Seeder clutch for tramlines

Seeder clutch apparatus for tramlines, comprising a seed meter housing, a connection for connecting the seed meter housing to a seed bin, a fluted seed metering drum rotatable in the housing for metering the delivery of seed between the bin connected to the housing and a seed tube connected to the housing, a bearing block connected to the seed metering drum for relative rotation of the seed metering drum within the bearing, the seed metering drum and the bearing being slidably mounted in the housing for exposing a different amount of the seed metering drum and concurrently a different amount of the blocking bearing to a seed metering path between the seed bin and the seed tube, a seed meter drive shaft extending through the bearing and through the seed metering drum and a clutch having first and second portions respectively connected to the meter drive shaft and to the seed metering drum, the first and second portions of the clutch being selectively engagable for driving the seed metering drum with the seed meter drive shaft for moving seeds in a seed path within the seed meter housing between the seed bin and the seed tube, and selectively disengagable for disconnecting a drive condition between the seed meter drive shaft and the seed metering drum for preventing movement of seed to a seed path in the seed meter housing between the seed bin and the seed tube, wherein the clutch comprises a spring wrapped clutch and wherein the first portion comprises a bushing mounted on the shaft for driving the bushing with the shaft, a driving element mounted on the bushing for driving the driving element with the bushing and shaft, a driving drum connected to the driving element for turning with the shaft, bushing and driving element, a driven element connected to the seed metering drum and a driven drum connected to the seed metering drum and a driven drum connected to the driven element in alignment with the driving drum, a spring coil surrounding and bridging the driving drum and driven drum, the spring wrapped coil being made out of a helically formed flat wire, a control tab extending radially from one end of the helically wrapped flat wire, a collar surrounding the wire wrapped spring and an interior hole in the collar for receiving the control tap for rotating the collar with the spring and driving and driven drums in a clutch-engaged condition, two collar seals, one on each side of the collar, which rest on the driven and driving drums respectively and abut the sides of the collar for sealing an interior of the clutch mechanism, including the spring, and a stop connected to the collar for selectably stopping rotation of the collar, thereby slightly decoiling and unwrapping the spring to disengage the driving connection between the drums for stopping the seed metering drum.