IMPROVEMENTS IN TRANSMITTING STEAM OR OTHER POWER FOR THE TILLAGE OF LAND BY PLOUGHS AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS, AS WELL AS FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND MACHINERY FOR APPLYING THE POWER SO TRANSMITTED
Year: 1855

page_text: En the Matter of a Patent granted to DAVID FISKEN and THOMAS
ROBERT HAY FISKEN, both of Stockton-on-Tees, Engineers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRANSMITTING STEAM OR OTHER POWER
FOR THE TILLAGE OF LAND BY PLOUGHS AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS, AS WELL
AS FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND MACHINERY FOR APPLYING THE POWER SO
TRANSMITTED," bearing date the 19th day of July 1855, and which
said Letters Patent and all interest therein, have been duly assigned
to and are now vested in JAMES BEADEL, of Gresham Street, in the
City of London, Land and Estate Agent, JOHN CLUTTON, of White-
hall Place, in the County of Middlesex, Land and Estate Agent,
and ROBERT LAKE, of Milton Chapel, near Canterbury, in the County
of Kent, Gentleman.
AIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
ntered by the said JAMES BEADEL, JOHN CLUTTON, and ROBERT LAKE, as
ch Assignees as aforesaid, pursuant to the Statutes in that case made
nd provided.
EREAS since the filing of the Specification to the said Letters Patent
been found that those parts of the Invention which are therein claimed
First, Fourth, and Fifth parts respectively, do not possess such
unt of practical utility as to render it desirable to retain them as parts

page_text: of the said Letters Patent.
We for this reason wish to disclaim, and we do
hereby disclaim all those parts of the said Specification which describe and
claim the said First, Fourth, and Fifth parts of the Invention secured under the
said Letters Patent, and in order to make the Specification consistent with
such Disclaimer, we do alter the same by striking out the words "Second
and "Third" from the claiming clauses near the end of the said Specification,
and introducing the word Second in place of the word "Third," so struck out
as aforesaid.
"
And in order that the effect of the Disclaimer and Memorandum of Altera-
tion may be better understood, we annex a copy of the Specification as it will
appear, when the said Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration have been
made as aforesaid.
66
"Our Invention consists in transmitting from a steam engine or other
suitable prime mover, in the manner herein-after described, the necessary
power for working two, four, or more ploughs, or other agricultural
implements used in the tillage of land, and which are required to traverse
"over the whole surface of the land; also in constructing the machinery
"herein-after described, for applying the power so transmitted.
The ploughs
"
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6
66
"6
or other implements employed are supported in the extremities of forked
levers, which are connected to a slotted lever by a bell crank and connecting
rod, by means of which the implements are alternately raised out of
" or lowered into the land, so that while one set is in action the set on the
opposite side of the bell crank is out of work. The power for raising and
lowering the ploughs is communicated through an endless screw, which
gears into a toothed quadrant, carried upon the axis of the slotted lever.
The power from the steam engine or other prime mover is transmitted to
the machine by an endless rope of a sufficient length to suit the length of
" the field, and the distance of the motive-power engine. This rope passes
"under a small guide pulley or sheave, and over a large driving wheel, upon
the axis of which are keyed two toothed pinions, in one of which a
less number of teeth is cut than in the other.
These pinions gear
"
"
"
"into other and similar pinions, and serve to impart motion to a spur wheel,
upon the axis of which is keyed a drum, round which a strong-wire rope or
chain is partially wound. This wire rope or chain, after passing under two
guide pulleys, is fastened at each end to anchors constructed for the purpose,
and placed at opposite sides of the field or piece of land to be ploughed, or
"otherwise operated upon.
When the endless rope is set in motion,
"the resulting action of the drum against the wire rope or chain, causes the
"machine with the ploughs or other implements to be drawn across the field.

page_text: <6
"
"When the machine has arrived at one side of the land, and the furrows are
"ploughed, then that set of ploughs which has been in work is raised out of
"the ground, and the whole machine is shifted aside through a distance equal
"to the breadth of the ploughs in work, that is to say, if there are two series
"of ploughs used on each side of the machine, then the machine is shifted the
"breadth of two furrows, and the opposite set of ploughs is lowered into the
"land. Then by reversing the revolution of the spur wheel by a suitable
arrangement of reversing gear herein-after described, the drum carrying the
"wire rope or chain is caused to revolve in the opposite direction, and the
ploughs or other implements are caused to traverse to the other side of the
piece of land. The action of the machine is then again reversed, and again
"caused to traverse to the opposite side of the land, and so on, until
"the whole or any required portion of the land is worked. The platforms of
"the anchors have fixed to them hollow iron pillars, in which revolve light
"upright spindles, having on the top of them sheaves or pulleys, round which
"the endless rope passes. At about the central part of the anchor platform
"is a small capstan barrel, to which the wire rope is attached. On the axis
"of this barrel is keyed a ratchet wheel, into which a pall takes for
"the purpose of keeping the wire rope always tight. A winch drawn
by power transmitted from the prime mover, as hereafter explained, is used
"to transport the anchor, so as to keep the endless hemp cord and the wire
rope always opposite to the machine, while the latter is travelling. The
"lower part of the anchor is sunk in a furrow, while a long piece of timber
"which carries the hind bearing wheels projects on that side of the anchor
"which is towards the land under operation, and serves to steady the anchor.
"The bearing wheels are placed at each end of the anchor, to prevent
"
it, when being shifted, from digging into the land. In order to steer the
"ploughing machine, we make use of guide wheels worked by an excentric
"or otherwise, so as to incline the axis of the wheels according to the
"direction in which it is desired to guide the machine."
6
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed is a plan, and Figure 2 is
"a side elevation of the machine in which are fitted the ploughs or other
"similar implements. (In these, as in all the other Figures, the same letters
"wherever they occur indicate the same parts). A, A, are the ploughs which
"are supported in the extremities of the forked levers B, B, which are
"connected to the slotted lever C by a bell crank D and connecting rod E,
by means of which the implements are alternately raised and lowered. The
power for raising and lowering the ploughs is communicated through an
"endless screw F which gears into a toothed quandrant carried upon the axis
"E
"

page_text: " of the slotted lever C. The power from the steam engine or other prime
"
mover is transmitted to the machine by an endless rope R which passes
"under a small guide pulley or
66
sheave p over a large driving wheel W, and
"then under another pulley p¹. Upon the axis of the large wheel W are
keyed two toothed pinions q, q', in one of which is a less number of teeth
"than in the other. These pinions gear into other and similar pinions r, r³,
"and serve to impart motion to a spur wheel W, upon the axis of which is
"
"
keyed a drum W, round which a wire rope or chain R' is partially wound.
"This rope or chain R¹ after passing under the two guide pulleys S, S, is
"fastened at each end to the anchors before mentiuned. In order to ensure
the necessary action between the wire rope or chain R¹, and the drum w
small pressure sheaves a, a, are attached, to the short arms of bent levers
b, b, the long arms of which carry balance weights c, c, and the levers
"b, b, are so placed that the sheaves a, a, act against the rope R¹, at
points a little below the extremities of the horizontal diameter of the
"drum w. When the endless rope R is set in motion the resulting action
" of the drum w against the wire rope or chain R₁ causes the machine with
66
66
"
"
the ploughs or other implements to be drawn across the field. To plough
successive furrows the machine is shifted and operated as already described.
"The reversing gear consists of the toothed pinions q, q', r, 1, which are so
"fitted that by the action of clutch levers G, G¹, they can be clutched in
"such manner as to impart motion to the spur wheel W' in either direction
"6
as may be desired. H, H, H¹, H, are the wheels on which the machine
runs; the latter are of a larger diameter than the former, being intended to
"run in the furrows made by the ploughs."
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"
Figure 3 of the Drawings hereunto annexed is a plan, and Figure 4
"a sectional elevation of the anchors we employ in connection with the
"machinery before described. The platform or top plate I of the anchor has
"fixed to it a hollow iron pillar J on which revolves a light upright spindle
"K having on the top of it a sheave or pulley L which is driven by the
"endless rope R. The bottom of this pillar J is enlarged so as to
"encase the gearing and clutch for connecting and disconnecting the
"upright spindle K and the shaft M, by means of which motion is com-
"municated through the screw N and the wheel O, (which take into each
other) to a winch barrel, and through it to the anchor itself.
This gearing
65
$6
is composed of the bevil wheels d and e which gear into each other, and
" of which d is loose on the upright spindle K, and e is keyed first on the
"horizontal shaft M. P is a lever, the fulcrum of which is supported by
"the hollow pillar J, and which works a clutch that slides on a key in the

page_text: "upright spindle K, and fixes for the time the loose wheel to that spindle,
"thus establishing the necessary connection between it and the horizontal
"shaft M. The long arm of the lever P is supported in notches formed in the
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4
66
upright Q. The wheel S runs loose upon a transverse shaft, which also
"carries loosely the winch barrel T. When in operation the two are con-
"nected by a clutch with bayonets, which are passed through the wheel S,
"and set upon a projection on the end of the barrel T, outside of the
flange. By this arrangement the chain employed for dragging the anchor
along can be readily allowed to run off the barrel T, while by pushing in the
"clutch the connection between the revolving shaft M and the barrel T is
instantly made. One end of the chain is fastened to a stake firmly secured in
"the ground. At about the central part of the platform I is a small capstan
"barrel U, to which the wire rope R¹ (Figures 1 and 2) is attached. The
"axis of the barrel U is a stud secured through the platform I, and around
"this stud, as a centre pall, plates V are cast on the platform I, and attached
"to the inside of the barrel U is a pall X which takes into these plates V.
Any slack that may be produced in the wire rope R¹ by the working of the
"ploughs or other implements is taken up by means of ratchet teeth cast on
"the top of the barrel U and a spring lever handle V', two or three coils of
"the rope baving at first been passed round the barrel U, and the end having
been jammed fast by the screw clamp u; or, if preferred, the end may be
"made fast to the barrel U itself. The pall X taking into the plates V,
"retains the tension obtained by the ratchet teeth on the barrel and the
"lever V. Y is the anchor plate, the front edge of which is sharp in order
"that having been once let into the ground at the commencement of the
"
"
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ploughing or other operation it may afterwards cut its own way wben power
"is applied to move it along. The platform I is secured to this plate Y by
"tenons and pins. The whole anchor is supported by the four wheels Z, Z,
"Z, Z, the axles of which pass through slotted bearings, and may be fixed
"at various heights to suit the various depths to which it may be necessary to
"sink the plate Y in the ground. The hind wheels Z, Z', are carried on the
beam Z", which projects on that side of the anchor which is towards the
land under operation, and serves to steady the anchor and assist in bearing
"the strain upon it."
"
66
"
"
"
"And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is,—
"First, the construction and use of a machine for ploughing or otherwise
operating upon land as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
Drawings hereunto annexed."

page_text: "Second, the construction and use of anchors for receiving the strain of
"the rope upon which the direct pressure of the ploughing or other similar
"machine is exerted, as herein-before described and represented in Figures 3
"and 4 of the Drawings hereunto annexed."
In witness whereof, we, the said James Beadel, John Clutton, and
Robert Lake, bave hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Fisken and Thomas Robert Hay Fisken, both
of Stockton-on-Tees, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRANSMITTING STEAM OR OTHER POWER FOR THE TILLAGE OF LAND BY
PLOUGHS AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS AS WELL AS FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND
MACHINERY FOR APPLYING THE POWER SO TRANSMITTED."'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Fisken and Thomas
Robert Hay Fisken at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 19th July 1855.
We, DAVID FISKEN and THOMAS ROBERT HAY FISKEN, both of Stockton-
on-Tees, Engineers, do, hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRANSMITTING STEAM OR OTHER POWER FOR THE TILLAGE OP
LAND BY PLOUGHS AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS AS WELL AS FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND
MACHINERY FOR APPLYING THE POWER SO TRANSMITTED," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in transmitting from a steam engine or other suitable
prime mover the necessary power for working two, four, or more ploughs, or
other agricultural implements used in the tillage of land, and which are
required to traverse over the whole surface of the land. The ploughs or other
implements are supported in the extremities of forked levers, which are con-
nected by a slotted lever to a bell crank and connecting rod, by means of which
the implements are alternately raised or lowered out of or into the land, so
that while one set of ploughs or other implements is in action, the set on the

page_text: opposite side of the bell crank is out of work. The raising and lowering of
the ploughs are effected by means of an endless screw, gearing into a toothed
quadrant upon the axis of the slotted lever. The power from the steam
engine or other prime mover is transmitted to the machine by an endless rope,
of sufficient. length to suit the length of the field and the distance of the
motive power. This rope passes under a small single or double grooved guide,
pulley, or sheave, and over a large driving wheel. Upon the axis of this
driving wheel are keyed two pinions, in one of which a less number of teeth
is cut than in the other. These pinions gear into other and similar pinions,
and serve to impart motion to a larger spur wheel, upon the axis of which is
keyed a drum, round which a strong wire rope or chain is wound. This wire
rope or chain, after passing under two guide pulleys, is fastened at each end to
anchors placed at opposite sides of the field or piece of land to be ploughed or
otherwise operated upon. Thus, when the machine is set in motion, the
winding up of the wire rope or chain upon the drum causes the machine with
the ploughs or other implements to be drawn across the field. When the
machine has thus arrived at one side of the land and the furrows are ploughed,
then that set of ploughs which have been thus in work are raised out of the
land, and the whole machine shifted aside the distance of the number of
ploughs in work, that is to say, if there are two sets of ploughs used on each
side of the machine, then the machine is shifted the breadth of two furrows,
and the opposite set of ploughs lowered into the land. Then, by reversing the
revolution of the spur wheel by a suitable arrangement of reversing gear,
the drum carrying the wire rope or chain is caused to revolve in the opposite
direction, and the ploughs or other implements are caused to traverse to the
other side of the piece of land. The action of the machine is then again
reversed, and again caused to traverse to the opposite side of the land. By
this means the whole of the land will be worked. The anchors or capstans at
each end or side of the field have pillars fixed to them, in which light upright
spindles revolve, having sheaves or pulleys on the top of them. At about the
горе
central part of the anchor is a small capstan barrel to which the wire is
attached. On the axis of this barrel is keyed a ratchet wheel, into which a
pall takes for the purpose-of-keeping the wire rope always tight. A winch is
used to wind up the whole of this capstan and anchor together, so as to keep
the endless hemp cord and the wire rope always opposite to the machine while
travelling. The lower and flat part of this anchor capstan is sunk in a
furrow, while a piece of timber, about seven feet long and connected thereto,
rests on the surface of the land, and serves to steady the anchor. This piece of
timber is capable of being shifted out of the way when the ploughs come up.

page_text: Bearing wheels are placed at each end to prevent the anchor when being
shifted from digging into the land. A sinall capstan is used for taking up the
slack of the endless hemp rope. In order to steer the machine, we make use
of guide wheels, worked by an eccentric or otherwise, so as to give to the
wheels an angle of inclination according to the direction in which it is desired
to guide the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Fisken and Thomas Robert Hay Fisken in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 19th January 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
FISKEN and THOMAS ROBERT HAY FISKEN, both of Stockton-on-Tees,
Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said David Fisken and Thomas Robert Hay Fisken, Iler special licence
that we, the said David Fisken and Thomas Robert Hay Fisken, our execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said David Fisken
and Thomas Robert Hay Fisken, our 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, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN TRANSMITTING STEAM OR OTHER POWER FOR THE TILLAGE OF LAND BY
PLOUGHS AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS AS WELL AS FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND MACHINERY
FOR APPLYING THE POWER SO TRANSMITTED," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said David Fisken and Thomas Robert Hay Fisken, or one of us,
by an instrument in writing under our hands and scals, or under the hand
and scal of one of us, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, 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 we, the said David Fisken and Thomas Robert
lay Fisken, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and

page_text: ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :---
Our Invention consists in transmitting from a steam engine or other suitable
prime mover, in the manner herein-after described, the necessary power for
working two, four, or more ploughs, or other agricultural implements used in
the tillage of land, and which are required to traverse over the whole surface
of the land; also in constructing the machinery, herein-after described, for
applying the power so transmitted. The ploughs or other implements employed
are supported in the extremities of forked levers, which are connected to a
slotted lever by a bell crank and connecting rod, by means of which the imple-
ments are alternately raised out of or lowered into the land, so that while one
set is in action, the set ou the opposite side of the bell crank is out of work.
The power for raising and lowering the ploughs is communicated through an
endless screw which gears into a toothed quadrant, carried upon the axis of the
slotted lever. The power from the steam engine or other prime mover is trans-
mitted to the machine by an endless rope, of a sufficient length to suit the
length of the field, and the distance of the motive power engine. This rope
passes under a small guide pulley or sheave, and over a large driving wheel,
upon the axis of which are keyed two toothed pinions, in one of which a less
number of teeth is cut than in the other. These pinions gear into other and
similar pinions, and serve to impart motion to a spur wheel, upon the axis of
which is keyed a drum, round which a strong wire rope or chain is partially
wound. This wire rope or chain, after passing under two guide pulleys, is
fastened at each end to anchors, constructed for the purpose, and placed at
opposite sides of the field or piece of land to be ploughed or otherwise operated
upon. When the endless rope is set in motion, the resulting action of the
drum against the wire rope or chain causes the machine with the ploughs
or other implements to be drawn across the field. When the machine has
arrived at one side of the land and the furrows are ploughed, then that set of
ploughs which has been in work is raised out of the ground, and the whole
machine is shifted aside through a distance equal to the breadth of the ploughs
in work, that is to say, if there are two series of ploughs used on each side of
the machine, then the machine is shifted the breadth of two furrows, and the
opposite set of ploughs is lowered into the land. Then, by reversing the
revolution of the spur wheel by a suitable arrangement of reversing gear,
herein-after described, the drum carrying the wire rope or chain is caused to
revolve in the opposite direction, and the ploughs or other implements are
caused to traverse to the other side of the piece of land. The action of the
machine is then again reversed, and again caused to traverse to the opposite

page_text: side of the land, and so on, until the whole or any required portion of the land
is worked. The platforms of the anchors have fixed to them hollow iron
pillars, in which revolve light upright spindles, having on the top of them
sheaves or pulleys, round which the endless rope passes.
At about the central
part of the anchor platform is a small capstan barrel to which the wire rope
is attached. On the axis of this barrel is keyed a ratchet wheel, into which a
pall takes for the purpose of keeping the wire rope always tight. A winch
drawn by power transmitted from the prime mover, as hereafter explained, is
used to transport the anchor, so as to keep the endless hemp cord and the
wire rope always opposite to the machine while the latter is travelling. The
lower part of the anchor is sunk in a furrow, while a long piece of timber,
which carries the hind bearing wheels, projects on that side of the anchor
which is towards the land under operation, and serves to steady the anchor.
The bearing wheels are placed at each end of the anchor, to prevent it when
being shifted from digging into the land. A small flying capstan is used for
taking up the slack of the endless hemp rope. In order to steer the ploughing
machine, we make use of guide wheels, worked by an excentric or otherwise,
so as to incline the axes of the wheels according to the direction in which it
is desired to guide the machine.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed is a plan, and Figure 2 is a
side elevation, of the machine, in which are fitted the ploughs or other similar
implements. (In these as in all the other Figures the same letters, wherever
they occur, indicate the same parts.) A, A, are the ploughs, which are sup-
ported in the extremities of the forked levers B, B, which are connected to the
slotted lever C by a bell crank D and connecting rod E, by means of which
the implements are alternately raised and lowered. The power for raising and
lowering the ploughs is communicated through an endless screw F, which gears
into a toothed quadrant carried upon the axis of the slotted lever C. The
power from the steam engine or other prime mover is transmitted to the
machine by an endless rope R, which passes under a small guide pulley or
sheave p, over a large driving wheel W, and then under another pulley p'.
Upon the axis of the large wheel W are keyed two toothed pinions q, q', in
one of which is a less number of teeth than in the other. These pinions gear
into other and similar pinions r, r', and serve to impart motion to a spur whee!
W, upon the axis of which is keyed a drum W, round which a wire rope or
chain R' is partially wound. This rope or chain R', after passing under the
two guide pulleys S, S, is fastened at each end to the anchors before mentioned.
In order to ensure the necessary action between the wire rope or chain R¹ and
the drum w, small pressure sheaves a, a, are attached to the short arms of bent

page_text: lovers 6, 6, the long arms of which carry balance weights c, c; and the levers b, b,
are so placed, that the sheaves a, a, act against the rope R' at points a little
below the extremities of the horizontal diameter of the drum w. When the
endless rope R is set in motion, the resulting action of the drum w against the
wire rope or chain R¹ causes the machine with the ploughs or other imple-
ments to be drawn across the field. To plough successive furrows, the machine
is shifted and operated as already described. The reversing gear consists of
the toothed pinions q, q',,, which are so fitted, that by the action of clutch
levers G, G', they can be clutched in such manner as to impart motion to the
spur wheel W in either direction, as may be desired. II, II, II, II', are the
wheels on which the machine runs; the latter are of a larger diameter than
the former, being intended to run in the furrows made by the ploughs.
Figure 8 of the Drawings hereunto annexed is a plan, and Figure 4 a
sectional elevation, of the anchors we employ in connection with the machinery
before described. The platform or top plate I of the anchor has fixed to it a
hollow iron pillar J, on which revolves a light upright spindle K, having on the
top of it a sheave or pulley L, which is driven by the endless rope R. The
bottom of this pillar J is enlarged, so as to encase the gearing and clutch for
connecting and disconnecting the upright spindle K and the shaft M, by means
of which motion is communicated through the screw N and the wheel O,
(which take into each other) to a winch barrel, and through it to the anchor
itself. This gearing is composed of the bevil wheels d and e, which gear into
each other, and of which d is loose on the upright spindle K, and e is keyed
fast on the horizontal shaft M. P is a lever, the fulcrum of which is supported
by the hollow pillar J, and which works a clutch that slides on a key in the
upright spindle K, and fixes for the time the loose wheel d to that spindle, thus
establishing the necessary connection between it and the horizontal shaft M.
The long arm of the lever P is supported in notches formed in the upright Q.
The wheel S runs loose upon a transverse shaft, which also carries loosely the
winch barrel T. When in operation the two are connected by a clutch with
bayonets, which are passed through the wheel S, and set upon a projection on
the end of the barrel T outside of the flange. By this arrangement, the chain
employed for dragging the anchor-along can be readily allowed to run off the
barrel T, while by pushing in the clutch, the connection between the revolving
shaft M and the barrel T is instantly made. One end of the chain is fastened
to a stake firmly secured in the ground. At about the central part of the plat-
form I is a small capstan barrel U, to which the wire rope R' (Figures 1
and 2) is attached. The axis of the barrel U is a stud, secured through the
platform I, and around this stud, as a centre pall, plates V are cast on the plat-

page_text: form I; and attached to the inside of the barrel U is a pall X, which takes
into these plates V. Any slack that may be produced in the wire rope R' by the
working of the ploughs or other implements is taken up by means of ratchet
teeth, cast on the top of the barrel U, and a spring lever handle V¹, two or
three coils of the rope having at first been passed round the barrel U, and the
end having been jammed fast by the screw clamp u; or, if preferred, the end
may be made fast to the barrel U itself. The pall X taking into the plates V,
retains the tension obtained by the ratchet teeth on the barrel and the lever V1.
Y is the anchor plate, the front edge of which is sharp, in order that having
been once let into the ground at the commencement of the ploughing or other
operation, it may afterwards cut its own way when power is applied to move it
along. The platform I is secured to this plate Y by tenons and pins. The
whole anchor is supported by the four wheels Z, Z, Z, Z, the axles of which
pass through slotted bearings, and may be fixed at various heights to suit the
various depths to which it may be necessary to sink the plate Y in the ground.
The hind wheels Z, Z, are carried on the beam Z", which projects on that
side of the anchor which is towards the land under operation, and serves to
steady the anchor, and assist in bearing the strain upon it.!
Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawings hereunto annexed represent the small fly
capstan, used for taking up the slack of the endless hemp rope R; Figure 5
being a side elevation, and Figure 6 an end elevation. Al is a wooden frame,
secured to which are two upright metal frames B1, B1, which carry the axle of
the fly pulley or sheave C1, round which the rope R passes; D1 is a shaft, on
which are mounted a small winch barrel E1 and a smooth pulley or drum F1;
G1 is a forked lever, centred on a stud projecting from the frame B1, which
lever G1 carries between its forked arms a pulley H1, formed of wood or
leather, and on its long arm an adjustable weight I1, by which the pulley H1 is
forced into contact with the smooth pulley or drum F1, and also with the axle
J1 of the fly pulley or sheave C1. One end of a rope is fastened to or wound
round the winch barrel El; this rope is then led round a pulley or sheave,
fastened to a stake firmly secured in the ground at some distance from the
fly capstan, and is then led back to the latter, and has its other end made fast
to the hoop K1, attached to the upright spindle L1 of the steering wheel M1.
N1 are the wheels on which with M1 the machine moves. The action of this
fly capstan is as follows:-The axle J1 of the fly pulley C1 being put in motion
by the endless rope R, which passes round C1, causes the pulley E1, with which
it is in contact, to rotate in an opposite direction, and this pulley II 1 then causes
the smooth pulley or drum F1, with which it is in contact, also to rotate, and
thus give motion to the winch barrel E 1, which is fixed on the same axle with

page_text: it. This barrel E1 then winds up the rope wound round it, and thus drags the
whole capstan towards the stake before mentioned, and increases the tension
of the endless rope R. On that end of the winch barrel El which is opposite
to the smooth pulley or drum F1 is fitted a ratchet or paul wheel 01, and on
the adjacent portion of the frame B a paul P¹; by means of these the tension
acquired by the motion of the capstan is retained. To the forked lever G1 is
attached another lever Q1, which has affixed to its lower end a rope R1, which
leads away to the engine man. By pulling this rope R 1, the balance weight I 1
is raised, and the pulley H1 is withdrawn from contact with the smooth pulley
F1 and the axle J1, and the motion of the capstan is thus stopped. By this
arrangement the necessity of placing an attendant at or sending him to the fly
capstan is altogether avoided.
In Figure 7 we have shewn an outline indicating an arrangement of the
whole of our steam (or other) agricultural apparatus.
In this the endless
rope R is passed round pulleys so placed that it is extended along and across
a field in such manner that the whole surface of the field (supposing it to be
rectangular) may be operated upon without any other changes being made in the
position of the various parts of the apparatus than the mere lateral movement
of the ploughing machine, the corresponding movements of the anchors, and
any slight movement that may be necessary in the fly capstan, the length of
the endless rope R being constant for all the positions of the various parts.
In this Figure the positions of the anchors are at A2, A2, that of the ploughing
machine at B2, and that of the fly capstan at C2. The endless rope R is sup-
ported at intervals by antifriction pulleys, mounted on suitable standards, both
in its passage over the ploughed land and between the engine and fly capstan.
One of these standards which are placed on the ploughed land, and are shifted
forward by the attendant as the machine approaches them, is shewn in Figure 8.
The upper roller R2 supports the returning rope at a height of about five or
six feet above the soil, and the lower roller R3 supports the driving portion of
the rope at about a height of two feet above the soil.
In Figures 9 and 10 we have shewn an arrangement for raising and
lowering those wheels of the ploughing machine which run upon the un-
ploughed land, according to circumstances. The axle a' is forked, and rivetted
or bolted on to a plate 6', in which there is a slot c¹ to receive a stud d¹, on
which the wheel runs. Through this stud d' passes a screw c¹ for raising and
lowering upon it, and inside the plate is a nut for keeping the screw e¹ where
it is set.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is,―

page_text: First, the general construction and arrangement of apparatus for trans-
mitting steam or other power for the tillage of land by ploughs and other
implements, as well as for other purposes, such as the working of reaping and
mowing machines, and machinery for cutting drains, or the hauling of manure
carts, drills, rollers, harrows, &c., and the machinery for applying the power so
transmitted, as herein-before described, and illustrated in the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
Second, the construction and use of a machine for ploughing or otherwise
operating upon land, as described, and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
Third, the construction and use of anchors for receiving the strain of the
rope upon which the direct pressure of the ploughing or other similar machine
is exerted, as herein-before described, and represented in Figures 3 and 4 of
the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fourth, the construction and use of a fly capstan for taking up the slack of
an endless rope used in agricultural apparatus, as herein-before described, and
represented in Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fifth, the arrangement, herein-before described, and represented in Figures
9 and 10 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, for altering the heights of the
axles of wheels.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Robert Hay Fisken, for myself
and on behalf of the said David Fisken, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-six.
T. R. H. FISKEN. (L.s.)