AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND PEELING POTATOES OR OTHER VEGETABLES OR ROOTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bradford, of High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, and of the City of Manchester, Laundry Engineer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND PEELING
POTATOES OR OTHER VEGETABLES OR ROOTS."
Sealed the 12th January 1877, and dated the 25th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bradford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1876.
THOMAS BRADFORD, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, and of the
City of Manchester, Laundry Engineer. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS
FOR WASHING AND PEELING POTATOES OR OTHER VEGETABLES OR ROOTS."
This Invention relates to an improved machine or apparatus for washing and
peeling potatoes or other vegetables or roots.
The Invention, consists, firstly, in constructing a rectangular shaped vessel of
wood, iron, or other suitable material, the bottom of which I propose to make con-
cave or semicircular in the direction of its length, and upon the sides of this vessel
I fix two journals in which the axles of a revolving brush will bear and rotate..
The revolving brush by which the cleansing and partial peeling of the potatoes
is accomplished I propose to construct as follows:-
-
First. I make a cast-iron or wrought-iron disc, keyed firmly upon a shaft of
suitable diameter, upon the front or revolving surface of which disc I secure a
circular brush corresponding to the diameter of the iron disc; the said brush is
intended to be made in two, three, or more segments. Between each segment of
brush (which by preference I make of long weeds or material the same or similar
to that used in the ordinary scrubbing broom) I fix a wood backing or support of
suitable thickness, the object being to secure length and consequent elasticity of
the bristles for brushing, without liability to undue wear and tear, which would
result to bristles or weeds unsupported by such wood backing, and if short and
rigid.
Secondly. Upon the circular or concave bottom of the vessel I propose to fix a
series of inclines of an OG shape somewhat similar to the mould board of a plough,
the intention and purpose of the same being to incline the potatoes or other
[Price Gd]

page_text: vegetables or roots towards the surface of the revolving brush when in action, the
scrubbing pressure of the brushes being increased or diminished according to the
angle at which the incline is fixed. This incline is composed of wood wrought into
suitable shape, or by preference of cast metal moulded in segments, the centre one
being in the form of a grid, which serves to carry away all deposit from the bottom
of the vessel.
In larger machines to be worked by steam power and adapted to the require-
ments of large asylums, hospitals, or other establishments, I propose to accomplish
the cleansing by a forward direction of the revolving brush, and by the application
of a reversing motion to the brush. I propose to utilize the brush itself for
emptying the contents of the vessel through a suitable opening made in the vessel,
thereby saving a large amount of time and labour.
The partial peeling of potatoes is accomplished by the same mechanical action as
the cleansing process, but extended over a longer period, say ten to fifteen minutes
for partial peeling instead of two or three minutes for cleansing, the friction upon
the surface of the potato being further increased to the requisite degree by reducing
the quantity of water used for cleansing to about two-thirds or one-half the
quantity for peeling, by which the floating power of the water is diminished, and
the potatoes consequently press with greater gravitating force against the surface
of the revolving disc, the rolling over and incessant changing of the surface of the
potatoes to the bristly surface of the said revolving disc being effectually accom-
plished, and as a fact greatly increased and rendered more certain under the
changed condition of less water for peeling than for washing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Bradford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
January 1877.
THOMAS BRADFORD, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, and of the City
of Manchester, Laundry Engineer. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR
WASHING AND PEELING POTATOES OR OTHER VEGETABLES OR ROOTS."
This Invention relates to an improved machine or apparatus for washing and
peeling potatoes or other vegetables or roots.
The improved machine is illustrated on the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings
in two forms. Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, which are drawn to a scale of 3 inches
to 1 foot, representing a small machine (suitable for household or domestic use) to
be actuated by hand, and Figures 3 to 5, Sheet 2, which are drawn to a scale of
1 inches to 1 foot, representing a large machine (adapted to the requirements of
asylums, hospitals, hotels, and other large establishments) to be actuated by
steam or other suitable power. Figure 1 represents in elevation a vertical section
of the machine through A-B, Figure 2, the left hand half looking in the direc-
tion of the arrow C, and the right hand half looking in the direction of the
arrow D. Figure 2 represents a plan view of the machine, the right hand side of
the brush wheel being shown in radial section. Figure 3 represents an elevation of
the large machine, the right hand half showing the exterior, and the left hand half
representing a section through E-F, Figure 4, looking in the direction of the
arrow G. Figure 4 represents a similar view to Figure 2; and Figure 5 repre-
sents an elevation of the driving and reversing gear of the large machine, shown
in plan in Figure 4.
Each machine is constructed with a rectangular washing and cleansing vessel 1
of wood, iron, or other suitable material, the bottom 2 of which is made concave or
curved semicircularly in the direction of its length (see Figures 1 and 3). To the
Bides 3 of the vessel 1 arc bolted journals 4 which carry the shaft or axle 5 of a

page_text: revolving brush wheel 6 by which the cleansing and partial peeling of the potatoes
or other articles is effected. This brush wheel is constructed with a cast or
wrought-iron disc or back plate 7 which is keyed upon the shaft 5, and upon the
front surface of which the brush proper is bolted or suitably secured.
The brush is made circular in form of a diameter equal to that of the plate 7,
and it is formed in two or more segments or parts, each segment consists of a
wooden backing 8 carrying alternate segments of long weeds or bristles 9, (similar
to those used in the ordinary scrubbing broom) and of blocks of wood 10, which
latter support the weeds. This arrangements allows of long reeds or bristles being
used, which secures elasticity without liability to the undue wear and tear that
would result from the use of short and rigid reeds or of long reeds unsupported
by such blocks 10. The reeds 9 are worked or inserted in the backing 8 as brushes
are ordinarily made, and the blocks 10 are screwed or bolted to the backing and
to the plate 7 by bolts 17. On that side of the vessel facing the brush I secure a
series of inclines or mould boards 11 which follow the curvature of its bottom 2, (see
Figures 1 and 3), and serve to cause the potatoes or other vegetables or roots to
gravitate towards the revolving brush, the scrubbing effect of which will depend
upon the angle at which the inclines 11 are set. These inclines form a continuous
surface, and are formed of segments of wood wrought into suitable shape or of
cast iron, the centre and lowest one 12 being in the form of a grid serves to carry
away all deposit from the bottom of the vessel, the deposit and water passing
through the outlet hole 19 which is at other times closed by a plug. Rotation is
imparted to the brush wheel 6 in the small machines by hand by means of a handle
placed at 13 on the shaft 5.
In the large machine I combine with the apparatus above described, the arrange-
ment of reversing gear illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 (or any other equivalent
arrangement) which will allow, of a forward motion being given to the brush
wheel in the direction of the arrow I to cleanse and peel the potatoes and of a
backward or reversing motion in the direction of the arrow I, whereby the brush
wheel may be utilized in expelling the cleansed and peeled potatoes, through a
suitable spout or outlet 14 at one end of the vessel 1 and thereby saving much time
and labor.
The partial peeling of the potatoes is accomplished by the same mechanical
action as the cleansing process, but extended over a longer period, say from about
10 to 15 minutes for peeling instead of 2 or 3 minutes for cleansing, the friction upon
the potatoes being increased to the requisite degree by reducing the quantity of
water used for cleansing by about 1/3 to 1/, for peeling, the power of rotation being
thus diminished the potatoes consequently press with greater gravitating force against
the revolving brush, the rolling over and incessant changing of the surface of the
potatoes to the bristly surface of which effectually accomplishes the desired peeling.
15 represents strengthening iron bands and 16 stay rods, by which the sides of
the vessel I are braced together and the bottom supported; 18 represents a shallow
hopper forming part of a removable top piece 20 in the large machine, and in
which the potatoes may be placed, and from which they may be pushed into the
vessel 1 as required.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, would remark in conclusion that claim as my Invention--
The novel and peculiar construction and general arrangement of machines or
apparatus for cleansing and peeling potatoes or other vegetables or roots, substan-
stantially as above described and as illustrated on the accompanying Drawings.
And especially I claim the combination and use in such machines or apparatus,
of a vertical disc brush of substantially the same construction as that herein-above
described and illustrated on the annexed Drawings, and of the peculiar OG shaped
inclines or mould boards which give direction to the roots or vegetables being
cleansed or peeled by the revolving disc brush when moving in a forward direction.

page_text: And I also claim the emptying of such roots by the action of the revolving disc
brush when its motion is reversed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bradford, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of Januarý, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor and Patent Agent,
5, Searle Street,
Lincoln's Inn.
THOMAS BRADFORD. (L.S.)