IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR BREAKING UP OR OPENING LAND
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ager, of Aylsham, in the County of Norfolk,
LL.D., for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
BREAKING UP OR OPENING LAND."
Sealed the 23rd October 1860, and dated the 27th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ager at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
April 1860.
I, GEORGE AGER, of Aylsham, in the County of Norfolk, LL.D., do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OB
APPARATUS FOR BREAKING UP OR OPENING LAND," to be as follows:—
The improvements relate to means or apparatus for operating upon to
break up land. In connection with series of prongs or teeth applied in rings,
and adapted to penetrate and thereby break up the surface of the land, I employ
revolving discs adapted to cut into the soil in front of the prongs; also to the
application of other stationary cutters placed between the rings of prongs or
teeth, so as further to cut the surface of the land and facilitate the separation
of the lumps of earth; and also to the application of clearing plates by the
sides of the prongs, or between the respective rings, and extending by preference
from about underneath the centre of motion of the rings of prongs backwards,
in order to facilitate the clearing of the earth from such prongs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Ager in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th October 1860.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Ager, Her special licence that I. the said George Ager,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Ager, 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
MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR BREAKING UP OR OPENING LAND," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Ager, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Ager, 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 follow-
ing statement thereof, that is to say :-
up
The improvements relate to means or apparatus for operating upon to break
land. In connection with series of prongs or teeth applied in rings and
adapted to penetrate, and thereby break up the surface of the land, I employ
revolving discs adapted to cut into the soil in front of the prongs; also to the
application of other stationary cutters placed between the rings of prongs or
teeth, so as further to cut the surface of the land and facilitate the separation
of the lumps of earth; and also to the application of clearing plates by the
sides of the prongs, or between the respective rings, and extending by preference
from about underneath the centre of motion of the rings of prongs backwards,
in order to facilitate the clearing of the earth from such prongs.
But that the nature of the improvements and the means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect may be more fully understood, I will proceed to
describe the Drawing annexed, which represents a side view of apparatus for
breaking up or opening land with my improvements applied thereto.
a is one of the two front, and 6 one of the two hinder bearing wheels.
These turn upon axes c, c, carried and connected together by the frame d; e
shews one of the rings.carrying the prongs or teeth e', and of these rings e there

page_text: are several placed side by side upon the axle f, and so as to admit of their
turning freely in the bearings 9 carried by the frame h; i shews one of a
series of discs placed side by side on the axle i, carried by the projection /¹ of
the frame h. The object of these discs i is to cut into and open the ground in
front of the teeth e, in order that those teeth may more readily enter the earth;
j is one of a series of stationary knives or cutters supported by bearings h² from
the frame h between the respective rings of teeth e', in order further to aid
as stated in cutting up the surface of the land, and facilitate the separation of
the lumps of earth; k is one of a series of clearing plates placed between the
respective rings of teeth e to clear the earth from such prongs or teeth e¹ as
they rise from the ground. In order to regulate the depth of action of the
instruments e, i, and j, as well as to facilitate the removal of them altogether
from the surface of the soil during transport from one place to another, I apply
to each end of the frame d a rack l, and to the axis m, carried by the frame h,
pinions m' taking into the teeth of the racks l. Each axis m has also affixed
upon it another pinion m³, the teeth of which are taken into by a screw
wheel n upon the axis o, which is capable of turning in bearings h' carried by
the frame h, and it has affixed to the hinder end of it a handle p, by which the
desired motion thereto, for the raising or lowering of the parts, is obtained.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the means
which I adopt in carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not claim the various mechanical parts separately considered, nor do
I confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as these may be
varied without departing from the peculiar character of the improvements;
but what I do claim is the adaptation and combination of means explained for
operating upon for breaking up or opening land.
In witness whereof, I, tho said George Ager, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
0
Witness,
CHARLES HYDE BROOKE,
Aylsham.
GEORGE AGER. (L.S.)