IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PLANTING GRAIN AND SEED, AND AN IMPROVED SEED FEEDER AND METER FOR PLANTING MACHINES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Freer, of Rothley, in the County of Leicester,
Agricultural Implement Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR PLANTING GRAIN AND SEED, AND AN IMPROVED SEED FEEDER
AND METER FOR PLANTING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Freer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th April 1859.
I, JOHN FREER, of Rothley, in the County of Leicester, Agricultural
Implement Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PLANTING GRAIN AND SEED, AND AN IMPROVED
SEED FEEDER AND METER FOR PLANTING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
The grain and seed planting machines are adapted to steam, horse, or
manual power. The planting machines consist of a number of wheels attached
to a suitable framework at regular distances apart. The number of wheels
and the distance between them can be varied at pleasure. Each wheel
carries and delivers its own seed independant of the rest. I shall, therefore,
proceed to describe one planting wheel with its seed feeder and hoppers, and
afterwards the general framework to which the wheels are attached, and also
the mode of attachment by joints, so as to allow the wheels to rise and fall to
suit unequel ground. The wheels are of iron, and cast in two parts. The
main part of the wheel is cast whole from the periphery to the centre, and on

page_text: the outside resembles a plain disk, except about three inches from the
periphery, where it branches out at a right angle about 1 inches, thus
forming a rim. This rim is slotted, to admit of the shafts of the parts used
for covering the seed outlets passing through, and to this rim they are centred.
In the centre of the main part of wheel, inside, is fixed the axle near the
periphery, the wheel is devided by a number of A divisions. The number of
these divisions vary according to the diameter of the wheel and the number of
seed outlets that the wheel contains. The divisions are for directing the seed
to the outlets as it falls from the meter, and also for keeping the face side of
wheel when it is screwed on the divisions a sufficient distance from the back,
so as to form a sufficiency of hollow space in the wheel for receiving the seed
from the meter and delivering it in the earth; but for districts where lighter
wheels are more suitable, the wheels may be made partly of cast iron and
partly of wrought iron. That part of the wheel intended to enter the soil,
together with rim and divisions, may be cast, and the central part for more
than two-thirds of the diameter may be made up with a disc of wrought iron.
When the wheels are thus made, the rim is removed at intervals, so as to
admit the seed outlet coverers being laid in from the back; the bearings are
then screwed upon them, and afterwards the central wrought-iron disc. The
parts used for covering the seed outlets are of wrought iron, and for each
wheel the same number is required as there is outlets for the seed. They are
formed from flat iron. At the point they are turned at a right angle, so as to
reach across the wheel and cover the outlets from the outlets to the rim; the
shafts of the coverers are continued close on the outside of the wheel. They
are centred in the rim before mentioned. The shafts are carried through the
rim to à suitable distance into the interior of the wheel. In the interior of
the wheel the shafts are curved in the direction of the succeeding outlets.
Near the inner ends of the shafts pins are inserted, which project from the
shaft at right angles. The depression of these pins from the centre of the
wheel removes the coverers from the seed outlets, so as to allow the seed to fall
into the earth, and by raising the pins towards the centre of the wheel, the
coverers return over the outlets, and prevent the earth entering the interior of
the wheel. The pins are depressed by means of a small wheel. As the
planting wheel revolves, the pins of the coverers before mentioned in succession
come in contact with the wheel, which causes them to descend and so uncover
the divisions of the planting wheel. The planters or divisions of the wheel
receive the seed from the meter on the front or descending side of the wheel,
but are not opened until they have reached their greatest depth in the earth
or a little in rear of the planting wheel axle. As each division deposits the

page_text: seed, the under side of the pins come in contact with a wheel or incline plane,
which raises them, and thus closes the outlets of the wheel; the seed outlets
on the periphery of the wheel being thus closed for more than three parts of
its revolution. In the interior of the planting wheel, below and a little in
rear of the axis, is placed a series of pistons or plungers, which rotate upon
their own axis. Their rotation is accomplished by their contact with the
A divisions of the planting wheel. At the place where the divisions open to
let out the seed the piston axis is so placed that one of the pistons is made to
descend the open division after the seed. The pistons are sufficiently long
to drive quite through the open outlet, and so drive out any substance that
may have entered the division or planter through imperfect closing whilst
descending the soil. The pistons at the point correspond in size with
the seed outlet; but in the direction of the axis they are made of such
size and form, that in their descent and ascent they nearly touch the
whole of the A division, and so rub off any substance adhering to them.
The distance between the pistons at the circumeference correspond with
the distance apart of the seed outlets, so that the divisions in the planting
wheel, as the wheel rotates, takes in the pistons, similar to one cog wheel
taking in the cogs of another wheel. The face side of the wheel is
nearly in the form of a plain disk; but from the periphery to where it
terminates in the direction of the centre, it bevels slightly outwards. It
is screwed upon the A divisions before mentioned. The central part is
removed, to admit of the lower seed hopper and meter being placed in the
inside of the wheel. At the periphery of the wheel the spaces between the
outlets may be removed, so as to give the wheel a serrated or pointed shape.
When wheels of this description are drawn over the soil, they press holes, and
leave the seed at the bottom. But for tenacious soils, the spaces between the
outlets may be cast full, so as to form a smooth periphery. When wheels of
this description are drawn over the ploughed soil, they press a rut or track,
and leave the seed at intervals at the bottom. The wheels being narrow at
the periphery, their weight is usually sufficient to press the track sufficiently.
deep for depositing the seed. But where the ground is hard, their penetration
is assisted by a small coulter sett, so as to divide the soil immediately in front
of them. The meter or measurer for supplying the wheel with seed consists
of cups mounted on an endles chain. The cups project from the side of the
chain. The chain is close jointed so as to leave the seed without drawing it
up in the joints. The chain passes over a small wheel, which is placed above
the seed, and under a larger smooth wheel, which revolves in the seed box.
On the cup side of the chain wheel there are holes or recesses for receiving

page_text: the seed from the cups. These recesses can only deliver the seed down the
spout leading to the planters as they turn downwards, which ensures the
regular delivery of the seed by only one cupfull at a time. The chain pulley
is geared so as to cause one cupfull of seed to descend the spout for
every division of the wheel. The lower seed box, in which the meter works,
is placed in the inside of the planting wheel, on the front side of the axle, so
that the seed drops direct from the meter on to the A division, and by supplying
the seed on the front side of the axle or descending side of the wheel, the seed
has sufficient time to roll down the divisions to the point of the outlets, and
be at rest before they open to drop it in the earth. The reserve seed hopper
is placed at the back of the meter, or nearly in front of the planting wheel,
and is carried upwards to a suitable height above the meter. Motion is
given to the meter by means of cog wheels, which are placed in the interior of
the planting wheel. The motive wheel is bolted on to the planting wheel,
and is made to give motion to a small wheel. The bearings, upon which rests
the axis of the small wheel, allows of a reciprocating motion; when it is
pushed in the direction of the meter the wheel gives motion to that
which moves the meter; but when drawn from the meter the meter ceases
action. This movement allows the machine. to be turned round at the head-
land, without the necessity of drawing the wheels up from the earth.
Scrapers are placed on the rising side of the planting wheel; the scraper
holder is fixed at the inner end in the direction of the wheel axle; but at the
periphery of the wheel they are mounted on a horizontal pin, so as to allow of
a lateral motion. Another mode of constructing the planter wheel is to make
the interior resemble a smooth groove or chanel, but with outlets for
the seed and coverers for the outlets, as before described. The seed is dropt
from the meter into the chanel, and is arrested at the place of deposit
by means of a wire brush or scraper, which, as the outlets are uncovered,
forces the seed through into the earth. The bush or bearing, in which
the planting wheel axle revolves, is attached to the main frame by means of
plates of iron attached to the outer and inner side of the bearings; the plates
extend across on each side of the meter seed box; at the end of the seed box
wood is placed between the plates to keep them apart. Near the end of the
plates holes are made, in which a round pin or shaft is inserted, and made fast
with keys. The pin project on each side from the trussed plates to a
considerable distance, to allow of being placed in bearings connected to the
main framework. The bearings are made double, so as to allow the shafts,
when the wheels are placed nearly close together, to pass each other. The
bearings are made moveable, so as to allow the wheels to be set at different

page_text: distances apart. The front joints are assisted in maintaining the position of
the planting wheels by a support, from the back. Immediately at the back of
the planting wheel axle is centred a shaft, which is carried across the
back part of the wheel. About a foot from the axle the shaft passes through
a groove, which allows it to have a up-and-down motion, but mentains
its position laterally. The shafts from the different wheels allow. of being
braced together at the outer ends; and at the same time, owing to the motion
in the slot or groove, allow the wheels independently to rise and fall. Upon
these back shafts is fixed the scrapers before described. The general frame-
work consists of road wheels and cranked axle, which passes over the planting
wheels sufficiently high to admit of them being drawn up out of the ground.
They are drawn up by rollers placed behind the axle bed. The sides of the
frame pass over the hind part of the nave of the wheel. There are two bars
on front for the shafts, and beneath them a grooved bar for holding the joint
bearings of the planting wheels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Freer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
October 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
FREER, of Rothley, in the County of Leicester, Agricultural Implement
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Loril
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Freer, Her special licence that I, the said John Freer, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Freer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
-Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR PLANTING GRAIN AND SEED, AND AN IMPROVED SEED FEEDER AND
METER FOR PLANTING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Freer, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should

page_text: particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Freer, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings annexed, that is
to say:-
My improved planting machinery consists of a number of planting wheels
attached to a suitable framework at regular distances apart. The number of
wheels and the distance between them can be varied at pleasure. Figure 1
of the Drawings annexed is a side elevation of a planting machine constructed
according to my Invention, with serrated or pointed planting wheels for
pressing holes, and with meter and lower seed box placed in the interior of
the planting wheel. Figure 2 is a side elevation of planting machine with
planting wheels of nearly smooth periphery for pressing tracks in the soil,
and with seed box elevated above the planting wheels to allow of the planting
wheels being placed in the general framework nearly close together. The
meter in this seed box is driven from the travelling wheel of the main frame-
work, and the seed is conducted from the seed box by means of spouts into
the interior of the planting wheel. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the planting
wheel detached from the general framework with side of the hopper and lower
casing of the planting wheel removed to show the action of the meter, and
the piston wheel following after the seed. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the
back or main part of planting wheel, having the front casing removed to show
the A divisions used for conducting the seed as it falls from the meter to the
outlets, and the mode of centering and working the seed outlet coverers so as
to cause the outlets to open and close as the planting wheel revolves. Figure 5
is a side elevation showing the reverse side of the planting wheel to that
shown in Figure 4, and shows at c, c, the position of the seed outlet coverers
from the periphery to where they are centered, and also the mode of passing
them through the rim into the interior of the wheel, and likewise shows the
central wrought iron part of the wheel B. Figure 6 shows an upper view of
the bar and joints used for connecting the planting wheel to the main frame-
work. Figure 7 is a side view of joint and bar; P, wood bar; R, iron boxes
for holding T joints; S, screw strap, for holding boxes firm on bar. Figure 9
is a section of the wheel through the axis of planting wheel; I, I, piston
wheel; C, C, coverers for closing the seed outlets; B, central wrought-iron

page_text: The main part of wheel
centre, or it may be formed
That part of wheel intended
disc; E, planting wheel axle; D, wheel for opening seed outlets; F, slide or
inclined plane for closing seed outlets; G, the face side of planting wheel;
H, the bush or bearing of seed outlet coverer; K, part of planting wheel
containing A divisions, &c.; L, front casing. Figure 8, an end view of joint
and bar; P, wood; R, iron boxes; S, screw strap for holding boxes firm on
bar. Figure 10, side and end view of seed outlet coverers; F, the part which
covers the outlet; G, the centre; H, the projecting pin by which they are
worked. Figure 11, cup and chain meter; N, hollow smooth wheel for running
in seed box; P, chain pulley for taking in the storks of the cups; R, recesses
for receiving the seed from the cups. The planting wheels are of iron and
may be cast in two parts. In the centre of the main part of wheel inside is
fixed the axle. Near the periphery the wheel is divided by a number of A
divisions; the number of these divisions vary according to the diameter of the
wheel and the number of seed outlets that the wheel contains. The divisions
are for directing the seed to the outlets as it falls from the meter, and also for
keeping the face side of wheel, when it is screwed on the divisions, a sufficient
distance from the back, so as to form a sufficiency of room in the wheel for
receiving the seed from the meter and delivering it in the earth. These
divisions are shown in Figures 3 and 4, A, A, A.
may be cast whole from the periphery to the
partly of cast iron and partly of wrought iron.
to enter the soil, together with inside divisions, and bushes or seats for the seed
outlet coverers may be cast, and the central part for more than two-thirds of the
diameter may be made up with a disc of wrought iron, its shown at 8, Figure 5.
The disc is screwed on to a rim cast upon the planting part of wheel; this
rim is removed at intervals to admit the seed outlet coverers being laid in their
seats. The same number of lever coverers are required for each wheel as there
is outlets for the seed. The form of the lever coverers is shown at Figure 10,
and their position in the planting wheels is shown at C, C, Figure 4, and C, C,
Figure 5, and C, C, Figure 9. From the outlets to the rim the shafts of the
coverers are continued close on the outside of the wheel, as shown at C, C,
Figure 5.
From the rim where they are centered the shafts are carried
through the rim to a suitable distance into the interior of the wheel, and are
curved in the direction of the succeeding outlets. Near the inner ends of the
shafts pins are inserted which project from the shafts at right angles. The
depression of these pins from the centre of the planting wheel removes the
coverers from the seed outlets so as to allow the seed to fall into the
earth, and by raising the pins towards the centre of the planting wheel
the coverers return and close the outlets. The pins are depressed by means of

page_text: a small wheel shown at D, Figure 4. As the planting wheel revolves, the
pins of the coverers before mentioned in succession come in contact with the
wheel, which causes them to descend, and so uncover the outlets of the
planting wheel. As each division deposits the seed, the under side of the pins
which are placed in the shafts of the coverers come in contact with a wheel or
slide shown at E, Figure 4, which raises them, and thus causes the coverers to
return over the outlet, the seed outlets. on the periphery of the wheel being
thus closed for more than three parts of its revolution. The slide. E and
wheel Dare held in their position by being attached to the bearing of the
planting wheel axle. In the interior of the planting wheel, below and a little
in rear of the axis, is placed a series of pistons or plungers, which rotate upon
their own axis. Their rotation is accomplished by their contact with the A
divisions of the planting wheel. At the place where the divisions open to let
out the seed, the piston axis is so placed that óne of the pistons is made to
descend the open division after the seed. The pistons are sufficiently long to
drive quite through the open outlet, and so drive out any substance that may
have entered the division or planter through imperfect closing whilst descend-
ing the soil. The pistons at the point correspond in size with the seed outlet,
but in the direction of the axis they are made of such size and form that in
their descent and ascent they nearly touch the whole of the A division, and so
rub off any substance adhering to them. The piston wheel is shown at I, I,
Figure 3 and Figure 9. The face side of the planting wheel is nearly in the
form of a plain disc, but from the periphery to where it terminates in the
direction of the centre it bevels slightly outwards, as shown at G, Figure 9.
But when wheels are made for depositing seeds that only admit of being
placed a short distance below the surface, a rim may be applied to
side of the wheel to prevent the wheels sinking too deep in the soil. The face
side of wheel is screwed upon the A divisions before mentioned. The central
part is removed to admit of the lower seed hopper and meter being placed in
the inside of the wheel. At the periphery of the wheel the spaces between
the outlets may be removed, so as to give the wheel a serrated or pointed
shape, as shewn at P, P, Figure 3. When wheels of this description are
drawn over the soil, they press holes and leave the seed at the bottom. But
for tenacious soils the spaces between the outlets may be cast full, so as to
form a nearly smooth periphery. When wheels of this description are drawn
over the ploughed soil, they press a rut or track, and leave the seed at intervals
at the bottom. The wheels being made narrow at the periphery, their weight
is usually sufficient to press the track sufficiently deep for depositing the seed.
But where the ground is hard, their penetration is assisted by a small coulter,
the face

page_text: set so as to divide the soil immediately in front of them. The meter or
measurer for supplying the planting wheel with seed consists of cups mounted
on an endless chain. The cups project from the side of the chain. The chain'
is close jointed, so as to leave the seed without drawing it up in the joints.
The chain passes over a small chain wheel shown at T, Figure 3, which is
placed above the seed, and under a larger smooth wheel, which revolves in the
seed box. On the cup side of the chain wheel there are holes or recesses for
receiving the seed from the cups O, O. These recesses can only deliver the
seed down the spout, as they turn downwards, which ensures the regular
delivery of the seed by only one cupful at a time. The chain pulley is geared
so as to cause one cupful of seed to descend the spout for every division of the
wheel. The lower seed box, in which the meter works, may be placed in the
inside of the planting wheel on the front side of the axle, so that the seed'
drops direct from the meter on to the A divisions, and by supplying the seed
on the front side of the axle or descending side of the wheel, the seed has
sufficient time to roll down the divisions to the point of outlet before they
open to drop it in the earth. The reserve seed hopper is placed at the back
of the meter, or nearly front of the planting wheel. Motion is given to the
meter by means of cog wheels, which are placed in the interior of the
planting wheel. The bush or bearing in which the planting wheel axle
revolves is attached to the main frame by plates of iron attached to the
outer and inner side of the bearing; the plates extend across the wheel..
Wood is placed between the plates to keep them apart, so as to com-
bine strength with lightness; at a suitable distance front of planting wheel,
holes are made in the trussed plates, in which a round pin or shaft is
inserted and made fast with keys; the shaft projects from the trussed
plates on each side to a considerable distance, as shown at Figure 6, to allow
of being placed in bearings connected with the main framework shown at R,
Figure 1. The boxes or bearings in which the shafts rest are double, so as
to allow the shafts or T joints to pass each other when the planting wheels are
placed close, as shewn at Figure 6; P, wood bar, on which the bearings rest;
R, R, bearings; S, S, trussed plates leading to planting wheels; V, V, 'screw
collars for holding the joints endways. The bearings are made moveable so
as to allows the wheels to be set at different distances apart. The front joints
are assisted in maintaining the position of the planting wheels by a support
from the back. Near the axle of the planting wheel is centred a shaft, which
is carried across the back part of the wlieel, shown at x, Figure 4; at the
back it passes through a groove N, N, which allows it to have a up-and-down
motion, but maintains its position laterally. The shafts from the different

page_text: wheels allow of being braced together at the outer ends, and at same time,
owing to the motion in the groove, allow the wheels independently to rise
and fall. The general framework consists of road wheels and cranked axle,
which passes over the planting wheels sufficiently high to admit of them being
drawn up out of the ground; they are drawn up by a roller placed behind the
axle bed. The sides of the frame pass over the hind part of the nave of the
wheel. There are two bars on front for the shafts, and beneath them a bar
on which the bearings of the T joints of the planting wheels rest.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the improved construction, general arrangement, and method of action
of the planting machinery herein-before described, consisting of a number of
revolving planter wheels with serrated or smooth peripherys for pressing holes
or tracks in the soil, and at the same time leave the seed at the bottom of the
pressed holes or tracks, as herein-before are described and represented in the
Drawing annexed.
Second, the mode of constructing the interior of the planting wheel with a
series of A-shaped divisions for directing the seed as it falls from the meter to
the outlet of the wheel, as herein-before explained.
Third, the mode or plan of closing and opening the seed outlets of the
planting wheel by means of jointed levers or shafts called coverers, by raising
or lowering the inner ends of the said lever shafts or covers towards or from
the centre or axis of the planting wheel by means of an inclined plane and
wheel.
Fourth, employing in each planting wheel a series of pistons or plungers
revolving on an axis, and which said pistons or plungers revolve in and by
contact with the A divisions of the planting wheel, and so placing them that
the pistons should drive through the divisions at the time they open to let out
the seed.
Fifth, constructing the planting wheel partly of cast iron and partly of wrought
iron, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the form and arrangement of the jointed lever shafts or coverer passing
from the outlets of the planting wheel on the exterior into the interior of the
planting wheel, as herein-before described.
Seventh, the mode of attaching the planting wheels to the general framework
by T-shaped levers or shafts, and securing them with iron boxes having double
recesses or bearings, so as to allow the T joints to pass each other when the
planting wheels are put near to each other in general framework, as repre-
sented in the Drawings annexed.

page_text: Eighth, the mode of arrangement for attaching the planting wheels together
in the rear of the said wheels by bars passing through grooves so as to
allow the wheels independently to rise and fall, as herein-before described.
Ninth, placing a coulter in front of each planting wheel.
Tenth, placing recesses on the axis of the top pulley of the seed meter to
receive the seed from the cups of the chain meter and deliver in the machine,
likewise the general arrangement for feeding the machine with seed, as herein-
before described.
And, lastly, the arrangement of general framework for holding planting
wheels, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Freer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
JOHN FREER. (L.S.)