Improvements in Draft Equalizers for Vehicles and Agricultural Implements.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Draft Equalizers for Vehicles and Agricultural
Implements.
I, LEORENZO Dow WHITTEN, of Beverley, in the County of Adams, and State of
Illinois, United States of America, Day Laborer, 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:-
-
My invention has relation to improvements in draft equalizers for double teams,
and the object is to provide a device of this class for practically and effectually
equalizing the draft of a double team. To this end the novelty consists in the con-
struction, combination and arrangement of the same as will be hereinafter more
fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying perspective drawing of a draft equalizer constructed accord-
ing to this invention.
1 represents the front axle, 2 the tongue or pole, and 4 the double pole, centrally
pivoted to the tongue by a bolt 5.
6-6 represent stay links, the forward ends of which pass through vertical
holes 7-7 in the double tree, and their rear ends are each provided with a snap
hook 8, by means of which they are detachably secured to eye-bolts 9 on the axle 1.
10-10¹ are horizontal slots in the opposite ends of the double tree, and in the
slot 10 is horizontally fulcrumed an angle lever 12, by means of a bolt 13, and to
the outer arm 14 of said lever is connected a single tree 15, by an open link 16,
while to the rear arm 17 is pivoted the angular arm 18 of the member 19 of the
adjustable connecting rod 20.
An angle lever 30 is likewise fulcrumed by a bolt 31 in the slot 10' in the oppo-
site end of the double tree, and its longer arm 32 is provided with a series of
orifices 33, 331, and 332, in any one of which is secured the open link 34, the oppo-
site end of which is pivoted to a single tree 15¹.
The shorter rear arm 35 of said angle lever 30 is pivoted to the angular arm 29
of the member 21 of the connecting rod 20, and the end of each of the arms 18-29
are screw threaded to receive a nut not shown.
The inner end of the member 19 of the connecting rod 20 is rectangular in cross
section, and is provided with a series of vertical holes 27, and its immediate end
terminates in a downwardly projecting arm 26, which engages one of the adjusting
holes 25 in the corresponding rectangular portion of the member 21, and is adjust-
ably secured therein by a nut 24. The arm 23 of the member 21 is likewise adjust-
ably secured in one of the holes 27 of the member 19 by a nut 22.
Assuming that an animal of ordinary draft capacity is hitched to the single
tree 15, an animal of equal draft capacity would be hitched to the single tree 15',
adjusted to the hole 331, while if said second animal be below the standard, the
single tree will be connected in the outer hole 333, and if above the standard, to the
hole 33, which equalizes the difference in draft capacity of the team.

page_text: In hitching up a triple team abreast, the single tree 15 is detached, and an
ordinary double tree, with two single trees attached, is substituted, and the single
tree 15 adjusted accordingly.
My improved draft equalizer will be found very convenient in breaking colts,
by first hitching them to the single tree-15-adjusted to the outer hole of the angle
plate 30, and as they learn to draw, and their strength increases gradually, moving
the single tree inward until about equal to the draft of the animal on the other
tree 15.
The device is especially adapted to the various farm implements, such as drills,
planters, rollers and the like, ensuring a steady and even pull at all times.
Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrange-
ment of the several elements of my invention, I do not desire to be confined to the
same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall within the scope
of my invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A draft equalizer, comprising the axle 1, tongue 2, and the double tree cen-
trally secured to the tongue 2 by a bolt 5, and having its outer ends connected to
the axle by stay links 6-61, provided with snap hooks S engaging the eye-bolts 9
secured to said axle, in combination with the adjustable connecting rod 20, the
outer ends of which are secured to the angle levers 12-30, fulcrumed in horizontal
slots in the outer ends of the double tree 4, substantially as shown and described.
2. A draft equalizer, comprising the axle, the tongue and the double tree 4, the
outer ends of which are provided with horizontal slots 10-10¹, the angle
levers 12-30 fulcrumed therein, the lever 12 having arms of equal length and the
lever 30 arms of unequal length, in combination with the adjustable connecting
rod 20 connecting the rear arms of said levers and comprising the member 19
having a plane portion provided with vertical holes 27 and a depending arm 26 pro-
vided with a nut 24, the corresponding member 21 having the plane portion pro-
vided with adjusting holes 25, and a vertical arm 23 provided with a nut 22,
substantially as shown and described.
3. A draft equalizer, comprising the axle, the tongue, and the double tree pro-
vided with a horizontal slot 10, in which is fulcrumed the angle lever 12, having
arms of equal length, and a horizontal slot 10¹ in which is fulcrumed the angle
lever 30 having a shorter arm 35, and a longer arm 32 provided with a series of
adjusting holes 33, 331, 332, in combination with the adjustable rod 20 connecting
said angle levers, and comprising the members 19 and 21, detachably and adjust-
ably secured together, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1897
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.