another mode of raising and lowering the tubular spindle & by means
of the two horizontal shafts 83, placed one at each side of the spindle & and
extending the whole length and carried by the cross pieces of studding.t³ resting at
each end on the middle girders p. Each spindle d is provided with a loose collar
attached to the double upright racks u³, one each side of the spindle which gear
upon the two double pinions va fast on the ends of the shafts 83, these two shafts
are worked by gearing and clutches (not shown) at each end in connection with
the main shaft k, and are thrown into and out of work by levers attached to the
flooring. Fig. 25 is a sectional view on a larger scale, broken off about the
bracket n, of the rotating tool e, with its spindle d, telescoping into the cylindrical
shaft h and the box covering l, and the seed box o. ww are two feathers fast on
the end of the shaft h, for driving the spindle d, which have grooves to receive the
feather cut the distance required to raise and lower the tools e. Fig. 26 is a cast
iron head shown in plan to which the revolving tools e, are attached, already
referred to.
Fig. 30 is a side view and Fig. 31 is a plan of one end of the locomotive bridge
showing the manner of driving, and the connections made with the portable winding
drums mounted on large cart wheels for the purpose of winding up the two wire
ropes,in hauling and aiding the locomotion of the locomotive bridge when
required as already stated. The winding drum is fast on its axle working in
bearings in the naves or hubs of the large cart wheels y³. The self coiling
apparatus a, is driven through the two pinions 6* in gear with the two large spur
wheels c fast on the drums, the latter, as is shown, being driven by the two spur
pinions d fast on the overhanging ends of the shaft e', which is carried and worked
in bearings carried on the projecting ends of the bearing wheels frame which is
here shown made in wood instead of channel iron as already described. The
driving connections for the winding drums, one set at each end of the locomotive
bridge, are made complete by the short shafts e which carry the requisite mitre
gearing to connect them with the inclined shafts es which are driven by the
main shaft k. The horse shafts 9 are continued beyond the large wheels y and
are attached loosely by the hooked ends to the shafts et, and kept in their places
by the sliding bars h. The wire rope r² is about a mile long, sufficient for a one
horse load, and is anchored ahead on the permanent paths a as shown, being
round piece of hard wood attached at its upper end to the rope and dropped into
the vitrified pipe j, which is about six inches in diameter and about thirty inches
long, let in and sunk a little below the surface of the path, and made to fit the
hole as much as possible by using a post hole angle as it is a permanent fixture.
The two arrangements now shown and described for obtaining positive locomotion
under circumstances and for reasons already stated, by means of winding up the
wire ropes, are both expensive and involve a loss of time in manipulating and are
&

page_text: therefore not desirable, if it be possible to overcome the difficulty by draining the
wet spots and otherwise preparing the paths to accommodate the endless railway
for the purpose of traction.
By reference, to the diagram exhibited in the plan, three strips, of land fifty
feet wide, with their paths a, supposed to be four miles long as shown by the
small circles representing the several places to anchor the rope, the action and
manipulation of the drum will be more clearly understood. It will be seen that
the locomotive bridge in the position at the headland lettered A, is supposed to be
ready to start on its one mile stretch with its two empty winding drums hitched
on, the wire rope having been already laid down on the paths by the two horses k
now standing at rest with their harness on, waiting for the locomotive bridge to
come up to them which will take about an hour. In the mean time and while the
work is being done on the first mile, the second pair of horses with their drums,
have laid down the ropes on the paths for the second mile, brought back the empty
drums standing on one side, to allow, the first pair to pass them ready to hitch on
their drums, by merely drawing back the sliding bars h, raising the front ends of
the horse shafts and hooking on the shafts e, then walking back slowly to the
anchorage at the second mile to repeat the same action as the first pair of horses
did, and as soon as they got hitched into the shafts and got unbitched from the
locomotive bridge; proceeded at once with their loaded drums to lay down the
third mile of rope, and so on with the four miles more or less, each pair of empty
drums allowing the full ones to pass them until they arrive at the other headland,
where the locomotive bridge, after being transferred to a fresh strip of land,
contiguous to the last operated upon, assumes the position lettered B, and the work
and action described are repeated until the whole is complete.
Sheet 10 is supposed to be a diagram of a farm one square mile, the barn is
placed on the edge of the front headland in the centre, and the strips of land
50 wide extending a full half mile at each end of the barn. The tramway passes
through the barn for carting purposes, and the barn ought to be made long or big
enough to protect and accommodate from the weather both the locomotive bridge
and the headland truck, beside having on one side the requisite bin room for the
grain. The flooring of the headland truck being at least six feet high and coming
close alongside of the bins, can easily discharge its load of bags of grain by means
of the small hand truck used for such purposes. The small diagrams on this sheet
"Reaping" and "Threshing and Carrying" have already been described and
referred to, and it only remains for the small diagrams lettered "Harrowing and
Seeding" and "Drill Cultivation" to be described.
The latter diagram will help to explain in what manner the ropes and drums
are worked, when the grooved sheaves q are employed to drive or draw the wire
rope for such purposes of propulsion instead of the plan last described. In this
plan only two men and two horses with three miles of rope are used at the same
time. The winding drum shown attached at one end at the rear of the
locomotive bridge as will be seen, is supposed to be in the act of winding up
the rope as it is given off the sheave q°, travelling toward the headland in rear of
the farm. As soon as it reaches there and moves to the next strip of land
to the return bout, the wire rope that was acting on the right hand is shifted
through the sheaves at the left hand, and the right hand end takes up a fresh mile
of rope previously laid down by the second man and horse, (not shown) ready with
his empty drum to be hitched on and follow the locomotive bridge to the headland;
the full drum with man and horse, travel down on the rear headland to the outside
path of the strip next to be operated upon and lay down his mile of rope, and is
ready to meet and be hitched on behind the locomotive bridge at its next bout,
and so on until the work is finished.
In the diagram lettered " Harrowing and Seeding " all I wish to illustrate is the
feasibility of working by night as well as by day for all the purposes set forth and
claimed for this invention. m, is intended to show the electric light suspended
at the top of the pole carrying the electric wire n', from both ends of the locomotive

page_text: bridge, as swung to the front or rear as required, or two lights may be swung in
the same manner one from each end, or four smaller ones, one at each corner may
be used, the dynamo-machine being worked from one of the engines.
Fig. 32 is an elevation on a larger scale of one of the reciprocating harrows f
shown six inches in the ground with its attachments to the tubular spindle d by
means of the crank discs f, also part of one end of the neighboring harrows, with
its crank facing in the opposite direction working with just room enough to clear
each other at the ends, all the twelve harrows are similarly attached to the vertical
spindles, thoroughly harrowing the span of land between the bearing wheels and
the endless railway.
Fig. 33 is a plan of the same. Fig. 34 is an end elevation of the harrow and
of one of the brackets n, and so much of its attachments to the middle girder p, as
will give a clear view of one of the flexible seed tubes o*, conveying the seed down
from the seed box o, on top of the box covering to the semicircular tube p*,
showing one end two inches in the ground depositing the seed, the small scraper q*
fast on the latter drawing the harrowed soil and covering the drill formed by the
end of the seed tube pt.
When the locomotive bridge arrives at the headland the end of the tube p' is
raised out of the ground and held there by the cross pin 4, when also the seed box
is thrown out of gear and the grain ceases for the time being to fall down the
flexible tube o*, as soon as the return bout is taken, the opposite end of tube p* is
depressed and held to its work by reversing the position of the cross pins 7 to
what they were before for the last bout. I dispense with the semicircular tube p⭑
when using the self adjusting apparatus already described and shown in Fig. 9 and
leugthen the flexible tube o, and connect it to a short bit of tube with a similar
scraper 9, which is alternately fastened to the ends of the balancing beams ³, to
accomplish the same result of sowing the grain.
Fig. 21 is an end view of the reaping or mowing apparatus referred to under
the head of "Harvesting" and consists of a framework 8, of angle steel, made the
full length of the section or span of growing grain to be operated upon between the
endless railway near each end of the bridge. It is furnished in suitable lengths
with a proper number of ordinary reaping and mowing knives with guard points,
et cetera. The frame 8 is supported loosely at its upper side by hinges attached
to the several transverse girder q and the lower side is held up and suspended to
near the ground, by the inclined bars t. Each side of the locomotive bridge is
similarly furnished with frame work 8, and also all the apparatus required to 'reap
and mow as set forth under the head of "Harvesting." The rear side framework s¹
seen broken off is raised high enough up to escape disturbing the reaped crop of
grain after it has passed under the bridge, and formed into a continuous swath a',
as shown in sheet 10. and for the purposes set forth as plan number 2, under the
head of "Harvesting;" u are inclined shafts working at their upper ends in
bearings which are supported at each end on pivots, loose in bearings fast on the
bridge, in order to permit the shafts u to be raised upon the return bout and
throw themselves out of gear with the transverse shafts v*.
The lower ends of the several shafts u are connected and drive the several
mowing or reaping bars separately, so as to avoid any undue strain or friction on
the knives or bars. The transverse shafts are carried in bearings fixed to the
bridge, and are connected to the main shafts k by means of the vertical shafts w*,
and the required mitre gearing to complete the connection for actuating the reaping
bars and knives; a³, are a series of holes in the bars for the purpose of sustaining
the frame 8 and the apparatus it carries, when raised up or lowered down by means
of movable bolts passed through eyes fast on the bridge at 65. The bars t not only
sustain the weight of the frames 8, but also act as guide wings in forming the
channels to conduct the falling reaped grain into a continuous swath x being
narrowed and closed in at their tops with their butt ends broader and resting on
the ground, the ears or heads of grain resting and all laid on top of the straw
shingled off as it were and in the best possible position for drying and being

page_text: protected from dirt etcetera, The heads or tops of the straw or crop inclined
toward and against the forward motion of the bridge and against the feeding ends.
of the several threshing machines, are also in the very best position to be lifted up
and on the ends of the several slatted aprons c³, led and carried to the threshing
machines, as seen in the diagram lettered " "Threshing."
"
Fig. 24 is a sectional end elevation of a locomotive bridge showing the machinery
and apparatus employed in carrying out plan 3 under the head of "Harvesting;
8 is the angle steel frame and t, are inclined bars described in Fig. 21; 3 are the
threshing machines, two, three or more, as found necessary, set in a line at the
front end of the flooring m, the required distances apart as seen in diagram
lettered "Threshing;" they are fastened to their seats by spring latches (not
shown) and pivoted on upright stud pins near their centres; in order that when
the section or span of crop has been reaped and threshed and the bridge has
arrived at the headlands the threshing machines, 73, may be lifted off their seats
one after another, the attendants turning them round end for end, and facing the
opposite direction, to begin afresh and repeat the same work of threshing required
for the next section; e is a round belt pulley fast on the main shaft k, driving the
duplicate small pulleys fo, fast on the shaft of the threshing drum gs, one at each
end, h³, is a round belt connecting e³, and f³,-³, are the slatted revolving aprons
mounted on rollers one at each end top and bottom, as shown; and made to travel
or revolve round the rollers in the direction and up to the several threshing
machines, carrying the grain to be threshed in one continuous swath c³,
with the top of ears of the grain pointing to the mouth or feed opening next the
threshing drums g³, When threshing there is no necessity to raise up the back
frame 8 as the straw is driven out and over the latter frame. The slatted
aprons e with the repeating apparatus are both driven by the incline shafts ut in
a similar manner to that shown and described for Fig. 21.
In Fig. 24 is also shown the two angle steel longitudinal stays d³, d³, which are
bolted first to the channel irons frame v, carrying the bearing wheels and endless
railway near each end of the locomotive bridge, and secondly bolting to the several
transverse brackets n under the bridge, and for the full length of the section of the
span as shown in elevation in Figs. 1, 13, and 32, and shown in cross views in
Figs. 9, 24, 25, and 34.
>
The longitudinal stays maintain the lateral rigidity of the transverse brackets n,
and they also help to maintain the vertical positions of the several spindles d,-
they are employed for all the purposes of heavy and light work of cultivation,
except when the crops are too high for the drill husbandry system of cultivation,
then they are removed and bolted a little higher up on the brackets n to escape
damaging the tops of the grain or other plant, and permit the crops to have the
full benefit of the height of the longitudinal girders of the locomotive bridge,-
but for all the purposes of harvesting such as mowing, reaping threshing and
carrying the crops to the headlands, the machinery employed in working and
seeding the land is then entirely removed, such as the stays brackets, spindles
and implements, as well as the main shaft k, and mitre wheels i and j and a
duplicate shaft k substituted with the requisite pulleys and gearing to do the
harvesting work, permitting the locomotive bridge to have a clear space under it
to pass over the several crops to be operated upon without injuring them.
Fig. 35 is a diagram showing the manner of turning the locomotive bridge
round to assume a position on the sidelands at right angles to the headland, for the
object of cultivating transversely, and for the purposes already mentioned and
described in a previous part of this Specification under the seventh head; j³ is a
small turntable placed on one of the paths a; and k, is the locomotive bridge one
end of which is on the turntable, scotched and thrown out of gear at the headland,
previous to its being driven round by the endless railway at the opposite end to
that resting on the turntable; is the locomotive bridge after being driven round
to take up the position shown on the sideland, dotted in and with the arrows
indicating the line of motion prepared to do all the different class of work already

page_text: fully described.
It will be readily observed that by means of these small
turntables, one at each headland, for the purpose of turning the locomotive bridge
around, to any point of a circle at the completion of the section of span of land,
can be easily accomplished wherever the necessary space or room can be had outside
of the headland or boundary of the farm thereby dispensing with the two headland
tramways when necessary so to do, or the bridge can be turned round as
mentioned, with the boundary line of the farm if required provided an unoccupied
space can be had, at each end of the farm, in order to avoid the driven end of the
locomotive bridge travelling over its own work.
Fig. 36 is a diagram showing a traction engine supposed to be supplied with the
endless belt track or railway one set at each side ploughing or cultivating a breadth
of land 14 feet wide, from outside to outside; m³ is the turntable, showing the
rectangular frame p³ to carry the ploughs or other implements mounted on the
turntable mo, exactly in line with the central pivot of the table, while the outside
line of the endless railway is removed exactly one foot distant from the central
pivot of the turntable m³. It will be readily seen that as soon as that side of the
traction engine no, which is mounted on the turntable m³, is thrown out of gear
and the opposite end driven round a half circle until it assumes the position shown
at o' and a neighbouring, strip of land shown dotted in, ready to begin afresh, the
same work performed on the last strip, that both the plough frame p³, and endless
railway are in their exact positions to take up and execute the work for the return
bout or strip of land, the frame p', carrying the implements to cultivate one foot
wider at each than the outside of the endless railway, more minutely explained in
the second paragraph under the seventh head.
Having thus particularly described the nature of the invention as communicated
to me I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire to
protect by Letters Patent is,
1. The herein-described method or system of farm cultivation which consists in
dividing the land into sections of uniform width with compacted dirt roads on both
sides of each section, and carrying over such section a bridge or frame supported
near its ends by road locomotives travelling upon said roads, the frame or bridge
being provided with implements to act upon the soil or crop over the entire width
of the span or section.
- 2.—The system or method of farm cultivation, which consists in suspending the
implements from a frame or bridge-like structure extending entirely across the
section to be cultivated, and carried at its ends outside of said section, upon road
locomotives, causing said structure to travel from end to end of the section, and
then transferring it laterally to the adjoining section, and repeating the operation.
3. A locomotive bridge for carrying cultivating or farming implements,
consisting of an elevated horizontal frame or structure supported at opposite ends
by road engines substantially as shown, and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a locomotive bridge or structure for carrying or suspending farm
machinery for use in the field, an elevated horizontal trussed platform carried near
its ends upon traction wheels, and projecting beyond the latter at each end, and an
engine mounted upon the projecting portion at each end substantially as shown,
whereby it is adapted to counterbalance the central portion of the structure.
5. In combination with an elevated frame or platform carried at its ends by
traction wheels, and driven by engines mounted upon said platform, a horizontal
shaft extending from one side or end of the platform to the other, and provided at
short intervals with wheels or gearing, whereby it is adapted to impart motion to
independent implements or. machinery at different points on the platform as shown
and described.
6. In a locomotive bridge substantially such as described for use in farm
cultivation, the combination of a platform, traction wheels at opposite ends thereof
supporting the same, engines mounted upon said platform, and friction clutches
connecting the separate engines, each with traction wheels at the end of the
platform on which the particular engine is mounted, and connected by rods with

page_text: hand levers at each end of the platform, so that one may retard either set of
bearing wheels by momentarily holding the clutch at that end out of action as
shown and described.
7. In combination with a platform bridge k³ traction wheels cc engines t, and
boilers u steam-pipe i connecting the steam chamber of the two boilers, whereby
both engines are caused to act with like power substantially as shown and
described.
8. In combination with a locomotive bridge arranged to do farm work,
travelling on compact dirt road-ways substantially as. shown and described, the
small pilot wheel w¹, two on each side of said bridge, having projected flanges or
rims to travel and form indented channels upon and in the said compact dirt
roadways, for the purpose of indicating to the steersman the proper line of
movement, substantially as shown and described.
9. The combination with the locomotive bridge herein described of a reel
having hooks, h, and bolts whereby it may be readily attached or detached from
the bridge for the purpose explained.
.
10. A locomotive bridge for farm cultivation provided with main carrying
wheels, and supplemental carrying wheels permanently set at right angles to the
first, and means substantially such as described and shown; whereby the weight
of the bridge may be thrown entirely upon the transverse wheels, and the main
wheels raised from the ground to permit the lateral movement of the bridge from
one section to the other, as shown and described.
11. In a locomotive bridge or frame substantially such as shown and described,
the combination of the main carrying wheels and secondary wheels, pressure
cylinders, adapted to guide the spindles of the secondary wheels and to receive the
fluid by the said bridge is raised upon said spindles as shown and described.
12. In combination with a locomotive bridge substantially such as described,
adjustable frameworks gone attached to each side of the locomotive bridge, and
each provided with independent shafts u* adapted to be raised and lowered as
explained and for the purpose set forth.
13. In combination with a locomotive bridge substantially such as shown and
described, a series of self-adjusting vertical spindles armed with tools or implements
at their lower ends, to operate in or upon the soil or crops over which the bridge
passes.
Dated this 98th day of January 1884