IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TOOTHED AND PRONGED IMPLEMENTS SUCH AS RAKES, HARROWS AND COMBS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TOOTHED AND
PRONGED IMPLEMENTS SUCH AS RAKES, HARROWS AND COMBS communicated
to him from abroad by Alfred Holden of Penshurst near Gresford in the
Colony of New South Wales, Gentleman
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1883.
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of,,Middlesex,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF TOOTHED AND PRONGED IMPLEMENTS SUCH AS RAKES HARROWS AND COMBS."
Communicated to me from abroad by Alfred Holden of Penshurst near Gresford in
the Colony of New South Wales, Gentleman,
These improvements in the construction of toothed and pronged implements
such as rakes, harrows, and combs of all descriptions consist mainly in the addition
thereto of a contrivance for cleaning or scraping the teeth of such implements as
often as is found. necessary. This contrivance is made in the form of a plate
perforated with holes corresponding in number and size to the number and size of
the teeth to be cleaned. When not in actual use this plate fits against the framing
of the implement and the teeth project through the holes therein and when in use
said plate is forced down to the point of the teeth removing all matters adhering
to them and then is brought back again to its original position. I prefer to so
bring it back by means of an elastic connection (which also forms a part of this
Invention) the tension of which is overcome when the plate is pressed
towards the point of the teeth for cleaning them and the resilient action of
which brings it back again to its normal position when relieved of such
pressure.
Referring to the drawings figure 1 is a front view of a hand rake constructed
according to this invention and with the cleaner in its normal position. Figure 2 is

page_text: end view of same. Figure 3 is a similar view to figure 1 but with the cleaner
forced down to the point of the teeth. Figures 4 and 5 are sections on lines a a
and b b respectively in figure 3. A is the rake frame and B the teeth or tines.
C the sliding plate or cleaner having a lug C¹ at each end. The elastic connection
in this case consists of india rubber rings or bands D which embrace the frames A
and the plate C. These rings are put on by being passed over the lugs C¹ and
stretched over the end teeth.
When the teeth or tines becomes clogged it is only necessary to turn over the
rake and strike lugs C¹ upon the ground with sufficient force to drive the cleaner
plate to the point of the teeth in the doing of which it will remove all weeds and
earth and then the elastic bands D will bring it back again to its normal position
after the force of the blow has been expended. A similar arrangement to this
would serve a comb of any description
Figure 6 is a plan of a common harrow also constructed according to this
invention and figure 7 is a sectional elevation on line cc in figure 6 the cleaner
being as before in its normal position: A is the frame B the teeth or tines and C
the cleaner plate. The elastic connection in this case consists of spiral springs D.
Care bolts from the cleaner through the frame A. to bars C. The action in this
case is similar to that before described it being only necessary to turn the harrow
on its back when its own weight will compress the springs D and force the cleaner
plate Cupwards removing the dirt and weeds adhering to the teeth. When this
has been done the harrow is turned over again and the springs D return the
cleaner plate to its normal position.
It will be noticed that the holes in this cleaner plate are of a size just sufficient
to allow the teeth to pass through and so to admit of the plate resting against the
frame and that the plate is allowed to slide just so far that its outer side is clear
of the points of the teeth but no farther. Many other means of elastically
connecting the cleaner to the frame will suggest themselves but for small implements
I prefer to use India rubber bands and for larger ones one or more springs as
shewn.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which it is to be performed I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to any particular means of elastically
connecting the cleaner plate to the implement so long as the nature of the
invention be retained but that what I claim as the improvements in the construction
of toothed and pronged implements such as rakes harrows and combs and desire
to secure by Letters Patent is:
First. The addition to or combination with such implements of a perforated
cleaner plate to be worked up and down the teeth for the purpose of cleaning them
substantially as described.
Second. The elastic connection for connecting such cleaner plate to the body or
frame of the implement so as to return said plate to its normal position when
relieved of the pressure which forces it forward substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Third day of September A.D. 1883.