Manure or Fertilizer Distributing Machine.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1899-Accepted, 19th May, 1900)
Manure or Fertilizer Distributing Machine.
I, WILHELM JAGER, of Könkendorf, near Sadenbeck, in the Empire of Germany,
High Bailiff, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to machines for strewing fertilizers and like materials,
hereinafter referred to as Manure." The object of the invention is to produce
uniform distribution of the manure.
On the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention
Fig. 1 shews a vertical section ;
Fig. 2 a part section on the line -x of Fig. 1 and a part of elevation ;
Fig. 3 a plan of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 shews another construction of strewing machine in vertical section; and
Fig. 5 a plan of the same.
The dividing apparatus which is designed for the purpose of regulating the passage
of the manure out of the boxes 1, consists of a distributing board 2 having an
adjustable slide 2, corresponding holes 3 (Fig. 2) being formed in the board 2 and
slide 2 through which the manure is fed as regularly as possible by the agitators 4.
In order to avoid the manure being formed into a smooth roll by the agitator, owing
to its sticky nature, in which condition it would be useless, it is sufficient to provide
the agitator with as few arms as possible, wide apart, and to arrange a wire or wires 7
ncross the box, between each set of arms 5, 5 of the agitator, and inclined to the
axle 6; which will prevent the formation of a roll by the agitator, as it prevents any
part of the manure between the blades from rotating with the agitator. Instead of
the wires 7, rods can be placed. either partially or quite across the box. The inclined
position of the rods, or of the wires, with regard to the axle 6, is essential, as it
enables the manure to slide along these wires or rods, and facilitates the task of the
blades 5, which advance the manure to the outlet openings 3. The shaft is driven
by gearing 19, 22, from the principal axle of the machine.
In the same manner as the advance of the manure in the boxes to the holes 3 of
the distributing board is accompanied with difficulty, so also is the distribution
thereof among the holes before it falls through. In the corn sewing machines, a
system of inclined boards and pins is sufficient upon which the grain falls from the
side. This process can only be utilised for manure when it has been somewhat
divided, so that it cannot become fixed in large lumps between the rods.
A strewing trough 8 and star roller 9. are arranged beneath the sieve or distributing
board 2 of the box 1, which is intended for dividing the material to be strewed
for the strewing device below (Fig. 1). The trough 8 is, further, designed for the
purpose of equalising unequalness, which must always arise, upon a not quite
homogeneous mass passing through the holes of the sieve-, by allowing a
momentary heap to be piled up when the feed of the manure is temporarily increased,
without a greater quantity being strewn, whereas, upon the feed temporarily
decreasing, this piled up manure is ejected.
Finally, the strewing trough 8 is excellently suited for laterally distributing the

page_text: manure falling through the holes 3 of the distributing board 2 up to the next hole,
when provided with angular or round projections at the edge (Fig. 2), the highest
points of which are beneath the holes 3 of the distributing board and gradually lower
in the intermediate spaces, for, inasmuch as otherwise conical heaps would be formed
under the holes 3, and the manure would rise higher than in the intermediate spaces,
the edge 10 of the trough 8 must be lower at these intermediate spaces than below
the holes 3 if equal quantities of manure are to be ejected at all times. It is indeed
clear, that for a definite quantity of manure, of a definite quality, a regular strewing
can be assured by the toothed form of the edge 10 of the trough 8 alone.
But this is not sufficient, if any desired quantity of every kind of manure is to be
evenly strewn by means of the trough 8. With this object, the spoon-like arms 11 of
the star roller 9, rotating in the trough 8, must be of different lengths, so that a
greater number of arms project into the manure and displace it by reason of their
spiral arrangement, according as the manure is piled up to a greater height beneath
the holes of the distributing board 2 that is, according as the feed is stronger, or the
more difficult it is to displace the manure sidewards in consequence of its sticky
nature. The shortest arms can be arranged to form a perfect spiral. The axle or
roller 9 is driven through gearing a bed from the principal axle of the machine.
The axle G with its spoonlike arms 5 serve for stirring the manure in the box 1 and
the axle 9 serves by reason of its spoonlike arms of different length for dividing or
distributing the heaps of manure beneath the holes 3. The apex of each of these
heaps is situated above the highest point of a tooth of the trough 8 and at this point
shorter spoonlike arms are provided, whereas at the lowest points of the heaps the
longest arms act. It will be seen therefore that the shortest arms 11 act where the
most manure is and the longest arms where the least manure is.
The shaft or roller 9 is intermittently reciprocated in the direction of its axis,
whereby the stopping of the device by sticky manure is prevented. In this manner,
the blades are prevented from cutting circular ridges in the sticky manure without
advancing it.
The reciprocating motion of the strewing roller is obtained by arranging a number
of projections 20 on the side of the spur-wheel 19 on the right end of the axle 6,
which move the roller 9 towards the left, under the tension of the spring 21, (Fig. 2)
so that after each displacement it returns of itself into position.
It is also of advantage to so construct the angular or rounded edge of the
trough 8 (Fig. 2) that it comes into contact with the arms of the roller 9, and is
brought into vibration, by which means the formation of heaps in the trough,
beneath the holes 3, is avoided, and the manure is moved by the arms to the lower
intermediate places.
But even with these improvements of the trough 8 and roller 9, an absolutely regular
distribution of the manure is not assured in every case. No injury is done by allowing
the manure to also pass the strewing device above mentioned which, in corn sewing
machines, is connected with the dividing device, and consists essentially of a system
of wedge-like pieces 12 and rods 13 (Fig. 1). The box, the back of which is formed
by the board 14, to which the pieces 12 and rods 13 are fastened, serves as a screen
against the wind, by which the manure would otherwise be, driven aside.
screen or board 14, the pieces 12 and rods 13 of which are passed last of all by the
manure, is arranged but a slight distance above the soil and is hinged to the box 1 so
that it can yield when passing over irregular ground.
This
But this screen cannot be suspended in front of the holes 3 of the sieve 2, so that
the manure would glide down the front thereof, when it bears against the ground, as
in this manner, the manure of inferior quality would remain on the front between the
pieces 12 and rods 13, so as to entirely stop the passage. The screen must, therefore,
whether provided with the pieces 12 and rods 13 or not, be suspended on hinges 15
behind the holes 3 of the sieve, so that, when forced back, it is only temporarily
interrupted in its function, as its own weight causes it to immediately return to
normal position.
The combination of the dividing device, described with one of previously described

page_text: strewing apparatus or with both and with the wind screen arranged near to the surface
of the soil, inovable and behind the holes of the sieve, forms one whole, inasmuch as
all the parts act complementary to each other, for the purpose of strewing every kind
of manure, and any desired quantity of the same; although, when the requirements
are less, one or the other of the improvements in question may be omitted.
Some of these parts can also be replaced by other devices constructed and acting
according to the same principle and fulfilling the same purpose. For example, the
trough and star roller can be replaced by the system of shelves and pins used in corn
sowing machines, which could be arranged on the manure strewer, within the box-like
wind-screen 17, which would in any case be necessary (Figs. 4 and 5).
This
screen 17 is fixed. Beneath the holes of the sieve, the pieces 12 and rods 13 are
arranged. A shelf 16 receives a part of the manure of the width of the distance
between two holes. The manure falling out of the trough 8 forms a conical heap on
the shelf-16, the point of which heap is near to the edge 19 of the shelf. Consequently,
over this edge more manure would fall than over the edge 20° In order to
avoid this and to cause the manure to fall more uniformly the intercepting
board 18 is provided, the edge of which is higher at the edge 19" than at 20°.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A machine for distributing manure comprising a box provided with a distributing
board having holes for the exit of the manure, a trough beneath the said box or
distributing board, the edges of the trough being formed with projecting portions at
the points beneath the holes in the distributing board to effect a regular fall of the
manure over the edge, notwithstanding the unevenness of the feed through the
holes.
2. A machine for distributing manure comprising a box provided with a dis-
tributing board having holes for the exit of the manure, a trough beneath the said
box or distributing board, the edges of the trough being formed with projecting
portions at the points beneath the holes of the distributing board to effect a regular
fall of the manure over the edge, notwithstanding the unevenness of the feed through
the holes, and a distributing roller located beneath said distributing board and
provided with arms of different length, mechanism for rotating said roller and
mechanism for imparting a reciprocating longitudinal movement to said roller.
Dated this 8th day of June 1899.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents for the Applicant.