Improvements in or relating to Seed Drills or Cultivators.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1894-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Seed Drills or Cultivators.
A communication from WILLIAM HULL, of 173, Souris, in the Municipality of
Glenwood, Province of Manitoba, Canada, Farmer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The object of the invention is to provide a simple cultivating attachment that
may be used with an ordinary drag bar seeder, both for the purpose of cultivation
and seed drilling, and it consists, essentially, of a pair of shares connected to each
drag bar of the seeder, to which shares, seed spouts and seeding attachments may
be connected as desired, the whole being constructed in detail as hereinafter more
particularly described.
Figure 1, is a perspective view of a seeder provided with my attachment, only
one drag bar being shown in position.
Figure 2, is a perspective detail of a portion of the seeding attachinent.
Figure 3, is a perspective detail of my attachment when used for drilling grain.
Figure 4, is a detail of the seed covering device.
Figure 5, is a plan view of the share.
Figure 6, is a side elevation of the saine.
Figure 7, is a detail of the end of one of the perforating rods.
In the drawings, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
different figures.
A, is the frame of the seeder which is of ordinary construction.
B, is a drag bar connected to the lugs C, on the frame.
D, are shares composed of two flat rectangular bars E, of metal bolted or rivetted
together and turned outwardly and horizontally at their lower ends D, to form
a V; the upper ends of the bars E, are bolted or rivetted to the drag-bar B.
The bars E, are preferably sharpened immediately in front of the point of the V,
and the outer edges of the shares are also preferably sharpened to facilitate their
entrance into the ground. It will be noticed that the bars E, dip downwards at a,
immediately in front of the point of the V, so as to form a coulter to facilitate the
entrance of the shares into the ground and cause the latter to draw steadily and
evenly through the ground.
F, is a rock shaft operated by the hand lever G.
H, is an arm extending outwardly from the rock shaft F.
I, is a rod pivoted to the bars E, and extending upwardly through the outer end
of the arm H.
J, is a spiral spring surrounding the rod I, between the arm H, and a shoulder
formed on the lower end of the said rod.
From this construction, it will be seen that by rocking the shaft F, a downward
spring pressure may be applied to the shares D. A pin K, is placed upon the
upper end of the rod I, so that by rocking the shaft F. in the reverse direction, the
shares D, may be raised clear of the ground.
When the seeder is to be used for drilling grain, a seed spout L, is connected at
its lower end to the shares by rivets, pins or bolts, substantially as shown, the open
end of the spout being above the opening between the shares near the forward end.
M, M, are braces connecting the upper end of the seed spout to the bars E.

page_text: N, is a vertical rod extending through the seed spout L, to the ground. The
upper end of this rod is connected to a shaft (). Each end of this shaft is connected
to an arm, pivoted on the end of the seed box and provided with a hand lever
engaging with a notched quadrant Q', on the said box.
Q, is a gear pinion pivoted on a bent arm connected to the arm Q. A ping,
projecting from the face of this pinion extends into a slot formed in the arm 1',
so that when the said pinion is revolved, n rocking motion is imparted to the
said arm.
This pinion meshes with the gear wheel S, rigidly secured to the
spokes of the ground wheel T.
From this description, it will be seen that a vertical reciprocating motion is given
to the rod N, which thus makes a series of holes or perforations in the ground for
the reception of the seed which is fed into the seed spout 1, in the usual way.
Another function of the rod N, is that of keeping the lower end of the seed
spout clear of mud when working in soft soil. Ordinary seed spouts are very
apt to suffer in this way. The lower end of the rod N, is preferably constructed
as shown in Fig. 7, the part e, sliding on the rod N.
d, is a spring arranged between the end of the part c, and a pin on the rod N.
This spring tends to keep the portion B, extended as shown. When, however,
the rod N strikes a stone or other obstruction, the part c, is pressed upwards
compressing the spring d, which thus prevents breakage of any part of the
operating mechanism. The construction of this end of the rod might be varied
in many ways, the essential feature being that it be made yielding as shown.
When my attachment is in use simply as a cultivator the seed sponts L, are
removed and the pinions Q, withdrawn from meshing with the gear wheels S,
by rocking the arm ", by means of its hand lever.
e, is a spring valve which is placed in each seed spout to hold back the grain
during the upward motion of the rod N. This valve is shown in Fig. 3.
In Fig. 4, is shown my improved seed covering device which consists of n casing
formed with wedge-shaped sides V, and jaws, at its forward end to engage with
the seed spout as shown. The wedge-shaped sides gather in the mould of the drill
formed by the shares D, and reciprocating rods N, and thus properly cover the
seed gown.
The weighted tail of the seed coverer serves to press down the earth
and cover the seed.
It should be mentioned that the mechanism for rocking the shaft O, is duplicated
at the other end of the machine and that each drag bar is provided with the
pressing, raising and seed sowing mechanisms described.
I do not wish to confine myself to the use of the mechanism shown for imparting
a reciprocating motion to the rods N, as any other suitable mechanism which will
impart the said motion will answer the purposes of my invention.
When desired, mould boards might be attached to the shares D, for use in
moulding up drills.
From the above description, it will be seen that my cultivating attachment is of
a very simple and effective nature and being constructed in two halves, it may be
readily taken apart for the purpose of sharpening the edges of the bar E, and
projection, which acts as a coulter for the shares and also for sharpening the
edges of the shares themselves. It will also be seen that the seeding attachment
may be very easily connected to or disconnected therefrom, and also when desired,
mould boards may be readily substituted for the purpose of cultivating and moulding
up the drills.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the untare of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a cultivator and seeder, a seed covering device pivotally connected with
the seed spout and having side walls converging together from the front rearwardly,
substantially as described.

page_text: seed spout and having side walls converging together from the front rearwardly,
and a weighted tail formed on said seed-covering device, substantially as described.
3. In a cultivator and seeder, a drag bar, shares D, having their lower ends
turned outwardly and horizontally and their upper ends bolted together and to the
drag bar, substantially as described.
4. In a cultivator and seeder, rods N, rock shaft (, connected thereto, arm l'
carrying said rock shaft, in combination with arm P, pivoted to said arm P',
pinion Q, carried by said arm P1, and having a pin projecting therefrom acting on
said arm P, gear wheel S, and means for adjusting said arm P, substantially as
described.
5. The combination in a cultivator, of rods N, rock shaft O, connected thereto,
arm P, carrying said shaft, arm P, connected with said arm P, pinion Q, carried
by said arm P1, a quadrant Q, and a hand lever engaging said quadrant and
arranged to adjust the pinion and levers, substantially as described.
6. In a cultivator and seeder, a drag bar, shares formed in two halves having
their lower ends turned outwardly and horizontally, and their upper ends bolted
together and to the drag bars, the lower and forward edges of said shares being
sharpened, substantially as described.
7. In a cultivator and seeder, a drag har, shares D, having their lower ends
turned ontwardly and horizontally and their upper ends bolted together and to the
drag bar, the portion of the shares immediately in front of the V being turned
downwardly to form a coulter, substantially as described.
S. In a cultivator and seeder, a drag bar, shares formed in two halves having
their lower ends turned outwardly and horizontally and their upper ends bolted
together and to the drag bar, the lower and forward edges of said shares being
turned downwardly and sharpened, substantially as described.
9. In a cultivator and seeder, the rod N, having a portion c, sliding thereon, in
combination with a spring D, adapted to hold the part e, in its normal position,
substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of June A.D. 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.