A NEW OR IMPROVED POTATO DIGGER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Winton, of Thorn, Falkirk, in the County of
Stirling, North Britain, Agricultural Implement Maker, for the Invention of
"A NEW OR IMPROVED POTATO DIGGER,"
Scaled the 7th November 1876, and dated the 10th May 1876,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Winton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th May 1876.
PETER WINTON, of Thorn, Falkirk, in the County of Stirling, North, Britain,
Agricultural Implement Maker. "A NEW OR IMPROVED POTATO DIGGER."
This Invention relates to an improved construction of potato digger generally,
and in particular to the application and use of a new or improved sock or mould
cutting and raising plate, or kind of plough share or mould plate, secured low down
just in front of the rear transverse revolving spoked wheel with forked arms, which
scatter the potatoes to the one side out of the centre of the drill of potatoes raised
and delivered by the said plate under the said forked wheel, which lifts and delivers
the potatoes considerably separated from the shaws or roots and carth on the surface
of the ground to the one side of the drill, all ready for being gathered and shaken
into the baskets, bags, barrows, or carts on the field.
The general.construction of the machine is much of an ordinary character, with
the central frame preferably in the form of a light broad horizontal cast-iron web.
or plate with strengthening feathers carried loose by a central eye on the straight
shaft or axle of the two (preferably light) large wheels on its outer ends, running
in the furrows outside the drill of potatoes to be raised below the centre of this
frame and the longitudinal shaft of the forked wheel carried in bearings in this
frame in a plane with the transverse shaft turned by the carrying wheels, and by a
single bevel wheel on it; and a small pinion on the front end of the longitudinal
shaft drives the forked potato lifting and separating wheel, the driving or stopping
action of which is effected by a simple lever fulcrumed on the top of the frame
engaging and disengaging or clutched into corresponding couplings on the eyes of

page_text: the large carrying wheels, or it may be a coupling into the eye of the large bevel
wheel The back end of the frame has a strong vertical shifting arm projecting
down from it carrying the frame piece of the long body, part of the said new
central drill potato-raising sock or plate projecting down into the earth or drill in
front in an angled or curved form with a rolling or carrying and steadying wheel
running on the buttom of the fresh cut part or furrow, so that the height of this
cutting plate and the back end of the machine or fork wheel above the ground may
both be regulated to the greatest nicety; and for the more perfect regulation of the
cutting depth of this plate the front entering end of it is hinged to its long back
part, and jointed by a rod up to a hand lever fulcrumed on the frame, and stretching
towards the person driving and controlling the action of the machine, where he can
raise and lower the lever, and fix it in any of the holes or notches in a segmental
setting and holding arm. Just in front of the fork wheel a long lateral wooden arm is
secured to the frame, stretching out to that side of the machine where the potatoes
are delivered, carrying at its extreme free end a row of loose hanging laths or
rods opposite the forked wheel, so that as the fork arms raise and throw the
potatoes out they come in contact with these laths, which yield and prevent injury
to the potatoes, and at the same time assist in separating the earth from them, as
they are delivered in a row at that side of the machine.
The horse is attached to the front end of the frame by the usual drawing hooks
and tackle, and the whole is so light and easily drawn and worked that a single
horse is generally found sufficient for these machines.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Peter Winton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th November
1870.
PETER WINTON, of Thorn, Falkirk, in the County of Stirling, North Britain,
Agricultural Implement Maker. "A NEW OR IMPROVED POTATO DIGGER."
My said Invention relates to an improved construction of potato digger generally,
one modification or construction and arrangement of which is shown in side and end
elevation and in plan respectively in Figures 1, 2, and 3; and in particular to the
application and use of a new or improved sock or mould cutting and raising plate,
or kind of plough share or mould plate A, A', secured low down just in front of
the rear transverse revolving spoked wheel a with forked arms a', which scatter
the potatoes to the one side out of the centre of the drill of potatoes (indicated by
the dotted lines 1
1 in Figure 3) raised and delivered by the said plate A, A¹,
placed under the said forked wheel a, a', which lifts and delivers the potatoes con-
siderably separated from the shaws or roots and earth on to the surface of the
ground to the one side of the drill, all ready for being gathered and shaken into
baskets, bags, barrows, or carts on the field.
---
The general construction of the machine is much of an ordinary character, with
the central frame f preferably in the form of a light broad horizontal cast-iron web
or plate with strengthening feathers f¹. This fimme ff, is carried loose by a
central eye on the straight shaft or axle c of the two (preferably light) large
cast-iron wheels c¹, revolving loose on its outer ends, one of which runs in the
1, below
furrow inside the drill of potatoes to be raised, indicated by the line 1
the centre of this frame f, and the longitudinal shaft b of the fork wheel a, a',
and carried in bearings b' in this frame f, f1, in a nearly horizontal plane with
the transverse shaft c turned by the carrying wheels el, and actuating the former
by the bevel wheel d secured on it at one side, gearing into the small bevel pinion d
on the near or front end of the longitudinal shaft b of and driving the forked potato
lifting and separating wheel a, a. The driving or stopping action of this wheel

page_text: a, a², is effected by a simple lever c fulcrumed on a stud c' in the top of the frame
ff, and connected by the rods c¹ to the spring levers c¹ of the clutches c, so as
to engage and disengage them at pleasure into or from the corresponding coupling
boxes on the eyes of the largo currying and driving wheels c (or it might be by
one coupling engaging into a coupling box on the eye of the large bevel wheel d
when that is mounted loose on its shaft o and the wheels c' revolving with the
shaft), the spring lovers elll always maintaining the clutches o³, c³, and gearing d, d
in action, except when the lever c is drawn into the catch c on its guide bar c.
The back end of the frame f, f, has secured to it a strong bent arin A projecting
down from it, carrying the frame and broad angled part A of the said new central
drill potato-raising sock or plate projecting down into the earth or potato drill at
the point or front in an angled or curved form and manner, having a rolling or
carrying and guiding wheel B carried on its swivelling stein B' in the short arm C
of the lever C, C, so as to run in the furrow behind or a little to the side of the
fresh cut part or drill, the height of this cutting plate A and the back end of
the machine and fork wheel a, a, above the ground being all thus regulated to
the greatest nicety by the long arm Ct fulcrumed on a strong stud C" secured to tho
back end of the frame f, f', and resting on a movable stud C inserted into any
of the setting holes C of the lever support C³; and when the plough A, A', is
desired to be raised clear of the ground, and the machine has to be removed, the
lever C¹ is raised or placed into the fork at the top of the support C; and for the
more perfect regulation of the cutting depth of this plate A of the plough A, A',
the front entering end A of it might be hinged to its back part, and connected to a
jointed rod up to a hand lever fulcrumed to the back end of the frame f, f¹, as
C, C. and stretching backwards towards the person driving and controlling the
action of the machine, where he could raise and lower the lover, and fix it in any
of the holes or notches in a suitable segnental setting and holding arm, so as to
raise or lower this front part A of the potato-lifting sock or plough A, A', to
suit the depth of the drill and potatoes to be mised. Just in front of the fork
wheel a, a, a long lateral iron or wooden arm h is secured to the back part of the
frame ff, extending out to that side of the machine where the potatoes are
delivered, and carrying at its extreme free end a row of loose hanging laths or
rods opposite the forked wheel a, a', so that as the potatoes pass over the back
edge or end of the annular curved plough or sock A the fork arms a² mise and
throw them out to the one side against the laths i, which yield and prevent injury
to the potatoes, and at the same time assist in separating the earth from them as
they are delivered in a row on the surface of the ground at the outside of the
machine, all ready for being lifted by hand, as before stated. The wheel B for
adjusting the cutting depth of the plough A, A', and guiding the rear end of the
machine has a hand lever B secured on the upper part of its stem B¹ convenient
for the attendant to control the action or running direction of the wheel B, especially
in turning the machine at the ends of the drills
The horse is attached to the front end of the frame f, f1, by the usual drawing
bar, hooks, and tackle at g, g', and the whole machine is so light and casily drawn
and worked that a single horse is generally found sufficient for that purpose.
Having now described the nature of iny said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein described or delineated; but what I consider
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction and arrangement of potato digger or lifter with
raising or adjustable plough share A, A', all substantially as herein-before described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The construction and use of the curved, angled, movable, and adjustable
plough share A, A, with a supporting wheel B in potato diggers or lifters for
raising and delivering the drill of potatoes by the forward notion or draught of

page_text: the machine, all substantially as herein described, or any mere modification
thereof.
"
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Winton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
PETER WINTON. (L.S.)