496 Report on the Trials of Implements at Oxford. 
chief peculiarity consists in au ccceutric cleaning bar, furnished with a number 
of small projections, which traverses the spaces between the knives and keeps 
them clean, and also insures the last piece being cut, as it cannot escape except 
through the round openings in the disc above the knives, which are of an inch 
in diameter. The eccentric is ^\ of an inch, and the traverse of the bar f in. 
The knife points being aiTanged in circles at ^ in. distances struck from the 
eccentric and not from the centre of spindle, insures their passing between the 
projections on tlie bar, which will bo better understood by the following 
diagram. The illustration B gives a section of the disc showing the clearing 
opening, position of knife, and wedge to secure the same. 
Fig. 12. — Illustrating Messrs. Hornhy and Sons' Root Pulper, No. 1315, 
constructed on the disc pinciinle. 
A Centre of Shaft. B 
A — rian of Disc. B — Section of Disc. 
It follows, from the arrangement of the knives, that at each revolution they 
take a fresh track. In consequence of the closeness of the disc to the face- 
plate, and the presence of the cleaner, every portion of jwlp must pa-ss through 
the circular clearance openings on the disc ; hence the samj^le is uniform, and 
free from shreds or portions of rind. The capacity and shape of the hopper, 
which gi'adually inclines towards the disc, ensures regularity of feed. The 
roots cannot get wedged, as was the case in several of the machines: but 
the work is best when the hopper is kept full, as the pressure from above 
helps to keep the roots against the knives. One point that may be noticed, 
as affecting the regularity of feed, is that the side of the hopper has no taper. 
Each knife has ^ of an inch wearing surface. There are 12 rows of knives, 
13 in each row.* The radius of the disc is 19^^ inches, working surface 13i 
inches. The machine is vciy strong, and admirably made. Price 6Z. 15s. 
The hand-power machine, which received a i^rize of 4Z., is identical with the 
above on a smaller scale. The pulp made by these machines remained com- 
paratively fresh after a period of 72 hours — a point of great importance. 
Pichsley, Sims, and Co., have adopted the disc principle. The rows of 
cutting points are in one piece ; there are 12 sections, each containing 20 
cutters, which have barely i inch wear. The clearing opening extends the 
whole radius of the disc, and this allows of long strips occasionally coming 
through, and must be considered as a less perfect arrangement than Hornsby's 
circular apertures. The sections are attached to the disc by 4 bolts and 
nuts. In case of breakage they are easily replaced, the cost being Is. each. 
* Each knife can be removed without taking to pieces by the attendant at a 
cost of Sd. 
