A DRILL AND HOE PLOUGH ON A NEW CONSTRUCTION
Year: 1789

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
RIDGE, of Hodshrove, in the Parish of Falmer, in the County of Sussex,.
Farmer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the
Twentieth day of June, in the twenty-ninth year of His reign, give and
grant unto me, the said Samuel Ridge, His especial licence that I, the said
Samuel, Ridge, during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Ber-
wick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A DRILL AND HOE PLOUGH ON A NEW
CONSTRUCTION;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso
obliging me, the said Samuel Ridge, under my hand and seal, to cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and how the same is
to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery.
within one calendar month after the date of the said recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel Ridge, do hereby declare that my said Invention of a Drill
and Hoe Plough on a New Construction is described in the plan and
description thereof hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof; I, the said Samuel Ridge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of July, One thousand seven
hundred and eighty-nine.
SAMUEL RIDGE. (L.S.)

page_text: Fig. 1a back view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a front view of it. A, A,
Fig. 1, a piece of timber the length of the machine, with a groove on the
inside. B, B, B, B, Fig. 2, a similar piece of timber, the edges of which
only can be seen in this view, as the axle is before it. Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Fig. 1st
and 2nd, are hollow tines or tubes of iron for the corn to descend through the
projecting parts b, c. Fig. 3 slides in the grooves of the timbers above men-
tioned when placed between them, and the tines are fixed or moved at pleasure
by iron collars with nutts and screws. Fig. 3 is one of the tines. Figs. 4, 5,
and 6 are three different kinds of hoes that fix on the tines by a small bolt, with
a nut and screw that passes through the hole h in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a collar of
iron that clasps the timbers A, A, and B, B, B, B, of Figs. 1 and 2. The ends
of it go through the piece of iron f. When screwed tight it presses the timbers
together, and confines the tines in whatever part between the timbers they are
placed. The ends of these collars are seen at y, y, y, Fig. 1 and 2. Any
number of collars may be used. Fig. 8 is a collar of iron that clasps the ends
of the above mentioned timbers. m is a bolt, with screw' and 'nut, that- fixes
it to the timber B, B, B, B. The bridle or curve part n,,n, is for the axletree
to move in, that the machine may be made to go deep or shallow in the
ground. 6, a small iron pin that goes through the holes in the curve for tlie
aforesaid purpose; h, an iron continued down with a point c, through which
goes a key. When screwed tight it presses the timber and tines together, the
same as Fig. 7. The end of these collars, are seen at x, x, x, x, Fig. 1 & 2:
C, C, Fig. 2, the axletree. The arms of it are extended through the naves of
the wheels, that the wheels may be fixed at the distance from the machine
that is most convenient. This is done on one end of the axle by a pin that
goes through it on each side the wheel. To prevent too great a number of
holes being made there are pieces of board placed on either side of the wheel,
as occasion may require. Fig. 9 is one of the boards taken off.
seen on the axle at w, w, Fig. 1. & 2. Fig: 14 is a long cylinder box of iron;
smooth on the inside to turn on the axle. On the outside it hás ledges or
bars almost the length of it. On the end a, just at the extremities of the
bars, is fixed the groove wheel u of Fig. 2. The inside of the nave of the
great wheel is made to coincide with the bars on the outside of the box, so
as to slide from the wheel u to the end r; but is fixed on any part of the
box by the point of the screw v, that goes in the hole t; and reaches through
the nave of the wheel, and presses on the box; see Fig. 2. When the
great wheel revolves, of course the box and groove wheel u must move
with it. D, D, Fig. 2, is the hopper. E, E, Fig. 2, two upright pieces
made fast to the hopper. They go into two mortices made in the timber,
They are

page_text: screws into the collar in a hole
When these long iron screws are
part of the machine may be taken
.:B, B, B, B, and help fix the hopper. Fig. 15, d is an iron to be screwed
on near the hindermost edge of the end of the hopper. e is a long nut-
headed screw that goes through d, and
made for that purpose, seen at q, Fig. 8.
sunscrewed out. of the collars all the upper
away, as the upright pieces E, E, of Fig. 2, will lift out of their mortices.
These irons are seen at .s, s, Fig. 1 & 2. F, F, Fig. 1, a sliding board.
When put down it covers the seed boxes. Fig. 16, the head or end of the
chopper: H, H, Figs. 1 & 2, the lid of the hopper. I, I, the rods. They turn
on an iron bolt q. They may be fixed to any part
A,
K, K, Fig. 1, the
When fixt on, the
through which goes
The other bolts 'm, 'm,
of the axletree. Fig. 17,
a semicircular iron, with notches on the inside. These may be made on
the outer edge; or holes made in the middle of the iron would answer the
same purpose. It is made fast to the timber A, A, Fig. 1, by the figures 18,
that
go through its ends, and the timber above mentioned.
handles fixt on by Fig. 19. p, p, two pieces of iron.
handles project beyond them, and clasp the timber A,
the iron bolt o of Fig. 19, and on that the handle turns.
fasten the iron, Fig. 19, on the handle. is an iron pin; the curved part is
fixed in the leaver L, L, on the top of the handles. When put down it
reaches through the semicircular iron R, and fixes the handle on any part of
it; but when the end of the leaver is deprest, the handle is again at liberty.
S, Fig. 1, the harrow, made fast to the machine by Fig. 20. g, a bolt round
under the head, with a square shank and a screw at the other end, which
goes the iron f and the harrow S, and fixt by the nut. The other end of
Fig. 20 slides on the point c .of Fig. 8, and.is kept on by the key or pin. It
must. not go on tight, as it will want to move either way the handle K, K,
moves. M, M, Fig. 1, a chain fastened at each end to the harrow S, the
middle part to the handle K, K. N, N, N, N, N, Fig. 1, the harrow teeth,
fixed through the timber S by nuts and .screws. Fig. 21, a harrow tine of' a
different kind, with a broad foot. The upper end Z is exactly similar to those
in the timber S of Fig.1, so that either may be.used occasionally. G, G, G, G, G,
Fig. 1, 'boxes placed on the timbers in the lower part of the hopper, and over
the tines.
Fig. 22, a seed box. b, a fillet for the boards b, b, b, b, between
the boxes on Fig. I to slide on, to fill up the vacancies there must otherwise
be in the bottom of the hopper. Fig. 23 is one of the boards. Fig. 24 is a
seed box, with one side taken off to shew its internal parts. It consists of a
wheel hollowed a little on its surface, and set with small pieces of tin, see
Fig. 25. Through it goes. a socket, Fig. 26, round at the ends, but the

page_text: middle and inside of it is square. Over the wheel is placed two hair brushes,
one in an oblique, the other in a perpendicular position to the wheel, see
Figs. 27 and 28. Through the latter goes the screw in the collar, Fig. 29,
where a small pin may be seen to go through the screw to keep it from
working out of the collar. When this collar is. placed on the box, see
Fig. 24, the screw reaches through the hole c.in the perpendicular brush, and,
according as it is turned to the right or. left, it draws or forces the brush from
or towards the wheel, which will throw more or less corn as the brush happens
to be placed.
Fig. 30, the side of the box that is taken off. b, the whole in,
which the socket goes. It is generally boxed with a thin. piece of iron, that
the wheel may run true and light. d, a groove for the piece of tin, Fig. 31,
to slide in, see Fig. 24, to prevent the corn from falling out behind the box.
e, Fig. 30, a groove of the same size. When the tin is withdrawn from the
other it may be placed in this, to prevent the corn from descending into the
wheel. Of course any box or boxes may be made to cease sowing the corn
while the others work. f is likewise a groove for a small shoulder u, on the per-
pendicular brush, to slide in, see Fig. 28. Fig. 32 is a piece of tin to be placed
between the perpendicular brush and the wheel, the same as Fig. 31, when it
stops the corn from descending into the wheel; but this has a hole in it that may
be may be made of any size, to contract the passage when very small seeds are
intended to be sown. Fig. 33 is a collar that goes across the bottom of the box
to help hold the. sides together. They are likewise confined by several wood
:screws, see Fig. 22. Fig. 34 is a long square iron rod, with cog wheels fixt on
at each end by nuts and screws. This rod goes through the square brass
gudgeons of all the boxes in the drill. It is seen at c, c, c, c, Fig. 1, as are the
wheels at a, e, at the end of the machine. When the wheel e moves round,
the square rod c, c, c, c, of Fig. 1, turns all the wheels of the boxes, and of
course all the corn or seeds they contain on their surface will be thrown into
the hollow tines placed under them. The three middle boxes of Fig. 1 have
the tin on the hind part of them taken away, the better to shew the wheels.
If the tins were placed in the horizontal groove over the wheels and under the
brush, it is plain, though the wheels would revolve, no corn could be sown
unless Fig. 32 were placed there. Fig. 35 is a spindle towards one end. It
is square, with a small pivot toward the other end at c. It is filed down to
the same dimensions into a kind of groove or hollow. On these two points it
turns. a is a collar kept from sliding towards c, by a pin; b is likewise a
collar. Between these two collars is placed a spiral wire spring, see Fig. 36.
Fig. 37 is a hollow socket or gudgeon. The inside and both ends of the

page_text: outside are square. m, n, are two collars on the square ends of it; but before
they are fixt fast, Fig. 38 is placed on the round part of the gudgeons or
socket between them, so that Fig. 37 will move round in the hole of
Fig. 38. The collars m, n, of Fig. 37, being made fast, it is then placed on
the square end of the spindle, Fig. 35, seen at Fig. 36. On the square end
o, of Fig. 37, is fixt the pinion or cog wheel Fig. 39. This, of course, must
slide or move with the gudgeon on the square end of the spindle; see. Figs. 35
or 36, the gudgeon. When this wheel or pinion is fixt, as it takes up no
more space or room on the spindle than before, and not being so long as the
square on the end of the spindle, there is room for the groove wheel, Fig. 40,
which is fixt on the square end of the spindle by a nut l, that screws on the
pivot m, up close to the square. See Fig. 36; likewise.Fig. 41, where the
spindle, the wheels, with the gudgeon and spiral screw, are all seen together.
The wheels are represented as drawn apart by the iron h; but as the spiral
spring is prevented, by the collar and pin at't, from sliding on the spindle, it
is plain it must have a tendency to throw or force the wheels together. O,
Fig. 1, is a piece of wood made fast to the timber A, A. In the top part of
the wood k is cut a mortice to receive the end of the spindle c, of Fig. 41.
Through the mortice, and over the hollow part of the spindle, is drove a nail
or screw to keep it in its proper place. The iron h, of Fig. 41, seen at Fig. 1,
goes behind the wood O, and rests on a small hook that cannot be seen in this
view of the machine. P, Fig. 1, is a curved piece of wood fixt on to the
timber A, A, and clasped with it by Fig. 8. Through the end m'of the wood
goes a small iron hook, with a 'thumb screw at one end, see Fig. 42. In this
hook is placed the "pivot or small end of the spindle m, Fig. 41, between
the two pieces of wood O and P, of Fig. 1. The spindle wheels, &c. of Fig. 41
are turned by a chain or line that works in the groove wheels d and u of
Fig 1 and 2. The cogs of the pinion wheel 9, Fig. 41, and those of the
wheel e, Fig. 34, are seen to fall into each other in Fig. 1; but they are
placed nearer to or from each other by the thumb screw on the hook, Fig. 42,
seen at m, on the curved piece of wood, stuck with nails or pegs. It is placed
on the inside the hopper occasionally, when any manure is intended to be
sown with the machine that won't readily fall into the boxes, which the pegs or
nails on the wood greatly promote, as they keep whatever is placed 'in the
hopper in a continual motion by their rotation. q is a small pivot that goes
into the head or end of the hopper. The other end has an iron gudgeon-fixt
on it that goes through the head of the hopper. On this gudgeon is fixt the
wheel h, which is turned by the wheel a, Fig. 34, see Fig. 1. This is never

page_text: g
wanted when corn or seed is sown separate, and therefore the wheel h is then
taken off, and the wood, Fig. 43, taken out of the hopper. Fig. 44 is a piece
of wood made fast to the handles K, K, of Fig. 1. Through its center i, on
which it turns from the extremity n, is fixt a wire 1, that is likewise fixt to
the crank on the end of the handle, see Fig. 1. From the other end of the
crank goes a wire that hooks on the iron h, of Fig. 41, seen on the upright
piece of wood 0, Fig. 1. When this wood on the handles is turned on its
center i, so that the point n, on which the wire 7 is fixt, is moved farther from
the crank, the crank must of course turn with it, and detach the two wheels.g
and d, as seen in Fig: 41, and the pinion wheel g will be likewise drawn from
the cog wheel e,
of Fig. 1, so that if the machine was moved or drawn for
ward, the groove wheel d, Fig. 1, would be put in motion by the line or chain
that comes from the groove wheel u, on the cylinder box of iron, see Fig. 2;
but all the wheels: in the boxes and on the hopper would be at rest, and of
course no corn would be sown but when the wood, Fig: 44, on the handle is
turned back again, so that the point n is towards the crank. The spiral wire
spring on the spindle, which had been compressed before, immediately turns
the crank back, and forces the pinion wheel 9 and the groove wheel d toge-
ther; at the same time, the cogs of the wheel g falling into those of e, see
Fig. 1, the wheels in the boxes, and those at the other end of the machine, of
course will be in motion; but they may be instantly stopped again by only
turning the wood on the handle, and the machine will sow no corn, tho' it is
drawn forward. Q, Fig. 1, is a spring to keep up the end i of the leaver, that
it may not draw the pin on the other end out of the notches in the curved
iron R, 'unless when pressed down by the hand for that purpose. A wheel
might easily be placed on the handle to answer the same purpose as the lever.
The machine may be made of different dimensions, and a greater or less num-
ber of boxes, tines or tubes, and hoes used. Likewise different kinds of metal
may be used, or wood and metal substituted for each other, or of wood intirely,
if required to be very light. The machine may be used without the harrow,
and likewise with or without the rods or sharps; but when the rods are taken
away, the horse must be made fast to some of those iron rings, see Fig. 1
and 2, or to the axletree, if it should be thought more .convenient. If a
greater or less number of boxes, tines, or tubes should be used in a machine
of the same dimensions, the only difference is, that the boards b, b, b, b,
Fig. 1, that go .between the boxes will require to be proportionably wide or
narrow.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighteenth day of July, in the
year above written, the aforesaid Samuel Ridge came before our Lord the
King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And also the
Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute
made in the sixth year of the reign of the late King and Queen William and
Mary, and so forth.
Inrolled the said Eighteenth day of July, in the year above mentioned.