Improvements in Seed Drills.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1895-Accepted, 5th Oct.,
1895
Improvements in Seed Drills.
I, GEORGE HENRY THOMAS of Thorncliffe Implement Works, Bishop's
Tawton, Barnstaple, Implement Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of any invention is to obtain a simple means of preventing the
breaking of the feet and seed conductors of corn drills, which is often caused by
their meeting with hard substances when in use, such as stones, roots of trees and
the like.
For this purpose 1 fit on the corn drill, levers and springs so arranged as to allow
the feet and seed conductors to fall back and rise from the ground when they meet
with any hard substance.
At the back of the machine, or in any other suitable place, I fit a large hand
lever which is connected by means of a long screw, having a cranked handle, to the
end of an angular lever, which is fulcrummed at its angle. At the end of the
angular lever is a vertical rod on which are two coiled springs which engage with
and hold in position, an arm which supports the seed conductora. On this arm is a
coiled spring which by pressure on a curved lever regulates the position of the seed
conductors and feet which can be adjusted also by a pin and perforated bar placed
above them.
The curved lover is controlled by the coiled spring in such a way that if the feet
meet with an obstacle they will rise up from the ground and after passing the
obstacle the spring will replace the feet and seed conductors in their working
position. Near the large handle lever is an eccentric which has slots in its
periphery engaging with a sliding bolt on the hand levers enabling the lever to
be locked.
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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Seed Drills.
1, GEORGE HENBY THOMAS, of Thorncliffe Implement Works, Bishop's
Tawton Barnstaple, Implement Manufacturer, 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 my invention is to obtain a simple means of preventing the
breaking of the feet and seed conductors of seed and corn drills, which is often
caused by their meeting with hard substances when in use, such as stones, roots of
trees and the like.
For this purpose I fit on the corn drill, levers and springs so arranged as to allow
the feet and seed conductors to fall back and rise from the ground when they meet
with any bard substance.

page_text: At the back of the machine, or in any other suitable place, I fit a large hand
lever which is connected by means of a long screw, having a cranked handle, to the
end of an angular lever, which is fulcrummed at its angle. At the end of the
angular lever is a vertical rod on which are two coiled springs which engage with
and hold in position, an arm which supports the seed conductors. On this arm is a
coiled spring which by pressure on a curved lever regulates the position of the seed
conductors and feet which can be adjusted also by a pin and perforated bar placed
above them.
The curved lever is controlled by the coiled spring in such a way that if the feet
meet with an obstacle they will rise up from the ground and after passing the
obstacle the spring will replace the feet and seed conductors in their working
position.
Near the large handle lever is an eccentric which has slots in its periphery
engaging with a sliding bolt on the hand lovers, enabling the lever to be locked.
Fig. 1, shows a side elevation of my corn drill with the lifting mechanisın in
working position.
Fig. 2, shows a similar view but with the lifting mechanism locked in the non
working position.
In both views the wheels, supporting the machine, are shown in dotted lines.
a is a horizontal beam upholding most of the lifting mechanism.
bis a circular disc in the periphery of which notches are out, which receive the
bolt and enables the lever c to be secured in either of the positions indicated by
the notches.
c is a moveable lever fnlerummed at c, for operating the two crank arms d, e.
The lever c is furnished with the usual locking bolt c³ and spring.
d is a small crank arm at the lower end of lever c, at the end of which the long
rodf, is secured at ƒ³.
e is a second crank at the end of c, on to the other end of which ropes, chains or
other tackle are fixed for operating the corn drill, (as shown by dotted lines).
fis a long rod, the outer end of which is screwed as shewn, the opposite end of:
same being furnished with the crank handle ƒ³, by means of which the screw is
revolved.
f³, is a travelling put tapped to receive the screw thread on the rod f. By means
of this screwed rod f, the pressure on the coulters can be increased or lessened by
extending or contracting the spring j, thus adapting the action of the coulters to the
character of the land on which they are working. This adjustment is not effected
by any similar machine.
h, is a vertical arm depending from the nut ¹, and moved to and fro by the
revolution of the screw rod f.
i is a short arm placed at nearly right angles to the vertical arm h and moving
with same.
The movement of this short armi, caused by revolving the crank handle f³, serves
to alternately expand and contract the two tension springs j, k, thereby varying the
pressure on the icoulters. The counter-action of these springs tends to keep the
bar (on to which the coulter or corn drill is pivotted) in equilibrium, when no
pressure is required as is the case when working on light land. Each coulter / is
provided, independently of the other, with a separate set of springs j, k, m,
parts m², m³, bar on which the coulter is mounted.
The upper erd of spring k is secured to some rigid part of the frame of the
machine (not shewn).
m, is another coiled tension spring held in position between the parts m², m³,
projecting from one of the corn drills.
m² is a lug converted to the bar I, forming a stop for the tension spring m.
m is a bracket and lug projecting outwards towards the left, from the coulter l'
to which the other end of spring m, is connected, this bracket is not connected to
ti e bar l.
Thus should the points of either of the drills come into contact with some

page_text: hard substance, the said points will be enabled to go backward and the coulter /¹
revolve on the pivots P, F, and damage will be averted.
n, is a V shaped bracket upholding the arms h, i, and l.
o, is the seed hopper.
P, P, are flexible conductors, guiding the seed from the hopper o, and into the
corn drills P
By my invention a light drill is made equal to all requirements, as it can be
effectively worked on light or heavy land, as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature 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 seed or corn drill or like implement the arrangement of levers, springs
rods and arms for lifting the coulters or drills and seed conductors, and regulating
the pressure on the coulters with lever and wheel for locking the same as herein
described and set forth.
2. In a seed or corn drill or like implement the arrangement of screw, hand
wheel, nut, lever, crank and springs for adjusting the pressure on the coulters as
herein described and set forth.
Dated this 17th day of July 1905
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, Agent for Applicant.