Patent GB-652002-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to seed-sowing devices
IPC: A01C7/18
Filed: 1948-07-01
Abstract: 652,002. Seed-sowing machines. RUSSEL L'S (KIRBYMOORSIDE), Ltd., and RUSSELL, G. E. July 1, 1948, No. 17762. '[Class 6 (i)] A seed-sowing device comprises a box into which seeds pass from a hopper 1, the box containing a rotor rotatably mounted in contact with an adjustable spill plate, so that seeds entering peripheral recesses in the rotor closed on one side by the plate escape to the ground over the edge of the plate when reaching an elevated position, the edge being cut away so that by adjusting the plate the escape of the seeds is controlled. The seeds pass through a rotatable disc 10 extending through the base of the hopper, Fig. 6. By rotation of the disc either of two apertures 11 can be brought into register with an opening 9 in the wall 2 of the hopper to vary the size of the opening and regulate the quantity of seed passing through. The disc, is rotated by a projecting finger-piece. The seeds pass from the opening 9 to a box 14, Fig. 6, consisting of a rib 15, integral with the wall 2, and a drum. The rib 15 extends round the lower edge of the opening 9 and is interrupted at the top. The drum has a cylindrical sidewall 16 corresponding to the rib 15 and a front wall 17 and is also open at the top, Fig. 2. A web 21 extends downwards through the drum to an outlet spout 22. The rockable spill plate 23 has a lower part extending through a gap between the rib 15 and side wall 16, Fig. 6. The spill plate is a disc with a straight upper portion 23a ending in a point 23b, Fig. 1, whence it is cut downwardly 23c to form a shoulder 23d. The straight portion 23a and part of the curved edge of the disc are chamfered to form a sharp edge. A bush 24 carries a quadrant lever with a curved arm 27 pressed into frictional engagement with a cross-bar 28 by a clamping plate 31 on tightening a nut 33, Fig. 2. A spindle 36, Fig. 6, passes through the hopper, with free clearance through the disc 10 and carries the rotor 37 spring-pressed against the spill plate while free to rotate within the rib 15. The rear face of the rotor is chamfered and seeds entering the box pass into recesses 39 in the periphery of the rotor, the seeds being prevented from escaping by the spill plate when the straight arm of the lever is horizontal. On depressing the lever the spill-plate is rocked and the seeds escape from the recesses over the edge 23a or the plate into the drum and thence through the outlet 22 to the ground. In the direction of rotation of the rotor the walls of the partitions 40 between the recesses are arranged at an acute angle, Fig. 2, to the face of the spill plate to assist the feed of the seeds towards the periphery. Lifting of the seeds may be further helped by providing pockets in the partition walls. By varying the position of the edge 23a of the spill plate the rate at which the seeds escape can be adjusted. The setting of the plate may be regulated by bringing graduations on the curved arm 27 of the lever into register with the top edge of the cross-bar. A pin 43 passing through the spindle 36, Figs. 2 and 6. agitates the seeds in the hopper as the spindle rotates to promote movement, into the rotor. The drive to the spindle may be from a driving shaft (not shown) engaging a cross-pin 44, Fig. 6.