IMPROVEMENTS IN BALANCE PLOUGHS."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Greig, of The Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in the
County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALANCE PLOUGHS."
ealed the 1st September 1877, and dated the 2nd July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Greig at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd July 1877.
DAVID GREIG, of The Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BALANCE PLOUGHS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in balance ploughs.
As balance ploughs were originally constructed by the firm of John Fowler & Co.,
under the Patent No. 2089, in the year 1856, the horizontal pivots of the plough
beam were carried by an inner frame which was itself connected by a vertical axis
to an outer frame which I will call the wheel frame, and on which were the stud
axles for the main carrying wheels.
The steering of the implement was effected by turning the wheel frame about
the vertical axis, and a hand wheel and screw were provided for the purpose.
This arrangement was found inconvenient, because the locking of the wheels
caused some irregularity in the depth of ploughing. Consequently another system
was resorted to, under the Patent No. 612, in the year 1862; the inner frame was
dispensed with, and the horizontal pivots on which the plough beam rocked were
carried upon the same frame on which were the stud axles for the carrying wheels,
the steering then being effected by movement about vertical axes imparted to the
stud axles independently of the wheel frame.
This arrangement again has been found inconvenient in that upon rough land an
obstacle in the path of one of the wheels is liable to cause the whole implement,
including the plough beam, to be slewed out of its course.
According to this Invention I arrange for the steerage of the implement in the
manner last described, and at the same time I provide for the free play of the
plough beam about an upright pivot or centre upon the wheel frame independently
altogether of the steerage of the implement.
This arrangement admits of the plough beam pursuing its true line of travel,
even when an obstacle in the path of one of the wheels may cause the wheel frame
to run untruly.

page_text: Upon the lower bar of the wheel frame I mount a block so that it may be able
to rock about the bar as an axis; and upon the block I mount at right angles to
the bar a stud or pivot, which enters a socket in the middle of the plough beam.
I so connect the draught rope to the plough beam by draught bars attached to
the beam behind the wheel frame and below the centre of the wheels, so that the
draught tends to keep the plough bodies down to their work.
The eye by which the draught rope is connected to the draught bars is in front
of the wheels, and a guide or stay in connection with the wheel frame sustains it
and keeps it in a central position in respect to the frame, so that when the wheels
are thrown out of line by any obstacle the pull of the rope acting on this guide or
stay immediately strengthens them again.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Greig in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd January
"
1878.
DAVID GREIG, of The Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BALANCE PLOUGHS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in balance ploughs.
As balance ploughs were originally constructed by the firm of John Fowler and
Company, under the Patent No. 2089, in the year 1856, the horizontal pivots of the
plough beam were, carried by an inner frame, which was itself connected by a
vertical axis to an outer frame, which I will call the wheel frame, and on which
were the stud axles for the main carrying wheels.
The steering of the implement was effected by turning the wheel frame about
the vertical axis, and a hand wheel and screw were provided for the purpose.
This arrangement was found inconvenient, because the locking of the wheels
caused some irregularity in the depth of ploughing. Consequently another system
was resorted to, under the Patent No. 612, in the year One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-two; the inner frame was dispensed with, and the horizontal pivots on
which the plough beam rocked were carried upon the same frame on which were
the stud axles for the carrying wheels, the steering then being effected by movement
about vertical axes imparted to the stud axles independently of the wheel frame.
This arrangement again has been found inconvenient in that upon rough land an
obstacle in the path of one of the wheels is liable to cause the whole implement,
including the plough beam, to be slewed out of its course.
According to this Invention I arrange for the steerage of the implement in the
manner last described, and at the same time I provide for the free play of the
plough beam about an upright pivot or centre upon the wheel frame independently
altogether of the steerage of the implement.
This arrangement admits of the plough beam pursuing its true line of travel,
even when an obstacle in the path of one of the wheels may cause the wheel frame
to run untruly.
Upon the lower bar of the wheel frame I mount a block so that it may be able
to rock about the bar as an axis; and upon the block I mount at right angles to
the bar a stud or pivot which enters a socket in the middle of the plough beam.

page_text: I so connect the draft rope to the plough beam by draft bars attached to
the beam behind the wheel frame and below the centre of the wheels that the
draught tends to keep the plough bodies down to their work.
The eye by which the draught rope is connected to the draught bars is in front
of the wheels, and a guide or stay in connection with the wheel frame sustains it
and keeps it in a central position in respect to the frame, so that when the wheels
are thrown out of line by any obstacle the pull of the rope acting on this guide or
stay immediately straightens them again.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation, Figure 2 is a half plan, and Figure is a transverse
section of a balance plough constructed according to my Invention.
a, a, is the wheel frame, and the stud axes a¹, a¹, of the main wheels b, b, arc
adjustable up and down upon it by means of the screws a², a². The bars a³, a³, of
the wheel frame, on which the blocks carrying the stud axes slide, are square in
section and they are able to turn; they are connected across the frame to cause
them to move simultaneously by the arms a, a, and the bar a. a is a quadrant
fixed on one of the bars, and a worm a gears with it. This worm is coupled
with the axes of the steering wheels.
On the lower bar of the wheel frame a saddle or clip c is mounted; it is free to
turn upon the bar, and it carries at right angles to the bar the pivot c¹, upon which
the plough beam d is mounted, and about which, as a centre, it is able to turn.
Upon the plough beam the plough bodies, their accessories, and other parts are
mounted as is usual in balance ploughs. e, e, are the draft ropes; they are
connected by the draft bars c¹, e¹, to the transverse bar e², which in turn is coupled
by the links e³ with the plough beam. f is a guide or stay which is clipped on to
the lower bar of the frame a, and has sockets at each end, and the draft bars e¹ pass
through these sockets.
By these arrangements the plough beam is free to maintain its direction indepen-
dently of any irregularity in the motion of the wheel frame, which, however, cannot
slew without deflecting the hauling rope from its direct course, so that immediately
the obstacle causing the irregular motion is passed the strain on the rope brings the
frame round again to its proper position.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
The construction of balance ploughs with both the main wheels and the plough
bean moveable in relation to the wheel frame, the wheels being locked round by
the steering gear without inclining the wheel frame, and the plough beam being
free, so that it is unaffected by the slewing of the wheel frame.
I also claim in balance ploughs constructed as described the method of controlling
the wheel frame by a stay or guide passing to the draft bar.
I also claim the construction of balance ploughs substantially as described and
represented in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Greig, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
aight hundaad and
DAVID GREIG. (LS.)