IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CULTIVATING LAND BY STEAM POWER, AND IN STEAM BOILERS UBED FOR AGRICULTURAL AND TRACTION PURPOSES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Romaine, of Devizes, in the County of Wilts,
Agricultural Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN CULTIVATING LAND BY STEAM POWER, AND IN STEAM BOILERS
UBED FOR AGRICULTURAL AND TRACTION PURPOSES."
Sealed the 20th June 1862, and dated the 17th January 1862.
FROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Romaine, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
January 1862.
I, ROBERT ROMAINE, of Devizes, in the County of Wilts; Agricultural
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CULTIVATING LAND BY STEAM POWER, AND IN
STEAM BOILERS USED FOR AGRICULTURAL AND TRACTION PURPOSES," to be as follows:--
The first part of the present Invention has reference to a former Invention
for which Letters Patent were granted to me in 1859, No. 1229, for improve-
ments in steam cultivation by means of traction ropes, in the Specification of
which Patent is fully shewn and described (among other things) an apparatus
for carrying and controlling the action of the traction rope.
My present improvements consist in certain novel arrangements of parts
whereby the traction rope is tightly gripped by holding or guiding pullies in
order to take up, give out, and control the amount of slack rope on the unwind-
ing drum by means of the reverse action of the pulling or tight rope on the
winding drum. The arrangement of the details required for taking up such
a slack rope must be such as will suit or accommodate the various forms,
curves or windings, the ropes will necessarily take in the fields cultivated by
steam power, and for this purpose I dispense with the elastic material in the
[Price 8d.1

page_text: guiding pullies as mentioned in the Specification of my former Patent, and I
wind the traction ropes more or less round the V shaped grooved sheaves (or
any other shaped pullies or wheels which will confine and grip the traction
ropes sufficiently tight to prevent them from slipping through such pullies),
and I place these pullies on the framing of the windlass or on the framing of
the snatch blocks. But in order that the object intended to be effected by
means of my present improvements may be clearly understood, I have thought
it necessary to accompany this Provisional Specification with Diagrams illus-
trating the several arrangements of details I propose to make use of. The
same letters refer to like or corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1, is an elevation, and Fig. 2, a plan of so much of a double drum
windlass as is necessary to a clear understanding of the improved slack rope
apparatus. a is the framing of a double drum windlass; b, b, are the drums
c, c, are the two V grooved sheaves or other pullies, both working loosely on
the horizontal shaft d; e, e, are two friction or toothed clutches connecting
the two sheaves c, c, with the two bevil wheels-l, l', all working loosely on the
shaft d, in order that either of the sheaves may be disengaged from either of
the bevil wheels for the purpose of adjusting the amount of slack when required;
f is the tight or winding rope, and g is the slack or unwinding rope, they are
both to be guided either across or alongside the headlands of the field as may
be found most convenient. This object is effected by the two guiding pullies
or sheaves h, h, on the snatch block frame; o, o, are small rollers to keep up
and press the ropes into their places in the grooves of the pullies; k, is a bevil
pinion working loosely on a stud shaft and gearing into the two bevil wheels 1, 1,
thereby giving a reverse action to the two sheaves c, c, and ropes f and g.
Levers are adapted to the sheaves to enable them to be drawn out or to be put
into contact with the bevil gearing for the purpose of adjusting the slack
when required. The drums b, b, are shewn set to the proper distance apart
for the purpose of coiling the rope on the drums; m, m, are the carrying
wheels of the windlass.
In Figures 3 and 4 the sheaves work loosely on a vertical axis instead of
a horizontal one, and are held together by similar clutches e, but have no
toothed gearing, the reverse action being obtained by passing the two ropes
round the sheaves at opposite sides, and then guiding them away across the
field by means of the sheaves h on the snatch box frame, as described and
shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is an elevation; and Fig. 6 is a plan of an arrangement, in which the
four gripping sheaves a, b, c, d, work on two vertical spindles on a snatch
block frame e. The winding rope f is wound round the upper sheaves a¹ and b¹,

page_text: while the unwinding or slack rope is wound round the lower sheaves c¹ and d¹.
All the sheaves are connected together by the spur wheels j, k, and 1; the
sheave bis connected to the spur wheel 1, by a common toothed or other
clutch, and transmits the power (imparted to it by the winding rope f.) to
the wheel i, connected in a similar way to the sheave c', which is for the time
being controlled in giving out the slack or unwinding rope, and is obliged
to travel at precisely the same speed as b¹, the reverse action of the top
and bottom sheaves b¹ and c¹ being obtained by the intermediate spur
wheel k, which works loosely on its spindle. Both ropes may be led in and
brought out at either ends of the snatch block frame e¹ or at either side as
found most convenient.
In Figures 7 and 8 the whole four sheaves are geared together by the spur
wheels i, i, and I, 1, and the two intermediate spur wheels k, k¹, which work
loosely on one side on the same spindle. These two spur wheels k, k¹, arc
provided with a friction clutch spring and forked lever, as shewn at h, in
Fig. 9, so as to enable them to be disengaged; and in order to retard either
of the sheaves, a break is applied at p to the outside circumference of either
of the spur wheels k, k¹,
In Figures 10 and 11 the sheaves b' and c¹ are connected by a frictional
clutch, and work loosely on the same vertical spindle; the other two sheaves a¹
and d¹ working on two separate spindles, each pair of sheaves being also con-
nected by spur wheels, and disconnected and retarded as already explained
in reference to the other Figures.
Figures 12 and 13 represent a plan, in which the ropes are only wound
round the two sheaves a¹ and b¹ about of a turn, and are then led off by two
other pullies h, h. No gearing is used in this arrangement, the reverse action
being obtained by passing the ropes round the sheaves at opposite sides. In
crossing, the ropes are prevented from rubbing against each other by the small
rollers q, q.
In the arrangement shewn in Figs. 14 and 15, only two sheaves are em-
ployed, which are set at an angle to each other, and are geared together by
skewed toothed wheels. The arrows in each Figure indicate the course of the
traction ropes, both winding and unwinding, and I would here remark that
the several Diagrams shewn are not put forward as perfect in all their details,
but are merely intended as Diagrams to represent the general features of the
several arrangements I propose to adopt. More ample details of the
construction and operation of the several parts will be given in my Final
Specification.
The second part of my Invention relates to an improved arrangement of

page_text: winding apparatus in which I employ 'three V-shaped grooved sheaves, similar
to those shewn and described in the Specification of my Patents, No. 2003,
1860, and No. 1483, 1861. But instead of arranging the sheaves with hori-
zontal axes as formerly, I now propose to gear them together, and place them
alongside the steam engine on vertical axes. In one modification, 'the framing
for the sheaves is made separate, and placed on a 'low platform, or 'it may be
constructed with and placed alongside the portable steam engine. The
sheaves are 'driven by a spur pinion, connected by a 'vertical shaft and bevil
gearing to the crank shaft of the engine, or the connection may be inade by
means of a pitch chain or belt.
The third part of my Invention, consists in arranging two separate and
'independent longitudinal main frames, 'constructed of angle iron or other suit-
'able material, 'in which frames are placed and attached loosely 'to single frames
arranged to receive a set of double action ploughs or other cultivating
implements. One end of each of the main frames is jointed loosely to a main
transverse axle, on the ends of which the two main carrying wheels revolve
loosely, or one of the separate 'main frames may be made fast, and the other
jointed loosely to the main axle, and the same result will 'be obtained. The
two outer ends of the main frames are supported and carried by two castor
wheels, which travel in the last furrow 'formed by each half set of plough's,
each main frame therefore being separate and independent of the other, it is
free to rise and fall, and accommodate itself 'to the inequalities of the land.
In steering this double-action steam plough or cultivator, I (in one modifica-
tion) make use of the castor wheels, which are provided with suitable gearing,
and I also employ hand wheels and levers for working the parts. In steering
the main carrying wheels, I make use of an apparatus, for which I have already
obtained Letters Patent in 1860, No. 2003. The main wheels in this instance
revolve loosely on adjustable stud axles, attached to a transverse frame, or to
the axle itself, which is formed with T-shaped ends, and made fast to 'the
end of one of the main frames. The end of the other main frame being 'jointed
loosely. In attaching the two plough frames with their respective cultivating
implements to 'the two separate main frames, I either joint them loosely to
adjustable brackets, longitudinally on one side of such plough frames, or 'I joint
them loosely transversely at their back or outer ends next the castor wheels.
In the first plan, I raise and lower the plough frames, by turning them side-
ways about a quarter of a revolution, and in the latter plan the plough frames
are raised and lowered by their front or innér ends next the main axle. The
plough frames may be raised and lowered by hand power, but when the larger
class of implement is made, I prefer using a crank shaft or winding movement

page_text: placed on each of the separate main frames, and connecting such movement
or crank shafts by suitable gearing with one or both the main carrying wheels,
which when actuated by the power of the steam engine, will by their tractive
adhesion to the band, gradually accomplish both the raising and 'the lowering
of the ploughs into the land. Each plough frame is provided with
a set of suitable clutches, levers, and other parts required to raise and lower
them, independent of each other. The plough frames are attached to the cul-
tivating implements or ploughs in the usual manner, and their attachments
to the separate main frames are so arranged that the ploughs next the main
axle enter into work first, the remaining implements or plough bodies entering
gradually, and not attaining their full depth of work until the outer ends of the
separate main frames have adjusted themselves to the required depth of work
by reason of the castor wheels descending gradually, and following into the
last furrow formed.
The fourth part of my Invention consists in constructing a dead anchor to
resist the draught of the implements employed in steam cultivation. To this
end I make use of a hollow cylinder, or barrel of wood, or other suitable
material, which is divided into two or more sections longitudinally. These
sectional parts are held together by means of radial slots in two end covers,
through which 'protrude projections formed on the ends of the sectional parts,
which are acted upon by springs which impel or draw them towards the
centre of the cylinder. The sectional parts are extended radially by means
of a central vertical spindle or shaft' provided with suitable excentrics or cams,
which, when turned round, bear against small rollers 'fixed to the several sec-
tional parts of the cylinder. The vertical spindle is attached by a collar to
the bottom cover, and passes up through the top cover, and carries at its end
an arm or lever furnished with eyes or hooks for attaching to any arrangement
made for holding the snatch blocks or sheaves. This cylinder is dropped into
a nearly vertical hole made in the earth, formed by means of a common post
hole auger of a diameter a little in excess of the cylinder. On the draught of
the implement being applied to the arm or lever at right angles, or thereabouts,
it will cause the spindle and cams to extend out radially, and force out the
several sectional parts, and press equally against the sides or circumference
of the hole.
The fifth part of my Invention consists in improvements in the fire-box of
the common horizontal tubular boiler employed for agricultural or traction
purposes. The object of this improvement is to prevent the accidents usually
caused by the crown plate of the internal fire-box becoming uncovered by
water when the boiler is descending or ascending inclines.

page_text: In carrying these improvements into effect, I cither entirely dispense with
the crown plate, or I remove it to nearly the top of the fire-box out of reach
of the intense heat, and I substitute therefor a fire-brick diaphragm or roof,
placed a little below the water line of the boiler. This diaphragm may be
made hollow when required, and the fire-brick may be perforated with
numerous small holes, in order that air may be drawn in or driven through
it, for the purpose of more completely consuming the combustible parts of
the fuel. The fire-bricks are fastened to a metal frame, which is suspended
fron angle-iron pieces attached to the internal fire-box, or by bolts from the top
of the fire-box, thereby compelling the gases to pass through the tubes.
When the crown plate is dispensed with altogether, the plates of the internal
fire-box are carried up vertically, the narrow water or steam spaces being
continued to the top, where they are rivetted to the external fire-box, and
finished in the same manner that the bottoms of the fire-boxes usually are.
The space above the fire-brick roof or diaphragm is occupied by a steam
reservoir or dome, which is divided into two compartments, in order that steam
may be drawn from either end, or each alternately. The open top of the
fire-box is covered with sheet iron. When the crown plate of the fire-box
is retained, in order to form a steam reservoir, it is placed several inches
above the fire-brick roof or diaphragm, and any heated air between them is
allowed to escape through a tube rivetted through the internal and external
fire-boxes. By the above improvements I am enabled to dispense with the
mechanism usually required for keeping the boiler level, so that when travelling
over uneven surfaces, the roof of the fire-place should not be uncovered. All
these mechanical contrivances are objectionable, but by means of my present
improvements the roof of the fire-box will be protected from injury, and
there will be no danger of explosion, even when the crown plate is not covered
with water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Romaine, in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the
16th July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
ROMAINE, of Devizes, in the County of Wilts, Agricultural Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Romaine, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Romaine,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Romaine, my executors, administrators, and 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 APPARATUS TO BE
USED IN CULTIVATING LAND BY STEAM POWER, AND IN STEAM BOILERS USED FOR
AGRICULTURAL AND TRACTION PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Robert Romaine, my exectors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE. that I, the said Robert Romaine, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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 thereof, that is to say:
The first part of the present Invention has reference to a former Invention
for which Letters Patent were granted to me in 1859, (No. 1229) for im-
provements in steam cultivation, by means of traction ropes; in the Specification
of which Patent is fully shown and described (among other things) an
apparatus for carrying and controlling the action of the traction rope, this
apparatus consists of two pair of rollers, so geared together as to revolve at
the same surface speed, and one pair of rollers grips the hauling and the other
pair the return rope, and in my said former Specification it is shewn as applied
to a winding drum giving-motion to -an-endless rope, which passes to the drum,
and after taking a few turns round it passes away from it. The object which
the apparatus here serves is to keep the rope constantly tight around the drum.
My present improvements consist in certain novel arrangements of parts by
which the traction rope may be made to control the slack rope, the apparatus
being rendered applicable to winding gear in which the two ends of a rope are
alternately wound up by two winding drums, one drum winding whilst the other
allows the rope to run off, the improved apparatus then serves to prevent the
rope being drawn too rapidly from the unwinding drum so as to become unduly
slack, and it is also so contrived that by means of it the slack on the return
rope can be taken up whenever it may require it. The arrangement of the

page_text: details required for taking up such a slack rope, must be such as will suit or
accommodate the various forms, curves, or windings, the ropes will necessarily
take in the fields cultivated by steam power, and for this purpose I dispense
with the elastic material in the guiding pullies, as mentioned in the Specification
of my former Patent, and I wind the traction ropes more or less round the V-
shaped grooved sheaves, (or any other shaped pullies or wheels, which will
confine and grip the traction ropes sufficiently tight to prevent them from
slipping through such pullies), and I place these pullies on the framing of the
windlass or on the framing of the snatch blocks. But in order that the object
intended to be effected by means of my present improvements may be clearly
understood, I have thought it necessary to accompany this Specification with
Drawings illustrating the several arrangements of details I propose to make use
of. The same letters refer to like or corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of so much of a double
drum windlass as is necessary to a clear understanding of the improved slack
rope apparatus. a is the framing of a double drum windlass; b, b, are the drums,
they are driven by pinions b¹ on the axis b², which is actuated by the steam
engine, a belt from the driving drum of the engine passing around the drum
63 on the axis 62. The clutch b* connects one or other of the pinions b¹ with
the axis, according to the direction in which it may be required to wind, the
drums b are capable of being traversed on their axes in order to distribute the
rope thereon by means of worms, pinions, and mangle motions, as is described
in the Specification of a former Patent granted to me and dated the 10th of
June 1861 (No. 1483). c, c, are the two V-grooved sheaves or other pullies
both working loosely on the horizontal shaft d; e, e, are two friction clutches
each consisting of a male and female cone, as the Drawing shews, connecting
the two sheaves c, c, with the two bevil wheels 1, 1, working loosely on the
shaft d, so that either of the sheaves may be disengaged for the purpose of
adjusting the amount of slack when required, as shewn in the Drawing; fis
the tight or winding rope, and g is the slack or unwinding rope; they are both
to be guided either across or alongside the headlands of the field as may be found
most convenient. This object is effected by the two guiding pullies or sheaves,
h, h, on the snatch block frame i shown in Figure 2; o, o, are small rollers to
keep up and press the ropes into their places in the grooves of the pullies c, c,
k is a bevil pinion working loosely on a stud shaft (forming part of the shaft d.)
and gearing into the two bevil wheels 1, 1, thereby giving a reverse action to
the two sheaves c, c, and ropes f and g, so that when both the sheaves c, c,
are in gear, the quantity of rope given off from one drum must be exactly
equal to that wound on the other. Levers are adapted to the sheaves to

page_text: enable them to be drawn out of or to be put into contact with the bevil gearing for
the purpose of adjusting the amount of slack rope when required. Thus when
the return rope has become more slack than is desirable, the clutch e, of the
sheave c, over which the slack rope is passing for the time being is thrown out
of gear by pressing back its spring handle, and this brings the sheave against
a break piece e¹, and the friction against this stops or retards the rotation of
the sheave c, until the slack is taken up, the clutch is then again thrown
into gear; m, m, are the carrying wheels of the windlass. Toothed clutches
may be employed in place of cone clutches if desired. In Figures 3 and 4
the sheaves work loosely on a vertical axis, instead of a horizontal one, and
are held together by a similar clutch, but have no toothed gearing, the reverse
action being obtained by passing the two ropes round the sheaves at opposite
sides, and then guiding them away across the field by means of the sheaves h
on the snatch block frame has described and shown in Figure 2.
In the arrangements shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the apparatus is shewn
mounted on the same frame as the winding drums. Figure 5 is an elevation,
and Figure 6 is a plan, of an arrangement mounted on a frame like the snatch
block frame commonly employed, and which is secured to the land in a similar
manner; indeed the apparatus is so arranged as to guide and direct the
ropes, and hence it may be employed in place of or as a substitute for 'the
ordinary snatch block frame; the apparatus contains four gripping sheaves.
The four gripping sheaves a¹, b, c, d, work on two vertical spindles on the
frame e¹, one of the ropes is wound round the two upper sheaves a¹ and b¹,
while the other is wound round the lower sheaves c¹ and d¹, all the sheaves
are connected together by the spur wheels 7, k, and 1; the sheave b¹ is
connected to the spur wheel by a common toothed or other clutch e and trans-
mits the power (imparted to it by the winding rope ) to the wheel connected
in a similar way to the sheave c¹, which is thus for the time being controlled
in giving out the slack or unwinding rope, and is obliged to travel at precisely
the same speed as b¹. The reverse action of the top and bottom sheaves b¹
and c is obtained by the intermediate spur wheel k, which works loosely on
its spindle. The slack is taken up when required in the same manner as
before by throwing the sheave b¹ or c¹ of the slack rope out of gear and against
a break surface marked A in the Drawing. Both ropes may be led in and
brought out at either end of the snatch block frame e¹, or at either side, as
fonnd most convenient.
In Figures 7 and 8, the whole four sheaves are geared together by the spur
wheels i, j, and 1, 1, and the two intermediate spur wheels k, k¹, which work
loosely at one side on the same 'spindle; these two spur wheels k, k¹, are each

page_text: provided with a friction clutch e, spring, and forked lever, so as to enable
them to be disengaged; and in order to retard either of the sheaves, a break
is applied at p to the outside circumference of either of the spur wheels k, k';
this is effected, as is shown, by forming flanges in the rims of the spur wheels,
which by the levers are brought in contact with fixed rubbing or break
surfaces A, A. Only one of the spur wheels need be furnished with a lever,
flange, and rubbing surface, but in this case the slack can only be taken up
every other bout.
In Figures 10 and 11, the sheaves b¹ and c¹ are connected by a frictional
clutch e, and work loosely on the same vertical spindle, the other two sheaves
a¹ and d working on two separate spindles; each pair of sheaves being also
connected by spur wheels, and disconnected and retarded as already explained
in reference to the other Figures.
Figures 12 and 13 represent a plan in which the ropes are only wound
round the two sheaves a' and b¹, about of a turn, and are then led off by two
other pullies h, h. No gearing is used in this arrangement, the reverse action
being obtained by passing the ropes round the sheaves at opposite sides. In
crossing, the ropes are prevented from rubbing 'against each other by the small
rollers q, q.
The arrows in each Figure indicate the course of the traction
ropes, both winding and unwinding.
In all these arrangements it will be seen that the pullies or sheaves carrying
the slack rope can, when it is desired to take up slack, be thrown out of gear
with the pulleys or sheaves of the hauling rope, and can be checked by a
suitable break contrivance; this is a very important feature of my Invention.
The second part of my Invention relates to an improved arrangement of
winding apparatus, in which I employ three V-shaped grooved sheaves similar
to those shown and described in the Specifications of my Patents, No. 2003,
1860, and No. 1483, 1861; but instead of arranging the sheaves with
horizontal axes as formerly, I now propose to gear them together, and place
them alongside the steam engine on vertical axes. In one modification the
framing for the sheaves is made separate and placed on a low platform, or it
may be constructed with and placed alongside the portable steam engine.
The sheaves are driven by a spur pinion connected by a vertical shaft and
bevil gearing to the crank shaft of the engine, or the connection may be made
by means of a pitch chain, or belt.
Figure 14 is a plan, and Figure 15 is an end view of this arrangement,
where the winding sheaves a, b, and c, are mounted on a platform d carried by
rollers e; this platform receives upon it a portable engine f, which by a vertical
shaft g drives the three winding sheaves, which are geared together as is shewn.

page_text: The vertical shaft g is supported at one end by a step on the platform d, and
near the other end it is carried by a bearing on the engine.
The third part of my Invention relates to the construction of ploughs, and
consists in arranging two separate and independent longitudinal main frames
a and b (Figures 16 and 17) constructed of angle iron or other suitable
material, in which frames are placed and attached loosely two single frames c
and d arranged to receive a set of double-action ploughs or other cultivating
implements. One end of each of the main frames, is jointed loosely to a main
transverse axle e, on the ends of which the two main carrying wheels f, f,
revolve loosely, or one of the separate main frames may be made fast, and the
other jointed loosely to the main axle, and the same result will be obtained.
The two outer ends of the main frames a and b are supported and carried by
two castor wheels g and g', which, when following travel in the last furrow
formed by each half set of ploughs. Each main frame, therefore, being
separate and independant of the other, it is free to rise and fall, and accom-
modate itself to the inequalities of the land. In steering this double-action
steam plough or cultivator, I (in one modification) make use of the castor
wheels, which are provided with suitable gearing; and I also employ hand
wheels and levers for working the parts. As shewn in the Drawing the castor
wheels have worm wheels h, h, mounted on their stems, and these work with
worms i mounted on axes, which also carry the hand wheels i, j, by turning
which the implement is steered; or in place of this arrangement the main
carrying wheels may be made use of for steering.
In steering the main carrying wheels, I make use of an apparatus for which
I have already obtained Letters Patent in 1860, No. 2003. The main wheels
in this instance revolve loosely on adjustable stud axles attached to a transverse
frame, or to the axle itself, which is formed with T-shaped ends, and made fast
to the end of one of the main frames, the end of the other main frame being
jointed loosely. In attaching the two plough frames with their respective
cultivating implements to the two separate main frames, I either joint them
loosely to adjustable brackets longitudinally on one side of such plough frames,
or I joint them loosely transversely at their back or outer ends next the castor
wheels.
In the first plan which is shewn applied to the frame c, I raise and lower
the plough frames by turning them sideways about a quarter of a revolution.
This motion takes places about the hinge joints k, k, at the ends of the
stems I, 1, which are made adjustable in length to regulate the depth of work;
the adjustment is effected by having numerous holes in the stems and placing

page_text: the bolts which secure these stems to the frame a through the holes which are
found in the position for the time being required.
In the other plan, which is shown applied to the frame d, the plough
frames are raised and lowered by their front or inner ends next 'the main axle,
the frame d turning on centres m, m, on the frame b, as the Drawing shews.
The plough frames may be raised and lowered by hand power; but when the
larger class of implement is made, I prefer using the crank shafts o and p, placed
one on each of the separate main frames a and b; the frames c and d are linked
with the cranks by chains, and the crank shafts are connected by suitable
gearing, as is shown with one or both the main carrying wheels, which, when
actuated by the power of the steam engine, will, when thrown into gear by the
hand levers n, by their tractive adhesion to the land, gradually accomplish both
the raising and the lowering of the ploughs into the land. Each plough frame
is provided with a set of suitable. clutches, levers, and other parts required to
raise and lower them independently of each other. The plough frames are
attached to the cultivating implements or ploughs in the usual manner, and
their attachments to the separate main frames are so arranged that the front
ploughs next the main axle enter into work first; the remaining implements
or plough bodies entering gradually, and not attaining their full depth of work
until the outer ends of the separate main frames have adjusted themselves to
the required depth of work, by reason of the castor wheels descending gradually
and following into the last furrow formed.
The fourth part of my Invention consists in constructing a dead anchor, to
resist the draught of the implements employed in steam cultivation. To this
end I make use of a hollow cylinder or barrel of wood or other suitable
material, which is divided into two or more sections longitudinally; these
sectional parts are held together by means of radial slots in two end covers,
through which protrude projections formed on the ends of the sectional parts,
which are acted upon by springs which impel or draw them towards the centre
of the cylinder. The sectional parts are extended radially by means of a central
vertical spindle or shaft provided with suitable excentrics or cams, which, when
turned round, bear against small rollers fixed to the several sectional parts of the
cylinder. The vertical spindle is attached by a collar to the bottom cover, and
passes up through the top cover, and carries at its end an arm or lever furnished
with eyes or hooks, for attaching to any arrangement made for holding the
snatch blocks or sheaves. This cylinder is dropped into an nearly vertical hole
made in the earth, formed by means of a common post-hole augur, of a
diameter a little in excess of the cylinder. On the draught of the implement

page_text: being applied to the arm or lever at right angles or thereabouts, it will cause
the spindle and cams to extend out radially and force out the several sectional
parts, and press equally against the sides or circumference of the hole. A
vertical section of this arrangement is shewn at Figure 18, a plan at Figure 19,
and a transverse section at Figure 20. a, a, are the segments into which the
cylinder is divided, they have brackets b fixed to them, through which the
spindles c pass. The ends of these spindles pass through slots in the end
covers d, d, and they are pressed towards each other by the springs e, e; f, f
are friction rollers on the spindles c; and g is a central axis having cams h, h,
upon it, so that when this axis is turned, the cams act on the friction rollers
and force the segments a, a, outwards against the sides of the hole, and thus
the apparatus becomes tightly jammed in the hole; i is a lever fixed on the
upper end of the axis g, and the rope which it is desired to secure is made fast
to this lever, so that the strain on the rope tends to move the segments a, a,
further apart, and hold the apparatus more securely in its place.
The fifth part of my Invention consists in improvements in the fire box of
the common horizontal tubular boiler employed for agricultural or traction
purposes. The object of this improvement is to prevent the accidents usually
caused by the crown plate of the internal fire box becoming uncovered by
water when the boiler is descending or ascending inclines.
In carrying these improvements into effect, I entirely dispense with the
crown plate, and I substitute therefor a fire-brick diaphragm or roof placed a
little below the water line of the boiler. The fire bricks are fastened to a
metal frame, which is suspended from angle-iron pieces attached to the internal
fire-box or by bolts from the top of the fire-box, thereby compelling the gases
to pass through the tubes. The plates of the internal fire-box are carried up
vertically, the narrow water or steam spaces being continued to the top, where
they are rivetted to the external fire-box, and finished in the same manner that
the bottoms of the fire-boxes usually are. The space above the fire-brick
roof or diaphragm is occupied by a steam reservoir or dome, which is divided
into two compartments, in order that steam may be drawn from either end or
each alternately. The open top of the fire-box is covered with sheet iron.
Figure 21 is a vertical section of this arrangement, and Figure 22, a hori-
zontal section of the same, taken at the line 1, 1, Figure 21. a is the fire-brick
diaphragm, which may be made hollow or perforated, if desired; it is fixed in
a frame, bolted by the angle-iron pieces b to the interior of the fire-box; the
plates c of the internal fire-box are carried up vertically to the top of the fire-
box; the water and steam spaces extending to the top of the fire-box; d is a
steam chamber having a partition in the centre; e is the plate which covers

page_text: the tops..of the fire-box.. When the crown plate of the fire-box is. retained; in
order. to form. a. steam reservoir at the top of the fire-box, it is placed several
inches, above the fire-brick roof or diaphragm, and any heated air between
them is allowed to escape, through a tube rivetted through: the internal and
external fire-boxes.
A longitudinal section of this, arrangement is .shewn at Figure 23. a is: the
fire-brick diaphragm; b, the crown plate; c, the. steam space over it; and; d,
the tubular rivet, by which the heated air may escape from the space between
the fire-brick and the crown.plate.
By the above improvements I am enabled to dispense. with: the mechanism
usually required for keeping the boiler. level, so that when travelling over
uneven surfaces,, the roof of the fire-place should not be uncovered: All these
mechanical contrivances. are objectionable.;. but. by means of my present
improvements, the roof of the fire-box. will be protected, from injury, and, there
will be no danger of, explosion, even, when the, crown plate. is not covered. with
water.
In witness. whereof,, I, the said Robert Romaine, have. hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of July,; in the year of our Lord. One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two...
ROBF. ROMAINE. (L.S.)