Improvements in Machines for Digging Potatoes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Digging Potatoes.
I JAMES SMETHURST WARBURTON of 5 & 7 Juvenal Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Agricultural Engineer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for digging potatoes, and
the invention consists in the employment of a roller or press wheel, to work on
either, or both sides of the ridge of soil containing the potatoes, so as to keep the
potatoes from falling out of the ridge or soil, until the said potatoes have passed
over the share employed for cutting under the soil, and thus to enable the fork
wheel, employed for the purpose of digging the potatoes, to throw them more
perfectly clear of the soil.
The shaft on which the roller, or press wheel revolves, will be attached to the
side of the potato digger frame in an upright, or sloping position as required, and
will be made to revolve either by its own pressure or friction against the side of
the potato ridge, or can be made to revolve by suitable gearing connected with
either the main axle shaft, or the second motion shaft of the machine, as is most
desireable.
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J. S. WARBURTON.
Improvements in Machines for Digging Potatoes.
I JAMES SMETHURST WARBURTON of 5 and 7 Juvenal Street, Liverpool in
the County of Lancaster, Agricultural Engineer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in machines of the ordinary construction
for digging potatoes, and the invention consists in the employment of a roller, or
press wheel, to work on either or both sides of the ridge of soil containing the
potatoes, so as to keep the potatoes from falling out of the ridge or soil, until the
said potatoes have passed over the share employed for cutting under the soil, and
thus to enable the fork wheel employed for the purpose of digging the potatoes, to
throw them more perfectly clear out of the soil.
The shaft on which the roller or press wheel revolves, will be attached to the
side of the potato digger frame, in an upright, or sloping position as required, and
will be made to revolve either by its own pressure, or friction against the side of
the potato ridge, or can be made to revolve by suitable gearing connected with
either the main axle shaft, or the second motion shaft of the machine, as is most
desirable.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood, I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing, which represents the
back elevation of a machine for digging potatoes, with my invention shown on the
same

page_text: A, is a wheel or roller fitted on a round shaft, in such a manner that the forward
motion of the machine will cause the wheel or roller to revolve by its own pressure,
or friction against the side of the drill or ridge which contains the potatoes. The
upper part of the round shaft on which the wheel or roller is fitted, is flat, and
has a series of holes in the same, so that the roller shaft can be raised or lowered
to any height as required. B, is a bracket, secured to the frame of the machine,
this bracket having a number of holes in the projecting arm, so as to enable the
shaft on which the wheel or roller is fixed, to be set and jointed, either nearer or
further from the potato ridge. C, is a moveable joint pin, securing the roller shaft
to the projecting arm B, and forms a hinge or joint. D, is a retaining spiral
spring, secured at one end to the frame of the machine, and at the other end to
the roller shaft, in such a manner that when the roller, in meeting any obstruction
or projection on the side of the potato ridge, is forced away from the ridge, the
retaining spring D will draw it to its proper position again. E, is a length of
chain secured at one end to the machine frame, and at the other end to the top
of the roller shaft, to keep the roller shaft at any required angle. F, is the share
employed to cut under the soil of the ridge containing the potatoes. G, is the
shaft on which the revolving fork wheel of the potato digger is fixed to revolve
when at work.
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 :-
1. In a machine for digging potatoes, the employment of a roller or press wheel
to work on either or both sides of the ridge of soil containing the potatoes, so as
to keep the potatoes from falling out of the ridge or soil, until the said potatoes
have passed over the share employed for cutting under the soil, and thus to enable
the fork wheel employed for the purpose of digging out the potatoes, to throw
them out more perfectly clear of the soil.
2. The improved machine for digging potatoes, which is of ordinary construction
with the addition of the roller or press wheel substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 30th day of March 1896.
J. S. WARBURTON.