Apparatus for sowing seeds in suspension

Claim 1

Apparatus for sowing seed comprising a frame, means on said frame for rotatably supporting at least one ground engaging wheel, a tank mounted on the frame to contain seeds in suspension, a drill coulter mounted on the frame. a peristaltic pump comprising a pipe at least part of which is resilient, pipe compressing rollers on one side of the pipe, and a pipe support bracket secured to the frame on the other side of the pipe; the inlet of the pipe being connected to the tank outlet; said pipe compressing rollers being rotatably mounted on said ground engaging wheel on axes parallel to the axis of the ground engaging wheel; support means for the outlet end of said pipe whereby the open end of the pipe is held above normal ground level; said means for rotatably supporting the ground wheel comprising an adjustable ring member on the frame, and a bearing member for the wheel eccentrically mounted in said ring member; whereby the suspension is metered at a rate proportional to the distance travelled over the ground and the positions of the rollers relative to the pipe effected by adjustment of said ring member, the suspension falling from above ground level into the drill.