US660531A

US660531A - Cotton-harvester.

Info

Publication number: US660531A
Application number: US69921798A
Authority: US
Inventors: Axel Levedahl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1898-12-14
Filing date: 1898-12-14
Publication date: 1900-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1917-10-23

Description

Nu. 660,53l. Patented Oct. 23,, I900.

A LEVEDAHL COTTON HARVESTER.

(Application am Due. 14, 1898;!

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

{No Model.)

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No. 660,531. Patented Oct. 23, I900.

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(Application filed Dec. 14, 1898.), (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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canon HABVESTER.

(Application filed D90. 14, 1898.)

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No. 660,53l.

A. LEVEDAHL. COTTON HARVESTER.

(Application filed Dee. 14, 1898.;

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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Patented 0ct.23, I900. A. LEVEDAHL.

COTTON HARVESTER.

(Application filed Dec. 14, 1898.)

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AXEL LEVEDAHL, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

I CO'TTON-HARVESTER.

SIPEGIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 660,531, dated October 23, 1900.

Application filed December 14, 1898. serial No. 699,217. (.No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, AXEL LEVEDAHL, of Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Harvesters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cotton-harvesters of that class in which rotating drums carrying picker-fingers are arranged on the machine with a space between the drums, so as to permit said drums to pass on opposite sides of a row of cotton-plants when the machine is in operation.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction and operation of machines of this character; and the invention consists in the devices and combination of devices hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

For the purpose of clearness in the following description of my improvements I will first briefly describe the general features of a cotton-harvester of the class herein illustrated. In such a machine the devices for picking the cotton are two in number and are arranged with a space between them, so as to pass on opposite sides of a row of standing plants, the picking devices being supported upon an arched frame,which is mounted on two grou ndwheels arranged to travel on opposit sides of the row of plants to be stripped. Each of the two oppositely-arranged picking devices is com posed of a vertical drum carrying rotating picker fingers orffstems, which project in a horizontal direction from the convex surfaces of the drum, the proximate surfaces of the two oppositely-arranged drums having such a backward motion relative to the advancing machine as to render them substantially stationary relative to the standing cotton. The picker-fingers are arranged in several horizontal series about the several drums and are of such construction that by their rotation in con tact with the cotton-bolls the cotton fiber is pulled by them from the bolls and wound upon the fingers. To remove the fiber from these pickerfingers, the latter are made to pass in the further revolution of the drum close to radial brushes which revolve rapidly in a horizontal direction opposite to that taken by the picker-fingers and which after stripping the fiber from the picker-fingers throw it by centrifugal action into an adjacent receptacle. Each of the two receptacles employed (one on each side of the machine) is here illustrated as combined with an elevator and carrier device by which the cotton is taken to the top of the machine and ultimately to the rear of the same, where it is delivered into bags which when full are dropped to the ground. A pole or tongue projects forwardly from the middle of the elevated arch or cross-beam of the main frame of the machine, so that two animals hitched on opposite sides of the pole may travel between rows in front of the ground-wheels. The various operating parts of the machine are driven by suitable gearing from these ground-wheels.

Referring to the accompanying drawings of such a machine embodying my invention, Figure l is a perspective of the principal elements of the main frame viewed from the rear. Fig.2 is a side elevation of the entire machine, having parts of the near groundwheel broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section from front to rear between the opposite picking and elevating mechanisms. Fig. 4 is a rear view of the machine, one of the ground-wheels being shown in vertical axial section to illustrate its inner dished form, and a part of the rear support for the conveyers and of the receptacle-wall being broken away, while certain other parts are shown in transverse vertical section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, partly in vertical section, of the frame-adjusting mechanism. Fig

5 is a top View of part of the vertically-movable member of the duplex main frame, which carries the picker and picker-cleaning mechanisms, showing portions of the drivinggear, the non-adjustable portion of the duplex frame being shown in horizontal section. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the transverse driving-shafts and their connections, together with the upper ends of the picker-drums. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section in the line 7 7 of Fig. 6, showing the ratchet-clutch connection for the shaft-coupling sleeve with the divided main horizontal driving-shaft. Fig. 8 is a vertical axial section in the line 8 8 of end plate having the guard-flange.

Fig. 5 ofthe intermediate gear-wheel through which each of the picker-cleaner shafts is driven. Fig. 9 is an under side view of the lower end plate of the picker-drum when provided with a guard-flange for the protection of the lowermost pickers on the drum. Fig. 10 is an axial vertical section of said lower Figs. 11 and 12 are details of the picker-finger cleaners.

In the said drawings, A designates the arched main frame by which the machinery is sustained from the ground-wheels B. The frame A is duplex and composed of two arched members A and A each constructed, v

preferably, of heavy flat bar-iron--say one inch by three inches in its lower portion. To the vertical parts of the arched member A are applied the spindles B for the groundwheels, and upon the arched member A are mounted the various operating mechanisms of the machine. The vertical portions of the arched members A A are constructed to have vertical sliding relation to each other, being for this purpose desirably placed one in front of the other or edge to edge, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, suitable retaining devices being employed, such as the straps illustrated at aand a. This arrangement has the advantage of affording the utmost avail able space for machinery between the vertical portions of the frame. The arched member A, having the ground-wheels attached thereto, is of course not vertically movable, and the actual vertical movement provided for as above described is on the part of the member A To effect the raising and lowering of theframe member A and of the mechanisms carried thereby, the cross bar A of said member A is provided with a rearward offset to bring it vertically beneath the cross-bar a of themember A, and to said cross-bar A are secured two non-revoluble vertical rods A, which pass through the crossbar or of the member A and which are externally screw-threaded to receive nuts a above said cross-bar. These nuts are shown in Figs. 2, 8, 4t, andi as being provided each with sprocket-teeth or, over which is trained a sprocket-chain (1 so that by the rotation of one of the nuts in either direction the other nut is also equally rotated in the same direction and both sides of the machinery-carrying member A of the frame will be simultaneously and evenly raised or lowered. For the purpose of operating these nuts one of them may be advantageously fitted to or provided with a crank a as shown in Fig. 2. Obviously any othersuitable mechanism for simultaneously operating the nuts a may be employed in place of the special devices shown. In addition to the upper cross-bar a of the frame member A said frame member may be add'itionallystrengthened bya second and less-elevated cross-bar M, as shown distinctly in Fig. l, and, as here illustrated, the vertical rods A pass also through this cross bar or brace (0 Between said cross-bar ct and the upper cross-bar a are shown two tubes a surrounding the screw-threaded rods A for the protection of their threads and also operating, if of proper length, to distribute the strain of the Weight suspended from the rods A. This feature of construction is speciallyillustrated in the enlarged detail,'Fig. 4 wherein a tube a is also shown surrounding the upper and projecting end of each of the threaded rods A above the nut d for the protection of these portions of their threads. These upper tubes 06 are shown closed at their upper ends or tops and may be advantageously secured to the nuts a themselves, as indicated in Fig. 4*, to retain them in place.

The lower ends of the vertical parts of the frame member A are provided with in wardly-directed arms A upon which rest or to which are secured the forwardly and backwa'rdly extended frame-bars,A, in which are journaled the shafts of the picker-dru ms and picker-cleaners, as shown most plainly in Figs. 3 and 4:. To the front ends of the base frame-pieces A are attached the receptacles into which the cotton is thrown by the horizontally revolving picker finger cleaners. These receptacles have outer side walls or housings C and inner side walls C the former extending rearwardly and behind the picker-drums, as shown in Fig. i, and the latter extending back to near the picker-fingers, as seen in Fig. 3.

With each of the receptacles is combined a conveying and elevating mechanism. (Shown at D in Figs. 2 and 3.) Each of said mechanisms, as here shown and as preferably constructed, consists of two endless belts D and D zontal portion in the bottom of the receptacle arranged to carry the cotton forward as it is received thereon and then extends upward to the top of the machine, so as to corresponding'ly carry the cotton, said belt being aided in "the elevation of the cotton by the other belt, D which is for this purpose arranged proximate to the belt D in the vertical por tion of the latter. After rising to the proper height the belt D is directed backwardly to the 'rear of the machine for the delivery of the cotton at that point into bags. For the proper support, actuation, guidance, and defiection of the belts D and D the rollers cl, (1, d d d (Z and d are provided. Of these rollers the rollers d and d are located in the folded ends of the belt D and the rollers d and d in the folded ends of the belt D The remaining rollers are for the purpose of deflecting the belts. Thus the belt D is defiected over the rollers d and d to give the horizontal direction .to its lower portion necessary to carry the cotton fiber forwardly before elevating it, and the belt D is deflected over the rollers 01 d to bring a vertical portion thereof into contact with the vertical part of the belt D forthe elevation of the cotton and to then give a horizontal direction One of these belts, D, has a horito the belt for the transportation of the cotton rearwardly to the rear of the machine. The cotton falling upon the forwardly-'moving horizontal portion of the belt D'is passed beneath the roller 61 where it enters between the contiguous or proximate surfaces of the two belts and rises to the point of their separation at the roller d whence it proceeds upon the horizontal portion of the belt D over the roller d at the rear of the machine into bags, which are successively suspended at this point to receive it. Suitable provision is made for a movement of the vertical portions of the belts toward or from each other, as may be required for the reception of varying quantities of cotton between them. Such provision I prefer to make by giving to the deflecting-roller d a bodily forward movement and applying a spring thereto, which tends to move said roller outward, and thus give tension to the belt. For this purpose said roller d is shown as suspended in a yoke or links 61 to which is applied an outwardlypulling spring d.

The conveyer-belts are suitably boxed, as indicated or otherwise, D representing the side frame-pieces of the boxing for the vertical portions of the belts, and D the sides of the boxing for the horizontal portion of the belt D Each belt is driven by separate application of power thereto. For example, the roller d which is located at the top of the belt D and mounted in the side bars of the housing D is positively driven by the chain belt d while the roller d is positively driven through the same belt 61 and the intermediate wheel at", which intermeshes with a similar wheeld upon the end of the roller (i For the purpose of insuring proper movement of the belt D with its driving-roller the shaft on which is mounted the spur d is provided with a roller (1 that deflects the belt D around the roller (1 far enough to give to said belt extensive bearingsurface upon said roller and also a considerable extent of bearing-surface upon the roller (Z Similarly, to insure the proper motion of the belt D a positively-driven roller (Z is provided above the roller d being geared with the driven roller (1 and caused to press forcibly upon the latter by any suitable and familiar means.

The rear ends of the conveyer-frames D are supported from the rear ends of the base frame-pieces A by means of uprights D the two uprights for the two several conveyerfram'es being connected at the proper height to escape the plants by a cross bar or bars D as illustrated in Fig.4. Said conveyer-frames are also shown in Fig. 4 as deriving central support from connection with the tubes a E E are the picker-drums, and F F are the picker-finger cleaners, both the drums and the cleaners being arranged to revolve on vertical axes. As before stated, the lower journals of these cleaners and drums rotate in hearings in or upon the base frame-pieces A, one of each being placed at each side of the machine. Their upper journals also rotate in short horizontal forwardly and rearwardly extending frame-pieces A secured to the cross-bar A of the frame member A as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. These cotton -picking and picker-fitiger-cleaning devices, together with the conveyer mechanisms, constitute the driven elements of the machine, and for the purpose of giving them motion the following driving mechanisms are employed: First, the

wheels B are each provided on its inner side with a circular concentric rack B and, secondly, the adjustable member A of the frame supports a transverse centrally-divided main driving-shaft G, which has permanent relation to said adjustable member of the frame and is geared with the various parts to be actuated. The first thing to be provided foris the continuous engagement of the drivingracks B upon the ground-wheels with the several parts of the driving-shaft G, which has Vertical movement. Each half of the shaft G is rotatively mounted near its outer end in a bearing A provided on the extremity of an arm A which is secured to the upper end of the adjacent vertical portion of the frame member A and which projects backwardly beyond the rear edges of the frame member A, as shown in Fig. 1. Each half or part of the divided shaft G is further supported, near its inner end, in a bearing A at the upper extremities of similar arms rising from the cross-bar A of the frame member A as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6. Each half of the divided shaft G is provided at its outer end with a pinion g, external to the bearing A To engage each of these pinions with the adjacent ground-wheel rack B an adjustable intermediate gear-wheel B is provided, said wheel B being mounted on a stud which forms the connecting-pivot of two radius-bars b and b, the former being pivoted atits opposite end upon the hub of the groundwheel and the latter being pivoted upon the shaft G. By means of this device it is manifest that the shaft G will always be suitably engaged with the racks upon the groundwheels whatever the vertical adjustment of the frame member A and that such engagement will continue during the operation of making such vertical adjustment. The shaft G is centrally divided into two parts for the purpose of enabling the entire machinery to be driven by eitherground-wheel B. To this end the inner or proximate extremities of the parts of said shaft abutting at g, Fig. 6, are embraced by a sleeve G, which has a ratcheted or similar clutch connection with both parts of said shaft, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This sleeve will therefore be rotated by either ground-wheel or by the ground-wheel which forvthe time being may be rotating at the higher speed-as, for example, the outer wheel in the turning about of the machine. Upon this sleeve G is mounted or formed a sprocket-wheel G which, through a chain 9, drives a counter-shaft G which is suitably 1 so i agmions h h.

supported in bearings g (upheld from the cross-bar A of the frame member A and which is geared with the picker-drums E E to give them their desired rotating motion, as shown.

For the purpose of allowing the pickerdrums to come to rest while the machine is advancing whenever the pickers on said drums encounter an obstruction and of thus avoiding breakage; the driving-gear actuating the drums is desirably somewhere provided with a connection which may slip under unusual or excessive resistant strain. I have chosen to make this yielding connection between the sleeve G and the sprocket-wheel G and it consists, as shown, in a frictional engagement of these parts. To this end the sprocket is embraced between a fixed flange g on the sleeve and a movable collar 9 which is pressed against the sprocket by a spring 9 with sufficient force to carry the wheel, with the sleeve, against usual resistance, but with insufficient force to drive the drums against such unusual resistance as would break or injure the fingers thereon. The tension of the spring g is made variable by adjustment of a nut g which forms the abutment for the spring, said nut being screw-threaded upon the sleeve, as seen in Fig. 6.

The driving connection between the counter-shaft G and the picker-drums is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 as consisting of a circular beveled rack e on the upper head 6 of each drum E, engaged by a beveled pinion g on the adjacent end of said counter-shaft.

In some cotton-harvesters of the class here shown the shafts which support the gear wheels or racks by which the picker-fingers are rotated on their own several axes are themselves non-rotative, while in others they are rotative. They are here shown as rotative. H H designate these shafts, which project upwardly through the heads 6 of the picker-drums E to receive the beveled pin- With these pinions are meshed the beveled spur-wheels H, which are affixed to the several parts of the shaft G, and therefore give independent rotary motion to the shafts H. In order that these shafts when so driven may not be given a backward motion, as when backing the machine or one of the ground-wheels, the pinions g 9 have a ratcheted or other one-way clutch connection with the shaft G, as indicated, so that said shaft or either of its parts can be driven forwardly only. In that construction in which the shafts H H do not rotate this device is unnecessary. In the construction indicated that is, wherein the shafts H H are rotative said shafts are made the medium for giving rotation to the shafts F, I which carry the radially-projecting brushes or arms for cleaning the picker-fingers. For this purpose each of said shafts F is provided with a pinionf on its upper end, and the shaft H is provided with a spur h. Between these is employed a compound idler I, composed of the spur t' and pinion t", the latter engaging with the spur h and the former with the pinion f. (See Fig. 5.) By these means the proper speed and direction of motion may be given to the picker-cleaner shaft, and in order to provide for a change in the speed of the latter shaft I have shown the idler I mounted on a studaxle I, Fig. 8, which is adjustable in a slot 4? in its support A whereby the pinion f may be changed, or said idler may be replaced by one in which the spur t' has greater or less diameter. The slot t is shown as being concentric with the axis of the spur h, in which construction the change-'idlers, if employed,- will all require to have the same diameter of pinion i.

For the driving-belts (i which actuate the conveyer-belts, I prefer to employ sprocketchains to insure certainty of action. The shafts G G are shown provided with sprocketwheels 9 g to engage these chains, which, as will be seen from Fig. 3, are trained upwardly from said sprocket-wheels over the idle sprockets d, which are mounted on studs affixed to the carrier-frame.

Next referring to my improvement in the picker-drums E E, I point to Figs. 9 and 10 as illustrating the provision of an annular flange E at the lower end of each drum, said flange projecting outwardly beyond the circumference of the drum a distance less than the full length of the picker-fingers radiating therefrom. Fig. 9 is an under side view of the drum, showing in a dotted circular line the outer circumference of the drum and in dotted and full lines several of the radial picker fingers. This flange E, I term a guard, since it is for the purpose of guard ing the lowermost picker-fingers on the drum from excessive strain, due to the engagement of the cotton-stalks therewith. It sometimes happens that the machine is not directed properly with reference to the row of cotton-- plants, and if the latter are not brought centrally between the picker-drums, but are brought considerably nearer to the axis of one drum than to that of the other, there is danger that the stalk, which is relatively stiff near its base, may catch and bind between the inner ends of adjacent picker-fingers belonging to the lower row or rows on the drum. The tendency of such engagement of the stalks with the fingers is to bend or break them, and thus to impair the operation of the machine. The guard E prevents such engagement of the stalks with the picker-fingers and obviates this difficulty. Preferably the flange E is cast integral with the lower end 6 of the drum; but it may be securely attached, if preferred. In the proper vertical adjustment of the drums these flanges thus placed will come below the bolls to be stripped and will, therefore, while perfectly protecting the lowermost fingers on the drums, in no wise interfere with the gathering of the cotton. On the other hand, when they encounter a stalk which is notproperly in line The picker-finger cleaners as constructed in accordance with my improvements are specially illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. As will be seen by reference to these figures, the shaft F is screw-threaded throughout that portion of its length upon which the cleanerarms F are to be secured. These arms are made entirely separate from each other, and those composing each horizontal series of such arms are inserted at their inner ends into sockets in the periphery of a hub F which is interiorly screw-threaded to fit upon the screwthreaded shaft F. For the purpose of holding said hubs from rotation upon the shaft F and insuring their rotation with said shaft the latter is provided with one or more longitudinal grooves f, and desirably one or more of the arms F project through the hub into said groove. This projection (shown at f in Figs. 11 and 12) is preferably flat and vertically of the full width of the arm of which it forms part to give the utmost strength and durability. Those of the fingers which do not thus project through the hub into engagement with the shaft may be screw-threaded into the hub, as indicated in Fig. 11. For the purpose of holding the unthreaded arm F inward and of giving mutual support to all of said arms from each other a separate ring F is employed, which is provided with radial openings through which the arms may be inserted and which are tapped to receive setscrews f which bear against the arms and serve to clamp them in place. Said set-screws are desirably constructed with pointed ends and the arms with beveled depressions, as seen at f, by which the set-screws tend to force the unthreaded arms inward and to hold them there and also to prevent all the arms from turning when at work. In this construction of thepicker-cleaning devices each cleaner-arm is separately detachable, so that a defective one may be easily replaced when necessary. Each horizontal series of cleanerarms is also vertically adjustable independently of each other series.

The principal feature of my improvement in the draft mechanism consistsin an evener centrally pivoted at any convenient point on the machine and connected to the whiffietrees through ropes, chains, bell-cranks, rods, or other equivalent means for changing the direction of draft strain. As shown in the accompanying drawings, J is the evener, pivoted for convenience at its rear end to the upper cross-bar a of the frame A and capable of vibrating in a vertical plane. From the ends of this evener ropes 9' pass downwardly beneath pulleys J, which are secured to the arch A and forwardly into connection with the whiffietrees at J I have also provided for producing an uplifting action upon the front of the machine to counteract the tend ency of the work to tilt the machine forward and bear heavily upon the neck-yoke. provision consists,as here shown,of the braces J extending forwardly, one on each side of the machine, from the frame A to junction with the tongue J and arms J downwardly from the braces J into engagement with the draft-ropes j forward of the wheel-axles.

Said arms J are provided with pulleysj, be-

heath which the ropes j are trained, said arms J being of such length as to deflect the ropes downwardly, so that when the animals apply draft to the machine they shall exert a lifting force upon the front of the maf chine through the pulleys j and arms .1. j

The tongue J is rigidly secured at its rear end to the cross-bar a of the frame A and is braced not only by the arms J but also by the central overhead brace J, which, as here shown, is fprovided with a turnbuckle j by which the brace J may be lengthened or shortened and the vertical adjustment of the outer end of the tongue accomplished. In this construction the braces J should have pivotal connection with the frame A and movable attachment with the tongue. Other devices may be employed for this vertical adjustment of the tongue with respect to the frame, and as such other forms of adjusting devices have been employed I herein make no claim therefor. At its front end the tongue J is provided with a neck-yoke J which is centrally arched to connect with the elevated tongue and depends at its ends far enough to connect properly with the harness beneath the draft-animals necks.

Finally, attention is called to the improvement with respect to the wheels whereby the frame projects at its sides beyond the inner margin of the tread of said wheels, and therefore permits the employment of larger these wheels, however, can be placed only a givendistance apart owing to the standard distance between rows of cotton-plants. At

that distance the ordinary construction of wheels affords too little space between them for picking and other mechanisms of desirable size and the mechanisms have therefore been cramped and impaired in their efficiency by reason of their contracted dimensions. To obviate this difficulty, I have devised a wheel which as a separate and inde- This ' pendent invention is set forth in Letters Patentof the United States No. 480,022, granted on the 2d day of August, 1892, on an application filed by me. It is a characteristic 5 of this Wheel, as clearly seen by reference to Fig. 4:, that it affords room Within its rim for the outward extension of the main frame of the machine, and therefore by so much enlarges the lateral space which may be ooo cupied by the operativemechanisms. Briefly describing the wheel as here shown, said wheel is composed of a rim L, a flat sheetmetal plate L, secured to the rim at or near its outer edge, a hub L attached to the sheet-- 5 metal plate, and braces Z Z, which in this case connect the outer end of the hub with the rim at its median line-and pass through the plate or disk L and also serve as spokes for the wheel. The wheel thus constructed may have any desired diameter and affords a dish on its inner side, which gives space within it for the lateral projection of the frame or for the machinery to be in part carried thereby. The exact construction shown 25 is suitable for the special machinery of a cotton-picker of the kind here shown, but the wheel is capable of variation in detail of construction by which a space of greater radial extent may be obtained if the machine re- 0 quire it.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction of various parts concerned in my invention, without departure from its essence, and I desire that such changes shall-be included within the onpright picker-drums, of a vertical duplex scope of the following claims. I claim as my invention 1. The combination with ground-wheels and cotton-picking mechanism, embracing arched frame consisting of an upper member on which the ground-wheels are mounted, having vertical side parts and two horizontal cross-pieces, and a lower member carrying 5 the picker-drums, consisting of vertical side parts arranged edge to edge with the vertical side parts of the upper frame member and provided with a top crossbar offset from the side parts to extend beneath the cross-bars lo of the upper frame member, said lower frame member being adapted to slide vertically on the upper frame member, and screw-threaded rods'and nuts engaging the cross-bars of the frame members and adjust-ably sustaining the lower from the upper frame member.

to sliding engagement with the member A, the

suspending, screw-threaded rods A secured to the member A and passing through the cross-bars of the member A, and tubular struts a placed about the rods A between the cross-bars of the frame member A.

3. In combination with the parts of the divided shaft G and the counter-shaft G which rotates the pickerdrums, a sleeve having ratcheted connection with both parts of the shaft G, a sprocket separate from and mounted on said sleeve, a friction device for rotating the sprocket with the sleeve, and a chain leading from said sprocket to a sprocket on a counter-shaft.

4. The combination with the divided driving-shaft G and the sleeve G having ratchet connection with both parts of said shaft. and provided with a flange of the drivingsprocket G2 revoluble on the sleeve, an adjustable collar on the sleeve and a spring interposed between the collar and the sprocket on the side of the latter opposite the flange on the sleeve.

5. The combination with the frame of a cotton-harvester carrying a receptacle for the cotton, of an elevating-conveyer for the cotton composed of two endless belts each of which has a horizontal and a vertical part, the horizontal part of one of said belts forming the bottom of the receptacle and carrying the cotton forwardly, the vertical parts of the belts being arranged to elevate the cotton between them at the front of the machine, and the horizontal portion of the second belt being arranged at the top of the machine and extended to the rear thereof above the picking machinery.

'6. In a cotton-picker containing a vertical drum or dru ms carrying radial picker-fingers,

a guard-flange applied to the lower end of the drum for the purpose of guarding the adjacent picker-fingers from injury by the stalks of the cotton-plants.

7. In combination with a vertical pickerdrum, a guard-flange at its lower end extending outwardly a part of the length of the picker-fingers on the drum and provided with notches between the fingers.

8. In combination with a screw-threaded shaft F, a series of screw-threaded hubs fitted thereto from which project radial arms carrying pickerfinger cleaners, means for support-ing said arms outside of the hubs, and means for securing the hubs from rotation on the shaft.

9. In combination with a screw-threaded shaft F provided with one or more longitudinal grooves, a series of hubs threaded to fit said shaft and provided with radial openings, a series of cleaner-arms inserted in said openings, one or more of which arms project through the hub into the groove or grooves in the shaft.

10. The combination with a vertical shaft for carrying the cleaner-arms, a hub mounted to rotate on said shaft and having radial openings to receive the cleaner-arms, cleaner-arms the inner ends of which rest in said openings, some of which have screw-threaded engagement therewith, interlocking connections between the shaft and some of the arms, an outer ring also having radial apertures through which said arms pass to the hub, and means for locking said arms to the ring.

660,531 V r *r 11. In combination with a screw-threaded shaft F provided with a longitudinal groove, a hub threaded to fit the shaft and provided with radial sockets for cleaner-arms one or more of which sockets are through openings, a ring exterior to the hub having radial openings for cleaner-arms, cleaner-arms passing through the ring into the hub, one or more of said arms passing through the hub into the shaft groove or grooves, and a set screw or screws applied to the ring in position to engage the cleaner arm or arms which enter the shah-groove.

12. The combination with the arched frame, the elevated tongue, the side braces J and doWnwardly-directed arms J in front of the axes of the ground-wheels, an evener pivoted to the upper part of the machine, a deflecting device carried by the arms J and draft con- AXEL LEVEDAHL.

Witnesses:

R. CUTHBERT VI IAN, WILLIAM N. HALL.