Improvements in Potato-diggers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 17th Jan., 1891
Improvements in Potato-diggers.
I, JOSIAH PETER MOLAREN, of 404 Saratoga Street, East Boston, City of Boston,
County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Mechanic, 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:
My invention relates to that class of potato-diggers which separate the soil from the
potatoes and deposit them in piles or heaps on the field as they are dug; and it
consists in certain novel features, as hereinafter fully set forth, the object being to
produce a more effective and otherwise desirable device of this character than is now
in ordinary use.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all
conversant with such matters from the following explanation.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved potato-digger one of the wheels and
the pole being represented as removed.
Figure 2 a plan view of the same,
Figure 3 an elevation of the machine as viewed from the side opposite to that
shown in Figure 1,
Figure 4 an end elevation,
Figure 5 an enlarged side elevation showing the scoop and adjunctive mechanism;
Figure 6 an elevation of the parts shown in Figure 5 viewed from the opposite
side; and
Figures 7 and 8 enlarged views showing details of construction.
Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures of the drawings.
bars z.
A represents the body or frame-work of the digger; B, the scoop or shovel, and
CD the supporting wheels. The frame-work consists, essentially, of four
longitudinally-arranged bars, cy, (see Figure 2,) connected at their ends by cross-
The supporting wheel C is secured to the outer end of an axle, b, journalled
centrally in the bars x, said wheel being provided on its periphery with grip flanges d
in the usual manner. The wheel D is of much larger diameter than the wheel C,
and is provided with a very broad rim, as best shown in Figures 2 and 4, said wheel
being disposed between the bars y, y and secured to a shaft, f, journalled in centrally
disposed standards g on said bars. A driver's seat, E, is secured to the outer bar, a,
near the wheel C, and is provided with a foot board, s, in the usual manner, the inner
bar, a, being extended forward at i, to enable an ordinary tongue or pole to be
secured thereto. A master gear wheel h, is disposed on the inner end of the shaft b,
being provided on its periphery with teeth j, ind on its side with teeth k.
A lug m
Figures 2 and 4, is journalled on the shaft between the gear hand inner bar,,
and journalled in said lug there is a downwardly-projecting vertical shaft. p.
The shovel or scoop B (see Figures 5 and 6) is constructed somewhat in the shape
of an inverted plowshare, and is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm, 9,
Figure 1, in the outer end of which the lower end of the shaft p is journalled. The
side of the shovel B is extended upward near the inner bar, x, and is formed of
arms secured together in the shape of a triangle the apex of said triangle being
journalled on the shaft and connected to the lug m by a rigid brace t. (See
Figure 2.) The forward end of the upper or horizontal arm r, of the shovel is
rabbeted, as shown at v in Figure 2, and slides vertically in a grooved block, w,
ecured to the inner bar, x, of the frame-work.
A toothed segment, 12, is secured to the inner bar x, and pivoted by one end to.
11

page_text: •
(See
said segment there is a lever, 13, provided with a pivoted pawl, 14, adapted to engage
th teeth on said segment. Connecting the rabbeted end of the horizontal arm
of the shovel and the pivoted end of the lever 13 is a hinged bar, 15.
Figure 2.) A hand-rod, 16, (see Figure 1,) is pivoted to the upper end of the
lever 13, being connected by a wire, 17, with the pawl 14, so that by compressing
the rod 16 against said lever said pawl may be disengaged from the ratchet.
By moving the lever 13 the driver can readily adjust the shovel B to enter the
ground (see Figure 1) at any desired angle, said shovel turning on the shaft b
at its pivotal point, in a manner that will be readily understood by all conversant
with such matters without a more explicit description.
Secured to the vertical shaft p, above the shovel-arm q is a horizontally arranged
wheel, 18, provided on its periphery with radially disposed broad flanges 19, and
just above said wheel on said shaft is disposed a gear, 20, which intermeshes with
the lateral teeth on the master-gear h. As the machine advances when in use,
the shaft is set in motion, thereby causing the wheel 18 to revolve, the flanges 19
on said wheel catching the potatoes as they pass over the shovel and throwing them
within the rim of the large wheel D (see Figure 1). A pioneer or guide wheel 21,
is journalled on an arm or brace 22, projecting forward from the shovel B. A
horizontally arranged shaft, 30, (see Figure 2.) is journalled in the bars & and inner
bar y, of the frame-work, said shaft being provided with a gear, 31, which intermeshes
with the teeth on the periphery of the master-gear h. The inner end of the shaft 30
is provided with a crank, 32, (see Figure 3,) and pivoted by one end to the outer end
of said crank is a cam-lever 33, running through and directed by a guide-bar, 34,
secured to the inner frame-bar y. To the outer end of the cam-lever 33 is secured a
hoe 35, (see Figures 1, 5, and 6,) which is supported by means of a hook, 36, on a
guide-rod 37, secured to the shovel B on its return stroke.
As the digger advances and the shaft 30 is rotated by means of the master-gear,
the crank 32 on said shaft operates said cam-lever and causes the hoe 35 to drag the
potatoes as they are unearthed by the shovel B back into the path of the flanged
wheel 18, whence they are thrown into the interior of the wheel D, as hereinafter
described.
A series of transversely and horizontally arranged plates, 25, are pivoted within the
rim of the wheel C, (see Figures 1 and 7,) the pivots of each of said plates being
provided with a crank, 26, on the outer edge of said rim. (See Figures 3, 4, and 7.)
A transversely arranged rod, 40, (see Figure 3.) is secured to the outer frame-bar, y,
and pivoted to the upper end of said rod is a curved cam-bar, 41, held in position by
a long hook, 42, which is secured to one end of said bar and engages an eye, 43,
on the outer frame-bar y. To the lower end of the rod 40 is pivoted a cam-bar, 45,
(see Figure 3) curved on the same are as the periphery of the wheel D and held in
position by a hook, 46, secured to said cam-bar, and engaging an eye, 47, on the
frame-bar .
As the machine advances, rotating the wheel D, the forward end of the cam-
bar 45 engages successively the cranks 26 of the plates 25, forcing said plates
flatly against the inner side of the rim of said wheel. When the cranks 26 have
passed the pivoted end of the cam-bar 45, which is disposed near the bottom of
the wheel D, said cranks are released and springs 99 (see Figure 7) on. the
shafts of the plates 25 at once throw said plates into a vertical position, thus
enabling them to catch the potatoes (see Figure 1) as they are thrown into the
rim of the wheel D by the flanged wheel 18. The plates 25 support the potatoes
thus caught until said plates respectively pass a line drawn horizontally through
the axis of the wheel at the rear, when their cranks 26 engage the pivoted ends
of the cam-bar 41, upsetting said plates and delivering the potatoes therefrom into
the screens or hoppers hereinafter described.
Secured to the inner frame-bar y, (see Figure 3,) and projecting laterally within
the wheel D, is a chute, 47 which leads to a rearwardly projecting chute, 48,
(see Figure 4) secured between the inner frame bars a y. Pivoted by one end to the
inner end of the chute 47 is a screen 50, adapted to receive and conduct the potatoes

page_text: as they fall from the plates 25, as described. A similar longitudinally arranged
screen, 51, is pivoted by its outer end to the rear frame-bar z the free end of the
screen 50 resting on the inner end of the screen 51 in position to deliver the potatoes.
A shaft 52, is journalled in standards 53 on the frame bars, and is provided with a
gear, 54, intermeshing with a gear, 5, on the shaft 30. The inner end of the
shaft 52 is provided with a fork or cam, 56, the arms of which alternately engage an
arm, 57, (see Figure 2) secured to the free end of the screen 51, so that when the
machine moves and the shaft 52 rotates the screens 50 and 51 will be oscillated and
shake the dirt from the potatoes, causing it to pass through the screens and into the
chutes, whence it falls to the ground.
A box or trunk, 60, for receiving the potatoes as they fall from the screen 51, is
detachably secured to the rear frame-bar z, said box being provided with an inclined
bottom, 61, (see Figure 1) its rear side 62, being adapted to slide vertically or to be
opened, and thus dump the potatoes on the ground when the box is filled. The
slide 62 is operated by the driver by means of a lever, 63, pivoted to said box and
having its short arm secured to said slide.
A supplemental curved screen, 65, adapted to be detachably secured to the chute 51,
is provided for the purpose of delivering the potatoes directly on to the ground at
one side of the row or furrow when it is not deemed advisable to use the box 60.
In the use of my improvement the potatoes, as they are dug by the shovel B, are
thrown by the flanged wheel 18 into the interior of the wheel D, and are caught by
the plates 25 and delivered into the screen 50. The screens 50 and 51 being shaken
by the cam or fork 56, as described frees the potatoes from soil or dirt, and also causes
them to travel downward on said screens into the box 60 or on to the ground as the
case may be.
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 :-
First. In a potato-digger, the combination of a frame-work supporting-wheels one
of which is provided with a broad rim having interiorly-pivoted transverse plates,
a shovel, mechanism operated by the supporting wheels for forcing the potatoes
from said shovel into said rim, and means for operating said plates and delivering
the potatoes from said rim into a receptacle therefor, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a potato-digger the combination of a frame-work supporting wheels,
one of which is of larger diameter than the other and provided with a broad rim, a
shovel, mechanism operated by said wheels for delivering the potatoes from said
shovel into said rim, pivoted transverse plates within said rim for carrying the
potatoes above the axis of said wheel cranks on said plates adapted to engage a cam
bar by which said plates are operated, and screens for receiving the potatoes from
said plates, substantially as described.
Third. In a potato-digger, the combination of a frame-work two supporting wheels
journalled by separate shafts in said frame one of said wheels being of larger
diameter than the other and adapted to receive the potatoes a shovel pivoted to the
shaft of the small supporting-wheel, means for adjusting said shovel, a vertical shaft
journalled in a lug on said main shaft, a flanged wheel in said vertical shaft for
forcing the potatoes from said shovel into said large supporting wheel pivoted
transverse plates within said large wheel cranks on the pivots of said plates, cam-bars
on said frame-work for engaging said cranks and operating said plates, screens for
receiving and delivering the potatoes from said wheel, and means for shaking or
oscillating said screens, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In a potato-digger, the combination of the frame-work A, the shaft b
journalled in said frame and carrying the wheels C and gear the shovel B, journalled
on the shaft b, the vertical shaft p, provided with the gear 20 and flanged wheel 18,
the shaft fin said frame, the wheel D on said shaft, provided with the plates 25,
having the cranks 26, the cam bars 41 and 45, adapted to engage said cranks,

page_text: and the screens 50 and 51 for receiving the potatoes from said plates, substantially
as described.
Fifth. In a potato-digger the combination of the frame A, the shaft b, journalled
in said frame and provided with the gear hand wheel C, the vertical shaft p having
the gear 20, and flanged wheel 18, the shovel B, pivoted to the shaft b, means
for adjusting said shovel, the shaft f, the wheel D on said shaft, the plates 25,
pivoted in said wheel and provided with the cranks 26, the cam-bars 41 and 45
for operating said plates, the screens 50 and 51 for receiving the potatoes from said
plates, the shaft 52, provided with the cam-fork 56 and connected by gears with
the gear h, for oscillating said screens and the box 60, having an inclined bottom
and sliding side for receiving and delivering the potatoes, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.