Improvements in Machines for Topping, Tailing, and Lifting Turnips.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Topping, Tailing, and Lifting Turnips.
I, JOHN FAIRWEATHER, of Chapelton, Brechin, Forfarshire, Farmer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and consists of a new or improved construction or
arrangement and combination of the parts and mechanical motions of an agricultural
machine for topping, tailing and lifting turnips, which may be made of various
sizes to operate on one, two or more turnip drills at a time, and be more simple and
efficient than such machines have been as heretofore constructed.
One arrangement of this machine consists all as follows:-Of a nearly rectangular
open frame, preferably made of flat iron on edge, bound together by a front and
back transverse rail and longitudinal rails for carrying the main axle and side
wheels below, and transverse upper bush bearing frame of the shafts and spindles
for driving each of the top or shaw cutting vertical spindles and horizontal
rotating radial or star cutting knives over each drill as hereinafter described, the
front transverse rail being fitted high enough to clear the turnip tops. The frame
of a machine for treating one drill of turnips would extend over to the two furrows
on each side, or so that its main rear side wheels would run in the centre of these
furrows, and the machine be drawn by the extension of the frame with adjusting
transverse arm and shackle, or it might be a pole at one side of the frame, the
horse travelling in the outer furrow in front where a single guide wheel would run
in this furrow, the machine lifting the turnip bulbs into one of the furrows behind
the traverse of the horse and cutters if required by a movable bar or strong spring
attached or bolted to coulter for tailing turnips, or the turnips can be left where
they grew by unfastening said bar or spring. While for two drills the frame would
extend over to the furrows on the outside of both drills, so that the wheels in this case
would run in the centre of these outer furrows, while the horse would traverse in
the centre of the intermediate furrow in front of the frame extended out by
diagonal stays or continuations of the side frames where a central guide wheel
would run.
In either case the front of the frame would be capable of adjustment
in height on this wheel, and the back end of the side frames may be curved
upwards and continued behind the back rail as arms or handles to the frame. The
shaft or main axle of the two back wheels would rotate with these in journal
bearing brackets projecting down from the sides of the frame, some little distance
in front of the back rail of the frame. The inside surface of the rim of one of the
back travelling wheels outside of the frame would be formed with spur teeth or
alternatively a spur wheel may be mounted on the transverse shaft inside the frame
to actuate the gearing of the cutters for each drill. This would be effected by the
spur teeth gearing into a pinion on a short horizontal shaft carried in bush bearings
in the upper transverse or seat frame secured over the side rails of the main frame
and preferably nearly over or in front of the main running wheel shaft, so as to be
driven by this wheel and pinion, and which shaft would carry on its inner end a
bevel or face wheel working into a similar bevel or radial spur wheel on the upper
end of the vertical cutter driving spindle carried in a bush bearing in the upper
centre of a bow frame secured by its lower arms and flanges longitudinally on seats
in the horizontal open transverse frame, and having the radial or star cutters
mounted on the lower end of spindle for cutting the turnip tops or shaws down near
the top of the bulbs.
By a further improvement this vertical driving spindle would be made of two
staples of like length with projections at ends to keep them straight, or the spindle

page_text: may be formed in two parts, in which case, the upper part on which the driving
pinion is secured would be tubular or of a double parallel sliding shape and rotate
in the fixed bearing on the said fixed upper bow frame while the lower part which
may be of similar shape would revolve in bearings in the rear end of a raising and
lowering bow frame preferably adjustably stayed and jointed by the wide open
arms of this bow frame to the front part of the side frames, the upper end of this
lower slotted spindle, sliding up and down in the upper slotted or driving part of
spindle, with a solid end on it traversing in the slot in the upper part so as to be
driven by this end piece and slot, which would rotate the star wheel or knives on
its extreme lower end above the root guard, which would raise this lower bush
frame and spindle of the star cutter wheel; compensating and detachable movable
double joints or other equivalent being fitted to the upper and lower parts of the
spindles respectively. This lower bush frame would be connected to the rear end
of two curved arms forming one oscillating frame, which would guide the shaws as
"shedders" to the cutters, at the same time oscillating with the cutters; and these
or guide plates under them would be suspended by a light adjustable chain to rest
on or glide over the top of the turnip bulbs and raise the cutters to cut the tops or
shaws a little above; and wider "shedders" would extend backwards from the
front of the frame to gather these tops in towards the said raising and lowering
knife frame under the front rail of the frame; one set of these and intermediate
driving wheel gear being required for the rotating knives of each drill. Or for the
double drill machine the intermediate horizontal shaft in front of the axle shaft
might be carried in bush bearing brackets on two centre longitudinal frames and be
actuated by a spur pinion in the centre operated by a spur wheel on the centre of
the rear wheel shaft. In this way the turnip tops may be shed into the centre
furrow behind the horse and would be clear of the coulters for cutting the turnip
tails, and lift the turnips, the stems of these coulters being adjustably secured to
the outer corners and back rail of the main frame, and thus be raised or lowered
clear of the gearing. The lower ends of these coulters or blades on them would
enter the drills under the turnip roots to cut off their tails and displace the bulbs
into the furrows on one side behind the machine and over the turnip tops when
these are placed in the same furrow, means being provided for raising and lowering
these tailing knives. While the turnip tops might be turned into the same drills
below the turnip roots or the opposite drills into which the horse would next
require to traverse. In these machines it is also preferred to have a semi-circular
or curved guard of sheet or light iron fitted in front of revolving spindle to keep it
from rotating the tops round it and to shed them to one side of coulter or tailing
knife. And curved light blades might be fitted in front of cutters to and above
one of the side bow frames to rise with it and better guide the upper part of the
turnip tops towards the cutters and clear of the spindle of the cutters. In turning
the machine at the end of furrows, the gearing wheels on the rotating axle might
be thrown out of gear by hand clutches and levers, or the pinion on the short
horizontal shaft might be thrown out of gear by a clutch and lever and be put into
gear again as soon as the machine was turned into the new furrows; and one or
both of the main rear wheels would or may be provided with ratchet wheels and
pawls inside the naves, to enable the machine to be easily turned.
Dated the 28th December 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Topping, Tailing, and Lifting Turnips.
I, JOHN FAIRWEATHER, of Chapelton, Brechin, Forfarshire, Farmer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and consists of a new or improved construction
or arrangement and combination of the parts and mechanical motions of an agricul-
tural machine for topping, tailing, and lifting turnips, which may be made of various
sizes to operate on one, two, or more turnip drills at a time, and be more simple
and efficient than such machines have been as heretofore constructed.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figures 1 and
2 are a sectional side elevation and plan view respectively, the former taken on the
line 2-2 Figure 2, of a single drill machine for topping tailing and lifting turnips
as constructed in accordance with my improvements. And Figure 3 is an end
section of the machine as taken on the line 1-1 Figure 1 and looking from the
front. And Figures 4 and 5 show detached detail views of the mechanism herein-
after referred to.
Referring to these drawings:-The arrangement of this machine consists all as
follows. Of a nearly rectangular open frame A, A1, A2, preferably made of angle
iron, bound together in front by the transverse rail A', and at back by a cast iron
rail A (forming part of the frame A which carries the mechanism) the longi-
tudinal rails A A' carrying the revolving main axle B, and side wheels B¹ B¹¹
below, by journal bush bearing brackets A, and also carrying the transverse upper
bush bearing frame A1, of the shaft and spindle for driving the top or shaw
cutting vertical spindle and horizontal rotating radial or star cutting knives over
the, drill, as hereinafter described, the front transverse rail A', being fitted high
enough to clear the turnip tops, and with handles behind at A', on the rails A, A³,
for the attendant guiding the machine by at times. The frame of a machine for
treating one drill of turnips, as shown, would extend over to the two furrows Z¹, Z¹¹,
on each side of the drill Z, or so that its main rear side wheels B¹, B", would run
in the centre of these furrows Z¹, Z", and the machine be drawn by the extension
of the frame A', A', with adjusting transverse arm and shackle C, the horse
travelling in the outer furrow Z in front where a single guide wheel D would run
in this furrow Z", and be carried on a swivel stem frame D¹ mounted on a bracket
at D projecting from the rail A2, the machine lifting the turnip bulbs into one of
the furrows, behind the traverse of the horse, preferably Z" by a turnip shedder E
secured by an arm E at F" to the stem F1 of the coulter F, F', carrying the tail
cutting knife F which is portably secured to it at F, and this shedder E is prefer-
ably made in the form of a spring or elastic fork so as not to injure the turnips in
lifting them into the furrow Z", behind the wheel B". While for two drills the
frame would extend over to the furrows on the outside of both drills, so that the
wheels, in this case, would run in the centre of these outer furrows, while the horse
would traverse in the centre of the intermediate furrow in front of the frame
extended out by diagonal stays or continuations of the side frames where a central
guide wheel would run. In either case the front of the frame would be capable of
adjustment in height on the guide wheel D, and the back end A', of the side
frames A, A', would preferably be curved upwards and continued behind the back
rail A as arms or handles to the frame. The shaft or main axle B of the two
back wheels B' B" would rotate with these in journal bearing brackets A' project-
ing down from the sides A, A³, of the frame, some little distance in front of the

page_text: back rail A" of the frame. A spur wheel G is mounted on the transerve shaft B,
inside the frame A, A, to actuate the gearing of the cutters for each drill. This
is effected by the teeth of wheel G gearing into a pinion G¹ on a short horizontal
shaft G³ carried in bush bearings G on the frame A, and on the bar A secured
to the side rails A A' of the main frame and preferably over and in front of the
main running wheel shaft B, so as to be driven by this wheel G and pinion G', and
which shaft G would carry on its inner end a bevel wheel H working into a similar
bevel pinion H¹ on a spindle or stud at H so as to actuate the vertical cutter
driving spindle I, i, i, through the spur wheels H², H³, the latter being secured on
the spindle I, i, which is carried in a journal bearing I in the upper centre of a
bow frame I secured by its lower arms and flanges longitudinally on seats in the
horizontal open transverse frame, A", A, and having the radial or star cutters
or cutting wheel a mounted on the lower end of the spindle for cutting the turnip
tops or shaws down near the top of the bulbs.
By a further improvement this vertical driving spindle would be made of two
forked or staple members i, i, of like length with projections at their upper and
lower ends to keep them straight, and allow the lower part to work telescopically
up and down in the forked slots of each part. The upper part Ii on which the
driving pinion H³ is secured is formed of a double parallel sliding shape and
rotates in the fixed bearing I' on the said fixed upper bow frame 1" while the
lower part which may be of similar shape revolves in bearings at,, in the
frame in the rear end of a raising and lowering bow frame J preferably
adjustably stayed and jointed by its upper open arms J' to adjusting swivel
studs J secured to pendent stems J screwed to the front of the under
frames A A². The upper end of this lower slotted spindle slides up and down
in the upper slotted or driving part i, of spindle with a solid end on it traversing
in the slot in the upper part so as to be driven by this end piece and slot which
would rotate the lower part i¹ and the star cutting wheel or knives a on its extreme
lower end above the part J, where the shaws are cut from the turnips by the star
wheel a compensating and detachable movable double joints or other equivalent
being fitted at 11 to the upper and lower parts of the spindles i respectively.
The lower bush frame is connected to the rear end of the two curved arms J, J,
forming one oscillating frame, which would guide the shaws as "shedders" to the
cutters a and at the same time oscillate with the cutters; and this guiding
movement would be assisted by the fork arms J' on the outside arms J to prevent
the shaws getting in amongst the gearing. The cutting wheel a and guide plates J
under it would be suspended by a light adjustable chain to rest on or glide over
the top of the turnip bulbs and raise the cutters to cut the tops or shaws close to
the turnips, and this chain would be attached to the back part of the frame A
in front of the coulter E. And wider "shedders or downwardly curved light
shaw gatherers j,j', would extend forwards and be attached to the bow frame at j
on opposite sides of the drill to pick up and gather the dropping shaws and guide
them in to the shaw guides J J. These gatherers j,j, are secured on the same
adjustable swivel studs J" so as to rise and fall with them, and be adjusted by a
hanging chain at * to the front rail A¹ of the main frame. In this way the shaws
or turnip tops would be cut by the knives a rotating in the direction of the arrow
between the guides J J and towards the plates and be shed into the side
furrow Z" at the side of the wheel B" and would be clear of the coulter F, F¹,
cutting the turnip tails, and of the "shedder" E E' for lifting the turnips into the
same drill over the cut shaws. The stem F1 of the coulter F and of the turnip
lifter E is adjustably secured at F to the back rail A" of the main frame, and
can thus be raised or lowered clear of and behind the cutting gearing. The lower
end F of the coulter stem F¹ or cutting blade at F on it would enter the drills Z,
under the turnip roots to cut off their tails and with the "shedder
or lifter E
displace the bulbs into the furrow Z" on one side behind the machine and over the
turuip tops when these are placed in the same furrow, means being provided for
raising and lowering the tailing knive F and lifter E by the securing adjustment
"
"
for

page_text: at F to the frame A". While a skimmer or reversible curved steel plate f is
adjustibly secured at f", to its stem f¹ which is secured at F to the coulter
stem F, so as to be adjustably raised and lowered for cleaning off the weeds or
dirt' on that side of the furrow Z' for the entrance of the coulter stem F' behind
it. This adjustable plate has at its front end a loose revolving cutting disc f
mounted by a stud and bracket at f one side, so as to cut the weeds in front of
the coulter stem. It is also prefered to have a semi-circular or curved guard. J.,
of sheet or light iron fitted to the frame, in front of revolving spindle to keep
it from rotating the tops round it, and to shed them to the cutting side of
frame J, . And curved or angle light blades ³, 1, would be fitted in front of
cutter a to and above the bow frame J to rise with it and better guide the upper
part of the turnip tops towards the cutters a, and clear of the spindle of these
cutters. For turning the machine at the end of furrows, a movable clutch g would
be fitted on the short horizontal shaft G and be actuated by a hand lever g¹, so as
to be taken out of gear or be put into gear again on the corresponding clutch g³ of
the pinion G', as soon as the machine was turned into the new furrows; and one
or both of the rear wheels B' or B" would or may be provided with ratchet wheels
and pawls inside the naves so as to make the wheels fast or loose on their axles B,
and enable the machine to be easily turned. Figure 4 is a detached plan view
showing the lower end of the revolving spindle i',, and its carrying frame and
"shedders" J, J, broken away for guiding the shaws into the cutting wheel a,
which in this case is shown as formed like the cutting knives of reaping machines,
all substantially the same as in the other figures. While Figure 5 shows a
detached plan view of the cutting wheel but in which the blades a are formed
like saw teeth but sharp out of a steel plate or disc.
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 :-
First. The construction or general arrangement and combination of the parts
and mechanical motions of a machine for topping, tailing, and lifting turnips,
substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. In a machine for topping, tailing, and lifting turnips, the fitting of a
vertical revolving spindle formed in two parts, the lower part sliding telescopically
on the upper and having a revolving cutting wheel fitted on its lower end, sub-
stantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Third. In a machine for topping, tailing, and lifting turnips, the rotating of a
vertical cutting spindle for each drill by an intermediate spindle or spindles and
gear wheels actuated from a spur wheel on main shaft and having an engaging and
disengaging clutch, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In a machine for topping, tailing, and lifting turnips, the fitting on the
lowering and raising frame carrying the revolving cutting wheel, the inner ends
of curved or expanding out raising and lowering arms or "shedders" for guiding in
the shaws or tops to be cut to the cutting wheel, and fitting a vertical segmental
plate over the cutting wheel also to guide the shaws to the cutting side of the wheel
and prevent them falling into the revolving spindle, substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In a machine for topping tailing and lifting turnips, the fitting of
oscillating wide light raising and lowering curved up arms for lifting and gathering
in the falling shaws from each side of the drill towards the raising and lowering
guide frame to be cut, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown
in the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. In a machine for topping, tailing, and lifting turnips, the fitting of a
raising and lowering coulter stem with a removable curved knife at its lower end

page_text: for cutting the tails of the bulbs, and with a raising and lowering fence for
cleaning the drill in front of the stem of coulter, and with movable curved forked
fence for displacing or throwing the bulbs into the furrow as their tails are cut,
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
D
ليومي
1
1000
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.