AN IMPROVED EXTIRPATING OR GRUBBING AND SOWING MACHINE
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Gedge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd January 1875.-A communication from abroad by Frederic
Victor Dufour, of No. 64, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED EXTIRPATING OR GRUBBING AND
SOWING MACHINE," a communication to nic from abroad by Frederic
Victor Dufour, of No. 64, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France, to be as
follows:-
-
This agricultural instrument is composed of two distinct parts, the
extirpator and the sower. This latter, although independent of the first,
has nevertheless certain parts in conjunction with the extirpator, as
explained in the following description, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawing.
The extirpator is composed of a frame A. with parallel sides, ending at
the back upon each side by a square piece and terminating in front
in two arms bolted to the cheeks of a cast-iron socket B, and forming

page_text: the fore carriage of the frame. In this socket moves vertically a rod or
upright T, having at the lower part a fixed axle upon which turn the
two small fore wheels of the extirpator. Above this axle is a piece O
with collar encircling the rod T, and end curved to receive the hooks or
catches of the apparatus to which the draught horse is harnessed. The 5
piece C is also fixed to the rod T by another piece'd, the upper part of
which also embraces the rod, the lower curved part being riveted to the
piece C. The upper part of the rod T is bored to receive a square-
threaded screw passing through a tapped socket Q, the vertical arm of
which is fixed to the front socket of the frame. The action of this screw 1
will be readily understood; its object is simply to raise and lower the
fore wheels of the extirpator at pleasure. Upon the arm of the fixed
socket of the screw is a branch 6, the eyes of which receive the reins for
guiding the horse. At the back of the frame and bent upwards is a
piece F with slide, in which the support of the axle of the hind wheels 1
may move vertically. One of these hind wheels is provided with a pinion
with endless chain, the purpose of which is herein-after explained.
The extripator, properly so called, is, as shown on the plan, arranged
with two teeth forward, three teeth behind these, and four harrows fixed
to the back cross piece of the frame. The two front teeth may or may 2
not be used, according to the nature of the soil, the action generally
taking place with only the three back teeth. The movement takes place
by means of a lever L carrying on its arm a bent branch R, the axle of
which receives the moveable connecting rods G of the lever H, this
communication thus giving the facility of moving at will either the five
teeth together, or only the three back teeth of the extirpator.
Upon the rods supporting the axles of the hind wheels M of the
extripator are connecting rods Z, fixed by one end to the rods N, and by
the other to the axle of the rollers X drawn by the machine.. Four
shares are set on the cross shaft u、 moveable with the extirpator; chains a
are set to uplift the said shares according to requirement. The sower S,
fitting immediately above the frame, is nothing but a box with cover,
and of variable capacity. Within this box is a horizontal axle furnished
with as many pinions as there are rollers X. These pinions are set in
motion by means of two pinions o, o, one of which is fixed outside the
sower on the axle of the first-mentioned pinions, and the other on the
axle of one of the hind wheels of the extirpator; they are connected by
an endless chain r.

page_text: When the machine is working the pinions of the sower give impulsion
to the seed and cause it to fall by openings at the back and lower part
of the sower into funnels fixed to it, and communicating with pipes P,p,
bringing the seed into the furrows made by the back teeth of the
extirpator and those made by the four shares.
The distribution of the seed is arrested by means of a plate n, the
openings in which correspond when the machine is working with those
of the sower, and close them by sliding on a metal plate fixed at the
lower part of the sower.
The dimensions of the machine and number of teeth and shares will
vary with the nature of the soil.