Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PLANTING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
l. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a seed and
fertilizer applying mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
In the prior art, various planting and
fertilizer mechanisms have been advanced. These
include, generally, individual ~urrow openers that
receive both the seed and the fertilizer together
which are dropped toyether in a row. Also,
individually depth controllable furrow openers are
known in the art, for example those shown in U.S.
Patent No. 4,077,478.
Recent studies have shown that it is
desirable to keep the seed spaced from the fertilizer,
preferably above the fertilizer, so that as the plants
grow the roots will go toward the fertilizer using
only a single furrow opener and accomplishing this
placement of material provides an accurate and
technically advanced planting apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device
for planting material beneath the ground which
includes a frame and a furrow opener shank having a
first delivery tube with its lower end at a first
predetermined depth. A second delivery tube is also
included on the same shank and has a lower end
disposed at a second predetermined depth less than the
first depth. The second tube is positioned behind the
first tube with respect to the direction of travel.
The seed and fertilizer metering mechanisms in the
snak are connected to the tubes to deliver material
through the shank to the first and second depths.
Packing means are attached to the frame trailing the
shank positioned to compact the ground.
During the operation of the present
invention the shank point or opener forms a furrow
which permits placement of the fertilizer at a first
depth, for example, four inches below the soil
surface. Loose soil flows into the furrow behind the
outlet opening for the first tube ahead of the outlet
of the second tube covering the fertilizer and leaving
a seed bed approximately one and one-half to two
inches above the fertilizer. S~eds are discharged
from the second or trailing tube and drop on the seed
bed formed by the soil which has covered the
fertilizer. Loose soil flows in behind the shank over
the seed. The packing wheel which trails the second
tube performs three functions. First, it firms the
soil around the seeds behind the seed tube leaving
approximately one and one-half to two inches of soil
over the seeds. Secondly, it acts as a gauge wheel to
control the depth of placement of the fertilizer and
seed through linkage connecting the wheel to the shank
and the shank to the support frame. Thirdly, at
higher speed, the turning packer wheel shields the
furrow and prevents erosion of loose soil from
laterally adjacent shanks onto the furrow that is
forrned.
In the preferred embodiment, the shank is
mounted to float or trip to clear obstructions which
are normally encountered in the field, such as rocks
and the like. Since the time that the planting tubes
are out of the ground should be minimized ta maximize
production in the field, minor obstructions are
compensated for by a first float action which allows
the tube to pass over the small obstruction and
quickly return to the position in the soil as
controlled by the packing wheel. For major
obstructions, the supporting structure trips and moves
to permit clearance of the larger objects.
30~
In the preferred embodiment, the discharge
passage for the seed is split into two outlet tubes
and the outlet tubes randomly direct the metered seeds
into one of the other of these two outlet tubes. The
outlet tubes diverge in rearward direction so that the
outlet ports of the two diverging outlet tubes are
spaced apart where the seeds are dropped into the
furrow made by the opener point. This insures that
not only will the fertilizer be below the seed, but
the seed will be placed in rows laterally off to the
side of the fertilizer band to place the seed in areas
where soil and rnoisture conditions are more conducive
to growth.
The depth control packer wheel has
sufficient width to cover the seeds after loose soil
has flowed in around the fertilizer and around the
seeds. The seeds will be placed at a substantially
uniform depth but spaced apart slightly with the
fertilizer in between and below the seeds so that as
the plants grow the roots will tend to migrate out
toward the fertilizer. The seed metering is done by
metering the overall amount of seed being fed. The
diverging outlet tubes form dividers, with a divider
edge between the inlet ends of the tubes so that the
seeds randomly go into one outlet tube or another.
Approximately 50~ of the seeds go out each of the
outlet tubes.
The packing means includes a packiny wheel
or gauge wheel means mounted on the frame and
positioned behind the tubes in ground contacting
relationship therewith. Also in the preferred
ernbodiment, the shank carrying the f`irst and second
tubes is mounted with linkage that permits regulating
the pitch angle of the furrow opener and shank to
change the relative vertical spacing between the
outlets of the first and second tubes. The packing
wheel is adjustably mounted to regulate the depth of
penetration of the furrow opener.
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~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a partial schematic side
elevational view of a support frame having three
planting devices made according to the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a
planting device of the present invention showing
normal operation in contact with the soil
Figures 3 and 4 are side elevational views
of the planting device of Figure 2 shown in contact
with relative sized obstructions found in the field;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the shank
frame for a planting device of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a
planting device of the present invention having a seed
distribution shank of a modified form;
Figure 7 is a rear view of the device of
Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a sectional view taken as on
line 8--8 in Figure 6; and
Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view
showing the junction between the inlet openings of
individual seed delivery tubes that serves to divide
the seed into two portions that are separated out
laterally from the center of the unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in Figure 1, a frame such as a tool
bar frame comprising a drill assembly 10 is supported
conventionally by wheels 12 and drawn by a tongue 14.
A fertilizer compartment 15 and a seed compartment 16
are mounted on the frame and provide supply hoppers
for the materials to be planted beneath the ground
surface. Suitable metering devices are used for
metering the seed and fertilizer from the supply
hoppers.
A subframe 17 is supported on the main frame
of the drill assembly by shafts 18 and 19 which form
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rock shafts rotatably mounted on the main frame. A
hydraulic cylinder 20 is connected to rotate shaft 18
through a control arm. A link 21 simultaneously
causes shaft 19 to rotate. Suitable links connected
to lift arms on the shafts 18 and 19 permit the
subframe to be raised or lowered as desired from a
fully up carrying position to a fully down operating
position. The links are arranged to keep the subframe
17 substantially parallel to its original position as
it is raised and lowered.
The hoppers or compartments 15 and 16 are
mounted on the main frame, and flexible feed tubes 22
and 23 transfer metered fertilizer and seed from the
hoppers 15 and 16.
The device of the present invention is
mounted on the subframe 17 and includes a first
support member 24 fixed to and extending down from the
subframe 17 as shown in Figure 2. First support
member 24 has a pivot 26 operably connecting the first
support member with a shank beam 27. The shank beam
27 comprises two spaced straps held together in an
assembly. A furrow opener shank 30 is connected to
the rear of shank beam 27 at a shank pivot 28. The
shank 30 is vertically elongated and made up of a
first tube section 31 and a second tube section 32
which extend downwardly. The shank 30 is connected to
the shank beam 27 through a pair of plates 30A which
are fixed to the shank on opposite sides thereof. The
tubular shank is provided with a narrow or sharp
leading edge, and the shank tapers outwardly in
rearward direction. At the shank lower end and at the
leading corner, a spear point 33 is mounted to
penetrate the soil. The spear point 33 is positioned
at a predetermined distance Dl below the ground.
Second tube section 32 in the shank, which is
positioned behind tube section 31 with respect to the
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direction of travel, has an outlet sleeve 34 which
extends a distance behind the opening from the ~ube
section 31 and which is a distance D2 below the soil
surface. In conventional planting, distance Dl can
5 be about four inches, and distance D2 about two
inches.
The tube 35 is connected to feed tube 22 and
fertilizer hopper 15, while a feed tube 36 is
connected via feed tube 23 to seed hopper 16. As
10 illustrated in Figure 2, the fertilizer, which can be
either liquid or solid, passes through tube section 31
and out the bottom outlet opening of the tube section
a distance Dl below the ground. As the shank passes
through the ground, soil which is moved aside by
15 movement of the shank and the spear point backfills or
fills in behind the furrow made by the point 33. A
recessed area is provided in the lower portion of the
shank immediately behind the outlet opening from tube
section 31 to permit the soil to fill in around the
20 fertilizer dropped into the furrow.
Seed, which has been metered, passes through
the tube section 32 and through the outlet opening of
the sleeve 34 which is the distance D2 below the
ground. The seed is dropped on the soil which has
25 filled in around the fertilizer. Again, soil will
fill in behind the furrow made by the sleeve 34. The
outlets of tube section 31 and sleeve 34 are separated
by a horizontal distance which is sufficient to permit
the soil to fill in behind the first tube section at
30 normal delivery speeds.
A gauge-packing wheel 37 is provided to
follow behind the furrow made by a spear point 33, and
the shank 30, and pack the soil to a depth of
approximately one and one-half to two inches under
35 normal conditions. A slight depression is left by the
wheel. The packing wheel 37 is mounted on a beam
4~
portion 38 which is pivoted as at 39 to a rearwardly
extending portion 40 of the shank beam 27. The
rearwardly extending portion 40 is fixedly mounted to
the forward parts of the shank beam 27. A threaded
adjustment rod 42 is connected to beam 38 and extends
through a tab 40A fixed to beam portion 40.
The rod 40 has a pair of lock nuts 42A above
the tab 40A and a pair of lock nuts 42B below the
tab. The lock nuts 42B limit the upward movement of
the beam 38 relative to the tab 40A and beam 40. The
lock nuts 42A thus control the depth of the shank
relative to the yround as the gauge wheel 37 engages
the ground. As will be explained, the beam 27 is
yieldably mounted to permit this depth control.
Spring mounting is provided to stabilize the position
of the shank 30 with respect to the shank beam 27,
since they are pivotally mounted together at shank
pivot 28. A spring rod 43 is also slidably mounted
through an opening in a reaction plate 45 which is
fixed to beam 27 (between the side members). The end
of rod 43 extending forwardly of plate 45 has an
adjustment nut 45A threaded on the rod, which may be
threaded to control the fore and aft location of the
pivot bar 44 (which pivots between plates 30A)
relative to plate 45.
A biasing spring 46 is mounted over spring
rod 43 and bears against plate 45. A threaded nut 47
is also mounted on rod 43 at an opposite end of the
spring 46 from plate 45, and is adjustable to adjust
the force exerted by the spring 46 tending to move
shank 30 counterclockwise about pivot 28.
Similarly, the relationship between the
shank beam 27 and the first support member 24 about
pivot 26 is controlled by a biasing spring 50 mounted
on a threaded rod 48. The threaded rod 48 passes
throuyh an opening in a cross plate 24A of first
support member 24.
The shank beam 27 also has a cross member
27A which is suitably supported on a frame 27~ on beam
27 parallel to the cross plate 24A. Rod 48 extends
through a spacer 48A between plates 24A and 27A. The
spring 50 is positioned on the opposite side of the
cross member 27A from plate 24A. The spring urges
member 27A toward plate 24A under a spring force
variable by adjusting a nut and washer 51 mounted on
rod 48. The rod 48 has a head 49 which prevents the
rod from passing through plate 24A so the force from
spring 50 urges the shank beam counterclockwise about
pivot 26.
The angle A formed between the soil surface
and the front edge of the shank 30 is controlled by
adjusting nut 45A along rod 43. The bias spring 46
will normally keep the nut 45A tight against plate 45
and thus by adjusting nut 45A the shank angle about
pivot 28 may be changed. This angular change will
permit adjusting the angle of point 33 and at the same
time the vertical distance between the lower opening
of tube section 31 and the outlet of sleeve 34 will be
changed because of the horizontal spacing of the two
outlets. For example, tilting the upper part of the
shank further forwardly will raise the outlet of
sleeve 34 relative to the outlet of tube section 31.
The force of spring 46 resisting pivoting of
the shank in clockwise direction is controlled by
adjusting nut 47.
The control of depth of the shank is
accomplished by the gauge wheel 37 as explained. The
individual shank beam is permitted to float about
pivot 26 under control of spring 50. By adjusting the
nut 51 the force with which the shank beam resists
upward movement can be adjusted. The spring 50 is a
compression spring and urges the shank beam
counterclockwise about pivot 26 as viewed in Figure 2.
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In the operation of the present invention,
occasionally relatively small objects such as rocks
are encountered in the field as shown in Figure 3. As
the rock 52 is hit by point 33, pivot 28 permits
movement of the shank 30 with respect to the beam 27
about pivot 28 by compressing spring 46. After
clearing the obstruction 52, spring 46 resets point 33
in the soil.
In Figure 4, the effect of encountering a
larger rock 54 is shown. Not only will spring 46
compress as described, but as the force on the lower
part of the shank increases, the shank beam 27 pivots
about pivot 26 and cross member 27A moves away from
plate 24A to compress spring 50. As point 33 clears
the obstruction 54 springs 46 and 50 return the device
to its normal operating position. As was shown in
Figure 1, more than one device can be carried by a
single subframe 17. Since each device is individually
spring mounted about its pivot 26, the depth of each
unit is determined by its packing wheel 37.
Adjustment of the depth Dl and therefore D2 can be
accomplished by lock nuts 42B. Angle A that is made
by the shank tube 31 with respect to the soil level
can be varied by changing the position of nut 45 on
shaft 43.
The placement of the fertilizer in
vertically spaced location from the seed and
separating the seed from the fertilizer with soil
provides for an optimum relationship for plant
germination and growth. One benefit in drier ground
is that the point 33 is more likely to engage moist
soil (because it is deep) and this deeper soil is what
fills in behind and over the fertilizer. The seed is
thus dropped onto soil which is likely to be moist to
thereby enhance germination.
Also, in dry conditions in particular, the
roots will tend to grow toward the fertilizer or plant
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food. The downward growing roots initiate a strong
root system that will sustain the plant in dry
conditions. The root system does not therefore tend
to remain on the surface of the ground.
The unit also is well suited for minimum
tillage or "no till" farming. The shanks can be made
to penetrate the soil with little disruption of the
soil surface. The moisture present when seeding is
preserved and utilized for maximum germination and
plant growth.
It should also be noted that in effect a
first furrow or ground opening is formed by the spear
point for the leading tube section and the trailer
tube section 34 forms a second furrow in the loose
dirt that has filled in over the fertilizer. Thus,
effectively two ground openings or trenches at two
depths are maintained.
A second preferred embodiment shown in
Figures 6 through 9 comprises a shank assembly 60 that
has a pair of side plates 61,61. The side plates are
in turn used for supporting a pivot pin 62 that
corresponds to the pivot 28, and which attaches to the
shank beam 27 in the same manner as previously
explained in relation to the first form of the
invention. The side plates 61 further carry a spring
reaction assembly indicated generally at 63 that has a
connector 64 that provides for the pivot 44 to connect
to the spring rod 43 in the same manner as that shown
in the first form of the invention, and therefore the
benefits of adjustment, "float" and other features
described would be available with the shank assembly
60, as well as with the shank assembly 30.
The shank assembly 60 is a tubular shank as
in the first form of the invention, and includes a
first tubular section indicated generally at 65 that
has a relatively narrow leading edge as in the first
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form of the invention, and a wall indicated at 66 that
forms the rear wall of the first tubular section. The
wall 66 has a lower, forwardly inclined wall portion
66A which defines the rear side of an outlet opening
indicated at 66B. The rear wall 66 also has a
connector tube 67 joined thereto and opening through
the wall and extending upwardly at the rear portions
of the shank assembly and tube 67 is the tube for
receiving metered fertilizer. In the first form of
the invention such a tube is shown at 35 at the top of
the shank, but in this case the tube 67 extends
rearwardly and is adapted to be attached to a flexible
tube leading from the fertilizer metering assembly.
A second tubular shank section indicated
generally at 70 is to the rear of the wall 66 and thus
to the rear of the first tubular section 65 the second
tubular shank section is defined between the side
walls of the shank assembly 60 and a rear wall 71.
This second section 70 comprises the seed delivery
tube in the shank assembly 60 and has an inlet
connector tube 72 joined to the rear wall 71, which
receives metered seed therethrough.
At the lower end of the tube section 70, a
guide wall 73 inclines rearwardly and downwardly, and
is joined to the lower portion of the wall 66 as
shown. Additionally, a pair of diverging (in rearward
direction) seed delivery or outlet tubes 75 and 76,
respectively, are connected so that they have inlet
ports or openings indicated at 75A and 76A that are
open into the tube 70. Tubes 75 and 76 are made so
that their adjacent walls form a suostantially sharp
divider edge indicated at 78 in Figure 9. A closing
wall 80 is provided at the upper sides of the outlet
tubes 75 and 76 where they join together, and thus any
seed delivered through the tube 72 and falling down
through the lower portion of the tubular section 70
will strike the plate or wall 73 and flow downwardly
and rearwardly and be divided by the edge 78 between
the two outlet tubes 75 and 76. Part of the seed then
will be delivered out the outlet opening 75B of tube
75, and part of the seed will be delive~red out through
the outlet opening 76B of the tube 76. It can be seen
that the outlet openings or ports 75B and 76B are
spaced apart laterally with respect to the normal
direction of travel of the shank, which direction is
indicated in Figure 8 at 82.
The shank assembly 60 further includes a
spear point or shoe 85, having a pointed leading edge
86, and diverging blade members 87 that are spaced at
their rearward ends a sufficient amount to provide a
formed furrow for permitting the depositiny of the
fertilizer and seed as described in the first form of
the invention. In Figures 7 and 8, in particular, it
can be seen that these shoes, when traveling under the
ground, will separate the ground to form a furrow, and
the fertilizer (shown at 90) will drop down into the
base of the furrow immediately behind the spear point
85 which is maximum depth. The sides of the blade
members 87 of the spear point taper upwardly to the
rear and thus the outer edges are at a slightly higher
level than the leading point. The seed coming out of
the output ports 75B and 76B (shown at 91) will be
deposited along the sides of the furrow formed by the
blade members 87 at a higher level, and soil that
falls in behind the spear point will also cover the
fertilizer. The seed then will be deposited on a
relatively firm seed bed formed by the spear point and
also will be spaced laterally from the deposited
fertilizer and above it.
This greatly enhances the yermination rate,
particularly in relatively dry conditions, because the
spear point provides for a firm bed in relatively
moist soil. The split outlets are not dependent
entirely upon the closure of loose soil over the
fertilizer for forming the seed bed. Loose soil many
times is the drier top soil that falls in the furrow.
With the spear points made according to the present
invention, not only will the spear points be forming a
relatively firm seed bed as the bottom edges of blades
81 slide along, but al~o the outlet tubes 75 and 76
will tend to divide the furrow as shown in Figure 7,
to keep the side walls of the furrow open so that as
the seed drops out the outlet ports it will be
immediately covered with relatively moist soil to aid
in germination.
In the second form of the invention, the
same type of mounting assembly can be used for the
shank assembly 60, that is, the shank beam 27 can be
utilized for mounting and adjustment so that the
relative depth of penetration of the spear point
leading end can be changed, and the outlet ports 75B
and 76B of tubes 75 and 76 for discharging the seed
can be raised relative to the discharge point of the
fertilizer. The division of the seed into separate
outlet tubes provides for two separate streams or
lines of randomly divided seeds from a metered
source. Each line of seed is placed adjacent the
edges of the furrow formed by the spear point or
furrow opener 85, and this increases germination
opportunities and therefore yields. The fertilizer is
between the seed lines or rows and below them. Soil
will fill in around the fertilizer and cover it as
soon as it is dropped. The seeds then drop on the
side of the filled in soil on surfaces that have been
firmed up by the shovel that opens the furrow. The
roots of the plants seeded will tend to go down and
sideways to provide a firm root network as the roots
seek out the fertilizer that is deposited.
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The packer wheel of each planter unit will
cover the seeds and firm and pack the soil into the
furrow. The width of the packer wheel 37 can be
selected so that it will correspond to the width
necessary for covering the two streams or lines of
seeds satisfactorily, and will provide adequate
support for depth control.
It should be noted that the spear point is
provided with a gusset at the forward edge for
permitting the shank to incline more than that which
is shown in Figures 6 through 9 if desired and of
course any type of spear point or ooening shovel that
provides the necessary opening can be utilized.
The spear point or opener must open a furrow
which will be adequate in width to provide space to
drop in the fertilizer in the center of the furrow,
preferably at a first depth, and to drop two rows of
seeds which are spaced on the opposite sides of the
row of fertilizer and preferably at a second depth,
less than the depth of the fertilizer.
