US609420A

US609420A - Corn-planter

Info

Publication number: US609420A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1898-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1915-08-23

Description

No. 609,420. Patented Aug. 23-, I898.

W. H. ECKMAN.

CORN PLANTER. (Application filed Apr. 18, 189B.) Modem 2 shets sheet Ni i? THE NcRRIs PETERS co.. Wrrnnrruo.v WASHINGTON. u, c,

No. 609,420. I Patented Aug. 23, I898.

w, H. ECKMAN.

BORN PLANTER.

(Application filed Apr. 18, 1898.)

(No Mogiel.) 2 Sheets-Shee t 2- I 23 Wih esscs 21 I WEWIWC IM 13y 71/ -]l'1forncys mmms wnens cov moraumo.,yusuma1on, n. c.

I Nrrnn TATES' ATENT rrrcn'.

\VILLIAM II. EOKMAN, OF PLUM'IREE, INDIANA.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,420, dated August 23, 1898.

Application filed April 18, 1898. $erial No. 6'78 ,063. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. ECKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plumtree, in the county of Huntington and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Corn- Planter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn-planters; and one object that I have in view is to provide an improved means for operating the dropping-slide from one of the carrying-wheels of the machine, whereby to dispense with the check-row mechanism and the use of a check-wire.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved marker mechanism which is operated automatically to indicate by a plainly-visible mark in the ground the places where the corn is planted in hills.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which the operating mechanism for the dropper-slide may be easily and readily thrown out of service for the purpose of discontinuing the planting operation when turning in a field to clear a stump or other obstruction or reversing the machine at the end of the row, and the operating mechanism for the dropper-slide may be readily detached from the machine when it is desired to use the latter for the purpose of planting the grain in drills.

Vith these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of so much of a cornplanter as is necessary to an understanding of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the operating mechanism for the dropper-slide embodying my invention. Fig. at is an enlarged detail view of the slidable and rotary compound cam and gear. Fig. die on enlargedldetail view of the marker devices.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

is an axle on which the carrying or driving wheels are mounted. 3 is the dropping-slide, and 4 is the seat. All these devices are of the usual or any preferred construction known to those skilled in the art,and the only modification therein necessary to adapt my improvements to existing corn-planters is the provision of a bend or loop 3 in the axle at a point within one of the carrying or driving Wheels 13.

5 indicates a carrier rod or bar which is arranged longitudinally of the planter-frame and'passes'through the bend or drop 3 in the axle. This carrier rod or baris reduced at a point intermediate of its length to form a stem 6 and a shoulder 6 between the bar and its reduced stem. The front end of the carrier-bar is extended to a part of the planter-frame, and it is fastened thereto by a single vertical bolt 7; but the stem at the rear end of said bar is held in proper position by a supporting-bar 8, which lies substantially at right angles to the carrier bar 5 and is loosely fitted thereon either by inserting one end of the carrier-bar 8 in an opening of the carrier-rod 5, as shown by Fig. 1, or loosely connecting the parts in any other suitable way. This supporting-bar 8 is slidably fitted in suitable guides 10, fixed on the rear end of the planterframe, and around said supporting-bar is fitted a coiled spring 11, which is fitted against the planterframe or a guide 10 and also against the carrier-bar inorder to hold the latter in place relatively to the driving-wheel13 for the gearing to have proper engagement, as will presently appear. The supporting-bar 8 for the carrier-rod 5 is held in its adjusted position by a locking-pin 12,-which is adjustably connected to the planter-frame. Y

The driving or carrying wheel 13 ofthe machine .is: equipped with a drivinggear 14, which is in theform of a ring or annulus securely bolted or otherwise attached to the inner face or side of the wheel 13, andsaid driving-gear 14 is provided with a series of teeth 15. These teeth may be inthe form of t 1 designates the frame of the planter. 2 55.

both rotary and reciprocating movement thereon, and this compound gear and cam is one of the essential features of my improved means for operating the dropper-slide from the driving-wheel 13 of the machine. This compound gear and cam maybe made in one piece of metal or of two pieces which are rigidly united together in any preferred way, and said compound gear and cam is in the form of a she11,the front part of which is provided with an axial opening or passage 17, which is of larger diameter than the axial opening or passage 18 at the rear part of said gear and cam. The opening 18 in the gear and cam is adapted to receive the reduced stem 6 of the carrierbar,on which the gear and cam is fitted loosely for both rotary and reciprocating movement. The gear-section of the compound gear and cam is formed by a series of longitudinal teeth 19, which project radially from the rear part of the compound gear and cam, while the camsection is formed on the front part of the gear and cam for the purpose of engaging with a fixed stud or roller on the carrier-bar 5. The cam-track 20 is of spiral form at the front end of the compound gear and cam, and this spiral length of the cam-track extends from a straight ledge or face 21 to a point 22, which point is formed by the intersection of the spiral length 20 with a longitudinal length 23 of the cam-track, said longitudinal length 23 of the cam-track being slightlyinclined to the longitudinal axis of the compound gear and cam. This form of the cam is advantageous in that the gear-section and the cam are caused to have a longitudinal or reciprocating movement on the carrier-bar 5 when the cam is rotated by the driving-gear 14, and as the gear-teeth 19 are arranged longitudinally of the gear and cam this element is adapted to have the proper reciprocating movement on the carrier-bar 5 without disengagement of the driving-gear 14 from the compound gear and cam no matter what position the latter may occupy on the carrierrod.

24 designates the fixed stud which is mounted on the carrier-rod to lie in the path of the cam-track 20 on the compound gear and cam; but in lieu of a fixed stud an antifrictionroller may be provided to reduce the wear and friction between the cam-track and the stud.

The dropping-slide 3 of the planter mechanism is reciprocated by connections with the reciprocating cam and gear 16, and in the embodiment of the invention represented by the drawings I employ a trip-lever 25, which is fulcrumed, as at 26, to a bar 27, forminga part of the front end of the planter-frame. This trip-lever 25 is'pivoted at one end, as at 28, to the dropper slide or bar 3, and the other end or handle of said trip-lever is connected by suitable devices with a slidable spider 29, in operative engagement with the compound gear and cam. This spider 29 is provided with a central sleeve or hub 30, which is of sufficient length to insure the spider sliding freely on the reduced stem of the carrier-bar, and this spider is adapted to abut against the rear end or heel of the compound gear, the spider being of a diameter to lie within the line of the series of longitudinal teeth 19 on the compound gear and cam. The spider is adapted to travel with the compound gear and cam in its movements lengthwise on the stem of the carrier-bar; but said spider is fitted loosely on the carrier-bar and against the heel of the cam, so that the latter may rotate without affecting the spider orimparting rotary motion thereto. This spider and the trip-lever are operatively connected by an intermediate connection 31,which may be in the form of a rod, a cable, a chain, or a cord, either of which devices may be used in the practical use of my invention; but I prefer to employa metallic rod,which is suitably attached to the spider and the trip-lever.

32 designates a coiled impelling-spring which is fitted on the rear extremity of the stem 6, forming a part of the carrier-bar, and one end of this spring bears against a suitable abutment, while its other end is seated against the hub or sleeve of the spider 29. This impelling spring serves to normally force the spider and compound gear and cam lengthwise on the carrier-bar toward the stud or roller 24, whereby the cam-track 20 is normally held in engagement with the shoulder or roller 24 and in rearward movement of the compound gear and cam is effected only by compression of the impelling sprin g 32.

In my improved mechanism I have also provided means by which the compound gear and cam may be moved or drawn out of engagement with the drivinggear 14. The means shown for effecting this end consists in the employment of an adjusting rope or cable 33, which is suitably attached at one end to the carrier-bar 5, and this adjusting rope or cable extends across the planterframe, so that it is within convenient reach of the operator. The adjusting rope or cable may be provided with suitable means for operation by the foot of the driver, and, if desired, a pin 34 may be employed to hold the adjusting rope or cable and the carrier-bar in the retracted positions, or, if desired, the pin 3% may be engaged with the supportingbar 8 for the carrier-rod 5. It is evident, however, that a lever and suitable connections with the carrier-bar may be substituted for the adjusting rope or cable for .the purpose of moving the carrier-bar to a position where the compound gear and cam is free from engagement with the driving-gear 14.

Another feature of myinvention resides in the employment of a marker by which the hills where the corn is planted may be designated by a plainly-visible mark in the ground, and this marker mechanism is operatively connected with the driving mechanism for the dropping-slide, so that themarker operates in unison with the dropping mechanism and at a suitable period of time after the deposit of the seed in the hill. In this part of 1 my invention I employ a hanger 35, which is suitably attached to the drill-tube, and the vertical part of this hanger is bifurcated or forked to receive an arbor or shaft 36, which is suitably journaled in the free ends of the members forming a part of the hanger 35. This arbor or shaft 36 carries a marker-plate 37, which is rigidly attached to the arbor to rotate therewith,and the marker-plate is preferably of polygonal form, so as to provide a plurality of edges which lie at angles to each other. The marker is adapted to be held to its position in the ground by the weight of the machine interposed in part upon the hanger but the rotation of the marker is arrested by the employment of a locking gravity stem or pin 38,which is fitted in suitable guides 39. This locking stem or pin is fitted in guides, so that its lower extremity or foot will engage with an orifice in one of the sides of the polygonal-sided marker-plate 37, and thus prevent the latter from rotating as the machine is drawn forward; but this gravity stem or pin is adapted to be retracted from engagement with the marker-plate by an operating-cord 40,which is attached to the rod 31 between the spider 29 and the trip-lever 25, said operating-cord passing over an idler guide sheave or roller 41, suitably journaled on the frame.

The operation may be described as follows: When the machine is in motion, the drivinggear 14 rotates the compound gear and cam, and as said gear and cam turns 011 the stem of the carrier-bar the cam-track 20 rides against the stud or roller 24. In one point of revolution of the cam and gear the roller or stud rides against the straight ledge or face 21, and as the cam and gear continues to rotate the spiral length 20 of the cam-track bears against the stud or roller 24, thereby forcing the gear and cam rearwardly against the tension of the impelling-spring 32 until the point 22 is reached, at which time the spring forces the cam in a forward direction and causes the longitudinal inclined face 23 to ride against the stud or roller 24. r In the rearward travel of the compound gear and cam the spider 29 travels therewith and the spring 32 is compressed and the rod 31 is drawn rearwardly to operate the trip-lever 25, which in turn moves the dropping slide or bar 3 of the planting mechanism to deposit the seed or grain in the ground. The marker mechanism is arranged at a suitable distance in rear of the furrow-opener or drill of the planter, and as the rod 31 is drawn rearwardly by the spider on the rearward thrust of the forward with thespider and the compound gear and cam under the influence of the spring 32, the strain on the operating-cord is released to allowthe gravity-pin 38 to descend into locking engagement with the markerplate 37, thus arresting the operation there of until the planting mechanism is again operated to deposit the seed in the ground. By removing the-locking-p'in 12 from the supporting-bar 8 and adjusting the rope or cable 33 with the foot the operator is able to move the carrier-bar 5 inwardly toward the frame of the machine, and thus retract the compound gear and cam from engagement with the teeth of the drivinggear 14, thereby impels thepivoted carrier-bar 5 in a direction toward the driving-wheel 13, and thus the teeth 19 of the compound gear and cam are moved into proper engagement with certain of the teeth on the driving-gear 14.

I have shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings a coiled spring 42 attached to a trip-lever 25 and to the fixed frame or bar 44, and this spring serves to hold the trip-lever in a retracted position and also to assist the action of the impelling-spring 32, which controls the compound gear and cam.

i The furrow-opener or drill-tube of th planter is provided with a fender 45, which is arranged to travel in advance of the marker 37 and clear its path of any weeds or obstructions, thereby preventing interference with.

the free operation of the marker device.

My improved planter is adapted to plant the corn in hills opposite to each other, and the machine is simple and cheap in construction anddurable and ef cient in operation. The planting mechan ism is operated automatically from one of the driving or carrying wheels of the machine-frame, and it dispenses with the usual check wire or chain, the supporting and adjusting devices for said checkwire, and the complicated check-wire mechanism carried by the machine itself.

My improvement also obviates the employment of a'nextra seat and hand planting apparatus and the services of an additional attendant to plant at the ends of the field. The machine may be used continuously through out the entire day without subjecting the operator to undue fatigue, and in passing around obstructions in the path of the machine the operator may throw the planting mechanism out of service, and when the machine reaches the point to again resume the operation of planting the exact position of the hillsis deter:

mined by the marks in the ground, thereby enabling the operator to properly gage or space the lines of planting of the machine with respect to the previous hills.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction may be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such modifications as clearly fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In a corn-planter, the combination with a dropper mechanism, of a compound gear and cam capable of rotary and reciprocating play, and operative connections between said compound gear and cam and the dropper mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination with a dropper mechanism and a driving device, of a compound gear and cam normally geared to the driving device, means for imparting reciprocating motion to the compound gear and cam as it is rotated by the driving device, and operative connections between said compound gear and cam and the dropper mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In a corn-planter, the combination with a dropper mechanism, and a rotary driving device, of a compound gear and cam normally engaging with said driving device, an abutment in the path of the cam-section for imparting reciprocating movement to the compound gear and cam as it is rotated bythe driving device, a pressure device by which the compound gear and cam is normally in engagement with said abutment, and connections between the dropper mechanism and the compound gear and cam, substantially as described.

a 4. In a corn-planter, the combination with a dropper mechanism, and a rotary driving device, of a carrier-bar mounted for adj ustment toward or from said driving device, a compound gear and cam fitted loosely on the carrier-bar to rotate and reciprocate thereon, an abutment on said carrier-bar in the path of said cam, means for normally pressing the cam-section of said compound gear and cam in engagement with the abutment, operative connections between the dropper mechanism and said compound cam-gear, and means for adjusting the carrier-bar toward or from the driving device, substantially as described.

5. In a corn-planter, the combination with a dropper mechanism, and a rotary driving device of a shiftable carrier, a compound camgear mounted loosely on said carrier-bar for reciprocating and rotary movement thereon, operative connections between the dropper mechanism and the compound cam-gear, and a supporting bar loosely connected to the shiftable carrier to support the latter and adjust it relatively to the driving device, substantially as described.

6. In a corn-planter, the combination with a dropper mechanism and a carrying-wheel, of a driving-gear rotating with said carrierwheel, a carrier-bar, a compound gear and cam fitted loosely on the carrier-bar, an abutment on the carrier-bar lying in the path of said cam, a spider which reciprocates with a compound gear and cam from free rotary engagement therewith, an impelling-spring acting against the spider, and operative connections between the dropper mechanism and the spider, substantially as described.

7. In a corn-planter, the combination with a dropper mechanism and a driving-gear on one of the carrier-wheels, of a shiftable carrierbar provided with a stud or abutment, a slidable supporting bar loosely connected with the carrier-bar and normally held in position by a spring, a compound gear and cam loosely fitted on the carrier-bar for the gear member thereof to mesh with the driving-gear and for its cam member to ride against the abutment, a spider adapted to travel with the compound gear and cam, a pressure-spring for said spider, and operative connections between the dropper mechanism and the spider, substantially as described.

8. In a corn-planter, the combination with a dropper-bar, of a trip-lever connected thereto, a rod attached to said trip-lever, a carrierbar having a stud or abutment, a compound gear and cam slidably fitted on the carrierbar and engaging with the stud or abutment, a spider fitted against the compound gear and cam and attached to the operating-rod of the trip-lever, and a driving-gear meshing with the gear member of the compound gear and cam, substantially as described.

9. In a corn-planter, the combination with a planting mechanism and a drill, of a markerhanger attached to said drill, a polygonal marker-disk idly journaled in the markerhanger, a gravity locking-stem arranged to engage with said polygonal disk, and connections between the locking-stem and the planting mechanism to retract the locking-stem from engagement with the marker-disk at suitable intervals, substantially as described.

10. In a corn-planter, the combination with a reciprocating rod forming an operative connection between a driving mechanism and a planter-bar, of a marker-hanger attached to the drill-tube, a polygonal marker-plate journaled idly in the marker-hanger, a gravity locking-stem guided by the marker-hanger and arranged to engage with the marker-plate at its angles or corners, and a flexible connection between the locking-stem and said reciprocating rod, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WM. H. EOKMAN. Witnesses:

OHAs. II. BUFFINGTON, CHAS. H. FoUsT.

IIC