IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING THE TURNIP FLY AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS ON GROWING CROPS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Wimball, of Aldermaston, in the County of
Berks, Brick Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING THE TURNIP FLY AND OTHER
DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS ON GROWING CROPS."
Sealed the 7th December 1858, and dated the 7th June 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Wimball at the
Office of the Commissioners. of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th June 1858.
I, HENRY WIMBALL, of Aldermaston, in the County of Berks, Brick
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING THE TURNIP FLY AND
OTHER DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS ON GROWING CROPS," to be as follows, that is to
say-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction, arrangement, and com-
bination of machinery or apparatus to be traversed over growing crops infested
with destructive insects of any kind for the purpose of destroying such insects.
and cousists in the employinent for that purpose of a furnace or fire, carried
by a grating supported on running wheels, so as to be a little above the tops
of the plants to be operated. upon. The fire is supplied with a blast of air
from a fan blower worked from one of the running wheels of the implement;
which blast is directed downwards, so as to blow the smoke on: to the leaves of
the plants. It is further proposed to use sulphur or other suffocating, or

page_text: stifling material, which is constantly supplied in small quantities on to the
burning fuel from a hopper worked by the wheels of the implement.
The after portion of the implement carries a light covering or awning,
extending some distance behind the machine, just above the tops of the plants,
by which means the smoke and suffocating vapours will be kept for some time
in close contact with the plants, and will effectually destroy the insects thereon
without injury to the plants.
For treating plants which are of such a nature as to prevent the possibility
of the implement passing over them, as for example, vines and hop plants, a
flexible fumigating tube may be employed for directing the vapours on to any
desired portion of the plant, the fan drawer from the running wheels being
still retained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Wimball in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
7th December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ITENRY
WIMBALL, of Aldermaston, in the County of Berks, Brick Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry Wimball, Her special license, that I, the said Henry Wimball,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Wimball, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING THE TURNIP FLY AND OTHER DESTRUC-
TIVE INSECTS ON GROWING CROPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Henry Wimball, by, an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Wimball, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction, arrangement, and
combination of machinery or apparatus to be traversed over growing crops
infested with destructive insects of any kind for the purpose of destroying such
insects, and consists in the employment for that purpose of a furnace or fire,
carried by a grating supported on running wheels, so as to be a little above
the tops of the plants to be operated upon. The fire is supplied with a blast
of air from a fan blower, worked from one of the running wheels of the im-
plement, which blast is directed downwards, so as to blow the smoke on to the
leaves of the plants. It is further proposed to use, when found desirable, sul-
pbur or other suffocating or stifling material, which may be constantly supplied
in small quantities on to the burning fuel from a hopper worked by the wheels
of the implement. The after portion of the implement may be fitted with a
light covering or awning extending some distance behind the machine, just
above the tops of the plants, by which means the smoke and suffocating
vapours will be kept for some time in close contact with the plants, and will
effectually destroy the insects thereon without injury to the plants.
For treating plants which are of such a nature as to prevent the possibility
of the implement passing over them, as for example, vines and hop plants, a
flexible fumigating tube may be employed for directing the vapours on to any
desired portion of the plant, the fan blower driven from the running wheels
of the machine being still retained.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall refer to the
several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same letters
of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a longitudinal vertical section of my
apparatus; Figure 2 is a corresponding transverse section of the same taken
through the fire-place; and Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the same taken
immediately above the fire-place. A is a fire-place or grate of any convenient
form, open at the top to receive the fuel, and inclosed at its two sides and
bottom by open grate bars or perforated plates. This fire-place is fitted inside
the framing B of the machine, which consists of a species of wrought-iron box
with the open mouth downwards, mounted on running wheels C, C, and drawn
over the infected crops by a horse in the shafts D, which should be fitted on

page_text: one side of the box, as shewn in plan, so that the horse, during its progress,
will not disturb the insects, which will remain quietly upon the leaves of the
plants until they are brought under the influence of the smoke and hot coals
in the grate A, which will effectually destroy the insects without hurting the
plants. E is a fan blower driven from one of the front running wheels, the
object of which is to draw the smoke and hot air along the passage F, and
direct them downwards on to the plants, as shewn by the arrows. A second
fan blower G, driven from one of the hind running wheels, serves to supply a
constant current of air to the fire, and also to force any insects which may pass
beneath the fire by jumping off the plants into the back part of the grate, as
also indicated by the arrows. The top or sides of the box is or are fitted with
fire doors, as at H, for feeding the fire with fuel; and when it is found
desirable to employ sulphur or other suffocating vapour-producing material, I
propose to place a feeding hopper above the fire-place, worked or vibrated in
any convenient manner from any of the running wheels, so that a constant
supply of sulphur or other suffocating material may be fed on to the burning
coals below. The sides and back of the box B should be carried as low down
as practicable, for the purpose of confining the smoke and vapours, and keep-
ing them in contact with the plants during the passage of the machine. The
front of the box is gradually inclined inwards, as at K, by which means the
heads of the plants will be gently depressed, and the insects disturbed as little
as possible before they are subjected to the action of the fire, smoke, and
vapours, otherwise they would jump or fly away before entering the machine,
and settle on the contiguous plants without being destroyed. By connecting
a hose or flexible pipe with the box B, the destroying vapours may be readily
directed on to tall plants, such as vines or hops, for the purpose of freeing
them from the fly or other destructive insects.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the prin-
ciples or main features of my said Invention; but what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,
First, the general construction, arrangement, and combination of apparatus
or eflecting the destruction of insects hurtful to vegetation, as herein-before
described.
Second, the application and use of a portable fire carried in a box mounted

page_text: on wheels, and fitted with fan blowers, for the purpose of destroying insects
destructive to vegetation, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Wimball, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Third day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-eight.
HENRY WIMBALL. (L.S.)