IMPROVEMENTS IN SOWING, DEPOSITING, OR DISTRIBUTING SEEDS OVER LAND
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ERNST
KAEMMERER, of Bromberg, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Ironfounder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fifth day of
September, in the fifteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Ernst Kaemmerer, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Ernst
Kaemmerer, ny exors, adññiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said
Ernst Kaemmerer, my exors, adññiors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, in the
Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SOWING, DEPOSITING, OR DISTRIBUTING SEEDS OVER LAND;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso, requiring that I, the said Ernst
Kaemmerer, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, shall
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and shall cause the same to be
eurolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Ernst Kaemmerer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by this present instrument in writing, as follows, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto attached, and to the figures and letters
marked thercon (that is to say) :-
:-
My said Invention relates to an improved machine, by means of which the
sowing of any kind of corn, seed, or grain may be performed with greater
economy and exactness than by any method now in use by one and the same
machine. By making small changes in its working parts, such seeds can be
sown broad-east, or in continuous parallel rows, technically called drills, or at
equal distances, as in dibbling, and the quantity to be served can in either
case, by a peculiar contrivance, be regulated so as to be more or less, as may
be required, over a given area or distance.
I will now describe my machine, its several working parts, and its mode of
action in each of the cases mentioned, namely, sowing by broad-cast, by
dibbling, and by drilling.
Fig. 1, Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, shews a back view of
the machine as adapted for sowing broad-cast; Fig. 2 is an end view of the
machine; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, taken through the machine in
front of the funnels at the line Z, Z, see Figures 4 and 5; Fig. 4 is
a transverse section, taken on the line Y on the plan, Fig. 5; the position
of the funnels are shown by dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a plan, shewing the
internal arrangement of the several working parts of the machine; Fig. 6
is a transverse section of the machine, taken through X, see Fig. 3;
Fig. 7, Sheet 2, is a back view of the machine as arranged for sowing
in drills or for dibbling; Fig. 8 is an end view of the machine; Figures
9, 10, 11, and 12 are detailed views of the fixed conducting tubes as used
for level and moderately hilly ground; Figures 12 and 13, Sheet III., are
detailed views of two forms of the conducting tubes as arranged with hinges
or joints, to enable the lower tubes to adjust themselves to the vertical position;
attached to each of these Figures are sectional views, to make the construction
clear. Figures 14, 15, 16, and 17 are detailed views of the annular buckel
rings; Figures 18 and 18¹ are details of clamp used to secure the annular
rings to the bucket wheel f; Figures 19 and 20, details of bucket wheel f;
Figures 21, 22, and 23 are full size details of bucket for sowing small seed
continuously; Figures 24, 25, 26 are full size details of buckets for sowing at
regular intervals, that is, dibbling; Figures 27, 28, 29, full size details of
bucket for sowing large seeds, corn, &c. continuously in parallel rows (drilling),

page_text: and for sowing broad-cast. The buckets for continuous sowing are so arranged,
that when one bucket has emptied its contents into the funnel the next is just
beginning to discharge its contents. The buckets for sowing at intervals are
so made and arranged that they discharge all their contents at once on being
brought over the funnel. Figures 30, 31, and 32 are detailed views of the
funnel h; Fig. 33 is a thin metal cover for closing the top of funnel when
required Figures 34, 35, and 36, are detailed views of the movable top of
the seed-receiving chambers; Figures 37, 38, and 39 are detailed views of the
moveable parts, forming the bottom and sides of the chambers (a); Fig. 40
shews the details and proportions of one set of change wheels.
The machine shown in the Drawings is adapted for sowing widths of land
equal to six feet, but machines of any other practicable width may be made
either smaller or larger.
The broad-cast machine, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, consists of
a prismatical box or chest A, of wood or thin metal plate, mounted on wheels
G, and covered by a lid B. The box A is divided into different compart-
ments (see Fig. 3) to form the seed-receiving chamber a and the seed-dis-
tributing chambers c. All the surfaces of the chambers a are arranged with
surfaces either vertical, or so inclined as to cause the contained seeds to flow
or slide to the apertures 6 leading to the chambers c.
The various parts
forming these chambers are so made that they can easily be taken out of the
seed chest; their construction will be readily seen by reference to Figures 34,
35, 36, 37, 38, and 39, where they are shewn in detail.
The apertures b are provided with slides or doors d to shut off the supply of
seeds from chambers a when desired. This detail is shewn fully in Fig. 39.
Other slides, see Figures 3, 4, 6, 41, 42, and 43, are also provided, by means
of which any or all of the chambers e can be emptied of their contents from
below.
The construction of the bucket wheelf and the moveable annular rings or
dises f¹ are shown in detail in Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and in
position in Figures 3, 4, and 6.
The seed-distributing buckets 9 which I use are of three kinds, and are
shewn in detail, in full size, by Figures 22, 25. 24, 25, 27, 28; Figures 21,
26, and 29 shewing sections of each kind. They can be made of brass or
other suitable metal or material, and screwed, rivetted, or fixed to the annular
rings. I prefer to make them of brass, cast on with the annular rings f¹.
In the machine shewn in the Drawing, twelve buckets are used to each
wheel for broad-cast on drilling with any seed, so that six buckets discharge
their contents into each funnel at each revolution of the shaft e.

page_text: For dibbling there are six buckets to each wheel, so that three buckets
discharge into each funnel. The annular rings are formed by rivetting together
two semicircular annular plates of iron or other metal, four of such plates
forming a complete double ring, which, being placed on the edge of the bucket
wheel f, formed to receive it, are held in their places by the clamp, shewn in
detail Figures 18 and 18'. The object of having these annular rings separate
from the bucket wheels is to furnish the means of readily changing the
buckets without removing the bucket wheels or shaft (e).
The seed funnels (7) arc shewn in detail in Figures 30, 31, and 32, and in
position by Figures 3, 4, and 5; they are made of thin copper or iron, or any
other suitable material; they are fixed in the holes (i), and can be removed at
pleasure.
The broad-cast distributing board, shewn in Figures 1 and 2 (j and j),
receives the seeds from the funnels (h), Figure 3, and distributes it over the
ground; I make it of 3/4 inch deal. It is hung by hinges to the bottom of the
seed chest, and is held in any required position by small chains (k), attached to
it and the bottom of the seed chest. To the upper part of the board are fixed
the triangular dividing blocks (t), one of which is placed under each opening
(i), and divides the seeds. Under these blocks are placed three rows of pegs
of wood (m) or any suitable material. I prefer cane, so arranged that each
lower row contains about double the number of pegs contained in the row of
pegs over it, thus a sub-division of the seed is effected to any required extent,
and the seed is evenly distributed over the ground.
For small seeds, the board, as shewn in Drawings, Figures 1 and 2, would
be used; but for larger seeds, the bottom row of distributing pegs can be
turned back by means of a hinged joint in the board, and is held in either
position by the bolt (w), shewn at cach end of the board j, see Figures 1 and 2.
The distributing board can be moved horizontally by means of the handle
(p), and can be fixed in any position by the screw (p¹).
Having now described the machine as adjusted for sowing broad-cast, I will,
before describing the other adaptations, shew its mode of action, by which the
use of the several parts will be better understood.
The corn or seed to be sowed is put in the seed chambers (a), Figures 3, 4,
and 6, from which it flows through the aperture (b) into the seed-distributing
chambers (c). The shaft (e) passes through the machine, and receives its
motion from the wheels (G) by means of the coy wheels II and L, Figures
1 and 5. On this shaft in each of the distributing chambers (c) are keyed the
bucket wheels (f), the details of which have been described. To the edge of
these wheels fare fixed, as shewn, the distributing buckets. In each chamber

page_text: two funnels are placed, into the upper end of which the buckets (9) by the
revolution of the wheel (f) discharge the seeds, the lower end of this funnel
being placed in connection with the holes (i) in the bottom board of the
machine; the seed is thence discharged on to the distributing board (j), by
means of which the seed is distributed over the ground as desired.
I shall now proceed to describe the machine as adapted for a drilling and
dibbling machine. Figure 7 shews a back elevation of the machine; Figure
8 shews an end view of the machine. To adapt the machine to these uses,
the distributing board (") is removed, and the frame q, see Figures 7 and 8,
of wood or metal, is attached to the machine by the screw bolts (r). To this
frame is fixed a board (g) in such manner by its ends, that it can be removed
at pleasure with the conducting tubes (s). The upper ends of these tubes (s)
are made to come opposite or coincide with the holes (i) in the seed chest, so
that the seed from the funnel (h) may flow through. By examining the details
of these tubes (Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 12, and 13), and see Figure 7, it will
be seen that the seed in coming from the funnels may be deposited in rows at
any of the distances answering to the ends of the tubes; thus, in Figure 7 the
tubes (S) will deliver twelve rows of seed in the width of the machine, and
the tubes (S') when used, will deliver nine rows of seeds in the same width.
To obtain six rows in the same width, the conducting tubes will come down
straight to the drills. Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 12, 13, and 7 shew various
arrangements and forms of these conducting tubes, by means of which various
distances of drills may be obtained; these tubes may be formed of thin sheet
iron, copper, or brass, or other suitable material. To the end of the conducting
tubes gutta percha tubes, such as are now in use, are to be fixed to conduct
the seed to the drills as in the ordinary machines. As now described, the
machine is adapted for use in level ground, or in ground only moderately
hilly.
For hilly ground the conducting tubes are made with a joint, by means of
which their vertical position may be always maintained. This arrangement
will be more clearly understood on referring to Figures 12a and 13, where
these tubes are shewn in detail.
In order to adapt the machine to sow different quantities of seed in any
given space or distance, or to change the distances at which the seeds shall be
sowed, a set of change wheels are provided (see Figure 40) for each machine,
by means of which the relative speeds of the machine wheels G with its cog
wheel (L) and the bucket shaft wheel H can be changed, thus causing the
buckets to discharge more or less their contents over a given distance as may

page_text: be required. I have shewn the details of the set I use in Figure 40. To
facilitate the changing of these wheels, I make the wheel (G) easily removable
from their chests. The handle or clutch K, Figures 1 & 3, are used for
throwing the upper cog wheel out of gear when the action of the machine is
to be stopped, and means are provided to fix such wheel in either position as
wanted.
Having now described the construction and mode of using my machine in
its several parts and adaptations, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
Invention only those parts of the machine mentioned below as claims, and also
the various combinations of parts forming the different machines, as herein-
before described, as used by me; what I do claim is,―
First, the combination of parts forming the machine for sowing broad-cast,
as herein-before described.
Second, the combination of parts forming the machine for sowing in drills,
as herein-before described.
Third, the combination of parts forming the machine for dibbling or sowing
at intervals, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of constructing the seed chambers so that the
quantity of seed flowing from the seed-receiving chambers through the aperture
(b) to the seed-distributing chambers shall have a due proportion to the
quantity taken up by the buckets and delivered into the funnel, as herein-
before described.
Fifth, the peculiar form and section of the buckets, as herein-before
described.
Sixth, the construction and arrangement of the bucket wheels and rings, by
means of which the sets of buckets attached to the rings may be removed and
changed as required, as herein-before described.
Seventh, the construction of the seed-conducting tubes, as herein-before
described, by means of which the seed in being delivered to the drills is
divided in different proportions as required, and also the arrangement by which
the vertical position of the conducting tubes is preserved in hilly ground.
Eighth, the peculiar arrangement of the seed-distributing board, with its
dividing blocks and distributing pegs of cane, whalebone, or other elastic or
suitable material.
I do not claim the use of the distributing board when made with dividing
blocks only, but only when pegs are used with them, as described.
Ninth, the use of the slides, by means of which the seed-distributing
chambers may be emptied in an expeditious and easy manner.

page_text: Tenth, and lastly, I claim the system or mode of changing the quantity of
seed to be delivered over a given distance by means of sets of change wheels
of various speeds, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernst Kaemmerer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two,
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fifth day of March, in
the year of our Lord 1852, the aforesaid Ernst Kaemmerer (through the
interpretation of Martin Coon, of Cheapside, in the County of Middlesex,)
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.