AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR HOEING AND CUTTING-OUT ROOT CROPS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Fisher Salter, of Attleborough, in the
County of Norfolk, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE
FOR HOEING AND CUTTING-OUT ROOT CROPS."
Sealed the 28th August 1874, and dated the 1st June 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Fisher Salter
:
-
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st June 1874.
I, THOMAS FISHER SALTER, of Attleborough, in the County of Norfolk,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
MACHINE POR HOEING AND CUTTING-OUT ROOT CROPS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a machine for side, hoeing and chopping or
cutting out turnips or other roots at one operation.
The machine is constructed of a suitable bed or frame carried upon
two wheels from one of which motion is obtained for working the
chopping hoe. This consists of a double hoc attached to the lower
extremity of a vibrating arm hung from a pivot upon a slide working in

page_text: upright guides erected upon the bed of the machine. This slide is sus-
tained by supporting shanks which terminate in small wheels running
on the ground, and are connected adjustably to the slide to enable the
depth of cut to be regulated. The slide is provided with a rack with
which gears a toothed sector operated by a hand lever to enable the
chopping out hoe to be raised out of work, so that when the plant is
very thin or irregular this hoe can be used or not at discretion without
stopping the machine. The hoe is operated as the machine advances
and caused to vibrate to and fro across the row, making a cut in each
direction by a crank motion or eccentric upon a longitudinal shaft
gearing with a transverse shaft driven by a ring of teeth on the carrying
wheel. The number of vibrations of the chopping hoe relatively to the
speed at which the machine travels is varied by means of change wheels
and pinions to regulate the cuts of the hoe as required.
The side hoes are placed one on each side of the row, and are attached
to a short foot connected to an upright slide working between vertical
guides on the frame of the machine and moved up and down therein, by
a rack and toothed sector operated by a hand lever, so that the hoes can
be readily lifted out of work, and should any obstruction occur can be
instantly elevated and replaced while the machine is in motion. To the
foot is attached a combined wheel and wheel coulter, whose cutting edge
projects so as to sever any roots or fibres before resting on the wheel
part, which regulates the cutting depth of a light hoe working behind.
it, also a miniature breast which turns aside any weeds or obstructions
that might interfere with the proper action of the chopping hoe which
works close behind.
The shafts are connected adjustably to the frame of the machine by
a rod screwed at one end to enable the shafts to be shifted towards
either side to suit different widths of rows. The shafts are also con-
nected to the frame by a lever attached to a screwed boss and universal
joint in order that the frame may be elevated or inclined by a screwed
rod passing through the same, operated by a hand wheel, to compensate
for any variation in the height of the horse, or in the rising and falling
of the ground.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Thomas Fisher Salter in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
FISHER SALTER, of Attleborough, in the County of Norfolk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Fisher Salter, Her special
licence that I, the said Thomas Fisher Salter, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Fisher
Salter, my 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 IMPROVED MACHINE FOR HOEING AND CUTTING-OUT ROOT CROPS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Fisher Salter,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Fisher Salter, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say) :-
My Invention relates to a machine for side hoeing and chopping or
cutting out turnips or other roots at one operation.
The machine is constructed of a suitable bed or frame carried upon
two wheels, from one of which motion is obtained for working the
chopping hoe hereafter described. This consists of a double hoe attached

page_text: to the lower extremity of a vibrating arm hung from a pivot upon a
slide working in upright guides erected upon the bed of the machine.
This slide is sustained by supporting shanks which terminate in small
wheels running on the ground. The slide is provided with a rack with
which gears a toothed sector operated by a hand lever to enable the
chopping out hoe to be raised out of work, so that where the plant is
very thin or irregular this hoe can be used or not at discretion without
stopping the machine. The hoe is operated as the machine advances,
and caused to vibrate to and fro accross the row, making a cut in each
direction by a crank motion or eccentric gearing with a transverse shaft
driven by a ring of teeth on the carrying wheel. The number of the
vibrations of the chopping hoe relatively to the speed at which the
machine travels is varied by means of change pinions to regulate the
cuts of the hoe as required.
The side hoes are placed one on each side of the row, and are attached
to a short foot connected to an upright slide working between vertical
guides on the frame of the machine, and moved up and down therein by
a rack and toothed sector, operated by a hand lever, so that the hoes can
be readily lifted out of work, and should any obstruction occur can be
instantly elevated and replaced while the machine is in motion. To the
foot is attached a pair of combined wheel and wheel coulters whose
cutting edges project so as to sever any roots or fibres before resting on
the wheel part which regulates the cutting depth of the side hoes working
behind them, also miniature breasts which turn aside any weeds or
obstructions that might interfere with the proper action of the chopping
hoe which works close behind them.
a
The shafts are connected adjustably to the frame of the machine by
rod screwed at one end to enable the shafts to be shifted towards
either side to suit different widths of rows. The shafts are also con-
nected by a bar attached to a screwed boss and universal joint, in
order that the frame may be elevated or inclined by a screw rod
passing through the same, and operated by a hand wheel to com-
pensate for any variation in the height of the horse, or in the rising or
falling of the ground.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a side elevation; Figure 2, a rear elevation; and
Figure 3, a plan of the improved machine for side hoeing and cutting
out tuuning or other roots at one oneration

page_text: A is the main frame or bed of the machine carried on wheels B, B,
and having a pair of shafts C attached by an iron rod a screwed at
one end so as to enable the shafts to be shifted a few inches either.
way to suit different widths of rows. The shafts are also connected to
the bed A by a bar or toggle b, jointed at one end to the under side of
the shafts at c, and at the other by a universal joint to a nut d, travelling
along a screwed rod e mounted in bearings beneath frame A and
operated by hand wheel f. Thus by turning rod e, nut d can be shifted
to elevate or depress the frame relatively to the shaft C, as may be
required.
g
The parts
The side hoeing apparatus is carried on a bar or foot D beneath tho
main frame or bed A of the machine; said bar D being attached to
slide a working between two grooved pillars E erected upon the bed A...
To this slide is fixed a vertical rack g' with which gears a toothed sector
h pivoted at h¹, and operated by a lever handle h*; F is a com-
bined wheel and coulter attached to D, and consisting of a wheel with
a sharpened flange or cutting edge all round it on the inner side. This
cutting edge projects about 1 inches and severs any roots or fibres
before the rim of the wheel rests on the surface of the ground; F is a
light hoe working behind F, the cutting depth of the hoe F" being regu-
lated by the wheel F, whose bearings are connected adjustably to foot
D, as is likewise the hoe F¹; G is a miniature breast serving to turn
aside any weeds or obstructions that might interfere with the proper
working of the chopping hoe which works close behind it.
F, F, and G, are in pairs, one on either side of the row of turnips or
other roots; H is the chopping out hoe which may either be single or
double, but preferably double, operating as more fully explained here-
after. The hoe H is attached to a pendulous vibrating arm I pivoted
at i, to a slide or cross head K working in upright guides L and sup-
ported on shanks / working through the frame A and terminating in
wheels h¹ running on the ground. By this means the hoe H is guided
by the slide K which rises and falls automatically with the variations in
the ground itself, so as to ensure a constant depth of the cut which may
moreover be regulated by shifting the pivot i from one to another of a
series of holes in I, see Figure 6, thereby lengthening or shortening it
as required. ¹ is a rack on slide K, and 7 is the toothed sector gearing
therewith fixed on an axle m, mounted in bearings in the uprights Land
operated by a lever handle n whereby the hoe H may be raised out of

page_text: work as required without stopping the machine. This hoe is caused to
vibrate to and fro across the row as the machine passes along, and may
be operated by the following or any other suitable arrangement of
machinery. o is a transverse sliding rod fitted in guides on the framing
A, to which rod alternate to-and motion is imparted by a crank p
through a connecting rod q. The vibrating arm I passes through a slot
in or between two studs on rod o so as to be vibrated to and fro across
the machine by the alternate motion of rod o. Crank pin p is fixed on
the boss of a fly wheel M keyed on a longitudinal shaft r mounted in
bearings on frame A. This shaft 7 carries pinions 8, 81, 8², of different
sizes adjustable on said shaft so that one of them may be made to gear
with a crown wheel & keyed on a transverse shaft u carried in bearings u¹
on frame A, and terminating in a pinion v gearing with a spur wheel w
on the hub of the carrying wheel B. The crown wheel t is made
adjustable along its shaft to admit of its being geared with either of
the pinions s, s¹, 8ª. x is a lever handle for disconnecting pinion v from
spur wheel w when it is desired to throw the chopping out hoc H out of
gear.
Figure 4 shows on a larger scale a side clevation of the double
chopping out hoc detached, and Figure 5 shows the course of the same
as it is vibrated across the row during the travel of the machine. H, H¹,
the two hoes attached to the two limbs of a metal frame N bolted to the
vibrating arm I, and provided with an adjusting screw y and nuts, by
which the hocs H, H², may be set at the proper distance apart to leave
the turnips or roots in patches as required. In Figure 5 the dotted lines
show the course of the hoes H, H', z, z, representing the young
turnips or roots left by the hoes in their passage, the remainder being
cut out.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before is part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. A combined side hoeing and chopping out machine for root crops,
constructed, arranged, and operating, substantially as herein described
and illustrated in the Drawing.
2nd. In a machine for " chopping out" root crops a pendulous
vibrating arm having a hoe (single or double) attached and operated
by a crank motion or its equivalent, as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 3rd. Attaching the said vibrating hoe arm to a vertically sliding block
bearing upon the ground, to ensure a uniform depth of cut of the hoe,
substantially as set forth.
4thly. The combination of the combined wheel and wheel coulter, hoe,
and miniature breast arranged in pairs, as and for the purpose described,
and attached to a frame movable vertically, as and for the purpose set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Fisher Salter, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
four.