THE

USE OF

WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS DEVELOPMENT IN GERMANY.

By JOHN FRANCIS CROWLEY, D.Sc., B.A, M.I.E.E. (Continued from cxix., p. 276).

Double Winder Ploughing (continued). A NUMBER of actual experiments were made in the year 1909 and the spring of 1910 to determine the motor capacities required for the Double Winder Ploughing system. According to these observations 14-16 kw. hours were consumed in ploughing 2500 square metres, i.e., nearly two-thirds of an acre, to a depth of 20 25 centimetres in moderately heavy ground. When the resistance of the ground became greater, due to rain, 18-20 kw. hours were required, and the highest figures observed on the heaviest ground were from 22-24 kw. hours when the depth of furrow was 37-44 centimetres. The tests were carried out with a five-share reversible plough of 2.2 metres working width. The full capacity of the plough depends on local conditions, and on trials with a plough of the size referred to it was found that with a moderate winding speed of 165 metres per second and a furrow length of only about 400 metres, two acres could be ploughed per hour to a full depth of about 16 in. Similar trials with a three-share plough with an average speed of 16 metres per second and with a comparatively disadvantageous furrow length of only about 300 metres showed that a surface of 1 acres could be ploughed in one hour to a furrow depth of about 16 in. On the basis of these results and a working day of fourteen hours, which is the usual length of a Continental working day in the principal ploughing months, and taking into consideration the delays for changing the transformer wagon, &c., about 23 acres could be ploughed daily, a feat which has been actually accomplished on several estates. It is not possible, of course, to plough every day at the same rate without stopping. In unfavourable weather, and on account of other circumstances, one or other winding wagon may not be moved forward as quickly as is necessary to maintain the above output, and other delays may occur when the connecting cable has to be lengthened or the transformer wagon moved to the nearest connecting point, which has to be done usually about once a day, but in any case the average daily capacity should not be less

than 19-20 acres.

As only one winding wagon is employed at the one time in the double winder ploughing system, while the motor of the other winding wagon is at rest during this pull, a smaller motor may be employed on this system than in the single winder system for a similar ploughing output. By this means, and by dispensing with one drum and the corresponding plough rope, the total weight of the winding wagon is reduced, or, in other words, for an equal working weight of motor the capacity of the double winder plough is greater than that of the single winder plough.

Four workers only are necessary for working the whole double winder ploughing system, viz., two winding wagon attendants and an attendant for the reversible plougb, with an ordinary labourer to assist the latter.

Reprinted by permission from the Journal of the Royal Society

of Arts.

set.

1. The extremely simple working of the whole plough

2. Its suitability for large fields.

3. Great surface capacity on the heaviest ground with deep furrows, and with small consumption of current.

4. The possibility of fixing the winding wagons on very sloping ground, which is not possible in the ease of steam ploughs.

5. Smaller wear of wire cable than in the single winder system, because only one wire length is required to cross

the field.

Single Winder Ploughing.-A complete equipment for single winder ploughing consists of (a) a winding wagon; (b) an anchorage wagon; (c) the haulage cable.

(a) The winding wagon for single winder ploughing carries the electric motor with its control apparatus, the gearing, and the haulage cable drums. The weight of a wagon without wire cable or electric cable is about 13.500 kgrms. (13.3 tons), and the wagon is designed for a maximum pull of 4000 kgrms. (39 tons). Some dimensions of this wagon are given in the following table :Length. Width Height. Metres. Metres. Metres.

The wheels are of ample dimensions to suit farming operations, and permit of safe and easy movement of the winding wagon even on soft wet ground, and also to provide the necessary stability. The electric motor is of the standard rainproof type, and the entire wagon is protected by a roof, the sides being open to give an unobstructed view, which is necessary with this system. A locked protecting cover can be provided for the driving gear, and when this is fitted a standard plain type motor may be used. The size of the winding wagon is such that motors of from 60 90 h.p. output can be used, and a ploughing set has recently been put on the market fitted with a motor of an output of 40 h.p. The power is transmitted, as in the case of the double winder wagon, from the motor shaft to the gearing by means of pulleys and belts, and the remarks made as to electrical and mechanical control gear and safety devices, the advantages of belt drive, &c., in describing the double winder wagon apply here also. Generally, the construction of the winding wagon for the single winding wagon system is similar to that for the double winding wagon system, but the mechanical gear for the single winding system is more complicated, since two cable drums are in use, the direction of rotation of which must be alternately changed. In the type of wagons described, the toothed gear-wheels, rope drums, and ma n bearing housings are made of the best cast steel, and the shaft and axles of Siemens-Martin steel. The changeover two-speed gear enables the reversible plough to be hauled either at the moderate speed of 11 or 16 metres per second without changing the gear wheels. With the same gear ratios the speed of the winding wagon itself can be 21 or 1.5 kilometres per hour respectively. These speeds are generally adopted, but, if necessary, by changing the pulleys the speeds can be altered within certain limits. The possibilty of changing the speed of the haulage drum during work is of special advantage when the wagon is used for hauling turnip cutters or ploughing much neglected land. A number of clearly printed nameplates show the driver the purpose of the different levers. so that an intelligent farm hand, after a short period of instruction, should be able to drive the wagon, thus doing away with the necessity for skilled attendants.

(b) The anchorage wagon or winch used in the single winder system is illustrated in Fig. 10. It consists of a framework which carries the drums and pulleys with their gearing, the whole being supported on four wheels having

High-tension Overhead Line with Switch and Connections to Transtormer Wagon (on the right) with Low-tension Cable connecting to

Motor Wagon (on the left).

deep stability flanges. Its total weight is about 4000 kilogrms. (3 9 tons). In addition to the removable stability flanges on the running wheels, it is also provided with extra so called anchorage flanges, the distinguishing feature of which is that the stability of the wagon increases as the pull on the plough haulage cable increases. The additional anchorage flanges are carried from the wagon framework on the movable frame between the

wheels, which is so connected with the cable haulage pulley that the anchorage flanges are forced either perpendicularly or obliquely deeper into the ground as the pull on the haulage cable increases, thereby obtaining a firmer hold on the soil. These flanges have the great advantage that by their use the movement or tilting of the anchorage wagon towards the plough is reduced to a minimum. This is the case because the flanges are