GB190121774A - Improved Potato-digging Machine and Cultivator. - Google Patents

Abstract

21,774. Andrews, F. O. Oct. 29. Potato diggers; cultivators; weeds, destroying.-Relates to an implement for digging potatoes and for use as a cultivator for breaking up the soil and separating the weeds which are left in a row upon the ground. Fig. 2 shows one modification of the machine in plan. The machine comprises a share 24, behind which is a vibrating grid for separating the potatoes or weeds from the soil. The share 24 is carried on a pair of side bars 23 pivoted at their forward ends on the bearings of a shaft 17 and connected by links 46 to cranks 45 on the end of a rock-shaft 37 operated by a hand-lever 36 to adjust the depth of work or to raise the share 24 clear of the ground. The movable grid consists of two sets of bars 27, 32 carried by levers 21 pivoted on the bars 23. The bars 27 are corrugated, and have straight ends which work through holes in a plate 25 attached to the rear of the share 24. The levers 21 are operated by rods 20 from crank-discs on the end of the shaft 17, which is driven from a sprocket-wheel 8 fast on the main axle 3 by the intermediate gearing shown. The machine is drawn by a pole 14, and is supported on main wheels 1 with tread plates 2 mounted loosely on the axle 3 and connected therewith by ratchet clutches. The Specification describes a modified arrangement of the machine, in which the bulk of the driving-gearing is arranged at the rear of the main axle. The main frame is correspondingly modified.