US545787A - Potato-planter - Google Patents

Description

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No, 545,787. PatentedSept. 3,1895.

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L. 0.5EVANS. yoTATO PLANTBR.

No. 545,787. Patented 1895.

IIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIII [d following is a specification.

.To all whom it mafyconcer'w y 'ni-*rsa dictarse Louis o. EVANS, 'on- ATENT Fries,

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

PoTATo-PLANTER.

,s PEcInrcA'rro-N forming part of' Letters Patent Nef 545,787, dated september e, 1895. I v Applioationiiled June 15,189.5. SerialNo. 552,889.` (No model.)

4Be it .known that I, LOUIS C. EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing atl-Spring-v tield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, haveV invented' certain new and useful proveniente in Potato-Planters, of whichth My invention relates to improvements in potato-planters, and it particularly relates to that classof potato-planters described and .shown in my pending application, Serial No. l 540,723, filed March 6, l895.

My invention consists' in the various coui v `strnctions and combinations ot parts hereinafter described'and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is `'asectional elevation of a planter embodying `my invention. 'picker-arm plate, showing the means em- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a ployed for securing the picker-.arms thereto and for varying the quantities of seed sown.

` Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 4 is adetail v1ew,in section, taken on the line a: w in Fig. 2. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views of `the concave and cam groove for operating the picker-arms.

K Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of an adjustable marker. Figs. l and ll are detail views of an improved covering device,

and Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views of the devices ,employed for counterbalancing the machine in operation. y

Like parts are represented by similar letters and numerals of reference in the several views. 'y

In the drawings, a representsa supporting i and driving wheel, of which there are two, one

upon each end of a main shaft a', as in my priorapplication referred to.

b is a hopper having the vibrating and oscillating plates b b2, which are connected to l movable conduits bextending on opposite sides of a concave c, as in the prior application.

Mounted on the main shaft a and secured xedly thereto is a pletter-arm plate d, to which are secured the pickerarms c. '.lhis

v vplate d is provided with a hub d', which is secured to the main shaft, and with an auxiliary movable plate d2, which is adapted to be removed over the hub d', the pickerfarms be-v ing secured between the plates d d2 inthe manner herinafter more fully In position and number of the picker-arms to obtain the same result, and in carrying out this part of my invention I have devised a simple and effective construction, bymeans of which the number and position of the picker-arms may be readily and accurately changed to suit any desired condition under which the machine is to be operated.

.In eachof the plates d and d2 I provide a number of concentric rows of holes, as shown t at l, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and in each of the pickerarms I providea series of holes corresponding in number' to the concentric rows of holes in the plates. I further provide on each ot' the arms a projection lor projections e', and in one or both of the plates d d2, preferably at the outer edge, thereof, I provide a series of lcorresponding depressions d3, cach of which stands radially opposite one of the openings `in the concentric rows 1,12, 3, 4, and 5. Each of the concentric rows of openings has a certain definite number of holes therein, which are so arranged that at one point, which may be termed the y starting point, the correl spending openings in each of the concentric rows are in a radial line, as shown at the top in Fig. 2. For this set,of openings there is `a which occupies this position need never be changed, but is the basis or starting-point for all the other changes desired. In the construction illustrated I have shown tive concentric rows of openings having, respectively, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten openings. The arms are adapted to be secured between the respective plates d and di and the said plates secured together by means of bolts or pins c2, which extend through the openings in said plates and in said arms, respectively. In placing any desired number of arms in the wheel the bolts or pins are inserted through the openings in that concentric row which corresponds to the number of arms to be used. For instance, if nine arms are to be placed in the wheel the bolts are all inserted through rs'A single depression d3, and the picker-arm e IOO which containsnine openings, said; bolts passing through the corresponding or second opening in the arms. lt will be found that if an arm is placed with the second opening therein opposite one of the openings in the second row the projection d will enter the proper depression d3 and it will be impossible to place more orless than the proper number of arms between the plates and impossible to secure there in a'ialse position. In practice the intervening distances between the drop-j ping of the.. seed by the dilerent number of arms on the wheel will be marked on the plates, so that the number of arms required forplanting at certain distances apart will be ascertained at a glance; but the arrangement of the fastenin'gepoints in the concentric rows with a corresponding point in each arm for each row, together with the interengaging devices on the plates and arms, re-

spectively, maires it possible to change the arms readily and impossible to make a mistake, either' in the location or number of the arms, if the corresponding point in the arms is brought opposite the openings in its proper concentric row.

' 'il have showmas before stated, a series of l rows containing six, seven, eight, nine, and ten openings; but as each alternate opening may be left vacant in those having an even nurn- .her it will be seen that any combination from one to ten arms may be secured and properly spaced about the supporting plate or Wheel.

Each ofthe arms e is provided with the irsnal" Vibrating head e3, which operates in connec tion with the impaling-fork e4, the irnpaling. and discharging of the potato being positively effected by means ot the -cam-groove c in the concave c, which engages with the projections e5 on the vibrating head e3, as setforth in my prior application. In order, however, to prevent the potato from slipping forward and thus escaping the impaling-fork, I construct that portion of the head which is opposite the impaling-torlr with a series of scr-rations or teeth, as shown at e6, which prevents any 'slipping of the potatoas the same is forced in contact with the impaling-t'orlr.

in my present construction the cam-groove c', instead of being gradually drawn in from the point of beginning to the point ot' closing, is formed practically concentric for the greater portion of its length, the closing of the head against the impalingforlr being accomplished within a small fraction of a revolution of the arm, about halfway between the respective ends ot' the concave, as shown in Figr, the concentric portions c2 and c3 being arranged at the respective ends of the concave, so that the oscillating heads remain in the same relative position during the travel through these portions of said concave. The singularly-arranged iianges c4 extend only to the point where the concentric portion c of the canrgroovc begins, thus forming a pocket c5 over the concentric portion c2, through -the central position.

which tho picker-arms c pass with the oscil lating heads in an open or extended position, thus insuring,r the catching of a potato within the oscillating head before the same is closed on the impaling-fork.

As the picker-arms are rotated the oscillnting heads are brought in contact with a fixed stopf, which causes the heads to vibrate'in an opposite direction, so that tho projecting finger eT thereon forces the potatoes from the ilnpaling fork e4, permitting them to fall 4through the chamber f land shoe g in the usual way. The covering of. the potatoes is effected by means of angularly-arran ged concave' disks g', which are supported ateach side of and to the rear of the shoe g by arms g2, adjustably connected at g3 to U-shaped supporting-springs g4, secured to the side of the shoe c, as shown in Figs. 10 and ll, the construction being'such that the angularlyarranged concave disks may be adjusted as desired either up or down and to or from. the furrow in the usual-mappen The shoe 'g .is

raised and lowered `in substantially the man ner described in 'my former application 'hreferred to, through the, agency of a hand-lever g5, which is pivotally connected to that portion of the frame which extends forward on the tongue 7L.

Immediately forward ofthe lifting-lever g is an adjustable marker j, which is pivoted by suitable connecting devices to the tongue so 'as to swinglaterally across the same. Th is markerj is provided with a spring-bolt j,

havingtheusual actuating hand-clip jg, and

there is provided near the pivotal center a 4cam-shaped projection jg, having a single hotchji, with which said spring-bolt is adapted to engage. The sides ot this cam-shaped projectionj3 are drawn inwardly as they recede from the notch u,"4--that is to say, they are formed on a curve with a radius shorter than that on which the marker swings-so that as said marker is raised from either side the 'sides of said camshaped projection will en gage with the spring-bolt and move the same so as to compress the spring until the notch jt is reached, when it will engage therein, thus holding the marker in an upright vposition ICO tof

until it is released by the operator actuating the spring-bolt in the-usual manner. VThis construction is especially desirable in chang ing direction at the ends of rows. The operator lifts the shoe ont of the ground by the lever (5, and by his foot raises the marker to lVhcn the machine turned in the opposite direction, he relcaste the marker and allows it to fall to its position on either side of the machine, and then lowers the shoe to the proper position for planting.

It is essential in machines of this character that the weight bc properly distributed, so that the Ymachine will be properly balanced in operation. that the proper distribution of the weight in moving the machine from piace to place is not the same as required in operation; also, the diilercnce in weight of tho potatoes inthe I have discovered in practice hopper b at dierent times, or the changein the weight of theoperator who is located in the seat lam-altes adifference. 4To compen sists of a U-shaped piece m of metal, having suitable ears or lugs fm', to4 which are connected the respective ends of a rope m2, which passes through a pulley m3 near `the outer end of the tongue, the weight m being fur-ther provided with an upwardly-projecting guide m4through which the rope m2 passes. The rope is extended to any convenient point in proximity to the operator in position'on the seat 7c, so that by pulling on either one of the strands thereof the weight m may be shifted to any desired point on the tongue so as to exactly counterbalance the machine to suit the varying conditions under which it is being operated.

Having thus described my invention, I claimi l.` The combination with the picker arms, of asupporting plate having a number of concentric rows of openings therein, a seriesl of r openings in said picker arms correspondingin numberto the concentric rows, and inter meshing devices on the respective parts arranged radially opposite the corresponding openings in said respective parts, substantially asspecified.

In apotato planter, a supporting plate having a number'of concentric rows of openings therein, picker arms,'each having a series of openings, one for each concentric row in said plate, projections on said picker arms and depressions in said plate, one of said depressions being arranged radially opposite each o f the openings in each of said concentric rows, and fastening devices adapted to extend `through thexcorresponding openings `in the armsand plate, substantially as specified.`

`3'.}In apotato planter, a series offpicker arms,l two oppositely-arranged plates, each having a number ofcoicentric rows of open ings, one ofthe openings in each row being -arranged in a series in a radial line, and a series of openings in each of said picker arms corresponding to said radial series, intermeshing parts between said picker armsand the respective plates, and a fastening device adapted to'extend through said plates and through o ne of the openings in said picker arms, substantially as specified.

4,. In a potato planter, the combination with the picker arms having moving heads, as described, of a concave having a cam-shaped groove with which said picker arms engage,

said groove being arranged at each end of said concave in a substantially concentric curve, an abrupt cam way between the concentric portions of said groove, and a pocket formed with inclined sides arranged over one of lsaid concentric portions and extending to said abrupt cam way, substantially as specified.

5. In a potato planter, a series of-picker arms each having an oscillating head, of an impaling fork, means for moving said head toward said fork, said head being `provided with a series of serrations or teeth opposite said fork, substantially as specified..

6. The combination-with the picker arm having an impaling fork, of an oscillating head having a projecting portion adjacent to said impaling'fork, and teeth or serrations in said projecting portion, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with a concave having a cam groove therein, and a pocket having inclined sides above said cam groove, of a picker arm having an 'oscillating head with projections to engage in'said cam groovaand an impaling fork4 arranged opposite saidfpro jections, said head being provided with teeth, i

'or serrations, substantially as specified. l

8. The combination with the adjustable shoe as described, and means lfor securing said shoe in different positions of adjustment, a spring supported by s'aid shoe and moving therewith, and a backwardly-extending arm adj ustably supported Yon said spring so as to occupy different relative positions with said shoe-and an angularly-arranged disk journaled on said arm -whereby said disk is supported wholly on said spring and moves with. said shoe, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with a planter and. its tongue, of a sliding weight arranged on said tongue, av connection from each end of said,v weight extending in'opposite directions and y j LOUIS C. EVANS. Witnesses:

OLIVER II. MILLER, CHAs. I. WELCH.

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