Improvements in or appertaining to Machines for Digging and Riddling Potatoes, Earth, or the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1890
CODELELE DE FOITATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Machines for Digging and
Riddling Potatoes, Earth, or the like.
I, GEORGE MARTIN MOUNTFORD, of Betley, Crewe, in the County of Chester,
Butcher, 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 for digging potatoes, and has for its object the
construction of a simple and efficient machine, which can be drawn along by horse
power after the manner of a plough, digging the potatoes at one end and discharging
them continuously at the other.
The invention may be described as follows, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine, and
Figure 2 a plan thereof with parts broken away and other parts removed.
A A is the framework of the machine, formed in this instance of the side frames a,
the cross bars a¹ a² a³ and the tie rods a¹. The framework is supported upon traction
wheels B placed at or near the centre of the machine so that the latter can be readily
balanced about the axis of the wheels. The framework is also provided with guide
wheels and guiding handles D after the manner of a plough. The guide wheel is
preferably made adjustable in a vertical direction for the purpose of adjusting the
depth to which the digger, hereinafter described, is to penetrate the soil.
At the forward end of the machine I mount an iron or steel digger E which is
somewhat in the form of a scoop and about the width of the potato drill, being rigidly
attached to the framework A by bolts or rivets e. The digger is adapted to run
underneath the drill, as the machine is drawn along, so that the potatoes and earth are
pushed up into it.
A trough F forms a rearward extension of the digger and it is provided with a
suitable elevating or conveying device, such as an endless travelling band G provided,
if necessary, with transverse carrying strips g. The trough may be formed with a
solid bottom, but it is preferable to let the endless band form the bottom thereof, as
shown, the sides (which may be of wood or sheet metal) being secured to the frames a
by bolts f. Bearing rollers g¹ attached to the sides F prevent the sagging of the
band G. The latter is mounted on rollers g² 92, one of which (the upper ono) has its
axle extended and provided with a pulley H, whereby it may be driven, by a belt,
chain or rope H', from a pulley J on the axle of the traction wheels.
The material carried up by the conveyor is discharged into one end of a revolving
barred or perforated barrel or drum K which serves to riddle or separate the soil from
the potatoes. The drum is mounted between three guide wheels k at its upper end,
while its lower end is supported by a guide pulley k', attached to the cross bar a² of
the framework, and by a central spindle &, which is secured to a bow k on the end
of the drum and rotates within a footstep on the cross bar a¹. Longitudinal displace-
ment of the drum is prevented by the footstep aforesaid, by the bearing wheels
located one at each side of the cylinder and bearing against the rear face of its upper
ring, and by the flanged guide wheel . The drum is driven by a belt, chain or
rope L which is led from a pulley 1' on the axle 3 of the conveyor to a pulley L
mounted at the rear of the machine on a shaft L, and by a chain, rope or belt M
which is led from a pulley M' on the shaft L³ to a pulley M' on the drum spindle k.
A shield N is placed below the upper end of the conveyor to provent any of the
material brought up by the conveyor from falling between it and the adjacent end of
the drum K.
It will be obvious that various arrangements of toothed gearing might be employed

page_text: for working the drum K and conveyor G. Such gearing however is always liable to
become choked with dust and soil and is frequently in danger of breakage from such
choking. By using an arrangement of belts, chains or ropes as above described I
avoid any danger of choking or breaking of the gear and moreover it is easier to
replace any portion when it becomes worn.
The potatoes are discharged from the drum at its rear end. A suitable shute may
be attached to the machine to receive them from the drum and discharge them at the
sides of the drill.
To turn the machine round when the end of a drill is reached, the attendant
presses down the handles D so that the diggers E is elevated above the level of the
drills. The machine being then balanced on the two traction wheels B, it can be readily
drawn round by the horse to the commencement of a fresh drill or may be transported
to another place. The horse or horses may be attached by traces to shackles P or
otherwise.
It will be obvious that the machine is applicable for digging and riddling materials
other than 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
1 claim is:
1. A potato digging machine, mounted upon a pair of wheels at or about its centre
of gravity, and provided at its rear end with a pair of handles after the manner of a
plough, whereby its forward or digging end may be raised clear of the drills and the
machine balanced upon its wheels aforesaid and turned round or transported thereon,
substantially as described.
2. In a potato digging machine, having a conveyor device and a revolving riddle
as described, an arrangement of belts, chains or ropes and pulleys substantially
as described, whereby the said conveyor and riddle is actuated, as the machine is
drawn along, without fear of the gear becoming choked or broken by deposits of
dust or the like.
Dated this 8th day of August 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, London, and Manchester, Patent Agents.