US616971A - Cultivator - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 3; I899. J. w. RATCLIFF.

G llLT l V AT 0 R (Application filed Apr; 25, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Wiigzsszs m: Noam: vcrgas co, wow-Limo wuumm'ou. n. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN XV. RATCLIFF, OF VVEBBVILLE, KENTUCKY.

CU LTIVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,971, dated January 3, 1899.

Application filed April 2 5, l 8 98.

T0 coZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN WV. RATCLIFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Webbville, in the county of Lawrence and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Cultivator, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to agricultural implements embodying in their construction a fixed beam, to which the handles and draft are applied, and a laterally-shiftable beam having pivotal connection with the fixed beam, whereby furrows may be formed at any required distance apart within the limit of range of movement of the adjustable beam.

The purpose of the invention is to improve the construction of this class of implements and admit of the shiftable beam being moved from one side to the other of the fixed beam, to simplify the construction, and. to provide an implement which will be strong, lasting, and capable of being easily managed and drawn over the field by the application of a comparatively light draft.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a .full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a plow constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, the dotted lines showing the movable plow-beam shifted from one side of the implement to the other. Fig. 3 is a rear view. Fig. 4 is a detail section of the cross-piece, showing the relation of the movable plow-beam.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The fixed plow-beam 1 has its rear end curved, forming a standard 2, to which a plowpoint of any desired make or pattern is secured. The front end portion of the beam 1 fierial No. 678,800. (No model.)

is reduced and bent back upon itself, forming a loop 3, to which the draft is applied. The handles 4 are secured to the beam 1 ata point midway of its length and have their position fixed by braces 5, which are made fast at their lower ends to the rear portion of the beam 1 and incline upwardly and outwardly and are bolted at their upper ends to the handles intermediate of their ends.

A cross-piece 6 is rigidly attached at a middle point to the beam 1 and is formed with an arcuate slot 7. This cross-piece curves throughout its length to conform to the slot 7 and is depressed in its upper face, bordering upon the slot 7, so as to admit of the head portion of the bolt or fastening 8 coming below the plane of the top side of the crosspieceand not interfere with the beam 1. The beam 1 is let into the upper side of the crosspiece, and the latter is formed upon its rear portion with lugs 9, which embrace the sides of the beam 1 and serve to strengthen and brace the cross-piece and result in a firm and rigid structure.

The shiftable beam 10 has pivotal connection at its front end with the beam 1, and its rear end portion is curved downwardly and receives a shovel or plow-point, according to the nature of the soil and the condition of the work to be performed. The bolt 11, upon which the beam 10 turns, serves to connect the folded end of the beam 1 with the body portion thereof, and the cross-piece 6 and the slot 7 thereof are formed on the arc of a circle having the bolt 11 as its center. The bolt or headed fastening 8, applied to the rear portion of the beam 10, operates in the slot .7 of the cross-piece 6 and serves to support the rear end of the beam 10 and prevent relative upward movement of the beam 1. The beam 10 is of less length than the beam 1 and can be moved from one side of the main beam to the other, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in Fig. 2, and can be adjusted to an intermediate point between the extreme movements, so as to cause the shovel or plow-points to track as close together or as far apart as required.

Suitable means are resorted to for securing the beam 10 in an adjusted posit-ion and consists of latch-plates 12, pivoted at their inner IOO ends to the middle portion of the cross-piece 6 and having their outer ends reduced and bent laterally, forming stops 13, which overlap the cross -piece and limit the relative downward movement of the pivoted plates. These plates have notches 145 in their lower edges to embrace the sides of the beam 10 and secure it against lateral movement when shifted to the required position. The outer ends of the plates terminate in shoulders 15, which engage with the side of the beam 10 facing the beam 1, so as to prevent inward movement thereof, the outward movement of said beam being prevented by the headed fastening 8 engaging with the closed end of the slot 7. The sides of the beam 10 are indented, so as to be engaged by the shouldered portions of the pivoted plates 12, thereby guarding in a measure against vertical movein cut of the pivoted plates after the parts have been adjusted. Lugs 16 are formed at the upper edges of the pivoted plates, and cords 17 connect therewith and pass through guideeyes applied to the handles and cross-piece connecting the handles and extend within convenient reach of the attendant, so as to be pulled upon to disengage either plate from the beam 10 when it is required to release it to admit of the said beam being shifted to a new or desired position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a fixed plow-beam, and a shiftable plow-beam movable laterally from one side to the other of the fixed beam, of a securing device for holding the shiftable beam in any of its adjusted positions, and separate releasing means for the securing device, said means being mounted in normal reach of the operator, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a fixed plow-beam, of a shiftable plow-beam movable laterally from one side to the other of the fixed beam, a securing device for holding the shiftable beam in any of its adjusted positions, and separate means for releasing the securing device, said means comprising a cord or like connection mounted in guides provided upon the handle of the implement and in normal reach of the operator, substantially as shown and described.

3. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a fixed plow-beam and a crosspiece applied to the fixed plow-beam and forming a guideway, of a shiftable plow-beam pivotally connected at its front end to the forward end of the fixed plow-beam, a positive connection between the cross-piece and shiftable plow-beam, and a movable plate applied to the said cross-piece and constructed to make positive engagement with the shiftable plow-beam and secure it in the required ad-- justed position, substantially as set forth.

4. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a fixed plow-beam and a crosspiece applied to the fixed plow-beam and forming a guideway,of a shiftable plow-beam pivotally connected at its front end to the forward end of the fixed plow-beam and having direct connection with the cross-piece, plates pivoted at one end .to the cross-piece upon each side of the fixed plow-beam and adapted to make positive connection with the shiftable plow-beam, and'a connection applied to the pivoted plates for simultaneously operating them, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination, a plow-beam, a crosspiece secured to the main plow-beam and having the latter let into its top side and braced by lugs of said cross-piece, a second plow-beam having pivotal connection at its front end with the main plow-beam and adapted to be swung horizontally beneath and from one side to the other of the main plow-beam, a headed fastening applied to the pivoted plow-beam and operating in a slot of the cross-piece, plates pivoted at their inner-ends to the cross-piece and having notches in their lower edges to engage with the pivoted plowbeam and secure it in an adjusted position, and connections applied to the pivoted plates for operating them, substantially as set forth.

6. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a fixed plow-beam, a shiftable plow-beam movable laterally from one side to the other of the fixed beam, a securing device in the form of a pair of latch-plates provided upon oppositesides of the fixed beam and adapted to hold the shiftable beam in any of its adjusted positions, and separate means for simultaneously operating both latch -plates, comprising a cord or suitable connection attached at its opposite ends to the respective latch-plates and mounted upon the handles of the implement in normal reach of the operator, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN \V. RATCLIFF.

\Vitnesses:

J. L. PATTERSON, JOHN W. KITCHEN.

Images