An Improved Implement for Destroying Weeds and similar Growths.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar, 1892
.
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1892-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Implement for Destroying Weeds and similar
Growths.
We GEORGE WILKES, and EDWARD WILKES GAWTHORNE, trading as
Wilkes and Son, of 1, 3, 5 and 9, Milford Street, Salisbury, Ironmongers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved implement for destroying weeds and similar
growths, and has for its object an implement simple in construction and easy of
operation for piercing the vulnerable parts of dandelion, dock, daisy, and similar
noxious plants, and injecting therein a suitable liquid weed-destroying poison.
According to my invention we provide a cylindrical case, or tube of brass or
other non-corroding metal, within which is placed, longitudinally a metal or other.
rod that can work freely in such case or tube.
This rod projects at one end of the cylindrical case, through a nozzle provided
with an air-hole formed on the end of the said case, and is furnished with a steel
point for piercing the root or other part of the weed operated upon. The other
end of the rod projecting through a perforation in the end of the case is provided
with a suitable handle for operating the said rod.
An inlet protected by a screw-cap is formed in any convenient part of the
cylindrical case or tube, for the admission of the weed-destroying liquid.
When the noxious plant has been pierced by the steel point of the implement,
the handle at the opposite end of the sliding rod is pulled outward, causing the
piercer to be drawn within the nozzle, and so allow the liquid to flow into the
incision in the plant, a coil or other suitable spring arranged in the case, immediately
restoring the piercer to its normal position when the handle is released thereby
discontinuing or cutting off the supply of liquid to the incised plant.
Dated this 31st day of March 1892.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Implement for Destroying Weeds and similar
Growths.
We GEORGE WILKES and EDWARD WILKES GAWTHORNE trading as
Wilkes and Son of 1, 3, 5, and 9, Milford Street, Salisbury Ironmongers 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved implement for destroying weeds and
similar growths and has for its object an implement simple in construction and easy
of operation for piercing the vulnerable parts of dandelion, dock, daisy and similar
noxious plants, and injecting therein a suitable liquid weed destroying poison.
According to our invention I provide a cylindrical case, or tube of brass or
other non-corroding metal, within which is placed longitudinally a metal or other
rod that can work freely in such case or tube.
This rod projects at one end of the cylindrical case or tube through a nozzle
provided with an air-hole formed on the end of the said case, and is furnished with.
a steel point for peircing the root or other part of the weed operated upon.

page_text: The other end of the rod projecting through a perforation in the end of the
case, is provided with a suitable handle for operating the said rod. An inlet
protected by a screw cap is formed in any convenient part of the cylindrical case,.
or tube for the admission of the weed destroying liquid.
When the noxious plant has been pierced by the steel point of the implement,
the handle at the opposite end of the sliding rod is pulled outward, causing the
piercer to be drawn within the nozzle, and so allow the liquid to flow into the
incision in the plant; a coil or other suitable spring arranged in the case
immediately restoring the piercer to its normal position when the handle is
released, thereby discontinuing or cutting off the supply of liquid to the incised
plant.
And in order our invention may be the more readily understood we have shewn
same in the accompaning sheet of drawings wherein
Fig. 1 is a view, with portions shewn in dotted lines, of the implement as it
appears when the handle is pulled out to open the valve and so allow the weed
exterminating liquid to escape, Fig. 2 being a sectional view of the implement
in its normal condition with the handle forced home by the spring and with the
valve closed.
A is the cylindrical case or tube, formed of brass or other non-corroding metal,
through which works, longitudinally, a rod B also formed of non-corroding metal.
Within this cylindrical case or tube A, which constitutes the reservoir for con-
taining the liquid weed destroying poison, I provide a diaphram C against which
one end of a spring c abuts.
As will be observed, this diaphram is pierced in two or more places in addition
to the perforation through which the rod passes so as to allow the liquid to
flow readily through same from the rear or handle end to the nozzle end of the
implement.
The rear end of the cylindrical case or tube A is closed by a screw-cap a through
a perforation in which the end of the rod B passes the latter being provided with a
knob or handle b.
'
The forward end of the case or tube A terminates in a nozzle D which screws
into the case or tube as shewn in Fig. 2.
This nozzle D is constructed as shewn, in the form of a cup d with a central
hollow abutment or projection d through which the point or piercer 61 of the
rod B passes.
In the side of the cup d we provide an air hole or holes d². The
object of this peculiar construction of nozzle is to prevent the outlet for the liquid
poison becoming hermetically sealed when the point or piercer b¹ of the implement
is pressed too firmly into the ground. The natural consequences of the outlet
being sealed in this way was to prevent the liquid poison from flowing into the
pierced roots or other vulnerable parts of a weed or the like. The nozzles
heretofore constructed were also liable to gather loose earth or other matter around
the outlet in such a way as to impede and render ineffective the regular flow of the
liquid poison.
The discharge of the poison is regulated by a valve preferably of the form shewn
at E which is fixed on the rod B and against which the other end of the spiral
spring c presses. This spring c is intended to return the valves E to its normal
position after the discharge of the liquid poison into the pierced roots of the weed
or the like.
An inlet F for filling the reservoir with the liquid weed destroyer is provided,
being closed by a screw-cap f
To operate the implement, the reservoir A is filled with liquid weed-destroyer
through the inlet F, the point or piercer b¹ is pressed into the root or other part
of
the weed, the handle 6 at the same time being pulled outward, thereby opening the
valve E and allowing the liquid poison to escape. Immediately the handle 6 is
released the spiral spring c returns the valve E to its original position and so cuts
off the supply of liquid poison to the roots of the weed.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1). In implements for destroying weeds or the like the improved construction of
the nozzle consisting of a cup-shaped chamber pierced with one or more air holes,
and having a hollow central abutment through which the piercer passes, substantially
as herein described and illustrated by the drawings.
(2). The combination of an implement for destroying weeds or the like consisting
of a cylindrical case or tube through which a rod passes longitudinally a diaphram
perforated in three or more places, a spiral spring for closing a valve constructed in
the form of a half sphere, an inlet, a handle and a piercer, with a nozzle consisting
of a cup-shaped chamber pierced with one or more air holes and having a hollow
central abutment, through which the piercer passes, substantially as herein described
and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 31st day of December.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.