IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR WASHING ROOTS, 'GANGUES,' MINERALS, NODULES, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas James Smith, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman,
and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London; Patent Agents,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR WASHING ROOTS,
'GANGUES,' MINERALS, NODULES, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES." A communi-
cation from abroad by Ludovic Reine Raoul, Comte de Beaurepaire de
Louvagny, Manufacturer, of Grivesnes, Department of the Somme, France.
Sealed the 16th September 1879, and dated the 26th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas James Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th March 1879.
THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of
166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR WASHING ROOTS. 'GANGUES,' MINERALS, NODULES, AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES." (A communication from abroad by Ludovic Reine Raoul, Comte de
Beaurepaire de Louvagny, Manufacturer, of Grivesnes, Department of the Somme,
France.)
The object of this Invention is a machine for washing roots, "gangues," minerals,
nodules, and other substances, its employment being particularly advantageous in
ordinary cultivation for washing beetroots, carrots, turnips, potatoes, and similar
roots.
The machine is worked by hand. Its axis carries arms or agitators, which may
be removed and placed at any distance along its length, according to the size of the
roots to be washed.
An important feature of this system is a swinging or rocking movement, which
may be imparted to a cylinder-sieve for throwing out the roots which it contains
onto a drainer or into a barrow with open worked or latticed sides and bottom.
This machine may be made of metal mounted on wheels, or of wood mounted on
blocks of wood, this being more economical.
In existing washers the feed is continuous, the roots also continuously coming out.
Now in this system, on the contrary, the machine is filled with roots and then put
in motion until the roots are completely washed and cleaned. The degree of
washing they have undergone may be seen by lifting the cylinder-sieve by means
of a lever.

page_text: The axle on which the arms or agitators are adjusted turns in the interior sieve.
When the roots are perfectly washed the cylinder is turned on its axis or pivot and
the roots allowed to drain; but if a fresh operation is to be commenced the roots are
emptied onto the grid or drainer, and one or two turns are given to the agitators to
aid in emptying the sieve. A crank handle rotates the arms or agitators. The grid
or drainer is kept raised by a hook when the machine is not in use.
The arms or agitators are adjustable in iron sockets having square-holes in their
centres, through which passes the rotating axle having a corresponding section.
The arms being adjusted on the axle, according to the size of the roots, are fixed in
position by a screw. The wooden arms or agitators are tapered off to enable them
to force a passage through the roots.
The machine when constructed of metal is carried by two wheels and two legs,
and has handles by which it may be wheeled from place to place.
According to a second form of washer, with swinging or pivoted arrangement,
the cylinder-sieve supports the axle with the arms or agitators. It is carried in a
tub resting on two base pieces. This tub is formed of staves maintained by hoops
and secured by bolts.
The cylinder-sieve is supported by a lever resting on one of the upper cross-
pieces covered with sheet iron, its other side being pivoted on horizontal trunnions
fixed in two supports bolted on the cylinder.
By lifting the lever the cylinder is caused to turn or oscillate, and the contents
are emptied into a barrow having open sides.
These machines may be of any size, and the shapes of the constituent parts may
be varied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas James Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
September 1879.
THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of
166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR WASHING ROOTS, 'GANGUES,' MINERALS, NODULES, AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES." (A communication from abroad by Ludovic Reine Raoul, Comte de
Beaurepaire de Louvagny, Manufacturer, of Grivesnes, Department of the Somme,
France.)
The object of this Invention is a machine for washing roots, "gangues," minerals,
nodules, and other substances, its employment being particularly advantageous in
ordinary cultivation for washing beetroots, carrots, turnips, potatoes, and similar
roots.
The machine is worked by hand. Its axis carries arms or agitators, which may
be removed and placed at any distance along its length, according to the size of the
roots to be washed.
An important feature of this system is a swinging or rocking movement, which
may be imparted to the cylinder-sieve for throwing out the roots which it contains
onto a drainer or into a barrow with open-worked or latticed sides and bottom.
This machine may be made of metal mounted on wheels, or of wood mounted on
legs or blocks of wood, this being more economical.
The annexed Drawings shew the two arrangements.
Figure 1 is an end view, and Figure 2 a longitudinal elevation of the machine
constructed of metal.
In existing washers the feed is continuous, the roots also continuously coming out.
Now in this system, on the contrary, the machine is filled with roots and then put
in motion until the roots are completely washed and cleaned. The degree of washing
they have undergone may be seen by lifting the cylinder-sieve A by means of the
lever B.
The axle O on which the arms or agitators C are adjusted turns in the interior
sieve A. When the roots are perfectly washed the cylinder A is turned on the axis
or pivot D and the roots allowed to drain; but if a fresh operation is to be com-
menced the roots are emptied on to the grid or drainer E, and one or two turns are
given to the axle O of the agitators C to aid in emptying the sieve.
The crank handle M. rotates the arms or agitators. The grid or drainer is kept
raised by the hook E' when the machine is not in use.
The arms or agitators C are adjustable in iron sockets F having square holes in
their centres, through which passes the rotating axle having a corresponding section.
The arms being adjusted on the axle O according to the size of the roots, are fixed
in position by the screw G. The wooden arms or agitators are tapered off to enable
them to force a passage through the roots.
The machine when constructed of metal is carried by two wheels H and two
legs I, and has handles K. by which it may be wheeled from place to place.
The second form of washer with swinging or pivotted arrangement is shown in
elevation, Figure 3; in end view, Figures 4 and 5; and in plan, Figure 6. The
cylinder-sieve A supports the axle with the arms or agitators. It is carried in a
tub L supported on legs I. This tub is formed of staves P, maintained by hoops M²,
and secured by bolts N.
The cylinder-sieve is supported on one side by the lever Q resting on one of the
upper crosspieces covered with sheet iron, its other side being pivotted on horizontal
trunnions fixed in the two supports R bolted on the cylinder. By lifting the lever Q
the cylinder is caused to turn or oscillate, and the contents are emptied into a
drainer B or into a barrow having open sides. These machines may be of any size,
and the shapes of the constituent parts may be varied.

page_text: And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim on behalf of my foreign
correspondant,-
The improved machine for washing roots, "gangues," minerals, nodules, and other
substances, its special features consisting of the rocking or oscillating movement of
the interior cylinder-sieve, and the arms or agitators adjustable on the axle, the
machine being constructed of metal or of wood mounted on wheels or on legs,
substantially as shown, and as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas James Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-nine.