To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Thomas Claton, of Shelbyville, county of Shelby, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Machine Used for Excavating Canals, &c., and answering the ordinary purpose of plow and scraper, and which machine I term the “Excavating-Plow;” and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of my said improvement.

In order to facilitate the description, I will describe one of my plows, which I have found to answer perfectly well in practice. It consists of the ordinary beam and colter, with a broad flat share, from the back of which share, and attached to the handles of the plow, extends a box having its floor or bottom even with the share. The mold-board is dispensed with, and the front of the box is opened to receive the earth as it passes over the share. The bottom of the plow, which includes the box from the point of the colter to the handles, is not made straight, but descends so much toward the center that the weight of earth in the box, when it is full, is sufficient to bear down the back part of the plow and run the colter up out of the ground, and to pass some six or seven inches above it when it is out.

In the accompanying drawings, a, Figure 1, represents the beam, which is like the ordinary plow-beam, only extending farther back to include the box.

b is the colter; c, the false colter, and about eighteen inches long.

d is the share, which extends back from the corner that enters the heel of the colter about two feet or at the center of the plow, where it is eighteen inches wide.

e is the floor or bottom, of the same width as the share and extending upon it to the handles. The sides f and g, with the end h with the bottom e, form the box to inclose the earth.

The sloping end of the side g rests upon the outer angle of the share, and has an edge of iron.

Fig. 2 represents a view of the opposite side, showing also the form of the bottom of the said plow, as seen on the land side, extending from the point of the colter to the handle—a distance of four feet three or four inches. By reference to this drawing it will be seen that from the colter b to the back part of the share j is, as in the ordinary plow, straight, and that from this point or center the bottom runs up to k as it approaches the handles, where it is six or seven inches above the direct line continued from the bottom of the share. The hind part of the plow descends with the weight of the accumulated earth in the box, throwing the other end out of the ground, when the plow may be drawn to the spot where it is necessary to deposit the earth.

i is a piece of timber, commonly called the “chip,” entering the share like a wedge and having on its lower sidea shoe of iron. There is a runnuer-shoe in like manner on the opposite side of the box. The beam of the plow is supported by a post or sheth resting on the chip at the back edge of the share and just over the center.

I do not claim the employment of a box to receive and carry off the earth; but

What I do claim is—

The form of the bottom of the plow, being made with two plane surfaces, instead of curved, as is usual, the line forming the angle of these two planes being so situated that the weight of the earth, when the box is full, will throw the front of the plow up, as herein set forth.

Thomas Claton.

Witnesses:

Linton Thorn,

Clement T. Foote.