Improvement in Cotton Scrapers and Choppers. Page: 3 of 4
This patent is part of the collection entitled: Texas Patents and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
160,111
same time are carried forward by the advance
of the machine.
The size.of the knives P and the construc-
tion of the gear-wheels D E, in connection
with the circumference of the drive-wheels C,
are such that when the cross-bars O are placed
close together upon the shaft F the cats of the
knives P will join or touch each other, so as
to be continuous, and all the plants in the
row will be destroyed.
By adjusting the cross-bars O at any de-
sired distance apart, say, two inches, for ex-
ample, two hills of two inches width will be
left at each revolution of the shaft F.
One of the arms of one of the cross-bars
O is made in two parts, which overlap and
are hinged to each other, and are provided
with a swiveled screw, Q, as shown in Fig. 5,
so that by turning the said screw the knife P
attached to the movable part of said cross-
bar may be moved back out of working posi-
tion.
By this construction, when the cross-bars
O are close together and the movable knife P
turned back out of working position, one hill
will be left at each revolution of the shaft F.
These two adjustments enable the chopper to
be set to chop the cotton to any desired stand.
Upon the shaft F, near its forward end, is
formed a neck or journal, which fits into a
longitudinal slot in the bar 1t, in the side of
which bar is formed a notch or opening to
enable the said bar to be readily slipped
upon and off the shaft F. The upper end
of the slotted and notched or hooked bar iR
is pivoted to the end of a lever, S, which is
pivoted to the lower end of a stud or hanger,
T, attached to the curved guide-bar U. The
other end of the bar or lever S is pivoted
to the end of a bent lever, V, which is piv-
oted at its bend or angle to the frame A,
and the free end of which projects back into
such a position as to be readily reached and
operated by the driver from his seat VW.
This construction enables the driver to raise
the choppers from the ground when, on ac-
count of the thinness of the plants or other
cause, he does not wish to have the chop-
pers operate and does not wish to raise the
scrapers. The driver's seat V is supported
by bars X, attached to the side and rear end
bars of the frame A.
The curved guide bar or plate U is sup-
ported by short posts Y, attached to the
frame A. Z are the scraper-plates, which are
bent or curved longitudinally to give them
the proper form to scrape the soil and weeds
away from the plants. The extreme forward
end of the scrapers Z are bent so as to form
a vertical lip, z', as shown in Fig. 2, to enable
the scrapers to work close to the plants with-
out breaking away the soil in which they grow,
or otherwise injuring them.
To the rear and forward ends of the scraper-
plates Z are attached the lower ends of thebars A', the upper parts of which are slot-
ted to receive the bolts, by which they are
secured to the frame A a', so that by loosen-
ing the said bolts the scrapers may be readily
adjusted higher or lower, as may be desired.
The forward end of the machine is supported
by the small wheels B', which run upon the
opposite sides of the row of plants being
cultivated, and have ring-knives C' attached
to the inner sides of their rims to cut and
break any stalks or other rubbish that may
be upon the row, to prevent the plants from
being injured by said stalks when struck by
the scrapers or choppers.
The wheels B' revolve upon journals formed
upon the opposite ends of the short axle D1',
to the middle part of which is rigidly attached
the lower end of the standard E', which is
curved or inclined forward to cause the wheels
B' to act as caster-wheels in guiding the ma-
chine. The upper part of the standard E'
passes np through a guide or keeper attached
to the center of the front cross-bar of the frame
A, and which may be formed in the base of
the draw-bar F'.
The upper end of the standard E' is squared
off to fit into the square hole formed in the
forward end of the lever G', to the rear end
of which is attached a curved cross-bar, I',
which rests and slides upon the curved guide-
bar U, and has two or more projections, h',
formed upon it for foot-rests, so that the lever
H' G' may be operated to turn the wheels B',
and thus guide the machines. To the upper
end of the standard E' is swiveled a lever, ',
the forward end of which is connected with
the forward part of the draw-bar F' by a
short rod or chain, J'. The rear end of the
lever 1' extends back into such a position that
it can be conveniently reached and operated
by the driver from his seat.
By this construction, by operating the lever
I', the forward end of the frame A may be
raised, raising the scrapers and choppers away
from the ground, for convenience in passing
obstructions, turning around, or passing from
place to place.
The rear end of the lever I', when lowered,
is secured in place, to hold the scrapers and
choppers away from the ground, by a catch,
K', attached to the center of the arched bar
L', the ends of which are attached to the side
bars of the frame A, and which is made wide,
so as to serve as a guard to cover the chop-
pers and keep them from coming in contact
with the legs of the driver.
Having thus described my invention, I claim
as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-
ent-
1. The combination of the clamp G with
the slotted or grooved end of the small gear-
wheel E, and with the polygonal section of
the chopper-shaft F, substantially as herein
shown and described.
2. The combination of the pivoted bearing-
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This patent can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Patent.
McClaugherty, William H. Improvement in Cotton Scrapers and Choppers., patent, February 23, 1875; [Washington D.C.]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth166415/m1/3/?rotate=90: accessed June 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.