IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DIBBLING OR SETTING WHEAT, AND OTHER GRAIN OR SEED
Year: 1839

page_text: NEWBERRY AND SAUNDERS SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WILMOT NEWBERRY, of Hook Norton, in the County of Oxford; Farmer, for
myself, and for GEORGE SAUNDER, of the same place, Clerk; send greeting.
WHEREAS we, the said George Saunder and James Wilmot Newberry,
did by petition humbly represent unto Her present' most Excellent Majesty'
Queen Victoria, that after considerable application and expence, we had
invented "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DIBBLING OR SETTING WHEAT, AND
OTHER GRAIN OR SEED;" and Her said Majesty, being willing to give encourage
ment to all arts and inventions which may be for the public good, was
graciously pleased, by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster,
the Second day of December (One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine),-in-
the third year of Her' reign, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, to give and¹
grant'unto us, the said George Saunder and James Wilmot Newberry, our exors;-
adinors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that we or they, by ourselves or themselves, or by our or their deputies; ser-
vants, or agents, or such others as we or they should agree with, and no others,
during the term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters Patent,
should and lawfully might make, use; exercise, and vend our said Invention
within that part of Her said Majesty's dominions called England; Her dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such manner as to us, our exors,
admors, and assigns, shall seem meet, and as that we or they shall enjoy the
whole profit and advantage arising by reason of the said Invention during the said
term of fourteen years; and for that end Her said Majesty requires and strictly

page_text: commands all Her subjects whatsoever, within England, Wales, and Berwick-
upon-Tweed aforesaid, that they shall not, neither directly or indirectly, make,
use, or put in practice our said Invention, or any part thereof, nor in anywise
counterfeit, imitate, or resemble the same, nor make any addition thereto or
subtraction therefrom whereby to pretend himself or themselves to be the
inventor or inventors thereof. And whereas the said Letters Patent contain a
proviso obliging us, the said George Saunder, and James Wilmot Newberry,
particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, and to
cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being there-
unto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Wilmot Newberry, for myself and for the said George Saunder, do
hereby declare that our said Invention is described and ascertained iu manner
following, and by the aid of the Drawing hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Our said Improvements in Machinery for Dibbling or Setting Wheat, and other
Grain or Seed, are embodied in the machinery represented in the said Drawing;
and I will first describe the same, and will then, at the conclusion of this
Specification, point out the particular parts thereof which constitute the new
Invention.
Figure 1 is a horizontal plan of the whole machine; Figure 2, a lateral ele-
vation; and Figure 3, an end elevation. The other Figures are detached parts
of the machine. The same letters of reference are used to denote the same parts
in all the Figures. A, A, are two large wheels on which the whole machine
runs, being drawn by a horse in the manner of a cart; B, B, are the
shafts for the horse; C, C, are the longitudinal rails; and D, E, the cross
rails which form the principal frame of the machine. The axle arms of the
running wheels A, A, are fixed horizontally into iron brackets fixed to the
longitudinal side rails C, C, and descending therefrom, as is seen at d, d, in
Figure 3, by which means of fixing the axle arms there is no axletree
extending across the frame C, C, D, E, but the interior space thereof is left
open for the reception of the several wheels by which the dibbling is performed.
One of these dibbling wheels is shewn separately in Figures 4 and 5, with
taventy dibbles a, a, projecting around its circumference; and five such wheels
are shewn side by side in their places at F, F, F, F, F, in Figures 1 and 3.
When the machine is drawn over the ground by the horse, these dibbling

page_text: wheels roll over the ground, and their projecting dibbles a, a, penetrate into
the ground, making holes therein in five parallel and equidistant rows, side by
side along the field, in the direction that the machine is drawn by the horse,
the holes in each row being also equidistant one from another in the row; and
into each of the holes so made in the ground by the dibbles a due proportion
of seed is deposited, being conveyed down through a hollow within each dibble,
as will be more fully described. Each of the dibbling wheels F can descend
with all its own weight towards the ground, in order that its dibbles may be
pressed into the ground by that weight, and each dibbling wheel can turn
round about its own centre axle as it rolls over the ground; also each dibbling
wheel can rise and fall, independently of its neighbouring dibbling wheels, as
much as is requisite to enable it to accommodate itself to small inequalities
in the ground over which it rolls, and in which it is to make holes by its pro-
jecting dibbles. To enable the several dibbling wheels to rise and fall as
aforesaid, each one is mounted by its axle or centre pin 6 in the space between
Each of
the two sides G, G, of an iron frame, shewn separately in Figure 7.
the frames G, G, is mounted on a joint or horizontal centre pin e at its fore-
most end (that is, the end which is nearest to the horse, and which goes
foremost when the machine is drawn forward by the horse), the joint piece
for the said centre pin e being sustained by a horizontal cross bar H, H, which
is fixed across the main frame C, C, D, E, at the foremost end D thereof, and
which bar H sustains the centre pins e of all the five frames G, G, side by side.
The hinder end of each of the frames G, G, is a projecting tail or single bar g,
which is received in the opening or slot in an upright guide bar I, and five such
guide bars stand up side by side in a frame K, see Figure 8,-that frame being
fixed by its upright sides across the hinder end E of the main frame C, C, D, E,
wherefore, by the motion of the several frames G, G, about their respective
centre pins e, the dibbling wheel F, which is contained in each frame G, G,
can rise or fall independently of any of the other dibbling wheels, but by the
centre joints e and the guide bars I, each frame G, G, and the dibbling wheel
F which it contains, is retained in due place sideways, as appears in Figures
1 and 3. And in order to take all the dibbling wheels F, F, out of action
when required, so that they may not act upon the ground, a long roller or
windlass L is disposed horizontally across the hinder end E of the main
frame C, C, D, E, the pivots at each end of the windlass L being sustained
in bearing standards f, f, erected on the main frame; and five chains are
applied to the windlass L to be wound up thereby, one of those chains going
down to fasten to each of the tail ends g of the several frames G, G, before
mentioned, and, therefore, by turning round the windlass L, it will wind

page_text: up all the five chains at once, and lift up the hinder ends g of all
the five levers G, G, so as to raise up all the five dibbling wheels F, F,
together, and take them quite away from the ground, and the windlass L
having a ratchet wheel and click h, Figure 2, to prevent it from running
back, will keep them so suspended whilst the machine is travelling from
place to place. To give motion to the windlass L, a toothed wheel may be
fixed on one end of it to be worked by a worm or endless, screw, and winch
handle M. The supply of wheat, or other grain or seed which is to be set in
the ground by dibbling, is carried in the seed box N at the top, of the machine;
and at the bottom of that box is a long narrow opening, beneath which a seed
roller n is extended horizontally all across, as shewn in the section, Figure 9,
and the narrow opening at the bottom of the box is closed by the seed roller n,
so that the grain or seed cannot pass out except by means of notches which
are cut in the circumference of the seed roller, and which notches, when the
roller is turned round, carry down out of the bottom of the seed box N as
much grain or seed as the notches contain, and drop the same into a trough m
which is beneath the roller; and that trough is divided in its length by parti-
tions which form five hoppers side by side to receive the seed or grain, and the
same descends by as many funnels or spouts, as shewn at k, k, k, k, k, Figure 3,
and each spout is prolonged by two tubes in order to convey. the seed or grain
down to each of the five dibbling wheels F; F, into a hollow at the centre of
the nave of that wheel, and from thence it descends into hollows within those
dibbles which are, at the lower part of each wheel, and which dibbles, are
beginning to penetrate into the ground, in order to make the holes wherein
that seed or grain is to be set. The seed roller n is turned round by means
of a spur cog wheel O on one end of its axis, deriving motion by two inter-
mediate wheels P, P, from a like cog wheel Q, which is fixed on the nave of
one of the large running wheels A, wherefore, as the machine is drawn along
over the ground, and those wheels A, Q, P, P, are turned round, the seed
roller n is also turned round by its wheel O, so as to supply seed in due pro-
portion to each of the dibbling wheels F, F; but at times when it is not
required to supply seed, the cog wheel O is disconnected or thrown out of gear
from the wheel P, by moving the lever handle R, and then, the seed roller n
will stand motionless at the bottom of the seed box N, and will not allow any
seed to pass down therefrom. The construction of each of the dibbling wheels
F, with its hollow dibbles a, is represented by Figures 4 and 5. The dibbling
wheel F has a hollow, nave or centre piece with which the rim, may be con-
nected, either by a set of radiating arms, or by a flat plate, and the rim as
well as the nave or centre piece, is perforated with a suitable number of holes

page_text: to receive the dibbles a, which are hollow tubes radiating from the centre, and
are represented to be twenty, arranged at equal distances around the circum-
férencé. The several dibblés a fit correctly into the several holes at the rim
and at the centre piece; so as to be retained steadily with the ends of the
dibbles projecting out beyond the circumference of the rim of the wheel, and
each dibble is composed of two half tubes put together side by side to form a
complete tube, the plane where the division of each tube into two halves' takes
place being the middle plane of the thickness of the wheel. One half of each
tube is fixed fast to the wheel F by a screw inserted sideways through the
wheel, to screw into that half of the tube, but the other half of each tube' is
fitted freely into the lioles' in the rim and centre piece of the wheel; in order to
allow that hálf to slide a small distance upon the other fixed half, the motion
being in the direction of the length of the dibble, and outwards from the
centre of the wheel. When the said' moveable half is slided in as far as it will
go towards the centre, then the moveable half corresponds exactly with the
fixed half, so that the two halves together form one round' dibble hollow within
like a tube; but the hollow does not pass out at the blunt-pointed end which is
to penetrate into the ground, for that blunt-pointed end; although composed
of two halves side by side; is nevertheless like one, to form a round blunt-
pointed end when it penetrates into the ground, that end being hollow within and
containing seed within its hollow, which seed has been just before dropped
down therein in manner before mentioned. But there is no communication
from that hollow outwards through the end to let the seed out at the end,
until after the said round blunt-pointed end of the dibble has penetrated into
the ground, and has made its intended hole therein; and when it is beginning
to draw up out of that hole, in consequence of the rolling motion of the
dibbling wheel F, then the moveable half of the tube begins to be slided out
from the centre of the dibbling wheel F, so that the said moveable half, in
consequence of so sliding outwards, does not withdraw from the hole in the
ground at the same time when the other or fixed half (that is to say, the half
that is fixed to the wheel,) does begin to withdraw out of the hole in the
ground as aforesaid; in consequence of the rolling motion of the dibbling wheel.
But the moveable half,, by its sliding out from the centre; does not partake fully
of the first effect of the said rolling motion, whereby the fixed half is with-
drawn out of the hole in the ground, so that the moveable half keeps its
original place down in the hole, or nearly down therein, after the fixed half
has been partly drawn up out of the same hole; and in consequence of such
sliding motion of the moveable half against the fixed half, the end of the
moveable half protrudes so far beyond the end of the fixed half that the
:

page_text: interior hollow within the moveable half of the dibble becomes opened laterally
at its end or point, so that the seed contained within that hollow will drop
out therefrom into the bottom of the hole in the ground, or rather into the
bottom of that half of the said hole from which the fixed half of the dibble
has been just withdrawn by the rolling motion of the dibbling wheel, as already
described. And after the moveable half has been slided outwards from the
centre of the dibbling wheel in manner aforesaid, as far as is requisite, in
order thus to open the interior hollows thereof, the said sliding outwards ceases,
and then the moveable half accompanies the fixed half in the rolling motion
of the dibbing wheel, so that both together draw completely out from the hole
they have made in the ground, leaving the seed therein; and afterwards, as
the dibble moves round with the dibbling wheel, the moveable half is slided
gradually inwards towards the centre, until the moveable half corresponds
exactly with the fixed half, and puts the two halves of the dibble in a con-
dition to repeat the action as before described, by the time that the dibble
is carried round by the motion of the dibbling wheel, so as to come again to the
ground; and as the machine is drawn along over the ground by the horse,
every one of the dibbles a, around the circumference of each of the dibbling
wheels, goes in its turn through the operation above described, whereby they
make a continual succession of holes in the ground, and deposit a due pro-
portion of seed therein, each dibbling wheel making a row of such holes at
equal distances one from another in each row, wherefore, all the five dibbling
wheels form five such rows side by side at the same time. And in order to
give to the moveable halves of the dibbles the sliding motion before described
a flat circular plate S is fixed fast to one side of each frame G, G, in the
manner shewn in Figures 6 and 7, so that the plate S stands edgeways up
in a vertical plane close by the side of the dibbling wheel F, which is mounted
in the opening between the two sides G, G, of that frame, the plate S being
also withinside of that opening, and the centre pin or axle of the wheel F
enters into or passes through the central hole of the plate S, so that the plate
is concentric with the wheel. And from the flat surface of the plate S, or
the side thereof which is adjacent to the wheel F, a prominent rim or
border q, r, s, t, Figure 6, projects out towards the wheel F, a large portion
of the said border being a circular curve q, r, s, concentric with the centre
of the wheel, but about one fourth part of its circumference. 8, t, q, is a curve
extending farther out from the centre than a continuation of the circular
curve would do; also at the lower half of the plate there is another like pro-
minent rim v, w. Figure 6, within the rim r, s, t, q, & of a corresponding
curve to the same, so that a curved groove of parallel width is left between

page_text: the two prominent rims for the reception of small roller, wheels, or trucks,
which are applied to the several moveable halves of the dibbles, as shewn at x,
Figure 4, in such manner as that by the rolling motion of the dibbling wheel
the said trucks x will all be carried round in the said groove so as to circulate
therein, in order that it may, by its curved part s, t, q, communicate the
required sliding motion in due time to the moveable halves of the several
dibbles, that is to say, each of the said sliding halves has a prominent boss,
into which the centre pin for the truck x is fixed, and that pin projects out
horizontally, and in a direction parallel to the axle of the dibbling wheel F
so that the truck being fitted on the pin will be at one side of the moveable
half of the dibble, with a suitable lateral projection therefrom to enter within
the prominent rim q, r, of the plate S, and within the curved groove before
mentioned, which is formed between the said two prominent rims q, r, and v, w,
and when the dibbling wheel F revolves by its rolling motion on the ground,
and all the said trucks circulate or travel round within the said rim q, r, s, t,
they will cause the several moveable halves of the dibbles to approach as far
towards the centre of the dibbling wheel as they can go, and will keep them
so approached so long as the several trucks a, in their circulation, apply to
the circular concentric portions q, r, s, of the outermost prominent rim; and
for so long the two halves of each dibble will correspond as before mentioned,
one with the other, in a suitable manner to be prepared for penetrating and
making the holes in the ground; and it is after each dibble has thus, by the
rolling round of the dibbling wheel F, made its hole, and is just beginning to
draw out from that hole by virtue of the said rolling motion, that the truck x,
belonging to the moveable half of that dibble, will arrive at the parts, or
step outwards in the curved groove; and that step or part being suddenly.
curved outwards beyond what a continuance of the circular groove would do,
it causes the truck x, in travelling through that part of its course, to move
suddenly a little further out from the centre of the dibbling wheel F than it'
was before, and it is thereby that the moveable half of the dibble is slided
outwards upon the fixed half in the manner already fully explained. And
after that, as each of the trucks x, in its said circulation travels round in the
spiralled part s, t, q, of the curved groove, the said truck is gradually gathered"
in towards the centre of the dibbling wheel F, and it is thereby that the
moveable half of the dibble is slided inwards upon its fixed half, as already
explained, until it gets as far as it can go towards the centre of the dibbling
wheel F, and then the two halves come again to correspond one with another.
That will be the case by the time each truck gets round near to the part 7,
and after that, the circular concentric portion q, r, s, of the outermost promi-

page_text: nent rim will retain the two halves in their said correspondence as aforesaid,
until the truck in its circulation gets round again to the step outwards of its
groove. The position of the said step outwards s, is represented in Figure 2,
being nearly at the lowest part of the orbit, wherein the trucks circulated.
And that Figure also shews, that instead two prominent rims projecting from
flat plate, as represented in Figure 6, the same effect may be produced by
a ring of iron of the same form as the outermost prominent rim q, r, s, t, that
ring being fixed to one of the sides of the frame G, G, in the same manner
as the flat plate S would be, and also a curve of iron of the same form as the
innermost prominent rim v, w, being fixed to the same side of the frame G,
and both rings are secured by a suitable arm or suitable arms, as shewn at 8,
Figure 2, in due position to form the curved groove wherein the several
trucks are to circulate in manner already described. Respecting the lower-
most of the two tubes before mentioned as prolonging the spouts of the
funnels k, k, and which tubes convey the seed or grain down to each of the
five dibbling wheels F, that lowermost tube is inserted obliquely into a hole
through the thickness of the plate S, or else is fixed in like position to one
of the sides of the frame G, so as to convey the seed which passes through
that tube into the central party, Figure 4, of the nave of the dibbling wheel F,
that central party being a hollow within the nave for the purpose, of receiving
the seed, because the centre pin or axle 6 of the wheel F is fitted or fixed into
a suitable centre boss, projecting from a flat circular plate, which is quite at
one side of the thickness of the dibbing wheel, as is represented by the section
Figure 5; and around the border of that plate is the ring of the hollow
nave, into the circumference of which ring the inner ends of all the
dibbles a, a, are inserted, as already explained; and the perforations for the
insertion of these ends pass quite through the said circumference of the
ring of the nave to. the interior hollow y thereof, the said perforations being
enlarged within that hollow, so that each perforation will meet its, adjacent
perforation, leaving only narrow edges of solid metal between the neighbouring
perforations where they open into the interior hollow y, as is represented in
Figure 4. The lower end of the seed tube, as already stated, is fixed in the
hole through the plate S, (see z, Figure 6,) or else is fixed to one of the sides
of the frame G; and that lower end conveys the seed into the interior hollow y
of the nave, near at the lower part of the circumference thereof, so that the
seed which drops down from the tube z will be certain to find its way into
those dibbles which are approaching near towards the ground, in consequence
of the rolling motion of the dibbling wheel, but which dibbles have not come
to touch the ground. And the seed being delivered down in a regular manner

page_text: from the seed box N at top of the machine, by means of its revolving seed
roller n, as before described, the seed will be directed by the lower end of the
tube z, Figures 2 and 6, so as to be sure to drop down a due supply of seed
into the hollow within each of the dibbles a, a, just before each dibble pene-
trates into the ground; but the seed so conveyed into the hollow of each dibble
cannot get out from the lower end thereof, because, as already explained, the
two halves of each dibble being in true correspondence, the moveable half with
the other or fixed half, before and at the time when each dibble penetrates
into the ground, no opening whatever is left at the lower end, which so pene-
trates, for the seed to get out, until after the penetration has been made, and
then it is by the sliding-out motion of the moveable half beyond its due cor-
respondence with the other or fixed half that the interior hollow within the
moveable half becomes opened, so as to let the contained seed drop out by its
weight into the hole in the ground, as has been already explained. But note,
in order that the seed may not be liable to lodge, the inside of the hollow
within the several dibbles must be made smooth, and free from roughness, and
the lower end of that hollow must terminate with a form resembling the small
end of an egg, as is represented in Figures 4 and 5. The parallel rows of
dibbling that are to be performed by the machine may be made further apart,
side by side, than is represented in the Drawing, by regulating the positions. of
the joint pieces, for the centre pins e, on which the several frames G, G, of the
dibbling wheels F, F, are moveable at the foremost ends of those frames G, G,
for which purpose, the said joint pieces for the centre pins e are affixed by
screws to the horizontal cross bar H, H, by which they are sustained, the said
screws passing up through a long slot or opening through the bar H, H, so as to
admit of moving each joint piece to any required place along the length of the bar,
and fastening it there. Also, for the same purpose, it is requisite to regulate the
positions of the several upright guide bars I, which receive the tail ends g of the
frames G, G, through the slots; in these guide bars I. Long slots are formed
in the horizontal bars, which form the top and the bottom of the frame K, to
receive the screws by which the upright guide bars I, I, are fixed in place in
their frame K, Figures 3 and 8, so that the said guide bars I, I, can be
moved, and fixed at any place in the frame K.. And by regulating the said
joint pieces for the centre pins e, and the said guide. bars I, to suit the distances
at which it is desired to have the parallel rows. of holes dibbled, the several
dibbling wheels F may be disposed side by side,, so as to make their rows of
holes at those intended distances, apart,, without at; all interfering with that
condition before mentioned; whereby each dibbling wheel can rise: and, fall,
independently of its neighbouring dibbling: wheels, in order to enable, each one

page_text: .to accommodate itself to inequalities of the ground. Note, the five dibbling
wheels F, represented side by side in the Drawings, fill up the width of the
frame C, C, D, E; and, therefore, to be enabled to set those wheels wider
apart than there represented, one of the five dibbling wheels must be removed,
together with its frame G, G, which can be done by withdrawing the screws
by which the joint piece of the centre pine of the frame G, G, is affixed to
the cross bar H, H, and also the screws whereby its upright guide bar I is
fixed in the frame K, and then, by suitable regulations, as already stated, the
whole space within the main frame C, C, D, E, may be given to the four
remaining dibbling wheels. And note, the seed tube belonging to the dibbling
wheel so removed must be also removed, and the supply of seed by that part
of the seed roller n discontinued. The seed tubes for the four remaining
dibbling wheels will accommodate themselves to the distances at which those
wheels are placed, because each of the tubes is prolonged by two or three
lengths, connected or hung one to another by small chains, so as to admit of
flexure of each tube. And note, all that relates to the supplying of seed to
the several dibbling wheels, (videlicet) the seed box N, and its seed roller n,
with the wheelwork for turning the same, and the seed funnels, spouts, and
tubes k, k, z, is the same as is used in ordinary drilling machines for sowing
seeds in rows; and any other construction of those parts may be adopted,
according to the well known practice in such drilling machines, which, being
well known, does not require further explanation. Instead of a seed roller n,
as herein-before described, it may be an iron axis, whereon five wheels of the
same size as the roller n are fixed, one such wheel over each seed funnel k,
with an opening at the bottom of the seed box N at the place of each such
wheel, all which is common in drilling machines. The section, Figure 9,
represents (by the circle n) either the cross section of a long roller, or else of
a wheel. The Drawing is on a scale of one twelfth of the real size, and
represents a full size machine for field use, but may be made of larger or
or smaller dimensions, and with a greater or less number of dibbling wheels
than is represented, and the dibbling wheels F, F, may have a greater or less
number of dibbles than twenty, as represented in the Drawing, around the
circumference of each wheel. In the use of the machine the same means
are to be used for preparing the land, and for guiding and conducting
the machine, as are commonly used for drilling machines for sowing seeds, as
is well known; and the machine may be drawn by one or more horses,
according to its size and the stiffness of the land. Or a small machine, of the
same nature, but with only one or two dibbling wheels, may be moved by a
man or men, either pushing it before him or them, in the manner of a wheel-

page_text: barrow, or drawing it after him or them, in. the manner of a hand-cart.. And,
whereas it is common, in the operation of dibbling by hand labour without
a machine, to turn the dibble a little round in the ground, (after it has been
pressed down in order to penetrate into and form a hole therein,) so as to
withdraw the dibble from its hole in the ground with a sort of twisting motion,
and although such turning round is not necessary, it may, if desired, be given
to the dibbles of the machine herein-before described, by constructing the
dibbling wheels in the manner represented at Figures 10 and 11, instead of
Figures 4 and 5. The general form of the dibbling wheel, its hollow nave or
centre piece, the arrangement of its twenty or other lesser number of
dibbles a, a, Figure 10 and 11, being nearly the same as before described,
except that instead of being composed of two half tubes put together, each of
the dibbles is a complete tube inserted into holes in the rim of the wheel, and in
the nave thereof, so as to be capable of turning round in those holes; and around
cach tube are teeth to form a toothed pinion x, Figures 10 and 12, for turning
the dibble. Each tube has collars upon it at the part which fits into its hole
through the rim of the wheel, and one side of the flat surface of that rim may be
a ring applied against the other part of the rim, and fastened thereto by screws
or rivets, in order that by removing those screws or rivets, and the said ring, the
holes wherein the dibbles with their collars are to be inserted may be divided,
each hole into two halves, so that the dibbles may be inserted or removed
from the wheel. But when the said ring is replaced and fastened by its screws
or rivets, all the dibbles will be retained in due place around in the wheel, so
as to leave each one.capable of turning round about freely in its holes; but it
will not move in or out in a direction to or from. the centre of the wheel,
because of the collars around each dibble at the part thereof which fits into the
hole through the rim of the wheel. And the circular plate S, Figure 11, is fixed
to one of the sides of the frame G, in the same position as, that already described
and represented at S, Figure 6; but, in lieu of the prominent rims q, r, s, t, and
v, w, the plate S, Figure 11, has a few teeth projecting from it at s, the place of
those teeth being nearly at the place of the step outwards s, Figures 6 and 2.
And when the dibbling wheel, Figure 10, turns round by virtue of the rolling
motion of that wheel along the ground, the teeth of the pinion x of each of
its dibbles are brought in succession into gear with the said teeth at s on
the plate S, as soon as the dibble has made (or nearly made) its hole in the
ground, and then the pinion x, together with the dibble, is caused (by the
gearing of x with 8,, as shewn in Figure 12, to turn round at the same
time that the dibble, by the effect of the rolling motion of the dibbling wheel, is
withdrawing from the hole it has made in the ground. Hence the dibble

page_text: will be withdrawn from the hole which it has made in the ground with a
turning or twisting motion, in imitation of that which is given by hand
dibbling. The seed is supplied to the dibbling wheel, Figure 10, and into the
hollows within its dibbles, in the same manner as already explained respecting
the dibbling wheel, Figure 4, so that each dibble becomes' duly charged with
seed before its makes its hole in the ground. And in order to let out that
seed from the hollow within the dibble so as to deposit the seed in the hole
made in the ground, there is a hole in the side of each dibble near to its
blunt-pointed end, as shewn in the dibbles at the upper part of the wheel,
Figure 10, but those holes are kept closed by shields which project down-
wards from the rim of the dibbling wheel opposite to each dibble, so as to
apply laterally to the projecting end of each dibble, and cover the hole therein,
in order to prevent the seed getting out at the hole when the dibble is making
its hole in the ground, and the said shield having its edges bevilled where they
apply to the end of the dibble, the shield penetrates the ground along with
the dibble, as though the shield constituted part of the dibble, and the two
together make the hole in the ground; but as soon as the hole is made (or
nearly made) the aforesaid turning motion of the dibble, which is produced
by the pinion x of the dibble coming into gear with the teeth at s on the
plate S, at the same time that it causes the dibble to be withdrawn from the
hole that it has made in the ground with a twisting motion, as already ex-
plained, the turning motion also causes the hole in the side of the dibble to
turn away from opposite the shield which had previously covered that hole;
and when the hole gets so turned quite away from the shield, the seed
will drop out therefrom, and be deposited in the hole in the ground. And
after the dibble has thus completed its operation and withdrawn from the
ground, leaving the seed deposited in the ground, the pinion x, of the dibble,
quits the teeth sand ceases to be turned round any further; but then the
dibble. is turned back.again, so that the hole in the side of dibble may replace
itself. opposite to the shield in order to be closed thereby, in readiness for
repeating its aforesaid operation. The turning back of the dibble is performed
by a few teeth exactly similar to those ats, but applied at t, Figure 12, on
the contrary side of the dibbling: wheel, those teeth t being fixed to the
opposite side of the frame G to that side thereof against which the plate S,
Figure 11, is fixed; and immediately after the teeth of the pinion have
passed away beyond the last of the teeth s, so as to quit gear therewith; then
the teeth at the opposite side of the pinion are brought into contact with
the first. of the teeth: at: t, and it is by gearing therewith that the dibble
is turned back again until the hole in the side of the dibble comes opposite

page_text: to the shield so as to be covered thereby, and then the pinion & will have
passed away beyond and quitted gear with the teeth t, after which the dibble
ceases to turn any more, until it is brought by the revolving motion of
dibbling wheel round again to repeat its operation on the ground, as above
described. And note, in order to prevent the dibbling from turning by
accident, there may be a prominence from one side of each dibble, close above
its pinion a, which prominence, having a flat side to apply to the flat surface
of the plate S, will prevent the dibble turning so long as the teeth of its
pinion are out of gear with the teeth either at s or at t; but when the teeth
of its pinion x do come into gear with the teeth s, and, in consequence, do
begin to turn the dibble, the said flat side of the prominence. comes opposite
to a hole. which is cut out in the plate. S in order to allow the prominence to
turn round with the dibble as much as the turning motion of the dibble
requires; and after the dibble has been turned back again by the action of
the teeth at t, and the pinion has just quitted gear therewith, the said
prominence arrives. at the termination of the said hole in the plate S, and the
flat side of the prominence applies again to the flat surface of the plate S.
And note, the flat plate of the dibbling wheel F, Figure 10, must have
holes cut through it opposite to each pinion x, in order to allow the teeth
thereof to project so much through that hole as to come in contact with the
teeth. at.t, Figure 12, and to give strength to the plate where it is weakened
by such holes. The plate should have radiating edge bars formed on it, and
extending like arms from the nave to the rim of the wheel in the spaces
between the several pinions, which spaces may; for that purpose, be rendered
rather wider than is represented in the Drawing, either, by having a less
number of dibbles, or else by having the pinions a further along the dibbles!
from the centre of the dibbling wheel, so as to be arranged' in a circle of
larger radius than: represented, and to which radius the teeth at s and at t'must'
correspond.
Figure 13 represents a dibbling wheel which may be substituted for
Figure 4, in order to work with the same circular plate. S, Figure 6, as
already described. The wheel Figure 13. differs. from. Figure 4. only in the
construction of the dibbles, which are not made each in two halves, whereof
one half is moveable, and is slided out from the centre of the wheel; when'
required; by action of the groove on the plate S. Instead thereof the dibbles
in Figure 13 are entire tubes fixed fast. into the dibbling wheel, each of those:
tubes. being open, at both ends, but the outermost end of each, where it
projects beyond the rim of the wheel, is closed by a plug which fits into the
ond of the tube, and forms the blunt-pointed end of the dibble to penetrate into:

page_text: the ground. The said plug is formed on the end of a stem which goes up
into the centre of the hollow of the tube, and the tube has slots through its
sides to receive the ends of cross pins which fix into the stem, so as to retain
the stem in the centre of the hollow of the tube, in order to guide the stem
and the plug, by the sliding of the ends of the cross pins, in the slots in the
tube, and yet to leave passage for the seed to drop freely down within
the tube by side of the stem and its said cross pins so as to get down to the
plug, which, when in place, closes the end of the tube to prevent the seed
getting out at the end of the tube, and it is when the plug is so in place that
it forms the blunt-pointed end of the dibble for penetrating into the ground,
in order to make the hole therein, because the plug fitting close into the end
of the tube and projecting beyond that end in form of a blunt point thereto,
the plug, together with the end of the tube, will act like one dibble for
penetrating into the ground by the rolling motion of the dibbling wheel.
But having penetrated, or nearly so, then when the continuance of the same
rolling motion first begins to withdraw the tube part of dibble from out of the
hole in the ground, the plug part will not be withdrawn along with it at first,
because the plug will be caused to begin to move outwards from the centre of
the dibbling wheel, and in so doing the lower end of the plug will keep down
at the bottom, or nearly at the bottom, of the hole in the ground, and also
the plug, by so moving outwards, will open the lower end of the tube suffi
ciently to let the seed drop out from the opened end around the plug, and
then the plug ceases to move out further from the centre of the wheel, but it
begins to accompany the tube, and to withdraw from the hole in the ground,
leaving the seed deposited therein; and as soon as the dibble, consisting of the
plug and tube in the said opened state, is completely withdrawn from the
ground, the plug will be caused to move inwards towards the centre of
the dibbling wheel until it closes the end of the tube again in preparation
for a repetition of its operation, as already described, which repetition will
begin again by the time that the rolling motion of the dibbling wheel has
carried the dibble round again to the ground, and after seed has been
dropped down within the hollow dibble. The aforesaid movements are given
to each of the plugs in due succession in manner following:-The cross pin,
before mentioned, which guides the innermost end of the stem of each plug
by sliding in slots in the tube, is prolonged outwards through one of those
slots, and the truck x is fitted on the end of the pin, and the trucks so
applied to the plugs of all the several dibbles run round in the groove formed
by the prominent rims q, r, s, and v, w, on the plate S, Figure 6, and in so
running round the trucks actuate the several plugs with the same motions

page_text: as would be given to the moveable halves of the dibbles, herein-before
described in respect to Figure 4. Hence, if the plugs are considered as the
substitutes for the moveable halves, they will require no further explation than
has been given.
Having now described the complete machinery constructed according to our
said improvements, I, the said James Wilmot Newberry, for myself and for the
said George Saunder, do hereby declare that the new Invention, whereof the
exclusive use is granted to us by the said Letters Patent, consists,-
First, in the improvement herein-before described in the dibbles, which are
arranged around the circumference of a dibbling wheel, those dibbles being
arranged in directions radiating from the centre of such wheel, and being
hollow within, and adapted to receive wheat, or other grain or seed within
their hollows, that seed being introduced (by the means commonly used in
drill-sowing machinery) into a central hollow at the nave or centre piece of
the dibbling wheel, from which central hollow all the several hollow dibbles
radiate, and are supplied with seed; (in due succession, as they require,) the
outermost ends of the several dibbles which project beyond the circumference
of the wheel being blunt-pointed ends qualified to penetrate into the ground,
without exposing any opening at which the seed contained within their hollows
can drop out until after the intended penetration has been effected, and then,
whilst the hollow dibble is in the act of withdrawing from the hole which it
has made in the ground, the dibble opens a suitable passage for the wheat,
grain, or other seed to drop out at, in order to be left behind as the opened
dibble withdraws, and so as to be set or deposited in the hole which the
dibble had made in the ground before the dibble became opened, and from
which hole it has withdrawn after it became opened. The said opening of the
dibble may be effected by making each dibble in two halves, one half fixed
to the dibbling wheel, and the other half moveable, being adapted to slide out
from the centre of the wheel, so as to expose or open the hollow within the
moveable half, in order to let out the seed by the means and in the manner
herein-before described in respect to Figures 2, 4, and 5; or else by making
the extreme end of each dibble in the form of a plug to fit into and stop the
end of the hollow tube of the dibble, and form a blunt-pointed end thereto;
which plug, by sliding out from the centre of the dibbling wheel, will open a
passage for the seed to drop out at the end of the tube around the plug in
the manner herein-before described in respect to Figure 13; or else by
making each dibble turn round after it has penetrated into the ground, so that
an opening at one side of the pointed end of the dibble may become turned
away from a shield, by which the opening was previously kept closed, in order

page_text: to let out the sced, by exposure of the opening, and also in order that the
dibble may withdraw from the hole which it has made in the ground with a
twisting motion, by the means and in the manner herein-before described in
respect to Figures 10, 11, and 12.
And secondly, in the improvement herein-before described in the mode of
applying several dibbling wheels side by side in one machine, so as that each
such wheel may be urged towards the ground by its own weight, and may be
capable of rising and falling independently of its neighbouring dibbling wheels,
in order that each one may accommodate itself to small inequalities of the
ground over which it passes, and into which its dibbles are to penetrate.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wilmot Newberry, for myself and
for the said George Saunder, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight