Patent GB-314410-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in mechanically operated apparatus for tilling the soil
Inventor: DOMENICO POGGINI
IPC: A01B11/00
Filed: 1928-03-26
Abstract: 314,410. Poggini, D., and Bolli, G. March 26, 1928. Propelling by means other than adhesion driving-wheels and racks. - A digging-machine which may be propelled by the operation of the digging-tools comprises spades connected to a transverse member rotatable around its longitudinal axis and moving in a vertical plane passing through that axis, means being provided to rotate the spades about .their longitudinal axes as they are raised into a horizontal position by a partial rotation of the transverse member. The apparatus comprises two casings M rigidly connected together by transverse members Tf and crossed members SA and adjustable vertically on bracketlike frame members S by means of screws B. The machine is mounted on two spring-mounted steerable front wheels R<1> and four rear wheels R keyed to a shaft A mounted in spring-controlled bearings. The frame members S are angularly adjustable on the chassis Ss by means of toothed sectors 13, pinions 14, and a hand-wheel 16 provided with locking-means. A motor operating the spades may also drive the rear wheels R through a chain 24. The motor drives the spades through a friction clutch, and a telescopic cardan shaft 11 geared to a tubular shaft a surrounding the main shaft b. A clutch f connects the shaft a to a loose pinion C2 or to one of two pinions C keyed on the shaft b. The pinions C gear with crank wheels g in the casings M. Rollers n on the crank pins p engage in grooves in crossheads m to move them vertically on guides M<1> and thus raise the transverse member T and the. spades V connected to it, the member T' being guided by the casings M. The grooves may have the form shown in Fig. 7 or a waved form so as to drive the spades with an irregular movement. The spades will move most rapidly while 'the crank 'pins move through the upper part of their paths. When the spades have been forced into the soil the clutch f disengages the pinion C and engages the pinion C2 to turn the member T through a quarter revolution by means of a train of spur gearing. The pivoted clutch lever u is operated by a recessed cam 0, Fig. 6, on the shaft of the crank wheel g engaging the end or nose r of an arm on a rocking member j, which is mounted on a vertical axis and provided with another arm j<2> connected to the lever u. The member j is held in one or other of its two positions by a spring t engaging a tooth t<2>. When the member T has turned through 45‹ the spades begin to turn through 90‹ on their own axes to discharge the clods lifted by them. An anglelever on the member T is linked to a crank on one of the spade shafts so as to turn it when a roller on the lever engages with a fixed abutment. All the spades are connected together by cranks and connecting-links, and springs are provided to turn them back when the roller leaves the abutment. The spades fall back into the vertical position when part of the chain of gearing driving the member T is disconnected by the movement of a pawl # connecting a spur wheel a with a ratchet disc y. The pawl # is moved by its engagement with a projection j<1> on the clutch lever u, which projection enters a notch in a circular flange 10 on the wheel a. The clutch f is moved to re-engage the pinion C by the engagement of a cam i on the member T with a spring v on the lever u, the notch in the flange 10 allowing of movement of the lever u.