GB468778A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for hoeing, and similarly working land - Google Patents

Abstract

468,778. Implements and machines for working land. EDWARDS, A. S. Oct. 10, 1935, No. 19724. [Class 6 (i)] A manually propelled implement for hoeing or thinning plants and for similar operations comprises a drum, wheel, or the like rotatably mounted in a frame having handlebars and means for carrying on the frame two working blades, or sets of blades, either of which can be used separately, a main blade being mounted at the rear of the wheel and being suitable for hoeing &c. when the implement is pulled by the handlebars, at which time the other or additional blade is not in use, the latter blade being adapted to be affixed in its operative position at the front of the wheel and being suitable for working when the implement is pulled by the handlebars, without altering the position of the latter, at which time the main blade is not in use. Frame members constituting handlebars 15, Fig. 1, extend forwardly above the axle of the drum 11 to a position in front of or beyond the axle but within the circumference of the drum, and are then curved rearwardly to form frame bars 18 that carry the axle and project to a position just behind the drum where means are provided for the attachment of working tools or blades. The drum 11 may be provided with two flanges or travelling tracks 12, 13 and may be interchangeable. The rearward extensions 18 of the curved handlebars 15 may carry a cross-bar or plate 19 having slotted lugs to receive lateral pivot pins on an arm 23 carrying a blade 24 and controlled by a tension spring 25. The blade 24 may be continuously reciprocated vertically by the engagement of the upper end of the arm 23 with teeth 27 on the drum. The teeth 27 may be in sets separated by spaces 28 so as periodically to allow the blade 24 to be held out of the ground for a short time by the spring 25 for plant gapping purposes. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 a removable non-reciprocating blade arm 29 has a branch piece 32 carrying pins fitting into slots 21 in lugs 20 and pins 33 held against the rear edges of the lugs by the action of a spring 34. In the form shown in Fig. 6, the blades 36 are carried by vertical rods 37 secured in angularly adjusted position by hooked clamping bolts 39 which pass through them and engage notches in slots 41 in the plate 19. An implement may be traversed across the rows of seedlings for gapping purposes. In another arrangement the plate 19 carries at its ends horizontal hinges and spring-controlled arms provided with inwardly directed blades which can be moved apart periodically by means of a Bowden wire. The front hoeing blade may be carried by a stirrup 50, Fig. 1, pivoted on the axle 14 and normally held up out of action and secured by a rod 52 passing under the handlebars 15. When the stirrup 50 is turned down into working position the rod 52 is passed through holes in forward extensions 17 of the frame or handlebars 15. Removable auxiliary pulling handles may be notched to fit over the axle 14 with their ends under the plate 19. A removable notched bar carrying a weight may be similarly mounted for exerting pressure on the front blade.