S 695 
 .P5 
 Copy 1 
 
S 695 
 
 .P5 
 
 Copy 1 
 
 K. ».. I. — .7 
 
 ' -11. -.1 April tl. litis. 
 
 United States Department of A^^rinnltnre. 
 
 BUREAU OF PLAN I INDUS IKY. 
 
 Korage-Crop InvcstiRations. 
 
 WASHINGTON. I) C. 
 
 A KOTAKV SEED HARVESTER FOR CRIMSON 
 
 CLOVER. 
 
 H.v \: .1. IMi-rrKit.s. \(tniii<nnist 
 
 DEVELOP.MENT OF A U(»r\|{V SKKI) M\I{\KSTKR. 
 
 Ill 1!>1L>, the atti'iKion of .Mr. J. M. Wost-ralc. ilu-ii in c-liai-<' "f Ww 
 i-Iovcr iiivostip.tHms of Ih,. Oduv of Fori.«,ro-C •,•„,, InvosiiLriitioii,., was 
 nill.Ml lo the pos.^ilMlity of makiii^r a n)tary liarvestcr for crimsoii- 
 
 clovci- M'(m1. 
 
 Till' ii.so of (oiiih strippors wa.s doscrihcd and a l»ricf account of 
 llic early work in (Icvclopini; such a r(>tary shipper was «rivon by Mr. 
 Westofato in Farmers' bulletin ClC. .Sin.v ihat .lato thrprcssiiro of 
 otlK-r work has provonlo.l Mr. J. F. I'.arirliaii.scn, of (he Hiircau of 
 Markets, from porfoctini: the machine, and it has n..t vei been possi- 
 hh" to perfect a universal atta.-hment hy which th.> "essential parts 
 can he placed upon any mowinir machine. Such an attachment woiiM 
 l)e valiiahle an.l will undoiihtedly he devised. It has seemed unwise, 
 lu.Avever. lon^ror to delay the puhlication of the specifications for the 
 rotary sec"!! harvester for crimson clover as at present developed. 
 (Fi^. 1-7.) For the su«r<:estions leadini: to the i)resent machine, 
 credit IS due to Mr. West-ate. and for IJi.' dcvel..p„,ent of (iM.e .su^r. 
 •^esti.ms credit is ,lue to Mr. Harirhau>en, in whose name the puhlie- 
 service patents have heen taken. 
 
 Durin- th.. winter of IDl.', IT, ;, e.miplefe machine was hiiiit an.l in 
 May. IIIK;. it was .shippe.I to Kalei-h. X. (".. i„ ,:,,ler that a thorouirli 
 trial mij,dit he made. Mr. Barijhausen and (he writer went lo Kaleiirh 
 on May 17, l!»ir,. and the machine was ^nven a trial in a (i.-ld of erim- 
 son clover placed at their di.sposal hy Mr. William Wvatt. A num- 
 her of pei-sons intere>ted were pivsent, amon.ir whom were Mr. Clar- 
 ence Poe. editor of the Proirressive Farmer: Dr. P.. W. Kihrore. di- 
 rector of the Xorth Canlina A.irri.iilhiral Kxperiment Station; Prof. 
 C. P,. Williams, vice director of the North Carolina Afrricultural Fx- 
 penment Station: Prof. P. F. L. Vate.s, of the Xorth Carolina Vcr.-j. 
 cultural College; Mr. T. W. Parker, >uperintendenl of the State Dem- 
 .mstration Work: and Mr. ('. P. Ilud.son, lea.ler of the agricultural 
 agre.its. The seed provd to he not fully rii.e. A week later would 
 have heen a iimrc favorahle date for the trial. 
 
 4.-,l50' — IS 
 
 / 
 
The ground on Avhich the test was made had been in cotton the 
 year before, the clover having been seeded in the standing cotton. 
 The surface was rough, on account of the ridges caused by cultivation, 
 and more pronounced ridges were occasionally encountered, due to 
 the terracing of the slope. These conditions and the sandy nature 
 of the soil led to some difficulties, so that the speed necessary for 
 the proper action of the reel could not always be maintained. 
 
 Owing to recent heavy rains the clover (besides being not quite 
 ripe) was very wet. It was in good condition to be cut with a 
 mower, but on the morning of the day of the trial the hulls would 
 not strip. The testing of the machine was, therefore, delayed until 
 afternoon, when the wind and sun had measurably dried the clover. 
 
 Fig. 1. — Front view of a rotary seed harvester for crimson clover. 
 CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE VALUE OF THE ROTARY SEED HARVESTER. 
 
 It will not be necessary here to go into the details of the trial. 
 Suggestions were freely made by those present, and the points made 
 below summarize the opinions expressed and the conclusions that 
 seem to be warranted by the trial. At a later date the machine Avas 
 further tested by Prof. Yates, of the North Carolina College of 
 Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and his report is included in the 
 following summary : 
 
 (1) A machine of this type will do its best work when the gi'ound is 
 reasonably level and the clover ripe and dry. The guide teeth, figures 2 and 
 3, II, are made to run near the ground, so as to engage any low or down clover 
 (fig. 4), and when the ground is ridge<l they often cut tlirough the soil, thus 
 reducing the speed and stopping the reel. A lever (fig. 2, 0), has been pro- 
 vided, so that the operator may lift the guide teeth, but when ridges are 
 frequently and suddenly encountered it is not always jtossilde to manipulate 
 this lever quickly enough. The entire body of the machine is also necessarily 
 hung low, and on ridged soil this frequently causes great friction, especially 
 when the drivewheel (fig. 2. V) happens to droii into a hollOAV or furrow. 
 
 0. of D •.•••• 
 
 NOV 19 ISiv 
 
Ir slioulil lit' st;iit'<l. iluM-cfnif. thill |M'rs..us contpniplatiiis flio Imrvestiiitr of 
 cririison-clovcr seetl with a iiijicliiiit' of lliis sort should sow ih*' socd on a piece 
 oC fiiirly love! ^'roniid. This harvcsicr sliijis iIm- hulls iiom the heads and 
 leaves tlie stalivs, and the liulls will not strip unless rip«' and dry. To use a 
 rotary stripjier the <'lover should he left standing' until at least 7."> per <i'nt of 
 the seeds are ripe. 
 
 W 
 
 I'i'tuil.-; of (.•oiistriK'tioii of ;i rot;irv scfil linrvcstor f'>r irliiisiin . ,.> 
 
 ( ■_' » ^\■hen the clover is ripe and dry the rotary stripjier will ;;et iipwanl of 
 !K) per cent of the seed. Vi'ry little seeil was left on the i:iound. When the 
 seed crop is cut with a mower and raked, a consideraMe purtion of the seed 
 is always left on tlie irround. 
 
 (o) A considerahle acreaire <an he harvested in a short time; conseipiently 
 tlie clover cau he left until ripe aial a favorahle day awaited. On the farm 
 
 I'lr,. :■!.- Cross 
 
 •tion of a rotiirv soi-<l luirvi'ster for 
 c'uustruction. 
 
 ^Ii"\vhiii tl'-tiiils of 
 
 of I'rof. Vates ahout 7 acR's were harvesttil in le.ss than a day. and it is 
 believe«l that under favorahle conditions nearly 1<> acres a day cau he ;,'atliereil. 
 Stauiliiiir clover is little daniawd by any but a lieavy rain, while after the 
 clover is cut a li^'ht rain c»)utinued for several days may nun tlie crop. When 
 a seed crop is cut with a mower the clover must lie :i little underripe, in 
 order to minimize the loss from shatteriu},'. The clover must then lie for a 
 «lay or two liefore it is raked, anil if during this time showers come irreat 
 damaire to the seed may result. 
 
(4) From these tests it appears that at least as many acres can be harvested 
 in a clay with a rotary stripper as with a mower, and probably more, 
 
 Fi(j. 4, — Guide teetli of a rotary seed haivc^ur I'ur eiiiusou clover, 
 clover heads are engaged. 
 
 showiuu how the 
 
 'i 
 
 !**>■'' 
 
 H 
 
 and when the stripped pods are sacked the worli is done, thus saving the 
 
 extra labor of raking, stacking, and tlu-ashing involved in the old method. 
 
 (5) When the rotary stripper is used, the stalks and leaves are practically 
 
 all left on the ground to be turned under, while by the old method this 
 
 material is either lost or 
 extra work is involved in 
 getting it back to the 
 land. Figui'e 5 shows the 
 stripped area of a field 
 at the left and the un- 
 stripped area at the right. 
 (6) As compared with 
 the comb stripper, the 
 rotary stripper is much 
 more rapid, since the 
 guide teeth, having wide, 
 rounded spaces between 
 them, do not become 
 clogged, as is the case 
 with a comb stripper. 
 Westgate states in Farm- 
 ers' Bulletin 646 that a 
 comb stripper will gather 
 the seed from about 2 
 acres a day. The rotary 
 stripper will do four times 
 as much work. It must 
 be said, however, that 
 when only a small piece 
 of clover is to be handled 
 
 Mi 
 
 Fii;. .",. — A fiield of crimson clover, showing the .iit.-i 
 stripped of its seed heads (at the left) and the un- 
 stripped area (at the right). 
 
 and time and labor are not important considerations, the use of the comb 
 stripper, which can be made at home at a small expense, is to be advised. 
 
(7) A nuinbcr of tlic ciist-iroii tn-lli in lln- lii:il iii:nlijin- wfic l.ioki'ii wIkmi 
 stoiK'S wiTo cncouiilcrcil. It is rccumiin'inliMl. iluTt-ron-. tli.il IIk'so tf«'(li Ite 
 iiiMilf of MiiilU'iililt' iron. 
 
 I.ATKK IMrKOVEMENTS ON THE KOTAKY SKm HARVESTER. 
 
 Siiifc llu' (laic of tlic Iriiil :ili(»\c icrcnt'd lo :iii iiiiiirov ciiicul n|)(iii 
 I lie iimcliiiie li:i> Iti'cii iiiiidi'. ii> ^li()\\ ii in I'lL'iir*'- •• :iihl 7. 'I'lii^ iiii- 
 
 Fio. fi. — AfljiistMl.lo hnnpiT of a n.inry s.. .1 luirvst.-i ii.r . rim^on . iov i : /, PiTspoctlvo 
 viow. showiii;: till- spi(H-ki't \\Uvv\ iiiid luiin:: l.iir; //. ilctJiil vl.w, •-linwins H"' ;:r..oves 
 for st<'i-l liriishcs : ///, (loiails <.r <<in-iiin<tinii ..f ili.- !i<ljii-itlim <l<'vlc.-. 
 
 provenient consists of n device foi- i-:ii>in*r and l<i\verin<r llie reed wliicli 
 holds the bnishes. The «rica(er thi' distance the l»ni>hes can work- 
 above the irnide teeth, the less will he the friction. If the clover is 
 
6 
 
 dry and the hulls strip readily, the brushes may be raised so as to 
 strike the heads onl}', while if the hulls strip with difficulty, the 
 brushes should be set lower, so as to give them a longer sweep of the 
 heads. 
 
 Certain improvements and additions will naturally suggest them- 
 selves to those who use the rotary stripper. It may be possible to 
 facilitate the removal of the hulls from the hopper. This would 
 greatly increase the capacity of the machine. Other improvements 
 may also be made, but it is thought best to turn this seed harvester 
 over to the public at the present stage rather than to hold it longer 
 for the sake of adding minor improvements. 
 
 While the rotary stripper was designed for use in those sections 
 where crimson-clover seed is harvested for local use and is sown in 
 the hull, it is possible that it may be found economical where clover 
 
 Fig. 7. — Enlarged detail of the larger sprocket-wheel mechanism, showing the rMtclict 
 elutcli by means of which the rotary seed liarvester is thrown out of gear (at Icfi » 
 and in gear (at right). 
 
 seed is hulled. The advantages already mentioned, that the clover 
 can be left till ripe and the chance of loss by bad weather reduced to 
 a minimum, as well as the saving of time, would be gained equally 
 when the seed is to be hulled as when it is to be sown in the hull. It 
 is possible, however, that the storing of a large quantity of hulls in 
 sacks might present difficulties, although these would be partly com- 
 pensated for by the smaller (juantity of material to be handled and 
 the consequent saving of time in thrashing. 
 
 Whether a rotary stripper can be used advantageously when a large 
 acreage is to be harvested and hulled can be determined only by 
 further trials. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE ROTARY SEED HARVESTER. 
 
 The following description has been adapted from Mr. Barghau- 
 sen's application for a patent and covers all information, when read 
 
in coinHM-t imi with tlic li;_niics. iu'f('s-;ii\ for <( nisi met in:.'- (Iiis iiia- 
 (•liiiic: 
 
 Fi;,'iiri' l: shows ,i lu-rsiicclivi- view of ihc mtiiry sccil liMrvcsicr. 
 
 Fi^riin- ."i sIkiws n cross section of ilic imicliiiu', inilinliii;: the rot:iiy si*-*! 
 hruslurs. pe;,'t,'0<l strips, ^iiidt" (tiMli, and lioppiM- iii'd. 
 
 Fi^ruro (J prosi'nts tiircf views of (lie :idjiisinl»lt> 1iiiiil'<t, in llu- upp<T I" 
 
 wliicli tlie si)rock('t wIio(>l and liftlii;,' l»ar arc irifludcd. 
 
 Fifiurc 7 presents details nl" loiistrni'l ii.n of the riit<liel .luteli -ear lueeii- 
 anlsin. 
 
 In li^'nres l' and C. 1 represt-nts tlie frann'work or hase of the niaddne. made 
 preferably in jiart of lieavy tiinhers and iron. The iron p.irl. lo wineli tlie 
 heavy tinil)er portion of the framework is seenred. is desi;rnaled as /f in li;:iires 
 1! and 'A. Tliis framework is stiitaldy seenred to m rrossjiiece properiv eon- 
 nti'ted with wheels for earria;,'e. 
 
 The followinfr oxplamition has reference to liirnro 2 and to tin- eidar;red 
 views of certain i^arts of the machine shown in lij,'ures *; and 7: The iron 
 wheel (' is constnicled preferably HO inciies in diameter and set in snilalile 
 hearing's («). This wiieel has a ribbed tread and contains an iidernal .:.'ear 
 (/>) which is 20 inchi-s in diameter. Kn;:a;:intr tiie internal ^'ear is the coj: 
 wheel {[■:). carried on a shaft (/'). which, in tnrn. carries a sprocket wheel 
 ((J) at the other I'lid. A liid< chain (/»), which is kept in place by an idler 
 (r), connects the sprocket wheel a with a smaller sprocket wheel {III and 
 transmits power to a sliafl (/i, which is snppoited by the adjustable lian;;ers 
 ( (/, </' I shown in ^iHiiter detail in tiyure <>. Each adjustable han^'er ( li^'. til is 
 composed of two i)arts (/> and // i . The part /< has a sliaft bearing; </, a pro- 
 j«Htion /•, a bolt s carryin;; a winired nni >'. and a bolt / carryinir a winj;ed nnt 
 t', all of which parts are liereinafter more fully explaininl. Tlie ]iart of the 
 hanger desijrnated // is fastencsl to the franu'work (.!• of the machine by 
 means of three bolls (hi. In the part //' is an a|ierture ( »/' i thron;:h whicli the 
 bolt .v passes and by the aid of the win;:e«l nut v' forms a (tivoted <-onneition on 
 which the shaft / turns. On the rear of the part // are a number of indenta- 
 tions (t) so made as t(j receive the i)roj*'<'ti<»ii r of the jtart /». The projection 
 r is held in the desired indentation r by means of the bolt / passin;; through the 
 slot r' in the part //. beiniu' held in ti.\»'d i>osition by the winjred nut /'. This 
 adjustmeut serves to raise and lower the shaft /. and the ti^diteiiin;: of the 
 nut /' forms a rijritl hanser. Carrieil on either end of the shaft / are the 
 wheels (-/i havinj: a plurality of jrrooves (( ). In the model there are four sik-Ii 
 frrooves (c), which are employed to receive the easily detachable cross strips 
 (K) to which are alternately seenred two rows of ste«M brushes (/. ) and »lual 
 rows of iron pejrs (//i. The stri|ts A' may l»e fastene<l to the wheel ./ in any 
 suitable manner, preferably by mt»ans of two set seri-ws. The wIhvI C is so 
 };eared that one revolution of it cau.ses the wheel ./ to rotate approximately ten 
 times. The fniide teeth ( .1/ i are spa<ed and st'cnriMl lo the framework i li < . 
 These teeth are separated so as t(» provide space l)etwe<'n them of sullU-ient 
 width to prevent cliokin? or vUiHiziwa even by lar^e wei^ls. The hopper (.V) Is 
 supportiHl by the member /. which is fastened to the framework (.1) and may 
 be constructed of any suita!»le material, preferably iron piiH>, and so made as to 
 form a framework for the hopper. The hopi^M- (.V) re<-eives the seeil. which 
 may he reniove«l from it by brushing or swin^pinj: the seetl throujrii the openin;: 
 /'. This openinjr may be made of any suitable size or sha|H' and may be cut in 
 any jtortion of the back of the hopiier for convenience in removing the .seed. 
 Secured to the hopper body are the strips //. «lesitrne<l to sujip^irt a canvas 
 cover, if needed, for use in harvesting tall clover. The handle bar O serves to 
 raise ami lower the fniide teeth t 1/ » by means of iiivotinjr the whole machine 
 
8 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 002 758 582 6 
 
 on the center of the framework (A), which is centered at the shaft a of the 
 wheel C. Secured to the framework (B) is the member h. which serves as au 
 axis on which to raise and lower the guide teeth (J/). The iron strips to are 
 secured at one end of the tongue ((' and at the other end to the handle bar 
 by means of the bolt v. An iron strip (;) attached to the imder portion of the 
 framework (B) serves to hold the handle bar in any position desired by 
 passing a bolt tlirough the aperture o in the handle bar O and through any of 
 the openings ;' in the strip ;. The lever P serves to throw the machine out of 
 gear by means of the ratchet clutch Q engaging tlie shaft F ( fig. 7 ) . The seat 
 k, suitably securetl to the framework ( A i , is adapted for use by the operator 
 of the machine. 
 
 The machine may be drawn by horses or may be propelled by any suitable 
 power. The height of the guide teeth (J/) from the ground is regulated by 
 means of the handle bar O. When the guide teeth have been adjusted to suit 
 the height of the clover in a particular field and come in contact with the clover 
 heads, the machine being in gear, the rapidly revolving wheels J, carrying the 
 ))rushes L and the pegs L'. strip the seed hulls from the clover heads, the strips 
 K being alternately equipped with the brushes L and the pegs L'. The bru.shes 
 (L) are made of closely set stiff wire and the pegs (L' } are made, preferaljly, of 
 a single row of steel pegs set about an inch apart. The alternate action of these 
 brushes and pegs serves to strip the seed hulls from the clover heads. In case 
 the harvester is self-propelled, it would be necessary to place an idler wheel 
 (not sho\\-n) under tlie tongue {w'), in order that the guide teeth (J/) couhl be 
 raised and lowered by means of the handle bar 0. 
 
 In operating the machine in any particular field, two adjustments are neces- 
 sary. The first adjustment is the raising or lowering of the guide teeth (M) 
 so' that the clover heads will appear just above tliem. This adjustment is 
 effected by elevating or lowering the handle bar to the desired position and 
 then inserting a bolt through the aperture o in the handle bar O and through 
 any corresfjonding opening in the .strip j, as already described. The second 
 adjustment is made by means of the adjustable hangers d and d' and serves to 
 regulate the height of the brushes L and pegs L' above the guide teeth (M). 
 this adjustment depending upon the green or ripe, wet or dry condition of the 
 clover when harvested. In figure 6 the adjustal>le hanger is shown at its lowest 
 point at II and at its highest point at III. Adjustment is made by pivoting the 
 part p on the bolt «, so as to insert the projection r on the part p into the 
 desired Indentation v in the part p'. The bolt t of the part p passes through 
 the slot v' in the part />'. The adjustment is held in place by tightly screwing 
 up the winged nuts s' and t', thus forming a rigid hanger and permitting the 
 shaft carrying the brushes L and the pegs L' to be adjusted as may l>e desired. 
 Tlie adjustment is made at the distance desired from the guide teeth (M) ac- 
 cording to the condition of the crop, as already mentioned. By making these 
 two adjustments, as described, the removal of the clover seed is accomplished 
 with a minimum of injury to the plant. The wheels ./, carrying the brushes L 
 and the pegs L', respond to the movement of the carriage wheels upon which 
 the machine is mounted and rev(^lve the brushes and pegs, thereby causing 
 them to gently sweep or brush the clover heads engaging the guide teeth (J/), 
 stripping the hulls from the clover heads and brushing them rearward into the 
 hopper (N). 
 
 Approved : 
 
 Wm. a. Taylor, 
 
 Chief of Bureau. 
 February 4, 1018. 
 
 WASHIXOTOX : COVEEXilEXT PRIXTIxr; OFFICE : 191S 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 002 758 582 6 
 
 Metal Edge, Inc. 2007 RA.T.