IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DIBBLING, AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLI- CABLE TO PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JESSE Ross,
of the Town and County of Leicester, Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eleventh day of July, One
thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the twelfth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Jesse Ross, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said Jesse Ross, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, and such others as I,
the said Jesse Ross, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DIBBLING,
AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLI-
CABLE TO PROPELLING VESSELS;" in which said Letters Patent there is con-
tained a proviso obliging me, the said Jesse Ross, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature
of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Jesse Ross, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into practical effect,
are fully described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
reference being had to the illustrative Drawings hereunto annexed and forming
part hereof, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon, that
is to say :-
As regards that part of my Invention which has reference to improvements in
apparatus for dibbling:-The nature of the first part of my said Invention con-
sists in a new and peculiar mechanical combination and arrangements of parts
constituting an apparatus for dibbling, whereby the process of forming the hole
in the ground and of depositing the seed therein are performed at one opera-
tion; moreover, the seed or grain, instead of being simply dropped into the hole
according to the mode usually practised, is by this apparatus forcibly pressed
into the earth, and seed thus sown has been found to germinate better than
when loosely deposited; and in order to explain my said Invention as com-
pletely as possible, I will proceed to describe the mechanical combination and
arrangements of parts which I consider well calculated for carrying my said
Invention into practical effect, and which I have found to answer extremely
well.
:
Description of Drawing No. 1.-Figure 1 exhibits a front elevation of an
improved apparatus for dibbling; Figure 2, a transverse and vertical section
of a portion of such apparatus drawn to an enlarged scale; Figure 3, a trans-
verse and vertical section of a portion of the last-mentioned Figure. Figures
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,
views of parts hereafter mentioned and referred to. At each of these Figures
similar letters of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts, in so
far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of the Figures respectively.
A, A, marks a tube of metal, the upper end of which is formed enlarged or
funnel-shaped, and the lower extremity thereof is securely fixed to a casting B
by soldering or otherwise; to this casting there is connected another casting C
containing parts arranged or disposed in manner following, the same being em-
ployed for the purposes herein-after set forth :-a, a, mark 'two pieces of brass
which fit into the recess 6 of the casting C, as exhibited at Figures 7 and 11;
said brasses are maintained in their proper position, and have freo liberty of
moving horizontally between the parts c, c, of the casting C, and the two brasses
are kept in close contact by means of helical springs d; d, one end, of which
takes over the circular part e of said brasses, as shewn at Figures 2, 3, 7, and
the other end takes into a recess f formed in the casting C, as shewn at Figure 7

page_text: it will also be seen upon referring to Figures 2, 3, 8, 11, that the brasses a, a,
have a conical recess formed in each of them, so that when they are in contact
these vessels form a cup or receptacle into which grain or seed falls previous to
its being deposited in the ground, which operation is effected by the following
means:-g, g, marks a hollow square piece of metal, to the upper end whereof
a piece of brass h is securely fixed, and to the lower end of the piece g there is
fixed a piece of metal i, as exhibited at Figures 2, 3, 14, 15, 16, 21, whereof
Figure 14 is a side elevation of the piece 9 and parts attached thereto, Figure 15
a front elevation of said parts, Figure 22 a top plan view of the piece h, and
Figure 16.a. horizontal section taken through the line A, B, at Figures 14
and 15. In connection with the parts lastly mentioned are the following parts
at Figures 17, 18, 21:- marks a piece of metal of the shape there exhibited,
the same being furnished with a metal slide m, which is retained and guided
in its proper position between the parts n and o of the piece l. Figure 20
exhibits a top plan view of the piece m, and Figure 19 an edge view thereof,
at which Figures, as also Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that said slide has a
hole: 1 formed through it, and that there is a notch or recess 2 formed upon
one of its edges, into which takes a piece of metal p, shewn at Figure 3, same
being fixed to a square piece of wood D, which passes through the piece 9 in
the following manner, exhibited at Figures 2, 3, 4, 5. It will also be seen,
upon referring to Figure 3, that the piece g is so formed and connected to the
piece D as that the edge thereof presents an inclined surface, the same being
employed to actuate the slide m for the purpose of bringing the hole 1 in the said
slide over the hole 3 in the piece i, and subsequently for withdrawing it there-
from in accordance with the required movements of the other parts of the appa-
ratus; the piece and its slide are connected to the piece i by screwing it between
the same and a piece of wood g. The piece g, together with its appurtenances, is
then placed within the tube A, A, and securely connected thereto by inserting
screws K into holes *,, formed in the piece h, as shewn at Figures 1, 2, 14,
15, 23; the piece D is connected by its upper extremity to the cross piece E
shewn at Figure 1, which is the handle by which the apparatus is actuated, and
to the lower extremity of the piece D there is affixed a cylindrical shaped
piece of metal or presser F, the diameter whereof is equal or nearly so to the
hole or opening in the bottom of the cup or casting B, which said presser
passes as also between the recessed portions of the brasses a, a, and casting C
containing same as exhibited at Figure 3. I would here remark, that this
apparatus may either be used as a single dibbling apparatus, as exhibited at
Figure 28, or as a compound dibbling apparatus, as at Figure 1, or by
combining together any other number of said apparatus; but I consider

page_text: that when this apparatus is to be used as a hand dibble, it will not be
found desirable to combine more than two of such apparatus together.
This, however, will depend upon the nature of the soil to be operated
upon, as, for example, in light soil less exertion will be required to be
exerted by the operator than in heavy soil, and therefore a greater number
of apparatus may be combined together, which must be left to the dis-
cretion of the operator to determine. The modus operandi of this appa-
ratus is as follows:-Having charged the part A¹ of the tube A, with seed or
grain, and supposing the piece D to be in the position exhibited at Figure 2,
the slide m will then be back or away from the opening 3 in the piece i, by
which the grain or seed will be prevented from passing into the part A of the
tube, and by pressing down the handle E until the stop 4 comes into contact with
the piece h, it will appear evident that the edge of the inclined piece p, passing
through the notch 2 in the slide m, will have the effect of moving said slide
from left to right, and will thereby bring the opening 1 over the opening 3 in
the piece i, and the opening or measure 1, being previously filled with seed or
grain, the same will fall by its gravity into the cup or casting B, as exhibited
at Figure 3; and in order to ensure a nearly uniform measure of quantity of
seed or grain being deposited therein at each movement of the slide a brush r
is securely fixed to one side of the piece g, and is in close contact with the
surface of the slide m; thus as the slide is advanced, the surface thereof will be
swept, and thereby prevent any more seed or grain from passing it than that
contained in the opening or measure 1; and further, it is found desirable to
form the top side of the slide m with a projections for the purpose of dis-
turbing or separating the seed or grain, and thereby ensure with still greater
certainty the proper filling of the measure. The contents of the cup B are
discharged by drawing up the handle until it is arrested by the stop 5, the
workman during such time keeping his foot upon the stirrup iron t, which is
fixed to the apparatus, as exhibited at Figure 1; the seed or grain, which before
was prevented from passing therefrom by reason of the presser F filling the
hole in the cup B, will now pass into the recessed portions of the brasses a, a,
and the apparatus being now ready for use, the workman proceeds to discharge
the contents of the brasses or cup a, a, by placing the apparatus on the surface
of the ground to be sown, and keeping one foot of the stirrup iron t, presses
down the handle E, by which the bottom of the presser F will be brought into
contact with the recessed portions or cupped part of the brasses a, a, and pres
sing against them will force them asunder into the position exhibited at Figure S
and thereby discharge the seed or grain therefrom, which, falling through
the openings in the castings c, c, will be deposited upon the surface of the

page_text: ground, and the workman continuing to press down the handle, the presser F,
which is connected thereto being thus brought into contact with the seed or
grain, will press it forcibly into the ground, and cause it to be securely and
firmly deposited therein, the holes being filled up by a brush harrow in the
way usually practiced, and by the time the presser F has gone to its full
extent, the hole 1 in the slide m will have been brought over the hole 3 in the
piece i, and thus discharge another measure of seed or grain into the cup B, as
before; it will also be observed upon referring to Figure 3 that the upper
part of the piece p is not inclined, the intention of which is to allow the slide
m to remain quiescent during the interval of time occupied by the presser
forcing the seed into the ground, The operation being now completed, the
workman raises the handle E until the stop 5 is arrested by the piece i, by
which the presser F will be drawn upwards, and as it passes between the
brasses a, a, the elasticity of the helical springs d, d, will cause them to be
brought into close contact, at the same time the seed or grain passes from the
cup B into the brasses or cup a, a, and the apparatus being in a position to
perform another similar operation, the workman moves backward according
to the nature of his work, and pressing down the handle, the seed or
grain is again deposited in the ground as before, and in like manner
the operation of dibbling and depositing the seed or grain is continued
until the surface to be sown has been gone over as desired, the workman
occasionally looking into the apparatus to see that it is supplied with
seed, which may be added from time to time as found necessary. At
Figures 24 and 25 there are exhibited two views of another mode of
arranging the lower part of the apparatus lastly above mentioned and described,
such arrangement being intended to be used in the construction of apparatus
for dibbling, in which the seed or grain is required to be dropped only into the
hole formed for its reception, instead of being pressed into the soil, as by the
apparatus herein-before mentioned. D× marks a casting to which the bottom
of the tube A is securely fixed. Within this casting a conical shaped piece of
metal Ex is placed for directing the seed or grain into the hole through which
the dibble F passes. I would remark, that as the means employed in this
apparatus for measuring and discharging the seed are in all respects similar to
those before described, with reference to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, I have deemed
it unnecessary to exhibit more than is required to point out the difference of
construction of the two. It will also be observed, that at Figure 24 the dibble F
is exhibited smaller than at the other Figures, whereby a greater number
of apparatus may be combined together and actuated by one person.
Description of Drawing No. 2.-Figure 1 exhibits a front elevation of an

page_text: apparatus for dibbling, said apparatus being a modification of the construction
and arrangement exhibited at the Drawing No. 1. Figure 2 is an edge view
of the apparatus; Figure 3, a view of a portion of said apparatus, shewn
partly in section. Figure 4 exhibits some of the parts of the last-mentioned
Figure in a different position; Figure 5, a horizontal section taken through
the line A, B, at Figure 1. Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, exhibit detached
portions of the apparatus drawn to an enlarged scale; similar letters of reference
are employed to denote corresponding parts in so far as such parts appear or
can be seen at each of the Figures respectively. A, A, marks a metal tube or
reservoir for seed or grain, the same being furnished with an arrangement for
measuring, discharging, and pressing the seed into the soil, similar in some
respects to that before described with reference to Drawing No. 1. It will
be seen, upon referring to Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, of Drawing No. 2, that some
of the parts employed for discharging the seed after it has passed through the
measure m (at Drawing No. 1) are in this apparatus placed on the outside
thereof, and arranged and actuated in the following manner:-B marks the
casting formed with two projecting pieces C, D, and a flange piece E; said
casting has a hole 1 formed vertically through it of equal size, or nearly so, to
that of the presser F, which passes through it, and the upper part of said casting
is formed as a cup, into which the seed or grain falls from the measure m
(exbibited at Drawing No. 1). The measure in this apparatus, as also the mode
employed for actuating the same, is in all respects similar to that exhibited at
Drawing No. 1, simply bearing in mind that the holes 1 and 3 (there shewn)
should in this apparatus be made larger, in accordance with the quantity and
description of seed or grain required to be deposited. The part C of the casting A
has a hole 2 formed through it somewhat smaller than the hole 1, and the
hole 2 is fitted with a cylindrical shaped slide G, one end whereof is bevelled
off as at Figure 10, and the other and opposite end has a hole formed through
it for connecting it to the following parts employed for actuating the same. H
marks a forked piece of metal securely fixed to tube A by soldering or other-
wisc. Within the picce II a rod I fits, and is connected to said piece by a pin
or bolt K, which is the fulcrum of said rod. L, a guide piece fixed to tube A,
and having a hole formed therein, through which passes the lower and bent
end of a rod M, the upper part whereof is connected to a twisted cross piece N,
which latter piece is securely fixed to the upright pieces O, O, and the upper
end of the rod M has a screw or thread cut or formed thereon for adjusting
and securing it to the piece N by means of nuts P, placed on the upper and
under side of said piece, as exhibited. The lower extremity of the rod M is
connected to the rod I by passing same through a hole formed in the bent end Q

page_text: thereof, and having securely fixed the casting B to the tube A, and placed
the slide G in the hole 2, and adjusted the rod I thereto by passing the lower
end thereof through a hole formed in said slide, the several parts exhibited will
assume the position shewn at Figure 3, and as the apparatus would appear
when ready for use, the modus operandi thereof being as follows:-Assuming
the handle R to have been drawn upwards so as to effect the discharge of the
seed or grain from the reservoir A' in the manner and by the means herein-
before particularly described, with reference to Drawing No. 1, it will appear
evident that the position of the rods I and M will keep the slide G across the
hole 1, through which the presser F passes, and thereby prevent the seed or
grain from escaping; but upon pressing down the handle R, the inclined part 3
of the rod M, passing through the hole in the end Q.of the rod I, will cause
the upper end of said rod to be pressed inward, and the bottom end outward,
and thereby effect the withdrawing of the slide and the discharging the seed. or
grain which will be deposited on the surface of the ground; and the presser F
coming into contact therewith, will force it into the ground in a similar manner
to that before described with reference to the apparatus. exhibited at Drawing
No. 1, and a reverse movement of the handle R will place the several parts of
the apparatus in a position to perform another similar operation. Figure 11
exhibits a transverse and vertical section of an arrangement to be. employed
when necessary for clearing or removing soil or earth from the presser F at
Drawing No. 1, which may from time to time adhere thereto, and thus to pre-
serve the other parts of the apparatus from injury. Figure 12 is a top plan
view thereof. This arrangement may be applied to the apparatus exhibited at
Drawing No. 1. Figure 13 exhibits another mode of constructing and arrang-
ing the brasses before described and exhibited, and marked a, a, at Drawing
No. 1, whereby the springs t there shewn may be entirely dispensed with, and
whereby the friction against the presser F will be considerably reduced; and I
propose to employ the arrangement shewn.at Figure 13.in combination with
that exhibited at Figures 11 and 12. At Figures 11 and 12, a', a', mark two
semicircular shaped pieces of metal, having a groove or recess b', ', formed in
cach of them; these pieces have a semicircular hole c' formed in each, of corre-
sponding diameter to the presser F, and when placed within the casting C*
they are guided and retained in their proper position by fillets or projections
d', d', formed upon said casting; and by placing an endless band of vulcanized
india-rubber e', or helical metal spring, in the grooves or recesses b', b¹, the
pieces a', a', will be kept in forced contact. Thus, as the presser F descends
between them, it will force them slightly asunder by reason of the top of the
hole, &c. being larger than the bottom, and as the presser is returned upwards,

page_text: the elasticity of the band e' or spring will press the pieces a', a', against the
presser F, and thereby cleanse it. At Figure 13, a, a, mark two pieces of metal,
the shape whereof is more clearly exhibited at Figures 14 and 15, Figure 14 being
a side view, and Figure 15 a top plan view, of one of such pieces. The pivots
b, b, formed thereon are intended to fit in recesses formed in the parts c of the
casting C; it will also be seen that the part c' of said piece is larger, and
consequently intended to be heavier than the part d, in order that these pieces,
when suspended from the inside of the casting C, as shewn at Figure 13, may
have their inner or cupped surfaces in close contact when the presser F is not
between them.
The second part of my said Invention of improvements in apparatus for
dibbling and other agricultural purposes relates to a new combination and
arrangement of parts constituting a horse machine or apparatus for dibbling
and other agricultural purposes, the several parts whereof are so arranged and
combined as that they receive motion from the rotation of running wheels
connected by a framing to the apparatus, said apparatus being intended to be
transported from place to place, and actuated by horse power in the following
manner-
Description of Drawing No. 3.-Figure 1 exhibits a side elevation of the
'apparatus. Figure 2 is a top plan view of certain parts herein-after mentioned
and referred to; Figure 3, a front view of the apparatus, a portion whereof is
removed to exhibit some of the parts more clearly; Figure 4, a longitudinal
and vertical section of the apparatus taken through the line A, B, at Figures
2 and 3; Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, detached parts, hereafter referred to; Figure 10,
a side elevation; and Figure 11, an edge view of a clod crusher, to be applied
in the manner and for the purpose herein-after set forth and described. At
each of these Figures similar letters of reference are employed to denoto corre-
sponding parts in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of the
Figures respectively. A, B, mark two running wheels mounted and revolving
upon suitable axis connected to a wrought-iron framing C. To this framing
brackets D and E are fixed, which support the wheel F by a pin or bolt G
passed through the centre of said wheel, which revolves freely thereon. H, H',
mark standards securely fixed to the framing B by bolts or otherwise. These
standards support the ends of two two-throw cranks I and K, which work
in suitable bearings connected to said standards, and are employed for the
purpose herein-after mentioned. Upon each of these cranks there are fixed or
keyed spur wheels L, M, of equal diameters. Each of these wheels takes into
a stud wheel N connected to the standard H', and the whcel L also takes into
a pinion O, keyed upon one end of a spindle P, upon the other end whereof

page_text: there is keyed a pinion Q, the ends of said spindle being mounted in suitable
bearings fixed to the standard II', and to the flanged tyre of the wheel A, as
shewn at Figure 3. The pinion Q takes into a spur wheel R, which is securely
fixed to a ring of metal S connected to the tyre of the wheel A, and from the
cranks I and K there are suspended the following parts:-T, T, mark castings
to which are connected by bolts to the upper ends of the rods U, U,. shewn
more clearly at Figure 5. These rods are in all respects similar to those before
described with reference to Drawing No. 1, as also the arrangements employed
within the tube V for measuring and discharging the seed or grain, except that
according to this arrangement the presser there shewn is only used to make
the hole in which the seed or grain is to be deposited. W marks the shafts
of the apparatus. X, a lever and clutch for throwing the pinion O into and out
of
gear with the wheel L, as shewn at Figures 1 and 4. Y, a fly-wheel fixed
upon one end of the spindle P. Z, small ploughshares securely fixed to the
front of the framing C, and placed in a line with the sced-holders V, V, the
intention of these shares being to remove clods of earth and other substances,
and thereby to level or prepare the surface of the track of ground in which the
seed-holders and dibbles are to deposit their seed or grain. Z', mark handles
for guiding and directing the apparatus. The modus operandi of this apparatus
is as follows:-Upon motion being imparted to the running wheel A, it will be
transmitted from the spur wheel R, fixed thereto, to the pinion Q, and from
thence, through the agency of the pinion O, to the wheels L, N, M, and thereby
actuate the parts in connection therewith in the following manner :-The cranks
I and K, being connected to the castings T, T, by the pieces a, a, shewn at
Figures 5, 6, 7, will, as they rotate, move said castings and seed-holders and
dibbles connected thereto in the direction denoted by the arrow's flight at
Figure 5; but in order that each holder and its dibble may be maintained in
its proper position during the time that the machine is being advanced, and
the seed or grain is being deposited, I employ cambs 6 fixed fixed upon the
cranks K, as shewn at Figure 3, and place at the outer sides of the castings
T, T. Thus, as the cranks rotate, these cams, coming into contact with the
inclined pieces c fixed to the castings T, will cause them to be pushed in the
direction denoted by the arrow's flight, the castings being guided in their
proper course by slots *, *, formed therein passing over the pins or bolts d, d,
and stay pieces a¹ which connect the pieces a, a, together, as shewn at Figures
5, 6, 7, which first-mentioned Figure is a longitudinal and vertica section taken
through the line C, D, at Figure 2; and I would observe, that in constructing
these parts, care should be taken that the inclination of the part c' of piece c
should be such, that the action of the cam thereon will move the casting T and

page_text: seed-holders and dibbles connected thereto through the same space as that
moved over by the running wheels A and B, and by the time the cam 6 has left
the piece c, the slide. m, before described and referred to at Drawing No. 1, will
have been acted upon, and discharge and deposit its measure of seed or grain
in the soil, which may be covered over it by bush harrowing, as before men-
tioned; and the machine or apparatus being advanced, and the cranks con-
tinuing to rotate, will now bring the cam b against the inclined part of the
curved piece c, and thereby push back the castings T and dibbles into the
position they formerly occupied at the commencement of the operation; and I
employ another set of seed-holders and dibbles similarly arranged, combined,
and actuated to those lastly above mentioned, the same being connected to and
suspended from the cranks I and K, as shewn at Figures 2 and 3. Thus it
will be seen by this arrangement that one or other of the sets of dibbles are
nearly always depositing their seed during the movement of the apparatus, and
the motion of the apparatus is also rendered uniform by the set of seed-holders
and dibbles at one side thereof balancing that at the other side. I would here
remark, that when the pressing dibbles exhibited at Drawing No. 1 are used
in this apparatus instead of the dropping dibbles, the cams b and pieces c and e
may be dispensed with. And whereas in the event of one or other of the dibbles
coming opposite to a hole or rut in the ground, or from other causes, that the
seed or grain would not be deposited, I propose to remedy such objection by the
following arrangement:-I insert and fix into the top of each seed-holder a lid i,
shewn more clearly at Figure 9, to which I connect one end of a rod or wire K,
and having passed said rod or wire through a hole in the piece l, which is fixed
to the top of the apparatus, as shewn at Figures 3 and 4, I surmount the upper
end of said rod or wire with a ball of metal m, which operates upon the sced-
holder in the following manner:-Assuming the seed-holder and dibble to be
brought over a hole or rut in the soil, the said holder will descend with the dibble
until the ball m comes into contact with the stop 1, by which the seed-holder
will be suspended, and further progress thereof be prevented; and the dibble
continuing its descent, and the cranks continuing their course, the rod U will be
raised independently of the seed-holder, and thereby discharge and deposit its
measure of seed as if the rut or hole were not there. And in the event of one
or other of the rods U becoming bound in the seed-holder or tube V, by which
the seed would not be deposited in the soil, I employ the following arrange-
ment in order to prevent said holder or tube from being raised with the rod,
and thereby ensure the depositing of the seed. Connected to the framing C
and rod C¹ are two curved bars f, f, to each of which there are fixed and
adjusted by bolts and nuts the shoes or castings g, as exhibited at Figure 8;

page_text: and to each seed-holder or tube V I fix a pin h, which, as the cranks rotate,
comes into contact with the under side of the stop g, which arrests the holder,
and allows the rod U to be drawn up through it, whereby the seed or grain is
deposited in the manner before described with reference to Drawing No.. 1; and
as the cranks continue to rotate, the pin h will escape the shoe or casting g, and
the dibbles be again brought forward to perform another similar operation, and in
this manner the operations of dibbling and sowing or depositing seed or grain
may be performed. And in order to adapt this apparatus to the purpose of a
clod-crusher, I arrange the apparatus in the following manner:-I disconnect
that part of the dibbling apparatus which is connected to and suspended from the
cranks, and I substitute in the place thereof, and attach to one or both of the two-
throw cranks, clod-crushers arranged and combined as exhibited at Figures 10
and 11, where it will be seen that the crushing blades a are placed crosswise
of each other; thus, as the machine or apparatus is drawn over the soil, the
rotation of the cranks will cause the crushers connected thereto to strike
against the clods of earth beneath them, and the lower crushing blades a will
divide them in one direction, and the upper crushing blades a' in the other
directions; or I arrange these crushers in a separate framing, and work
them with a single crank shaft. The Drawing exhibits a double crusher.
This, however, as also the number of crushers to be employed, whether single
or double, will entirely depend on circumstances, and must be arranged and
determined accordingly.
The third and last part of my said Invention of improvements in apparatus
for dibbling and other agricultural purposes consists in the application of the
principle of construction exhibited at Drawing No. 3 to the propelling of
vessels by arranging, combining, and actuating certain mechanism in the
following manner :-
Description of Drawing No. 4.-Figure 1 exhibits a side elevation of
an apparatus for propelling vessels; Figure 2, a top plan view thereof, as
it would appear when applied to the sides of a vessel; Figure 3, a trans-
verse and vertical section taken through the line A; B, at Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4, a Diagram illustrative of the mode of actuating the sets of
paddles or floats herein-after mentioned and referred to; Figures 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, exhibit views of detached parts hereafter referred to, same being drawn
to an enlarged scale. In all these Figures similar letters of reference
are employed to denote corresponding parts in so far as such parts appear
or can be seen at each of the Figures respectively. A, A, marks the
main driving shaft of the engine or other prime mover. Upon this shaft a
spur wheel A' is keyed, and takes into a spur-wheel A², keyed upon the

page_text: shaft A³, for actuating the propelling apparatus, hereafter described. B, a
crank mounted upon the outer end of the shaft A³ into the opposite end of the
crank B. One end of a pin C is securely fixed, and supports one end of the
framing D, the other end of said frame being supported in a similar manner.
And upon the pin C an arm E is securely fixed, and takes into a cam F of the
following construction:-At Figure 5, G, G, mark two castings of the shape
there exhibited. These castings, when placed over the pin C, and one at each
side of the arm E, so as to embrace the pin I thereof, are connected together
by a casting I shewn at Figures 6 and 7, Figure 6 being a top plan view,
and Figure 7 an edge view thereof; and they are securely fixed thereto by
nuts and bolts passed through the holes, », in said castings. It will be seen,
upon referring to Figure 8, that the upper part of the castings I are formed
cylindrical, such parts being the axes upon which the cam turns. By fitting
said axes in bearings connected to the framing D, the outer and opposite end
of the crank pin C is connected to one end of the crank I, the other end of
the said crank being fixed upon a short shaft working in a suitable bearing K
fixed to the framework, as shewn at Figure 2, where it will be seen that there
is another and similar arrangement at the opposite end of the framing D for
the same purpose. L, L, mark iron spindles, the upper part whereof are
mounted in suitable bearings at the top and bottom of the framing D, and to
the lower part thereof are connected and securely fixed the floats or paddles M.
It will be seen, upon referring to Figure 2, that there are eight of these floats
or paddles situate near to fore part A of the vessel, and placed or disposed two
and two in the framing D, whilst near the stern B of the vessel there are only
four of such floats or paddles arranged or disposed singly in the framing D. I
do not, however, intend to limit or confine myself to this precise number of
floats or paddles, as a greater or less number may be employed, as circumstances
may deem necessary. Upon the upper end of each of the spindles L, situate
near the fore part A of the vessel, toothed wheels N, N, are securely fixed and
gear into each other, as shewn, for the purpose of feathering or presenting the
vertical edges of the floats or paddles M to the action of the water as they
leave it; and to the wheels N' studs or pins are fixed, which connect said
wheels to a rod or bar O, whereby each wheel receives an equal amount of
motion simultaneously through the agency of the cam F, which communicates
the motion by a lever P, fixed upon the upper end of the axis Q, said lever
being connected by a rod R to a lever S, fixed upon the upper end of the
spindle L. The paddles or floats M, situate near the stern of the vessel, are
actuated in the following manner-Upon the upper end of the axis there
is fixed a lever T, which is connected by a rod U to the lever V, fixed upon the

page_text: upper end of the spindle L; and the other and opposite end of the lever V is
connected to a rod or bar W, to which are also connected the levers X, X,
fixed upon the upper end of each of the other spindles L, L, whereby each flot
or paddle receives an equal amount of motion simultaneously. The modus
operandi of this arrangement is as follows:-Upon motion being imparted to
the driving shaft A, it will be transmitted from thence by the wheel A' to the
wheels A, A, and shafts A³, A', upon which said wheels are keyed or fixed;
and such motion will be transferred by the rods Y and cranks Z to the shafts
A, A, and parts in connection therewith; that is to say, as the crank B is
caused to rotate, the pin C, moving therewith, will carry with it the framing D
and floats or paddles M, connected thereto. At the same time, the arm E
will be carried round, and the pin I, passing along the slot a¹, between the
castings G, G, will cause said cam to be moved on its axes, and impart the
following movements to the floats or paddles:-When the crank pin C is at
the angle of forty-five degrees at either side of the centre of the shafts As, and
during the time it is passing over or under the centre between these angles, as
between a and b or between c and d at Figure 8, it will pass along those parts
of the slots without producing any movement of the cam F, thereby pro-
ducing the following effect upon the floats or paddles:-Suppose the pin I to
be moving from a to b, in the direction of the arrow's flight along this portion
of the slot a', and the floats or paddles to be turned edgewise, as at Figures 1
and 2, by the time the pin I has arrived at the point b, as it descends from b
to c it will cause the cam F to be turned into the position exhibited at
Figures 1 and 2, by reason of the pin I, which moves in a vertical direction,
having traversed along the inclined portion of the slot of the cam F, which
will have the effect of turning the cam a quarter of an entire revolution, and
consequently impart the same amount of motion to the floats or paddles M,
through the medium of the levers P and S and rods R and O; and thus the
floats or paddles will be made to present their broad surfaces to the action of
the water, and in this position they will be moved along the slot a¹, from c
to d, through the water, and thereby effect the propelling of the vessel; and as
the pin I ascends the inclined portion of the slot, from d to a, it will again
cause the cam F to be turned a quarter of an entire revolution, and thereby
effect the feathering or turning edgewise of the paddles or floats, as shewn at
5 Figures 1 and 2 and before mentioned, in which position they will pass from
a to b, after which they will again begin to present their broad surfaces to the
water, and in this manner the propelling of the vessel will be effected. I would
remark, that by the peculiar construction and arrangements of the cam F, the
action thereof on the floats is the same whether going headforemost or stern-

page_text: foremost. An important feature in this part of my Invention consists in
causing the the floats or paddles situate near the stern of the vessel to move
at a quicker speed than those situate near the fore part of the vessel, which
is effected by making the wheel A* of smaller diameter than the wheels A
and A, and I consider that the difference of velocity between the two sets of
floats should not be less than as two to one. This difference of speed only
applies to the paddles or floats when arranged or disposed as above described
and exhibited, as in cases where the paddles are similarly arranged at the fore
part and aft part of the vessel. I propose to drive them at an equal speed,
which may effected by making the wheels A and A2 of equal diameters; and,
further, for vessels intended for canals or rivers, the apparatus employed for
turning the floats or paddles edgewise may be dispensed with. I would also
recommend that the cranks upon the driving shafts be so arranged with
respect to each other as that the sets of floats or paddles y situate on one side
of the vessel, and near the fore part thereof, should be out of the water at the
same time that the set of floats or paddles at the other side of the vessel, and
near the stern thereof, are also out, whereby the strain upon the engine or
other prime mover, and the motion thereof, will be rendered nearly uniform;
and this applies also to the other floats or paddles situate opposite to those lastly
mentioned; that is to say, the four sets of paddles should not be in the water
at the same time.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed and carried into practical effect, I desire it to be
distinctly understood that I do not claim the exclusive use of any of the
separate parts above mentioned and referred to, except in so far as the same
may be employed in combination and for the purposes of my said Invention,
which I hereby declare to consist in, and I claim,―
First, the mechanical arrangements and combinations herein-before parti-
cularly described, set forth, and represented at Drawings Nos. 1 and 2 as
constituting improvements in apparatus for dibbling, whereby the process of
dibbling and sowing or depositing seed or grain are effected at one operation.
Secondly, the application of the apparatus exhibited at Drawings Nos. 1
and 2 to the purposes of a horse dibbling machine or apparatus, the same
being combined, arranged, and actuated in the manner herein-before parti-
cularly described, set forth, and represented at Drawing No. 3, as constituting
improvements in apparatus for dibbling and other agricultural purposes.
Thirdly, the application of the principle of construction of the apparatus
exhibited at Drawing No. 3 to the purpose of propelling vessels.
I also claim the peculiar construction, combination, and arrangements set

page_text: forth and employed for effecting the feathering or the presenting of the vertical
edges of the floats or paddles to the action of the water as they leave it,
whereby the resistance of such parts is considerably diminished.
And, lastly, I claim the mechanical arrangements and combinations set
forth, described, and represented, whereby the paddles or floats, when placed
near the stern of a vessel, are caused to move at a quicker speed than those
placed at the fore part of a vessel, as constituting improvements in propelling
vessels, as berein-before particularly described, set forth, and represented at
Drawing No. 4.
And such my Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new, and never before used within that part of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare this to be my Specification
of the same, and that I do verily believe that this my Specification doth
comply in all respects, fully and without reserve or disguise, with the proviso
in the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained; wherefore
I do hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said
Invention.
hand
In witness whereof, I, the said Jesse Ross, have hereunto set my
day of January, in the year of our Lord One
and seal, this