US923649A - Cotton-picker. - Google Patents

Description

L. I. HAMILTON. coTToN Hmm. APPLICATION FILED DEU. 14, 1907. 923,649.' Patented June 1,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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wi h1 como L. I. HAMILTON. COTTON PICKER. APPLICATION FILED DEO.14, 1907.

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LEWIS I. .lIAMILTON, Ol" NEW MADRID, MISSOURI.

COTTON-PICKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 1, 1909.

Application led December 14, 1907. Serial No. 406,456.

rl'o all wlmi/1 'it may concern.'

citizen of the United States, residing at New Madrid, iii. the County of New Madrid and State ol Missouri, have invented new which the following is a specification.

The invention relates te an improvement iii cotton pickers of the and delivered into the storage receptacle entirely by pneumatic action.

The main obj est of the present invention is the provision of a pneumatic cotton .picker in which the cotton is separated from the pods iiiainly by suction, the construction including an auxiliary device in the use of which the material maybe mechanically separated from the pods when necessary.

Another obj ect is the provision of a storage receptacle for the cotton picked by the apparatus, which receptacle is so formed as to provide for the initial separation from the cotton material of the usual refuse accom- J panying such material.

rlhe invention will be described in the following specication, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which z* Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a cotton picker constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 a plan of the picking bell. v Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation of the picking bell in position on the picking tube.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred and simple forni of the improved apparatus, it will be noted that the operative arts. of the machine are supportedupon a bed 1 of a` wheeled structure 2, as for example an ordinary Wagon. The detailed construction of the wheeled su apparatus is entirely immateria so far as the present invention is concerned, it being understood in this connection that the apparatus in commercial form is designed to be drawn lengthwise the field during the picking o eration, and that the wagon body may be el) any construction desired, the sole re uirement being that it avoid injury to the p ants over which it is passing.

Secured upon the rear end of the platform 1 is a suction fan 3, which is also of any usual I suction forms no material and i though not useful liiiproveiiients in Cotton-Pickers, of l pneumatic type, l U wherein the cotton is picked from the plant li and in port for the or preferred construction and except that it should be of a character to create a powerful part of the )resent The fan is thus pre erably, necessarily, driven by an ordinary belt 4 from a suitable iiiotor, such as a gas engine 5, though the ian may be geared direct, or otherwise operated if desired. The suction box 6, oii'set from the fan casing open communication therewith, is

invention.

,i provided with divergent suction pipes 7 and 8, the former extending laterally ol the wagon body, while the latter extends rearwardly and transversely ol said body in rear of the fan casing, terminating beyond the side of the body in opposition to the projo."- tion of the pipe i Picking tubes t) are connected to the terminals of the respective suction pipes 7 and 8, so that by the arrangement of said pipes described the picking tubes normally project in opposite directions froin the wagon body and are capable of an extended sphere of movement on each side and in rear of the wagon body. The picking tubes, which are flexible hose, are of the ordinary form except that they gradually taper from their connection with the suction pipesto their free or outer ends, so that from the free or picking end of each tube the inteiior diameter graduaily increases toward the suction pi es.

The free en of each picking tube is provided with what I term a icking bell, consisting essentially in a bel sha ed body 1() havin a pipe extension 11 to t within the end o the picking tube and formed beyond said extension to provide a materially enlarged mouth 12. Disposed within the flared portion of the bell is a diametrically arranged rame strip 13 in which is formed a bearing 14 for the reception of a stub shaft 15. The relatively inner end of this shaft is provided with propeller blades 16, While the outer end is formed or otherwise provided with divergent tines 17, forming a fork for engagement with the cotton, as willpresently appear.

From the construction described it is obvious that the suction created by the fan 3 will, through the medium of the blades 16, impart a continuous revolution to the stub shaft 15, thereby revolving the fork and constituting the latter in effect a mechanical picker.

Leading from the fan casing 3 in opposition to the suction ipes 7 and 8 is a delivery ipe 18, throng which the air drawn from tlie suction pipes is forced by the fan.

'lhc delivery pipe projects forwardly from the casing in an upward direction, terminating in a downturned delivery end or mouth 19, which directly and centrally overlies a wheels thereof, said platform resting in advance of the wheeled frame.

2. A cotton picker comprising a wheeled frame, a suction fan mounted thereon, u

receptacle or cotton receiver' 20. The rel suction box in communication with the fan,

rceiver 20 is preferably of cylindrical form and of substantial proportions, the wall of the receiver being formed of wire netting, as clearly ap )arent from the drawings.

Secured upon the forward axle and tongue of the wagon is a semicylindrical latform 2]., which projects beyond the whee s and is supported on brackets 22 rising from extensions of the axle. The platform provides a support for the operator when working at the forward end of the apparatus.

In use the wagon is moved longitudinally of the field betweenthc rows, and one or more operators apply the picking bells to the respective ripe pods. The suction will be found sufficient to detach the ripe cotton from the pods and draw the same through the picking tubes 9 into the fan casing and from the latter to the delivery tube 18 and thence to the receiver 20. Practically all the matured cotton will be easily separated by the suction, but in those pods in which the cotton, though desirable for commercial purposes, is not thoroughly ripe or is slightly damp the fork 17 is brought into play, being engaged with such cotton and, by the revolution im arted through the propellers 16 will readi y twist or detach the cotton from the pods.

The material of which the apparatus is to be constructed, or the size of the various parts, are not important in the present invention, it being contemplated to construct the ap aratus of a light substantial character and of a capacity suitable to the requirements of its particular use.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is1- 1. A cotton picker comprising a wheeled frame, a suction apparatus mounted thereon, and a supporting platform terminally connected to t e forward axle beyond the a pipe section leading from said box laterally of t e frame, a second pipe section in communication with the box and extending longitudinally of the frame and laterally thereof in opposition to the first pipe section, and suction tubes connected to the respective pipe sections.

3. A cotton picker comprising a wheeled frame, a suction fan mounted thereon, a suction box in communication with the fan, a pipe section leading from said box laterally of the frame, a second pipe section in communication with the box and extending longitudinally' of the frame and laterally thereof in opposition to the first pipe section, and suction tubes connected to the respective pipe sections, each of said tubes comprising a flexible member tapering from its connection with the pipe section toward the free end.

4. A cotton picker comprising a wheeled frame, a suction fan mounted thereon, a suction box in communication with the fan, a pipe section leading from said box laterally of the frame, a second pipe section in cornmunication with the box and extending longitudinally of the frame and laterally thereof in opposition to the irst pipe section, suction tubes connected to the respective pipe sections, each of said tubes comprising a fiexible member tapering from its connection with the ipe section toward the free end, a bell mout i removably connected to the free end of each suction tube, and automatically actuated picking means arranged in said bell mouth.

In testimony whereof I allx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEWIS I. HAMILTON.

Witnesses W. H. DIGGET, HENRY C. RILEY, Jr.

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