IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS OR MACHINES FOR DIGGING OR RAISING POTATOES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Cousins, of the City Wire Works, in the City of
Lincoln, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS OR
MACHINES FOR DIGGING OR RAISING POTATOES."
Sealed the 19th March 1880, and dated the 24th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Cousins at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1879.
CHARLES COUSINS, of the City Wire Works, in the City of Lincoln, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS OR MACHINES FOR DIGGING OR RAISING POTATOES."
My first improvement relates to a means or arrangement for raising or lowering
the share or digger, and consists of a hollow cast iron bracket bolted to the frame
of the machine, and which contains a screw to which is fastened a hand-wheel and
nut, which nut is connected to the share or digger of the machine, and is so arranged
that by turning the hand-wheel either to the right or left hand the share or digger
is raised or lowered at the will of the operator.
My next improvement relates to the lever attachment by which the digging or
working parts are thrown out of gear, and consists of a hand lever working on a
quadrant, to which lever is attached a connecting rod which actuates by means of a
pin working in a slide a rod with a clutch which moves the small pinion in or out
of gear so that the whole of the digging part of the machine can be raised so as to
clear the ground, &c., whilst travelling or turning.
My next improvement relates to the share or digger, which consists of an improved
shape or curve so arranged that the earth and potatoes are raised with the least
possible strain to the machine or horses, and the bruising or scratching of the
potatoes also prevented. The share or digger is also provided with a plate which
can be affixed at will so as to prevent the share or digger becoming clogged when
the soil is somewhat moist.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Cousins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th March
1880.
CHARLES COUSINS, of the City Wire Works, in the City of Lincoln, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PLOUGHS OR MACHINES FOR DIGGING OR RAISING POTATOES."
My Invention refers to improvements in ploughs or machines for digging or
raising potatoes, and relates,-
1st. To an arrangement of parts for raising or lowering the share or digger
without having to stop the plough or machine as is now the case.
2nd. To an arrangement whereby the digger or share and the working parts are
kept raised during the travel of the plough or machine; and
3rd. To an improved shape or curve of the share or digger, whereby the potatoes
are readily raised, and their skins less bruised or scratched than heretofore.
My Invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a plough or machine for digging or
raising potatoes, to which my improvements are applied; and Fig. 2 a plan thereof.
My first improvement which relates to a means or arrangement for raising or
lowering the share or digger consists of a ribbed cast iron bracket A which is bolted
to the frame Z of the machine, and contains a screw b to which is fastened a hand-
wheel B and nut 6*. This nut is connected to the share or digger 1) of the machine,
and slides in a groove; it is so actuated by the screw b that by turning the hand-
wheel B either to the right or left the share or digger D is raised or lowered at the
will of the operator. Y is a casting in which the share or digger D slides; it is pro-
vided with a set screw x which can be tightened at will so as to keep the share or
digger D rigid when set in the position required.
My next improvement relates to the lever arrangement, by which the share or
digger, forks, and working parts are thrown out of gear, and the whole of the
digging parts raised so as to clear the ground, and consists of a hand lever E having
its fulcrum n on the frame Z and working on a quadrant e secured to the said
frame; to this lever is attached a connecting rod f which actuates by means of a
pinj working in a slot h contrived at the end of the rod w, the lever z having its
fulcrum at o. To this lever z is attached a clutch v for throwing the small pinion j*
into or out of gear.
To the rod is also attached a lever ex, working on a centre *, to which lever
is also attached a connecting rod m, which is in turn fastened at r to the cast iron
bracket A, on which all the digging parts are fixed, and thus the whole of the
digging parts of the machine can be raised so as to clear the ground whilst turning
or travelling.
The dotted lines in Fig. 1 shew the position of the rods when the share is raised.
The forks C may be lengthened or shortened by means of a disc p, shewn in
Fig. 3, provided with slots p*, in which slide bolts and nuts p², attached to the
forks C, which are so arranged that by moving the bolts either up or down in the
slots the periphery of the forks when revolving is increased or lessened.
My next improvement relates to the share or digger, and consists in constructing
the same of an improved shape or curve, as shewn in detail views Figs. 4 & 5. It is so
arranged that it gradually enters and breaks up the ground containing the potatoes
instead of tearing it up bodily as is the case in other machines now in use, and thus
the earth and potatoes are raised with the least possible strain to the machine or
horses, and the scratching of the potatoes also prevented. The share or digger
consists of an iron plate D of wedge shape, having a small square shaped nose t;
this plate is also somewhat convex, as shewn in Fig. 4, and has fastened at one end
a number of fingers or prongs u, u, which allow the smaller particles of earth to
fall through.

page_text: The share or digger is also fixed to the frame Z at a slight angle of, say, 12° to
the ground, aud thus froin its shape or curve enters the earth with less friction, and,
gradually breaking up the ground, raises the potatoes with the least possible strain
to the machine or horses. This share or digger is also provided with a plate S which
can be affixed at will so as to prevent the said share or digger becoming clogged
when the soil is somewhat moist.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,--
First. The arrangement of parts as herein described and shewn, by means of
which the share or digger can be raised or lowered at the will of the operator whilst
the machine is in motion, thus preventing loss of time in having to stop the machine
for alterations as is the case in machines now in use.
Second. The arrangement and combination of hand lever and rods, as described
and shewn, whereby the share or digger and working parts may be readily thrown
out of gear and kept raised whilst the plough or machine is travelling or turning
corners.
Third. The improved shape or curve of the share or digger, as herein described
and shewn, by means of which the earth and potatoes are raised with the least
possible strain to the machine or horses, and the potatoe skins less bruised or
scratched than heretofore.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Cousins, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of March, in the year One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
C. COUSINS. (L.S.)