IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Edwards, of the firm of Edwards and Co:,--
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PLOUGHS" a communication to him from abroad by Simon Boreau, of
T
T
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1883.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co:-, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the county of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS [a communication to him from abroad
by Simon Boreau, of Neauphle-le-Château, Seine-et-Oise, in the Republic of
France]
This invention has for its object a novel method of constructing a plough in
such manner that it can be used as an ordinary plough, or as a plough with
fore-carriage; so that it can either turn up the earth on its right side only like an
ordinary plough, or on its right and left side alternately like the "turn-wrest
plough.
"
Like other ploughs constructed in methods ordinarily heretofore well-known and
practised, it is composed essentially of a double body symmetrical as regards a
transverse plane through the beam.
This body supports the two shares and the fore parts of the symmetrical breasts.
The back parts are capable of moving round a slightly inclined axis. They can be
replaced when desired by different sized breasts according to the character of the
land. The plough constructed in the manner hereinafter described is adapted
especially to replace the beavy turnwrest ploughs heretofore used which are
expensive and almost impossible to use on steep land. It may also be used to
turn up the earth always at the same side of the beam. The beam itself can
be arranged so that it is rigidly attached to the forecarriage or made moveable
round its axis in the crossbar of the forewheels, and this method of arrangement
may be applied either to the novel form of plough or to ordinary ploughs.
The beam is formed of two longitudinal iron bars or plates of suitable shape and
size held together at a sufficient distance apart by cross stays and bolts. The body
of the plough carries the breasts and two shares pointing in opposite directions but
both upon one side of the body, and has at its upper part a horizontal disc which
can turn horizontally round a central bolt passing through it and through a similar
disc firmly fixed below the beam of the plough.

page_text: The disc upon the body has two opposite projections, upon its, circumference
either of which as desired can be engaged in and held by a moveable staple or
clip the upper end of which turns upon a transverse bolt firmly fixed to the beam.
The coulter in front of the share also turns upon a transverse bolt in the beam
of the plough and is prolonged upward so as to form a handle whilst below the bolt
it is jointed by strong plates to the staple or clip last described.
If therefore the upper handle be drawn back the clip is disengaged from the
projection upon the disc, and the latter together with the body and the breasts and
shares can be turned until the opposite projection is in a position to be caught and
held by the clip when the handle is released, the latter being drawn forward by a
strong spring. An inclined cam upon the disc holds back the clip until one or
other of the projections is in its proper position to be caught. The points of the
shares are adjusted so that when the plough is at work the one in operation is
slightly at one side of the coulter so as to give the necessary width of furrow.
A hinged handle is connected to the upper end of the central bolt which carries
and turns with the body as described and can be used as a lever to turn the latter
half round when desired in the manner described.
The action of the apparatus described, which must be operated at the end of
every furrow, is as follows:-The handle of the coulter is drawn back so as to
disengage the clip, and the body of the plough is then turned round by the foot of
the ploughman and by the hinged handle last described, the cam keeping back the
clip until the body has turned half round when the spring draws forward the
handle and forces the clip upon the second projection and the body of the plough
is held firmly shut. The hinged handle is then for greater security turned down
upon one or other side of a stud upon the beam of the plough. The back parts of
the breasts moving on an inclined axis automatically take their proper position at
ench change by the action of the earth upon them as soon as the horses begin to
move forward. It will be seen that the shares turn up the earth either on the
right or on the left of the beam, by turning round the double body which carries
them. If, therefore, the plough is turning up a furrow on the right side of the
beam, to return in the same furrow turning up on the left side it is only necessary
to release the clip and turn the double body round in the way described.
The handles of the plough are fixed upon the back end of the beam by a
transverse bolt round which they can move vertically and curved projections at
their ends are provided with a series of holes into either of which a pin can be
fixed so as to. adjust them at any desired height.
In order to render the plough either a swing plough by allowing the beam to
turn round independently of the fore carriage, or on the other hand to fix it rigidly
to such fore carriage; and also to alter and regulate the inclination from the
horizontal at which the plough is working, a strong vertical lever is jointed to the
beam behind the horizontal socket on the fore carriage through which the beam
passes and turns, and the upper end of this lever is pressed by a spring into notches
or catches in slides sliding in a transverse frame or guide fixed across the upper
part of the fore carriage.
The lateral position of the notches or catches can be varied by means of transverse
screws passing through them and fitted with handles, and the notches are themselves
formed in pieces turning in the slides so that they can adapt themselves to the
varying angle of the lever.
A handle turning upon a centre is arranged in a convenient position at the other
end of the plough and is connected to the lever just described by a rod or cord, se
that when the handle is pulled it draws back and disengages the lever, and the
beam of the plough is left free. The handle can be held back by a catch as long
as desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edmund Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th November 1883.
"
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co:-, Patent Agents and
Engineers of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS (A communication to me from abroad
by Simon Boreau of Neauphle-le-Château, Seine-et-Oise in the Republic of France)
This invention has for its object a novel method of constructing ploughs in such
manner that they can be used as ordinary ploughs or as ploughs with fore
carriages; so that they can either turn up the earth on their right side only as in
the ordinary plough, or their right and left side alternately as in the "turn-wrest
plough.
"
Like other ploughs constructed in methods ordinarily heretofore well known
and practised, the improved plough is composed essentially of a double body,
symmetrically arranged as regards a transverse plane through the beam-This
body supports the two shares and the fore parts of the symmetrical breasts.
The back parts are capable of moving round a slightly inclined axis. They ca
be replaced when desired by different sized breasts according to the character of
the land. The plough constructed in the manner hereinafter described is adapted
especially to replace the heavy turnwrest ploughs heretofore used which are
expensive and almost impossible to use on steep land. It may also be used to turn
up the earth always on the same side of the beam. The beam itself can be
arranged so that it is rigidly attached to the fore-carriage or made moveable
round its axis in the crossbar of the forewheels, and this method of arrangement
inay be applied either to the nevel form of plough or to ordinary ploughs.
The beam is formed of two longitudinal iron bars or plates of suitable shape and
size held together at a sufficient distance apart by cross-stays and bolts. The
body of the plough carries the breasts and two shares pointing in opposite
directions but both upon one side of the body, which has at its upper part a
horizontal disc or plate which can turn horizontally round a central bolt passing
through it, and through a similar disc firmly fixed below the beam of the plough.
The disc upon the body has two opposite projections upon its circumference either
of which as desired can be engaged in and held by a moveable staple or clip the
upper end of which turns upon a transverse bolt firmly fixed to the beam.
The coulter in front of the share also turns upon a transverse bolt in the beam
of the plough and is prolonged upward so as to form a handle whilst below the
bolt it is jointed by strong connecting plates to the staple or clip last described.
If therefore the upper handle of the coulter be drawn back the clip is disengaged
from the projection upon the disc, and the latter together with the body and the
breasts and shares can be turned until the opposite projection is in a position to be
caught and held by the clip, when the handle is released, the latter being drawn
forward and retained by a strong spring. An inclined cam upon the disc holds
back the clip until one or other of the projections is in its proper position to be
caught by it.
The points of the shares are adjusted so that when the plough is at work the
one in operation is slightly at one side of the coulter so as to give the necessary
width of furrow. A hinged handle is connected to the upper end of the central
bolt which carries and turns with the revolving body as described and can
be used as a lever to turn the latter half round when desired in the manner
described.
:
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention. Figure 1 is a

page_text: plan of the centre of the plough in a position to turn up the earth on the left of
the beam. Figure 2 is a similar view, but shewing the plough arranged to turn
up the earth on the right of the beam. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the
revolving body and shares of the plough, and figure 8 is an elevation on a smaller
scale of the entire plough. a, a, is the beam formed of two flat bars attached
together. b, b, is the body of the plough upon which are fitted the breasts and
the shares c, c. The upper part of the body b is terminated by a disc b¹ turning
round a bolt d, under a corresponding disc b² fixed to the beam. The disc b' has
two projections e, e, capable of engaging with and being held by the clip g the
upper end of which is pivotted to the beam. i, i, is a curved plate or cam which
keeps the catch g away from the plate until one or other of the projections e, e, is
in its proper place to be caught by it. h is the coulter of the plough having a
handle k which also serves as a reins carrier at its upper end, and turning upon
a centre z, a spring being arranged so as to press the catch against the
projections e, e, by means of connecting links y.
The action of the apparatus described, which must be operated at the end of
every furrow is as follows:-The handle % of the coulter his drawn back in the
direction of the arrow a' so as to disengage the clip g and the body b of the
plough is then turned round by the foot of the ploughman and the hinged handle j
last described upon the bolt d, the cams i, i, keeping back the clip g until the
body b has been turned half round when the spring draws forward the handle /
and forces the clip g upon the second projection e and the body of the plough bis
held firmly fixed in its position. The hinged handle; is then for greater security
turned down upon one or other side of a stud upon the beam of the plough as
shewn in figure 4. The back parts of the breasts moving on an inclined axis
automatically take their proper position at each change by the action of the earth
upon them as soon as the horses begin to move forward. It will be seen that
the shares turn up the earth either on the right or on the left of the beam, by
turning round the double body b which carries them. If therefore the plough is
turning up a furrow on the right side of the beam, to return in the same furrow
turning up on the left side it is only necessary to release the clip g and turn the
double body b round in the way described.
The handles of the plough are fixed upon the back end of the beam by a
transverse bolt m, as shewn in figures 5 and 8, round which they can move
vertically and curved projections p at their ends are provided with a series of
holes, into either of which a pin can be fixed so as to adjust them at any desired
.height.
In order to render the plough either a swing plough by allowing the beam to
turn round, independently of the fore carriage, or on the other hand to fix it
rigidly to such fore carriage; and also to alter and regulate the inclination from
the horizontal at which the plough is working, the novel arrangement in figure 6
is used, in which a strong vertical lever q is jointed to the beam behind the
horizontal socket on the fore carriage through which the beam passes and turns,
as shewn in figure 8, and the upper end of this lever is pressed by a spring into
notches or catches c, c', in slides 8, 8¹, sliding in a transverse frame or guide o fixed
across the upper part of the fore carriage.
The lateral position of the notches or catches can be varied by means of
transverse screws t, t, passing through them and fitted with handles u, u, and the
notches are themselves formed in pieces turning in or screwed into the slides (as
shewn at c in figure 7) so that they can adapt themselves to the varying angle of
the lever when the plough is on an inclined surface, that is to say when one of
the wheels is on lower ground than the other.
A handle w turning upon a centre is arranged in a convenient position into the
other end of the plough and is connected to the lever just described by a rod or
cord v, so that when the handle is pulled it draws back and disengages the lever,
and the beam of the plough is left free. The bandle w can be held back by a
catch as long as desired.

page_text: Having now described the invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim :-
First, the combination of the frames a, the plates b1, b2, the bolt d and handle j,
the catches e, e, cam i, i, clip g, hinged coulter and spring x, all arranged and
operating substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn in the drawing.
Also, in combination with the frames a, and revolving breast b, the handles
turning upon pivots m and provided with adjustable holes at p so that their
height can be adjusted as desired, substantially as described and shewn in the
drawing. Also, the combination of the pivotted lever q, fitting into notches c, c¹,
the slides 8, 8, franie o, screws t, t¹, and spring arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn in figures 6, 7, and 8.
Also, in combination with the pivotted lever q so arranged, the cord or rod v
and the handle w by which the lever q can be held by or released from the
notches c, c', substantially as described and shewn in figures 6, 7, and 8.
Also, the general arrangement and combination of the several parts forming the
improved plough substantially as described and shewn in the drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Edwards, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 29th day of November in the year of our Lord 1883.