IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BREAKING UP THE GROUND, TILLING, SEED-SOWING, EXCAVATING AND ANALOGOUS OPERATIONS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in
"
the County of Middlesex Gentleman for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR BREAKING UP THE GROUND, TILLING, SEED-SOWING,
EXCAVATING AND ANALOGOUS OPERATIONS." A communication to him from
abroad by Joshua Alexander Kay of Flinders Lane East in the City of
Melbourne and Colony of Victoria Mechanical Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th August 1882.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BREAKING UP THE GROUND,
TILLING, SEED SOWING, EXCAVATING AND ANALOGOUS OPERATIONS a communication
to me from abroad by Joshua Alexander Kay of Flinders Lane East in the City
of Melbourne and Colony of Victoria Mechanical Engineer
The said Invention consists in an improved construction and arrangement of
machinery for ploughing or digging or breaking up the earth prior to its undergoing
the subsequent operations of turning over sowing and harrowing when the land is
to be tilled and prior to its being lifted and removed when the object is simply
that of excavation as in the forming of dams and the like-In the former case
there are added the contrivances for turning over sowing and harrowing to those
for ploughing digging or breaking up so as to enable one machine to perform all
these operations at one and the same time but in due succession so far as the order
of their procedure is concerned and in the latter case there may be added or
omitted the elevators for lifting the broken up earth into a vehicle or conducting
it to any required point.
The ploughing digging or breaking up portion of the improved machinery consists
essentially of a succession of revolving horizontal shafts one behind the other each
imparting motion to a series of multiple picks or breaking up tools each such
multiple pick consisting of a number of points or single picks which enter the

page_text: ground in the same time in succession. It is preferred to make such multiple picks
and to connect them to the shaft in the manner hereinafter described it being
necessary that the picks on each shaft should not travel in the same line as those
immediately before them and that the second one should be lower than the first so
as to dig to a greater depth and thus divide the work and lessen the strain. Two
of such shafts might be sufficient but it is preferred to have three and in this case
the third one is on the same level as the second and is only used to insure more
perfect work The whole of these shafts are supported in bearings attached to a
main framing which is raised and lowered by suitable leverage and are driven by
spur wheels on the main shaft as hereinafter described.
The machine as a whole has three wheels one being a leading or steering wheel
in front and. the two others being draught wheels one at either side immediately
behind the ploughing digging or breaking up portion of it. Immediately behind
the draught wheels is the new turning over machinery consisting of a series of
scoops or shovels the whole width of the machine which revolve with a shaft to
which they are connected and which is itself driven from said spur wheels on the
main shaft in the manner hereinafter described.
Immediately behind this turning over contrivance is attached a seed sower of
the same width as the machine which is worked from the scoop shaft also as
hereinafter described.
Immediately behind this seed sower there is also suspended a row of teeth or
lines reaching to the ground so as to act as a harrow. This is supported by
gudgeons working in bearings in the frame so as to admit its swinging to and fro
and thus allowing the teeth to pass over the weeds or other obstruction.
The following is a more explicit explanation of the apparatus. The front or
guide wheel is worked by a steering handle and bridle on a vertical spindle as is
well understood. One end of the main framing of the digger is supported on the
said spindle and the other on the axle of the draught wheels. Bolted to this
framing are cheek plates in which are the bearings for shafts each such shaft
carrying a series of multiple picks kept a proper distance apart by sleeves or
washers and bolted to discs. On either end of each of these shafts are pinions or
toothed gearing the whole of which are set in motion by spur wheels fixed on the
axle of the draught wheels-These draught wheels revolve freely upon their axle
except when the clutches are closed by a hand lever.
Behind the draught wheels are scoops or shovels which are fastened by bolts to
discs fitted on a shaft at either end of which are pinions driven by gearing from
spur wheels on the axle of the draught wheels.
Behind the revolving scoops or shovels is a seed sower which may be of ordinary
construction and whose brush is driven by a cord gearing over pulleys and one of
which is on the end of shaft of the scoops from which it receives its motion.
Behind the sower is a light swinging harrow rake consisting of one or more rows
of teeth across the hinder end of the machine.
There is a double lever for raising and lowering the machine at pleasure It
works on fulcrum which also acts as an axle bush One end of a strong flat
connecting rod is around the said axle bush and the other end around the collar of
the intermediate wheel stud so as to move the hind cheek plates back and forth to
keep the gearing always in gear as the machine is raised or lowered.
The shafts for the picks and the shovels may be substituted by gudgeons formed
on the discs to which they are bolted.
The action of the machine is as follows When the horse steam or other power
is applied to drag the machine over the ground to be operated upon the framing
which carries the picks is lowered to the required depth and the clutches thrown
into gear-As the machine is then drawn forward the main or driving wheels are
set in motion and the spur wheels propel the driving gear of the picks scoops and
sower when the two latter are attached-The picks as they revolve enter the soil
and dig or break it up as before described and for some purposes of agriculture
their operation alone.would be sufficient for the requirements of the soil in which

page_text: case the hinder part of the machine would be dispensed with but as in wheat or
cereal growing it is of great importance to completely turn over the soil so as to
destroy weeds larvae of insects and other vermin the revolving shovels or scoops are
applied which lift the pulverized soil right up and discharge it again behind in the
wake of the machine comparatively smooth and regular in depth-The seed is
supplied to the hopper and the brush is so set and constructed that its interstices
just allow the proper proportion of seed to pass out onto the surface of the land
when it is covered in to the required depth by the light harrow rake.
The pick points may either be hardened or covered with shields which can be
easily renewed when worn- -By reversing their motion the machine might be used
for potatoe digging It may be set to work shallow for grass or other seed sowing
or lowered to any required depth for ploughing or excavating or other purposes.
When the machine is used for excavating for roads dams canals and so on an
elevator might be attached in lieu of the seed sower so as to carry up the soil to an
inclined shoot for depositing it at a distance-or the machine might be constructed
with pickers revolving to which fixed mould boards night be attached like ploughs
or stationary tines might be fixed to tear up the soil followed by my revolving
shovels or scoops-As these devices would use much more labor or power to do the
same work it is preferred to use the contrivances herein before described.
1.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th February 1883.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BREAKING UP THE GROUND,
TILLING, SEED SOWING, EXCAVATING AND ANALOGOUS OPERATIONS a communication
to me from abroad by Joshua Alexander Kay of Flinders Lane, Enst, in the City
of Melbourne and Colony of Victoria Mechanical Engineer.
The said invention consists in an improved construction and arrangement of
machinery for ploughing, or digging, or breaking-up the earth prior to its under-
going the subsequent operations of turning over, sowing, and harrowing, when the
land is to be tilled, and prior to its being lifted and removed when the object is
simply that of excavation as in the forming of dams, and the like. In the former
case there are added the contrivances for turning over, sowing and harrowing, to
those for ploughing, digging, or breaking-up, so as to enable one machine to
perform all these operations at one and the same time, but in due succession so far
as the order of their procedure is concerned, and in the latter case there may be
added or omitted the elevators for lifting the broken-up earth into a vehicle, or
conducting it to any required point.
The ploughing, digging, or breaking-up portion of the improved machinery
consists essentially of a succession of revolving horizontal shafts one behind the
other, each imparting motion to a series of multiple picks or breaking-up tools,
each such multiple pick consisting of a number of points or single picks, which
enter the ground in the same line in succession It is preferred to make such
multiple picks, and to connect them to the shaft, in the manner hereinafter
described and shown in the accompanying drawings it being necessary that the
picks on each shaft should not travel in the same line as those immediately before
them and that the second one should be lower than the first, so as to dig to a
greater depth, and thus divide the work, and lessen the strain. Two of such shafts
might be sufficient, but it is preferred to have three, and in this case, the third one
is on the same level as the second, and is only used to insure more perfect work.
The whole of these shafts are supported in bearings attached to a main framing
which is raised and lowered by suitable leverage, and are driven by spur wheels on
the main shaft as hereinafter described.
The machine, as a whole, has three wheels, one being a leading or steering wheel,
in front, and the two others being draught wheels, one at either side, immediately
behind the ploughing, digging or breaking-up portion of it. Immediately behind
the draught wheels is the new turning-over machinery consisting of a series of
scoops or shovels, the whole width of the machine, which revolve with a shaft, to
which they are connected, and which is itself driven from said spur wheels on the
main shaft, in the manner hereinafter described.
Immediately behind this turning-over contrivance is attached a seed sower
of the same width as the machine, which is worked from the scoop shaft, also
as hereinafter described, but to this seed sower alone and in itself I lay no claim.
Immediately behind this seed sower there is also suspended a row of teeth or
tines, reaching to the ground, so as to act as a harrow. This is supported by
gudgeons working in bearings in the frame, so as to admit its swinging to and fro,
and thus allowing the teeth to pass over the weeds or other obstruction.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several

page_text: figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 shows plan, and Figure 2 side elevation of a complete machine con-
structed according to this Invention. Figure 3 shows side view of one of the
multiple picks, and Figure 4 similar view of the revolving scoops or shovels, both
on a larger scale than the other views. A is the front or guide wheel, worked by
the steering handle B, and bridle B¹, on a vertical spindle C, as is well understood.
D is the main framing of the digger, one end of which is supported on spinde C,
and the other on the axle of the draught wheels. Bolted to this framing are cheek
plates D', in which are the bearings for shafts E, each shaft carrying a series of
inultiple picks E', kept a proper distance apart, by sleeves or washers E³, and
bolted to discs E³ as shown-On the ends of each of these shafts are pinions or
toothed gearing F, the whole of which are set in motion by spur wheels G, fixed
on the axle H, of the draught wheels I. These draught wheels revolve freely upon
their axle, except when the clutches K are closed by the hand lever L.
Behind the draught wheels are the scoops or shovels M, which are fastened by
bolts M², to discs M², fitted on the shaft M³, at both end of which are pinions F¹
driven by toothed wheels, also marked F¹, and all receiving motion from spur
wheels G, on the axle H.
Behind the revolving scoops or shovels, is a seed sower N which may be
of ordinary construction, and whose brush O is driven by a cord 01, and pulleys 0°
and O³, the latter of which is on the end of shaft M³, from which it receives its
motion.
"
Behind the sower is the light swinging harrow rake, P consisting of one or more
rows of teeth across the hinder end of the machine.
Qis a double lever for raising and lowering the machine at pleasure. It works
on fulcrum R, which also acts as an axle bush. S is a strong flat connecting rod
one end of which is around the said axle bush and the other end around the
collar of the intermediate wheel stud, so as to move the hind cheek plates T,
back and forth, to keep the wheels G and F¹ always in gear, as the machine is
raised or lowered.
The shafts for the picks and the shovels may be substituted by gudgeons formed
on the discs, to which they are bolted.
The action of the machine is as follows. When the horse, steam, or other power
is applied to drag the machine over the ground to be operated. upon, the framing
which carries the picks is lowered to the required depth by means of the lever Q,
and the clutches thrown into gear by means of the handle L. As the machine is
then drawn forward, the main or driving wheels I, are set in motion and the spur
wheels G, propel the driving gear of the picks, scoops, and sower, when the two
latter are attached. The picks as they revolve enter the soil, and dig or break it
up as before described, and for some purposes of agriculture their operation alone
would be sufficient for the requirements of the soil, in which case the hinder part
of the machine would be dispensed with; but as in wheat or cereal growing it is
of great importance to completely turn over the soil so as to destroy weeds, larvie
of insects and other vermin, the revolving shovels or scoops are applied, which lift
the pulverised soil right up, and discharge it again behind in the wake of the
machine, comparatively smooth, and regular in depth. The seed is supplied to the
opper and the brush is so set and constructed that its interstices just allow the
proper proportion of seed to pass out onto the surface of the land, when it is
covered in to the required depth by the light harrow rake.
The pick points may either be hardened or covered with shields, which can be
asily renewed when worn. By reversing their motion the machine night be
sed for potato digging. It may be set to work shallow for grass or other seed
owing, or lowered to any required depth for ploughing or excavating or other
urposes.
When the machine is used for excavating for roads, dams, canals, and the like,
n elevator might be attached in lieu of the seed sower, so as to carry up the soil

page_text: to an inclined shoot for depositing it at a distance. Or the machine might be
constructed with revolving pickers to which fixed mould boards might be attached
like ploughs; or stationary tines might be fixed to tear up the soil, followed by
the revolving shovels or scoops. As these devices would use much more labour
or power to do the same work, it is preferred to use the contrivances shown in the
drawings.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
performing same I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise shape or number of the picks and shovels, nor to the construction of the
sower or harrow as they may be altered or varied without departing from the
nature and principle of the said invention, but what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is :—
First The construction of machinery for breaking up the ground, tilling,
excavating and analogous operations with a succession of lines of picks, multiple
or otherwise, carried on discs supported by and revolving with shafts or gudgeons,
and whether such lines of picks be on the same level or on different levels.
Second Constructing such multiple picks by bolting them together, and to a
disc in the manner herein described and illustrated most clearly in Figure 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
Third Constructing the said machinery with a series of revolving scoops or
shovels behind the picks or breaking-up implements for turning over the loosened
earth, and when needed for discharging it into elevators for removal.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement of a seed sower and a harrow with
the improved contrivances for breaking-up and turning over the earth as herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of January One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.