An Improved Potato Digger.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Potato Digger.
We, ALVIN NELSON WOODARD, Inventor, and WILLIAM BRIGGS, Manufacturer,
both of Jamestown in the County of Chantauqua and State of New York, United
States of America do hereby declare the nature of our invention for AN IMPROVED
POTATO DIGGER, 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 new and useful improvements in potato diggers; and it
consists, in the peculiar construction of an apron or divider located below the carrier ;
further, in the peculiar construction of the handle or guide arms for raising or
lowering the plough in and out of the ground as the operator desires, and further, in
the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, as are
more fully hereinafter described.
In the drawings which accompany this Specification,
Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through my improved potato-digger.
Fig. 2 is a plan thereof.
Fig. 3 is a cross section thereof on line . x in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the apron detached, and
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the digger with one of the ground wheels detached.
Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing modifications.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the inner side of a clutch arrangement for operating the sprocket
wheel, and
Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the same.
A are the ground wheels, supported on the stub-axles B, secured in the frame C,
which has the arch D connecting the two sides rigidly together.
This frame is bifurcated below the axles, and to the end of the bifurcations is secured
the side bars E, preferably of angle or channel iron, to which are secured the sides F.
At the lower end of the frame is pivotally secured the plough G on the shaft F. This
plough is of the usual type of scoop-ploughs.
To the sides of this plough are attached the extensions H, united at the top by the
cross-bars G'.
His the draft iron, attached to the forward end of the sides of the plough, and
Hare adjustable ground-wheels journaled in the brackets J, secured to the side
pieces H.
At the upper end of the frame are the side brackets K, in which is journaled the
shaft K, on which are secured the sprocket-wheels K2 between the sides, and also the
pinions L, which mesh with the gear-wheels M on the shaft B.
Upon the shaft F¹ are journaled the sprocket wheels L'.
I is an endless carrier consisting of suitable sprocket-chains connected by rods
and passing over the wheels I and K at the ends of the frame.
Mis a shaft journaled in the sides F and provided with suitable shaker arms N. This
shaft carries the pinion N', meshing with one of the gear-wheels M. Below the carrier
is secured the apron O, which at its upper and lower ends has planed surfaces below
the carrier, while in its middle portion, it has a double inclined surface P, extending
down below the sides F, having apertures O¹ below the sides for the exit of the earth.
A shoulder P is formed at or near the upper end of the incline P and side wings P⁹
by the latter of which the apron is attached to the sides F.
R is a handle secured at the top of the side pieces H of the plough and resting at
or near the middle upon the arch, having a suitable rearward extension to allow of
the operator walking behind to control up or down the motion of the plough, it being
evident that as the operator raises the handles the nose of the plough will be depressed,
and by lowering the handles the plough will be run out of the ground.

page_text: Suitable side ploughs R' are secured to the side of the plough and arranged to
cut a furrow on both sides of the scoop-plough to define the width of the furrow.
The ground wheels A and the gear wheels M are both loosely journaled upon the
shafts B, connection being made between the two by means of a suitable ratchet Q,
secured to the wheels A and engaging in the teeth of the ratchet-wheels Q, rigidly
secured to the gear wheels M, all so arranged that when the machine is moving
forward the carrier will be actuated so that the wheel may move backward without
operating the carrier mechanism.
In practice, the parts being constructed and arranged substantially as described they
are intended to operate as follows: The earth is sifted through the carrier upon the
double incline P, and by the pitch of the sides of this incline it is rapidly discharged
through the aperture 01 at either side of the machine. Should ary roots or other
Jumps of material be carried up by the carrier to the shoulder P the abrupt edges
thereof will tend to cut it off and drop it behind the incline P. The potatoes will
be thus sifted from the earth and carried by the carrier up over the rear of the
machine, where they will be dropped upon the ground. By dropping the earth
through the aperture O' at the sides of the machine it falls in the space between the
rows of potatoes, and as the potatoes are dropped by the carrier at the rear of the
machine they are in a row by themselves and are entirely free from any of the dirt.
The tops have a free and unobstructed opening between the sides of the machine,
and no hold is provided upon which they can catch to clog the operation of the
machine.
By providing the side ploughs R₁ and defining the width of the furrow just a
sufficient amount of earth is taken up to be easily distributed over the carrier, and
thus allow the dirt to sift evenly at ail times through the carrier.
The ridge of the double incline serves, when the machine is heavily loaded, as a
rest for the carrier, so that it is not possible to unduly strain the same.
In the modifications illustrated by Figs. 6, 7 & 8 the stub axles B are secured in
the two sides of the arch D and the said arch itself is secured to the side bars E.
At the lower end of the frame is pivotally secured the plough G on the shaft F². The
plough is adapted to be raised or lowered by suitable mechanism to be described
hereinafter.
A draft pole S rests at one end on the arch D, and is held in position by braces T,
which are loosely jourualled on the stub axles. On the end of the said draft pole, and
at a suitable distance to the rearward of the arch D is placed
spring seat U to
accomodate the driver. The plough is operated-that is sunk in the ground for
service, or raised to clear the ground when not in use, in the following manner :-A
segment of a dog wheel V is situated at one side of the arch D on the stub axle,
and is connected to the brace T and movable with the draft pole. A lever W
which operates the plough by means of lever rods X is journalled on to the stub
axle and is provided with spring dog W¹ to engage in the stop notches in the dog
wheel V.
For further convenience in transporting the machine when not in use I provide the
following arrangement for raising the machine to clear the ground, and enable it to
run easily on the two ground wheels. This is accomplished by placing a bridge Y
over the plough extensions H. At the centre of this bridge is secured one end of a
chain a which passes over a pulley b on the draft pole.
The chain a is connected at its other end to a lever c which said lever is
pivotally secured to the draft pole, where it can be readily reached by the driver.
The lever c is provided with a spring dog d for engaging in a dog wheel e which is
rigidly secured against the draft pole.
Further in the modifications shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 the gear wheels M are cast
integral with the ground wheels A, and engage in the teeth of the gear wheels Z
which are provided with a suitable clutch arrangement, better shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
In the said arrangement f refers to the case containing the spring ratchets g worked
with levers h by means of pins h', projecting through slots in the case at the sides
of the ratchet. 1 refers to the end of the shaft running through the clutch arrange

page_text: ment and m is the pin securing said clutch arrangement to shaft 1. The said ratchets
engage in the ratchet wheel which is within the case f and is cast integral with
the gear wheel Z, all so arranged that when the lever his pushed in towards the
machine the clutch arrangement is thrown in gear and the carrier L' is caused to
revolve.
The peripheries of the ground wheels may be furnished with projections k to prevent
slipping.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. A potato digger consisting of the arch-shaped frame, the stub-axles supported
thereon, the ground wheels on said axles, the side rails connected to the frame, the
sides connected to said rails, the plough pivoted to the lower end of the frame, the
shaft at the lower end of the frame carrying the sprocket wheels, the gear wheel on
the stub axle, the gear wheels operated thereby, the endless carrier, the apron arranged
below the carrier, having the inclines and the shoulder, all arranged and operated
substantially as described.
2. A potato digger consisting of the ground wheels, the stub axles supporting the
same, the frame, the gear wheels on the stub axle, the sprocket wheels at the upper
and lower ends of the frame, the endless carrier passing around said sprocket wheels,
the inclined apron supported in the frame and arranged below the carrier, the plough
pivoted to the lower ends of the frame, and the handles for raising and lowering the
plough, substantially as described.
3. In a potato digger, the arch-shaped frame baving the bifurcated ends, the side
rails fitting in said ends, the sides secured to said rails, the plough pivoted to the
lower end of the frame, the endless carrier, the inclined apron having the shoulder
and the handles for raising and lowering the plough, substantially as described.
4. In a potato digger the combination of suitable mechanism for raising and
lowering the plough in and out of the ground, also other mechanism for raising the
machine so that it rests only on the two ground wheels for purposes of transport,
together with a draft pole fastened by means of braces to the arch and on the stub
axles, to which is attached a lever for lowering the machine; also a seat for the
driver, substantially as described.
5. In a potato digger the combination with a shaft at the rear of the machine,
carrying sprocket wheels, of a clutch arrangement for throwing in or out of gear the
endless carrier operated by means of lever, substantially as described.
Dated this 97th down of Mar 1890
F. W. BARKER,
Applicants' Agent.