Im- PROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES, PART OF WHICH INVENTION MAY BE APPLIED TO OTHER AGRICULTURAL MACHINES.
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Newzam Nicholson, of the Trent Iron
Works, Newark, Agricultural Engineer, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES, PART OF WHICH INVENTION MAY BE APPLIED
TO OTHER AGRICULTURAL MACHINES.'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Newzam
Nicholson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 9th December 1872.
I, WILLIAM NEWZAM NICHOLSON, of the Trent Iron Works, Newark,
Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES, PART OF WHICH INVENTION MAY
BE APPLIED TO OTHER AGRICULTURAL MACHINES," to be as follows :-
This Invention consists of a method by which the axles of horse rakes
and other agricultural machines are strengthened, and their deflection
prevented and remedied.
In consequence of the great length of the axles of horse rakes and
similar implements they are very liable to become permanently strained
or deflected in working, especially where a seat is used. My present

page_text: •
Invention enables me to remedy this defect, and consists of an arrange-
ment of ironwork and rods above and connected with the axle, by which
a truss is formed. Where a seat is used the irons that support the seat
are contrived so as to form a part of such truss.
The trussing rods may be screwed and have nuts by which the axle
may be kept perfectly straight or be cambered at pleasure.
In some cases we propose to attach one or more trussing rods to the
sent in such a way that the weight of the man will have the effect of
raising instead of depressing the centre of the axle.
The same Invention is available for strengthening the axles of hay.
machines, harrows, scarifiers, and other agricultural machines.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Newzam Nicholson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NEWZAM NICHOLSON, of the Trent Iron Works, Newark, in the County
of Nottingham, Agricultural Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Newzam Nicholson, Her special
licence that I, the said William Newzam Nicholson, my executors, admin-
istrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Newzam
Nicholson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN HORSE RAKES, PART OF WHICH INVENTION MAY BE APPLIED
TO OTHER AGRICULTURAL MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Newzam Nicholson, my executors or ad-
ministrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the

page_text: nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Newzam Nicholson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed; that is to say :-
:-
This Invention relates to methods by which the axles of horse rakes
and other agricultural machines are strengthened, and their deflection
prevented and remedied.
In consequence of the great length of the axles of horse rakes and
similar implements they are very liable to become permanently strained
or deflected in working, especially when a seat is used. My present
Invention enables me to remedy this defect, and consists of an arrange-
ment of ironwork and rods above and connected with the axle, by which
a truss is formed. Where a seat is used the irons that support it are
contrived so as to form part of such truss.
The trussing rods may be screwed and have nuts by which the axle
may either be kept perfectly straight or be cambered at pleasure.
In some cases I attach one or more trussing rods to the seat in such a
way that the weight of the rider has the effect of raising instead of
depressing the centre of the axle.
The same Invention is available for strengthening the axles of hay
machines, harrows, scarifiers, and other agricultural implements.
The manner of carrying out my Invention will be understood by
reference to the annexed Drawings.
.
Figures 1 and 3 are elevations, and Figures 2 and 4 are transverse
sections of horse rake or other axles.
A, A, are the axles; B, B, the wheels; C, O, the seat supports forming
struts; D, D, the trussing and strengthening rods.
In Figures 1 and 3 is shewn the method of trussing the axles, either
with or without a seat. In the latter case the seat is simply omitted,
and the wrought-iron struts or supports may be carried through in one

page_text: piece. These said struts or seat supports rest or are fixed near the
outer ends of the axles a, a, whilst the trussing rods are made to pass
through or embrace the axle at b, b, & have nutted ends passing
through the struts or seat bracket at c, c. By screwing up the nuts the
axle is not only kept straight but may be cambered upwards, & 5
deflection due to the weight of the machine or of the rider,
prevented.
In Figures 2 and 4 the arrangement is such that the weight of the
rider upon the seat tends to lift up and otherwise counteract any deflec-
tion of the axle. The seat supports are fixed as described in Figure 1, 1
but through the upper portion of these supports a horizontal spindle 'K'
is passed, upon which the bracket carrying the seat is pivotted. This
bracket'm' is prolonged before and behind, as shewn in Figure 4, and
through the back of it is passed the rod 'n,' the seat being fixed before
the spindle or pivot. The opposite end of the rod 'n' is connected with 1
the axle at 'o.' Hence it will be seen that the weight of the rider pivoted.
on the centre spindle 'K' has a tendency to raise or lift up the axle.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and certain methods
in which the same may be carried out, I declare that I do not confine
myself to the precise plans herein shewn, as they are capable of being 2
varied without materially departing from the essential principles of my
Invention, but what I do claim is,—
First. The method of trussing the axles of horse rakes or other
agricultural machines, whether with or without seats, substantially in
the manner described and shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
Second. The method of supporting the axles of horse rakes and other
agricultural machines having a seat, substantially in the manner
. described and shewn in Figures 3 and 4.
2
In witness whereof, I, the said William Newzam Nicholson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, ³
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-.
the
WILLIAM NEWZAM NICHOLSON. (L.S.)