AN IMPROVED CORN AND SEED DRILL
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Preece, George Preece, and Henry Precce, of tho
Firm of Thomas Preece & Sous, of Leominster, in the County of Hereford,
Implement Makers, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CORN AND SEED
DRILL."
Sealed the 21st November 1876, and dated the 26th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Preece, George Preece,
and Henry Precco at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th
May 1876.
THOMAS PREECE, GEORGE PREECE, and HENRY PREECE, of the Firm of Thomas
Precce & Sons, of Leominster, in the County of Hereford, Implement Makers.
"AN IMPROVED CORN AND SEED DRILL."
This Invention relates to the construction of an improved implement or drill for
corn and seed.
In constructing this improved corn and seed drill we first place the box on two
brackets attached to the frame behind the main axle of the machine. The top lid
of the box is so constructed that it slides in a groove, so that it can be taken out of
the way and sight of the man driving the horses.
Secondly. We attach a lever to the frame with the intermediate wheel on it,
striking into the top of the nave wheel, which is attached to the main wheel of the
machine. On the stud carrying this intermediate wheel we place a second lever
carrying another intermediate wheel, which strikes into the wheel on the seed
barrel and slides on the first lever so as to give room for larger wheels to be placed
on the seed barrel.
Thirdly. We place a bar attached to the main axle, on which we key three
brackets; two of these brackets come behind the main axle, to which are attached
two other brackets attached to a jointed bar. This bar also slips through a link
connected to the coulter. The other bracket is so attached that it works under-
neath and comes up in front of the main axle, to which is attached another bracket.
We place or fit a lever to this bracket, the end of this lover being also connected to
a bracket which is placed or fitted to the front piece of the main frame, which lever
passes through a guard and comes over the top of the box so as to be under the
control of the man using the machine. The guard is attached to the main axle.
Price Gd1

page_text: Fourthly. We place or fit a crank bracket on the end of the bar attached to the
main axle, which lifts the intermediate wheel out of gear of the nave wheel, at the
same time the coulters are raised from the ground by a slight pressure of the man's
hand on the lever which passes over the corn box.
Fifthly. The "foot" which deposits the corn in the ground is made with air pin-
holes, where it is attached to a lever, which lever is connected to a joint on the
joint bar, which is connected to two side levers attached to the main axle, and by
the rising and falling of these levers more or less draught is given to the coulters.
Lastly. For regulating the pitch of the box we place a screw underneath, the onc
end being attached to the box and the other to the main axle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Preece, George Preece, and Henry Preece in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 25th November 1876.
THOMAS PREECE, GEORGE PREECE, and HENRY PREECE, of the Firm of Thomas
Preece & Sons,] of Leominster, in the County of Hereford, Implement Makers.
"AN IMPROVED CORN AND SEED DRILL."
This Invention relates to the construction of an improved implement or drill for
use in drilling corn and other seed.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of the
drill, showing the means employed for altering the pitch of the coulters so as to
draw deeper or lighter according to the kind of seed to be sown. Figure 2 is a
perspective view, showing the means employed for simultaneously raising the
coulters out of the ground and stopping the seed. Figures 3 and 4 are side and
back views of a coulter and its lever. Figure 5 is an inside view of the end of the
seed box, showing the means employed in keeping the seed barrel in its place.
Figures 6 and 7 are views on a larger scale of these means. Figure 8 represents
the sliding lid of the seed box; Figure 9 the slide for regulating the feed inside the
box; Figure 10, a pulley and runner staple on the draught pole, by which the
weight on the horses is equalized; and Figure 11 the means employed in regulating
the pitch of the seed box.
Figures 2, 8, and 9 are drawn to a scale of one inch to the foot; Figures 3 and
11 one and a half inch to the foot; Figures 1, 4, and 5 two inches to the foot;
Figure 10 three inches to the foot; and Figures 6 and 7 six inches to the foot.
The Invention comprises the following improvements:-We mount the seed box 1
upon two end brackets 2 rising from the sills or frame 3 of the drill behind the
main axle 4, and we form the cover or lid 5 of the box 1 to slide in suitable grooves
therein, so that it can be taken out of the way and sight of the driver. The inter-
mediate wheel 6 gearing with and driven by the nave wheel 7 (which is connected
to one of the travelling wheels), is carried by a stud 8 projecting from a plate 9
pivotted at 16 to one of the brackets 2, and on the stud 8 we also pivot an arm 10,
a stud 43, on which carries another intermediate wheel 11, communicating motion
from the wheel 6 to the wheel 12 on the seed barrel 13. The arm 10 can be
fastened in different positions in a slot 14 in the plato 9 by a bolt and nut 15, so as
to allow of various sized wheols being placed on the shaft 44 of the barrel 13. In
brackets 17 depending from the axle 4 we suspend a crank bar 18, carrying three
cranks 19, 20, two of which 19 project rearward of the axle 4, and the other 20
under and up forward thereof. The cranks 19 are connected by a bar 21, on which
hang links 46 connected to keys 47 in levers 30, to which the coulters 22 (through
which the corn or seed passes to be deposited in the ground) are fastened by screw
pins 29. The crank 20 is connected by a rod 23 to a hand lever 24, centred or
pivotted in a bracket 25 rising from the front piece 26 of the main frame, the
lever 24 also passing through a guard 27 rising from the axle 4 and over the box 1,
so as to be within reach of the attendant. Upon his depressing the lever 24 the

page_text: bar 18 is turned, and the cranks 19 and bar 21 are raised, thus raising the coulters
22 from the ground. The end of the bar 18 carries or is formed as a crank 28,
which in this movement of the bar 18 comes under a bracket 37 attached to tho
plato 9 and extending below the sill 3 and behind the axle 4, and thus lifts the
plate and raises the wheel 6 out of gear with the wheel 7; the seed is thus stopped
simultaneously with the raising of the coulters. The forward ends 31 of the levers
30 are connected to the joint bar 32, hung to two side levers 33 attached to the
axle 4, as shown, and by the adjustment of which levers 33 more or less draught or
pitch is given to the coulters, the levers being raised or lowered as required and
firmly held in position by small pins and keys 34 placed in holes 35 in side
brackets 36 depending from the sills 3. We regulate the pitch of the box 1 by
means of a screw 48, one end of which passes through a bracket 49 attached to the
box, and the other end of which passes through a bracket 50 attached to the axle 4.
The barrel 13 is kept in its place by means of a socket end 45, which slips through
the bracket 2 and is secured by means of a lever 38, which drops into a groove 51.
39 represents a slide bar arranged inside the box 1, to regulate the feed of the seed;
it is raised by means of brackets 40 and springs 41, which act against plates 42.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, we would remark in conclusion that we claim as our Invention-
First. The mounting of the seed box and the fitting of the lid thereof.
Second. The mounting of the intermediate wheels.
Third. The simultaneous raising of the coulters and stopping of the exit of the
seed.
Fourth. The formation of the coulters.
And, Fifth. The regulating of the pitch of the seed box; all substantially as above
described and as illustrated on the accompanying Drawings.
We also claim the application of these improvements, either separately or in
combination, to corn or seed drills.
In witness whereof, wc, the said Thomas Precce, George Preece, and Henry
Precce, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighteenth day of No-
vember, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.
DL47
THOMAS PREECE, L.S.
GEORGE PREECE. (L.S.)
HENRY PREECE.
(L.S.)