AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS AND RURAL ECONOMY. 



125 



Manure Excavators. 



A PATENT has been recently granted to A. R. Hurst, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for the 

 improvement in manure excavators represented by the annexed figure, which is a perspective 

 view. The object of the implement is to loosen the manure, to allow of its being easily 

 shovelled. 



The nature of the invention consists in attaching a strong durable implement, very similar 

 in construction to an ordinary pitch-fork, to the hindmost part of a sled, having suitable 

 attachments to render the implement effective in its operation, by hinge-joints, in such man- 

 ner that its teeth can be adjusted so as to be caused to take a strong hold on the manure as 

 the sled is drawn forward ; and consequently to loosen and separate its particles in the most 

 effectual and speedy manner, and when not excavating, can be adjusted so as not to come 

 in contact with the surface of the ground. 



A represents the sled, strongly braced by the iron straps B B, each of which terminates at 

 its front end in a hook a, to which the power is attached ; C is the swinging cross-bar, which 

 has the excavating or separating teeth D secured in it. This bar is hinged to the sled by 



joints c c, and is capable of swinging on said joints when necessary. The teeth D may be 

 placed at any stfeble distance apart, and may extend from one side of the sled to the other. 

 E is an upright lever for throwing the teeth in operation; it is attached to the swinging 

 cross-bar c. e is a slot cut through said lever. F is a curved swinging stop-bar for keeping 

 the lever E in place, while the excavating operation is being carried on. The bar F moves 

 in the slot e of the lever E, and holds the said lever in the position shown in full lines, by 

 means of the stop /, which fits in the recess g in the lever. By means of this lever, it may 

 be seen that when the resistance is greatest on the teeth, the operation of the bar as a stop 



