Year: 1886

page_text: I, EDMUND BUCKLE 15 Hodge Lane Prestwich nr Manchester Commercial
Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
That my invention consists essentially of tubes mounted on a frame on
travelling wheels, an arrangement of discs or slide valves for regulating the
flow of potatoes and certain seeds out of the tubes, and trays of a certain shape
and position assisting the delivery of potatoes and certain seeds into the tubes,-
these having suitable motions for the purpose.

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for the Setting of Potatoes and
Certain Seeds.
EDMUND BUCKLE 15 Hodge Lane Prestwich nr Manchester, Commercial
Traveller do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR THE SETTING OF POTATOES AND CERTAIN SEEDS and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
That it consists of certain improvements in machinery for the regular planting
of potatoes in prepared drills of which drills any suitable number say from one to
six can be set simultaneously and with modifications consisting chiefly of suitable
diminution of size and greater.closeness in the fitting and juxtaposition of certain
moving and other parts hereinafter shown in drawings and described, the invention
can be applied to the setting of peas and certain seeds such as turnip and mangold
wurzel seeds which are required to be sown only at intermittent spots and upon
some such frame and travelling wheels as shewn in accompanying drawings,
I mount on bearings, with oscillatory motion derived by any suitable mechanical
action for the purpose, such as "crank," "eccentric," or cam driven from driving
wheels, tubes, one for each drill, of any suitable material (as sheet zinc, iron, or tin
etc) of suitable strengths but not exceeding such, that lightness of parts be obtained.
I do not restrict the use of my invention to drilled ground, but apply it also to
undrilled ground.
сс
"
Rigidly fixed upon the top of the tubes, but partaking of the common oscillatory
motion of the tubes, I place trays, which constitute in a machine moving bottoms
and part sides of hoppers, which hold a supply of potatoes or seeds to be planted.
The particular form of tray described in reference to drawings I use without a tube
if required. I make the trays of any suitable material.
At a distance of from about one third to one half of the length of each tube
reckoning from the lower end of the same, where the pivots to oscillate upon are
fixed, but this distance varied if required, I make on opposite sides of each tube
two lateral slits to about halfway through the tube, which slits may be about two
inches from each other in vertical distance for planting potatoes, but varying
in that distance in a machine to suit different sizes of potatoes, and proportionately
nearer in pea and seed setting arrangements, and the position of the centres of
oscillation may be varied if required, also the character of the centres may be
varied, also the precise shape of the slits may be varied e.g. they may be shaped
on the oscillation curve. I have arranged on any suitable (elastic by preference)
supports two slide valves or discs,-(using term "slide" as the valves are similar
in their mode of action to the slide valve of steam engine i.e. closing and
unclosing a passage by a "to and fro" motion),-placed to enter without friction
the said two slits in each tube, as the tube in its oscillation moves to one valve or
the other.
The trays described in reference to drawings I have shaped on the curve
described by them in the oscillatory motion, so that they may work smoothly and
without jamming as moving bottoms and part sides of the hoppers and also shaped
as I find from experiment suitably to assist the flow of potatoes or seeds into the
:

page_text: top orifices of the tubes, the 'trays being pierced with a corresponding opening
where the tops of the tubes are.
Referring to the drawings-Fig. I-P represents such a tube as mentioned
oscillating on pivots I,-T represents. such a tray as mentioned in reference to
drawings Fig. VII shews a suitable arrangement in construction where two trays
and two tubes are joined as one moving piece.
Also I use.
the tray when same or analogous in section to that or part of that
section shown in Fig. II, as single or compound, shaped on or not on the oscillation
curve, and with or without a tube or tubes, and of any suitable length as required.
In Figs. I and II the tray is shown in three parts O, U, and N. The orifice of
the tube is situated in the middle portion Ū, represented level in section in
Fig. II.
Portion of tray is upright, and constituting a moving part side of the
hopper H, obviates any arch or block action of the articles to be planted by the
moving and insecure support to the potatoes or seeds that might be happening to
act with others on the portion N, or the fixed portion of the bottom of the hopper
to form a block or arch over the orifice of the tube, and so avoiding descent into
the same.
In Figs. I and II, N is an inclined portion of the tray which by
oscillating under the potatoes or seeds causes them to gravitate to the lowest
portion U of the tray, where being protected by the upright portion from lateral
pressure on its side they are free to form themselves in line, the straightness of
portion O also conducing to that effect, and so they are ready arranged to fall into
the tube with facility as the tube moves to and fro under them. In the case of
some seeds this ranging into line action is not essential and may not occur.
V and V represent the slide valves or discs working in the slits C and C¹ and
mounted upon the elastic supports R and R'. The elastic supports have a
tendency to press the valves towards the tube but are stopped by studs from going
in that direction beyond certain adjustable distances, which can be regulated when
the machine is put in action.-In Figs. III IV V VI I represent the progress of
the action of the delivery of potatoes out of the tube.
Fig. III represents a tube with potatoes in ready to be discharged. In this case
the upper valve is partly in the tube, the tube being upright and the lowest
potato ready to fall on the further withdrawal of the tube away from that valve.
Fig. IV represents the oscillatory motion completed in one direction and the
tube withdrawn from the upper valve and so permitting the lowest potato to fall
until it is arrested by the lower valve, which is now to its fullest extent in the
tube consequent on the motion of the tube to that side. The tube now begins to
return to the vertical position-Fig. V, where the lowest potato is ready to fall
past the lower valve when the tube has oscillated to the opposite side represented
so in fullest extent in position Fig. VI, where the lower valve being now with-
drawn from the tube permits the said potato without further impediment to
escape out of the tube into the drill: I prefer to cause the tubes whether single
or coupled to oscillate backwards and forwards rather than from side to side of a
potato-machine, and so arranged. that as the potato falls from the tube its
inclination is such as to give the potato a backward shoot, such shoot having a
neutralising tendency on the forward motion of the machine so that the potato has
a better chance of remaining stationary on the spot where it first comes in contact
with the manure or ground at the bottom of the drill. In the meantime the
succeeding potato has been following through gravity the path of the first one. In
Fig. IV the second potato is represented to have fallen until arrested by the
stoppage of the first potato by the lower valve.
As in the motion of the parts the tube returns to the vertical position the upper
valve is entering the tube again Fig. V, and if the succeeding potato has fallen
partly past the upper valve it is or immediately will be arrested by the upper
valve pressing by its elastic support against it, this feature or action being
represented in the fullest extent in Fig. VI. The tube again returning to the
vertical position and this potato becoming released from the upper valve when the

page_text: stoppage of that valve by its restraining stud A prevents it further following
the inotion of the tube and the space between the edge of the valve or disc and
the opposite side of the tube allows it to fall past the upper valve, the said potato
arrives at the position of first potato shown in Fig IV. If the first potato had
been in suitable position; or sufficiently large, or had been in certain combinations
of size and position, then the succeeding potato might have been arrested by the
upper valve getting clear under it, by which action also it is arrested until the
motion of the tube and consequent partial withdrawal of the upper valve places
the succeeding potato in the first position described of the first potato, after which
the process is repeated.
Fig. VII represents two trays and two tubes joined in one moving piece for
convenience of construction and action in such a machine as shewn in back
elevation Fig. VIII, side elevation Fig. IX, and in plan Fig. X.
The same letters denote same parts in all figures.
In Figs. VIII, IX, X,-D are the driving wheels, H are the hoppers the lower
ends of the front and back sides of which are shaped in exact correspondence to
the different sectional positions and sizes of the different portions of the tray
shewn. Fig. II,-in duplicate shape with duplicate tray. G. represents toothed.
wheels fixed on the travelling or driving wheels and driving pinions of different
counts of teeth for different lengths of spaces at which the potatoes or seeds are
required to be set.
These pinions can drive "cranks" or "eccentrics" giving oscillatory motion
..through connecting rods or slots to cross bars S which can be linked to the tubes
or trays giving the oscillatory motion to the same; but any suitable construction
of parts may be applied for this purpose, the aforesaid arrangements for communi-
cating the oscillatory motion to the tubes and trays not being a feature of the
invention.
The action with this invention applied to some seeds is that definite quantities
in capacity are measured and deposited at equal distances.
For both potato and seed planting purposes the valves can be made capable of
vertical adjustment with regard to their distance from each other according to
sizes of potatoes or quantities of seeds required to be deposited.
The elastic supports are made capable of adjustment with regard to varying
strengths of elastic pressure.
The studs for limiting the motion of the valves are made capable of adjustment
with regard to the amount of play they allow the valves.
I can place suitable-curved slides upon the sides of the tubes with slits in them
for the valves to work in, and make much larger openings in vertical length in the
tubes themselves corresponding to the slits made in the tubes first mentioned, and
the said slides can be made capable of adjustment up and down the sides of the
tubes, and so vary the vertical distances of the slits from each other to harmonise
with the vertical adjustment of the valves, for the purpose of accommodating
different sizes of potatoes and measuring different quantities of seeds.
I make if required thin vertical slits in the tubes to permit if a block occurs of
a piece of metal or other substance being inserted to free the obstruction, these
slits being placed in direct view of the man in charge that he may see at a glance
where such obstruction might be.
It is judicious to have different diameters of tubes in the same potato planting
machine that potatoes of greater differences of size than can be accommodated in
one tube may still be planted simultaneously.
:
In the finer machines for planting peas or seeds, I make the valve discs curved
in accordance with the oscillatory curve of the tube where the slits are situated,
that there may be but little margin between the valves and edges of slits when the
valves are in the slits and still that they may work free from friction together,
the slits also being curved.
A suitable constructed seed spreader may be placed if required at or near
the bottom of the seed tubes; or dibbling arrangements may be used with the

page_text: invention. In the case of a potato planting machine of six tubes or a wide seed
planting machine, the two outside parts beyond the wheels may be jointed or
capable of disconnection with the centre body of the machine, that the outside
parts may be turned back on the joints or disconnected and placed upon the body
of the machine, so that the whole machine may pass through an ordinary vehicular
gateway.
The trays are made by preference about twice the length of their oscillation in
potato machines so that there will be at any stage of the oscillation sufficient of
their surface, excepting the orifices of the tubes, to complete the vacancy in the
bottoms and part sides of the hoppers, in such trays and machine as shown in
drawings The duplicate tubes and trays may be mounted on frame, astride the
wheels. I also use one long tray not rigidly fast to the tubes and with straight to
and fro motion to serve all the tubes in one machine if required.
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
1. The oscillating tube and its features herein described.
2. In potato and seed planting machines, the oscillating tray fixed upon the
tube or equivalent means to tube in supporting and determining motion of tray,
as such simply, without restriction to particular shape.
3. The form of tray herein described and shown in Figs. I & II.
4. The double tray and two tubes fixed together herein described and shown in
Fig. VII.
5. Each part of the oscillating tray marked in drawings as O, U, & N, and parts
in an oscillating tray analogous in sphere, principle, purpose, and class of action to
each of them:
6. The oscillating tray same or analogous in section to section shown Fig. II, in
the various modifications herein described or mentioned,-in potato and seed
planting machines.
7. The "slide" valves or discs and supports on opposite sides of tubes herein
described and shown in drawings.
8. In potato and seed planting machines, the conjunctive action between valves
and tubes herein involved, also such valves or discs as herein mentioned, on
opposite sides of tubes, in a to and fro field of action, acting conjointly with
tubes; all irrespective of external aspect, i.e. whether the tubes have oscillatory
motion imparted to them and the valves have not, or vice versa, or whether .both
valves and tubes have the oscillatory motion imparted to them.
9. Each separate "slide" valve herein mentioned i.e. each one as such irre-
spective of the other, on any suitable support, in the sphere of action herein
described, and when the alternate working valves enter apartures both or not both
in same side of tube.
10. The application of the aforesaid claimed parts and action in some such
machine as shown in Figs. VIII, IX, and X, and herein substantially described.
EDMUND BUCKLE.