IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS OR MACHINES FOR RAISING DIGGING POTATOES AND FOR FORKING AND CLEANING LAND
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Corbett at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1882.
SAMUEL CORBETT of Wellington in the County of Salop, Agricultural Implement
Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTS OR MACHINES FOR RAISING
DIGGING POTATOES AND FOR FORKING AND CLEANING LAND
"
OR
My invention consists principally of the improvements hereinafter described in
implements or machines for raising or digging growing potatoes from the earth,
the object of my said improvements being to effect the rapid and economical
removal of the potatoes from the soil without injury to them and to drive the
operating parts with less expenditure of power than is required in the ordinary
implement.
My said improvements are applicable to potato raisers which deliver the potatoes
on one side of the ridge and also to potato raisers having either a spade or share
in front of the separator or raising forks.
In constructing an implement or machine according to my invention, I mount
or support an iron frame on two travelling wheels which are arranged to run onl
each side of the ridge of potatoes to be lifted. The separator or lifting forks are
fixed on the end of a longitudinal shaft driven from the shaft of the travelling
wheels as hereinafter explained. The forked separator is composed of a disc or
boss fitted with a set of radial forks similar to hand potato forks. The said forks
are fixed to the disc or boss by screw loops or otherwise and are made capable of
adjustment so as to increase or diminish the diameter of the separator to suit the
different sizes of ridges to be operated upon. The said separator revolves in a
vertical plane and is situated diagonally or at an angle greater than a right angle,
to the ridge of potatoes. I make the forks of the separator wider, and provide
them with more tangs or branches, than the ordinary forks. By this construction,
the separator revolves slower and takes less power to drive it and the potatoes are
less bruised or injured than by the use of the ordinary potato raiser. For the
purpose of driving the separator a bevil wheel is fixed on the shaft of the travelling
wheels and drives a pinion on the end of the longitudinal or separator shaft. This

page_text: longitudinal shaft is arranged diagonally with respect to the framing of the
machine. By this means the forks of the separator are made to revolve in an
inclined or oblique direction across the potato ridge, the forks which first come in
contact with the ridge being situated nearer the fore end of the machine than the
forks which deliver the potatoes. The forks are in this way made to work more
open and to deliver the potatoes less bruised than when the revolving forks are
situated at right angles to the ridge, my said arrangement also permitting of the
easy removal of the potato tops and other rubbish out of the path of the machine
On the outer end of the longitudinal shaft, I fix a clutch for the purpose of
throwing the separator into or out of gear with the travelling wheels and I fix at
the rear end of the machine a wheel with a bell crank arm for the purpose of
raising the machine from the land when turning it; or for travelling on roads.
By means of a slide the share can be raised or lowered to accommodate it to the
depth of the ridge.
I fit to the frame of the machine a pair of tails or handles, which enable the
attendant to guide and turn the machine, without walking on the raised potatoes.
The said frame is also fitted with a pair of high wheels one running on each side
of the ridge.
On the right hand side of the machine I fix a frame carrying a rope netting or
a series of wooden laths covered with some soft material against which the potatoes
are thrown by the separator. By the use of this kind of screen the potatoes are
not bruised or injured.
In order to fit the machine or potato raiser to fork or clean stubble or other
foul land, the share is removed and another share, provided with a "landside,”
substituted therefor.
The machine is then ready for the new purpose.