Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PAT-cAMAp-oo
SEED DRILL
Technical Field
This disclosure pertains to seed drills for planting crops such as grains.
It specifically relates to improvements in placement of seeds in soil within an
s open longitudinal slot of a preset depth.
Background Art
This invention relates to improvements in a seed drill of the type
designed for deep furrow seeding of crops. Seed is planted at the bottom of
a furrow having packed sloping sides. This is accomplished by placing the seed
lo into the slotted soil behind a shovel forward of and followed closely by press
wheels that pack the sides of the open furrow. The press wheels pack the
sloping sides of the furrow after seed placement in an attempt to assure accurate
control of both planting depth and proper soil coverage over the seeds.
Deep furrow drills were developed primarily for use in soil conditions
15 where subsurface moist soil was covered by a substantial layer of dry loose soil.
Such conditions are prevalent in the northwestern United States where winter
wheat is grown by dry land farming techniques. While these drills have been
widely adopted and have been proven to enhance seed germination and resulting
crop yields when used, it is recognized that substantial variations in planting
20 conditions continue to exist even where such improvements are used. This can
be attributed to the natural variations that occur in the subsurface elevation of
the moist soil and to surface undulations encountered where fields are not
perfectly flat.
Under normal conditions, such planting equipment must be preset to place
25 seed at an average depth that will normally locate it in moist soil. However,where the soil moisture line is below the average elevation for a field or wherethe equipment must span a slight dip in the soil contour, the planting equipmentwill place seeds in drier soil than is desirable. Such soil is very unstable andlikely to slough downwardly to partially fill the furrow above the seed. When
30 this occurs, expected growth from the germinating seed will be disrupted by the
unwanted soil cover. This is particularly detrimental if there has been an
intervening rain that forms a crust in the covering soil through which the
emerging plant growth must penetrate.
Many of the problems of prior deep furrow drills, which usually required
35 staggered placement of seed openers across the drills, were solved when an in-
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2 PAT-CANlA
line version of the drill was commercially introduced. In these drills, the seedplacement boot was overlapped within the following press wheels. The furrow
opening boot was relatively narrow and could be effectively pulled through the
field in a transverse straight line relationship of the shovel openers and presss wheels.
This drill became very popular in summer-fallow areas. However, it was
not without problems. It could not travel through much trash or straw when
a furrow deeper than four inches was required to reach moist soil. In some
of the drier areas, users were forced to revert back to staggered drills.
Later development of notched pressed wheels gave the in-line drills much
better trash clearing capabilities, but the drills still encountered problems where
five to six inches of dry soil was encountered. Under these drier conditions thepointed opener had to be able to retract rearwardly into the press wheels to
clear field obstacles. It was physically impossible to design an opener of this
s design which could lift sufficient moist soil to form a covering over the sides of
the furrows and hold the packed furrows open after see~ling In many situations
three to four inches of dry soil would fall back over planted seed in the
resulting deep furrows.
An ideal drill should produce a planting furrow, whether shallow or deep,
with no dry dirt located over the seeds. It should be applicable to no-till
seeding methods, as well as to conventional tilling techniques. Grain seeds
should be positioned approximately one to two inches deep within packed moist
soil with very consistent accuracy. Other types of seeds should be planted very
accurately at depths ranging between one-fourth to one-half inch or even less.
Recognized shortcomings in the planting accuracy of existing drills have
led me to the discovery of a new relationship between the planting runner for
placement of seeds and the press wheels that pack the furrow sides as disclosed
herein. With this new drill, because of the relative locations of the component
parts in a planting sequence, each operation carried out by these component
parts contributes to formation of a perfect furrow and accurate seed placement.
Seed is planted in a carefully defined slot after furrow formation and packing
has been completed. No uncontrolled seed coverage can occur in the packed
furrow. When planting in moist soil conditions, no furrow formation is required.Use of this accurate seed placement equipment will result in substantially higher
2 1 2 3 1 8 0 PAT-CANlAP-OO
yields and eliminate or minimi7e the necessity of resec~1ing, regardless of weather
encountered after the see(ling sequence has been carried out.
Brief Description of the Drd~ s
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference
5 to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below.
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the seed drill, illustrating
planting of seed under normal field conditions;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the planting assembly;
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the press wheel and boot;
lo Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the runner in an elevated
position;
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing movement of the boot in
response to engagement of an obstacle;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 in
Fig. 1;
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the runner;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in Fig. 7;
Figs. 9-12 are fragmentary diagrammatic views illustrating runner-press wheel
relationships in the first embodiment of the drill;
Fig. 9 shows a reference position;
Fig. 10 shows a shallow planting position;
Fig. 11 shows a deep planting position;
Fig. 12 shows a raised transport position;
Fig. 13 is a side view of a second embodiment of the planting assembly
with the facing press wheel removed;
Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, showing a raised position of the
runner;
Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 15-15 in Fig. 13;
Fig. 16 is a front perspective view of a shovel;
Fig. 17 is a side elevation view;
Fig. 18 is a front view;
Fig. 19 is a side view of a third and currently-preferred embodiment of
the planting assembly;
Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the planting assembly shown
in Fig. 19 with one side of the boot frame removed;
4 2 1 2 3 1 8 0 PAT-CANUp-oo
Fig. 21 is a further enlargement of a fragmentary view showing the upper
section of the boot shank and guides, the adjacent press wheels and coulter
being shown in dashed lines;
Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 19, showing a raised position of the
s runner;
Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 23-23
in Fig. 19;
Fig. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 24-24
in Fig. 21;
lo Fig. 25 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 25-25 in Fig. 21;
Fig. 26 is a fragmentary side view showing an alternate scraper
configuration;
Fig. 27 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 27-27 in Fig. 26;
Fig. 28 is a fragmentary sectional view of a boot shank guide as seen
along line 28-28 in Fig. 20;
Fig. 29 is a top view showing the upper end of the boot as illustrated
in Fig. 21;
Fig. 30 is a side view similar to Fig. 19, but illustrating an alternate
support for the boot frame; and
Fig. 31 is a simplified sectional view of the alternate support and boot
frame as seen along line 31 -31 in Fig.30.
Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
Details of a first embodiment of a planting assembly for a seed drill are
shown in Figs. 1-8. In this form of the invention, a runner that forms a seed-
2s receiving slot is guided on a projecting circular coulter that is part of anassociated wheel assembly. Figs. 9-12 diagrammatically show various working
positions of the runner relative to an associated wheel and coulter combination.Figs 13-15 illustrate the basic features of a second embodiment of a
planting assembly. The illustrated runner is guided within a circular groove
formed in an associated wheel assembly.
Figs. 16-18 illustrate details of a novel furrow-opening shovel usable in
conjunction with any of the disclosed embodiments of the seed drill planting
assemblies.
Figs. 19-31 illustrate a third, and presently-preferred, embodiment of the
35 planting assembly. The runner in this instance is guided on the frame of the
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5 PAT-CAN~AP-00
supporting seed drill. Novel scrapers for the side surfaces of a coulter are
shown, but could also be utilized with the previous embodiments of the seed
drill.
The described embodiments of a seed drill planting assembly have been
developed primarily for planting grains in dry field conditions where a moist
subsurface is covered by a surface layer of dry loose soil. However, their
practical field applications are not limited to such conditions. They can also be
used for planting seed at more shallow depths in moist surface soil conditions
where formation of deep furrows is not required. They are also applicable to
lo no-till applications and without furrow formation, where seed is planted in a field
containing stubble from a prior crop without cultivation of the field prior to
seeding; as well as in minimum-till situations where prior field cultivation is
limited and relatively shallow in depth.
The seed drills as shown in the accompanying drawings are specifically
s designed to utilize a multi-stage development of packed furrows. The furrows
are typically first cut by passage of an opener, such as a double disk coulter or
shovel. The lowermost portion of the furrow produced by the opener should
form a longitudinal slot below the intended base of the packed furrow.
The sides of the furrow are next packed in oppositely sloping
configurations by the rolling p[essule of opposed press wheel surfaces that define
the furrow side slopes. After the furrow sides have been packed, the slot at
its base is temporarily filled. Immediate passage of a narrow vertical runner
guided llall~vel~ely between the press wheels reshapes an open seed-receivhlg slot
extending beneath and behind the press wheels.
Seed is dropped into the open slot in longitudinal alignment with the
runner that shapes it. The slot is subsequently closed by passage of a packing
wheel. Moist soil is firmed around the seed as the slot is closed, insuring
effective seed germination.
The seed drill planting assembly basically comprises a wheel assembly
rotatably mounted about a horizontal transverse axis for rolling soil engagementin a forward direction along a field. A supporting boot is located in a
transversely centered upright position behind the wheel assembly. A narrow
longitudinal runner is mounted to a lower end of the boot, the runner being
centered across the width of the wheel assembly and extending rearwardly from
35 beneath the wheel assembly. Guides are located in engagement with the boot
6 21 2 3 1 8 0 PAT~ VIAP-00
for permitting movement of the boot and runner along an upright arcuate path
substantially centered about the transverse axis of the wheel assembly. Seed
delivery means is provided on the runner for depositing seeds at a location
immediately behind the runner.
s General details of a first embodiment of the present seed drill and
planting assembly are best illustrated by reference to Fig. 1. It is developed
about paired press wheels 10 rotatably mounted about a transverse axis on a
supporting frame 12. The paired press wheels 10 have tapered or conical
surfaces 50 leading to a rim 46. The surfaces 50 are capable of packing the
0 sloping sides of a longitudinal furrow as they roll through it. The illustrated
sloping sides 24 of the packed furrow lead downwardly to a furrow base 26.
While conical press wheels are illustrated in conjunction with all of the
embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the supporting press
wheel assemblies associated with the seed drill planting assembly might be
substantially cylindrical where formation of a furrow is unnecessary for planting
purposes. This is particularly true in no-till planting operations, and where seeds
are to be planted at very shallow depths within a field.
The use of a guiding coulter in the associated press wheel assembly is not
always practical where very rocky soil is encountered. A single press wheel
element can be utilized in place of the paired press wheels 10 shown in the
drawings when the coulter is not present.
A narrow upright runner 28 extends rearwardly from beneath the paired
press wheels 10. Runner 28 is transversely guided on the paired press
wheels 10 to maintain it in longitudinal alignment within an open longitudinal
slot 30 that intersects the packed furrow base 26. Delivery means is provided for
dropping seeds 32 into slot 30. Runner 28 includes a front point 25 positioned
closely adjacent to the periphery of a coulter 34 positioned between the paired
press wheels 10.
The seeds 32 are deposited within open slot 30 immediately behind the
runner 28. The seed-receiving slot extends vertically between the furrow base
26 intersected by it and a bottom slot surface 27 on which the delivered seeds
32 are supported.
Runner 28 is elevationally supported at the lower end of an upright
boot 14 movably mounted relative to frame 12. The sides of boot 14 straddle
a circumferential coulter 34 that rolls in unison between the paired press wheels
-
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7 - PAT-CAMAP-00
10. The primary purpose of the illustrated coulter 34 is to either cut or
reestablish a seed-receiving slot along the base of the packed furrow. A
secondary benefit is its inherent resistance to side slippage of the seed drill
when operated along hillsides.
s Runner 28 is mounted for angular movement along an arc centered aboutthe transverse axis of the paired press wheels 10. An upright shank 16 is
engaged behind the boot 14 for yieldably urging it in a forward direction towardthe paired press wheels 10.
Tension springs 36 are operably connected between boot 14 and shank 16
o for normally holding runner 28 at a preset working position within the open slot
30. A typical working position for runner 28 is illustrated in Fig. 1. The
springs 36 allow runner 28 to move upwardly relative to the shank 16 in
response to engaged soil conditions. Limit means, illustrated by a horizontal bar
38 on the shank 16 and a transverse yoke 40 on the boot 14, define the
normal working position of the boot 14 and runner 28 relative to the shank 16.
Shank 16 is also movably mounted relative to the supporting frame 12.
It is transversely pivoted to frame 12 at 17. An overlapping leaf spring 42
interconnected between frame 12 and the top end of shank 16 resists rearwardly
directed ples~ure against the shank 16 and aligned boot 14. The leaf spring 42
yieldably resists rearward motion of the boot 14 relative to the press wheels 10,
but allows the boot 14 and runner 28 to move rearwardly as required in order
to clear a subsoil obstacle, such as a rock 44 (see Fig. 5). The leaf spring is
preferably preset to provide slight working clearance between the front edges ofboot 14 and the rims 46 of the associated press wheels 10.
The press wheels 10 comprise a pair of oppositely facing press wheel
elements. The two opposed elements can be separately formed or fabricated as
an integral unit. Each has a circular rim 46 centered about a press wheel
transverse axis. Each also includes a coaxial circular wall 48 that is
perpendicular to the Llall~vel~e axis and is offset from rim 46 in a direction
parallel to the transverse axis. The diameter of the circular wall 48 is less than
the diameter of rim 46. Circular wall 48 can be planar or can be inwardly
dished.
A coaxial conical wall 50 completes the basic structure of each press
wheel element. It joins the rim 46 and circular wall 48. The conical wall 50
3s is inclined outwardly from the rim 46 (see Fig. 6).
8 21 2 31 8 0 PAT-CANIAP-00
The press wheel elements, when formed separately, will also normally
include an inner circular wall 49 that is also perpendicular to its transverse axis
and is lrall~vel~ely spaced from wall 48 to complete a hollow enclosed wheel
structure. However, wall 49 is not vital to the operative exterior surfaces of the
press wheels 10 and can be omitted or modified in the case of integrally formed
press wheels.
The press wheels shown in the drawings are designed for deep furrow
see-ling, along furrows that typically have depths greater than two inches belowthe field surface. Examples of deep furrows include furrows having depths of
lo three to six inches, or even more. When used for no-till field applications and
for planting seeds in shallow furrows, the widths of the conical walls 50 acrossthe press wheels 10 can be substantially decreased, thereby permitting the row
spacings to be decreased as well.
The periphery of each illustrated press wheel has a continuous and
Is uninterrupted circular configuration. However, it is to be understood that the
press wheel periphery configuration can be interrupted by open recesses of the
type taught in U.S. Patent No. 4,844,174, issued on July 4, 1989, and titled
"Press Wheels for Seed Drills," where the benefits of such recesses are desired
by a user.
The circumferential coulter 34 that projects radially outward from between
the rolling press wheel elements cuts a vertical slot 30 between the packed
sloped sides 24 of a furrow. Coulter 34 is perpendicular to and coaxially
centered about the transverse axis of the press wheels 10. The rims 46 of the
press wheel elements lead inwardly to the coulter 34, which is abutted by them.
The outside diameter of coulter 34 is greater than the outside diameter of the
abutting rims 46.
Coulter 34 can be formed as a separable circular disk or as an annular
element joined between opposed press wheel elements. It also might be
fabricated integrally with the associated press wheels 10 as a unitary rolling
member. Coulter 34 rotates in unison with a pair of separately fabricated press
wheels 10 about a common central axis. The outer periphery of coulter 34 is
preferably sharpened to assist in penetrating moist soil through which it rolls
during formation of the planting slot 30.
The upright boot 14 mounted behind the press wheels 10 overlaps and
transversely straddles the side surfaces of coulter 34. Boot 14 can be effectively
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g - PAT-CA~JIAP-00
fabricated from three layers of rigid material, as illustrated in Fig. 6. These
layers include a center plate 15 and two side plates 13. The thickness of centerplate 15 should be substantially equal to the thickness of coulter 34. The
overlapping side plates 13 should not project beyond the transverse thickness ofs rims 46 on the press wheels 10.
The front edges of side plates 13 and center plate 15 are shaped along
arcs complementary to the adjacent peripheral configurations of rims 46 and
coulter 34, respectively. The side plates 13 can be made from rigid plastic
resins that provide frictional bearing surfaces between boot 14 and the press
lo wheels 10 and coulter 34. Bearing pads or rollers (not shown) can be provided
as necessary in order to eliminate frictional resistance and wear between boot
14 and coulter 34.
Runner 28 maintains slot 30 in an opened condition and refines the slot
configuration as it slidably moves within the open slot 30, thereby physically
s preventing soil from falling within the slot confines until seeds 32 have been
dropped within it. Runner 28 is located at the lower end of the boot 14 to
maintain the runner 14 in longitudinal alignment within the slot 30 cut through
the soil by rolling engagement of coulter 34. Runner 28 is shown as being
integral with center plate 15, but can be separably fabricated and releasably
joined to it if desired. The forward end of runner 28 is positioned immediately
adjacent to the periphery of the coulter 34 and is pointed to complement the
shape of coulter 34 and minimi7f~ any gap between them.
Seed is delivered from a conventional storage box and a seed metering
assembly (not shown) of conventional design that supply a controlled volume of
seeds to a flexible seed delivery tube 31. The lower end of the seed delivery
tube 31 directs the seeds into an arcuate duct 19 formed along the upright rear
edge of boot 14. The bottom end of this duct leads to an opening rearwardly
adjacent to the back edge 29 of runner 28. Thus, individual seeds can drop
freely through boot 14 and are deposited behind the moving runner 28.
To assure accurate seed placement within the side walls of the receiving
soil slot 30, thin vertical plates 56 overlap the rear edges of runner 28. The
plates 56 prevent soil from falling from the sides of slot 30 until the falling
seeds 32 are deposited at the bottom of the slot.
lo 2 12 3 1 8 0 PAT-CANUp oo
Shank 16 is preferably formed from two transversely spaced rigid plates.
It is pivoted to frame 12 at 17. The upright front edges 52 of shank 16 have
an arcuate shape centered about the transverse axis of press wheels 10.
The bar 38 that anchors springs 36 to shank 16 extends forwardly between
s the two parallel plates from a threaded collar 39. Collar 39 is threadably
engaged about a shaft 41 rotatably supported at the rear of shank 16. The
upper end of shaft 41 is provided with a bevel gear connection to a manual
crank arm 37 used to elevationally adjust bar 38 along the height of shank 16.
Bar 38 therefore provides an adjustable bottom limit to the working position of
lo runner 28 within the open slot 30.
The rear edge of boot 14 is provided with bearings that engage the front
edges 52 along shank 16. These bearings are illustrated as transversely projecting
rollers 53 that ride along the edges 52. The engagement between rollers 53 and
shank 16 permits rearward forces to be directed from boot 14 to shank 16 in
s opposition to the forces of leaf spring 42. The separate structures of shank 16
and boot 14 permits either to be readily replaced when necessary.
The upper ends of springs 36 are threadably connected to the boot 14
at each of its respective sides to permit adjustment of the spring forces that
maintain boot 14 in its normal working position. The normal working position
20 of boot 14 relative to supporting frame 12 is defined by the engagement of bar
38 by the yoke 40 that rearwardly straddles the sides of shank 16. This
combination of spring adjustment and limit adjustment assures accurate elevational
positioning of runner 28 within the seed-receiving slot 30.
The front end of runner 28 includes side points 54 that overlap the side
25 surfaces of coulter 34. The points 54 can best be seen in Figs. 7 and 8.
Each point includes a slightly flared wing 55 that disrupts the engaged side walls
of the slot cut at the base of the furrow by rolling action of coulter 34. The
scraping action of wings 54 in the moist soil at the sides of the slot fills that
portion of the slot not maintained in an open condition by the presence of
30 runner 28.
In most instances, the runner elevation will be such that its lowermost
edge is at an elevation above the lowermost elevation of coulter 34. The
purpose of runner 28 in this first embodiment is normally not to open the slot
at the base of the furrow, which is accomplished by the action of coulter 34.
35 Its purpose is to refine the configuration of the slot and to maintain it in an
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1 1 PAT-CAIVUP-OO
open and carefully defined shape for accurate seed placement at a preselected
depth behind the runner.
The planted seeds are covered within slot 30 by subsequent rolling passage
of a packing wheel 22 that trails behind the supporting shank 16. The packing
wheel assembly is typically spring-biased to apply covering pressure to soil above
the planted seeds. The structure and operation of such packing wheels is well
known in seed drill technology. Further details concerning this element are not
believed to be necessary for an understanding of the present improvements.
While the rolling action of press wheels 10 and coulter 34 alone might
lo be used in a "no-till" seeding procedure where seeding is accomplished under
relatively shallow conditions, in most instances the described planting assembly will
be used in conjunction with a longitudinally aligned opener, such as the
illustrated shovel 18 or a conventional coulter assembly (not shown).
The details of shovel 18 are best understood by reference to Figs. 12-14.
The illustrated shovel 18 is mounted to frame 12 by means of a conventional
spring gooseneck 20. The shovels 18 associated with adjacent pairs of press
wheels 10 will normally be longitudinally staggered on the supporting frame 12
to minimi7e disruption of the furrows as they are being dug by passage of the
shovels.
Each shovel 18 includes a forwardly-facing tapered upright plate 58. Plate
58 is transversely symmetrical across a longitudinal vertical center line through
shovel 18. Its side edges 59 are wider across a horizontal lower plate edge 60
than across the upper end of plate 58, where plate 58 is bolted to a lower end
of a spring gooseneck 20. The plate 58 has a planar transverse front surface
61 leading downwardly and forwardly between its upright side edges 59 to the
lower edge 60 to cut a longitudinal furrow during forward movement of the
plate through soil.
A vertical blade 62 extends rearwardly from the plate 58 to structurally
reinforce it. Blade 62 also protrudes downwardly from the lower edge 60 to cut
an open longitudinal slot intersecting the face of the dug furrow. The
protruding section of blade 62 includes a sharp point formed between a front
edge 63 and a substantially horizontal bottom edge 64.
A three-dimensional triangular deflector 65 protrudes forwardly from the
front surface 61 of upright plate 58. Deflector 65 is spaced inwardly from the
side edges 59 of the plate 58. It has converging side surfaces 66 leading
12 2 1 2 3 1 8 0 PAT-CANUp oo
between the front surface 61 of plate 58 and an apex that is vertically aligned
with the longitudinal center line of shovel 18. The width of the side surfaces
66 is tapered from top to bottom, the maximum width being positioned at their
top ends. Deflector 65 urges soil upwardly and ll~n~vel~ely outward during
5 passage of shovel 18 through soil.
The purpose of deflector 65 is to urge moist soil loosened in the furrow
by the scraping action of the lower edge 60 across the sides of plate 58. This
loosened moist soil is therefore urged across the side edges 59 of plate 58 to
provide a covering along the sides of the opened furrow. Subsequent packing
10 of the furrow sides by rolling action of press wheels 10 will result in a firm
crust of moist soil covering the sides of the packed furrow to hold the furrow
in a relatively accurate configuration without further support. The packed moistsoil along the sides of the furrow will substantially overcome the normal tendency
of the furrow sides to slide downwardly and add to the depth of covering soil
5 located over the planted seeds.
Shovel 18 can also be utilized for placement of fertilizer within the
formed furrows. By running a fertilizer delivery tube along the back edge of
vertical blade 62, one can deposit solid, gaseous or liquid fertilizer in the base
of the slot formed by it. The rear edge of blade 62 is notched to provide
20 access for such fertilizer delivery. The deposition of fertilizer by furrow openers
is well known in agricultural practice and no further details concerning this
feature are believed to be necessary herein.
Furrow formation and seed deposition can best be understood from a
study of Fig. 1. The initial furrow is produced by passage of shovel 18 or
25 some other form of conventional opener, such as a double disk coulter. Shovel18 forms a rough open furrow 23 whose sides are covered by loose moist soil.
An extended slot 21, produced by action of pending shovel blade 62, extends
vertically from the furrow base (defined by passage of lower edge 60 on shovel
18) and a slot bottom surface 11. If the rough furrow 23 is formed by a
30 double disk coulter or other opener, the cut soil might extend in a continuous
slot from the field surface to the elevation indicated in Fig. 1 by the reference
numeral 1 1.
The subsequent rolling action of press wheels 10 will pack the furrow
sides 24 in a predefined sloping configuration. The sides will be firmed in a
35 shape-retaining manner because of the covering of moist soil provided by action
13 2 12 3 1 8 0 PAT-CA~lAP-00
of the disclosed shovel 18. The rolling pressure of press wheels 10 will also
close the slot 21. In the embodiment of the invention, the slot is then partially
reestablished by the cutting action of rolling coulter 34.
The side walls of the newly reestablished slot are immediately disrupted
s by wings 55 on the overlapping points 54 at both sides of runner 28. This fills
the slot, except where the slot is filled by the dowllwardly projecting structure
of runner 28. Sliding passage of runner 28 subsequently smooth the sides and
bottom surface 27 of the side-receiving slot that is open immediately behind
runner 28.
lo In operation, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the shovel 18, press
wheels 10, coulter 34, boot 14 and runner 28 act cooperatively to assure highly
accurate depth placement of seeds 32 at the base of the packed furrow.
The working depth relationship between these elements is shown in Fig.
1. It can be adjusted directly by raising or lowering collar 39 along its
s supporting crankshaft 41. With the yoke 40 engaged across the upper surface
of bar 38 due to the tension applied by springs 36, boot 14 should maintain the
bottom edge of runner 28 at an elevation such that its lowermost elevation is
somewhat above the lowermost elevation of the circular coulter 34. Similarly,
the downward extension of vertical blade 62 from the lower edge 60 of plate
20 58 in shovel 18 is greater than the radial dimension of coulter 34 that protrudes
from the press wheel rims 46.
With the lower edge 60 across shovel 18 preset to an elevation
substantially identical to the elevation of press wheel rims 46, the bottom of the
slot produced by passage of shovel blade 62 will be at an elevation beneath the
25 slot formed by rolling action of coulter 34. Thus, placement of fertilizer behind
the shovel blade 62 can take place at an elevation below that at which seed is
deposited behind runner 28. Fertilizer placed behind shovel 18 will be covered
by loose soil falling within the newly-opened furrow, as well as by the
subsequent rolling action of press wheels 10 and coulter 34, which support the
30 weight of the seed drill. This will pack soil above the fertilizer and prevent
subsequent intermixing of fertilizer and seed.
When adjusting the seed drill for normal usage during planting procedures,
the elevational position of each shovel 18 on frame 12 is selected so as to
maintain the horizontal lower edge 60 below the soil moisture line at all times.35 This is accomplished by adjustment of a conventional linkage support system (not
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1 4 PAT-cANlAp oo
shown) on the conventional seed drill frame 12. With the shovels 18 at this
depth, the rims 46 of press wheel 10 will roll along the open furrow at the
same elevation as the lower edge 60 of the aligned shovel 18. Since the rims
46 define the base 26 of the packed furrow, one can then adjust the elevation
s of boot 14 relative to press wheels 10 by operation of crank 37. The elevation
of the lowermost edge along runner 28 can be adjusted to any elevation slightly
above the lowermost elevation of the coulter 34.
With the elements adjusted as just described, the base 26 of the furrow
will remain in moist soil. The sides of the furrow will have moist soil deflected
lo over them by operation of deflector 65 and front surface 61 of shovel 18. An
open slot will be formed behind the shovel blade 62 to an elevation below the
lowermost elevation of the periphery of coulter 34. The slot will be partially
filled behind the shovel 18 and the portions of it under coulter 34 will be filled
by rolling passage of press wheels 10 and coulter 34. Rolling movement of
coulter 34 will reopen and redefine the soil slot at the base of the furrow and
produce an open slot structure within which the runner 28 can slide as the seed
drill travels longitu~linally through the field.
The close proximity of runner 28 to the perimeter of coulter 34
substantially prevents any soil from falling into that portion of the slot filled by
the runner 28 until passage of the runner has been completed. Seed is dropped
immediately behind runner 28 and is accurately deposited at the selected depth
within the open slot 30 prior to being covered by passage of packing wheel 22,
which rolls along the base 26 of the furrow.
Because soil conditions vary about a field, the actual elevation of runner
28 can change slightly as more or less soil resistance is encountered by the
runner 28. Boot 14 will pivot upwardly about the arc centered on the
transverse press wheel axis to maintain even pressure against the subsoil
structure. This amount of movement is relatively slight, and is shown to an
exaggerated degree in Fig. 4.
When a subsoil obstacle, such as the rock 44 (Fig. 4) is encountered, the
boot 14 and runner 28 are free to move both upwardly and rearwardly as
required to clear it. The rearward force against the rock 44 would otherwise
cause structural damage to the seeding assembly components. Boot 14 not only
moves upwardly relative to shank 16 (in opposition to tension springs 36), but
also swings rearwardly against the yieldable mounting of shank 16 (in opposition
2 1 2 3 1 8 0 PAT-CANIAP-OO
to leaf spring 42). As soon as the obstacle has been overcome, the springs will
return boot 14 and shank 16 to their normal working positions.
It is important to note the accurate longitudinal alignment of the various
components. The shovel blade 62, the vertical coulter 34 and the runner 28 are
s at all times in longitudinal alignment with one another. The critical alignment
of runner 28 and coulter 34 is assured by the fact that boot 14 straddles the
sides of coulter 34 and cannot be displaced by turning forces or other resistance
encountered in the soil being worked. The result of this alignment is not only
careful preparation of the seed-receiving slot, but also accurate seed placementlo within the slot at the rear of runner 28.
As previously mentioned, the described components lend themselves readily
to placement of fertilizer at the back of the shovel blade 62. In addition, the
mechanical disturbance of soil to an elevation below the seed planting depth
tends to aerate the soil, which seems to destroy some of the organisms damaging
to germin;~ting plants.
Figs. 13-15 show a variation of the runner 28. In this arrangement the
press wheels 10 are separated by a solid circular disk 70 sandwiched between
them. The outer diameter of disk 70 is less than the outer diameter of the
press wheel rims 46. The resulting slot between the press wheel rims 46
rotatably receives a circumferential ring 72 transversely centered within the press
wheels 10. The circumference of ring 72 is preferably rece~ec1 slightly from theadjacent press wheel rims 46 so as to not interfere with the ability of the press
wheels 10 to roll through field trash without collecting it on the non-rotating
ring 72.
Runner 28 is formed integrally with ring 72 and extends rearwardly from
beneath the press wheels 10, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Its upright rear
edge is provided with a flexible seed delivery tube 75 running to its lower edge.
The lower end of seed delivery tube 75 opens immediately behind the runner
28. It also might be overlapped by thin protective side plates, as previously
described with respect to the structure of plates 78 provided along runner 28.
Provision can be made to yieldably support ring 72 and runner 28 relative
to frame 12. As an example, a longitudinal rod 80 is shown pivoted to a
protruding ear 81 at the upper portion of ring 72. The rear end of rod 80 is
enlarged and abutted by a compression spring 82 positioned between the rear
35 end of rod 80 and a depending bracket 83 on frame 12. A threaded nut 84
2123180
16 PAT-CANI,9p 00
surrounding the rod 80 can be adjusted to preset the normal working elevation
of runner 28 relative to the press wheels 10 and frame 12.
In this arrangement, the circumferential groove formed about the press
wheels 10 directly guides the runner 28. The spring 82, rod 80 and associated
s elements provide yieldable means operably connected to the runner 28 for
normally biasing runner 28 to a working position within the slot 30 and for
allowing runner 28 to move upwardly about the llan~/el~e axis of the press
wheels 10 in response to engaged soil resistance or encountered obstacles. The
working position or elevation of runner 28 is defined by the adjustable nut 84.
lo Except in very shallow planting situations within fields that have beencarefully prepared, the second embodiment shown in Figs. 13-15 will require
formation of a furrow and open slot by a prece-1ing opener, such as the shovel
18 shown in Figs. 1 and 16-18. The depending runner 28 will then reestablish
the confines of the slot immediately prior to deposition of seeds within it.
1S Figs. 9-12 diagrammatically illustrate a preferred spatial relationship between
the press wheels 10 and runner 28 in both embodiments of the invention. As
shown in Fig. 9, the runner 28 should be supported so that its bottom edge is
positionable in a plane coincident with the plane of base 26 across the packed
furrow after rolling engagement by press wheels 10. From this position, the
runner 28 can be lowered about the arc centered at the rotational axis of press
wheels 10 to establish a planting depth for the seeds. As runner 28 pivots
about the press wheel axis, its rear edge will define the maximum slot depth
formed by its sliding passage through the soil. This depth can be accurately
gauged because it is a direct function of the position of the supporting boot orring that guides the runner 28 relative to the press wheels 10. Fig. 10 shows
the runner 28 forming a very shallow seed-receiving slot. Fig. 11 shows a deep
planting position. In addition, runner 28 can be raised relative to the axis of
press wheels 10 to a transport position (Fig. 12) where it is elevated for
movement about a field without contacting the soil surface.
It is to be understood that the described planting assemblies are to be
used in multiple positions across a seed drill for simultaneously see-1ing a
plurality of rows. While the runners 28 will normally be set at a common
elevation relative to the supporting framework of a seed drill, the described
support system for the individual runners 28 will permit them to be individually35 adjusted if necessary. For instance, a runner 28 lined with vehicle wheel marks
17 2 12 3 1 8 0 PAT-CANIAP-00
in the field might be elevationally set at a height slightly different from the
height of adjacent runners engaging soil that is not packed.
Figs. 19-31 illustrate a structurally simplified embodiment of the invention.
The runner and boot are primarily guided on the frame 12 of the seed drill.
s Auxiliary lateral guidance for the runner and boot is also provided by
engagement of the side surfaces about circular coulter 34.
Numerals identical to those used with respect to the drawings of the
prece~ling embodiments of the invention are repeated in the drawings showing
this third embodiment. Further description of the furrow-forming shovel 18 and
0 the press wheel assembly that inc1udes the previously-described circular coulter 34
is not believed to be essential to an understanding of this form of the invention.
While not illustrated with respect to this third embodiment, it is to be
understood that a trailing packing wheel similar to the wheel 22 shown in Fig.
1 will be required on frame 12 to cover seed deposited in slot 30.
1S The supporting boot in this embodiment of the invention, which
corresponds to the previously-described boot 14, is shown as an elongated arcuate
boot shank 85. The arcuate boot shank 85 and runner 86 are capable of
moving upwardly in response to encountered rocks or other obstacles, as shown
in Fig. 22.
Boot shank 85 is constructed as a rigid bar of spring steel or other
suitable structural material capable of maintaining its arcuate shape without
deflection under the loads imparted to it in this application. A narrow
longitudinal runner 86 is fixedly mounted at the lower end of the arcuate boot
shank 85. The forward end of runner 86 terminates in a sharp point.
The arcuate boot shank is guided for elevational movement within a
supporting upright boot frame 87. In Figs. 19-22, the boot frame 87 is fixed
to a transverse tool bar 88 on the seed drill frame 12. one alternate support
arrangement for boot frame 87 is generally described below with respect to Figs.30 and 31.
The arcuate boot shank 85 is located in a transversely centered upright
position behind the press wheel assembly. It has a rectangular cross-sectional
configuration, with front and rear surfaces 89, 90. the surfaces 89, 90 each hasa curvature that is substantially concentric about the press wheel axis. The
respective curvatures of surfaces 89 and 90 complement the curvature of the
18 2 1 2 3 1 8 0 PAT-CANIAP-00
circular periphery of coulter 34. The side surfaces 91 of the boot shank 85 are
parallel to one another and to the side surfaces of coulter 34.
Runner 86 extends rearwardly from beneath the press wheel assembly in
the manner previously described with respect to the initial embodiments of the
s invention. In the preferred placement of the runner 86 and boot shank 85, the
front surface of the narrow runner 86 is closely adjacent ( about 1/16th inch or1.5 mm) to the periphery of coulter 34. The front surface 89 along the boot
shank 85 should also be adjacent to the coulter, but is preferably space
rearwardly from its periphery (by about one inch or 25.4 mm). The forward
0 point of runner 86 should extend substantially beneath the coulter 34 and press
wheels 10, as previously discussed and as illustrated in the drawings.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 20 and 21, the side surface 91 of the
arcuate boot shank 85 are transversely guided along the inner upright surfaces
of a pair of side plates 99 provided at opposite sides of the boot frame 87.
15 One side plate 99 has been removed and is not visible in enlarged Figs. 20 and
21 to permit viewing access to the interior components about the boot frame 87.
The inner surfaces form guides in engagement with the side surfaces 91 of the
boot shank 85 for transversely centering the runner 86 between the press
wheels 10 as it forms a vertical slot 30 through soil between the rims 46 of the20 press wheels 10.
Guides are also in engagement with the front and rear surfaces 89 and
90 of boot shank 85 for permitting elevational movement of the boot shank 85
and runner 86 along an upright arcuate path substantially centered about the
transverse axis of press wheels 10. The guides comprise at least three
25 rollers 92, 93 and 94 respectively space along the boot frame 87 with alternate
rollers respectively engaging opposed front and rear surfaces of the boot shank
85.
The relative positions of rollers 92, 93 and 94 define the arcuate path
of boot shank 85 relative to boot frame 87 and press wheels 10. In practice,
30 it is desirable that the rollers 92, 93 and 94 be positioned to locate the arcuate
front surface of narrow runner 86 as close to the periphery of coulter 84 as is
practical. This prevents straw and other field trash from becoming entangled
between them. Any such material will be sheared by the rotational motion of
the coulter 34 relative to the arcuate front surface of runner 86.
19 2 12 3 1 8 0 PAr-CA~AP-OO
At least one of the rollers 92, 93 and 94 is movably supported relative
to the boot frame 87. More preferably, two of the rollers are movable, which
enables the user to accurately select a desired arcuate path of movement of the
boot shank 85 and to closely position the front edge of runner 86 adjacent to
5 the coulter 34.
The front roller 92 is illustrated as a split roller assembly that includes
two narrow rollers transversely spaced at opposite sides of coulter 34 (see
Figs. 20, 21 and 23). The two rollers are coaxial and individually mounted on
stub shafts carried on front roller brackets 109 pivotally mounted adjacent the
o side plates 99 about a common support shaft 123. The outer ends of brackets
109 are connected to tension springs 124 leading to threaded shafts 125 that
adjustably engage outturned brackets on the respective side plates 99 (see Figs.19 and 22). Springs 124 operably connect the front or center roller 92 to the
boot frame 87 for yieldably urging the roller toward the arcuate path of the
15 boot shank 85 relative to the boot frame 87. The individually biased sides of roller 93 also can accommodate twisting of boot shank 85 when this is
encountered during seeding operations.
The arcuate path of boot shank 85 is adjustably defined by the movable
rear rollers 93 and 94 that roll against the rear surface 90 of boot shank 85.
20 Each roller 93, 94 is rotatably mounted about a transverse axis at the end ofa support arm 95 pivoted between side plates 99 of the boot frame 87 by pivot
shafts shown at 97.
Support arms 95 are positioned within boot frame 87 by adjustment
bolts 98 threadably engaged through brackets 113 fixed to one of the side
25 plates 99. By selectively adjusting the bolts 98, one can vary the position of
arcuate boot shank 85 about the front rollers 92 so that the elevational arcuatepath of movement of the boot shank 85 is substantially centered about the axis
of press wheels 10.
The adjustable tension applied to the center roller 93 by the springs 124
30 varies the rolling pressure exerted on the front and rear surfaces of boot
shank 85 by the three guiding rollers 92, 93 and 94. They should be adjusted
to permit free rolling engagement between the rollers and boot shank. The
yieldable ability of roller 93 also accommodates any practical variations in thearcuate shape of the bent rigid bar that comprises the boot shank 85.
20 2 i 2 3 1 8 0 PAT-CANlAP-OO
The boot frame 87 includes a rearwardly projecting mounting bar 100 fixed
between side plates 99. The mounting bar 100 is adapted to be releasably
engaged and fixed within a receiving socket 101 on the supporting tool bar 88.
It can be clamped within socket 101 by a releasable bolt, thereby facilitating
s removal of boot frame 87 and the supported boot shank 85 for repair and
replacement purposes.
A seed delivery tube 102 is fixed at the rear end of runner 86. It leads
to an open end directly behind the upright narrow runner 86. This permits
seeds 32 to be deposited at a location immediately behind runner 86. A flexible
seed delivery hose 104 is illustrated in dashed lines in Figs. 19 and 22. It leads
to a seed metering mechanism (not shown) on the seed drill frame 12 and
supplies seeds to the planting assembly in the conventional manner.
The upper end of boot shank 85 is provided with at least one spring
operably connected between it and the boot frame 87 for yieldably urging the
1S boot shank downwardly relative to the boot frame. An example of a spring forthis purpose is the illustrated tension spring 108. Spring 108 is one of a pair
of identical tension springs that extend between adjustable tension bolts 107 atopposite sides of a tlarl~vel~e end bracket 106 on the boot shank 85 and
anchoring bolts 112 at the respective side plates 99 of boot frame 87.
The end bracket 106 is fixed across an arcuate channel 105 having an
elongated slot 110 formed through it. Channel 105 overlies the curved bar that
comprises the movable arcuate boot shank 85. It is longituclinally adjustable
relative to the rigid bar by means of a clamping plate 111 and clamping
bolt 114.
The lower edges of channel 105 abut the upper edges of side plates 99
due to the yieldable forces exerted by tension springs 108. One can selectively
vary the normal planting position of arcuate boot shank 85 and runner 86 by
varying the longitudinal position of channel 105 along the rear surface 90 of
arcuate boot shank 85 (see Fig. 28). This can be preset by rolling the
coulter 34 onto a hard supporting surface. By then placing a block of
predetermined height (not shown) under runner 86, one can adjust the position
of channel 105 to locate the bottom edge of runner 86 at the desired planting
depth relative to the rims 46 of press wheels 10.
Springs 108 will keep the runner 86 at its preset elevation and seed will
be accurately deposited within the resulting soil slot during normal see(ling
21 2 1 2 3 1 8 0 PAT-CANlAP-00
operations, as illustrated in Fig. 19. However, should a rock or other obstacle
be encountered by the front of the narrow runner 86, the runner and supporting
boot shank 85 can move elevationally upward (as shown in Fig. 22) in opposition
to the forces of the springs 108. The runner 86 will be returned to its working
s position after the obstacle has been passed. As the arcuate boot shank 85 is
raised upwardly, it can also rock forwardly in resistance to the pres~ure of
springs 125 and further prevent damage due to an encountered obstacle.
Figs. 30 and 31 illustrate a modified support system for the boot
frame 86. In this arrangement, forwardly extending support brackets 115 are
o fixed across the rear edges of side plates 99 within the boot frame 87. The
front ends of brackets 115 are rotatably carried by an axle 116 at the center
of press wheels 10. Upwardly extending arms 117 are connected to support
arms 115. Arms 117 are anchored to the frame 12 of the seed drill to
elevationally position boot frame 87 relative to frame 12. The two sets of
15 arms 115 and 117 straddle opposite transverse sides of the press wheels 10. No
further changes in structure or operation are involved beyond those described
previously with respect to Figs. 19-22.
Boot frame 87 also optionally supports scrapers that movably engage the
side surfaces of coulter 34 to remove mud and debris that might otherwise
20 impede rolling formation of a clean slot by soil penetration of the coulter 34.
In Figs. 19, 21, 22 and 25, the scraper comprises two eccentrically
weighted scrapers 118 pivotally mounted to the boot frame 87 about axes parallelto the associated wheel axis of press wheels 10. Each scraper 118 has a corner
edge 119 engaging one side of coulter 34. The outboard weight of each
25 scraper 118 provided by extensions 120 maintains an even scraping pres~ure
against the sides of coulter 34 for continuous removal of mud and other debris
during use of the seed drill. Spring pressure can be exerted on the scraper 118
if desired.
Figs. 26 and 27 illustrate a variation of the scraper assembly. In place
30 of scrapers 118, two rollers 121 are rotatably mounted to the boot frame 87
about axes parallel to the sides of coulter 34. Each roller has a helically
grooved cylindrical surface 122 engaging one side of the coulter. As the rollersturn against the coulter sides, mud and debris will be swept radially outward
across the coulter sides by action of the rotating helical grooves.
22 2 1 2 3 1 8 0 PAT-CANIAP-OO
Other suitable forms of scraping and cleaning devices can be mounted to
the boot frame as substitutes for the illustrated scrapers 118 and rollers 121.
In addition, helically grooved rollers (not shown), similar to rollers 121, can be
used in place of the illustrated smooth rollers 93 and 94 to clear trash or mud
5 from the rear surface of the boot shank 85 as it moves upwardly and
downwardly along the supporting boot frame 87.
Auxiliary guidance of the boot shank 85 can be provided by forwardly-
projecting boot shank guides 127 fixed along its rigid rectangular bar structure.
See Fig. 28. The guide 127 is formed from a solid plate of plastic resin, and
10 is slotted at 128 to loosely receive the coulter 34. A second such guide (not shown) can also be located toward the top end of the boot shank 85.
Guidance can be similarly provided by a series of staggered plates (not shown)
in engagement with opposite sides of the coulter 34.
In all of the forms of this invention, the drawings depict the elements of
Is the invention in the preferred forms recogni~ed at the time each embodiment
was designed. Alternative forms of these elements can be substituted as
substantial replacements dictated by particular machine requirements.
The invention has been described in language more or less specific as to
structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the
20 invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the
means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into
effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications
within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted to
include equivalent apparatus.
