Single-Pass, Double-Shoot Opener For An Agricultural Implement

• US 20110232552A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Chahley, Dennis W., Naylor, Matthew S., Schilling, Robin B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,646,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/154
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus

Abstract

An opener for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single pass, double-shoot manner includes a rotating disc that cuts a furrow in a planting surface, a fertilizer tube that drops fertilizer into the furrow, and a trailing seed tube assembly, having a cutting edge, that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in the furrow to form a seed bed in the planting surface onto which seed is deposited. The seed trench provides a seed bed that is offset from the bottom of the furrow to provide horizontal and vertical stratification of the seed and fertilizer.

Claims

1. A product dispensing apparatus for use with an agricultural implement, comprising:

a tubular member having a first end adapted to receive a product, a body adapted to pass the product, and a second end through which product exits the body, wherein the tubular member has a leading side and a trailing side; and

a cutting member having a body attached to the leading side of the tubular member and adapted to cut a trench into a sidewall of a furrow.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting member is integrally formed with the tubular member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cutting member has a curved cutting edge that cuts the trench to be offset from a low point of the furrow.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the trench is cut horizontally and vertically offset from the low point of the furrow.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting member has a cutting edge that is angled relative to an axis transverse to a line of travel of the apparatus, wherein the cutting is at an angle of approximately 12 degrees relative to the axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting member includes a wear resistant element.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the wear resistant element is formed of carbide.

8. An opener for use with a seeder 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;

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

9. The opener of claim 8 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.

10. The opener of claim 8 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.

11. The opener of claim 8 wherein the hollow tubular member deposits seed at a depth different than that which fertilizer is deposited by the fertilizer tube.

12. The opener of claim 11 wherein the hollow tubular member deposits seed at a position laterally offset from that which fertilizer is deposited by the fertilizer tube.

13. The opener of claim 12 wherein the seed boot assembly further includes a rearwardly extending portion configured to prevent clogging of the hollow tubular member.

14. The opener of claim 8 wherein the seed boot assembly is configured to be selectively coupled to the disc mount at variable mounting positions to adjust a depth at which the knife cuts the ledge into the furrow.

15. A double-shoot, single pass implement for separately depositing fertilizer and seed with horizontal and vertical stratification into a furrow comprising:

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

a plurality of openers connected to the toolbar, wherein each opener includes;

a disc mount;

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

a fertilizer tube having an outlet for depositing fertilizer into the furrow, and mounted to the disc mount generally adjacent the rotatable disc; and

a seed boot having a knife configured to cut a seed trench into the furrow and a seed tube having an outlet for depositing seed into the seed trench.

16. The implement of claim 15 wherein the seed tube outlet is offset laterally and vertically from the fertilizer tube outlet.

17. The implement of claim 16 wherein the knife has a forward cutting edge that 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 15 wherein the knife has a wear resistant insert.

19. The implement of claim 15 wherein the seed boot is mountable to the disc mount at one of plurality mounting positions, with each mounting position corresponding to a described depth at which the seed trench is cut into the furrow.