A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR 'SHAWING,' ROOTING, AND DELIVERING TURNIPS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Fogo, of Restonhill, in the County of Berwick
North Britain, Farmer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE
FOR 'SHAWING,' ROOTING, AND DELIVERING TURNIPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Fogo at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January1876.
JAMES FOGO, of Restonhill, in the County of Berwick, North Britain, Farmer:
"A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR SHAWING,' ROOTING, AND DELIVERING
TURNIPS."
The nature of this Invention or improved arrangement or construction of this
machine consists of an open, preferably wrought-iron, frame formed of a central
bar or frame and two side bars or frames secured to the central frame in front, and
diverging into the wide open part behind, with a strong cross bar. joining the
whole at the extreme back end, where the driver walks to guide and control the
machine. The extreme front end of the centre bar is curved or arched upwards,
and carries in a deep socket the vertical forked swivelling arm of the guiding
wheel, with a bevel wheel on top, and pinion working into it on the front end of a
long horizontal steering shaft carried in brackets projecting upwards from the
arched frame and the back end frame with overhung steering arms or wheel on the
extreme back end of the shaft convenient to the hand of the driver. This front
guiding wheel so controlled runs in a central furrow, while the back end or wide
open part of the frame (carrying the gearing and knives or cutters) is supported.
by bearings on its under side on the revolving cross shaft of the two bearing and
actuating rear wheels coupled on each outer end of this shaft so as to roll in the
bottom of two near or adjacent side furrows, so that the two sides of the open
frame are nearly vertical over the two drills of turnips to be cut.
The machine is drawn by one or two horses yoked in a usual manner to the.
shackle and chain attached to the front end of the central frame or deep boss.
The rolling of the two back wheels turns the carrying cross shaft, which by a.
bevel wheel near its centre gives motion to a pinion on the lower end of a vertical
shaft carried in footstep bearings in the middle bar and in a journal bearing near
[ts upper end in a supplementary upper frame secured to the back and side frames,
which, with the upper frame, also carry the bearings of the two vertical spindles

page_text: of the revolving knives for cutting off the shaws close to the turnips. These
spindles are actuated directly over each drill by pinions on them above the upper
frame gearing in front and on each side into a large spur wheel on the top of the
said central vertical shaft, two horizontally revolving cutting knives being fixed
on a boss or other equivalent at the extreme lower end of these vertical spindles
so as to cut the shaws by the revolution of the knives in front, as the machine
advances along the drills, throwing the shaws into one or other of the furrows.
The height of the knives is regulated by the short forked ends of two levers
inserted in a collar boss on the upper ends of the said- spindles, these levers being
raised or lowered in an, ordinary manner by one or two hand levers and setting
quadrants attached to the frame.
The stem of each knife for cutting the roots is carried stationary in a deep boss
in the back end of a lower frame or in an additional boss in the supplementary
upper frame, the knives being fixed in a boss or other equivalent at the extreme
lower end of these stems, and lying at a, considerable angle. backwards towards the
central furrow, so as by the direct forward motion of the machine to cut the roots
in the ground nearly close up to the turnips, the depth of the knives being
regulated by a screw on the upper ends of their stems, and a revolving nut with
hand lever or wheel upon it near the hand of the driver so as to be turned at
pleasure.
Another improvement consists in attaching to the back ends of these root-
cutting knives a grating extending.backwards, and, curved: or inclined upwards so
as to deliver the turnips into the central, or side furrows, and at the same time
Beparating the earth therefrom by allowing it to pass through the grating, and in
some cases to assist this cleaning and delivering of the turnips a transverse
horizontal reciprocating motion taken from any of the driving shafts may be given
to the gratings, which in this case would be hinged to the back of the knives, and
they might be so hinged as to be raised and lowered vertically also. The starting
or stopping of the gearing for driving the spindles of the shawing knives is
effected by an ordinary engaging and, disengaging clutch arrangement, either with
the boss of the running or carrying wheels, or that of the bevel or spur wheels
giving motion to the vertical spindles.
Although this machine has been described to embrace and cut two drills of
turnips at a time it is to be understood that it might be made large enough to do
three or more drills, each drill of course requiring a front vertical revolving
spindle and knives over it, and a fixed stem and angled root-cutting knife
behind.
The advantages claimed for this implement are a more perfect guiding or
steering of the machine, a simple means of regulating the acting height or depth
of the revolving and fixed knives, and a better and cleaner delivery of the
turnips.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Fogo in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd July
1876.
JAMES FOGO, of Restonhill, in the County of Berwick, North Britain, Farmer.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR 'SHAWING,' ROOTING, AND DELIVERING
TURNIPS."
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a side elevation, plan, and end view of one
modification of my new or improved machine for cutting off the shaws or tops,
and the roots or tails of turnips, and for delivering them clear of the tops and the
loose earth on the surface of the ground behind the machine, constructed in
accordance with and illustrative of my said Invention.
Referring to these Figures 1, 2, and 3, the construction and general arrangement

page_text: ---
of this machine, and of its special new or improved parts or features (the
following description or specification of which will illustrate the nature, novelty,
and mode of performing my said Invention) consist all as follows:-Of a some-
what ordinary form of open frame A, A1, A", A³, preferably made of wrought iron
(or it might be of cast iron) by a central bar or frame piece A, and the two side
bars or frames A¹, A¹, screwed or otherwise secured to the central frame A in front
at a, and curving or diverging out to form the wide open sides A¹ and rear part
A", where these are secured to the strong cross bar A³ at the extreme back end,
close behind which the driver walks to guide and control the action of the
machine. The wide central and rear part A¹, A1, A2, of the frame is carried high
enough to clear the tops or leaves of the turnips upon three wheels B, C, C,
namely, the front central guiding or steering wheel B running in the bottom of
the central furrow 1 1, and carried in the lower open or forked end of the
stem B¹, swivelling in a deep socket A* in the front end of the central frame A,
curved or arched up at this part for the wheel to swivel, and for attaching the
swivel drawing hook B₁ at a proper height. The middle of the side frames A¹, A¹,
are set nearly over the centre of the two drills 2- 2 of turnips to be dressed or
raised on each side of the furrow in which the guide wheel B runs, and the two
rear or main carrying and actuating wheels C, C, are mounted loose on the .
extreme outer ends of the main carrying and driving axle or shaft C₁ so as to run
in the bottom of the two nearest furrows 3- 3 outside the two drills of
turnips being raised, the shaft C¹ revolving in bearings at the lower ends of the
side blocks or standards D, D, secured to the middle of the side frames A¹ above
the shaft C, which is coupled at pleasure to the driving wheels C, C, by the clutch
boxes C and spring catch or pawls C, or in other equivalent manner as the
wheels of reaping machines are. The top of the swivelling spindle or stem B¹ of
the guiding wheel B has an arm B³ secured on it, with a long stiff wood or other
lever BS secured thereto and carried back over a supporting and retaining
segmental notched bracket B' on the top of the cross frame D¹, D, formed on or
secured to the top of the standards D, D, and having the handle b at the middle
and rear end of the machine convenient to the hand of the attendant or driver to
lift and place it in any of the retaining notches of the segment B supporting it,
or otherwise an overhung steering wheel, with arms or spokes, might be keyed on
the extreme back end of a long horizontal steering shaft revolving in bearing
brackets projecting upwards from the arched frame A and the back end frames A
and carried forward with a bevel pinion on its front end gearing into a bevel
wheel on the upper end of the swivelling stem B¹ of the guiding wheel B instead
of the lever B.
---
The machine is drawn by one horse, or it might be two, yoked in the usual
manner by a shackle, chain, "swingletrees," or other equivalent, attached to the
hook B at the front end of the central frame or deep boss A*. The rolling of the
two back wheels C, C, turns the cross shaft C¹ which supports the back end of the
frame A', A", A³, by its bearing blocks D, D; and the topping and tailing knives
and actuating gearing are also secured and carried on this frame. A large bevel
wheel E mounted near the centre of the shaft C¹ gears into and gives motion to a
pinion E¹ on the lower end of the short vertical shaft F, carried in journal and
collar bush bearings in the strong cross frames D¹, D", formed or screwed on the
top of the side blocks D, D; but it might be by a footstep bearing on the middle
bar A, when that frame is carried back as well as the side frames A¹. The vertical
spindle F has a large spur wheel G keyed on it between the two cross
brackets D¹, Du, gearing into and actuating the pinions G¹, G", retained between
the said two frames D, D", and mounted by a feather and groove on the two
vertical spindles H, H¹, of the topping knives h, h¹, and carried in deep journal
sockets D in the brackets D, D, and journal bushes in the top cross frame Du at
each side of the wheel G and a little in front of the transverse centre line and
shaft C', but it might be behind it, when desired, so as to allow the spindles H, H³,
and knives h, h¹, to rise and fall through their driving pinions G³, G₁₁, clear of the

page_text: shaft C, while the latter are cutting off the shaws or leaves close to the turnips.
These spindles H, H', are actuated directly over the centre, or a little towards the
inner side of each drill 2---2 by their pinions G¹, Gu, so that the radial
knives h, h¹, secured on their lower ends cut off and leave the shaws or tops of the
turnips on the outside of the drills, or in the central furrow when preferred, as the
machine advances along the 'drills clear of the tail cutting knives J and cleaning,
grating, or forked lifter j secured to the back of these knives J, which are
preferably angled horizontally backwards from their strong vertical stems J¹ with
various holes in them for securing them at different heights by screw bolts or
bosses al in the side frames at the widest back part A", A", all so that these
knives J, J, by the drag or forward motion of the machine cut under the drill so
as to cut off the tails close up to the turnips, and then force them out of the ground
over the inclined grating or curved lifter with fingers j, j, which separates the
earth from them, and may, if preferred, deliver them to the inside of the drill or
central furrow just behind where the attendant walks, or the lifters j, j, when
preferred, might be curved and raised on the inside so as to deliver the turnips in the
outside furrows on the top of the cut shaws behind the wheels C, C. The height
of the knives h, h¹, is regulated by the short forked ends of the two levers L', Ĕч,
inserted in a grooved collar boss L suced on the upper ends of each of the
spindles H, H³, these levers being fulcrumed on brackets D³ projecting back and up
from the top frame D¹¹ so as to be raised and lowered in an ordinary manner by.
their hand levers L, L", and set and held by a spring pin in the holes of the
segmental fixing arm or quadrant L³ projecting up from and secured to the back
frame A, or in other equivalent manner.
Although the height or depth of the root-cutting knives J, J¹, are only shown 2
as set and fixed by hand screws a³ and holes to the rigid frame A", A", this might
be done by lateral screws, cotters, or screw nuts, over their stems J, when these
are fitted into bosses on the frame; or the part of the frame A¹¹, A³, to which these
knives are fixed might be hinged to the main frame A, A¹, and raised by a powerful
holding lever or screw arrangement, in either case with hand lever or wheel fitted 3
to work these near the hand of the driver so as to be turned at pleasure.
In addition to stopping the revolution of the first motion shaft C¹ by disengaging
the spring catches or pawls C2 of the carrying and driving wheels Č, C, with the
couplings C, and instantaneously stopping the central shaft F and its
gearing G, G, Gu, for actuating the topping knives h, h¹, and their spindles H, H, 8
I also fit a lever M, fulcrumed on a stud m, in the cross bar m of the frame A¹
with a bandle and holding rest at mll near the operator, having the front forked
end M of this lever M coupled to the groove or collar boss E of the bevel
wheel E, so as to put it out of or into gear with its pinion E', or otherwise the
fork arm of the lever might shift a clutch or coupling into or out of gear with the 4
wheel E so as to couple or uncouple it to its shaft C.
The new or improved grating j, j, for raising and cleaning the turnips, though
shown in the Drawings as fixed to the back of the root cutting knives, or their
back stems or body part, might be hinged thereto so as to be set at different heights
or angles to suit the size of the drills or turnips to be operated upon, and when
⚫ desired a lateral horizontal reciprocating motion might be given to this delivery
grating j, j, the motion being taken by a small eccentric or tappet from any of the
driving shafts of the machine, and which would in some cases remove the soil from
the turnips.
Although this machine has been described to embrace and cut two drills of 5
turnips at a time, it is to be understood, that it might be made large enough to do
three or more drills, each drill of course requiring a front vertical revolving
spindle (H, H¹), and knives or cutters h, h¹, near or over it, and a fixed stem and
'angled root cutting knife J, J¹, behind.
The advantages claimed for this new or improved implement over other turnip 5
topping and tailing machines are, a. more simple and perfect guiding or steering
of the machine, and a simple and expeditious means of regulating the acting height

page_text: of the revolving spindles H, H¹, and the cutting depth or plane of their
knives h, h¹, and a better and cleaner delivery of the turnips.
This machine may also be made serviceable for the raising and delivering of
potatoes, by forming or securing a continuation of the side framing A¹, A², right
backwards, and securing the back rail A³ across the wide parts A" at A² so as to
be nearly in a vertical plane with the centre of the drills, so that each rail A³ has
secured to it by recesses, or sockets and bolts, or other equivalent, the strong
stems S of a potato raising sock S¹, and a cleaning and delivering fan-shaped
grating 8 of angled or curved bars, all as shown in detached elevation and plan in
Figures 4 and 5, instead of the turnip lifters J, J¹, j; and for the additional
purpose of making this new or improved machine also serviceable as a potato lifter,
and instead of the before-mentioned fan-shaped grating or bars 8, the implement
may be fitted with a mould board on each side to render it suitable for a potato
drill dressing or setting-up plough.
. Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details herein described or delineated, but what I believe to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction or arrangement of the parts of a machine for
cutting off the tops, shaws, or leaves, and tails or roots of turnips, and raising or
delivering the latter on the surface of the ground behind the machine, all substan-
tially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings
or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The construction and use of nearly vertical revolving spindles H, H¹,
with horizontal cutters h, h¹, near their lower ends for cutting the tops or leaves of
turnips in turnip topping and tailing machines, substantially as herein described.
Third. The construction and use in turnip topping and tailing machines of an
angled or curved grating ;, fixed or hinged behind the root cutting knives, for
raising and cleaning or delivering the turnips, all substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I the said James Fogo, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
5 Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JAMES FOGO. (L.S.)