A Novel or Improved Machine for the Purpose of Digging Up and Elevating Potatoes, and Separating the Dirt and other Refuse therefrom, and the Smaller from the Larger Potatoes, and Delivering them into Sacks or otherwise as required.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Novel or Improved Machine for the Purpose of Digging Up and
Elevating Potatoes, and Separating the Dirt and other Refuse
therefrom, and the Smaller from the Larger Potatoes, and
Delivering them into Sacks or otherwise as required.
I, CHARLES ADDISON ASHI, of Meretown, Newport in the County of Salop,
Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object the combination, in one machine, of mechanism
for digging up and elevating potatoes and separating the dirt and other refuse
therefrom and the smaller from the larger potatoes, and delivering the assorted
potatoes into different sacks or otherwise as required.
A machine constructed according to this invention is fitted with an appliance of
a character heretofore in use for digging up the potatoes. As the potatoes and soil
in which they have been growing are loosened from the surrounding soil they,
together with the soil, are carried up by means of an elevator and delivered on to
a riddle which shakes through the potatoes and the smaller dirt leaving the tops
and other rubbish behind. The potatoes and smaller dirt fall on to another riddle
through which the dirt and smaller potatoes are shaken. These fall on to a third
riddle, and if the potatoes require no further sizing the mesh of this riddle is of a
size to allow only the dirt to be shaken through, but if further sizing of the
potatoes is required an extra riddle or any required number of riddles may be used.
The sized potatoes fall over the ends of the riddles and are carried away through
separate spouts or conduits and delivered therefrom into sacks, or other receptacles,
or otherwise as required.
The elevator for carrying the potatoes on to the top riddle consists, preferably,
of endless bands spaced apart so as to leave some distance between them. These
bands carry transverse blades which are each provided with prongs so as to more
readily pick up the tops and rubbish of like character, and the upwardly-moving
sides of the bands run in a trough of which the bottom is formed as a grating.
As the potatoes and dirt are carried up by the elevator they travel along in contact
with the grating, and a considerable quantity of dirt is thus sifted out.
The combined machine is, of course, drawn by horse or steam or other power,
and the forward movement causes the movement of the various operating parts.
Dated this 7th day of June 1893.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Novel or Improved Machine for the Purpose of Digging Up and
Elevating Potatoes, and Separating the Dirt and other Refuse
therefrom, and the Smaller from the Larger Potatoes, and
Delivering them into Sacks or otherwise as required.
I, CHARLES ADDISON ASH, of Meretown, Newport in the County of Salop,
Agricultural Engineer, 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 the combination, in one machine, of mechanism
for digging up and; elevating potatoes and separating the dirt and other refuse

page_text: after they have been loosened from the surrounding soil, by means of which the
main portion of the dirt is sifted out from the potatoes; with an elevator hy which
the potatoes and any remaining dirt are carried up into a sorter; and with a sorter
in which are fitted riddles by means of which the potatoes are sized and from which
they are delivered, through suitable spouts or conduits, into sacks or otherwise as
required.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, practical means of carrying out the
same. The drawings on Sheet 1 herewith represent a machine constructed
according to one modification of the invention, and the drawings on Sheet 2
herewith represent a machine constructed according to another modification of
the invention.
Referring first to the drawings on Sheet 1,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine ;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the machine, shewn the opposite way round
to that in which it is shewn by Figure 1, the elevator trough, hereinafter described,
being shewn partly in section and partly in side elevation; and
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine.
The main frame or bed A of the machine is carried by a pair of travelling
wheels B fixed, or one of which is fixed, on the axle c. C is the share for ploughing
up the potatoes and soil in which they are immediately embedded. The share is formed
with sides a a to prevent the potatoes falling over the edge, and an inclined trough Dis
carried up as a continuation of the hinder end of the share. The slanting bottom
of this trough D is formed as a grating. Elevator chains E E, passing around
'upper wheels
and lower wheels G, carry a number of transverse slats bb etc.
The elevator is driven by means of a chain which passes around a pulley H fixed
upon the axle e and around a pulley J fixed on the spindle of the upper elevator
wheels F. The elevator chains E consequently move in the direction indicated by
the arrow d, Figure 2, and the axes of the pulleys F and G are in such position,
as shewn, that as the undersides of the elevator chains pass upwards the edges of
the slats scrape along, or pass close to, the surface of the grating forming the
bottom of the trough D. A sorter K is carried in an elevated position on the
hinder end of the machine, being supported by springs e e etc. which permit of it
being agitated sideways, that is to say forwards and backwards in relation to the
machine; and the sorter is shaken in such directions by means of an excentric f
on the upper elevator spindle operating through the medium of a rod 9, cranked
arm j, and rod k. Sieves are fitted within the sorter K, and suitable shoots are
formed to guide the assorted potatoes into sacks L L etc. The machine is drawn
by a pair of horses, the pole used for such purpose being shewn in Figure
broken off for convenience of illustration, and omitted in Figure 2; and the rotation
of the axle cimparts the required movement to the elevator chains, and through
them to the sorter. The machine may, however, of course, be drawn by steam
power if desired. The potatoes and soil which are ploughed up by the share A
are pushed up the hinder part of the share and caught by the slats b of the elevator
and carried up along the grating forming the bottom of the trough D. The dirt,
or most of it, is thus riddled out through the grating, and falls again on to the
land. The potatoes and any dirt which may be carried up above the grating are
delivered, through an opening in the inclined bottom of the trough, on to the top
sieve in the sorter K, and the potatoes pass away assorted as to size into the bags-L,
and any dirt which has been carried into the sorter with the potatoes falls out.
through the bottom thereof on to the land. The trough is carried up some little
distance above the opening (, and joins into a shoot Minclining downwards to the
as

page_text: rear of the machine. Tops and weeds which have been carried up by the slats of
the elevator pass over the top of the trough D and fall down the shoot M on to the _
land behind the machine.
Referring now to the drawings on Sheet 2 herewith,
Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the machine, and Figure 5 a
back elevation thereof.
In this case, also, the main frame A of the machine is supported upon a pair of
travelling wheels B fixed, or one of which is fixed, on the axle c. A revolving
grating or cage D' formed of the shape in side elevation of the frustrum of a cone,
or rather of a cone having a short length of the apex cut off, is mounted, with
its larger end downwards, on an inclined spindle m which is driven by a bevel
wheel n,
on the spindle c, gearing into a pinion o on the spindle m. Both ends of
the revolving grating D' are open, and a spiral division w, say about three inches
deep, and which may conveniently be of sheet metal, is fixed around the inside, as
shewn. Between the hinder end of the share C and the lower end of the revolving
grating D are arranged a number of inclined bars, of which the forward ends join
into the back of the share, and of which the other ends are joined to a bar p which
curves to the shape of the lower side of the revolving grating D'. These bars
form, consequently, a kind of open cradle P. At the back end of the machine, and
within a suitable casing N, are arranged elevator chains and buckets, which are
operated from a wheel Q, on the upper end of the spindle m, gearing into a wheel r
on the lower spindle of the elevator. A sorter K, fitted with sieves and supported
by springs e e, is placed in an elevated position at the rear of the machine, and
is shaken sideways by means of an excentric, on the upper spindle of the elevator,
operating through the medium of a rod k. Suitable shoots are formed to guide the
assorted potatoes into sacks L. Forks ss are mounted upon an inclined spindle t
which is driven by the wheel n, on the axle c, gearing into a pinion u on the
spindle t. These forks revolves, as the machine is drawn forwards, in position
somewhat to the rear of the forward end of the share, and remove from the soil
and throw to one side tops and weeds as they pass up with the soil over the
front of the plough. The potatoes and dirt pass along up the cradle P, and into
the bottom end of the revolving grating D', up which they are carried by the
spiral division w. Some of the earth riddles through the cradle P on to the land,
and the remaining portion of the earth, or most of it, is riddled out through the
wall of the revolving grating D'. The potatoes, and any dirt not riddled out through
the grating D', are carried, by the spiral division w, through the top of the revolving
grating, from whence they fall into the elevator. They are delivered by the
elevator into the top sieve in the sorter K, and the potatoes pass away, assorted
as' to size, into the bags L, and any earth or dirt carried up with the potatoes
into the sorter falls through the bottom thereof on to the land.
If desired, carts may be drawn alongside of the machine into which the assorted
potatoes may be delivered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A. machine for use in digging up and elevating potatoes, and separating the
dirt and other refuse therefrom and the smaller from the larger potatoes, and
delivering them into sacks or otherwise as required, having a share for ploughing
up the potatoes and earth in which they are embedded, a grating for sifting out
earth from the potatoes, an elevator for carrying the potatoes up to a sorter,
and a sorter fitted with sieves, all substantially as described.
2. In a machine for use in digging up and elevating potatoes, and separating
the dirt and other refuse therefrom, and the smaller from the larger potatoes and
delivering them into sacks or otherwise as required, the combination of an elevator
provided with slats and an inclined grating along which potatoes and earth are
pushed by the slats, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. A machine for use in digging up and elevating potatoes, and separating the
dirt and other refuse therefrom, and the smaller from the larger potatoes and
delivering them into sacks or otherwise as required, substantially as described
and illustrated (according to two modifications) by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 7th day of March 1894.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.