AN IMPROVEMENT BY MECHANICAL MEANS OF THE PROCESS OF THE INGATHERING OF THE POTATO CROP AND OTHER ROOTS, AND AT THE SAME TIME CLEANSING THE ROOTS SO GATHERED FROM THE ADHERING SOIL, AND DEPOSITING THEM IN HAMPERS OR OTHER RECEIVERS FOR READY STORING." PROAL SPATION
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Middlehurst, of 56, Tillotson Street, in the
Township of West Derby, and Borough of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Plumber, and James Middlehurst, of the Township
of Rainford, in the County of Lancaster, Brewers' Clerk, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT BY MECHANICAL MEANS OF THE PROCESS
OF THE INGATHERING OF THE POTATO CROP AND OTHER ROOTS, AND AT THE
SAME TIME CLEANSING THE ROOTS SO GATHERED FROM THE ADHERING SOIL,
AND DEPOSITING THEM IN HAMPERS OR OTHER RECEIVERS FOR READY STORING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Middlehurst and
James Middlehurst at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 29th January 1873.
We, JOHN MIDDLENURST, of 56, Tillotson Street, in the Township of
West Derby, and Borough of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,

page_text: Plumber, and JAMES MIDDLEHURST, of the Township of Rainford, in
the County of Lancaster, Brewers' Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT BY MECHANICAL MEANS OF THE
PROCESS OF THE INGATHERING OF THE POTATOE CROP AND OTHER Roots, and at the
SAME TIME CLEANSING THE ROOTS SO GATHERED FROM THE ADHERING SOIL, AND 5
DEPOSITING THEM IN HAMPERS OR OTHER RECEIVERS FOR READY STORING,” to be

page_text: longitudinal bars forming the first named and fixed platform. These
forks or prongs will take onward the roots and earth as delivered by the
share, and in the progress separating the roots from the earth. Where
the forks or prongs pass over the back pinion, and so make the return
motion, we propose. a cleansing frame or riddle, which will have by
appropriate connexion with the motive wheels a rapidly vibrating motion
intended for final cleansing, and to this riddle may be attached hampers
to receive the roots, or they may be deposited on the ground if preferred
by a lateral shoot on either side, as desired.
For soils differing in quality, light or stiff, we intend a change in the
condition and arrangement of the cleansing platform; thus for a light
soil we propose to omit the longitudinal bars altogether and substitute
transverse bars without prongs or forks, forming a travelling platform or
webb, which in the motion and in connexion with the vibrating riddle
will cleanse the roots.
The implement may also be used as a cultivator of the highest
character, opening up the soil, pulverising it, and freeing it from thẹ
presence of stones and weeds.
The means of traction we propose by a splinter bar attached on the
cross frame of the implement by a swivil centre, and to which two horses
or more may be yoked and travelling in the furrows. The implement
will be managed by the husbandman by means of the backward pro-
longed handles of the implement frame.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
5 filed by the said John Middlehurst and James Middlehurst in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th July 1873.
"
1
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, JoпN
MIDDLEHURST, of 56, Tillotson Street, in the Township of West Derby
and Borough of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Plumber, and
0 JAMES MIDDLEHURST, of the Township of Rainford, in the County of.
Lancaster, Brewers' Clerk, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said John Middlehurst and James Middlehurst,
Her special licence that we, tho said John Middlehurst and James
Middlehurst, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said John Middlehurst and James Middlehurst, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT BY MECHANICAL
MEANS OF THE PROCESS OF THE INGATHERING OF THE PATATO CROP AND OTHER ROOTS,
AND AT THE SAME time CleansiNG THE ROOTS SO GATHERED FROM THE ADHERING
SOIL, AND DEPOSITING THEM IN HAMPERS OR OTHER RECEIVERS FOR READY STORING,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Middlehurst
and James Middlehurst, our exccutors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar monthis next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Middlehurst and James
Middlehurst, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, and having reference
to the Drawings herewith, and the letters and figures marked thereon,
the said Drawings being made to a scale of one-eight the full size :—
We
propose a frame of wrought iron or combination of iron and wood;
(a) in breadth sufficient to carry the wheels in the base of the furrows
or trenches. The frame for traction at the forepart converges and is
formed into a hook to carry the traction bar (6). The frame is prolonged
backward as necessary, forming handles (c) for guidance in using. The
leading carrier or roller wheel (d) is formed in iron or iron in combina-
tion with wood, and for the purpose of facilitating the operation of the

page_text: The
coulter by more or less as expedient for carth pressure is in the form of
truncated cones in junction at the small diameters. In the rear of this
cone or ridge and furrow wheel are the main bearing or motive wheels (e)
in disc form, onc carrying a rim within, having armatures of cogs or
teeth (f); the diameter of these wheels is two feet eight inches. These
wheels are linched upon the axle, which is strongly stepped into the
frame and running free. Within the frame and the necessary motive
machinery are the checks of the operative arrangement (9) connected at
the base by the coulter or share (h) and at the back or delivery by an
under stay. These cheeks or plates arc pierced for the prong or fork
guides. The coulter or share (h) is formed for cutting away the root-
bearing ridge, and is adjusted to suit the condition of the soil and the
External to the cheeks and
form of the ridge by appropriate sets.
within the motive wheels is the group of dentilated wheels to impart
adjusted motion to the collecting prongs or forks. No. 1 is dentilated
into the armature of the motive wheel, and is part of and drives the
wheel No. 2. This wheel is dentilated upon No. 3, which is keyed upon
the same axle, and carries the chain band of screen motion No. 4.
wheel No. 5 is the complementary or consort wheel carrying the chain
band. Between the checks and extending from the coulter (/) to the
junction with the cross stay (i) is a scries of small iron rods forming the
screen (J). Immediately below this cross stay is the delivery shoot (%),
which is also a screen, and if necessary this shoot may be arranged to
vibrate for more effectual cleansing the roots and also for delivery as
collected into sacks or hampers, or if to deposit on the ground the shoot
can be adjusted to deliver on either side to avoid interferences with the
progress of the work. Upon the band carriers (4 & 5) are mounted
endless chain bands carrying connecting bars in proximity or near
contact with the under side of the screen. These bars carry an armature
of prongs or forks some three or four inches long. These prongs or forks
travel between the rods of the screen. On the axle and nearly in contact
with the sunk or dished carrier and motive wheel ratchets or paull discs
(L) are securely keyed, and on the wheels spring paulls are fixed with
the object of preventing the motion of the machinery except on the
progress of the implement.
We have above described the nature and character of our Invention

page_text: describe the manner of operation which will facilitate the understanding
of our Invention.
Tubers are planted in stripes of about half a yard in width, and arc
earthed by the plough, thus forming the ridge and furrow. The coulter
or cutter of the implement is in breadth equal to the tuber bearing
ridges, and the screen is coincident in breadth. In operation the coulter
cuts the ridge below the tubers, and earth and tubers are thus urged on
the inclined plane of the coulter when the prongs or forks set in motion
by the progress of the implement, carry the tubers and earth up the
inclined screen, and in the progress the earth is separated and falls
between the bars of the screen, the prongs or forks carrying the tubers
only to the shoot in the rear, and by the shoot are delivered as desired
either into sacks, baskets, or in the furrows. If the character of the soil
should require further means of cleansing the tuber it can be accom-
plished in the machine by imparting vibration to the shoot.
We have now described the nature of our Invention, and we have
illustrated the uses and specified the best means which have occurred to
us for the accomplishment of our intentions, but we do not mean to
confine ourselves strictly to the details which we have herein and with
our Drawings herewith specified and represented. Variations in material,
form, and detail may be necessary to meet varying and peculiar con-
ditions, and practical application and mature consideration may suggest
some modifications without at all departing from the nature, objects, and
operation of our Invention; but that which we consider to be new, and
therefore desire to claim as the Invention secured to us under the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, in the form and position of the
coulter or cutter; the form & position of the screen; the form, position,
travelling, and operation of the prongs or forks; the form and position
of the rolling, leading, or forward wheels; the form, position, and
operation of the carrying or motive wheels, and with all appurtenant
thereto; and the form, and position, and action of the screen shoot, and the
grouping of the whole to accomplish the intended object, namely, the
construction of a mechanical agricultural implement for the economical
and efficient ingathering and cleansing potatoes and other tubers; and
also an implement which may be effectually and economically used in:
opening, cleansing, and pulverising the soil. These severally and all in

page_text: combination, as accomplishing the purpose, intended and described
implement, we claim as our Invention and secured to us by the said
Letters Patent.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Middlehurst and James
Middlehurst, have hereunto set our hands and scals, this Twenty-
third day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-three.
JOHN (L.S.) MIDDLEHURST.
JAMES (L.S.) MIDDLEHURST.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
said John Middlehurst and James
Middlehurst, in the presence of
SAM BELCHER,
Clifford Cottage,
Egremont,
Cheshire.
CHARLES O. FRANCIS,
8, St. Paul's Road,
Tranmere,
Cheshire.