A Driving Gear for Attaching to Root Cutters and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Driving Gear for Attaching to Root Cutters and the like.
CHARLES HUTCHINSON, of Daisy Hill, Burstwick, Hull, Farmer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A driving gear for attaching to root cutters and the like is so constructed that
when it is fixed to a root cutter such as is generally used on a farm and the said
root cutter is caused to move along the ground, as for instance as when fastened
behind a moving cart containing the roots to be cut, the driving gear will then
turn the drum or disc belonging to the cutter and will cause the cutter to cut all
roots that may be put into it and they will be left cut up and scattered along the
ground for the convenience of cattle.
The driving gear consists of two travelling wheels A and B both of them
ridged to avoid slipping, the axle C, two bearing chairs D and E, two sprocket
wheels F and H and the endless chain K.
The two travelling wheels A and B which are about the usual size of cutter
wheels are fast to the axle C which axle is in the same position as an ordinary
axle on the cutter and it rotates in the chairs D and E which chairs can be fastened
to the back legs of any ordinary cutter by means of 4 bolts, also the sprocket
wheel F is fast on the axle C, between the chair E and the travelling wheel B,
and this wheel F is connected, by means of the endless chain K, with the sprocket
wheel H, which wheel H can be fastened to the drum or disc axle of any ordinary
turnip and root cutter.
Thus it will be seen that when the travelling wheels A and B turn so will the
axle C and also the sprocket wheel F on the axle C, which wheel F will by means
of the chain K turn the wheel H which is fast to the drum or disc axle and then
the drum or disc will rotate.
Dated this 29th day of Anril 1898
Big Car for Attaching to Root Cutters and the like,
I, CHARLES HUTCHINSON, of Daisy Hill, Burstwick, Hull, 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 object of my invention is to provide root cutting machines, that is turnip
cutters and the like, such as are generally used on farms, with a driving gear, so that
they can be taken into fields, and by the action of them being wheeled or drawn
along, they automatically cut the roots placed within the hopper or receiver, with-
[Price 8d7

page_text: out the necessity of the cutter being worked by hand as hitherto, but if desired,
the cutter can be operated by hand in the ordinary way.
Root cutters provided with my improvement can be attached to moving carts
containing the roots to be cut, as the cutter is drawn along; the driving gear will
turn the drum or disc provided with the cutters, such drum or the like and cutters
will revolve and cut the roots which are placed in the hopper, by this means the
roots will be cut up and distributed over the ground for the convenience of cattle
or the like as the machine moves along, thereby saving both time and labour.
Hitherto the roots have generally either been put into the fields whole for the
cattle to nibble at or have been cut up in the fold or other convenient place and
been distributed by hand, which is a slow and difficult process.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. Is a side view of a root cutting machine showing my improved driving
gear applied, the near travelling wheel being removed to more clearly show such
gear.
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Fig. 2. Is a back view of Fig. 1, but with both travelling wheels shown.
For the purpose of my invention, I employ two travelling wheels A and B
attached to the machine in the ordinary way, such travelling wheels being prefer-
ably ridged or provided with projections to prevent slipping, the axle C which takes
them being preferably supported by means of bearings D and E in the same
manner as are axles on ordinary root cutting machines, with the exception that
instead of the axle being a fixture as it is in ordinary machines it turns loosely in
the bearings when my improvements are applied; the travelling wheels A and B
being keyed or otherwise made fast to the axle, instead of them revolving loosely
on such axle as hitherto.
I employ two sprocket or gear wheels F and G and an endless chain, belt, strap
or the like H, one chain wheel F is fast on the axle C between the bearing E and
the travelling wheel B, and the other chain wheel G is fast on the axle which
takes the cutting drum or the cutters if no drum is employed, the endless chain
or 'the like passes over these two gear wheels and connects them, so that when one
turns the other turns at the same time, the chain wheel F being fast to the axle C
turns at the same time as the travelling wheels do, and by means of the chain turns
the gear wheel G which sets the cutters in motion, thus it will be seen that
as the cutting machine is wheeled along, the chain wheel F is set in motion and
turns the cutting drum or cutters by means of the chain H and chain wheel G
mounted on the cutter axle.
If desired, the axle C may be a fixture and the travelling wheels may be loose
thereon in the ordinary way, that is, the ends of the axle may be rounded so that
such travelling wheels will turn thereon, in this case one or other of the travelling
wheels may be provided with teeth to act as a chain wheel instead of employing
the wheel F, the chain would then be run from this combined chain and travelling
wheel to the chain wheel G.
In place of employing the chain H I may employ one or more intermediate gear
wheels fitted in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine between the gear
wheels F and G and running in contact with such gear wheels F and G.
It will be understood that more than one set of chain wheels and chains may be
employed if required to give greater strength for driving purposes.
If desired the chain or chains can be removed and the hand wheel employed,
thus allowing of the machine being turned by hand in the ordinary way.
The machine may be provided with a pole or poles for attachment to other
vehicles or it may have shafts for attaching to horses or simply the ordinary handles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. Providing rood cutting machines with a driving gear in the manner and for
-the purposes substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 2. The combination of a chain wheel or the like mounted on the axle which
takes the travelling wheels and a second chain wheel or the like mounted on the
axle which takes the cutters, such chain or the like wheels being connected by a
driving chain, strap, or band in the manner and for the purposes substantially as
shown and described. .
3. Constructing one or both of the travelling wheels as a combined travelling and
gear wheel and driving the machine from such travelling wheel by means of a
chain or its equivalent running over a gear or the like wheel on the axle which
takes the cutters in the manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and
described.
4. Dispensing with the chain or the like H and employing gear wheels between
the gear wheel F and the gear wheel G in the manner and for the purposes sub-
stantially as shown and described.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.