Seed Boot For Double-Shoot Disc Opener

• US 20100107942A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Canada Limited (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Naylor, Matthew S., Schilling, Robin B., Chahley, Dennis W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/74
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/203 comprising depth regulation means

Abstract

A planting unit for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single pass, double shoot manner includes a rotating disc that cuts a furrow in a planting surface and a trailing seed boot, having a cutting edge, that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in the furrow to form a seed bed in the planting surface. The disc has a mounting frame for mounting the disc to a linkage assembly that is, in turn, coupled to a toolbar mount. The seed boot is also attached to the mounting frame. This common attachment provides a relatively short and compact device without sacrificing fertilizer and seed stratification.

Claims

1. A planting unit for use with a planting implement having a frame and configured to travel along a line of travel, comprising:

a disc mount configured to be coupled to the frame;

a rotatable disc coupled to the disc mount and angled relative to the line of travel of the planting implement, the disc configured to cut a furrow into a planting surface;

a fertilizer tube mounted to the disc mount and configured to deposit fertilizer into a fertilizer trench formed in the furrow; and

a seed boot coupled to the disc mount rearward of the fertilizer tube and the disc, the seed boot including a hollow tubular member through which seed may be passed and deposited onto the planting surface, and a stationary cutting edge configured to cut a ledge into the furrow onto which seed may be deposited.

2. The planting unit of claim 1 wherein the cutting edge is angled upward relative to the hollow tubular member and configured to lift soil as the cutting edge cuts through the furrow.

3. The planting unit of claim 1 wherein the cutting edge is angle downward relative to the hollow tubular member and configured to force soil onto fertilizer deposited in the furrow as the cutting edge cuts through the furrow.

4. The planting unit of claim 1 wherein the hollow tubular member deposits seed a depth different than that which fertilizer is deposited by the fertilizer tube.

5. The planting unit of claim 4 wherein the hollow tubular member deposits seed at a position laterally offset from that which fertilizer is deposited by the fertilizer tube.

6. The planting unit of claim 5 wherein the seed boot further includes a trailing tab configured to prevent seed from falling out of the hollow tubular member and into the fertilizer trench of the furrow.

7. The planting unit of claim 6 wherein the trailing tab is angled to force seed deposited by the hollow tubular member toward a tip of a seed trench defined by the ledge cut into the furrow by the cutting tip.

8. The planting unit of claim 1 wherein the furrow has a first furrow wall and a second furrow wall spaced from and generally parallel with the first furrow wall, and further comprising a scraper blade configured to abut against the first furrow wall and wherein the disc opener is configured to abut against the second furrow wall such that the fertilizer trench is defined therebetween.

9. The planting unit of claim 1 wherein the disc is angled at an angle of approximately 7 degrees to a vertical axis normal to the line of travel.

10. A double-shoot, single pass implement for separately depositing fertilizer and seed with horizontal and vertical stratification onto a planting surface, comprising:

a toolbar configured to be coupled to a towing vehicle which is designed to pull the frame along the planting surface with a generally longitudinal line of travel;

a plurality of disc openers, each of which is connected to the toolbar by a respective linkage assembly; and

wherein each disc opener includes;

a disc mount coupled to a corresponding linkage assembly;

a rotatable disc mounted to the disc mount and configured to cut at an angle into the planting surface to form a fertilizer trench;

a fertilizer tube having an outlet and mounted to the disc mount and generally adjacent the rotatable disc;

a seed boot mounted to the disc mount and configured to cut a seed trench offset from the fertilizer trench, the seed boot including;

a seed tube having a forward cutting edge and an outlet rearward of the fertilizer tube; and

a tab connected to the seed tube generally opposite the forward cutting edge and extending rearward of the seed tube outlet.

11. The implement of claim 10 wherein the seed tube outlet is offset laterally and vertically from the fertilizer tube outlet.

12. The implement of claim 11 wherein the tab is configured to limit seed dispensed from the seed tube outlet from being deposited into the fertilizer trench.

13. The implement of claim 12 wherein the tab has an edge angled to encourage seed deposited by the seed tube outlet toward a tip of the seed trench.

14. The implement of claim 12 further comprising a packing wheel and a packing wheel depth that trails the seed boot and configured to apply a packing force to the seed and fertilizer trenches.

15. The implement of claim 14 further comprising a packing pressure control associated with the packing wheel and operative to vary the packing force applied by the packing wheel.

16. The implement of claim 15 wherein the packing pressure control includes a spring that places a packing pressure on the packing wheel and a lever to adjust the packing pressure placed on the packing wheel.

17. The implement of claim 12 wherein the forward cutting edge of the seed boot is angled upward relative to the seed tube and configured to lift soil as the cutting edge cuts through the planting surface.

18. The implement of claim 12 wherein the forward cutting edge of the seed boot is angled downward relative to the seed tube and configured to force soil onto fertilizer deposited in the fertilizer trench as the cutting edge cuts through the planting surface.

19. A furrowing and planting apparatus for use with an agricultural implement, comprising:

a rotating disc configured to furrow a planting surface to define a fertilizer trench;

a fertilizer source adapted to deposit fertilizer onto the fertilizer trench;

a seed boot disposed rearward of the rotating disc and include a tubular member having a forward cutting edge that cuts a seed trench in the furrow and wherein the tubular member is configured to pass seed from a seed source to the seed trench; and

a deflector mounted to a rearward edge of the seed boot and configured to reduce the ingress of soil into the tubular member of the seed boot.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the fertilizer source has an outlet and the seed boot has an outlet, and wherein the outlets are offset from one another such that fertilizer and seed are separately deposited into the fertilizer trench and the seed trench, respectively, with horizontal and vertical stratification.