US842073A - Seed-sowing machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

M. Hr BROWNING. SEED sowme MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.15.1906.

WILZn eases.- M? QM, J'JM Z/Q V UNITED STATES MELVIN, Ii IBRoWNING.

was OFFICE 'ot 'PERRY, ILLINOIS.

SEED-SOWINQ MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern.

Y Be it known that I, MELVIN H. BROWNING, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Perry, in the county of Pike and State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Broadcast Seeder, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improvement on that class, ofbroadcast seed-sowing machines which are particularly adapted for sowing clover and other seeds among standing corn or on ground in which corn or other crop has been planted in rows.

The features of novelty are hereinafter described and specifically pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my improved machine: Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the linea a of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a side view of the seedhopper, together with -a supporting-bracket and a portion of the frame of the machine, the frame being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a detail view hereinafter referred to. Fig. 6 is a side view of the seed-distributor proper.

Seed-hoppers 12 are mounted upon a frame composed of telescoping tubes 1 1 and 4 4, the larger tubes 1 1 constituting what may be termed the main frame or body of the. frame, taken as a whole, and the smaller tubes 4 4 are adapted to slide therein. The parts 4 4 thus constitute a supplemental frame which is adjustable with relation to the main frame. The tubes 1 1 composing the main frame are spaced 9. art and rigidly connected by tie and brace are 2, and from the rear ends of the latter depend, as shown in Fig. 2, bars 3, which are bent at each end, the lower end forming an axlefor running or bearing wheels 3*. There are two such wheels, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3, the same being spaced apart, so as to run between rows of corn or other plants. Braces 3 (see Fig. 2) extend from the supporting-bars 3 to the front portions of the frame-bars 2. Thus the said bars and the frame are supported in horizontal position. A tongue or pole 1 is attached to the middle portion of the main frame. Two of the hoppers are supported upon the main frame, and one is supported on each of the supplemental frames 4 4. There are two supports for each hopper, the same being in the nature of angular brackets 5, (see Fig. 4,) which are clipped to themain tubes 1 or smaller tubes A seed-discharge funnel 12 (see Fig. 5) de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2.

Patented Jan. 22. 1907. 1906. smuuassm za pends from the bottom of each hop er". Su Elemental hangers 6 also depend from t e ottom of each hopper 12 and to and between the lower ends of these is pivoted a stirrup 7, which supports a seed-tube 8, to

whoselowcr end the seeddistributer 11 is attached. A bevel gear or pinion is attached to the upper end of the seed-tube 8 and secured by cla1np-screws,whereby the tube is supported and attached in a manner which permits rotation. The pivotal arrangement of the stirrup 7 also permits the seed-tube with its distributer 11 to swing forward and back, so that if the distributer strikes an obstruction it may pass over the'same without mjury. Rotation is imparted to the seedtube 8 from a bevel-pinion on a: horizontal shaft 9, which is journaled in the bracket 6'. Rotation is imparted: to the shaft 9 from a stub drivin -shaft, which is supported upon a bracket ed to the rearportion of the main frame 1. -The stub-shaft is drivenfrom the axle of the adjacent running-wheel 3 by means of sprocket-gearing, as shown in It will be noted that the point of the seed-funnel 12 approximates closely the upper end of the seed-tube 8, and the end of the latter is in line with the shaft 9, so that seed willcontinue to enter the tube 8 even while it may swing backward by reason of contact with an obstruction.

A force-feed .is providedby means of a rotatable stirrer or agitator arranged in the funnels of the respective hoppers, and this device is driven by a shaft 10, having its bearings in the frame connections 2 and brackets 5", which are pendent from the hoppers 12. (See Fi 4;) The shaft 10 is driven from the stu -shaft by a sprocket-gearin arranged as shown in Fi 2. The distri uter or seed-scattering device 11 is formed of a cast-metal hub, having four radial Wings inclined slightly downward and two conical plates placed one over the other and spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 6. There is a space between the inner ends of the wings into which the seed is delivered from the tube 8. It will be seen that the conical top plate serves as a cover, preventing the wings catching on .weeds or other obstructions and also preventing the seed being thrown off except at the periphery of the distributor. The tube 8, with the distributor, being revolved rapidly, the seed is delivered laterally at a slight downward inclination and is distributed evenly.

'lhd machine will ordinarily be made above twelve feet in length; but the frame may be telescoped by uncoupling the feed-shafts 10. (see Fig. 3) and pushing the tubes 4 into the main tubes tlms placing the outer hoppers close to the wheels, so that the machine is reduced to about eight feet in len th. In practice the gears on the stub-s afts may be made of different diameters to drive the force-feed with greater or less rapidity, and. thus sow a greater or less quantity of seed in a given time. In other words, by adjusting the outer wheel on the stub-shafts the feedshaft 10 may be driven at different speeds and the amount of grain so regulated.

What I claim is 1. The improved broadcast sower, comprising a frame made of telescopic parts, seed-hoppers mounted and supported upon the main frame and telescopic portions, running-wheels upon which the main frame is supported, seed-tubes pivoted beneath the hoppers and adapted to swing forward and back, seed-distributors attached to the lower ends of said seed-tubes, and gearing operatively connecting the running-wheels with the seed-tubes, whereby the seed-tubes and their attached distributors are rotated as the ma chine advances, as described.

2. In a broadcast seed-sewer of the type indicated, the combination, with the frame and wheel-s11pports, of hoppers secured upon the frame, seed-tubes pivoted beneath the hoppers and having distributors at their lower ends, funnels pendent from the hoppers and alined with the seed-tubes for dischar ing thereinto, and gearing which operative y connects the seed-tubes with the runningwheels, as shown and described.

3. In a broadcast seed-sower of the type indicated, the main frame comprising parallel tubes 1, and wheel-supports therefor, connecting members whereby the said tubes are held rigidly spaced apart, supplemental frames comprising smaller tubes adapted to slide in those of the main frame and supported thereby, seed-hoppers mounted upon the supplemental frame and also upon the niain frame, seed-distributing devices connected with each of the hoppers, rotary shafts for driving the seed-distributors, and means which operatively connect said shafts with the running-wheels whereby the shafts are driven as the machine advances, as shown and described.

4. Ina broadcast seed-sewer of the type indicated, the combination, with the supporting-frame and hoppers arranged thereon the same, said tubes having at their lower ends a sced-distributer comprising two plates arranged one over the other and spaced apart, radial wings arranged between the plates, a space being left between their inner ends into which the seed is received preliminary to its lateral discharge, as shown and described.

MELVIN n. BROWNING.

Witnesses:

J. B. GREGORY, F. C. MOORE.

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