IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN WASHING OR TREATING HOPS AND OTHER PLANTS OR TREES
Year: 1884

page_text: I BENJAMIN PRESTON HARRIS of Southfleet near Gravesend in the County of
Kent Farmer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN WASHING OR TREATING HOPS AND
OTHER PLANTS OR TREES to be as follows:-
In the washing of hops and other plants with water or solutions of matters or
powders in order to cleanse them or remove blight or mould and parasites it is
found that with the machinery or apparatus at present employed the attendant
on the machine is much incommoded by the liquid or powder which falls during
the operation besides the waste of liquid employed. For instance when washing
hops with a solution of soft soap and other matters to kill the blight the action of
the matters is most unpleasant and detrimental to comfort and health, and a large
quantity falls uselessly to the ground.
To obviate these inconveniences I provide a cover or roof to the machine or
apparatus employed supported by suitable arm or supports affixed to the tank or
holder for the matters to be applied or to parts connected therowith and this cover
or roof I construct or arrange so that it forms a protection to the attendant at the
rear of the apparatus by being wider at that part and then being brought as far
forward as desired between but not so as to interfero with the parts which
distribute the cleansing or treating material.
The slope or angle at which the roof may, be applied is adjustable by means of
bolts and nuts or other suitable means and the sides of the roof may also be
extended in a downward direction, suitable provision being made for returning any
liquid falling thereon to be returned to the reservoir or tank such as by gutters or
inclines and a tube. The impurities or solid matters which get mixed with the
liquid are strained off by suitable straining means through which the returning
liquid is caused to pass before reentering the tank.
1
If desired a portion of the cover may be of transparent material or of material
adapted to permit of the attendant seeing therethrough without being liable to the
inconvenient access of the substances being applied.
The roof or cover may be constructed of any suitably light material, such as
waterproof canvas, zinc, galvanized iron et cetera.
By these means not only is the comfort and health of the attendant conduced to
but the matters employed are economised and great saving of labour and carriage
accrues.
Dabad thin 44. ÍCONahum 1001
:

page_text: 1
I, BENJAMIN PRESTON HARRIS of Southfleet near Gravesend in the County of
Kent Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN WASHING OR TREATING HOPS AND
OTHER PLANTS OR TREES, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In the washing of hops and other plants with water or solutions of matters or
powders in order to cleanse them or remove blight or mould and parasites it is
found that with the machinery or apparatus at present employed the attendant
on the machine is much incommoded by the liquid or powder which falls during
the operation besides the waste of liquid employed. For instance when washing
hops with a solution of soft soap and other matters to kill the blight the action of
the matters is most unpleasant and detrimental to comfort and health, and a large
quantity falls uselessly to the ground.
The attendant from his position at the rear of the engine where he generally
guides it receives a constant shower of liquid returning from the plants and this
liquid is lost in great measure.
Fig. 1 shews by front view and Fig 2 by plan view such an apparatus with my
invention applied.
The invention is particularly adapted for use with such machines for syringing
plants as is described in the specification of Messrs James Arthur Drake & Richard
Samuel Muirhead No 3037. June 27. 1882 and other similar machines whero
showers of liquid fall back onto the machine or its vicinity.
The object of the invention is to provide means for the saving of much waste of
liquid which is expensive in preparation and transport and to prevent inconvenience
to the attendant. To obviate these inconveniences and loss I provide a cover or
roof a to the machine b or apparatus employed supported by suitable arms or
supports a' affixed to the tank or holder b for the matters to be applied, or to parts
connected therewith, and this cover or roof a I construct or arrange so that it forms
a protection to the attendant who is generally stationed at the rear of the
apparatus (say at the handle b¹) by being wider at that part a* a* and then
being brought as far forward as desired between but not so as to interfere with.the
operation of the parts b² which distribute the cleansing or treating material. The
slope or angle at which the roof a may be applied is adjustable by means of bolts
and nuts chains or other suitable means at a² and the sides of the roof may also be
extended in a downward direction, as indicated by dotted lines a³ a suitable
provision being made for returning any liquid falling thereon to be returned to the
reservoir or tank such as by gutters or inclines and a tube a. The impurities or
solid matters which get mixed with the liquid are strained off by suitable straining
means through which the returning liquid is caused to pass before reentering the
tank b and this may be effected much as is at present practised with regard to the
water supplied to the pumps in the description of apparatus mentioned,

page_text: If desired a portion of the cover at a³ or other convenient place may be of
transparent material or of material adapted to permit of the attendant seeing
therethrough without being liable to the inconvenient access of the substances
being applied.
The frames and covers may be applied so as to extend both fore and aft of the
machine or at either end or at the sides in some cases but generally it will not be
convenient to have projecting parts at the sides for hops or plants in high and narrow
rows and the arrangement thereof may be considerably varied to suit the shape of
the parts to which the covers are applied.
The frame or stiffening rib as of the cover may be cane bamboo hollow or other
rod of metal or other material light and strong.
The roof or cover may be constructed of any suitably light material, such as
waterproof canvas, zinc, galvanized iron et cetera.
By these means not only is the comfort and health of the attendant conduced to
but the matters employed are economised and great saving of labor and carriage
accrues.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to he performed, I would have it
understood that I make no claim to the parts of the machinery for washing or
syringing separately considered but what I claim is
The cover a, or covers, and parts for supporting and adjusting the same in
combination with machinery or apparatus employed in washing or treating hops,
plants and trees substantially as set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1885.
W BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the said Benjamin Preston Harris.