US497069A - Potato-digger - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

, 3 sheets-sheet 1. W. DANBY.

POTATO BIGGER.

Patented May 9, 1893.

$13 whom 103s.

3 Sheets-Sheet Patented May 9, 1893.

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W. DANBY. POTATO BIGGER. No. 497,069. Patented Ma J7 .2 43 IJLZWJ I witweoa as:

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Unwrap STATES PATENT OTTton.

WILLIAM DANBY, OF MOUNTOR AB, OHIO.

POTATO- DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,069, dated May 9, 1893.

Application filed March 17, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DANBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Orab, in the county of Brown and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Diggers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to potato diggers, and the object of the same is to effect certain improvements in machines of this character.

To this end the invention consists in the construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the three accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a left side elevation of the machine complete. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof with the seat removed. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail showing the several boxes for the main axle, and the ratchetbox on the latter. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of the front elevator, the digger, and the main axle, showing also the connecting mechanism hereinafter referred to. Fig. 6 is a cross section just in rear of the main axle (the supporting wheels being removed), showing the fender, the means for raising the hopper doors, and-in dotted linesthe front caster wheels. Fig. 7 is a plan vievt of one of the screen frames with its wires removed. Fig. 8 is a detail in rear elevation of another manner of mounting the forward caster-wheels in the cross bar. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a cleaner for the pulverizing roller which I use in wet weather.

This machine comprises several main parts as follows: The main frame M mounted 011 the main wheels WV and supported by side caster wheels to and a rear. caster wheel w; the tongue or pole T by which this frame and the entire machine are drawn; the connecting mechanism 0 between the main axle A and the driving mechanism; the plow or digger D mounted in the frame of the front elevator F; the device for elevating the plow, marked E; the rear elevator R the shaking screen S in both elevators; and the receiving and delivering hoppers H and their tripping devices. All these parts are preferably about of the con- SerialNO- 425,328. (No model.)

tion of members shown, for that illustrates a working machine; but I reserve the right to make such changes therein as come within the spirit of my invention, or to use parts without the whole-employing sufficient elements of eachto make up an operative structure or part of the whole.

The detailed description of the several main parts is as follows:

The main frame ]l[.The main wheelsW (which are of the usual or any preferred pattern) are mounted on the main axle A, one of them being fast, and the other secured thereto by the usual spring ratchet box X-best seen in Fig. 4so that the machine can turn corners. On the axle between the wheels are mounted two boxes 1, and extending forward therefrom are the hounds 2, to which is connected the tongue T. Across the latter is mounted the doubletree 3 carrying two singletrees 4, and from the ends of the doubletree rods 5 lead back to the outer extremities of the axle A, to which they are connected by journal boxes 6, best seen in Fig. 1. Hence the draft is from the center of the axle, and from both ends thereof as well, so that all resistance is overcome and the machine moves smoothly along even if obstructions are reached, and will not swerve from side to side. The drivers seat 7 is mounted on a cross rod 8 which connects the, boxes 6. Across the hounds 2 is secured a bar 9 in whose ends are journaled side caster wheels to supporting the front end of the machine, and connected to the hounds by chains 10 to prevent their displacement. A

The front elevator F.-Inside the boxes 6 two other boxes 11 are mounted on the axle, and from these boxes a frame 12 leads forward and downward, its side bars being connected by cross rods 13 to brace the parts. Shafts 14 and 61 are journaled in the sides of this frame and carry sprocket wheels 15, and over the latter move two endless chains 16 connected on their outer faces by cross bars 17 so as to form an endless elevator which moves upward and rearward to near the main axle A to carry the potatoes which are dug by the plow.

The plow or digger D. Securely fastened between the side bars of the front elevator at ICO their lower front ends is a plate cut to a point 21 at its front end which is bent down as seen in Fig. 2 so as to enter the earth. The front ends of said side bars 12 are sharpened as at 22 so as to form cutters which assist the plow in its work. i

The plow elevator E.Journaled across the hounds 2 is a shaft carrying segments 31 having grooved edges 32, and 33 are chains secured to these segments, leading around within their grooved edges, and extending down to the frame 12 to which they are secured. On one end of the shaft 30 is a lever 34 having a spring-actuated retaining pawl 35 engaging a toothed segment 36; the lever standingwithin reach of the driver so that when it is borne to the rear the entire frame 12 and with it the digger D will be elevated as desired and may be entirely raised out of at 42; and one end of this roller is continued through the frame 12 and carries a sprocketwheel 43 standing within a guard 44 so as to be protected from dirt.

The connecting mechanism C'.Keyed on the main axle A is a gear wheel 50 which normally meshes with another 51 that is splined on a shaft 52 journaled in the frame 12 below the elevator therein. 53 is a lever pivoted at 54 to the main frame and standing alongside the drivers seat, and the lower end of this lever is forked as at 55 and loosely embraces the small-gear 51, whereby by operating the lever this gear may be slid on the shaft 52 into or out of mesh with the driving gear 50 so as to throw the machine into operation at will. Referring now to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the shaft 52 carries a sprocket-wheel 56 connected by a chain 57 with the sprocket 43 of the pulverizing roller, whereby motion is imparted to the latter. This shaft also carries two sprocket-wheels 58 over each of which leads a chain-belt 59 which passes first over a sprocket 60 on the upper shaft 61 of the front elevator F (and thus drives this elevator), thence over a sprocket 62 of the lower shaft of the rear elevator R (hereinafter described), and thence undera belt-tighteningsprocket 63 and back to the point of starting. This belt-tightening-sprocket is journaled in the'free end of an arm 64 which is pivoted at its other end to the main frame M, and a spring 65 bears it in such direction as to normally tighten the chain 59 and cause the proper operation of parts.

The rear elevator R.Outside the boxes 1 are two otherboxes from which side bars M forming part of the main frame extend to the rear, and a caster wheel w supports the rear end of this part of the frame as will be clear. The rear frame supports two inclined side bars 71 forming the frame of the rear elevator R and which are connected as may be necessary. J ournaled in this frame are cross shafts 72 carrying sprockets 73 over which move two endless chains 73 connected bycross rods 74 forming the rear elevator-the whole being of approximately the same construction as the front elevator above described. The lowermost of these shafts 72 carries the sprockets 62 by which motion is imparted to this elevator from the connecting mechanism just described. 75 is the cross'head of a fender which is secured to the boxes 1, and 76 are fingers depending from this headthe purpose thereof being to prevent the potatoes delivered by the front elevator from falling off the lower end of the rear elevator.See Fig. 6.

The shaking screens S.These are practical duplicates, with the exceptions'noted,and a description of'one will answer for both in all essential particulars. In each of the frames 12 and 71 is provided a number of seini-cin cular slots 80 wherein rest the ends of crossrods 81, and the latter are connected by screenframes 82 fitting close within the frames 12 and 71 but cut away as at 83 to permit the sprocket-Wheels to have their positions and motions. (See Fig. 7.) The shaft 52 is cranked as at 84 and the shaft 72 at'the'lower end of the rear elevator R is cranked as at 85, and pitmen rods 86 connect these cranks with certain of the cross-rods 81 0f the screenframes. Hence, as these shafts rotate, the screens are given each a shaking motion in a curved path, according to the shape of the slots 80 and the length of the cranks. The lower screen-frame is provided with longitudinal wires 87 standing quite close together and on which the upper side of the front elevator rests; while the upper screen-frame is different. That is to say, the rods or wires 88 at the lower half of this frame are olose'together (though not so close as those lettered 87), and those at the upper half (89) are some distance farther apart.

The hoppers H-The rear mainframe M is inclosed as at 90 to form two hoppers whose bottoms 91 are inclined to two chute-s or mouths 92, the division angle 93 standing under the longitudinal center of the rear screen. Each mouth is closed by a door 94 which rises vertically and is held normally down by a spring 95, and small cords, chains, or rods 96 lead from these doors through suitable eyes or over pulleys to handles 97 located adjacent the drivers seat, as shown.

The operation: A team being hitched to the singletrees and the driver having taken his seat, the horses are directed astride the row of potatoes to be dug. The side casterwheels to support the front end of the machine, and the rear caster-wheel w performs the same service for the pivoted rear main frame. At the proper time, the lever 53 is moved to throw the small gear 51 into mesh with the larger one 50 which is keyed on the then revolving main axle A, and the machine commencesto operate. The retaining pawl 35 is then tripped and the lever 30 moved forward to lower the frame 12, and thus the digger D is permitted to sink the desired distance into the ground. Its point 21 digs under the potatoes and the sharp front edges 22 of the side bars of the frame 12 assist, and the potato plants are bodily dug from the ground. They pass up the plate 20 and over the pulverizing roller P whose teeth 41 scrape the dirt from the roots and it falls through the lower screen onto the groundthe potatoes being thereby torn from the plants as will be clear. The crossbars 17 of the front elevator then catch the plants and potatoes and carry them upward over the lower shaking screen, which latter further assists in removing all dirt, which passes therethrough together with the very small and worthless potatoes. Passing over the main axle,thepotatoes and plants slide down the fender onto the rear elevator R, up which they pass in a similar manner. But the wires 88 of the rear screen are sufficiently far apart to allow medium-sized potatoes to fall between them into the forward hopper, and the larger ones pass still farther to the rear and fall between the wires 89 into the rearward hopper, the tops or plants passing over the rear end of the rear elevator onto the ground. At stated intervals, the driver pulls the cords or chains 96 and opens one or both the doors 94 so as to deliver the potatoes in the two hoppers either in piles on the ground or into bags or sacks supplied by another operator for that purpose. Hence this machine digs the potatoes, separates their tops from the potatoes proper, shakes off the dirt, col lects the different sizes of potatoes in different hoppers, and delivers them when desired into bags for storage or transportation.

Modifications, (be: Fig. 8 shows another and perhaps a better manner of mounting the front caster-wheels in the cross bar 9. In this case the wheel w is mounted in a fork w whose rounded shank w passes upward through a sleeve or collar 10 which is bolted as shown at 10 to the under side of the cross bar 9, and braces 10 may also be used to strengthen this collar against lateral displacement. Fig. 9 shows a cleaner I may use with this machine in wet weather and when the earth or clay would clog the fingers of the pulverizing roller. This cleaner is not shown elsewhere, nor its attachments, but it will be understood that they may or may not be used as desired. J ournaled in each side of the frame F is a head 41 having forwardly-extending fingers 41 alternating with those on the roller 40. A spring 41 bears these fingers onto the roller in any suitable way, as shown. In use, it is obvious that what clods of earth may be carried up and over the pulverizing roller, will be broken and disintegrated by this cleaner; though in dry weather and where the soil is sandy or gravelly, such clods will not be present and the cleaner not necessary. One idea not illustrated occurs with, and then when these wheels sink as into a dead furrow, the plow will not be unduly depressed, as would be the case with the de-, vice as here illustrated. I will be understood, however, as reserving the right to make these and other obvious mechanical changes in my machine without departing from the principle of the invention.

That is claimed asnew is 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the main axle mounted on supporting wheels, and the digging and carrying mechanism supported and driven there by, of the hounds connected with the axlebetween the wheels, the pole attached to the hounds, the singletree on the pole, and rods connecting the ends of the singletree with the ends of the axle outside the wheels, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the main axle mounted on supporting wheels, boxes on said axle, and hounds connected with said boxes, of a front elevator mounted on the axle inside said boxes, a rear main frame mounted in boxes on the axle outside said other boxes, a rear elevator carried by said rear frame, a caster wheel supporting the rear end of said frame,

and means for driving said elevators simul- 1 0 taneously, substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination With the main axle mounted on supporting wheels, boxes on said axle, hounds connected with said boxes, and side caster wheels supporting said hounds; of a front elevator mounted on the axle inside the boxes, means for adj ustably supporting this elevator from the hounds, a digger at the front end of the elevator, a rear main frame mounted in boxes on the axle outside said other boxes and independent of the front elevator, a rear elevator carried by said rear frame, a caster wheel supporting the rear end of said frame, a hanging fender bet-ween the adjacent ends of said elevators, and means for driving said elevators simultaneously, substantially as described.

4. In a potato digger, the combination with the plow carried by the main frame, the inclined elevator frame also carried thereby, and having curved guides and the elevator in this frame, of the screen under said elevator, and moving in said guides means for moving the screen the lower half of said screen having smaller openings than the upper half, the double hopper beneath the screen having its angle at the longitudinal center thereof, two laterally opening delivery months for said hopper, doors therein, independent operating cords for opening the doors, and springs for closing them substantially as described.

5. The combination with an elevator frame, shafts journaled across the same and having IIC sprocket-wheels, endless chains passing therethe elevators and for reciprocating the screens, over,.and cross bars on the outer faces of the as and for the purpose set forth. 1o chains, of screen frames located within the In testimony whereof Iafifix mysignature in elevator frames and cut away opposite said presence of two witnesses.

wheels, the cross-bars of said frames working WILLIAM DANBY. in curved slots in the sides of the elevator Witnesses:

frames, wires in the screen frames standing EDWARD S. CRAWFORD,

beneath the-elevators, and means for moving WILLIE W. DAY.

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