Patent GB-517081-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to seed drills
IPC: A01C7/18
Filed: 1938-08-08
Abstract: 517,081. Distributers for seeds. LEAKE, H. M. Aug. 8, 1938, Nos. 23414/38 and 8599/39. [Class 6 (i)] [Also inGroup XXIV] Relates to seed drills of the kind described in Specifications 333,645, [Class 6 (i)], 388,447, 417,942 and 484,427 and consists mainly in providing (1) improved means for driving the rotary distributer or distributers in such a way as to allow the distributer boxes and coulter tubes to be freely movable up and down without interfering with the drive, the distributers themselves being free for axial vibration, (2) improved means for effecting this vibration, (3) improvements in the construction and mounting of the distributer boxes to facilitate the interchange of, the distributers, to provide for either spaced sowing or continuous sowing, and (4) an improved construction of baffle for use in the, distributer box. The machine shown comprises a frame 1, Figs. 1 and 2, mounted on ground wheels 2, and having a transverse slotted cross rail formed by two bars 6, with opposed flanges spaced apart, fixed on brackets 5. The cross rail supports a number of brackets 8, which can be fixed at any desired positions along the rail, each bracket having bearings for a spiral gear wheel 28, which forms part of the driving gear for the distributer associated therewith, A square shaft 10 passes through a square hole in each wheel 28, so that the wheels can be driven by the shaft but are slidable thereon with the brackets 8. The shaft 10 is driven from the ground wheels through chain and sprocket gearing 12, 13, 14 and a clutch 16, the clutch being actuated by a bar 19 operable by a lever 25. Each wheel 28 gears with a spiral wheel 32, horizontally mounted in its bracket 8, a square hole being formed in the wheel 32 through which slidably passes the squaresectioned upper portion 34 of a jointed flexible shaft 35. This shaft is coupled to the distributer 50, Fig. 3, and the driving connection enables the distributer box 42 to rise and fall relatively to the machine frame whilst the distributer is being driven. The shaft 35 comprises three parts connected by universal joints 38, 39, the lowest part 36 being journalled in a bearing 40, Fig. 3, in a box 41 which is integral with the distributer box 42. To the members 36 is connected the upper part 44 of a coupling (the members of which are shown separated in Fig. 7), by which drive is transmitted from the flexible shaft 35 to the distributer 50, whilst up-and-down vibration of the distributer is permitted. The coupling comprises a tongue 69 on the member 44 engaging in a slot 70 in the lower member 48. Balls 74 are provided in grooves 71, 72, in the interengaging parts of the coupling, to reduce friction. The distributer spindle 49 has mounted on it a ratchet wheel 53, which is spring-pressed upwardly so that it may engage teeth 58 on a pivoted fork 56. The end 59 of the fork is pressed up by a spring 60 against an adjustable screw abutment 62, its downward movement being limited by a stop 61. As the distributer is driven, it may be vibrated by the ratchet device, to assist in the discharge of the seeds; the vibrator may, however, be put out of action when desired, by withdrawing the screw 62. The distributer 50, which is bell-shaped, is detachably secured to the spindle 49, and is a close fit within the box 42. A seed hopper 88 communicates with the box 42, and a discharge opening 84 leads from the box to the open end of a coulter tube 86 to which a share 87 is fixed. The lower end of the distributer 50 has a peripheral groove or, as shown, pockets 92, to carry the seed to the aperture 84, discharge of the seed being controlled by a baffle 93 formed as part of an annulus. The baffle 93 has an extended lower portion bearing against the distributer 50, and having a recess complementary to the seedcarrying groove or pockets in the distributer. The baffle is adjustably and removably clamped in position by a screwed handle 117. The bottom 97, of the box 42, with which the coulter tube is integral, is formed separately from the wall of the box, and has a lug 110 bolted to an arm 111 pivoted on and horizontally adjustable along a shaft 112 extending across the machine frame. The bottom 97 can be raised and lowered by means of a lever 105 operating through a shaft 103 and linkage 102, 101, The arm 111, formed as two spaced strips braced together, has pivoted thereon at 115 two links 114 which are pivotally attached to the box 41 at 116. On loosening a bar 125 by which the members 111 and 114 are clamped together, the box structure 41, 42 and parts associated therewith can be separated from the bottom 97, swung about the pivots 115 and tilted about the pivots 116. By this means the distributer can be changed when required.