IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS FOR CULTIVATING LAND
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Potter Blake of No 14 Eaton Place in the County of
the City of Exeter Esquire for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS
FOR CULTIVATING LAND
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Potter Blake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1882.
GEORGE POTTER BLAKE of No. 14 Eaton Place in the County of the City of
Exeter Esquire
IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS FOR CULTIVATING LAND
$6
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in implements for cultivating
land.
In ploughs as now constructed the furrow slice after being separated from the
land in the usual way passes on to a mould board by which it is turned over-in
place of this I construct implements for cultivating land in such a manner that the
furrow slice after being separated from the land in the usual way is carried up into
the interior of a revolving cylindrical screen having internal projecting flanges
which strike the earth as it enters and break it up. The fine earth and small stones
are ejected to the right hand side through the meshes whilst the large stones, knobs
of earth, weeds couch and such like are carried upwards towards the rear end of
the cylinder and the large stones, weeds &c. are finally ejected from it into a
receiver by which time all knobs of earth will have been broken up and ejected
through the perforations of the cylinder. To effect this I form the implement of
an oblong rectangular frame supported by a pair of wheels (a land wheel, and a
furrow wheel) carried on axes projecting from opposite sides of the frame. From
the front end of the frame a draft beam projects carrying a coulter and leading
land wheel the front of the frame has also a bar descending from it to which is
secured the plough share. The furrow slice separated from the land by the coulter
and share is conducted upwards by guiding surfaces into the forward end of a
revolving cylindrical screen. The axes of this screen are carried in bearings at the

page_text: two ends of the rectangular frame and the cylindrical screen has a revolving motion
given to it by gearing from the land wheel.
The passage of the furrow slice upwards from the front of the share to the
entrance into the cylindrical screen is facilitated by a short endless carrying apron
or chain kept distended between two rollers above the sole plate of the share and
driven by the gear.
The upper surface of the apron receives the furrow slice from the front end of
the share and carrying it upwards delivers it into the front end of the cylindrical
screen.
Over the hinder roller of the apron a crushing roller is mounted to aid in
pulverising the soil. It is driven by the gear and arranged in such manner that
it is able to rise to permit stones to pass.
Winding around the interior of the cylindrical screen is a spiral flange projecting
a few inches into the interior of the screen. The soil as it enters the screen is
caught by this spiral flange and is driven towards the upper rear end of the screen.
The pulverized earth escapes sidewise through the perforations of the screen whilst
the stones weeds &c. pass from the rear end of the screen into a receiver as above
explained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Potter Blake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
December 1882.
GEORGE POTTER BLAKE of No 14 Eaton Place in the County of the City of
Exeter Esquire
"IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS FOR CULTIVATING LAND
"
This invention has for its object improvements in implements for cultivating
land.
In ploughs as now constructed the furrow slice after being separated from the
land in the usual way passes on to a mould board by which it is turned over-in
place of this I construct implements for cultivating land in such a manner that the
furrow slice after being separated from the land in the usual way is carried up into
the interior of a revolving cylindrical screen having internal projecting blades
which strike the earth as it enters and break it up. The fine earth and small
stones are ejected to the right hand side through the meshes whilst the large stones
knobs of earth weeds couch and such like are carried upwards towards the rear
end of the cylinder and the large stones, weeds &c are finally ejected from it into a
receiver by which time all knobs of earth will have been broken up and ejected
through the perforations of the cylinder. To effect this I form the implement in
the manner indicated by the annexed Drawings.-Figure 1 is a side elevation
Figure 2 is a plan and Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section.
The several parts are marked with letters of reference.
A the main body or frame of the machine. B the two principal wheels which
carry the machine and serve to actuate the various parts of the machine. C the
front guide wheel enclosed in a swivel frame at the upper part of the spindle of
this frame is affixed a socket for the draft pole. D the frame containing the
cutting apparatus for operating upon the land, it is hung upon trunnions at the
centre of oscillation. To this frame is attached the share F and the coulter E and
the travelling apron H. The apron H which is carried by and upon the revolving
cylinders I and J and sliding plate H'. These cylinders are provided with scrapers
and the cylinder J has a means whereby it is easily shifted and cleansed. These
cylinders I and J may be either plain grooved or toothed. K is a revolving shaft
actuated by the gear pinion L and gear wheel M. The gear wheel M. is affixed to
one of the two principal carrying wheels B, so that the machine when travelling
shall cause the revolving cylinders I and J and the travelling apron H to have a
proper proportionate velocity. The gauge wheel N is also fixed to the front end
of the frame D with adjustable rods to regulate its vertical and horizontal
positions.
The frame and cutting apparatus is raised and lowered by the lever O actuated
by the man on the seat S. The lever is held up when the machine is out of work
by the catch P and the depth to which the cutting apparatus is allowed to enter
into the ground and the determinate depth of furrow is regulated by a screw and
handle Q.
The disconnecting gear R for throwing out of motion the cylinders I and J and
the travelling apron H is operated upon by the man controlling the working of
the machine upon the seat S. This disconnecting gear R is so made that it shall
be automatic in its action so that in the event of the machine being driven
backward as in turning it shall throw itself out of gear and not tend to breakage.
T is the revolving cylindrical screen, it is placed with its axis longitudinally
with the main frame of the machine. It is carried upon a central spindle revolving
in bearings attached to the main frame and is put in motion by gearing from one
of the two principal wheels B.

page_text: The interior of this revolving cylindrical screen is furnished with a worm and at
the receiving end immediately after the delivery end of the cutting frame and
apparatus are a series of blades which sever the furrow of land entering the cylinder
into short lengths for facility in screening.
The land in its transit through this cylinder is further broken up The finer
particles of earth and stones pass through the meshes of the revolving cylindrical
screen, whilst the large stones and weeds are carried by the action of the worm to
the extreme back end of the cylindrical screen and deposited in a receptacle placed
at the end of the frame to receive them. This receptacle is cleansed and emptied
as occasion requires.
This revolving cylindrical screen may have its axis horizontal or inclined from
the horizontal but is by preference inclined the back end being the higher.
I claim my improved implement for cultivating land substantially as herein
described and illustrated by the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said George Potter Blake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this thirtieth day of November in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
G. P. BLAKE (LS.)