PEAR MACHINERY. 17 



PEAR CUTTERS. 



The machine shown in Plate II, figure 2, consists essential! y of a 

 solid cast-iron wheel, 1 feet in diameter, with two knives arranged at a 

 narrow angle with the radius on one of its faces. Behind each knife, 

 hollowed out of the face of the solid casting, there is a pocket extend- 

 ing the length of the radius. The front face of this wheel is plain, 

 save for these pockets, which receive the chopped pear and carry it 

 out of the machine. These are li inches deep, 22 inches long, and 9 

 inches wide. The back of the wheel is made irregular by the projec- 

 tion of the knife pockets, radial thickenings, and a perimeter 2 inches 

 wide, for strengthening the casting. 



The knives are bolted on to the face of the wheel over the pockets, 

 and are one-half inch in thickness, with a bevel toward the wheel. In 

 revolving, the knives pass a shear plate which is adjustable and bolted 

 into the frame. 



The wheel is supported vertically on a horizontal shaft running in 

 boxes supported on a wooden frame. The wheel is operated by a pair 

 of gears with a ratio of 5i to 1, the shaft of which is squared to receive 

 the knuckle of the horsepower ground rod. The main shaft also has 

 sprockets for the operation of the carrier chain. To it also may be 

 attached a pulley for the adaptation of steam power. AVhen the 

 machine is set up, a short chute is bolted at an acute angle with the 

 face of the vertical wheel, in such a position that it terminates in 

 the same horizontal plane as the axis of the wheel. The pear is forked 

 into the chute, fed against the face of the wheel with its revolving- 

 knives, and is cut and mashed into small pieces. The chopped mate- 

 rial is carried down in the pockets and dropped into a carrier, operated 

 upon the same principle as the common straw stacker, which carries 

 the chop off into whatever receptacle is provided for it. This is 

 usually the ordinary wagon box, for the chop is hauled directly from 

 the machine to the feeding ground. 



The machine as operated by Mr. J. C. Glass, of Eagle Pass, Tex., 

 has a few labor-saving devices attached to the regular construction 

 as shipped from the factory. Upon the cutting side and opposite the 

 horsepower a large platform about 3i feet high is constructed to reach 

 up to and partially surround the wheel. This is large enough to hold 

 one da} 7 's feed of uncut pear, which is thrown on to it from wagons. 

 From this platform the pear is fed into the chute, which is situated 

 just above it. Under the elevated carrier is constructed a triangular 

 box of about the same capacity as a double wagon box. On the lower 

 end of this is a trap gate which can be sprung so as to allow the chop 

 to slide into the wagon with no handling. The cost of the machine, . 

 together with the additional construction, is about $125. 

 30±45— No. 74—05 3 



