IMPROVEMENTS IN THE POTATO PLANTING MACHINE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 'FERGUSON'S POTATO PLANTER.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wilson Murray, of the Town and County of
Banff, and Thomas Ferguson, of Kinnochtry, Cupar-Angus, in the County of
Perth, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE POTATO
PLANTING MACHINE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 'FERGUSON'S POTATO PLANTER.'"
Sealed the 16th August 1878, and dated the 1st June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wilson Murray and
Thomas Ferguson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st
June 1878.
GEORGE WILSON MURRAY, of the Town and County of Banff, and THOMAS
FERGUSON, of Kinnochtry, Cupar-Angus, in the County of Perth, North Britain.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE POTATO PLANTING MACHINE COMMONLY KNOWN
'FERGUSON'S POTATO PLANTER.'"
"
AŚ
This Invention relates to improvements in the potato planting machine known
as "Ferguson's Potato Planter," which machine is described in the Specification of
Letters Patent, Number 2129, granted to Thomas Ferguson (one of the present
applicants), as of the 10th day of June, A.D. 1875.
According to this present Invention the links of the chain, by which the potatoes
aro raised from the hopper of the machine, are all made or cast of such a shape that
they may be readily connected together to form the chain, and so also that each link
constitutes in itself a potato raising cup, and a means for dislodging any potatoes
or any earth which may have become fixed in the cups. Each of the said links is
of a compound form, being at its upper part double or forked to receive the single
part of the link next above it, and being single at its lower part to take between
the double part of the link next below it.
The double part of each link has crossing its two parts a transverse pin or bar,
preferably cast with it, to which the tail of the next link is attached, it being
formed with a slot opening upward out at the side of the tail, so that the links may

page_text: be readily connected together without rivetting and yet will not accidentally
separate owing to the upward direction of the slot in the tail.
But if preferred the links may be rivetted together in place of being connected
as above described.
The double upper part of each link is splayed out into a cup-like figure and
constitutes the cup to receive and elevate the potatoes, the space between the double
upper part of each link opening into the cup, and the tail of each link is prolonged
and curved, so that it fills or nearly fills the opening in the bottom of the cup and
forms a part of the said bottom of the cup but leaves a space for the teeth of the
sprocket wheel. The chain formed by the combination of these links is passed over
sprocket wheels driven as in the "Ferguson Potato Planter" before referred to,
(or in other convenient manner) the teeth of the sprocket wheels taking into the
spaces between the double upper parts of the links; or the lower sprocket wheel
may be fixed upon the axle of the running wheels of the machine so that the
present improved chain may be driven direct from the axle.
In operation the chain runs up between guides as may be necessary, or con-
venient, and also down through a shoot (which may all be arranged as in the
before-named "Ferguson Potato Planter"), the cups in passing up through the
potatoes in the hopper each take up one, and in turning over the upper sprocket
wheel the portions of the tails of the single parts of the links, which form part of
the bottom of the cups rise up from the said bottom by turning upon the transverse
pins or bars (or upon the rivet when the links are rivetted together), and urge any
potato which may become fixed in a cup, or any earth, therefrom.
To prevent each cup from carrying over more than one potato a spring is
employed which is affixed to any convenient part of the machine, so that the cups
come into contact therewith preferably just before they pass over the upper
sprocket wheel. This spring is of such shape and position that each cup will urge it
back, and when it is passed by the cup it will spring back under it, passing through
the space which would be occupied by the extra potato or potatoes should the cup
beneath have carried up more than one, and the said spring will dislodge it or them,
they falling back into the hopper, but the said spring is so shaped, or is urged back
at such time by the next rising cup, that it will not come into contact with the one
potato held in the cup.
Combined with these improved machines are the running or carrying wheels,
similar to those described, and illustrated in the before-mentioned Specification,
Number 2129, A.D. 1875.
It will be evident that one or two or more of the improved chains may be used
in the same machine.
Instead of the compound links having their single parts below the cups, as
described, the said single parts may be above the cups, the tails being of such a
form that as the chain runs over the sprocket wheels, the said tails will urge out
the potato or dirt after the manner before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Wilson Murray and Thomas Ferguson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 30th November 1878.
GEORGE WILSON MURRAY, of the Town and County of Banff, and THOMAS
FERGUSON, of Kinnochtry, Cupar Angus, in the County of Perth, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE POTATO PLANTING MACHINE COMMONLY KNOWN AS
FERGUSON'S POTATO PLANTER.""
"
Our said Invention relates to improvements in the potato planting machine
known as 'Ferguson's potato planter," which machine is described in the
Specification of Letters Patent, No. 2129, granted to one of us, viz., the said Thomas
Ferguson, as of the 10th day of June, A.D. 1875.
According to this present Invention the links of the chain, by which the potatoes
are raised from the hopper of the machine are all made or cast of such a shape that
they may be readily connected together to form the chain, and so also that each
link constitutes in itself a potato raising cup, and a means for dislodging any
potatoes or any earth which may have become fixed in the cups.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawings are respectively a side
elevation, front elevation, and vertical section of one of the links A of a chain for
potato planting machines, the said link being formed according to our Invention;
and Figure 4 shews a portion of a chain formed of such links passing over a
sprocket wheel. Each of the said links is of a compound form, being on its upper
part a double or forked (to receive the single part of the link next above it)
and being single at its lower part 6 to take between the double part a of
the link next below it.
The double part a of each link has crossing its two parts a transverse pin or
bar c, preferably cast with it, to which the tail b of the next link is attached, the
said tails b being formed with slots d, opening upward out at the sides of the tails,
so that the links may be readily connected together without rivetting, and yet will
not accidentally separate, owing to the upward direction of the slots d in the tails.
But if preferred the links may be connected together by pins or rivets passed
through holes in the double parts a and tails 6, in place of being connected as above
described.
The double upper part of each link is splayed out into a cup-like figure at e, and
constitutes the cup to receive and elevate the potatoes, the space between the
double upper part of each link opening into the cup, and the tail of each link is
prolonged and curved as at 61, so that it may fill or nearly fill the opening in the
bottom of the cup, but leaves a space for the teeth of the sprocket wheels over
which the chain is to pass, as illustrated in Figure 4.
Figure 5 represents in vertical transverse section, and Figure 6 in vertical
longitudinal section, a potato planting machine constructed essentially after the
manner described in the before-mentioned Specification No. 2129, A D. 1875, but
having our present improvements applied thereto.
The chains formed by the combination of links A are passed over a sprocket
wheels fon the shaft g, adjustably supported above by the framing of the machine,
and also over sprocket wheels h upon the driving shaft i, the teeth of the sprocket
wheels taking into the spaces between the double upper parts a of the links. The
machine may be either driven by a chain j, as in "Ferguson's potato planter,"
or this chain may be dispensed with, the sprocket wheels h being keyed upon
the shaft i, and so that our improved chains are driven direct from the said
shaft i
In operation the chains of links A run up between guides and through spouts
or troughs m, forming the lower part of hoppers M, essentially as in the " Ferguson's
potato planter," or in other manner, as may be necessary or convenient, the cups
in passing up through the potatoes in the hoppers M each take up one, and in
turning over the upper sprocket wheels the portions b₁ or tails of the single parts b

page_text: of the links A rise up from the bottoms of the cup parts e by turning upon the
transverse pins or bars c (or upon the rivet when the links are rivetted together),
as shewn in Figure 4, and urge any potatoes which may become fixed in a cup or
any earth therefrom.
To prevent each cup from carrying over more than one potato a spring k (see
Figures 5 and 6) is employed with each chain, which spring is affixed to the guides
or any convenient part of the machine, so that the cups A come into contact
therewith, preferably just before they pass over the upper sprocket wheels f. This
spring k is of such shape and position that each cup will urge it back, and when
it is passed by the cup it will spring back under it, passing through the space which
would be occupied by the extra potato or potatoes, should the cup beneath have
carried up more than one, and the said spring will dislodge it or them, they
falling back into the hopper, but the said spring is so shaped, or is urged back at
such time by the next rising cup, that it will not come into contact with the ono
potato held in the cup.
"
Combined with these improved machines are the running or carrying wheels L,
similar to those used in the Ferguson potato planter," and described and
illustrated in the before-mentioned Specification, No. 2129, A.D. 1875.
The inclination of the chains may be adjusted by the lever p (Figure 2), and their
slack may be taken up by means of the hand wheels q, and the machine may be
furnished with an arrangement of ratchet wheels and pawls as at r, Figure 6, so as
only to give motion to the elevating chains when the machine is moved in one
direction, and with a clutch s for throwing the wheel, over which the driving chain j
When the
passes, out of gear, and discontinuing the action of the elevating chains
driving chain j is dispensed with the wheels h may be provided with a similar
clutch arrangement.
Although we have described and illustrated a machine in which two chains of
elevating cups are employed, it will be evident that one or more than two of our
improved chains may by used in the same machine.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that we
wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein-
before described and illustrated, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of our Invention, for instance, instead of compound links having their
tails single as described, the said tail parts may be double, and the single parts
may be above the cups, the tails being of such a form that as the chain runs over
the sprocket wheels the said tails will urge out the potato or dirt after the manner
before described, but what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
First. The elevators or chains for elevating potatoes in potato planting machines,
the said elevators or chains being constructed of links formed essentially as herein-
before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The arrangement of spring k for dislodging surplus potatoes, as herein-
before described.
Third. The potato planting machine formed by the combination of the aforesaid
elevators or chains with the "Ferguson potato planter."
In witness whereof, I, the said George Wilson Murray, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
GEORGE WILSON MURRAY. (L.S.)