IMPROVEMENTS IN DRILL ROLLERS AND SEED. SOWERS COMBINED OR AS SEPARATE MACHINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Brigham and Richard Bickerton, both of
the Town and Borough of Berwick-on-Tweed, Implement Makers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRILL ROLLERS AND SEED.
SOWERS COMBINED OR AS SEPARATE MACHINES."
Sealed the 12th January 1869, and dated the 25th July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Brigham and
Richard Bickerton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 25th July 1868..
We, JOHN BRIGHAM and RICHARD BICKERTON, both of the Town
and Borough of Berwick-on-Tweed, Implement Makers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRILL
ROLLERS AND SEED SOWERS COMBINED OR AS SEPARATE MACHINES," to be as
follows, that is to say :-
This said Invention consists essentially in the first place of a new or
improved form or construction of drill rollers composed or formed of
a series or set of narrow disc or ring wheels (of, say, from one and a
half to three inches broad), such as are used for the various kinds of

page_text: ring or wheel clod-crushing rollers, cutters, or pressers having their
sides, edges, periphery, or perimeter grooved, ridged, serrated, or notched,
or a combination of these forms of ring wheels, as desired, to suit the
kind of work and effect required to pulverize, solidify, and keep the
ridge and drill in proper order and form, these narrow wheels being
all mounted on a hollow spindle either plain, parallel along the outside,
or made stepped and eccentrically in the reverse directions on the parts
where the eyes of the alternate wheels work, or have the eyes made
large and with flats or undulations, or the bearings on the shaft where
they work may be made with flat or recessed parts. when they require
to revolve concentrically on or along with the hollow shaft, or a portion
of them each way, or when required to rotate eccentrically to each other,
for pulverizing or crushing and for cleaning each other all respectively.
The numbers and diameters of the rings are made and arranged to the
length of the whole combined roller, and the curve or shape to be
given to it suitable for the particular size, width, and "rise" and hollow
shape of the drill desired, and they are all held together in one set on
their hollow shaft by a fixed collar at each end, or other equivalent
means, as fixing the outer wheels to the tubular shaft, or a collar over
its outer ends securing it and these wheels. One or more when desired
of these sets of wheels so combined as a "drill roller" is mounted by
its hollow shaft on the main solid axle of the drill frame or combined
drill sower and roller frame, or other suitable simple frame, such as
that of a turnip sower, which arrangement would allow the rollers to
revolve and shift and adjust themselves on the solid fixed axle to suit
any width of drill. When these rollers are attached or worked with a
drill or seed sowing machine a friction or spur toothed wheel or band
pulley is cast or fixed on the outside of one of the end wheels of the
roller, so as to actuate the spindle of the seed discharge or delivery
mechanism herein-after to be described under the second part or head
of this Invention, or of any of the usual arrangements heretofore in use
and suitable for working with drill rollers; and when desired one or
more of the narrow wheels of the roller might be made larger in
diameter than those nearest it so as to form, roll, or press narrow seams
for the reception of the seed instead of by the ordinary mode of drill
sowing.
The improvements under the second head or part of this said
Invention consist in the construction and arrangement of the parts
and mechanism for the regular delivery or deposit of seeds, such as

page_text: beans, peas, or other seeds in the earth, suitable for being worked
along with the improvements described under the first part of this
Invention and other seed sowing machines and drills; and the essential
features of novelty consist in attaching a small seed delivery cylinder,.
open at one end and close at the other, to the usual horizontal revolving.
spindle for actuating the seed delivery mechanism actuated by a friction,
or toothed wheel or cord and pulley arrangement at one end from a
corresponding wheel or pulley, as herein-before mentioned, on the drill.
roller, or it may be on the arms or boss of one of the running wheels.
of the sowing machine. The open end of the cylinder works through.
one side of the seed box, with its front end or edge cut or formed with
four (or it may be other number) of segmental bevelled notches at
equal distances round it, cach leading into a spiral groove along the
interior surface of the cylinder to a hole through the side at the centre.
of the part of the cylinder projecting outside the seed box, having the
close end keyed on the shaft. Within the open end of the cylinder an
annular tapered ring plug is made to slide by two guiding and actuating
rods out through the opposite side of the seed box to that through
which the delivery cylinder revolves, which rods may be actuated or
regulated by a screw boss on the spindle, or a cross head and screw pin
or lever, so as to push the plug into or out of the open end of the
cylinder, and so regulate the size of the openings at the bottom of the
segmental checks where they pass into the spiral channels leading to
the holes out through the cylinder to any desired size of seed to deliver
one (or more if desired) every time a wedge groove comes round, which
in this case would thus deliver four each revolution of the shaft at equal
distances into the conducting spout set below, the holes and notches
being equally divided and driven regularly from the roller or wheel
running on the ground.
30 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,.
filed by the said John Brigham and Richard Bickerton in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN.
BRIGHAM and RICHARD BICKERTON, of the Town and Borough of
5 Berwick-on-Tweed, Implement Makers, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by. Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said John Brigham and Richard Bickerton,
Her special licence that we, the said John Brigham and Richard
Bickerton, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said John Brigham and Richard Bickerton, our 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 expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DRILL ROLLERS AND SEED SOWERS COMBINED OR AS SEPARATE MACHINES,
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Brigham
and Richard Bickerton, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, 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 we, the said John Brigham and Richard
Bickerton, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters
and numerals marked thereon, that is to say:-
Our said Invention consists essentially in the first place of a new
or improved form or construction of drill rollers composed or formed
of a series or set of narrow disc or ring wheels (of, say, from one
and a half to three inches broad), such as, are used for the various
kinds of ring or wheel clod crushing rollers, cutters, or pressers having
their sides, edges, periphery, or perimeter plain, grooved, ridged, serrated,
or notched, or a combination of these forms of ring wheels, as desired,
to suit the kind of work and effect required to pulverize, solidify, and
keep the ridge and drill in proper order and form, these narrow wheels
being all mounted on a hollow spindle either plain, parallel along the

page_text: outside, or made stepped and eccentrically in the reverse directions
on the parts where the eyes of the alternate wheels work, or have the
eyes made large and with flats or undulations, or the bearings on the
shaft where they work made with flat or recessed parts when they
require to revolve concentrically on or along with the hollow shaft,
or a portion of them each way, or when required to rotate eccentrically
to each other all respectively. The number and diameters of the rings
are made and arranged to the length of the whole combined roller,
and the curve or shape to be given to it suitable for the particular
size, width, and rise and hollow shape of the drill desired, and they
are all held together in one set on their hollow shaft by a fixed collar
at each end or other equivalent means, as fixing the outer wheels to
the tubular shaft, or a collar over its outer ends secured to these wheels.
One (or more when desired) of these sets of wheels so combined as
a "drill roller" is mounted by its hollow shaft on the main solid
axle of the drill frame, or combined drill sower and roller frame, or
other suitable simple frame, such as that of a turnip sower, which
arrangement would allow the rollers to revolve and shift and adjust
themselves on the solid fixed axle to suit any width of drill. When
these rollers are attached and worked with a drill or seed sowing
machine a friction or spur toothed wheel or band pulley is cast or
fixed on the outside of one of the end wheels of the roller, so as to
actuate the horizontal spindle of the seed discharge or delivery
mechanism herein-after to be described under the second part or head
of our said Invention, or of the usual construction or arrangement
heretofore in use and suitable for working with drill rollers; and
when desired one or more of the narrow wheels of the roller might
be made larger in diameter than those nearest it so as to form, roll,
or press narrow seams for the reception of the seed instead of by the
ordinary mode of drill sowing.
The improvements under the second head or part of our said Invention
consist in the construction and arrangement of the parts and mechanism
for the regular delivery or deposit of seeds, such as beans, peas, or other
seeds, in the earth suitable for being worked along with the improve-
ments described under the first part of this Invention and other seed
sowing machines and drills; and the essential features of novelty consist
in attaching a small seed delivery cylinder open at one end and close
at the other to the usual horizontal revolving spindle for actuating
the seed delivery mechanism actuated by a friction or toothed wheel

page_text: or cord and pulley arrangement at one end from a corresponding wheel
or pulley as herein-before mentioned on the drill roller, or it may be
on the arms or boss of one of the running wheels of the sowing
machine. The open end of the cylinder works through one side of
the seed box with its front end or edge cut or formed with four (or
it may be other number) of segmental bevelled notches at equal dis-
tances round it, each leading into a spiral groove along the interior
surface of the cylinder to a hole through the side at the centre of the
part of the cylinder projecting outside the seed box having the close
end keyed on the shaft. Within the open end of the cylinder an
annular tapered ring plug is made to slide by two guiding and actuating
rods, out through which the delivery cylinder revolves, which rods may
be actuated or regulated by a screw boss on the spindle or a cross
head and screw pin or lever on the side of the seed box, so as to
push the plug into or out of the open end of the cylinder and so
regulate the size of the openings at the bottom of the segmental checks
where they pass into the spiral channels leading to the holes out through
the cylinder to any desired size of seed to deliver one (or more if
desired) every time a wedge groove comes round, which in this case
would thus deliver four, each revolution of the shaft, at equal distances
into the conducting spout set below the holes in the discharge cylinder,
the holes and notches being equally divided and driven regularly from
the roller or wheel running on the ground.
And in order that our said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, may be properly understood and particularly ascertained, we shall
now proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings
which we have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing the best
modifications we are at present aware of for practically performing or
carrying the same into effect or practice, the same reference letters
indicating the same or like parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side and back elevation of a drill
rolling and seed sowing machine combined, constructed in accordance
with and illustrative of one modification of our said Invention; and
Figure 3 is a plan of the main frame with the seed box and sowing
mechanism nearly all removed, and therefore showing the improved
drill rollers as they would or could be used under one modification
as a separate machine for drill rolling purposes. Figures 4 and 5 are
respectively a transverse and horizontal section through the axis of part
of the drill roller corresponding to Figures 1 and 3, but to a larger

page_text: scale, the latter being a section on the line 1-1 in the former.
Figure 6 is a full size edge view or diagram of part of three rings
composing one of the drill rollers corresponding to Figure 2; and
Figures 7 to 13 are sectional details illustrative of other several
modifications of these improved drill rollers than those shown in the
former Figures all in accordance with our said Invention. Figures 14
and 15 are respectively a side and back elevation of a seed drill for
sowing on flat ground constructed in accordance with and illustrative
of one modification of the improvements under the second part or head
of our said Invention.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, and to the improvements under the
first part or head of our said Invention, the main frame of the drill roller
or drill roller and seed sower combined is formed of the two main long
transverse or front and back beams or rails a secured to and by the
back ends of the longitudinal horse shafts a¹ and the short rails a", all
by screw bolts, to the latter a" of which the two side or end supporting
inverted cast-iron brackets as are secured by the flanges of their double
arms and screw bolts. These frames or brackets a² by strong eyes at
their lower ends in the centre of frame carry the main solid central round
axle 6 of the two improved "compound" drill rollers A. by its two extreme
ends 6 secured to the eyes by preference so as not to revolve in them by
a key, pinching screw, or other equivalent, all so far without essential
novelty of construction or arrangement. Each roller A is formed of a
sufficient number of pulleys, wheels, discs, or rings A¹ with central
clod-crushing ridges A" or other notched or irregular perimeter of such
diameter as to make the general width or length and particular shape
or curve of complete roller desired, all mounted on a hollow shaft B
(by preference) by fixed end collars or nuts B¹ and a feather B", so as to
revolve with and by the tubular shaft B on the fixed axle b. One
roller A and its spindle B, as that to the right in Figure 2, is preferred
to be retained in one lateral position on the axle 6 by fixed collars 62,
while the other A and B to the left is mounted loose, so as to slide
laterally on the axle & to suit the width of the drill or the width of the
highest parts between the furrows where it is desirable to sow the seed
in drills near the ridge, sufficient space being left on the shaft and
between the rollers for this lateral shift; but these rollers might also be
so made to revolve and shift on the solid axle 6 when preferred. Other
crushing, pulverizing, or pressing perimeters (such as used in ordinary
clod crushers and pulverizers) may be given to the discs A' besides the

page_text: annular ridged or cutter edge shown and described, and thus employed
in these improved drill rollers to suit particular soils and seed or plants
and although these discs A¹ have been described as revolving with thei
hollow shaft B, yet some of them, as the central ones A* (Figures 7 and 8)
might be made loose and revolve or turn on concentric bearings Co
the shaft at any speed due to the to their circumference and friction on the
soil; or some of them, as the intermediate ones A³, might also so revolve
on their enlarged eccentric bearings C¹ on the shaft B (Figures 7 and 8)
so that as the shaft revolved at the slow speed due to the circumference
of the large discs A', which are preferred to be fixed to and turn with
the concentric discs A1, A2, would revolve at a different speed on their
eccentric bearings C¹; or instead of this enlarged eccentric bearing C
and regular eccentric rolling action (thus produced, which would not
keep the lower perimeters of the rollers A3 bearing at near the same
curvilineal position on the soil as the other rollers on each side of it) a
segmental or straight part (C", C2, Figures 9 and 10,) of the parallel
bearing of the shaft B, or a straight or segmental part of the eye of the
discs A, might be cut away as (C1, C³, Figures 10 and 11), or it might
be more than one part of these eyes A, as the three eccentric segmental
parts (C, C, Figures 12 and 13), joined by straight or curved lines
respectively, which would all (Figures 9 to 13) give the like eccentric
or back slide and roll of the discs A every time the segmental cut away
parts C" to C of the shaft or eye came round to the front, when the
shaft by the pull of the machine would slide to its bearing surface in
the eye of the discs, which would thus turn at nearly the same circum-
ferential speed and curvilineal line on the ground, and yet project back
past the perimeter of their near discs A¹, and so clear these and themselves
of the loose soil which might stick to their perimeters much in the same
manner as is effected in ordinary clod crushers and levelling rollers, as
indicated by the eccentric red circle in these Figures 9 to 13. When it is
desired to make the discs A³, A", (which have this eccentric sliding and
revolving action) to revolve along with the other discs A' or the shaft B
a bolt D may be passed through all which it is so desired to drive, either
with or without end washers A' as desired, and having slotted elliptic or
large round holes B¹, D", made in those which have to so roll eccentrically,
or other equivalent means to give the like action. These improved drill
rollers may also be formed to work into the furrow by mounting the larger.
discs A¹ on the centre and the smaller ones on each side of them, as
shown in Figure 2*, and so mounted and worked on the same or like

page_text: machine for certain soils and circumstances, and the seed might either
be sown with it in the furrow or on the sides of it instead of near the
centre of the top (as would be preferable when the rollers were made to
traverse on the ridges, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3). In either case
when they are joined to a drill sower (of any ordinary construction, or of
the improved form herein shown in these Figures and forming the improve-
ments under the second part or head of our said Invention) an actuating
chain pulley or wheel E is keyed or otherwise fixed to one of the hollow
shafts B, or to the side disc or discs A¹, A', whether these revolve with
the shaft B or only upon it (which might be the case when it was preferred
not to allow the hollow shaft B to revolve, but it or the revolving
rollers A coupled together to slide laterally on the solid shaft 6), a
pitch chain E' from the wheel E passing under it and over one E⁹ on
the outer end of the spindle c of the seed discharge and regulating
mechanism, which in this case consists particularly of the new or improved
construction and arrangement shown in half-size transverse and longi-
tudinal section in Figures 16 and 17 respectively. The spindle c in this
case revolves in bearing brackets d and bearings with pinching collars c¹
in one end of two small cast-iron discharge boxes F each formed with a
lateral cylindrical chamber F and two pendant discharge spouts or
branches F, F", screwed by flanges F" below to a strong central rail G
of the frame a, and by flanges Fat the top to the bottom and lower side
edges of the large transverse seed box e, which is further supported and
secured to the frame a and shafts a, a¹, by the two scroll brackets c¹.
The box and chamber F, F', might be cast in one piece, but it is preferred
to have it to come separate through the horizontal axial line of the
spindle c by the flanges and screw bolts at G¹ for ease of removal with
the large seed box e. Each chamber F has the hollow lifting and dis-
charging or small delivery cylinder H, shown in detached horizontal
section Figure 18, with its segmental open end H working into the
box F, and close end outside secured to the spindle c by a key or pinching
screw c", so that as the spindle revolves and carries round the cylinder H
the radial and segmental bevelled edges H² forming the catching or
lifting lip of the segmental openings H¹ which are closed or opened to
admit the seed equally to each to any desired extent by the segmentally
open and blind disc I for that purpose set and secured by slots and
screws I' or other equivalent. Or otherwise the widening and contracting
of the openings II' leading into the spiral or inclined ducts H³, H", may
be effected by the equivalent arrangement of a sliding cone I on the

page_text: spindle inserted or withdrawn from their ends left open round the spindl
for the purpose. When employed the cone is moved in and out by
the two small stems Is passed out through the side of the seed box F
which also prevents the cone from revolving with the cylinder H wher
that is considered an advantage, all as shown in red lines in Figure 18
The seed filled into the long "hopper" box e by its hinged lids e¹ at the
top falls down the bevelled sides and false bottom e³ and e" through an
opening at es into the seed box F, from which it is lifted as described by
the alternate projecting bevelled lips H and H" into the screw or angled
grooves H³, H, formed in the interior of the cylinder H leading to the
two sets of three holes H, H, formed through the shell of the cylinder
at the extreme back or outer ends of these grooves H³, H, and in the
lateral planes of the discharge spouts F2 and F" all respectively, and
then down through the gutta percha tubes J and J and coulters K, K',
so as to be dropped or sown into the drills in regular and equal quantities
formed by the coulters K, K', which are by preference kept a few inches
apart to give the seeds more room for the roots to expand than if sown
in one track, stream, or drill. Each lever L, L, carrying the coulters K, K',
is hinged to a vertical shifting stem L' fixed at any desired height by
keys or pinching screws to a socket on the frame or shafts a or a¹ to suit
the depth of drill the coulter is to make for the seeds, the levers being
further steadied and regulated near the coulter by a hollow grooved rim
pulley I fixed on a stud L" in the lever L right over a central disc A
of the roller A, on the sharp edge A" of which it rolls so as to be steady
and regular in its action. The back of the levers might be loaded by
weights to insure the action of the coulters when desired, but they are
preferred to be bent up and formed into handles L' for the attendant to
hold them and insure the proper action of the coulters. In some soils
and circumstances narrow projecting ridged or rimmed pulleys K'
(Figure 8) might be used between the discs A¹ to form the drill for the
seed instead of the coulters K, K³, and have the end of the gutta percha
tubes J, J, or metallic ones guided by a lever rest on the said drill
pulleys K. The spindle c of the seed delivery mechanism is put out of
gear so as not to deliver seeds at pleasure any moment by the hand lever
and clutch arrangement M, so as to allow the chain wheel Es to turn
loose on the spindle; but when toothed wheels are employed the hand
lever c may be made to shift the driven wheel Es out of gear with its
driving one E when desired, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, or other
equivalent disengaging mechanism might be employed instead of

page_text: either of these means; and instead of the chain pulleys E, E³, and
chains E' for actuating the spindle of the seed delivery mechanism
friction wheels or pulleys, or pulleys and bands, might be employed when
preferred.
Although we have so far mainly described the modification of our
said Invention shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 as a combined machine
for drill rolling and seed sowing, yet it will be evident that the im-
proved roller and its necessary frame parts could be worked as a rolling
machine alone or conjointly with other usual forms of seed sowing
mechanism, and that the improved seed sowing mechanism and frame
could be worked with any other forms of drill rollers either allowed
to slide transversely in the improved manner on a fixed shaft or not;
or by having two loose running wheels set to work in the main or
water furrows, and by a chain or toothed wheel on one of them giving
motion to the seed motion shaft c, all instead of the drill roller could
thus be worked as a drill seed sower only over the prepared soil or
series of ridges between the furrows of the wheels.
Referring to Figures 19 and 20 which illustrate a modification of
the improvements under the second part of our said Invention applied
to an eight drill sowing machine only for plain or level prepared soil
having a lever L and weight to each coulter K, K', hinged to short
joint arms L' fixed to a horizontal transverse spindle by pinching
screws so that the coulters can be set to any desired width of drill,
the backs of the levers and weights being held at a proper height to
suit the depth of drill the coulter is desired to make by a chain L³
wound on the roller by the cross arm lever held in position by
the ratchet wheel and spring pall, the actuating seed sowing
shaft c in this case being actuated by a toothed wheel Es on it from
one E on the light wheels N running on a kneed axle or end n attached
to the cross frame a', the wheel E on the spindle c being shifted
out and in gear with the other by the lever c. In this case the
shaft c revolves in bearings d in the ends of the four delivery seed
chamber F supported and attached to the main frame G, G, and seed
box e essentially as in the former modification, but somewhat modified
and duplex in its general details, constructed as shown particularly in
transverse and longitudinal sections in Figures 19 and 20 respectively
to half full size from that shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 16 and 17.
The seed from the main box e falls through the opening into the.

page_text: central chamber F, having in this case two short delivery cylinders E
keyed on and revolving with the spindle c within the ends of the
seed chamber F and delivery recesses F¹ leading into their respective
spouts F, F, to which the gutta percha tubes J, J¹, conveying the
delivery seed to the coulters K, K'. The adjacent ends of the two
cylinders H have mounted on them the duplex conoidal hollow ring O
revolving within the seed receiver F, which directs the seeds falling
into it in towards the segmental and radially inclined open re-
cesses H¹, H", of the cylinders H, so as to be lifted or caught by their
projecting and lifting inclined edges H2 and delivered through the
openings H, H", into the delivering chambers F¹ and spouts F³, F",
on each side equally for two coulters and drills. The outer side of
the openings H¹, H", in each cylinder H is contracted or enlarged
by a disc cover I with open and blind segmental parts, which on being
turned and set in its annular recess i, where it is kept in position by
the three small shoulder pieces ¹ screwed to the cylinder H, and held
by a small spring lever detent j which takes into a segment of ratchet
teeth all so as to revolve with it and deliver the seed in any desired
quantity, as set close or open. The horizontal section, Figure 21, taken
on the line 3-3, Figures 19 and 20, of this closing disc and lifting
angled faces and recesses shows more particularly how these lifting and
discharging cylinders H are constructed and act.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we may
observe in conclusion that we do not confine or restrict ourselves to
the precise details, modifications, or arrangements which we have had
occasion to describe, delineate, and refer to, as many variations of and
from these may be made without departing from the main or essential
features of our said Invention; neither do we claim to have invented
the forms and constructions of many of the parts or their modes of
attachment which we have had occasion to describe and refer to by
themselves specially, as such may have been used in various kinds of
drill rollers and seed sowers, except in so far as these have essential
reference to or form parts of our said Invention; but what we consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction and arrangement of the parts of drill
rollers and sowing machines combined or as separate machines sub-

page_text: stantially in the new or improved manner and for the purposes herein
described and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
Second. The construction and use of drill rollers formed of a number
of separate rings, discs, or wheels of any desired perimeter individually
but forming a drill roller of the general outline essential for the par-
ticular form of the ridge or furrow desired to be rolled or treated,
whether such combined drill roller or rollers are mounted on hollow or
solid shafts or spindles, all substantially in the new or improved manner
and for the purposes herein described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Third. The construction and use of separate small discharge seed
boxes placed nearly below the main seed box, having small revolving
cylinders with spiral or angled openings in or through them for lifting
and discharging the seed through them into the discharge spouts and
tubes, all substantially in the new or improved manner and for the
purposes herein described and shown in the accompanying Drawings,
or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Brigham and Richard
Bickerton, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth
day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-nine.
JOHN BRIGHAM.
(L.S.)
RICHARD BICKERTON. (L.S.)