Improvements in Apparatus for Lifting Potatoes and other Tubers or Roots.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Lifting Potatoes and other Tubers
or Roots.
I, VICTOR RIGAULT, Mechanical Engineer, Creil, Department of the Seine,'
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The implement which the subject of this invention, is designed for a potato-
lifter, and its mode of operation renders it equally applicable to the lifting of other
tubers or roots for food or forage.
The potato-lifter consists of a share connected by two lateral angle-irons with a,
frame approximately vertical. A cross-tie connects the upper extremities of the
vertical members of the frame, as well as the ends of two flat bars which at their
other ends, are united to form a sleeve embracing a perforated segment-arm
mounted on the axle of the front-carriage; this latter being also connected to the,
frame by two longitudinal jointed side-bars.
The implement is steered or guided by the two curved flat steering bars bolted
at one end to the upright frame and intermediately to the rearward prolongation of
the connecting bar and fitted at the other end with suitable handles.
Thus the parts of the posterior frame are firmly united to form a solid whole,
which is movable in relation to the fore-carriage, by turning round the joint which
is the centre of the curve of the segment arm.
The travelling wheels cause the rotation of their axle by means of pawls placed
in their hubs.
Upon that axle is keyed a toothed wheel which may be thrown into gear with a
pinion mounted on a counter-shaft carried by the side-bars. The said countershaft
is also provided with a chain wheel which commands the pinion keyed on a shaft
carried by the uprights of the posterior frame. At one end this shaft is fitted with
one of a pair of chain-gear pinions, transmitting the movement to the other pinion
mounted on a shaft which is carried at the bottom of the uprights close behind the
share.
The last named shaft is provided at suitable intervals of its length with a
corresponding number of radial arms of different lengths (4, 5, 6 or more if
necessary) so as to form a kind of rimless wheel (having stock and spokes only).
The radial arms are straight or slightly curved and made of iron, flexible steel or
any other suitable material. Their form and number are both alike variable
according to the nature of the roots or tubers to be lifted.
For the purpose of enabling the apparatus to work effectually at whatever. depth
the tubers or roots to be taken up are to be found, it suffices to regulate the
position of the sleeve formed by the junction of the two bars upon the perforated
segment arm D, and to fix it suitably by means of a pin; whereby the inclination
of the share and consequently its depth of penetration, may be varied at will. The
share is fitted beneath and behind it with a patten resting on the ground and
serving to preserve uniformity in the depth of the share point during working.
I may also arrange in rear of the share metal blades forming a grating to prevent
stones or other hard bodies from interfering with the working of the extracting
apparatus. These blades made of soft iron or flexible steel and either round square
or flat in section, are preferably fixed to the share individually so that they may
easily be replaced by others in case of injury. The use of such a grating or guard
is optional; while they are useful in certain kinds of soil, they are not indispensable
to the efficient working of the apparatus. When used the spokes of the "speech"
pass between the teeth of the grating.
°

page_text: The working of the apparatus is as follows;-When it is set in motion after the
preliminary regulation of the depth of penetration of the share into the soil, the
surface soil, to that depth, containing the roots or tubers, is sliced off and gradually
raised by the passage of the share, which delivers it over the grating and revolving
spokes of the "speech" which as they rotate in the opposite direction to the
travelling or driving wheels, will not only assist the passage of the "furrow-slice "
so to say, but disintegrate it separating the roots and tubers from the mould and
dropping them in the track of the vehicle. This triple function of the "speech
combined with the action of the share and grating is the distinguishing
characteristics of this invention.
"
Beneath the gearing, driving-chains etc. which transmit the movement to the
working parts is placed a protecting sheet of iron of sufficient width to prevent
any choking or clogging of the same by dead leaves, stalks, grass etc.
reserve to myself the right to use a lever or other suitable appliance, for the
purpose of preventing any accumulation of dead leaves, stalks grass etc. in front of
the vertical arms.
For transporting the implement from place to place, it is necessary to rest the
patten of the share on a trolley or sledge provided with wheels; taking care at the
same time to throw the pinion out of gear with the driving-wheel by a lateral
displacement on its counter-shaft so that the movement of the travelling wheels
may not be transmitted to the other working parts.
Any other mode of gearing and transmission of movement than that described
may be adopted.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Nottingham,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Lifting Potatoes and other Tubers
or Roots.
I, VICTOR RIGAULT, Mechanical Engineer, of Creil, Department of the Seine,
in the Republic of France, 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 :-
The implement which is the subject of this invention, and shown on the
accompanying drawing is designed for a potato-lifter and its mode of operation
renders it equally applicable to the lifting of other tubers or roots for food or
forage.
Figure 1 is a side view of the implement, and
Figure 2 a plau;
Figure 3 is a side view of the share and posterior frame.
The potato-lifter consists of a share A connected by two lateral angle-irons a with
a frame B, approximately vertical. A cross-tie a connects the upper extremities
of the vertical members of the frame, as well as the ends of two flat bars C,
which at their other ends, are united to form a sleeve embracing a perforated
segment-arm D, mounted on the axle of the front-carriage, this latter being also
connected to the frame B by two longitudinal side-bars E, jointed to B by the
pivots on which they turn freely.
The implement steered or guided by the two curved flat steering-bars F, bolted
at one end to the upright B, and intermediately to the rearward prolongation
of the connecting bar C, and fitted at the other end with suitable handles.
Thus the parts of the posterior frame A B C F are firmly united to form a solid

page_text: whole, which is movable in relation to the fore-carriage, by turning round the
joint b, which is the centre of the curve of the segment arm D.
The travelling wheels G cause the rotation of their axle e by means of pawls
placed in their hubs.
Upon that axle is keyed a toothed wheel d which may be thrown into gear with
a pinion mounted on a counter-shaft g carried by the side-bars E. The said
counter-shaft g is also provided with a chain-wheel which commands the pinion i
keyed on the shaft carried by the uprights B of the posterior frame. At one end
this shaft is fitted with one of a pair of chain-gear pinions & transmitting the
movement to the other pinion ¹ mounted on a shaft H which is carried at the
bottom of the uprights B close behind the share A.
19
The last-named shaft H is provided at suitable intervals of its length with a
corresponding number of radial arms of different lengths (4, 5, 6 or more if
necessary, so as to form a "speech or kind of rimless wheel (having stock and
spokes only). The radial arms are straight or slightly curved and made of iron,
flexible steel or any other suitable material. Their form and number are alike
variable according to the nature of the roots or tubers to be lifted.
On reference to Figures 1 and 3 it will be seen from the arrows indicating the
direction of movement of the several working parts, that the result of the combi-
nation of parts is the rotation of the skeleton wheel H in the contrary direction to
the onward motion of the implement.
For the purpose of enabling the apparatus to work effectually at whatever
depth the tubers or roots to be taken up are to be found, it suffices to regulate the
position of the sleeve (formed by the junction of the two bars C) upon the perforated
segment-arm D, and to fix it suitably by means of a pin; whereby the inclination
of the share A and consequently its depth of penetration, may be varied at will.
The share A is fitted, beneath and behind it, with a patten P, resting on the ground
and serving to preserve uniformity in the depth of the share point during working.
I may also arrange in rear of the share metal blades or forks o forming a grating
to prevent stones or other hard bodies from interfering with the working of the
extracting apparatus. These blades made either round square or flat in section,
are fixed separately or in pairs to the share by means of hinges o' bolted or rivetted
to the share in such manner as to allow the blades or forks o to be raised so as to
clear any obstruction of the nature of a stone or other hard body, and so avoid
wedging and the consequent stoppage of the machine. The blades or forks rest in
their natural position on a bar fixed close to the end of the angle-iron a of
the share.
Upon the sides of the "speech" or skeleton wheel H for the purpose of avoiding
any wedging action between the last of the spokes and the angle irons a a polygonal
disc or check is keyed on to the shaft H.
The appliance formed by the hinge-joint o' and the forks o may be replaced by a
series of blade-springs fixed directly under the share and producing the same effect.
The use of such a grating or guard is optional; while they are useful in certain
kinds of soil they are not indispensable to the efficient working of the apparatus.
When used the spokes of the " speech "H pass between the teeth of the
grating.
The working of the apparatus is as follows;-
When it is set in motion after the preliminary regulation of the depth of
penetration of the share into the soil the surface soil to that depth containing the
roots or tubers is sliced off and gradually raised by the passage of the share, which
delivers it over the grating and revolving spokes of the "speech" H which as they
rotate in the opposite direction to the travelling or driving wheels, will not only
assist the passage of the "furrow slice so to say, but disintegrate it separating the
roots and tubers from the mould and dropping them in the track of the vehicle.
This triple function of the "speech" H combined with the action of the share A
and grating o is the distinguishing characteristics of this invention.
Beneath the gearing driving chains etc. which transmit the movement to the

page_text: working parts, is placed a protecting sheet of iron of sufficient width to prevent any
choking or clogging of the same by dead leaves stalks grass etc.
I reserve to myself the right to use a lever or other suitable appliance for the
purpose of preventing any accumulation of dead. leaves stalks grass etc. in front of
the vertical arms B.
For transporting the implement from place to place it is necessary to rest the
patten P of the share on a trolly or sledge provided with wheels taking care at
the same time to throw the pinion out of gear with the driving wheel d by a lateral.
displacement on its counter-shaft g (as shown in Figure 2) so that the movement
of the travelling wheels G may not be transmitted to the other working parts.
Any other mode, of gearing and transmission of movement than that described
may be adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. The combination with a share variable in form according to the nature of the
root crops to be extracted and preferably provided at the rear with a grating or a
series of blades or forks (o) mounted on hinges or springs in order to allow of their
freeing themselves from any hard body which might otherwise be wedged or jammed
with them of a spoke-wheel or rimless-wheel which by its rotation produces the
effect of breaking up the soil and lifting the roots or tubers contained therein and
leaving them lying on the surface substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
2. The share with its movable blades (o) forming a grating in the rear and its
sliding frame or patten P serving to maintain the depth of penetration of the share
constant after it has once been set substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. The jointing or articulation of the whole of the actual working parts to connect
them to the fore-carriage whereby the penetration of the soil can be regulated
to any desired depth in combination with the method of driving the working parts
with train gear and chains.
Dated this 31st day of August 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.