A NEW OR IMPROVED DRAINING PLOUGH
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Carter, of Tipton, in the County of Stafford,
Machinist, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED DRAINING PLOUGH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Carter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
January 1862.
I, JOHN CARTER, of Tipton, in the County of Stafford, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED DRAINING
PLOUGH," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of a draining plough constructed in the manner herein-
after described, by which cylindrical or pipe-like drains may be cut in land at
a distance below the surface suitable for draining.
My new or improved draining plough has a frame similar to that of an
ordinary plough. To the said frame a coulter or knife is attached, which said
coulter cuts into the earth to the required depth. The foot of the coulter is
expanded or enlarged at its back into a conical form, and to the back of the
foot of the coulter a series of balls or drags are attached, the said
chained end to end. The said drags are of a conical figure the
drags being
apex of the

page_text: first cone being linked to the foot of the coulter, and the apex of each suc-
ceeding cone being linked to the base of the preceding one.
of gradually increasing size as they are more distant from the coulter. As
the plough is drawn through the earth the coulter cuts down to the required
depth, and drawing after it the balls or conical_drags a pipe-like drain is formed,
by which the land is drained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Carter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CARTER, of Tipton, in the County of Stafford, Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Carter, Her special licence that I, the said John Carter,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Carter, 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED DRAINING
PLOUGH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Carter, 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 John Carter, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists of a draining plough constructed in the manner
herein-after described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, by which

page_text: plough cylindrical or pipe like drains may be cut in land at a distance below
the surface suitable for draining.
.
The accompanying Drawing represents in perspective a draining. plough
constructed according to my Invention. The beam a and handles b of my
improved draining plough are similar to those of an ordinary plough. To the
beam a a coulter or knife c is attached by its upper end passing through the
said beam, and fixed by a cross cotter, or the said coulter or knife may be
attached to the beam in any other convenient way. The said coulter or knife
is supported at its back by the stay d. The said coulter or knife c cuts into
the earth to the required depth. The foot c of the coulter c is expanded or
enlarged at its back into a conical form, and to the back of the said foot of
the coulter a series of balls or drags e, f, g, are attached, the said drags being
chained end to end as represented. The said drags e, f, g, are of a conical
figure, the apex of the first cone e being linked to the foot c² of the coulter c,
and the apex of each succeeding cone being linked to the base of the preceding
one as will be seen by an examination of the Drawing. The cones or drags
e, f, g, are of gradually increasing size as they are more distant from the coulter.
As the plough is drawn through the earth the blade c of the coulter cuts
down to the required depth, the cutting edge and conical part of the foot c²
first act upon the soil for the drain, and the said foot drawing after it the
balls or conical drags e, f, g, a pipe-like drain of the size of the last ball or
drag is formed, by which the land is drained. Although I prefer to make
the balls or drags e, f, g, of a conical figure as represented in the Drawing,
yet the balls or drags may be made spherical with the same or nearly the
same effect; and although I have found three balls or drags to answer well
yet a greater or less number than three may be used if required. By the
use of my improved draining plough a cylindrical or pipe-like drain under
the soil is produced without cutting up the surface of the soil excepting by
a channel equal only to the thickness of the blade of the coulter used with
the said plough. By making drains for draining land by the use of my
improved draining plough, ordinary draining pipes are not required.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details herein described and represented, as the
same may be varied without departing fron the nature of my Invention.
But I claim as my Invention the new or improved draining plough herein-
before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, that is to
say, a draining plough in which a series of balls or drags connected with the

page_text: foot of a coulter or knife are made in combination with the said coulter or
knife to form cylindrical or pipe-like drains below the surface of the land.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Carter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JOHN CARTER. (LS.)