US18774A - Improvement in machines for spreading lime and other fertilizers - Google Patents

Description

P. SEYMOUR.

Fertilizer. No. 18,774. Patented Dec. 1, 1857,

N-PETERS, PHOTO LITHQGRAPHER UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PIERPONT SEYMOUR, OF EAST BLOOMFIELD, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SPREADING LIME AND OTHER FERTILIZERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 18,774, dated December 1, 1857.

To all 10710? it may concern:

Be it known that I, Prnnron'r SEYMOUR, of East Bloomfield, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Spreading Lime, Guano, and other Fertilizers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the method of distributing the substance used and crushing the lumps which it may contain; and also in securing a regular and constant feeding or supply from all parts of the box to the point of discharge, and in regulating and controlling the quantity distributed per acre.

To enable others to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

To an axle mounted on wheels I attach a pair of shafts, A, Figure 1, (which is a perspective view of my machine.) The box B, for containing the fertilizing substance, is attached to these shafts, either to the under side or otherwise, as may be deemed best; or it may, with its appurtenances, be attached to the frame of a field-roller, either in front or in the rear of the same, and made to spread any finely-pulverized fertilizing material while rolling the land. The box is so formed that the bottom or under side, 0, Fig. 2, which is a vertical section of the same, slopes downward to the dis charge-opening 6, while the rear side forms an angle with its inclination, which may be more or less acute. The more acute the more effectual and rapid will be the operation of crushing the lumps, if there be any. To the lower board of the box, 0, I attach a series of metal plates, (7, Fig.3, by pivots, which admit of their turning to a slight extent. These plates extend from the elevated side of the inclined bottom through the discharge-opening c, Fig. 2, and are pivoted to the bar F, Figs. 1,2, and 3. To this bar a lever, Gr, Fig. 1, is attached, which has a center bearing on the side of the axle, and is connected at its upper end, by the rod h, with the oscillating lever I, to which motion is imparted by the eccentric or cam wheel J on the hub of the spoke-wheel. By this means a quick vibratory motion is imparted to the rod F and to the end of the plates 01, connected therewith, as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 3. The effect of this vibrating motion of the plates is to feed the fertilizing material to the discharge-opening and to pulverize any lumps which it may contain, in both which it is aided by the weight of themass, which is constantly pressing down upon them,and also to produce an equal distribution as it passes from the box. Various devices have been employed to produce these results, but none have so effectually succeeded as the method I employ. The series of plates extend over the entire width of the inclined plane which forms the bottom of the box, and act on the whole extent of material presented to that surface by the combined action of gravitation and trimration.

The amount of the material distributed is regulated by the extent of the discharge-opcning 0, Fig. 2. This is varied by means of a gage-board, i, Fig. 2,which is movable up and down in a reeess,j, in the rear portion of the box. The two ends project through the ends of the box, and are attached each to a lever, K, Fig. 4, which has the bolt l as a fulcrum, and is held in position by the set-screw m, which moves in a slot in the end of the box. By raising or lowering these levers the width of the discharge-opening can be graduated at pleasure, so as to be capable of distributing any desired amount-from twenty-five pounds to two thousand five hundred pounds-per acre. It is necessary that the edge of the gage-board be always parallel to the bottom board to insure equal sowing, which may be determined by ascale on the ends of the box underneath the levers, or the two may be set alike by using a gage. The feed is also varied by increasing or decreasing the vibrating motion of the plates, which is done by changing the fulcrum of the lever G by means of holes provided for that purpose. This is necessary from the fact that when the material used is damp it requires am uch greater action of the distributing-plates than when dry.

The distributing-box may be attached to grain-drills and broadcastseed-sowers, and will spread the fertilizer at the time of sowing the seed. When attached to a grain-drill it may be so placed as to discharge the fertilizer into the drill-tubes, from which it will pass with the grain into the ground; or it may be so placed as to spread it on the ground, either in front of the drill-teeth, so that it will be harrowed in by them, or in the rear of them,when it will remain on the surface. It is particularly adapted to guano and plaster, which frequentlyforminlumps,from becomingdamp,thc grinding effect being such that even the charcoal contained in wood-ashes passes through the machine perfectly comminuted.

I do not claim the use of the levers, rods, or eccentric or zigzag wheels whereby I com municate motion from the carriage-wheel to the distributing-works, as such devices are well known and in use for various purposes; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination and arrangement ofa series of vibrating plates or distributers, (I, attached to and working upon the face of an inclined plane or distributingsurface, (J, by means of the rod F, or any equivalent connection that will give the required motion to one end of said plates while another portion is stationary upon the board or plane, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

PIERPON '1 SEYMOUR.

Witnesses:

JOSIAH PORTER, FLAVEL GAYLoRp.

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