IMPROVEMENTS IN DRILLS OR. MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SOWING OR DISTRIBUTING SEEDS AND MANURES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd. Wise, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City.
of Westminster, for an. Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN DRILLS OR.
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SOWING OR DISTRIBUTING SEEDS AND
MANURES." "A communication from abroad by Alphonse Derome, of Paris,
France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION feft by the said William. Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the .Commissioners of Patents on the. 27th April 1881.
<i
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster,
IMPROVEMENTS IN DRILLS OR MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SOWING OR:
DISTRIBUTING: SEEDS AND MANURES." 'A communication from abroad by
Alphonse Derome, of Paris, France..
This Invention has reference. to a drill or machine for sowing or distributing
seeds and pulverulent manures of all kinds.
A drill according to this Invention will sow or distribute either seeds or manures,,
or both, and will deposit them either in separate lines or mixed together. It will
either lay the seeds. in furrows or.in separate clusters, and will simultaneously lay
the manure either mingled. with the seeds or separated from them by a bed of
earth or by the side of them.
In one form of machine constructed according to this Invention the manure and
the seed are carried.in.a. double, hopper with inclined sides, placed transversely on
the upper part of the machine frame: The manure is contained in the forward.
division. of the hopper, and the seed. in the after division. Openings are arranged
in the bottoms of the two divisions of the. hopper to provide passages for their,
contents into a trough with a rounded bottom situated under the hoppers. In this
trough there, revolves a shaft with. twisted, or helical arms; which stir the contents.
of the trough and promote their regular flow.
The feed or rate of distribution of the; manure, is regulated by doors, which are
mounted in slides under one of the inclined sides of the hopper in such a way that
they can be simultaneously moved, by a handle to contract or enlarge the openings
in the bottom of the hopper.

page_text: The feed of the seed is regulated by another set of doors arranged under the
openings in the after part of the hopper. The positions of these doors can be
separately varied by hand; screws are provided to keep the doors in their proper
positions.
The arrangement of the grain and manure in two compartments with distinct
and separately adjustable orifices permits of either or both of the two substances
being spread or distributed at will, and of their absolute and relative feeds being
accurately regulated.
The common trough into which the seed and manure fall is divided transverse
partitions into a certain number of compartments. Part of these compartments
(the first, third, fifth, for instance,) receive the seed from the hopper above, while
other compartments (the second, fourth, sixth, for instance,) receive the manure.
Each of these compartments receives four of the twisted or helical arms of the
revolving shaft hereinabove mentioned. These arms are arranged in the form of a
screw upon the shaft, which is driven in any suitable manner from one of the
wheels of the machine. They are so formed as constantly to level the contents of
the trough, and to prevent them agglomerating in lumps or masses. This is
particularly important in the case of damp manures.
In the bottom of each of the compartments hereinabove mentioned there is a
transverse slot, through which a portion of the circumference of a disc or pulley
projects. The periphery of each of these discs or pulleys is corrugated, and is.
further divided into two portions by a ring or flange, on either side of which the
corrugations are alternated, that is to say, an indentation on one side of the ring
has a projection opposite to it on the other side of the ring, and vice versa. The
office of these discs or wheels is to gatlier by their movement the matters which
fall into the trough, and to deliver them to a hopper, from whence they fall into
telescopic distributing tubes.
In some cases the ring or flange that divides the periphery of each of the discs
or wheels may be omitted, and the material allowed to spread across the entire
circumferential surface of the disc.
All the discs or pulleys are mounted on a common shaft driven from one of the
wheels of the machine.
The sizes of the slot in the trough in which the discs or pulleys work can be
regulated by independent adjusting slides (trapillon regulateurs), which can be
fixed in position by screws and winged nuts.
Behind each of dises or pulleys, and in the plane of the dividing ring or flange
is arranged a separating plate to prevent the mingling of the charges of seed and
manure carried back by the two portions of the disc or pulley in its movement,
In front of each disc or pulley is an adjustable scraper to clear its surface.
Each disc or pulley carries two charges, or a double charge, as the case may be,
either of manure or of seed. This double, charge can be divided between two
different tubes, or can be delivered into the same tube. In the first case the
separating plates are placed in position as hereinabove described, while in the
second case they are replaced by oblique separating plates fixed upon the same
slides, and arranged to receive the matters falling from the disc or pulley in such a
way as to direct them into a single tube.
When it is desired to lay or spread the seed and the manure together-in a
furrow, the openings of adjoining tubes fed from the same dise or wheel are closed
by hinged valves, whose upper edges come in mutual contact in such a way as to
close and render inoperative that pair of tubes.
The valves are fixed back to back by a fork and form a ridge, of which the apex
is under the centre of the distributing disc or pulley. The charge (of seed, for
example) from this disc or pulley divides itself between two adjoining tubes,
which open into tubes into which also falls the charge of manure from the next
distributing disc or pulley, and consequently the seed and manure fall together on
the soil. The charge of seed is divided by preference, because it flows more freely.
than the manure.

page_text: In order that the manure may be distributed in advance or behind the seed or
above or below it, it is only necessary to change the relative positions of the two
matters in the hopper and to suitably arrange the doors, separating plates, and
valves.
In one arrangement the tubes for the delivery of the manure are placed in front
of the tubes for the delivery of the seed, and their funnels are carried by supports.
to which are also fixed the shares or implements which trace the furrow designed
to receive the manure. The depth of cut of the shares is regulated by a single
locking lever, the bolt of which can be caused to engage in different notches cut in
a sector to receive it. When the depth of cut has been determined, and the lever
set accordingly, it is maintained by adjustable springs.
Behind the tubes for the delivery of manure there are arranged harrow teeth of
a moulded form (une forme de versoir legèrement accusée), for the purpose of
covering up the manure deposited in the furrow. These teeth may be replaced or
assisted by a roller, with or without ribs, designed to consolidate the earth on the
manure and the seed.
The tubes for the distribution of seed are also provided with shares connected to
the same support as the shares combined with the tubes for the distribution of
manure. The connection is made by a special arrangement which is capable of
variation both horizontally and vertically, so that the seed can be placed not only
on the manure, but also side by side with it should it be feared that the action of
the latter will be too energetic when it is in immediate contact with the seed, and
the depth at which the seed is buried can also be regulated. Harrow teeth are
also arranged behind the shares of the grain distributing tubes for the purpose of
filling up the furrows.
When desired, as for instance when the machine leaves the field, the shares can
be raised simultaneously, or by a lever suitably arranged, by preference on the
bar that carries the supports of the shares. These supports can be adjusted
laterally so that the pitch of the furrows may be varied at pleasure.
The machine is borne on four wheels, of which the hinder pair serve as driving
wheels. The frame may be of wood or metal, or of both combined.
To lay the seeds in little heaps separated by regular or irregular spaces there is
placed at the lower part of the grain tube and behind the share a corrugated
wheel running in contact with the ground and provided with a number of notchies,
of which a certain number may be stopped or rendered inoperative by means of a
ring pierced with holes, which can be arranged in various positions with relation
to the notches in the wheel.
Each of the notches in passing under the funnel receives a certain quantity of
seed, which it deposits in the furrow, the distance between the heaps being
determined by the distance between the notches in the wheels, which can be varied
by means of the ring pierced with holes, as hereinabove set forth.
valve or guard and a brush arranged against the wheel control the delivery of
seed from the notches.
A flexible
The series of single distributing discs or pulleys, hereinabove mentioned can be
replaced by a single roller divided into lengths or segments by circular rings or
flanges of variable section. This roller may be furnished with channels or
indentations, or may be plain; similarly the channels or indentations of the discs
or pulleys may be formed with any suitable section and omitted entirely.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th October 1881.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster,
IMPROVEMENTS IN DRILLS OR MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SOWING .OR
DISTRIBUTING SEEDS AND MANURES."
:
This Invention has reference to a drill or machine for sowing or distributing
seeds and pulverulent manures of all kinds.
A drill according to this Invention will sow or distribute either seeds or manures,
or both, and will deposit them either in separate lines or mixed together. It will
either lay the seeds in furrows or in separate clusters, and will simultaneously lay
the manure either mingled with the seeds or separated from them by a bed of earth
or by the side of them. It distributes the grain or manure in any required
quantity, and is specially useful for sowing beetroot, the cultivation of which is of
considerable importance, and it allows of the realization of the best conditions for
obtaining roots of regular size rich in sugar, as the distribution of the manure is
quite regular.
The Drawings hereto annexed show clearly the essential and characteristic
arrangements of one form of drill or sowing apparatus constructed with the said
improvements applied thereto. Such drill or sowing apparatus consists of parts for
dividing, collecting, and withdrawing of distinct parts for distributing and strewing
manure and seed and of a frame mounted on wheels carrying the whole of the
mechanism.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is a partial back view and a partial transverse section.
Figure 3 represents plans taken at various heights.
Figures 4 and 5 show to a larger scale the special pullies which are the chief
distributing, organs.
1
Figures 6 and 7 show also to a larger scale the shares which trace or form the
furrows intended to receive the seed or manure, and the arrangements for
regulating the position of these shares in relation to one another..
Figures 8, 9, and 10 are detail views of arrangements for sowing seed or manure
in clusters or small clumps.
The manure and the seed are carried in a double hopper with inclined sides
placed transversely on the upper part of the machine frame. The manure is
contained in the forward division of the hopper, and the seed in the after
division b. Openings are arranged in the bottoms of the two divisions of the
hopper to provide passages for their contents into a trough e with a rounded
.bottom situated under the hoppers. In this trough there revolves a shaft with
twisted or helical arms which stir the contents of the trough and assure their
regular flow into the trough c.
The feed or rate of distribution of the manure is regulated by sliding doors d,
which are mounted on a metallic rod in such a way that they can be simultaneously
moved by a handle e to contract or enlarge the openings in the bottom of the
hopper.
The feed of the seed is regulated by another set of sliding doors.f arranged
under the openings in the after part of the hopper. The positions of these doors
can be varied separately by hand; they are held in place by pressure screws g
and close more or less the openings in the bottom before which they are placed.
From this part of the hopper the seed falls into the same trough as
manure.
the

page_text: The arrangement of the grain and manure in two compartments with distinct
and separately adjustable orifices permits of either or both of the two, substances
being spread or distributed at will, and of their absolute and relative feeds being
accurately regulated through the required number of openings.
The common
trough into which the seed and manure fall is divided by transverse, partitions
into a certain number of compartments. Part of these compartments h,... h
receive the manure from the hopper above, while other compartments-,,,
receive the seed. Each of these compartments receives four of the twisted or
helical arms of the revolving shaft hereinabove mentioned. These aims, are
arranged in the form of a screw upon the shaft k, which is driven in any suitable
manner from one of the wheels of the machine. They are so formed., as to
constantly. level the materials entering the trough to push them through the
openings, and to clear the bottom of any accumulation of lumps or masses. This
is particularly important in the case of damp manures.
In the bottom of each of the compartments, 7, herein before mentioned, there is
a transverse slot through which a portion of the circumference of a disc, pulley, or
cylinder projects. The periphery of each of these discs, pulleys, or cylinders is
corrugated, and is further divided into two portions by a projecting ring, rib, or
flange m, on either side of which the corrugations are alternated, that is to say, the
indentations on one side of the ring are placed opposite the projections on the other
side of the ring, and vice versa. The office of these discs or wheels is to gather by
their movement the matters which fall into the trough, and to deliver them to an
open hopper from whence they fall into telescopic distributing tubes.
In some cases the ring or flange m that divides the periphery of each of the discs
or wheels may be omitted, and the material allowed to spread across the entire
circumferential surface of the disc.
All the discs or pulleys are mounted on a common shaft on which is keyed
the toothed wheel o driven by a pinion p fixed on the axle of the machine.
The sizes of the slots in the trough in which the discs or pulleys work can be
regulated by independent adjusting, slides q, which can be fixed in position on
graduated slides by screws and winged nuts.
Behind each of the discs, pulleys, or cylinders, and in the same plane as the
dividing ring, rib, or flange m are arranged the separating plates or blades r, r',
which embrace a certain arc. of the ring, rib, or flange to prevent the mingling of
the double charges of seed and manure carried back by the two sets of corrugations
of the disc or pulley in its rotary movement. In front of each disc or pulley is a
scrapers adjustable by means of wing nuts, and adapted to clear the surface of the
said disc or pulley.
The employment of these distributing discs or pulleys with corrugations and mid
ring, rib, or flange produces complete regularity in the working of the apparatus,
whatever may be the profile of the ground to be sown.
;
These discs or pulleys supply the materials into the strewing telescopic tubes
regularly and exactly by causing them to pass through the above mentioned open
hopper t, in which the parts for effecting the further delivery are placed.
Each disc or pulley carries two charges or one double charge, as the case may be,
either of manure or of seed. This double charge. can be divided between two
different tubes, or can be delivered into the same tube. In the first case the
separating plates are placed in position in the middle of the discs or pullies, as
shown, while in the second case they are replaced by oblique separating plates u
(Figure 2) fixed upon the same slides, and arranged to receive the materials falling
from the disc, or pulley in such manner as to direct them into a single tube.
When it is desired to lay. or spread the seed and the manure together in a
furrow, the openings of two adjoining tubes fed. from the same disc or wheel are
closed by hinged valves v, whose upper edges come in contact with one another
(Figure 2) in such manner as to close, and render inoperative that pair of
tubes.
The valves are fixed back to back by a fork w and form a ridge, of which the

page_text: apex is placed in the axis of the distributing disc or pulley. The charge (of seed
for example) from this disc. or pulley divides itself between two adjoining tubes
which supply the tubes, into which also falls the charge of manure from the next
distributing disc or pulley, and consequently the seed and manure fall mixed
together on the soil."
The charge of seed is deviated by preference, because it flows more freely than
the manure.
In order that the manure may be distributed in advance of or behind the seed,
or above or below it, it is only necessary to change the relative positions of the
two matters in the hopper, and to suitably arrange the doors, separating plates,
and valves.
In the arrangement shown in the Drawings the tubes for the delivery of the
manure are placed in front of the tubes y for the delivery of the seed, and their
funnels are carried by supports z, to which are also fixed the shares or implements A
which trace the furrow designed to receive the manure. The depth of cut of the
shares is regulated by a single locking lever B, the bolt of which can be caused to
engage in the different notches cut in a sector C to receive it. When the depth of
ent has been determined and the lever set accordingly it is maintained by adjust-
able bent springs D fixed to the back of the support, the tension being regulated at
will, as shown in Figure 1. These springs replace advantageously the heavy but
too weak counterweights generally employed for the same object, namely, the
insertion of the seed and manure into the ground to a regular depth.
Behind the tubes for the delivery of manure there may be arranged harrow
teeth E presenting the form of a mould board, for the purpose of covering up the
manure deposited at the bottom of the furrow.
These harrow teeth may be replaced or assisted in their action by a roller with
or without ribs, designed to consolidate the earth on the manure and the seed.
The tubes for the distribution of. seed are also provided with shares F connected
to the support of the manure shares by means of a special connection I, the
position of which is capable of variation both horizontally and vertically, so that
the seed can be placed at the side of the manure instead of upon it, should it be
feared that the action of the manure will be too energetic when it is in immediate
contact with the seed, and the depth at which the seed is buried can at the same
time be regulated exactly. This special connection (Figures 6 and 7) is held in
place by a bolt and wing nut. Harrow teeth ; may also be arranged behind the
shares of the grain distributing tubes for the purpose of filling up the furrows
opened by the shares.
When desired, as for instance when the machine leaves the field, the shares can
be raised simultaneously by hand or by a lever suitably arranged on the front
cross bar that carries the supports of the shares. These supports can be
adjusted laterally on this cross bar as well as on the hinder cross bar L, so that the
pitch of the furrows may be varied at pleasure. The said supports may be fixed
in place either by a pin passing through holes arranged for that purpose, or by
means of bolts and nuts.
The machine is borne on four wheels M, N, of which the hinder pair N serve as
driving wheels. The frame o may be of wood or metal, or of both combined.
It will be understood that the number of tubes may be varied at pleasure,
without departing from the nature of the Invention, and that the apparatus may
be worked by hand or by means of any other motive-power-whatever. It may be
made of any required dimensions and suited for any number of furrows.
In order to place the seeds in little clusters, tufts, or heaps, in small holes
separated by regular or irregular spaces, there is placed at the lower part of the
grain tube y and behind the share A of that tube a grooved roller R running in
contact with the ground, and provided with a number of notches or corrugations ir,
a certain number of which may be stopped or rendered inoperative by means of a
ringe pierced with holes, which can be arranged in various positions with relation
to the notches in the roller.

page_text: Each of the notches in passing under the funnel receives a certain quantity of
seed which it deposits in the furrow, the distance between the heaps being deter-
mined by the distance between the notches in the rollers, which can be varied by
means of the ring pierced with holes, as herein before set forth..
A flexible valve or guard B, or a brush arranged against the roller prevents the
premature delivery of seed from the notches. The rollers are composed of three,
pieces, namely, two cheeks R', R¹, which roll on the ground, and the intermediate
notched disc R.
The series of single distributing discs or pulleys hereinbefore mentioned may be
replaced by a single roller divided into lengths or segments by circular rings or
flanges of variable section. This roller which effects the regular division of the
seed and manure may also be furnished with channels like the pulleys, or may be
plain; similarly the channels or indentations of the discs or pulleys may be formed
of any suitable section, or omitted entirely.
The seed distributing roller for the plantation of tufts or heaps which follows the
furrowing share, may be fitted to the stem of the share, or to any suitable transverse
bar; there need not be any special arrangement for that purpose.
The essential condition for obtaining tufts, clusters, or heaps regularly spaced
and sufficiently agglomerated, is to place the movement as near as possible to the
surface of the ground, as in the arrangement above described of a hollow pulley
with notches and .valves.
,
Trials have been made, and there are still in existence arrangements of apparatus
in which valves with springs are placed in the lower part of the share, and as near
as possible to the surface of the ground, but the said arrangements do not produce
tufts, clusters, or heaps regularly distanced apart by reason of the shaking of the
shares, and the sudden movement to which the valves are subject, and which in
consequence have not time to close sufficiently, especially when the team is urged
forward; under these conditions the clusters or heaps are more or less irregular,
whilst by the present Invention the notched roller which is worked by contact
with the ground or at a short distance therefrom by means of a pitch chain,
concentric lever, or gearing driven by the wheels of the apparatus or other motive
power, the clusters or heaps are formed without fail, and mathematically at a
distance apart governed by the distancing circle which leaves uncovered at their
respective points those distributing notches which it is intended to keep in action.
Figure 10 shows the distributing rollers fed directly from the hopper ¹; 2 is a
plate interposed between the seed and the distributing rollers in order to prevent
the seed from collecting in the groove of the roller; ³ is a metallic or leather
separation for holding the seed in the grooves or the notches of the distributing
roller.
The points of the arms or knives arranged on the shaft which fulfil at the same
time the functions of dividers, collectors, feeders, and propellers, come at equal
distances, so as to level the matters on the top of the discs or pulleys which
constantly take away the said matters moved by the propellers.
This geometrical arrangement shows that this principle of the distribution of
manure, seed, or other pulverulent and granular matters may be employed with all
kinds of discs, pulleys, or cylinders with or without grooves, smooth, or corrugated
lengthwise or widthwise, and having rings, ribs, or flanges on their circumferences.
Other suitable arrangements of distributing dises, pulleys, or cylinders may he
employed for carrying out the principle of distribution according to the general
arrangements and requirements of the apparatus.
The system of distribution herein before described constitutes in itself a true
sowing machine by the arrangement of the throats or grooves in the rollers and the
valves, and instead of the tube leading from a superposed distributor, the seed may
be introduced directly into the throats or grooves of the distributing rollers from a
reservoir or case placed immediately over the same, as shown in Figure 4.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that

page_text: 111
.t
I do not confine myself to the particular proportions or dimensions of the parts
shown in the Drawings, as they may be varied without departing "from the
invention, but what I claim as the Invention to be secured by the within in part
recited Letters Patent is,
↑
"First. The distributingarrangements of the double acting drill or sowing machine
consisting of the following parts, namely,
a. Of the discs, pulleys or cylinders with or without smooth or corrugated
grooves, and, with or without rings, ribs, or flanges on their circumferences.
6. Of a shaft turning in an opposite direction to and above the discs, pulleys,,
or cylinders, such, shaft carrying more, or less helicoidal arms or knives which
move inside the hopper from which the disés, pulleys, or cylinders are fed through
appropriate openings.
Of straight or concentric regulators, which open above the discs, pulleys, or
cylinders into the transverse openings.in, the hopper, for the flow. therefrom of the
matters to be distributed.'
The said parts being arranged, combined, and applied, so as to act together as
herein before described and illustrated in the Drawings, and for the purposes. set
forth.
Second. The application of the herein before described principle of distribution,
to the construction of drills or sowing machines applied near to the ground, or
elevated therefrom for distributing all kinds of seed or pulverulent manure, in
clusters, continuous lines, or broad cast through conduits connecting the distri-
buting dises, pullies, or cylinders to the shares, as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William. Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty, seventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One, thousand eight hundred, and eighty one.
-
W. LLOYD WISE. (...)
Patenice.