IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE HOES, SCARIFIERS, DRAG RAKES, AND DRILLS POR CULTIVATING LAND
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
GARRETT, of Leiston Works, near Saxmundham, in the County of Suffolk,
Agricultural Implement Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Thirteenth day of June, in the fifth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Richard Garrett, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Richard Garrett, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said Richard Garrett, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE HOES, SCARIFIERS, DRAG RAKES,
AND DRILLS POR CULTIVATING LAND;" in which said Letters Patent is contained
a proviso obliging me, the said Richard Garrett, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Garrett, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say:-
My Improvements in the Construction of Horse Hoes, Scarifiers, Drag
Rakes, and Drills for Cultivating Land, consist in certain novel arrangements
and adaptations of the working parts of those machines, the particulars of
which are shewn in the accompanying Drawings, and will be fully understood
by the following description thereof :--
As respects the horse hoe, the first feature of my Improvement is a mode of
suspending the guide bar which supports the levers (a series of independent
arms carrying the respective hoes). by means of chains passed over excentric
pullies, whereby the hoes may be raised and lowered when required. Secondly,
a contrivance for communicating to the hoes, lateral movements by the
hands of the conductor, for the purpose of guiding them in any parti-
cular course, independently of the direction pursued by the draft horse.
Thirdly, a mode of extending or contracting the distance apart of the
running wheels of the machine to suit the ridges of the land. Fourthly,
the manner of giving different inclinations to the cutting edges of the hoes,
so that they may be adapted to work in the land to the required depth,
whether the ground be in a hard or soft state. And, fifthly, the mode of
attaching and detaching the blades of the hoes, in order that they may be
readily removed and replaced when worn.
As respect the scarifiers intended to be employed for crushing the clods of
earth, and rendering the surface of the ground of a more uniform character,
the improvement is in the means of lowering or raising the crushing or
scarifying roller or rollers in the frame or carriage that supports them, in
order that the roller or rollers may be made to cut or press more or less deep
into the ground, and to lift it or them entirely off the ground, when out of
operation, and moving from place to place.
As respects drag rakes, the improvement is a method of shifting and regu-
lating the positions of the tines, that is, placing them more or less erect, or at
a greater or lesser angle with the surface of the ground, as may be required to
suit different work.
And as respects drills for cultivating land, the first feature of improve-
ment is a mode of steering their carriage independently of the course of the
horse, for the purpose of them to pass over the required tracks, so that the
rows of seeds may be placed parallel to each other in the successive courses of
the drill. Secondly, an apparatus for agitating the manure in the box of the

page_text: drill, in order that it may descend in uniform quantities with the seeds.
Thirdly, an apparatus, by means of which two kinds of grass, or other seeds,
may be delivered at the same time through the respective spouts or tubes, and
which apparatus may be adapted to an ordinary drill if required. Fourthly, a
mode of guiding the coulters and depositing tubes accurately, so as to keep
them constantly upon the middle parts of the ridges; and, fifthly, the means
of adapting rollers upon a stationary axle for forming and regulating the shape
and height of the ridges.
Fig. 1 is an isometrical view of the horse hoe complete, parts of the spokes
of the running wheels only being omitted to shew the machinery more
evidently; Fig. 2 is an end elevation, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken
near the axes of the running wheels. As many of the parts of the framework
shewn at Fig. 1 are not new, and are well understood, it will be unnecessary
to refer to them particularly. The several levers, of which there are a series
shewn at a, a, a, are each attached at one end by a joint to a horizontal bar b,b,
and at the reverse end are weighted and hang loosely in a staple or slotted socket
c, c, c, affixed to a back horizontal bar d, d. These levers a, a, a, severally carry
the stems fff of the hoes, and are secured to the levers by wedges. The front
horizontal bar b is held by bracket arms 9, 9, affixed to the front of the
carriage, and the back horizontal barr d, d is suspended by chains h, h,
attached to and passing partly over excentric pullies i, i, fixed on a transverse
shaft j, supported in stationary bracket arms k, k, extending from the back of
the framework. In order to raise or lower the hoes, the workman applies bis
hand to the winch l, for the purpose of turning the shaft j, by which means
the pullies i, i, are made to turn, and draw up or let down the chains h and
bar d that support the back parts of the levers a. The frame carrying the
levers a, a, consisting of the two bars 6 and d, connected together by braces
m, m, is capable of lateral movements by swinging from the chains h behind,
and hanging on the bracket arms 9, 9 in front, which arms are jointed. These
lateral movements, however, are governed and directed by the workman
applying his hands to the handles n, n, by which he is enabled to turn the
longitudinal shaft p, supported by stationary brackets. From this shaft there
extends downwards an arm q, to the ends of which chains r, r, are attached, the
outer extremities of the chains being made fast to the ends of the bar b, b.
Hence, as the longitudinal shaft p is turned, the arm q vibrates, and the
chains r, r, are caused to draw the bars with the levers and hoes to the right or
left, as may be required, for guiding the hoes in the proper course, inde
pendently of the track of the horse. For the purpose of occasionally widening
the distance between the running wheels, to suit the breadths of different rows
upon the land, the axles of the wheels are formed by studs or pins extending t

page_text: from angular pieces or brackets s, s, attached to the hinder rail of the frame-
work. In Fig. 3 this will be seen most evidently. That part of the bracket
piece which lies immediately in contact with the under part of the frame, is
held thereto by a metal strap or staple t, and bolt u. This bolt is passed
perpendicularly through a long slot formed in the rail, as shewn in Fig. 1, and
when the nut of the bolt is loosened, the bracket of the axle may be slidden so
as to move the wheels outward to any required distance, and the nut being
again made tight, the wheel will retain its position. In the figures of the
horse hoe referred to, the stems f of the hoes stand nearly in perpendicular
positions, and the cutting edges of the hoes at certain acute angles or inclina-
tions to the surface; but should the ground be particularly hard, it will be
desirable to cause the cutting edges of the hoes to form greater or more obtuse
angles with the ground, and this is done by lowering the bracket arms g in the
front framework, which will cause the bar 6 and the front or jointed ends of
the levers a to be depressed, and consequently the stems f to incline from their
erect positions, and thereby set the cutting edges of the hoes at a greater angle
with the surface of the ground. In order to afford the means of readily
changing the hoes when worn, I form the cutting parts in distinct pieces from
the stems, and attach them to the stems by bolts and screws, as shewn in the
detached Figures 4. These cutting tools I make of iron, and convert them into
steel after they have been so formed. The scrapers to which my improvements
particularly apply are those formed by a series of indented wheels fitted loosely
upon a square shaft, which wheels, in passing over the ground, break the clods
of earth, and loosen the surface. The improvement consists in mounting the
axle or shaft of these crushers or scarifiers in a frame supported upon running
wheels, as shewn in the two end elevations, Figs. 5 and 6.
a, a, are the
crushing rollers; b, b, the iron framework or carriage, in which the shaft or
axle of the crushing rollers is mounted, and turns freely; on the sides of the
end frames there are bosses c, through which a perpendicular rod d slides. The
lower part of this rod is turned horizontally at a right angle, forming a stud for
the running wheel e to revolve upon; and the upper end of the rod has a worm
or thread cut round it, which works in a screw box f. In order to regulate
the depth to which the crushing roller shall be permitted to penetrate into the
ground, or to raise it completely off the ground a sufficient height for trans-
porting the machine upon ordinary roads, the screw box must be turned by a
wrench or other means, which will draw up or let down the running wheels, as
shewn in the Figures 5 and 6.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent sectional elevations of a drag rake.
", a, are the
tines of the rake, fixed in a wooden lever or arm b. These levers and tines, of
which there are to be a series, have their fulcrums or joints upon a horizonta

page_text: )
rod c, supported by bracket pieces d and upright stems e, made capable of
sliding in sockets fixed to the wooden framework. When the tines a are
required to stand in nearly upright positions, as shewn at Fig. 7, the fulcrums c
of the levers are to be depressed, as represented; but when the tines are
required to stand in inclined positions, as at Fig. 8, then the fulcrum must be
raised, as there shown, by sliding up the brackets d and stems e in their
sockets. The outer ends of the levers a are severally connected by chains to a
transverse bar f, fixed upon levers turning on the same fulcrum rod c; and to
this transverse bar two other chains g are attached, which are made fast to
excentric pullies h. By drawing down the lever i the pullies are made to
turn, and hence to draw up the levers with the tines sufficiently off the ground
to discharge the accumulated grass, stubble, or other material. For the pur-
pose of steering the drills with greater certainty than can be attained by the
draught of the horse, I attach the shafts to the frame of the carriage by a
joint pin, and turn the carriage, with the drills, horizontally upon that pin by
means of toothed gear.
a, a,
Fig. 9 is a horizontal view of the carriage, the drill being removed.
are the shafts, the back parts of which are connected by a curved bar of iron b;
and in the centre of this, passed through an eye, is a vertical pin c, fixed
into the transverse rail d or axletree of the carriage. To the sides of the
drawing shafts chains e, e, are affixed, which pass round guide pullies set
under the framework to wheels f, f, firmly fixed upon a transverse axle g.
The ends of the chains e, e, are secured to the wheels f, f, but they pass over
the wheels in opposite directions; so that by turning the axle g, the chains
e, e, will draw the carriage a little toward one side. In order to effect this
steering with great precision, I place it completely under the command of the
attendant, who, by applying his hand to one of the winches or handles of the
axle h, causes the bevelled toothed wheel i to work the bevelled wheel and
longitudinal spindle k, at the end of which spindle there is a worm or endless
screw, taking into a wheel on the axle g, carrying the pulley wheels f, f.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the same arrangement. This effect may also
be produced by means of a rack and pinion, connecting the shafts and the
carriage, instead of the chains, by the arrangement shewn at Fig. 11; and by
these means I can steer the carriage of a drill running upon two wheels only
The manure
without interfering with the ordinary course of the horses.
required to be deposited with the seed being apt to adhere together in the box
of the drills commonly used, and consequently fall very irregularly, I introduce
as an improvement an extra stirrer or agitator, which, being worked by an
excentric, keeps the material continually in motion.
Fig. 12 is a side view of the drill; Fig. 13, a partial section of the box

page_text: containing the manure; and Fig. 14 is a front view of the drill, part of the
box being removed to exhibit the interior. A horizontal shaft a carries the
ordinary forked arms or prongs, which, being made to revolve, stirs up the
material. Upon the axle of this shaft two excentrics b, b, are affixed, which,
as the shaft revolves, raise and depress the arms c, c. To the upper ends of
these arms a horizontal bar d is attached, carrying another series of prongs of
any form suited to the kind of manure to be discharged. As the ordinary
stirring shaft a revolves, the excentric b raises and depresses the bar d, and
thereby causes the upper portion of the manure to be kept in continual agitation,
and thereby prevented from adhering together. Two different sorts of small
grass seeds being required to be sown together, if previously mixed, will be very
apt to separate by the motion of the drill, the heaviest descending to the bottom,
and, consequently, to be delivered irregularly. I, therefore, the two kinds of
grass seed in separate compartments, as shewn at a and b in the sectional
Figure 15, and adopt the following contrivance for depositing them in the
ground: At the same time that the seeds from the compartment a are let fall
into the spout c by the rotation of the cups on the wheel d, the simultaneous
rotation of the brush roller e conducts the seeds from the compartment b, and
hence they both fall down the spout together. This rotation of the cup wheel
and brush roller is effected by any ordinary coupling gear connected to their
axles, and the quantity of each discharge may be determined by means of
adjustable sliding shutters, represented in the box at Fig. 16.
The mode of guiding the coulters and spouts, for the purpose of enabling
them to deposit the seeds accurately upon the middles of irregularly ploughed
ridges from a two-row drill, is shewn at Fig. 12, and consists in attaching the
coulters and spouts y to horizontal rods z. These rods are made to swing
upon vibrating levers w, which are worked by a crank rod u and handles v,
under the command of the conductor. This mode is new in its adaptation to
a one or two-row drill, as each works independently of the other.
The concave rollers, shewn in Figures 12 and 14, at s, s, are mounted, and
slide loosely upon a horizontal shaft, acting as a fore carriage, and supporting
part of the weight of the drill. These rollers are for forming and equalizing
the shape and height of the ridges, and, by freely sliding in lateral directions,
accommodate themselves to any irregularity in the parallelism of the furrows.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Garratt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
RP GARRETT. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, on the same Thirteenth day of December
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Richard Garrett came before our
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And
also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Thirteenth day of December, in the year above
written.