Patent GB-116300-A (GB)
Title: An Improved Machine for Harvesting Sugar Cane Crops, also adaptable for Cultivating the Soil.
Inventor: PAPPRILL RUDOLPH SILAS
IPC: A01D45/10
Filed: 1916-11-29
Abstract: 116,300. Papprill, R. S. Nov. 29, 1916. Sugar-cane cutting - machines. - A motor - driven sugar-cane harvesting machine, which can also be used as a tractor or for cultivating the ground comprises a carriage resting on two endlesschain tracks 1, 1<a> and provided with root-cutting disks 53 at each of its ends, elevating devices for lifting the cut canes and a rotating knife for cutting off the tops of the canes. The motor 2 drives a cross-shaft 14 through a clutch, three-speed gear, and a reversing gear. The shaft 14 is connected through chain and sprocket gear with two alined shafts 22, 23 which are connected by a clutch so that they may be driven independently or conjointly. These shafts carry at their ends pinions meshing with internally-toothed wheels integral with or fixed to the track driving wheels 27<1> at one end of the carriage. The driving wheels are mounted on floating axles, the carriage being supported by laminated springs and thrust rods. Arched guide-links co-operating with bearing rollers on the frame maintain the tracks distended. The tracks comprise plate shoes pinned to the links of endless chains and having curved grouters bolted to them. The motor also drives, through a clutch and worm gear, a shaft 45 extending along the carriage and driving through bevel gears the root-cutting cupped disks 53 which are carried in housings rotatable by levers 56 to vary the depth of cut. The disks are chamfered on their outer and fluted on their inner surfaces. Fallen cane is raised by crop-lifting shoes 57, two of which are located at each end of the machine in advance of the cutter 53. These shoes are angularly adjustable on horizontal axes. A spring- supported steering-wheel is situated alongside each inner shoe. The cane, after being cut by the disks 53, is lifted by the fingers 60 of elevator chains 58 by which it is carried upwards the greater part of the trash with it being struck off by wire whips on a rapidly rotating shaft 64<1>. The elevator chains operate in conjunction with obliquely disposed frames 64 whch serve as guides. The lower portion 64<a> of one of these frames may be adjusted. One elevator chain is driven from a power shaft 65, the other chain being driven from the first by means of overlapping fingers 60 of the chains. The cane is held and lifted between the overlapping fingers. The power shaft 65, which is driven by belts from the shaft 45, also transmits motion to the guillotine 67 to which the cane is carried by the attendant from an elevator 71 to which the elevators 58 deliver it. The useful portion of the cane is collected in a receptacle 73 adapted to be tipped when sufficiently loaded. The cane may be tied in bundles prior to tipping. After the cane has been cut, the machine is driven over the land with the disks adjusted to take a deeper cut to turn over the roots and leave them ready to be burnt. When the machine is used for ploughing, the shaft 45 and its accessories are removed and ploughing- devices substituted therefor; a guide-wheel is coupled to the axle of each steering-wheel. A duplex disk plough is preferably used for deep sugar cultivation and ordinary mould-board ploughs for cereal crops. The whole superstructure consisting of the elevating, topping, and storing devices may be removed and the machine used as a plough tractor.