Pickers for Cotton Harvesters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1893
עעעע VVIII
Pickers for Cotton Harvesters.
I, GERARD BEEKMAN of No. 5, East 34th Street, New York, County and
State of New York, United States of America, Lawyer, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
My invention relates to what may be termed torsional pickers or those which are
adapted to adhere to and extract cotton by means of their rapid rotation on their
own axes, while searching the plant.
In my United States Letters Patent No. 427,218, dated May 6, 1890, and in sub-
sequent United States Patents, I have shown and described a picker consisting in
a flexible rotary shaft, or string, or cord, projecting beyond the elastic arm, which
contains and supports the picker so as to present an elongated free end thereof
having a fibrous, barbed, or other suitably roughened surface adapted for adhesion.
As soon as the picker obtains å hold upon the fibres of the cotton in the plant its
pull will constantly increase, both by the wrapping of the cotton fibres around the
picker, and also by the tendency to twist the cotton fibres into a rope beyond
the end of the picker, and thus extract all the cotton from the bottom of the boll.
The object of my present invention is to extend the efficiency of the picker
by so constructing it as to ensure its access to every part of the cotton plant.
When the
My invention consists in a rotary picking stem having at its extremity a plurality
of sub-stems attached to and rotating with said main stem. The device thus
composed is of tassel-like form, and when it revolves, the individual strands, which
are free at their extremities, expand centrifugally, thereby extending over a larger
area than would be covered by the free extremity of a single strand.
centrifugally separated sub-stems encounter the cotton in the boll of the plant, one
or more of them is arrested, and the rest following in the circle of rotation, are
thrown together therewith, and the collected strands then knit themselves into the
cotton and twist together therewith and with each other, forming an effective
extractor, while the machine advances.
Having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:
Figure 1, is a sectional elevation of a group of my improved pickers, showing
one suitable form of mechanism for rotating them rapidly;
Figure 2, a horizontal section of Figure 1, taken on the line x-x, further
showing the plurality of pickers in the group;
Figure 3, diagramatic projection showing the relative position of the centrifugal
pickers when expanded;
Figure 4, an enlarged view, showing in detail one suitable form of construction
of the pickers; the parts appearing in section, and the position of the sub-stems
being
that occupied when at rest;
Figure 5, a side elevation of the picker, indicating the position of the sub-stems
when centrifugally separated during rotation;
Figure 6, indicates the manner in which the cotton is seized when encountered by
the picker;
Figure 7, shows in perspective some of the details of suitable construction of
the parts in Figure 4;
Figure 8, is an enlarged sectional side elevation showing a second form or
modification in the construction of the picker;
Figures 9, 10 and 11, are detail views sectionally showing the parts in Figure 8,
detached ;

page_text: construction; and
Figures 13, and 14, detail views.of the detached parts of Figure 12;
Figure 15, illustrates the operation of the device shown in Figures 12, 13, 14;
the parts appearing in section; and also illustrates a feature of modification of
said device;
Figure 16, represents a fourth form or modification of construction of the
multiple picker; and
Figure 17, indicates the mode of construction of said form.
The mechanism embodied in Figures 1 and 2, is illustrated as exemplary of
suitable means for operating the pickers, although my present invention is in no
way limited to such specific form of driving mechanism. Said driving mechanism
is. similar in general features to that described and claimed in a separate application,
for a Patent of Great Britain, No. 23,935 of 1892, in which there are several such
_picker cases or groups of pickers as shown herein in Figure 1, attached to a rotary
frame whereby each group of pickers is revolved backward in an orbit at substan-
tially the same rate of speed as the motion of the harvester over the ground.
Thus a retrograde movement of the pickers is obtained, whereby they advance and
retreat among the branches of the bush, travelling with the same, and search for
every ripe portion of cotton that may be exposed.
The mechanism in Figures 1, and 2, consists in a driving shaft A, bearing
friction rollers B, upon which the bobbins C, are pressed into contact by the idle
spindles D, supported in suitable bearings in the case F. Each bobbin C, bears
two flexible shafts or stems E, projecting in each direction from its axis, supporting
the picking device. The case F, is provided with flexible arms G, composed of
coiled wire or other material which will yield when in contact with the branches of
the plant. The shafts E, rotate freely in the tubular arms G.
I have shown the extremities of the shafts E, in Figures 1, and 2, as located at
variable distances from the case F, so that alternate members of the pickers
designated by the numeral 1 in Figures 1, 2, and 3, project further from said case
than the remaining alternate members designated by the numerals 2. Interference
is thus avoided between the extremities of adjacent sets of sub-stems when they are
revolved. The feature of placing the different pickers some in advance and others
in retired positions, thus herein illustrated, is applicable to other forms of picking
stems than those of the character herein claimed.
The construction in Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, is as follows:
The ends of the rotary shafts or stems E, as shown in Figure 4, have collars H,
firmly secured to them, and to these collars H, are secured the series of sub-stems I,
having free extremities. The collar H, has perforations a, shown in Fig. 7, for the
reception of the sub-stems I, which are knotted at their inner ends and, inserted
through said perforations. The shank J, of the collar H, externally screw-
threaded, and a retaining nut b, is screwed thereon so as to compress or confine the
knots in the sub-stems and prevent their displacement. The secure attachment of
the main rotary stem E, to the collar H, and its shank.J, is effected by means of a
triangular hole c, through which the end of said shaft E, is drawn and knotted at d,
as appears in Figure 4. The collar b, serves to enclose the end of the flexible
tubular arm G,.and guard the shaft therein so as to prevent the cotton being caught.
thereon or forming an obstruction to the operation of the machine.
It will be seen that by means of the above-described construction, the individual
sub-stems I, when worn or injured, may be easily removed and replaced inde-
pendently by unscrewing the collar b, a short distance and without disturbing the
shaft E, which is adapted to yield with a sufficient outward motion by, reason of
its flexibility to, permit such withdrawal of the collar b, against the extremity of
the tubular arm G.
The construction in Figures 8, to 10, inclusive, is as follows:.
The inner end of the sub-stems I, are knotted together at d, as in Figure 11, and
inserted through the opening e. in the end of the thimble K. shown in Figure 9.

page_text: The thimble K, is provided with an interior screw-thread_f, Figure 9, whereby it
is adapted to be screwed upon the end of the main stem E, composed of leather,
or other suitable material. If the material employed be compressible, as in the
case of leather, the end of the shaft E, may be left blank, as seen in Figure 10,
adapting itself to the screw-thread f, when the thimble is turned in place, securing
it firmly thereon. Owing to the extremities of the shafts E, being rotated in
different directions according as they are connected to the upper and lower ends of
the bobbins C, the screw-threads f, in the modification of Figure 8, should be cut
right and left accordingly.
The modification shown in Figures 12, 13, and 14, consist as follows:
The sub-stems I, are jointed to the barbed shanks g, so as to move freely in all
directions. The shanks 9, are adapted for being secured to a shaft E, into which
the barbs h, of said shanks are pressed when placed in position, and a collar i, is
afterwards pushed forwards so as to envelope and bind the several said shanks. In
Figure 14, one of the several stems I, thus constructed is shown. This species of
modification in the mode of attachment is especially adapted to the employment of
wires to compose the sub-stems 1. The wires designed to be so employed are
coated with suitable material for promoting their adherence to the cotton, such, for
example, as liquid india rubber, into which the wires are immersed, and afterwards
dried.
The collar i, may be modified in its position and also flared at its extremity if
desired, as indicated in Figure 15, whereby to restrain the centrifugal separation of
the wires I, and prevent their being entangled about the arm G, bearing them
when they are covered with cotton or partially so. The collar i, thus modified also
serves to restrain or limit the angular motion of the wires I, with reference to the
extremity of the shaft E, so that when the said wires engage with the cotton bush
and detain the extremity of the shaft E, as the machine progresses, a too abrupt
angle for the transmission of motion is prevented.
Figure 15, indicates the position referred to, and shows the temporarily curved
position of the shaft E, and the elastic arm G, due to its resiliency during the act
of pulling the cotton from the boll.
In Figures 16, and 17, I illustrate a modification wherein the multiple picking
strands I, are bound together or formed into a single stem beyond the end of the
arm G, by means of a winding cord or wire e. In its application to the flexible
character of the stems I, such as in Figure 8, the mode of attachment of such stem
corresponds to that in said figure. Figure 17, indicates that said strands I, may
be composed of looped strings knotted at d, each having both free ends utilized to
form the pickers. The assembled knots of the loops are together inserted in the
thimble K, and attached to the shaft E, while at a suitable distance from the said
thimble the strands are bound together by the binder e. The stem portion of the
picker thus formed is somewhat resilient, and may, if desired, be given increased
resiliency by the introduction of a wire spring through its structure. In its
application to the rigid character of stems I, or wires such as in Figures 12, to 15,
inclusive, the feature in Figure 16, may be modified by the employment of
universal joints at the point k, where said wires diverge from the stem e.
Such
universal joints may be of the same character as those shown between the parts I,
and g, in Figures 13, 14, and 15. The purpose of the modification in Figure 16, is
that of preventing a too abrupt angle between any of the sub-stems or wires I, and
the axis of the shaft E, during the act of rotation, when the parts are in a position
corresponding to that in Figure 15, and moreover, the flanged collar i, may be
used in conjunction with the stem e, at the part k, thereof; the stem and collar
co-operating to the common end of preventing the stems I, from doubling back on
the shaft or flexible arm bearing them, when the same is advanced end wise into
the bush.
The part e, in Figure 16, constitutes substantially a flexible extension of the.
shaft E, which itself forms a picker beyond the end of the arm or sheath G.
The main stem or rotary shaft E, may be composed of any suitable material
อ

page_text: such as porpoise hide, or cord, or coiled wire flexible shafting. The sub-stems I,
may also be composed of different suitable material, such as wire, cord, or
roughened or coated needles, or may be of such various character as described in
my aforesaid United States Letters Patent No. 427,218. The sub-stems I may be
either flexible or rigid, as also the main stem or shaft E, may be either flexible as
shown, or rigid when projected in a rectilinear axis.
In operation, the multiple stems I, of the picker, being centrifugally separated
as in Figure 5, by rotation of the shaft E, during the advancement of the machine
in contact with the rows of cotton plants, and the plurality of pickers thus
composed and adjacently located in the relation indicated in Figure 3; the entire
area or space occupied by the branches of the plant and intervening them, will be
searched. When one or more of the multiple strands or sub-stems I, encounters a
a portion of cotton in the boll of the plant, at whatever portion of their orbit about
the axis of the main stem E, such one or more sub-stems I, will become arrested at
its extremity; but owing to the continuing rotation of the main stem E, the
remaining-stems I, will quickly follow and entwine-themselves together and with
the cotton so as to knit into the same in the manner illustrated in Figure 6. As the
machine progresses in its travel, the cotton thus adhering securely to the multiple
strands, is spun upon itself into a rope-like form and withdrawn from the boll.
The operation of the wires or needles shown in Figure 12, is substantially the
same as above described, with reference to the Figure 6, excepting that the sub-
stems thus rigidly composed assume a spirally crossed position as indicated in
Figure 15, when entwined with the cotton; the cotton being similarly extracted in
all substantial respects.
Each individual sub-stem I, at its initial contact with the cotton in the boll, has
its centrifugal rotary motion arrested. The other centrifugally rotating sub-
stems I, swing into contact with the sub-stems thus arrested and tend to rope
themselves about it so as to engage with the cotton adjacent thereto, as in Figure 6,
more effectively than could a single stem engage, which I have heretofore described
in my aforesaid United States Letters Patent. The action of any individual
stem I, forming the radius of a centrifugally developed circle is thus capable, by
its contact with the cotton, of conveying or transmitting the rotation of the main
stem E, in any divergent direction. As compared with the former devices, it will
be seen, therefore, that the searching capacity of my present picking device is
enlarged from the axis of the rotation that would be occupied by a single stem or
picker to the area of a circle having a radius approximately the length of the
sub-stems or pickers I, as shown.
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 :-
1. In cotton picking device, combination of a main rotary stem or shaft, and
a plurality of flexibly attached subordinate stems branched therefrom having
independent extremities.
2. In a picker for cotton harvesters, the combination of a main rotary stem, a
plurality of flexibly attached sub-divisional stems having free extremities, each
revolving about the axis of the said main stem, and adapted to diverge centri-
fugally when the latter is rotated, and to rope upon themselves when arrested in
their orbit of centrifugal rotation, for the purpose described.
3. In a picker for cotton harvesters, a main rotary stem, a non-rotary sheath
containing the same, a flexible extension of the main stem projecting beyond the
sheath, and at the extremity of said flexible extension a series of subordinate stems"
adapted to be separated centrifugally by the rotation of the said main stem.
4. In a picker for cotton harvesters, a main flexible rotary stem, a flexible sheath
for containing the same, and at the extremity of said stem a multiple stem picker,
substantially as described.
5. The combination in a picking device for cotton harvesters, with a suitable

page_text: support, of an aggrouped series of rotary picking stems projecting horizontally
therefrom; the extremities of alternate members of said stems occupying a
comparatively advanced position, and those of the remaining alternate members
a comparatively retired position of projection beyond the said support, for the
purpose described.
Dated this 28th day of December 1892.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.