CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TILLING LAND;
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
HALL, of Cambridge, in the County of Cambridge, Agricultural Implement
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Sixth day of July, in the sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself,
Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Hall, my
exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Joseph Hall, my exors, adññors, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said Joseph Hall, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of Her Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion
of Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TILLING LAND;" in which said Letters Patent
there is contained a proviso that I, the said Joseph Hall, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said
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

page_text: 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
Joseph Hall, do hereby declare that the nature of the said improvements,
and the manner in which the same are to be performed, are fully ascertained
and described in and by the following Specification thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
The first of my said improvements consists of the delving and crushing
machine represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, of the said Drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation and Figure 2 a plan of the principal parts of the
machine, and Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, views of portions thereof detached
from the rest. A, A, A, is the framework, and B, B, the wheels, on which it is
mounted. C¹, C³, are two axles which revolve in bearings in the parallel
motion and tilting frames F, F, afterwards described, and have firmly attached
to them the wheels D', D2, D3, D', and D³. The front axle C¹ carries three
and the axle C² two of these wheels, and the two sets of wheels are so fixed in
respect to each other that the wheel D' shall take into the spaces between the
wheels D and D2, and the wheel D into the space between the wheels D and
D. Each of these wheels is armed with delvers and crushers E, E, affixed
in angular positions to their peripheries in the manner shewn in the side and
end views of one of these wheels, Figures 3 and 4, and each delver and
crusher is secured in its place by a swing joint shewn separately in Figure 4,
which allows it to have a little play endways as well as forwards and back-
wards, but not to turn over. F, F, are two parallel motion and tilting frames
attached to the framework, one at each side, by means of which the parallelism
of each set of delvers and crushers to the plane of motion, as well as of the two
sets of delvers and crushers to one another, is preserved under all circum-
stances. Figure 5 is a plan of these tilting and parallel motion frames
detached from the rest of the machine, and Figure 6 a side view of one of
them. Each frame consists of two pairs of parallel rods a and b, connected
lengthwise by a middle piece c, and crosswise by the bars d and e. At the
extremities f, f, the frames are bolted to the framework of the machine. At
the points g¹, g, h, h³, and ¹,, the pieces of each frame turn freely on the
pins by which they are connected together. The axles C1, C2, which carry the
wheels D1, D2, D3, D', D, have their bearings in the cross bars d, e, of the
parallel motion and tilting frames at the points % and 2, so that the parallelism
of the axles is preserved under all circumstances. G is a vertical screw rod
used for elevating or depressing the axles of the wheels D1, D2, D3, D, and

page_text: D', which is secured at top to the framework by the stays p, q, r, and
connected at bottom to the back axle C². A separate view of this part of the
machine is given in Figure 7. The rod (G) works into and through a female
screw in a nut s, which nut is gimbled into a boss t attached to the end of the
main stay p, by which gimbling of the nut the rod is enabled to accommodate
itself to any angle at which the axle to which it is connected may be set. At
the top of the rod there is a handle u for turning it round. As the hind axle
C, with which this rod is immediately connected, is raised or depressed by the
turning of the handle, a similar movement is transmitted to the front axle C¹
by means of the parallel motion and tilting frames F, F, and the slotted
quadrants m, m, attached to the ends of the middle pieces c, c; for by
passing the pins n, n, attached to the chains o, o, through any of the two holes
or slots in the parallel rods into the corresponding holes or slots in the
quadrants m, m, the two parts of the compound parallel motion are firmly
united together, and any movement given to one axle is imparted to the other.
From what has been stated it will be readily understood, that previous to the
setting of this machine to work the delvers and crushers can be fixed so as to
penetrate to any required depth into the soil, and that the arrangements for
this purpose may be easily and quickly varied according to circumstances.
Motion is given to the delving and crushing wheels by the delvers and crushers
acting against the ground in a direction contrary to the line of draught of the
horses or other animals employed to draw the machine. From the hind
wheels revolving in the spaces between the front wheels, they not only serve to
break up any clods or lumps which may have escaped or been imperfectly
acted upon by the front wheels D¹, D2, D³, but are also of great use in clearing
away any earth or rubbish which may adhere to the delvers and crushers of
the front wheels; but though I consider this machine to be in its most
efficient state when there are two sets of delvers and crushers employed one
behind the other, in the manner before described, I make also machines on
the same principle with one set of delvers and crushers only, fixed on one axle,
the other axle being employed for the purpose of elevating and depressing.
The second of my improvements consists of an improved harrowing machine.
The construction of this machine is precisely similar to the delving and
crushing machine, with one set of delvers, last before described, so far as
respects the framework, the parallel motion and tilting frames with a single
axle having bearings therein and the elevating and depressing screw rod; but,
instead of the single axle carrying delving and crushing wheels, it is armed
with tines affixed to the axle in the manner represented in the sectional_view,

page_text: Figure 8. The tines may be fixed at any angle required in respect to the
ground, by turning them to the required angle, and then passing the pins n, n,
attached to the chains o, o, as aforesaid, (see Figures 5 and 6,) through the
holes or slots in the parallel rods and quadrants which fall in the line of that
angle, or by shifting the connecting pins g', h', and g³, h³, forward or backward,
for which purpose holes or slots are made in the top pieces c, c, and thus
shortening or lengthening the range of the upper parallel rods as compared
with that of the lower rods.
The third of my improvements consists of a rolling machine, constructed on
the same principle as the two machines herein-before described, and precisely
similar to the last in all its details, except only that for the axle armed with
tines there is substituted a plain roller.
The fourth of my improvements consists of a double ploughing machine,
constructed also on the same principle as the preceding machines, and
precisely similar to the delving and crushing machine first before described, so
far as respects the framework, the double parallel and tilting motion frames
with two axles having their bearings therein, and the elevating and depressing
screw rod. A perspective view of so much of this machine as is peculiar to it is
given in Figure 9. From this it will be seen that the two ploughs are affixed
to the axles in the same way as the tines are affixed to the harrowing machine
before described, and in such relative positions, the one hehind the other, as that
in working they shall make two furrows at a time close to each other.
The fifth of my improvements consists of a circular harrow and dibbling
machine, represented in Figure 10. The harrowing tines are affixed to two,
three, or more iron circles, r, r, connected by cross pieces, and the dibbling
spikes are affixed horizontally at regular distances to the exterior of the
outside circle. After ground has been harrowed by this machine, it is only
necessary to turn it on its edge to make it serve also as a dibbler. The axle
of the machine has an eye on one end, through which the handle is passed, so
that it may be worked either horizontally or vertically.
The sixth of my improvements consists of a parallel expanding spade,
represented in the front and side views Figures 11 and 12. H is the wooden
handle of the spade, and w, x, y, three iron blades of which the spud of the
instrument consists. The centre blade w is firmly secured to the handle in the
usual way, and the two other blades are connected to the centre blade by the
expanding joints z¹, z2, in the manner represented in the Figures. I is a
socket which slides on the handle of the spade, and to which the outer blades
and y are connected by expanding joints 23, 2³, similar to z¹ and 22. K is a

page_text: hook or handle by which the socket I is raised or lowered, and the blades
x and y expanded or closed. M is a screw tapped into the socket I, which on
being turned inwards presses against a piece of iron let into the wooden handle,
and, roughened or indented on its outer surface, keeps the expanding blades
x and y in any position which may be assigned to them. The blades are each
shaped at the sides in the manner shewn in the plan, Figure 12, so that when
brought close together they may dovetail into one another.
The seventh of my improvements consists of an expanding rake, represented
in the side view and plan, Figures 13 and 14. The part b, b, which carries
the tines is divided into two pieces which turn on one common joint at c, c,
and are connected at their outer extremities by the two bars d, d, d, d, with a
socket e, e, which slides on the handle f, f, and is provided with a tightening
screw g, g. The action of this instrument is exactly similar to that of the
expanding spade.
The eighth and last of my improvements consists of the land crab or weed
exctractor, represented in the side view and plan, Figures 15 and 16. h, h, is
the handle of the instrument; i, i, an iron spud attached to the handle; k, k, a
forked gripper, which turns on a swivel joint at the point 7, 1, of the handle;
m, m, is a thin rod, with a hook at the top, which slides in eye pieces fixed in
the back of the handle, and is linked to the bottom of the forked gripper k, k,
so that by moving this rod up or down the forked end of the gripper can be
raised or lowered at pleasure. When the weed has been uprooted by the
spud i, i, the rod m, m, is pulled up, which brings the forked end of the gripper
down upon and secures the weed, the two forks of the gripper falling into holes
or recesses n, n, provided for them in the shoulder piece of the spud. To
release the weed the rod m, m, is then pushed down, which draws back
the forked end of the gripper, after which the instrument is again ready
for use.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as of my
Invention is as follows:-
First, I claim the connecting of the axles of wheels carrying delvers or
crushers with parallel motion and tilting frames, by which the said axles can
be kept always in a state of parallelism, and the affixing such delvers or
crushers to the wheels in such manner that they shall have a movement
endways as well as forwards and backwards, without turning entirely round on
their axes, and also the gimbled elevating and depressing screw rod by which
the depth to which such delvers or crushers are to penetrate can be regulated

page_text: at pleasure, all as embodied and represented in the machine first herein-before
described; and whether the delvers or crushers are of the particular form and
fixed in the particular manner adopted in the same machine, or of any other
suitable form or fixed in any other suitable manner, so long as they possess
the properties aforesaid; and whether two sets of delvers or crushers are
employed, or one set only, or any greater number of sets; and whatever also
may be the number of wheels attached to such axle or axles.
Second, I claim the harrowing machine as before described, in so far as it is
constructed on the same principle or principles as the delving and crushing
machine herein-before described, and the application to such machine of the
parallel motion and tilting frames for the purpose of setting the tines to any
required angle.
Third, I claim the rolling machine before described, in so far also as it
is constructed on the same principle or principles as the two preceding
machines.
Fourth, I claim the double ploughing machine before described, in so far as
it combines the simultaneous action of two ploughs with the parallel and tilting
and elevating and depressing appendages aforesaid; and whether the ploughs
are so fixed in respect to each other as that they shall plough two adjoining
furrows at once, or fixed in any other relative positions; and whether also two
or more ploughs are employed.
Fifth, I claim the said parallel and tilting motion frames, and the said
gimbled, elevating, and depressing rod, each in and by itself, to whatever
machines or instruments for the tilling of land the same may be applied.
Sixth, I claim the harrowing and dibbling machine before described, in so
far only as respects the combination of the means for harrowing and dibbling
in one machine.
Seventh, I claim the expanding spade constructed as before described, so far
as relates to the expanding means employed.
Eighth, I claim the expanding rake constructed as before described, so far
as relates to the expanding means employed.
And, ninth, I claim the land crab or weed extractor as before described, in
the general combination of parts of which the same consists.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth
day of January, One thousand eight hundred and forty-three.
JOSEPH (L.s.) HALL.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixth day of January, in
the year of our Lord 1843, the aforesaid Joseph Hall came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-three.