1848. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
237 
MEW PATEMT CEEYI§. 
Messrs. Editors—P ermit me, through the medium 
*of the Cultivator, to introduce to notice an improved cle¬ 
vis with a few remarks on the draft; of that most import¬ 
ant implement, the Plow. 
Although the plow is one of the most common im¬ 
plements, it is not using too strong language to say it 
is at the same time the most complicated of all farming 
tools and machines, and whoever is capable of making 
a plow-pattern of good form and proportion, as to its 
strength, weight, draft, and which is effectual in its 
operation, is no ordinary mechanic. 
Again, after the pattern-maker has done his part 
properly, nearly as much depends upon the skill of the 
person who stocks or woods the implement 5 as the far¬ 
mer too well knows by experience, who may have had 
the wood-work of a plow repaired or renewed, and af¬ 
terwards found it another plow in operation, sometimes, 
it may be, for the better, and at others, perhaps, use¬ 
less. 
But supposing the patterns and the wood-work to 
have been made properly for a certain width and depth 
of furrow slice for two horses; the same plow, with a 
larger or less furrow slice, or perhaps with three hors¬ 
es, would become comparatively, if not entirely use¬ 
less, without an adjustable clevis or fixture at the end 
0 .f the beam. 
The clevis in general use for a team of two horses 
or one yoke of oxen, is capable of being varied only to 
the extent of the size or square of the end of the beam, 
while for three horses abreast, or when it is desired to 
work the team on the solid ground, and not in the fur¬ 
row, the Scotch clevis (so called) is in extensive use, 
and is one of the best modes of regulating the 
working of the plow. It is, however, an expensive 
part of the plow, if properly made, and is not unusu¬ 
ally heavy and cumbrous, and the difference of its va- 
riaiton is too great for a perfect adjustment of the 
plow. 
To more fully explain the engravings, I would first 
say, that all plows when in operation have a right line 
of draft, (often miss-called a "centre of draft,”) and 
which may be described as follows. It is an imaginary 
line from the centre of resistance upon the mouldboard 
to the point of motive power, as the hames of the horses, 
staple-ring in the yoke, with oxen. This point upon 
the mould-board would be a little below the surface of 
the ground being plowed, and towards the forward part 
of the same, as for instance in fig. 1—let the line II. 
represent the bottom of the furrow, and the line F. the 
surface of the ground being plowed; then this centre of 
resistance would fall near the point on the mould-board, 
at A, and the point of motive power being at E., the 
line of draft would be from A. to E.; and in order to 
preserve the line of draft, the power should be applied 
to the plow as represented at C. But if the depth of 
furrow be changed, and the line K. remain the bottom 
of the furrow, and the line G. the surface of the ground, 
the centre of resistance would necessarily be lower in 
the mould-board, or as represented at B; the line of 
draft, consequently, would be changed and pass below 
the former point at C., so that it becomes necessary to 
change the clevis and attach the power at the point D, 
to insure the proper working of the plow. The above 
cut shows only the changes for regulating the depth, 
but the same rule holds true with regard to the width 
of furrow, or the position of the team, length of the 
traces or chain, &c., See. 
The improved and new clevis is 
shown in Fig. 1 , attached to the plow, 
and is formed by a circular cast-iron 
face-plate, with a course of projections 
like small cogs near its circumference 
as shown in Fig. 4—and a bolt-hole 
through its centre, and the back so 
formed with flanges as to form a 
square box or cap just the size of the 
end of the plow-beam, as shown de¬ 
tached in Figs. 3 and 4. This "dial- 
cap” is confined on the end of the 
beam, across this, is confined a moveable iron plate or 
guide, 10 or 12 inches long, with a long slot or aper¬ 
ture through the middle, and an eye or hole through 
one end of it; and on one side it has two small ribs 
running its whole length, and which when placed 
against the dial plate, fit into the cogs of the dial. 
This plate or guide is shown at Fig. 5, A being the 
front, and B the back of it. 
This plate is confined to the dial by means of a bolt 
passing through the slot and through the centre hole in 
the dial, and extending into the end of the beam seve¬ 
ral inches, and into an iron nut which is fitted in from 
the under side of the beam, the bolt and nut is shown 
at B, fig. 2. The head of this bolt is square, and is 
turned by a common wrench. It is shown at C, in fig. 5. 
The plow is drawn by means of a rod which is at¬ 
tached by one end to the beam near the coulter, or at 
K in fig. 1. This rod extends along under, or by the 
side of the beam, and through the hole in one end of 
the iron guide at the fore end of the beam—this eml 
or rod terminates in a hook or link, as at A, fig. 2. 
Therefore, all that is necessary to change the clevis 
and to preserve the line of draft under different circum¬ 
stances, is to loosen the bolt at the end of the beam, 
and move the guide in any direction, and any distance 
by means of the slot, and tighten the bolt again with 
the support of the cogs, which makes the whole firm. 
Its principal advantages are, the small expense of it— 
as it is put on any plow complete, in place of a com¬ 
mon clevis, at fifty cents—its lightness and strength, 
being never broken by the hardest usage. By the use 
of the draft-rod, the beam is greatly relieved and is 
seldom broken, and the variations can be made to 
any degree of nicety. 
1 This clevis was patented by J. M. C. Armsby, of 
Massachusetts, in December, 1845, since which time 
several thousands have been sold and used on plows, 
and with entire satisfaction. Several patent clevises 
have been offered about the country, and recommended 
very highly; but from my own observation and ten 
years’ experience in manufacturing and selling plows, I 
have not seen one so simple, cheap and perfect as that 
above described. Horace L. Emery 
Albany } July } 1848. 
Fi^.S. 
