IMPROVEMENTS IN HARROWS AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR STEERING OR GUIDING OF SUCH AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Alison, of Brightlands, Reigate, in the County
of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARROWS AND IN THE
APPARATUS FOR STEERING OR GUIDING OF SUCH AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL
IMPLEMENTS.”
Sealed the 3rd October 1862, and dated the 10th June 1862..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Alison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th June 1862.
I, JOHN ALISON, of Brightlands, Reigate, in the County of Surrey,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HARROWS AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR STEERING OR GUIDING OF SUCH AND OTHER
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in harrows and in the
apparatus for steering or guiding of such and other agricultural implements.
In constructing harrows according to this Invention, a series of parallel
axles are applied at each end of a suitable frame. Each of these axles carries
rows of radial tines which, at their lower ends penetrate the surface of the
land. These axles are alternately held from rotating and are then permitted
to rotate a distance so that another row of the teeth of each axle may come into
action, whilst the row of tines of each axle which has been in action for a time
comes out of action and deposits any accumulation which has taken place on
such tines. This periodical changing of the tines of the several axles may be
accomplished in various ways, but it is preferred that a double incline should
be applied to the side of one of the wheels of the implement, which is caused

page_text: to act from time to time, as the wheel rotates, on a lever, which is in con-
nection with stops applied in suitable positions to retain the tines on the several
axes from rotating, till such stops are removed out of the way. These stops
then again come into action after allowing the rows of tines which have been
in action to pass in order to stop.the next rows of tines and their axle from rota-
ting till the points of those rows of tines have been for a time drawn through
the surface of the land. It is preferred that the frame of this harrow should
be so arranged as to admit of two rollers being interposed between the set of
axles with their radial tines at one end of the machine, and the set at the other
end of the frame, and also to admit of drilling seed apparatus being interposed
between the two rollers.
It is further preferred that the implement, whether arranged simply as a
harrow, or as a compound machine consisting of a harrow combined with
rollers and drilling apparatus, should be, carried. by three wheels, two on one
side and one on the other side of the frame, and that the two wheels which are
on one side should be combined with apparatus to enable the wheels to become
steering or guiding wheels in the following manner:-Each wheel is mounted
on a horizontal axis in like manner to a caster wheel, the horizontal axis being
used in combination with a vertical axis, but in place of the horns or frame
which turn on the vertical axis being as heretofore arranged, to retain the
horizontal axis of the wheel in a constant and similar rotation or-position with
the vertical axis, such horris or frames are arranged to admit of the relation or
position of the horizontal axis in regard to the vertical axis being changed, in
order that it may not be necessary for the vertical axis with the horns or f frames
to make a half turn in its bearings,, when, the direction of the, machine is.
changed, and it is moved in the opposite direction to that in, which it had
been previously moved. The horizontal axis is for this purpose so arranged
that by sliding in the horns or frame it may, by the movement of the machine,
be caused to move to the opposite side of the vertical axis to that at which..it
was previously situated. This steering apparatus is also similarly.applicable
to other agricultural implements.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Alison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
December 1862.
:...
T
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN 3
ALISON, of Brightlands, Reigate, in the County of Surrey, send greeting..

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand 'eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did,' for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Alison, Her special licence that I, the said John Alison, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I; the said: John
Alison, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARROWS. AND
IN THE APPARATUS FOR STEERING OR GUIDING OF SUCH AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL
IMPLEMENTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Alison, 'my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.
1.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Alison, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed;
to be particularly 'described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment thereof, that is to say :-).
This Invention lias for its object improvements in harrows, and in the
apparatus' for 'steering or guiding of such and other agricultural implements.
In constructing, harrows, according to "this Invention, a series of parallel
axles are applied at each end of a suitable frame. Each of these axles' carries
rows of radial tines which at their lower ends penetrate the surface of the
land: These axles are alternately held from rotating, and are then permitted
to rotate a distance, so that another row of the teeth of each axle may come
into action, whilst the row of tines of each axle, which has been in action for
a time; comes 'out of. action and deposits any accumulation which has taken
place on such tines. This periodical changing of the tines of the several axles
may be accomplished in various ways; but it is preferred that inclines should
be applied to the side of one of the wheels of the implement, which are caused
to act from time to time as the wheel rotates on a lever, which is in connection
with stops applied in suitable positions to retain the tines on the several axles
from rotating till such stops are removed out of the way. These stops then
again come into action after. allowing the rows of tines which have been in

page_text: action to pass, in order to stop the next rows of tines and their axles from
rotating till the points of those rows of tines have been for a time drawn
through the surface of the land. It is preferred that the frame of this harrow
should be so arranged as to admit of two rollers being interposed between the
set of axles, with their radial tines at one end of the machine, and the set at
the other end of the frame, and also to admit of drilling apparatus being
interposed between the two rollers.
It is further preferred that the implement, whether arranged simply as a
harrow or as a compound machine, consisting of a harrow combined with
rollers and drilling apparatus, should be carried by three wheels, two on one
side, and one on the other side of the frame, and that the two wheels which
are on one side should be combined with apparatus, to enable the wheels to
become steering or guiding wheels in the following manner:-Each wheel is
mounted on a horizontal axis in like manner to a castor wheel, the horizontal
axis being used in combination with a vertical axis, but in place of the horns
or frame which turn on the vertical axis being as heretofore arranged,
to retain the horizontal axis of the wheel in a constant and similar relation or
position with the vertical axis, such horns or frames are arranged to admit of
the relation or position of the horizontal axis in regard to the vertical axis
being changed, in order that it may not be necessary for the vertical axis with
the horns or frame to make a half turn in its bearings, when the direction of
the machine is changed, and it is moved in the opposite direction to that in
which it had been previously moved. The horizontal axis is for this purpose
so arranged that by sliding in the horns or frame, it may, by the movement
of the machine, be caused to move to the opposite side of the vertical axis to
that at which it was previously situated. This steering apparatus is also
similarly applicable to other agricultural implements.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 a side view of an implement constructed
according to my Invention. a, a, is the frame of the implement; it is
supported on three wheels; the wheel 6 at the centre of one side of the frame
is mounted on a fixed stud axis; the wheels c, c, on the other side of the
implement are steerage wheels, and the manner in which they are mounted is
herein-after fully described. d, d, are brackets fixed to the frame; they
receive between them the bearings of the horizontal axes e, e, on which the
tines f, f, are fixed; the bearings are able to slide up and down on the brackets,

page_text: so that the tines which rest on the land with their own weight and that of
their axes, are able to adjust themselves to the irregularities of the land;
9, 9, are other brackets, which carry in a similar manner the axes of the
roller h. The way in which, these tines perform their work I will presently
describe.
'
In the centre of the machine.seed sowing apparatus is mounted; it consists
of a seed hopper i, in which, as is usual, are a series of revolving cups; these
take up the seed, and discharge it down funnels leading to the flexible tubes l,
of which there is one to each of the seed coulters m. The stems of these
coulters each enter between two vertical plates carried by the frame, and there
is a transverse pin on the end of the stem which enters between guides on the
plates; the coulters are thus able to rise and fall, following the irregularities
of the ground by pivotting about the pins, which the guides retain ; the guides
on the plates are in the shape of an inverted V thus A, and in whichever
direction the implement travels the pins of the coulters are in the leading ends
of the guides. When the direction in which the implement is caused to
travel is changed, the coulters first assume a vertical position, and then (being
struck by a stop on the frame), they are caused to fall over to the other ends
of the guides, when they operate as before, both sides of the coulters being of
the proper form for working. The manner in which the tines f, f, operate
will be more clearly understood by referring to the Diagrams Figures 3, 4,
and 5. Figure 3 is part of a side view of the implement; Figure 4 a part
of a plan, and Figure 5 a part of a transverse section of the same. The im-
plement is supposed to be travelling in the direction of the arrow. It will be
seen that the wheel b has inclines n upon it; they are colored blue, red, and
yellow, and each corresponds with two of the axes e, one at each end of the
implement; o, o, are bell-crank levers, on which the inclines n operate; when
an incline strikes its corresponding lever it draws up the cord p attached to it,
and so raises the weight q at its other end. These weights 9 are capable of
rising and falling in guides on the frame, and serve, when down, to prevent
the axes e revolving, as they otherwise would do, the implement being drawn
forward, whilst one row of the tines on each axis is in the land. When
a weight is raised, the upper row of tines which previously rested against it
passes on, and the axis e rotates until the row of tinės previously at work rises
out of the land, and another row of tines descends into work, by which time
the rotation is stopped by another row of tines coming against the weight:
Thus the tines in action are constantly being changed, and any accumulation
of weeds or roots they may gather when at work will be shaken off whilst they
are out of action. The width of the weights is such that one side may be

page_text: properly placed to serve as a stop whilst the implement travels in one
direction; and the other," when the movement of the implement is reversed.
The method of arranging the steering wheels is shown by the Diagrams
Figures 67, and 8. is a vertical axis carried by a standard from the frame
on the lower end of the axis r; the forked casting s is fixed, and at the böttöm
of the castings are slots s'. t is the steering wheel; its 'axes are carried in
the slots s"; "as the implement travels the wheel always hangs back, so that it's
axis is at the rear end of the slots, and then the wheel being well behind, the
vertical axis is able to pivot about it like an ordinary castor wheel.
When the "direction of motion of the implement is reversed, the wheel
goes to the other end of the slots and acts as before. A wheel mounted in
this manner takes much less space than an ordinary pivot wheel; u is
a steering lever fixed to the casting s. It will be seen by reference to
Figures 1 and 2, that the standards of the steering wheels are carried by
brackets from the side of the main frame, to give sufficient space for the
wheels to work-in.
In witness whereof, Í, the said John Alison, have hereunto set
hand and seal, this Eighth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
my
JOHN ALISON. (L.S.)