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 7th June 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."
Figure 1 is a side view, with the plough down.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation, with the plough up.
« IM-
Figure 3 is a top view, with the parts in the same position as in Figure 1, and
the seat removed.
Figure 4 is a detail view, showing rear end of draft pole.
The letter a denotes the main axle; b, the land wheel, that is, the wheel which
runs on the yet unploughed land; and c, the furrow wheel, that is, the wheel
which runs in the furrow.
My plough, as shown in the accompanying Drawing, has certain adjustments not
produced by mechanism claimed herein, to wit,
First. Adjustment for transportation, both wheels running on the same level, and
the plough raised somewhat from the ground.
Second. Adjustment for taking the first furrow, both wheels running on the same
level, and the plough running below the level of the wheels.
Third. Adjustment for regular ploughing, the furrow wheel and plough both
running below the level of the land wheel.

page_text: These adjustments are produced by having the wheels hung on crank arms d, d,
which have partial rotation on the main axle, the adjustment thereof being
governed by the levers e, e. The wheels are locked in adjustment by spring
pawls f f (but one of these pawls is shown in the Drawings, and that in Figure 2,
both are however alike), taking into toothed quadrants g, g, and released from
contact when required by the driver's foot placed upon levers h, h. It is, however,
desirable, if not necessary, to describe such parts and such adjustments herein, that
the office and purpose of the further adjusting apparatus that show and claim
herein may be apparent.
It is desirable, in addition to the adjustments just described, that the driver of
the plough should be able by some movement of little complexity to raise and
lower the plough when turning the machine around at the end of a furrow, or on
meeting some stone, stump, or other obstruction.
I will now describe means for accomplishing this end,-
The plough beam i is fast to and rigid upon the sleeve j, which is loose on the
main axle. From this sleeve and rigid with it extends the lever k, intended to
to be operated by the foot of the driver, by the raising and lowering of which lever
the plough is lowered and raised. On the side of this lever are two-headed pins
operating in connection with the notches in hinged pawl m to hold the plough
down. The pawl is pressed to engagement with the pin by the spring n.
The pawl is so situated with reference to the foot lever that at the same time
the driver bears with his heel on the top of the foot lever he can bear with the toes
or fore end of the foot against the pawl, and unlock it from the foot lever, thus
accomplishing the unlocking and the depression of the foot lever, and consequent
raising of the plough by what is practically one motion of the foot; the driver
meanwhile being seated in the seat p.
For very heavy ploughs, or where more than one plough is used, I make use of
the pivoted bell-crank hand lever r, in the use of which the driver can assist the
action of the foot lever with his hand.
I have also to describe a new, simple, and strong means for attaching the foot-
board to the main axle.
The flat metallic arms 8, 8, at the rear embrace and are rigid with the main axle.
They pass along the sides of the foot board t, and are secured thereto by bolts u
and nuts v. These bolts not only serve the purpose of fastening the arms and the
foot board together, but, passing as they do through the whole width of the foot
board, they add immensely to its strength, and enable it to bear the rough jars and
hard strains to which it is exposed.
The draft pole w is hung on a pivot pin at w¹, but its play is limited and defined
by the pin which runs through the mortise w³.
With reference to the first clause of the claim herein-after made, I would say
that I by no means intend to claim all means of pivoting the plough beam and
foot lever upon the main axle, but only the use of a sleeve inclosing and rotating
upon the main axle itself; such use of a sleeve, in the combination claimed, being
new, cheap, useful, and strong.
I do not mean to be understood that the parts herein claimed cannot be used
except in connection with the other adjusting mechanism herein shown but not
claimed, for they can; and, when used in wheel ploughs, I understand them to be
embraced within my Invention and these Letters Patent.
I claim as my Invention,-
1. In a wheel plough, the combination of the plough beam i, sleeve j, embracing
and rotating on the main axle a, and the lever k, adapted to be operated by the
driver's foot, all arranged as described.
2. In combination, the plough beam and lever k pivoted on axle a, and the
pawl m, located with reference to the foot lever, so that both lever and pawl may
be operated by the driver's foot, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a wheel plough, the combination of the foot lever k and the pivoted hand

page_text: lever, also jointed to the foot lever, for raising and lowering the plough, sub-
stantially 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.
LUKE CHAPMAN. (L.S.)