Improvements in Ploughs for Cutting Drain Ditches and like Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 27th May, 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ploughs for Cutting Drain Ditches and like
Purposes.
I JAMES HARPER of Chamois, Osage County, State of Missouri, U.S.A., Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to an improvement in Ploughs for Cutting Drain Ditches and
it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more
fully set forth hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.
drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a drain plough embodying my improvements.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view.
In the
A represents the running gear of a wagon having the front axle B, the rear axle C,
the tongue attached to the front axle, the bolster D and the reaches E connecting the
said bolster with the rear axle, the said reaches being arranged at a suitable distance
apart. The usual supporting wheels F are mounted on the spindles of the axles.
G represents a rotating cutter, comprising two circular disks H and a circular block I
which is of less diameter than the disks, and is bolted between the same and arranged
concentrically therewith. The periphery of the block I, forms the tread of the
rotating cutter, and the space between the projecting edges of the cutter disks II and
the tread, forms an annular peripheral groove in the cutter. The edges of the disks H
are sharpened, and the block I is of a width to correspond with the width of the drain
ditch to be formed.
Krepresents a longitudinal frame having the side bars L between which the cutter
is journalled. The rear end of the side bars are provided with hooks M. N represents
a plough which is secured between the side bars and bears against the rear side of the
rotating cutter, the width of the said plough being equal to the width of the cutter
and the said plough being curved and adapted to the contour of the rear side of the
cutter.
The lower end of the plough is on a horizontal line with the lower edges of the
cutting disks H and is sharpened. A series of transverse openings O are made in the
upper portion of the plough, and bolts P extend through two of the said openings and
through openings which are made in the side bars, and thus secure the plough to the
side bars and permit the same to be vertically adjusted. To the front ends of the side

page_text: bars is hinged a plato R having a central opening through which extends the king
bolt of the wagon and thus the rotating cutter with its frame is trailed behind the
front axle of the wagon. A vertical yoke frame S extends from the upper sides of the
side bars L in advance of the rotating cutter, and supports the horizontal curved
chute T. The rear end of the said chute forms a tongue which enters the space
between the upper edges of the cutting disks, and bears upon the upper sides of the
circular block 1 on the periphery thereof and acts as a scraper.
U represents. a seguiental plate which is provided with peripheral notches and is
secured on the rear axle of the running gear. A hand lever V is pivoted to the said
segment plate, and is provided with a spring-actuated bolt W to engage the notches
of the segment plate, and thus lock the hand lever at any desired angle.
A chain X, engages the hooks M on the rear end of the cutter frame, and is
attached to the lever V whereby the rear end of the frame K may be raised or lowered
by the said lever. A suitable seat for the driver is supported above the front axle.
The operation of my invention is as follows:
In order to cut a drain ditch the frame K is lowered from the wagon gear so as to
cause the lower edges of the rotating cutter, and of the plough to enter the ground.
The wagon is then drawn forward by the team, and the cutter is caused to rotate,
and the edges of the disks H thereof cut the sides of the ditch. The plough running
in rear of the rotating cutter, cuts the bottom of the ditch and forces the earth
upwardly between its front side and the rear side of the rotating cutter and directs it
onto the curved chute, the front end of which projects beyond one side of the ditch
and thereby the earth which is excavated is deposited by the chute on one side of the
ditch. In order to turn the wagon, it is necessary to raise the rear end of the frame K
a sufficient height to cause the rotating cutter and the-plough to clear the ground:
and this is also done when the machine is in motion but not in operation.
Drain ditches are usually cut for draining marshy lands or irrigating dry lands.
Inside the ditch the usual tiling is laid and joined together by hand. The tiling forms
-conduits to-carry-off from or supply_the_land with water as circumstances may
require.
Having thus described my invention, I claim
1. The combination with the running gear of a wagon, of the trailing frame K
having the rotating cutter and the plough in rear of and travelling in the path of the
cutter substantially as described.
2. The combination in a drain plough of the frame K, the rotating cutter having
the circular cutting disks II to cut the sides of the drain or ditch, the curved plough
bearing against the rear side of the rotating cutter between the cutting disks, to cut
the bottom of the ditch and force the excavated earth upwardly on the rear side of the
rotating cutter, and the chute communicating with the cutter to direct the excavated
earth to one side of the ditch substantially as described.
3. The combination with the running gear of a wagon of the trailing frame K
connected to the front axle of the wagon and having the rotating cutter to cut the
sides of the ditch, the curved plough in rear thereof, to cut the bottom of the ditch,
and the chute to direct the excavated earth to one side of the ditch and the lever to
raise or lower the rear end of the frame K, for the purpose set forth, substantially as
described.
Dated this 4th day of An 1007