Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SOIL DEFLECTOR WING FOR FURROW OPENER WITH
REPLACEABLE WINGED TIP BODY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a furrow opener including an opener
body mounted on an implement shank and a replaceable tip body mounted on the
opener body which includes wing portions, and more particularly the present
invention
relates to an opener body with a replaceable tip body in which the opener body
includes deflector wings above the wing portions of the tip body to deflect
soil away
from a junction between the wing portions of the tip body and the opener body.
BACKGROUND
A typical arrangement of a furrow row opener includes a knife to
produce a deep narrow furrow to position fertilizer in the deepest part of a
furrow and
wings extending rearwardly and laterally outward in relation to the knife for
widening
the furrow to position a pair of seeded rows along opposing sides of the
furrow above
the fertilizer. One example of a furrow opener of this type is disclosed in
Canadian
Patent 2,432,272 in which the knife and wings are integrally formed on a tip
body
which is readily separable from the opener body for replacement if the tip
becomes
worn and requires replacement. When used in some soil conditions, soil can be
forced into the seam between the opener body and the tip body which can
interfere
with product delivery passages communicating between the opener body and tip
body
or can cause difficulty in replacing the tip body due to the wedging of soil
between
opener body and tip body.
In some instances it is desirable to use anhydrous ammonia as a
fertilizer injected into the furrow. Due to the cooling effect from anhydrous
ammonia
being readily evaporated as it is injected, known furrow openers for use with
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anhydrous ammonia typically require a complex insulating structure to insulate
the
fertilizer passage through the opener body to prevent plugging of the
fertilizer or seed
passages from frost accumulation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a furrow
opener for use with an agricultural implement supported for movement in a
forward
working direction and having a plurality of implement shanks, the furrow
opener
comprising:
an opener body comprising a shank mount arranged to support the
opener body on the implement shank for movement therewith in the forward
working
direction;
a furrowing tip body comprising:
a tip mount supporting the tip body on the opener body;
a knife portion projecting forwardly from the tip mount to a
forward end of the tip body; and
at least one wing portion projecting rearwardly from the knife
portion and laterally outwardly in relation to a respective side of the opener
body in
which the wing portion includes an inner edge substantially abutted with the
respective side of the opener body;
the opener body including a deflector wing in association with said at
least one wing portion in which the deflector wing projects laterally
outwardly from the
respective side of the opener body above the inner edge of the wing portion;
and
the tip mount being readily separable from the opener body such that
the knife portion and said at least one wing portion are separable from the
opener
body together with one another.
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The use of a deflector wing in proximity to the seam between the top
body wings and the opener body which is suitably shaped to deflect soil away
from
the seam as the furrow opener is advanced through the soil prevents the
accumulation of soil between the opener body and tip body. This ensures proper
operation of the product delivery passages through the tip body from the
opener body
regardless of soil conditions.
Preferably the deflector wing associated with said at least one wing
portion is formed in proximity to the inner edge of said at least one wing
portion so as
to be adapted to deflect soil away from the inner edge of said at least one
wing
portion as the opener is displaced in the forward working direction.
Preferably said at least one wing includes a rear portion which extends
rearwardly from the knife portion and the tip mount so as to define the inner
edge
extending rearward alongside the respective side of the opener body.
Preferably the deflector wing associated with said at least one wing
portion is positioned directly above said at least one wing portion.
Preferably the inner edge of said at least one wing portion extends
rearwardly at an upward inclination.
Preferably said at least one wing portion extends rearwardly from the
knife portion to a rear end which is positioned upwardly and rearwardly in
relation to a
lowermost portion of the deflector wing associated with the wing portion.
Preferably the deflector wing associated with said at least one wing
portion includes a lower surface having a forward portion which extends
rearwardly at
a laterally outward inclination from a front edge of the deflector wing to
define a
wedge shape arranged to deflect soil outwardly.
Preferably the lower surface of the deflector wing associated with said at
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least one wing portion includes a rearward portion which extends rearwardly
from the
forward portion at an upward inclination alongside the inner edge of the
deflector
wing.
Preferably the deflector wing associated with said at least one wing
portion is integrally and seamless joined with the opener body.
Preferably said at least one wing portion comprises a pair of wing
portions extending laterally outwardly from opposing sides of the opener body
such
that the deflector wings associated with each wing portion is supported on a
respective one of the opposing sides of the opener body.
The opener preferably further comprising:
a primary delivery passage extending through the opener body so as to
be arranged to deliver a primary particulate material therethrough; and
an outlet passage extending through the tip body so as to communicate
from the primary delivery passage of the opener body to the wing portions to
dispense
a primary particulate material therethrough rearwardly of the wing portions.
When provided in combination with an agricultural implement having a
plurality of anhydrous ammonia delivery tubes, the furrow opener may further
comprise:
a rear bracket member supported on the opener body rearwardly
of the tip body; and
a mounting block formed of insulating material supported on the
rear bracket so as to be selectively separable from the rear bracket member;
wherein the mounting block includes a delivery passage
communicating therethrough so as to be arranged for connection to one of the
anhydrous ammonia delivery tubes at a location spaced rearwardly from the
opener
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body.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided
a furrow opener for use with an agricultural implement supported for movement
in a
forward working direction and having a plurality of implement shanks and a
plurality of
5 anhydrous ammonia delivery tubes, the furrow opener comprising:
an opener body comprising a shank mount arranged to support the
opener body on one of the implement shanks for movement therewith in the
forward
working direction;
a primary delivery passage extending through the opener body so as to
be arranged to deliver a primary particulate material therethrough;
a furrowing tip body comprising:
a tip mount supporting the tip body on the opener body;
an outlet passage extending through the tip body so as to
communicate from the primary delivery passage of the opener body to an outlet
opening at a rear of the tip body; and
a knife portion projecting forwardly from the tip mount to a
forward end of the tip body so as to be arranged to form a furrow in the
ground;
the tip mount being readily separable from the opener body such
that the knife portion is readily separable from the opener body;
a rear bracket member supported on the opener body rearwardly of the
tip body; and
a mounting block formed of insulating material supported on the rear
bracket so as to be selectively separable from the rear bracket member;
the mounting block including a delivery passage communicating
therethrough so as to be arranged for connection to one of the anhydrous
ammonia
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delivery tubes at a location spaced rearwardly from the opener body.
The configuration of the mounting block being formed of insulating
material and being arranged for mounting rearwardly of the opener body ensures
that
the cooling effect resulting from the injection of readily evaporated
anhydrous
ammonia is isolated from the opener body. Furthermore, the mounting of the
mounting block on the rear bracket projecting rearwardly from the opener body
also
allows for ready interchangeability between anhydrous ammonia delivery and
particular material fertilizer delivery.
Preferably the shank mount is arranged to support the opener body on a
forward face of the implement shank and the rear bracket extends rearwardly
from the
opener body below the shank mount such that the mounting block is aligned with
an
anhydrous ammonia delivery tube rearward of the implement shank.
Preferably the rear bracket comprises a vertical flange including fastener
apertures therein in alignment with corresponding fastener apertures in the
mounting
block which receive fasteners extending therethrough.
Preferably the rear bracket is laterally offset towards one side of the
opener body and is mounted against a corresponding side surface of the
mounting
block.
There may be provided a recess formed in a side surface of the
mounting block which receives the rear bracket therein.
Preferably the mounting block includes an upper portion fastened to the
rear bracket and a lower portion extending below the rear bracket directly
rearward of
the tip body in which an outlet of the delivery passage is located in a bottom
wall of
the lower portion of the mounting block rearward of the tip body.
Preferably the rear bracket is integrally and seamlessly joined with the
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opener body.
When provided in combination with a secondary delivery tube arranged
to deliver a secondary particulate material therethrough, the secondary
delivery tube
and the mounting block are preferably interchangeably supported on the rear
bracket.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the furrow opener.
Figure 2 is a right side elevational view of the furrow opener.
Figure 3 is a left side elevational view of the furrow opener.
Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the furrow opener.
Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the furrow opener.
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the furrow opener.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the opener body with the tip body
shown removed.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the tip body shown separated from the
opener body.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the rear and bottom sides of the
insulated mounting block for supported an anhydrous ammonia delivery tube.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a furrowing tip
body generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The tip body 10 is arranged
for use
with a paired row opener 12 of the type which is suited for mounting on a
implement
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shank 14 of an agricultural cultivator operated in a forward working direction
in use.
The opener 12 comprises an opener body 16 including a shank mount
18 arranged for mounting onto the shank 14 using suitable fasteners. The
opener also
includes a primary delivery passage 20 and a secondary delivery passage 22
arranged for delivering respective materials therethrough, for example
particulate
seed or various forms of fertilizer and the like.
In the illustrated embodiment the primary delivery passage 20 extends
along a front side of the shank mount 18 to be located at the front of the
opener body
16 while the secondary delivery passage 22 is arranged to be supported
rearwardly of
the shank mount for delivering the secondary material therethrough at a
location
spaced rearwardly of the implement shank. In further embodiments both delivery
passages may be mounted ahead of the shank mount or rearwardly of the shank
mount. In either instance the opener body 16 extends downwardly and forwardly
to a
bottom end supporting a lug 24 thereon which projects downwardly and forwardly
for
supporting the tip body 10 thereon.
The furrowing tip body 10 comprises a cast member forming a tip mount
26 therein in the form of a socket arranged to receive the lug 24 of the
opener body
therein. The socket defining the tip mount 26 and the lug 24 are arranged for
close
mating configuration with one another such that transverse mounting apertures
28
extending through the tip mount 26 and the lug 24 are arranged to align with
one
another in the mated position of the tip body on the opener body to receive a
suitable
mounting pin 30 which retains the tip body on the opener body. Removal of the
pin 30
permits the tip body to be readily separated from the opener body.
The tip body is narrow between two generally parallel opposing side
walls 32 extending along opposing sides of the tip mount 26 defined
therebetween.
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The side walls 32 extend forwardly from the tip mount to define a knife
portion 34 of
similar width as the tip mount 26 which extends downwardly and forwardly to a
bottom
leading edge 36 of the knife portion which forms a lowermost portion of the
tip body.
The leading edge 36 includes a pointed carbide tip 38 secured thereon forming
the
leading edge of the knife portion. The bottom apex of the knife portion is
aligned with
the socket forming the tip mount 26 so that knife portion is aligned with the
opener
body and the implement shank upon which it is supported.
Two wing portions 40 are supported to extend generally rearwardly and
laterally outwardly from opposing sides of the knife portion. Each wing
portion
includes a first forward portion 42 having a leading edge 44 which extends
laterally
outwardly and rearwardly from the side wall 32 of the knife portion from a
location
positioned upwardly and rearwardly from the leading edge of the knife portion.
The
leading edge 44 of each wing portion is near horizontal in orientation,
locating a
suitable carbide insert 46 along the edge thereof. The forward portion 42 of
each wing
portion also includes an upper surface 48 which extends generally upwardly and
rearwardly from the leading edge 44 thereof to be joined with a respective
second
rearward portion 50 of the wing portion 40 extending rearwardly therefrom.
The second rearward portion 50 of each wing portion includes an outer
edge 52 which extends rearward from a rear end of the leading edge 44 of the
corresponding first forward portion such that the outer edge extends rearward
substantially parallel to the other outer edge 52 and parallel to the forward
working
direction. The outer edge 52 further extends rearward along the bottom of the
tip body
in a near horizontal orientation to a rearmost end of the tip body 10.
The second rearward portion 50 of each wing portion also includes an
upper surface which is continuous and coplanar with the upper surface of the
first
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forward portion 32 of the wing portion. The upper surface of the rearward
portion 50
continues to extend rearward to a rear edge which is adjacent the rearmost end
of the
tip body.
At an outer side 56 of each rearward portion 50 the upper surface 54
5 extends to an upright rear edge 58 of the wing portion which is near
vertical in
orientation at the rearmost end of the tip body so as to be generally in a
common
plane with a rear face 60 of the tip body.
The tip body also includes a central chamber 62 centrally located
between the two wing portions 40 rearward of the tip mount 26. The central
chamber
10 62 includes a top opening 64 which opens through the top end thereof for
communication with the open bottom end of the primary delivery passage 20 of
the
opener body directly thereabove. The central chamber 62 is thus suitably
arranged to
receive a primary particulate material from the primary delivery passage 20 of
the
opener body. The central chamber 62 serves to split the material received
therein into
a pair of rows which are laterally spaced apart when dispensed through two
outlet
openings 66 located in the rear face 60 at the rearmost end of the tip body.
The central chamber 62 is arranged to be enclosed along the bottom
side thereof by a bottom wall 68 which spans substantially a full bottom of
the
chamber between both the first and second portions of the wing portions 40
from the
knife portion at the forward end of the tip body to the rear face 60 at the
rearmost end
of the tip body.
The central chamber is further enclosed along the rear side thereof by a
rear wall 70 between the two outlet openings 66 which serves to define the
lateral
spacing between the outlet openings 66. The rear wall 70 extends vertically
upward
from the bottom wall 68 at the rearmost end of the tip body to define the rear
face 60
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in a common plane with the upright rear edges 58 of the wing portions 40.
A substantial portion of the top of the central chamber 62 is enclosed by
the rearward portions 50 of the two wing portions 40 which extend upwardly and
inwardly from the respective outer edge 52 to respective inner edges 72 of the
wings
which are arranged to be abutted against opposing sides of the opener body so
that
the only opening in the top side of the central chamber 62 is arranged to be
occupied
by the opener body and the primary delivery passage 20 extending therethrough
in
communication with the central chamber.
The two outlet openings 66 are arranged such that a plane of each
opening is oriented in the vertical rear face at the rearmost end of the tip
body
generally perpendicular to the forward working direction and in a common plane
with
one another, with the upright rear edges of the wings and with the rear face
60. The
upright rear edges of the wing portions and the upright edge of the rear wall
70
terminate at respective upper free edges arranged to abut the opener body when
the
tip body is mounted on the opener body such that the outlet openings 66 remain
open
through the top end of the tip body.
The top of the outlet openings 66 in the assembled position are thus
defined by the opener body received between the wing portions and the rear
wall 70.
The inner edges of the two outlet openings 66 are defined by opposing edges of
the
rear wall 70 whereas the outer edges of the outlet openings are defined by the
upright
rear edges of the wings. The bottom wall 68 defines the bottom edge of the
outlet
openings. In the illustrated embodiment the height of the openings is near but
slightly
greater than a lateral width of each opening between opposing sides thereof.
The bottom wall 68 includes a substantially flat bottom side 74 which is
near horizontal from the knife portion at the front of the tip body to the
rear edge at the
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rearmost end of the tip body, as well as between the two opposing outer edges
52 of
the wing portions. The leading edge of the knife portion and the leading edges
of the
two wing portions are arranged to project downwardly below the bottom side of
the
bottom wall.
An inner top side of the bottom wall 68 include a central ridge (not
shown) formed thereon to extend in the longitudinal direction while being
centered in
the lateral direction between the outer edges 52 to define two opposing
sloping
surfaces which extend downwardly and outwardly from opposing sides of the
central
ridge towards the two outlet openings 66 respectively. The central ridge thus
serves to
split the seed received in the central chamber from the primary delivery
passage 20
so that seed is deflected or diverted into two laterally spaced apart rows
exiting from
the two outlet openings 66 respectively.
The tip mount 26, the knife portion 34, the wing portions 40, the bottom
wall 68 and the rear wall 70 are all cast together as an integral tip body
which is
selectively mounted on the lug 24 of the opener body and secured by a single
mounting pin 30 such that removal of the mounting pin permits all of the
components
of the tip body to be readily separated from the opener body together for
replacement
as may be desired.
Once the tip body is attached on the opener body on an implement
shank, fertilizer can be fed through the secondary delivery passage 22 to be
deposited centrally behind the tip body for alignment with the deepest part of
the
furrower formed by the knife portion which projects downwardly below the wing
portions. Seed deposited in the primary delivery passage 20 is communicated
into the
central chamber of the tip body where the seed is split on the central ridge
to be
deflected into a pair of rows deposited through the outlet openings 60 in the
rear face
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of the tip body. The configuration of the bottom wall and the wing portions
ensures
that the central chamber is substantially fully enclosed about respective top,
bottom
and outer sides thereof so that the only openings in communication with the
central
chamber are the outlet openings in the rear face which are well protected from
dirt
being displaced by the formation of the furrow. In this manner, even in wet
conditions,
mud and debris is unlikely to enter the outlet openings so that plugging of
the primary
delivery passage 20, the central chamber 62 and the outlet openings 66 is
thereby
substantially prevented.
After extended use, the only components which typically suffer from any
substantial wearing are the knife portion and the wing portions which can be
readily
replaced by removing a single fastener through the cooperating apertures of
the tip
mount and corresponding lug of the opener body respectively. A replacement tip
body
can then be mounted onto the lug of the opener body and a mounting pin
inserted
through the cooperating apertures once again for securement on the opener
body.
Turning now more particularly to the opener body 16, the body further
comprises an upper portion 100 bolted on to the front side of the shank 14 and
defining the primary delivery passage 20 extending therethrough forwardly of
the
shank. The upper portion 100 has a lateral width which is near a width of the
shank
upon which it is supported.
The opener body also includes a lower portion 102 extending
downwardly and forwardly from the upper portion and which is reduced in
lateral width
relative to the upper portion thereabove so as to be reduced to an overall
width
between two opposing side surfaces 104 which is near the width of the rear
portion of
the knife 34 of the tip body. The two side surfaces 104 are substantially
parallel to
one another and to the forward working direction to extend rearwardly from a
front
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side where they are joined above the knife portion to a rear side adjacent the
bottom
end of the shank and directly above the rear end of the wings of the tip body.
The opener body also includes a rear bracket 106 which is integrally
cast and seamlessly formed thereon to extend rearwardly outward from the rear
side
of the body below the bottom end of the implement shank. The rear bracket 106
generally comprises a flat plate defining a flange oriented in a vertical
plane parallel to
the forward working direction. The vertical flange is laterally offset
adjacent one of the
two side surfaces 104 but remaining recessed laterally inward therefrom by the
thickness of bolt heads 108. The bolts 108 are received through vertically
spaced
apart fastener apertures 110 in the bracket.
A mounting block 112 is fastened to the rear bracket using the bolts for
supporting the second delivery passage 22 rearwardly of the shank. The second
delivery passage in this instance comprises an anhydrous ammonia delivery tube
114
arranged to conduct liquid anhydrous ammonia therethrough. The mounting block
comprises a heat insulating plastic material with a through passage therein
for
communication with the delivery tube 114 therethrough.
More particularly the block 112 comprises a rectangular block having
two sides 116 which are parallel to one another and the forward working
direction.
The two sides are spaced apart by a width which is slightly less than the
overall width
of the opener body between the two sides thereof to protect the block from
wear as
the opener is driven through the soil.
The block 112 includes an upper portion 118 including a recess 120
formed in the corresponding side surface 116 against which the flange of the
bracket
106 is abutted. The recessed 120 is suitably arranged to fully receive the
vertical
flange of the bracket therein such that an exterior side of the flange is
substantially
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flush with the remaining side surface. Two fastener apertures are located to
extend
laterally through the upper portion 118 in the mounting block in alignment
with the
corresponding apertures 110 of the bracket to receive the fasteners
therethrough for
bolting the mounting block to the rear bracket 106 such that it is readily
removable by
5 removing the threaded fasteners if desired as described in further detail
below.
The mounting block also includes a lower portion 122 extending
downwardly from the upper portion below the rear bracket to a bottom face 124
located substantially in horizontal alignment as the same elevation as the
bottom wall
of the central chamber of the tip body. The bottom face remains near in
elevation but
10 spaced slightly upwardly from the lowest portion of the knife of the tip
body. The
passage through the mounting block for communicating the delivery tube 114
therethrough extends from a top surface of the mounting block rearward of the
rear
bracket 106 at a downward and forward incline to a discharge outlet located in
the
horizontally oriented bottom face 124 at a location directly below the rear
bracket.
15 The mounting block thus serves to maintain space between the delivery
tube 114 and
the metallic opener body to minimize the cooling effect on the opener body
from the
discharge of anhydrous ammonia through the tube 114.
When a secondary delivery tube for conducting granular fertilizer or
other particulate material therethrough is provided in addition to the
delivery tube 114,
the user can readily interchange the secondary granular delivery tube with the
delivery tube 114 by removing the mounting block 112 and fastening the
secondary
delivery tube directly to the rear bracket in place of the mounting block
depending
upon the desired fertilizer type to be dispensed.
Where it is desireable to prevent soil from being forced into the seam
between the inner edge 72 of the wing portions and the opener body under
certain
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soil conditions, the opener body is typically provided with two deflector
wings 130
which are integrally and seamlessly joined onto the opposing side surfaces 104
of the
body in association with the two wing portions of the tip body respectively.
Each
deflector wing 130 is mounted substantially rearward of the knife portion of
the tip
body to be both above and forward of a substantial portion of the rearward
portions 50
of the wing portions of the tip body respectively. More particularly, the
deflector wings
130 extend alongside the inner edges 72 of the wing portions alongside the
side
surfaces of the opener body directly above the inner edges for deflecting soil
outwardly away from the inner edges.
Each deflector wing 130 includes an upper surface 132 which extends
from a pointed forward tip 134 of the defector wing to a rear end which is
near a rear
end of the wings. Each deflector wing also includes a lower surface including
a
forward portion 136 extending rearwardly from the tip 134 towards the front of
the
inner edge 72 of the rearward portion 50 of the respective tip body wing. The
forward
portion 136 extends rearward at a laterally outward inclination so as to form
a wedge
shape which deflects soil laterally outwardly away from the inner edges. A
rear
portion 138 of the lower surface of each defector wing extends at an upward
and
rearward inclination corresponding to the upward and rearward incline of the
inner
edge 72 so as to extend directly adjacent to and alongside the inner edge
along the
length thereof to the rear end of the deflector wing.
The deflector wings protrude laterally outwardly from opposing sides of
the opener body to define an overall width between the outer edges of the two
deflector wings which is less than the overall width of the upper portion of
the opener
body and which is only slightly greater than the overall width of the knife
portion of the
tip body. In this instance, the wing portions of the tip body protrude
laterally outwardly =
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much greater than the deflector wings so that the overall width is much
greater at the
wing portions of the tip body. The deflector wings thus have little or no
effect on the
formation of the overall width of the furrow, as well as little or no effect
on the drag of
the opener moving through the soil, but instead act primarily to redirect the
flow of soil
directly adjacent the opposing sides of the opener body downwardly and/or
laterally
outwardly away from the inner edges of the wings on the tip body.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same
made,
it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification
shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
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