IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS FOR PLANTING POTATOES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lewis Augustus Aspinwall, of Albany, in the State of New
York, United States of America, but at present of 33, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR
IMPLEMENTS FOR PLANTING POTATOES."
Sealed the 21st January 1879, and dated the 30th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lewis Augustus Aspinwall at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1878.
LEWIS AUGUSTUS ASPINWALL, of Albany, in the State of New York, United
States of America, but at present of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Mid-
dlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS FOR PLANTING POTATOES."
My present Invention refers to an Invention for which Letters Patent were
granted to me the 27th October 1874, No. 3703.
And the first part of these improvements refers to the frame of the machine,
which I make of a solid casting mounded upon a pair of travelling or ground wheels.
The axle passes through the barrel of the frame, and the axle is thereby protected
from dust and dirt.
Second. The box or hopper is fastened at the back to carry the potatoes which
are to be planted, and is provided with two small openings at the bottom, so as to
feed the potatoes gradually in a small quantity to the mechanism for singling them
from the mass.
Third. The axle of the machine is provided with a disc which carries a series of
spears or points to perform this operation; they are made with an offset alternately
in opposite directions, so that they form a double row, each working through a
slotted concave for pressing the potatoes on the points, the object of which is to give
more freedom for the potatoes to work down, and to make it easier for each concave.
The spears are set nearly to but slightly from the radius of the arms which carry
them, and are provided with a hinged piece fastened to the arm at or near the end
Pains adal

page_text: thereof, so as to protect the point and facilitate the passage of the potato up the
concave and on the points; also to prevent two from coming upon it at the same
time, as the face of the hinged piece is slightly concave, and may be provided
with a groove to hold the potatoes, or it may be made sharp to guide the
potato up.
Fourth. My Invention further refers to the employment of a device to prevent
the potatoes from rolling when it is required to drop them upon manure previously
put in the drill; this consists of a pair of disc wheels set at an angle with each
other, so that their peripheries run against each other upon the manure or ground.
Each disc is provided with a loose ring, which by its gravity drops sufficiently low
to prevent the potatoes from rolling out when discharged from the points, only as
required by the advancing motion of the machine; these wheels are carried by a
frame hinged at the rear of the machine, so as to rise and fall to the uneven surface
they have to pass over.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by 1
the said Lewis Augustus Aspinwall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th January 1879.
LEWIS AUGUSTUS ASPINWALL, of Albany, in the State of New York, United
States of America, but at present of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Mid-
dlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS FOR PLANTING POTATOES." "
My present Invention refers to an Invention for which Letters Patent were
granted to me the 27th October 1874, No. 3703.
The first part of these improvements refers to the frame of the machine, which I
make of a solid casting mounted upon a pair of travelling or ground wheels. The
axle passes through the barrel of the frame, and the axle is thereby protected from
dust and dirt..
Second. The box or hopper is fastened at the back to carry the potatoes which
are to be planted, and is provided with two small openings at the bottom so as to
feed the potatoes gradually in a small quantity to the mechanism for singling them
from the mass.
Third. The axle of the machine is provided with a disc, which carries a series of
spurs or points to perform this operation; they are made with an offset alternately
in opposite directions, so that they form a double row, each working through a
slotted concave for pressing the potatoes on the points, the object of which is to
give more freedom for the potatoes to work down, and to make it easier for each
concave. The spears are set nearly to but slightly from the radius of the arms
which carry them, and are provided with a binged piece fastened to the arm at or
near the end thereof, so as to protect the point and facilitate the passage of the
potato up the concave and on the points; also to prevent two from coming upon it
at the same time, as the face of the hinged piece is slightly concave, and may be

page_text: provided with a groove to hold the potatoes, or it may be made sharp to guide the
potato up.
Fourth. My Invention further refers to the employment of a device to prevent
the potatoes from rolling when it is required to drop them upon manure previously
put in by the drill; this consists of a pair of disc wheels set at an angle with each
other, so that their peripheries run against each other upon the manure or ground.
Each disc is provided with a loose ring, which by its gravity drops sufficiently low
to prevent the potatoes from rolling out when discharged from the points only as
required by the advancing motion of the machine; these wheels are carried by a
frame hinged at the rear of the machine so as to rise and fall to the uneven surface
they have to pass over.
↓
•
"
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a vertical section through the machine
taken on the line x, y, Figure 2; Figure 2, a plan of same; and Figures 3 to 7 are
detail views.
A is the frame of the machine, which is shown cast in one, and is mounted on
travelling wheels B; the wheel axle C passes through the barrel bosses of the
frame A, thus protecting the otherwise exposed parts of the axle C from dust or dirt;
D is the hopper or box containing the potatoes which are to be planted; it is formed
with two openings a, a, at the bottom for the potatoes to fall down through and on
to the mechanism for singling them from the mass; this mechanism consists of a
disc E, loose on the centre of the axle C, and provided with spears or points con
arms E to perform this operation. Eight such arms E' with spears e are shown
here, but more or less may be used, according to the distance apart the potatoes are
to be planted; the disc E is therefore formed with a number of holes for the
fastening bolts for the arms E' and for steady pins on the said arms, as shown.
The centre of the disc E is on one side formed with a boss having clutch teeth which
correspond with teeth on a clutch I, which can slide along a feather on the axle C,
and turns therewith. By means of the clutch. lever K the clutch I can be put in or
out of gear with the disc E, as required. Four of the arms E¹ are cranked or formed
with an offset to one side, so as to work in the one opening d, and the other alter-
nate four with an offset to the opposite side, so as to work the other opening d;
this will be clear from Figure 2; the arms E' and spears e work through two slotted
concaves G at the back; these concaves are at their upper ends flexibly connected
to the hopper D for the purpose of adapting themselves to varying sizes of potatoes
by means of the bars g and helical springs h, which are enclosed in a box j; the
potatoes roll down the concaves G against the points of the spears as the latter
ascend up against them. The arms E¹ are each provided with a hinged piece E¹,
the fulcrum pins being near the outer end of the arms E¹, so as to protect the spear
points and facilitate the passage of the potato up the inner bevelled edges of the
concaves G when spiked thereon; also to prevent two potatoes from coming upon
it at the same time, as the face of the hinged piece el is slightly concave.
The bevil of the concave edge is shown in Figure 2, and also in dotted lines in
Figure 7: ff, are two rollers arranged on a spindle on the framing A., When a
spear on passing up the concaves G spikes a potato the latter will remain on the
point of the spear until it comes round towards the front part of the machine, where
the back or upper part of the hinged piece e' comes in contact with one of the
rollers f, and thereby pushes the potato off the spear. e; or instead of rollers a fixed
friction piece may be applied for tripping the hinged piece e'.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an arm E' formed with two spears e instead of
one.
H, H, are two wings for covering or closing the furrow after the potatoes have
been dropped therein; these wings are carried by a bar n, which is jointed to a
bracket M on the frame M; this latter carries the plough K; the tail end of the
bar n passes through an eye n¹ bolted to the frame A, so as to allow the wings H
to adjust themselves to the required position according to the vertical position of
the plough K, which can be adjusted by means of the bar p provided with holes to
take a pin; the bar p has also a hook p' to take on to a projection on the frame, as

page_text: shewn, so as to raise the plough and wings clear of the ground when not required
for work, or in transport from place to place.
Figure 4 is a side view, and Figure 5 an end view of the device for preventing
the potatoes from rolling when it is required to drop them upon manure which has
been deposited in the furrow made by the manure drill.
L, L, are two discs placed at an angle with each other, and free to revolve round
their centres while rolling on the ground or manure. Each disc L has a loose ring 1,
which by its own gravity drops down so far as to prevent the potatoes from rolling
out when discharged from the points or spears e, that is, no more or further than
the advancing motion of the machine would require and admit.
The discs L are carried by the frame M, which is hinged at m, see Figure 1, to
the rear part of the frame of the machine, so as to enable the discs L to ride on the
ground, and rise and fall to the uneven surface of the ground.
Figure 6 is a face or end view, and Figure 7 a section of a disc L and ring 7,
showing more clearly how the latter hangs on the central boss of the former.
The part K, Figure 4, which corresponds to the plough K, Figure 1, does not in
this case act as a furrow former in the same sense as K, Figure 1, but the concave
rear part K¹ serves the same purpose as the concave rear part K', Figure 1, viz., to
guide the falling potatoes. The bottom point of the part K¹ closes the angular
opening between the discs L:
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this my Invention I
declare that I claim,-
Firstly. The form and construction of the framing A of the machine, substantially
as shown and described.
Secondly. The form and arrangement of the hopper or potato supply box D at
the rear of the machine, and provided with holes a for the potatoes to drop through,
substantially as shown and described.
Thirdly. The combination of the hopper D and the suspended concaves G, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
Fourthly. The disc E provided with two rows of arms E¹, spears e, and hinge
pieces e¹, substantially as shown and described.
Fifthly. The disc E fitted with arms, spears, and hinge pieces in combination
with the roller device for equivalent for pushing the potatoes off the spears, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
Sixthly. The disc E fitted with arms, spears, and hinge pieces, in combination
with the concaves G, substantially as shown and described.
Seventhly. The construction of the device for checking the delivery of the potatoes,
substantially as shown and described with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lewis Augustus Aspinwall, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
T. ATICS
ASPINWALL
(IS)