A REVOLVING AND IMPROVED LAND CLEANING, CULTIVATING, AND HARROWING MACHINEe for AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Davis, of Hempton, in the Parish of Deddington, in
the County of Oxford, Farmer, for the Invention of "A REVOLVING AND
IMPROVED LAND CLEANING, CULTIVATING, AND HARROWING MACHINEe for
AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 22nd January 1878, and dated the 9th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Davis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th August 1877.
JOHN DAVIS, of Hempton, in the Parish of Deddington, in the County of Oxford,
Farmer. "A REVOLVING AND IMPROVED LAND CLEANING, CULTIVATING, AND
HARROWING MACHINE FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES."
Whereas the machines heretofore used for the purpose of preparing the land for
sowing, after it has been ploughed, are the "cultivator" and the "harrow," both of
which, being dragged along the surface of the ground, besides requiring great horse
power, drag the squitch and filth either along with them, or drag it into the
ground with them, thus laying the foundation of another plentiful crop of weeds,
and when the squitch and filth is removed from those machines at all, it has to be
done by manual labor :
And whereas the object of this Invention is to make a machine combining the
"cultivator" and the "harrow," and also to clear the land of all weeds and filth, and
generally to clean, cultivate, and harrow the land after it has been ploughed, and to
prepare the land ready for sowing by one operation, and more expeditiously and
cheaply than heretofore:
The above-mentioned objects are effected in this Invention by means of four rows
of curved revolving tines or prongs, which tines or prongs are revolved by means of
cog wheels. The machine is intended to be drawn by horses, and the tines or prongs
are forced through and under the surface of the land, and being self-adjustable, these
tines or prongs may be adjusted, so as to penetrate the land to any depth that may
be desired, not exceeding seven inches.

page_text: The tines or prongs in their rotation effectually break up and harrow the land,
and also pull the weeds thereout, and the mechanical action of the machine clears
the tines or prongs of the weeds which they have pulled up, and leaves them (the
weeds) on the surface of the land, and behind the machine.
:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th February
1878.
JOHN DAVIS, of Hempton, in the Parish of Deddington, in the County of Oxford,
Farmer. "A REVOLVING AND IMPROVED LAND CLEANING, CULTIVATING, AND
HARROWING MACHINE FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES."
. :
Whereas the machines heretofore ordinarily used for the purpose of preparing the
land for sowing, after it has been ploughed, are the "cultivator" and the "harrow,"
both of which, being dragged along the surface of the ground, besides requiring
great horse power, drag the squitch and filth either along with them, or drag it
into the ground with them, thus laying the foundation of another plentiful crop
of weeds, and when the squitch and filth is removed from those machines at all, it
has to be done by manual labour:
And whereas the object of this Invention is to make a machine combining the
"cultivator" and the "harrow," and also to clear the land of all weeds and filth,
and generally to clean, cultivate, and harrow the land after it has been ploughed, and
to prepare the land ready for sowing by one operation, and more expeditiously and
cheaply than heretofore :
The above-mentioned objects are effected in this Invention by means of rows of
curved revolving tines or prongs, which tines or prongs are revolved by means of
cog wheels. The machine is intended to be drawn by horses or by steam power,
and the tines or prongs are forced through and under the surface of the land, and
being self-adjustable, these tines or prongs may be adjusted so as to penetrate the
land to any depth that may be desired,
:
The tines or prongs in their rotation effectually break up and harrow the
land, and also pull the weeds thereout, and the mechanical action of the machine
clears, in the manner herein-after explained; the tines or prongs of the weeds
which they have pulled up, and leaves them (the weeds) on the surface of the land
and behind the machine.
The Drawing hereunto annexed shews a cultivating and harrowing machine,
arranged as above described.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the machine.
Figure 2 is an elevation, showing how the arms which carry the axis of the curved
tines or prongs swing upon the axle of the main wheels.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the curved tines or prongs with their clearers.
A is the main axle, to which is secured a frame B carrying the shafts. On the
ends of the axle are mounted the main wheels C, which each have secured to them
a toothed wheel D. Swinging on the axle are also arms or cheeks E, which carry
bearings in which are received the ends of an axis F. The axis F has 'secured to it
curved tines or prongs G in sets of four, as shown at Figure 3; or there might be

page_text: six tines or prongs in each set. On the ends of the axis F are pinions H, gearing
with the toothed wheels D; the pinions H can be made fast or loose on the axis F
by sliding clutches worked by means of the lever I. The axis F carrying the tines
can be raised by chains K, K, which pass from the arms E to a roller L, mounted
àt the rear end of the frame B. The roller L has a bevel wheel upon it, which gears
a bevel pinion which can be turned by the handle M, so that by turning this
handle to wind the chains on to the roller L, the tines can be lifted out of the
ground. When the chains are allowed to unwind from the roller L the tines descend,
and as the machine is drawn forward they penetrate the ground the depth to
which they can descend, being limited by other chains N, which pass from the
arms E to hooks on the rear end of the frame B, as shewn at Figure 1.
The machine is drawn forward by chains O, which pass from the lower part of the
arms E to the forward end of the shafts, or over small wheels at the rear end of
the shafts.
In order that the curved tines or prongs may be cleared of weeds as they revolve,
each curved tine or prong has working with it a clearer P, as shewn at Figure 3.
One end of the clearer has a slot formed in it through which the curved tine or
prong passes; the other end of the clearer turns on a pin carried by the stem of the
preceding tine or prong. On this end of the clearer is also a small crank arm, which
is coupled by a link R to a corresponding crank arm of the clearer on the opposite
side of the axis F, the links R are bent, so as not to come in the way of this axis.
As each tine enters the ground the clearer working with it remains upon the
surface and causes the clearer which works with the tine or prong on the opposite
side of the axis F to turn on its pin joint and sweep along the tine or prong from
its base to its point, and so clear it from weeds and throw the weeds backwards on
to the land.
The number of sets of tines required depends upon the width of the machine,
and each set is provided with clearers, arranged to act in the manner above
described.
The peripheries of the wheels which carry the apparatus have spikes or projections.
which can, when necessary, be secured to them to enable them to obtain a better
hold of the ground when at work.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I do not claim generally the employment
of revolving teeth or prongs to break up the land and clear it of weeds, as I am
aware that in some cases revolving teeth or prongs have before been used for
this purpose, but I claim,-
First. The combined arrangement of cultivating and harrowing machine, sub-
stantially as herein-before described, and illustrated in the Drawing annexed.
Second. The combined arrangement of clearers working with the revolving
curved teeth or prongs, substantially in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Davis, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOHN DAVIS. (LS.)