US684209A - Seed-planter. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 8, I90].

M. EVERHART.

SEED PLANTER.

(Application filed May 9, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

INVENTO/Y ATTOR/YEYS T a ll! r r &

llllllllllllll "lull"- WITNESSES: @W S M g THE NpRils vzrsfis co, FnoYoumou-wpsumpmm u c No. 684,209. Patented Oct. 8, l90l. M. EVERHART.

SEED PLANTE-R.

(Application filed Kay 9, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

A 77'ORNEYS U ITED STATES PATENT Crates.

MARTIN EVERHART, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

SEED-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,209, dated October s, 1901. Application filed May i), 1901. Serial No. 59,401. (No model.)

To all whom it ntcty concern/.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN EvERHART, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Austin, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Seed-Planter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Thisinventionrelatestoaseed-planter which is designed particularly for planting corn, but which of course is applicable to many other seeds; and the principal feature of the invention resides in the measuring and dropping devices which comprise a wheel mounted on the frame of the planter and having its periphery running on the ground, the hub and spokes of the wheel being hollow and each of the hollow spokes communicating at its inner end with the interior of the hub through the medium of a box which contains devices for measuring and uniformly delivering the grain to the hollow spokes through which it is dropped into the earth.

This specification is a specific description of one form of the invention, while the claims are definitions of the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 isa plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, the seat being indicated by. dotted lines and the outrigger or marker arms being shown broken away. Figs. 4:, 5, 6, and 7 are views illustrating the action of one of the seed-measurin g boxes, it being supposed that in these views the box there shown is turning around with the wheel in the di rections indicated by the arrows in the several views; and Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4.

The frame of the planter comprises two forwardly-converging side beams 61., joined at their front ends to a tongue 0, and at their rear ends to a cross-beam a ,which last-named beam also constitutes an axle for the two rear wheels I) of the machine. As shown best in Fig. 3, the cross-beam a is reinforced and assisted in its function by a similar beam a arranged at the under'sides of the side beams a. The front of the frame carries a suitable plow c for opening the furrow in which the seed is dropped, and the rear crossbeams a and a carry suitable plows c for closing the furrow. A seat d should be suitably sustained on the rear cross-beam a for the accommodation of the driver of the machine. Outrigger or marker arms 6 are mount= ed, respectively, at the outer ends of the journals of the Wheels 1), the mounting of such arms being efiected by transverse extensionse at the inner ends of the outrigger-arms,

which are rockably fitted in the journals of the wheels, so that the arms e may be thrown down to the horizontal positions indicated in Fig. 3 or raised up to vertical positions, in which they will lie parallel with the planes of the wheels I). The outer portions of the arms e are provided with cords 6 which pass upward and are secured to stanchions or standards 6 which are fastened to the cross-beam a? inside of the wheels h and extend upward and thence outward over the wheels. By drawing on these cords e the outrigger-arms 6 may be raised or lowered as desired, and by properly tying the cords the outrigger-arms may be held in the proper position. These arms e carry each at its outer end a heavy chain 6 (See Fig. 1.) The chains are adapted to be dragged along the ground, being held outward from the sides of the machine by the arms, and the chains thus dragged will mark the course of the machine, and it will enable the machine to be operated to plant a new row, which will be properly spaced from the row already planted. This avoids the necessity of a check-row apparatus or other devices for similar purposes. The chains 6 may be used together or independently, as desired. It is not absolutely necessary to employ but one chain at a time; but since the chain must be used at either side of the machine I consider it best to duplicate the chains, as well as the devices for carrying them. When eitherone or both of the chains are not in use, thay may be raised with the arms 6 and hung on the stanchions 0 so as to be out of the way.

A measuring and dropping wheel, with its various appurtenant parts, is supported in a superframe f, the base of which is fastened to the side beams to and the upper portion of which carries a suitable winding device f,

over which runs a cord or chain f attached to a sliding frame f which carries the journals g of the seed-dropping wheel. The journals are slidably fitted in vertical slots f formed in the framef, so as to guide the wheel and the slide, and the upper portion of the slide is guided in a similar manner by studs f which slide freely in slotsf, formed in the upper part of the framef. By manipulating the winding d evice f the slide f carrying the dropping-wheel, may be raised and lowered, so as to regulate the elevation of the wheel.

The seed-dropping wheel comprises a hollow hub g, to which the journals 9 are suitably fastened. This hub is provided with an opening, so that it may be filled with the seed to be planted, such opening being commanded by a closure 9 (See Fig. -1.) Attached to the hub g and extending around the periphery thereof are the boxes or cases 71-, which carry the seed-measuring devices, as will be hereinafter described. These boxes 72 respectively communicate with the hollow spokes t of the wheel, and these spokes in turn are fastened to the rim k, which is adapted to run on the ground during the operation of the machine, so that the wheel will be turned in time with the movement of the machine. The ends of the spokes t are projected through openings in the rim It, so that the seed will pass through clear of the rim, and for this purpose the rim is constructed with inwardlybent portions k, with which the spokes v; are respectively engaged. As the seed-dropping wheel turns the grain in the hollow hub g is delivered into the cases or boxes h, and here the grain is subjected to the measuring and dropping devices within these boxes, these devices acting in such a manner as to deliver at uniform periods any desired amount of the seed, according to the adjustment of the apparatus.

X indicates any suitable means for holding in place the outer side wall of the boxes h.

The mechanism within the boxes his best shown in Figs. 4 to 8. As there illustrated, the boxes are provided at their inner ends with flanges h, which are fastened rigidly to the hub of the wheel. The boxes are provided with feed-openings 7L2 at their inner ends, which communicate with the interior of the hub g, and these openings are commanded by closures 7L3. By means of these closures any one or more of the boxes It may be cut out of action-that is to say, by closing the openings 7& of one of the boxes no seed will be delivered from the hub g into this box, and consequently none will be delivered from the box to the ground. This enables me to drop the seed at any desired distance apart. The hollow spokes '1: are projected, respectively, into the outer ends of the boxes and are provided therein with flared or funnelshaped portions 1', serving to receive the seed. The boxes are provided, as shown in Fig. 8, at one side with a stout wall, preferably of wood, (see the left hand of said view,) and at the other side with a thin wall, preferably of metal. In Figs. 4 to 7 this wall (see right hand in Fig. 8) is supposed to be broken away. Secured rigidly to V the stout wooden wall mentioned above are a number of strips of metal or like material, forming passages and compartments as follows: Directly adjacent to the inlet-opening h of the box It is a partition m, forming apassage m, passing radially outward to approximately the middle of the box. outer end of this passage m a practically curved wall m is arranged, which forms .a laterally-turned extension m at the outer At the f end of the passage m, which extension turns back and inward toward the hub of the wheel.

and past the side of the partition mopposite the passage m. The partition m has a transverse branch 072, which forms a pocket m in the inner end of the box h, such pocket being composed of the branch m of the partition m, the inner end of the said partition, and the inner wall of the box h. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the bent or curved partition m not only forms an extension m of the passage m, but it also constitutes a pocket in which the seed or a part thereof is held during the operation of the dropping apparatus. An essentially triangular partition on is fitted against the side of the box it opposite the side at which the partition m is located, this partition m forming a ledge against which falls the surplus grain which overflows from the measurer to be hereinafter described. The above-named operation of the partition m may be seen from Fig. 5. The partition is provided at the end adjacent to the stout wall of the box 72 with an extensionpartition m which leads to a chute-plate 7?," forming practically a part of the flaring portion t" of the hollow spokes i, and this partition m forms a sort of chute or wall, leading the grain from the outer side of the partition 10?. to and into the funnel 1''. (See Fig. 7.) The partition m is further provided with a branch m which projects outward from the partition and forms, with the partitionand with the extension 777. thereof, a pocket in which is received and contained the grain from the measurer, such grain being that which is to be dropped into one of the hills planted by the machine. This function of the parts 127.", m and m is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The measurer consists of a tube 721*, located in the outer end of the box It alongside of the funnel 2" and having an opening in its inner side, to which opening lead partitions m forming guide-walls. Within the tube m is fitted a follower m, connected with a screw m extending outside of the the box h, and by means of which screw the follower m may be moved to any desired position within the tube m. Now it is clear that according to the adjustment of the follower m in the measuring-tube m the measure will receive more or less seed, and by this means the quantity of seed delivered will be regulated.

Such being the construction of the parts within the boxes h, the operation of said box and its parts may be traced as follows: Assuming that the opening 77/ of one of the boxes is open and that such box is in the position shown in Fig. 4:, a quantity of grain will run into the box and move through the passage m into the pocket formed at the inner side of the wall m Assuming that the box is turning in the direction of the arrow, as the box makes a quarter-turn the grain in the pocket m will pass out, thereof and fall upon the inner side of the ledge m (See Fig. 5.) As the wheel continues to turn, thus placing the box in the position shown in Fig. 6, the grain will fall into the pocket formed by the branch wall m of the partition m. (See Fig. 6.) Then as the box assumes the position shown in Fig. 7 the grain will still lie in said pocket. When the box returns to the position shown in Fig. at, thus completing a single revolution, the grain from the pocket m will fall out therefrom and will pass between the ledge m and the inner end of the wall m In so passing the branch m of the wall or partition or will deflect the grain sidewise and cause it all to fall between the guide-walls m and into the measuringtube 777. The continued revolution of the wheel will cause the parts to assume the position shown in Fig. 5,whereupon certain portions of the seed will pass out of the measuring-tube m owing to the opening in the side thereof. There will, however, remain in the tube a certain quantity of seed, which may be regulated by the position of the follower m That part of the grain which passes out of the measuring-tube when the box takes the position shown in Fig. 6 will lie against theouter side of the ledge m Then as the wheel continues to turn and the box reaches the position shown in Fig. 6 the seed which previously remained in the measuring-tube will fall out of the same and into the pocket formed by the branches m and m of the wall m at the outer side of said wall. The continued revolution of the wheel will place the box in the position shown in Fig. 7, whereupon the seed passing from the measuring-tube will fall against the wall m and the chute 2' and then as the box again and finally assumes the position shown in Fig. 4 the seed lying against the wall on and chute i will pass into the funnel i and out by way of the hollow spoke '5. During this operation the grain which overflowed from the measurer when the box assumed the position shown in Fig. 6 will have passed inward off of the ledge m and back into the pocket on.

The above explanation follows the course of the grain through the box. It should be understood that this operation is going on continuously and that every compartment and passage'of the box at all times is full of grain, and the grain is being steadily measured and delivered, interrupted only by cutting off the box completely, which is effected by closing the opening h It will be observed that two complete revolutions of the wheel are necessary to cause the passage of the grain through the box; but this does not mean that the grain is delivered from the box only at every second operation, for when the operation of the machine is once started there will always be ready a measured quantity of seed to be dropped in the funnel i.

In connection with the dropping devices it will be seen that they operate solely by the gravity of the seed and not by the relative movements of valves, gearing, and the like. Therefore this part of the apparatus is not subject to wear due to its operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a seed-planter, a measuring and drop ping device, comprising a turning box or case having a seed-inlet and a seed-outlet, ameasurer fitted in the box, and walls arranged in the box adjacent to the measurer and to the seed-outlet, suchwalls forming two passages respectively conducting the seed overflowing from the measure to a point removed from the seed-outlet, and conducting the seed which fills the measure from the same in the seed= outlet.

2. A seed measuring and dropping device for planters, comprising a turning box or case with an inlet and outlet,- a seed-meas urer in the box, and walls or partitions form-' ing two passages, the one for conducting the seed to the measurer and the other for con ducting from the measurer to the outlet the seed which is measured in the former.

3. A seed measuring and dropping device for seed-planters, comprising a turning box or case with an inlet and outlet, a measurer in the box adjacent to the outlet, walls forming a pocket adjacent to the outlet, and adapted to receive the seed from the measurer and deliver it to the outlet, and a branch wall (such as m such branch wall serving to direct the seed from the measurer to the pocket.

4. A seed measuring and dropping device for seed-planters, comprising a turning box or case with a seed inlet and outlet, a measurer adapted to receive the seed for measuring the same, and means in the box, such means forming a passage through which as the box turns, the seed is conducted from the measurer to the outlet.

5. A seed measuring and dropping device for seed-planters, comprising a box or case with an outlet and inlet, and walls or partitions therein, said walls or partitions form ing a passage leading from the inlet, a pocket at the outer end of said passage, a second pocket at the inner end of the box at one side of the first-named passage, a ledge at the side of the hex Opposite the first-named In testimony whereof I have signed my pocket guide-walls leading to the measurer, name to this specification in the presence of and a third pocket opposite the outlet, said two subscribing witnesses.

third pocket being partly formed by a Wall, MARTIN EVERHART. such as the wall m which acts to divide the Witnesses: seed overflowing from the measurer and the W. T. CARLYLE,

seed which is measured therein. JAMES M. ALEXANDER.

Images