US1864031A - Beet topping attachment for beet pullers - Google Patents

Description

June 2l, 1932. G. H. sEELlNGER BEET TOPPING ATTACHMENT FOR BEET PULL'ERS Fild Feb. 9. 1931 device which can Patented June .21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicr.

GLENN H. SEELINGER, 0F GREELEY, COLORADO Application filed February 9, 1931. Serial No. 514,553. i

This invention relates to a topping attachment for sugar beet lifting and pulling machines. The principal 'object of this invention is to provide a simple and highly eiicient be attached to the frame of the present type of beet lifters or pullersand which will eiliciently and uniformly top the beets in advance of the pulling o'r lifting operation.

Another object of theinvention is to so construct-the device that the tops will b e discharged to the sides of the row leaving the beets clearly exposed for piling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a topper of this character the operation of which will not be interfered with by the leaves and stalks of the beets.

A still furtherrobJect of this 'invention is to provide an automatic adjustment in a device of this characterl kwhich will raise and lower the cutting knife according to the depth orprojection of the beet top above the ground level so that all beets will be uniformly topped regardless of their positionfin the round. n f

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and eficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a parthereof. Like numerals referto like parts in all views of the .l drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates in broken line a typical beet lifter or puller and in solid line the improved topping attachment.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the topping attachment. V

Fig. 3 is a front view of the blade portion of the attachment. This view is taken on the line 3,43', Fig. 1.

f Figfi is a detail view illustrating the construction of the guide roller employed in the device. 'A 'A f Fig. 5 is a. detail view of thecutting blade,

lillustrating its position with reference to the beet row.

-tained in spaced relation by means of The frame of a typical beet lifter or puller is indicated 'at 10 with its lifting blades at 11. Typical sugar beets are indicated at 12.

The operation of the usual lifter orlpuller is well understood, the machine is simply drawn along the rows so that the lifting blades 11 will engage each side of the beets and lift them from the ground'. The beets may be simply lifted and left protruding, or may be completely pulled and left lying along the row. This invention attaches to the frame 10 ahead of the blades 11 so that before the beets 12 are lifted or pulled the tops will be cut therefrom.

The. invention comprises a pair of framel blocks 13 adapted to be clamped or otherwise secured to the frame 10 by means of suitable attachment bolts 14. The blocks 13 support a lateral shaft 15 across and above the frame 10. The shaft may be maintained in position by means of cotter pins y29 or similar devices.

A pair of arms 16 depend from and are hinged orpivoted upon the shaft 15. v Spacing Vwashers 30 are provided to properly position the arms on the shaft 15. The arms 16 are braced from each other and mainany suitable spacers or cross .bracingl 17. The arms 16 and the. bracing 17 form what might be termed a roller frame.` A V shaped, top-parting bar 28 extends forwardly from the arms 16.

A roller shaft 18 extends between the lower extremities of the arms 16 yand provides a bearing shaft for a relatively heavy aligning roller 19. The aligning roller is journalled f upon rollerv bearings 20 about the shaft 18. Suitable packing 21 and packing nuts 22 are provided to prevent vthe aecess of dirt and grit to bearings 20 and to maintain the grease or other lubricant therein. A central guide fla-nge 23 surrounds 'the mid portion of the aligning roller 19.

A bracket member or bracket arm 24 is attached adjacent the upper portion of each arm 16, as shown at 25. The bracket members extend first rearwardly and outwardly, then are bent to extend forwardly andinn wardly terminating in an attachmentto aA 4therethrough This allows the on a slant and be `ofydrag upon the machine.

the relative positionVV between the cutting blade 26 and the aligning roller 19 is always maintained uniform.

In use, the parting bar 28 will act to part or separate the leaves and stems of the beets to each side so as toallow the aligning roller 19 to enter therebetween and roll over the top of the beet'. As before stated, the roller 19 is comparatively heavy. Its weight in addition to the weight of the attached members causes it to crush the leaves and stems down, against the beet top so that it can accurately align the cutting knife therewith. Immediately after the roller 19 hasy rolled upon' one of the beets 12 the cutting blade 26 will enter the beet in spaced relation to the position of the roller 19 and sever the top therefrom. After the blade has entered the beet it will maintain :its horizontal cutting position until it has passed-completely regardless of the fact that the roller 19 may have left the beet.

Should a low beet be encountered the aligning roller will drop and properly lower Vthe cutting blade. Should a high beet be encountered the roller will rise and raise the cutting blade so that all the beets will be uniformly topped re ardless of their position. After the tops ave'been severed from the beets they will be thrown to the side of the row by the plates 27'.

It is desired to call attention to culiar design and positioning of the cutting knife 26; VThis knife is formed of compara-` tively thin, tempered steel or similar material so that it will enter and pass through the beet without exerting a wedging action to break-or tear the top therefrom. It is also constructed in a V-shaped design with one leg of'the V longer than the otherl leg, as illustrated more in detail in F ig. 5. The long legis designed to do the majority of the cutting. It will be noted that the blade is so positioned that the apex of the V comes toward one side of the centerline of the beet row, indicated by the line A-A, Fig. 5. long leg to enter the beet pushed through diagonally which'Y greatly facilitates a smooth cleancut without breakage and with a minimum This also provides va greater bearinof surface on the beet for the vsupport of t e topping structure the peafter the roller has left thetop. The peripheral guide flange 23 is sharpened and enframeY swingingly rear of said roller; and a ters the beet top. It acts to accurately guide the knife through the beet and prevents either the beet or the knife from moving to one side.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, Within lthe scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is 1. A topping attachment for a beet lifter of the type having a frame comprising: a pair of blocks; means for attaching said 4blocks to said frame; a lateral shaft supported by said blocks across said frame; a roller frame swlnglngly mounted on said shaft and extending downwardly and rear` wardly therefrom; a roller journalled in said roller frame; bracket armssecured adjacent the upper portion of saidl roller frame and curving to a position immediately 1n the rear of said roller; a blade extending between their.

pair of blocks; means for attaching said blocks to said frame; a lateral shaft supported by said blocksacross said frame; a roller mounted on said shaft and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom; a roller journalled in said roller frame bracket arms secured adjacent the upper portion of said roller frame and curving to a position immediately in the rear of said roller; a blade extending between the lower ex-ftremities of said bracket arms and positioned a predetermined distance below and to the curved plate supported by each of said bracket arms, said plates curving outwardly and upwardly from a position immediatelyin the rear of said blade so as to direct the severed tops to the side. f

3. A blade for beet topping devices comprising: a relatively narrow, thin, V-shaped, blade-like member adapted to be positioned with its apex forwardly and to one side ofthe Vcenter line of the beets to be topped, one leg of the V being relatively long, said latter leg adapted to cross said center line.

4. A topping attachment for the frame of a beet lifterY comprising: a. lateral shaft arranged to extend across said frame; means for supporting the extremities of saidv shaft from said frame; a pair of arms extending downwardly vand rearwardly from said shaft and arranged to pivot thereon; brace members arranged'to maintain said arms in parallel, spaced relation; a roller shaft extending between the lower extremities of said arms; a

the type having a frame comprising: aV

roller mounted on said latter shaft; a bracket member secured adjacent the upper portion of each arm said bracket members extending first rearwardly, thence downwardly and forwardly so as to terminate below and at the rear of said roller and a relatively nar row V-shaped cutting blade extending forwardly from one of said members and returning rearwardly to the other member.

5. A topping attachment for the frame of a beet lifter comprising: a lateral shaft arranged to extend across said frame; means for supporting the extremities of said shaft from said frame; a pair of arms extending downwardly and rearwardly from said shaft and arranged to pivot thereon; brace mem` bers arranged to maintain said arms in parallel, spaced relation; a roller shaft extending between the lower extremities of said arms; a roller mounted on said latter shaft; a bracket member attached adiacent the upper `portion of each arm, said bracket member extending first rearwardly and outwardly, thence forwardly and inwardly so as to terminate immediately in the rear of and below said roller and a relatively narrow, thin, V-shaped horizontally placed cutting blade extending between the extremities of said arms and forwardly therefrom to a position under said roller.

6. A topping attachment for the frame of a beet lifter comprising: a lateral shaft arranged to extend across said frame; means for supporting the extremities of said shaft from said frame; a pair of arms extending downwardly and rearwardly from said shaft and arranged to pivot thereon; brace members arranged to maintain said arms in parallel, spaced relation; a roller shaft extending between the lower extremities of said arms; a roller mounted on said latter shaft; a bracket member attached adjacent the upper portion of each arm, said bracket members extending first rearwardly and outwardly, thence forwardly and inwardly so as to terminate immediately in the rear of and below said roller and a relatively narrow, thin V- shaped horizontally placed cutting blade extending between the extremities of said arms and forwardly therefrom to a position under said roller; and a plate secured to each of said arms, said plates arranged to approach each other at a point immediatelyr back of said cutting blade and inclined outwardly from each other.

In testimony whereof, I

alx my signature. GLENN I-I.

SEELINGER.

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