Patent GB-412407-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for extracting weeds roots or the like from the ground
IPC: A01B1/18
Filed: 1933-06-13
Abstract: 412,407. Tools for extracting weeds &c. HUMPHREY, H. A., 60, Frant Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. June 13, 1933, No. 16891. [Classes 6 (i) and 6 (ii).] Apparatus for extracting weeds &c. from the ground comprises two or more cutting-members which are mounted on a handled frame so that they converge as they are forced into the ground to enclose a tapered plug of earth containing the weed &c., the converging movement being either caused by the reaction of the soil or by the frame mechanism or by a combination of these two forces, each cutting-member following a path which is a smooth or substantially smooth continuation of the cutting surface so that the enclosed soil is not substantially compressed. Fig. I shows an apparatus in which the cutter 2 is rigidly attached to the handle 1 which carries an arm 9 to which the other cutter 3 is pivoted. The cutter 2 is first forced into the ground by pedal 7 and then the cutter 3 is caused to converge by the pedal 8. The pivot 6 may act as a fulcrum in extracting the weed and the device may be mounted on wheels. In Fig. III the cutters 5, 6 are carried by tubes 3, 4 which slide in the frame 2 and are connected to a sleeve 7 by links 8, 9. The device is positioned on the ground by a spike 12 which is adjusted by a knob 11 engaging slots 18. In another modification the cutters are carried by arms which slide on guides pivoted to the ends of a bow-shaped frame which is hinged at its mid point. The cutters can be set to any angle and locked by nuts. In Fig. V the cutters 5, 6 are carried by rollers 3, 4 running in guides in the frame 2. The cutters are caused to converge by the reaction of the earth and are held closed by a ratchet connected to links 7, 8. In a further form the cutters are carried on tubes which are hinged together at the top and provided with handles which assist the action of the ground in causing the cutters to converge. A horizontal rod is pivoted on one tube near its centre and its head engages the other tube to limit its outward movement. A spring-controlled wedge engages this rod to hold the cutters closed and a weed ejector is provided comprising spring jaws carried by a rod sliding on one tube. In Fig. VIII the rods 3, 4 carrying the cutters are pivoted to a cross-piece 7 on the handle shaft 8. A spring-controlled strip 10 engages wedges 22, 23 to keep the cutters closed and ejecting- fingers 15 are carried by handle 17. A simple device comprises cutters carried by two vertical strips connected by X-shaped parallel-motion links which are pivoted to the strips at their lower ends and slide in slots at their upper ends. In another form two vertical tubes are connected by a pair of X-links and have a horizontal distance-rod which is engaged by friction cams to hold the cutters closed. Ejecting-fingers are also provided. In Fig. XI the cutter supports 3, 4 are connected to the handle shaft 2 by links 5, 7 so that pressure on the handle assists the cutters to converge. The cutters are held together by a ratchet 11. In another similar device the tops of the cutter supports are connected by links to a slide in the handle shaft which is attached to a cam-controlled rod to act in a similar manner to the ratchet 11. Ejecting-fingers are pivoted to the lower end of the handle shaft. Fig. XIII shows a scissorstype of apparatus in which the cutter-members are pivoted to the ends of crossed handlemembers at 2, 4 and also connected thereto by links 6, 8. By choosing the proportions of the links the cutters may be kept parallel as they converge in the ground. In Fig. XVI the cutters 21 slide in arms 9 carried by a tube 7 which is rotated by a handle 19. A nut 13 descends the screw 3 as the cutters rotate and forces them into the ground. The apparatus is positioned by a spike 6 which is adjusted in height by a knob 5. The cutters may be of various shapes such as, in plan, a half cone, rectangle or angle, and may have prongs or may have interengaging projections on their side cutting edges.