IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TILLING AND WORKING LAND
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
PHILLIPE CELESTIN BARRAT, of Paris, in the Kingdom of France, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fifth day of
November, One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, in the eleventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
ne, the said Pierre Phillipe Celestin Barrat, my exors, admors, and assigns,
Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Pierre Phillipe Cèléstin Barrat, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Pierre Phillipe Celestin Barrat, my exors; admors, or assigns;
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times, during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick upon Tweed, and in' the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark,
and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad,
my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TILLING AND WORKING
LAND; "in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said

page_text: Pierre Phillipe Celestin Barrat, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Pierre Phillipe Celestin Barrat, do hereby declare that the nature of
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
my said
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Improvements in Machinery for Tilling and Working Land consists of
arranging a number of instruments and causing them to act on the earth in
the same manner as is now performed by hand labor, and it may be described
under two parts; consisting, first, of a framing having applied thereto two rows
of moveable mattocks or instruments; and, second, of the apparatus for giving
motion to the machinery. By a careful examination of the Drawings here-
unto annexed, the nature of the different parts will at once be understood
by the aid of the following description:-In the Drawing No. 1, Figure. 1
represents a latèrnal elevation of the machine ready to be put into work;
Figures 2 and 3 shew parts of the machinery connected with the mattocks or
cutting instruments; Figure 4, in the Drawing No. 2, shews a longitudinal
section, taken through the centre of the apparatus; Figure 5, in the Drawing
No. 3, shews a plan; Figure 6, of the Drawing No. 4, shews a transverse
section; Figure 7 is an end view of the side of the apparatus; Figure 8 is a
section through the axis of the chain pinions; and Figure 9 shews in detail a
front view of the mode of suspending the small wheels in front. By examining
these different Drawings, it will be seen that the principal character of the 8
Invention consists in a mode of combining of machinery for giving motion to.
the mattocks or cutting instruments A in a manner as much as possible to
imitate hand labor. These instruments are ranged in two rows, and are
formed of like triangular teeth, made of iron, the ends being steeled, and they
have given to them a curvature, depending upon the length of the handles 8
that are fixed in the metal sockets B, which are cast with the arms C, and are
adjusted freely upon the large shaft D, in order that all the mattocks may be
independent the one of the other, an arrangement which will be found.very

page_text: important in preventing accidents and overcoming difficulties without the
necessity of stopping the work. The shaft D (as will be hereafter explained,
has a rectilinear alternative circular movement), and carries at its ends two
moveable branches E, which are connected together by means of the cross
piece F, to which they are bolted. This piece, when pressing upon the arms
C of each socket, serves to raise the mattocks or instruments after they have
acted upon the earth, and to bring them into a position to act upon a fresh
surface of earth as the carriage advances.
.
In order to produce this effect, it will be seen that the branches E have
attached to them projecting arms a and a', which are solid, but of different
curves and lengths; the lower of these arms a are bolted to the branches, and
are intended, when the teeth are engaged in the earth, to raise them slightly,
so that they may move back or from left to right, with the shaft D; in order
to do that, there are (at the two lateral sides of the framing adapted small
wheels b, upon the circumference of which the lower arms a press during a
part of the back movement; these wheels are fixed and kept in supports c,
attached to the framing, and this pressure necessarily forces the arms to raise
them, and as they are connected to the branches E and the cross piece F, the
arms of the socket will be lowered, and consequently the mattocks or instru-
ments raised in a similar proportion, and whilst this double movement of the
teeth is taking place, the earth disturbed will. in falling have the same effect
produced upon it as if it were done by hand in the ordinary manner..
The movement of the shaft D and instruments continuing to the right, the
lower arms soon become relieved from the rollers 6, because the other or upper
arms a', meeting in their turn two other rollers 6', which are placed above the
first, are not, as those, in a constant immoveable position. These arms at first
touch upon the upper face, as shewn in the Figures 1 and 2, and consequently
tend to raise them a small quantity, because they are adapted to moveable
square pieces d, the axis of which is at the top of the seat e, and the angle of
which is flattened and comes to rest upon each side of the side pieces of the
frames; when the shaft D and the different pieces connected with it have
arrived at the end of the course (to the right), the rollers b¹ are released of
the arms a, a', leaving a free passage to the arms a', which in consequence
fall again, so that when the system commences again and moves forward,
that is, from right to left, these arms are not in contact with the rollers at their
upper part, but, on the contrary, with their lower ones, and as these square
pieces d press upon the long side pieces of the framing they become fixed,
and the rollers are immoveable; the arms are to raise and turn round the

page_text: shaft: D It results from. this, that the cross pieces which connect the two
branches. E, pressing upon the arms C of the sockets, oblige the mattocks or
tooth instruments to continue their upward movement: Also; that when the
mechanism has arrived at the point shewn in Figure 1, that the instruments
assume nearly a vertical position and ready to fall. It will be seen that the
rollers.6 can never be raised beyond a certain limit, because they are prevented,
in the first place, by. the same square pieces, which serve as supports, and
which have at their ends a stay f, and also by springs g; which force them back
to their original position. In order that the action of the teeth when entering
the earth may be more powerful, than is due to their weight; the energy of
them is. increased by means of a spring H. This spring may be formed
according to the ordinary plan of coach. springs, of metal banded together, or
may be applied in any other manner most convenient. A cross piece I with
rollers h presses against the ends of the spring; and to it at each end is con
nected.the..iron. rods J.; the other.ends of which project, as shewn in the
Drawing, in the form. of a fork, in order to embrace the transversal rod i To
this rod is connected the bent levers j, which are connected to branches :/ from
the shaft D, and which cover the piece of wood :L, which presses: upon the
handles of all the mattocks .or.instruments near the isockets; consequently,
on the movement of the shaft D, the rod: being forced to follow, obliges the
rods to press the spring from right to left in such manner, that when the
machine is in the position Figure 1, the spring is completely forced out... And
it. will be seen that at this moment the upper arms a' abandon' the rollers, and
the mattocks or instruments, which are ready to fall into the ground, have
imparted to them the power of the spring, which is communicated to them by
the piece of wood L pressing upon them. It will thus be readily understood
that these instruments, although slightly constructed, are capable of producing
great effect; the foremost of the teeth (the handles of which are longer) enter
the earth to the depth of from 7 to 12 inches, according to the nature of the
land, and the second teeth, which work in the place of the previous ones, enter
deeper, as shewn in the Drawing No. 2. These bring the earth behind them
in returning, in proportion as they are released and moved backwards. The
shaft D is kept constantly guided in its rectilinear alternate direction following
a horizontal line; the bearings l, which receive the ends of this shaft, are placed
underneath the side pieces of the framings: To the back front of these
bearings are adapted ear pieces, so as to join by pin joints two cranks K, by
which the alternative movement before spoken of is transmitted to them,
and consequently to the shaft D; and a movement which they themselves

page_text: receive from the steam power used to drive the machinery by means of the
levers M.
In giving a description of the machinery for giving motion to the apparatus,>
I would remark that the means of giving motion to the teeth may be varied,
as also the means of advancing the apparatus at each action of the instru-
ments upon the ground, and also the mode of changing the speed of the
carriage, with the mode of reversing the carriage. And in order to regulate:
the position of the framing which carries the instruments, the side pieces C
project towards the middle of the mover carriage, being jointed at m,.
Figure 1, and having at their ends nuts n, through which pass screws n',
which move on each side of the boilers; and while. the driver of the engine:
can. manage as he thinks proper by means of the crank o, and by means.
of bevelled wheels, as shewn in the Drawing. The to and fro movement,
which is communicated to the shaft of instruments by the levers M, is,
communicated to the levers by the link N, which. the apparatus it adapted.
to excentric spindle of the tooth wheel o, mounted at each end of the crank:
shaft P. Motion is given to this shaft direct from the piston rod, working in
the cylinders Q, fixed upon the outside frames R, which serve as framings for:
the different parts of the carriages. These cylinders are supplied with steam:
from a tubular boiler, and may be arranged with or without expansion; and
either in front or behind. The expansion is regulated by hand by the aid of i
a simple lever P, which changes the place of the slide in relation to the.
admission valve. This movement takes. place by the same oscillation of the!
cylinder, as the rod is terminated by a roller adjusted 'in bearing ġ, which:
varies the position with the handle r and the stop r¹. It is by the simple:
changing of the place of the latter and the bearings that the direction either
forward or backward of the apparatus is regulated. The action of the instru-
ments may at once be stopped by releasing the cranks N of the buttons, which:
connect them to the lever M by means of the large handle T, which may be.
fully understood by examining the Drawing. The rotary movement is regulated?
by the two flyers u, the axis of which communicates the motion by the wheels
o', which take into the wheels o. These fly wheels may be used as pulleys to
give motion to the other parts of the apparatus in cases where the moving.
power is used as a fixed machine, which may be done by releasing. the:
mechanism connected with the teeth or mattocks and the moving wheels V,
which wheels are sufficiently large to run in the ground; and are so arranged:.
as to receive sometimes a slow' 'movement, which should take place when the:
mattocks are in operation, and sometimes a quicker:motion when it is required

page_text: to move the apparatus from one place to another, at which time the instru-
ments would not be at work, the one being capable of being used independent
of the other..
In order to carry out these different points, I adopt the following arrange-
ment: Instead of communicating the movement direct from the engine, I
have applied to each of the wheels upon the shaft or axis the chain wheel X,
which work with other wheels X', mounted on axes u, parallel to the other,
the tension rollers X² suspended from the levers, the ends of which are under
the controul of the engine driver, allowing him to stretch these chains to the
degree required. The small wheels X' are adjusted to move freely upon their
axis. They may be fixed by means of handles 8, either simultaneously or
separately, by means of the forked pieces s¹, worked by the driver by the aid
of the two handles t, which are tied together by means of levers. It will be
easily understood that these wheels may be acted upon at once by the two
handles and their respective wheels; those which turn the large wheels X,
which in their rotation turn the large wheel V, of only one of them is acted
upon, then the operation only takes place on one side, and if both are acted
upon the wheels V remain stationary, and the carriage does not advance.
On the axis u are two toothed wheels y and y', by which may be given two
different speeds; the larger, wheel. takes into a, small_pinion,z, and the other
into a pinion z', nearly of the same diameter; these two pinions are also
adjusted freely on the intermediate shaft V, parallel to the preceding one, and
become successively fixed with this shaft, according to their being acted upon
by the handles a, placed between them, which is done by means of two
parallel forked pieces fixed between them, as shewn in the Drawing, Figure 6,
and another handle t' under the direction of the driver. It is evident that
when this handle is turned in one direction it will cause one of the parts a
to take into the small pinion and at the same time release the other; it will
thus cause the wheels to move at a slow speed, which takes place when the
teeth or mattocks are in operation; and, on the contrary, if the handle is turned
in the other direction, the other will be put into communication with the large
pinion, which will give a greater speed, which will take place when it is
required to move the apparatus from one place to another, at which time the
instruments are raised up. On the intermediate shaft there are two other
wheels W, W¹, which are either free, or fixed by means of similar instruments
x, which alternately take into the pinion A', mounted upon the crank shaft P,
and the large pinion A² on the opposite side of the same shaft. These wheels
are so combined, that for the slow speed, the pinion A¹ works with the wheel w,.

page_text: when the pinion is geared and turns the wheel y, and for the greater speed
the pinion A. is geared with the wheel, which renders it fixed upon its axis..
Thus, the movement of these wheels is regulated by means of the arrangement of
wheel-work in such manner that the main shaft P, the shaft of the fly wheel,
and the pistons continue their original speed. The wheel V' of the first train
is smaller than the moveable wheel V, and are arranged to turn from right to
left by means of an horizontal wheel B¹, with which this takes into either
direct or by means of a pinion c, the vertical axis of which rises above the
boiler, and which carries a bevilled wheel D', into which works the pinion E,
which is under the direction of the driver by means of the handle F. As the
wheels are liable to vary in their position from the irregularities on the surface
of the earth, I have arranged the springs in the form of a parallelogram, as
shewn at G, Drawing 4, at Figure 9, which is in communication with the
suspension springs H'; thus, whilst the wheels may be passing over unequal
surfaces the carriage and the machinery will be kept on the same plane. The
boiler employed by me possesses a peculiarity which it is right to mention.
The tubes are at all times filled with water, which differs from the ordinary
method with the locomotive tubes; but the steam chest is formed of two large
tubes I', which are joined, and which lead into the chamber J', so that what-
ever might be the inclination of the boiler in going over irregular surfaces
there will be no fear that the steam will arrive in the cylinder charged with
water. The introduction of the steam may be made by such a valve as shewn
at K', represented in the section, Figure 4, and which is also under the direc-
tion of the driver. The apparatus is supplied with two pumps L', which are
worked by the eccentrics placed upon the main shaft P, and upon the sides
and front of the apparatus are placed reservoirs of water M¹; there are also
safety valves.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would remark that I do not confine myself to the pre-
cise details herein given, so long as the character of the Invention be retained;
but the points which I desire to claim are,―
First, the arrangement of one or two rows of teeth, to. which on the one
hand a rotary alternative movement is given, and on the other hand, a to and
fro movement, in such manner as to imitate as much as possible the work of
the hand with a mattock, whereby the earth is returned to the ground after it
is raised.
Secondly, the mode of giving increased power to the instruments as they

page_text: Thirdly, the means herein described for regulating the height of the frame
of teeth or mattocks.
Fourthly, the means of regulating the speed of the carriage in proportion
as the work is carried.
Fifthly, the means of increasing the speed of the carriage when it is désired.
to remove it from one place to another.
Sixthly, the combination of wheel-work for changing the speeds of the
work and for stopping either one or both of the moving wheels.
..Seventhly, the arrangement of the parts of machinery so as to secure at
all times the equilibrium of the apparatus notwithstanding the irregularities' of
the ground, and also to the means of changing the direction of the carriage
when required.
And, lastly, I claim the inode of arranging the boilers so that the water will
not be drawn with the steam into the cylinder..
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Phillippe Célestin Barrat, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.
PIERRE PHILIPPE CELESTIN (L.s.) BARRAT.
Taken and acknowledged by Pierre Phillippe Célestin
Barrat (party hereto), at Paris, in the Republic of
France, this '11th day of May 1848, before me,
20

page_text: Barratt, before the said Thomas Pickford, on the said Eleventh day of May,
at Paris aforesaid, is of the proper handwriting of the said Thomas Pickford.