Improved ApparaTUS FOR SOWING OR DISTRIBUTING SEED
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Henry Taylor, of Middleton, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "Improved ApparaTUS FOR
SOWING OR DISTRIBUTING SEED."
Scaled the 26th February, 1872, and dated the 1st September 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Henry Taylor
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st September 1871.
I, THOMAS HENRY TAYLOR, of Middleton, in the County of Lancaster,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR SOWING OR DISTRIBUTING SEED," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for sowing or dis-
tributing agricultural seeds, and consists mainly of a perforated cylinder
driven by the main axle, and revolving beneath a seed box. The surface
of the cylinder forms as it were the bottom of the seed box, and is
perforated all over with recesses, cach about the size to contain one seed
and rather deeper, the edges of the recess being dished or bevilled.

page_text: Above the cylinder is a guard made of wires, placed a sufficient distance
apart to let the seeds pass through, but at the same time close enough to
support a great portion of the weight, and prevent the seeds from bearing
too heavily upon the surface of the cylinder. Near one side of the box
is a knife or scraper, resting upon the surface of the cylinder, which, as
the cylinder revolves, removes all the seeds excepting those that are in
the recesses.
Beneath the cylinder is a series of tubes to conduct the sceds to the
ground. The lower ends of these tubes are closed by a long plate or
door, mounted on hinges, and actuated by a cam and lever from the 1
revolving cylinder in such a way as to be opened at intervals, and allow
a row of seeds to escape.
The machine is mounted upon wheels, and so constructed that the
cylinder can be removed and changed at will to suit the different sizes of
seeds; and if preferred it may be made to drill the ground for the 1
seeds, and cover them over afterwards, by placing a row of drills in front
of the tubes, and rather lower than the ends of the same, and a rake or
roller behind the tubes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
•
filed by the said Thomas Henry Taylor in the Great Seal Patent 2
Office on the 1st March 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HENRY TAYLOR, of Middleton, in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 2
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, tho said Thomas Henry Taylor, Her special license
that I, the said Thomas Henry Taylor, my exccutors, administrators, 3
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Henry Taylor, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expresscd, should and lawfully might make, use,

page_text: exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "In-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR SOWING OR DISTRIBUTING SEED," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Henry Taylor, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Henry Taylor, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to
3 say) :—
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for sowing or dis-
tributing agricultural seeds, and consists mainly of a perforated cylinder
driven by the main axle, and revolving beneath a seed box. The surface
of the cylinder forms as it were the bottom of the seed bɔx, and is
> perforated all over with recesses each about the size to contain onc seed,
and rather deeper, the edges of the recess being dished or bevilled.
Above the cylinder is a guard made of wires, placed a sufficient distance
apart to let the seeds pass through, but at the same time close enough to
support a great portion of the weight, and prevent the seeds from
3 bearing too heavily upon the surface of the cylinder. Near one sido of
the box is a knife or scraper, resting upon the surface of the cylinder,
which, as the cylinder revolves, removes all the seeds excepting those
that are in the recesses.
Beneath the cylinder is a series of tubes to conduct the seeds to the
ground. The lower ends of these tubes are closed by a long plate or
door, mounted on hinges, and actuated by a cam and lever from the
revolving cylinder in such a way as to be opened at intervals, and allow
a row of seeds to escape.
The machine is mounted upon wheels, and so constructed that the
5 cylinder can be removed and changed at will, to suit the different sizes of
seeds; and, if preferred, it may be made to drill the ground for the
seeds (and cover them over afterwards) by placing a row of drills in front

page_text: of the tubes, and rather lower than the ends of the same, and a chain
rake or roller behind the tubes.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improved
Apparatus for Sowing or Distributing Seed," I will now proceed to describe
more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may
be clearly understood, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters
of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation
thereof:-
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawing is a vertical section, Fig. 2 a side view,
and Fig. 3 a horizontal section of my improved apparatus for sowing or
distributing seeds.
These
a, a, is the framework running on wheels b, b, and carrying the cylinder
c, c, and seed box d, d. The surface of the cylinder c, c, forms the bottom
of the seed box d, d, and is perforated with holes or recesses.
recesses (scc full-sized view, Fig. 4) are each about the size to contain
one seed, and rather deeper, the edges being dished or bevilled in the
direction of the circumference of the cylinder as shown, in order that, as
the cylinder in revolving passes beneath the knife or scraper e, e, tho
latter may clear off all the extraneous sceds, leaving only one in cach
recess. The size of the recesses and their distance apart will be regulated
by the nature of the sced to be sown, and the cylinder is so arranged that
it can be removed and replaced by another at pleasure. Inside the seed
box d, d, above the cylinder, is a movable guard f,f, having two grids or
gratings of wire placed a sufficient distance apart to allow the seeds to
pass through, but at the same time close enough to take a great portion
of the weight off the cylinder.
The plates 9, 9, attached to the box (see detached view, Fig. 5,) take
into grooves or channels in the cylinder, and thus prevent the escape of
any seeds at the ends.
The grid or guard will also require to be changed with the cylinder,
according to the size of the seed to be distributed. The seed box, as well
as the knife or scraper, is caused to press against the surface of the
cylinder by means of set screws, h, h. Fig. 6 is an end view, and Figs.
7 and 8 are sections of a seed box of a slightly different construction,
wherein the box is carried on two wheels i, i, at each end of the

page_text: cylinder, and is provided in the interior with two knives or scrapers e, e,
which effectually prevent the escape of the seed.
-
Beneath the cylinder (see Figs. 1 and 2) is a series of tubes k, l, to
conduct the 'seeds to the ground. The lower ends of those tubes are
closed by a long hinged plate or door 1, 2, which is opened at the proper
intervals to allow a row of seeds to escape by means of thic cam or
tappets m, m, and. lover n, n.
-
If required a row of drills ó, o, may be placed in front of the tubes,
and may be either fixed or caused to rise and fall by means of revolving
tappets p, p; a roller, rake, or chain q, q, may also be placed 'behind
the tubes for covering the seeds with soil.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
Improved Apparatus for Sowing or Distributing Seed," together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
Invention the apparatus shown in the Drawings and hercin-before
described, or any mere modification or imitation thereof, and more
especially I claim the combination of a seed box guard, scraper or
scrapers and perforated cylinder with the distributing tubes and hinged
plate or door constructed and operating in the manner herein-before set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Henry Taylor, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witnessed by
George Davies, C.E.,
Patent. Agent,
Manchester.
THOMAS HENRY TAYLOR. (L.S.)
.