OR IMPROVED POTATO LIFTER."
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Salmond at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1876.
JOHN SALMOND, of the City and County of Aberdeen, North Britain.
OR IMPROVED POTATO LIFTER."
"A NEW
This Invention relates to a new or improved general construction of double-
wheeled plough for raising potatoes from the drills and at the same time separating
them from the mould or earth all in a more simple and efficient manner than
hitherto. And the nature and novelty of the Invention consist in constructing the
back part of the plough in the usual manner with two horns or arms extending
backwards by which the plough is guided. The fore part of the plough framing
extends forward on each side in the form of two beams, to the front ends of which
adjustable guide wheels are fixed on the lower ends of adjustable stems. These
wheels run in the furrows on each side of the drill over which the plough is passing
to raise the potatoes, and their height is radially adjustable by a pinching screw in
the sockets of their stems to suit the depth to which the sock is desired to enter
the drill. A cross rail or bar is screwed to the two front ends of the beams by two
angled limbs extending backwards for that purpose, and to this front bar the horses
are yoked in a usual manner.
The sock is formed of a broad plate of metal extending right across the wholo
drill so as to lift the whole mould and potatoes together, the front or entering edge
being extended forward to an A shaped point in the centre between the furrows
some distance behind the guiding wheels so as to give less resistance in entering or
cutting through the drill. The rear part of this sock may either be thicker than
the point or be slightly angled upwards in a backward direction, and have side
feathers or lugs bent upwards so as to raise the potatoes and mould and guide them
on to a travelling pitch chain, the traverse of the potatoes over which separates the
mould from them. This pitch chain is formed of two endless side chains passed over
small pulleys in front and over larger ones at the rear, both arranged close to the
inner sides of the frame, and long rods or bars extending laterally are connected or
rivetted at the ends between each link of the said side chains, the whole forming a
continuous pitch chain which is laid nearly horizontal, its front loop passing over a
roller in front fixed into the lower ends of two arms or bars extending down from
the upper beams of the plough, these arms being further stayed by two rods
extending forward from the main axle of the plough and rivetted or otherwise fixed

page_text: to them above the level of the roller, which in turn is arranged just below the level
of the rear end of the sock, the rear end or loop of the chain passing over a pitch
wheel driven by a large toothed wheel fixed on the axle of the two main driving or
carrying wheels which run close to the outside of the plough framing. The forward
motion of the mould or earth is further assisted by an intermediate wheel working
on or into the pitch chain, and a further cleaning or riddling of the potatoes is
obtained by letting them drop from the pitch chain on to a hanging or trailing iron
network attached to the side plates of the plough immediately below the rear end
of the pitch chain, and after rolling off the said network the potatoes may be
gathered up in the usual way quite free from mould or earth.
To the front beams of the plough coulters are fixed having wing or lug-like
projecting plates affixed to them for guiding the potatoes and mould into the centre
of the plough, and side plates are also fixed to the body or side frames of the
plough for guiding the earth and potatoes on to and along the pitch chain.
When the potatoes fall on to the iron network at the rear they may either be
allowed to roll freely off it or be retained upon it for a short distance by slightly
raising the rear end of the network by means of a chain which is held at any
desired height by fixing it on to a hook fixed on each side plate of the plough; the
potatoes would thus be dropped off at short distances in small heaps ready for
lifting into baskets or other receptacles.