IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURN-WREST OR RIGHT-AND-LEFT PLOUGHS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Sleep, of Croft Hole, in the County of
Cornwall, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
TURN-WREST OR RIGHT-AND-LEFT PLOUGHS."
aled the 8th December 1876, and dated the 12th June 1876.
"IMPROVE-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Sleep at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th June 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY SLEEP, of Croft Hole, in the County of Cornwall.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURN-WREST OR RIGHT-AND-LEFT PLOUGHS."
The object of this Invention is to simplify the construction and to increase the
efficiency and durability of the implements known as " turn-wrest' or "right-and-
left" ploughs, and by which, whether working to or from the starting end of the
field, all the furrow slices are turned in the same direction, neither ridges nor open
furrows being left.
"
According to this Invention the plough is constructed on the steam or balance-
plough principle, having two beams which are in one continuous piece, the ends
being made angular for the purpose of taking wider or narrower furrows, and the
bodies being moved along the angular portion of the beams, which latter, whether
at work or otherwise, are fastened by means of two or more bolts. The coulters
are attached to a second bevelled beam, thus enabling the two beams to bear
the strain.
Ploughs of the class to which this Invention is applied, as usually constructed,
are liable to topple or fall when used on hill-side land. In order to obviate this
disadvantage a furrow wheel of any suitable height is used, and which, instead
of running to guide the furrow, runs off against the furrow slice last turned when
ploughing two or more furrows, thus preventing the toppling or falling of the
plough. For the furrow guide a smaller wheel or land guide is used, which runs
or slides on the inside of the larger wheel in the furrow against the land to regulate
the size of furrow required. The before-mentioned larger wheel is hung to a lever
which passes from the handles or stilts to the centre of the plough, a moveable
furrow wheel being thus obtained. The lever passes on to and beyond the centre
of the plough for the purpose of carrying the furrow wheel in advance thereof.
In the centre of the plough in the lever, hung on the axle, is placed an universal
joint, which is capable of turning forwards or backwards, or to the right or left,
for the purpose of steering or guiding the implement by means of the lever. An
[Price Gd.]

page_text: axle passes through the centre of the plough beams and also through the universal
The lever passes
joint, and to which axle the before-mentioned lever is attached.
from one end of the plough to the other, and by its means the attendant is able
to bring the furrow wheel in advance of the land wheel alternately. For the
purpose of drawing the plough a draught part is used which has one, two, or more
slots therein, and passes from right to left, up or down, as may be required, on
the main axle. A circular piece is applied either under or over the beam or beams,
or on the draught part, to form a stop thereto. The slots are used for the purpose
of giving facility for the turning of the plough at the headlands, the draught part
becoming shortened for the purpose of passing the draught under the main axle
at headlands. When the draught becomes tight it is lengthened as required.
When the plough is at work the draught part forms a rigid bar, thus preventing
the elevated plough from over-balancing or raising it out of the ground when at
work, firmness and steadiness being thus given to the plough. To the draught
part a wheel or wheels may be attached to run in advance of the plough, the same
passing alternately under the main axle by means of the slotted or flexible draught
part which forms when in work the rigid bar.
By means of the arrangements before described the implement is drawn steadily
through the ground, whilst the elevated plough has no tendency to raise the lower
plough which is at work out of its position in the stiffest soils.
In order to pulverize and lighten the soil, two or more knives are fixed to cach
mould plate by suitable means.
This Invention is applicable to single, double, and multiple furrow ploughs
constructed on the turn-wrest or one-way principle, whether actuated by steam
or other motive power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Sleep in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
December 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY SLEEP, of Croft Hole, in the County of Cornwall IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURN-WREST OR RIGHT-AND-LEFT PLOUGHS."
"3
The object of this Invention is to simplify the construction and to increase the
efficiency and durability of the implements known as "turn-wrest or "right-and-
left" ploughs, and by which, whether working to or from the starting end of the
field, all the furrow slices are turned in the same direction, neither ridges nor open
furrows being left.
According to this Invention the plough is constructed on the steam or balance
plough principle, having two beams which are in one continuous piece, the ends
being made angular for the purpose of taking wider or narrower furrows, and
the bodies being moved along the angular portion of the beams, which latter,
whether at work or otherwise, are fastened by means of two or more bolts. The
coulters are attached to a second bevelled beam, thus enabling the two beams to
bear the strain.
Ploughs of the class to which this Invention is applied, as usually constructed, are
liable to topple or fall when used on hill-side land. In order to obviate this
disadvantage a furrow wheel of any suitable height is used, and which, instead of
running to guide the furrow, runs off against the furrow slice last turned when
ploughing two or more furrows, thus preventing the toppling or falling of the
plough. For the furrows guide a small wheel or land guide is used, which
runs or guides on the inside of the larger wheel in the furrow against the land to
regulate the size of the furrow required, and which is hung to the main axle.
The
before-mentioned larger wheel is hung to a lever which passes from the handles or
stilts to the centre of the plough, a movable furrow wheel being thus obtained.
The lever passes on to and beyond the centre of the plough for the purpose of
carrying the furrow wheel in advance thereof. In the centre of the plough in the

page_text: lever, hung on the axle, is placed a universal joint, which is capable of turning
forwards or backwards, or to the right or left, for the purpose of steering or guiding
the implement by means of the lever. An axle passes through the centre of the
plough beams and also through the universal joint, and to which axle the before-
mentioned lever is attached. The lever passes from one end of the plough to the
other, and by its means the attendant is able to bring the furrow wheel in advance
of the land wheel alternately. For the purpose of drawing the plough a draught
part is used which has one, two, or more slots therein, and passes from right to left,
up or down, as may be required, on the main axle. A circular piece is applied either
under or over the beam or beams or on the draught part to form a stop thereto.
The slots are used for the purpose of giving facility for the turning of the plough
at the headlands, the draught part becoming shortened for the purpose of passing
the draught under the main axle at headlands. When the draught becomes tight it
is lengthened as required. When the plough is at work the draught part forms a
rigid bar, thus preventing the elevated plough of over-balancing or raising the
working plough out of the ground when at work, formness and steadiness being
thus given to the plough. To the draught part a wheel or wheels may be attached
to run in advance of the plough, the same passing alternately under the main axle
by means of the slotted or flexible draught part which forms when in work the
rigid bar.
By means of the arrangements before described the implement is drawn steadily
through the ground, whilst the elevated plough has no tendency to raise the lower
plough which is at work out of its position in the stiffest soils.
This Invention is also applicable to single, double, and multiple furrow ploughs
constructed on the turn-wrest or one-way principle, whether actuated by steam or
other motive power.
And in order that this my said Invention may be more fully understood and
readily carried into effect I will now proceed to describe my said Invention, and
in what manner the same may be carried into practical effect, reference being had
to the Sheet of Drawings hercunto annexed, similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts where such parts appear or are seen at each of the Figures
respectively.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved double-furrow plough in working
position.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the long beam carrying the two bind ploughs, one
right the other left, the furrow wheel and the guide wheel with comb or segmental
piece for regulating the draught, also the jointed lever. Figure 3 is a plan view of
same showing the hake or slotted draught part.
Figure 4 is the bar or axle shewing the furrow guide wheel and the land wheel
attached thereto.
Figure 5 is the guide wheel and standard.
Figure 6 is the slotted hake or draught part.
Figure 7 is the short beam carrying the two front plows and shewing the
modification of the slotted hake or draught part annexed thereto.
Figure 8 is the jointed lever and the large furrow wheel.
Figure 9 is an axle or cross bar showing the slotted draught part with wheels
attached thereunto. Figure 10 is a side view, and Figure 11 a plan of the same.
The first part of my said Invention relates chiefly to the furrow wheel of the
plough, which is so arranged that I use a second or guide wheel independently, that
is to say, a wheel running in an oblique direction in the angle of the furrow, thus
enabling the primary or furrow wheel to run off against the furrow slice last turned
when ploughing two or more furrows. Or the said furrow wheel may run in the
middle of the furrow or in the angle of the furrow against the land and so act as
the furrow guide. In other words, I apply it so as to run in any part of the furrow
whether against the furrow slice last turned or homo against the land, or in any
other suitable part of the furrow. This furrow wheel is hung to a jointed lever,
and by shifting the jointed lever alternately, from right to left, or vice versa, the

page_text: furrow wheel is caused to take an advanced position from and beyond the centre
of the plough. In this manner a movable furrow wheel is obtained, and this
obviates the disadvantage of the plough being upon a balance and thus prevents
the overhanging weight from raising it out of the ground when at work, as well
as from falling down an incline when ploughing hilly land. I also steer or guide
the plough by the same jointed levers and movable pinion wheel, as before described.
This is accomplished by means of a round or other shaped bar or lever A of any
suitable length and having a universal joint at the lower end carrying the bar or
axle B. This axle passes through the beams D by means of a boss E, which is fitted
with a set screw or screws to keep the said bar or axle in any desired position.
The wheel F being moved as required along the bar or axle B for the regulation of
the pinion.
It will be observed that the jointed lever A when raised from right to left, or vice
versa, as indicated by the dotted line, brings the wheel G in advance of the centre
of the plough. The backward end of this lever A rests on a retaining catch, which
has teeth or notches formed on its upper surface or laterally extending arm, and
this contrivance H is attached to the beams or to the stilts by a clip, either of
which is made adjustable for the purpose of raising or lowering the furrow wheel G
as may be required.
The arrangement I employ for obtaining a slotted or adjustable bar or draught
part is as follows:-At Figure 3 the draught part I has one or more slotted holes
inade in it, and the bar or axle B passes through these holes and is bolted together,
as shewn more clearly at Figure 6. Thus the draught part I embraces each side of
the comb or segmental piece K, also the beam or beams D, and passes from right to
left to and from the stopping pins L, which form a stop to the draught part I at any
desired height, thus giving pressure to the plough that is at work and so preventing
the elevated plough from over-balancing the one that is at work. In this way the
utmost firmness and steadiness is given to the implement that for the time being is
tilling the land. The comb or segmental piece L is applied either under or over the
beam or beams D, and is fastened thereto by two or more set screws or bolts. The
segmental piece L has holes made in it to admit of the slotted or adjustable draught
part I, being raised or lowered as may be required.
It will be understood that I apply a wheel or wheels slotted or adjustable to the
draught part I, as shewn at Figure 9, the same passing alternately under the main
bar or axle B by means of the adjustable draught part I so that it forms when in
work a rigid bar.
Figure 10 represents the tee ends of the adjustable or slotted draught part e, in
these tee ends there are two slotted holes e, and two or more bolts pass through
the holes and are held rigidly by two or more nuts, as the case may be, as shewn in
Figure 11.
These bolts are used for regulating the height or other mode of draught,
and as such draught passes alternately under the beam or beams D the bolts rest
in the beam to form a stop thereto, as shewn at Figure 7. The tee ends e pass from
right to left, as shewn by the dotted lines, and rest in the beam or beams D by means
of the bolts as before described.
The second part of this Invention relates chiefly to the slotted or adjustable
draught part. To this draught part I, I adapt a wheel or wheels, as the case may
be, such wheel or wheels to run in advance of the centre of the plough when in
work and passing alternately under the main bar or axle B by means of the
adjustable draught part I or any merc modification of the same." The slotted or
adjustable draught part I forins when in work a rigid bar, that is, the arrangement
of the draught part enables the implement to be drawn steadily through the ground
whilst the elevated plough has no tendency whatever to raise the lower or working
plough out of its working position in the soil.
The arrangement employed for applying the wheel or wheels to the draught are
as follows: Figures 9, 10, and 12 shew the wheels in different positions, and that
they take the weight off the plough, the object of this arrangement is to bring the
draught and the wheel or wheels up to and beyond the centre of the plough that

page_text: is at work, and thus cause the plough to be drawn steadily through the ground
whilst the elevated plough has no tendency to lift the lower or working plough out
of the soil.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is or may be used and carried into practical effect, I declare that what I claim
as new and desire to secure as my improvements in turn-wrest or right-and-left
ploughs, applicable to single furrow, double furrow, and triple turn-wrest or right-
and-left ploughs, is-
Firstly. The general arrangement, adaptation, and combination of the mechanical
parts forming an improved "turn-wrest" or right-and-left plough, constructed on
what is known as the "balance plough" and hitherto confined to steam ploughing,
and in which the plough herein-before described is tilted over and reversed at the
headlands, substantially as herein-before described and shown, or any mere modification
of the same.
Secondly. The arrangement and mode of constructing the independent and adjust-
able furrow wheel and its combination with the jointed lever, which forms a
counterweight to the working plough, and so counteracts the overhanging weight of
the uplifted plough, as herein-before described and shewn, or any mere modification
thereof.
Thirdly. The arrangement and combination of mechanical parts forming the
jointed lever, as more particularly shown in Figures 2 and 8 and herein-before
described, whereby a sufficient degree of overweight is obtained and thrown upon
the working plough so as to secure the steadiness and firmness of the same, as
herein-before described and shewn, or any mere mechanical equivalent thereof.
Fourthly. The general arrangement and construction of the slotted or adjustable
draught part of the plough, as herein-before described and shewn, or any mere
inodification of the same.
Fifthly. The general arrangement and construction of the "comb" or segmental
piece whether fitted above or below the beam or beams or to the draught part, as
herein-before described or shewn, or any mere modification of the same.
Sixthly. The use and application of the secondary or guide wheel which is
arranged to run in an oblique direction, together with its combination of mechanical
parts, substantially as herein-before described and shown, or any mere modification
of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Sleep, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM HENRY SLEEP. (LS.)