Improvements in Potato Diggers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1893
Complete Specification Lelt, 12th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Potato Diggers.
We, JAMES EDWARD RANSOME, and JAMES ARTHUR LEWIS, both of Orwell
Works, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
--
This invention relates to that class of potato digger in which there is a
longitudinal shaft carrying a number of forks, tines or breasts which lift the potatoes
and throw them to one side of the machine.
In such machines a screen or guard has sometimes been placed at the side of
the machine to prevent the potatoes being thrown too far and in some cases this
screen or guard has been caused to rotate under the impulse given to it by the
potatoes and soil being driven against it.
According to this invention the screen is driven either directly or indirectly from
the axle of the machine which causes the potatoes which have been dug up to be
arranged in a more even row while it does not damage them like a fixed screen or
one driven by the impact of the potatoes. It also lays them clearer from
the soil.
For imparting rotary motion to the screen either cog, chain or other convenient
gear may be used.
Preferably the screen or guard consists of netting stretched on a circular frame
which allows the dirt thrown out with the potatoes to pass through or it may be
covered with canvas or made with radial arms or in other convenient manner.
Doted thin 10th Jan of Ma. 1002
J. E. RANSOME.
J. A. LEWIS.
improvements in Potato Diggers.
We, JAMES EDWARD RANSOME, and JAMES ARTHUR LEWIS, both of Orwell
Works, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Engineers, 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 relates to that class of potato digger in which there is a
longitudinal shaft carrying a number of forks, tines or breasts which lift the
potatoes and throw them to one side of the machine.
In such machines a screen or guard has sometimes been placed at the side of the
machine to prevent the potatoes being thrown too far and in some cases this screen
or guard has been caused to rotate under the impulse given to it by the potatoes
and soil being driven against it.
According to this invention the screen is driven either directly or indirectly from
the axle of the machine which causes the potatoes which have been dug up to be
arranged in a more even row while it does not damage them like a fixed screen or
one driven by the impact of the potatoes. It also lays them clearer from
the soil.
For imparting rotary motion to the screen either cog, chain or other convenient
gear may be used.

page_text: Preferably the screen or guard consists of netting stretched on a circular frame
which allows the dirt thrown out with the potatoes to pass through or it may be
covered with canvas or made with radial arms or in other convenient manner.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2 show in side elevation and plan a potato digging machine with
transverse rotary digger as described in the Specification of the Patent No. 11185
of the year 1892 but modified in accordance with the present invention.
The screen or guard A consists of a circular frame with netting stretched upon
it and connected by the arms C to the central boss B.
D is a sprocket wheel, driven by the axle through a pawl and ratchet, the latter
fixed on the axle, and imparts motion to the small sprocket wheel E by the
chain F.
The sprocket pinion E is fixed to the tube G and boss B and the whole rotates
on a fixed spindle H.
The frame I, carrying the fixed spindle H, is connected to the machine by
rods K and L, and also by a rod M which is loose on the axle.
The pawl which is fixed on the sprocket wheel D prevents the screen being driven
in an opposite direction, it can also be taken out of the ratchet for releasing the
driving arrangement of the screen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination with a potato digger of a screen or guard to which rotary
motion is directly or indirectly imparted from the driving wheels.
2. Potato diggers substantially as described and represented by the annexed
drawings.
Dated this 1st day of February 1894
JAMES EDWD. RANSOME.
J. A. LEWIS.