AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF IMPLEMENT FOR CUTTING TURF
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Cooke, of Frathy House, Anthony, Devon-
port, in the County of Devon, Contractor's Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF IMPLEMENT FOR CUTTING TURF."
Sealed the 4th July 1862, and dated the 5th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Cooke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
May 1862.
I, BENJAMIN COOKE, of Frathy House, Anthony, Devonport, in the County
of Devon, Contractor's Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF IMPLEMENT FOR CUTTING TURP,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel construction of implement for cutting turf,.
the object being to simplify the construction and increase the efficiency of
such implements. In construction, the implement is somewhat like a
subsoil plough. The forward end of the beam is fitted with a brake, which is
adjustable vertically by means of a cross pin. On the opposite sides of the
beam are wrought-iron brackets, which form the bearings for a transverse
roller. This roller precedes the coulter, by which the turf is cut and is
intended to level the inequalities in the turf, and remove the hoof prints of the

page_text: horse. It is made of cast iron and hooped with bands of wrought iron. In
rear of this roller is a coulter, the stem of which passes through a socket
made for it in the middle of the beam, and carries at its lower end a horizontal
share or pointed flat blade, the breadth of which is equal to the width of turf
required to be cut. The coulter is held in position by means of metal keys or
wedges, and its height is adjusted (to suit the depth of cut required) by a
cross pin that passes through the coulter stein, a series of holes being formed
therein to receive the pin. The cast-iron roller is fitted with a scraper for
keeping its periphery clean. Near one end of the roller runs a guide wheel,
in the track left by the last vertical cut of the coulter. This wheel is carried
by a stem, which is itself supported by slotted brackets, and thus the wheel
admits of being adjusted, both vertically to suit the required depth of cut, and
laterally to adapt it to various breadths of turf.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Cooke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
COOKE, of Frathy House, Anthony, Devonport, in the County of Devon,
Contractor's Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Benjamin Cooke, Her special license that I, the said Benjamin
Cooke, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Benjamin Cooke, 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 "AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF IMPLEMENT FOR CUTTING TURF," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Cooke, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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

page_text: και ν the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Cooke, 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,
reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of this Invention is to simplify the construction, and increase
the efficiency of implements for cutting turf, or paring land. My improved
implement is in construction somewhat like a subsoil plough. It is shown
in the accompanying Drawing in several views. Fig. 1 being an elevation,
looking at the left-hand side of the implement; Fig. 2, a view of the opposite
side; Fig. 8, a plan view; and Fig. 4, a front or end elevation. In these
views A, A, is the beam of the implement, and A¹, the steering bandles. The
forward end of the beam is fitted with a bake a, which is adjustable vertically,
by means of a cross pin a', which passes through holes in the side arms of the
hake, and through the beam A. Bolted to the opposite sides of the beam are
wrought-iron brackets b, which form the bearings for a transverse roller B.
This roller is intended to compress or consolidate the turf immediately before
it is disturbed by the cutting instruments, at the same time levelling the
inequalities of the turf, and removing the hoof prints of the horse used in
working the implement. The roller B is made of cast iron and hooped with
bands of wrought iron. In rear of this roller is a steel coulter C, the stem of
which passes through a socket made for it in the middle of the beam. This
coulter C, carries at its lower end a horizontal share or pointed flat blade, which
is rivetted thereto, so as to form one cutting instrument. The breadth of the
share is made equal to the width of turf required to be cut. The coulter is
held in position by means of metal keys or wedges, and its height is adjusted
to suit the depth of cut required by a cross pin c that passes through the
coulter stem, a series of holes being formed therein to receive the pin. The
cast-iron roller is fitted with a scraper ', for keeping its periphery clear.
Near one end of the roller runs a guide wheel D, in the track left by the
last vertical cut of the coulter. This wheel is carried by a stem d, which is
itself supported by a slotted bracket d', projecting from the beam A. This
arrangement admits of the wheel being adjusted vertically to suit the required
depth of cut, and laterally to adapt it to various breadths of turf. The
implement as it is drawn over the land by horse or other power, is guided
like a plough by the attendant by means of the handles A. The depth of

page_text: cut made will depend, as is well understood, on the setting of the coulter,
and the width of cut will be determined by the breadth of the share
carried by the coulter. Thus, turf may be readily cut by this implement,
from one and a half inches to four inches in thickness, and from seven to
fourteen inches wide, according to the breadth of share in use.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improved Con-
struction of Implement for Cutting Tuif," and explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that, under the above in part
recited Letters Patent, I claim the combination of parts above described for
cutting turf.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Cooke, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Third day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
BENJAMIN COOKE. (L.S.)