Improvements in Topping and Tailing Machines for Root Crops.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Topping and Tailing Machines for Root Crops.
We, ROBERT WALLACE, WILLIAM WALLACE, and JAMES WALLACE, all of.
Graham Square, in the County of the City of Glasgow, Agricultural Engineers
and Implement Makers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
The said invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation
of machines or implements for topping and tailing root crops, that is to say,
for detaching or cutting away the tops or shaws and tails of turnips and the like.
A machine made according to the invention comprises a frame mounted on a pair
of wheels and constructed for being drawn by one or two horses. A short
longitudinal shaft driven at a high speed by suitable gearing from the axle of the
wheels, has connected to it by a universal joint a shaft the back end of which is
connected by a second universal joint to a short longitudinal shaft carried by a
back frame connected to the main frame in a manner to allow of its adjustment as
to height and of its after part rising and falling or moving laterally as the
implement moves along the drill. The short longitudinal shaft last mentioned, by
bevil wheels drives a vertical or inclined shaft which has fixed on its lower end a
circular saw or a disk armed with cutting blades to act on the shaws or tops of the
turnips or other roots. The rapid rotation of the saw or disk with the cutting
blades causes the detaching of the shaws or tops in an effectual manner and without
liability to choke. The tailing is effected by a curved cutting blade attached to a
tram or pole extending backwards from one side of the main frame and kept at a
proper level by an adjustable wheel running in the furrow.
Instead of the cutter disk being on a vertical shaft it may be on the back
longitudinal shaft placed horizontally or with some inclination, but in this case the
cutting blades should extend in a forward direction from the disk.
Dated this Eighth day of February 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Topping and Tailing Machines for Root Crops.
We, ROBERT WALLACE, WILLIAM WALLACE, and JAMES WALLACE, all of
Graham Square, in the County of the City of Glasgow, Agricultural Engineers,
and Implement Makers, 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, that is to say :-
The said invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation
of machines or implements for topping and tailing root crops, that is to say, for
detaching or cutting away the tops or shaws and tails of turnips and the like.
A machine made according to the invention comprises a frame mounted on a
pair of wheels and constructed for being drawn by one or two horses. A short
longitudinal shaft driven from the main axle drives, by means of two similar shafts
and bevil wheels a vertical shaft which has fixed on its lower end a circular saw or
equivalent to act on the turnip shaws. The saw and its shaft are carried by a

page_text: frame suspended from the main frame and capable of a certain amount of vertical
and lateral movement. The tailing is effected by a curved cutting blade attached
to a tram or backward extension of the main frame.
And in order that the said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings,
to be hereinafter referred to, and showing a topping and tailing machine for root
crops as made according to the invention.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a plan and Figure, 2, a side elevation.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
On
A machine made according to the invention comprises a rectangular frame, A,
mounted on a pair of wheels, B, and constructed for being drawn by a horse.
the axle, C, of the wheels, B, is a spurwheel, D, which gears with a pinion, E,
fast on a sleeve, F, on a short transverse shaft, G, which is carried by the main
frame, A, and by a bracket, H, fixed to the main frame and held by the axle, C.
The sleeve, F, at its inner side is formed like a clutch and engages with a similar
sleeve, J, having on it a bevil wheel, K, the sleeves being capable of being
disengaged by a longitudinal shaft, L, turned by a handle, M, and having on it a
fork lever, N, acting on the sleeve, F. The bevil wheel, K, gears with a bevil
wheel, P, on a short longitudinal shaft, Q, carried by the axle, C, the sizes of the
spurwheels, D, and, E, and bevil wheels, E, and, F, being such that the shaft, Q,
is driven at a high speed. The short shaft, Q, has connected to it by a universal
joint, Q1, a shaft, Q2, the back end of which is connected by a second universal
joint, Q3, to a short longitudinal shaft, Q4, carried by a back frame, Q5,
suspended from the main frame, A, at three points by chains, Q6, this mode of
suspension allowing it to be adjusted as to height and of its after part rising and
falling or moving laterally as the implement moves along the drill. The short
longitudinal shaft, Q4, by bevil wheels, Q7, drives a vertical shaft, Q8, which has
fixed on its lower end a circular saw or disk, Q9, armed with cutting blades, to act
on the shaws or tops of the turnips, R 1, or other roots. The rapid rotation of the
saw or disk, Q9, with the cutting blades causes the detaching of the shaws or tops
in an effectual manner and without liability to choke. The shaws are guided into
the cutting blades of the saw or disk, Q9, by wing parts, R, of the frame, Q5, an
extension of these wing parts also serving to hold them while being detached.
The tailing is effected by a curved cutting blade, S, adjustably attached to the main
frame, A, or it might be to a tram or pole extending backwards from one side of
the main frame, and the blade, S, is kept at its proper level by an adjustable
wheel, T, running in the furrow.
Instead of the cutter disk, Q 9, being on a vertical shaft, it may be on the back
longitudinal shaft, Q4, placed horizontally or with some inclination, but in this
case the cutting blades should extend in a forward direction from the disk.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An improved machine for topping and tailing root crops comprising a main
frame mounted on wheels the axle of which through suitable gearing and
intermediate parts, drives a vertical or inclined shaft having on it a circular saw or
equivalent carried with the shaft by a frame suspended from the main frame in a
manner to be capable of a vertical and lateral movement, the said main frame being
further provided with a curved cutting blade kept in position by a wheel running
in the furrow, and the parts of the machine being combined arranged and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Improved apparatus for topping root-crops comprising a main frame mounted
on wheels the axle of which through suitable gearing and intermediate parts, drives
a vertical or inclined shaft having on it a circular saw or equivalent carried with
the shaft by a frame suspended from the main frame in a manner to be capable of

page_text: a vertical and lateral movement, the parts of the machine being combined, arranged
and operating substantially as herein before described.
3. Improved apparatus for tailing root crops comprising an adjustable curved
cutting blade kept in position by a wheel running in the furrow substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this Sixth day of November 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.