IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEEL PLOUGHS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Luke Chapman, of Collinsville, Connecticut, United
States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEEL
PLOUGHS"
Sealed the 31st May 1878, and dated the 4th January 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Luke Chapman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1878.
LUKE CHAPMAN, of Collinsville, Connecticut, United States of America.
PROVEMENTS IN WHEEL PLOUGHS."
"IM-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gang plough embodying my improvements
from the furrow wheel side.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same machine from the land wheel side.
Figure 3 is a detail view of the clamp overhanging the land wheel.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a gang plough from the land wheel side, sub-
stantially the same in principle and operation as the machine shown in Figures 1,
2, and 3, but having a wooden frame and some other modifications; it is in
adjustment for regular work.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of still another modification of my gang plough
from the rear and on the furrow wheel side in adjustment for regular work.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 5 from the land
wheel side. The land wheel and furrow wheel are represented as on the same level,
each supposed to be running in a furrow.
The dotted lines show the land wheel and other parts as just having mounted
the "land through the action of the quadrant arm which forms an essential
feature of this modification.
Figure 7 is a detail view of the quadrant arm and adjacent parts in longitudinal
central section.
I will first describe the gang ploughs shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and after-
ward the modifications.
The letters a and b denote the sides of the frame of angle iron, and c the angle
iron rear end of the frame. The broadened rear end of the pole is pivoted or hung
[Price 8d.1

page_text: between the front ends of the two side bars. The main shaft e is hung in the
journal boxes f, f, which are held to the angle iron frame by the U bolts g bearing
nuts on their ends. The central part of this main shaft is of larger diameter than
the ends, thereby forming shoulders which abut against the inner sides of the
journal boxes. Upon the two ends of the main shaft are two similar rigid arms h
and h. To the arm h the land wheel k is hung upon the spur shaft o (by "land
wheel" is meant the wheel which usually runs upon the "land," i.e., the yet
unbroken ground; by "furrow wheel" is meant the wheel which usually runs in
the furrow). The arm h extends above the main shaft forming the lever h², to the
upper end of which is pivoted the hand lever i, its lower end broadened and
bearing therein the mortise which has a limited play on the pin which projects
from the outer side of the lever h².
By throwing the lever i, and consequently the arm h² backward, as represented
in Figures 1 and 2, the main shaft (with its frame and ploughs is lowered relatively
to the two wheels, and by bringing this hand lever forward, the main shaft, the
frame, and the ploughs are raised. The play which the lever i has upon the
lever h² is for the purpose of operating the clamp m, which is hung on the arm m'
which projects from the hand lever. This clamp overhangs the face of the land
wheel, and when the operator commences to bring the lever i forward, the play of
the lever upon the lever h² permits it to throw the clamp down upon the wheel,
i
and its two sides being wedge-shaped, it takes hold of the edges of the rim of the
wheel with such tenacity as to bring the lever i and lever h² forward, and thus
raise the ploughs with great ease to the operator, the land wheel in its forward
rotation doing almost the whole of the work. I have used this clamp so constructed
as not to have the flanges to embrace the wheel, but I prefer it as shown and
described. The furrow wheel n is not hung directly to the end of the arm h¹, but
to the spur shaft n¹ upon the end of the secondary arm p, which is jointed to the
end of the primary rigid arm h¹ in such fashion as to permit the arm p to make
about a quarter rotation on the joint, the position of the arm p in the Drawings
representing the limit of this rotation in one, and that a backward direction.
From this position the arm p can make about a quarter rotation toward the front
of the machine. The lever 8 is rigid upon and with the arm p, and is jointed at the
top to the connecting rod t, the rear end of which is jointed to the frame of the
machine. This arrangement of the parts holds the furrow wheel n lower than the
land wheel k by about the length of the secondary arm p, which is about the depth
of the furrow.
When the hand lever is in the position of adjustment represented in
the Drawings (Figures 1 and 2), the ploughs are in adjustment for actual
ploughing.
By throwing the hand lever forward the ploughs are raised out of the earth;
when thus raised out of the earth the seat of the machine does not stand up
entirely perpendicular, but does not depart enough therefrom to inconvenience the
rider for short distances about the farm. If, however, the machine is to be drawn
any considerable distance, the lever 8 can be disconnected from the connecting rod t,
and the arm p allowed to rotate its quarter-turn backward, thus bringing the two
wheels on the same level, and making the seat to stand perpendicular.
On the shaft e is rigidly attached the parti disc u having various index holes u',
into which fit pins v which can be set into different holes so as to define and limit
the rotary play of the main shaft e, these pins striking against the side bar a of
the frame. From side bar a to side bar b runs the cross piece w; on the top of
this cross piece bears the slat standard x, through the foot of which runs and
rotates the shaft e, and to the top of which is fixed the seat c¹, being further held
in position by the brace x³ running to the cross piece ³.
As to the modifications shown in Figure 4, this is in the main similar to the gang
ploughs shown in Figures 1 and 2; it has the same main shaft with the land wheel
hung to the end of a primary arm, rigid on and with the main shaft; it has the
furrow wheel hung on the end of a secondary arm which is jointed to a primary

page_text: arm rigid on and with the main shaft; it has the hand lever (2) actuating the arm
which bears the land wheel, and it has the lever (s) actuating the secondary arm to
which the furrow wheel is hung, but in this modification it is extended upward
into a hand lever, giving the machine in this modification two hand levers which
swing or vibrate on arca a¹ which are provided with adjustable stops b¹, c¹, to limit
and define the play or movement of these levers. The frame is of wood, the
rider's seat is mounted somewhat differently.
As to the modification shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7; this has a main shaft with
the land wheel hung to the end of a primary arm (practically), rigid, on and with
the main shaft; it has the furrow wheel hung on the end of a secondary arm which
is jointed to a primary arm rigid on and with the main shaft; it has the hand
lever (i) actuating the arm which bears the land wheel, and it has the lever (8) con-
trolling the secondary arm to which the furrow wheel is hung; this lever (s) in the
present case is short, and has its play limited by stops (not seen) borne on the arc d.
I said the arm (h) is "practically" rigid on the main shaft; I will now explain
what I mean by that; it is rigid with the main shaft as a rule, but can be for a
special occasion partially rotated on the main shaft. The means and purpose of
this I will explain; the arm (h) is pivoted on the main shaft, from the arm (h) and
rigid with it rises the lever h²; pivoted on the main shaft and rigid with the
arm h (and consequently rigid with the lever (²)) is the quadrant arm 1, bearing the
interior gear segment or ratchet U. Fast on the main shaft rises the arm e¹,
which plays the reciprocating pawl f', pressed outward and upward by spring g',
pressing the tooth f¹ (borne on the pawl f¹) into contact and mesh with the
ratchet l¹.
in
To illustrate the office and action of these parts, suppose the whole machine to be
adjusted for regular work, as shown in Figure 5, with the furrow wheel running in
a furrow, and the land wheel raised and running on the land, and that as happens
when near the close of a piece of work, the land wheel is about to drop into a
furrow (a thing which unprovided for might unseat the rider). In such case the
rider, putting his foot on the top of pawl f¹, presses the tooth f* from its mesh
with ratchet, leaving arm h and the land wheel to swing free on the main shaft;
and when thus permitted the land wheel drops to position shown in Figure 6, thus
keeping the seat erect.
When the land wheel needs to rise from the furrow to land, the rider with his
foot unlocks the quadrant arm from the main shaft, and with his hand on lever (i)
draws the lever back, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, and thereby raises the
land wheel to the level of the land.
In all three of the modifications shown the lever (i) at the left of the driver can
control and effectuate the partial rotation of the main shaft, and with it the partial
rotation of the two primary arms, one at either end of the main shaft; and the
lever (8) controls the independent partial rotation of the secondary arm (p) to
which the furrow wheel is hung. It is by the manipulation of these two levers
that the machine is brought into the various requisite adjustments.
When the two primary arms extend vertically downward from the main shaft,
and the secondary arm lies horizontal, the two wheels run on the same level, the
ploughs are raised above the level of the wheels, and the machine is in adjustment
for being drawn about the farm.
When all three of the arms (primary and secondary) lie horizontal, the wheels
run on the same level and the ploughs are thrown below the level of the wheels;
this is an adjustment for ploughing the first furrow.
When the two primary arms lie horizontal and the secondary arm extends down-
ward, the furrow wheel runs on a level below the land wheel, and the ploughs are
below the level of the land wheel; this is the adjustment for regular work; the first
furrow having been taken, the land wheel runs on the land, and the furrow wheel
uns in a furrow. Suppose the adjustment to be as last stated; then suppose all
three of the arms be made to point vertically downward; this will leave the land

page_text: wheel on the land and the furrow wheel in a furrow, but it will raise the ploughs
above the level of the land prepared to pass over an obstruction.
All of these adjustments can be, attained by machinery, substantially like that
herein-before described.
The function of the quadrant arm and adjacent parts shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7,
has already been described.
For the purpose of distinguishing between what I suppose to be old and what I
suppose to be new, i.e., my Invention, I make the following claim :-
I claim as my Invention,-
1. In combination, the main shaft e, the primary arm h carrying the land wheel,
the primary arm h³ carrying the jointed secondary arm p, in its turn carrying the
furrow wheel.
2. In combination, the main shaft e, the primary arm h carrying the land wheel,
the primary arm h¹ carrying the jointed secondary arm p, in its turn carrying the
furrow wheel, and the two actuating levers h³, 8.
3. In a wheel plough, the combination of the shaft e, the lever ², the jointed
lever i, the clamp (or brake) m, and the wheel k.
4. In combination, the shaft e, rigid arm e¹, pawl f¹, toothed quadrant 1, arm h,
bearing wheel k, and lever h³, all substantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Luke Chapman, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
LIKE CHAPMAN