Improvements in Machines for Digging Potatoes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1891-Accepted, 20th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Digging Potatoes.
I JAMES HOLT of Dunham Massey in the County of Chester Builder do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
--
I employ a revolving platform which is fixed at the lower end of a revolving
shaft connected with and falling from the main frame of the machine. The
revolving platform has a conical shaped iron centre in which are set iron prongs,
and is driven by means of gearing communicating with the gearing on the axle
which carries the two driving wheels of the machine. The potatoes after being
raised by a shovel fall upon the revolving platform behind where they are separated
from the soil and directed by a guard which I place at the side of the revolving
platform are thence deposited upon the ground.
Dated this 27th day of August 1890.
JAMES HOLT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Digging Potatoes.
I JAMES HOLT of Dunham Massey, in the County of Chester, Joiner, 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 and accompanying drawings:
My said invention relates to machines for digging potatoes and will be best
understood by reference to the accompanying illustrative sheet of drawings.
In the said drawings I have shown only so much of the machine as is requisite
to define clearly those parts of the mechanism which constitute my invention."
Fig. 1 is a side view of the tail end of a potatoe digging machine constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section the upper part of the machine being
removed so as not to confuse the essential portions shown.
The supporting tail of the frame of the machine is marked a and is shown
broken off. To the side of the tail I key or otherwise attach the lifting blade or
spade 6 which can be adjusted to any required position. As will be seen from the
plan view the spade 6 stretches across, beneath the machine the rear of the spade
being shaped to the sweep of the separating fingers while the front is pointed to
assist in the digging operation.
At the free end of the spade I fix a guard e preferably circular in shape and
mounted on a stud d which revolves loosely in a bearing e formed at the foot of a
bracket or bow f which is bolted to the tail of the machine. The guard c might
however be fixed to the spade. The purpose of the guard is to divert the potatoes
to the side of the machine as they are struck by the hereinafter described revolving
fingers. To the end of the tail a 1 bolt a double bracket g the bearings gl g' of
which carry an inclined shaft h. The shaft h carries a bevel wheel which gears
with another bevel wheel j fixed on the end of a shaft k which extends beneath the
tail a and is driven by suitable gearing from the axle of the carrying wheels of the
machine. The gearing and the carrying wheels of the machine do not appear
in the drawing as these form no part of my invention. At the foot of the
inclined shaft I provide a cone or conical platform o formed from sheet metal or
of any other suitable material and at the foot of the cone I arrange a series of
fingers which are formed as clearly shown at Fig. 2. At the top of the cone is
Price Bl

page_text: a finger m to remove tops and to break up any accumulation of soil. When the
machine is at work the bevel wheels revolve the cone o and fingers 1 in the
direction of the arrow Fig. 2.
b
The mode of operating the machine is as follows. The horse or other draught
power having been attached to the front of the machine the apparatus is drawn
forward in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1 and immediately over and in line with
the ridge containing the potatoes to be lifted. The spade penetrates to the
adjusted depth and raises the potatoes and throws them back towards the revolving
cone and fingers. As the soil banks up behind the spade the curved fingers
thoroughly disintegrate the same and strike the potatoes tangentially towards the
guard which diverts them in their progress and causes them to alight on the
ground at the side of the machine.
C
Provision might be made for altering the angle at which the guard cis set. Any
tops or rubbish on the soil are raked aside by the finger m. It will be seen that
the inclined position of the shaft and cone carrying the fingers allows the fingers
when in front of the cone to lie in the best possible position, for doing their work,
while at the sides and in rear of the cone they are entirely free. My improved
machine being of such simple construction and having so few parts may be cheaply
made, is not liable to get out of order and is of comparatively light draught.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1.) The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts constituting
my improved potatoe digging machine substantially as hereinbefore described and
as illustrated in the annexed drawings.
2.) In a potatoe digging machine the combination of the spade b the guard c and
the inclined revolving cone o provided with fingers substantially as described and
shown.
3.) In a potatoe digging machine the employment of a single revolving conc
carried in bearings at an angle and provided with separating fingers for the purposes
and substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 19th day of May 1891.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.