Improvements in Machines for Spreading Substances, either Solid or Liquid, over the Surface of the Ground.
Year: 1889

page_text: e decision of the Comptroller-General, of the 30th day of November 1892,
allowed, under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883, an Amendment
Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 27th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Spreading Substances, either Solid or
Liquid, over the Surface of the Ground.
I, ROBERT WADSWORTH of the Patent Wheel, Axle and Waggon Works, Thomas
Street, Halifax, in the County of York, Wheel Manufacturer, and Maker of Vans,
Waggons, and Sanitary Implements &c. do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates partly to the improvements in machines for spreading ashes,
sand, gravel, stones, lime, soot, artificial manures, seeds, or other similar substances,
for which Letters Patent were granted to me Sept. 5th 1888, No. 12,815.
In my present improvements the body or receptacle which has to contain the
matter to be spread, in said machines is so constructed that the grating mentioned
in the Specification of my said Patent, may be dispensod with, or can be used
therewith.
The object of these improvements been :-
1st. To make the said machines so that the matter to be distributed can be gradually
conveyed automatically out of the receptacle for holding the same, on to the apparatus
by which the matter is spread, and the entire contents of the receptacle be distributed,
without the need of a man to ride therein, shovelling the matter to the hinder end
thereof, to enable it to reach the distributor; and to do this without increasing the
draught of the machine to little extent.
2nd. To so feed the distributing apparatus that its greatest possible capacity for
spreading may be derived.
3rd. To provide improved means for easily and readily adjusting the tension of the
chain driving belts, which are made use of for imparting motion to the apparatus for
conveying the matter out of the receptacle which contains it, on to the distributing
apparatus; and also for imparting motion to the distributing apparatus.
4th. To provide an improved endless chain for the endless travelling web or
conveyor.
5th. To so mount or apply the endless travelling web, that the power required to
impart motion thereto, is reduced to a minimum.
In carrying out my improvements I construct the body or receptacle of said
machines which has to contain the matter to be distributed with a bottom slanting on
each side, at such an incline that any matter coming in contact therewith will have a
tendency to slide down.
Between the two slanting sides I leave a space of nine or ten inches or other
suitable width, to form a channel or gutter, lengthwise, the whole length of the body
or receptacle, and as a botton for the channel or gutter I mount in suitable bearings
an endless travelling web or conveyor of suitable width, to extend the whole length of
the body or receptacle and projecting out at the rear end to a necessary extent, and
which I cause to be well supported by rollers or chain wheels, so that the same will
bear the weight of the load without swagging.

page_text: I am aware that an endless travelling web has been made use of hitherto.
In one case an endless travelling web has been used mounted above the ordinary
bottom of a cart and extending the whole width and length of the cart bottom, and in
another case an endless travelling web extending about two thirds of the length of the
cart bottom, has been used, mounted underneath a small opening at the rear end of
the body or receptacle for containing the matter to be spread, "but in both cases the
bottoms of the receptacles has been flat and made like an ordinary cart bottom."
As a modification, in lieu of the endless travelling web for the bottom of the
channel or gutter for conveying the matter out of the body or receptacle, a fixed
hollow gutter may be applied, and in the gutter a worm or spiral shaft may be
mounted, lengthwise with the gutter; and as this is caused to rotate by been geared to
one of the propelling wheels, this will cause the matter contained in the receptacle
to be gradually moved towards the hinder end, and so on to the distributing
apparatus.
Hitherto in machines for spreading sand, ashes &c. wherein an endless travelling
web has been used in combination with what is known as a revolving disc distributor,
when the matter to be distributed has left the endless web it has fallen into a small
hopper which has two elongated holes at the bottom, under which the revolving disc
or lises are mounted, and the matter has fallen or been fed all on to one side of the
disc or discs.
By my improvements; I employ two hoppers for the distributing matter to fall into
as it leaves the endless web, or gutter, as the case may be, and by these hoppers I feed
the revolving disc or discs on two sides by which the matter is more uniformly spread
and a greater width can be covered.
In machines for spreading water or other liquids, the same also applies, only
instead of the two hoppers a box is used, and as the valves in the tank body or
receptacle are opened the water in the receptacle rushes into the box, and holes are
made on the underside thereof so that it will feed the revolving disc or discs,
which are mounted and rotate underneath, "on two sides," instead of only one as
hitherto:
For easily and readily adjusting the tension of the chain. driving belts used in these
machines, also in machines for spreading water or other liquids, I mount a pulley in a
carrier which is passed through a slotted bearing, in such positions that the pulley
will support the lower part of the belts, and as the carriers are raised in the slotted
bearings, which can be done instantly, the tension of the belts are adjusted.
My improved endless chain for the endless travelling web.or conveyor, consists in
making the chain with links; the ends of which joint into each other, and are con-
nected together by pins, the middle part of said links been. formed. like a socket or
hoop, so that the ends of wooden slats can be inserted therein.
In the socket or hoop part an elongated hole is formed to take a tooth of a chain
wheel.
With this design of chain the wooden slats are better secured and likewise protected,
and the chain serves also as a drive chain:
Hitherto in machines having an endless travelling web, the-same has been mounted
so that the upper portion and the under portion has been in a straight, line with each
other, and both portions, liave rotated or traversed over the axletree bed, on the ends
of which the propelling wheels rotate, and. in this arrangement. the lower portion of
the web has always dragged on the axletree bed.
By my improvements the endless. travelling, web is mounted, so.
that the upper
portion traverses in a straight line over the axletree bed and the under portion hangs
down in the middle and passes "under" the axletree-bed; to which a roller or pair. of
chain wheels are mounted,,andi by. been so applied, motion. is more easily, imparted
thereto.
Date this. 914 day of Décember 1800.

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Spreading Substances, either Solid or
Liquid, over the Surface of the Ground.
I ROBERT WADSWORTH of the Patent Wheel, Axle and Waggon Works, Thomas
Street, Halifax in the County of York, Wheel Manufacturer and Maker of Vans,
Waggons and Sanitary Implements, &c. 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 stateinent :-
This invention relates partly to the improvements in machines for spreading ashes,
sand, gravel, stones, lime, soot, artificial manures, seeds or other similar substances,
for which Letters Patent were granted to me Sept. 5th 1888, No. 12,815.
In my present improvements the body or receptacle which has to contain the
matter to be spread, in said machines, is so constructed that tlie grating mentioned
in the Specification of my said Patent may be is dispensed with, or can be used
therewith:
The object of these improveinents been is :-
1st. To make the said machines so that the matter to be distributed can be gradually
conveyed' automatically out of the receptacle for holding the same, on to the apparatus
by which the matter is spread, and the entire contents of the receptacle be distributed,
without the need of a man to ride therein, to shovelling the matter to the hinder end
thereof, to enable it to reach the distributor; and to do this without increasing but
small increase in the draught of the machine. to little-extent.
2nd. To so feod the distributing apparatus that its greatest possible capacity for
spreading may be derived.
3rd. To provide improved means for easily and readily adjusting the tension of the
chain driving' belts, which are made use of for imparting motion to the apparatus for
conveying the matter out of the receptacle, which contains it, on to the distributing
apparatus; and also for imparting motion to the distributing apparatus.
4th. To provide an improved endless chain for the endless travelling web or
conveyor.
5th. To so mount or apply the endless travelling web, that the power required to
impart motion theréto is reduced to a minimum.
In carrying out my improvements I construct the body or receptacle of said
machines which has to contain the matter to be distributed, with a-bottom slanting on
each or sloping bottom or sides, at such an incline' that any matter coming in contact
there with will have a tendency to slide down. Between the two slanting or sloping
sides I leave a space of some nine or ten inches or other suitable width to form a
channel or gutter, lengthwise, the whole length of the body or receptacle, and as a
bottom for the channel or gutter, under which I mount in suitable bearings an endless
travelling 'web or conveyor of suitable width and long enough to extend the whole
length of the body or receptacle and project out at the rear end to a necessary
extent, and which I'cause to be well supported by rollers or small wheels, so that the
same will bear the weight of the load without swagging, and will serve as a bottom
between the slanting or sloping sides.
I am aware that an endless travelling web has been made use of hitherto. In one
case an endless travelling web has been used mounted above the ordinary bottom of a
cart and extending the whole width and length of the cart bottom and in another
'case; an endless travelling web extending about two thirds of the length of the cart
bottom has been used mounted underneath a small opening at the rear end of the
body or receptacle' for containing the matter to be spread, "but in both cases the
bottoms of the receptacles has been "flat" and made like an ordinary cart bottom."
Also an endless travelling web is described in the Specification of my Patent No. 12,815

page_text: of 1888, and I show therein a cart body or receptacle with slanting or sloping sides, but
the "grating" described in the said Specification serves as the bottom between the sloping
sides.
As a modification; in lieu of the endless travelling web for the bottom of the
channel or gutter; or conveyor for conveying the matter out of the body or receptacle,
a fixed hollow gutter may be applied, and in the gutter a worm or spiral shaft may be
mounted lengthwise with the gutter, and as this is caused to rotate by been geared
to one of the propelling wheels, this will cause the matter contained in the
receptacle to be gradually moved towards the hinder end and so on to the distributing
apparatus.
Hitherto in machines for spreading sand, ashes &c., wherein an endless travelling
web has been used in combination with what is known as a revolving disc distri-
butor, when the matter to be distributed has left the endless web it has fallen or
been fed all on to one side of the disc or discs.
By my improvements I employ or make use of two hoppers for the distributing
matter to fall into, as it leaves the endless web or gutter, as the case may be,
and by these hoppers I feed the revolving disc or discs on two sides, by which
the matter is more uniformly spread and a greater width can be covered.
In machines for spreading water or other liquids the same also applies, only
instead of the two hoppers a box is used, and as the valves in the tank boly or
receptacle are opened, the water rushes into the box, and holes are made on the
underside thereof so that it will feed the revolving disc or discs, which are mounted
and rotate underneath, more to the outside than hitherto.
For easily and readily adjusting the tension of the chain driving belts used in these
machines, also in machines for spreading water or other liquids, I mount a pulley on
a carrier which is passed through a slotted bearing, in such positions that the pulley
will support the lower part of the belts, and as the carriers are raised in the slotted
bearings which can be done instantly the tension of the belts are is adjusted.
My improved endless chain for the endless travelling web or conveyor, consists
in making the chain with links the ends of which joint into each other, and the middle
part of said links are formed like a socket or hoop so that the ends of wooden slats can
be inserted therein, and in the socket or hoop part an elongated hole is formed to take
a tooth of a chain wheel.
With this design of chain the wooden slats are better secured and likewise protected,
and the chain serves also as a * drive chain."
Hitherto in machines having an endless travelling web, the same has been mounted
so that the upper portion and the under portion has been in a straight line with each
other and both portions have rotated or traversed over the axletree bed, on the ends
of which the propelling wheels rotate, and in this arrangement the lower portion of
the web has always dragged on the axletree bed.
By my improvements the endless travelling web is mounted so that the upper
portion traverses in a straight line "over" the axletree bed, and the under portion
hangs down in the middle and passes
"
under the axletrec bed to which a roller or
6
pair of small wheels are mounted and by been so applied motion is more easily
imparted thereto.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation of a machine for spreading
sand, ashes &c.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section or top view of the said machine.
The letters of reference in both figures indicate corresponding parts, A is the body
or receptacle which has to contain the matter to be spread, B the slanting or sloping
parts of-the-bottom sides thereof, having a space left between the same of suitable
width to form a channel down-the middle of the-body-and under which the endless
travelling web is mounted on rollers or on small wheels working on axles mounted
in suitable bearings, the upper portion of the webbing passing in straight line "over"
the axletree bed, and the lower portion "under" the axletree bed, as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. is also a horizontal section or top view of the said machine shewing the
:

page_text: same fitted with a fixed hollow gutter D in which a worm or spiral shaft E is geared.
by wheels &c. F to one of the propelling wheels G and so arranged that it can be
instantly put in or out of gear.
H is the endless chain driving belt by which motion. is imparted from the pro-
pelling wheel, G, to the endless travelling web C or the worm or spiral shaft E as the
case may be.
I is the endless chain driving belt by which motion is imparted from the propelling'
wheel G to the revolving disc distributor J.
K. K. are the two hoppers which conduct the distributing matter from the endless
web C to the revolving disc J.
Lis a pulley mounted on an adjustable carrier or bearing M and which supports
the lower portion of the chain driving belts H and I, and as the pulley is raised in the
adjustable carrier M. which can be done instantly, the tension of the chain driving
belts will be adjusted.
Figs. 4 and 5. are detached views of my improved manner of conducting the
distributing matter from the endless web C, or gutter D. on. to the revolving
distributor J. Fig. 4 is the cover or guard for the distributor J. and in which are
two elongated holes N. N..
Hitherto the elongated holes have been in straight line with each other, but by my
improvements these are zigzag with each other as shewn by Fig. 4. Over each of the
elongated holes N. N. a small hopper is placed, O. 0. in Fig. 5. which receives the
distributing matter as it leaves the travelling endless web C. or gutter, D. as the case
may be, and conducts it to tlie two elongated lioles, N. N. through which it falls on to
the distributor J. which revolves underneath. The two holes can be zigzag vice-versa
when required.
Fig. is a side elevation of a machine for spreading water or other liquids by
revolving dise or centrifugal distributors. P is the body or tank for holding the liquid
to be distributed. Qis the box for conducting the liquid from the tank body P. to tlie
revolving disc distributor R, and to which motion is imparted by the chain driving
belts S, from the propelling wheels T. U is a pulley mounted on an adjustable
carrier or bearing for adjusting the tension of the chain driving belts S as
hereinbefore described.
Figs. 7. & 8 are detached views of the forms of boxes I make use of in machines
for spreading liquids, for conducting the liquid from the tank body, on to the
revolving distributors R. R. These forms of boxes admit of holes been made on
the underside thereof in such manner as will allow the liquid to run through on
to the distributors R. R. by which a greater width can be covered, than with the
old straight form of box.
Figs. 9. 10 and 11. are detached views of the various forms of adjustable carriers or
bearings I propose to make use of for adjusting the tension of the chain driving belts
in machines for spreading substancos either solid or liquid over the surface of the
ground, any of which may be modified in design without deviating from the general
principle, for instance in the design Fig. 11 instead of the long slot hole V, a number
of holes might be bored and the carrier or axle W, on which the pulley X is
mounted, be passed through and secured with a nut, or a number of holes might be
bored, and a serew-thread formed therein, and the carrier or axle W on which the
pulley-X is mounted, have the inner-end serewed so that it will fit into any of the
holes, as shewn by Fig. 11.
Figs. 12 & 13 represents my improved chain for the endless travelling web or
conveyor which I make use of in machines for spreading sand, ashes &c. Two
manners are here shewn of jointing the links together but I would have it understood
that the same may be jointed together in any other way.
Fig. 13 represents my improved endless chain as applied to the wooden slats Y in
my improved endless travelling web or conveyor.
Figs. 14. 15. and 16 represents tny improved bearings with oil chambers with lids
thereto.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st. Constructing the body or receptacle which has to contain the matter to be
spread, of machines for spreading sand, ashes, lime, seeds, or other similar substances,
with a-bottom sides slanting or sloping on-each-side towards the middle, at such an
incline that any matter coming in contact therewith will not hold thereto, a space
being left between the two sloping sides, under which an endless travelling web or
conveyor is mounted to serve as the bottom between the sloping sides, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
2nd. In combination with a-bottom sides slanting or sloping en eneh side towards
the middle, in machines for spreading sand, ashes &c. I claim the use of an endless
travelling web or conveyor to serve as the bottom between the sloping sides, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
22
3rd. Fixing or mounting the endless travelling web or conveyor with the upper
portion supported on small wheels or rollers running on axles in straight line " over
the axletree bed, and the lower portion hanging down in the middle and passing
"under" the axletree bed, substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
4th. Driving, or imparting motion to the endless travelling web by chain wheels.
5th 4th. Constructing the body or receptacle which has to contain the matter to
be spread, of machines for spreading sand, ashes, &c. with a bottom sides slanting or
sloping on-each-side towards the middle, and with a fixed hollow gutter between the
same, having a worm or spiral shaft mounted therein for conveying the matter out of
the body on to the distributor, substantially, as herein described and shown by the
drawings.
6th. Making the-two-holes which feed the revolving distributor, zigzag.
7th. The use of two hoppers for conducting-the-matter to be spread to the
distributor.
8th. The two forms of boxes for conducting the liquid from the tank body in
machines for sprending liquids, on to the revolving distributor:
Oth. Mounting a puller in an "adjustable enrrier or bearing" for supporting the
lower part of the chain driving-belts-used in the machines herein-before-described;
and by which the tension of the suid-belts-can be easily-adjusted.
19th 5th. The design of chain for the endless travelling web or conveyor, sub-
stantially as described and shown by the drawings.
Dated this 25th day of Santember 1800.
ROBERT WADSWORTH.