AN APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE TURNIP CROP, BY DESTROYING THE TURNIP FLY AND OTHER INSECTS WHICH ARE INJURIOUS TO TURNIPS AND OTHER PLANTS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith, of Saint Paul's Corner, Norton,
near Malton, Yorkshire, for the Invention of "AN APPARATUS FOR THE
PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE TURNIP CROP, BY DESTROYING THE TURNIP FLY
AND OTHER INSECTS WHICH ARE INJURIOUS TO TURNIPS AND OTHER PLANTS."
Scaled the 20th April 1858, and dated the 19th November 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th November 1857.
I, WILLIAM SMITH, of Saint Paul's Corner, Norton, near Malton, York-
shire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention "AN APPARATUS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE TURNIP CROP, BY DESTROYING THE TURNIP
FLY AND OTHER INSECTS WHICH ARE INJURIOUS TO TURNIPS AND OTHER PLANTS," to
be as follows:
To remove the insects by brushes attached to an axletree, and, destroying
the insects by depositing them in a cell or trough placed inside the machine.;
the revolution of the brushes attached to the axletree removes the insects, and
the brushes coming into contact during their revolution with the edge of the
cell or trough, deposits them therein; inside the cell or trough is placed a
glutinous liquid or some adhesive composition to prevent their escape and to
destroy them. The machine can be constructed of wood and iron, with
or without zinc. The body is placed upon two wheels, which revolve upon
an axletree to which they are attached; below this axletree is placed another

page_text: one, to which four rows of brushes are fastened, and is made to revolvo by
means of a strap or band passing round both axletrees, and the strap being
crossed, reverses its motion. Behind the machine are placed two shafts or
handles, to enable a person to push it forward in the same manner as a
barrow. The brush axletree can be raised when requisito (in accordance
with the heighth of the plants), by means of adjusting screw bolts and nuts
placed at the side, and passing perpendicularly through the wooden rail of the
framework and an iron stay attached to the rail of the framework underneath.
For further particulars, see the accompanying Drawing, and subjoined the
explanations of the different Figures therein.
Figure, No. 1.-A transverse section of the body of the machine. A, the
wheel axletree; B, the brush axletree; C, C, C, the side and top rails of the
body frame; D, D, the ends of the covers for the top; E, one of two
buttons to keep the covers in their place; F, F, the handles to lift the covers
off & on; G, the cell for the purpose of receiving the insects, and can be
made of wood, iron, or zine; H, the centre, for the purpose of fixing the cell
upon, and to enable it to be opened to be cleansed, or the cell might be
supported upon a bearer placed inside and lifted out to cleanse, but should the
insects and dust be collected so quick as to require very frequent cleansing, it
will be desirable to have two cells, so that one might be cleaused by a person
in attendance, whilst the other one was in use, and thus save time; I, one of
brushes, made very light and elastic, so as not to injure the tender plant, the
brush can be driven at any speed necessary to dislodge the insect and force it
into the body of the machine; the brush will strike lightly upon the edge of
the cell and so deposit the insects into it; when the plants are more advanced
and the insects larger, a stronger brush is to be used; J to K, open space
from the ground to the machine, so that it will be almost noiseless in its
progress, and the insects not so likely to escape.
Figure, No. 2.-A, wheel axletree with projections at one end for the
purpose of removing the wheel to suit wider rows of turnips, but generally
speaking it would be better to have the machine made to suit the width of the
drill (by which the seed is sown); B, brush axletree; C, C, C, top and end
rails of machine body; D, D, cud boards of machine body; E, E, buttons to
fasten covers at top; F, F, section of the wheels; G, wood or iron pulley,
fixed upon the nave of the wheel; 11, smaller pulley, fixed upon the brush
axletree B, and driven by a strap or cord crossed to reverse tho motion (see
Figure, No. 5); I, brushes at full length attached to axletree.
Figure, No. 3.-A, wheel axletree and bush or keep in which it revolves;
B, end of brush axletree and bush or keep in which it revolves; C, one end rail;

page_text: D, end boards of machine body, fixed to rail C; E, E, two adjusting screw
bolts, which, passing through rail C, secure wheel axletree, bush, or keep A to
the rail, and at the lower end of these bolts the bush or keep of brush
axletree B is fixed, and raised and lowered at pleasure by adjusting nuts F, F,
under rail C; G, stay through which adjusting bolts pass (E, E,) to prevent
vibration, and is bolted to rail C; the small opening above axletree B is to
allow the brush to be raised or lowered, the object of which is to allow the
wheels to travel in the furrows where the seed is sown upon ridges, and
to allow the brush to work upon plants when in a more advanced stato
without injuring them.
Figure, No. 4.-The wheel and method of driving the brush by friction.
A, wheel axletree; B, brush axletree; C, a plain pulley or wheel fixed upon
nave of wheel axletree A; D, smaller wheel or pulley fixed upon brush
axletree B, and is raised so as to press sufficiently against wheel or pulley C,
by the regulating screws and nuts (as seen in Fig. 3), to produce sufficient
friction to drive the brush; and when necessary to raise to allow wheels
to travel in furrows (where seed is sown upon ridges), the wheels or pulleys C
and D must be taken off and replaced by smaller ones, the same rule to bo
observed when the brush axletree is driven by small spin wheels, so that the
brush axletree may be driven by three methods, strap or cord friction or by
spin wheels.
Figure, No. 5. Machine ready for work. A, wheel axletree; B, brush
axletree; G, pulley, suitable for strap or cord; H, smaller pulley, do. do. do.
do. Green color represents body of machine, and brown color the frame and
shafts. Machine to be pushed before and not drawn after the man, as his
feet would disturb the insects. Wood or iron feet should be fixed under the
shafts to prevent them resting upon the ground. The body of machine may
be made of wood, zinc, or iron, the top part or cover of wood or iron, and
made any other shape if preferred. A wood or iron framework made very
light, and covered with canvass to take in one picce, would do very well; the
shafts and frame body may be made of iron if preferred. When seed is sown
upon ridges, the roller which follows the sowing must have two rims or flanges
fixed upon it the same distance apart as the drill wheels, these rims will press
the furrow to an uniform depth below the ridge or seed bed, and thus allow
the machine to be worked with greater facility and with more precision..
Figure, No. 6. One end of machine (as in Fig. 3), with another method
of raising and lowering the brush. A, wheel axletree; B, brush axletree;
C, one end of rail; D, crank lever, fitted to work true upon axletree A at
the top, and forming the bush or keep in which axletree B revolves at

page_text: the bottom, the hand pressing upon this lever (at the end) adjusts it as may
be required; E, guide for lever D, fixed upon rail C, through which guido an
iron pin is passed to secure lever; F, opening to allow axletree B to be raised
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said William Smith in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd June 1858.
assigns, or such others as he,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. WILLIAM
SMITH, of Saint Paul's Corner, Norton, near Malton, Yorkshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
him, the said William Smith, Her special licence that he, the said William
Smith, his executors, administrators, and
tho said William Smith, his 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 "AN
APPARATUS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE TURNIP CROP, BY DESTROYING THE
TURNIP FLY AND OTHER INSECTS WHICH ARE INJURIOUS TO TURNIPS AND OTHER
PLANTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that he, the said William
Smith, his executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
his, 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 he, the said William Smith, do hereby declare
the nature of his said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The removal of flies and other insects from the leaves of turnips and other
plants, and the entiro destruction of the said flies and other insects by means
of an apparatus to be used when the plants have appeared above the surface of
the ground, and from that time until they have attained to the heighth of

page_text: several inches. The process is very simple, and it is believed that one person
may in one day operate successfully upon six to eight acres by means of this
apparatus. The apparatus somewhat resembles a two-wheeled truck, the body
of it is supported upon an axletree and two wheels in the ordinary manner; the
top is closed in by means of covers, which are removable by handles thereon;
the bottom part is open; at the back are placed two handles to propel the
apparatus forward in the same manner as a wheelbarrow; underneath the
wheel axletree is placed another axletree, around which rows of brushes are
fixed; these rows of brushes extend along the whole length of this axletree,
which is called the brush axletree; both of these axletrees work in two levers
fastened at each end upon the outside; just above the brush axletreo is a rod
for the brushes to strike upon as they revolve, this rod is fixed into the levers
at each side. Two cells are placed inside, at back and front, to receive the
flies and insects which fall from the brushes as they come in contact with the
rod; a glutinous liquid or adhesive composition is coated upon the inside of
the apparatus, and is also placed in the cells, to prevent the escape and at the
same time to kill the flies and insects; the cells can be lifted out for the
purpose of cleansing, or to put fresh ones in their places, instead of waiting till
the others are cleaned. The revolution of the brush axletree can be accom-
plished by three different methods; firstly, by friction of wheels or pulleys
fixed upon both axletrees; secondly, by straps or cords passed round pulleys or
wheels which are fixed upon both axletrees, the straps or cords crossed so as to
make the brush axletree revolve in the direction contrary to that of the wheel
axletree; thirdly, by cog wheels keyed upon the nave of the wheel axletree and
pinions keyed upon the brush axletree. The wheel axletree is made to project
beyond the wheel upon one side, so as to suit different widths of drills; but it
would be better to have the apparatus made to suit the width of that drill by
which the turnip seed is sown. The cells are fixed in the following manner :-
The front one upon a half-circle clect, for the purpose of altering its position
when required; the back one upon a straight cleet, bevelled at the end, so as
to lift out more easily, and as this cell sometimes requires a little more
elevation, it is fixed upon a slide, and held in requsite position by a thumb-
screw, which works in a small grove or opening, this cell is enclosed behind
by a board fixed to suspending arms, attached to the rod upon which the
brushes strike. If preferred, the apparatus can be propelled by horse power,
by means of a guiding shaft placed at the side; the apparatus must be in
front, otherwise the flies and insects would be disturbed before it reached them.
Above the front cell, in front of the apparatus, is a cover removable by hanilles,
the more easily to lift out the cell.

page_text: EXPLANATION OF THE VARIOUS FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS OF THE APPARATUS.
Figure, No. 1, a transverse section of the body of the apparatus.-A,
wheel axletree; B, brush axletreo; C, C, C, top and side rails of body frame;
D, D, D. ends of covers for top and front; E, one of the buttons to keep
covers in place; F, F, F, handles to lift covers off and on; G, G, cells to
receive the flies and insects; II, II, centres, upon which are fixed the cells, or
they may be supported upon bearers in the inside; I, I, I, I, ends of rows of
brushes, made very light and elastic so as not to injure the plants and leaves;
L, half-circle cleet, upon which is fixed the front cell, for the purpose of
altering its position when required; M, rod upon which brushes strike;
N, N, suspending arms; 0, 0, connecting rods; P, groove for thumbscrew
to fix back cell at an elevation when required; Q, loose board to cover
opening occasioned by moving arms forward.
Figure, No. 2, a longitudinal section of the apparatus.-A, wheel axle-
tree, with projection at one end to increase the width to suit wider drills;
B, brush axletree; C, C, C, top and end rails of the body; D, D, end boards
of body; E, E, buttons to fasten covers at top; F, F, sections of the wheels;
G, section of large cog wheel keyed upon nave of wheel axletree; II, section
of small cog wheel or pinion keyed upon brush axletree; I, I, rows of brushes
at full length; J, J, levers fixed at each side upon wheel axletree at top and
brush nxletree at bottom; K, rod for brushes to strike upon, fastened into
levers at each end. The dots show the holes for screws to fasten a length of
wood or iron when the brushes are worn to strike upon, by this means the
brushes will last longer. Red color shows sections of cog wheel and pinion;
green color shows the levers; yellow color shows the brasses for brush axle.
tree to work in, the collar of one is removable to draw out brush axletree.
Figure, No. 3, one end of apparatus.-A, one end of wheel axletree, with
bush or keep in which it revolves; B, cnd of brush axletree, with bush or
keep in which it revolves; C, one end rail; D, D, end boards of body fixed to
rail C, E, E, two adjusting screw bolts, which, passing through rail C, secure
wheel axletreo and bush or keep A to the rail; at the lower end of these bolts
is secured the brush axletree and bush or keep B; F, F, two of the adjusting
nnts placed under rail C, by means of these nuts the brush axletree can be
raised or lowered as may be required; G, the stay through which the
adjusting bolts E, E, pass; this stay is fastened at each end under the rail C,
and its object is to prevent vibration principally; II, a small opening made
above axletree B for it to travel in.
Figure, No. 4, one wheel of apparatus, with method of driving brush

page_text: axletree by friction.-A, end of wheel axletree; B, end of brush axletree;
C, a plain pulley or wheel fixed upon nave of wheel axletree; D, a smaller
pulley or wheel fixed upon brush axletree, it is raised by means of the screw
bolts mentioned in Figure 3, so as to press sufficiently against pulley or wheel
C to cause the friction; and when the brush axletree is raised high for the
wheels to travel in the furrows where the seed is sown upon ridges, the pulleys
C and D must be replaced by smaller ones.
Figure, No. 5, the apparatus, with method of driving the brush axletree by
pulleys and straps.-A, the end of wheel axletree; B, the end of brush axletree;
C, C, the handles fixed upon the rails at the back; D, D, feet or supports fixed
under the handles to rest the apparatus upon; these can be made to lift up and
hook under the handles or shafts. The body of the apparatus can be made of
wood, zinc, or iron, the top part or cover can be made any other shape; a
wood or iron frame, made very light, and covered with canvas to remove in
one piece, would do very well; the shafts and frame may be of iron, if
preferred. When the seed is sown upon ridges, the roller which follows the
sowing must have two rims or flanges fixed upon it the same distance apart as
the drill wheels; these flanges will press the furrow to an uniform depth below
the ridge or seed bed, and thus allow the apparatus to be worked with greater
certainty and more easily.
Figure, No. 6, one end of apparatus, fitted with cog wheel and pinion
round the axletrees to drive the brush axletree, and with a lever to raise the
brush rod and axletree.-A, one end of wheel axletree; B, one end of brush
axletree; C, one end rail; D, a lever suspended upon the wheel axletree at
the top, the brush axletree works in a brass bush at the lower end, and the
brush rod is fixed into the lever between the two axletrees; E, a guide for
lever, a thumbscrew passing through a hole in the lever into holes in the
guide fixes the lever in requisite position, the hand pressed upon the lever
raises the brush axletree and rod; F, F, guides for the passage of the brush,
rod, and axletree.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smith, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, all that live.
WILLIAM SMITH. (L.S.)