AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LAND AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Parker, of Sledmere Castle, in the East Riding
of the County of York, Farmer and Land Agent, for the Invention of "AN
Tannawan Anninimu
T
AanzoxEMED AT
Sealed the 22nd March 1859, and dated the 13th October 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Parker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th October 1858.
I, HENRY PARKER, of Sledmere Castle, in the East Riding of the County
of York, Farmer and Land Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LAND AND OTHER
AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS," to be as follows:-
That my Invention consists of a steam engine fixed over and borne by the
axles of two sets of cylindrical rollers, which rollers are of the width of the
engine, and act as wheels to carry the engine, and are composed of any
number of rims or short lengths revolving separately on circular axles, the
fore set of rollers being secured to a frame capable of being turned in any
direction for the guidance of the machine, and the after set of rollers placed
in the after part of the machine for the propulsion of the cultivator.
In the circumference of each cylinder or short roller any number of tines,
forks, or spades may be inserted, of any required length or form. The driving
gear to be applied to or near the circumference of the outer cylinders of the
after rollers, and to the middle cylinders of the fore rollers, all of which
cylinders can be driven in connection, separately, or disconnected at pleasure.

page_text: This machine or cultivator can be used, first, as a smooth roller; second, as a
ribbed roller, land presser, or clod crusher; third, as a digging machine only;
fourth, as a digging and pulverizing machine, and by attaching a drill and
harrowing apparatus, can be made to complete the operations of digging and
pulverizing the land, and sowing and covering up the corn or seed at the same
time; fifth, as a traction engine on common roads or over the land, and may
be employed with a reaping machine, or to drag ploughs or other implements;
sixth, as an ordinary steam engine to drive a thrashing or grinding machine,
-saw mill, or for any other purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Parker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th April 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
PARKER, of Sledmere Castle, in the East Riding of the County of York,
Farmer and Land Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Parker, Her special licence that I, the said Henry
Parker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henry Parker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IM-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LAND AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL
OPERATIONS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Parker, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Parker, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to an improved construction, arrangement, and
combination of apparatus and machinery driven by steam power for the culti-
vation of land by forking, digging, and mixing the soil.
The peculiarity of the improved apparatus consists in the employment of a
portable steam engine supported or carried by two cylinders or sets of rollers,
composed by preference of any number of short rollers revolving separately on
circular axes. The one set of rollers is placed at or near to the front part of
the machine for the purpose of guiding or steering, and the other set of rollers,
which I herein-after term "cultivators," is placed towards or near the after
part of the machine behind the centre of gravity, and performs the several
functions of supporting the greater part of the weight of the apparatus, pro-
pelling it forward, and of simultaneously forking, breaking, and pulverizing
the soil as it passes over the surface of the land to be operated upon. Either
or both sets of rollers may be composed of any number of rims or short lengths
of any required width, or with any suitable distance between each rim, and.
may be furnished at the periphery with a series of tines, forks, or spades, or
other suitable cultivating instruments.
In order to render the machine locomotive or self-moving during tlie
process of cultivation; or when travelling from one locality to another, a
rotatory motion is imparted to the outer rim or roller at each end of the after
or cultivating cylinder or set of rollers, by means of suitable intermediate
gearing driven from the crank shaft of the engine, and connected in such a
manner that one or both of such outer rims or rollers can be put in or out of
gear with the engine, or reversed or driven backward or forward at pleasure..
It will thus be obvious that as the two outer rims or rollers are turned or
rotated by the power of the engine, the inner or remaining portion of the
series of rims composing the cultivating cylinder will revolve and progress
simultaneously, and the tines or teeth fixed on the periphery will lift up, break,
and pulverize the soil as they pass through in revolving, whilst at the same
time the greater part of the weight is borne by the cultivating cylinder, and
the whole machine propelled forward at a rate corresponding to the rotatory
speed of the digging instruments secured to the circumference of the cylinder
or rollers.
And in order that the precise nature of my said Invention may be more
clearly understood, I shall now proceed to describe and refer to the several
Figures in the accompanying explanatory Sheets of Drawings.

page_text: Figure I on Sheet 1 of my Drawings is an end view of one arrangement of
my improved apparatus or steam cultivator, one half of which is represented
in elevation looking upon the front or steerage end of the machine, whilst the
other half is shewn in vertical transverse section through the centre of the
cultivating rollers or cylinders, and looking in the opposite direction, or from
the rear end of the machine; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine,
with certain parts shewn in section, for the purpose of more clearly indicating
their construction; Figure 3 is a half sectional plan of the machine correspond-
ing to Figure 2, with the barrel of the boiler removed for the purpose of more
clearly shewing the position and arrangement of the steam engine; and
Figures 4, 5, and 6 are enlarged details, shewing various modes of securing
or fitting the tines or other cultivating instruments into the peripheries of the
cultivating cylinder or rollers.
A is the main framing of the machine, carrying the horizontal, tubular, or
other suitable form of boiler B, and supported upon the two sets of rollers C
and D placed respectively at or near the rear and front ends of the machine.
The hind set of rollers revolve loosely upon the circular hollow axle E, which
is screwed or otherwise secured at each end to the inner sides of the boxes
F, F, so as to extend across the entire width of the machine. Each of these
rollers is furnished at its periphery with a series of tines, forks or spades, or
other suitable cultivating instruments G, G. Any convenient mode of
attachment may be adopted, but I prefer to secure the cultivating instruments
to the rollers from the outside, as shewn in the details at Figures 4, 5,
and 6.
In the arrangement shewn at Figure 4, T-shaped holes are made in the
peripheries of the rollers, and a head g is formed on the inner end of the tine,
which is introduced at the widest part of the hole, so as to project inside the
rim of the roller, and is then pushed forward into the narrow portion, and
there retained by a wedge or key h driven in from the outside.
In Figure 5 the hole in the rim of the roller is made sufficiently long to
receive the inner end of the tine, which is formed with a notch i on one side,
and this notched side is pushed forward so as to cause the notch to fit over
the upper and under surface of the rim, in which position it is held by a wedge
or key driven in from the outside, as before described.
In Figure 6 a similar arrangement to the last described one is shewn, but
applied to tines constructed in couples. The outer rim or roller C', at each
end of the axle E, is rotated slowly by means of suitable intermediate gearing
driven from the crank shaft H of the engine.
The mode of driving which I prefer to adopt, but which forms no part of

page_text: my present Invention, and may be modified or varied without interfering with
the principles or main features thereof, consists in fitting to or forming upon
the inner periphery of the two outer cultivating rollers an internal toothed
segment wheel I, to each of which motion is imparted by a spur pinion K fast
on the inner end of the short shaft L, one of which only I have shewn in my
Drawings, as both sides of the machine are alike. This shaft rotates in
bearings M in the sides of the boxes F, F, herein-before referred to, and has
keyed on to it a large spur wheel N working within the box, and driven
directly from the crank shaft by a spur wheel O. This latter wheel runs
loose upon the shaft, but is coupled therewith when required by the friction
clutch P, which slides along a key way in the end of the crank shaft, as
shewn in the Drawing, the friction strap being provided with projections which
fit inside the spur wheel, and carry it round so soon as the friction overcomes
the resistance. By this simple and well-known contrivance all danger of
breakages from sudden shocks at starting or increased strains in working is
obviated. A lever handle, which I have not considered necessary to show in
my Drawing, may be placed convenient to the hand of the attendant for
throwing the clutch in or out of gear, and thereby starting and stopping the
cultivating and propelling mechanism, without the necessity of stopping the
engine in all cases. Any convenient arrangement or construction of engine
and valve gear may be employed, that which I have illustrated being merely
given as an example. The steering roller D at the fore part of the machine
rotates freely upon the axle Q, which is jointed at its centre to the lower end
of the vertical steering bar R. This bar is supported near its upper and lower
ends in long bosses or collar bearings S, S', bolted or otherwise secured to the
front or fire box of the boiler, the lower one extending through the foot plate
T, and connected by a steadying bracket U to the under side thereof, as shewn
in Figure 2. This bar is free to slide in its bearings, and has a key way made
in it at its upper end, along which the worm wheel is free to slide, whilst it
at the same time imparts the requisite steering or rotatory motion to the bar,
as I shall henceforth explain.
The weight of the front end of the machine is borne by the helical spring
W, which surrounds the steering bar, and bears at its upper end against a
loose washer on the under side of the upper collar bearing S, and at its lower
end rests upon the ratchet nut X, which works on the screw thread of the bar
for the purpose of raising or lowering the front of the boiler and framing, and
so maintaining the machine level when traversing over steep gradients, or of
adjusting the height of the steering rollers according to the greater or less
penetration of the cultivating tines or teeth. The steering is effected by means

page_text: of a hand steerage wheel Y fitted on to each end of a shaft Z, passing trans-
versely over the top of the boiler, and working in bearings in the brackets a, a,
bolted to the boiler sides. An endless screw b, on the centre of the shaft Z
gears into and gives motion to the worm wheel V, above referred to, thereby
actuating the steering bar, and guiding the machine in any direction desired.
For the facility of dragging harrows or other implements behind the machine,
I I propose to attach to the lower portion of each of the boxes F a short length
of strong angle iron c, Figure 2, having a number of holes made therein, so
that the line of draught may be raised or lowered as circumstances require;
d, Figure 1, Sheet 1, and Figure 3, Sheet 2, represents an additional broad
rim or felloe intended to be secured in any convenient manner on to the
periphery of each of the outer rollers C¹ of the cultivator when travelling from
place to place, the tines or cultivating instruments being removed, or if the
additional felloe is made sufficiently deep to raise the points of the tines clear
from off the ground, then the tines may be removed only from the outer
rollers, and allowed to remain in the intermediate ones. The construction of
these felloes, and the mode of applying them, will be more fully described on
reference to Sheet 2 of my Drawings.
Figure 1 on Sheet 2 represents an elevation of the steerage end of another
arrangement of my improved apparatus or steam cultivator, a portion of the
fore rollers being shewn in section for the purpose of indicating the mode of
driving the same, and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same. As in this
second arrangement the cultivating portion of the machine is precisely similar
to that illustrated in Sheet 1 of my Drawings, I shall confine my remarks to
the steering or fore part of the machine, which is slightly modified. And in
order to render the same more readily understood, I have indicated by cor-
responding letters of reference all those parts which correspond to similar
parts in my first arrangement. In this second arrangement I impart a
positive rotatory motion to the fore set of steering rollers D, in addition to
that imparted to the cultivating rollers C, as herein-before described. This
motion is imparted by the horizontal transverse shaft f, which is driven at
cach end by a strap k, or by a chain or toothed gearing from the crank shaft
of the engine. At the centre of this shaft is a pair of bevel pinions 1, l, one
or the other of which is brought into gear with the horizontal bevel wheel m,
keyed on to the upper end of the vertical shaft n. This shaft carries two
bevel pinions, o, o¹, which gear respectively with bevel teeth in the insides of
the inner rollers D', D', of the front series, and impart a rotatory motion
thereto in either direction, according as the pinion or is brought into
gear with the wheel m, the adjustment being effected by a lever clutch

page_text: handle p. The fore or steering rollers are contained in a locking carriage or
frame 9 which pivots round the shaft n as a centre, and is fitted with an
internal toothed segment or rim r, into which gear the spur pinions s, s³,
and t. The pinion t is connected to the bottom of the steering bar u, in the
column v, for the purpose of being worked by the attendant, but the pinions s
and s¹ are carried by the short spindles w, w¹, fitted at the upper end with
bevel wheels, a¹, and driven by one or other of the pinions in each pair or
set y, y, according to the direction in which the steering rollers are to be
locked or turned. These two pairs of steering pinions are adjusted so as to
reverse the motion of the wheels x, a¹, or be thrown out of gear entirely when
the machine is travelling straight ahead by ordinary clutch levers, which are
not shewn in the Drawings. The steering rollers may be readily removed by
simply knocking out the keys z, and raising the front end of the machine
slightly.
At Figure 3 on Sheet 2, I have illustrated a mode of applying a complete
double cylinder engine to each side of my machine, each engine having a
separate crank shaft of its own. By this arrangement I am enabled to turn
the machine with the greatest facility, as the two propelling rollers C¹ may be
simultaneously driven in opposite directions when a sharp turn is required, or
they may be driven in the same direction when the machine is required to
travel in a direct line. The application of the additional broad travelling
felloes are more clearly shewn in this Figure (Figure 3), wherein a complete
felloe is represented as attached to the outer roller C. I propose to make
these felloes of wooden segments, shod with iron like the rim or felloe of a
common heavy waggon wheel, and bolted direct to the periphery of the iron
rollers C, each segment being connected with its neighbour by a tongue
joint, as shewn at 2¹, bolt being passed transversely through the joint for
the purpose of securing the segments together. Ribs or other projections
may be formed upon the rim of the felloe, for the purpose of increasing its
bite or hold upon the ground. This machine (by making the necessary
alterations, which are obvious and need not be described,) may be adapted
for and be employed, when required, as a traction engine, or as a road or land
roller or presser, the tines in that case being removed, or as a crusher, or as
an ordinary engine for driving, threshing, or grinding machines, for which
latter purpose the shaft H is fitted with a large fly wheel or driving pulley
H', as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention of
an improved apparatus for the cultivation of land and other agricultural
operations, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict

page_text: myself to the precise details of construction and of arrangement of parts
herein-before described, and illustrated my Drawings, so long as the
principles or main features of my said Invention be adhered to, whilst at
the same time I wish it to be understood that I lay no claim to the system
or mode of cultivating land by the aid of rotating cylinders or rollers fitted
with tines or other cultivating instruments, unless the cylinders or rollers
support or carry the machine, as am aware that such means have been
previously adopted; neither do I claim the mere propulsion only of a
cultivating machine by the action of the teeth or tines of a rotatory cylinder
upon the land; neither do I claim any of the mechanical elements separately
of which my machine is composed; but what I do claim, and consider as
new and original, and as constituting the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the general construction, arrangement, and combination of apparatus
or machinery for cultivating land, as herein-before described.
Second, the application to and use, in the cultivation of land, of a steam
engine and boiler, with frame, and all necessary gearing and steering
apparatus, mounted upon two cylinders or sets of rollers, one of such cylinders
or sets of rollers performing the threefold purposes of supporting the main
weight of the machine, propelling the same over the land, and digging or
breaking up the soil at one operation, as herein-before described.
Third, the arrangement of the parts forming the cultivating cylinder, with
diggers or cultivating instruments, in such a manner that the cultivating
cylinder shall support the main weight of the machine whilst revolving freely
on a circular axis, and that by applying the steam power to one or both of the
outer cylinders of the "cultivator" the machine may be guided and propelled
in any required direction during the operation of digging and breaking up
the soil at a speed corresponding to that of the instruments in the circum-
ference of the cultivating cylinders, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Parker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, One thousand eight hun-
dred and fifty-nine.
HENRY PARKER. (L.S.)