Potatoe Digger.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1892'
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Potatoe Digger.
BENJAMIN MAXWELL of Ballyherly Mills Portaferry Co. Down Ireland,
Farmer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved machine for digging potatoes and cleaning.
ground from weeds and stones.
The objects of this my invention are to obtain a machine which will raise the
soil containing the potatoes into a trough shaped receptacle and then separate the
potatoes from the soil and haulms or tops and deliver them into a suitable receptacle,
or deposit them on the surface of the soil free from injury.
According to this any invention I mount on a suitable carriage, having two or
more wheels, a trough shaped receptacle or frame made of a number of longitudinal
bars pointed at the front end and spaced so as to leave interstices between said
bars.
The trough which is open at both ends and slightly elevated at the delivery end
is so carried as to allow of it being raised or depressed to suit the depth of soil
and is armed with a share projecting in front of the longitudinal bars, the object of
this share being to break or split up the ridge or soil containing the potatoes.
In the trough I place two or more shafts running in the direction of its length,
one shaft being provided with projecting arms or stirrers arranged in a spiral form
along the shaft, the function of this shaft being to break up the clods of soil and
to separate the potatoes from the haulms or tops and soil, (the broken up soil mean-
time falling through the interstices between the longitudinal bars of trough) and to
assist the carriage of the potatoes through the trough, the other shaft which has
also projecting arms or longitudinal bars attached to it, is so placed and acts as a
brush and keeps free and clean the projecting arms or stirrers of the first mentioned
shaft and throws the haulms or tops over the side of the trough.
The aforesaid shafts are driven or caused to revolve by the intervention of
suitable gear driven of the wheels or axles of the carriage or frame upon which
the trough is mounted; the power may be horse or other motive power.
By using a machine of the foregoing description the potatoes are raised from
the soil, and separated from the soil and haulms or tops and delivered free from
soil and weeds into a suitable receptacle or deposited on the surface of the ground
ready for removal.
Dated this 6th day of October 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Potatoe Digger.
I BENJAMIN MAXWELL Manufacturer Ballyherly Mills Portaferry County
Down Ireland 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 improved machine for digging potatoes and cleaning
ground from weeds and stones.
The objects of this my invention are to obtain a machine which will raise the
soil containing the potatoes into a trough shaped receptacle and then separate the
potatoes from the soil and haulms or tops and deliver them into a suitable receptacle,
or deposit them on the surface of the soil free from injury.

page_text: According to this my invention I mount on a suitable carriage having two or
more wheels, a trough shaped receptacle or frame made of a number of longitudinal
bars pointed at the front end and spaced so as to leave interstices between said
bars.
The trough which is open at both ends.and slightly elevated at the delivery end
is so carried as to allow of its being raised or depressed to suit the depth of soil,
and is armed with a share projecting in front of the longitudinal bars, the object of
this share being to break or split up the ridge or soil containing the potatoes.
In the trough I place two or more shafts running in the direction of its length,
one shaft being provided with projecting arms or stirrers arranged in a spiral form
along the shaft the function of this shaft with its arms or stirrers being-to-break up
the clods of soil and to separate the potatoes from the haulms or tops and soil, (the
broken up soil meantime falling through the interstices between the longitudinal
bars of the trough) and to assist the carriage of the potatoes through the trough,
the other shaft which has also projecting arms or longitudinal bars attached to it is
so placed and acts as a brush and keeps free and clean the projecting arms or
stirrers of the first mentioned shaft and throws the haulms or tops and weeds over
the side of the trough.
The aforesaid shafts are driven or caused to revolve by the intervention of suitable
gear driven of the wheels or axles of the carriage or frame upon which the trough
is mounted the power may be horse or other motive power.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention the following is a complete
description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming
part of this Specification in which
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of my apparatus for purpose aforesaid.
Fig. II. is an end elevation of Fig. I.
Fig. III. is a plan view of Fig. I.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A is the trough shaped receptacle open at both ends with the longitudinal bars B
spaced so as to leave interstices for the free passage of the soil, C is the share
projecting in front of the apparatus, D is a longitudinal shaft with stirrers E made
fast to it, these stirrers E may be arranged in a spiral form along the shaft D.
F is another shaft running parallel to the shaft D having arms G attached to it.
The shafts D and F are driven or caused to revolve by means of the bevel
wheels H and J. H is fast to the shaft or axle L, J being fast to the shaft D,
on the other end of shaft D a spur wheel M is fixed which gears through the inter-
mediate wheel N into the wheel O which is fixed to the shaft F.
The whole apparatus is mounted on the wheels P, P and wheels Q. Q the
wheels P, P' being fixed to the shaft, or axle L to which the bevel wheel H is
attached.
On the apparatus being pulled along in the direction of the arrow by either
horse or other power, the wheels P. P₁ and shaft or axle L are caused to revolve
carrying with it the bevel wheel H which as already pointed out causes by means
of the wheels J. M. N and O, the shaft D with its stirrers or arms E and the
shaft F with its stirrers or arms G to revolve.
The trough shaped receptacle A is hinged at the rear end of the apparatus to
the framing by means of the pins R. R' and at the front it engages with the circular
slot S. S¹ and bolt T. T' which allows of the trough shaped receptacle being raised
or depressed to suit the requirements of the soil.
At the back or rear end of the apparatus guiding handles (not shewn on the
drawing) are attached for the purpose of guiding or controlling the apparatus.
By use of the above apparatus the soil and potatoes are forced into the trough-
shaped receptacle, the soil, haulms or tops and weeds are separated from 'the
potatoes which may be delivered into a suitable receptacle (not shewn in 'the
drawing) at the rear end of the apparatus or deposited on the surface of
the soil.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
The general construction arrangement and combination of parts constituting my
apparatus for digging potatoes or cleaning soil, from weeds and stones as herein
fully described and illustrated by Figs. I. II. and III. of the accompanying
drawing.
Dahin gah d...
T1 1002
BENJAMIN MAXWELL.