US1240955A - Beet-harvester. - Google Patents

Description

J. D. DENBURGER.

BEET HARVESTER APPLICATION FILED NOV- 8,1915.

Patented Sept. 25, 191-7.

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WITNESSES A *m WJZMW ATTOR N EY J. D. DENBURGER.

BEET HARVESTER.

'APPLQCATION FILED NOV. a, 1916.

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WITNESSES ATTORNEY J. D. DENBURGER.

Patent-ed Sept. 25, 1917.

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ATTOQNEY J D. DENBURGER.

BEET HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 8. 19 16.

.Patentedsept. 25, 1917.

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JOSEPH D. DENBURG-ER, OF LENTS, OREGON.

BEET-HARVESTER.

Application filed November 8, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH D. DENBURGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lents, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to beet harvesting machines, and more particularly to. a machine adapted to hold beets and top them and convey the topped beets to a wagon or other suitable vehicle.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated of simple construction and operation which may be produced at relatively small cost. A further object is to provide a machine having means for securely holding beets during the topping operation. A still further object is to provide a machine with means for separating the tops from the beets and for conveying these tops to a receiving basket or hopper. Further objects will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the machine,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 1 is a section on line 4.l of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the dirt shield and one of the deflectors,

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a detail of the means for adjusting the topper frame,

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 7

9 is a fragmentary detail front view of the topper mechanism,

Fig. 10 is a detail of the bracket arm for supporting the shaft for driving the topping means and the top conveyer,

Fig. 11 is a detail view of one of the diggins members. y x

The main frame of the machine consists of the parallel side bars 1 and the brace bars 2 mounted beneath the same and in spaced relation thereto. This frame carries the rear axle 8 on which are secured the ground wheels 4. Each side bar 1 is provided, at its forward end. with a goose neck 5 secured thereto the upper end of which is loosely secured to an angle plate 6 carried by the pillow block 7 supported on the front axle 8 on each end of which is secured the front ground wheel 9. A tongue 10 is carried by the pillowblock 7 and isprovided with a" Specification of Letters Patent. Patentedstpt. 25, 1917..

Serial No. 130,221.

double tree 11 adapted to receive two swingle trees, not shown.

Mounted above each side bar 1, is a beam 12. This beam is pivotally secured at its front ends to the goose neck 5, as at 13. These beams extend between two standards 1 1 secured to the side bars 1 of the main frame. A transverse shaft 15 is rotatably mounted in the upper ends of these standards, and is adapted to be rotated by means of a crank 16. This shaft may be secured in rotary adjustment by means of a ratchet 17 secured thereon which is engaged by a spring pressed pawl 18 mounted on one of the standards. A cable 19 is secured to the shaft 15, near each end thereof. The outer end of this cable is secured to the beam 12, as at 20. By this means, by rotating the shaft 15, the two beams may be adjusted about their pivotal axes as desired, and may be secured in this adjustment by means of the ratchet 17 and pawl 18.

The beams 12 carry a supplemental frame which supports the beet receiving hopper and the digging and topping mechanism. This supplemental frame is composed of two spaced approximately rectangular frames each of which consists of a front bar 21 and a back bar 22 which are disposed approximately vertical and are connected at their upper ends by a brace rod 23 and at their lower ends by a similar brace rod 24. These two frames cooperate to form a supporting framefor the spaced rings 25. Each of these rings is of rectangular cross section and each'of the bars 21 and 22 is provided, at each end, with an anti-friction roller 26 which is directed inwardly and engages under the horizontal flange of ring 25 so as to rotatably support the same.

The two rings are mounted in parallelism and in spaced relation. as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Each of these rings is provided, at suitable intervals with an integral outwardly projecting lug 27. Each of these lugs is pivotally secured in the bifurcated inner end of a digging member 28. The body portion of this diggging member is, of approximate tapered triangular shape. and is conca ed to form what might be termed a scoop. This member is reinforced by an outer rib or enlargement 29. As the machine is drawn forward. the two gers 28 with the ground.

A sprocket wheel 35 is keyed on a transverse shaft 83 rotatably mounted in depend ing brackets 34. carried by the beams 12 and is connected by a sprocket chain 36 to a sprocket wheel 37 keyed on the shaft 38 rotatably mounted on the beams 12 near the forward end of the same. Two spur-pinions 38 are keyed on shaft 38 in spaced relation within the beams 12 and mesh with-the spurgear rings 39 formed integral with the rings 25. By this means, when the machine is drawn forward, the rings 25 are rotated forward and downward, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 of the drawings. If the inner ends of the beams 12 are raised by the means previously described, the rings 25 will be raised also into inoperative position.

Supported within the rings 25 is a beet receiving hopper ll. This hopper is carried by the supplemental frame secured to the beams 12 and is in position to receive the beets after they-have been topped, in the manner to be later described. A roller 42 is rotatably mounted at the bottom of the hopper ll, near one side thereof. This roller is rotated by means of a bevel gear d3 keyed on one end of the shaft thereof and enmeshed-with a bevel gear as keyed on .a transverse shaft 45 ro-tatably mounted on thebeams 12. This shaft is rotated from shaft 38 by means of a sprocket chain 39 passed about a sprocket wheel 40 keyed on shaft 38 and a sprocket wheel L1 in alinement therewith keyed on shaft 45. This roller drives the belt 4L6 of a beet conveyer 47 which is hingedly secured at its lower end. to'the upper end of the discharge spout 48 of a hopper 41. This belt passes about a similar roller rotatably mounted in the upper end of the conveyor frame. The roller 42 is driven or rotated in such a direction that the lower run of belt 4L6 is under tension, and the upper run will be slack. The belt is provided with a plurality of transverse strips 419 and is of open fabric construction. By this means the beets which are discharged into hopper 4:1 are elevated so as to be discharged into a wagon or other suitable receptacle at the side of the machine,

the fabric construction of the belt serving to sift out or separate all loose particles of dirt from the beets.

'Mounted below hopper 4L1 is a topping mechanism designated generally by numeral 50; A transverse shaft 51 is rotatably mounted in the side walls of the topper shoe or casing 52 of approximately rectangular shape. This shaft is carried by a stirrup 53 which is connected by a link 5% to a double crank rod 55 which is rockably mounted 58"secured through afhand lever 59 pivot- V ally mounted on a platform GOadja'cent the hopper 11. This lever is provided with the usual detent which coiiperates with a quadrant 61 so as to secure the lever in adjustment. By operating the lever the shaft 51, and consequently the topper shoe 52, may be secured in vertical adjustment. Two spiders 62 are secured on shaft 51 in spaced relation between the vertical arms of stirrup These spiders are connected by a plurality of spaced cross bars 6-3. The spiders are of such diameter that the cross bars (33, when the shaft 51 is rotated, pass very close to the upper face of the blade 6% se cured in the topper shoe a short distance from the bottom of the same. This blade may be adjusted vertically by means of the adjusting screws 65 rotatably secured to each end of the blade and threaded through lugs 66 extending inward from the side walls of the shoe The bottom of the topper shoe is provided with a central forwardly directed V-shaped slot 67. This slot is a continuation of the inner faces of the spaced inwardly converging fingers 68 carried by the shoe 52. These fingers form an inwardly tapering passage for the leaves or tops of the beets which serves to hold these tops tightly together during the topping operation.

A bevel pinion 69 is keyed on one end of shaft 51. This pinion is enmeshed with a bevel gear 70 which is slidably mounted on a vertical shaft 71. This shaft is of polygonal cross section and is mounted through a sleeve or thimble 7 2 rotatable in a collar 73 formed integral with a rectangular arm 7 1- carried by one of the brackets 3 1. The gear 70 is provided with a central aperture corresponding in size and shape to the cross section of shaft 71, so that the gear will rotate with the shaft but will be free to move vertically thereon. A bevel pinion 75 is secured on the upper end of shaft 71 and is enmeshed with a bevel gear 76 keyed on the end of shaft 33. By this means the drum composed of spiders 62 and cross bars 63 will be rotated at relatively high speed simultaneously with the rotation of rings 25. A bevel gear 77 is mounted at the lower end of shaft 71 and meshes with a bevel pinion 7 8 keyed on the forward end of the shaft of a roller 78* mounted in shoe 52 at right angles to, and rearward of, shaft 51. A conveyor belt 79 is passed about a roller 80 at the outer end of the outer section 81 of the top conveyer. This belt passes under roller 78 'and about a roller 82 rotatably mounted in shoe 52. This belt is so driven that its upper run travels outwardly, and it is mounta in rear of and closely adjacent the topper drum. A top receiving basket or hopper 83 is mounted at one side of the frame of the machine, being supported from the platform 60 by sta-y rods 84 and held in spaced relation-"to theniachine'by a brace-rod 8-5. The

outer end of this rod is pivotally secured to the basket 83 and its inner end is detachably secured to the shoe 52. By detaching the brace rod from the shoe the basket 83 may be rotated about its pivotal axis so as to be emptied, as desired.

The digging members 28 of the rings 25 are in ali-nement transversely of the machine thus providing a rotary member having a plurality of pairs of digging elements. Each of the digging members is pivoted so as to have limited movement transversely of the machine. On their downward movement the members 28 pass between two spaced guide rods 86 concentric with the rings 25. These rods extend about the rearward underportion of the rings for approximately one half of the full circumference thereof, and are supported by bracket arms 87 secured to the supplemental frame which carries the hopper 41 and topping mechanism. These bracket arms are inclined inwardly and are turned over, as at 88. The bars 86 are so spaced that, when the digging members 28 pass between them, these members are forced tightly together at their apexes so as to form a closed digging element, as in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. This digging element is adapted to fit about and under a beet so as to lift or pull the same from the ground, the beet being held firmly between members 28. Prior to its removal from the ground, the beet is topped. During this operation, the upper or crown portion of the beet is forced, by the forward movement of the machine, between the converging fingers 68 of the bottom of the topper shoe 52. This forces the leaves or top of the beet tightly together. When the crown of the beet reaches the inner end of the converging recess or passage 67 the leaves are encountered by the rods 63 of the rotating topper drum and are forced rearwardly against the cutting edge of the knife blade 64. This blade, together with the forward movement of the machine, acts to sever the crown from the beet body. This crown and the leaves carried thereby are thrown rearward by the rotating topper drum on to theupper run of the top belt 79 which conveys the tops into the basket 83. When the basket is filled it may be emptied in the manner previously described, the beet tops being deposited in piles at intervals along the beet row. After being topped the beet is lifted from the ground by the members 28. As the rings 25 rotate the beet travels upward and passes from between the rods 86. As the members 28 pass from be tween rods 86 they encounter the V shaped member or point 89 of a pair of spaced opening or discharge rods 90 similar to the rods 86. These rods enter between the members 28 and act to spread them apart, as in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. When the digging members are thus spread the beet which is held between them is released and is dis charged into the beet receiving hopper 41 from which it is elevated and discharged in the manner previously described.

As will be noted from Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the outward movement of the digging members 28 about their pivotal axes is positively limited by the engagement of the lower ends of these members with the peripheral faces of the rings 25. If desired, suitable springs may be provided for normally forcing these members toward each other so as to insure that they will pass between the lower guide rods 86. This is not deemed necessary however as, during the forward and downward movement of the rings, the digging members will have a tendency to swing inward toward each other about their pivotal axes so that they will enter between the forward ends of the rods 86. It will be evident that as many pairs or sets of the digging members may be provided as desired, the number depending upon the circumference of the rings 25 and the distance apart which the beets are planted.

A sheet metal shield 91 is secured in the supplemental frame within. the rings 25. This shield extends across the space between these two rings, at the rearward portion thereof, and serves to prevent dirt dropping from the digging members downward into the gearing for operating the top conveyor and topping mechanism. This shield is provided, on its outer face, with a plurality of pivotally mounted blades or deflectors 92. Each of these deflectors is provided, at its inner end, with an integral shoulder or lug 93 which engages the shield 91 so as to positively limit the downward movement of member 92. These members by engaging between the digging members during their downward travel between the rods 86 pre vent the dirt from falling from between the same. For this purpose they are free to rock upward about their pivotal axes, as indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. After the pair of digging members has passed one of the deflectors it returns, by gravity, to its initial position.

As will be noted from Fig. 1 of the draw ings, the upper ends of the guide rods 86 are positioned in approximate vertical alinement with the rear edge of the beet receiving hopper 41. After the digging members open or separate immediately after leaving the rods 86 the beet carried thereby will be discharged into the hopper. On the other hand, the rods 90 serve to positively open the digging members thus insuring the dis charge of the beet in the event of these members failing to open after leaving the rods 86.

There may be slight changes made in the construction and arrangement of the different parts of my. invention without departing from the field and. scope of the same, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claim, in this application and in which a preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

What I claim is:

In beet harvesters, a pair of spaced rotatably mounted rigid rings, a pair of digging members pivotally secured to said rings for limited movement toward and away from each other, a pair of spaced guide rods mounted concentric with the rings and extending about the under and rear parts of the rings for forcing the digging members together during their downward and rearward travel, and a pair of spaced rods Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, 1). C.

mounted about the top portions of the rings concentric therewith, the rearward ends of said rods being integrally connected to form a V-shaped opening member positioned closely adjacent the upper ends of the said guide rods and in the path of travel of the digging members for entering between said members and forcing the same apart as they leave the said guide rods.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH D. DENBURGER.

, WVitnesses:

JOHN GUY VVILsoN,

FRANK A. THOMAS.

Commissioner ,of Patents,

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