AN IMPROVED POTATO DIGGING AND COLLECTING MACHINE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Gibson Russell and Edward Fishwick, both of
Lancaster, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
POTATO DIGGING AND COLLECTING MACHINE."
Sealed the 27th February 1880, and dated the 4th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Gibson Russell and
Edward Fishwick at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th
September 1879.
EDWARD GIBSON RUSSELL and EDWARD FISHWICK, both of Lancaster, in the
County of Lancaster. AN IMPROVED POTATO DIGGING AND COLLECTING
MACHINE."
This Invention relates to the construction of an improved machine for digging
up and collecting potatoes clear of tops, weeds, and the like.
In carrying out our Invention we employ a suitable frame having four wheels,
the two rear wheels being the drive wheels, the other two wheels, which are smaller,
work in brackets to allow of regulating the depth of the share and to steady the
machine. In front of the machine a share, and on an axle above the share we
provide a suitable number of revolving forks or lifters, or instead of revolving forks
we may employ forks fixed to the lower ends of rods jointed near the middle to a
cranked axle, the other ends of the rods being jointed to the outer ends of levers,
the other ends of which work on a fulcrum on the frame. Motion is communicated
to the axle of the forks by a chain or its equivalent, operated by toothed pinions,
driven by a spur wheel on the main axle of the machine. In front of the cranked
forks is fitted a concaved roller, and disc cutters are provided, fixed to the sides of
An elevator
the machine for cutting the tops, and weeds overhanging the row.
consisting of an endless apron is provided, such elevator being driven by a pinion
operated by the herein before described spur wheel; behind the elevator is placed a
top and weed separator, consisting of endless bands having projecting teeth or spikes
passing over a drum driven by a chain from the pulley of the elevator or otherwise,

page_text: Beneath the separator, and behind the elevator, placed at a suitable angle, a
revolving riddle driven by gearing from the shaft of the elevator, or otherwise.
By this construction of machine, the soil and potatoes are first raised by the
share, and the potatoes are lifted by the forks on to the elevator, the overhanging
tops and weeds being first cut off by the disc cutters, the potatoes are raised by the
elevator, and the tops and weeds being separated by the herein before described
separator, the potatoes fall into the revolving. riddle which breaks and throws off
any soil adhering to the potatoes, and the potatoes pass into a suitable basket at
the side of the machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Gibson Russell and Edward Fishwick in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th March 1880.
EDWARD GIBSON RUSSELL and EDWARD FISHWIOK, both of Lancaster, in the
County of Lancaster.. "AN IMPROVED POTATO DIGGING AND COLLECTING
MACHINE."
This Invention relates to the construction of an improved machine for digging
up and collecting potatoes clear of tops, weeds, and the like.
In carrying out our Invention we employ a suitable frame having four wheels,
the two rear wheels being the bearing or driving wheels; the other two wheels
which are smaller, work in brackets to allow of regulating the depth of the share,
and to steady the machine. In front of the machine is a share, and on an axle
above the share we provide a suitable number of revolving forks or lifters, or instead
of revolving forks we may employ forks fixed to the lower ends of rods jointed near
the middle to a cranked axle, the other ends of the rods being jointed to.the outer
ends of the levers, the other ends of which work on a fulcrum on the frame.
Motion is communicated to the axle of the forks by a chain or its equivalent,
operated by toothed pinions, driven by a spur wheel on the main axle of the
machine. In front of the cranked forks may be fitted a concaved roller, and diso
cutters are provided fixed to the sides of the machine for cutting the tops and
weeds overhanging the row. An elevator consisting of an endless apron is provided,
such elevator being driven by a pinion operated by the hereinbefore described spur
wheel; behind the elevator is placed a top and weed separator, consisting of endless
bands, having projecting teeth or spikes passing over a drun driven by a chain
from the pulley of the elevator, or otherwise. Beneath the separator, and behind
the elevator, is placed at a suitable angle a revolving riddle or other suitable
arrangement driven by gearing from the shaft of the elevator or otherwise.
But to make our Invention better understood, we will now proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1, Sheet 1,
represents a side elevation of a machine or apparatus for raising or digging up and
collecting potatoes clear of weeds, tops, and the like, constructed according to our
Invention; Figure 2, Sheet 1, is a plan view of the same; Figure 3, Sheet 2, is an
end view of the same, standing at the rear of the machine; Figure 4, Sheet 2, is a
side elevation of the share on a larger scale; Figure 5, Sheet 2, plan of the same;
Figure 6, Sheet 3, is a side view; Figure 7 a plan, and Figure 8, an end view of a
slightly modified construction of our improved machine, and Figure 9, a view
shewing a modified arrangement of the forks. Similar letters of reference in all
the Figures represent similar or corresponding parts..
I will first describe the machine shewn in Sheets 1 and 2.
A, A; is the frame of the machine which is bound together by cross bars at desired
distances, the said frame being supported by two bearing wheels B, B, and on each
nave is cast a ratchet box B', B', pawl holders B2, B2, being pinned to the axle B³ ;
C, C, are the two smaller wheels in front, working in the brackets C¹, C¹, by means
of set screws in the said brackets, whereby we allow of regulating the depth of the
share, which share is hereinafter described. D is the large spur wheel upon the
axle B, such spur wheel working loose upon the said axle, but having a notched
nave D which is acted upon by the sliding clutch D on the axle B3; the said
clutch is moved by means of the eccentric D³ connected to the spindle D*, and acted
upon by the handle D³, by which means the.machine is put in work or out of work
as required.
Gearing with the said spur wheel D, and driven by it, is the small toothed
pinion wheel E which is keyed on the spindle E', and upon this spindle there are
also two sprocket wheels E and Es, by which the endless apron is worked, the
lower end of the said apron running upon two guide pullies or rollers E³ and E³,

page_text: keyed on the spindle E7, having its bearings in the two side plates F. F; these side
plates are fixed to the sides of the frame A, A, by means of bolts, and to the said
side plates F, F, is bolted a scoop shaped share Ġ having straight bars G¹, forming a
grate extending from the point of the share to the lower end of the endless apron
E, as shewn in Figure 1, Sheet 1.
We make the said share moveable, to allow of using shares of vorious sizes,
shapes, and construction, so that the most suitable share can be used for the different
lands; the said herein before described share is shewn in detached enlarged view in
Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 2.
Above the share are the forks H, H, fixed to the cranked axle H¹, secured on the
topside of the frame A, A, by means of pedestals H2, H3, and jointed near the
middle, and secured by caps H, H, to the cranked axle H¹; the other ends of the
rods are jointed to the outer ends of the levers H, H, which work on a fulcrum
H on the frame A, A.
Motion is communicated to the cranked axle H' by the endless chain I running
on two sprocket wheels I', I, operated by the toothed pinions Iº, I, driven by the
hereinbefore described spur wheel D on the main axle B³.
To the rear of the machine, a little distance from, but higher than the endless
apron E is the separator, consisting of a second apron K, formed of lattice work,
having cross bars K', K', at equal distances apart, and rivetted in these cross bars
are the spikes K2, K2, K2; the endless apron is acted upon by the chain K³, the said
chain being worked by the sprocket wheel K on the spindle E¹, the chain running
on to the sprocket wheel K³, giving motion to the spindle K°; upon the said spindle
there are two sprocket wheels L, L, which move the endless apron K; the lowest
part of the said endless apron is guided by two guide pullies or rollers L¹, L', and
at the highest part the said apron is guided by the two guide pullies or rollers
L, L3, which pullies are keyed on spindles L³ and L which run in pedestals fixed
to the side of the machine frame at the position shewn in Figure 1, Sheet 1.
Immediately underneath the upper end of the endless apron E is a grating M,
constructed of iron bars placed in a slanting direction, as shewn in Figure 1, Sheet 1;
below the said grating M is a third endless apron N, running from right' to left of
the machine as shewn in Figure 2, Sheet 1, and Figure 3, Sheet 2; motion is given
to the said apron N by means of bevel wheels N¹, on the end of the spindle KⓇ,
gearing with a smaller bevel wheel N keyed on the top of the vertical spindle N³,
the small bevel toothed wheel N', keyed to the lower end of the said spindle N³,
working into the bevel wheel N³ on the spindle of the outer end of the said apron
N; the said vertical spindle is supported by the bracket O at the top, and the step
bracket O' at the bottom, each bracket being bolted to the frame of the machine as
shewn in Figure 1, Sheet 1, and Figure 3, Sheet 2.
On the side of the machine is placed a moveable platform P, fixed to the frame by
means of hooks; upon the said platform is placed a basket P¹, or other receptacle.
The platform can be moved at pleasure. The machine has a pole Q, which is
connected to the sides of the frame A, A, by means of the curved brackets Q', Q'
The machine is drawn from the front by a hook, by means of whiffle trees; on
the pole Q is fixed a bracket R; on the said bracket works a ratchet R, and by
means of the lever R2, the machine can be lifted out and clear of the ground for
turning at headlands, or for travelling by road.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The soil and potatoes are first raised
by the share G, and the potatoes are lifted by the forks H onto the apron or
elevator E, and are raised by the elevator; the tops and weeds are separated by
the separator K, K1, K2, as the potatoes fall onto the grating M, from whence the
potatoes pass onto the apron N, which breaks and throws off any soil adhering
to the potatoes, and the potatoes pass into the basket P' placed on the moveable
platform P.
The construction of the machine shewn in Sheet 3, is with slight modification,
substantially the same as that shewn in sheets 1 and 2, and hereinbefore described.
It will be seen however in the machine shewn in Sheet 3, that the forks H revolve
..
..

page_text: on the axle H¹, operated by the endless chain I. In front of the forks is a concaved
roller, and a, a, a, are disc cutters fixed to the side of the machine for cutting the
tops and weeds overhanging the row. In this arrangement instead of the grating
M, and endless apron N, shewn in Sheet 1, we employ the revolving riddle b, placed
at an angle as shewn.
The operation of this modified construction of apparatus will be understood
without further description, being substantially the same as that shewn in
Sheet 1.
Figure 9, Sheet 3, shews a somewhat similar arrangement of the forks to that
shewn in Sheet 1, but in the arrangement shewn in Figure 9, Sheet 3, the forks are
placed in front of the wheel C.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the best means with
which we are acquainted for carrying the same into effect, we wish it to be under-
stood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein laid down and
shewn in the Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the
peculiar character of our Invention. But what we do claim is:-
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of the improved potato
digging and collecting machine operating substantially as hereinbefore described
and represented in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, and Figure 3, Sheet 2, of the
accompanying Drawings, or the modified construction of machine shewn in Sheet 3
of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and employment in potato digging machines, of the
cranked forks arranged and operating substantially, as hereinbefore described and
represented in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, and Figure 3, Sheet 2, and Figure 9,
Sheet 3, of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The construction and employment of the revolving forks as hereinbefore
described and shewn in Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet 3 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourthly. The weed and top separators, as herein before described and shewn in
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, and Figure 3, Sheet 2, and Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet 3 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Fifthly. The construction and employment of the endless apron N, as and for the
purpose described and represented in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, and Figure 3, Sheet
2 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixthly. The employment of the revolving riddle, as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet 3, of the accompanying
Drawings.
Seventhly. The use of a concaved roller in combination with disc cutters, as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and represented in Figure 6, Sheet 3, of the
acccompanying Drawings.
Eighthly. The construction and employment of the spiked share, as hereinbefore
described and represented in Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 2, of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Gibson Russell, for and on behalf
of myself and the said Edward Fishwick, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty
EDWARD GIBSON RUSSELL. (L.S.)