Apparatus for Digging Beet and other Roots.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Digging Beet and other Roots.
1, LOUIS FRENNET-WAUTHIER, Manufacturer, of Ligny, Belgium, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for digging beet and other roots growing in
lines.
For this purpose I mount on a bent axle a pair of wheels with wide flanges
sharp edged like circular knives, and with treads preferably cross ribbed so that
they shall not slide on the ground. The axle is so bent that the planes of the two
wheels converge both horizontally and vertically to the lowest point where the
As the
knife flanges have cut into the soil one on each side of the row of roots.
wheels revolve, the roots with a wedge of the soil in which they are imbedded are
raised and they are then separated from the soil by revolving brush like appliances
each consisting of a number of stiff rods or blades projecting obliquely down from
a boss fixed on a vertical axis. The bent axle with its wheels, and the brushes
are mounted upon a suitable framing provided with travelling wheels and driver's
seat, which is drawn along the field by horses or oxen, and the operating parts of
which can be raised clear of the ground when they are not required to act.
Knives may also be provided on the framing to cut off the heads of beet or
such like plants these knives being variously arranged so as to suit different
plants.
Instead of employing sharp flanges of the wheels for cutting into the soil, endless
chains carrying blades may be used, each chain passing partly round an upper
chain wheel mounted on the framing, and partly round the tread of the wheel
which runs on the ground, the blades of the chain digging into the soil and as they
ascend raising portions of it with the roots.
TYLALI 1ot dow of December 1894.
ABEL & IMNAI,
Agents for the Applicant.
Apparatus for Digging Beet and owner Roots.
I, LOUIS FRENNET-WAUTHIER, Manufacturer, of Ligny, Belgium, 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 an implement designed for pulling up beet and other
roots out of the ground with the least possible disturbance of the soil.
I will describe the construction of the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
This implement consists essentially of two dises A of suitable dimensions which
constitute the working portion of the apparatus. These discs may be solid or may
be formed of a ring connected to the hub by arms, and have the appearance of
tyred railway wheels. They have an annular tyre with a sharpened edge a similar
to the blade of a knife, with a flange or tread a bent to a right angle and designed

page_text: to bear upon the ground. This tread may be formed, if desired, with projecting
ribs of the kind usually provided on the wheels of existing agricultural implements,
for the purpose of preventing slipping along the ground.
These discs are mounted on a bent axle B, the arrangement being such that the
discs are inclined to one another horizontally and vertically. The smallest distance
between the discs is situated underneath at the rear.
These working parts are mounted on a framing C of any suitable form, provided
with two pairs of carrying wheels D, in such a manner as to enable the implement
to be drawn by a team of horses or of oxen.
The apparatus having been brought opposite to a row of beet, and then caused
to advance, the edges of the discs will enter the soil on both sides of the beet, and
by reason of their inclined position, will seize the beet together with the strip or
slice of soil, and will act as pincers, so as to pull up the beetroots and then let them
drop down on to the ground.
This operation is effected without unduly disturbing or upheaving the soil or
damaging the beetroots. The pulling up is also facilitated by the fact that the
slice of soil taken up between the discs with the beetroots, must become compressed
in order to be able to pass through at the place where the discs are nearest to one
another.
This has the result that the small beetroots which are situated by the side of the
large ones, are pulled up together with the latter. The pulling up is also
facilitated and transmitted from one beetroot to another by means of the roots.
For the purpose of cutting off the crowns of the beetroots, I arrange between
two rollers H Fig. 7 a vertical knife blade I ending at its lower part in a hori-
zontal knife blade of triangular shape as shean in dotted lines at Fig. 2.
The
The rollers H are mounted on a system of levers J moveably jointed at one end,
and carrying at the other end a rod K surrounded by a helical spring, the strength
of which can be adjusted by means of a small hand-wheel and a screw.
rollers roll over the crowns of the beetroots, rising and falling according as the
latter are more or less embedded in the soil.
The arrangement of the knives is such that the crowns of the beetroots are
simultaneously divided from the body of the beetroot and split vertically into
two parts.
When the vehicle is desired to move along without the apparatus being in
operation, for example on the roads or in the turns, for the purpose of passing
from one row of beet to another, the discs are lifted off the ground by any suitable
ineans. For this purpose, for instance, the hind carrying wheels may be connected
to the working discs by means of a rack M actuated by a pinion N with a crank
handle. In order to deliver the beetroots to one side, whilst cleaning them as well,
I may arrange at the rear of the apparatus and slightly to one side a device O
composed of rods and having the shape of a truncated come with its axis vertical,
to which there is imparted rotary motion by any suitable means. The beetroots
are by this means arranged in a line on one side and cleaned.
It is advisable to provide the discs with a dirt removing device which may
consist of rollers F rolling by friction against the discs.
Or they may be replaced by a simple blade or scraper fixed to the framing and
rubbing at the rear against the discs as at P.
This apparatus may be employed not only to pull up beetroots, but also to pull
up carrots, chicory and other roots growing in rows, and also potatoes.
For this purpose it is sufficient to suitably adjust the dimensions thereof, and also
the inclination of the discs to each other, and their distance apart.
In most cases the crown cutting device may be dispensed with.
Also, and chiefly when the apparatus is employed for digging potatoes, the
device O may be dispensed with, and be replaced by a vane wheel E (see Figs. 4,
5 and 6) having a rotary motion about its horizontal axis. This wheel serves to
throw the potatoes to the rear whilst freeing them from. the soil that may adhere
to them.

page_text: I may also employ any other kind of potato cleaning device, such as a
grating, or a cylinder the shell of which is composed of bars with clear ways
between them.
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. An apparatus for digging or pulling up beetroots, chicory, carrots, potatoes
and the like consisting of two discs inclined relatively to each other, the shortest
distance between the same being at their inner sides at the rear of the apparatus,
the arrangement being such that when the apparatus is moved forward, the discs
act like rotary pincers and seize the beetroots or other products of the soil
situated between them and lift the same out of the ground, substantially as
described.
2. In the apparatus such as is referred to in the preceding claim, a device for
cutting off the crowns of the beetroots before or at the instant of the pulling up
of the roots, which device consists of vertical and horizontal knife blades mounted
between two rollers and pressed down upon the crowns of the beetroots by an
adjustable spring, as above described.
3. In combination with the apparatus referred to in the first claim, a device for
throwing and cleaning the beetroots, consisting of a group of rods arranged and
operating as herein described.
4. In combination with the apparatus referred to in the first claim, a device for
cleaning potatoes, consisting of a revolving vane wheel arranged and operating
as hereinbefore described and illustrated at Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
..
of August 1895.
ABEL & IMKAI,
Agents for the Applicant.