US388911A

US388911A - Potato-digger

Info

Publication number: US388911A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1888-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1905-09-04

Description

{No Medal.)

J.D.PERRY.

POTATO BIGGER. No. 388,911. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

llnrrnn Spares Parana @rrrca JUDSON D. PERRY, ()F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

POTATO- BIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,911, dated fieptember 4, 1888.

Application filed November l2, 1887. Serial No, 254,970. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUDSON D. PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovcnients in PotatoDiggers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in potatodiggers; and the invention consists in the peculiar devices for digging and separating the potatoes from the ground and vines, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a plan with some of the parts removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical central crossseotion, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the spur-link.

A represents the two wheels upon which the device is supported and drawn over the ground by applying draft to the pole B.

G is a frame constructed to support the operating parts of the device, and this frame is supported upon the axle D.

E Eare the sides of the elevator-frame, supported in an inclined position between the side bars of the frame 0, and in this frame are journaled transversely the shafts Fand G, the former at the lower end and the latter at the upper end. Each of these shafts carries aseries of chain-wheels, H and H, respectively, over which passes the chain apron I, portions of the links of which are provided with the spurs a. The upper shaft, G, carries upon one end a gear-wheel, J, which meshes with the gear wheel K, secured to one of the drive-wheels. That portion of the endless chain apron which forms the upper run between the chain-wheels H and H is preferably supported by means of the grating L, which is secured between the sides 1+] E.

At the rear end of the endless apron, and secured in suitable hearings on the shaft M, is the reel N, the arms of which extend into proximity of the chain apron, and underneath this reel is the slatted chute O, and below the chute O is another chute, P, the incline of which can be changed by means of the standard Q, and this chute l is also slatted or otherwise formed with interstices, and dis charges into the transverse trough R, which spouts to the side of the machine.

The sides E are journaled either upon the axle D or upon the shaft G, so that the whole elevating device may be raised and lowered from the ground. In the drawings I show the frame E supported ontrunnions upon the shaft D. Said trunnions may be formed upon the inner ends of the bearings b, in which the shaft D is journaled. By means of the chains S or their equivalents I then connect the forward end of the elevator to a suitable device for winding and unwinding the chain for the purpose of raising and lowering the forward end of the elevator from or to the ground, and by means of a suitable lever, T, I enable the op erator to raise and lower the elevator while seated.

In practice, the device being arranged and constructed as shown and described, the lower end of the elevator-frame,with its chainroll ers H, is intended to project into the ground, and the rapid motion given to the chain apron by means of the drive-connection described enables the spurs on the chain apron to out or tear away the ground in front of the lower end of the elevator fast enough to clear a pathway for its progress, and the ground, together with the potatoes thus torn away, is carried upon the upper face of the chain apron. During such travel the ground is sifted through the meshes of the chain apron and allowed to fall to the ground, while the meshes are small enough to retain the potatoes and carry them to the top of the elevator, together with the vines and other debris. Here they meet with the revolving reel N, which travels in the same direction, and besides suffering violent shaking,which loosens all potatoes which may still cling to the vines, throws the vines backward and permits them to fall on the grating O or to the ground. The potatoes fall upon the lower grating, P, which loosens the dirt which may still cling to them and permits it to drop to the gronnd,while the potatoes them selves roll into the trough R, the spout of which directs them to the ground or into bags, which may be supported upon a suitable platform on the side of the machine.

It will be seen that by means of the devices described the ground gets thoroughly broken up in digging, entirely unlike the action of the plows in other constructions, which often so compact the ground, especially when damp or wet, that the separating is impossible. With my device I never cutoff large lumps of ground, but the ground is broken offin small particles and spread out over the apron, thus giving the fullest opportunity for the ground to fall through. The spurs a are dull and can neither injure the potatoes nor afford any opportunity for the weeds and vines to clog thereon. Suitable scraping devices to keep the chain-wheels clear from dirt are arranged when necessary, and the forward end of the frame E made divider-shaped to clear a pas sage for the lower end of the elevator without excessive friction. The way I support the elevator thus partially balances it upon the axle; but the shaft G may be made the fulcrum on which the elevator rises and lowers with equally good results. It is not necessary to space the teeth very closely upon the apron, as the apron itself can take hold of a portion of the ground to clear the passage. By giving the apron ajolting motion the links will clear themselves readily of all ground adhering thereto.

I deem it important that the elevatorirame be journaled on the axle substantially at its center, for by this arrangement the weight is evenly distributed and but little power is required to tilt the elevating devices,which can be readily done from the drivers seat Without depressing or elevating the frame of the machine. The standard Q, supporting the grating P, is formed with a slot formed on the are of a circle struck from the pivot of said grating, so that as the elevator is raised from the ground, should the rear end of it come in contact with said grating, the latter will fold down out of the way without injury to any of the parts. signed to be adjusted to different inclines to correspond with the varying sizes of the potatoes.

What I claim as myinvention is- In a potato-digging machine, the combina tion, with a two-wheeled supporting-frame, a draft attachment of the elevator-frame pivotally secured in an inclined position between the supporting-frame and journaled near its longitudinal center on the axle, raising and lowering devices for said frame actuated by a hand-lever in proximity to the drivers seat, and imperforate sides to said frame terminating at their lower ends in dividers, of the endless digging and elevating apron provided with spurs, a reel carried by a shaft revolving in the same direction as the shaft of the elevator at the rear end of the elevator, and provided with arms to separate the vines, an upper inclined grating, a lower inclined grating, the slotted standard Q, supporting said lower grating and adjustable, as described, and a collector-trough, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 26th day of October, 1887.

J UDSON D. PERRY.

Witnesses:

J AS. WHITTEMORE, H. S. SPRAGUE.

In operation this grating is de-