IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TILLING LAND, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE CHIEFLY APPLICABLE WHEN STEAM POWER IS EMPLOYED
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Alison, of Reigate, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, for the Invention of" IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TILLING
LAND, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE CHIEFLY APPLICABLE WHEN STEAM POWER IS
EMPLOYED."
Sealed the 10th November 1863, and dated the 28th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Alison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
August 1863.
I, JOHN ALISON, of Reigate, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR TILLING LAND. WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE CHIEPLY APPLICABLE WHEN STEAM
POWER IS EMPLOYED," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvementsin apparatus for tilling land,
which improvements are chiefly applicable when steam power is employed. In
constructing a plough to be drawn by steam power, I form it as has heretofore
been proposed, of a frame which has mounted at each of its ends a set of
ploughs, one or other of which comes into action according to the direction in
which the implement is drawn. The ploughs of which each set is composed
are mounted on an axis which is at an angle to the direction in which the
implement is drawn, so that the ploughs come one behind the other. Each of
the axes is square and passes through similar holes in the mould board or
frame of each plough, and the ploughs are kept at the requisite distance apart
[Price 8d1

page_text: by distance pieces fitting on the axis; these distance pieces also serve to hold
the ploughs securely in position, and by varying the length of these distance
pieces the ploughs can be set at different distances apart from each other.
On each of the axes is an arm, to each of which one or other of the ropes
used for hauling the implement is attached. Each rope, as it in turn
commences to haul the implement, first causes the arm to which it is attached
to turn the axis on which the set of ploughs is mounted, and lift the ploughs
out of the ground until it is stopped from so doing by the arm on the axis
coming against a stop on the framing; the rope will then commence to draw
the implement forward; the other set of ploughs will, as the rope which is
attached to them becomes slack, fall on to the ground, and as the implement
is drawn forward be caused to enter into it until they are prevented from
descending further by the arm on the axis coming against a stop on the
framing. The frame of the implement I arrange to be supported on three
wheels, two on one side, situated near the two ends of the implement, and the
third wheel on the other side and near the centre of the implement; this third
wheel which is on the side of the implement, that is, always towards the
ground that has already been ploughed by the implement, is so placed that
one of the ploughs of each set projects out beyond it; this wheel will thus
always be running on land that has not been acted on by the ploughs, and to
support the wheel I prefer to bend the framing of this side of the implement
inwards, so that the framing is narrower in the centre than at the ends; the
wheel can thus be placed outside of the framing. The pins on which the two
wheels on the other side of the framing are mounted are carried by vertical
axes, so that these wheels can be set at any angle to the framing of the imple-
ment, an the implement thus steered; and I gear the vertical axes together
so that they may be caused simultaneously to incline when necessary. This I
do by having on each vertical axis a segment of a worm wheel, into each of
which a worm on an axis that runs from end to end of the implement gears,
so that by causing this axis to revolve the wheels can be simultaneously
inclined to the framing. The axis near each of its ends is provided with a
bevil wheel, into which another bevil wheel on an axis which runs across the
implement gears, and on each of these axes which run across the implement is
a hand wheel by which they can be turned; the implement can thus, be
steered by turning either of these hand wheels; the hand wheels come over
platforms on which the man who is to work them stands; other cultivating
implements than ploughs can be arranged in the manner above described.
In constructing scarifiers 1 arrange them so that they can be drawn in
either direction; this I do by mounting on the frame of the implement two

page_text: sets of tines or teeth, one set entering the ground when the implement is
drawn in one direction, and the other set when in the other direction. The
tines are mounted on pins or axes, each pin or axis carrying two times, one
of which is for working in one direction and the other for working in the
other direction; each tine can, however, turn on its pin independently of
the other. When the implement is at work all the tines rest on the ground,
and when the implement is being drawn in one or other direction the tines
whose points are foremost will enter into it until they are prevented from
entering further by their coming against stops on the framing, whilst the
the backs of the others will rest on the surface of the ground.
The frame of the implement I by preference form of an openwork framing
of wrought iron, so that should any of the tines become clogged the man
on the implement can set them free without having to stop the implement.
When the implement is being moved along a road all the tines are held up
off the ground by suitable pins. In place of two tines to work in opposite
directions being mounted on each pin or axis as above described, there may be
two sets of tines at opposite ends of the implement, one set to work in one
direction and the other set in the other direction; the set that is for the time
being out of work can then either rest on the ground or can be arranged to
be lifted off from it by the draught rope as described with reference to the
ploughing implement. When making an implement to act on a considerable
width of land at one operation, I divide the implement lengthwise into two
parts, and I connect the two parts by pins or hinges, so that for passing gate-
ways one part of the implement can be turned up off the land. One portion
of the implement is provided with wheels in a similar manner to the
ploughing implement first described, there being on one side of it two
steering wheels, and on the opposite side a single wheel; to this latter side
is pin-jointea one side of the other portion of the implement, and this
portion of the implement is furnished near its centre with a wheel.
In arranging apparatus for giving motion to the hauling ropes used for
hauling tilling implements when steam power is used, I mount the pulley or
drum used for transmitting motion to the hauling rope on a swinging frame,
so that the pulley or drum can be adjusted to the line of draught of the rope,
as described in the Specification of a former Patent grauted to me on the
24th January 1863, (No. 191.) The axis of this frame I place in the centre
line of the frame of the implement, and this I am enabled to do by employing
vertical boiler in place of a horizontal one, as described in the Specification
my former Patent before mentioned, and by passing the main or driving
xis of the steam engine through the centre of the upper part of the smoke
of

page_text: box, one end of the axis can thus be brought into such a position as to give
motion by bevil wheels to an axis vertically above the axis on which the
swinging frame turns. The axis driven by the driving axis that passes through
the smoke box gives motion by bevil wheels to the pulley or drum that works
the hauling rope, as described in the before-mentioned Specification. The
other end of the driving axis is arranged to give motion to a pair of the wheels
on which the engine runs, and is also arranged to give motion to them at two
different speeds, the fast speed being used for giving motion to the wheels
when running on common roads, and the slow speed being used for moving
the engine along the headland when ploughing; this is done in the following
manner-On the end of the driving shaft is a bevil wheel which gives motion
to a bevil wheel on an axis, which has loose upon it a toothed wheel; this
wheel by a bevil wheel moving with it gives motion to a wheel on the axis of
the driving wheels; the loose wheel above mentioned can, however, be made
fast on its axis by a clutch, and this is done when it is required to drive the
wheels at the fast speed. When it is required to drive the wheels at the slow
speed the clutch is released, and a pinion that can be slid to and fro on the
shaft is caused to gear with a toothed wheel, on the axis of which is a pinion
that gears with the loose wheel, which transmits motion to the axle of the
driving wheels. The frontor locking pair of wheels,on which the engine runs,
is carried on an axle that can incline both in a vertical and horizontal direction.
The frame at this end of the engine I arrange to terminate in a single bar or
pole which runs lengthwise of the engine; this bar carries near its end a short
horizontal axis that is parallel with it; on the top and bottom of this axis are
two vertical pins upon which the axle of the wheels can be made to lock or
turn. Vertically above these pins I place another vertical axis, from one
side of which a fork descends and embraces the axle; on the vertical axis
is also a segment of a worm wheel into which a worm that can be turned by
a hand wheel gears; the implement can thus be steered by this hand wheel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said John Alison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ALISON, of Reigate, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eight day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Alison, Her special licence that I, the said John Alison, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Alison, 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
terin 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
TILLING LAND, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE CHIRFLY APPLICABLE WHEN STEAM POWER
IS EMPLOYED," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Alison, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the 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 John Alison, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for tilling land,
which improvements are chiefly applicable when steam power is employed.
In constructing a plough to be drawn by steam power I form it as has
heretofore been proposed, of a frame which has mounted at each of its ends a
set of ploughs, one or other of which comes into action according to the
direction in which the implement is drawn. The ploughs of which each set is
composed are mounted on an axis, which is at an angle to the direction in
which the implement is drawn,so that the ploughs come one behind the other.
Each of the axes is square, and passes through similar holes in the mould
board or frame of each plough, and the ploughs are kept at the requisite
distance apart by distance pieces fitting on the axis; these distance pieces also
serve to hold the ploughs securely in position, and by varying the length of
these distance pieces the ploughs can be set at different distances apart from
each other. On each of the axis is an arm, to each of which one or other of
the ropes used for hauling the implement is attached. Each rope as it in
turn commences to haul the implement first causes the arm to which it is
attached to turn the axis on which the set of ploughs is mounted, and lift the
ploughs out of the ground until it is stopped from so doing by the arm on the
axis coming against a stop on the framing; the rope will then commence to

page_text: draw the implement forward; the other set of ploughs will as the rope which is
attached to them becomes slack fall on to the ground,and as the implement is
drawnforward becaused to enter into it until they are prevented tromdescending
further by the arın on the axis coming against a stop on the framing. The
frame of the implement I arrange to be supported on three wheels, two on
one side situated near the two ends of the implement, and the third wheel on
the other side and near the centre of the implement; this third wheel, which
is on the side of the implement that is always towards the ground that has
already been ploughed by the implement is so placed that one of the ploughs of
each set projects out beyond it; this wheel will thus always be running on land
that has not been acted on by the ploughs, and to support the wheel I prefer
to bend the framing of this side of the implement inwards, so that the framing
is narrower in the centre than at the ends; the wheel can thus be placed
outside of the framing. The pins on which the two wheels on the other side
of the framing are mounted are carried by vertical axes, so that these wheels
can be set at any angle to the framing of the implement and the implement
thus steered, and I gear the vertical axis, together, so that they may be caused
simultaneously to incline when necessary; this I do by having on each vertical
axis a segment of a worm wheel, into each of which a worm on an axis that
runs from end to end of the implement gears, so that by causing this axis to
revolve the wheels can be simultaneously inclined to the framing; the axis
near each of its ends is provided with a bevil wheel, into which another bevil
wheel on an axis which runs across the implement gears, and on each of these
axes which run across the implement is a hand wheel by which they can be
turned; the implement can thus be steered by turning either of these hand
wheels; the hand wheels come over platforms on which the man who is to
work them stands.
Other cultivating implements than ploughs cau be arranged in the manner
above described.
Figure 1 shews a, plan view, and Figure 2 a side view of a plough con-
structed as above described. a is the frame of the machine, upon which are
mounted two sets of ploughs b, c, one set at each end of the frame; the set
of ploughs bis shewn in the position for ploughing, and the set c is lifted up
out of the ground; each set of ploughs is mounted on an axis d, which is
square in section at those parts where it passes through the mould boards or
frames of the ploughs, so that the ploughs are unable to turn upon the axis;
the ploughs are retained at the requisite distance apart, and are also kept at
right angles to the axis by means of filling pieces e placed between them; the
two outside ploughs baud c' of each set are fixed between collars, as shewn.

page_text: By varying the length of these filling pieces the ploughs can be set at different
distances apart from each other. ff, are arms on each of the axes d; these
arms are jointed at their ends to a bar g, to which is attached a short chain h,
and to this chain is connected one or other of the hauling ropes; the two short
chains h, to which are attached the two hauling ropes, are connected together
by a rope i that passes from one end of the implement to the other over
pullies, as is shewn; thus as soon as either rope commences to haul the imple-
inent the rope i draws after the implement the other hauling rope that is for
the time out of action; at the same time the hauling rope that is for the time
in action turns the axis d, with which it is connected, and lifts the plougli;
carried by it out of the ground until the arms ff', upon the axis come against
the front bar a' of the framing; at the same time the set of ploughs on the
other axis & descend on to the ground by their own gravity, and as the plough
moves onwards they enter the ground until they are prevented from entering
deeper by a projection on the armf descending on to the metal plate k on the
framing. It will be seen that as the axes & that carry the ploughs are at an
angle to the framing, each time that a set of ploughs turns down on to the
land the outer ends of the arros f, f¹, carried by the axis of that set of
ploughs will be moved towards the side of the framing, which, when the
implement is at work is always furthest from the ground already operated
upon, so that the hauling rope that is at the time out of action, and that is
connected to these arms, will be moved into a line with that side of the
implement, and so be in the proper position for hauling the implement when
the implement is to be drawn in the opposite direction to operate on a fresh
portion of ground. The frame of the implement is supported on three wheels,
two wheels l, l, on one side of the frame and near its ends, and one wheel m
on the other side, and in the centre of the frame. The centre of the frame
on the side of the implement that carries the wheel is bent inwards, as
shewn, so as to allow of the wheel being exterior of the framing, and yet
allow of one of the ploughs of each set projecting out beyond the wheel, in
order that this wheel may always be running on unploughed land. The pins
upon which the wheels 1, 1, turn are carried by vertical axes o, o, and on each
of these axes is a segment of a worm wheel p; into each of these a worm q
gears; these worms are carried by shafts running lengthwise of the imple-
ment; on each of the shafts is a bevil wheel gearing with another wheel
on a shaft that ruus across the frame of the machine, and on each of the shafts
is a hand wheels, as is shewn, that can be worked from a central platform t;
the implement may, however, if preferred, be made with two platforms, as
bove described, and as is shewn at Figure 3 of the Drawings.

page_text: I would remark that I do not confine myself to arranging ploughs in the
manner above described, but that when using two sets of cultivating imple
ments of any description, one set to work in one direction and the other in
the opposite direction, they may be arranged in a similar manner thereto.
The arrangement of apparatus for steering cultivating implements is also
applicable for steering cultivating implements constructed in a different
manner to that above described.
In constructing scarifiers I arrange them so that they can be drawn in either
direction; this I do by mounting on the frame of the instrument two sets of
tines or teeth, one set entering the ground when the implement is drawn in
one direction, and the other set when in the other direction. The tines are
mounted on pins or axes, each pin or axis carrying two tines, one of which
is for working in one direction and the other for working in the other
direction; each tine can, however, turn on its pin independently of the other.
When the implement is at work all the tines rest on the ground, and when
the implement is being drawn in one or other direction, the tines whose
points are foremost will enter into it, until they are prevented from entering
further by their coming against stops on the framing, whilst the backs of the
others will rest on the surface of the ground. The frame of the implement I,
by preference, form of an openwork framing of wrought iron, so that should
any of the tines become clogged the man on the implement can set them free
without having to stop the implement. When the implement is being moved
along a road all the tines are held up off the ground by suitable pins.
Figure 4 shews a side view, and Figure 5 a plan view of a scarifier con-
structed in the manner above described. a is the openwork framing of
wrought iron; this framing is composed of two similar plates of wrought iron
separated by a filling of wood a¹, as is shewn. b, b, are the pins or axes on
which the tines c, c', are mounted; the set of tines care for working when
the implement is drawn in one direction, and the other set for working in
the opposite direction. Each of the pins carries one of the tines c and one
of the tines c¹; each tine is capable of turning freely on the pin, so that
whichever way the implement is drawn one of the tines will enter the ground,
and the tines are prevented from entering too far into the ground by each
tine being provided with an arm c² that comes' against a stop 7, as is shewn.
The stops are carried by short standards d' carried by the framing, and these
standards have three or more holes through them, through either of which
the stop can be passed, and by varying the position of the stops the depth to
which the tines are allowed to enter the ground can be regulated.
In place of two tines to work in opposite directions being mounted on each

page_text: pin or axis,as above described, there may be two sets of tines at opposite ends
of the implement, one set to work in one direction and the other set in the
other direction; the set that is for the time being out of work can then either
rest on the ground or can be arranged to be lifted off from it by the draught
rope,as described with reference to the ploughing implement. When making
an implement to act on a considerable width of land at one operation, I divide
the implement lengthwise into two parts,and I connect the two parts by pins
or hinges, so that for passing gateways one part of the implement can be
turned "p off the land. One portion of the implement is provided with
wheels in a similar manner to the ploughing implement first described,
there being on one side of it two steering wheels and on the opposite side
a single wheel; to this latter side is pin-jointed one side of the other
portion of the implement, and this portion of the implement is furnished
near its centre with a wheel.
Figure 6 shews a side view, and Figure 7 a plan of an implement arranged
in the above manner, one end of the implement being arranged to carry one
set of tines for working in one direction and the other end of the implement
to carry another set of tines for working in the other direction; the tines com-
posing each set are all connected together at their upper ends, and to each set
is connected one of the hauling ropes, so that when the implement is at work,
whichever set of tines that for the time is at the foremost end of the imple.
ment is by the hauling rope held up off the land, whilst the set of tines that
is at the back of the implement is in the land. The plan view, Figure 7,
also shews the frame a of the implement to be divided length wise into two
parts, the two parts being connected together by hinges b, b; one of the parts
of the frame a is provided with two steering wheels in a similar manner to
that shewn at Figure 3. and the other part is provided with a single wheel
half way between its two ends.
In arranging apparatus for giving motion to the hauling ropes used for
hauling tilling implements when steam power is used, I mount the pulley or
drum used for transmitting notion to the hauling rope on a swinging frame,
so that the pulley or drum can be adjusted to the line of draught of the rope,
as described in the Specification of a former Patent granted to me on the
24th January 1862, No. 191. The axis of this frame I place in the centre
line of the frame of the implement, and this I ani enabled to do by employing
a vertical boiler in place of a horizontal one, as described in the Specification
of my former Patent, before mentioned, and by passing the main or driving
axis of the steam engine through the centre of the upper part of the smoke
box, one end of the axis can thus be brought into such a position as to give

page_text: motion by bevil wheels to an axis vertically above the axis on which the
swinging frame turns. The axis driven by the driving axis that passes through
the smoke box gives motion by bevil wheels to the pulley or drum that works
the hauling rope, as described in the before-mentioned Specification. The
other end of the driving axis is arranged to give motion to a pair of the
wheels on which the engine runs, and is also arranged to give motion to them
at two different speels, the fast speed being used for giving motion to the
wheels when running on common roads, and the slow speed being used for
moving the engine along the headland when ploughing. This is done in the
following manner:-On the end of the driving shaft is a bevil wheel which
gives motion to a bevil wheel on an axis which has loose upon it a toothed
wheel; this wheel, by a bevil wheel moving with it, gives to a wheel on
the axis of the driving wheels. The loose wheel above mentioned can,
however, be made fast on its axis by a clutch, and this is done when it is
required to drive the wheels at the fast speed. When it is required to drive
the wheels at the slow speed the clutch is released, and a pinion that can
be slid to and fro on the shaft is caused to gear with a toothed wheel, on
the axis of which is a pinion that gears with the loose wheel which transmits
motion to the axle of the driving wheels.
The front or locking pair of wheels on which the engine ruus is carried on
an axle that can incline both in a vertical and horizontal direction. The frame
at this end of the engine I arrange to terminate in a single bar or pole which
runs lengthwise of the engine; this bar carries near its end a short horizontal
axis that is parallel with it. On the top and bottom of this axis are two
vertical pins upon which the axle of the wheels can be made to lock or turn.
Vertically above these pins I place another vertical axis, from one side of
which a fork descends and embraces the axle. On the vertical axis is also a
segment of a worm wheel, into which a worm that can be turned by a hand
wheel gears; the implement can thus be steered by this hand wheel.
Figure S shews a side view, and Figure 9 a plan view, with some of the
*parts removed, of an apparatus constructed as above described. a is a pulley
or drum for giving motion to the hauling rope; this drum is carried by a
frame that turns on a pin or axis at b. This axis is, as is shewn, on the centre
line of the frame of the implement. The drum a receives motion from the
driving axis c of the steam engine; this axis passes through the vertical
boiler d, and at one end gives motion by bevil wheels to the drum a, as is
shewn, and at the other to the pair of wheels e. The manner in which motion
is transmitted to these wheels is more clearly seen at Figure 10; this Figure
also shews an arrangement by which these wheels can be driven at different

page_text: speeds by shifting the clutch f so as either to make the toothed wheel g
fast or loose upon the axis that receives motion from the driving shaft.
Figure 11 shews an end view of the apparatus connected with the front
or locking pair of wheels i; the axis of these wheels is capable of turning
around a vertical pin or axis . This pin is carried by a horizontal axis /
that is supported by the arm or pole m that projects from the front end of
the framing of the implement, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Alison, have hereunto set niy hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JOHN ALISON. (L.s.)