Improved Apparatus for Steam Cultivation.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Steam Cultivation. ·
We, ROBERT HENRY FOWLER, and THOMAS BENSTEAD, both of the Steam Plough
Works, Leeds, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to the construction of apparatus for
steam cultivation described in the Specifications of Patents Nos. 929950 and 1203593..
One part of the present invention relates to the adjustment of the cultivating.
tools, instead of the skids W referred to in the Specification 1203593. being
attached to the framed arms carrying the cultivating tools, as there described, they
are carried on the bar Q by which the tools are raised and lowered. This bar is
for this purpose, fitted with vertically adjustable brackets to which are attached.
by a swivelling connection, skids serving the same purpose as those between the
cultivating tools above referred to; by means of the swivelling connection the
skids are enabled to adjust themselves to any direction according to the line of
draught.
The said bar with its skids, is free to move vertically in vertical guides carried
from the main longitudinal frame, so that the cultivating tools are thereby made
to adapt themselves to the contour of the land being operated on.
To facilitate the adjustment of the framed arms carrying the cultivating tools
with a view to ensure their working level in different kinds of soil, each framed
arm has its pivot-pin at the leading end made vertically adjustable in a slotted
bracket.
This bracket has a screw at its underside, by turning which in one direction or
the other, the pivot and consequently the framed arm is either allowed to fall, or
is raised up, and it is then secured in its adjusted position in the bracket by a
stud bolt. By arranging the skids on the said bar Qas above described, instead
of on the framed arms carrying the cultivating tools, we are enabled to use knife
or revolving coulters and skimmers, which are well known adjuncts of horse
and other ploughs, and the object of which is to prevent any of the top surface of
the land remaining on the top after ploughing, and to prevent the ploughs from
clogging up.
The skimmer is placed immediately behind the coulter, so that any surface growth
is at once caught by the former and turned into the furrow.
Another improvement relates to the arrangement of the fore-carriage castor move-
ment. Instead of the arrangement of the castor wheel shewn in the Specifica-.
tions 927990 and 1203593 we construct the fore-carriage in two parts, one part being.
fixed and having a ring, grooved on its inner periphery, the groove being of
semi-circular cross section.
Within this ring is the second moveable part consisting of a second ring, or a
disc, having a peripheral groove of semi-circular section which meets the groove
of the fixed part and into the closed circular groove thus formed between the two,
parts, is introduced a circle of bearing balls, so that the inner part, on turning,

page_text: revolves on the circular ball bearing thus formed. The outer part or ring is fixed
to a horizontal lever from which the draft is taken, and to the inner ring is attached
the castor bracket or arm that carries the castor wheel.
A suitable clearance is given between the inner and outer rings so as to allow
the latter perfect freedom of rotation in either direction on the ball bearing, in
following the movement of the castor wheel. This arrangement is such that what-
ever may be the direction of draft or whatever may be the movement of the fore-
carriage, the weight and strains on the latter are transmitted and equally
distributed over the full circle of balls.
Another improvement relates to the coupling link E described in Specifica
tion 1203593. connecting the lever D² of the rear wheel C with the screw spindle E³.
According to our present invention we construct the said link in two parts, con-
nected by a screw coupling, so that by adjusting the length of the link, the angle of
the wheel and consequently the position of the frame is regulated exactly to its
correct position.
Another improvement relates to the pawl catch I described in Specifica-
tion 1203593 engaging with the toothed ratchet on the rear wheel C. At certain
times especially when the plough is being turned (either up hill or down hill) on
sloping land, it is desirable that the wheel should have a certain amount of freedom
to run back, before the motion of the wheel is stopped.
For enabling this to be done we construct the said pawl in two parts, the first
part, which engages with the ratchet wheel, being separate from and free to slide
within adjustable limits upon the part or stem which is pivotted to the framing.
The latter may for this purpose have a series of holes in its lower part, into one
or other of which a pin is inserted according to the amount of travel required.
The sliding block is allowed to fall on the stem until it is stopped by the pin;
during the reversing motion the wheel has to be locked. But before being locked,
certain freedom is given, the toothed ratchet moving the sliding block upward
until the block reaches a shoulder on the stem; then the wheel becomes locked.
By this means the pawl catch can be set at will to allow the pivot wheel in turning
to run back the distance found most suitable.
01
1002
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improved Apparatus for Steam Cultivation.
We, ROBERT HENRY FOWLER and THOMAS BENSTEAD, Engineers, both of the
Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature,
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of apparatus for
steam cultivation described in the Specifications Nos. 9299 of 1890 and 12035.
of 1893. We will describe the said improvements with reference to the accompany-
ing drawings, in which Figure 1 shews a part front elevation of a
plough frame
shewing the improved arrangement for the adjustment of the cultivating tools
and their skids, as also for angling and controlling the rear wheels. Figure 2
shews a part plan of these parts. Figure shews a sectional side view. Figures 4
and 5 shew side and front views of combined skimmers and coulters. Figure 6
shews a longitudinal section of the fore carriage with the improved castor
mechanism as also the adjustment of the framed arms carrying the cultivating.
tools. Figure 7 shews a plan; Figure 8 shews a front view of the bracket adjust-

page_text: ment for the said framed arms. The present improvements relate more particularly
to the construction of machine described in the Specification of Patent No. 12035
of 1893 and for the clearer understanding thereof we will designate certain parts
with the same letters of reference as those designating the corresponding parts in
the said specification.
One part of the present invention relates to the adjustment of the cultivating
tools. Instead of the skids W described in the said specification being attached
to the framed arms P, Figures 1, 2 and 3, of the accompanying drawings, carrying
the cultivating tools, they are carried on the bar Q by which the tools are raised
and lowered. This bar is for this purpose fitted with vertically adjustable
brackets 1, to which are attached by a swivelling connection 2, skids W serving
the same purpose as those between the cultivating tools in the former construction.
By means of the swivelling connection the skids are enabled to adjust themselves
to any direction according to the line of draught.
The bar Q with its skids W is free to move vertically by means of slides 23
fixed thereto, in vertical guides 3 carried by the main longitudinal frame A, so
that the cultivating tools are thereby enabled to adapt themselves to the contour_
of the land that is being operated on.
To facilitate the adjustment of the framed arms P with a view to their working
level in different kinds of soil, each framed arm has its pivot pin S¹ Figures 6
and 8 at the leading end made vertically adjustable in a slotted bracket 5. This
bracket has a screw 6 at its underside, by turning which in one direction or the
other, the pivot pin S¹ and consequently the framed arm P is either allowed to
drop, or is raised up, and it is then secured in its adjusted position in the bracket 5
by the clamping nut 4 on S¹.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 shew a modified arrangement for actuating the framed
arms P carrying the plough bodies for effecting the turning over and reversing
of the latter. Figure 9 shews a sectional side view with the arm P in the middle
position with both sets of ploughs raised. Figure 10 is a corresponding plan,
and Figure 11 a plan shewing the framed arm P turned over for lowering the one
set of ploughs. In this arrangement the toothed quadrants and universal joint
of the former arrangement are dispensed with, the front end of the framed arm P.
being simply pivotted at its upper side to a pin 26 which is itself loosely pivotted
on the vertical pin 27 fixed to the front bar B of the cultivator. The framed
arm P is carried on the under bar Q (which is arranged the same as described
with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3) by means of the pivotted eye bracket 28
through which slides the looped pivot bar 29 fixed to the underside of the framed
arm P. To the top of the latter is attached a chain or pivotted link 30, the ends
of which are attached to the ends of the bar Q, or to the parallel motion bars B¹
connected to such ends as described in the Specification to Patent No. 12035
of 1893.
From this construction it will be seen that when in the middle position
Figures 9 and 10, the arm P will be held upright by the chain 30, but when the
cultivator is turned into the angular position Figure 11, the arm P will be turned
on its pivots 26 and 29 through 90° so as to bring the one set of ploughs to the-
ground, owing to the peculiar relative position of the pivots 26 and 29 above and
below the arm. When the arm P is in the position shewn at Figure 11, and the
cultivator is then turned round into the opposite angular position the chain 30
exercises a pull so as to raise the arm up and at the same time the pivots 26, 29,
exercise the before described action in the contrary direction so as to turn the
arm P right over into the opposite position to that shewn at Figure 11.
By arranging the skids W on the bar Q as described instead of on the framed
arms P, we are enabled to use skimmers and knife or revolving coulters on the
said arms, which are well known adjuncts of horse and other ploughs, and which
serve to prevent any of the top surface of the land remaining on the top after
ploughing, and to prevent the plough from clogging up. According to our present
improvement we arrange the skimmers 7 directly behind the coulters 8 as at

page_text: Figures 4 and 5 the skimmers being adjustably attached to the coulters by means
of slotted holes and screw bolts as shewn. Thus any surface growth is at once
caught up by the skimmer 7 and turned into the furrow.
Another improvement relates to the arrangement of the fore carriage castor
mechanism.
The fore carriage J Figures 6 and 7 has its front end formed with a ring 9 with a
groove 10 of semicircular section.
Within this ring is placed a second ring or disc 11, having a peripheral groove 12
of semicircular section, which in meeting the groove 10 of ring 9, with a certain
amount of play, forms therewith a closed circular groove into which is introduced
a circle of bearing balls 13, so that disc 11 constitutes a turntable turning freely
upon the ring of balls. The ring 9 is suitably formed in two halves fixed together
for enabling the balls to be introduced. The disc 11 has a central downwardly
extending socket 14 in which is fitted the castor bracket 15 so as to be vertically
adjustable therein by. means of the screw 16. Thus the castor is afforded the
greatest possible freedom of rotation in either direction on the ball bearing in
following the direction of the draught and whatever such direction may be or
whatever may be the movement of the fore-carriage, the weight and strains on the
latter will be transmitted in an equally distributed manner over the full circle
of balls.:
Another improvement relates to the coupling link E connecting the lever 1"
of the rear wheels C with the screw spindle E² in the said Patent No. 12035
of 1893.
According to our present improvement, as shewn at Figures 1, 2 and 3, of the
drawings we construct the said link in two parts, 17, 18, of which the forked
part 17 is pivotted to the nut of the screw spindle 2 while the part 18 is pivotted
to the lever D on the pivot joint of the axle of the rear wheel C. The parts 17, 18
being united by a screw connection, it will be seen that by adjusting the length
of the link, the position of the wheel C relatively to the frame A can be accurately
adjusted.
Another improvement relates to the pawl catch I described in the said Patent
No. 12035 of 1893 which engages with the toothed ratchet on the wheel C, for
preventing backward rotation.
At certain times, especially when the plough is being turned, (either up-hill or
down-hill) on sloping land, it is desirable that the wheel C should have a certain
amount of freedom to run back before such motion of the wheel is stopped. For
enabling this to be done we construct the said pawl in two parts as shewn at
Figure 3 of the drawings.
The one part 19 consists of a catch block which engages with the teeth of the
ratchet wheel 20 on the wheel C and is adapted to slide within adjustable limits
upon the stem 21 forming the other part, which is pivotted to the framing.
This stem may for this purpose have a series of holes in its lower part as shewn,
into one or other of which a pin is inserted according to the amount of play
required, or it may have any equivalent arrangement of adjustable stop, and it
has a projection or shoulder on its upper part.
The catch block 19 is allowed to slide down on the stem until it is stopped by
the said pin during the turning motion of the plough the wheel C requires to
be locked but before this is effected a certain freedom is given as it will be seen
that the ratchet wheel 20 is free to turn in the backward direction, taking with it
the block 19, which will slide upward on stem 21 until the block abuts against
the shoulder at 22 on the stem, when it will arrest the farther backward rotation
of the wheel. By this means the pawl catch can be set at will to allow the
pivotting wheel C in turning, to run back the distance found most suitable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for steam cultivation such as is herein referred to, arranging

page_text: the skids W on the under bar Q instead of on the framed arms P, such skids being
arranged to swivel in brackets 1 fixed to the bar Q, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.
2. In apparatus for steam cultivation such as is herein referred to, guiding the
under bar carrying the framed arms by means of guides 3 fixed to the main
frame A, the bar Q being attached to slides 23 working in the said guides,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
3. In apparatus for steam cultivation such as is herein referred to, the arrange-
ment of slotted brackets 5 fixed to the framing, in which the pivot pins S¹ of the
arms P of the cultivating tools are vertically adjustable by means of screws 6,
substantially as described, with reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings.
4. In apparatus for steam cultivation such as is herein referred to, combining
with the framed arms P carrying the cultivating tools, coulters 8 to which are
adjustably attached skimmers 7 substantially as described with reference to
Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings.
5. In apparatus for steam cultivation such as is herein referred to, a castor for
the fore carriage consisting of a castor wheel and bracket combined with a ring
or disc 11 with peripheral groove, mounted within a grooved ring 9 on the fore
carriage and supported by balls 13 running in the grooves of the rings 9 and 11,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings.
6. In apparatus for steam cultivation such as is herein referred to, the com-
bination with the lever D2 on the pivot of the axle of the rear wheel C of a divided
link 17, 18, adjustable in length, connecting the said lever to the nut on the screw
spindle 3 substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
drawings.
7. In apparatus for steam cultivation such as is herein referred to, a pawl catch
for preventing the backward rotation of the wheel C constructed of two parts, of
which the block 19 that engages with the ratchet wheel of the wheel C is free to
slide within adjustable limits upon the second part or stem 21 pivotted to the
framing, for the purpose of permitting a certain amount of backward motion to
the wheel C before it is locked, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
1000