IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURNIP THINNERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Percival Everitt, of Great Ryburgh, in the County of
Norfolk, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF TURNIP THINNERS."
Sealed the 2nd July 1878, and dated the 19th March 1878.
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Percival Everett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1878.
PERCIVAL EVERITT, of Great Ryburgh, in the County of Norfolk, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURNIP THINNERS."
The object of this Invention is to simplify the construction and increase the
efficiency of that class of horse hoes which is used for thinning turnips or mangold
wurzel.
By my improved implement I propose to operate upon two rows of plants simul-
taneously, and the mechanism I balance on the axle of the running wheels so as to
enable the attendant with ease to lift the hoes clear of the ridges when it is required
to suspend their action.
At opposite ends of the framing (which has for its fulcrum the axle of the running
wheels) I provide bearings for two pairs of longitudinal shafts for operating a pair
of hoes. These pairs of shafts are set at a distance apart corresponding to the
distance between the ridges to be acted upon. The shafts of each pair will lie in
the same vertical plane, one being above and the other below the wheel axle.
these shafts rotary motion is communicated in the same direction by bevil and
spur gearing at the front of the implement from the axle of the running
wheels.
Το
Fitted to the rear end of these driven shafts are slotted crank arms provided with
adjustable crank pins, to which are secured the slotted stems of a hoe. As there-
fore these crank arms are rotated they will raise and depress the hoe and cause it
to describe the figure of a ellipse, the form of which may be varied, as desired, so
as to modify the action of the hoe,

page_text: When the hoe is properly adjusted it will on its descent strike into the ground,
pass through the ridge, and rise rapidly out of contact with the ground, thus offering
for a maximum effect a minimum amount of resistance.
I may find it convenient so to time the movements of the hoes that they will
not act simultaneously, but by following each other reduce the strain upon the
mechanism, and prevent the slipping of the running wheels.
The framing I provide, as usual, with handles to enable the attendant to rock
the hoes out of work when desired.
To the ends of the hoes I fit vertical cutters, which, acting like the coulters of a
plough, will prevent any unnecessary disturbance of the earth, and thus permit of
the hoe working close up to the plants which are intended to escape the action of
the hoes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Percival Everitt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th Sep-
tember 1878.
PERCIVAL EVERITT, of Great Ryburgh, in the County of Norfolk, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TURNIP THINNERS."
The object of this Invention is to simplify the construction and increase the
efficiency of that class of horse hoes which is used for thinning turnips or mangold
wurzel.
By my improved implement I propose to operate upon two rows of plants simul-
taneously, and the mechanism I balance on the axle of the running wheels so as to
enable the attendant with ease to lift the hoes clear of the ridges when it is required
to suspend their action.
At opposite sides of the implement I provide bearings for a pair of longitudinal
shafts for operating a pair of hoes. These shafts are set at a distance apart corre-
sponding to the distance between the ridges to be acted upon, and to them rotary
motion in communicated by bevil gearing from the axle of the running wheels.
Fitted to the rear end of these driven shafts are cranks to which the stems of the
hoes are respectively connected, the same being also secured at their upper ends to
radius links working on a fixed fulcrum. As therefore these cranks are rotated
they will raise and depreas the hoes and cause them to describe the figure of an
ellipse, the form of which may be varied 'as desired 'so as to modify the action of
the hoe.
When the hoe is properly adjusted it will on its descent strike into the ground,
pass through the ridge, and rise rapidly out of contact with the ground, thus offering
for a maximum effect a minimum amount of resistance:
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn my improved implement thinning
rows of turnips in plan view at Fig. 1, in end view at Fig. 2, and in longitudinal

page_text: A, A, are the running wheels, and B the shaft on which they are mounted
loosely, one wheel being connected to the shaft by a clutch arrangement.
Fitted loosely to the axle B, as their fulcrum, are the frames C, which at their
forward ends carry bearings for longitudinal crank shafts D. These shafts receive
rotary motion from the axle B, through bevil wheels b, b, keyed thereto, and gearing
into bevil pinions d, d, keyed to the rear ends of their respective crank shafts. The
forward ends of the shafts D are fitted with discs d', which carry crank pins &³, and
to these crank pins are respectively connected the stems of the hoes E. Projecting
from the frames C are bracket arms c, which extend beyond the periphery of the
discs &, and carry each a pin that forms the fixed fulcrum for the radius link c¹.
The hoe stems E are each connected at their upper ends to one of these links c',
which serve to control the oscillating motion imparted to them through the rotation
of the crank shafts D, D.
The form of the hoe blades may be modified according to the nature of the work,
but in general an extended straight blade, such as that shewn in the Drawing, will
be used. F, F, are the draught arins fitted loosely to the axle B, and braced together
in any convenient manner, one bracing serving to carry the seat G. Attached to
these draught arms are segment racks H, into the teeth of which take respectively
the pawles of the hand levers H, which hand levers are pivotted to the draught
arms. At their pivotted end these hand levers are cranked, as shewn at Fig. 3,
and attached to their cranked ends are pendent chains I, which are respectively
secured by a shackle to one of the hoe frames C. The attendant sitting on the seat
G will have the hand levers H³, within reach of his hands, and the two rows of
turnips fairly in sight. When, therefore, he desires to arrest the action of one or
other of the hoes he will pull over the handle connected therewith, the effect of
which will be to rock the frame C on ita fulcrum, and lift the hoe clear of the
ground.
By dropping the spring pawle of the hand lever thus actuated into the teeth of
the segment rack the hoe will be retained in its raised position; but on withdrawing
the pawle the hoe will drop again into work and draw the chain I to tension. II,
however, the hoe should strike upon an obstruction, it will be free to rise, and when
the obstruction is passed it will drop again into its working position.
This move-
The peculiar action of the hoes will be best understood by reference to the
diagram, Fig. 4, the dotted lines in which indicate the path of tho hoe, actuated by
the throw of the crank, and controlled by means of the radius link c².
ment of the hoe it will be understood will closely approximate to the movements of
the hand hoe, and thus economize the power applied to work the implement.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of " Improvements in the Con-
struction of Turnip Thinners," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent, I claim the arrangement of mechanism above described for actuating the
hoes of turnip thinners.
In witness whereof, I, the said Percival Everitt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Third day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
PERCIVAL EVERITT. (LS)