Improvements in Turnip and other Seed Sowing Machines for Planting at Intervals as if Dibbled.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1895-Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Turnip and other Seed Sowing Machines for
Planting at Intervals as if Dibbled.
DENIS DOYLE Workhouse Master Youghal, and JOHN FARRELL Farmer
Youghal, Co. Cork do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
These improvements consist in attaching suitable mechanism to the machine
causing it to drop the seed at required intervals instead of in a continuous line as
these machines have hitherto done. This attachment can be effected in a variety
of ways, the following among the number. Suppose it is required to deposit the
seed at intervals of about 8 inches let the hind roller of the machine be made to
measure 16 inches in circumference, and let there be two pegs fastened at one end
of the roller both in the same diameter so as to be 8 inches apart. These pegs
each left a lever as the machine rolls on, this lever is attached by a slight wire or
string to another lever which other lever forms part of a small trap door or valve
that shuts the lower end of the seed pipe. The peg in lifting the lever, opens the
valve for an instant, whereupon the few grains of seed which fell as far as the
valve are dropped into the earth. The valve closes at once and the process is
repeated each time the machine has run over 8 inches of ground. The length of
the interval can be increased by increasing the size of the roller & vice versa.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1894.
D. DOYLE.
JOHN FARRELL.
Improvements in Turnip and other Seed Sowing Machines for
Planting at Intervals as if Dibbled.
DENIS DOYLE, Workhouse Master Youghal Co. Cork and JoHN FARRELL,
Farmer, Frogmore House Youghal Co. Cork 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 this invention is to provide a simple & efficient seed sowing
machine for planting turnip mangold & other seed with a view to facilitate
subsequent thinning out :-that is by depositing the seed at equal intervals apart,
the length of which can be regulated by the operator at pleasure.
The accompanying drawings in Sheets 1 & 2 represent a single drill sower which
may be formed like existing machines. F is front roller, R the hind roller which
is made higher but not heavier than the ordinary one. This communicates motion
to the spindle of the distributor wheel D in seed box B. by means of a system of
bevelled wheels as shown on Sheet 2 or by a chain belt or other equivalent device.
On this spindle is mounted the drum M which carries on its circumference a series
of pegs in each of five circles represented in the drawing by heavy dots. The
number of pegs in each is 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 respectively. The drum slides in & out on
ID 077

page_text: the spindle & has a clamping screw, so that it can be so fixed that any circle of
pegs can be made to actuate the crank C by shifting & clamping the drum to its
proper place. When the machine is in motion these pegs lift the crank which
being connected by the chain or wire W to the valve V opens the mouth of the
seed tube P for an instant & thus lets the seed therein drop into the earth. The
valve closes by a spring shown on the plan by a helical curve round the hinge of
the valve. The mouth of the seed tube is padded with india rubber or other
elastic soft material which prevents the crushing of any seed caught in falling
through & the consequent clogging & leakage when the valve is closed.
The roller R is of size sufficient to travel over 56" of a drill in one revolution.
Now by bringing the 8 pegged circle in contact with the crank the machine drops
seed at intervals 7 inches apart-in contact with 7 pegged circle 8 inches apart-
with 6 peg circle 9 inches apart-with 5 pegged circle 111 apart & with 4 pegged
circle 14 inches apart. By having another pair of bevelled wheels, or by changing
the diameter of roller or the number of pegged circles intervals of other lengths
may be obtained. The drum M may also be mounted on the spindle of the
roller R in which case the arm K of the crank C must be turned backwards so as
to be operated by the pegs of same. And as some farmers still object to the use of
the hind roller its place for driving purposes may be supplied by a pair of wheels
mounted at the sides that is at the extreme ends of the roller's spindle. Again the
machine is so made as to drop the seeds at points or in short lines of any required
length alternating with blank spaces the extent of which can be regulated by
moving the crank closer to or farther from the drum this being conveniently
accomplished by adjusting the jam nuts of the bearings holding the crank
spindle.
A double machine may be constructed in like manner.
I might add that should it be required at any time to sow the seed in the old
way, it can be done by simply placing a wedge under the arm of the crank so as to
keep the valve always open.
In the Sheet No. 3 is represented another modification of the valve & regulating
gear. R is the coulter in the V or boot of which a circular chamber is formed in
which revolves closely fitted at the circumference the wheel W having on its outer
rim three recesses Y Y Y and receiving motion by means of the bevelled wheels
thereon shown. As these recesses come successively under the seed tube E they
receive the seed at the end thereof & convey it down till it drops into the earth
at H. The disc D carries on its inside face four circles of cogs represented
(partly) by the dotted lines. The pinion N. on the barrel B can be clamped on
the spindle S, so as to be actuated by either of these circles. By clamping it to
correspond with the inner circle the intervals at which the seed will be deposited
will be 14 inches, clamped to the next circle 12 inches, to the next 10 inches and to
the outer circle 8 inches. This disc D is mounted on the spindle passing through
the seed box which receives motion from the hind roller in the manner shown in
Sheet 2 or by an equivalent contrivance. Or the disc D may be mounted on the
axis of the bind roller in which case the spindle S would lie almost horizontal.
The foregoing modification is also to be made double other parts being constructed
in the usual manner and we make a small single machine for nursery men for planting
onions & such like.
Another important advantage to be derived from having the seed distributor be
driven by the hind (instead of the front) roller is that by such arrangement the
flow of seed stops automatically at the headlands, for then the operator naturally
lifts the handles & thus stops the motion of said roller. By reason of the
cylindrical form of this roller, and of the roughness of the drill being smoothed
down by the front roller, the motion of the distributor wheel will be more uniform
with the space traversed. We have often noticed the front roller almost stop up
& drag along when it encountered a lump of clay at the top of the drill, thus
occasioning a lesser flow of seed for that interval, a defect which is entirely
removed by this improvement.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The application of a valve to the lower end of the seed tube, which valve is
closed by a spring its lips being padded with india rubber or other soft elastic
material as above described.
2nd. The application to the machine of gear enabling the operator to regulate
the length of the intervals at which seed is deposited-gear such as that described
or an equivalent.
3rd. The utilization of the hind roller instead of the front one (which sometimes
drags in rough ground) for driving the distributing wheel thus securing greater
uniformity of movement & distribution of seed and also a means of stopping
automatically the flow of seed at the headlands when the operator naturally lifts up
the handles & hind roller.
Dated this 25th day of January 1895.
D. DOYLE.
JOHN FARRELL.