US339704A - Samuel e - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) I 2 SheetsSheet 1. S. E. SMITH.

POTATO BIGGER, No. 389,704. Patented Apr. 13, 1886.

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llnirnn Srarns SAMUEL SMITH, OF DAVENPORT, IOW'A, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK H. GRIG-GS AXD JOHN W. GREEN, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

POTATO-BIGGER.

Application filed June 18, 1885. Serial No. 169,062.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato Diggers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved construction whereby the potatoes of a row are excavated and lifted, the dirt surrounding the same being passed downward through open bars automatically agitated, while thepotatoes are carried to the rear free from dirt and discharged from the machine.

My invention consists in a geared mechanism so connected with a potato-digger as to impart an intermittent action. whereby a se ries of bars suitably suspended or hinged are caused to have a side motion SlllflClElltto separate the dirt from the potatoes, causing the dirt to escape between said bars and the potatoes to be discharged at the rear.

It also further consists in a mechanism for excavating all of the potatoes of a row, consisting of two landsides forwardly connected by a pointed horizontal blade, which passes un der the potatoes, together with a central perpendicular standard or colter, which extends from said blade rearwardly up tothe supporting-beam above, and acts to break up the earth and to centrally separate the earth and the potatoes, so as to discharge the same on each side upon the framework of bars at the rear in a condition which admits of a ready separation of the earth from the potatoes.

It also consists, further, in a peculiar swivelhinged or socketjointed connection between the forward and rear mechanisms of the digger, which permits or the turning of the rear portion upside down when the digger is not in use, and when it is desired to convey the same from one point to another, the handles forming supports or runners for the rear portion when thus reversed.

I have illustrated my invention by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my improved potato-digging device. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several views.

PECIFZGATIDN forming part of Letters Patent No. 339.704, dated April 13 1886.

(No model.)

A indicates the main beam of the digger.

B and G are the side handles, which are connected together by the bar a, such as is customarily used between the handles of an ordinary plow.

E indicates the forward extension of the beam A, which extension is supported upon the frame F, resting upon an axle, 72-, carried by the wheels is k.

H H indicate the landsides of the digger, which are connected by the forward horizontal cutter-point K.

L indicates the inclined central standard or colter, which extends upward and rearward from the cutterpoint K to the main beam A, which standard acts to disintegrate and separate the earth which has been excavated by the cutter-point K, and carried backward between the landsides H H.

M indicates a screen composed of the bars m m, upon which the earth and potatoes pass after being excavated. As will be seen, these bars are hinged at their forward ends upon the rod 0, passing between the landsides HH, while at the rear ends they are loosely connected by loops with a horizontal bar, cl, which is supported by hinged standards e etc the handles B and O. Thepurpose or object of having these standards hinged in the manner shown, and of having the bars in m loosely connected at their forward ends, is to admit of a side motion of the screen M.

N indicates a supporting runner, upon which rests the entire weightof the rear portion of the digger, said runner being connected at its forward end with the cutter-point passing between thelandsides, and at its rear end being supported by bars 0 0, connecting on both sides with the handles B and C of the digger. Upon forward axle, h, is placed wheel Z, suitably geared, or provided with cogs at its outer periphery, which mesh into a geared hub, 12., upon shaft 12,, having thereon crank o. The forward beam, E, is slotted, so as to admit of the passing through the same of upright lever 0, which works upon pivot b as a fulcrum, and is connected with crank 22. The upright lever 0 is shown as slotted at the lower end, for the purpose of admitting of a free motion of the crank in giving a backward and forward action to said lever. This construction of the upright lever 0 may be varied, however, if desired, provided only that the crank.

is so connected therewith as to give afree backward and forward motion to the lever, and instead of having the forward extension, E, of the beam slotted in the manner shown, the lever 0 may be hinged to one side of said beam in any suitable manner, if preferred, so as to have the required freedom of action.

1 indicates a rod passing from upright lever 0, and extending rearwardly to the arm at, which is pivoted to plate a, secured to the main beam of the digger by pivot d, which pivot constitutes a fulcrum, upon which fulcrum said arm 00 turns, The rear end of this arm a; is provided with teeth or cogs, which mesh into corresponding cogs on lever 00, which is likewise pivoted to plate 22 upon the main beam by a pivot, of, which pivot acts as a fulcrum, upon which the lever at has a side motion. This lever 00 is bent so as to extend downward to the screen M, with which the lower end of said lever is connected by any suitable means. As will be seen, the rear end of the main beam, A, is further held in position and connected by a cross-bar extending between the handles B and O, and also that side braces are shown as extending from the main beam, A, to the handles B and 0.

While it is essential that the main beam shall be suitably connected and supported with the other parts so as to afford a construction sufficiently strong and durable, it is not nec essary that the braces or connecting-bars shown should be in the precise position represented in the drawings, or that the same should be of the form indicated, as variations may be made in these respects.

z indicates a swivel-bar, whichconnects the main beam A with the forward section, E, which swivel-bar passes through openings in plates, said swivclbar being so enlarged or headed at both ends as to connect the extensiou E with the main beam A, and to permit of the turning of the main beam upon said swivel bar or axis, when desired.

The operation of my improved construction is as follows: The turning of the forward axle causes the gearing connected therewith to turn the crank-shaft a, which imparts to th*. upright lever 0 the desired forward and back ward motion.

cured to the main beam, which lever, through its forward and backward action,permits a side motion to the bent arm or lever .22, so geared as to mesh therewith, uhich bent lever, being connected with the bed or screen M, causes said frame to oscillate upon the hinged adj ustable supports 0 w, by means of which the same is connected with the handles, said oscillation being niadepossiblc by the free-jointed connection of the bars at m at their forward ends. As my improved digger is drawn forward, it passes under a row of potatoes, the landsides being suliiciently distant from each other to pass entirely without the hills, and as theearth and potatoes are lifted or excavated by the forward horizontal point, K, they are carried rearward until separated by the standard or colter L. \Vhen the broken earth and the potatoes reach the fra uie-work of screen M, the oscillation or side motion of said screen, through the action of the mechanism described, causes the earth to pass downward between the bars, and the potatoes,not being able to pass between the same, are carried back and are discharged when they reach the rear ends of the bars.

I am aware that various attempts have been made to construct potato-diggers which were capable of successful use; but as far as my experience extends no construction of digger has been invented or used which has been capable of effectively separating the earth from thepotatoes, and which has not in its operation again covered with earth many of the potatoes aft-er excavating the same.

The practical operation of the construction which I have shown and described is rapid, even where the groundis compact, the form of landsides, horizontal point, and central colter being such as to readily excavate and carry to the rear an entire row of potatoes, while the oscillating motion of the bed or screen upon which the potatoes and earth pass is such as to readily separate the one from the other, and the potatoes are discharged at a point where it is not possible for them to again become covered with earth.

A further advantage to be found in my construction is, that the potatoes, when thus discharged at the rear, are droppediu a straight row, and near together, not being scattered, as is the case with diggers of other form of construction, so that they are trampled upon when the adjacent row is being dug. The fact that the potatoes are thus dropped together results in a considerable saving of labor in picking up the same.

The mechanism which I have shown for causing the desired side motion of the screen from the potatoes, is simple, inexpensive, and not liable to get out of order.

The connection with the forward beam extension, by means of a swivel-joint, is a feature of my construction which possesses considerable importance, as it admits of the con- This motion is imparted to the lever connecting with the geared arm w, se-

venient transportation of my improved digger from one place to another without incurring any liability of breaking or injuring the same, as it is only necessary to turn the rear portion of the digger upside down upon said swivel- IIO or bed. for the purpose of separating the earth E joint and it will rest upon the curved part of when not in use, a coupling is used upon the forward main shaft, which permits of the ready sidewise connection and disconnection of the geared wheel upon said main shaft. When it is desired to stop the motion of said gearing this wheel is uncoupled from the said shaft, and again restored to its normal position when it is desired to operate the digger. This coupling being the usual form of toothed clutch, as shown between gear-wheel Z and shaft h, Fig. 1, requires no furtherdescription. Mechanism for shifting the clutch is not shown, as any of the forms usually employed may be applied thereto.

There is a further advantage in having the forward section of the main beam hinged in the manner described at its point of rearward connection, as by the use of an adjustable clevis-snch as shown in the drawings-the line of draft can be so regulated as to either raise or lower the forward end of the main beam at the point of said hinged connection, which raising or lowering of said main beam has the effect of raising or lowering to a corresponding dcgrcethe cutter-point and landsides connected therewith, thus regulating the depth of excavation. This is essential, as in certain kinds of soil potatoes grow to a greater depth than in heavy s0il,anditis desirable not to exer cise the power required for excavating to a greater depth than is necessary to reach all of the potatoes. It is further desirable to have i the supports e e of the screen )1 adj uslable by means of screws, such as shown, as in passing uphill or downhill it is of importance tobe able to so regulate said frame by raising or lowering the same that the plane or elevation will be such at all times as will permit the potatoes to pass freely to the rear.

Relative to the material to be employed for the parts which I have described, I deem it sufficient to say that the cutter-point, land sides, and colter-standard are preferably made of steel, while the axles, geared wheels, connecting-rods, levers, and frame-work. upon which the potatoes and earth pass after being excavated, are preferably made of iron or other metal snitableforthe required use,while other partssuch as are represented in the drawings as being constructed of woodmay be either made of wood or any other material possessing themecessary qualities of strength and durability.

If desired, the central colter standard (shown as passing upward and rearward from the horizontal cutterpoint to the main beam) may be dispensed with, and the cutter-point so connected with the landsides as to have side supports extending from the main beam to said landsides used instead of such colterstandard. I prefer, however, to use the construction which I have shown; but the change indicated may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

My improved construction operates in the saving of a great amount of labor, as the ramanner in which the work is done by it admits of the digging of a very large quantity of potatoes within a limited space of time.

My construction is comparatively inexpensive, when the amount of work which it will do is taken into consideration.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a potato digger, the combination ofa main beam made in two parts, and connected by a swivel joint with a frame for supporting the forward part of said beam pivotally mounted upon a truck, and an adjustable clevis, by means of which the point of application of the draft-power may be vertically varied, as desired, on the front end of said forward part, substantially as described and shown.

2. In a potato-digger, the combination, with a main beam made in two parts, of a swiveljoint connecting the parts, and a truck supporting the forward part, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, in a potato-digger, of a main beam in two parts connected by aswiveljoint, with curved handles projecting above the rear part of the beam, and serving as runners when the digger is reversed.

4. In a potato digger, the combination of amain beam formed in two parts connected by a swivel-joint with a wheel-mounted support for the forward part, a screen connected with the rear portion of the digger for receiving the potatoes, and mechanism, also made in two parts connected by a swivel-joint, for communicating motion from the wheels of the said support to the said screen, substantially as described and shown.

5. The combination, in a potatodigger, of the beam A, cutter-point K, the inwardly-inclined landsides H H, the handles B G, attached both to the end of the beam and the landsides, the central standard, L, connecting the cuttenpoint with the beam, the runner N, rigidly attached by its rear end to the handles and at its front end to the cutterpoint, and the open screen M, substantially as described and shown.

6. The combination, with the main beam of a potatodigger, of the axle h, the wheel I, the geared hub in, the shaft n, the crank o, the upright lever 0, the rod 9*, levers a; and a, the screen M, and the flexible and adjustable supports 6 e, substantially as described and shown.

7. The combination, in a potato-digger, of

a truck carrying the forward end of the main beam, a rod passing to the rear part of the frame, mechanism connecting the shaft of said truck with said rod, and giving a forward and back reciprocating movement thereto, a pivoted lever connected with the rear end of said rod, a second pivoted lever geared with said i first lever, and a screen connected with said second lever and receiving motion therefrom,

pidity with which it works and the effective substantially as described and shown.

8. In a potato-digger, the combination of a the rear part of the digger is inverted, the viforward truck, a screen for receiving the pobrntion of the screen may be suspended, subtntoes, mechanism provided with a swivelstantialiy as described and shown. joint connecting a rotary port of the truck I SAMUEL E. SMITH.

;, with the screen and imparting motion thereto, and a clutch between said mechanism and said rotary pzut of the truck, whereby, when W'itnesses:

FREDERICK C. GooDWIN, E. L. HUBER.

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