Improvements in Machines for Topping and Tailing Turnips and other Root Crops.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
:
Improvements in Machines for Topping and Tailing Turnips and
other Root Crops.
I, JOHN MUNRO, of Market Street, Forres, in the County of Elgin, North
Britain, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for topping and tailing
turnips and other root crops and has for its object to so construct the machine as
to enable the draught bar to slide and so be under the control of the operator,
whereby he can guide the machine so as to make it run on the top of the drills or
otherwise as he may desire. My invention also relates to an improved coulter for
raising and cutting roots whereby the cutting blade is kept in position.
In carrying out my said invention, I nount the draught in suitable brackets.in
such a manner as to enable it to be moved or slid from side to side at will by means
of an operating lever mounted at the handle end of the machine; said lever
actuating the bar through the medium of a horizontal rod or bar having its front
end bent and provided with a slot into which a pin or stud on the draught bar
engages, or a lever may be employed in lieu of the bent end of the actuating rod
or bar; said bar being suitably carried and by the main frame, which also carries
the topper for cutting the shaws or tops off and the said topper is suspended by
one or more adjustable chain arrangements from the main beam or frame.
Also in accordance with my invention, I form the point of the coulter, which is
suspended or secured to the main frame or beam by a buckle or the like, somewhat
after the sock of a plough, so as to run into the ground below the cutting knive or
blade for the purpose of keeping the said blade steady and so ensure of a more
efficient cutting being performed with less tendency to miss.
ليوم
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1.
1002
JOHNSONS,
115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Petitioner's Agents.
T
Improvements in Machines for Topping and Tailing Turnips and
other Root Crops.
I, JOHN MUNRO, of Market Street, Forres, in the County of Elgin, North
Britain, Agricultural Engineer, 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 :—
This invention relates to improvements in machines for topping and tailing
turnips and other root crops and has for its object to so construct the machine as
to enable it to be more easily guided and kept straight on the top of the rows or
drills and also to provide more efficient means whereby the shaws and tails or
roots can be cut off without injuring the bulbs.
In carrying out my invention I employ a frame the front end of which carries
the knives for cutting off the tops or shaws in such a manner that they are allowed

page_text: to oscillate sideways & vertically thereby allowing the knives to ride over the
bulbs and cutting off the tops or shaws.
The root cutting coulter is placed at the rear end of the machine and can be
raised and lowered to the requisite depth for cutting off the tails.
For the purpose of guiding the machine and keeping it straight upon the drills
I provide the frout of the machine with a sliding draught bar capable of being
moved from side to side by the operator.
But in order that my invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is an elevation
Figure 2 a plan and
Figures 3 & 4 detail views of my improved machine.
In carrying out my invention I employ a frame consisting of a main beam A
secured to skeids or slides B upon which the apparatus slides, by means of bolts or
the like, the rear ends of the skeids being secured to the main beam A by legs a;
stays a serving to keep the whole machine rigid. The said beam A is provided
with handles a for the purpose of steadying the machine when in operation.
Upon the front of the said frame I mount the draught bar C which is capable
of sliding in brackets c bolted to the front of the skeids B and which is operated
by a rod D having its front end bent and provided with a slot d which engages
with a pin or projection d¹ secured to the draught bar; the said rod being operated
by a lever & quadrant E mounted upon the rear end of the main beam A. and
within easy reach of the operator.
Or in place of forming the rod with a bend I may provide it with a lever or
crank.
For the purpose of cutting off the tops of the turnips we provide two topping
knives F composed of half round rods to which the topping blades are bolted ;
the said rods F which are formed in the shape of a V for guiding the shaws or
tops to the blades f being secured to the beam A at the front by a bow G and set
to the required height by a chain g, while the ends which carry the blades fare
secured by a bow G' and chain g to a hook g² operated by a rod H whereby the
blades can be adjusted to any desired height. Chains 93 keeping the knives from
moving backwards.
At the front of the machine, or frame and exteuding inwardly towards the knives,
I mount two rods K for guiding any bulbs or shaws that may be lying aside or out
of line with the regular row, into the knives.
Also in accordance with my invention I provide the rear end of the machine
with a root cutting coulter L the said coulter being fastened to the beam by means
of bolts or buckle so that it is capable of being raised & lowered to the required
depth. The cutting blade is above the point and at the land side, the object
being to prevent side pressure while the roots are being cut, thereby relieving the
driver of a great amount of labour.
.
Although the shank of the coulter L is shown flat in the drawings I prefer to
make it round so that it can be turned outwards or inwards to the turnips.
I also provide a guard or shield M secured to the bow G' for the purpose of
throwing the shaws aside after being cut so as to prevent them clogging on the
coulter L.
From the foregoing it will be seen that after the knives have been set to the
proper level to suit the average size of turnips to be operated upon the machine
is free to cut off the shaws or tops and should a turnip of unusual size be in the
way the V shaped rods first pass over the turnips thus raising the cutting knives
to cut off the shaws and prevent injury to the bulb.
The object of making the rods of the topping knives half round being to prevent
any scratching or damaging of the bulb.
Also that the point of the coulter being in the ground below the cutting
knife or blade the blade is kept steadier and less liable to miss.

page_text: 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. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting my improved
turnip topping & tailing machine, substantially as herein before described and shown.
in the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The sliding draught bar C mounted in guides c upon the front of the
machine and operated by means of a lever E through the medium of a rod D.
having its frout end bent and provided with a slot d engaging with a pin d¹ upon
the said draught bar, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. Mounting the topping knives so that they are capable of cutting off the
shaws of turnips or the like which are bigger than those for which the machine is.
set, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying
drawings.
4th. The improved form of coulter for tailing turnips and the like substantially
as herein before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of July 1896
JOHNSONS,
115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.
JOHNSONS,
115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.