Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
GROUND WORKING APPARATUS INCLUDING COULTER AND
SHOVEL FOR USE WITH LIQUID FERTILIZER INJECTOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ground working apparatus arranged to
be supported on the toolbar of an agricultural implement for forming an
undercut trough
in the ground using a coulter disc followed by a shovel with a liquid
fertilizer injector
rearward of the shovel placing liquid fertilizer in the undercut trough.
BACKGROUND
Various types of flowable fertilizers, for example manure, ammonia
containing liquids, and the like, are known to be applied to an agricultural
field. In some
instances, an implement is used to apply the fertilizer in which the implement
includes
tools for cutting openings in the ground followed by liquid injectors to
inject fertilizer into
the openings in the ground.
United States Patent Nos. 5,531,171 by Whitesel et al and 6,325,156 by
Barry each disclose examples of an applicator tool for an agricultural
implement in
which discs are used to cut an opening in the ground, followed by a shovel to
widen the
opening to inject fertilizer through an injector carried on a shank that the
shovel is
supported on. In each instance, the disc is carried on a disc arm that is
intended to
deflect upward when the disc encounters debris, however, the shovel is lifted
from the
ground with the disc arm so that the fertilizer is not properly injected below
the surface
of the ground each time the disc encounters even small obstacles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a ground
working apparatus for use with an agricultural implement having a toolbar
arranged to
be displaced across ground in a forward working direction, the apparatus
comprising:
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a mounting bracket arranged to be mounted on the toolbar in fixed relation
to the toolbar;
a disc arm extending downwardly and rearwardly between an upper end
of the disc arm and a lower end of the disc arm;
an upright pivot assembly pivotally coupling the upper end of the disc arm
relative to the mounting bracket such that the disc arm is pivotal about an
upright axis
relative to the mounting bracket;
a coulter disc rotatably supported on the lower end of the disc arm to form
a cut in the ground when displaced in the forward working direction;
the upright pivot assembly preventing upward movement of the coulter
disc relative to the mounting bracket;
a tool shank extending downwardly and rearwardly between an upper end
of the tool shank and a lower end of the tool shank;
a lateral pivot assembly pivotally coupling the upper end of the tool shank
relative to the disc arm such that the tool shank is pivotal relative to the
disc arm about
a lateral axis while being pivotal with the disc arm about the upright axis of
the upright
pivot assembly;
a pressure mechanism arranged to prevent upward pivotal movement of
the tool shank relative to the disc arm until an upward pressure applied to
the tool shank
exceeds a prescribed holding force of the pressure mechanism; and
a shovel supported on the lower end of the tool shank to form an undercut
trough connected to the cut in the ground for receiving fertilizer from a
liquid fertilizer
injector supported rearwardly of the tool shank.
By supporting the disc arm with an upright pivot assembly that prevents
upward movement of the coulter disc relative to the disc arm, the disc acts to
push most
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obstacles, for example rocks, deeper into the ground to clear a path for the
following
shovel and fertilizer injection. If a larger object is encountered, the disc
is able to deflect
laterally around the obstacle. In either instance, the shovel continues to
inject fertilizer
below the surface of the ground instead of being wasted at the surface of the
ground.
Preferably the lateral axis of the lateral pivot assembly is adjacent to the
upper end of the disc arm.
Preferably the lateral axis of the lateral pivot assembly is forward of the
disc axis of the coulter disc.
The tool shank is curved about a center of curvature in which the center
of curvature lies in proximity to the disc axis.
In the illustrated embodiment, the lower end of the disc arm may be
spaced laterally outwardly from a plane of rotation of the coulter disc with
the disc arm
being sloped towards said plane of rotation from the lower end to the upper
end of the
disc arm.
The apparatus may be used with an agricultural implement in which the
toolbar extends at a slope, non-perpendicularly to the forward working
direction. In this
instance, the mounting bracket is preferably arranged to mount onto the sloped
toolbar
to extend rearward from the toolbar in parallel with the forward working
direction.
The disc arm is preferably pivotal about the upright axis through a range
of at least 25 degrees from a neutral position of the disc arm in which the
disc axis is
oriented perpendicularly to the forward working direction.
When used in combination with a supply of liquid fertilizer in
communication with the fertilizer injector supported on the tool shank, the
fertilizer
injector is preferably supported on the tool shank so as to be movable
together with the
shovel about the lateral axis of the lateral pivot assembly.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ground working apparatus shown
supported on a section of a toolbar of an agricultural implement;
Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the ground working apparatus
according to Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the ground working apparatus
according to Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective top view of the ground working apparatus
according to Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a partly sectional perspective side view of the ground working
apparatus according to Figure 1;
Figure 6 is another perspective view of the partly sectional ground working
.. apparatus of Figure 5; and
Figure 7 is a schematic representation of an exemplary agricultural
implement upon which a plurality of the ground working apparatuses according
to
Figure 1 are supported, in which the agricultural implement is shown connected
in
towing relationship with an agricultural tractor for movement across ground in
a forward
working direction.
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 ground
.. working apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The
apparatus 10 is
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particularly suited for use with an agricultural implement 12 arranged to be
towed across
ground in a forward working direction F by an agricultural tractor 14, for
injecting a liquid
fertilizer product, for example liquid manure or an ammonia containing liquid
product,
into the ground as the apparatus is displaced in the forward working direction
with the
implement.
According to one exemplary embodiment, the implement 12 may be a
winged implement as represented schematically in Figure 7. In the illustrated
example,
the implement 12 includes a frame having a centre section 16 arranged for
towing
connection to the agricultural tractor 14 while being carried on respective
wheels for
.. rolling movement in the forward working direction. The frame further
includes two wing
sections 18 which extend laterally outward from opposing sides of the center
section in
a field position. The wing sections 18 are pivotal between the field position
and a
transport position in which the wing sections extend generally rearward from
the centre
section 16. Each section of the frame includes a toolbar 17 arranged to
support a
.. plurality of the ground working apparatuses 10 thereon. In the illustrated
embodiment,
the toolbar sections on the wing sections 18 of the frame are sloped non-
perpendicularly to the forward working direction to extend laterally outward
at a
rearward slope in the field position.
Each wing section is supported by one or more wheel units 20 which are
arranged to be adjustable in height relative to the frame to raise and lower
the frame
relative to the ground by adjustment of the wheel height. Each wheel unit
includes a
mounting frame arranged to be mounted in fixed and immovable relation to the
respective toolbar. The mounting frame includes a front angle adapter 22 in
the form of
a structural tube fixed to the toolbar to extend forwardly, parallel to the
forward working
.. direction. The mounting frame further includes a pair of parallel mounting
plates 24
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which are parallel and spaced apart from one another and parallel to the
forward
working direction. One of the plates 24 is fixed to the front end of the front
angle adapter
22 while another one of the plates 24 is fixed to the toolbar at a location
where an
imaginary axis perpendicular to the forward working direction and passing
through the
front end of the front angle adapter 22 intersects the toolbar.
Each wheel unit further includes a wheel frame 26 which supports a
vertical pivot shaft 28 thereon and which is coupled to the parallel mounting
plates 24
of the mounting frame by an upper link 30 and a lower link 32 forming a
parallel linkage.
In this manner pivoting of the linkage allows the wheel frame 26 to vary in
elevation
relative to the toolbar while maintaining the vertical pivot shaft in a
substantially vertical
orientation.
A wheel arm 34 is supported on the bottom end of the pivot shaft 28 below
the wheel frame 26 to be rotatable about the upright axis of the pivot shaft.
The wheel
arm 34 is sloped downwardly and rearwardly from the pivot shaft to a lower end
.. rotatably supporting a ground wheel 36 thereon. In a normal forward
orientation of the
implement, the wheel arm is sloped downwardly and rearwardly to the wheel 36
which
is rotatable about a lateral axis oriented perpendicularly to the forward
working
direction.
The wheel arm 34 and the wheel 36 rotatable on the wheel arm are pivotal
about the upright axis of the pivot shaft through a range of 90 degrees
between a field
position in which the wheel is supported for rolling movement in the forward
working
direction when the wing sections are in the field position, and a transport
position in
which the wheel is supported for rolling movement in the forward working
direction when
the wing sections are trailing rearward in the transport position.
A locking pin 38 is arranged to be inserted through cooperating apertures
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in the wheel frame 26 and the wheel arm 34 to selectively lock the wheel arm
in either
one of the field position or the transport position.
A crank arm 40 is supported at an intermediate location on the lower link
to extend upwardly therefrom such that a linear hydraulic actuator 42
operatively
connected between the implement frame and the crank arm 42 acts to raise and
lower
the wheel frame relative to the implement frame by extending and retracting
the length
of the actuator 42. The actuator 42 is supported on the implement frame using
a rear
angle adapter 44 in the form of a rigid structural tube protruding rearwardly
from the
toolbar in parallel relation to the forward working direction when the toolbar
is sloped in
.. the field position thereof. One end of the hydraulic linear actuator is
pivotally connected
onto the crank arm 40 and the opposing end of the hydraulic linear actuator is
pivotally
connected on the rear angle adapter 44.
Extending and retracting the actuator 42 allows the wheel to be operated
through a full range of motion including a lowered wheel position as shown in
figure 3
in which the bottom of the wheel is spaced well below the bottom of the ground
working
apparatuses 10 such that the ground working apparatuses do not engage the
ground,
and a raised wheel position in which the bottom of the wheel is spaced above
the bottom
of the ground engaging apparatuses 10 so that the ground engaging apparatuses
carry
the weight of the implement across the ground for penetration of the ground
working
components of the apparatuses 10 into the ground as described in further
detail below.
Each apparatus 10 is independently mounted onto the respective toolbar
of the implement by a respective mounting bracket consisting of an upper plate
50 and
a lower plate 52. The upper and lower plates are mounted flat against the top
and
bottom surfaces of the toolbar to extend horizontally rearward. The leading
edges of
the plates are sloped at the angle of the toolbar such that the opposing
parallel side
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edges of each plate extends rearward parallel to the forward working direction
of the
implement while the leading edge of each plate remains parallel to the
toolbar. The
plates are welded fixed and immovably relative to the toolbar.
An upright pivot assembly of the apparatus includes a vertical pivot shaft
54 connected vertically between the upper and lower plates 50 and 52 at a
location
spaced slightly rearward from the toolbar. An upper sleeve 56 is rotatably
supported on
the pivot shaft to span a height between the upper and lower plates to
constrain the
sleeve axially along the pivot shaft while remaining rotatable about the
shaft. A lower
sleeve 58 is rotatably supported about a bottom end of the pivot shaft that
protrudes
below the lower plate 52. A mounting plate 60 is welded in fixed relation to
both the
upper and lower sleeves to extend rearward and parallel to the forward working
direction in a neutral position of the apparatus.
The lower plate includes two protrusions 62 extending rearward at
opposing sides of the mounting plate 60 having inner edges forming a V-shaped
notch
receiving the mounting plate 60 therein such that the mounting plate 60 is
pivotal with
the upper and lower sleeves about the pivot shaft through a range of
approximately 25
degrees in either direction from the neutral position so that the mounting
plate can pivot
through an overall range of approximately 50 degrees.
Each apparatus 10 further includes a disc arm 64 formed continuously
and uniformly in a seamless and integral manner with the mounting plate 60.
The disc
arm 64 is sloped downwardly and rearwardly from an upper end joined to the
mounting
plate 60 of the upright pivot assembly to a lower end rotatably supporting a
coulter disc
66 thereon. In addition to being sloped downwardly and rearwardly, the disc
arm is also
sloped laterally outwardly away from a neutral plane of the mounting plate
from the
upper end to the lower end thereof such that the lower end is spaced laterally
outwardly
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from the neutral plane. The disc arm 64 pivots together with the mounting
plate about
the upright axis of the pivot shaft 54.
The coulter disc 66 is rotatably supported about a disc axis oriented
laterally and perpendicularly to the neutral plane of the mounting plate. The
disc is
.. rotatably supported by bearings on an axle 68 mounted to the lower end of
the disc arm
64 to define the disc axis. The coulter disc 66 is spaced laterally inwardly
from the lower
end of the disc arm along the axle 68 such that the disc is rotatable
substantially within
the neutral plane of the mounting plate. The disc axis is perpendicular to the
forward
working direction in the neutral position of the apparatus when displaced in
the normal
forward working direction of the implement.
A tool shank 70 is supported in trailing relation to the disc arm by a
mounting arrangement supported on the mounting plate 60 at the upper end of
the disc
arm 64. The mounting arrangement of the tool shank 70 includes a crossbar 72
formed
of a rigid structural tube that is welded in fixed and immovable relation to
the mounting
.. plate 60 to protrude laterally outwardly from either side of the mounting
plate in
perpendicular relation to the mounting plate. The mounting arrangement further
includes two side plates 74 mounted at opposing ends of the crossbar 72 so as
to be
perpendicular to the crossbar and parallel to the mounting plate 60 while
being spaced
outwardly from opposing sides of the mounting plate respectively.
The side plates 74 of the mounting arrangement are removably supported
on the crossbar using threaded fasteners. More particularly, a crossmember 76
of L-
shaped cross section extends laterally between the two side plates 74 to be
welded in
fixed and immovable relation to the side plates. The L-shaped cross-section of
the
crossmember 76 is formed by two flanges which mate against corresponding
bottom
.. and rear surfaces of the crossbar 72 in a mounted position. Threaded
fasteners extend
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about the crossbar and are secured at opposing ends to the crossmember 76 to
clamp
the crossmember against the crossbar 72 in the mounted position while being
removable for replacement as desired.
Each of the side plates 74 includes a lower portion 78 extending below
the crossbar 72 in proximity to the upper end of the disc arm for pivotally
supporting a
shank support body 80 thereon. More particularly, a pivot shaft 82 extends
laterally
between the side plates 74 to define a lateral axis about which the tool shank
70 pivots
in use. A sleeve is formed at the forward end of the shank support body 80
through
which the shaft 82 is received such that the shank support body 80 is pivotal
about the
lateral axis of the pivot shaft. The shank support body includes a
longitudinal channel
84 formed along the bottom side thereof to receive the upper end of the tool
shank
therein. A pair of longitudinally spaced threaded fasteners secure an upper
end portion
of the tool shank fixedly and immovably within the longitudinal channel 84
along the
bottom of the shank support body 80 such that the tool shank 70 pivots
together with
the shank support body 80 about the lateral axis of the pivot shaft 82. The
lateral axis
of the tool shank is located upwardly and forwardly in relation to the disc
axis so as to
be located in proximity to the upper end of the disc arm. Removal of the
threaded
fasteners allows the tool shank to be removed and interchanged as desired.
The tool shank 70 lies generally within the neutral plane of the coulter disc
66 and extends generally rearwardly and downwardly from the upper end of the
tool
shank mounted on the shank support body 80 to an opposing lower end of the
tool
shank supporting a shovel 86 thereon. A majority of the tool shank is curved
along the
length thereof such that a centre of curvature of the tool shank lies
approximately at the
disc axis in a normal working position of the tool shank relative to the disc
arm.
The shovel 86 mounted on the lower end of the tool shank includes a
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shank mount 88 in the form of a longitudinal channel receiving the lower end
of the tool
shank therein and a shovel body 90 mounted at the bottom end of the shank
mount for
forming an undercut trough in the ground as described in further detail below.
More
particularly, the shovel includes (i) a forward portion protruding forwardly
from the
bottom end of the shank mount to a forward apex 92 of the shovel and (ii) a
pair of wing
portions extending rearwardly and laterally outwardly from the forward apex 92
to
protrude laterally outwardly from opposing sides of the tool shank 70.
A pressure mechanism is provided for maintaining a downward pressure
on the shovel as the shovel is displaced forwardly through the ground. More
particularly,
the pressure mechanism maintains the shovel in a normal working position until
upward
and rearward pressure on the shovel exceeds a prescribed holding force of the
pressure mechanism at which point the shovel and the tool shank upon which it
is
mounted pivots upwardly and rearwardly about the lateral axis of the pivot
shaft. The
pressure mechanism returns the shovel to the normal working orientation once
the
excessive pressure has subsided. The pressure mechanism includes a spring 94
which
is operatively connected between the tool shank and an upper portion 96 of
each of the
side plates 74 at a location spaced upwardly and rearwardly from the toolbar.
The spring 94 is mounted to the upper portions 96 of the side plates by a
mounting block 98 that is mounted laterally between the side plates 74 at the
top end
thereof. The mounting block 98 includes a slot 100 formed therein which is
open to the
forward side of the block. A guide shaft 102 is pivotally supported at the
bottom end
thereof on the top side of the shank support body 80 at a location spaced
rearward from
the pivot shaft 82 while extending upwardly through the front slot 100 at the
top end of
the guide shaft. A fastener, for example a threaded nut 104 is secured onto
the upper
end of the guide shaft 102 above the mounting block 98. The fastener 104 abuts
the
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top side of the mounting block in the normal working position of the tool
shank to define
a lower limit or lowermost position of the shovel relative to the disc
corresponding to
the shovel being approximately at the elevation of a bottom edge of the disc.
When the prescribed holding force is exceeded, and the tool shank is
.. pivoted upwardly, the guide shaft 102 is free to slide upwardly through the
slot 100 in
the mounting block. The spring 94 of the pressure mechanism is a helical
spring
supported about the guide shaft and axially constrained between the shank
support
body 80 at the bottom end and the mounting block 98 at the top end thereof.
The spring
is mounted under compression to define the prescribed holding force that
maintains
downward pressure on the tool shank. When an obstacle is encountered,
resulting in
pressure on the shovel that exceeds the prescribed holding force, upward
pivoting of
the tool shank causes the spring to be compressed; however, once the obstacle
has
passed, the spring returns the shovel to the normal working elevation.
The mounting block 98 is supported between the side plates 74 by a rear
cross bolt 106 penetrated through the mounting block and each of the side
plates to fix
the block to the side plates at a location rearward of the slot 100 in the
guide block. The
mounting block is further secured by a front cross bolt 108 that passes
through the side
plates and the mounting block at a location passing through the front slot
100. The
front cross bolt 108 is at a location spaced forward from a rear terminal end
of the slot
.. 100 by a distance corresponding to the diamension of the guide shaft to
allow the guide
shaft to be constrained in the forward working direction between the rear
terminal end
of the slot 100 at the rear and the front cross bolts 108 at the front of the
guide shaft. A
rotatable bushing 110 is supported about the front cross bolt 108 in alignment
with the
guide shaft to encourage free sliding movement of the guide shaft upwardly
through the
slot.
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In the event that the spring is broken and requires replacement, the front
cross bolt 108 can be removed so that the guide shaft can be displaced
forwardly at
the top end thereof to remove the guide shaft from the mounting block 98 so
that the
spring can be removed axially from the top end of the guide shaft and a new
spring can
be inserted over the top end of the guide shaft. Compressing the new spring
while
displacing the top end of the guide shaft rearwardly into the slot 100 allows
the front
cross bolt 108 to be replaced to constrain the guide shaft in the mounting
block and
retain the replacement spring between the guide block and the shank support
body 80
therebelow.
Alternatively, the assembly of the guide shaft 102, the mounting block 98
at the top of the guide shaft, a bottom plate 103 at a bottom of the guide
shaft, and the
spring 94 constrained on the guide shaft between the mounting block 98 and the
bottom
plate 103 can be removed and interchanged as a unit by removing the rear cross
bolt
106 and removing a fastener that couples the bottom plate 103 to the shank
support
body 80. This is permitted by the front cross bolt being received within a
forward facing
channel in the mounting block 98 so as to allow removal of the mounting block
while
the front cross bolt 108 remains mounted between the side plates 74.
A fertilizer source 112 such as a liquid fertilizer tank is typically
supported
on the frame of the implement. Each apparatus 10 includes a fertilizer
injector tube 114
mounted along the rear side of the tool shank such that an open discharge end
of the
injector tube is positioned in close proximity to the bottom end of the tool
shank in trailing
relation with the shovel 86. Suitable conduits communicate between the
fertilizer source
112 and the injector tubes 114 for pumping liquid fertilizer from the source
to the injector
tubes while the implement is displaced across the ground in the forward
working
direction.
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In use, for injecting fertilizer into the ground, the wing sections are
initially
positioned in the field position and the wheels are raised into the raised
position so that
the weight of the implement is carried on the ground working apparatuses 10.
As the
tractor is displaced in a forward working direction, the implement frame
follows the
tractor to displace the apparatuses 10 across the ground. In doing so, the
disc 66 of
each apparatus 10 forms a cut into the ground and the shovel follows the disc
such that
the tool shank is aligned with the cut in the ground while the shovel is
received below
the surface of the ground to lift a shelf of earth on each side of the cut and
thereby form
an undercut trough or void in the ground which is wider than the initial cut
of the disc.
The fertilizer injector of the apparatus injects the liquid fertilizer into
the undercut trough
or void in the ground immediately rearward of the shovel. The undercut trough
is
subsequently closed by the raised shelf of earth falling back over top of the
injected
fertilizer after passage of the shovel.
By supporting the disc arm of each apparatus such that it can only pivoted
.. about the upright axis relative to the mounting bracket and toolbar upon
which it is
supported while preventing any upward movement of the disc arm, the weight of
the
implement frame is carried on the discs of the apparatuses so that any small
obstacles
such as rocks encountered by the discs tend to be pushed deeper into the
ground for
clearing a path for the shovel. The shovel can thus remain below the surface
of the
ground for injecting fertilizer as the shovel passes the rock.
The upright pivot axis of each apparatus relative to the toolbar also allows
the disc and following shovel to be displaced laterally away from the neutral
position
thereof in response to lateral forces when the tractor and towed implement
follow a
curved path across the ground.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above
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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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