US385583A - Planter - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. TYDEN.

PLANTE'R.

(No Model.)

Patented July 3, v18887.

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I mmunil (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. TYDEN.

PLANTER. I No. 385,583. Patented July 3, 1888.

(No Model.) 3 Smets-sheet s.

HTYDENQ PLANTBR.

No. 385,583. Patented July 3, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT EMIDTYDEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,583, dated July 3, 1888.

Application filed Dember 9, ISS?. Serial No.257,1l56.

T all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, EMU. TYDEN, a subject ofthe King of Sweden, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Planters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates particularly to the dropping mechanism of eoruplanters; and it consists, lirst, in improved means whereby seed is dropped at every reeiprocation of the actu atingbar; second, means for regulating con veniently the number of grains dropped into each hill at a reciprocation; third, means for expanding the walls of the seed-cup at the moment of the dropping of the seed, so as to effectually free it and prevent the cup passing on with the grain choked therein; fourth, iniproved drop-valve mechanism having reliable action. t

Minor improvements will be mentioned aS they occur hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of the complete dropping mechanism of a corn-planter which embodies my invention, taken 0n line au of Fig. 4c. Fig. 2 is asimilar view with the pawlcarrying frame at the reverse end of its stroke. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same meeh anism, laken on line o e of Fig. l. Fig. 4 isa plan view of the top plate at the bottom of the grain-hopper, the hopper being shown in dotted outline and the grain cut-olil in position. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe dropper-disk and the pawl-carrying frame, the top plate and the cutoff being removed. Fig. (3 is a detail plan view of the cut-off slide-valve, which operates below the dropper-disk. Fig. 7 is a transverse section ot' the chambered cylinder and the cone-spindle, taken on line w w of Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a section on line z z of Fig. 5, showing the pawl actuating the dropper-disk and its relation to the lugs thereof. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the dropper-disk with the ca` pacity-regulati1ig blocks of four of the cups removed. Fig. l() is a sectional view of the dropper-disk, taken on'lineg/ yof Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of an adjustment-block. Fig. l2 is a detail view ot' the conespindle regulating the posit-ion ofthe ad justment-blocks.

(No model.)

Like letters indicate similar parts thrcughout the several views.

rl`he improvements herein described are intended particularly for use on corn-planters having two hoppers, each prov ided with a dropperdisk having an intermittingly-rotative inotion and actuated by pawls pivoted to a reciprocating bar or to a frame attached thereto, one at each end thereof.

It has been deemed unnecessary in the drawings to Show more than the one hopper and its simple dropping mechanism,sinee the parts are equally applicable to a planter having but one hopper.

In the various figures, A indicates a grainhopper of the usual form.

B indicates the top plate, and C the bottoni plate, of the false bottoni, within which the dropper-disk D rotates. Y

E is a double cut-off having the customary chisels--one in each compartmeuty-to clear off the surplus grain from the seed-cups.

F is the seedstube through which the grain is dropped to earth.

The mechanism will now be described by which the number of grains of seed dropped into a hill can be conveniently regulated and by which the seedcup is enlarged at the movement of the dropping of the grain, whereby the charge contained therein is freely dis charged, thus preventing the clogging to which seedcups having fixed walls are liable. The disk D is provided with the enlarged cup-apertures d d, placed in the usual manner about the center. I have shown twelve such cups. The center of the disk is ehambered, leaving a narrow wall, d', between the cups and the chamber. Downwardly into each of the seedcups projects from the adj ustment-bloek D a lug, d, preferablyhaving a concave face. This lug in size is equal to the reet-angular section of the seed-eup d, in which it is adapted to form a movable end wall, capable of adjustA ment inwardly or outwardly to increase or decrease the capacity of the cup, as may be desired. The dividing-wall d' of the disk D is cut down su fliciently between the central cham ber, di, and the cup-apertures d d to allow the body of the adjoining block D' to lie within the recess thus formed, with its surface flush with the face of the disk, thus obtaining an IOO unobstructed path for the cut-off chisels to operate in and providing a slideway for the blocks to move on. The bodies of the several adj ustmcnt-blocks are tapered to a common center to allow them to lie within the space allotted them in the chamber of the disk. The tapered end is provided with a downwardlyprojecting lug, d, having a concave saddle, in -which is seated an endless spiral spring or other retractile element common to all, by which the adjusting blocks are drawn inwardly, the whole lying within and acting in the chamber d. The cone-spindle D is journaled at its lower end in the extended hub of the dropper-disk, which is chambered to allow of the limited downward longitudinal movement of the cone-enlargement d. At the upper end the cone-spindle is supported in the hub of the cover-plate D4, which is likewise ehambered to permit of the motion of the cone d4. This cover-plate is also provided with splineways equal in number to the number of the adj listing-blocks. These blocks have corresponding splines on their surface, which fit intothe splineways of the cover-plate, maintaining the adjustment-blocks in their proper path and preventing their interference one with the other. The cover-plate serves, also, to protect the interior from dust or other extraneous substances.

If it now be desired to reduce the number of grains of seed dropped into each hill, the capacity of each of the seed-cups may, obviously, be decreased simultaneously and equally by Vforcing the cone downward, and thereby the adj listing-blocks D D outwardly, the lugs d2, forming the end walls of the seedcups, moving inwardly, diminishing the capacity of the cups in exact proportion rto the amount of depression given the cone-spindle. If, on the other hand, it be desired to increase the number of grains of seed dropped into each hill, it may be accomplished by raising the cone-spindle, the adjusting-blocks being retracted inwardly by the spring D2 and the capacities of the seed-cups correspondingly increased. The amount of grain to a charge, it will thus be seen, maybe determined to exactness.

The mechanism by which the adjustment of the cone-spindle is madeis shown most clearly in Fig. 1.A

The frame of the cut-off E is rigidly secured to the top plate, B, at the bottom of the hopper by suitablelugS. It extends at the center in line with the axis of the dropper-disk upwardly in the form of a ehambered-cylinder. Within this chambered cylinder the spindle Dlhas alimited longitudinal motion. Aspiral spring, d, is coiled upon the spindle and maintains it in an upward position by its opposing action exerted between a washer resting upon the cover-plate D4 and a fixed cap at the end of the spindle. The use of this washer is simply to reduce friction between the xed and moving parts and to prevent dust entering the spring-chamber and clogging the motion of the spring. The upper end of the cylinder of the eut-off E is threaded and fitted to receive a screw-bolt, E', having a suitable hand-wheel, e, by which it can be rotated.

A jam-nut wheel, e, is arranged to coact with the end of the cut-off cylinder and fix the screw-bolt E in any set position.

Itis obvious that by themanipulation of the screw E upwardly or downwardly the conespindle will be given a corresponding motion and the adj listing-blocks moved inwardly and outwardly, thereby adjusting with facility the capacity of the seed-cups. The cap d5 of the cone-spindle D5 is notched with one or more splineways, which engage with splines pro jccting from the inner wall of the cylinderchamber, in which it is located. The cone d* is thus prevented from rotation, for reasons which will appear hereinafter. The enlargement d* of the spindle D"i hasy heretofore been considered as if it were a perfect cone. If it were such,the universal adjustment only of the blocks D D would be attained. It is desired, however, further, to open the cup or cups slightlyat the moment of thcirarriving at the dropper-ports to release with certainty the grain confined therein and secure its dropping. To accomplish this,itis necessary to withdraw the adj ustmcnt-blocks of these particular cups without altering the position of the other blocks. To do this, the conc d' is altered to a conical cam, a section ofwhich is shown in Fig. 9 and an elevation in Fig. 12. The surface of the cone is maintained intact,with the exception of those elements ofthe cone im mediately opposite the ports, of which two have been shown, here used for reasons which will be made plain in the following. In case seed is dropped from but one cup and through, but one port, it will be necessary to provide but one offset to the conc.

The operation ofthe mechanism described in the foregoing is as follows, to summarize: The hopper Aissupplied with seed-corn. The number of grains to be dropped into a hill is determined by the adjustment ofthe screw E. Motion is given the reciprocating bar G by the forward movement of the planter,and in turn communicated through the frame Gand thepawlG2 to the dropperdisk D. This is rotated, carrying with it the adjustment-blocks forming a part thereof, the cone-cam d" being held at rest, as previouslydeseribed. Theinner endsofthe adjustment-blocks D being maintainethby virtue of the retraetile spring D",in Contact with the periphery of the cam, the uniform size of the seed-cups is thus maintained while they are passing through the open grain and below the cut-off chisels, a uniform quantity of grain being thus collected in each cup. Upon passing beneath the cut-off E the end of each adjustment-block in turn descends into the groove di of the periphery of the cone d4, being drawn therein by the spring D2. The grain in the cup is loosened by the withdrawal of the lug d2 and falls into the seed-tube below.

Heretofore, so far as to me known, there has ICO IIC

been made no horizontallyrotating drcpperdisk having seed-cups adjustable in size, the adjustment beingvuniversal and simultaneous, and made from a point above the surface of the grain within the hopper; nor has there ever been constructed a horizontally-rotating dropper-disk having a cup Which enlarges at the moment of dropping its charge.

It has been necessary in planters using a horizontallyrotating dropper-disk when in the field and a change of feed was Wanted to allow the corn already in the hopper to run out, or else empty the hopper by hand, in order to replace the disk by one having the proper capacity, since the disks are at the bottom beneath the grain. This has been very unsatisfactory, causing Waste of time, and rather than suffer the inconveniences changes have frequently been left unmade which were advisable.

By the mechanism herein described the adjustingwheel is at thc surface ofthe contents of the hopper and regulation to the nicety of a single seed of corn can be obtained in a monient. If found desirable, an index can be readily adapted to the regulating-screw, by which the amount of feed may be accurately indicated. The loss and breakage of changedisks is also avoided. It not infrequently happens that in disks having fixed cups a cup becomes clogged by the grain being jammed together by the eut-off chisel, and the disk in its continued rotation regularly fails to drop the seed as the clogged cup registers with the droppingl port-,and an irregular planting is the result.

The mechanism by which the adjustment of the blocks D/ D is made, as well as the shape of the blocks themselves, and means for their retraction may be variously moditiedMas, for instance, each adjustment-block may have its individual spring for ret-ractile purposes; the spring d may be dispensed with and the conespndle I)n produced and threaded to be operated by the present j am-wheel e', arranged to rotate and maintain its seat on the chamhered cylinder ofthe frame ofthe cut-off E.

Attention will new be called te the peculiarities of the teeth or lugs D of the disk D, on which the pawl G2 operates, by which slipping and consequent wear are prevented and more reliable action of the pawi is secured. These lugs D5 are constructed with a semicylind rical face. The pawl centering upon this face maintains itself in a straight line with its thrust. No side strain is produced by angling faces, looser fitting is practicable, and the wear is much reduced. In its returnstroke the pawl mounts the opposite lug or tooth upon a similar semicylindrical face, made on an incline, however, to facilitate its motion. The tendency is for it to maintain its proper path and be guided to its position behind the nexttooth, owing to the curvature of the path over which it travels.

It has been found in practice that a very smooth and reliable pawl movement is obtained by this combination of parts. The

mechanism by which a charge of grain may be dropped at every reciprocation of the bar G may now be described. The object in View is to avoid eXtra wear of the various parts and to secure better service by decreasing theA speed at which the parts must travel, ifa charge were dropped at every alternate reci proeation of the bar G, or by the usual disk actuating mechanism, which consists of two pawls placed on opposite sides of the frame G', one a pushing and the other a pulling pawl, acting at alternate reeiprocations of the bar G. It has been found, further, that owing to the limited grippingsurface possible to give these Apawls on the lugs of the dropperdisk, because of the compactness of all parts necessary in this class of machinery', that on the surfaces of the pulling-pawl and dropperdisk lug which come into contact the Wear is material, oblique rounded faces :are soon formed, allowing the pawl to slip cli' of the face of the lug, and a failure to drop the charge is the result. Y A pushing-paivl is not liable to this objection for obviousI reasons, being practically indestructible, and consequently reliable.

In the usual form of dropper-disks grain is dropped from one seedcup at a reciprocation of the bar G. In the construction shown, em bodying the principles of my invention, two opposite seed-cups are made to register with corresponding parts in the bottom plate, C, and to drop their charges simultaneously. The grain in cup d'2", as shown in Fig. l, drops freely into the Aseedtube F and down to the top ofthe valve, H, where it lies until by the reciprocation of the bar G, which carries the lug g, located in a slot, t', the supplemental cutoff slide valve I, sliding in guides beneath the parts of the bottom plate, C, the valve I-I is dropped from its normal position in which it is held in opposition to thespringJ',tl1rough the lever, J, pivoted at j', by the lug t" of the cam I', situated on and moving with the cutoff valve I. It will be supposed that the disk D has been rotated into position shown in Fig. I, with its charged seed-cups di and d so registering. The valve I does not reciprocate as a part of or with the bar G, but owing to the comparative length ofthe slot/L' and the lug g the bar G has completed about onehall' of its reciprocation before it comes into me tion. The cam Iis of such contour as to operate the lever J, through the friction rollers j,

IKO

with rapidity, when the valve I is finally moved in completion of a reciprocation of the bar G.

The corn lyingl on the top ofthe valve H and against the valve-slot f of the seed-tube F is precipitated into the lower chamber, F, of the tube, where it is met by the descending valve H, which enters the lower valve-seat, f, as shown in dotted lines, and is there held in re straint until the roller j rises on the lug i?, when it is dropped instantly to earth, and the valve II is returned to its normal upper position. In the meanwhile the contents et' the cup (13,which have fallen to the bottom of the aperture t* of the slide I and rests on the upper surface,f, of the seed-tube which forms this bottom, is carried forward by the slide I off of its bottomf, on which it rested, and drops to the top of the valve H, arriving at that point the instant after it has reached its normal position, after dropping the charge of seed from the cup d20 to earth. The bar G now makes its return reciprocation, carrying with it on a frame connected thereto the pawl G2. This operates to carry the dropper-disk one cup forward to repeat the operation described in the foregoing. As before, the lever J is operated by the cam I, and the charge from the cup di first descends into the lower chamber, F, of the seed-tube F and is then dropped to earth in a similar manner to the dropping of the charge of cup d20, all the parts being so proportioned that the time of dropping of each charge is accurately determined relative to each other. The object of this double-seated valve is to secure increased accuracy. The upper valve serves to collect all the grain dropped from the seed-cups above in the long interval at which the valve H rests in its normal u p position. Having so collected a charge, it is dropped instantaneously into the lower chamber, there having been no chance in the interval elapsed for this charge to mix with the next succeeding charge, or for seed from the cups to fall direct to earth, by the valve H remaining open owing to any accident, to which dropping mechanism is liable, since it is impossible for seed to reach the earth except when the valve is performing its regular movements. Many other forms of dropper-valves may be substituted for this double-seated valve H to work in conjunction with the cutoff valve I with equally good results, the feature of this part ot' my invention being the dropping ofthe contents of the seed-cups d2U and di at alternate reciprocations ofthe bar G while the dropper-disk is at rest.

I have described this valve as operated by a cam movement. It is obvious that it can be operated in many ways. Itis deemed unnecessary to describe others.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a dropper-disk, seed-cups, each pro vided with a movable wall, iu combination with a cone or cam common to all, by which the blocks may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly, as specified.

2. In a dropper-disk, a seed-cup having one or more of its Walls movable, in combination with means of adjustment extending to a point above or without the body of seed within the hopper, whereby the capacity ofthe cup may be varied without removing the grain from the hopper.

3. In a dropper-disk, seed-cups, each provided with a movable wall, in combination with means of adjustment extending to a point above or without the body of seed within the hopper, whereby the capacity of the cup may be varied without removing the grain from the hopper.

4. A dropper-disk having seedcups, each provided with a movable block which forms the inner end wall thereof, in combination with means of adjustment extending to a point above or without the body of grain within the hopper, whereby the capacity of the cup may be varied without removing the grain therefrom, as specified.

5. A dropper-disk having seed-cups, each cup provided with a movable block which forms one of the walls thereof, and means for the retraction of the blocks toward a common center, in combination with a cone capable of longitudinal axial motion, whereby the blocks may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly, for the purpose specified.

6. In a dropper-disk having seed-cups, the movable blocks forming each respectively one of the walls of a cup, in combination with a cam about or within which the dropper-disk revolves, the cambeing adapted to withdraw the block and enlarge the seed cup, thereby freeing 'the grain therein, as specified.

7. A dropper-disk having enlarged seedcups, each cup being provided with an adjustmentblock, which forms the inner cud wall thereof, each ofthe said blocks having downwardly-projecting lugs, in combination with a retracting-spring or other resilient element embracing all ot' the said lugs, whereby the adjustment-blocks are drawn toward the common center, substantially as shown.

8. A dropper-disk having the cups d (l, a chambeadi, and the lowered division-wall d', and the cover-plate D1, rigidly secured to the disk and provided with splineways, in combination with the adj usting-blocks D D, having a downwardly-projecting lug, d, in which lies the retracting-spring D, all in combination, substantially as specified.

9. A dropper-disk having the seed cups d d, the adjustment-blocks D' D', and the retractingspring D2, in combination with the cone (Z, whereby the blocks D' D may be adj usted outwardly and inwardly, substantially as speci fied.

10. A dropper-disk having the seedcups d d d, the adjustmentblocks D D', the spring D2, all substantially as described, in combination with the spindle D3, carrying the cone di, the spring d, by which the cone is maintained in its highest position, and the adj listing-screw Il', by which the position of the cone-spindle is regulated, and thereby the position of the adjustment-blocks in the seedcups, substantially as specified.

1l. A dropperdisk having seedecups, each provided with an adj ustment-block, which forms the inner wall thereof, the said blocks being retracted toward the common center against a cam, as that upon rotation of the dropper-disk about the cam the adjustment blocks of the seed-cups which register with IOC IIO

the dropping-ports are withdrawn, enlarging the said cup, and thereby freeing the grain therein, substantially as shown.

12. In a dropperdisk, the cups d d d, the adjustmentblocks DD'D', the retractingspring D2, in combination with a conical cam, d", upon a spindle, D, having a longitudinal motion but non-rotary, whereby the adjustmentblocks D' D D may be accurately adjusted inwardly and outwardly, and thus the capacity of the seed-cups determined,and whereby the adjustinentblocks of the seedcups registering with the dropping-port may be slightly withdrawn and the grain therein freed, substantiall y as described.

13. An intermittingly rotating dropperdisk actuated by a pawl having the lugs D5, with face of semi-cylindrical contour, to prevent slippage of the pawl, substantially as described. if

14. An interniittingly rotating dropperdisk actuated by a pawl and having the lugs D5, with face of semicylindrical contour,to prevent slippage of the pawl, substantially as described, the opposite face of the lug being of similar semi cylindrical contour, inclined, however, so that the pawl may ascend it upon the return reciprocation of the frame G', the contour of the lug being such that the pawl will maintain its proper path with accuracy and be guided into position for further action, substantially as specified.

15. An intermittingly rotating dropperdisk actuated by apawl carried on a reciprocating frame or bar, which acts at every alternate stroke to produce a partial rotation of the disk D, the said disk being at rest during the return reciprocation of the frame,in combination with a cut-off valve,I,having an aperture, t", having a xed surface, the return reciprocation of the frame acting to carry the cut-pff valve I forward,and with it the charge of grain in the aperture I", off from the fixed bottom and drop it to the seed-tube below, substantially as specified.

1G. An intermittingly rotating dropperdisk actuated by a pawl carried on a reciprocating bar,which acts at every alternate stroke to produce a partial rotation of the disk, the said disk being at rest during the return reciprocation of the frame, the said frame having a downwardly-projecting lug, g, in combination with a cut-off valve, I, having an aperture, ff, bottomed on a fixed surface, and a slot, t, in which the lug g engages, the slot t' being of such length that thevalve I does net come into operation until the close of the reciprocatlon of the frame G', when it is carried forward, and with it the charge of grain in the aperture it, and the `grain upon being carried off from the fixed bottom drops to the bottom of the seed-tube, substantially as described.

17. A dropper-disk, D, an actuatingframe, G', a pawl, G2, anda cut-off valve, I, carrying the cam I', and actuated by the reciprocating frame G or bar G, in combination with the lever J, the drop-valve II, and the seed-tube- F, provided with the valve-seat projections j and f' and the chamber F', all for the purpose and substantially as described.

18. In a cornplanter, the combination of suitable mechanism, which drops charges of grain at regular intervals into the seed-tube, with the valve H, operated at proper luterf vals, and the valve-seat projections fand j and the chamber F', substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of December, A. D. 1887.

EMIL TYDEN.

Vitnesses:

CHAs. L. BARTLETT, C. W. DAVENPORT.

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