Improvements in Machines for Lifting Potatoes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Lifting Potatoes.
I, JAMES EDWARD RANSOME, of Orwell Works, Ipswich, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to machines which have a rotary transverse wheel
driven through suitable gearing by the road wheels and operating at the back of
the machine on the ridge of potatoes-ejecting them therefrom and scattering them
on the surface of the land.
These transverse wheels have hitherto been fitted with prongs which strike the
ridge and the potatoes.
According to this invention instead of using prongs I mount on the radial arms
of the transverse wheel suitable skimmers resembling small plough or digging
breasts which as the machine proceeds along the ridge deal with successive
portions of it moving the whole of the earth containing the potatoes and scattering
the earth and potatoes in a more thorough manner than is possible with prongs.
As the skimmers or plough breasts strike the potatoes obliquely they are lifted and
delivered without being damaged or bruised.
The skimmers are sometimes furnished with two or more tail pieces for more
thoroughly separating the soil and distributing the potatoes.
The number of skimmers on the wheel and the speed can be arranged to best
suit the work but the speed need not be so great as when prongs are employed
which is a further advantage in dealing more gently with the crop.
Dated this 16th day of October 1891.
CARPMAEL & CO.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Lifting Potatoes.
I, JAMES EDWARD RANSOME, of Orwell Works, Ipswich, Engineer, 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:-
My improvements relate to machines which have a rotary transverse wheel
driven through suitable gearing by the road wheels and operating at the back of
the machine on the ridge of potatoes-ejecting them therefrom and scattering them
on the surface of the land.
These transverse wheels have hitherto been fitted with prongs which strike the
ridge and the potatoes.
According to this invention instead of using prongs I mount on the radial arms
of the transverse wheel suitable skimmers resembling small plough or digging
breasts which as the machine proceeds along the ridge deal with successive
portions of it moving the whole of the earth containing the potatoes and scattering
the earth and potatoes in a more thorough manner than is possible with prongs.
As the skimmers or plough breasts strike the potatoes obliquely they are lifted and
delivered without being damaged or bruised.
५
The skimmers are sometimes furnished with two or more tail pieces for more
thoroughly separating the soil and distributing the potatoes.
The number of skimmers ou the wheel and the speed can be arranged to best
suit the work but the speed need not be so great as when prongs are employed
which is a further advantage in dealing more gently with the crop.

page_text: what my sato invention may be runy understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a potato digging machine in end elevation, side elevation
and plan, it is fitted with a transverse rotary wheel A having radial arms B which
arms are furnished with skimmers C resembling small plough or digging breasts.
The construction of the mechanism for imparting transverse rotary motion to the
skimmers will be seen from the drawings.
The road wheels D, D, are connected with the axle by clutches on either side.
The axle carries a spur wheel E which drives a pinion F and on the same shaft is a
bevel wheel G working into a bevel pinion H which is fixed on the front end of the
the rotary transverse wheel and skimmers at the rear. This
shaft which carries a suitable frame which will be hereafter described. The
gearing is carried
frame carries just in advance of the transverse wheel and skimmers a suitably
shaped blade or share J which when the implement is at work passes under the
ridge in which the potatoes are grown and raises and loosens the soil. The
skimmers then operate on the loosened soil containing the potatoes which comes
over the share.
The skimmers are formed like plough breasts, and may be flat, concave or convex
on the face, as required to suit the soil.
The points of the skimmers when they first enter the soil are nearly vertical to
the surface or side of the ridge and in passing through it they lift it, push it to the
rear and side and scatter it and with it the potatoes, turning and scattering the
soil thus the potatoes are separated and left on the surface. The distance to
which the potatoes are thrown varies with the angle and shape of the skimmers and
also with the speed at which they are rotated.
These skimmers may be made with a whole face as shown in the above Figures 1,
2 and 3 and also in Figure 4 or they may be made with part of the face cut away
as in Figures 5 and 6. In the latter case the earth is not so much moved as with
skimmers having a whole face.
The action of the skimmers is not that of a direct blow which a rotating prong
would give, but they have a lifting and sliding motion and handle the potatoes
gently so as not to bruise them. The share may be adjusted in depth by lowering
it in the frame and the skimmers may be adjusted to suit by lowering them on, or
with the radial arms, but the arrangement shown in the drawing is preferred. This
arrangement is the subject of a subsequent Patent application No. 11185 in the
year 1892 and it provides a ready and convenient method of adjustment by which
both the share and the skimmers are raised and lowered simultaneously maintaining
their relative positions.
:
The
According to this arrangement the lower frame K K which carries the axle of
the road wheels and the spur driving wheel E is distinct and separate from the
upper frame L L which carries the share and rotary skimmers at the rear.
upper frame L, L, is jointed to the lower frame K, K, by a transverse joint and
spindle M, N which also carries the spur pinion F driven from the spur wheel E
on the main axle and the bevel wheel G driving the bevel pinion H on the front
end of the shaft of the transverse rotary skimmer. To the fore part of the upper
frame L, L is rigidly attached the pole P and it is connected to the lower frame in
front by a connecting rod and a lever R which is retained at various positions as
required by a segmental rack and catch. By moving this lever the vertical distance
apart in front of the upper and lower frames can be adjusted. The effect of this is
to raise or lower the upper frame, and with it the share and the skimmers; and as
the other end of the pole is supported by the horses an almost vertical adjustment
of the share is obtained and the inclination or pitch of the share J is always
maintained.
Figure 7 is a drawing of the complete machine on a smaller scale showing the

page_text: pole and the very slight difference in the inclination of the share when in its highest
and lowest positions
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 :-
:-
A potatoe lifting machine having a transverse rotary wheel and skimmers
resembling small plough or digging breasts attached to the extremity of the arms
of the transverse rotary wheel, substantially as described.
Doted this 18th day of Tul, 1000
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.