A MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR DIGGING OR RAISING ADRESCARED TO AGRICULTURAL OR ENGINEERING PURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Spotswood Wilson, of Tavistock Place.
Russell Square, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "A MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR DIGGING OR RAISING
ADRESCARED TO AGRICULTURAL OR ENGINEERING PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Spotswood
Wilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 3rd June 1853.
I, JAMES SPOTSWOOD WILSON, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "A MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR DIGGING OR RAISING
EARTH, AND APPLICABLE TO AGRICULTURAL OR ENGINEERING PURPOSES," to be
as follows:-
The principal novelty in my machine is that it will be so constructed
as to allow of the pick or spade (which is to be made curved in a line
corresponding to a segment of the cycloidal curve described by the
wheel on which it is placed) entering the earth in the manner best
adapted to the lifting or raising such earth, whether for tillage or for
engineering works.

page_text: I took the principle of my Invention from observing the action of a
waggon wheel on soft land. I noticed that the marks made by the
inequalities on its (the wheel) periphery on the side of the cut in
descending were crossed by those made in its ascension. It occurred
to me that were spokes extended a sufficient distance beyond the peri-
phery, and be bent in the line of a cycloidal curve, they would be
forced into the ground by the pressure of the wheel, and in ascending
they would lift the earth with them, and thus correspond with the
motion of a spade, as used in digging.
I
On this idea I propose to construct my machine; I propose to make
my machine with as many circles of spades or picks (such spades or
picks being made in the cycloidal curve aforesaid) as may be most
convenient for the place or purpose at or for which it is to be used.
place these circles of spades on a cylinder or round shaft or axle, allow-
ing cach circle to turn freely and independantly, so that no difficulty
arises in turning to form new furrows.
To regulate the depth at which the spades should operate I affix
wheels on the outer arms of the axle, as one would to a waggon, such
wheels being allowed to turn freely also, as well likewise the axle, in
boxes bolted to the under side of the frame, so that scarcely any friction
will be experienced.
Should the carth be tenacious from roots or other cause to prevent
the blades or spades carrying the earth or roots with them, and so
choking the machine, I purpose to affix bars passing from the axle to
an after rail of the frame between each set of spades, by which means
the earth, &c. will be broken and thrown back. When the machine
is to be used for engineering purposes some modification will be re-
quired; in hard ground picks" may be substituted for "spade
blades," and an arrangement made for throwing the earth lifted on one
side or into a car attached to the apparatus.
66
As its effective operation will depend upon the pressure consequent
upon the weight of the machine, I propose to load the carriage when
its own weight proves insufficient to operate upon hard on holding
grounds.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Spotswood Wilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 3rd December 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES SPOTSWOOD WILSON, of Tavistock Place, Russell Square, in in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said James Spotswood Wilson, Her
especial license that I, the said James Spotswood Wilson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Spotswood
Wilson, 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, my Invention
of A MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR DIGGING OR RAISING EARTH, AND
APPLICABLE TO AGRICULTURAL OR ENGINEERING PURPOSES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Spotswood Wilson,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 James Spotswood Wilson, do
hereby declare the nature of the 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 accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, illustrative of the apparatus used in the
performance or carrying out my Invention, and forming part of this
my Specification, in which will be seen diagrams, with letters of refe-
rence denoting the several parts of the machinery or apparatus.
In the operation of ploughing land the entire work is performed by

page_text: the forward draught of the horses, in addition to which they have
the plough drag with them, which causes an amount of friction in
proportion to its weight, so that they have not only the direct resistance
of the earth operated upon, but likewise that of the gravity due to the
weight of the plough, to overcome.
In the construction of my machine, which I call the cycloidal digging
and ploughing machine, I have endeavoured to overcome these difficul-
ties by the use of revolving machinery to reduce the amount of friction,
and by taking advantage of the force of gravity to assist in breaking
up the soil, as a labourer would do when using the spade, by applying
the weight of his body to force that implement into the ground. The
plough was intended to supersede the spade; but to make it suitable to
animal power the force was applied horizontally instead of perpendicu-
larly as with the spade, thus causing a loss of the power on which the
effect of the latter depended, and which, in my digging machine, I
endeavour to obviate by taking advantage of both horizontal and per-
pendicular force; and in this respect it resembles the locomotive steam
engine, by depending for one portion of its power on the force of
gravity, and for the other portion on the motive power employed. Under
which arrangement, by the union of its parts, performs a description of
work which may be termed a combination of spade and plough labour.
The operative portion of the plough consists of three parts, namely, the
coulter, the share, and the mould board; the purposes of which in their
order is, to cut, to lift, and to turn the soil, in imitation of so many nio-
tions of the spade. I likewise adopt three parts to perform the same
portions of the work, and these operations I shall now proceed to describe,
refering to the Drawing, in which the same letters refer to the saine
parts in each Figure:-The principal part of my Invention is that which
performs the part of the plough share by digging and lifting the soil,
and consists of a number of wheels or cylinders placed on an axle, cach
cylinder being furnished, at equal distances round its circumference,
with curved pick-shaped prongs; the peculiarity of the curve in relation
to the size of the wheel on which they are placed having this charac-
teristic, that each point where it comes in contact with the ground repre-
sents a segment of the curve which a point on the periphery of the

page_text: wheel would describe at each revolution while travelling over the
ground, in consequence of which the pick-shaped digging points receive
the direct pressure of the wheel throughout their length, and as the
wheel passes over the position of the picks in relation to the surface
becomes gradually reversed, so that they rise out of the ground at right
angles to the line at which they entered, lifting the soil with them.
The diagram, Figure 1, in the accompanying Drawings, will better
illustrate the principle. The curve c, d, , is the eyeloid that would be
described by the point h, as the wheel revolved along the plane from <,
to d. It will be perceived that if the pick h, d, be placed so as to cor-
respond with the line of that portion of the curve in which it is placed.
it will receive the direct pressure of the wheel, and be driven in the
direction of the line d, e, and that any deviation from the curve in which
the point is placed will, in its degree, be detrimental to the profitable
working of the machine, by causing the cylinders to drag backward or
forward according to the line of deviation. Any necessary number of
these wheels may be placed on the same axle, allowing each to turn free
and independently of the others; there are five in the machine repre-
sented in the Drawings, which number may be increased or diminished
as required.
As the machine, simply constructed of cylinders or wheels of the above
description, only break up and pulverize the soil without turning it over,
as is generally considered necessary. In order to perform this part of
the operation I have applied angular mould boards to receive the earth
as it falls from the digging cylinders, and lay it over. Figure 2, is a
side view of the mould board, and Figure 3, is a back view of the same.
In grass land, or on tenacious soils, the earth would be lifted in large
masses, and the work, consequently, donc irregularly; to obviate which
I apply circular revolving coulters or cutters to go in advance of the
digging cylinder, which by cutting the surface into breadths correspond-
ing to the distance between each set of digging points will cause the
work to be done with greater ease and perfection. Figures 4, and 5,
represent the side and edge of the coulter, which may be made of steel
plate either in segments or entire, and bolted or rivetted to a centre
piece and boss of cast iron. The coulter may likewise be placed on the

page_text: same axle and same wheels with the cycloidal digging prongs, as repre-
sented at P, Figure 1, and may be fixed either to the rim of the dig-
ging wheels or against the side of the prongs. Figure 6, is a side
elevation of the machine showing the position of these three parts;
A the cycloidal digging cylinder; B, the revolving coulter or cutter;
and C, the mould board or turnsoil; D, the scraper, the purpose of
which is to throw off the earth after it has been lifted by the curved
points. Figure 7, is a horizontal section which shows the manner in
which the scrapers D, D, D, are arranged between the digging points,
so as not to allow any of the earth to be carried over, and likewise
the position of the revolving coulters B, B, B. Figure 8, is a back
elevation, showing the manner in which the mould boards C, C, C, are
arranged, one in each space between the digging wheels. Figure 9, is
a cross section, showing the manner in which the digging wheels or
cylinders A, A, A, are placed on the axle, and the manner in which the
travelling wheels E, E, are placed to run on seperate axles. Figure 10,
is a front elevation section, showing the manner in which that portion
of the frame may be braced by the diagonal bars F. Figure 11, is the
side from of the scraper, which is suspended on the axle of the digging
cylinders by the aperture G, and supported at the other end by the bar
H, being passed through the hole I. Figure 12, is a view of the scraper
from behind, showing an opening or space through which the earth
carried above them by the digging points is allowed to fall, and thus
prevent a lodgment of dirt between the cylinders. To regulate the
depth of earth to be operated upon, and likewise to lift the operative
parts of the machine above ground when required to travel, I have
arranged that all these parts shall be affixed to the side levers K, K,
these levers being supported at their front end by the bar L, and by the
screw M, at the back end, the purpose of this screw being to raise or
lower the operative portion of the machine as required. This may be
effected in several ways; two screws may be used instead of one;
bevil wheels may be applied or affixed to the screws to alter the position
of the handle, or regulate the motions; racks and pinions may be
applied, likewise concentric wheels and chains; any of which modes I
claim the liberty to adopt, as occasion may require.

page_text: The form in which my machine is here represented is as it is appli-
cable to agricultural purposes with the application of animal power.
But steam power may be applied likewise, and to much greater advan-
tage, and the machine may be used for engineering purposes also, such
as cuttings for drains, canals, and railways, the deepening of rivers,
bars, and other works.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the mode or
manner in which it may be carried into practical effect, I would have it
understood that I lay no claim, as of my Invention, to the picks, prongs,
wheels, cylinders, and other parts or portions of my apparatus when
taken or considered seperately, and not in combination, for the purposes
of my Invention; but what I claim as my Invention is,-First, the
placing of picks or prongs on wheels or cylinders, the said picks or
prongs being curved in a manner to correspond with a segment of the
cycloidal curve (as represented both in description and Drawing),
the radius of the circle in which they work being determined by the
distance between the axle and the surface of the ground, when the
machine has been let down to work. Secondly, I claim the form and
application of the mould board in the manner represented, or in any
other manner essentially the same and for the same purpose; and,
thirdly, I claim the application of the revolving cutters or colters in
combination with the other parts.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Spotswood Wilson, have
herein-before affixed my hand and seal, this Second day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-three.
JAMES S. WILSON. (L.S.)
Witness, JOHN GEDGE,
Patent Agent,
4, Wellington Street South,
Strand. London.