US820391A - Beet-topper. - Google Patents

Description

EATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

G. F. CORNER BEET TUE-ER. APPLIQATIOH FILE}; mam. 1963.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fit/awn :55

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

GEORGE F. UONNER. OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN.

BE ET -TOPP ER.

resented may 15, 1906.

Original application filed February 2, 1903, Serial No. 141,53. Divided and this application filed Apri16,3.9fl3. Serial No. 151,291.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. Cessna, a

citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of the city of Port Huron, county of St. Clair, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Toppers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to machines for top ping beets, and especially to means for accomplishing this before removing them from the ground. 7

Inasmuch as a topping mechanism which embodies the features of the invention is easily adapted for use in conjunction with beet-pulling machines, it is hereinafter shown and i lustrated in connection with such a machine. Obvious] the puller may at the option of the user e of any preferred design. As herein illustrated, I show a beet-pulling machine which is made the subject of my application for Letters Patent oh the United States, Serial No. 141,453, filed February 2, 1903, of which this is a divisional application.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a beet-harvester provided with a topping mechanism which embodies the principal features of the invention herein claimed, parts of the machine being broken away to give clear view. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the topping device. Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the topping mechanism. Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section through a roller on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a beet-harvesting machine mounted on a pair of traction-wheels B. A part C of the frame of the machine, which extends forward of the mechanism, afiords a convenient place for the attachment of a draft-riggin 'The beetulling means comprise rotata le members which are located between the traction- Wheels and are ada ted to furrow through the earth on both siriizs of a row of beets, said members being driven by 0 erative connecti on through 5 rockets E on 7 counter-shaft I to the shaft I of the traction wheels B. V

The topping; mechanism proper is preferably secured to the nest-harvester in the following manner: A roller-frame J is secured t0 the beetaharvnql'nl' OIVt'S-I'd Of and ill alime- F,chains G, and Q ment with the digging members. As herein indicated, a convenient place for attaching the device to a harvester of the kind shown is on the (ll'fifhf!'&filfi@. Said I'OllQT-fl't-IIHE J is supported by and rides on a truncated (one or roller, which is rotatively secured therein so that its axis of rotation lies in a plane transverse to the plane oi the pulling mem hers I) and to the path of motion of the machine, the frame preferably being provided Witha vertical stem j, which may have 1ongitudinal sliding engagement in a socket on the draft-frame (I. Said cone or roller K is mounted on a journal k, which rotates in suitable bearings 9' in said frame J in such a position that its periphery rests on the ground the entire length of the roller. Said cone is positively driven by suitable mechanism operatively connecting it to the traction-wheels of the heet harvester, to which it may be attached. Owing to the position of the driving mechanism herein described, the connecting means comprises a to glejoint L, connecting the roller-journal to a horizontal journal it, mounte in suitable bearings j. A sprocket-wheel M and sprocket QQIIHEB' tions we drive the journal If rem the countershaft II of the beet-harvester.

In operation it is best to provide the rollerirarne J with means for lifting it clear of the ground when it is desired to turn the machine around or move it from the field. As herein illustrated, such means comprises link and lever connections with e handle-bar N, which in this instance also raises the beet-pulling members in unison with the roller.

The roller or cone'K traverses the ground just ahead of a cutter O, for which it acts as a gage. The latter may be of any preferred design ada )ted to cut'the tops of the beet Preferably it comprises a horizontal knifeblade secured at oneend by; an upturned stem 0 to the frame J, its cutting edge being disposed obliquely to the ath of travel of the machine slightly in rear 0 the roller K.

In addition to performing the oil's-c of a gage to the cutter the roller K is adapted to carry the beet-tops against and across the cutter, so as to give them a posilive shearing movement thereon. In or der to accomplish this resuit, the roller is positively rotated, so that its small end maintains norms} ruling contact with the ground, or it may have a rate of s ecd higher than this. Instead of the mec ianism herein shown for drivin the cone its smaller end may be provided with spurs or studs, which engage the ground and impart the required slipping contact of the major portion of the cone-surface or with the driving means. The efficiency of the roller is found to be increased by providing its surface with a plurality of flutes P, extending transversely to the direction of motion of its periphery, the flutes gripping the leaves and drawing them over the knife more firmly than a smooth surface does.

In operation the cones gage the position of the knife or cutter so that the latter always tops the beets at a uniform hei 'ht. Furthermore, the combined rolling and sliding movement of the cone draws the beet-tops in and passes them back over the knife or cutter with a positive movement which insures their being severed. The peripheral speed is of course greatest at the largest end of the roll, which is forward of the advanced end of the knife, and as a consequence the beet-to s are carried along the blade with a diagona sliping motion toward its rear end, so that they fhll outside of the line of action of the pulling members. This prevents the latter from becoming clogged with the stalks and leaves and clears a space on the ground on which While, as herein. described, the coned roller is preferable a gage, owing to the lateral motion with which it sweeps across the cutt er, other forms may be used, the cylindrical being erfectly feasible, provided it is not cspecial y desired to move the leaves to one side; also, the roller may be used merely as a gage, which likewise drags the tops across the cutter and holds the beet-crowns from breaking off before they are completely severed, other means being used to force the severed portions away from the knife.

It is apparent thatbect-to ping mechanism of this description may e mounted. on traction-wheels and so operated independently of any beetulling mechanism, and I may use it so if esire. It is adaptable for use with any harvester which is mounted on traction-wheels, so that positive motion may be given to the roller, provided spurs or spuds are not used thereon.

()bviouslycnany details in the form and arrangement of parts may be varied without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and I do not limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention-1 1. A beet-topper comprising a cutter, a gage for the cutter riding on the beet-crowns, anr means for driving said gage, said gage being adapted to coact with the cutter to shear off to s drawn between them by the cutter in the proper vertical relation to the .beet crowns and means for rotating the gage,

the surface of the age being adapted to draw tops between the gage and cutter, and to coact with the cutter to shear them OK.

3. A beet-to per comprising cutting means and a cone-roller gaging the vertical position of the cutting means.

4. A beet-top er comprising cutting means and a positive M -driven cone-roller gaging the vertical position of the cutting means.

5. A beet-to per comprising cutting means and a cone-r01 er gaging the vertical position of the cutting means positiveliy driven at a speed not less than the speed 0 its small end when said small end is maintaining normal rolling contact with the ground.

6. A beet-topper comprising cutting means, and a cone roller traversing the ground in advance of the cutter adapted to maintain said cutter in proper vertical position and to draw beet-tops across the cutting means.

7. A beet-topper comprising a verticallymovable frame, a cutter secured thereto, and a concd roller journaled in said frame, in advance of the cutter, adapted to gage the vertical position of the cutter, and positively driven at a speed not less than the speed of its small end when the latter is maintaining normal rolling contact with the ground.

8. A beet-topper comprising a verticallyniovable frame, a cutter secured thereto, and a coned roller journaled therein slightly in advance of the cutter, adapted to gage the vertical position of said cutter, and means operatively connecting said cone to tractionwheels, adapted to positively rotate said cone at a speed not less than the speed of its small end when the latter is maintaining normal rollin contact with the ground.

9. beet-topper comprising a frame vertically movable a frame su )ported on traction-wheels, a concd rotatabie roller supporting said frame by"'contact with the ground throughout its length, a cutter secured to said frame in close proximity to and behind said roller, an adjustable universal-joint connection between said roller and a (hive-wheel and operative connections between said wheel and the traction-wheels of the machine.

It). A beet-topper comprising a frame held in horizontal alinement in a frame supported.

on traction-Wheels and vertically supported by a cone-roller journaled therein engaging with the round, a cutter secured to said frame in c ose proximity to and behind said lot roller, driving mechanism ada ted to rotate In testimony whereof I have hereunto said roller at a speed not 1e as 1; an the speed signed my name to this specification in the ID of its small end when the latter is mainteinpresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ing normal rolling contact with the ground,

whereby said roller engages and carries beet- GEORGE CONNER' tops die onell across the cutter and dis- Witnesses: char es 1; em cm the machine at the rear- D. E. PURDY,

war end of said cutter. F. J. SOHROEDER.

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