US424007A

US424007A - Potato-digger

Info

Publication number: US424007A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1907-03-25

Description

(No Model.) 2' Sheets-Sheet I A. LAURI DTZBN & J. F. NIELSEN.

POTATO DIGrGrERa Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

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(N0 M del) v v 2 Shets-$heet 2. A. LAURIDTZEN 85 J. F; NIELSEN.

POTATO BIGGER.

No. 424,007 Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT LAURIDTZEN AND JOHN FRED NIELSEN, OF GOWVEN, MICHIGAN.

POTATO-DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 424,007, dated March 25, 1890.

Application filed June 12, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT LAURIDTZEN and JOHN FRED NIELSEN, citizens of the United States, residing at Gowen, in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Potato-Digger, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to potato-diggers; and the objects in view are to provide an excessively strong and durable machine having the usual potato digging, cleaning, and delivering adjuncts, each of which is adjustable by agents under the direct control of the operator, and this in a manner both simple and effective. 7

With these general objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction, hereinafter specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a potato-digger constructed in accordance with our invention and embodying our numerous improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view, the drivers seat, its support, and certain controlling mechanism removed. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the frame-work. Fig. 4 is a detail in end view of one side of the front of the machine. Fig. 51s a detail in front elevation of the top rake and shovel-adjusting lever. Fig. 6 is a detail in side elevation of the mechanism for throwing the shaking delivery-screen into and out of gear. Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of one of the links composing the sprocket-chain, and Fig. 8 is a detail of two of such links in the act of assembling.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing our invention we construct the main frame of two opposite metal beams 1, said beams being spaced apart and maintained in relative position by means of anglebraces 2, arranged at suitable distances apart and provided with suitable binding-nuts. The beams 1 are channeled, as at 3, (see Fig. 4,) upon their upper faces, and in the same is mounted aT-rib 4, bolted to the beam by means of binding-bolts 5, and upon said rib, and also connected to the beams 1 by means of the bolts 5, are angle-arms 6, supporting ter-gears 12.

- side plates 7 to which the inner ends of the Serial No. 314,058. (No model.)

arms are bolted. Journaled in bearings 9, secured to the under surface of the beams, is the usual traction-shaft 10, carrying at its outer ends traction-wheels 11 and intermediate said wheels and the beams large mas- From the shaft at each side of the frame thereproject opposite half U- shaped hounds 13, the adjacent ends of which are bent at an angle, as at 14, and bolted to the draft-beam 15 at its opposite sides, and are braced by diagonal braces 16, extending from the bolts 17, for securing the hounds to the draft-beam, and thence rearwardly and connected to the hounds.

From the rear end of the draft-beam 15 there projects an upwardly-inclined spring seat -supporting bar 18, carrying at its rear extremity a seat 19. Pivoted in the bar 18 by means of a transverse bolt 20 is a bell-crank lever 21, arranged at each side of the bar 18 and supporting in its upper ends a hand-lever 22, provided with a spring-bolt 23, engaging a sector 24:, mounted between the bell-cranks 21 and upon the beam 18. The two forward ends of the bell-cranks support a transverse rod 25, the ends of which are bent, as at 26, and are braced. to the bell-cranks by diagonal braces 27. In the draft-beam in front of its hounds there is pivoted upon a U -shaped bail 28 opposite depending curved spring rake-teeth 29, designed to rake the tops of the plant, said arms being divergent and curved for the purpose, whereby the entire number of stems or sprouts are gathered or concentrated, and the action of the shovel following is accordingly efficiently increased. A rod 30 connects the lower ends of the U- shaped bails withthe forward ends of the bell-crank 21, so that by a proper manipulation of the hand-lever 22 the rakes 29 may be raised and lowered and maintain ed in the desired adjusted position.

Bolted to the side bars or beams 1 and near the forward end are plates 31, which project around in front of the machine, and in rear of their bent portion are provided with bearing-ears 32, perforated to receive a bolt 33, upon which is pivoted upwardly-inclined arms 34, the upper ends of which are connected with or terminate in plates 35, longitudinally slotted, as at 36, for the reception of the spindles 37 of the wheels 38, which support the front end of the machine. Diagonal braces 39 extend from the upper ends of the arms 34 to the side beams 1. Opposite chains 40 connect the outer ends of the bell-cranks 21; or, rather, the bent portions 26 of the bars 25, with the plates 35, whereby the lever 22 serves the additional function of regulating the depth of penetration of the shovel.

41 represents the inclined shovel, the opposite sides of which are cut away, forming the usual entering-point, and to the sides of the shovel are bolted opposite jointers or moldboards 42 by means of bolts 43, upon which said boards are adjustable by reason of the bolt-holes 44 being elongated. These boards serve the purpose of casting the dirt to one side and away from the pivotal connection of the arms 34, which are further preserved against injury by means of a guide-bar 45, terminating in bent arms 46, which pass through blocks 47, said arms being arranged underneath the frame, as shown in Fig. 3.

Upon each of the hounds 13 are mounted foot plates or rests 48, the samebeing adjusted by means of set-screws 49 upon the hounds for the accommodation of the driver.

50 represents the opposite sections or coneshaped bottom of the machine, by which the dirt adhering to the potatoes may be shed at each side of the machine, said bottom being perforated, as at 51, for the passage therethrough of the numerous shafts for supportin g the mechanism before and to be described.

In suitable bearing-blocks 52, secured to a bearing-plate 53, bolted to the beams 1, is journaled a counter-shaft 54, said bearing being adj ustable or movably connected upon a plate 53. At the outer end of the counter-shafts are mounted small gears 55, and intermediate the gears and also the side bars 1 are mounted sprockets 56. In rear of the bearing 52 is mounted a second bearing 57, the same being rigid with the plate 53, and in the same is journaled the shaft 10, that carries the tractionwheels, and also a shaft 58, provided with opposite lugs 59 and 60. The lug 59 is a socketlug, and is provided with ahand-lever 61, carrying a spring-bolt 62, intermeshing with a sector 63, arranged at one side of thelever 61. The opposite lug 60is by a threaded rod 64 adjustably connected to lug 65, formed on the lower face of the sliding bearing-block 52. At the side of each of the beams 1 are provided pivoted agitating-arms 66, the same being pivoted to said beams upon lateral bolts 67 and terminating in angularly-disposed short arms 68. Cams, as 69, are mounted at the master-gears l2, and consequently, taking the lever 61 in the position shown in Fig. 6, the gear 55 and its actuating mechanism will be in a position to receive motion by the rotation of the wheels 11. By reversing the lever 61 the bearing-block 52 and the mechanism it carries will be slid to the rear and the gears 55 and 12 unmeshed. If desired, the gear12 may be keyed to the shaft 10, or the wheel 11 may be keyed to the shaft and the gear 12 mounted loosely thereon, and by any suitable pawl-and-ratchet mechanism be thrown into and out of connection with the wheel, all as is well understood by those conversant with the construction of this class of machines.

72 represents sprocket-chains, which are ranged over the sprocket-wheels 56 and run through the channels 73, formed by the angle-arms 6 at each side of the machine, and at the forward end of the machine over pulleys or sleeves 74, mounted on bolts 67, journaled in guide-plates 75, formed at the ends of the sides of the shovel and the beams 1. The chain is formed of links 76, each of which comprises front and

rear end bars

77 and 77 respectively, and opposite end connecting side bars 7 7 The front end bar is cut away between its ends, as at 7 7 leaving opposite lugs or shoulders 7 7 and extending forwardly from the bar is a hook 79. The rear ends of each of the side bars upon their upper faces are cut away, as at 7 7 so that in the act of assembling two of such links the same are brought together so as to form an acute angle, (see Fig. 8,) the rear bar 77 being insorted into the hook 79, which is permitted by reason of cut-away portion 7 7 of the front bar, the lugs or shoulders 77 passing by the cut-away port-ion 7 7 and when the links lie in the same plane said lugs or shoulders abut against the rear bar 7 7 and prevent a sepa ration. Loops 80 are formed upon the inner one of the side bars 77 of each link, and metal straps 81, having their ends turned, as at 82, for connection with the loops 80, (see Fig. 4,) connect the chain at intervals, the whole forming an endless carrier.

It will be noticed, also, that the arms 68 are provided wit-h perforations 83 at their upper ends, whereby they are designed to be adj ustably connected with the outer ends of the screen-vibrating arms 66. Perforations 84 are also provided in each of the outer tines of the screen for adjustable connection with the lower ends of the arms 68. By this it will be seen that the screen may be raised and lowered, as will hereinafter be apparent, and also adjusted. For the purpose of rais ing and lowering the screen or shaker we 91 represents the usual tool-chest, which is mounted at any'convenient point andpreferably at the rear end of the draftbeam 15.

Having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a potatddigger, the combination, with a U-shaped bail the opposite arms of which are pivoted in a draft-beam and provided with rearwardlycurved depending springteeth, of a hand-lever and a rod connecting the hand-lever with the lower end of a U- shaped bail, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the pivotal top rake herein described and its connecting-rod 30, of the hand-lever 22, mounted in the opposite bell-cranks 21, pivoted to the frame and provided with the bar 25, connected with the connecting-bar of the rake, and of opposite pivotally-connected adjustable supporting-wheels, and chains connecting said wheels and bell-cranks, whereby by a niovementof the lever 22 the wheels and rake are uniformly adjusted,substantially as specified.

3. In a potato-digger, the combination, with the endless chains,'ea'ch consisting of a series of links, the inner side bars of which are provided with inwardly-disposed loops, of a series of transverse connecting-bars the ends of which are bent to form hooks and engagethe loops of opposite links, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with herein-described endless chains, each comprising a series of detachable links, each of which consists of opposite end bars 77 and77,the latter reduced, as at 77 and provided withend shoulders 7 7 projecting hook 7 9, and the end bar connecting side bars 7 7 the'rear ends of which are cut away, as 'at 77 to enable the lockingshoulders 7 7 to pass in the act of connecting the end bar 77 with'the hook 79 of the next adjacent link, the inner side bar of each link being provided with the loop 80, of the connecting-bars 81, connected with the loops, substantially as specified. j

5. The combination, with the tractionshaft having opposite forwardly-disposed hounds, of foot-supports, as 48, mounted on each of the hounds and adjustable thereon by means of nuts 49, substantially as specified.

6. The-combination, with the beams 1, of opposite plates provided with bearings, arms pivoted in the bearings and terminating in slotted plates, and of opposite wheels the spindles of which are mounted in the slots, substantially as specified.

7. The combination, with the beams 1, of opposite plates provided with bearings, arms pivoted-in the bearings and terminating in slotted plates and on opposite wheels, the spindles of which are mounted in the slots,

and of guards, as 45, arranged in front of the bolts 83, substantially as specified.

8. In a potato digger, the combination, with a sliding bearing-block provided with a counter-shaft operated by the main drivingwheel,--of a screen pivotally connected with the sliding block, and of a hand-lever connected with the block and adapted to slide the same, substantially as specified.

9. The combination, with a sliding bearing-block, of a counter-shaft mounted in the same and adapted to mesh'with the mastergear of the digger, a shaking screen con nected to the block, a lever pivoted in rear of the same, and an adjustable rod connecting the block and lever, substantially-as specified.

10. The combination, with a counter=shaft adapted to be rotated by the ground wheels and provided with a cam, of a pivoted arm arranged above the cam and adapted to be thrown thereby, and of a potato-screen pivoted at its rear end and loosely connected near its opposite end with the vibratory arm,-

substantially as specified.

' 11. The combination, with the shaking I screen 71, pivoted, as at 70, and its opposite arms having the'perforations 84, of the arm 66, pivoted, as at 67, and having the depending arm" 68, taking in the perforations 84, and perforated, as at 83, for adjustable connection with'the arm 66, and ofthe counter-shaft 54, mounted in the bearing 52 and provided with a cam 69, subs'tantially'as specified.

12. The combination, with the lever 85, pivoted in the block 86, and having the rods 87, connected with the bell-crank 88, of the screen 71, the pivoted arms 66, and the connectingrod 68, the arm 66 being loosely connected with the bell-crank 88, which is bent, as at 89, for that purpose, substantially as specified. 13. The beams 1, having the recesses 3, in combination with the ribs 4 and the anglearms 6, carrying the sides 7, the arms, ribs, and beams being bound togetherby'the bolts 8 and forming the channel 7 3 for the reception of the sprocket-chains, said channel being'further provided with the guides 75 and pulleys 74, mounted on binding-bolts 67, Over which run the sprocketkchains 72, substantially as specified. v

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affiXed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

. ALBERT LAURIDTZEN. JOHN FRED NIELSEN.

Witnesses:

S. T. WHITTLEsEY, WM.'R. JANns.