Improvements in the Manufacture of Barrel Root Cutters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan, 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Barrel Root Cutters.
I EDMUND ERNEST BENTALL of Heybridge, near Maldon, in the County of
Essex, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements upon the Patent granted to Frank
William Bentall dated December 6th 1886, No. 15952, for improvements in the
manufacture of root cutters, strippers, and pulpers, so far as respects the barrel
constructed of detachable segments.
The object of the invention is to effect an economy in the repair of barrel root
cutters, by providing not merely for the removal of a damaged segment, but also
of an injured knife or knives of a segment, and of the ready renewal of the same,
without the aid of an expert.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shews in end view a root cutter barrel complete constructed according to
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the barrel, taken through the junction line of two
adjacent segments.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the segments of which the barrel is composed;
and
Fig. 4 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 5 is an inverted plan of a portion of one of the segments, shewing the
form of the casting, and the mode of attaching the knives thereto.
Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 1-2 of Fig. 5.
Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modification of the mode of attaching the knives to
the segment.
Referring to Fig. 1, A is a wheel of cast iron, from the periphery of which
project, on either edge thereof, six lugs a, for the reception of bolts by which
the segments composing the periphery of the barrel are held fast to the wheel.
B B are four segments of cast iron, so shaped as to overlap and interlock with
one another.
bb are lugs cast on one edge of the segment, and sunk to a depth corresponding
with the thickness of the segment they are intended to receive, as shewn at. Fig. 1,
where the adjacent segment will be seen to bed upon the lugs.
The opposite edge of the segment is cast with projections b; which underlie the
next adjacent segment, and upon this segment corresponding projections are
formed, which underlie the first mentioned segment.
This arrangement will be best understood by reference to Fig. 2, which shews
the pairs of projections of two adjacent segments-all in cross section,-and
indicates an interlocking of the segments, as mentioned above.
Each segment B is pierced with three holes for receiving the bolts 62, which
pass through the lugs a of the wheel A, and are made fast thereto by nuts.
3 are the bolts which connect the segments firmly together,-holes being made
in the segment that overlaps the lugs b, for receiving the bolts 63, which are made
fast by nuts.
The segments, it will be seen, when put together, give the barrel two diameters,
the raised portions or larger diameter extending from the outer edges of what we
may call segment 1, in a zig-zag fashion, and across segment 2 to a central

page_text: point near the further edge of that segment, where, in making a sudden
descent, it meets with segment 3, which, at its adjacent edge, takes the smaller
diameter.
The larger diameter of the barrel recommences at the opposite edges of the
third segment, and continues, as before described, until it reaches near to the
further edge of segment 4, where a junction is effected with segment 1.
In the segment castings, rectangular holes are formed (two sides of which are
at the higher level, and two at the lower level), to receive cranked knives C,
formed out of strips of sheet steel, which are secured in place by bolts and nuts,
the cutting edges standing flush with the raised portion of the segment. In rear of
the knives, the raised and sunk portions of the segment are connected by vertical
walls which occupy the spaces between the openings for the knives.
On the underside of the segment, zig-zag flanges B are cast (see Figs. 5 and 6),
with lateral holes to receive bolts e for securing the knives in place.
These zig-zag flanges, which serve to carry the knives, are readily moulded, and
add materially to the strength of the segments at their weakest parts.
As the knives are secured in position by tightening up the nuts on the bolts c,
it will be understood that, in the event of any one of the knives breaking during the
working of the root cutter, the attendant has merely to remove the nut and bolt
by means of a spanner, in order to replace the injured knife by a new one, and
then to fix a new knife in place as before.
Similarly, if, by any accident, a segment is broken, it may be removed by
withdrawing the three bolts 63, and replaced by a new one, without recourse heing
had to an expert to effect the repair.
As a modification of my invention, I propose, in some cases, to secure the
knives in place by means of rivets. This plan is illustrated at Figs. 7 and 8,-
Fig. 7 being a partial plan view of a cast iron segment B, shewing two knives C
in position, and Fig. 8 a section through one of the knives, in the line 3-4
of Fig. 7.
The segment casting is somewhat modified, to enable it to receive the modified
form of knife, which consists of a strip of sheet steel, bent so as to form two inner
and two outer angles. The vertical sides of this knife (see Fig. 8) are of different
depths, the one corresponding with the thickness of the segment casting, and
the other with that thickness, plus the difference of level between the higher and
lower surfaces of the segment.
The knife is secured in place by means of rivets e e passed through the ends of
the steel strip, and through the segment casting.
To provide for the ends of the strip bedding upon the inner face of the segment,
the zig-zag flange of Fig. 5 is done away with, but, in other respects, the segment
castings are similar to those above described.
The removal of a broken knife is readily effected by striking off the heads of the
rivets by a chisel, and a new knife can then be applied, and secured in place by
the simple operation of rivetting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The construction and fitting up of segment barrel root cutters as above
described, whereby the barrel, if injured, may be renewed in portions, and any
defect in the knives may be made good, without sacrificing such knives or portions
of the barrel as remain uninjured.
Dated this 11th dox of January 1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.