Improvements in Potato Harvesters.
Year: 1894

page_text: · Date of Application; 2nd Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1895-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1895
Improvements in Potato Harvesters.
I, JOSEPH NORTH COCKER, of West Devonport, in the Colony of Tasmania,
Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows.:—
In a potato harvester for which I obtained British Letters Patent No. 20443
and dated the Fifteenth day of December One thousand eight hundred and ninety,
I described the use of a large elevator wheel having projecting vanes or blades
arranged to work inside a fixed soreen of bars extending about one-third around
its circunference said elevator wheel being driven by rolling along the ground and
serving to carry the potatoes turned into the fixed screen by the plough share to
the upper end of the soreen where they were delivered on to an inclined inner
screen leading them by a lateral chute to a trough, whence they were from time to
time discharged. The soil which fell through the inner screen was directed by
another inclined chute on to the ground at the side of the machine.
I have found in practice that there were several objections to a machine con-
structed in this way and I have therefore devised the present invention.
It consists in a potato harvester constructed somewhat as above described, but having
a large elevator wheel made with a series of bars with spaces between in addition to
being provided with projecting vanes or blades adapted to carry the earth up round
the inner screen extending for about one quarter of a revolution, over the top of
which the potatoes fall on to an inclined screen leading to another inclined screen
or chute, on the lower end of which a bag or basket to receive the potatoes inay be
supported.
Behind the share used to raise the potatoes from the ground, aro arranged three
rotating spider wheels, one set nearly horizontal and another almost vertical or
at approximately right angles to said horizontal spider which latter is arranged to
carry the tubera round into the elevator wheel, whilst another spider arranged
vertically above the horizontal one serves to separate the top or haulm from the
potatoes and delivers it at the back of the machine.
Suitably shaped shields are arranged inside the machine, so that any earth which
may fall from the screens will be delivered through the open side of the elevator
wheel on to the ground and bevel, sprocket, or other gearing is provided to enable
the rotating spider wheels above referred to, to be driven from the axle of the main
drive wheel. Suitable guiding and adjusting devices are provided in some
convenient position adjacent to the driver's seat, to enable him to easily manipulate
the machine whilst it is in operation.
The elevator wheel is supported by and works around friction rollers mounted
upon the main framing of the machine, whilst said wheel is fitted around its
periphery with projections adapted to enter the surface of the ground and thus
cause said elevator wheel to revolve. The rotating spiders above referred to are
carried upon a pivotted frame, whose height can be adjusted by means of a long
hand lever fitted with a catch to retain it in any desired position, and said spiders
are driven by sprocket gearing from a sprocket wheel upon the spindle or axle of one
of the main bull or drive wheels of the machine. The delivery chute is preferably
arranged on the side opposite to the share and spiders and a worm and rack motion
is provided on that side to allow the machine to be raised or lowered upon the main
axle or spindle as required, as for instance when the machine is travelling along
a road.

page_text: If preferred, the lower elevator can be detached from the machine, which is then
simply a potato digger arranged to deposit the potatoes to one side upon the
surface of the ground. In this case a number of radial blades and tines are
secured alongside the off side main drive wheel to preventíthe potatoes being thrown
through it and thus cause them to be delivered on to the ground on the inuer sido
thereof. The tines are slightly bent at their ends and are curved so as to act as
guides to the potatoes and a number of horizontal bars are arranged underneath
the radial blades and 'tines and have 'a guide piece alongside them to prevent the
row of potatoes spreading when delivered from the bars..
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of August One thousand eight hundred and
11°
H
PARTY
1, JOSEPH NORTH COCKER, of West Devonport, in the Colony of Tasmania,
Farmer, 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::-
In a potato plough for which I obtained British, Letters Patent No. 20443 dated
the Fifteenth day of December One thousand eight hundred and ninety I described
the use of a large elevator wheel having projecting vaues or blades arranged to
work inside a fixed screen of bars extending about one third around its circumference,
said elevator wheel being driven by rolling along the ground and serving to carry
the potatoes, turned into the fixed screen by the plough share to the upper end of
the screen where they were delivered on to an inclined inner screen leading them by
a lateral shute to a trough whence they were from time to time discharged. The
soil which fell through the inner screen was directed by another inclined shute on
to the ground at the side of the machine.,
I have found in practice that there were several objections to a machine
constructed in this way, and I have therefore devised the present invention.
It consiste in a potato harvester constructed somewhat as above described but having
a large elevator wheel made with a series of bars with spaces between in addition to
being provided with projecting vanes or blades adapted to carry the earth up
round
the inuer screen extending for about one quarter of a revolution, over the top of
which the potatoes fall' on to an inclined screen leading to another inclined screen
or shute ou the lower end, of which a bag, or basket may be supported to receive
the potatoes.
Behind the share used to raise the potatoes from the ground are arranged two
rotating spider wheels, one set nearly horizontal and another almost vertical or
at approximately right angles to said horizontal spider which latter is arranged to
carry the tubers round into a shallow curved trough whereby they are directed into
the elevator wheel, whilst a third spider arranged vertically on the inner side of the
elevator wheel serves to separate the top or haulm from the potatoes and delivers
it at the back of the machine.
This third spider is provided with a number of curved bars for said purpose of
separating the haulin as well as with a number of curved feeder, blades which direct
the potatoes into the elevator wheel out of, the shallow; curved trough above
referred to.
Suitably shaped shields are arranged inside the machine so that any earth which
fall from the screens will be delivered through the open side of the elevator
may

page_text: wheel on to the ground;, and“ bavel sprocket or other gearing is provided to enable
the rotating spider wheels above referred to, to be driven from the axle of the main.
drive wheels. Suitable guiding and adjusting: devices are provided in some
convenient position adjacent to the driver's seat,; to onable, himi to easily manipulate.
the machino whilst it is inoperation.
The elevator: wheel is supported by and works around friation rollers mounted
upon a removable framing; and said wheels is fitted around its periphery with
projections adapted to enter the surface of the ground and thus cause said elevator
wheel to revolve. The two rotating-spidors above referred to as being arranged
bohind the sliare are carried upon, a pivotted frame whose height can be adjusted
by means of a long hand' lever fitted with a catch to retain it in any desired
position, and said spiders are driven by: sprocket and' boveli gearing from a sprocket
wheel upon an intermediate shaft driven by spur gearing from the spindle or axle
of tlie main bulk or drive wheels of the machine. The delivery chute is preferably.
arranged on the side opposite to the share and spiders and a small land wheel, upon
one arm of a long hand lever is provided on that side to allow the elevator: wheel to
be raised or lowered; as; required,.as for instance, when the machine is, travelling
along a road.
If preferred the elevator wheel can be detached from the machine;; which is then
simply a potato digger arranged to deposit the potatoes to one side, upon the
surface of the ground.. Far. this purpose, said elevator is attached to a casting
mounted uponia. projecting and, of, the axle of the main drive wheels and secured
thereupon by means of insplit pin and collar.
Referring to the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1. is a sectionali plan of a potato harvester embodying my improvements;.
whilst,
Figure 2 is an elevation of the uear side of said machiner with the elevator wheel
removed, and
Figure. 3. is a side elevation of the elevator wheel and adjacent parts: shewn
detached from the machine...
The saine letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A represents the large elevator wheel which is according to this invention formed
of a series of bans: a with spaces hotween as clearly illustrated in section: in
Figure 1, whilst a' al raprosent the vanes or blades whinh servo to carry the earth
and potatoes up an inner screen B (see Figure 3) extending for about a quarter of
a revolution around the inside of the, elevator wheel A., C (Figure 3). representa
the inclined! screen which is arranged below the upper end! of the screen: B..and
which serves to conduct the potatoes on to another inclined sarean or ohute: D
beneath the lower end of which, a bag or other receptacle can be supported to
receive the potatoos;; said receptacle being placed! upon; a suitable frame or support
such as is illustrated at E..
F represents. the share: used for raising the potatoes: from the groundi,
whilst G. H. I represent the three rotating spiders abovo: referred to.
Of these
the one marked Ġ is almost horizontal and is arranged on the dug or potato
delivering, side of the share a slight incline being given to it so that the edge
furthest from the share will be slightly raised, said share being shaped as illustrated
in Figure 1. so that it extends partly around said' spider G. The second spider 'H
is arranged vertically or approximately at right angles to the first one. The third'
spider is also arranged vertically and works at the side of the elevator wlieel''A.
It serves to separate the tops or haulm from the potatoes and to,doliver them at the
back of the machine for which purposo, it is provided with a. number of curved
bara.i It is also provided with, a number of curved feeder blades for with-
drawing the potatoes out of a shallow curved trough (arranged, underneath, anidi
Epider I between the spider G. and the elevator wheel, A) and delivering them.iuto
Enid elevator wheel.. A sheet metal or other chute (such as J) is arranged as
illustrated in Figure 3, to conduct away any dirt which might fall through the
screen C and to deliver it through the open side of the elevator wheel A on to

page_text: the ground as in the machine described in the former Specification above
referred to.
The approximately vertical spindle g of the spider G is mounted in bearings
secured to a frame K carrying the share F and driver's seat k and motion is
imparted to it through the mediuma of the spur gear gl, horizontal spindle and
sprocket gearing g³, from a countershaft L to which motion is communicated by
apur gearing from the main axle upon which the main drive wheels L' L' are
secured.
The spider H is driven by bevel gear h from the spindle 9 whilst the spider I
is driven by sprocket gear from the main axle as clearly illustrated in
Figure 1.
'
The large elevator wheel A is supported by and works around antifriction
rollers a² mounted upon the frame as which carries the curved iron trough and is
secured to a bracket or casting at upon a projection of the main axle . This
said bracket or casting is secured upon said axle by a split pin and collar a³ which
can be removed when it is required to take off the elevator wheel. Said bracket,
also carries the support E for the basket into which the potatoes are to be delivered
and the elevator wheel is fitted with projectious a around its periphery to increase
its hold upon the ground.
The anti-friction rollers a³ are grooved to correspond with a rail a' fitted around
the inside of the elevator wheel A and which runs upon said rollers.
The rotating spiders G and H and share are carried upon a frame K which is
pivotted at its forward end upon the countershaft L and whose height can be
adjusted by means of a long hand lever having a catch working into a toothed
quadrant secured upon a frame pivotted upon the main axle, of the machine.
The frame to which the pole is attached is also pivotted as shewn at kº to the
forward end of said frame k³.
If preferred the machine may be provided with a small land wheel M upon an
arm m attached to a long hand lever m' whereby the elevator wheel may be raised
and lowered as required for instance when it is travelling along a road.
J
The operation of the invention is as follows,-
The share F raises the earth and potatoes on to the revolving spider G which
with the second spider H serves to deliver the potatoes into the curved trough
whence they pass into the elevator wheel A. The third spider I being caused to
rotate in the required direction serves to separate the tops or haulm and weeds
from the potatoes and delivers them outside the elevator wheel. Meanwhile a
large proportion of the dirt will have fallen on to the ground through the
spiders G H and subsequently through the bottom of the elevator wheel A. The
potatoes will be raised by said elevator wheel up the inner screen B and will be
delivered by the blades a¹ on to the screen C down which they will pass on to the
inclined screen or delivery chute D whereby they will be delivered into any
convenient receptacle provided to receive them upon the support E.
The operation of the machine when the elevator wheel is removed is substantially
the same as that above described except of course that the potatoes are not elevated
into bags or other receptacles but are delivered on to the ground in rows.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;-
First. In a potato harvester an elevator wheel (such as A) made of bars (such
as a) with spaces between and having blades or vanes (such as a¹) substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Second. In a potato harvester an elevator wheel (such as A) working around
and supported by anti-friction rollers (such as a³) substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: Third. In a potato harvester a rotating spider (such as G) driven by gearing
from the main bull wheels and set approximately horizontally on the dug or potato
delivering side of the share used for raising the potatoes out of the ground said
sbare being arranged to extend partly around said spider substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. In a potato harvester the combination with the share used for raising
the potatoes out of the ground of two rotating spiders (such as G. H.) one set
approximately horizontally alongside said share and the other at right angles.
thereto the two spiders being geared together so that they rotate in sympathy with
each other and together tend to discharge the earth and potatoes at the side of the
machine substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and
as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In a potato harvester a spider (such as I) set approximately vertically
alongside the bottom of an elevator wheel and adapted to separate the haulm or
tops and weeds from the potatoes and to deliver such haulm and weeds at the back
of the machine substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in.
the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. In a potato harvester a spider (such as I) having a number of curved
bars and a number of curved feeder blades all constructed arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purposes specified and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Seventh. In a potato harvester in combination with the nearly horizontal spider
wheel G, nearly vertical spider wheel H, and elevator wheel A, the shallow curved
trough (such as 2) substantially as-and for the purpose specified and as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Seventeenth day of June One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-tive.
J. N. COCKER.
Edwards and Co.,
65 & 66 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.