IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE FURROW PLOUGHS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Colquhoun Richardson, of No. 1, Clifton Grove,
Slough, in the County of Bucks, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MULTIPLE FURROW PLOUGHS."
Sealed the 5th September 1879, and dated the 19th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Colquhoun Richardson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1879.
JAMES COLQUHOUN RICHARDSON, of No. 1, Clifton Grove, Slough, in the County
of Bucks. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE FURROW PLOUGHS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in multiple furrow ploughs.
I employ, as has before been proposed, a plough frame which is drawn to and
fro over the land without turning fully round at the headlands, but turning partially
so that in successive traverses or bouts the plough frame inclines in opposite
directions to the line of draught.
According to my Invention I provide upon the frame inclined studs or axes, each
carrying a pair of plough bodies in such manner that in the partial turning motion
of the plough frame at the headlands one plough body of each pair passes auto-
matically out of action whilst the other is brought into work.
The plough bodies forming a pair are fixed to the stud or axis, one on either side
of it about midway of their length, and with the share points somewhat divergent.
The studs or axes are as seen in plan arranged at right angles to the plough frame,
so that they also in successive bouts incline to the line of draught in equal and
opposite directions; their leading ends are also inclined downwards. In turning at
the headland the pressure of the land on the reverse side of the mould board first
causes the acting plough to commence to move round the stud or axis, which motion
immediately throws up the point of the share and it leaves the ground. The other
plough body of the pair is thus brought into contact with the land, and the pressure
then coming against the face of its mould board the motion around the stud con-
tinues until the working position for the return bout is arrived at, when a stop
prevents further motion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Colquhoun Richardson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th September 1879.
JAMES COLQUHOUN RICHARDSON, of No. 1, Clifton Grove, Slough, in the County
of Bucks. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE FURROW PLOUGHS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in multiple furrow ploughs.
I employ, as has before been proposed, a plough frame which is drawn to and
fro over the land without turning fully round at the headlands, but turning
partially so that in sucessive traverses or bouts the plough frame inclines in opposite
directions to the line of draught.
According to my Invention I provide upon the frame inclined studs or axes, each
carrying a pair of plough bodies in such manner that in the partial turning motion
of the plough frame at the headland one plough body of each pair passes auto-
matically out of action whilst the other is brought into work. The plough bodies
forming a pair are fixed to the stud or axis, one on either side of it; it may be at
about midway of their length, and with the share points somewhat divergent. The
studs or axes are, as seen in plan, arranged at right angles to the plough frame, so
that they also in successive bouts incline to the line of draught in equal and opposite
directions; their leading ends are also inclined downwards. In turning at the head-
land the pressure of the land on the reverse side of the mould board first causes the
acting plough to commence to move around the stud or axis, which motion imme-
diately throws up the point of the share and it leaves the ground.
The other plough body of the pair is thus brought into contact with the land,
and the pressure then coming against the face of its mould board, the notion around
the stud continues until the working position for the return bout is arrived at,
when a stop prevents further motion.
The Drawings hereunto annexed shew an implement with plough bodies mounted
upon it in the manner above described. Figure 1 is a plan view of the implement,
and Figure 2, a side elevation of the same; Figure 3 shows a means of raising or
lowering the end wheels, and Figure 4 shows a means of raising or lowering the
central castor wheel; Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 show views illustrating the effect of
giving a partial turn to the plough frame, and of turning over the pairs of plough
bodies on the studs or axes which carry them.
A is the frame of the implement; B, B, are the end wheels; C, the central castor
wheel; D, D, are levers, to which are attached the ropes for hauling the implement
to and fro across the land. These levers are coupled together and can also be
coupled to one or other of arms E on the swivelling rings which carry the axles of
the two end wheels to effect the partial turning of the implement at a headland,
being coupled to one or other arm according to the direction in which the imple-
ment is to be turned. The swivelling rings which carry the axles of the end wheels
can also be turned for the purpose of steering the implement by turning hand
wheels F. These details form no part of my Invention, and other means than
those shewn may be adopted for supporting the plough frame, and for drawing it to
and fro over the land with the frame inclining in opposite directions to the line of
draught at each successive bout.
The straight portion of the frame A which carries the ploughs, and which inclines
in opposite directions to the line of draught at each successive bout, has plates G, G,
projecting from it at right angles; at the bottom of each of these plates is carried
a socket H. The socket is parallel with the plate and also inclines downwards, as
shewn at Figures 2 and 6. The plough bodies are carried in pairs by studs or axes,
which are free to turn in sockets H, and they are retained by nuts or caps I secured
on their ends.

page_text: The way in which the two plough bodies of each pair are carried on opposite
sides of the studs or axes is best seen at Figures 6 and 7.
Figure 5 shews a side elevation of a pair of ploughs as seen in a direction at
right angles to the furrow line; the lower plough K is in the ground and at
work.
Figure 6 shews a side elevation of the ploughs seen at right angles to their
turning axis with the lower plough at work. The position of the ploughs when
half turned over is also shewn in dotted lines.
Figure 7 shews a plan view of the ploughs with the plough K at work; the
dotted lines shew the position of the ploughs when turned half over.
Figure 8 shews a plan view with the frame turned for the backward journey,
and the ploughs turned over so as to bring the plough L into work. The arrows X
in Figures 7 and 8 shew the direction of the line of draught. From these Figures
it will also be seen that by the turning of the plough frame A through an angle of
about 60 degrees or less, and by the turning over of the ploughs on the studs or
axes, one plough which had been at work in one direction is raised out of work,
and the other lowered into work with its point exactly in the opposite direction.
The ploughs cannot make more than about a half turn around their axes, as the
plough bodies as they are lifted out of work come alternately against one or other
side of the plates G by which the axes are supported. The plates G thus serve as
stops to limit the movement of the ploughs, and keep whichever plough is at work
in its proper working position. As before explained the act of turning the imple-
ment effects automatically the raising of one plough out of work, and lowering the
other plough into work, and the forward draught of the implement in its alternate
to and fro traverses maintains in their proper working position the ploughs which
have for the time been brought into work.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The construction of multiple furrow ploughs, substantially in the manner
herein before described.
Second. The construction of multiple furrow ploughs with the ploughs mounted
in pairs upon studs or axes at right angles to a frame which at successive bouts is
inclined in opposite directions to the line of draught, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Colquhoun Richardson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
J. C. RICHARDSON. (L.S.)