Improvements in Barrel Root Cutters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
T
PROVISIONAL SFECITIVATION,
Improvements in Barrel Root Cutters.
I, EDMUND ERNEST BENTALL of Heybridge near Maldon in the County of
Essex, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
In machines for cutting up turnips, swedes, and other roots for feeding stock, in
which the cutters are carried upon or by a barrel rotating beneath a hopper
containing the roots to be cut, it frequently happens that the roots become choked
in the hopper and bridge over the cutters, so that they are not properly acted on
thereby. In such event, the roots have to be dislodged by hand from their jammed
positions, before the interrupted cutting operation can again proceed.
The object of the present invention is to provide barrel root cutters with means
for automatically stirring, at frequent intervals, the roots in the hopper, so that
they will never become jammed, and no hand shifting, by the attendant will be
necessary to prevent choking.
According to my invention, I arrange in connection with the cutter barrel,
which is continuously rotated in the usual manner, a device which rises and descends
as the barrel rotates, and stirs the roots in the hopper.
This device may consist of a cam-shaped projection on the circumference of the
barrel, near the end thereof, which projection is carried round by the barrel, and
raises the roots and lets them fall again, so as effectually to prevent any choking in
the hopper.
The frame of the machine is recessed in the line of rotation of the cam
projection, so as to give a clear passage for it, as it revolves.
As a modification of the above arrangement, I may employ a cam or excentric
fast on the barrel shaft, which cam or excentric acts upon a thrust plate sliding
vertically in guides. This thrust plate is actuated to rise in the hopper, and stir
the roots, from time to time, as the barrel rotates.
Dated this 19th day of April 1895.
T
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Barrel Root Cutters.
I, EDMUND ERNEST BENTALL, of Heybridge, near Maldon in the County of
Essex, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In machines for cutting up turnips, swedes, and other roots, for feeding stock,
in which the cutters are carried upon or by a barrel rotating beneath a hopper
containing the roots to be cut, it frequently happens that the roots become choked
in the hopper and bridge over the cutters, thereby interfering with their action.
In such event, the roots have to be dislodged by hand from their jammed positions,
before the interrupted cutting operation can again proceed.

page_text: Now the object of the present invention is to provide barrel root cutters with
means for automatically lifting or stirring, at frequent intervals, the roots in the
hopper, so that they will never become jammed, and no hand shifting by the
attendant will be necessary to prevent choking,
According to my invention, I arrange in connection with the cutter barrel,.which
is continuously rotated in the usual manner, a device which as the barrel rotates,
stirs the roots by lifting a portion of them at one side of the hopper.
This device may consist of a cam-shaped projection-or tappet formed on one end
of the barrel, which, as the barrel rotates, raises the roots with which it is brought
in contact, lets them fall again, and thereby prevents any choking in the hopper.
As a modification, of the above arrangement, I may use an excentric-fast on the
barrel shaft, to impart a reciprocating, motion, to a thrust plate sliding, vertically
in guides in the hopper, for stirring the roots as the barrel rotates.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of so, much of a barrel root cutter, with my invention
applied thereto, as will illustrate the simplest arrangement thereof; and.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken in the line 1, 2 of Fig. 1..
In these figures,,A is the, barrel, furnished' with cutters of any usual construction,
and carried by, a shaft B, which has its bearings, on the rectangular frame C.
Situate above the cutter barrel, is the hopper D, which is hinged at back to the
frame C, and rests in front on the same frame.
The cutter barrel A is cast with a cam projection or tappet E, which, as the
drum rotates, enters the hopper from below, comes in contact with the overlying.
roote, and effectually stirs them on its passage through the hopper. To provide for
the free movement of this tappet, as the barrel rotates to act upon the roots, the
front of the hopper and of the frame C. is formed with a recess c, through which it
passes to complete its circuit and recommence its agitation of the roots in the
hopper. This cam or tappet may be cast with the barrel, or attached thereto.
by bolts and nuts, in which case it will take the form shewn at Figs. 14, it being
provided with lugs which underlie the periphery of the barrel, to receive attaching.
bolts.
Fig. 3 shows, in partial' end elevation, a barrel root cutter fitted with a recipro-
cating stirrer, which performs the office of the cain projection or tappet of the
above described arrangement. The reciprocating, motion of this stirrer is effected.
by an excentric E upon the cutter barrel shaft. E' is the reciprocating stirrer,
consisting of a plate fitted to work in guides carried by one side of the hopper D,
and constituting what may be termed a thrust plate. This plate carries a projection e,
which works in a vertical slot cut in the adjacent side of the hopper and overlies
the excentriq Ewhich is keyed to the barrel shaft externally of the hopper, and
within the frame C
el is a screwed rod pendent from a lug at the upper part of the hopper, and
extending through a hole made in the projection e, to receive an adjusting nut.
Surrounding this pendent rod is a coiled spring, which, by its elastic pressure,
maintains the projection ein contact with the exeentrio E
On rotary motion, being given to the cutter barrel by its shaft B, the excentric E
will be caused to thrust upwards the plate E against the pressure of the coiled
spring, and as its acting radius diminishes, the spring will be free to draw down the
plate thus the stirring of the roots in contact with the plate will be effected, and
any roots that may be jammed will be loosened, and allowed to fall into contact with
the revolving cutters.
Fig. 4 shews in partial, side, elevation a slight modification of the arrangement of
Fig. 3. Instead of using a coiled spring for drawing down the thrust plate E, that
plate is fitted with a bowle e, which enters a grooved excentric E keyed to the
barrel shaft. The rotation, therefore, of that shaft will both raise and lower the
thrust plate El, causing it to act upon the roots in the hopper in the manner above.
described.
Fig. 5 shews a further modification of my invention, the root cutter being in

page_text: partial side elevation. In this case, the thrust plate, instead of sliding in guides
in the hopper, is fitted on a hinge pin below the back of the hopper. The
reciprocating motion of the plate is shewn as effected by means of a grooved
excentric, as in Fig. 4, but other means may be adopted, as thought desirable, for
effecting the reciprocating motion.
The projection from the plate carrying the bowle e passes through a segment
shaped slot in the side of the hopper, to provide for the swinging movement of the
plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is 1
The application to barrel root cutters of a root lifter or stirrer, whether carried
by the barrel, as illustrated at Figs. 1, 2, and 14, or constituting a thrust plate
reciprocated in the hopper by the means illustrated at Figs. 3, 4, and 5, or their
equivalent, for the purpose above set forth.
Dated this 15th day of May 1895.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.