Disc opener and adjustable seed tube assembly

• US 4,196,679 A
• Filed: 11/07/1977
• Issued: 04/08/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samuel Moore
• Original Assignee: Samuel Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US05/849,348
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 111/88, 111/87, 111/86, 111/84, 111/85
• US Class Current: 111/194
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/926 Special suspension or gauging feature

Abstract

Apparatus for preparing and seeding ground in which seeds from a seedbox mounted on a frame assembly for connection to a towing vehicle are delivered through seed tubes to slits which are cut and opened in the ground by a plurality of disc mounted on the frame assembly for rotation about generally transverse axes and, at least one roller mounted on the frame assembly in a position rearwardly of the disc for rotation about a transverse axis is adapted to compact the ground and close the slits after seeds have been implanted therein. Each seed tube includes a rigid lower end carrying a coulter for holding open a slot cut by a disc adjacent to which the coulter is located and, the coulter is adjustable with respect to the disc to ensure that the coulter engages in the slit and the seeds are deposited therein.

Claims

1. Apparatus for preparing and seeding ground comprising a frame assembly, a seed box mounted on said frame assembly, said frame assembly comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinal arms, seeding assemblies detachably mounted on said arms, each of said seeding assemblies comprising a mounting plate having a lower end projecting below said arm, means for detachably connecting said mounting plate to said arm, a disc for cutting a slit in the ground journalled in said lower end of said plate for rotation about a generally transverse axis, a seed tube for delivering seeds from said seed box to said slit, each seed tube comprising a rigid tubular lower end portion having an upper end and a lower end, a coulter carried by said lower end of said lower end portion for holding open a slit cut by said disc, a connection between said upper end of said lower end portion and said seed box, an adjustable mounting means for detachably mounting said lower end portion on said mounting plate for adjustment in a radial direction with respect to said disc and angularly about an axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of said lower end portion whereby the position of said coulter can be adjusted with respect to said disc to ensure that said coulter engages in the slit and the seeds are deposited therein, and at least one roller mounted on said frame assembly in a position rearwardly of said seeding assemblies to compact the ground and close slits after seeds have been implanted therein, wherein said lower end portion is carried from said arm by a clamp secured to said mounting plate, and said lower end portion is located between spaced abutments on said plate, one of said abutments surrounding a stub axle for said disc and the other of said abutments comprising a projection which is spaced rearwardly from said stub axle, said clamp being releasable to permit said lower end portion to be adjusted in said radial direction with respect to said disc, and wherein said clamp comprises a pair of clamp bolts which are passed through openings in a clamp plate for engagement with a face of said lower end portion opposite said mounting plate and which are connected to said mounting plate, and a face of said lower end portion engages the opposite side of said clamp plate with a pair of fulcrum pins mounted in said mounting plate, and said clamp blots and said fulcrum pins being adjustable with respect to said mounting plate to vary the angle of inclination of said coulter with respect to said disc.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said clamp bolts and said fulcrum pins are all screwed into tapped holes in said mounting plate.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting plates are adapted for mounting said seeding assemblies in any convenient position along the length of said arms.