IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TILLING LAND BY STEAM POWER
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Percival Everitt and Thomas Cooper, both of Great
Ryburgh, in the County of Norfolk, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TILLING LAND BY STEAM POWER."
Sealed the 28th February 1879, and dated the 7th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Percival Everitt and
Thomas Cooper at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th
September 1878.
PERCIVAL EVERITT and THOMAS COOPER, both of Great Ryburgh, in the County
of Norfolk, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TILLING LAND BY
STEAM POWER."
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved construction of snatch block which
is capable of being traversed along the road to its work. The snatch block consists
of a frame made of bar iron bent at its rear end into the form of a triangle, and
continued forward to form a forked bearing for a roller. Between the fork and the
triangle, the frame is fitted with a stud pin for receiving the guide pulley, around
which the hauling rope from the engine passes. Mounted on the triangular portion
of the frame is a transverse cranked axle to which is fitted a pair of travelling
wheels. At the rear of the frame or base of the triangle, claws or tines are fitted
for entering the earth and taking a firm hold of the ground. The travelling wheels
when in use, hold these tines out of action, their crank shaft being locked by a pawl
and ratchet wheel or their equivalent. When however the crank shaft is unlocked;
the tension on the rope will, cause the wheels to yield, and allow the tines to drop
and enter the ground.
The roller in front of the snatch block frame serves to
prevent the front part of the frame of the snatch block from dipping into the
ground, and thus converting the frame into a lever for lifting out the tines.
When it is required to shift the snatch block, the travelling wheels are turned
over from the back position to the front, and the drag of the hauling rope will then
cause the wheels through their cranked shaft to lift the tines clear of the ground.

page_text: As a modification of this arrangement, we propose to fit the tines to the crank
shaft, and they will thus be raised and lowered by the direct action of that shaft.
The Invention relates, secondly, to travelling anchors for shifting the cultivator at
the end of each "bout," and bringing it into position for commencing the next
furrow. In this arrangement we cause the draught rope when it has brought the
cultivator to the end of its bout to act as a draught rope on the anchor, and move
the anchor along the headland. We also avail ourselves of this movement of the
anchor to plough the headland, and for this purpose we fit the anchor frame with a
pair of coulters, providing swivelling blocks to receive them, which blocks will
enable the coulters to be turned completely round in a vertical plane.
The anchor frame is provided with travelling wheels to facilitate its transference
from place to place, and with a guide pulley for receiving the hauling rope. This
hauling rope runs through an eye on the frame in rear of the pulley, and the rope
is provided with an elastic stop, which, when it comes in contact with the eye on
the anchor frame, will form a temporary connection therewith, and.drag the anchor
along the headland. To ensure this action of the hauling rope upon the anchor
only when the cultivator has completed a bout, the anchor is caused to offer a
greater resistance to the hauling rope than the cultivator, and for this purpose it is
fitted with coulters so constructed as to offer greater resistance to the ground than
the tines or coulters of the cultivator. The anchor coulters we form with a heel,
and the coulter blocks we so fit to the frame as to permit of their being locked
when the coulters have attained their vertical position in the ground; by simply
unlocking these blocks, the coulters will be free to rise out of the ground under the
drag of the hauling rope, and they may then be lifted and retained in an elevated
position to allow of the anchor being moved on its travelling wheels. By throwing
over the coulters, their heels will be brought in contact with the ground, and when
tension is put on the hauling rope, the coulters will be caused to dip and enter once
more into the ground. When the anchor has been advanced the requisite distance
on the headland, the traverse of the hauling rope will be reversed, and the anchor
remaining stationary will serve as an ordinary anchor to guide the slack rope.
As a guide to the engine driver, we fit the anchor with a semaphore or other signal
which is brought into view by the action of the stop on the hauling rope. So soon
therefore as this signal appears in sight, the engine driver will know that the
cultivator has completed a bout, and he will continue the action on the hauling rope
to move forward the anchor, until a signal from the man on the cultivator warns
him to stop the progress of the anchor and reverse the engine.
The Invention. relates, lastly, to a re-arrangement of the winding drums on the
engine. We now propose to mount on each side of the boiler a winding drum,
setting them in vertical planes on stud axles, and to connect these drums by means
of gearing with the crank shaft on the top of the boiler. The ropes from these
drums will run in lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of the engine, and the
width of the engine will not be increased.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Percival Everitt and Thomas Cooper in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th March 1879.
PERCIVAL EVERITT and THOMAS COOPER, both of Great Ryburgh, in the County
of Norfolk, Engineers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TILLING LAND BY
STEAM POWER."
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved construction of snatch block which
is capable of being traversed along the roads to its work.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 shews the snatch block in
plan view; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the snatch block in its holding position, and
Fig. 3 is a side elevation shewing the snatch block in a position for travelling. It
consists of a frame A made of bar iron bent at its rear end into the form of a
triangle, and continued forward to form a forked bearing for a roller B. Between
the fork and the triangle, the frame is fitted with a stud pin C for receiving a guido
pulley D, around which the hauling rope from the engine is passed. Mounted on
the triangular portion of the frame is a transverse cranked axle E, to which is fitted
a pair of travelling wheels F. At the rear of the frame or base of the triangle,
claws or tines G, G, G, are fitted for entering the earth and taking a firm hold of
the ground. The travelling wheels when in use hold these tines out of action, as
shewn in Fig. 3, their cranked shaft being locked to secure them in the working
position by a pawl on the framing A taking into a ratchet wheel H keyed on the
crank shaft. When however the crank shaft is unlocked, the tension put on the
hauling rope will draw the tines into the ground, the attendant can then lift the
wheels out of the way, and secure them in the position shewn at Fig. 2. The roller
B in front of the snatch block frame serves to prevent the front part of the frame of
the snatch block from dipping into the ground, and thus converting the frame into
a lever for lifting out the tines.
When it is required to shift the snatch block, the travelling wheels are turned
over from the back position to the front, and the drag of the hauling rope will then
cause the wheels through their cranked shaft to lift the tines clear of the ground.
The cranked axle may then be locked in the position shewn at Fig. 3, when it
will be ready for removal to a new position; the roller B and wheels F, F, then
serve as carrying wheels.
As a modification of this arrangement, we substitute for the roller B and its
forked bearing a hinged frame which carries the guide pulley D, and we fit the tines
to the cranked shaft instead of to the framing, the tines will thus be raised and
lowered by the direct action of the cranked shaft.
This modification is shewn in plan view at Fig. 4, and in side elevation at Fig. 5,
which represent the pulley frame B connected to the framing A, by a hinged joint
C, which will allow of the pulley D adjusting itself to any desired angle. The
cranked axle E is fitted with sockets for the reception of the tines G, G, G. When
the tines are in the ground, the travelling wheels F, F, will be in the raised position
of Fig. 5. In order to withdraw the tines, it is only necessary to turn the wheels
over to the dotted position at Fig. 5, and on locking the cranked axle by the pawle
and toothed wheel provided for the purpose, the snatch block will be ready for
travelling.
The Invention relates, secondly, to travelling anchors for shifting the cultivator
at the end of each "bout," and bringing it into position for recommencing the work.
In our improved anchors we cause the draught rope, when it has brought the culti-
vator to the end of its bout, to act as a draught rope on the anchor, and move the
anchor along the headland.
The means for effecting this object we will now proceed to describe, reference
•

page_text: being had to Sheet II. of the Drawings, where Fig. 6 is a plan view of our improved
anchor; Fig. 7, a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 8, an elevation of the back end
of the travelling anchor."
j
'A, A, is the frame of the anchor composed for the most part of angle iron, with
radius arms for carrying the stud pin of the anchor pulley.B. The frame is fitted.
at its opposite ends with transverse axles C, C¹, for receiving travelling wheels,
which, when the anchor is prepared for work, are removed and replaced by disc
wheels D, D, which enter the ground and form a resistance to the lateral pull of the
draught rope. This rope (shewn at E) runs through a slotted horizontal lever F
pivotted to the rear end of the frame A. To prevent friction of the rope, this lever
is fitted with horizontal and vertical antifriction rollers f, f, around its longitudinal
slot. Attached to the rear end of the lever F is a fork G which embraces the
sliding clutch G¹ on the hinder axle C. This clutch slides on a square on its axle,
and under the action of a coiled spring. Glocks on to a fixed clutch carried by
the framing A. By this means all tendency of the axle to rotate is destroyed.
Fitted to the axle C¹ are sockets to carry tines H, H, which are intended to enter
the ground and resist the direct pull of the hauling rope, until the tilling implement
has reached the end of its bout, at which time the anchor will be required to move
forward and take up a new position. The draught rope we provide with an clastic
stop (hereafter described), which, when a bout is completed, strikes the lever F,
causing it to withdraw the clutch G¹, and unlock the axle C. The anchor, will
then be free to respond to the forward drag of the draught rope, the disc wheels
moving forward in the ground, and the tines revolving with the axle, until one or
other set takes up a position in the ground at the moment that the engine is
reversed to work the cultivator in the opposite direction. This reversing of the
engine will release the lever F' from the pull of the draught rope, and allow the
spring G2 to come into action and lock the axle C', the tilling operation will then
proceed as before.
Figures 9, 10, and 11, Sheet II., shew in plan and in side and end elevation a
modified form of this anchor, in which the draught rope is caused to unlock the
hind axle C¹ by the rocking of a swinging frame through which the rope passes.
In these Figures, F is the swinging frame fitted with antifriction rollers f for the
draught rope to run over. The fulcrum rod F¹ of this frame is carried by brackets
A*.of the framing A, and pendent from this fulcrum rod is a short stop lever F*,
which, by coming into contact with pins or projections on a disc C* keyed to the
axle C', will lock that axle, and prevent its rotating under the drag of the hauling
rope. The axle C' is fitted as before described with tines for taking hold of the
ground and presenting a firm resistance to the advance of the anchor.
When however at the conclusion of a "bout" the elastic stop of the draught rope
strikes the swinging frame F of the anchor, it will rock the stop lever F* out of
action, and leave the axle C with its disc wheels free to rotate under the forward
drag of the rope, the action being precisely the same as that explained with
reference to Figures 6, 7, and 8.
Referring now to I., Fig. 9, it will be seen how the elastic stop before mentioned
is made. Firmly attached to the draught rope E is a metal cup i for receiving a
coiled spring encased in..leather, or some waterproof material. Above this is
placed a second cup, which is with a socket like the cup i, but in this instance
the cup is loose upon the rope. Fitting tightly the socket of the cup is a block
which.is.free to slide on the rope. Whenever therefore the stop I is brought up
into contact with the anchor, instead of delivering a hard and perhaps injurious
blow. to the guide through which the rope passes, it will deliver an elastic and
harmless blow tempered by the yielding of the coiled spring i¹.
As a guide to the engine driver, we fit the anchor with a semaphore or other
signal which is brought into view by the action of the stop I on the hauling
rope E. This is illustrated at Figures 9, 10, and 11, where K is a semaphore post
standing up from the framing A, and carrying at its upper end a semaphore arm k.

page_text: The spindle on which this arm is keyed is fitted with a crank arm which is
connected by a pendent link rod k³ to a short arm ks of the fulcrum rod F¹. When
therefore the swinging frame F is rocked inwards by the hauling rope, and the axle
C is unlocked, a movement outwards will be given to the semaphore arm. Thus,
when this signal appears in sight, the engine driver will know that the cultivator
has completed a "bout," and he will continue the action on the hauling rope to
move forward the anchor, until a signal from the man on the cultivator warns him
to stop the progress of the anchor, and reverse the engine.
The effect of this reversal will be to release the swinging frame from pressure,
and to cause the semaphore arm to drop. This arrangement of semaphore or
signalling apparatus it will be understood may be readily adapted to all anchors
which derive their traverse motion from the hauling rope.
The Invention relates, lastly, to a re-arrangement of the winding druins of
traction engines, the object being to lead off the ropes from the drums in lines
parallel to the axis of the engine boiler, without increasing the width of the engine
or adding to its length. To this end we mount on either side of the boiler a
winding drum, setting the same vertically on stud axles, and these drums we drive
directly from the crank shaft of the engine.
In Sheets III. and IV., the mode of carrying out this part of our Invention is
shewn, Fig. 12 being a side elevation of a traction engine fitted with a pair of side
hauling drums; Fig. 13, a partial end elevation of the same; and Fig. 14, a partial
plan view of the same.
In these Figures, A, A, are the hauling drums mounted loosely on stud axles
made fast to the skin of the boiler. These drums are cast with a ring of spur
teeth A¹, A', into which gear pinions B', B', which slide on feathers on the crank
shaft B, to permit of their being thrown in and out of gear with the drums. This
crank shaft is mounted above the barrel of the boiler, and keyed to it is a spur
wheel B2, by the side of which is a spur wheel B³, capable of sliding on a feather on
the crank shaft; C is a countershaft mounted parallel to the crank shaft B on the
top of the boiler, and fitted with a fast spur wheel C, which gears into the siding
spur wheel Bs, when a slow motion is required to be imparted to the traction
wheels. C is a spur wheel which slides on a feather on the countershaft C, and
gears into the fixed wheel B2, when a quick motion is required. Keyed to one end
of this countershaft is a spur pinion C³ which gears into a spur wheel D¹ keyed to
one end of a second countershaft D, which carries at its opposite end a spur pinion
D³, for driving through a spur wheel E', the axle E of the traction wheels E. This
arrangement of driving gear it will be seen permits of the hauling drums being
located close to the sides of the boiler, and thus no increase in the width of the
engine is caused by the use of side drums, and the inconvenience of placing the
drums in rear of the boiler is avoided. The ropes as they leave the drums may
be led off by guide pullies as indicated in the Drawing in any desired direction.
It should be remarked, that when applying this part of our Invention to what is
known as "direct-acting tackle," where two engines are employed, one drum only
will be required to be fitted to each engine.
Having now set forth the nature of our Invention of "Improvements in Machinery
for Tilling Land by Steam Power," and explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, we wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent, we claim,―
First. Constructing travelling snatch blocks, substantially as and for the purpose
above described.
Second. As an improvement in travelling anchors, we claim the means substan-
tially as above described, whereby the draught rope, when it has brought the
cultivator to the end of its bout, will be caused to act as a draught rope on the
anchor, and move the anchor along the headland.
Third. The adaptation to travelling anchors of a semaphore or equivalent
signalling apparatus set in actiou by the draught rope, as and for the purpose
above described.
°

page_text: Fourth. Fitting traction engines with drums on either or both sides of the boiler,
and connecting the same by means of gearing with the crank shaft of the engine, as
and for the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Percival Everitt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Sixth day of March, in the 'year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
PERCIVAL EVERITT. (L.S.)