Improved Potatoe Setting Machine.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Potatoe Setting Machine.
I, EDUARD SKORPIL of Nagy-Ugrócz in the Kingdom of Hungary Austrian
Empire, Farmer, 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 present invention relates to a machine for setting potatoes and consists
mainly in addition to the shear for digging the trench, of a device for dropping the
potatoes one at a time from the hopper of the machine into the trench and a rear
shear for covering the latter after the potatoes have been set.
The machine which constitutes the present invention is very simple in construction
and reliable in operation.
In order to make my invention more clear, I refer to the accompanying drawings
in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the several views.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine;
Fig. 2 is an end elevation;
Fig. 3 is a vertical section,
Fig. 4 a plan and
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of the scoop for distributing the potatoes.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 3. The machine has four wheels and is similar in
form to a four wheel plough, the front wheels being arranged pivotaly to facilitate
guiding the machine. It consists of the angle iron frame a on which the hopper
shaped casing & for holding the potatoes is adjustably mounted by means of the flat
iron brackets c which rest on the frame a. The latter are connected and stiffened
by the flat iron bar d (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), at the centre of which a small plummer
block e is arranged in which the longitudinal spindle y is mounted and secured
against thrust by means of the two collars ff. This spindle y runs centrally and
longitudinally under the potatoe hopper and is mounted at the front end of the
machine in the cross bar and at the back in cross bar i. The spindle is provided
with a screw thread j at the back end which fits in a nut k fixed to the cross bar i
so that the potatoe hopper 6 can be moved or adjusted backwards and forwards on
the frame a. The spindle g is provided with a crank on turning which the hopper
may be moved on the frame a by means of the thrust block e which connects the
spindle to the hopper.
In the front part of the hopper 6 one or more-in the drawing two-potatoe
distributers are arranged, consisting of the rotating chains running over chain
wheels or rolls m m' and provided with scoops each arranged to receive one potatoe
the whole device running in a shute p communicating with the hopper as shown in
the drawing. On rotating, each scoop take one potatoe, into the shute p carries the
same round the upper roll or chain wheel m' and then descends discharging the
said potatoe into the trench which has been previously dug by the front shears y of
the machine. Two rear shears then cover in the trench and the potatoes
are set. The hopper is divided transversely into two parts A and B by means
of a sliding partition s. The potatoes are thrown into the compartment A of the
hopper and pass from thence under the slides to a worm t mounted in the space B,
by which worm they are transported to the discharging shutes where they are
raised by the scoops oo and discharged one at a time into the trench. The worm t
has two double threads u and u' arranged to transport the potatoes in opposite
directions.
The distributors no as also the worm t are driven by the nave v of the hind
wheel by means of the driving pinion w keyed on the same (Fig. 1) the lower
shaft of the chain wheels m m being provided, with a cog and the worin.

page_text: spindle having cog y both being driven by means of the intermediate gearing 2.
The intermediate cog is so mounted that it may be exchanged for one of a
smaller or larger size and thus the speed of the distribution varied, whereby
a greater or less space is left between the potatoes planted or set.
The spindle y
carries two chain wheels a' a¹ one at the back and one at the front end, over which
chains ce run suspending the frame at the front and d' at the back of the
machine both frames having one end pivotally attached to the machine frame a.
The front frame 6' carries the trenching shears 77 adjustably arranged thereon,
whilst the rear frame d' carries the covering shears r r. On turning the
spindle in the direction of the arrow Fig. 2 the frames and will be raised by
means of chains c'e' and their respective shears set out of action whilst the hopper b
will be moved forwards thus disengaging the pinion from the driving pinion w and
stopping the distributors. A.ratchet wheel is keyed to the spindle which may
be arrested in any desired position by dropping the pawl g²..
9
g
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show various forms of scoops the first of which is a simple one
riveted to the chain # by means of a small flange formed in one piece with the
scoop. Eig. 6 shows a somewhat stronger form, of scoop supported by means of
bands riveted to the scoop and chain. Fig. 7 shows a scoop, o mounted on an
intermediate bracket connected at j' to the chain at its upper end and having
its foot lying loosely on the same. The scoop is riveted to the projection e¹ of
the bracket.
When this latter form of scoop is employed it is advantageous to dispense with
the transport worm, as the scoop has sufficient play to take up the potatoes without
the aid of the worm.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and the manner of performing the same what I claim is
In potatoe setting machines such as described and shown:
1. The scoops o, either with or without intermediate bracket attached to the
rotating chains substantially as described.
2. A transport worm t having two double threads and ¹ rumning in opposite
directions (right and left hand double threads) arranged as described and shown.
3. Adjustable shears arranged at the rear of the machine for the purpose
of covering in the trench after the potatoes have been set, substantially as
described..
Dated 27th June 1891.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.