Improved Apparatus for Cleaning Potatoes and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Cleaning Potatoes and the like.
I, JOHN WATSON, of 12 Mornington Street, Keighley in the County of York,
Washing Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
This invention has for its object, the construction of au apparatus of novel com-
bination, by the operation of which, potatoes and the like may be cleaned in much
less time and more efficiently than when cleaned by hand in the usual manner.
I accomplish my object by constructing a circular or many sided cage having
solid or perforated ends, and securing thereto a series of bars in the same direction
as the axis of the cage, the bars being by preference interspersed with brushes; part
of the circumference, or one of the sides being so arranged that it may be easily
removed and refixed.
The cage is mounted in journals, and made to revolve in a trough containing
water; and on the axis within the cage are fixed a series of brushes, so that on placing
potatoes or the like within the cage and rotating the same, the contents are agitated,
rolling over the bars and brushes are thereby thoroughly cleaned in considerably less
time, and more efficiently than when cleaned by hand as hitherto.
Dated this 24th day of August 1888.
JOHN GILL,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Cleaning Potatoes and the like.
1, JOHN WATSON, of 12 Mornington Street, Keighley, in the County of York,
Washing Machine Maker 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 :-
-
This invention has for its object the construction of an apparatus of novel combination,
whereby on the operation of the same, potatoes and the like may be cleaned in much
less time and more efficiently than when cleaned by hand in the usual manner and
consists of a cage having its periphery formed of bars which may be interspersed
with brushes; the axle of the cage for some portion of its length being covered or
encased with brushes, and the cage mounted in a trough containing water, so that
on placing potatoes or the like within the cage, and rotating it within the trough,
the contents of the cage are agitated and cleaned by rolling over the brushes
and bars.
In describing my invention more in detail, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of an apparatus made
according to my invention, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the centre of
the same, excepting the axle and handle attachments, which to simplify the drawing
are not shown in section.
The cage may be circular or many sided, having side plates A which may be plain,
corrugated on the inner face or perforated, are mounted in the centre on the axle
shaft B, and connected together at or near the periphery by a series of circular or
other shaped bars C, the bars being by preference interspersed with brushes D, one
part of the circumference of the cage at E being arranged to be easily removed and
replaced when required, and may be secured in position by ordinary turn buttons or
other well known means for securing lids or covers to the periphery or circumference

page_text: of circular or many sided cages: or an opening may be formed through one of the
side plates A, and a cover secured in a similar manner.
The side plates A are as before mentioned secured to the axle shaft B which is
encased within the cage by brushes D' and is supported by journals F attached to the
sides of the trough G which, when the apparatus is in use is partly filled with water,
so that when potatoes or the like are placed through the opening into the interior of
the cage and the cover secured, the cage is rotated by the handle K, thereby agitating
the contents which roll over the bars C and brushes D and D¹, by which they are
thoroughly cleaned, in considerably less time and more efficiently than when cleaned
by band in the usual manner.
It will be easily understood that my object may be accomplished by dispensing with
the bars C, and covering the circumference of the cage with corrugated segments, or
the interior of the segments may be coated with brushes over which the potatoes or
the like roll when the cage is rotated, thereby rubbing and cleaning them in the
manner as before described.
Fig. 3 represents a portion of a cage showing a part of the circumference as fitted
with segments S having the interior surface corrugated, a space being left between
each segment for the passage of water the same as with bars C; another part of the
circumference, the segments S are formed into brushes on the interior surface, either
arrangement of which may extend for the entire circumference or a combination of
both an opening being made in the circumference or through one of the side plates A
and covered in the manner as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a potatoe cleaning machine a circular or many sided cage having the side
plates mounted on a shaft and held together by bars and brushes D either separately
or in combination, the shaft being encased with brushes substantially in the manner
shown and described.
2. In a potatoe cleaning machine a circular or many sided cage mounted as described
and combined with corrugated segments S or brushes on the circumference either
separately or in combination substantially in the manner shown and described.
Dated thin with das M1000
JOHN GILL,
Agent.