Improvements in Apparatus for Sprinkling Liquids upon Turnips or other Crops.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 26th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 27th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Sprinkling Liquids upon Turnips
or other Crops.
I THOMAS HOLMES of Leck, near Kirkby Lonsdale, in the County of Lancaster
Farmer and Land Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct a simple economical and efficient
apparatus for sprinkling liquid (such as paraffin oil) upon turnips or other crops
which may require such treatment in order to prevent the turnip fly or birds from
attacking the young plants.
The apparatus consists mainly of a tank for containing a suitable quantity of oil or
other liquid which is supplied by a pipe to the sprinkling mechanism.
This consists of a drun or wheel of suitable width mounted upon and revolving
with a spindle arranged at a suitable height from the ground and preferably square
in section so that the position of the drum may be adjusted to that of the row of
turnips (or other plants) over which it is to work.
This drum or wheel may be provided with bristles on its periphery in which case
the paraffin oil or other liquid is allowed to fall directly thereon from a nozzle or
opening at the end of the supply pipe, which is provided with a tap or valve to
regulate the flow of the said paraffin oil. Or the said drum or wheel may be made
hollow and perforated round its periphery in which case the oil will be supplied at or
near the centre.
The reservoir or tank and the supply pipe are adjustable to coincide with the
position of the drum or wheel.
One or more (by preference two) of these drums may be mounted on a suitable
carriage, and the spindle is caused to revolve rapidly by chain or other convenient
gearing actuated by the revolution of the carriage wheels.
Thus as the carriage is drawn or propelled over a row or rows of (say) turnips a
continuous spray or shower of paraffin oil or other liquid is thrown over each row,
and the shower or spray will be confined to such row or rows and will not be wasted
by distribution over the rest of the ground.
If required the bristles (when used) may be caused to rub against a bar or other
fixture which will make the spray finer and lighter.
321
2
1000
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Sprinkling Liquids upon Turnips
or other Crops.
I THOMAS HOLMES of Leck, near Kirkby Lonsdale, in the County of Lancaster
Farmer and Land 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 this invention is to construct a simple economical and efficient
apparatus for sprinkling liquid (such as paraffin oil) upon turnips or other crops
which may require such treatment in order to prevent the turnip fly or other insects
or birds from attacking the young plants.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be

page_text: performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to
the sheet of illustrative drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanation
thereof.
Fig. 1 is a back view of the machine as arranged for sprinkling two rows at a
time, but it will be evident that a single row machine or one for sprinkling more than
two rows at once may be made upon the same principle.
Fig. 2 is an end or side view of the same.
Fig. 3 a plan view as seen from above and
Fig. 4 is a sectional view on a larger scale of a detached portion of the apparatus
hereinafter more particularly referred to.
The machine or apparatus consists mainly of a carriage or vehicle mounted upon
travelling wheels A, A and carrying two vessels or tanks B, B, containing the mixture
of paraffin or other liquid which is allowed to flow through suitable tubes C, C from
the bottom of the same to the interior of two circular hollow brushes D, D mounted
upon a spindle E parallel to the axle of the carriage and driven from the said axle by
chain gearing at a high speed which causes the liquid entering at or near the centre
of the brushes to be driven outwards by centrifugal force towards the periphery of
the same where it is given off in a spray or shower more or less fine according to the
adjustment of the cheek plates F, F of the brushes which are two hollow saucer
shaped castings (see Fig. 4) attached together and to each brush by bolts d d capable
of being screwed up so as to squeeze the bristles of the brush D between them and so
regulate the escape of the liquid.
The bolts d, d are provided with spiral springs e, e to expand the checks F F when
the bolts are unscrewed.
The end of the tube C is held stationary by the weighted ring which runs freely
in the groove of the collar g fixed on the shaft E.
If preferred perforated cylinders may be used instead of these brushes.
The vessels B, B containing the liquid and the spindle E carrying the brushes are
mounted together with their gearing upon a suitable frame-work G which is capable
of radial movement around the centre of the axle so that the brushes may be raised or
lowered to suit the height of ground acted upon whilst the relative position of the
brushes and vessels remains unaltered as also the length of the driving chain H. This
adjustment is intended to be under the control of the driver from his seat I for which
purpose a suitable handle J is provided within reach, having a number of notches
cut in as shewn which enables the brushes to be raised or lowered whilst the machine
is in motion.
To provide for the varying width of furrows one of the travelling wheels A. is
made to slide upon its axle (see right hand of Figs. 1 and 3) having a collar with a
set screw and groove and pin connection so as to be fixed in any position laterally.
The vessels B B are also made to slide upon the bars K, K, forming part of the
framework to which they are attached by suitable hooks and screw cramps and the
brushes may be slidden along the spindle E to any position desired by releasing
the thumb screw shewn at fx Fig. 4.
The flow of liquid into the brushes is regulated by turning the milled knob L which
is the outer extremity of a rod or small spindle passing downward through the centre
of the vessels and terminating at the bottom in a small valve in connection with the
pipes or tubes C, before named. As liquids of different densities will be used in
combination it is necessary to keep them stirred or agitated to prevent settlement,
and this is accomplished by having two or more propellers or beaters M in each
vessel mounted upon a vertical perforated tube capable of revolving around the valve
spindle L carried in a suitable footstep at the bottom and terminating through the top
of the vessel in a small bevel toothed wheel gearing with a similar wheel carried by a
small bracket N and a spindle having at its outer end a small chain wheel receiving
motion through a suitable chain S from a similar chain wheel mounted upon the
transverse shaft o and capable of being slidden upon it to any position to suit position
of the vessels. This shaft o is carried upon the same framework as the vessels B. B
and brush shaft. E and therefore retains its relative position with them, and is driven

page_text: by the same endless chain belt H as the brush shaft, such chain passing partially
round the large toothed wheel P attached to and revolving with one of the travelling
wheels thence around the small toothed pinion on the extremity of the brush shaft
and finally under the tension or guide pulley R to the pinion on the extremity of the
shaft o last named.
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 :-
First. In a machine or apparatus for sprinkling liquids upon turnips or other
crops the use of circular revolving brushes or perforated cylinders for the purpose of
obtaining a spray or shower as described.
Secondly. The construction and use in a machine for the above named purpose of
a brush similar to the one herein described with adjustable cheek plates.
Thirdly. The general construction and arrangement of the machine substantially as
described and shown upon the drawings hereto annexed either in combination with or
without the agitators and gearing for driving the same.
Dated this 25th day of November 1890.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant