Improvements in Machines for Topping, Tailing, and Lifting Turnips.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1895-Accepted, 20th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Topping, Tailing, and Lifting
Turnips.
1, JOHN FAIRWEATHER of Chapelton, Brechin, Forfarshire, Farmer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in
writing that is to say :-
My invention has reference to and comprises certain improvements in the
construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of machines for topping,
tailing and lifting turnips being improvements on my invention for which Letters
Patent were granted to me No. 23,998 of 1892, but which also are partially capable
of being adapted to other machines of the same class.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 and Figure 2 on Sheet 2 are respectively a sectional side
elevation and a plan view the former taken on the line 2-2 Figure 2 of a single
drill machine constructed in its main essential parts in accordance with the
Specification of my said prior Patent No. 23,998 of 1892 but showing the
improvements of my present invention applied thereto. Figure 3 is a detached
view of rotating cutting knife and its carrying frame.
According to one improvement I construct the coulter of the form shown in
Figures 1 and 2 and mount it so as to be capable of adjustment to the desired
height, and also in the transverse direction. This is effected by passing the
stem A of the coulter A A¹ up through a slot in a bar A secured to the frame of
the machine by a stay A³ on each side and securing it at the required height by a
pinching screw a.
The top of the stem A¹ is also passed through a slot in a sliding piece B sliding
transversely on part of the frame C of the machine actuated by a hand screw Bi
and secured in the desired position by the bolts and nuts for the purpose of
adjusting the coulter A. A in the transverse direction. The coulter A A is also
fitted with the mould board A' for the purpose of cleaning the side of the drill of
weeds and other matter, the mould board A' and the cutting knife A being secured
to the coulter stem A¹ by the same bolts so that the mould board A can be
removed when not required. To the front of the bar A2 is secured by a bolt and
nut an S shaped or other spring D carrying a knife D' to work in front of the
coulter A A' and also clean the side surface of drill, the spring D allowing the
knife to pass over any obstructions such as stones, without damage. The mould
board A' and the knife D' may be used together or either one of them separately,
according to circumstances and the state of the ground. The back end of the
bar A carries by an adjusting pinching screw e the shedder E. E' for the purpose
of shedding or lifting the cut turnips into the drill.
By another improvement the two curved arms F F¹ acting as guides for shedding
the turnip shaws to the rotating cutting knife G. are secured at their front ends by
pinching screws to the bar H the ends of which are carried in slotted bearings H
in the frame of machine on which they can be adjusted to the desired width, or
they may be suspended to the bar by short chains or swivel joints, and are
connected together by a bow F secured to them by its lower ends. This how F

page_text: is made in two parts one sliding within the other telescopically at the centre part
and secured by a pinching screw f. The bar H is fitted with the rack I working
through the bracket 12 and engaging with the worm screw I' on the end of the
spindle J by which it is suspended and the guiding arms F F raised and lowered
as desired. The back end of the one arm F forms a bearing f' for the rotating
knife spindle J and is turned over at the one side of the rotating knife G and forms
the carrying frame f2 as shown more particularly in Figure 3. This carrying
frame is suspended by a chain from the spindle J which is revolved by the
handle J by which it is turned to simultaneously raise or lower the rotating
cutting knife G with its frame and the shedding arms F F by means of the chain
and the worm screw. The guiding arms F F and bow F2 may be suspended from
the spindle J by a chain instead of by a worm screw and rack in which case the
spindle would be fitted with a ratchet and pawl at its handle end to retain it in
position. This method of forming the bearing f' and carrying frame f2 for the
rotating knife spindle J* leaves the back of the rotating knife G clear and
prevents any gathering of the shaws there.
The front shaw gatherers K are suspended towards their front part by a bow K',
made to slide telescopically in a manner similar to the bow F2 and hung by a
chain K² attached to the under side of the bracket 12 and their back ends are
suspended on stud spindles K³ on the frame of the machine on which they are free
to slide transversely so that the width or distance between them can be adjusted as
desired.
The machine is also fitted with a long lever L by which the height of the front
part of the machine can be varied as desired.
As shown if dotted lines in Figure 1, the machine may be fitted with revolving
forks and screen similar to those used in potato diggers for the purpose of
removing the cüit turnips clear of earth into the drill.
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:
First. In machines for topping, tailing and lifting turnips the constructing and
adjustably hitting of the coulter, coulter stein and mould board all substantially as
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In machines for topping, tailing and lifting turnips the fitting of the
coulter with a mould board all substantially as and for the purpose herein described
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In machines for topping tailing and lifting turnips the fitting in front of
the coulter of a spring suspended knife all substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In machines for topping, tailing and lifting turnips the constructing and
adjustably suspending of the guiding arms F F all substantially as herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In machines for topping, tailing and lifting turnips the constructing and
adjustably suspending of the front shaw shedders K all substantially as herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. The constructing by turning over at the one side of the end of the
guiding arm F of the bearing and carrying frame for the rotating knife spindle
substantially in the manner and for the advantages herein described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 11th day of June 1895.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.