An Improved Weed Killer.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Lelt, 8th June, 1892-Accepted, 16th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Weed Killer.
I CHARLES WYKEHAM FORMBY Gentleman of Latchingdon Maldon Essex do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a mechanical means for introducing
small quantities of liquid or solid poison to the roots of weeds. This object is
attained by fixing a nozzle & spike in connection with a reservoir of poison in such
a manner that the poison (if liquid) may flow from the reservoir to the end of the
nozzle & thence to the weed at the will of the user. The discharge from the nozzle
may be regulated by a valve. The ordinary shape for the reservoir would be a
tubular staff; thus in the case of a solid poison being used, the instrument would
resemble a large pencil case, the counter part of the pencil-lead being a stick of
poisonous compound to be applied to the weeds.
Dated this Seventh day of January 1892.
CHARLES WYKEHAM FORMBY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Weed Killer.
1, CHARLES WYKEHAM FORMBY of Latchingdon, Maldon, in the County of
Essex, 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 mechanical means for introducing
small quantities of liquid or solid poison to the roots of weeds.
The invention will be best understood by aid of the accompanying sheet of
illustrative drawings, on the two figures of which similar letters of reference
indicate like parts:-
Figure 1 being, as it were, an automatic form of the implement, whilst
Figure 2 is a form requiring the use of both hands when introducing the poison
to the root.
For introducing the poison to the root, I fit a nozzle A and spike B in connection
with a reservoir C of poison in such a manner that the poison (if liquid) may flow
from the reservoir to the weed at the will of the operator. I have shown, on the
annexed drawing, two ways whereby the poisón (liquid) may be caused to flow
from the reservoir to the weed, they are the two best ways known to me and
though differing somewhat, as above indicated, the principle of action is in each
case similar, inasmuch as the action of a spring has to be overcome before the
liquid will pass to the weed. In each case, the discharge of the liquid from the
nozzle A is regulated by a valve D, in the case of Figure 1, the implement need
only be pressed into the weed for this valve to open, but, in the case of Figure 2,
the valve will best be opened by retiring the handle E.
Referring to Figure 1-
In this variety, the reservoir C, as shown, may, for convenience of manufacture,
be in two parts and C², the latter part is fitted with three diaphragms 1, 2 and 3,
pierced to allow the passage of the spike B as well of the liquid poison in the
implement. Diaphragm 1 serves as an abutment for the spring G, and diaphragms 2
and 3 form, as it were, a discharge chamber. D is the valve on the spike and H is
a small disc forming the contra abutment for the spring, it will be seen that the
spike B is not the same thickness throughout, whereby a shoulder b is formed for
Γ

page_text: the disc H to rest against. Finally, a bung or stopper I is provided, in this variety
placed in the extreme end of the reservoir C.
Referring to Figure 2-
In this variety, the reservoir C may consist practically of one part, but the
nozzle A, in this variety, is formed solid, so acting, in some measure. as a guide or
support for the spike B, which, about its corresponding part, is of similar contour
to A but in this variety the spike is continued throughout the reservoir C and is
'provided with a handle E at its end. G is the spring and 1 is the abutment-
diaphragm, the contra abutment being formed by a washer 4, placed on the
spike B; as no discharge-chamber may be desired in this variety, one diaphragm, 1,
will be sufficient and the widened tapering end of the spike B acts as the valve D.
Finally, a bung or stopper, I is provided, which, in this variety, has to be placed in
an opening in the side of the reservoir C, so that there will be an unobstructed
passage when the reservoir A has to be filled.
I prefer, for convenience of handling, that the implement should be in the form
of an ordinary staff, which is the form shown in the drawings, further, it will be
advantageous to provide, down the sides of the end J of the spike B, one or more
channels or grooves to act as conduits for the liquid, but, in the variety shown in
Figure 2, these channels or grooves will not be necessary, as the sloping sides of
the spike-point will answer their purpose.
To use the implement, the bung or stopper, I, is first removed, and the reservoir C
filled up with the liquid poison, say carbolic acid of a greater or less strength; the
bung or stopper I is then replaced. To kill a weed, the end J of the spike B may
be bored more or less into the weed, the pressure thus exerted will, in the case of
Figure 1, suffice to open the valve D, which latter will come against the
-diaphragm 2, shutting off the main body of liquid and allowing that enclosed
between 2 and 3 to run off into the weed to kill it; for some soils or weeds, and also
in other cases, it may not be desired to exert too great a pressure of the implement,
then the variety of implement shown in Figure 2 comes in useful, it will be only
necessary to draw up the handle E when a clearance or passage will be allowed at
the nozzle for the liquid, which, running down the end of the spike, will enter into
the more or less bored out weed.
In the case of poison being used in a solid form, the implement would resemble a
large pencil case, the counterpart of the pencil-lead being a stick of poisonous
compound to be applied to the weeds.
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. An improved weed killer consisting of a reservoir (for the poison), preferably
in the form of a tubular staff, provided with a nozzle and spike, for distributing the
poison to the weed, and of a valve regulatable at will, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. In a weed killer, the combination of a tubular staff or other reservoir for
poison, with a nozzle and valve closing the same but controlled at the will of the
operator, and a device such as a spike to direct the poison to the weed.
3. A weed killer constructed substantially as hereinbefore described and shown
on the accompanying drawings.
1032
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.