CERTAIN METHODS OF MANUFACTURING MACHINES FOR PERFORMING VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS BY MECHANICAL POWERS
Year: 1810

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MAJOR
PRATT, of Spencer Street, in the Parish of Saint George in the East, in the
County of Middlesex, Farmer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of
February, in the fiftieth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said
Major Pratt, my exors, adññors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power,
sole priviledge and authority, that I, the said Major Pratt, my exors, admors,
and assigns, during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, my Invention and Discovery of "CERTAIN METHODS OF MANUFACTURING
MACHINES FOR PERFORMING VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS BY MECHANICAL
POWERS;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, that if I,
the said Major Pratt, shall not particularly describe and ascertain 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, and cause the same to
be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that
then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages thereby granted,
shall utterly cease, determine, and become void, anything therein contained to
the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Major Pratt, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into effect and practice, are
described as follows; that is to say :-
Drawing 1st, Fig. 1st, 2d, 3d, is a Drawing of a machine to travel on
four wheels B, B, D, D. On the axletree, intended to go foremost, I fix two
sides A, A. On these are fixed springs at C, C, to go on a racket work on
the inside rim of the wheels B, B, to prevent them from coming back. Two
pieces of timber F, H, with a hole in the middle of each, are placed on the
sides, one resting on the top, the other on the two bottoms of the two sides, so
as to receive the upright shaft E, which shaft shall stand nearly in the centre of
the four wheels when the same are fastened together. A coupling frame C, C,
is fixed to the hindmost axletree so far apart as to go within the two
sides A, A, resting on the lower timber H. The sides A, A, are supported
by rollers placed on the inside of each side at Z, Z, acting or travelling on the
frame C, C. The carriage is fastened together by the upright shaft passing
through the upper timber F, and the fore part of the coupling frame C, C,
and the lower timber H, leaving room for the fore and hind part of the
carriage to move on alternately the distance Y, Z, W, X. A castor is made
to screw into the shaft E, to come in contact with the two cross beams of the
coupling frame G, G, and so much left out as the business to be done requires;
if for ploughing, the length of the castor left out must be equal to the
width of the furrow, &c. The hindmost wheels are stayed from coming back
by two supporters L, L, fixed by hinges at one end to their axletree, and
resting on the ground at W, W, with their other ends managed by a man at
a pair of handles M, M. A beam of wood or iron I, I, is fixed by the middle
with a pin in or on the lower end of the upright shaft on equal balance. Then
a plough is fastened to one end of this beam I, I, so as to plough a circular
furrow. The sides and frame are prevented from chafing by the rollers X, X.
But as this ploughs the land twice over at one time, the beam is made to
revolve, or curve rails k, b, fixed on the bottom of the carriage at H, bending
upward so as to lift the plough off the ground one half of the circle, and so
low as to guide the plough a proper depth in the ground the other half of the
circle, the upright shaft E being connected with wind, steam, or other such-
like mechanical powers. This machine will plough and move itself on alter-
nately. This machine is also made to plough by fixing an equal number of
ploughs to the fore and hind part of the same, as at Q, R, S, T, the former
ploughs being taken off, and will move the foremost and hindmost ploughs
alternately.

page_text: Drawing 1st. Figure 6 and 7 are sections of a machine shewing how to
plough, in the same circular manner as before described, any number of ridges
at the same time. A, A, a piece of wood called a pressing pair. B, B, is a
spir wheel placed horizontally under it on C, an axletree passing through the
center of A, A. Each plough D, D, are fastened on the wheel B, B, by two
bolts E, E, going through holes in the rim at opposite points I, I, and are
fastened together at F, F, by two plates. One end of the spring H, H, being
placed under each, lifts the plough off the ground alternately one half of the
circle L, and the groove G, G, presses the same a proper depth into the ground
the other half of the circle K. The two clicks S, S, are to turn a level wheel.
Drawing 2nd. Figures 1st, 2nd, and 3d are also sections of the said
machine. On the front A, A, A, A, are placed two pressing pieces, with the
two spur wheels horizontally on the bottom of the carriage, to turn each other,
as described in Drawing 1st, Figure 6 and 7. B, B, B, B; the four wheels on
which the carriage runs; C, C, the hooks that stay the four wheels, they
being made to run either way on a castor. Over the spur wheels is placed a
tumbling or rolling shaft, on which is a chain wheel V, and a lever wheel T,
to come in contact with the clicks S, S, on the spur wheel B, B. D, D, a
tumbling shaft; E, E, F, F, F, or 5 chain wheels fixed on it; Q, an endless
chain; G, G, two extenders, placed one on each end of the shaft D, D, sup-
ported by the wheels and axletree P, P. Through the outer end of G, G, is
a bolt, with four blocks on it, I, I, K, L, on which and the four chain wheels
are placed the four endless chains H, H, H, H. Between H and H are two
bars of iron, faced at N, N, N, to each chain, and a head with spikes or
holders fastened to the foremost bar by hinges resting on the other; and similar
spikes, &c., placed on the chains H and Ĥ; the spikes or holders made to lay
hold on the ground, &c., or any thing placed in the way to prevent them
coming towards the machine when on the under side of the chains. But if
on each side, or behind the machine, &c., they must be so placed as thereby to
force the machine the way its wanted to go. The upright shaft Z, Z, is
placed to turn one of the spur wheels B by a pinion at R. This machine
ploughs two ridges at once, as see Drawing 1st, Figure 7. This machine is
also made to plough the furrows in a straight line, in the common way, by
fixing similar chain wheels and chains on the opposite end of the carriage.
Drawing 3d, Figure 1st.—B, B, B, B, the frame placed on the hind part
of the carriage for the tumbling shaft C, C, with the five chain wheels on
D, E, F, G, H, and placing on the chains H', H³, an equal number of ploughs,
instead of the spikes or holders before described, in Drawing 2nd, Figure 1st,
it,

page_text: at N, N, N. The chains Q, Q, going over two vertical chain wheels in the
center of the carriage, either both on the same tumbling shaft or on two
paralel to each other, with a spur wheel on each shaft to turn each other, and
are drove by a piuion on the upright shaft, working on bevel teeth on one of
the spur wheels; if both on one shaft, one of the chains Q must be crossed.
I have chiefly given the ploughs for example, but harrows, rollers, hoes,
drills, or any other implement of husbandry, placed on or fixed to this or any
of the machines, will perform their operations in like manner, being connected
with wind, steam, or any other such like mechanical power, which any
ingenious workman will know how to do.
Drawing 1st. Figure 4 shews a drill plough. a, a, a, a, four wheels;
A, A, two axletrees; G, G, the two side frames, going on to the arms on the
outside of the wheels at A; D, E, F, three double, and G, G, two single
ploughs, fastened into the frame by bolts b, b, passing through the frames G, G,
and B, B, and the top of each plough C, D, E, F, G. Figure 5 is a similar frame
and wheels, with six ploughs, three right hand D, D, D, and three left E, E, E,
to plough the furrows, in the common way, and are fixed in the frame, as in
Figure 4. These shew how to plough any number of furrows at the same
time, and are what I term ridge ploughs; also any machine that ploughs a
ridge at once for rendering more effectual any of the machines described, or
mechanical powers, &c.
Drawing Three.-Figure 2 shews two endless chains E, E, and F, F, on
horizontal wheels, placed each in a carriage at C, C, that travels on four
wheels, ridge ploughs being fastened to the chain E, E, at equal distance.
The chain wheels, being driven by mechanical powers, will plough two ridges
betwixt the carriages. The ploughs being drawn into the carriages, they are
moved with the carriage forward to the adjoining land, and plough. In like
manner, a carriage, and a chain wheel, placed in it every way the same as at
S, is placed on the opposite side of the carriage T, at the same distance as S,
on which chain wheel is placed the chain F, F, on which are placed ridge
ploughs, also at equal distance, as at E, F. The spikes and appendages, &c.
for shoving the carriages on, as described in Drawing 2nd, Figure First, must
be raised from the ground while the ploughs are ploughing, and let down
when the carriages want to be moved.
Figure 4th shews the four arms or whips of a horizontal windmill A, B, C, D,
with two harrows G, E. The traee and curve lines shew in what manner it
works any implement when placed on the upright shaft Z, Z.
Figure 3d shews how carriages or other vehicles of conveyance may be
more conveniently moved than before described. A, A, shews the two fore

page_text: wheels of a carriage; B, B, the axletree; C, a bevel pinion on the lower end of
the perch bolt; D, a bevel wheel; G, F, a tumbling shaft; H, H, two supporters,
in which the shaft runs, fixed to the axletree at B, B. On this shaft place.the..
four chain wheels and four chains, with the extenders, bolt, and four blocks,.
with the bars, hinges, and spikes or holder, as described, Drawing Second; in
Figure 1st. The upper end of the perch bolt passing up through the necessary.
coupling or perch of any carriage, and connected with wind, steam, or other.
such like mechanical powers, will drive the same. The same may be placed.
under or behind or on each side of any carriage in different ways, over upright.
or inclining shafts, see Drawing Third, Figure 1st, the two chains going
both over chain. When fixed on the same tumbling shaft, at the center of
the carriage, the spikes or holders and necessary apparatus for them being
placed in the spaces marked a as aforesaid, the tumbling shaft being connected
with any mechanical power, the same becomes a carriage that will proceed
either way by reversing the motion given by the mechanical power that
drives it.
Figure 2nd. The two carriages S, T, being prevented from coming together
by two pieces of timber placed between them, a, a, b, b, and the four wheels of
each being turned from c to f, each of the ploughs being turned bottom
upwards in the carriage at T, and reversed at $ alternately, it then is a
travelling carriage, the chain being on an upright shafts. The two or three
carriages being placed, one or all, on barges where there are cuts of water,
will plough the land between them, as described before; and any other imple-
ment, machine, or instrument of husbandry, being tied to, fixed on, or connected
with these or such like machines, will perform their several operations.
Drawing 2d. Figure 4th represents a plough, with two shares A, A, with
a bandle B, B, at the end of each plough beam, C, C, connected by a hinge
at D to a bolt E, which bolt is fixed at F into a beam of wood G, G. This
beam G, G, may be made to slide in a groove across the bottom of the
machine, described by Drawing the Second, Figure, 1, 2, 3, and may be worked
each way alternately by a chain and wheel, the same as Baker's Patent
Mangle, or any wheel of alternate motion, being drove by the upright shaft.
When at the outmost stretch of the chain one end of the plough and share are
thrown down, so as to plough by the beam of the plough coming against the
side of the carriage, or being guided by a man or men, which ploughs a furrow
to the outmost stretch of the opposite end of the chain, when the other end of
the plough and share is turned into the ground, and ploughs a furrow in
returning, and so on. There are also many forms of holders that are conve-
nient; but I have only shewn these for example. The nature of this my said

page_text: Invention, with regard to vehicles of conveyance, being anything that is made
to come or go forward by machinery, so as to lay hold of the ground, road, or
anything placed for that purpose, so as thereby conveniently to carry the same
forward up an inclined plane, up hill, or in bad roads. And also, by this my
machinery and mechanical powers, I do away the necessity of keeping animals,
and prevent thereby the consumption of agricultural produce, and cause agri-
culture to operate in various ways to the good of mankind, in more amply
supplying the markets. The description of these machines must be taken
separate and collectively, as one helps to explain the other.
In witness whereof, I, the said Major Pratt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and ten