GB496728A - An improved machine for distributing seed, salt, fertilizer, and the like, and for other purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

496,728. Delivering materials from hoppers. O'CONNOR, A. W. L. June 3, 1937, No. 15388. [Class 78 (i)] [Also in Group I] Seeds &c. are fed from a hopper into a groove in a cylindrical member which is given an oscillating movement about its axis to deliver the seeds to a shoot. Fig. 1 shows a. hopper 1 delivering seeds to a groove in a cylindrical member 4, the axle 3 of which is given an oscillatory motion. The member 4 may be provided with a number of grooves of different sizes any one of which may be brought beneath the hopper by shifting the member 4 along the axle 3 and fixing it in position by a set screw 8. Fig. 5 shows an implement fitted with the device shown in Fig. 1 and provided with means for oscillating the member 4. The oscillating mechanism comprises a wheel 17 carried by a spring controlled arm 18 and frictionally driven from the land roller 15. A connecting rod 19 is pivoted at one end on an eccentric pin 20 on the wheel 17 and at the other end has an adjustable slotted connection with an arm 21 projecting from the axle 3 of the grooved member 4. The seeds delivered by the member 4 fall down a shoot 11 into a furrow made by a tool 23. A furrow closing device 24 is situated behind the shoot 11. The tool 23 and device 24 are vertically adjustable. The roller 15 may be replaced by a dished roller in which case the wheel 17 is provided with a bevelled edge adapted to engage the oblique face of the roller. The wheel 17 may be disengaged from the roller 15 by a cable 28 which is connected to the arm 18 and to a lever 27 on the handlebars 25. The latter are hinged at 23 and can be folded for transport. Fig. 7 shows an alternative method of oscillating the axle 3 in which a weighted lever 29 engages a cam 34 on a land roller 15 and is connected through a lever 31 to the arm 21 projecting from the axle 3. A track marker 36 is provided on the implement shown in Fig. 5, and may be raised, as shown, into an inoperative position. The distributer may be arranged on a garden roller and hoes and other tools may be attached. Fig. 3 shows a modification in which the oscillating grooved member consists of a ring 37 which is held removably between two members 4a 4b. The screw 8 can be loosened and the member 4b removed and a ring having a groove of different size substituted for the ring 37. The tools for making and closing the furrow may be secured to the shoot 11 and casing 2 as shown in Fig. 4, the furrow making tool 23 being adjustable vertically by a screw 45 and the furrow-closing tool 24 being carried by an adjustable pivoted arm 49. The hopper and oscillating grooved member 4 may also be used for feeding birds, the perch being coupled to the axle 3 so that the weight of the bird causes the member 4 to oscillate and drop a small quantity of seed on the ground.