Improvements in Potato Digging Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th July, 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Potato Digging Apparatus.
I, JOSEPH WRIGHT BOARDMAN, of Olive Old Farm, Bickerstaffe, near
Ormskirk, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a simple arrangement of potato digger.
Potato diggers have usually failed from trying to do too much. By my invention
I simply slice away a narrow width of the rows at each operation indeed only
ploughing about three inches in width of ground actually containing the potatoes
at once. On an ordinary cultivator frame I arrange two, or if necessary three or
four, vertical adjustable bars, preferably on a subsidiary frame which can be raised
or lowered at will by a lever. These bars carry at their lower ends small mould
boards or ploughs, the two of them facing each other. This machine is attached to
an ordinary axle in front with two wheels drawn by a horse. In my experimental
machine I attached it to a small donkey cart.
The mode of action is as follows:-
If the rows be say 31 inches apart, the usual distance in Lancashire, I place my
mould board points 18 inches apart, the two mould boards coming then within two
or three inches of each other near the centre of the furrow. The machine is drawn
along the entire length slicing out a portion of two rows.
The vertical bars carrying
the mould boards are now moved each of them three inches further from the other,
and the machine makes a fresh cut of three inches wide in each row. Again for the
next cut another three inches in each row is thrown out, the machine is then moved
to fresh rows, the potato gatherers. follow the machine.
The success of this machine is owing to the fact that only three inches in width
at a time are thrown out and scattered over the intervening space, the result is that
every potato is thrown to the surface, and there is much less loss than with other
machines.
Dated this 9th day of October 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Potato Digging Apparatus.
I, JOSEPH WRIGHT BOARDMAN, of Olive Old Farm, Bickerstaffe, Dear
Ormskirk, in the County of Lancaster, Farmer 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 has for its object a simple arrangement of potato digger.
Potato diggers have usually failed from trying to do too much. By my invention
I simply slice away a narrow width of the drills or rows at each operation, indeed
only ploughing about three inches in width of ground actually containing the
potatoes at once.
The invention will be best understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a fount alovation

page_text: Referring to these figures—
A is the frame and B the mould boards or shares. The shares are mounted on
bars C which are securely fastened to the frame, and the shares are adjustable
transversely on these bars, whereby the pitch of the same can be adjusted. D is a
cross bar with notches d adapted to be placed in the grooves d' in the frame, and in
that position to engage (by means of the notches d) the shares B. By this means
the shares can be held at any desired pitch, and yet insure at the same time perfect
rigidity in work. E are the wheels of the apparatus which can be adjusted nearer
together or further apart as required. Attached at a fixed angle to the cranked
axie F that carries the hind wheels is a lever G by means of which the frame A
can be raised or depressed at pleasure, enabling the shares to be raised clear of the
ground, thus facilitating transport from field to field, and also enabling the depth of
work to be regulated with accuracy. This operation is effected by means of a
spring catch H worked from the handle of the lever G by which the position of the
handle upon the quadrant I is fixed by the operator.
The mode of action is as follows-
If the rows be say 31 inches apart, the usual distance in Lancashire, I place my
mould board points 18 inches apart, the two mould boards coming then within two
or three inches of each other near the centre of the furrow. The machine is drawn
along the entire length slicing out a portion of two rows. The mould boards are :
now moved each of them three inches further from the other, and the machine makes
a fresh cut of three inches wide in each row. Again for the next cut another three
inches in each row is thrown out, the machine is then moved to fresh rows; the
potato gatherers follow the machine.
The success of this machine is owing to the fact that only three inches in width:
at a time are thrown out and scattered over the intervening space, the result is that
every potato is thrown to the surface, and there is much less lost than with other
machines.
It will of course be understood that there are various ways to which the position
of the moulds boards or shares can be adjusted relatively to the ground, for example, s
instead of the axle being cranked, the bars carrying the mould boards may be
vertical, and the mould board adjustable vertically therein, also the stays J may be
pivoted at K and secured to the moulds boards, whereby they can be adjusted
transversely. In such case, however, the vertical bars may be mounted in a
subsidiary frame capable of transverse adjustment and thus both vertical and
transverse adjustment are secured.
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―
1. The improvement in potato digging apparatus whereby only a narrow width of
the rows or drills containing the potatoes is sliced away at each operation, and the
potatoes thrown or scattered on the surface of the soil where they can readily be
collected, this result being effected by arranging two or more adjustable moulding
boards or shares preferably alternately opposite each other and adapted to slice out
a portion of two rows or more simultaneously, substantially as described.
2
2. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming the
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.