Improvements connected with Machines for Dressing Hop Plants, Vines, Fruit and other Trees and Bushes, also Ground and Ground Crops, with Sulphur or other Dry Powder.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Machines for Dressing Hop Plants,
Vines, Fruit and other Trees and Bushes, also Ground and
Ground Crops, with Sulphur or other Dry Powder.
I, RICHARD MUIRHEAD, of The Kentish Engineering Works, Maidstone, Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object, certain improvements in or connected with machines
for dressing or clouding hop plants, vines, fruit, and other trees, or ground crops
with sulphur, lime, or any dry material in powdered form, or for distributing the
same broadcast on the surface of the ground.
The novel features of my invention are ;--
1. In a machine for distributing sulphur, soot, lime, or any dry pulverulent
substances in powdered form by a blast of air, the combination of a hopper
travelling wheels and gearing, preferably consisting of one spur wheel and pinion,
one intermediate spindle, and one driving belt wheel and pulley with a revolving
fan or blower rotating in the opposite direction to that of the travelling wheels,
and having its delivery or discharge orifice situated at the upper side of the fan
casing and directed backwards, that is, in a direction opposite to that in which
the machine travels, and fitted with an adjustable mouthpiece or mouthpieces (on
delivery pipe).
2. The construction and arrangement of a movable or detachable curved delivery
pipe of such a curvature, and so arranged in combination with the fixed delivery
orifice of the fan, that when attached in one position, it will direct the powder
current upwards in a more or less vertical direction, and when reversed or turned
over, it will direct it in a more or less horizontal direction.
Of the machines hitherto used for this purpose, some discharge the sulphur, or
other dry powder from the front part of the machine and in the same direction in
which it is travelling, these machines are of a light construction, and have very
simple mechanism. Others discharge the powder in a backward direction from the
back part of the machine but these are of heavier description, and in consequence
of the mode of construction adopted, the mechanical arrangements are very
complicated and difficult of access.
My improvements are so to arrange the various details of the machine that the
advantages of the different systems alluded to above are all combined in such a
way as to make what is practically a new type of machine, having a backward rear
delivery, and yet of a light construction with very simple mechanism.
In carrying out my improvements, 1 so arrange the hopper, fan, and blast pipe,
or ejecting nozzles therefrom relatively to the gearing and travelling wheels that
the air, and with it the powder is discharged at the back part of the machine in the
opposite direction to that in which the machine is travelling, such fan or blower
being actuated by simple mechanism having only one intermediate shaft or spindle
between the axle of the travelling wheels and the fan spindle.
Another improvement consists in making the discharge nozzles quite separate
from the hopper, and in two, or more parts, or sections fitting one within the other.
I also make the movable portion or prolongation of the delivery appliance curved
to such a radius, that when put on one way, the powder is discharged vertically,
or nearly so, and when put on the reverse way, or upside down, the powder is
discharged more or less horizontally, or by varying the angle, the powder may be
delivered at any desired angle between these two extremes.
In order to obviate the necessity, which at present exists, of having to
occasionally stir the powder to prevent it "scaffolding," or building up in the

page_text: hopper, I provide an agitator consisting of a rotary stirrer and vibrating shakers
like musical reeds, which keep the powder constantly in motion. The powder is
fed into the blast pipe by a revolving brush, or feed roller suited to the nature of
the material, the speed of which may be varied in accordance with the amount
required to be distributed per acre.
·ו וימ
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Muirhead.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Machines for Dressing Hop Plants,
Vines, Fruit and other Trees and Bushes, also Ground and
Ground Crops, with Sulphur or other Dry Powder.
I, RICHARD MUIRHEAD, of The Kentish Engineering Works, Maidstone,
Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for object, certain improvements in or connected with
machines for dressing or clouding hop plants, vines, fruit, and other trees, or
ground crops with sulphur, lime, or any dry material in powdered form, or for
distributing the same broadcast on the surface of the ground.
The novel features of my invention are ;-
1. In a machine for distributing sulphur, soot, lime, or any dry pulverulent
substances in powdered form by a blast of air, the combination of a hopper,
travelling wheels, and gearing, preferably consisting of one spur wheel and pinion,
one intermediate spindle, and one driving belt wheel and pulley with a revolving
fan or blower rotating in the opposite direction to that of the travelling wheels,
and having its delivery or discharge orifice situated at the upper side of the fan
casings and directed backwards, that is, in a direction opposite to that in which the
machine travels, and fitted with an adjustable mouthpiece or mouthpieces (on
delivery pipe).
2. The construction and arrangement of a movable or detachable curved delivery
pipe of such a curvature and so arranged in combination with the fixed delivery
orifice of the fan that when attached in one position it will direct the powder
current upwards in a more or less vertical direction, and when reversed or turned
over, it will direct it in a more or less horizontal direction.
Of the machines hitherto used for this purpose, some discharge the sulphur, or
other dry powder from the front part of the machine and in the same direction in
which it is travelling, these machines are of a light construction and have very
simple mechanism.
Others discharge the powder in a backward direction from the back part of the
machine but these are of heavier description, and in consequence of the mode of
construction adopted, the mechanical arrangements are very complicated and
difficult of access.
My improvements are to so arrange the various details of the machine that the
advantages of the different systems alluded to above are all combined in such a
way as to make what is practically a new type of machine, having a backward
rear delivery and yet of a light construction with very simple mechanism.
In carrying out my improvements, I so arrange the hopper fan and blast pipe
or ejecting nozzles therefrom relatively to the gearing and travelling wheels that
the air, and with it, the powder, is discharged at the back part of the machine in
the opposite direction to that in which the machine is travelling, such fan or
blower being actuated by simple mechanisn having only one intermediate shaft or
spindle between the axle of the travelling wheels and the fan spindle.

page_text: Another improvement consists in making the discharge nozzles quite separate
from the hopper, and in two or more parts or sections fitting one within the other.
I also make the movable portion or prolongation of the delivery appliance curved
to such a radius that when put on one way, the powder is discharged vertically
or nearly so, and when put on the reverse way, or upside down, the powder is
discharged more or less horizontally, or by varying the angle or (curve) the
powder may be delivered at any desired angle between these two extremes.
In order to obviate the necessity which at present exists of having to occasionally
stir the powder to prevent it "scaffolding" or building up in the hopper, I provide
an agitator consisting of a rotary stirrer and vibrating shakers like musical reeds,
which keep the powder constantly in motion. The powder is fed into the blast
pipe by a revolving brush, or feed roller suited to the nature of the material, the
speed of which may be varied by change wheels in accordance with the amount
required to be distributed per acre.
My invention will be clearly understood by the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 side elevation.
Figure 2 plan of machine constructed and with the working parts arranged as
set forth.
Figure 3 diagrammatical sketch illustrating the pinion bands and mode of
driving the agitation and the blast.
"
A, A, are bearing wheels, one or both being provided on their axle with a
gear B for operating pinion C on shaft D for transmitting motion by pulley E and
band F to blast fan G and from small rigger H by band I to pulley J of the
on the
"oliver" or step roller K within the hopper L, the spindle of the "oliver
outside being by a gear in connection with a separator M which also acts as a
feeder of the sulphur, soot, lime, or other powder to the throat N to meet the blast
and by it to be conveyed to the spreading nozzle P which can be slipped on to the
neck for an upward distribution or horizontal in the reverse for distribution
from the rear of the machine.
The shape of the spreading nozzle will be the better understood by the dotted
lines at Figure 2 which agree with the full lines of Figure 3.
"
The "oliver or step shaft has a series of projections R to lift the vibrating
shakers (laths) S, S, which by their lifting and falling action prevent the powder
particles caking by keeping them constantly in motion during the travelling of the
machine.
The machine is drawn by animal power from the toggle link T, and although I
have shown handles U, U, they are only intended for use when the hopper is empty
to house it, or to move it from place to place and also to turn the machine at the
ends of the alleys to between the crops.
I arrange two handles but in turning the alley ends, one handle only need be held
for guiding purposes, the two therefore facilitates the turning to the right or to the
left at will.
By the small wheel V, the balance of the machine may be regulated to ensure
the proper grip of the main wheels upon the ground for operating the gears.
N is a clutch for throwing the pinion in and out of gear with the wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
in
1. The particular construction of frame with the arrangement of the working
parts thercou or thereto, and constituting an improved machine for use
sulphurizing and like powder distributing operation as a dry dressing for field and
garden crops (plants, vine trees, and bushes) as set forth.
2. Constructing a machine of the kind referred to in the first or previous clause
with lath shakers in the hopper and operating same from a spiked spindle, as and
for the purpose set forth.
3. Constructing or arranging to such a machine as above described, a reversible

page_text: spreading nozzle for powder distribution from the rear, whether upwardly or
horizontally, said nozzle being adaptable to the neck of the fun blast casing sub-
stantially as described and represented.
The 12th dow of 1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Muirhead.