AN IMPROVED STEAM MACHINE FOR AGRICULTURAL WORK AND LAND TRANSPORT OF EVERY KIND
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John
Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
STEAM MACHINE FOR AGRICULTURAL WORK AND LAND TRANSPORT OF EVERY
KIND." A communication from abroad by Jean Baptiste Honoré
Petitpierre, of Mohon (Ardennes), France, Contractor.
-
Sealed the 5th May 1871, and dated the 11th November 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th November 1870.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son,
of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED STEAK MACHINE FOR AGRICULTURAL WORK AND LAND TRANSPORT
OF EVERY KIND," a communication to me from abroad by Jean Baptiste
Honoré Petitpierre, of Mohon (Ardennes), France, Contractor, to be
as follows:
:—
This improved machine is composed of a vertical steam engine, which
sets in motion two inner toothed driving wheels, the whole enclosed in

page_text: a moveable drum of considerable diameter. The two wheels rest and
in advancing press upon this drum, which in its turn moves forward,
road
carrying with it the entire machine, which may thus travel over any
or land without inconvenience. Two ploughs are placed at the side of
the machine at each end, and are raised and lowered at pleasure
according to the direction in which the machine is travelling by means
of a pulley, on which winds a rope attached to the ploughs. The
machine having arrived at one end of the field it becomes necessary to
shift it for making the return furrows, and this is effected by the aid
of two screw jacks one at each end of the machine. These jacks are
each provided with an iron stem, sufficiently strong to bear the weight
of the entire machine and having a large base, which on screwing down
the jacks comes on to the ground and uplifts the machine. The machine
being thus uplifted a quarter turn is given to the fore and hind carriage
wheels by means of fly wheels, two wedges are then placed under the
carriage wheels; the jacks are loosened, the two wheels come on to
the highest part of these wedges, and the machine running down
them places itself in position for resuming its work, and so on at each
turn.
Spaces are reserved within the framing for fuel and water, and two
rollers are placed within the framing to keep the drum steady while
travelling.
When the machine is descending a steep incline breaks are applied:
by means of a shoulder on the stem of each jack, which shoulder on the
jack being screwed up lifts the lever of the break and applies it on
the driving wheel.
The ploughs may be readily removed and the machine be used for
other tillage for drawing wagons laden with produce or manure, and
for other agricultural purposes.
+
This machine may also be modifled to form a carriage or omnibus for
carrying labourers to and from their work, and passengers between villages
and country towns destitute of railways, by placing seats one above the
other to the summit of the drum with interior accommodation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th May 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11,
Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her special
licence that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 IMPROVED STEAM MACHINE FOR AGRICULTURAL WORK AND LAND
TRANSPORT OF EVERY KIND," a communication to me from abroad by Jean
Baptiste Honoré Petitpierre, of Mohon (Ardennes), France, Contractor,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward
Gedge, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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 statement :-
This improved machine is composed of a vertical steam engine, which
sets in motion two inner toothed driving wheels, the whole enclosed in
a moveable drum of considerable diameter. The two driving wheels

page_text: rest, and in advancing press upon this drum, which in its turn moves
forward, carrying with it the entire machine, which may thus travel
over any road or land without inconvenience. Two ploughs are placed
at the side of the machine at each end, and are raised and lowered at
pleasure according to the direction in which the machine is travelling
by means of a pulley or winch on which winds a rope attached to the
ploughs. The machine having arrived at one end of the field it becomes
necessary to shift it for making the return furrows, and this is effected
by the aid of two screw jacks, one at each end of the machine. These
jacks are each provided with an iron stem sufficiently strong to bear the
weight of the entire machine, and having a large base which on screwing
down the jacks comes on to the ground and uplifts the machine. The
machine being thus uplifted a quarter turn is given to the fore and hind
carriage wheels by means of fly wheels, two wedges are then placed
under the carriage wheels or under friction rollers carried by the jacks,
the jacks are loosened, the two wheels or the rollers come on to the
highest part of these wedges, and the machine running down them
places itself in position for resuming its work, and so on at each turn.
Spaces are reserved within the framing for fuel and water, and two
rollers are placed within the framing to keep the drum steady while
travelling.
When the machine is descending a steep incline, breaks are applied by
means of a shoulder on the stem of each jack, which shoulder on the
jack being screwed upward uplifts the lever of the break and applies it
on the driving wheel.
The ploughs may be readily removed and the machine be used for
other tillage, for drawing waggons laden with produce or manure and
for other agricultural purposes.
This machine may also be modified to form a carriage or omnibus for
carrying labourers to and from their work and passengers between
villages and country towns destitute of railways by placing seats one
above the other to the summit of the drum with interior accom-
modation.

page_text: (Sheet 11.) is a side elevation of this improved machine forming a
carriage or omnibus. Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts
in each of the Figures respectively.
a, drum supporting the apparatus; b, ploughs; c, water tank; d,
compartment for fuel; e, footboard; f, small side wheels; g, jack
cranks; h, jacks; i, winch for lifting the ploughs; j, engine boiler; k,
fly wheel; l, driving wheels; m, friction rollers acting on the drum; n,
wedge-shaped platforms; o, endless chain; p, engine platform.
It will be seen that the various parts of the machine are greatly
simplified and contracted into a very small bulk to facilitate its move-
ments.
The engine employed is a double cylinder engine working at a great
speed, and the vertical tubular boiler is one of the best high-pressure
boilers made of steel plate. The boiler is set in the centre of the
framing of the machine, resting as shown upon a platform carried by
the side framing and within the drum. The two wheels of rather small
diameter which support the framing are fixed at each end of a very
solid axle, one of the ends of this axle projects on the side opposite the
ploughs and receives the endless chain to which the engine transmits
motion direct, and by which it is communicated to the two small
driving wheels, which pressing on the inside of the drum set the entire
machine travelling. The drum also constructed of steel plate is
necessarily of a very large diameter, usually between nine and ten feet,
it is lined with fellys made of ash, but only at the two ends breadth wise
occupied by the driving wheels. It is on these fellys that the driving
wheels act to render the motion of the drum more easy and at the same
time to keep it cylindrical. This drum, which covers a breadth of
ground of about five feet; offers the advantage of travelling with equal
facility over a field as over a road.
The action of the machine may be reversed so that it travels forward
or backward at pleasure. It will be seen that the jacks are provided
with small rollers to run on the wedge-shaped platforms when the posi-
tion of the machine is shifted sideways to make a fresh furrow, as
3 previously mentioned, or for any other purpose.

page_text: In ploughing, the breadth of the furrows may be regulated by fixing
a stop piece at any desired point on the wedge-shaped platforms. The
two small wheels set on slides at each end of the machine run in the
bottom of the furrows previously made, and keep the machine in a
straight line.
a stop piece at any desired point on the wedge-shaped platforms. The
two small wheels set on slides at each end of the machine run in the
bottom of the furrows previously made, and keep the machine in a
straight line
Two men suffice to drive the machine, namely, an engine driver and
a labourer to look after the ploughs. The regular speed of the machine
is that of a quick walk.
It has not been deemed necessary to show this machine applied to the
traction of ordinary waggons, as they may be attached to it in any
suitable manner.
It will be evident that the steam engine may be used as a stationary
engine for thrashing and other farm work by throwing the driving wheels
out of gear and connecting it with the driving gear of the thrashing or
other machine.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention
communicated to me as aforesaid, and also in what manner the same is or
may be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein given, as modifications may be made
therein without substantial departure from the Invention, nor do I limit
myself to the use of any particular metal or material in the construction
of the various parts of the machine; and that I claim as secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,—
Firstly. The combination of the drum and driving wheels with the
vertical steam boiler and engine, together with the arrangement of the
water tank and fuel compartments, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement and combination of screw jacks and
wedge-shaped platforms, by which the position of the machine is shifted
laterally, substantially as herein-before described and shown Sheet I. of
the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The arrangement and working of the ploughs, substantially
as herein-before described and shown Sheet I. of the accompanying

page_text: Lastly. The arrangement of seats above the drum to form a carriage
or omnibus, substantially as shown Sheet II. of the accompanying
Drawings,
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.