US848967A - Cotton-picker. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

' B. A. CHEW.

COTTON PIOKER. APPIIIOATION FILED MAY 23,1906.

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.110. 848,967. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

- 3. A. CHEW.

GOT-TON PIOKER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23, 1906,

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\ mlmmm il MEL avwantoz UEITED STATES PAT NT orrioa.

BENJAMIN A. CHEW, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

COTTON- PICKERi Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed May 23 1906. Serial No. 318,341.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN A. CHEW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond and State useful Improvements in Cotton-Pickers and I do hereby declare the followin to be a full,

means directed by the hand of an attendant and when detached is conveyed to a suitable receptacle, the conveying means usually and preferably employed consisting of a flexible pipe, throughwhich the cotton is drfivnby suction, I and the receiver preferably employed consisting of a hopper mounted on' a wa on Ortruck. A

he invention comprehends certain novel details of construction of the nozzle, including themechanical means for detaching the cotton and its driving mechanism, whereby not only may a larger quantity of cotton be gathered with less labor on the part of the attendant andin less time, but the quality of the cotton picked is bettered by excluding therefromleaves, trash, &c., and at the same time each boll is cleaned completely of all adherent fiber.

The invention further comprehends certain novel details in the construction and an. rangement of the severai mechanisms Wl'llCll.

as a whole constitute the complete apparatus all as will be hereinafter described, .and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fi ure 1 is a side elevation of a noazle. or m take end of one tentacle of a cotton-picker embodying the resent improvements, a por- Fig. 2 is a vertical section ngitudinally of the same; Fi 3 is a detail sectional elevation showing t e air-inlet valve? Fig. 4. is a top plan view ofa complete apparatusem- 5o body-mg the Ipresent improvements. .Fig. 5

is a sectiona toward the front of the vehicle.

of Georgia, have invented certain new and" tion of the inc oping casing being omittedl elevation of the same looking Fig. 6 is 'a bottomplan view of a nozzle or intake end with the casing in section. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 gsaredetail views of the mechanical picking.

devices and one of "the cleaners therefor. Figs. 10 and 1 1 are views of a modification.

imilar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates the employment of a Wagon or other vehicle adapted to be drawn or propelled over the cotton-field to be picked,.such vehicle carrying power-generating means and preferably, also, carrying a receiver or receptacle for the picked cotton. Suitable flexible ducts or pipes are provided, which at their inner ends discharge into the cotton-receptacle, while their outer or intake ends are adapted to be directedby the attendants into proximity to' the cotton-bolls and by mechanically operated devices detach the fiber and present the same to the-"duct, through which it is conveyed by air suction to the receiver.-

The vehicle illustrated is an ordinary wagon A, adapted for use with draft-animals and upon it, preferably near the forward end, is mounted the power mechanism, which may, as shown, consist of an internal-combustion engine -B for the prime mover,an electric generator 0, and a suction-fan D, the generator andfan being driven from the prime mover, as will be readily understood. Obviously the power may be a storage battery instead of an engine, and the generator may be a motor, inasmuch as the particular form of power-generator is not material so far as the present invention is concerned.

The suction-fan D takes its air. throu h a trunk E, which may extend along one or othsides of'the body of the wagon, and this trunk is branched into as many flexible pipes or tentacles F as may be necessary or desired. The body of the wagon preferably holds a removable folding receptacle formed I of folding ribs G and a fabric lining H, so as to be readily slipped into position or withdrawn when filled. Discharge-spouts I lead from the trunk into the receptacle, and any of the Well-known means (not shown) for separating the cotton from the air anddischarging the same into the receptacle may be em loyed.

he flexible pipes or tentacles are made of sufficient length to enable the attendants to cover a wide section of the field in each passageacross the same,'and to relieve the -at- 'tendan'ts as far aspossible of the Weight of the tentacles and to elevate the same above the arm K The mechanical picking devices are located at the nozzle or intake end of each tentacle and are preferably driven by a small electric motor L, located on the nozzle and supplied with current from the generator by feed-wires 1, running along the tentacle. For controlling the motor a switch-arm L is provided, located in position to be conveniently operated by one of the fingers of the hand of the attendant where the handle M is grasped for presenting the picking devices to the bolls of cotton.

The cotton intake or receiving openingef the nozzle has a bell-shaped or flaring wall N projecting laterally from the nozzle, so as to be in most convenient position for presentation to the cotton-bolls. Around the bellmouth of the nozzle are grouped a series of pickers in the form of wheels or disks 0, having picker-teeth (preferably such as will be described specifically hereafter) on their peripheries. These pickers project in through the Wall of the bell-mouth on all sidesthat is to say, there are four sets of pickers grouped around the bell-mouth in such relation that a tuft of cotton presented to the open end of the bell will be en aged on four sides, lifted bodily, and ushe through the bell-mouth into the nozz e-duct.

The cotton is cleared from the pickers by cleaners or clearing-brushes P, Figs. 2 and 7, and immediately above the bell-mouth is a kicker-wheel Q, which in its rotation starts the cotton along the duct and prevents any 010 ging in the cotton-intake opening.

The pickers are preferably arranged in pairs on shafts R, journaled in hearings on the bell-mouth and connected through gearing, such as the miter-wheels 1*,while rotation is secured by intermediate shafts R and R between one of the picker-shafts and motor.

The kicker-wheel may be driven by a worm on the shaft R engaging the teeth of the wheel which may be properly formed for this purpose.

The air-intake is at the end of the duct or nozzle, and a means is provided to regulate the quantity of air entering the duct, consisting of a valve, preferably consisting of perforated disks S, the movable one of which is provided with a handle S, projecting through the wall of the nozzle.

W hile the pickers may be simple disks or wheels with teethor projections thereon, betconnected with the flange by rivets and pushed back 1I1t0h6 duct.

wheels or disksare provided with peripheral flanges 0 and the bifurcated inner. parts of,

the double prongs or teethio ,are pivotally o Springs 0 serve to hold the teeth normally projected in position to engage thecotton; I

but it will be noted that the teeth when pro-.

jected are inclined to the radii, and the direc-.

tion of rotation is such thatthe'inc'lination is backward, whereby the'teeth clear themselves x-npre -etfectually' and at" thesame time Wlll entangle with the cotton suflicientl to insure its bein drawn into the bell -mout To assist in clearm the teeth, theo enings in the Wall of the hel -mou'th.throug which the pickers work preferably conformto the contour of the pickers, as shown in the draw-- ings.

In operation the" cotton 'engagedby'the pickers. and carried into the bell mouth.

will practically fill the bell-mouth, thereby cutting off the entrance of-air; but the 'aircurrent is not interrupted, for the normal airsupply is entirely independent of the cottonopening, and, in fact, it is desired to prevent as faras possible any influence by the air on objects in p'roximityto the outer end of the bell-mouth, as by avoiding any inrush of air at this point there is little or no effect on trash or leaves, and conse uently the clean cottonentangled by the pic ers will alone be taken up and pushed into the conveyer-duct. The bell-mouth or flaring shape of the cotton-entrance openingis an important factor,

inasmuch'as such formation not only facili-.

tates the entanglement and picking of the cotton, but it. so distributes the indraftof air, ifany there be, that-trash and leaves not actu. ally within the bell-mouth will not be drawn into the conveyer or duct.

- It will be noted that novpart of the pickers projects within. the. conveyer-duct, but, on the contrary, they are entirely to one side of the same, with the result that the ductis free and unobstructed save for the presence of the kicker-wheehwhich assists rather than retards'the progress of the cotton, -althou gh it will be understood that, if so desired, the said kicker-wheel may be omitted and the air suction alone relied on to take the cotton delivered by the pickers away from the cotton- (ntrance opening. I

To give access to the interiorof the, nozzle, it is provided at one side with 'a door T, and

the pickers are housed in a casing U, Figs. 4

cl 6, to shield them froni contact with the il ants or'other objects, as Well as to prevent the entanglement of cotton therewith outside of the bell-mouth.

In the modification Figs. 10and 11 the nozzle has thelaterally-projecting bell-mouth will be entangled by the proj ections and sub sequently freed by the brushes, and at. the same time, owing to the suctionarid arrange:

Basses B S provided on the inner side with a series'of brushes S, while within the belt-mouth is a similarl -shaped rotary liner T, having openings t t erein, varran ed in ste 'ped or: spiral t the ends of order, as shown in ig; 10. the openings t or in proximity to said openings are entangling grojections or pins t, whereby asthe liner is rotated the'cotton ment of the openings, the cotton will be moved" intd and through the bell-mouth. .The liner is preferably rotated through a con nection Twith a conical clearer U, journaled in the nozzle, and itself rotated through gearing T from the motor.

'The -conical clearer has spirally-arranged pins u thereon, and a brush V serves to pre I wall of Sitld' bell-mouth, means for mechanically operating said pickers and means for creating an air suction through the conveyer-duct 2. In a cotton-picker, the combination with i the conveyer duct or tentacle having the nozzle end provided with a-laterally-projecting bell mouth forming "the cotton entrance olptening, of the rota pickers projecting in t oug the wall of t e bell-mouth, gearing for rotating said pickers and means for creatmg an air suctionthrough the conveyorduct; substantially as described.

3. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the conveyer duct or tentacle having a nozzle end and bell-mouth cotton-entrance, of a series of rotary ickers projecting through the wall of said bell-mouth in angular relation to each other, means for rotating said pickers and means for creating an air-current throu h the duct transversely of the inner end 0 the bellmouth.

4. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having a laterally-projecting bell mouth forming the cotton-entrance, of a series of rotary pickers grouped around the bell-mouth at one side of the nozzle and pro jecting through thewallof said bell-mouth in angular relationto each other and means for simultaneously rotating the pickers; substantially as described.

5. In a cotton-picker the combination with the nozzle having a lateral cotton-entrance opening with'a converging walh of rotary pickers projecting 'throughfthe converging wall of the entrance-opening on opposite sides thereof in position to entangle cotton in the-larger partofthe entrance-opening and .force the same through the smaller gartinto the nozzle; substantially as describe j 6. In a cotton-picker, the combination withthe nozzlehaving the cotton-entrance open:

ing a :rotary carrier,

mountedthereon an s' rings for holding therein, of a mechanical picker forv detaching the cotton from the boll, embo y- A icker-teeth pivotal y said teeth projected; su stantially as de-- -scribed. v

7. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having the cotton-entrance opening therein of a mechanical picker for detaching the cotton from the boll, embodying a rotary; carrier, rearwardly-inclined picker-teeth pivotally mounted thereon and spri s for holding said teeth projected.

'With the nozzle having the bell mouth cot ton-entrance opening, of a mechanical icker for detaching the cotton from the b0 embodying a rotary carrier,' rearward ly-inclined n a cotton-picker thecombination V picker-teeth pivotally mounted thereon and projecting through an opening in the wall of the bell-mouth and springs .for holding said teeth projected; substant ally as described. 9. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having the bell-mouth cotton-entrance opening, of a mechanical ickerfor detaching the cotton from the b0 embodying a rotary carrier and s ringressed picker teeth pivotally mounte on t e carrier and a clearing-brush against which the teeth are deflected for detaching adherent fiber; substantially as described.

10. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having the cotton-entrance opening, of'the mechanical 'icker for de taching the cotton from the 011s embodying a rotary carrier, double-pronged ickerteeth pivotally mounted on the carrier and springs for holding said teeth projected; substantially as described.

' 11. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having the laterally-proj ecting bell-mouth cotton-entrance opening, of the mechanical ickers grouped in pairs on o po' site sides 0 said bell-mouth; substantially as described.

12.. In a cotton-picker, the combination with the nozzle having the laterally-proj ecting bell-mouth cotton-entrance opening mechanical pickers embodying rotary toothed carriers arranged in pairs on opposite sides .of said bell-mputh and rojectin into the same and means for simu taneous y-rotating said pickers; substantially as described.-

of the" 5 13. In a cotton-picker, the combination trance opening and mechanical pickers for advancing the cotton through said cottonentrance opening, of the kicker-Wheel at the inner side ofwand intersecting saidcotton- 5 entrance opening for advancing the cotton in the nozzle;- substantially as described.

- 14'. In apneumatic cotton-picker, the combination with the tubular tentacle through which the cotton is carried by pneumatic to pressure and a nozzle on the outer end of said tentacle having a lateral cotton-entrance opening, of a kicker-wheel in said nozzle extending in a plane parallel with the axes of the nozzle and lateral cotton-openings for, inaugurating the movement of the cott0n I asiand means for adjusting said valve; substantially as describe 16. In a neurnatic cotton-picker the combination with the tubular tentacle through which the cotton is carried by pneumatic pressure and a nozzle atttheouter end of said 6 tentacle, having a eotton entrance opening and a separate air 'entrance opening,fof mechanical ickers for advancing the cotton through t e cotton-entrance opening and an adjustable valve -for regulating the entrance 3 5 of air through the aireentrance-opening; substantially' as described.

17. In a pneumatic cotton-picker the combination with the. vehicle, the powerenerator and suction-fan carried thereby, o the 40 I flexible'tubular tentacle connected with the fan and a pivoted supporting-arm mounted on and projecting laterally from the vehicle and connected with the tentacle at a point remote from the vehicle; substantially as de: 5-

scribed.

18. In a pneumatic cotton-picker, the combination with the vehicle; the powerenerator and suction-fan carried thereby, Q the flexible tubular tentacle connected with the fan and an adjustable su porting-arm pivotally supported by the vehicle and connected with the tentacle at a point remote fro1 r 1 the vehicle; substantially as described? v BENJAMIN A. CHEW.-

I/Vitnesses:

IRVIN ALEXANDER, WILLIAM O. TARvnR.

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