SECTORED DISC FOR OPENER
First Claim
1. A sectored disc assembly for use in a soil opener of an agricultural implement, wherein the disc assembly serves as a blade to open the soil prior to injection of a fertilizer or seed into the ground, said assembly comprising:
- a rotatable hub presenting a central rotational axis and a radial outer periphery; and
a plurality of disc sectors, each disc sector disposed around the periphery of the hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom,said disc sectors cooperatively forming a substantially continuous disc disposed radially around and coaxial with the hub,said disc sectors cooperating with the hub to define a substantially continuous interface therebetween around the periphery of the hub,each disc sector cooperating with the hub to present a tongue-and-groove connection along the interface, wherein one of the disc sector and hub includes a radially extending internal groove and the other of the disc sector and hub includes a radially extending tongue, with the tongue being snugly received in the groove to restrict axial movement of the disc sector relative to the hub.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sectored disc assembly, removable disc sector, and method of replacing a disc sector are disclosed for use with a soil opener that uses a disc assembly to open the soil prior to injection of a fertilizer or seed into the ground. The sectored disc assembly includes a rotatable hub and a plurality of disc sectors cooperatively forming a substantially continuous disc around the hub. Connectors, such as bolts, secure each of the disc sectors to the hub. The disc sector includes a body with radially inner and outer margins and side margins that are configured for continuous abutment with adjacent side margins of other disc sectors. The method of replacing a disc sector includes removing the connector securing the disc sector to the hub, moving the disc sector radially outwardly away from the hub, placing a replacement disc sector into contact with the hub, and inserting the connector.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A sectored disc assembly for use in a soil opener of an agricultural implement, wherein the disc assembly serves as a blade to open the soil prior to injection of a fertilizer or seed into the ground, said assembly comprising:
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a rotatable hub presenting a central rotational axis and a radial outer periphery; and a plurality of disc sectors, each disc sector disposed around the periphery of the hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom, said disc sectors cooperatively forming a substantially continuous disc disposed radially around and coaxial with the hub, said disc sectors cooperating with the hub to define a substantially continuous interface therebetween around the periphery of the hub, each disc sector cooperating with the hub to present a tongue-and-groove connection along the interface, wherein one of the disc sector and hub includes a radially extending internal groove and the other of the disc sector and hub includes a radially extending tongue, with the tongue being snugly received in the groove to restrict axial movement of the disc sector relative to the hub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A disc sector removably and individually connectable to a rotatable hub of a sectored disc assembly serving as a blade of a soil opener to open the soil prior to injection of a fertilizer or seed into the ground, wherein the hub presents a central rotational axis and a pair of circumferentially extending opposed faces along the outer periphery thereof, and wherein the disc sector cooperates with other disc sectors to form a substantially continuous disc disposed radially around the hub, said disc sector comprising:
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a sector body presenting a radially inner margin, a radially outwardly spaced generally arcuate outer margin, and generally radially extending side margins each defined between the inner and outer margins, said body including a pair of opposed engagement surfaces configured for flush contact with the opposed faces of the hub so that axial movement of the disc sector relative to the hub is thereby restricted, said body presenting an axial thickness that tapers in a radially outer direction adjacent the outer margin, said side margins cooperatively forming an acute angle therebetween and being configured for continuous abutment with adjacent ones of the other disc sectors. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of replacing a disc sector of a sectored disc assembly serving as a blade of a soil opener to open the soil prior to injection of a fertilizer or seed into the ground, said disc sector replacement method comprising the steps:
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(a) removing the connector that secures the disc sector to the rotatable hub of the sectored disc assembly; (b) moving the disc sector radially outwardly and away from the hub; (c) placing a replacement disc sector into contact with the hub so that the replacement disc sector and hub cooperatively form a tongue-and-groove connection extending along the periphery of the hub; and (d) inserting the connector to secure the replacement disc sector to the hub. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification