Improvements in Implements for Digging and Gathering Potatoes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Implements for Digging and Gathering Potatoes.
I, ANTON DAMBACHER, of No. 35, Pariser Strasse, in the City of Munich, in the
Kingdom of Bavaria, in the German Empire, Gentleman, 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 :-
-
The subject of the present invention is an implement for digging and gathering
potatoes, after the plants have been removed by the cutter.
The essential feature of the invention is the peculiar construction and arrange-
ment of a digger or lifter-wheel, which digs up the complete rows of potatoes;
that is, lifts up the soil together with the potatoes lying in it, and throws it
upon a sieve. This sieve is constructed only of longitudinal staves, through
which an elevator rake passes. The tubers are here sorted from the soil and
after being passed under a roller-brush are conducted to a collector-box at the
rear part of the implement.
The accompanying drawing illustrates one form of construction of the new
implement.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, and
Fig. 2 a plan view.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the digger or lifter-wheel, drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of this wheel, one of the wings being omitted to better
show the construction.
The whole implement is arranged on a framework d, which is carried by the
axis of the two running and transport wheels a, and is steered by the front
wheels b. The lifter-wheel c is mounted so as to rotate between the two longi-
tudinal bars h. These latter are connected to the framework d by means of the
hanger-brackets f and axle g, in such manner that the front end of the bars h
can be raised or lowered as desired by means of a locking crank i and chains k.
In this manner the lifter-wheel c can be given any desired vertical position
during the work; or may be raised into the position shown in Fig. 1 when the
machine is to be transported. 11 are two guide and adjustment posts, by means
of which the position of the bars h with lifter-wheel c, relatively to the frame-
work d may be controlled.
The lifter-wheel c has eight double arms m (Figs. 3 and 4) provided with springs,
adjustably arranged so as to slide in the cases n. The wheel is thus given a
certain amount of elasticity when working.
The double arms m carry the hoes or lifters o which raise the soil containing
the tubers, and the hinged flaps p which open and close during work. These flaps
close just before entering the soil and open again automatically by their own
weight shortly after leaving it, allowing then both soil and tubers to drop upon
the sieve q. Here the elevator rakes separate the tubers from the soil, and
conduct them under a roller-brush z to the collector-box s. The opening and
closing of each hinged flap p is effected by means of a slide t and lever u. The
latter strikes against the roller discs v, and in passing them is operated so as to

page_text: first close the flap by pressing against its back, and then allow it to open by
reason of its own weight and the weight of the contents.
For the sake of clearness of the drawing, the discs are shown by dotted lines
in Fig. 1, and in Fig. 2 only the two horizontal arms for opening and closing
the flaps are shown. The flaps close whilst passing from the horizontal position
to the vertical down position of the arms m, and open on moving upwards again
to the horizontal position. In Fig. 3 the flap P¹ is shown as just closed, whilst
the flap Ps is just commencing to open.
In order that the opening may not take place too suddenly and in order to
better distribute the soil lifted up, spring sheet metal plates ware provided,
being attached to the back of the flaps p. Against these plates the slides tabut,
instead of directly against the flaps themselves.
The spiral springs arranged around the double arms m inside the cases n,
are for the purpose of imparting elasticity to the arms and lifters, so that they
may not rigidly oppose any large obstacle, such as stones or the like.
The implement is driven by means of the chain-wheel y, mounted on the axle &
(Figs. 1 and 2) which transmits the motion both to the lifter-wheel and to the
elevator rakes. Above the collector-box s is the roller-brush z, which removes
any soil that may be clinging to the potatoes.
When the machine is to be transported, the whole mechanism is brought out 2
of action by disengaging the clutch e (Fig. 2), by means of the lever e¹; and the
lifter-wheel, as already mentioned raised by means of the adjustment posts 1 l.
In order to facilitate the work of the Tifter-wheel and elevator, it will be
found advantageous to provide a plough-share P between the lifter-wheel and
the elevator, as shown in Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An implement for digging and gathering potatoes, comprising a suitable
framework (d) mounted on wheels (a b) and carrying a frame (h) suspended at:
its front end by means of chains (4) operated by a locking crank (i) and having
guide and attachment posts l, and a potato lifter-wheel (c) mounted on an axis
carried by the said frame (h), consisting of central cases (n) carrying sliding double
arms (m) pressed outwards by springs and peripheral lifters (o), and having
slides (t) operating hinged flaps (p) having spring backs (w), said slides being
operated by levers (u) moved by roller discs (v) attached to the frame (h) of the
implement; and a sieve (7) and elevator rake device (r) passing through said sieve;
and a roller-brush (2) mounted on said framework, above a collector-box (s); in
combination with suitable chains and chain-wheels and toothed gears for driving
said lifter-wheel (c) and elevator rake-device (7) and roller-brush (2) from the
main axle (a), and a mechanism (e e¹) for disengaging said gearing, all substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
2. In an implement for digging and gathering potatoes, the combination of
a lifter-wheel (c) capable of being vertically raised and lowered, mounted on
an axis and consisting of central cases (n) carrying sliding double arms (m)
pressed outwards by springs and peripheral lifters (o), and having slides (t)
operating hinged flaps (2) having spring backs (w), said slides being operated
by levers (u) moved by roller discs (v); and of a sieve (9) and elevator rake
device (r) passing through said sieve; and a roller-brush (2) and collector-box (s),
and means for driving said lifter-wheel and elevator device and roller-brush
from the axle of the running wheels of the implement, and gear for disengaging
said parts from operation, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set
forth.
3. In an implement for digging and gathering potatoes, a wheel (c) for lifting
the soil and potatoes contained therein, comprising central cases (n) mounted on
an axis, and carrying sliding double arms (m) pressed outwards by springs and

page_text: peripheral lifters (o), and having slides (t) operating hinged flaps (p) having
spring backs (w), said slides being operated by levers (u) capable of being moved
by roller discs, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
Dated this 27th day of March 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.