Improvements in or relating to Seed-sowing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
Improvements in or relating to Seed-sowing Machines.
[A communication from MASSEY-HARRIS LIMITED, of Toronto, County of York,
Province of Ontario, Canada, Agricultural Implement Makers.]
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent 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 the invention is, firstly, to provide simple and effective means by
which the drill rows may be formed and means by which they may be made of a
greater or lesser depth as required, the spring pressure on all the drill hoes being
simultaneously applied by the same lever that raises the drill hoes from the ground,
secondly, to produce a simple and effective device for supporting the broadcast
grain-tubes so that in the event of any of them coming in contact with a stone or
other obstruction, it will spring clear of the obstruction and upon passing the same,
will immediately resume its normal position, thirdly, to provide means by which the
cut-off may be adjusted without removing the grain from the seed-box, fourthly, to
arrange the seed-casing so that it will not cut or grind any of the seed passing
through it, and it consists, essentially-firstly, of wedge-shaped shoes, each one
connected at its larger end to the bottom of a drill hoe and curved upwardly to a
point where it is fastened to a drag bar pivotted upon the front of the frame, the
lever which is used to raise the shoe from the ground being adapted to apply
downward pressure on the shoe as hereinafter described, secondly, of broadcast
grain tubes, each pivotted to its feed casing and held by a spring connected at one
end to the tube and at its other end to the feed casing seed-box or other fixed point,
thirdly of a spring placed on the feed-shaft between the cut-off and a butting device
or stop, fourthly, in providing means whereby seed getting into the seat of the ring
through which the feed cylinder passes may escape before it becomes cut or ground,
substantially as hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a seeding machine showing the
application of the drill shoe and mechanism connected therewith.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a pivotted broadcast grain tube provided
with the spring attachment.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the cut-off and feed cylinder arranged on the
feed-shaft in accordance with this invention.
Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of the shoe showing the wedge forming the bottom.
Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of the feed casing.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.
A represents the main frame of the machine, B the ground wheel axle, C the
drill hoe, D the conductor leading from the feed-casing E, into the mouth of the
drill hoe C.
F is a shoe wedge-shaped as indicated, its bottom edge F' being preferably made
solid and shaped to act as a cutter. The large end of the shoe F, is connected to
the bottom end of the drill hoe C. The shoe F, is curved upwardly from its larger
end and its small end or point is rigidly fastened to the end of the drag bar G,
which is preferably bifurcated and may be made part of the shoe, its upper or
bifurcated end being pivotted upon a pin projecting from each side of a lug H
fastened to the frame A, or its equivalent.
A brace I is connected as indicated at one end to the drag bar G and at its other
end to the drill hoe C.

page_text: J is a plunger connected at its bottoin end to the brace I and extending up
through the sleeve K fixed to the rod L, a pin M being inserted through the
plunger J above the sleeve K as indicated...
A spiral spring N is placed between the bottom of the sleeve K and a pin or
collar on the plunger J. The rod L is carried by arms O pivotted on suitable
brackets formed at any convenient point on the frame A.
P is a hand-lever pivotted on the axle B.
Qis a quadrant held stationary as indicated or in any other suitable manner.
R is a link pivotted on the rod L and connected at its bottom end to the
projecting end of the lever P. Owing to the connection described, the upward
movement of the haud-lever P, draws the rod L down, thus compressing the
spring N and imparting through the brace I, a downward pressure upon the shoe F,
causing the said shoe F to make the drill row as deep or as shallow as required by
the downward pressure produced by the upward movement of the lever P. In the
event of the shoe F coming in contact with twigs or other obstruction, it will either
ent through the twigs or yield and pass the obstruction owing to the elasticity of
the spring N. When it is desired to raise the shoe F, clear of the ground, the
lever P is moved in the reverse direction, thus causing the sleeve K to come in
contact with the pin M and raise the plunger J and with it the brace 1 and shoe F.
It will of course be understood that although only one shoe is shown in the drawings
as many more as may be necessary are provided all connected in the same way as
that shown.
Instead of arranging the sleeves K all upon a rod L operated by the pivotted
arms the same effect will be produced by connecting the sleeves K to independent
arms pivotted on a rock-shaft or axle operated by the hand-lever as will be understood
by any mechanic.
In Figure 2, E is a feed-casing connected to the bottom of the seed-box S. On
each side of the casing E is formed a projecting pin T.
In the second part of this invention the grain-tube D is provided with a hopper-
shaped head U which has a hole d made through it on each side to fit on to the
pins T the holes being located so that the grain tube D may hang vertically.
V is a spiral spring connected at one end to the grain-tube D, and at its other
end to the casing E, seed-box S, or any equivalent, the tension of the spring being
such as to hold the tube D in a vertical position, the back lip a formed on the
head U butting against the flange b formed on the bottom of the casing E. In the
event of the tube D coming in contact with any obstruction, the spring V yieids
sufficiently to permit the tube to spring past the obstruction when it is free, the
spring causes the tube to immediately recover its normal position ready to
proceed with its work.
As the third portion of this invention (shown in Figure 3) relates only to a
simple plan by which the cut-off may be adjusted without emptying the seed-box,
it is not necessary to show any more of the mechanism than that immediately con-
nected with the cut-off and feed cylinder, but we may mention that the feed shaft e
passes through all the cut-offs g and feed cylinders h, and is provided with the
usual mechanism by which it can be adjusted longitudinally for the purpose of
adjusting the said cut-off so as to make the escape-port larger or smaller according
to the quantity of grain it is desired to sow. As ordinarily constructed, each
cut-off and feed-cylinder are held together upon the feed-shafte by the cotters or
pins which butt up closely to the outer ends of the cut-off and feed-cylinder and
in operation in the old method, it is found necessary to remove the seed before
moving the cut-off in order to adjust it for the particular quantity of seed it is
designed to discharge from the seed-casing, as otherwise the inner end of the
cut-off would jamb against the seed and thereby bruise or destroy it. By this
device in placing a spring between the cotter or pin f and the end of the cut-off
the feed-cylinder h and the cut-off g may be adjusted without removing the grain
from the box or even stopping the machine, as the spring will yield when the end

page_text: or the cut-on 9 comes in contact with the grain thereby preventing the crushing
of the seed and permitting the cut-off g to gradually assume the position which
the longitudinal adjustment of the feed-shaft calls for, the feed-cylinder moving up
to its new position against the pin 1; in other words it is thus rendered possible
to adjust the feed-shaft so as to set the machine for the discharge of any given
quantity of grain, the spring behind the cut-off y yielding so as not to crush the
grain or necessitate its removal from the box, but re-acting by expansion so as to
gradually move the cut-off.
Instead of using cotters or pins the spring may be held by any suitable butting
device or stop.
In Figure 5 is shown a seed-casing divided in two so as to exhibit the portion of
the invention designed to prevent the grinding of the seed. This portion of the
invention although apparently small, produces results which in sowing grass seed is
of special importance.
i is a ring fitted on to the feed-cylinder and designed to revolve with the said
feed-cylinder. This ring i fits into a recess ; made in the half of the casing shown
in the drawing separated from the portion of the casing E in which the feed
cylinder is shown. When the two halves are brought together the ring i fits into
the recess j. In operation the feed-cylinder with the ring i revolves. Previous
to this invention any seed getting between the ring i and the portion of the recess ;
next to it was ground by the revolving of the ring i grinding against the outside
edge of the recess. In order to prevent this grinding a notch or opening m is
made, leading from the outer edge of the recess; to the delivery k. In this way
any seed getting between the periphery of the ring i and the edge of the recess
would escape through the opening m before it had time to be ground or injured.
Although this portion of the invention is specially designed for grass seèd as being
the most likely seed to be affected it will of course be understood that it will be
found useful in all grain feeds as well.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,--
1. A shoe F connected to the bottom of a drill hoe and having a solid wedge-
shaped bottom F' fitted into it substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with a drill hoe of a shoe fixed to the bottom of the hoe and
curved upwardly and forwardly to a point where it is pivotted to the frame or other
suitable part of the machine substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. A shoe fixed to the bottom of a drill hoe and curved upwardly and forwardly
to a point where it is pivotted to the frame or other suitable part of the machine a
brace extending from the hoe to the front end of the shoe in combination with a
spring extending from the brace to a suitable bar or arm operated by a lever
arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. A pivotted lever connected to a drill hoe in such a manner that the said drill
hoe may be raised clear of the ground or a downward pressure exerted against it
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a seeding machine a grain tube pivotted to the grain feed casing in com-
bination with a spring connected at one end to the tube and at its other end to the
feed casing seed-box or other suitable part of the machine substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
7. In a seeding machine the combination with a feed-shaft of a spring placed on
the feed-shaft between the cut-off and a stop on the feed-shaft or its equivalent
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8. In a seeding machine a feed-shaft longitudinally adjustable in combination
with a feed-cylinder and cut-off stops or pins and a spring to actuate the cut-off
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
9. In a grain or grass run a notch or opening leading from the periphery of the

page_text: recess to the delivery or other point leading to the outside of the casing sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 28th day of February 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.