IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS."
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATÉNT to John Robert Jefferies, of Orwell Works, Ipswich,
in the County of Suffolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PLOUGHS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Robert Jefferies
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 4th June 1870.
I, JOHN ROBERT JEFFERIES, of Orwell Works, Ipswich, in the County
of Suffolk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS," to be as follows :—
This Invention has for its object improvements in double furrow or
other multiple furrow ploughs, and the improvements relate chiefly to
the raising the ploughs out of the ground when the implement is to be
turned at a headland. For this purpose I attach bearings on to the
frame of a double or any multiple furrow plough to carry a cross shaft.
The end of this shaft on the land side of the plough carries the land

page_text: wheel by an arm, or it might be arms, free to turn around the shaft, and
in order to govern the depth of ploughing the position of the arm
carrying the land wheel is regulated by the top of the arm coming
against a set screw or adjustable stop on the frame; near the other end
of the shaft is fixed a pair of cranked arms, and between these arms is
carried a lifting wheel, but the end of the arms project somewhat beyond
the periphery of this wheel. When the plough is at work the arms and
lifting wheel are held clear of the ground, and inclining in the direction
of the head of the plough by a suitable lever fixed on the cross shaft.
When the plough is to be lifted out of work the lever is released and the
arms and wheel drop, the end of the arms then strike the ground and
are stopped, and as the plough is drawn forward the arm carries the
wheel under the plough until it is stopped by a suitable stop or catch,
the front part of the plough is thus lifted up. On the cross shaft
is keyed a disc having projections standing out from its face, and
when this shaft is turned to lower the lifting wheel, as above described,
and when the ploughs have been lifted to within about 3 inches of the
surface of the ground one of these projections catches the arm of the
land wheel and causes this arm to turn with the shaft, until by the
lowering of the two wheels the ploughs have been raised clear of the
land, suitable stops then prevent the arms and wheels going too far, and
hold them in their places. The implement is thus supported on two
wheels near its centre, and as it is arranged to balance, or nearly so on
these wheels, it can readily be turned in a short space at the headland.
For entering the return furrows the lifting wheel is raised by a lever
turning the cross shaft, and as the shaft is turned a second stop on the
disc before mentioned catches the back of the land wheel arms and
raises the arm, and so the wheel about 2 inches above the ground, and
as the plough enters the ground the land wheel rises till the projection
on the top of the arm comes in contact with the set screw previously
mentioned in the frame.
Arms or spikes may be otherwise adapted to lever arms carrying the
lifting wheels of ploughs, so as to enable the plough to be lifted by the
action of the draught, as, for example, in that class of double furrow
plough where the land wheel forms also the lifting wheel, spikes or arms
might be adapted to the pin or axle of the wheel and be held clear of
the ground when the plough is at work, but when the plough has to be

page_text: raised out of work these spikes might be lowered to strike the ground,
and so cause the arm carrying the wheel to turn and lower the wheel,
and so raise the plough. The furrow or leading wheel of the plough
may, as is usual, form a steering wheel, or the back of the plough may
be fitted with lever handles. The plough may also either be fitted with
a hind friction wheel to run in the last furrow, or the ploughs may be
provided with slades.
For adjusting the width of furrow of double or other multiple furrow
ploughs the beams are according to another part of my Invention
formed in separate picces, and the ends of each beam are received
in channel irons forming the ends of the framing of the plough; the
ends of the beams are bent up at right angles, and such bent portions
are received in the channels of the end frames, a broad bearing or
support is thus obtained for the end of the plough beams, and the
plough beams can readily be set nearer to or further from one another
by screws or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Robert Jefferies in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd December 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ROBERT JEFFERIES, of Orwell Works, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Fourth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Robert Jefferies, Her special licence
that I, the said John Robert Jefferies, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Robert Jefferies, 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 "IMPROVE-

page_text: MENTS IN PLOUGHS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Robert Jefferies, 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 John Robert Jefferies, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):-
This Invention has for its object improvements in double furrow or
other multiple furrow ploughs, and the improvements relate chiefly to
the raising the ploughs out of the ground when the implement is to be
turned at a headland. For this purpose I attach bearings on to the frame
of a double or any multiple furrow plough to carry a cross shaft. The
end of this shaft on the land side of the plough carries the land wheel by
an arm, or it might be arms free to turn around the shaft; and in order
to govern the depth of ploughing the position of the arm carrying the
land wheel is regulated by the top of the arm coming against a set screw 2
or adjustable stop on the frame; near the other end of the shaft is fixed
a pair of cranked arms, and between these arms is carried a lifting
wheel, but the ends of the arms project somewhat beyond the periphery
of this wheel. When the plough is at work the arms and lifting
wheel are held clear of the ground, and inclining in the direction of
the head of the plough by a suitable lever fixed on the cross shaft.
When the plough is to be lifted out of work the lever is released
and the arms and wheel drop, the end of the arms then strike the
ground and are stopped, and as the plough is drawn forward the arm
carries the wheel under the plough until it is stopped by a suitable a
stop or catch, the front part of the plough is thus lifted up. On the
cross shaft is keyed a disc having projections standing out from its
face, and when this shaft is turned to lower the lifting wheel, as above
described, and when the ploughs have been lifted to within about
three inches of the surface of the ground, one of these projections a
catches the arm of the land wheel, and causes this arm to turn with the
shaft until by the lowering of the two wheels the ploughs have been

page_text: raised clear of the land; suitable stops then prevent the arms and
wheels going too far, and hold them in their places. The implement is
thus supported on two wheels near its centre, and as it is arranged to
balance or nearly so on these wheels it can readily be turned in a short
space at the headland. For entering the return furrows the lifting wheel
is raised by a lever turning the cross shaft, and as the shaft is turned a
second stop on the disc before mentioned catches, the back of the land
wheel arms and raises the arm and so the wheel about two inches above
the ground, and as the plough enters the ground the land wheel rises till
the projection on the top of the arm comes in contact with the set screw
previously mentioned in the frame.
Arms or spikes may be otherwise adapted to lever arms carrying the
lifting wheels of ploughs so as to enable the plough to be lifted by the
action of the draught, as, for example, in that class of double furrow
plough where the land wheel forms also the lifting wheel, spikes or arms
might be adapted to the pin or axle of the wheel and be held clear of
the the ground when the plough is at work, but when the plough has
to be raised out of work these spikes might be lowered to strike the
ground, and so cause the arm carrying the wheel to turn and lower the
wheel, and so raise the plough. The furrow or leading wheel of
the plough may as is usual form a steering wheel, or the back of
the plough may be fitted with lever handles. The plough may also
cither be fitted with a hind friction wheel to run in the last furrow, or
the ploughs may be provided with slades.
For adjusting the width of furrow of double or other multiple furrow
ploughs the beams are according to another part of my Invention formed
in separate pieces, and the ends of each beam are received in channel
irons forming the ends of the framing of the plough. The ends of the
beams are bent at right angles, and such bent portions are received in
the channels of the end frames; a broad bearing or support is thus
obtained for the end of the plough beams, and the plough beams can
readily be set nearer to or further from one another by screws or
otherwise..
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to

page_text: In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn examples of double
and multiple furrow ploughs arranged to be lifted out of work, as herein-
before described. At Figures 1, 2, 3, Sheet 1, and Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet 2, are shewn two ploughs arranged to be lifted out of work on two
wheels near the centre of the carriage, so as nearly to balance the plough
as on a two-wheeled carriage, and one of such wheels in each case serves
as the ordinary land wheel when ploughing. In the plough shewn at
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1, the lifting wheel on the furrow side of the
plough is placed in front of the rearmost plough, whilst in the plough
shewn at Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2, it is placed on the furrow side of the
leading plough well clear of its mould board. The plough shewn at
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1, is a double furrow plough. Figure 1 is a
plan, and Figure 2 a side elevation of the plough at work; Figure 3 is
side clevation of the same plough lifted out of work ready for turning
at the headlands; Figures 4 and 5 are sections of the plough drawn to
a larger scale in order to shew more clearly the mechanism for raising
the plough out of work. In these Figures a, a¹, are bearings attached
to the beams or frame of the plough. These bearings carry the cross
shaft towards the end of this shaft; on the land side of the plough is
carried the land wheel c by the arms c¹, which are free to turn on the
shaft b, and in order to govern the depth of ploughing one of the
arms c¹ has a projection above the cross shaft b, which comes in contact
with the set screw or adjustable stop d, as shewn in Figure 2. The
adjustable stop d or set screw is carried by the fixed bracket bearing a¹.
Near the other end of the shaft is fixed a pair of cranked arms e¹,
between these arms is carried the lifting wheel e, the ends of these arms
projecting somewhat beyond the periphery of the wheel. When the
plough is at work the arms e¹ and the lifting wheel e are held clear of
the ground (Figure 2) by the hand leverf working in conjunction with
a connecting rod f, which is connected to the lever g fixed on the
cross shaft. The hand lever ƒ is held in its place by the spring catch ƒª.
When the plough is to be lifted out of work the hand lever fis released,
and the weight of the wheel e causes the wheel to drop, and the ends of
the arms e¹ then strike the ground and are stopped, and as the plough
is drawn forward the arms carry the wheel under the plough until it

page_text: is stopped by the spring catch f' attached to the hand lever f, entering
another stop in the fixed segment h, and the front part of the plough is
thus lifted up.
On the cross shaft bis keyed a disc j, which has a
suitable slot in it; a bolt ¹ passes through the two arms c¹, and also
through the slotted hole in the disc j, which thus connects the land
wheel arms with the disc j, and so to the cross shaft b, the land wheel
arms c¹ being free to turn on the shaft b as far as the slot in the disc j
will allow the bolt to travel. When the lift wheel e is dropped it causes
the shaft to turn and so the discj with it; as the shaft turns one end
of the slot in the disc j comes in contact with the bolt, which is fixed to
the arms c, and causes these arms to turn with the shaft until by
lowering the two wheels the plough has been raised clear of the land.
The projection on the upper end of one of the arms c¹ comes in contact with
the side of the bracket bearing a¹, and thus prevents the arms and wheel
going too far. The implement is thus supported on two wheels near its
centre, and as it is arranged to balance or nearly so on these wheels it
can readily be turned in a short space at the headlands. For entering
the return furrow the lifting wheel e is raised by the hand lever f
causing the cross shaft to turn, and as the shaft is turned the other end of
the slot in the disc j comes in contact with the bolt j¹ attached to the
land wheel arms c¹ and raises the arms and so the wheel above the
ground, and as the plough enters the ground the land wheel rises until
the projection at the top of the arm comes in contact with the set
screw d. When the plough is to be kept out of work as it is being
drawn over the land from place to place the set screw d may be screwed
forward into the position shewn at Figure 4 in order to lock the wheel e
in its depressed position.
On Sheet 2, Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 is a partial side clevation
of a three-furrow plough arranged to be similarly lifted out of the ground.
In this case the lift wheel e is placed on the furrow side of the plough
well clear of the mould board, and the cranked arms el are separate from
the wheel. The cranked arms el and the arms carrying the lift wheel e
are fixed to the main shaft band turn with it. The cranked arms el have
a small segment attached to them to prevent the arms entering the
ground without lifting the plough. The land wheel c and its connection
to the shaft bis similar to that previously described on Sheet 1, as is also
the method of actuating the shaft through the hand lever f, connecting
rod f, and fixed lever g. In this case the weight of the plough is

page_text: equally distributed on the two wheels, which will enable it to turn
either to the right hand or to the left with equal facility. I would here
remark that when it is not desired that the lifting of the plough out of
work should be effected by the draught of the horses the cranked arms
may be dispensed with, and other arrangements may be adopted for
depressing the land wheel and lifting wheel on the furrow side of the
plough to lift the plough out of work; as, for example, the wheels c, e,
may be carried by arms on an axis placed as above described across the
plough near the centre of its weight, and the axis may be turned by
ordinary hand levers to depress the wheels carried by it.
At Figures 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 2, I have shown how lever arms may be
employed in combination with the ordinary land wheel of the "Pirie"
or other double or multiple furrow plough, in which the plough is
thrown out of work by depressing the land wheel and so raising the land
side of the plough. Figure 3 is a plan, Figure 4 a side elevation, and
Figure 5 is an end elevation of a land wheel with lever arms or spikes
to enter the ground. Combined with it the wheel c is free to turn on
the fixed shaft b, and the depth of ploughing is regulated by a projection
on the upper end of the arm coming in contact with the set screw d.
On the same shaft is carried the cranked lifting arm e 1, which is freq
to turn on the shaft; it is held in its place by suitable lever and con-
necting rod g and f1, as before described. On the cranked arm e are
attached two radial stops k, k, which project and come into contact with
the land wheel arm c1, and the distance between the radial stops k, k,
regulates the range which the arm c 1 of the land wheel c is free to turn
on the shaft b. For lifting the plough out of work the cranked lifting
arm e¹ is dropped, and its point strikes the ground and is stopped, and
as the plough is drawn forward the arm is carried under the plough,
and one of the radial stops & comes in contact with the arms c1 and
carries the arm cl and the land wheel c under the plough, and so raises
it out of the ground. The land wheel c is then held in its place by
suitable stops; the plough will thus be raised out of work by the draught
of the horses. For entering the return furrow the cranked lifting arm e 1
is raised, and as it is raised the second radial stop on it catches the back
of the land wheel arm and raises it, and as the plough enters the ground
the land wheel rises until the projection on the top of the arm comes in
contact with the set screw d.
My improvements in the construction of the framing of double or

page_text: Sheet 2.
Figures 6 and 7 are plans, Figure 8 is a side elevation, and Figures 9,
10, and 11 end elevations of portions of the framing of a plough. 1, 1, are
the beams which carry the ploughs. These beams are separate one from
the other, and their ends are bent at right angles. Such bent portions
are received in the channel of the end frames m, which are formed of
channel iron, and a broad bearing or support is thus obtained for the
plough beams. In Figure 6 the beams are adjusted to or from one
other by loosening the bolts by which they are secured to the end
frames, and sliding the beams to or from one another in the channel of
the end frame, the bolts then sliding in slots cut through the web of
the channel iron ends. In Figure 7 a threaded screw passes through a
hole tapped to receive it at either end of the shifting beam. These
screws are free to turn in holes in lugs formed on the channel ends. The
screw head works up against a lug at one end, and a collar pinned on
the end of the screw works up against a lug at the other end. For
adjusting the beams to bring them nearer to or further from one another
these screws are turned, and as they have an abutment at either end the
beam is shifted sidewise, and when the beam is adjusted to its proper
place it is rigidly held by fixing it to the channel iron ends by two bolts
at either end of the beam.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim as
my improvements in ploughs is,―
1. The combination with double or multiple furrow ploughs of two
lifting wheels, one of which is also the land wheel of the plough when
at work, such wheels being placed near the centre of weight of the
plough, so that the plough when lifted nearly balances upon them as
a two-wheeled carriage, and then turns easily in a small space at a
headland.
2. The employment of lever arms or spikes, substantially as herein
described, in combination with the lifting wheel or wheels of double or
multiple furrow ploughs to cause the forward movement of the plough
to bring the lifting wheel or wheels into action.

page_text: Roting Dames OT αντιστ
шатарт
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Robert Jefferies, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
JOHN ROBERT JEFFERIES. (L.S.)