IMPROVEMENTS IN POTATOE-DIGGING- MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, RUDOLF GASCH at Ellgoth near Bielitz in the empire of Austria, do hereby
declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POTATOE-DIGGING-
MACHINES" to be as follows :—
My invention relates to potatoo-digging-machines and the improvements consist
in the combination, with a plough-share adapted to penetrate into and lift the
earth containing the potatoes, of an undulated grate and means for conveying the
earth and the potatoes along the same, and for causing the former to be disintegrated
and to fall through the grate.
The said grate is formed of parallel bars of zig-zag shape, fixed close to the
plough-share at the bottom of a frame carried by wheels. Above the grate there is
a system of rakes, preferably attached to travelling chains, the said rakes being
arranged to penetrate with their tines into the earth and to push it upon and along
the grate and to loosen it. Into the slits between the bars of the grate project
from below the tines of a number of rakes, operated in such a manner that the
tines during one part of their course will project through the grate and move rear-
ward, while during the other part they are withdrawn therefrom and move in the
direction forward. These rakes thus also convey the earth and the potatoes on'
the grate towards the rear, and, in co-operation with the undulations of the same
they likewise break and loosen the earth; but they have the additional function
of causing the comminuted earth to fall through the slits of the grate. With some
kinds of ground, one or the other of the two systems of rakes may, however, be
omitted.
The rakes of both systems are operated by the wheels on which the machine
runs, or the axle thereof, through the medium of any suitable gearing.
Date :-
11 1
2

page_text: I, RUDOLF GASCH, residing at Ellgoth near Bielitz in the Empire of Austria, 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:-
My invention relates to potatoe-digging-machines and the improvements consist
in the combination with a plough-share adapted to penetrate into and lift the
earth containing the potatoes, of an undulated grate and means for conveying the
earth and the potatoes along the same, and for causing the former to be disintegrated
and to fall through the grate.
A machine constructed according to my invention is represented on the annexed
sheet of drawings by Fig. 1 in a sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse section
of a portion thereof on line 1, 2 of Fig. 1.
The aforesaid grate, marked in the drawing by the letter r, is formed of a
number of parallel bars of undulated or zig-zag shape, and it is fixed, together with
and in rear of the plough-share p, to a frame c attached to the main frame b, which
is carried by the axle of the wheels a. Above the grate there is a system of
movable rakesh arranged to penetrate with their tines into the earth, to push it
upon and along the grate and to loosen it. These rakes may have a continuous
motion in the direction of the arrows a, or an alternating motion adapted to cause
them to operate upon the earth and the potatoes in the manner required.
Into the slits between the bars of the grate project from below the tines of the
rakes d, operated in such a manner that the said tines will, during one part of their
course, project through the grate and move rearward, while during the other part
they are withdrawn therefrom and move in forward direction. These rakes thus
also convey the earth and the potatoes on the grate towards the rear, and, in
cooperation with the undulations of the same, they likewise break and loosen the
earth; but they have the additional function of causing the comminuted earth to
fall trough the slits of the grate. The potatoes together with the unbroken clods,
stones, &c., are pushed by the two systems of rakes h and d away over the grate
and drop upon the earth which had previously fallen through the grate, so that the
potatoes may easily be gathered by hand.
The machine may, however, also be provided with a receptacle for receiving the
potatoes, &c., as they leave the grate.
In the machine represented by the drawing, the rakesh are attached to endless
chains running over guiding-sheaves and over sprocket-wheels v operated by
the travelling-wheels a through the medium of chain-gear, comprising the
sprocket-wheel v¹, the like wheels t and u keyed on the intermediate shaft L,
the sprocket wheel e fixed on the axle of the wheels a, and the chains w and w¹.
The rakes d are fixed to two plates g carried each by the pins of two cranks i, the
axles whereof are provided with pinions gearing with either of the two spur-
wheels k keyed on the aforesaid shaft L. The tines of the rakes d are thus caused
to move in like circles, so that they will operate as described. The said rakes d
may, however, also be provided with, and actuated by a similar mechanism as the

page_text: one applied to the rakes h; and other suitable means for operating either of the
two systems of rakes and for transmitting to them motion from the travelling-
wheels a may be employed.
The frame c to which are fixed the the plough-share p and the grate r, is mado
adjustable relatively to the main frame 6 and consequently to the travelling-
wheels, so that the depth to which the share enters into the ground may be varied.
This adjustment may be carried out by the lever n, pulley o and chain m.
altering the depth of penetration of the rakesh into the ground, the bearings of
the guiding-rollers 8 of the chains may be made adjustable by means of regulating-
screws.
For
In some kinds of ground one or the other of the two systems of rakes may be
omitted without prejudice to the working of the machine.
The described machine may be employed for digging out and separating from the
ground other kinds of tubercles besides potatoes.
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.) In a potatoe-digging machine, the combination, with an undulated or zig-zag
grater and a plough-share p attached thereto, of one or two systems of rakes
adapted to push the ground and the potatoes raised by the plough-share, upon the
grate, and, in cooperation with the undulations thereof, to cause the ground to be
comminuted and to fall through the grate, while they transport the potatoes away
over the same.
2.) The combination, with the undulated or zig-zag grater and plough-share p, of
either or both of the two systems of rakes d and h, the rakes & being arranged to
move rearward with their tines protruding through the grate and to pass forward
while the tines are withdrawn therefrom, whereas the rakesh penetrate into the
ground from above and simultaneously move rearward, while during their opposite
course they are free from the ground, substantially as herein before described.
3.) The combination, with the undulated or zig-zag grater and plough-share p,
of the rakes d, the tines whereof register with the slits of the grate, the said rakes
being connected to cranks i operated by the travelling-wheels a through the
medium of chain-gear and spur-wheel-gearing, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
4.) The combination, with the undulated or zig-zag grate rand plough-share p,
of the rakesh attached to chains f running over guiding-sheaves and over the
sprocket-wheels operated by the travelling-wheels a through the medium of
chain-gear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.