Profiling method and apparatus

• US 20110011316A1
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daryl Morellini
• Original Assignee: Daryl Morellini
• Inventors: Morellini, Daryl
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/154
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 13/025 with passively driven rotating disc-like elements for forming the ridge
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting

Abstract

A method and apparatus (10) for forming in a single pass operation, a profiled planting mound for growing of a crop from planted seeds or billets by using a pair of spaced tools (37) to displace soil inwardly towards each other. A central bed is formed between the displaced soil onto which billets or seeds may be deposited through a guide or chute (13). Covering discs (78,79) are provided to move soil to cover the billets or seeds and a press wheel assembly (81) is used for pressing the soil in the mound and form the desired profile in the mound.

Claims

1. A method of forming in a single pass operation, a profiled bed or mound for growing of crops, said method comprising the steps of providing a pair of spaced apart soil engaging and displacing tools adapted to displace soil inwardly towards each other as said tools are advanced, depositing seed or billets of a crop onto a bed formed between the soil displaced by said soil engaging tools, covering said seed or billets deposited onto said bed with soil displaced by said soil engaging and displacing tools and from each side of said bed to form a raised mound over said seed or billets, said raised mound having a central apex and having opposite top sides which are angled outwardly and downwardly from said central apex such that said formed mound has a convex configuration in cross section.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 and including the step of pressing the soil in the mound to compress the soil over the seed or billets.

2. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. Profiling apparatus for forming a profiled mound for growing of crops from seeds or billets, said apparatus comprising a pair of spaced apart soil engaging and displacing tools, said tools being adapted to displace soil inwardly towards each other as said apparatus is advanced, covering means for covering seed or billets deposited onto a substantially flat bed formed between soil displaced by said soil engaging and displacing tools, said covering means being adapted to cover said seeds or billets with soil on both sides of said bed displaced by said soil engaging and displacing tools to form a raised mound over said seed or billets deposited onto said bed, said raised mound having a central apex and opposite top sides which are angled outwardly and downwardly from said central apex such that said formed mound has a convex cross section, said profiling apparatus being adapted to form said profiled mound in a single pass operation.

6. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein each said tool includes a leading tip or point and spaced mould or profiling boards diverging rearwardly from said tip.

8. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said covering means comprise spaced pairs of covering discs adapted to move or throw soil inwardly towards each other and over said seed or billets to form the mound.

9. Profiling apparatus as claimed claim 5 and including means for pressing the soil in the mound, said pressing means comprising a press wheel assembly.

10. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said press wheel assembly comprises at least one pair of press wheels which have their axes of rotation inclined outwardly and downwardly at an angle corresponding to the angle of the sides of said convex mound.

12. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and including a frame assembly to which said tools are mounted, said frame assembly being adapted for at least limited floating movement in a substantially vertical direction.

13. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said floating frame assembly is supported by one or more depth wheels which support the frame assembly to the ground and permit the frame assembly to follow the ground contour, said one or more depth wheels being adjustable relative to the floating frame assembly to adjust the operating depth of the tools.

14. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said one or more depth wheels comprise a pair of wheels mounted to opposite sides of the floating frame assembly, said wheels being laterally adjustable relative to the floating frame assembly.

15. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said floating frame assembly includes a pair of tool bars for supporting said tools, said tool bars being arranged at different heights and extending transversely of the apparatus, said tool bars extending between and being connected to opposite side members, said side members being adapted to be mounted directly or indirectly to a planter for movement in opposite substantially vertical directions.

16. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein each said side member is adapted to be connected directly or indirectly to the planter by a pair of substantially parallel arms arranged one above the other, each said arm of said pair being pivotally mounted at one end to the side members through spherical bearings and at their opposite ends to the planter respectively so as to support said frame for floating movement relative to the planter.

17. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 16 and including a main fixed frame adapted to be rigidly mounted to the planter, said fixed frame being adapted to be connected to a prime mover.

18. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said fixed frame extends between the upper and lower tool bars and acts as a stop to limit floating movement of the floating frame assembly.

19. Profiling apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said fixed frame includes a transverse main frame member and opposite side frame members adapted to be rigidly connected to the planter, said pairs of parallel arms being connected at one end to the opposite side frame members of the main frame.

7. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

24. A planter for sugar cane billets, said planter comprising a bin for holding billets to be planted, a central guide or chute extending from said bin and terminating in a planting drill for forming a bed upon which billets from said bin may be deposited, and profiling apparatus supported to said planter for forming a profiled mound over billets deposited on said bed, said profiling apparatus comprising a transversely extending floating frame assembly, said floating frame assembly supporting first and second spaced apart soil engaging and displacing tools, said tools being adapted to displace soil inwardly towards each other and towards said planting drill as said apparatus is advanced, respective covering means rearwardly of said first and second tool for covering billets deposited onto said bed with soil from opposite sides of said bed displaced by said soil engaging and displacing tools to form a raised mound over said seed or billets, said raised mound having a central apex and opposite top sides which are angled outwardly and downwardly from said central apex such that said formed mound has a convex cross section, said profiling apparatus being adapted to form said mound in a single pass operation.

23. A planter as claimed in claim 24 and including rake means in said guide or chute and means for depositing fertilizer forwardly of said rake means, said rake means being adapted to mix said fertilizer into soil in said bed.

25. A planter as claimed in claim 24 wherein said floating frame assembly includes at least one transversely extending tool bar to which said tools are mounted and pairs of parallel arms at each end of said at least one tool bar and connecting the at least one said tool bar to said planter to provide for floating vertical movement of said floating frame assembly in opposite substantially vertical directions.

26. A planter as claimed in claim 25 wherein said floating frame assembly includes a pair of end members carrying said at least one tool bar, the parallel arms of each said pair of arms being pivotally connected at one end to respective end members by spherical bearings and at their opposite end through spherical bearings to said planter.

27. A planter as claimed in claim 25 wherein said profiling apparatus includes means for pressing the soil in the mound, said pressing means comprising a press wheel assembly comprising at least one pair of press wheels which have their axes of rotation inclined outwardly and downwardly at an angle corresponding to the angle of the top sides of said convex mound.