IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOD CRUSHERS, AND LAND AND GARDEN ROLLERS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Newzam Nicholson, of Newark-on-Trent,
Agricultural Implement Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CLOD CRUSHERS, AND LAND AND GARDEN ROLLERS."
Sealed the 4th January 1860, and dated the 8th July 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Newzam Nichol-
son at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 8th July 1859.
I, WILLIAM NEWZAM NICHOLSON, of Newark-on-Trent, Agricultural Imple-
ment Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CLOD CRUSHERS, AND LAND AND GARDEN ROLLERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists first, in a method of mounting land rollers or clod
crushers in separate parts, connected by universal joints, so that they may adapt
themselves to inequalities in the surface of the ground; second, in a method
of protecting the bearings or axles on which land and garden rollors revolve
from dust and dirt; third, in an improved method of fitting garden rollers in:
two parts; and, fourth, in the employment of a hollow axle in rollers of 'all:
kinds, whereby they may be easily lubricated. In land rollers and clod

page_text: crushers as usually made, the roller or crushing parts are mounted on one
spindle, and on uneven ground it constantly happens that a great part of the
ground does not receive its proper proportion of weight. In my improved
rollers I divide the rollers into parts, say three, (though I do not confine myself
to this number). The centre part is mounted in a frame in the usual manner,
but the spindle is lengthened beyond the extent of the roller, and at each
of the spindle thus lengthened I fix universal joints, and by a proper arrange-
ment of frame each of the other two parts are attached to the universal joints,
they are free to move up or down, or at any angle, and can run either just
before or just behind the central part.
In fitting up plain rollers, I make them with the bushes sunk a few inches
within the rollers, and I use a collar with a wide flange next to such sunk
bush. By this arrangement, the dirt that drops from the edge of the roller
is kept from the bearings. I adopt a similar method in fitting garden rollers
in two parts, and also cast the bush fast on each part of the roller instead of
fitting in the ends separately as usually done. I also cast the balance weight
fast on the axle of the roller. I also use a hollow or tubular axle for rollers
and close it at the ends. In oiling the roller, I pour oil into the hollow axle,
whence it drops through holes into the various bushes or bearing parts.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Newzam Nicholson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th January 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NEWZAM NICHOLSON, of Newark-on-Trent, Agricultural Implement Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Newzam Nicholson, Her special licence that I, the said William
Newzam Nicholson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Newzam Nicholson, 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

page_text: 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 CLOD CRUSHERS, AND LAND AND GARDEN ROLLERS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Newzam Nichol-
son, 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 Newzam Nicholson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say :-
My Invention consists, first, in a method of mounting land rollers or clod
crushers in separate parts connected by universal joints, so that they may adapt
themselves to inequalities in the surface of the ground; second, in a method
of protecting bearings or axles on which land and garden rollers revolve
from dust and dirt; third, in an improved method of fitting garden rollers in
two parts; and, fourth, in the employment of a hollow axle in rollers of all
kinds whereby they may be easily lubricated.
In land rollers and clod crushers as usually made, the roller or crushing
parts are mounted on one spindle, and on uneven ground it constantly happens
that a great part of the ground does not receive its proper proportion of
weight. In my improved rollers I divide the roller into parts, say, three,
(though I do not confine myself to this number). The centre part is mounted
in a frame in the usual manner, but the spindle is lengthened beyond the
extent of the roller, and at each end of the spindle thus lengthened, I fix
universal joints, and by a proper arrangement of frame each of the other two
parts is attached to these universal joints. They are free to move up or down
or at any angle vertically, and run either just before or just behind the central
part. In fitting up plain rollers I make them with the bushes sunk a few
inches within the rollers, and I use a collar with a wide flange next to such
sunk bush. By this arrangement the dirt that drops from the edge of the
roller is kept from the bearings. I adopt a similar method in fitting garden
rollers in two parts, and also cast the bush fast in each part of the roller
instead of fitting on the .ends separately, as usually done. I also cast tho

page_text: balance weight fast on the axle of the roller. I also use a hollow or tubular
axle for rollers, and close it at the ends. In oiling, I pour oil into this
hollow axle, whence it drops through holes into the various bushes or bearing
parts.
Figure 1 is a plan of a three-part land roller constructed according to my
Invention, and fitted with my patent tubular iron shafts and frame. Figure 2
is a section of the same across the line A, B, of Figure 1. A, A, are the
shafts; B is the frame; C is the axle of front roller; D¹, D, D³, three
roller parts, or separate rollers; E, E, are universal joints working on the
axle of the front roller C, and in which the shanks of the frames of the roller
parts D³, D', work. The roller parts D, D³, will rise or fall or move at any
angle vertically, independently of each other, or of the centre and leading roller
D¹. Instead of the plain roller parts, a series of discs, either plain, similar to
those used in Cambridge's clod crusher, or serrated, similar to those in Cross-
kill's, may be used. I do not confine myself to the particular number of roller
parts, or the exact arrangement shown in the Drawing; a greater number may
be used with advantage in some cases, and a variation in the arrangement may
be made without departing from the features of this part of my Invention.
Figure 3 is a section across a roller, showing the manner in which I carry
the second part of my Invention into effect. The sides of the roller are curved
inwards towards the centre, and a collar a with a wide flange b is slipped on
the axle, so that earth or sand falling from the edges of the roller is kept
from the bushes and bearing parts.
manner.
Figure 4 is a section across a two-part garden roller, in which a similar
construction to that described in Figure 3 is adopted. The sides a and a long
bush b are cast with each roller part, instead of being fitted in in the usual
c is the hollow axle, with perforations for allowing oil or grease
placed therein running through for lubrication; d, d, are caps closing the ends
of the axle. I construct the balance weight e of one piece of iron, either cast
upon or fitted directly to the axle, instead of attaching it by wrought arms in
the ordinary way.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed. I declare that I claim as my improve-
ments in clod crushers and land and garden rollers,-
First, mounting such clod crushers and rollers with some or all of the
separate rollers in a frame or frames connected by universal joints to the axle
of the front roller, or some other part of the roller frame, for the purpose
herein-before set forth.

page_text: Second, the method of protecting the bearings for the axle or bushes herein-
before described.
Third, casting the sides and bushes of garden rollers with the roller parts,
and attaching the balance weight directly to the axle, as herein-before
described.
And, fourth, the employment of a hollow axle, with perforations for oiling
or lubricating the parts in contact with the axle.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Newzam Nicholson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty.
WILLIAM NEWZAM NICHOLSON. (L.B.)