Improvements in or appertaining to Machine Potato Diggers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1895-Accepted, 13th July,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Machine Potato Diggers.
I, ROBERT ROSBOTHAM of Stanley Farm, Bickerstaffe in the County of
Lancaster, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object the improvement more especially of that class of
potato diggers in which the potatoes are dug by revolving mechanism at right
angles to the axis of the row, and at right angles to the direction at which the
machine is passing. In these machines there is usually a revolving fork or wheel
of forks which throws the potatoes out, and is gradually or intermittently propelled
forward.
Now my invention consists in forming a chain of forks travelling over two
sprocket wheels. By this means the forks travelling along the ground for two feet
or more carry the potatoes with them and thus the unequal throwing is avoided, the
potatoes all falling in a row a little beyond the end of the travel of the forks. The
chain I prefer consists of a series of double T links joined by two outside links,
these two outside links baving bosses for the connecting pins at each end corre-
sponding to the bosses of the double T link, and having projecting from their
centre at right angles a pin. In my experimental machine, the two pins forming
the fork are about 3 inches apart centres, and the forks are approximately about
6 inches apart centres. I do not however confine myself to these dimensions, as
I have only made a single test, nor yet do I bind myself to this exact arrangement
of chain, as the forks instead of being a simple piece of round iron projecting from
the link can be of any other desirable shape, and at any angle with the link, and
can be riveted or otherwise fastened to the link instead of being formed in one with
it, and the links can be of any usual form.
Dated the 22nd day of October 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Machine Potato Diggers.
I, ROBERT ROSBOTHAM of Stanley Farm, Bickerstaffe in the County of
Lancaster, 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 :-
This invention has for its object an improvement more especially of that class of
potato diggers in which the potatoes are dug by revolving mechanism at right
angles to the axis of the row, and at right angles to the direction in which the
machine is passing. In these machines there is usually a revolving fork or wheel
of forks which throws the potatoes out, and is gradually or intermittently propelled
forward.

page_text: Now my invention consists in forming a chain of forks travelling over two
sprocket wheels. By this means the forks travelling along the ground for two feet
or more carry the potatoes with them and thus the unequal throwing is avoided, the
potatoes all falling in a row near the end of the travel of the forks.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is an elevation of the chain of forks passing over the sprocket wheels ;
Figure 2 a plan;
Figure 3 a side elevation of the fence or grating; and
1.F
Figures 4 and 5 detail views.
In these figures A is the chain of forks, B the sprocket wheels over which they
pass, C the wheels on which the machine travels, D the frame which carries the
sprocket wheels, and E a plough or share which slips under the hill of tubers and
lifts them. The chain I prefer consists of a series of links a joined by two outside
links a', the outside links having bosses for the connecting pins at each end, corre-
sponding to the bosses of the links a, and each having projecting from their centres
downwardly projecting arms a². The two arms forming each fork are preferably
deflected slightly in opposite directions as shown. The sprocket wheels are driven
in any suitable manner by the machine when in motion. It will be seen therefore
that as the machine travels, the share E slips under the row and lifts the potatoes
from the earth. In the meantime the chain of forks travels for two feet or more
along the ground at right angles to the direction in which the machine is passing,
the forks carrying the potatoes with them, and thus unequal throwing is avoided,
and the potatoes fall in a row near the end of the travel of the forks, a fence or
grating preventing them being scattered too far.
F
I do not bind myself to the exact arrangement described of the chain of forks, as
the forks instead of being a simple piece of round iron projecting from the link can
be of any other desirable shape, and at any angle with the link, and can be riveted
or otherwise fastened to the link instead of being formed in one with it, and the
links can be of any suitable form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is-
1. The improvement in potato diggers, which consists in forming them with a
chain of forks travelling over two sprocket wheels at right angles to the axis of the
row, and to the direction in which the machine is passing, whereby the forks
travelling along the ground for two feet or more carry the potatoes with them, and
thus avoid unequal throwing, the potatoes falling in a row on the surface of the
soil near the end of the travel of the forks, where they can be readily collected
substantially as set forth.
2. The combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my improved
potato digger substantially as set forth.
Dated this 14th day of May 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.