Improvements in Potato Digging Machines (commonly called Potato Diggers).
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 30th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Potato Digging Machines (commonly called Potato
Diggers).
DAVID BUTTAR FARQUHARSON 160 Dilston Road Newcastle-on-Tyne Draughts-
man, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
An endless travelling screen driven in a transverse direction, said screen composed
of longitudinal tubes or bars attached to specially constructed links of endless
chains driven by sprocket wheels from suitable gearing on the axle carried by the
two driving wheels. The potatoes after being raised by a share or shovel are
delivered on to the inner side of said travelling screen where they are separated
from the soil, leaving the potatoes to roll off the said screen on to the surface of
the ground at the rear end of the machine.
1st Ontalion 1800
DAVID BUTTAR FARQUHARSON.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Potato Digging Machines (commonly called Potato
Diggers).
I, DAVID BUTTAR FARQUHARSON of 160 Dilston Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in
the County of Northumberland, Draughtsman 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:-
My invention relates to an improved machine for digging or raising potatoes
from the soil, ridding them of earth, shaws, weeds, roots, or other matter adhering
thereto, and depositing them upon the top of the earth, behind the machine, by the
automatic operation of mechanical parts and suitable gearing, actuated by the
rotation of the track wheels axle, as the machine is propelled by horse, oxen or
other animal or mechanical power.
The improvements constituting my invention consists, Firstly-of the arrange-
ment of a travelling screen composed of rotary bars for preventing the potatoes
from being bruised during the process of cleaning, Secondly-in the arrangement
of gearing for giving motion to said screen, Thirdly-of a chain or chains for
carrying the bars of the same, Fourthly-of a novel mechanical movement for
placing the potatoes, when raised, upon said screen, and Fifthly-of a lever for the
combined purpose of actuating a clutch for putting the gearing in and out of action,
and locking the apparatus in both positions.
In order that my invention and the improvements constituting the same may
be fully and clearly understood, I have appended hereunto two sheets of drawings,
in which
Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1, are front elevation and plan respectively of a complete
machine.
Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 2, are back and side elevation respectively of the same,
while
Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of two of the links of the specially constructed
chain employed by me, upon one of the studs of which is shown, in section, part of
the tube that revolves thereon, as hereinafter explained.
In carrying my invention into effect, I construct of any suitable metal or
combination of metals, a frame A, of any desired dimensions, but, preferably, of
such a width as to carry an axle B, upon which is mounted tracks wheels C, of
Price 8d1

page_text: such a distance apart as to encompass two drills, such being convenient dimensions
for permitting the machine to easily pass through any gate or other opening into
the field.
To one end of the axle B, within A, is keyed or otherwise fixed a spur wheel D,
which gears with a pinion E, sleeved, or otherwise loosely borne upon an axle F,
parallel with, but in advance of, and elevated above the axle B, and carried at
one end by a bearing a, fixed to, or forming part of the frame A, the opposite
end being passed through, and borne by a bridge piece G, supported by the frame A,
and a cross stay H, connected at one end also to the frame A, the opposite end
being borne by a stay H, bolted or otherwise connected to the front and back
ends of A.
Upon the axle F is mounted a ratcheted sliding clutch J, capable of being placed
in and out of gear with E, by the means of a fork E', upon a rod or plate E", when
actuated by the lateral deflection of a lever J' under the control of the driver or
attendant. The axle F after passing through G, carries upon that end a mitre
wheel F¹, and outside this a circular disc F, upon the outer face of which, and
near its periphery, is a projecting stud or its equivalent K. The mitre wheel F¹
gears with a mitre wheel L, fixed upon one end of a longitudinal shaft or spindle L',
one end of which may be journalled in the bridge piece G, or a bracket or its
equivalent thereon, the opposite end being borne by a bracket L, upon the back
end of the frame A. Upon the spindle L¹ is mounted two sprocket wheels M
and M³, with which gear endless chains M" and M respectively, and these passing
in a downward direction therefrom are carried around and under other, and,
preferably, smaller sprocket wheels mounted upon spindles N, N' and N, borne by
depending arms O and O connected to the frame A, and in these suitable slots are
provided by the means of which the chains M M'may be from time to time tightened;
as these become slack by wear or otherwise.
The said chains are composed of specially constructed rectangular links as at
Fig. 5, upon one angle of each of which a hook or curve is formed, which engages
with the bar b' of its neighbour. Upon each link, and at right angles to b
and, extends a stud 6", preferably, but not imperatively formed integrally with
the link, these being so arranged that those upon the links of the complete chain M"
would extend in the direction of those upon the links of M, and so inclined towards
each other, and upon these I mount, preferably, metallic tubes P, capable of easily
rotating thereon, and in such position that the said tubes are at right angles with
both chains. By this means I provide an endless screen, the manner of con-
structing which, and the position it occupies upon the machine will now be fully
understood, and the manner and purpose of its operation will be hereinafter fully
explained.
To the upper extremities of the bridge piece G, and externally thereto, is pivotted
at c, one end of a curved arm R, extending in a downward direction therefrom, in
which is formed a crescented slot d, and through this is caused to pass the stud or
its equivalent K of the disc F" previously mentioned. The lower end of R is
extended in width, and to this is loosely pivotted a suitable number of
such a manner, that these are capable of being deflected towards the back of the
machine (as shown by the dotted second position of R in Fig. 4) but not beyond
the, or thereabouts, in the opposite direction.
prongs e, in
To the lower portion of the machine (and which may be the depending arms O¹)
is pivotally connected a share or shovel S, which may be likened to an enlarged
garden fork, to each side of the front of which is fixed, or formed integrally there-
with, plough-share-like plates S and S1, formed in such a manner that these operate
in cutting away the earth on the bevelled side of the drill, which would have the
effect of keeping unnecessary mould and much of the weeds and other foreign
matter from entering upon S, and clogging this and other parts of the machine.
The front end of the machine is borne by a wheel T, carried by a bifur-
cated vertical arm T', which passes upwardly through. a suitable aperture in
the frame A, by which its vertical position is maintained. A spring lever V is

page_text: pivotally mounted upon a spindle VI, borne by the stay H', and a similar stay H",
connected to the stay H and the frame A. The lower end of V is formed into
short arms and f¹; the latter of which is forked, and connected by a pin to the
arm T, the former by a short link or links, or it or their equivalent to the upper
end of an arm or arms W, fulcrumed at W1, and in adjustable connection with,
and for regulating the depth at which the fork or shovel S is to work within the
ground.
The seat g of the driver or attendant would be situated, preferably, at the front
and near side of the machine, supported by stays h, connected to G, H' and the
side of A, other suitable stays for maintaining the stability of the machine, being
provided wherever needed, and upon the front of the machine a hook or hooks h¹,
or any suitable equivalent therefor, by which the machine may be propelled by
whatever power or haulage used.
The manner operation is as follows.
When the machine is travelling along the road or entering the field, the lever J¹
would be deflected so that the clutch J was out of gear with E, and the lever V in
a position opposite to that shown by Fig. 4, or in other words, so that its spring
plate engaged with the hindmost notch of the crescented guide plate ;, thus
deflecting the arm f, which pulling upon the upper end of W, would raise S, S¹
and S to a horizontal position. The front of the frame A would be lowered from
the strictly horizontal position thereof shewn in the drawings, by reason of this
position of E, causing the arm f' to rise, and allow the arm T' to be higher in A,
or more strictly speaking, the frame A to be lower on T', and at the same time,
and by reason of the said lowering of the front of A, the back thereof would be
correspondingly raised, so that the screen would clear the ground, but when the
machine had entered the field and arrived at its position for work, so that S was
over the drill to be first operated upon, the driver or attendant, woull mount his
seat g, and push the lever V into its front notch, thereby raising the front, and
lowering the back of the machine and again bring S, S₁ and S" upon the ground
as at Fig 4 he would then deflect the lever J, so as to place the clutch J in gear
with E, by which a projection J upon the front of Ji would be brought imme-
diately behind the lever V, this being to prevent the possibility of V spontaneously
shifting to the back notch in while the machine was at work, through vibration or
otherwise.
The machine would then proceed, and as the wheels C were rotated, so also
would be the axle B, the toothed wheel D, and the pinion E, whereby motion
would be imparted through the clutch J, to the shaft F, thereby rotating the mitre
wheel F', and disc F", and by F, the mitre wheel L, shaft L', and sprocket
wheels M and M', carrying with them the chains M M and the tubes P borne
thereby. The rotation of F", would, by means of K, impart a variable and
swinging motion to the arm R, and as this was moved towards the front of the
machine, the prongs e would trail idly over the ground, but as R was moved in a
backward direction, these would assume a vertical position by.coming in contact
with the potatoes and earth that in the meantine had been dug up or raised by the
forked shovel S, and as R completed its return or backward stroke, to the position
shewn by the full lines thereof in Fig. 4, the potatoes and earth would be cast or
forked by the prongs e into or upon the travelling tubes P, these being rotated
partly by their contact with the ground, and partly by the gravitation of the
potatoes and earth thrown thereon, and as these were turned over and over they
would be ridded of the earth thereon, and all weeds and foreign matter clinging
thereto, which falling downwards between the tubes P, would fill up the excavation
recently made by S, thereby leaving the earth smooth and level at the back of the
machine, upon which the cleaned or cleared potatoes would fall when led by
gravity off the lower ends of the rollers P, to be afterwards collected by manual
labour.
At the end of each drill when the machine had to be turned round the lever J¹
would for the nouce again throw J and E out of gear and at the same time the

page_text: end of the plate or rod E" would engage with a slot or projection provided upon
the back of the disc F" and so arrest the momentum of the moving parts. The
lever would then be put into its back notch whereby the front and back of the
machine would be lowered and raised respectively as before described, while
the machine was turned and placed in position to operate upon another drill on its
return journey.
The object for locking the lever V by the projection J" when the machine is at
work, is to prevent the spontaneous return of E, whereby S and the prongs e would
be brought into conflict and the said prongs broken.
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.
1st. In an improved potato digging machine, the construction and use of the
herein described apparatus, and the several moving and stationary parts con-
stituting the same, connected, combined and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth and shown by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In an improved potato digging machine the combination of a frame A,
mounted upon wheels T and C, the latter when rotating operating a shaft B,
carrying a toothed wheel D, in gear with a pinion E, imparting motion by a
clutch J to a shaft F, carrying a mitre wheel F and dist F", the former in gear with
a mitre wheel L, fixed upon a shaft or spindle L', carrying sprocket wheels M
and M', imparting motion to chains M" and M, carrying rotating rods P, and
passing around other sprocket wheels upon spindles N, N' and N", borne by
depending arms or plates O and O', and rendered adjustable by slots therein. The
forked shovel S, with shares S and S", and adjustably connected to an arm W,
fulcrummed at W¹, and connected by a link or links or their equivalent to the arm f
of a spring lever V, carrying a second and bifurcated arm f', connected to the
vertical spindle T', forked and carrying a wheel T. The disc F", with stud or its
equivalent K for actuating the arm R, pivotted at to a bridge piece G, and
carrying at its lower end a suitable number of prongs e, pivotted thereto, the whole
connected and operating substantially as herein described and shown by the
appended drawings.
3rd. In combination with the apparatus set forth in the preceding claim, the
construction and use of a travelling screen, composed of tubes P, mounted and
capable of rotating upon studs 6", projecting from rectangular links forming two
endless chains M and M, by the means of the hook of one link, engaging with
the bar of the next, substantially as herein described, and shown more
particularly in detail by Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. In combination with the apparatus set forth in the second claim hereof,
the manner of preventing rupture of the parts S and e, by locking the lever V,
by the projection J" of the clutch lever J₁ substantially as herein described and
shown.
Dated this 29th day of May 1893
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.