IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN GETTING OR DIGGING POTATOES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hodgkinson of Netherton, near Huddersfield in
the County of York Cloth Finisher for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN GETTING OR DIGGING POTATOES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hodgkinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1882.
THOMAS HODGKINSON of Netherton, near Huddersfield in the County of York
Cloth Finisher "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN GETTING OR DIGGING
POTATOES
"
This Invention relates to apparatus to be used in getting or digging potatoes by
self acting mechanism.
For this purpose I employ suitable framework supported by wheels. A plough-
share or similar instrument is fixed at the foot of the framework for getting
underneath the potatoes which are lifted onto and forced by the moving pressure
of the machine onto a grate. Underneath this grate is a rod or shaft having a
series of discs capable of running loose thereon by the frictional contact with the
earth as the machine travels. These loose discs pass through the grating and are
employed for assisting the potatoes from the first named grate onto another grate
or screen upon which they are caused to travel by means of a series of travelling.
spiked bars. This latter screen may be of any suitable length and the potatoes
may be pushed (by the travelling spiked bars) off the end thereof so as to drop
onto the ground or into a receptacle placed to receive them.
The spiked bars receive their travelling motion by means of an endless chain
passing around a driving wheel placed loosely upon the main driving shaft
This driving wheel can be connected to and disconnected from one of the wheels
carrying the machine by means of pins or studs which are capable of being
screwed into holes made in the boss of the said driving wheel..
When the machine is not in use but travelling upon roads the driving wheel is
disengaged from the wheel carrying the machine so that the spiked bars remain
stationary.
By means of the driving arrangement herein described the power required to
operate the machine is brought to a minimum.
Instead of using the revolving loose discs to assist the potatoes onto the first
mentioned grate a series of fingers may be fixed to a shaft which is made to revolve.
by suitable gearing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Hodgkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th April 1883.
THOMAS HODGKINSON of Netherton, near Huddersfield in the County of York,
Cloth Finisher, IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN GETTING OR
DIGGING POTATOES.
"
"
This Invention relates to apparatus to be used in getting or digging potatoes by
self-acting mechanism.
For this purpose I employ suitable framework supported by wheels.
A ploughshare or similar instrument is fixed at the foot of the framework for
getting underneath the potatoes, which are lifted and forced by the moving
pressure of the machine onto a series of revolving fingers or wings and discs, both
of which are placed upon rods or shafts and caused to revolve, either by gearing or
frictional contact with the earth as the machine travels. These fingers and loose
discs are employed for assisting the potatoes onto a grate or screen upon which
they are caused to travel by means of a series of travelling spiked bars. The
screen may be of any suitable length, and the potatoes may be pushed (by the
travelling spiked bars) off the end thereof so as to drop onto the ground; or into a
receptacle placed to receive them. The spiked bars receive their travelling motion
by means of an endless chain, passing around a driving wheel placed loosely upon
the main driving shaft. This driving wheel can be connected to and disconnected.
from one of the wheels carrying_the_machine-by-means-of-pins or studs, wliich
are capable of being screwed into holes made in. the boss of the said driving wheel.
Such being the nature and object of my Invention, I will now proceed to describe
the same more fully, and in order that it may be better understood, the accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings are appended, wherein Fig 1 is an elevation of one
side of the machine, Fig 2 plan thereof Fig 3 sectional elevation, and Fig 4
sectional plan. A is the main driving shaft of the machine, B and C are the main
driving wheels which are fixed thereon, and D is the framework for supporting the
various parts of the apparatus. A ploughshare E is fixed at the foot of the
machine and employed as will be well understood, for uprooting the potatoes from
the soil. A number of fingers or wings F are fixed upon the shaft G and caused
to revolve by strap or chain H from pulley I which receives its rotary motion by
intermediate wheels J and K from the shaft L. Immediately behind the shaft G
is another shaft M on which are loosely placed a number of discs N, arranged to
run between the fingers or wings F as shewn clearly in plan view Fig 4. A grate
or screen P is also employed upon which the potatoes are pushed or raked by
spikes or fingers R attached to bars S connected at each end to travelling chains T
caused to rotate by chain wheels U and V the former of which is placed loosely
upon the main driving shaft A but can be connected to the main driving wheel B
and revolve therewith by pins or studs W which enter holes made in the side of
the wheel U. The pins W are connected to the cross bar X and operated by
screw and hand wheel Y. When the machine is not in use but travelling upon
roads, the pins W are withdrawn from the chain wheel V thereby disengaging it
from the driving wheel B, so that the wheels and chains thereon and spiked bars
remain stationary, consequently the power required to operate the machine upon
roads is brought to a minimum. As the potatoes are raked up the screen or grate
they may be allowed to fall into a basket placed on the top of the screen at a, or
the screen may be shortened as shewn in dotted lines at 6 Fig 3, and the potatoes
fall on to the ground.

page_text: Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention and shewn by
Drawings in what manner the same is to be performed, or carried into practical
operation, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact
details herein shewn and described as the same may be varied without departing
from the main features thereof; what I consider to be new and claim as my
Invention is
Firstly In combination with a ploughshare of the wings F and discs N
employed either separately, or combined for the purpose of assisting the potatoes
onto the screen substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The peculiar means or method of driving the travelling chains
substantially as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. The employment of apparatus for connecting and disconnecting the
driving wheel with the chain wheel substantially as herein shewn and described.
In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Hodgkinson have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty fourth day of April in the Year of our Lord,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
THOMAS HODGKINSON (LS)