AN IMPROVED PLOUGH-CARRIAGE FRAME OR SULKY
Year: 1885

page_text: I, PATRICK HANLON, of Grangeforth, County Carlow, Farmer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention for AN IMPROVED PLOUGH-CARRIAGE FRAME
OR SULKY, to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to an improved plough-carriage frame or sulky,
whereby the operation of ploughing may be carried on in an easier and more.
economical and effectual manner than hitherto, so far as I am aware.
In carrying out my said Invention I form the shaft and beam of two parts, each
of suitable length, and to the latter is attached laterally two separate double-
cranked axles for the wheels. The axle carrying the wheel which precedes the
plough is provided with a vertical sliding apparatus for the purpose of setting the
depth of the plough. This axle is also capable of sliding longitudinally, so that
the said wheel can be, in soft land, moved further in front to escape the clay. The
double crank axle carrying the opposite wheel is pivotted to the beam to facilitate
the raising of the plough from the ground in the manner hereinafter described.
To the framework over this wheel a lever handle is pivotted, which is connected
by lever rods to the axle carrying the wheel underneath. A suitable ratchet wheel
is fixed rigidly to the centre on which the lever handle works; so that by drawing
the lever handle backwards the framework is raised through the intervention of
the lever rods, and, consequently, the plough is lifted out of the ground. A spring.
and pawl arrangement is attached to the lever handle, which engages with the
ratchet wheel, and retains the lever handle in the position to which it may be
drawn. By this arrangement the driver or attendant, who is seated on a suitable
seat, is enabled to raise the plough over the surface of the ground when "rounding'
at headlands, or when it is otherwise desirable to lift the plough free of the ground.
The wheel in question, being placed opposite the weight of the work, takes the
weight off the side plate, and evenly balances the shaft on the horses' necks. This
wheel is not carried in the same transverse line as the one opposite, but moves
about twentytwo inches in the rere of same.
"
Amongst the advantages of my invention may be mentioned the following:-
1. Extreme lightness; being not more than half the weight of other ploughs or
sulkies;
2. Simplicity in construction and cheapness; being only about half as expensive
as other similar machines;
3. Perfection of work done in all kinds of soil; and
4. The leverage can be altered to suit when the driver is either walking or
seated.
1 1
T
1007

page_text: An Improved Plough-carriage Frame or Sulky.
I, PATRICK HANLON, of Grangeforth, County Carlow, Farmer, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED PLOUGH-CARRIAGE FRAME OR
SULKY, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention has reference to an improved plough-carriage frame or sulky,
whereby the operation of ploughing may be carried on in an easier and more
economical and effectual manner than hitherto, so far as I am aware.
In carrying out my said invention I form the shaft and beam of two parts, each
of suitable length, and to the latter is attached laterally two separate double-
cranked axles for the wheels. The axle carrying the furrow wheel, which precedes
the plough, is provided with a vertical sliding apparatus for the purpose of setting
the depth of the plough. This axle is also capable of sliding horizontally forward,
to escape the clay in soft land, and of sliding laterally to regulate breadth of
furrow slice. The double crank axle carrying the opposite wheel is pivotted to
the beam to facilitate the raising of the plough from the ground in the manner
hereinafter described.
To the framework over this wheel a lever handle is pivotted, which is connected
by lever rods to the axle carrying the wheel underneath. A suitable ratchet wheel
is fixed rigidly to the centre, on which the lever handle works, so that by drawing
the lever handle forward, the framework is raised through the intervention of the
lever rods, and, consequently, the plough is lifted out of the ground. A spring and
pawl arrangement is attached to the lever handle, which engages with the ratchet
wheel, and retains the lever in the position to which it may be drawn.
By this arrangement the driver or attendant, who is seated on a suitable seat, or
who can walk after the plough if he thinks fit, is enabled to raise the plough over
the surface of the ground when "rounding" at headlands, or when it is otherwise
desirable. The wheel in question, being placed opposite the weight of the work,
takes the weight off the side plate, and evenly balances the shaft on the horses'
necks.
The accompanying drawings will enable my said invention to be more readily
understood:-Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved plough, showing the rim only
of the near wheel in order that the lever arrangement may be clearly visible; and
fig. 2 is an end view. Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in both views.
A A represents the beam, which is of suitable length to carry the several parts
constituting the complete apparatus; B shows portion of the shaft which is a
separate piece and is secured to the beam by bolts, as shown; C is the furrow
wheel set in an incline, as shown in fig. 2, for the purpose of increasing the "bite"
in the soil. This wheel is carried by the cranked piece a which is secured by straps cc
to a second cranked piece b, which in turn is secured to the beam by a strap d
passing through a longitudinal slot formed in the beam, whereby the distance of
the furrow wheel in advance of the plough can be adjusted. To give additional
transverse rigidity to this angle piece a block e is connected to the beam by an iron
plate e¹ which stretches to the other side of the beam as hereinafter described; and

page_text: through a corresponding longitudinal slot in the block passes the inclined strap d¹.
By this arrangement it will be obvious that (1) the depth of the plough can be
adjusted by altering the position of a to b; (2) the breadth of the furrow slice can
be regulated by the lateral movement of 6; and (3) the distance of the furrow
wheel in advance of the plough can be controlled by the straps & and d. The
wheel D is carried on the double cranked axle f, which is pivotted to the beam
at f1. To the iron plate e¹ already mentioned, is attached a block e², to which is
fixed rigidly the ratchet wheel or disk g, and through the centre of this wheel or
disk is pivotted the cranked lever handle h which is coupled with the axle f by the
link i, so that on the forward movement of the lever handle it is obvious that the
beam, and consequently the plough will be raised from the ground, an arrangement
which facilitates "rounding" at headlands as already described. The spring and
pawl arrangement is shown attached to the lever handle for the purpose of
engaging in the ratchet wheel or disk, and retaining the lever handle in the
position to which it may be drawn or pushed; for, it will be evident, that the
driver may either sit in the seat provided at K, or walk behind the plough as
already mentioned, and in either case have complete control over the lever handle.
E shows a cutter suspended in front of the ploughshare F.
Amongst the advantages of my invention may be mentioned the following:
(1) Extreme lightness; being not more than half the weight of other plough
frames or sulkies-(2) Simplicity in construction, and cheapness; being only
about half as expensive as other similar machines-(3) Perfection of work done in
all kinds of soil; and (4) the leverage can be altered to suit when the driver is
either walking or seated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In the construction of ploughs or sulkies the method of adjusting, laterally,
longitudinally, or vertically, the position of the furrow wheel substantially for the
purpose herein described and set forth.
2. In the construction of ploughs or sulkies the method of hanging the "off,"
or D, wheel by means of a double cranked axle f, for the purpose of raising the
plough clear of the ground substantially as herein described.
3. In ploughs or sulkies, the use of the leverage arrangement, for the purpose,
and in the manner herein set forth.
4. The use and application of ploughs or sulkies constructed, arranged, and
operating in the manner substantially as herein specified and set forth.
Dated this First day of March 1886
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
Agents for Applicant.