Improvements in Machines for Spraying Potato Plants.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Spraying Potato Plants.
I, THOMAS JOSEPH ROBINSON, of Mullagh, Killyleagh, County Down, Ireland,
Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in appliances designed for spraying
potatoes or turnips whilst growing in fields for the purpose of removing blight
or desease therefrom, such spraying of the growing plants now coming into more
general practice and heretofore it has been almost entirely done by manual labour
and was of necessity a laborious and expensive operation. The object of the
present invention is to provide a machine or appliance for the spraying of the
plants, such appliance or machine being actuated by horse power so that a
much greater quantity of work can be done at a less expenditure of labour. The
invention consists of a tank or barrel for containing the dressing with which the
plants are to be sprayed together with a flexible tube and nozzles by means of
which the dressing is carried to and sprayed onto the plants or between the rows
of plants. Provision is also made for putting the several parts out of operation
by the aid of one lever which cuts off the supply, puts the gear out of operation,
and raises the spraying nozzles at the same time. The whole appliance is carried
on a pair of wheels with shafts after the manner of an ordinary tank cart or
water cart.
According to this invention I employ a tank or barrel carried on a frame with
shafts and on a pair of wheels, and the whole is somewhat like an ordinary tank
or water cart. Inside the tank or barrel is a pump the piston of which is operated
by a cross head and connecting rods the latter being attached to cranks on a cross
shaft on which is a pinion gearing with and driven by a wheel on the main axis
of the cart or vehicle. The cranks actuate the pump and the latter agitates the
liquid in the tank or barrel and prevents sediment collecting therein. Connected
with the pump is a flexible tube also connected with an air chamber and the outer
end of the tube extends to within a short distance of the ground behind the cart
or tank and terminating in nozzles or spraying devices. The flexible tube is pro-
vided with a valve and is also divided and connected to an eccentric or cam like
device, and the latter and the valve and also the pinion wheel. on the cross shaft
are all connected to one lever so that the attendant on the machine can by moving
the lever throw the pinion out of gear with the driving wheel, close the valve
in the flexible tube, and raise the spraying nozzle well above the ground at one
and the same operation. The axle of the vehicle is carried at each end in a
bolster received in brackets or pedestals fixed to frame of the tank and secured
by cross pin or bolt, and the hubs of the wheels and axles are provided with
ratchets and spring catches so that the axle is rotated only when the cart or
tank is. being moved in one, the forward direction; at other times the parts are
inoperative and no waste of dressing liquid is wasted. A safety valve is employed

page_text: in connection with the pump to prevent breakage in the event of the pipe choking,
or the valve being closed when the tank is advancing.
Dated this 10th day of February 1808
BRIERLEY & HOWARD,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Machines for Spraying Potato Plants.
I, THOMAS JOSEPH ROBINSON, of Mullagh, Killyleagh, County Down, Ireland,
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:-
This invention relates to improvements in appliances designed for spraying
potatoes or turnips whilst growing in fields, for the purpose of removing blight
or desease therefrom, such spraying of the growing plants now coming into more
general practice and heretofore it has been almost entirely done by manual labour
and was of necessity a laborious and expensive operation. The object of the
present invention is to provide a machine or appliance for the spraying of the
plants, such appliance or machine being actuated by horse power so that a
much greater quantity of work can be done at a less expenditure of labour. The
invention consists of a tank or barrel for containing the dressing with which the
plants are to be sprayed together with a flexible tube and nozzles by means of
which the dressing is carried to and sprayed onto the plants or between the rows
of plants. Provision is also made for putting the several parts out of operation
by the aid of one lever which cuts off the supply, puts the gear out of operation,
and raises the spraying nozzles at the same time. The whole appliance is carried
on a pair of wheels with shafts after the manner of an ordinary tank cart or
water cart.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a com-
plete description of same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, in
which-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved machine for spraying roots or plants,
the body or tank of the cart being removed and indicated by the dotted lines.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the improved machine.
Fig. 3 is a detail.
According to this invention I employ a tank or barrel 1 carried on a frame 2
with shafts 3 and on a pair of wheels 4, and the whole is somewhat like an
ordinary tank or water cart. Inside the tank or barrel 1 is a pump 5, the piston 6
of which is operated by a cross head 7 and connecting rods 8, the latter being
attached to cranks 9 on a cross shaft 10 on which is a pinion 11 gearing with
and driven by a wheel 12 on the main axis 13 of the cart or vehicle. The cranks 9
actuate the pump 5 and the agitators or vanes 14 on the piston 6 agitate the
liquid in the tank or barrel 1 and prevents sediment collecting therein. Con-
nected with the pump 5 is a flexible tube 15 also connected with an air cham-
ber 16, and the outer end of the tube 15 extends to within a short distance of
the ground behind the cart or tank and terminates in nozzles or spraying
devices 17. The pump 5 in addition to agitating the liquid, forces it along the
tube 15.
The axle 13 of the vehicle is carried at each end in a bolster 18 received in
brackets or pedestals 19 fixed to the frame 2 of the tank 1 and secured by cross

page_text: pin or bolt 20, and the hubs of the wheels 4 and axle 13 are provided with
ratchets 21 and spring catches 22 so that the axle 13 is rotated only when the
cart or tank is being moved in one, the forward direction; at other times the
parts are inoperative and no waste of dressing liquid takes place. Any ordinary
safety valve may be employed in connection with the pump 5 to prevent breakage in
the event of the pipe 15 choking, or the valve being closed when the tank is
advancing.
As the cart or machine advances the pump 5 forces the liquid along the pipe 15
through the air chamber 16 which prevents "water hammering" and produces a
continuous flow, and thence to the nozzles or sprays 17 which discharge it onto
the plants or roots to be sprayed. In order that the flow of liquid can be stopped
when desired and the parts thrown out of gear even when the machine is advanc-
ing, I employ in combination therewith the following apparatus.
The flexible tube 15 is provided with a valve 23 on the spindle of which is a
gear wheel or sector 24 gearing with a second sector or wheel 25 on the cross
shaft 26 on which is the hand lever 27 so that by raising the latter to the position
indicated in Fig. 2 the valve is closed and liquid prevented flowing to the noz
zles 17. At the same time that the lever 27 is raised it also raises the arms 28
and bearing rod 29, which latter carries the flexible tube 15. To this flexible
tube 15 are fixed pendant tubes 30 ending in nozzles 17 and the centre nozzle 17
may be fixed or stationary on the bearing rod 29, and the remaining down
tubes 30 are moveable, and can be slided on the rod 29 so as to be capable of
being adjusted to suit the width of drills or distance between the rows of plants.
When the bearing rods 28-29 are raised, on stoppage of work, they occupy
an almost vertical position close to the end of the cart or carriage of the machine,
but by reason of the tubes 30 being jointed to the bearing rods 28 and also by
their own specific gravity they always remain in a vertical position directly under
the bearing rod 29, and thus the parts occupy comparatively small amount of
space.
The gear for actuating the pump 5 and agitator 14 is also at the same time put
out of operation by the movement of the handle 27, to the lower end of which
is cast or connected the finger 31 and rod 32 (see Fig. 3) the end of which is
inclined or provided with a cam surface 32ª, one side of which bears against a
flange 33 on the axle 13, and the other or inclined face bearing against an anti-
friction bowl 34 in a lever 35 carried and free to slide in the frame 2 of the cart.
One end of the lever 35 terminates in a fork 36 which loosely clips the collar of
the clutch 37 (see Fig. 1) which engages with the main driver 12 which ordinarily
is loose on its axis 13, but is fixed by the clutch 37 when the cart is in active use.
The inclined face bearing against the bowl 34 draws the clutch out of action and
releases the wheel 12 and when the handle 27 is moved in a reverse direction the
spring 38 moves the lever 35 so that the clutch 37 is forced into the boss or
clutch portion of the wheel 12 and the latter is temporarily fixed on the main
shaft 13.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts con-
stituting the improved machine, as and for the purpose herein described and
substantially as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
(2) The tank 1, pump 5 operated from the main axle, the flexible tube 15.
valve 23, nozzles 17, 17 and rods or frames 28, 29 with the means for operating
same and opening or closing the valve 23, all in combination as and for the pur-
pose herein described and substantially as illustrated by the annexed drawings.
(3) The handle 27, shaft 26, sectors 24, 25, valve 23, and rods or frame 28, 29,
5 all in combination as and for the purpose herein described and substantially as
illustrated by the annexed drawings.

page_text: (4) The handle 27, rod 32 with inclined end or surface 32ª, flanged collar 33;
forked lever 35, anti-friction bowl 34, and spring 38 all in combination as and
for the purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated by the annexed
drawings.
Dated this 10th day of November 1898
THOMAS JOSEPH ROBINSON.
By his Agents Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.