Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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NO-TILL STUBBLE ROW SEEDER GUIDANCE SYSTEM
This invention deals with the field of agricultural seeders and in particular
a guidance system
for such planters.
BACKGROUND:
to
In many areas, notably the Great Plains of North America, there has recently
been a large
shift to no-till seeding for crops such as cereals, pulses and oilseeds. These
crops are usually
"solid-seeded", which most often means seeded in narrow rows from 6 to 12
inches apart.
Discer seeders do provide essentially an even coverage of the field with no
discernable rows,
is however such seeders are not used to the extent they once were, due to the
preference for no-
till seeding. The crops, when growing, cover the ground and are harvested as
if there are no
rows. This differentiates such crops from "row" crops such as corn and cotton
which are
planted in wider rows, from 24 to 36 inches apart.
2o One of the objects of no-till seeding is to leave the previous years plant
residue, or stubble,
standing as long as possible to catch snow and later to provide protection for
new seedling
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crops from wind and evaporation. It is common practice when harvesting to cut
the crop as
high as possible in order to leave as much standing stubble as possible to
catch snow and to
minimize the amount of non-grain material, mainly straw, passing through the
combine
harvester. The straw that does pass through the combine is generally broken up
and spread
s evenly over the land.
Present no-till seeders generally use a hoe opener for making the furrows into
which seed
is deposited, although disc furrow openers are used as well. The openers are
mounted on
a frame, which is generally towed by a tractor rather than mounted thereon as
is common
to with row crop seeders.
Hoe furrow openers are presently preferred over disc openers, as they
generally penetrate
better and do not require the cost and maintenance of bearings and so forth.
Disc openers
are also subject to "hair-pinning", wherein straw is not cut but instead is
pushed into the
is furrow, causing poor germination of the seed and drying out the soil in the
furrow by a wick
action. U.S. Patent # 5,619,939 discusses and provides an apparatus for
alleviating this hair-
pinning problem. Both hoe and disc furrow openers work better when they are
passing
through less crop residue. Straw tends to wrap around individual hoe openers
and be
dragged down the field, impairing the clean cut desired.
A major problem with hoe openers is that the standing stubble is often longer
than the
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spacing between the furrow openers, and with hoe seeders it often does not
pass between the
openers, resulting in a wad of straw and plant residue being dragged down the
field,
plugging the seeder. Up until now, the only method used to alleviate this
problem has been
to provide more room for the straw and trash to move through between the hoe
openers and
s between the frame and the ground. This has been done by increasing the
spacing between
the hoe openers, and thereby increasing the row spacing to 10 or 12 inches
which is about
the maximum spacing possible for these crops; by increasing the number of rows
of hoe
openers and thereby increasing the space between the hoe openers on a row; and
finally by
increasing the length of the hoe openers and thereby increasing the distance
between the
to frame and the ground.
When a seeder is seeding into standing stubble, the hoe openers constantly
cross the standing
stubble rows from the previous crop, knocking the stubble down. If the seeder
was guided
so that it only occasionally crossed a standing stubble row, such as when
turning, much of
~s the plugging problem could be alleviated, as the standing stubble rows
would be left
undisturbed and pass vertically under the seeder.
There is considerable prior art in the field of guidance systems to keep row
crop implements
aligned with furrows or plant rows. This is understandable because row spacing
between
2o passes must be kept constant at seeding in order to allow for efficient
operation of
subsequent cultivating, spraying and harvesting equipment. The prior art also
provides
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guidance systems for working in growing row crops, where there is a sensor
which senses
the growing plant rows and keeps the implement between the rows. In solid-
seeded crops,
there has hitherto not been any perceived need for such precision since
growing crops are
not cultivated and sprayers and combines are operated without regard to where
the narrow
s crop rows are located.
Guidance systems for use in row crops have not been used to guide an implement
with
respect to a row of standing stalks from the previous crop. There does not
appear to have
been any need for such guidance.
to
U.S. Patent # 5,255,756, #5,121,799, # 5,094,300 and 5,031,704 are examples of
such
guidance systems for row crops. U.S. Patent # 5,148,873 provides a device to
follow a
furrow or growing crop row, thereby sending a signal to a guidance system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
It is the object of the present invention to provide a guidance system for a
no-till seeder
which will reduce the problem of plugging the seeder furrow openers with crop
residue.
It is the further object of the present invention to provide such a guidance
system for a no-till
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seeder which will reduce the amount of crop residue encountered by the furrow
openers,
thereby reducing straw dragging on hoe openers and hair-pinning of disc
openers.
It is the further object of the present invention to provide such a guidance
system for a no-till
seeder which will leave a greater proportion of previous crop stubble standing
after the
seeding operation.
The present invention accomplishes these objects providing a guidance system
for guiding
a no-till seeder such that the furrow openers of said seeder travel along the
field between the
to standing stubble rows from the previous crop, said guidance system
comprising sensing
means to sense the standing stubble rows from the previous crop and to send a
steering
signal in response to changes in the relative position of the seeder to said
standing stubble
rows; and adjusting means to adjust the travel path of said seeder in response
to said steering
signals.
is
The standing stubble rows of the previous crop should have the same row
spacing as the
seeder being guided, or it will not be possible to have all furrow openers
properly positioned
between the standing stubble rows.
2o Conveniently, the adjusting means could vary the path of travel of the
seeder relative to the
path of travel of the seeder towing vehicle.
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In one embodiment the invention provides a guidance system for guiding a
seeder towed
by a vehicle, said guidance system sensing the standing stubble rows left by a
previous solid-
seeded crop and in response to said sensing guiding the seeder so that the
furrow openers of
said seeder travel along the field between said standing stubble rows, said
guidance system
comprising a row sensor mounted on said seeder and adapted to follow the
ground between
said standing stubble rows, said row sensor sending a steering signal when
said row sensor
is moved perpendicular to the direction of seeder travel by contact with a
standing stubble
row on either side thereof; a seeder position adjuster, said adjuster
responsive to said
steering signals; where in operation said row sensor is in the neutral
position when the
to furrow openers of said seeder are travelling on the preferred path between
the standing
stubble rows, and wherein when the seeder deviates from its preferred path
said row sensor
is moved laterally by contact with the standing stubble row on one side or the
other and
sends a steering signal to said seeder position adjuster which causes said
adjuster to move
the seeder to one side or the other relative to the towing vehicle so as to
direct said seeder
is back on to the preferred path.
The invention could further comprise a seeder position indicator viewable by
the operator.
The operator could then steer the towing vehicle to keep the row sensor within
its proper
range of operation.
Where the towing vehicle is a tractor with a swinging draw-bar the seeder
position adjuster
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could be a swinging draw-bar position adjuster and operate to move the
swinging draw-bar
right or left relative to the tractor.
Where the towing vehicle is not a tractor with a swinging draw-bar, such as
when the towing
s vehicle is a tow-between air-seeder cart or where it is desired to provide a
self contained
device, the seeder hitch could include a laterally pivoting linkage and the
seeder position
adjuster could act on the pivoting linkage to move the seeder right or left
relative to the
towing vehicle.
to The row sensor could be a wedge-shaped pan sliding on the ground, the wedge-
shaped pan
having a width smaller than the spacing between standing stubble rows. A drag
stabilizer
attached to each side of the wedge-shaped pan would stabilise the pan,
reducing bouncing
when bumps are encountered and further helping to maintain its position
between the
standing stubble rows. A flexible link chain could be used as a drag
stabilizer.
is
The wedge-shaped pan could be attached to a leg, and the leg attached to the
seeder such that
the leg may pivot vertically and laterally. Thus the pan could rise and fall
vertically to
follow contours or bumps in the ground, and the steering signal could be
generated by the
lateral angular position of the attachment. As the seeder veered off the
preferred path
2o wherein the furrow-openers are between the standing stubble rows, the leg
would pivot
laterally. This lateral movement could send a steering signal to the swinging
draw-bar
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position adjuster.
The swinging draw-bar position adjuster could comprise a hydraulic cylinder
acting against
the frame of the tractor and against the swinging draw-bar, the hydraulic
cylinder extending
s or retracting in response to the steering signal and thereby moving the
seeder laterally with
respect to the tractor.
The hydraulic cylinder could be attached at one end to the swinging draw-bar
or the seeder
hitch and at the opposite end to the frame of the tractor, the hydraulic
cylinder extending or
to retracting in response to the steering signal and thereby moving the draw-
bar and seeder
hitch laterally with respect to the tractor.
Alternatively, the hydraulic cylinder could act against the frame of the
tractor and against
the swinging draw-bar via a cable. The swinging draw-bar adjuster could
comprise a pivot
~s arm pivotally attached at its centre point to said seeder hitch,
substantially perpendicular to
the direction of travel of said seeder; an arm end of a left cable attached to
the left end of
said pivot arm; an arm end of a right cable attached to the right end of said
pivot arm, such
that the left and right cable attachment points are equidistant from the
centre pivotal
attachment to said seeder hitch; said left cable passing along a first groove
in a double
2o grooved pulley rotatably mounted at the pivot point between said seeder
hitch and said
swinging draw-bar, thence to a tractor end attachment point on the left side
of said tractor
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frame; said right cable passing along a second groove in said double grooved
pulley to a
right attachment point on the right side of said tractor frame; a hydraulic
cylinder attached
at one end to said seeder hitch and at the opposite end to said pivot arm such
that extending
or retracting said hydraulic cylinder pivots said pivot arm about its central
pivot attachment
s point, thereby causing said right and left cables to move said swinging draw-
bar to the left
or right of the centre-line of said tractor.
For increased efficiency of operation, the guidance system could further
comprise a second
row sensor mounted on the seeder at a different location from the first row
sensor and
to adapted to follow the ground between the standing stubble rows, and a
control by which the
operator may select which of the row sensors guides the seeder, thereby
allowing the
operator to choose the row sensor where the standing stubble rows are most
suitable and
avoid a sensor location where the standing stubble rows have been trampled by
a previous
field operation. Alternatively the sensor control could also allow both
sensors to send
is steering signals, thereby allowing the seeder to be guided by both sensors
at the same time.
The invention could further comprise a furrow sensor attached to the seeder
such that the
furrow sensor follows the end furrow of the last seeding pass thus acting as a
marker to
properly space the present seeder pass from the previous seeder pass, the
furrow sensor
2o sending a steering signal when the furrow sensor is moved perpendicular to
the direction of
seeder travel by the deviation of the seeder from the proper path, and further
comprising a
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control whereby the operator can select which of the steering signals, that of
the row sensor
or the furrow sensor, guides the seeder. With this arrangement, on turns the
operator could
align the seeder properly with respect to the previous pass using the furrow
follower, and
then switch the guidance control to allow the row follower to guide the seeder
with the
furrow openers between the rows.
Such a furrow sensor could comprise a curved tube adapted to follow the end
furrow of the
previous seeder pass, the tube attached to the seeder such that the tube may
pivot vertically
and laterally, and wherein the steering signal is generated by the lateral
angular position of
to the attachment.
Where the previous crop was lentils or peas where there are no standing
stubble rows, the
furrow sensor could be used at all times to guide the seeder in proper
relation to the previous
pass. 'The same leg and steering signal generator could be used, with the tube
type furrow
is sensor simply being substituted for the pan type row sensor.
The hydraulic cylinder of the seeder position adjuster could be activated by a
solenoid valve
receiving the steering signals. The steering signals could be generated by a
contact arm the
proximate end of which is fixedly attached to the row sensor such that the
distal end of the
2o contact arm is laterally between right and left signal points such that
lateral movement of the
row sensor to the left causes the distal end to contact a left signal point,
sending a steering
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signal to the solenoid valve causing the hydraulic cylinder to adjust the path
of the seeder
to the left, and such that lateral movement of the row sensor to the right
causes the distal end
to contact a right signal point, sending a steering signal to the solenoid
valve causing the
hydraulic cylinder to adjust the path of the seeder to the right.
s
If the contact arm was flexible, damage to the signal points would be avoided.
The flexible
arm would also tend to position the row sensor in the middle or neutral
position when the
seeder is raised for turns, since as the row sensor swung to one direction,
the flexible arm
would bring it back accelerate it to the centre neutral position.
to
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred
embodiments are
is provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best
understood in
conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several
diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
Figure 1 is a side view of the row follower and steering signal generator of
the
2o preferred embodiment;
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Figure 2 is a top view of the apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of the seeder position adjuster of the
preferred
embodiment.
Figure 5 is a schematic drawing of the seeder position adjuster of an
alternate
embodiment using cables and a pivot arm to adjust the draw-bar position.
to
Figure 6 is a schematic drawing of the seeder position adjuster of an
alternate
embodiment using cables to adjust the draw-bar position.
Figure 7 is a schematic drawing of the seeder position adjuster of an
alternate
is embodiment using two single acting cylinders to adjust the draw-bar
position.
Figure 8 is a schematic drawing of the seeder position adjuster of an
alternate
embodiment wherein the towing vehicle is a tow-between air-seeder cart having
no
swinging draw-bar.
Figure 9 is a schematic drawing of the seeder position indicator of the
preferred
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embodiment.
Figure 10 is a side and a rear view of a furrow follower for use with the
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT:
The row follower and steering signal generator of the preferred embodiment is
illustrated
to in Figures 1 - 3. Sensor support arm 124 is fixed to the seeder frame
member 127 and
shaped to position vertical pivot shaft 121 ahead of and below the seeder
frame member 127
so that a satisfactory lateral motion can be established. Pivot plate 112 is
pivotally attached
to the sensor support arm 124 by the vertical pivot shaft 121 through vertical
pivot hole 125
in the vertical pivot lugs 113. Clamps 123 and washers 122 secure the location
of the pivot
is plate 112 along the vertical pivot shaft 121, and allow for adjustment
thereon to position the
standing stubble row sensor 1 O 1 so that the furrow openers on the seeder
will travel between
the standing stubble rows 126 of the previous crop.
Sensor leg 105 is attached to the pivot plate 112 by lateral pivot shaft 109
secured in bearing
20 110 such that the leg may move laterally from side to side. Standing
stubble row sensor 1 O 1
is a wedge -shaped plastic pan, with a width W slightly less than the row
spacing of the
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standing stubble rows 126, as best seen in Figure 3. Row sensor 110 is fixed
to the sensor
leg 105 by fasteners 104. Standard flexible chains 102 are attached at each
side of the row
sensor 101 by fasteners 103 and act to stabilize the row follower 101 as it
slides along the
ground, as well as helping to maintain the pan in its proper position between
standing
s stubble rows.
The configuration described has the benefit of tending to return the row
follower 101 to the
centre position as shown in Figure 2 when the row follower 101 is raised from
the ground
with the frame 127 on turns and so forth. With the lateral pivot shaft on an
angle to the
to vertical, as the row follower 101 moves to the side it also rises somewhat
and gravity will
draw it to the lowest centre position.
Contact arm 106 is a flexible fibreglass rod fixed to the front end of the
sensor leg 105 by
fastener107, and extending forward between left and right signal points 117L
and 1178.
is Left and right signal points 117L and 1178 are secured to pivot plate
extension 114 by
fasteners 116L and 1168. Pivot plate extension 114 is a non-conductive
material, such as
plastic, to facilitate connection of the left and right signal wires 119L and
1198 to the
corresponding signal points 117L and 117 R, and is fixed to the front of the
pivot plate 112
by fasteners 115.
The contact arm 106 has a metal tip 108 connected to a power wire 118. Thus
when the row
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follower 101 and sensor leg move laterally a certain distance, the metal tip
contacts the left
or right signal point 117L or 117 R, sending current through the corresponding
signal wire
119 L or 1198 to directional solenoid valve 140.
s The flexibility of the contact arm 106 prevents damage to the signal points
117L and 1178
and also tends to throw the row follower 101 to the centre position when
raised, aided by
gravity as described above.
Referring to Figure 4, hydraulic lines 141 L and 141 R direct hydraulic fluid
from the
to solenoid valve 140 to the appropriate side of the draw-bar positioning
double acting
hydraulic cylinder 204. Cylinder 204 is pivotally attached at one end to the
tractor frame
220 and at the opposite end to the swinging draw-bar 201. Cylinder 204 extends
or retracts
in response to the activation signals received by the solenoid 140, thereby
moving the
swinging draw-bar 201 and seeder hitch 203 laterally with respect to the
centre-line of the
is tractor 221. As the seeder hitch moves laterally the seeder frame 127 moves
laterally with
respect to the row sensor 101 causing the contact arm metal tip 108 to move
out of contact
with the signal point 117.
Referring to Figure 9, control cable 230 is attached at one end to the
swinging draw-bar 201
2o and at the opposite end to a seeder position indicator 231 mounted in front
of the operator
on the hood of the tractor 232. As the draw-bar 201 is moved laterally, the
operator can see
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the corresponding movement of the indicator 231, and so can steer the tractor
so that the
indicator 231 is kept in the operating range.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show alternate seeder position adjusters, using cables and
pulleys. In
s Figure 5, pivot arm 216 is pivotally attached at its mid-point to hitch lugs
217 by pin 215.
Double acting hydraulic cylinder 204 is pivotally attached at one end to the
seeder hitch 203
and at the opposite end to the pivot arm 216. Left cable 209 is attached at
one end to the left
pivot arm attachment point 211, then passes around the right side of double
grooved draw-
bar pulley 202, the left cable 209 engaging the lower pulley groove, and then
attaching to
to left tractor attachment point 213. Right cable 210 is attached at one end
to the right pivot
arm attachment point 212, then passes around the left side of double grooved
draw-bar
pulley 202, the right cable 210 engaging the upper pulley groove, and then
attaching to right
tractor attachment point 214. Left and right pivot arm attachment points 211
and 212 are
equidistant from the pivot arm pivot point at pin 215. Cylinder 204 receives
hydraulic fluid
is from the solenoid valve 140 and shifts the swinging draw-bar to the left or
right.
Figure 6 illustrates another possible cable arrangement which would act to
move the
swinging draw-bar in response to hydraulic fluid from solenoid valve 140
supplied to a
double acting hydraulic cylinder 204, with the cables guided by cylinder
pulley 208 and
2o hitch pulley 207.
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Figure 7 illustrates a seeder position adjuster using two single acting
cylinders 250 and 251.
The cables 209 and 210 are guided by left and right draw-bar cable guides 252
and 253 and
left and right draw-bar pulleys 254 and 255. Instead of directing hydraulic
fluid to one side
or the other of a double acting hydraulic cylinder as in previous cases, the
solenoid valve
s 140 directs oil to one or the other of the cylinders 250 or 251 in order to
move the swinging
draw-bar 201 to the right or left.
Figure 8 illustrates a seeder position adjuster of an alternate embodiment
wherein the towing
vehicle is a tow-between air-seeder cart 301 having no swinging draw-bar. The
seeder hitch
to has a laterally pivoting linkage 303 between the draw pin 302 and the
seeder hitch 305,
attached to the seeder hitch 305 at the seeder pivot point 304. Double acting
hydraulic
cylinder 308 is pivotally attached at one end to hitch lugs 306 and at the
opposite end to
linkage lugs 309. The hydraulic cylinder 308 receives fluid from a solenoid
valve activated
by the row sensor as in previous embodiments, thereby moving the seeder left
or right
is relative to the tow-between air-seeder cart 301.
Figure 10 shows a furrow sensor 131 attached to the sensor leg 105 in
substitution for the
row sensor 101, thereby converting the system from one which guides the seeder
furrow
openers between the standing stubble rows to one which guides the seeder in
proper relation
2o to the previous seeder pass. This is useful when seeding land where the
previous crop were
peas, lentils or such which leave no discernable standing stubble rows.
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The apparatus is mounted on the seeder frame 127 such that when the furrow
sensor 131 is
located in the end furrow 132 of the previous seeder pass, the end furrow of
the present
seeder pass is properly spaced from the previous pass. Alternatively, the
system could
comprise two apparatus, one for guiding with respect to standing stubble rows
and one for
s guiding with respect to the previous pass. A switch would allow the operator
to choose
which was guiding the seeder at any time.
Similarly, two row sensors with a switch would allow the operator to choose
the guiding
sensor, and use the sensor on a row where the standing stubble rows were not
tramped down
to by a previous operation such as combining. Alternatively, both sensors
could be operating,
with the seeder guided by signals from both sensors. When conflicting steering
signals were
sent to the solenoid valve, the solenoid would not be activated. This system
could be useful
where the standing stubble rows were not distinct and standing up well.
is The system could also incorporate a manual over-ride, allowing the operator
to move the
swinging draw-bar to any desired position regardless of the sensor position.
This would be
especially useful on turns to allow the operator to locate the row sensor in
the proper
standing stubble rows with respect to the previous seeder pass.
2o The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention. Further,
since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled
in the art, it is
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not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and
described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in
structure or
operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of
the claimed
invention.
s
