Improvements in Potato Digging Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Potato Digging Machines.
I, EUSTACHIUSZ PAULUS, of Graetz, Prussia, Engineer, do hereby declaro the
Dature 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 :—
The object of this invention is improvements in the construction of potato digging
machines, in which the potatoes are raised, or dug up by a trough shaped plough share
or coltor, and are seized at the rear end of the latter by a series of rakes or catchers
arranged on the periphery of a closed drum placed transversely to the direction of
motion, the rotary motion imparted thereto by the drum causing them to first raise
the potatoes thus seized, and to allow them to drop subsequently behind.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure
is a side view, and Figure 2 is a plan partly in section, while the
remaining figures show details of construction. Near the front end of the main
frame 1, consisting of flat iron bars joined together by angle irons (Figures 1
and 2), is arranged the trough shape plough share 2. This share, which is shown
separately in Figure 3, is firmly fixed to a curved support 3, the ends of which pass
through the straps or guides 4 (Figure 2) secured outside the machine on the
longitudinal sides of the inain frame, within which these ends can be adjusted, so as
to regulate the height of the support. Immediately behind the share is mounted,
between the longitudinal sides of the chief frame, a drum, the axis 6 of which
extends transversely across the machine. From the periphery, or outer casing of
this drum, project a number of rakes (preferably 12) arranged at equal intervals
one from the other, and consisting each of a row of curved prongs 7 fitted side by
side and parallely. The inner ends of the prongs of these rakes which are screw
threaded pass through the casing of the drum, and through a bar 8 arranged along
the inner side of the said drum, extending parallely to the axis of the latter, and
the extremities of which are firmly rivetted in the walls of the drum. The drum
thus provided with the rakes 7 receives a rotary motion from two toothed wheels 9
and 10 gearing together, and the smaller of which, the wheel 9, is mounted on the
axis of the drum, while the larger wheel 10 is keyed in the axle 11 of the rear
wheel 12. The drum, which under the action of this gear is made to rotate in the
direction of the arrow, Figure 1, is so arranged relatively to the share that when
the same turns, the rakes 7 pass by successively in an upward direction, their outer
ends coming in close proximity to the rear edge of the share 2, so as to raise and
carry with them the potatoes as they come out behind the share. The potatoes
thus taken up roll whilst being raised by the rakes towards the drum casing, and are
freed from a portion of the soil which falls through the intervals between the prongs
of the rakes. As soon as each rake has attained its highest position, and commences
to move beyond the same, the potatoes roll behind upon the preceding rake,
whereby a further portion of the soil falls through the intervals between these
prongs, the potatoes and the haulm remaining still on this rake.
As the drum continues to rotate, the potatoes and the haulm fall down backward
from the rake upon the oscillating or vibrating grating 13. This grating is pivoted
upon latoral arms 14 of the frame 1, and receives a shaking or rocking motion with
the aid of a rod 15 connected to its rear end from the crank shaft 16 carried by the
frame 1, and which is set in motion by the small toothed wheel 17 gearing with the
wheel 10 of the rear wheel axle 11. The potatoes are completely freed from their
soil on this grating, and are subsequently propelled backward so as to finally drop
from the grating upon the ground. The arms 14 of the grating and the connecting
rod 15 should be preferably made of two parts in such a manner that the arms and
the rod may be lengthened or shortened, so that the grating may be adjusted up or

page_text: down according to requirements. To prevent the potatoes, when situated between
the rakes 7 and the drum 5, from falling out on one side, the walls of the drun
project beyond the casing of the same nearly as far as the outer points of the rakes.
The following mechanism is used to maintain during the transport of the above
described machine, the rake drum 5 set at a suitable height to avoid the rakes
touching the ground. Each end of the axis 6 of the drum bears in the free
ends of two levers 18 connected together Figures 1 and 5, and the other ends
of which are pivoted upon one of the two bearings of the rear wheel axle. At
the free end of each pair of levers 18, Figures 1 and 5, engages above the
bearings of the axis of the drum, and with the aid of a wire loop or chain
link 20, one arm of the forked lever 21, the arms of which are pivoted to the
upright 22 of the frame 1, while the rearmost end of the same lever terminates
with a handle 23. By depressing the rear end of the forked lever 21, the two
pairs of levers 18 will be finally turned upwards upon the axle 11 of the rear
wheel, and the drum 5 will be raised. While this drum is being raised its
wheel 9 engages a corresponding distance with the wheel 10 on the axle 11 of
the rear wheel owing to the drum being pivoted upon the said rear wheel axle.
The reverse operation takes place when the drum is lowered.
To hold the drum in its raised position, the forked lever 21 is provided with
a hook 24 which is fastened to the cross stay 25 (Figures 1 and 2) of the frame 1.
To prevent the raised drum from swinging to and fro during the transport,
the free ends of the pairs of lovers 18 are provided with lower extensions 26
having the form of circular segments, Figures 1 and 5, which embrace between
them the corresponding longitudinal sides of the frame 1, and arc stiffened by
a bolt below. These extensions may be provided with perforations to allow of
the drum being adjusted in any suitable position by means of a pin secured at
the top to the frame 1 and inserted through one of these holes.
To prevent the drum rotating during the transport, the rear wheels 12 are
uncoupled from their axes 11 so as to be able to turn freely thereon. For
this purpose, the discs 28 Figures 6, 7, and 8, which secure each rear wheel
upon the axle, are provided with a quadrangular hole 29 in the centre, and two
projecting arms or clasps 30 on one front side. These discs, which are placed
upon a quadrangular part or pieco 31 of the rear wheel axle 11, and are held
in position by a nut 32 fixed to the end of this axis assume the position shown
in Figure 6 whilst the machine is at work, in which position, the two clasps 30
of the discs 28 grasp the wheel hub in corresponding notches 33, Figure 7, and
thus couple the wheel 12 with its axle 11. When the machine has to be trans-
ported, these discs are first removed, and theu replaced in a reverse position upon
the axle 11, see Figure 7.
While the discs are in the above position, the clasps no more engage with
the wheel hub, and hence the rear wheels do not impart a rotation to the axle.
The machine above described is connected in front with a fore carriage, the
wheels of which can be adjustably raised or lowered by means of adjustable straps
or hoops in the same manner as for ordinary ploughs.
The plough beam or pole tree 34, which connects the fore carriage with the
frame 1 and the forked end 35 of which is firmly held at the desired height upon
the central vertical pin 37 by a set ring 36 inserted between the two prongs of this
end; passes behind through holes formed in the two cross stays 38 and 39 of the
frame 1, and through a strengthening sleeve 40 arranged between these two cross
stays. In front of the cross stay 38, and behind the cross stay 39, two rings 41
and 42 respectively are mounted on the pole tree, so that the fore carriage may
not only move relatively to the other parts of the machine upon the vertical pin 37
but also on the horizontal rear end of the boam 34, and may thus be adjusted
according to the irregularities or unevenness of the ground.
To prevent too great a turn of the fore carriage upon the rear end of the pole
tree, the hole in the second cross stay 39, through which the plough beam passes,
is enlarged ou two opposite sides, Figure 9, a pin 43 being passed in this place

page_text: through the tree, the projecting ends of which extend into the enlarged parts of the
Baid hole, and bear against the ends of this part when the pole tree is turned a
given distance.
It may be finally remarked that the rake drum has such a diamoter as to render-
unnecessary any bending of the frame and tree.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
olaim is :-
1. A potato digging machine in which the walls of the rake drum 5 arranged
between the share 2 and the rocking grate 13 extend nearly as far as the outer
points of the rakes 7, and thus laterally close the space between two adjoining
rakes on the one side, while on the other, the sides of the trough shaped share 2
rises slightly at the rear towards the walls of the rake drum 5, so that the potatoes
raised by the share cannot drop off at the sides of the machine whether just issuing-
from the share, or boing moved on by the rakes.
2. A. machine of the kind above claimed, wherein the frame carrying the share,.
the rake drum, and the rocking grate, is connected with the fore carriage by the
beam 34, in such a manner, that the latter is allowed to turn upon its longitudinal
axis a given extent in the frame for the purpose of preventing the front car having
too much play on this longitudinal axis when the ground is unoven.
3. A machine of the kind above claimed, in which the transmission of the rotary
motion of the rear wheel 12 to the drum 5 can be effected, or arrested in con-
sequence of the rear wheels 12 being coupled with their axle 11 by means of clutch
discs 28, 30, which are mounted on a square part 31 of the axle 11, the clutches 30
engaging in openings 33 of the rear wheels, or being withdrawn and replaced in a.
reverse position to allow the wheels to turn loosely on the axle.
1
1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Eustachiusz Paulus.