Improvements in Machines for Cleaning and Scraping or Preparing Potatoes for Cooking.
Year: 1891

page_text: te of Application, 3rd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Cleaning and Scraping or Preparing
Potatoes for Cooking.
We FRANK JOSEPH WHITLOCK, of Park Road, Sutton Coldfield, Mariner,
and MATTHEW HUTTON PRESTON, of Holland Street, Sutton Coldfield, Draper,
both in the County of Warwick 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 the construction and arrangement of a machine for
removing the skins of potatoes in their preparation for cooking, and so dispensing
with the usual hand process of scraping or paring. The primary object of this our
invention is to provide a machine suitable generally for household use. It consists
primarily of an outer pan, an inner removable punctured cylinder, and a central
punctured revolving cylinder and base plate, which is manipulated by a suitable
handle.
In order to explain more clearly this our invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed we have appended hereunto an illustrative sheet of
drawings upon which are figures and numbers of reference, similar numbers
referring throughout the several views to the same thing or part, and in which :-
Fig. 1, is an external view of the outer pan.
Fig. 2, is a detached exterior elevation of the inner cylinder, and
Fig. 3, is a plan view of the same.
:-
Fig. 4, is a detached view in elevation of the central cylinder and base
plate, and
Fig. 5, is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 6, is a general view in sectional elevation of the whole machine.
In the outer pan 1, is provided a number of grooves 2, (four are shown) which
extend downwards to within a short distance of the bottom. Into this pan a small
quantity of water may be poured.
3, is a cylinder having upon its exterior projecting ribs 4, corresponding with
the grooves 2, in the outer pan 1, so that when the former is passed into the latter,
(as shown in Fig. 6,) a given space is preserved between the bottoms of the
cylinders 1 & 3, for water &c. This cylinder is further perforated with punctured
holes, that is, the holes are not clean cut, but punctured through from the exterior
to the interior, so as to leave a cutting or scraping projection upon the inside.
Across the bottom and the top of this cylinder is provided the bearing bars 5 & 6
respectively, having central pivot bearings at 7 & 8, into which the spindle 9, (see
Figs. 4 & 6) takes.
Upon this central spindle is mounted the cylinder 10, whose surface is also
punctured from the inside in a similar manner to the cylinder 3. At the base of
this central cylinder is the circular flange 11, whose outer diameter is equal to the
internal diameter of the cylinder 3. This plate is also punctured from the
bottom upwards. Upon the upper end of the spindle 9, is placed the manipulating
handle 12, by which the machine is driven.
In using this our invention :-The potatoes to be cleaned are placed in the
machine between the central cylinder and the stationary cylinder, and resting on
the bottom flange. Water is then poured in until the potatoes are just covered.
By now rotating the handle, the potatoes next the sides are scraped by the ragged
projections, and, by reason of their constantly changing their position, each in their
turn is subjected to the same treatment, and thus in a very short time, a con-
siderable quantity of potatoes may be prepared for cooking, except in some instances

page_text: where there are deep eyes or recesses in the potatoes, which should afterwards be
removed by any suitable knife.
It will be readily seen that this arrangement permits of the removal of the inner
and central cylinders &c., when not required, or when having accomplished what
is required, so that the refuse may be poured away, or that the external pan 1,
may be used as a separate vessel for any ordinary purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
The improvements in potato cleaning machines hereinbefore stated, that is to
sayThe combination with the outer pan 1, of the inner cylinder 3, having an
inner roughened or cutting surface and carrying the central revolving cylinder 10,
and base plate 11, constructed and operating substantially as described and illus-
trated, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1891.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicant's Agent.