Improvements in Cultivators and similar Implements and Draft Equalizers therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1897-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cultivators and similar Implements and Draft
Equalizers therefor.
I, WILLIAM FRED NATSCHKE, Farmer, of Cissnapark, in the County of Iroquois,
and State of Illinois, one of the United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in cultivators and similar implements,
and has for its objects to provide improved mechanism both for equalizing the
draft gear of the same, as well as for adjusting the degree of engagement between
the cultivators or other devices and the ground.
My improved device is of exceedingly simple mechanism having few operative
parts and not at all liable to get out of order with ordinary use; and the draft
gear is so constructed as to permit the employment of four horses abreast with
means for directing the course of the cultivator or similar implement in accord-
ance with the direction given to the horses by the reins as ordinarily.
In the drawings herewith:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cultivator constructed in accordance with my
improvements, showing the frame thereof in a raised position.
Figure 2 is a top plan view.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on line - of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the draft gear used in connection with my improved
cultivator or similar implement..
In the construction of my improved cultivator I provide, first, a frame 1 con-
sisting of longitudinal bars 2 and 3 having secured upon the upper surfaces
thereof a rear cross bar 4, a forward cross bar 5, and a foot bar 6. The said for-
ward cross bar 5 extends outward at either end and beyond the frame 1 and is
bolted to the two twin guiding poles hereinafter referred to. Secured to the
rear end of the two longitudinal bars 2 and 3 are two hangers 7 and 8 having
cultivators secured upon their lower ends. Forwardly of these hangers are cross
bars 8 and 9, each bolted to the under sides of longitudinal bars 2 and 3, and
each having secured thereto a plurality of hangers 10, each of said hangers pro-
vided at its lower end with a cultivator 11. The forward cross bar 9 of the two
last mentioned extends outwardly beyond the frame 1 and is provided upon each
of its outer ends with a hanger and cultivator laterally beyond each of the wheels.
The outer ends of said extended cross bar 9 are bolted to the inner ends of the
twin guide poles hereinafter designated. Upon each of the forward ends of the
longitudinal bars 2 and 3, I secure hangers 12 adapted at their lower ends for
attachment to the draft gear. The lower ends of said hangers 12 are provided
with backwardly extended brace rods 13 having their rear ends secured to the
under surfaces of longitudinal bars 2 and 3 adjacent to the rear ends thereof.
I next provide an axle 14 with wheels 15 constituting the running gear. Said
axle is, adjacent to each of its ends, bent upwardly so as to form an intermediate
horizontal elevated portion 16. Upon the axle and rigidly secured thereto I
construct a vertical frame 17 having fixed centrally upon its upper horizontal

page_text: portion a seat or saddle 18, braced by intersecting rods or bars 19 extending
from the inner surface of the vertical portions of the frame to the rear underside
of said saddle thus being secured thereby to the said frame. In the inner sur-
face of each of the longitudinal bars 2 and 3, I form vertical slots 20 in which
the vertical side portions 21 of the frame 17 are adapted to be retained against
horizontal movement, but which will allow the said frame to move freely in an
upward and downward' direction. In the upper surface of the top or horizontal
portion of said frame 17, I construct a longitudinal groove 22 extending through-
out, and I further provide a shaft 23 of slightly greater length than that of said
groove, so that the ends of said shaft will extend somewhat beyond the edges
of the frame 17, said shaft being maintained within said groove by means of a
plurality of keepers 24. I next provide upon each end of said shaft 23, a seg-
mental plate 25 said plates being in rigid connection with said shaft, and upon
the front edges of said plates I provide a plurality of sprocket teeth 26. To the
upper corner of each of said plates I secure a sprocket chain 27 and secure the
lower end of each of said sprocket chains to the foot-board 6, or by means of a
bolt extending through both said foot-board 6 and the longitudinal
bars 2 and 3. I next provide rigidly secured to one of said segmental sprocket
plates 25 an operating lever 28 adapted by such connection to rotate such plate,
the transverse shaft 23, and the other sprocket plate upon the opposite end of
said shaft. Upon said lever I provide a spring pawl attachment 29, adapted to
engage with the semi-circular rack-bar 30, having the teeth or cogs 31 therein
arranged differentially, this portion of my mechanism being provided for the
purpose of lifting the frame 1 by using the axle 14 as a fulcrum.
In connection with the frame 1, I provide two forwardly extended twin guide
poles 32 and 33 parallel with each other, each being, adjacent to its inner end,
bolted to the underside of the forward bar 5, and at its end to the upper surface
of the cross bar. The poles 32 and 33 are placed sufficiently apart to permit
the working of two horses abreast between them, and each of them is provided
for attachment upon the outer end with breast trees of the ordinary kind.
I next provide the draft gear shown in plan view in Figure 4, said gearing
being adapted to permit the attachment of four horses working abreast of each
other. Said gearing consists of two cross bars or trees 34 and 35 each having
extended rearwardly at their longitudinal centers means for attachment to the
lower ends of draft hangers 12. Said draft bars or trees at each of their inner
ends are provided with laterally flexible links or fastenings concentrically secured
upon the longitudinal center of a double tree 36, at each end of which are flexibly
secured single trees 37 and 38. Each of the outer ends of said cross bars or
trees 34 and 35 is provided with a single tree 39 flexibly secured thereto, the
attachment being of sufficient length to bring each of said single-trees in align-
ment with those secured upon the double-tree 36. By means of this gearing
therefore, two horses are permitted to work abreast within the guide-poles 32
and 33, and two without said guide' poles, each of the guiding poles being secured
to a pair of horses consisting of one without and one within said poles. By this
means the steering of the cultivator or similar implement is greatly facilitated.
The object in providing vertical. adjustment for the frame 1 is to suit the
cultivators or other devices to the character of soil and degree of engagement
desired when in operation and further to lift the cultivators or other devices
entirely out of engagement whenever desired.
In addition to the parts of my device hereinafter referred to I provide various
brace rods 40, in addition to the 'brace rods 13. These additional brace rods are
constructed rigidly and are for the purpose of bracing portions of the frame
or the depending hangers 10 secured thereto. In addition to these brace rods I
provide two flexible forward braces 41 each adapted for attachment to the under
surface of the guide poles 32 and 33, their opposite ends being attached to the
lower vertical side portions 21 of the frame 17. These flexible braces do not in
any way interfere with the vertical movement of the frame 17.
:

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim, is:-
}
1. In a cultivator or similar implement, the combination with a frame portion
carrying the cultivators or other devices, of a vertical frame work in rigid con-
nection with the axle, and means provided for lifting to adjustable positions the
first mentioned frame upon the vertical frame.
2. In a cultivator or similar implement, the combination with a vertical frame
in rigid attachment with the axle, of a frame carrying cultivators or other devices
adapted to be movably secured upon said vertical frame, and means for raising
to predetermined positions said last mentioned frame.
3. In a cultivator or similar implement, the combination with the axle thereof,
of a vertical frame secured rigidly thereupon, a horizontal frame in movable con-
nection with said vertical frame, and a lever for raising and lowering said hori-
zontal frame in connection with the vertical frame.
4. An improved cultivator or similar implement, consisting of a vertical frame
mounted upon an axle therefor, a horizontal frame movably secured to said
vertical frame and means as therein set forth, consisting of a horizontal shaft,
a lever, a pawl, segmental sprocket plates and sprocket chain, operated in con-
nection with said vertical and horizontal frames so as to raise and lower the latter
and retain the same in an adjustable position.
5. An improved cultivator or similar implement, consisting of a vertical frame
mounted rigidly upon an axle, a transverse shaft secured upon the upper portion
of said frame, segmental sprocket plates secured to the ends of said
shaft, an operating lever secured to said shaft and to one of said plates,
a spring pawl in connection with said lever, differentially placed cogs or teeth
upon one of said sprocket plates adapted to be engaged by said spring pawl, a
horizontal frame movably secured upon said vertical frame, sprocket chains
having their lower ends secured to said horizontal frame and their upper ends to
the segmental sprocket plates, a plurality of hangers depending from said hori-
zontal frame, and cultivators or other devices secured upon the lower ends of said
hangers.
C. An improved cultivator or similar implement, consisting of a vertical frame
mounted rigidly upon an axle, a transverse shaft secured upon the upper portion
of said frame, segmental sprocket plates secured to the ends of said shafts, an
operating lever secured to said shaft and to one of said plates, a spring pawl in
connection with said lever, differentially placed cogs or teeth upon one of sprocket
plates adapted to be engaged by said spring pawl, a horizontal frame movably
secured upon said vertical frame, sprocket chains having their lower ends secured
to said horizontal frame and their upper ends to the segmental sprocket plates,
and a seat or saddle rigidly secured upon the upper surface of the horizontal
portion of the vertical frame..
7. In a cultivator or similar implement, the combination consisting of a hori-
zontal frame movably secured upon a vertical frame, means for operating said
vertical portion, and a draft gear adapted for working four horses abreast in con-
nection with said cultivator or similar implement, substantially as herein set
forth and shown.
AMBROSE MYALL,
2, Lancaster Place, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.