IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CULTIVATING LAND
Year: 1877

page_text: }
LETTERS PATENT to Charles Horton Plowright, of Pepper's Hill, Deeping
St. Nicholas, Spalding, in the County of Lincoln, and William Smith Reynolds,
of Spalding Common, in the County of Lincoln, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CULTIVATING LAND."
:
Sealed the 13th November 1877, and dated the 24th May 1877,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Horton Plowright and
William Smith Reynolds at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
24th May 1877.
CHARLES HORTON PLOWRIGHT, of Pepper's Hill, Deeping St. Nicholas, Spalding,
in the County of Lincoln, and WILLAM SMITH REYNOLDS, of Spalding Common,
in the County of Lincoln. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CULTIVATING
LAND."
The object of this Invention is to save labour in the working and cultivating of
land by effecting at one operation the work of several separate impliments, viz.,
digging or breaking up the land, forking out and laying on the top the twitch
roots, &c., and at the same time rolling and breaking the clods, and reducing the
land to a fine mould, and also making a good bed for the seed.
These operations we effect by a combined cultivator and twitch digger constructed
in the following manner. At the fore part of the implement is a revolving roller or
cylinder on which are fixed a number of tines or diggers for the purpose of breaking
up the land or ground. At one or both ends of this roller or cylinder is fixed a
cog wheel or driving pulley, by which a second roller or cylinder is driven at any
required speed, the two being connected either with chain gear or cog wheels. The
second revolving roller or cylinder is mounted in rear of the first cylinder and carries
a number of tines. Behind the first and second roller or cylinder is fixed a comb or
grate, through which the tines or diggers of both rollers or cylinders pass at each
D
037

page_text: revolution; this serves to keep the said tines or diggers clean and to prevent them
from collecting twitch roots or other matter.
The whole of the machine is mounted on a frame supported by four or other
number of travelling wheels.
Connected with the said machine and frame is a lever or handle by which it can be
regulated to any required depth when at work, and hoisted clear of the ground when
travelling.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Horton Plowright and William Smith Reynolds in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 24th November 1877.
CHARLES HORTON PLOWRIGHT, of Pepper's Hill, Deeping St. Nicholas, Spalding,
in the County of Lincoln, and WILLIAM SMITH REYNOLDS, of Spalding Common;
in the County. of Lincoln. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CULTIVATING
LAND."
The object of this Invention is to save labour in the working and cultivating of
land by effecting at one operation the work of several separate implements, viz.,
digging or breaking up the land, forking out and laying on the top the twitch
roots, &c., and at the same time rolling and breaking the clods and reducing the
land to a fine mould, and also making a good bed for the seed.
.:
These operations we effect by a combined cultivator and twitch digger, constructed
in the following manner.. At the fore part of the implement is a revolving roller or
cylinder, on which are fixed a number of tines or diggers for the purpose of breaking
up the land or ground. At one or both ends of this roller or cylinder is fixed a cog
wheel or driving pulley by which a second roller or cylinder is driven at any
required speed, the two being connected either with chain gear or cog wheels. The
second revolving roller or cylinder is mounted in rear of the first cylinder, and carries
a number of tines. Behind the first and second roller or cylinder is fixed a comb or
grate, through which the tines or diggers of both rollers or cylinders pass at each
revolution; this serves to keep the said tines or diggers clean, and to prevent them
from collecting twitch roots or other matter.
The whole of the machine is mounted on a frame supported by four or other
number of travelling wheels.
Connected with the said machine and frame is a lever or handle by which it can
be regulated to any required depth when at work, and hoisted clear of the ground
when travelling.
In order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: A, A, is a rectangular frame, to which is fixed the axle B; and C, C, are a pair of
wheels on this axle, by which, in conjunction with the leading wheel D, the imple-
ment is carried. The axis of the leading, wheel supports the lower end of a forked
stem E, which is able to rotate in the fore part of the frame, so that the wheel D may
follow the line of draft, and to ensure this, a link F connects the axis of the wheel D
with the draft link G, in the manner shown. The frame. A is slotted on the two
sides, and the axes H and I are turned down at their ends and enter bearing blocks
which are able to traverse freely along the slots. Or in place of sliding bearings,
bearing blocks of a circular form may be employed, and these blocks being free to
turn in the guide slots, the friction is lessened. Flanges are formed on the bearing
blocks on the inner side of the frame to retain them in their places. Outside
the bearing blocks, the ends of the axes H and I receive the eyes formed at the lower
extremities of the links K, K, which links at their upper ends are also attached to
the levers L, L. M, M, are standards fixed to the frame A, and they serve as fulcra
for the levers L; N, N, are lever handles which are pin jointed at their forward
ends to the standards M, and at the back they are connected together by a cross
bar. O, O, are links connecting the levers L, L, with the lever handles N, in such a
manner that by raising these handles the two axes H and I are simultaneously
depressed. The links O, O, are perforated with numerous holes which furnishes a
ready way of adjusting their length to admit of the two axes being set at different
distances from the ground line. .
Although we prefer to employ levers and links for raising and lowering the
axes H and I and for setting them independently, so that they may work at
different distances from the ground line, nevertheless, screws and nuts or racks
and pinions, or equivalent instruments may be employed to effect the same ends.
The axes H and I receive upon them the barrels P, P, which have sockets formed
in their peripheries to receive the tines or diggers Q, Q. The axes are square at
the parts where the barrels P fit upon them. The stems of the tines or diggers are
made to fit the sockets, and they are secured therein by pins. The axes H and I
are provided, each, with a chain wheel R which is keyed upon it, and a pitch
chain S passes around the wheels R. The wheels R are of such a size that the
chain connecting them causes the hinder axis I to make about three and a half
revolutions for each revolution of the axes H, but the rate may be varied. Other
methods of gearing the axles H and I together may be resorted to. T is a comb or
grating applied for the purpose of removing rubbish from the tines or diggers of the
hinder set. This comb or grating is supported at the two ends by the axis I, and
also by the slotted supports T¹, T', fixed to the frame A. A similar comb or grating
may be applied in connection with the front set of tines or diggers.
If desired counterweights may be applied to the lever handles N, N. These
handles are raised to set the tines or diggers down to their working positions, and
when this has been done they are secured by inserting pins into the horns U, U,
which project upwards from the frame. In place of fixing the tines or diggers in
sockets in the barrels P, they may be fastened directly to the axes H and I, or con-
nected with them in any other convenient manner.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we are aware that it has
been before proposed to employ in the cultivation of land two cylinders or axes
provided with prongs or tines and geared together by means of an endless chain
and chain wheel; to this therefore, separately, we make no claim, but what we
do claim is,-
First. The combination of the frame A mounted upon three or more wheels, with
the geared axes H and I carrying tines or diggers in such manner that the said
axes may be raised or lowered in relation to the frame, both separately and together,
and the tines or diggers set to penetrate the land to a lesser or greater depth,
substantially as described.

page_text: Second. The construction of machinery for cultivating land, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Horton Plowright and William Smith
Reynolds, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-third day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
Coven
C. H. PLOWRIGHT. (L.S.)
W. S. REYNOLDS,
(L.B.)