Improved Apparatus for Distributing Manure, Seeds, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Distributing Manure, Seeds, and the like.
I, FRANK EAMES, of Midhurst, Sussex, Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare
The nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention consists in improved apparatus for distributing manure, seeds,
and the like and is carried out as follows:-
Upon a suitable frame, having shafts if required, and supported by wheels, I
mount a hopper having at the rear end a sliding door, and provided with a false
or loose bottom preferably mounted on rollers or balls, to which a sliding, shak-
ing or equivalent motion is imparted by means of an eccentric, cam, or similar
device, keyed to the driving axle, a secondary spindle, or a sleeve or the like
thereon, and a suitable lever or levers.
Beneath the sliding door and at a convenient distance therefrom I provide a
pair of distributors by preference partly hooded or covered in and having vanes
or blades which are caused to rotate in opposite directions by a pair of pinions
driven by a bevel wheel to which sufficient speed is imparted by gearing actuated
by one or both of the wheels, provision being made for disengaging the same
when required by a clutch or the like. Part of the top distributor is so cut
away as to permit the material fed from the hopper to pass through it to the
lower one, and a shroud or covering is provided beneath the hopper to confine
the distribution within fixed limits.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-Motion being imparted to the
wheels by harnessing a horse or other draught animal to the shafts or by
mechanical means, a vibratory, shaking, or other motion is imparted to the false
or loose bottom, upon which the material is placed. On opening the sliding
door the manure, seeds, or other contents is fed continuously into the rapidly
rotating distributors, and projected by them over the soil.
Date this 04th day of Varamban 1900
I, FRANK EAMES, Midhurst, Sussex, Agricultural Engineer, 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:-
My invention consists in improved apparatus for distributing manure, seeds,
Price 8/1

page_text: and the like and is carried out as follows:-Upon a suitable frame, having shafts
if required, and supported by wheels, I mount a hopper having at the rear end
a sliding door, and provided with a false or loose bottom preferably mounted on
rollers or balls to which a sliding, shaking, or equivalent motion is imparted
by means of an eccentric, cam, or similar device, keyed to the driving axle, a
secondary spindle or a sleeve or the like thereon, and a suitable lever or levers.
Beneath the sliding door and at a convenient distance therefrom, I provide a
pair of distributors by preference partly hooded or covered in and having vanes
or blades which are caused to rotate in opposite directions by a pair of pinions
driven by a bevel wheel to which sufficient speed is imparted by gearing actuated
by one or both of the wheels, provision being made for disengaging the same
when required by a clutch or the like. Part of the top distributor is so cut
away as to permit the material fed from the hopper to pass through it to the
lower one, and a shroud or covering is provided beneath the hopper to confine
the distribution within fixed limits.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-Motion being imparted to the
wheels by harnessing a horse or other draught animal to the shafts or by
mechanical means, a vibratory, shaking, or other motion is imparted to the false
or loose bottom, upon which the material is placed. On opening the sliding
door the manure seeds or other contents is fed continuously into the rapidly
rotating distributors, and projected by them over the soil.
I will now proceed to describe my invention more particularly by means of
the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a side view of the complete apparatus.
Fig. 2, is a plan on line A, B, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a rear view of same.
Fig. 4 is a plan and section of upper distributor.
Fig. 5 is a half plan and half side elevation of the lower distributor.
In the drawings 1 is the axle or main shaft supported at either extremity by
the road wheels 2, which are preferably formed of iron. The axle 1, is jour-
nalled in bosses 3, of the frame casting 4. This casting extends along over the
top of the axle or shaft and is formed with a loop extension 5, which projects
to the rear. One arm 6, of the loop 5, extends in a horizontal direction and
terminates in a sleeve or boss 7, in which the counter-shaft 8 is journalled, the
other arm extends in a downwardly sloping direction and terminates in a swell
or boss 7", in which a footstep bearing 9, is formed, for the vertical spindle 10,
whose vertical centre is coincident with that of the countershaft 8. Two vertical
wrought iron frame pieces 11, are placed on either side of the machine one of
said frame pieces being bolted to a lug 12, formed on the casting 4, the other
to a lug 12, formed in one piece with a collar or sleeve 13, mounted upon the
main axle or shaft 1. The other end of the casting 4, is formed with a lug 12,
and to this is bolted an arm 11" secured to the vertical side frame piece 11. To
the upper extremity of these vertical side frame pieces is bolted a wood or
equivalent hopper 14, preferably formed as shewn with sides 15, which slope
towards the bottom 16, said bottom being itself formed at such an angle as to
aid the manure, or other contents, to be distributed to fall by gravitation through
the opening 17, formed in the rear of the hopper. Over the opening 17, is
placed a door 18, sliding in grooves 20, fitted with a handle 21, screwed stud and
butterfly nut 22, to enable the width of opening to be regulated to requirements.
The hopper is fitted with a cover 19, hinged at 23, to the dead board 24, upon
which latter is mounted the drivers seat 25, it is also provided with a false
bottom 26, resting upon four or more rollers 27, which are journalled in
brackets 28, screwed to the bottom 16. A rocking arm 29, keyed to the rocking
shaft 30, is attached to this false bottom and by means of the eccentric 31,
keyed to the counter-shaft 8, and rocking arm 29", a vibratory, shaking, or
reciprocating motion is imparted to it, thereby further aiding the passage of
the matter to be distributed towards the opening or aperture 17. The eccentric

page_text: may in some cases be mounted on the main wheel axle shaft but in practice I
have found it more convenient to place it on the countershaft. The rocking
shaft is journalled in brackets 32, boited to the vertical side frame pieces 11.
I do not confine myself to this particular method of imparting the desired
motion to the hopper bottom as I may replace the eccentric in some cases with
a crank, cam, tappet and wiper, or equivalent means for effecting this purpose.
Immediately beneath the door of the hopper is fixed a funnel head 33, formed of
sheet iron or steel compelling the manure seeds or the like to fall on to the
upper distributor 35, revolving with the vertical spindle 10.
This distributor is formed in wrought iron, or cast in iron, brass, or other
suitable metal with vanes or ribs 36, part of its central portion surrounding the
shaft boss, being cut away as see Fig. 4, to enable part of the manure seeds or
the like to fall on to the lower distributing plate 354, concentric with the upper
one 35. This opening may be varied at will by means of the shutters 37,
their travel being limited by means of the slots 38, pins 39, and bolts 41,
These shutters are formed of sheet iron or steel and are rivetted by means of
the pins 39, to a moveable distance piece 40, through which passes a bolt 41,
whereby the travel may be regulated and fixed. The lower distributor plate 35ª,
is keyed to, or cast with the sleeve 42, of the upper bevel pinion 43, and is fitted
with vanes 36, as is the upper one, but is not cut away or slotted.
These distributing plates are surrounded with circular shrouds 34, 34, oppo-
site parts of the rear portion of which are cut away, so as to confine the distri-
bution within fixed limits. The shrouds are stayed to the side frame pieces 11,
by means of wrought iron tie bars 44.
Mounted upon the main axle 1, is a spur wheel 45, gearing with a pinion 46,
mounted loosely on the countershaft S, the proportions being such as that the
speed of the countershaft shall be from. four to six times that of the main shaft.
A bevel wheel 47, of large diameter is keyed to the end of the countershaft
and gears with two lesser bevels mounted upon the vertical spindle 10, the lower
one 48, which is keyed to the shaft, moving of course in an opposite direction
to the upper one 43, which is loose on the shaft. Said upper bevel 43, is formed
or cast with a sleeve 42, which passes through a collar 49, and is keyed to or
cast with the lower distributor plate 35". The said collar 49, is for convenience
cast in halves and bolted together, and the collar is stayed to the side frame
pieces 11 by tie rods 44. A toothed clutch 50, is mounted upon the counter-
shaft S, one half being made to turn therewith by means of a long feather key
but which enables the same to slide up and down and by means of the hand
lever 51, pivoted as at 52, see Fig. 2, the driver can at will throw the same in
or out of gear with the correspondingly toothed half formed in one piece with the
spur pinion 46, loose on the countershaft 8. The other end of the countershaft
is journalled in a bracket 7b formed with a lug 12, and by means of the over-
hanging arm, 55, is bolted to the side frame piece 11.
may in some cases
provide a sheet steel casing over the gear which may or may not be easily
removable.
Horse shafts 53, are suitably attached to the frame and stayed as at 54.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-Motion being imparted to
the wheels by harnessing a horse or other draught animal to the shafts 53,
or by equivalent mechanical means, a vibratory or shaking motion is imparted
to the loose or false bottom 26, upon which the manure, seeds, or the like is
placed. On opening the sliding door 18, the manure, seeds, or other contents is
fed continuously on to the distributors 35, 35", which rapidly rotate in opposite
directions and thereby scatter it over the soil.
Hitherto distributors for manure, seeds, or the like, have been so made as
that the matter distributed has had to pass through the interstices between the
spokes of the road wheels, and in the case of phosphates and other semi-pasty
manures this method of distribution has caused great inconvenience and waste
by irregular distribution and clogging up of the wheels. My improvements

page_text: however entirely overcome these defects for on account of the rearward position
of the distributors, their elevation, and the interaction of the vanes and open-
ings in the shrouds, the matter to be distributed is lifted clear of the road wheels
and scattered. broadcast in an even and regular manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
I. In apparatus for distributing manure, seeds, or the like, the particular
combination of parts substantially as hereinabove described for effecting the
purpose set forth.
II. In apparatus for distributing manure, seeds, or the like, the combination
therewith of the hopper 14, shaped as shewn, with a false bottom 26, resting on
rollers or the like, to which a vibratory or shaking motion is imparted substan-
tially as herein described.
III. In combination with apparatus for distributing manure, seeds or the like,
the use and employment of concentric distributing plates 35, 35, the upper one
possessing openings and fitted with adjustable shutters substantially as, and for
the purposes set forth.
IV. In combination with apparatus for distributing manure, seeds or the like,
the use and employment of superposed concentric distributing plates 35, 35ª,
revolving in opposite directions partly enclosed in shrouds 34, 34, placed as
shewn, their openings being to rearwards in different directions substantially as
and for the purposes herein described.
Dated: this 29th day of June 1900.
.
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
Agent for the Applicant, 21, Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C.