Improvements in Machine for Washing, Scouring, and Cleaning Roots and Vegetables.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan.,
1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machine for Washing, Scouring, and Cleaning
Roots and Vegetables.
WILLIAM ATHERTON, Implement Dealer, 45 Swan Street, Manchester & JOHN
KELSALL, Vegetable Salesman, of 81 King Street, Stretford, both in the County
of Lancashire do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A new mechanical rocking action obtained by either cranks or eccentric rods,
so applied as to give the necessary tilting or rocking action to root washing tubs
or cradles.
The cradle into which the roots are placed shall be pivoted on an axle or central
studs, instead of being worked upon bow rockers as at present constructed, by this
adaption we considerably reduce the friction & thereby reduce the power required
to perform each washing.
The tilting action to our cradle is obtained by direct acting crank rods, so
coupled to the brackets on the centre of each side of the cradle, as to give the
necessary action, this bracket is so constructed that the length of throw or tilt,
can be regulated according to the nature & condition of the roots to be washed &
scoured.
We drive these crank rods, either from eccentrics, crank shafts or from studs
fitted into the arms of the fly wheels, and so arranged that when worked by manual
power the handles are secured to the ends of the aforesaid studs.
This is the first constructed root washer upon a cradle principle that is equally
applicably to be worked by either manual or motive power.
Dated this 4th day of September 1891.
W. ATHERTON.
JNO. KELSALL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machine for Washing, Scouring, and Cleaning
Roots and Vegetables.
We WILLIAM ATHERTON of 45 Swan Street Manchester, Agricultural
Implement Dealer, and JOHN KELSALL of King Street Stretford, Market
Salesman, both in the County of Lancaster, 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 :-
Hitherto machines for washing, scouring, and cleaning roots and vegetables have
been made with a tub or cradle supported upon curved or bow rockers, and the
object of our invention is by improving the construction of the machine to con-
siderably diminish the friction and thereby reduce the amount of power required
to give motion to such machines and thus to facilitate the washing operation.
This we propose to effect by improved means of producing a mechanical rocking
action so applied as to give the necessary tilting or rocking motion to the washing
tubs or cradles.
The nature of our said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed will be readily understood on reference to the sheet of drawings hereunto
annexed and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 on the drawings is a side elevation (drawn partly in section) and Fig. 2 a
plan view of one of our improved machines, and
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of one side of the cradle and its adjuncts.

page_text: a is the cradle which is made preferably with its bottom a gridded, its
ends sloped and reflexed as shown at Fig. 1 and its sides simply sloped (see
Fig. 3).
The cradle a into which the roots or vegetables are placed is pivotted upon an
axle 6 (or upon central studs) instead of being mounted on bow rockers, as usual,
and the tilting or rocking action of the cradle is obtained by direct-acting crank
rods c so coupled to brackets d on the centre of each side of the cradle a as to give
the necessary action.
The side brackets d to which the rods c are attached may be so constructed that
by raising or lowering the point of attachment of the rods c the length of the
throw or tilt can be regulated according to the nature and condition of the roots or
vegetables to be washed or scoured.
The crank rods c are shown on the drawing as actuated by handles e fixed rigidly
to a pin fcarried by a lever g keyed on the fly wheel shaft h; the eye of the rod e
being loose on the said pin, but they may also be actuated by means of cranks
or eccentrics or by studs or crank pins fitted into the arms of the fly wheels
and so arranged that when worked by manual power the handles are secured to the
aforesaid studs.
.
It will be evident however that the machine may also be actuated by steam or
other motive power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
The improvements in machines for washing scouring and cleaning roots and
vegetables consisting principally of a cradle with a gridded or perforated bottom,
supported at the centre upon an axle or pivots and caused to rock to-and-fro thereon
by means of connecting rods actuated by cranks excentrics or crank pins sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Dated this 28th day of November 1891.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.