IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING SEED, ARTIFICIAL MANURE, SAND, AND SUCH LIKE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Holden Wood of N° 52 Queen Victoria Street
in the City of London for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR DISTRIBUTING SEED, ARTIFICIAL MANURE, SAND, AND SUCH LIKE" Com-
municated to him from abroad by Mess". McLean Brothers and Rigg of
Melbourne Victoria
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Holden Wood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1882.
JOSEPH HOLDEN WOOD of N° 52 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING SEED ARTIFICIAL MANURE,
SAND AND SUCH LIKE" [Communicated to him from abroad by Mess". McLean
Brothers and Rigg of Melbourne Victoria]
The seed or other substance to be distributed is contained in a hopper closed at the
bottom by a horizontal circular feed plate in which are two radial slots on opposite
sides of its centre, one side of each slot is vertical the other inclined so as to bring the
feed all to one side of a line drawn through the centre of the feed plate thereby
preventing the machine from sowing in front-The feed plate is also moveable in
a circular direction so that by giving it a slight turn the Machine can be made to
sow more or less to the right or left according to the angle to which it is set so that
if a cross wind is blowing its effect upon the seed thrown from the Apparatus
can be counteracted.
The mechanism for distributing the Seed as it descends from the hopper consists
of two horizontal discs fixed at a distance apart one above the other and capable
of turning loosely around a vertical axis below the bottom of the hopper.
The vertical axis has standing out radially and equidistantly from it 5 or other
number of flat blade springs which lie between the discs and which are of a depth
equal to the distance between the discs.
The spring blades near their outer ends bear against triangular blocks pin-
jointed to the discs-so that when the axis is revolved the discs are carried round by
he springs.

page_text: -
The upper disc has a central circular opening through it by which seed descends
from the hopper into the space between the two discs.-When the axis is revolved
and carries round the discs with it the Grain is cast outwards horizontally—The
resistance of the Grain bends the springs so that instead of their ends passing to
the periphery of the discs they are moved inwards towards the axis and the
greater the speed the more will they be thus deflected. The speed at which seed is
ejected from between the discs will thus be equalized whatever may be the speed
at which the machine is driven.
If the discs are revolved slowly the radial springs will impart a comparatively
greater speed to the Seed and if the discs are revolved more quickly the springs
bend and a comparatively less speed will be imparted to the seed-The distance
to which the Seed is thrown will thus be equalized whether the Machine be
travelling quickly or slowly over the ground to be sown.
In order also that the amount of seed delivered from the hopper to the distributor
may be regulated according to the speed at which the Machine is travelling the
axis before mentioned which carries the discs is made to project up through the
centre of the eircular feed plate at the bottom of the hopper. Just above the feed
plate it carries a disc-in which are two radial slots on opposite sides of its centre.
Above this and capable of turning loosely on the axis are two radial arms which
can turn into a position to close the passage through the radial slits in the disc..
A coiled spring carried by the axis ordinarily holds the arms in such a position that
they do not impede the passage of Grain through the radial slits-but as the speed
the-Machino_increases_the_friction of the arms against the grain in the hopper_|
tends to turn the arms in opposition to the spring and to bring them into-a-position.
-to-partially-cover-over the radial slots in the disc and so diminish the amount of
grain supplied to the distributor.
-of
-1
-
--
-The-above-described. regulator also serves to keep the Seed ngitated at the
bottom of the hopper and to prevent-it from-clogging or sticking in-the-passages
through the bottom-feed-plate
The Machine may be mounted in an ordinary light cart and its axis be driven
from one or other of the cart wheels or it may-be mounted upon its own wheels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Holden Wood in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
8th May 1883.
JOSEPH HOLDEN WOOD of N° 52 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING SEED ARTIFICIAL MANURE,
SAND AND SUCHT LIKE" A communication to me from abroad by Mess** M*Lean
Brothers and Rigg of Melbourne, Victoria,
The seed or other substance to be distributed is contained in a hopper closed at
the bottom by a horizontal circular feed plate in which are two radial slots on
opposite sides of its centre, one side of each slot is vertical the other inclined so as
to bring the feed all to one side of a lino drawn through the centre of the feed
plate thereby preventing the machine from sowing in front. The feed plate is also
moveable in a circular direction so that by giving it a slight turn the machine can
be made to sow more or less to the right or left according to the angle to which it
is set so that if a cross wind is blowing its effect upon the seed thrown from the
apparatus can be counteracted.
The mechanism for distributing the seed as it descends from the hopper consists
of two horizontal discs fixed at a distance apart one above the other and capable
of turning loosely around a vertical axis below the bottom of the hopper.
The vertical axis has standing out radially and equidistantly from it 5 or other
number of flat blade springs which lie between the discs and which are of a depth
equal to the distance between the discs.
The spring blades near their outer ends bear against triangular blocks, pin jointed
to the discs-so that when the axis is revolved the discs are carried round by the
springs.
The upper disc has a central circular opening through it by which seed descends
from the hopper into the space between the two discs. When the axis is revolved
and carries round the discs with it the grain is cast outwards horizontally. The
resistance of the grain bends the springs so that instead of their ends passing to
the periphery of the discs they are moved inward towards the axis and the greater
the speed the more will they be thus deflected. The speed at which seed is ejected
from between the discs will thus be equalized whatever may be the speed at which
the machine is driven.
If the discs are revolved slowly the radial springs will impart a comparatively
greater speed to the seed and if the discs are revolved more quickly the springs
bend and a comparatively less speed will be imparted to the seed.-The distance to
which the seed is thrown will thus be equalized whether the machine be travelling
quickly or slowly over the ground to be sown.
In order also that the amount of seed delivered from the hopper to the
distributor may be regulated according to the speed at which the machine is
travelling, the axis before mentioned which carries the discs is made to project up
through the centre of the circular feed plate at the bottom of the hopper. Just
above the feed plate it carries a disc in which are two radial slots on opposite sides
of its centre.
Above this and capable of turning loosely on the axis are two radial arms
which can turn into a position to close the passage through the radial slits in the
disc. A coiled spring carried by the axis ordinarily holds the arms in such a
position that they impede the passage of grain through the radial slits-but as the
speed of the machine increases the friction of the arms against the grain in the
hopper tends to turn the arms in opposition to the spring and to bring them into
a position to uncover the radial slots in the disc and so increase the amount of
grain supplied to the distributor.
The above described regulator also serves to keep the seed agitated at the

page_text: bottom of the hopper and prevent it from clogging or sticking in the passages
through the bottom feed plate.
The machine may be mounted in an ordinary light cart and its axis be driven
from one or other of the cart wheels or it may be mounted upon its own wheels.
In order that the said Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will preceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 is a side clevation of the distributor Figure 3
is a plan of the regulator Figure 4 is a plan and Figure 5 is a sido elevation of
the feed plato Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the seed hopper.
a is an axis it is mounted vertically in a framing not shown in the Drawings
and is driven in any convenient manner; usually from the wheels of a cart in
which the apparatus is carried. b and c are a pair of discs mounted loosely on
the axis, they are connected together by pieces d d and the triangular blocks e e
are pivotted between them. f is a boss fixed on the axis and carrying the steel
spring arms g, g. The arms g bear against the blocks, e, e, and when the axis
rotates carry the discs round with the axis, the spring arms. however becoming
more or less curved according to the speed of rotation. These parts constitute the
secd projector. The way in which the varying curvature of the spring arms
compensates the varying speed of the discs and causes the seed or material to be
projected uniformly to the same distance to either side has been already explained.
The upper disc 6 has an opening-b-at-the-centre. to admit the grain from the
hopper between the discs.- is the hopper, it is fixed to the stationary framing of
the machine, is a sieve plate in the hopper through which the grain passes
freely. is the feed plate, it forms the hopper bottom and has two openings i
in it by which the grain passes down between the discs b.and.c.. One side ³, 1³,
of each opening is inclined to direct the seed to one side of the discs-so-that-the
delivery may take place to the rear only. The position-of-the-feed-plato_can_
however be adjusted to compensate for wind when blowing crosswise.
Above the feed plate within the hopper there is the regulator consisting of a disc
fixed upon the axis a and of a pair of arms upon a boss which is capable of
turning on the axis a, but is connected therewith and with the disc k by a coiled
spring m. When the axis a is at rest the arms ll cover corresponding openings
in the disc k but when the axis is turning the resistance of the grain in the hopper
causes the arms ll to lag, the spring m yielding and so the openings in the disc k,
are uncovered more or less according to the speed to allow the grain to descend
from the hopper and to be delivered between the discs b and c.
The apparatus may also be employed to distribute artificial manure sand and
such like.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim :-
First. The improved rotary seed sower substantially as described.
Second. The self compensating seed projector substantially as described.
Third. The rotary regulator operated by the resistance of the grain or other
material substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Holden Wood have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Eighth day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
JOSEPH HOLDEN WOOD. (L.S.)