Improvements in Apparatus for Digging and Cultivating the Soil.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Digging and Cultivating the Soil.
We, ROBERT HENRY FOWLER, and THOMAS BENSTEAD, both of the Steam
Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :—
For the purpose of digging and cultivating the soil we construct an implement to
be drawn to and fro over the land either between two winding engines advancing
along the headlands or by one winding engine and round about tackle.
The digging tools of this implement are driven from the road wheels either by
toothed gearing or by chains and chain wheels.
We prefer that the implement should be carried on three wheels, a steering wheel
in front and in rear thereof two wide roller like wheels on the same axle. The
frame extends behind the axle and carries an axis on which are several cranks.
The cranked axis is geared with the axle so that it revolves at a higher speed.
On each crank a spade or digger is mounted which at each revolution of the
cranked axis makes two penetrations in the ground (in the same line of cut) and
then throws up the soil. Each spade or digger is further controlled by a lever
projecting upwards from it and guided by a suitable linkage. The hauling ropes
are attached to a lever jointed to the frame; this rope lever carries the slack rope
clear of the side of the implement, also when the direction of draught is changed, it
aids in turning the implement, and it guides the ropes to their new positions.
Dated this 20th day of October 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Digging and Cultivating the Soil.
We, ROBERT HENRY FOWLER, and THOMAS BENSTEAD, both of the Steam
Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :--
For the purpose of digging and cultivating the soil we construct an implement to
be drawn to and fro over the land either between two winding engines advancing
along the headlands or by one winding engine and round about tackle.
The digging tools of this implement are driven from the road wheels either by
toothed gearing or by chains and chain wheels.
We prefer that the implement should be carried on three wheels a steering wheel
in front and in rear thereof two wide roller like wheels on the same axle. The
frame extends behind the axle and carries an axis on which are several cranks.
The cranked axis is geared with the axle so that it revolves at a higher speed.
On each crank a spade or digger is mounted they are arranged in pairs and at
each revolution of the cranked axis the pair of spades makes two penetrations in the
ground in the same line of cut and throws up the soil. Each spade or digger is
further controlled by a lever projecting upwards from it and guided by a suitable
linkage. The hauling ropes are attached to a lever jointed to the frame; this rope
lever carries the slack rope clear of the side of the implement, also when the direction
Paine d

page_text: "
of draught is changed, it aids in turning the implement, and it guides the ropes to
their new positions.
In the annexed drawing Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a digging or cultivating
machine made in accordance with our invention. Figure 2 is a plan and Figure 3
is a side elevation of the same.
a is a frame supported by a steering wheel 6 in front and two roller like wheels cc
in rear. The lever to which the hauling ropes are attached is jointed to the frame
at d; the lever is not shown but it is formed and arranged in a well known manner.
On the axle of the main wheels there is a spur wheel which drives a pinion on an
intermediate axis e. f is an axis with numerous cranks, it has a pinion upon it at f
which engages with a wheel on the intermediate axis. 9 g are a series of spade or
fork like diggers; one of them is mounted on each crank of the axis f. The width
of the spades or tools is such that they overlap one another so that the ground is
twice worked as the machine passes over it. The cranks are set diametrically
opposite and one set of spades descends as the other set of spades ascends. Each
spade has a long stem or handle g' to control its movement and a link h connects its
upper end with a standard a' upon the frame. The dotted line i in Figure 3 shows
the resulting path of the lower end of the spade relatively to the frame of the imple-
ment; it is such as to result in the soil being effectually worked. A seat is provided
for the driver at the hinder part of the implement and he controls the steering
wheel in the usual way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for digging and cultivating the soil when drawn to and fro over it
by winding engines or by like means; in which apparatus the digging or cultivating
tools receive suitable movement by gearing connecting them with the carrying
wheels of the implement as herein set forth.
2. Digging and cultivating apparatus substantially as represented by the annexed
drawings.
Dated thin 12th .... 190.4