AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DIGGING POTATOES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO DIGGING FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MACHINE FOR DIGGING POTATOES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO DIGGING FOR OTHER
PURPOSES. A Communication from abroad by William Hodge Burridge,
of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.
Sealed the 5th February 1867, and dated the 20th December 1866.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 20th December 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED MACHINE
FOR DIGGING POTATOES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO DIGGING FOR OTHER PURPOSES," and
have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn
Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad by William
Hodge Burridge, of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings making a part of this
Side
Figure 1 is a plan of the top of m proved machine; ri
elevation, Figure 3 a front elevation, and Figure 4 a rear elevation of the
said machine; Figure 5 represents detached portions of the same. Like
letters refer to the same parts in each of the Figures.
A is a frame, which may be constructed of wood or iron, and is mounted
upon a large wheel B; this frame is raised nearly to the top of the wheel B
by means of the pedestals C, by which it is connected to the said wheel. The
slotted arms D are secured at their upper ends to the frame A by the screws a,
the lower ends of the said arms being provided with the shoes E; F, are
cutting blades or shares; G is a table; G', a guide; H, a shield or cover; I
is a rake. A belt K is passed around the wheel B and over a smaller wheel J ;
to this belt a pair of curved forks is attached, and also a pair of bill spades
or spuds c, and a series of buckets d. Saw toothed cutters e are fixed to the
periphery of the sides of the wheel B; these sides project beyond the rim of
the wheel a distance equal to the depths of the forks b and spuds c, and form
on the sides of the said wheel deep flanges, between which the said forks and
spuds run; to operate with the said machine the same is placed upon a row
of potatoes; the flanges on the wheel B being close to the side of the said
row the team is then geared to the machine by the hook h, and the driver
takes his place in the rear, holding and guiding the said machine (as it moves
forward in its operation) by the handles L. The flanges of the wheel B have
a sharp cutting edge, and cut into the sides of the row, at the same time the
forks strike into the hill, lift it up, and carry it back. The rake I is also
forced into the ground on the opposite side of the hill at the same instant. By
this means the entire hill is lifted up and is carried back and upward around
the wheel B. The dirt and small potatoes during this movement are sifted
out between the prongs of the fork b and rake 1. The said fork is so shaped
us to make a sort of basket with the side of the belt K, when it has passed

page_text: the hill, and thereby prevents the potatoes from falling out while being carried
around the machine to the table G, upon which they fall. A bag may be
fastened to one side of the table G, into which bag the potatoes roll, being
conducted by the guide G¹. The said bag may be hung at either side of the
table G, as circunistances may require; or the potatoes may be dropped in a
row along the ground on either side of the machine by turning the table to
the right or to the left, which may be done by loosening the set screw i,
Figure 1. A slot is cut in the said table, which allows the latter to be turned
sidewise or end wise as circumstances may require.
This machine may be used for ditching in the following manner :-The
forks 6 and spuds c are removed from the belt K, leaving only the buckets d;
the rake I is also removed, and the scraper M, Figure 5, put in its place;
the shares F are lowered until their points are even with the edges of the
sides of the wheel B, as shown in Figure 1. The machine when thus
prepared is placed on the line of ditching, the team is attached, and the driver
takes his place, as in the former work. As the machine moves forward the
shares F cut down the side of the ditch until the buckets d reach the ground;
the said buckets are provided with sharp cutting edges or blades, and plough
into and take up the dirt, carrying it to and dropping it upon the table G,
from which it falls to the ground on either side of the ditch, the said table
being turned and the guide G' arranged for that purpose. The scraper M
being also provided with sharp edges cuts into and gathers up the dirt within.
range of the buckets d, so that the latter may take it up and convey it to the
table G, from which it slides to the ground. The depth of the ditch is
regulated or gauged by the shoe E, which is raised or lowered according to
the depth required.
This machine may be also used for trenching in the laying of pipes as
follows:-The spuds c are again fixed to the belt K, the section N being
substituted for the scraper M; this section is formed with a groove and a
cutting edge, the size of the said groove being equal to that of the pipe to be
laid; the machine is then placed on the line of work, and is operated
for this purpose substantially in the manner last described. The spades c in
revolving plough into the soil, loosening it so that the section N scrapes it up
and brings it within range of the buckets d, which as in the former case drop
it upon the table G. The section N being formed with a groove as above
described leaves in consequence a corresponding groove or channel at the
bottom of the work in which the pipe may be laid. The depth in this work
is also regulated by the gauge E. It is obvious that the operations of digging,
ditching, and trenching are effected from below upward, whereas the side

page_text: cutting by the shares F, the shovelling and scraping are effected in the
opposite direction. By this means the work is steadily and evenly performed
and cleanly finished. The blades or shares F and the toothed cutters e may
be removed when the machine is employed in ditching and trenching, if
desired.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practise, I claim,-
First, the rake I, wheel B (provided with flanges and cutters), belt K and
forks b, arranged in combination with the adjustable table G and guide G',
for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
Second, the shares F, saw toothed cutters e, scraper M, section N, and
adjustable guide G', when arranged to operate for the purpose and substan-
tially in the manner set forth.
Third, the wheel B, spuds c, scraper M, shares F, adjustable table G,
and guide G¹, when arranged for the purpose and substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
HENRY WILLIAM GILBY.