Improvements relating to Root-cutting Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Late of Application, 6th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Root-cutting Machines.
I, FRANCIS THOMAS STATHAM, Britannia Iron Works, Derby 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 machines employed for cutting or slicing potatoes,
turnips, carrots, mangel-wurtzels, and other roots, cabbages or the like, for feeding
live stock and for other purposes. It has reference more particularly to, firstly,
those machines in which a number of small cutters are mounted on a cylindrical
barrel at right angles to its axis, and, secondly, to what are known as disc cutting
machines, that is to say, machines wherein the knives or cutters are arranged upon
the face of a revolving disc.
In the accompanying two sheets of drawings illustrative of my said Invention
Figures 1 to 4 represent my improvements employed in connection with a machine
of the type first above named, Figures 1 and 2 being sectional elevations and
Figure 3 a plan view of a machine so constructed, Figure 4 an enlarged detached
view of the sliding bearings which I employ hereinafter more particularly referred
to. Figures and 6 illustrate, by sectional elevations, a disc cutting machine con-
structed according to my said Invention.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4 A represents the cylindrical barrel on which the
radially projecting knives or cutters are arranged in a helical form, the barrel
being mounted on the shaft a carried in bearings a¹ which are bolted to the frame-
work of the machine. A second shaft b is arranged in front of the barrel carrying
a worm B. The barrel shaft a is driven by hand or motive power and the worm
shaft rotated, in the opposite direction, by the toothed wheels 61, 6", under which
arrangement the cutters are cleaned of the material after passing through the
worm.
In practice it is invariably found that when an obstacle, such as a stone for
instance, is accidentally passed into the machine with the roots, the knives or cutters,
which necessarily work close in the worm, are broken, or the worm itself more or
less injured and rendered useless, it being customary to mount the barrel and worm
shafts in fixed bearings. To obviate these defects I propose to mount the worm
shaft in sliding bearings as shown more particularly in Figure 4. In this
arrangement (represents the bearing block, da cast iron cap bolted to the frame-
work, da bracket or lug through which a stud c is passed and screwed into the
bearing block C. A spring c-the tension of which is regulated by a nut d¹¹—tends
to retain the sliding block in its normal position.
When an obstacle is carried between the cutters and worm, the shaft 6 by means
of its sliding bearings recedes from the barrel and allows the obstacle to pass without
injury to either the cutters or worn, the shaft b returning to its normal position by the
spring c¹, as aforesaid, employed with each bearing block C.
If desirable I may in certain cases mount the barrel shaft a in sliding bearings in
lieu of the worm shaft b, and arrange the springs c¹ on the opposite side of the lugs
or brackets d'. I might also dispense with these springs and employ a lever, weight
or equivalent means for accomplishing the same purpose.
The hopper of the machine is so constructed as to effectually prevent the roots or
cabbages choking and to allow of same being brought into immediate contact with
the barrel cutters. For this purpose I employ an end plate D opposite to the
inclined shoot E. This end plate, which may be of a curvature corresponding to
the barrel, is pivoted at its lower end at e and weighted at its upper end so as to
force the roots or other material on the cutters of the barrel and so prevent them
rolling while being cut. A spring f, shown in dotted lines Figure 1, or equivalent

page_text: means, may be employed to further increase the pressure of the roots on the barrel
cutters by the plate D. By the employment of this hinged end plate roots or cabbages
of large size are admitted into the hopper and reach the barrel cutters without having
been previously divided. The movement of the plate D on its centre e may be
regulated and the position of same relatively to the barrel and worm be altered to
agree with the varying sizes of the material unler treatment. A shoot F might be
employed for conveying the material, after being cut, into the alloted receptacles.
The improvements in disc cutting machines, Figures 5 and 6, are devised for the
more effectual cutting or slicing of the roots. In these machines the roots are emptied
into the hopper and are brought into contact with the cutters by virtue of their
weight. It usually happens however that the roots, which are of various sizes and
shapes become choked in the dead parts of the hopper. Numerous hoppers have
been devised to overcome this defect with little or no success.
In the machine which I employ, Figures 5 and 6, the roots at either the top or
bottom of the hopper can be pressed against the knives of the disc at the will of
the attendant.
This machine comprises a disc A mounted on a shaft a and carried in bearings a¹.
The rim of the disc is somewhat enlarged to allow of the latter acting as a fly
wheel, and the machine is driven by hand or motive power. The roots or other
material when delivered into the hopper pass down the inclined shoot D into the
lower hopper or basket 61. The side of the hopper facing the knives of the revolving
dise A is made up of two plates B, C, hinged in any convenient manner at c. Two
screwed studs e, e, attached to the lower plate C pass through lugs or brackets d¹ and
are bolted adjustably within the longitudinal slot provided in the lower end of the
lever E which is pivoted at e'. In the event of the roots becoming choked at the
lower end of the hopper the attendant applies pressure to the lever E whereupon
the roots are forced against the knives of the disc A by the bottom plate C. The upper
end plate B is retained open by a spring & shown in dotted lines. In the event of
the roots choking at the mouth of the hopper it is only necessary to apply pressure to
the plate B at its upper end. A spring arranged on each of the studs e, e, is
employed for retaining the bottom plate C in its normal position. If desired the
springs which maintain the two plates B, C, in the open position may be reversed so
as to continually force the plates B, C towards the cutting disc. The bottom plate C
might in certain cases be dispensed with and the upper plate B alone be used, in
which case the plate B might be arranged in a manner somewhat similar to that
which applies in regard to the lower plate C.
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 The improvements in root cutting machines substantially as herein
described and shown.
Second In root cutting machines of the barrel cutting class the employment.
of a hinged end plate D, and worm shaft 6 or barrel shaft a mounted in sliding
bearings C substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and as shown
Figures 1 to 4.
Third In root cutting machines of the disc cutting class the employment of
hinged plates B, C, constituting one side of the hopper and means for actuating same
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and as shown Figures 5 and 6.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for Applicant.