Repoit on the Trials of Implements at Wolverhampton. 505 
spur-wheel at opposite diameters, and a slot in each bracket receives a frictiou- 
roller stud, which is fixed upon the inner side of the drum-flange. Thus the 
drum is caused to revolve with the spur-wheel, while at the same time 
it is free to traverse sideways &\oiv^ the axis. By a rccijirocating movement, 
alternately aiiproaching to, and receding from, the s]mr-\vliecl, and at a rate 
of travel equivalent to one thickness of wire rope for each revolution, the 
drum is able to lay on the coils with exact regularitj', the rope being fed on 
at one invariable point, namely, between the guide-rollers J J, which arc 
mounted in immovable bearings. The slow traverse of the drum is effected 
in this way : the drum boss or centre turns upon a short hollow axle, K, 
which is loose ujiou the fixed axis E E, and this hollow axle is gradually 
shifted along the fixed axis by a screw motion, the hollow axle being made 
very slowly to rotate, while a pin or die, L, traverses in a screw-thread cut in 
the fixed axis. This thread returns from end to end of the range ; so that the 
continuous rotation has the effect of sliding the hollow axle, and with it the 
drum, slowly to and fro for a distance equal to the breadth of the drum. 
The hollow axle carries a small spur-wheel, M, close beside a spur-wheel, IS', 
w-hich has one cog-tooth less than the number upon M ; and this wheel, N, 
does not rotate, but is cast in one piece with a ring, which is slided along the 
fixed axis, always keeping close to the wheel M. A double pinion, Q, hung 
upon a stud on one arm of the drum, and so carried round M and N by each 
revolution of the drum, gives the required slow motion to the hollow axle, 
the movement being very similar to that which actuates the lever-coiler of 
Messrs. Fowler's rope-drum. The traversing drum avoids heavy strain upon 
a coiling apparatus, and, being in a vertical position, the coils do not shift 
their places and overlap when there happens to be a loosening of the outgoing 
rope. But as the guide-rollers are not upon a swinging or movable arm, the 
rope is sharply bent over one or other of the rollers PP, according as the coils 
are being wrapped nearer to or farther from the drum centre ; and again, the 
rope is subject to a sharp bend round one or other of the side-rollers J J in 
every case, excepting when it is passing on or off exactly at right angles with 
the line of advance of the engine along the headland. The rollers J J have a 
diameter of 11 inches ; and in working on the " skew " plan (see Fig. 15) the 
rope between the engine and the anchor B is of necessity thus bent round one 
roller, while the other rope can be saved from like treatment only by pre- 
serving its drum constantly in exact line with the furrow. 
At Barnhurst, on June 28th, this machinery was moved to the pjlot and 
set down to work in 19 minutes, b}' the aid of two horses, four men, and two 
boys. "When at work four men and two boys were engaged, and the average 
time taken in reversing (not turning) the implement was 23 seconds. The 
5-tined cultivator was worked on June 29tli with 4 tines set 12 inches 
apart ; the points were IS inch wide, but shares of 13 inches breadth being 
also attached, the cutting parts overlapped, and hence the bottom was left 
very level. Each of these broad stirring-sharts carries a couple of 4-inch 
prongs, which, being attached by joints, slope either way according to the- 
direction tiavelled ; and the tine, with points fore and aft, is clasped to the 
beam in such a manner as to allow it a little play or rocking movement, 
which tilts the tine a little forward, with the etiect of dipping the front point 
and easing upward the other point, which is being trailed backward in 
readiness tor the return journey. The work done was fair, but was not left 
sufficiently rough. The average pace of the implement was 3i miles per hour. 
The foul clover-ley was cultivated 8i inches deep at the rate of 1 acre per 
hour ; but in the run of 1 hour and 32 minutes there was a stoppage of 
12 minutes for the purpose of changing the points, and the plot was very- 
stony in places. This set was not tried at Stafford in Class II., as the engine, 
upon being weighed, was found over 10 tons. 
VOL. YII.— S. S. 2 L 
