US980113A - Rotary disk plow. - Google Patents

Description

G. H. MOKEE.

ROTARY DISK PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 10, 190B.

980, 1 l 8. Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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O. H. MoKI-JE.

ROTARY DISK PLOW. APPL IC ATION FILED FEB. 10, 1908.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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CHARLES H. MGKEE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROTARY DISK PLOW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Application filed February 10, 1908. Serial No. 415,092.

'l'o all whom/Lt may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. McKee, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in R0- tary Disk Plows, of which the following is a specification.

Among the objects of my invention are; to provide a new and improved rotary disk plow; a rotary disk plow having two or more disks placed in succession, with each successive disk set behind and lower than the next preceding disk; and, a plow of this class having a plurality of disks so arranged and adapted, when the plow is in operation,

that each disk will act as a mold-board for its own furrow and move or cast the earth therefrom outside of the path of the following disks and so that the first disk turns the earth from its furrow into the bottom of the last preceding furrow and that each successive disk after the first one, turns the earth from its furrow on top of the earth plowed by its preceding disk.

As is well known, rotary disk plows are used in various ways for cultivating land, and an essential part of each of them is the one or more disks used in its construction.

There are various kinds of rotary disk plows, and among those most common in use are the ones which have disks set in succession to run in gangs on the same horizontal plane, and those having but one disk, which sometimes, has mounted with it, a colter or other auxiliaries. In all of the plows of the kinds mentioned, the disks are used to cut furrows which, in depth, do not exceed the capacity of a single disk of the size used, and which furrows are, ordinarily, not more than eight inches deep.

The disks used in rotary disk plows are generally made of sheet steel, of about oneeighth of an inch in thickness, and are dished in the center, so that each is, approximately, in the form of a segment of a hollow sphere, and they vary in dimensions. A disk twenty-four inches in diameter, and dished about three and three quarters inches at its center, is regarded as a standard size in rotary disk plows, and is seldom exceeded. Disks of smaller sizes are used and are dished about proportionally, respect being had to their respective diameters. They are general beveled from the rim, about an inch and a quarter on their outer, or convex sides, and the rim is brought to a thin edge. When used for plowing purposes, each disk is pivoted at its center and this is usually accomplished by its having attached on its back, or convex side, a short journal, which is set at rightangles with the plane of the face, or rim of the disk, and each journal is fitted in a hearing, attached to a plow frame, which is mounted upon wheels and has a chain, or other means for the attachment of draft animals, or other motive power.

In rotary disk plows, the disks are so placed that the horizontal axes of the planes of their faces, or rims, are diagonally across their respective furrows, with the edge of the disk, on the land side of each furrow, to the front and the opposite edge deflected to the rear, and with each disk tilted backward at its top.

The exact positions of the disks when in use, respect being had to the vertical and horizontal axes of the planes of their faces, or rims, vary and depend respectively upon their sizes, how much they are dished and how and to what extent, if any, they are beveled at their edges. When disks of the standard size and shape before mentioned are used, they are so placed that their horizontal axes are at an angle of about fortytwo degrees from the vertical plane of the land side of their furrows and their vertical axes are deflected back at the top about twenty degrees from the perpendicular. In use the lower part of each disk is immersed in the land to be plowed, with its concave side, or face, to the front, and as the plow is moved forward, the disk revolves, by reason of the resultant of the lines of resistance, which it encounters on its cutting edge and face being always on one side of its axis, and in operation it acts as a revolving, self-sharpening gouge. In consequence of the position in which the disks are placed, in rotary disk plows, the capacity of each disk is limited so that it is not practical by means of it to cut a furrow exceeding in depth about one-half of its diameter, nor in width exceeding about two-thirds its diameter. hen properly applied, each rotary disk moves and turns to one side and out of its path, the earth cut from its own furrow, and in so doing turns over, thoroughly disintegratcs, loosens and renders the same in excellent condition for a seed bed. These desirable results and the ease in draft of plows wherein rotary disks are used, make esonre them superior to other plows, for most pur poses. Every such plow may be so constructed that the earth plowed by it shall be turned either to the right or to the left and having regard to their action in this respect, plows are known as right hand plows and left hand plows.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an application of my invention, Figure l is a plan view of a right-hand rotary disk plow wherein two rotary disks are employed; Fig. 2, a side elevational view; Fig. 3, a rear end View; and Fig. 4-, a diagrammatic view, showing a horizontal projection of the rims or edges of the rotary disks, on a vertical plane at right angles to the course of the plow.

Referring to the drawings, the plow frame, as illustrated, comprises a back-bone, or main beam 1, preferably made from a five inch steel I-beam; a front cross beam 2; and a rear cross beam 3. These crossbeams are preferably made of l-beams, and are adjusta bly connected with the back-bone 1, by means of suitable plates with cleats and clamping means. These connecting and adjusting means by which the eross-beams and 3, are connected with the main-beam 1, and adjusted laterally with res ectthereto, may be made the subject of a separate application for Letters Fatent and are, therefore, not claimed as a part of the present invention.

41: designates the front furrow-wheel which is adapted to run, when the plow in operation, in the last preceding furrow. This wheel is mounted on av spindle of a vertieally extending axle 5. The upper portion of the axle 5, extends through bearings 6, carried by the front cross-beam. The spindle, or that portion of the axle on which the wheel 4t, is mounted, is carried in nearly a horizontal position, but depressed slightly as it extends from the vertical portion of the axle. This particular construction is employed so that the front furrow-wheel, having its plane at right angles to its spindle, will be inclined, at its top, slightly away from the unplowed ground, when running in its path in the last preceding furrow. Means are provided for raising and lowering the plow-frame with respect to the wheel 4. As shown, these means comprise a rack 7, an operating lever 8, and a connecting rod, or bar, 9, the latter having one end secured to the axle 5, and its other end secured to the lever S.

10 and 11 designate a rack and lever mechanism connectcd with the upper end of the axle 5, by which the position of and the course of travel of the front furrow-wheel may be changed and the turning of the plow may be thereby facilitated.

12 designates the rear furrow wheel, which is set to run in the furrow, immediately behind the rear disk of the plow. This wheel is mounted on a spindle on the end of the axle 13. Axle 13, is formed with a vertically extending portion which is carried in suitable bearings secured to the rear cross-beam. This axle has a portion 14:, at right angles to its vertical portion, and is slightly dcpressed as it extends therefrom, so that the wheel 12, like the front furrow-wheel, is set with its plane inclined at the top slightly away from the unplowed ground, when running in its path behind the rear furrow wheel. The purpose of inclining the furrow-wheels at their tops slightly away from the unplowed ground, as above described, is

to adapt them to best resist the lateral strains.

resulting from the operation of the plow. The axle 13, is adaptedto swivel in its vertical bearings, so that when the plow is turned, the rear furrow-wheel will accommodate itself accordingly. Means are provided for raising and lowering the plow frame with respect to the wheel 12, comprising a lever 15, a rack 16, and a connecting rod, or bar, 17, joining the lever and the axle 13.

The plow is provided with a land-wheel 19, which is set to run in a vertical plane upon the unplowed ground, when the plow is in use. The axle 20, of this wheel is formed with a front portion 21, and a rear portion 22, both of which portions are at right angles with the main portion of the axle. The front portion 21, is secured in a bearing and the rear portion having a spindle upon which the land-wheel is mounted, is free to move up and down with respect to the secured end 21.

Opposite to the land-wheel, means are provided for raising and lowering the plowframe, with respect to the axle of the land.- wheel. These means comprise a toothed segment 2%, a lever 25, and a connecting rod, or bar, 26, connecting the lever with the axle of the land wheel.

The motive power for the plow may be attached to it in any suitable manner. In the drawing T have shown a chain 27, which may be employed for that purpose.

The characteristic and important feature of my invention consists in the manner. or relative positions, in which the rotary disks are set. The size and shape of the disks used may be similar, or they may be varied considerably, regard being had to the work required of them respectively.

As illustrated 28, designates the front rotary disk which is dished a little more than the rear disk 29, and is set with the plane of its face a little nearer to the vertical andv more nearly at right angles with the line of the furrow, than the disk 29. Disk 28, is mounted so that its lower edge will run nearly nine inches below the surface of the ground. The rear disk is shown less dished than the front disk, and is tilted back at its top slightly more and is set less nearly at right angles with the line of the furrow than the preceding disk 28. Disk 29, is disposed about twenty-two inches behind the front disk, so as to provide suflicient clearance between the disks, and is set with its lower edge to run, approximately, sixteen inches below the surface and about seven inches lower than the disk 28. The manner of setting the disks is such that the lead of the cutting edge of each disk is, as nearly as may be practicable, along the lines of the land side and bottom of its furrow, so that each furrow when plowed, is made up of tangents to the cutting edge of the disk by which it was made, and each disk is set in such a position that it acts as a mold-board for its own furrow and turns the earth plowed by it out of the path of the following disk.

The disks are carried upon journals mounted in bearings which are bracketed to and connected with the main beam of the plow frame in any suitable manner, and these means include devices whereby the disks may be adjusted in different positions with respect to the plow frame and with respect to each other.

Vith the disks set as above described, by a single operation of the plow, a strip is plowed approximately sixteen inches in width and sixteen inches in depth. lVhen in operation, the front disk of the plow cuts a furrow to a depth of about nine inches measured from the surface of the ground, and moves the earth laterally therefrom and turns the same over into the bottom of the last preceding furrow. The rear disk cuts its furrow about seven inches in depth below the furrow cut by the front disk and turns the earth from the furrow plowed by it upon the earth plowed and turned by the front disk. Thus, by each operation of the plow there is produced a compound furrow comprising the two independent furrows by means of which the earth is plowed to a great depth, the surface with its trash, if any, is turned under and the lower earth is elevated and turned on top. hen ground is plowed as described, it is disintegrated and loosened with the least movement of the material that is practicable, and, consequently, with the greatest economy in mo tive power.

Although I have shown and mentioned but two rotary disks in the drawings and description of the plow represented thereby, my invention contemplates two disks, or any number of disks more than two, and all set in succession, in substantially the manner herein described, with each successive disk placed sufficiently behind the next preceding one so that each disk will have a clearance for its own furrow.

My improved rotary disk plow is to be distinguished from the type of rotary disk plows having successive disks, with each after the first one set behind and higher, or lower, than the preceding one and having each disk, except the one plowing the furrow of greatest depth, so offset with respect to the others, that it turns the earth from its furrow into the path of the next succeeding disk, and that the disk plowing the furrow of greatest depth acts as a mold board for the earth plowed by it and also for the earth cast into its path by a preceding disk and turns all the earth moved by it as a single furrow.

Plows of my improved typediifcr in construction and operation from the plows of the kind last above mentioned, in that the disks in my improved plows are not so offset that any disk casts the earth plowed by it into the path of a succeeding disk, and in that each disk, in plows of my improved type, acts as a mold-board for its own furrow and in that during a single operation of my plow it forms a compound furrow, composeo of the earth plowed and turned by its respective disks, in separate single furrows, which are laid on each other, in the reverse order in which the same were made. My improved plow also differs in operation from the plows of the other type above mentioned, because when plows of the latter type are used, the earth plowed from the upper furrow or furrows, as the case may be, if two or more disks are employed, is turned over and over again and carried laterally the width of two or more furrows before the earth from the top furrow is finally deposited as part of the plowed ground, which movement involves a large expenditure of motive power that is avoided by the use of plows of my improved type, which, in operation, do not move the earth from the top furrow, or furrows, so often, nor transfer the same so far, laterally. My plow further differs, in operation, from the others having their disks offset, as before mentioned, in that the latter do not turn the earth plowed by them as thoroughly upside down, nor turn trash under as well, as is done, with less motive power, by means of plows constructed in accordance with my invention.

What I claim is,

1. A-rotary disk plow having a plurality of rotary disks mounted in succession, with each disk, after the first or leading one, placed behind, lower and more oblique with relation to the vertical than the preceding disk, and having each disk set with the lead of its cutting edge along the bottom and landside of its furrow.

2. A rotary disk "310w having a plurality of rotary disks mounted in succession with each disk, after the first or leading one, set

ill-5 behind and lower than the preceding disk,

and with each disk, after the first or leading 011e, set with a less transverse inclination with respect to its furrow and at a greater rearward inclination than the preceding disk.

3. A rotary disk plow having a plurality of rotary disks mounted in succession with each disk, after the first or leading one, placed behind, lower and more oblique with relation to the vertical than the preceding disk.

at. A rotary disk plow having a front disk, a rear disk, said rear disk set lower and more oblique with relation to the vertical than the front disk.

A rotary" disk plow having a front disk tilted or inclined back slightly at its top and deflected to the rear on the side from which it turns its furrow, a rear disk, said rear disk set with the plane of its face less nearly vertical and less nearly transverse its furrow than the plane of the face of the front disk.

6. A rotary disk plow having a plurality of rotary disks mounted in succession with each disk, after the first or leading one, set behind and lower than the next preceding disk, said first disk tilted or inclined back slightly at its top and deflected to the rear on the side from which it turns its furrow, and with each successive disk, after the first, set less nearly vertical and less nearly trans verse its furrow than the plane of the face of the next preceding disk.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. MGKEE.

Witnesses H. W. MITGHELL, A. H. Mcl AMnE.

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