Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning and Peeling Potatoes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning and Peeling Potatoes.
We, WILLIAM HENRY TOOTILL, Machinist, JOSEPH SNAPE, Machinist,
HENRY WOOD, Engine Turner, and FRED WOOD, Engine Turner, all of Victoria
Works, Radcliffe in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed to provide a cheap and efficient machine for washing
and peeling potatoes which can be easily worked.
It consists essentially of a hollow rotating cylinder or barrel to receive the
potatoes lined or covered internally with perforated sheet steel placed in strips or
otherwise and an inner roller or cylinder also covered with perforated steel which
rotates with or in an opposite direction to the outer cylinder the roughened surfaces
formed by the burrs of the perforations acts upon the potatoes to clean them and
scrape off the skin.
In carrying out the invention we form the hollow rotating cylinder preferably
with laths with spaces between each or with large holes or perforations through
which water or dirt can pass but not large enough to allow the potatoes to fall
through. The inner side of these laths are covered with or between alternate
ones are placed perforated sheet steel the perforations having been punched therein
and the burr allowed to remain to form a rough or abrasive surface around the
perforations.
Inside the hollow rotating cylinder is placed a roller or second cylinder covered
with a similar sheet of perforated steel the burrs again being to the outside. The
roller may either be stationary or caused to rotate in the same direction as the
outer cylinder or in the opposite direction thereto in the latter case_suitable
gearing or straps will be provided to give the required movement to the roller.
The outer cylinder will rotate in a trough or box which can be filled with water
the water entering through the perforations into the interior of the cylinder.
In addition to the inner roller or cylinder two or more similar rollers or cylinders
may be fitted inside the outer cylinder to increase the abrasive effect.
The outer cylinder need not necessarily be cylindrical in shape as it may be
octagonal or other shape and it may be rotated by hand or by power.
The potatoes are placed inside the outer cylinder which is then rotated and
they are thrown against the abrasive surface of the perforated steel both on the
inside of the cylinder and on the roller or rollers thereby removing both dirt and
skin. The water splashes through upon the potatoes as the cylinder revolves and
carries away all dirt and skin as it is peeled off and at the same time keeps the
perforations clear and open.
Dated this 16th day of Murch 1909
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Oleaning and Peeling Potatoes.
We, WILLIAM HENRY TOOTILL, Machinist, JOSEPH SNAPE, Machinist, both
of Victoria Works, Radcliffe, in the County of Lancaster, HENRY WOOD, Engine
Turner, of Spring Lane, Radcliffe, aforesaid, and FRED WOOD, Engine Turner,
of Mather Street. Radcliffe aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this
TD 31

page_text: can at one time be efficiently washed and peeled the operation or wincu
easy and convenient.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. front elevation partly in section.
Fig. 2. end elevation.
Fig. 3. transverse sectional elevation.
Fig. 4. alternate arrangement of gear wheels.
A horizontal rotating cylinder A. mounted in a trough B is constructed to receive
the potatoes lined or covered internally with perforated sheet steel a the perfora-
tions having been punched therein and the burrs allowed to remain to form a
rough or abrasive surface around the perforations. The cylinder A is formed
closed at the ends with laths a¹ secured to metal ends A' having spaces between
them through which water or dirt can pass but not wide enough to allow the
potatoes to fall through. The laths a' may be either straight or bevelled or
partially rounded on their inner surfaces. Instead of being formed of laths the
cylinder may be formed with a number of holes or perforations large enough to
allow of the passage of dirt and water. To the inner sides of the laths a¹ the
perforated sheet steel a is attached the burr on which forms a rough or abrasive
surface over the interior of the cylinder. The cylinder is provided with a door or
lid A which can be opened or removed as required.
Inside the horizontal rotating cylinder A is placed a second horizontal cylinder
or roller C the periphery of which is also covered with perforated sheet steel a
the burrs again being on the outside. The roller C may be perfectly cylindrical or
if desired the surface may be corrugated or otherwise indented to present an
uneven surface to the potatoes. The roller C is caused to rotate in the opposite
direction to the cylinder A by means of suitable gearing, straps or belts. At
present the spindle or pivots D upon which the roller C rotates pass through hollow
pivots or shafts D' at each end of the cylinder A and on each is a bevel wheel Ẹ
and E geared together by the carrier wheel supported by the swan neck
bracket. The handle F is placed upon the end of the shaft D and as it is
rotated it rotates the bevel wheel E' and the cylinder A in the opposite direction.
Instead of the bevel wheels E E' which are shown to rotate the cylinder a series
of pinion wheels gearing together as shown in Fig. 4 or other arrangement of
gearing may be employed to give the desired movement, or where power is used
gearing may be dispensed with and two pulleys may be placed on the machine
with a separate strap driving on to each.
The trough B in which the horizontal cylinder A rotates is constructed of
galvanised sheet metal of hopper shape as shown with the bottom inclined in two
directions towards one end that is inclined from back to front and from one-end to
the other so that the potatoes or accumulated water and dirt inside will flow or
fall towards one end. The trough is provided with a tap 6 through which water
can be run off and with a trap door B through which potatoes or an accumulation
of dirt and skins can be removed.
The outer cylinder A and the inner roller C need not necessarily be actually of
cylinder shape as they may be octagonal or of any other polygonal or convenient
shape.
The potatoes are placed inside the horizontal rotating cylinder A through the
lid A" the cylinder being preferably about half filled and the trough B' is partially
filled with water. The handle is turned rotating the cylinder A in one direction
and the roller C in the opposite direction and as the cylinder rotates the potatoes
are rubbed against the abrasive surface of the perforated, sheet steel on the cylinder
and as they tumble over they are also brought into contact with the abrasive
surface of the roller which also accelerates their movement. The action of the

page_text: abrasive surfaces of the cylinder and the roller upon the potatoes removes both dirt
and skin. The water splashes through upon the potatoes as the cylinder revolves
and carries away all dirt and the skin as it is peeled off into the trough below the
cylinder. To remove the potatoes the water is run off by the tap 6 the door B¹ opened
and the dirt and peel removed, the door A" of the cylinder is then removed and on
turning the cylinder the potatoes run from the cylinder into the trough and from
thence through the door B' into a basket, bucket or other receptacle placed to
receive them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a machine for cleaning and peeling potatoes the combination of a horizontal
rotating cylinder lined with perforated sheet steel, an inner roller rotating in the
opposite direction covered with perforated sheet steel, a water trough in which the
cylinder rotates with the bottom inclined in two directions towards one end, provided
with a run off tap and a trap door through which the potatoes can run out when
finished and suitable gear for actuating the cylinder and roller in opposite directions
substantially as described.