IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP TURNIPS AND OTHER ROOTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hornsby, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP TURNIPS
AND OTHER ROOTS."
Sealed the 8th September 1877, and dated the 4th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Hornsby at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th July 1877.
RICHARD HORNSBY, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP TURNIPS AND OTHER ROOTS."
This Invention relates to that class of apparatus for cutting up turnips and other
roots in which the cutters are composed of right-angled bent knives projecting
from the face of a revolving disc, opposite to which is a hopper containing the roots
to be cut, and in which the face of the disc at the back of the knives is brought in
a line with the bent ends of the knives, so that the pieces cut away by the knives
can pass away at the back of the disc.
Heretofore in machines of this class the knives have been ranged in two spirals
or volutes on opposite sides of the axis of the disc, but I have found that a much
more even and regular result can be obtained by forming the disc to carry one set
only of such knives, as when two sets are used the roots frequently, after being cut
by one set of knives, have not time to drop up to the face of the disc before the
other set of knives commence to act upon them, thus the pieces cut away are
irregular in thickness.
In order also that the pieces after being cut may fall away freely at the back of
the disc, instead of forming each knife with a straight stem, and securing it in a
line parallel with the axis of the disc, I bend the stems so that they all radiate
towards the axis of the disc, thus the bolts which hold the stems of the knives do
not come in the way of the cut strips of root, and the strips can fall away freely.
The disc I form, as is usual, with projections at intervals around it and near its
periphery, on the same side as the projecting knives, to prevent the last pieces
or slices dropping away from the hopper without being cut up into slices by the
knives.

page_text: In place also of making the sloping side of the upper part of the hopper to come
above and cover over the axis of the disc, as heretofore, so that a considerable part
of the centre of the disc could not be occupied by cutting blades, I bring this side
of the upper part of the hopper under the axis, and it may be somewhat beyond it,
and the lower part of this side of the hopper I then make to radiate downwards, as
heretofore, to meet the other side of the hopper, which at its lower part is curved
to conform to the circumference of the disc. The axis, which projects from the front
face of the disc, I receive in a bush carried by a plate, which passes through the
sloping side of the upper part of the hopper and is secured to the framing. By
this means I am enabled to bring the cutters nearer to the centre and diminish the
size of the disc, and yet leave a sufficient passage for the roots to pass to the lower
part of the hopper.
For small machines I do away with the axis on the front face of the disc, and
mount the axis at the back of the disc in a long or double bearing, and in this case
the sloping side of the upper part of the hopper need not be carried so far as the
centre of the disc, so that the lower part of the hopper may come in front of more
than a quarter of the disc; this still further diminishes the size of disc that may
be used.
The upper part of the hopper I form at the top with a rim of angle iron, from
which radiate straight rods, which at their lower end enter sockets formed at the
top of the lower part of the hopper. This makes a light and strong hopper, and
permits dirt to drop away easily.
The machines are also made so that one straight knife may be substituted, as is
usual, for the bent knives to cut the roots into slices. instead of into strips.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
Robert Henry Johnston, of Grantham, Banker, and William Vincent Hardwick,
of Grantham, Savings' Bank Actuary, Executors of Richard Hornsby, who
departed this life on the Eighth day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd January 1878.
ROBERT HENRY JOHNSTON, of Grantham, Banker, and William VinCENT HARD-
WICK, of Grantham, Savings Bank Actuary, Executors of Richard Hornsby, who
departed this life on the Eighth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING UP. TURNIPS AND
OTHER ROOTS."
This Invention relates to that class of apparatus for cutting-up turnips and other
roots in which the cutters are composed of right-angled bent knives projecting from
the face of a revolving disc, opposite to which is a hopper containing the roots to
be cut, and in which the face of the disc at the back of the knives is brought in
a line with the bent ends of the knives, so that the pieces cut away by the knives
can pass away at the back of the disc.
Heretofore in machines of this class the knives have been ranged in two spirals
or volutes on opposite sides of the axis of the disc, but it has been found that a
much more even and regular result can be obtained by forming the disc to carry one
set only of such knives, as when two sets are used the roots frequently, after being
cut by one set of knives have not time to drop up to the face of the disc before the
other set of knives commence to act upon them; thus the pieces cut away are
irregular in thickness.
In order also that the pieces after being cut may fall away freely at the back of
the disc, instead of forming each knife with a straight stem, and securing it in a
line parallel with the axis of the disc, we bend the stems so that they all radiate
towards the axis of the disc; thus the bolts which hold the stems of the knives do
not come in the way of the cut strips of root, and the strips can fall away freely.
The disc we form, as is usual, with projections at intervals around it and near its
periphery on the same side as the projecting knives, to prevent the last pieces
or slices dropping away from the hopper without being cut up into slices by the
knives.
In place also of making the sloping side of the upper part of the hopper to come
above and cover over the axis of the disc, as heretofore, so that a considerable part
of the centre of the disc could not be occupied by cutting blades, we bring this side
of the upper part of the hopper under the axis, and it may be somewhat beyond it,
and the lower part of this side of the hopper we then make to radiate downwards,
as heretofore, to meet the other side of the hopper, which at its lower part is curved
to conform to the circumference of the disc. The axis, which projects from the front
face of the disc, we receive in a bush carried by a plate, which passes through the
sloping side of the upper part of the hopper, and is secured to the framing. By
this means we are enabled to bring the cutters nearer to the centre and diminish
the size of the disc, and yet leave a sufficient passage for the roots to pass to the
lower part of the hopper.
For small machines we do away with the axis on the front face of the disc, and
mount the axis at the back of the disc in a long or double bearing, and in this case
the sloping side of the upper part of the hopper need not be carried so far as the
centre of the disc, so that the lower part of the hopper may come in front of more
than a quarter of the disc; this still further diminishes the size of disc that may be
used.
The upper part of the hopper we form at the top with a rim of angle iron, from
which radiate straight rods, which at their lower end enter sockets formed at the

page_text: top of the lower part of the hopper. This makes a light and strong hopper, and
permits dirt to drop away easily.
The machines are also made so that one straight knife may be substituted, as is
usual, for the bent knives to cut the roots into slices instead of into strips.
In order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, and Figure 2 is a plan of a root cutter
constructed according to our said Invention.
a is the frame; b is the disc; and c, the axis; it receives the crank handle by
which the disc is turned. Both the bearings d, d, of the axis in this arrangement are
behind the disc, or the axis may be carried in one long bearing; e is the knife
carrier; it is in the usual way bolted to the disc, which is slotted to receive it and
to allow the cutting parts of the knives to project beyond the face of the disc on
the cutting side.
The knife carrier with the knives is shown to a larger scale at Figure 3, and an
edge of a portion of it is shown at Figure 4. Only one set of knives is applied
to the disc in place of two, as is usual, and the knives are carried nearer to the centre.
f, f, are the knives; their stems are not straight, and the seats formed on the
knife holder to receive them are not parallel to the axis as heretofore, but the knife
stems are bent, and the seats for them are inclined so that their planes continued
meet the axis at a distance behind the disc. This arrangement gives freedom for
the escape of the cut pieces to the back of the disc, where they are delivered past
the bolts by which the knives are held.
Figure 5 is an edge view of one of the knives, full size, and x, y, is a line showing
in relation to this Figure the direction of the axis; g is the hopper, and g¹ its in-
clined side, down which the roots slide. The side glin place of passing over the axis
(which usually projects from the front of the disc) slopes to a point below it, where
it meets the radial side g² of the lower part of the hopper; g³ is the bottom and
opposite side of the hopper.
An elevation of the hopper with the disc removed is shown separately at
Figure 6.
By the arrangement of the inclined side g¹ and of the axis c the entrance to the
lower part of the hopper is made wider than heretofore, relatively to the diameter
of the disc, and therefore a smaller disc is required to cut roots of a given size;
g is an angle iron forming the top or rim of the hopper, and 9 are side bars fixed
in the rim, and also into sockets formed for them around the lower part of the
hopper; 61, 6, are the usual projections at the periphery of the disc to prevent any
but quite small pieces falling out of the hopper.
In place of having both bearings d at the back of the disc the axis may be
carried through, and may be supported immediately in front of the disc, as is shown
at Figure 7 in a bush carried by plate h fixed to the frame, and which projects past
the inclined side g¹ of the hopper
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, we would have it understood that we claim as our improvements
in apparatus for cutting up turnips and other roots,―
First. The knives f, having bent stems and the corresponding inclined seats set
radially to the axis of the disc.
Second. The arrangement of the axis c of the disc and the sloping side ġ of the
upper part of the hopper, so that the latter, in place of covering the axis, slopes to
a point below the top of the axis, thereby allowing a larger passage to the lower
part of the hopper relatively to the diameter of the disc..
Third. The construction of the hopper with angle-iron rim and wrought bars,
substantially as described.

page_text: Fourth. The general arrangement of the apparatus, substantially as described and
represented in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Henry Johnston and William Vincent
Hardwick, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.