Improvements in Potato Digging Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Potato Digging Machines.
I, CHARLES JOSEPH MOULTON, of High Street, Chatteris, in the County of
Cambridge, Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention has for its object improvements in potato digging machines
whereby the potatoes are not only dug but are separated from the soil and at the
same time sorted into two or more grades of sizes and delivered into suitable
receptacles.
For this purpose I employ a framing supported by a pair of wheels fixed on their
axle and carrying a share which acts to lift each row of potatoes and the earth in
which they have grown to a certain level, where a series of rakes or beaters on a
revolving shaft strike the combined mass, disintegrate the soil and separate it
from the potatoes to a large extent as they arrive at the lower part of a curved
and inclined elevating screen; the rakes or beaters then, by acting on the potatoes,
send them up the inclined elevating screen and as they pass over the upper end of
the latter, they fall on to a shaking riddle or screen, which separates the larger
potatoes and delivers them to a suitable receiver, whilst the smaller potatoes fall
through such shaking riddle or screen on to a second similar riddle which delivers
them to another receiver. Other numbers of riddles or screens may be used if
desired. This action of the riddles or screens not only sorts the potatoes, but.
further separates the soil from them, such soil falling through the spaces of the
riddles or screens on to the ground.
The inclined part of the elevating screen may consist of a short fixed inclined
grid, or it may consist wholly or partly of an endless elevator to which a suitable
progressive motion is given.
The main axle, by suitable gearing, gives motion to the revolving rakes or
beaters, to the sorting riddles and to the endless elevator when such latter is used,
and suitable means are provided for throwing the working parts into and out of
action.
The revolving rakes or beaters are preferably so formed as to give way somewhat
as they strike the mass of earth and potatoes in order to avoid a rigid blow and
consequent injury to the potatoes.
If desired the digging share may deliver the potatoes and earth to the bottom
of a travelling elevating riddle and thereby dispense with the revolving rakes or
beaters.
Dated this 1st day of April 1895.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Potato Digging Machines.
1, CHARLES JOSEPH MOULTON, of High Street Chatteris, in the County of
Cambridge, Ironmonger, 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:-
The invention has for its object improvements in potato digging machines
whereby the potatoes are not only dug but are separated from the soil and at the
same time sorted into two or more grades of sizes and delivered into suitable
receptacles.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a
side elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of my improved potato digger. In carrying my
invention into effect I employ a framing a supported by a pair of wheels 6 fixed on
a rotating shaft c and by a pair of smaller wheels d mounted on a fore carriage e
supporting the front of the frame a which latter is capable of being raised and
lowered in relation to the fore carriage e by means of a hand wheel f¹ fixed on the
shaft of a screw ftaking into a worm wheel f' formed on the outside of a nut
working upon the screw e rising from the fore carriage e. g is a share fixed to the
frame a and acting, when the front of the latter is lowered, to lift each row of
potatoes and the earth in which they have grown to a certain level, where a series
of rakes or beaters h¹ on a revolving shaft strike the combined mass, disintegrate
the soil and separate it from the potatoes to a large extent as they travel up a
curved and inclined conductor i to the lower end of an inclined endless elevating
screen or carrier ; and when they have passed over the upper end of the latter,
they fall on to a shaking riddle or screen k which separates the larger potatoes
and delivers them, guided by the inclined side k' to a suitable receiver whilst the
smaller potatoes fall through such riddle or screen k on to a second but finer
riddle k* which delivers them guided by the inclined side to another receiver (*.
The upper screen khas one corner *** made solid as shown at Fig. 2 or it may
consist of a finer screen in order to prevent small potatoes from falling through
that corner of the upper screen k beyond the guide bar of the lower screen
whence they would fall into the receiver for the larger potatoes or down to the
ground. Other numbers of riddles or screens and potato receivers may be used if
desired. This action of the riddles or screens not only sorts the potatoes but
further separates the soil from them, euch soil falling through the spaces of the
riddles or screens on to the ground. Motion is given to the rotating beaters or
rakes, elevating screen and sorting riddles or screens in the following manner.
On the shaft h are fixed chain wheels which are rotated by chains * receiving
motion from chain wheels fixed on a hollow shaft c* mounted on the shaft c.
On the hollow shaft c* are mounted chain wheels m which are capable of being
locked with the shaft c or set free thereof by clutches m' operated by levers m³.
Motion is communicated from the chain wheels m by chains m' to chain wheels n'
mounted on a cross shaft n.
The chains of the endless elevating screen ; are mounted on chain wheels
fixed respectively on cross shafts and on this latter are fixed toothed wheels je
which are driven by toothed wheels fixed on the shaft n. The riddles k. k* are
mounted on rocking arms carried by the framing a and the end of an eccentric
rod k is connected to the said screens whilst its strap is operated by an eccentric **
fixed on a shaft k on which latter is fixed a chain wheel driven by a chain k³
from a chain wheel k fixed on the cross shaft.
The rakes or beaters h¹ are fixed on their shaft h in steps, that is to say, not in
regular lines along the shaft / thereby facilitating the disintegration of the soil
and preventing shock to the machine.

page_text: As the peculiar construction of these rotary rakes or beaters h¹ and of the curved
inclined conductor i do not form part of my present invention I will give no further
description thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In potato diggers the peculiar combination and arrangement of carriage
provided with supporting wheels, a digging share, a curved and inclined conductor,
rotating rakes or beaters fixed in steps on their shaft, an endless elevating screen,
a pair or more of shaking riddles or screens and receivers, and means for driving
the various parts, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In potato diggers the combination with a digging share and suitable elevating
means of a pair or more of shaking riddles or screens and receivers, substantially
as herein shown and described.
3. In potato diggers the combination with a digging share, conductor and endless
elevating screen, of a set of rotating rakes or beaters fixed in steps on their shaft
substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated January 17th 1896
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.