US667370A - Cotton-picker's truck. - Google Patents

Description

No. 667,370. Patented Feb. 5, I90l.

c. c. sownzn.

COTTON PlGKERS-TRUGK.

(Apphcatxon filed Aug 20 1900 (No Iodel.)

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CHRISTOPHER O. SOWDER, OF MODERMOTT, INDIAN TERRITORY.

COTTON-PICKERS TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,370, dated February 5, 1901. Application filed August 20, 1900. Serial No. 27,400. kllo model.)

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER O. Sow- DER, a citizen of the United States, residing at McDermott, Creek Nation, Indian Territory, have invented a new and useful Cotton- Pickers Truck, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cotton pickers trucks, and one object is to produce a machine of this character whereby the operator is relieved of considerable labor and the operation of picking cotton consequently facilitated.

A further object is to produce a machine of this character having a swinging frame or loop to hold the mouth of the bag distended to provide a support for one end of the bag to facilitate and render easy its transportation.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple, strong, durable, and cheap construction.

To these ends the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construclion and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cottonpickers truck embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the seat and its sup porting mechanism.

In the drawings, 1 designates the rear wheels, and 2 the rear axle.

3 designates the front wheels, arranged nearer together and of smaller diameter than the rear wheels, and 4 the front axle.

The reach or coupling pole connecting the front and rear axles consists of the front portion 5, secured to the middle of the front axle, and the rear portion 6, secured to the rear axle and bent downward near its front end, as at '7, so that its front end 8 may rest snugly upon the front portion 5, said portions being secured together by means of a sleeve 9, embracing them, and pins 10, extending down through said sleeve and the overlapping portions 5 and 8., The reach or coupling pole is braced from and connected to the rear axle by means of theforwardlyconverging hounds 11, said hounds being connected together and to the reach at their front ends by the brace-piece 12.

13 designates an inverted-U-shaped frame arranged vertically over and secured to the reach between the cross-piece 12 and the rear axle, and 14 a similar inverted-U-shaped frame preferably intersecting the first-named frame and extending at right angles thereto, said frame 14 being secured to the hounds.

15 designates the seat, swiveled to a depending stem 16, passing down through the points of intersection of frames 13 and 14, this arrangement permitting the operator, seated upon the seat with his legs at opposite sides of the reach or coupling pole, to turn from side to side, and therefore pick the cotton with the least possible fatigue and labor, the resuliiof course being the accomplishment of a greater amount of work in a given time. The seat is vertically adjustable to accommodate persons of different heights and is adapted to be secured at the desired elevation by means of set-screw 17, binding on stem 16, or in any other suitable manner.

To shade the operator, an umbrella 18 is secured to the back of the seat, preferably by means of set-screw 19, to admit of the vertical adjustment of the umbrella.

20 designates a pair of sleeves secured on the front axle near the wheels and provided with the upwardly-projecting arms 21, channeled in their rear sides and provided with the outwardly-projecting arms 22. A loop or frame, almost forming a complete circle in form and numbered 23, has its ends fitting in the channeled arms 21 and pivoted thereto, as shown at 24, so that it may be turned to a vertical position, but no farther, because it strikes the front portion of the arms, or to a horizontal position upon the reach or coupling, as shown by the a'rrow', Fig. 1. To normally hold this loop or frame upright, it is provided with curved arms 25, extending concentrically of its pivot point and down through the outwardly-projecting arms 22 and the expansive springs 22, spirally encircling said curved arms and interposed between arms 22 and the frame or loop. These springs are provided simply to prevent any possibility of the frame accidentally swinging down to a horizontal position. The frame or loop is provided with a number of hooks 26 for convenient attachment and detachment to the bag 27 (shown in dotted lines) and to hold the mouth of the bag open.

In practice the parts are arranged as shown and the operator faces toward the rear and by pushing with his feet propels the machine forward, turning from side to side to pick the cotton, as will be readily understood. The cotton,of course, is easily deposited in the bag, held within convenient reach of the operator, and in this connection it may be stated that female operators can handle this machine as well as male, because the reach or coupling is low and does not interfere with the skirts. Vhen a bagful of cotton is obtained, the operator swings the frame or loop down upon the reach and the weight of the cotton is sufficient to hold the same down against the resistance of the springs to reelevate it. In practice, too, the closed or lower end of the bag is thrown over upon the seat, in which position it can be more readily and easily transported.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a cotton-pickers truck which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of invention, and it is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it is susceptible of modifications in various particulars without involving a departure from its spirit and scope.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A cotton -pickers truck, comprising a wheeled frame, a seat thereon, and a pivoted loop or frame mounted on the front axle and porting a bag with its mouth distended, or a A horizontal position when supporting a bag in the position most convenient for transportation, said loop or frame being provided with devices to engage the mouth of the bag at intervals, and means to support said loop at an elevated position and to yield under the weight of the bag of cotton and permit the loop to swing down upon the Wheeled frame, substantially as described.

3. A cotton-pickers truck, comprising a wheeled frame, a vertically-adjustable seat thereon pivoted ,to swing from one side to the other, and a pivoted loop or frame mounted on the front axle and adapted to occupy an upright position when supporting a bag with its mouth distended, or a horizontal position when supporting a bag in the position most convenient for transportation, said loop or frame being provided with devices to engage the mouth of the bag at intervals, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of'two witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER C. SOWDER.

Witnesses:

O. O. HATHORN, J ESSE MCDERMOTT.

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