June 3 1952
J. HIGGINSON 2,599, 4=2
SEED MECHANISM FOR GRAIN DRILLS
Filed June 23, 1949
/Tdl
Patented June 3, 1952 2,599,452
UNITED
STATES
PATENT
OFFICE
2,599,452
SEED MECHANISM FOR GRAIN DRILLS
John Higginson, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, as-
1
This invention relates to agricultural imple-
ments and particularly to grain drills. More
speciflcally the invention relates to mechanism
facilitating the assembly of grain drill feed cups
to a grain hopper.
A grain drill generally comprises an elongated
hopper adapted fo carat grain or the like and
supported upon wheels fo extend transversely of
the direction of travel and be propelled by a
tractor or the like. The bottom oï the grain
drill hopper is provided with spaced openings
therein adapted to register with a plurality of
feed cups suspended from the hopper bottom.
The grain is delivered through the hopper open-
ings to the feed cups and discharged therefrom
to furrow opening devices whereby the seed may
be deposited in the soil. In a fiuted feed grain
discharging mechanism with which this inven-
tion is particularly concerned, a fiuted or grooved
wheel is carried in the grain discharging mech-
anism below the hopper for dispensing the seed,
and each of the rollers is driven by a common
drive shaft which extends for ai least a portion
of the length of the grain drill and has a hum-
ber of feed cups mounted thereupon.
The problem of attaching the grain discharg-
ing mechanism or feed cups to the under side
of the hopper body bas previously been a very
tedious operation and a diflicult one slnce each
feed cup was attached to the hopper bottom by
securing means such as bolts and nuts which
recluired the attention oï several workmen.
The principal object of tlie present invention
is fo provide an improved feed cup or grain
discharging mechanism having means for cluickly
attaching the feed cup fo the bottom of the grain
drill hopper. The invention is particularly val-
uable in that the feed cups and the drive shaft
upon which they are mounted are attached fo
the hopper bottom as a unit.
Another object of thé invention is fo provide
improved mechanism and means for attaching
grain discharging structures fo a hopper utilized
in agricultural operations.
Other objects and advantages of the invention
will appear hereinafter from a consideration of
the following detafled description when taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
Fig. 1 is an end view showing a portion of a
grain hopper in section, having attached thereto
a grain discharging mechanism embodying the
features of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an elevation in section showing the
arrangement of feed cups upon the drive shaft
and attached to the grain box;
signor fo International Harvester Company of
Canada, Limited, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada,
a corporation of New Jersey
Application June 23, 1949, Serial No. 100,919
4 Claims. (CI. 222--274)
2
Fig. 3 is an end view partly in section simi!ar
fo Fig. 1 and showing the lugs or tabs projecting
into the grain box prior fo bending ai right angles
fo hold the seed discharging mechanism thereto;
.5 Fig. 4 is a view showing the grain discharge
mechanism housing and is a view simflar to tha.t
shown in Fig. 2 with the drive shaft and fluted
follet removed; and
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in
10 Fig. 4.
With reference fo the drawings, the numeral ! 0
designates an elongated grain box or hopper for
a grain drfll having side walls J! and a bottom
! 2. A plurality of openings J3 are provided ai
15 spaced locations along the length of the box and
each said opening is adapted fo discharge the
material from the grain box into a grain dis-
charging mechanism indicated ai 14. It is
derstood, of course, that a plurality of grain dis-
20 charging mechanisms 4 are provided, one for
each opening in the hopper bottom. For con-
venience however, since the grain discharging
mechanisms are duplicates, a description of one
will suffice for all.
25 The grain discharging mechanism comprises a
casing § having spaced parallel walls 6 and 7
connected by one or more cross-braces 6. Wall
$7 of the casing has an annular rib J9 formed
on the outer face thereof fo confine therebetween
30 and the wall $7 for rotation therein a member
2{} having grooves 2 ! around the inner periphery
thereof. The grooves 2! define an-opening in
the wall $7 of the casing 6 fo receive a fluted"
transversely extending follet 22 having grooves
35 therein adapted fo mate with the grooves 2! in
.the member 2{}.
As shown in Fig. 2 the follet 22 is provided with
a step-down portion 23 of lesser diameter which
extends through a, nd projects from an opening in
40 the wall $6 of the casing 6. Also mounted
upon the portion 23 of the follet is a sleeve 24
having a plurality of projections 29, 26, and 27
extending radially therefrom for reception in
mating notches formed in the wall J6 of the
45 casing. This construction accommodates trans-
verse movement oï the sleeve 24 and the follet
2 within the casing while holding the sleeve 24
against rotation. These projections on the sleeve
24 serve a further purpose which will hereinafter
50 become clear.
EXtending between the walls 6 and !7 of the
casing and forming another wall is a shell 26
which as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 is arcuate in
shape, has an upper edge coincident wlth the
55 upper edges of the walls $6 and 7 and a lower
end which projects forwardly and downwardly to
3
a location generally below the grooved follet 22.
As shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, the upper end of the
shell 28 has been cut to provide a pair of spaced
lugs or tabs 29 and a central lug or tab 3D. The
casing and the shell are preferably formed of
steel and the lug 38 is bent downwardly and
under one of thecross pieces 8 of the casing and
secured thereto preferably by a spot-weld. Lugs
29 extend upwardly from the casing [5 as indi-
cated. Opposie the shell 28, as shown in Figs, 1
and 3, there is provided a shut-off block in the
form of a nletal strip 3 extending between the
side walls 6 and ] of the casing and extending
fo a location adjacent the upper portion of the
grooved follet . The side walls 6 and ] of
the casing and the sheil 2 and shut-off block 3
deflne an opening 32 in the grain disiharging
mechanism adaited to register with the opening
in the grain hopper bottom.
Shut-off block is, provided at is upper end
witI»E lugs simflar to lugs 29 and 38 on the shell
28 Lug 3,$, for e×ample is bent dovnwardly and
secured to one or the cross-pieces , and lugs 34
etend: upwardly from the casing. As shown
clearly in Fig. 3, lug s aïe bent somewhat
toward,one wall , oï the grain box and lugs 29
are very slightly bent in the same direction.
These lugs-extend, upwardly through the.opening
in the bottom of the grain box and engage the
marginal edges of the opening. In assemb]ing
the grain discharging mechanim to the hopper
bottem, the bend provided in lug a4, does not
intrfere with the insertion of tugs in the. opening
in. the grain, box and provides a certain amount
of support.therefor. Upon insertion of the lugs
/. and 34 in the opening in the grain box, they
ae ben atright angles as shown in Fig. i sflnply
by tapping with a la-mmer or the like.
Shut-o]ï, b]ock. ,l is ang!ed-slightly and shell
28ismade arcuaçeso that when grain falls into
the opming, in the discharge mechanism, it is
guided to the fluted roller 21. ïhe rolter is re-
volved in a direction indicated by arrows in Fig.
1, and the seed is discharged thereby beyond the
lbWer.end ofthe-shell 23, Shut-off btock 31 pre-
vents seed from passing between the block and
the follet 2]
The mounting of a plurality of grain discharg-
ing mechanisms upon a common drive shaft 35
is indicaed in-ig. 2, The drive shaît 35 extends
through a openinK provided in the follet 2, and
thC follet-is held in fixed position thereon by the
provisio ai one end of a spring 3 held in place
by a co%e.key 3 pàssed through the shsft. At
the reduced end 23 of the follet projecting, from
the casilg wat] I ç is mom]ted a washer 33 which
is held, in place by a cotter key 3 passed through
the'shaoEt 3.
The 'operation of the grain discharging mecha-
nismto vary tin flow of seed from the hopper is
conventionl. It may be noted, however; that the
shaft,38 may be ahifted longitudinally of the box
so that the follet 12: may be shiftéd within the
casihg I In the" position of the fiuted follet
sh0Wnin FiK. 2 a portion of the grooved section
of the rolter projecsbeyondlthe feed cup housing
and onl¥ a portion of tlïe follet is utiIized: in dis-
chaging grain. The projection provided: on
the sleeve 24 is adjacent the shut-offbl0ck 3] and
prevents passage of seed ttierethroKgh. Projec-
tio 25on sleeve 14. terminates adjacent the dis-
charge point-of the. seed from the inlet and
reduces the fl0w of seed. To increase the amount
of seed discharged'from the feed cup, the shaft
a-nd"ttierefore thefluted follet would be shiîed
4
fo the right so that more of the grooves in follet
22 wouid corne into operation in discharging seed.
Openings 4 are provided in the walls
of the casing for the attachment of suitable flexi-
5 ble hose (hot shown) by which grain is directed
to conventional. urrow openers.
It shou]d readiIy be uadeïstood from the fore-
going description that the present invention pro-
vides means for quickly and easily attaching
10 grain discharging mechanisms to a grain box. It
may Iikewise be understood that modifications
may be ruade in the invention without departing
from the spirit thereof or the scope of the
appended claims.
1 a What is ctaimed is:
1, In a grain drfll or the like iniuding an
etongated grain hopper having spaced openings
in the bottom thereof for dispensing seed, a
drive shaft parallel to and below the hopper and
20 grain discharging mechanisms, one for each
opening inthe hopper ottom mounted on
shaft to be simultaneously driven thereby, where-
in eaeh said mechanism comprises a casing hav-
ing spaced parallet side walls, a grooved follet
2 journaled in said casin and mounted on said
shaft for rotation therewith an arcuately formed
seed-carrying shell between the watls o the cas-
ing with ifs loweredge termi.nating adjacent the
lower portion of the grooved follet, a shut-off
3o block between.the casing walls opposite said shelt
having ifs lowerporti0n above and extending
a location adjacent said rotler, and meaus for
quicMy attaching, the discharging mechanisms
and the drive shsft to the hopper bottom com-
35 prisiug tugs formed on the shelt and the shutoff
b]ock extendïng upwardly therefrom, said lugs
being bent af right angles foengage thehopper
bottom af the margikial edges of the hoppeï open-
ing in ctamping relation,, with at least one: lug
40 on tl]e shell and one tug on the shutoffi block
engagingthe outer surface.of said hopper bot
tom, nd the remainder of thelugs engaging the
inner surface of said hopper bottom, said lug3
engaging t]ie outer surface of the hopper bot-
45 tom being pre-bent, said lugs engagingthe inner
surface ofsaid hopper bottom being of such ma-
teriat that they can be projected upward into said
hopper bottom opening and then bent to engage
said inner surface of the hopper bottom.
50 2. In a grain drill or the like including an
eIongated grain hopper having spaced openings
in the bottom thereof for dispensing seed, a drive
shaft paralle] fo the hopper and grain discharg
55 ing mechanisms, one for cooperation with each
opening in the hopper bottom and mounted on
the shaft to be simultaneously driven thereby,
wherein each said mechanism comprises a cas-
ing, a feed follet journaled in the casing and
60 mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith,
said casing having an opening therein adapted
to register with an opening in the hopper bot-
tom fo direct seed fo said feed follet, and means
for ïacilitating the attachment fo the hopper of
65 the discharging mechanisms carrying the com-
mon drive shaft comprising tugs at oppsite sides
of the opening in the casing and extending
wardly therefrom, said lugs projecting.into the
hopper- opening and engageable with the mat-
70 ginaledges of the opening in the. hopper bot-
tom af-least, one of the lugs being pre-bent at an
acute angle to provide support fo the discharg-
ing mechanism upon insertion of the lugs !n the
hopper bottom, and the remainder of said lugs
7 being of such material that they can be bent
2,599,452
over af right angles into engagement with the
inner surface of the hopper bottom to secure the
discharging mechanism thereto.
3. In a grain drill or the like including an elon-
gated grain hopper having spaced openings in
the bottom thereof for dispensing seed, a drive
shaft parallel to and below the hopper and grain
discharging mechanisms, one for each opening
in the hopper bottom mounted on the shaft to
be simultaneously driven thereby, wherein each
said mechanism comprises a casing having
spaced parallel side walls, a grooved follet jour-
naled in said casing and mounted on" said shaft
for rotation therewith, an arcuately formed seed-
carrying shell between the walls of the casing
with its lower edge terminating adjacent the
lower portion of the grooved roller, and a shut-
off block between the casing walls opposite said
shell having its lower portion above and extend-
ing to a location adjacent said roller, at least
two lugs formed on the shell and two lugs on the
shut-off block, one of the respective lugs being
bent at right angles and serving fo secure the
shell and the block to the casing and the other
lugs projecting above the opening in the dis-
charging mechanism ïor insertion in the opening
in the hopper bottom, said other lugs being of
such material that they can be bent at right
angles into engagement with the hopper inner
surface of the bottom to secure the discharging
mechanism thereto.
4. In a grain drill or the like including an elon-
gated grain hopper having spaced openings in
the bottom thereof for dispensing seed, a drive
shaft parallel to and below the hopper and grain
discharging mechanisms, one for each opening
in the hopper bottom mounted on the shaft to
be simultaneously driven thereby, wherein each
6
said mechanism comprises a casing having
spaced parallel side walls, a grooved roller jour-
nalled in said casing and mounted on said shaft
for rotation therewith, an arcuately formed seed-
5 carrying shell between the walls of the casing
with its lower edge terminating adjacent the
lower portion of the grooved follet, and a shut-
off block between the casing walls' opposite said
shell having its lower portion above and extend-
10 ing to a location adjacent said roller, at least
two lugs formed on the shell and two lugs on
the shut-off block, one of the respective lugs be-
ing bent at right angles and serving to secure
the shell and the block to the c.asing and the
15 other lugs projecting above the opening in the
discharging mechanism for insertion in the open-
ing in the hopper bottom, said other lugs being
of such material that they can be bent af right
angles into engagement with the inner surïace
20 of the hopper bottom to secure the discharging
mechanism thereto, and the lugs on one side of
said opening being pre-bent at an acute angle
to provide support for the discharging mech-
anism upon insertion oï the lugs in the hopper
25 oDening.
JOHN HIGGINSON.
REFERENCES CITED
The following references are of record in the
30 file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS
Number Name Date
823,242 Waterman ........ June 12, 1906
5 895,346 Dacosta ............ Aug. 4, 1908
924,327 Pierce ............. June , 1909
1,864,294 Cady et al ......... June 21, 1932
1,997,791 Hoverg et al ....... Apr. 16, 1935
