Coulter device for direct seed drills

• US 4,289,081 A
• Filed: 12/18/1978
• Issued: 09/15/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Koronka, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US05/970,875
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 111/86, 111/87, 111/88, 111/81, 172/151, 172/184-187, 172/559
• US Class Current: 111/164
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/00 Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries

Abstract

A coulter arrangement and associated drill are provided that are useful in all types of soil, minimize dragging of vegetation into the seed slots, and insure sufficient covering of seed with soil. First and second dished discs are located on frame members, the second disc intercepting the soil displaced by the frist disc. A third dished disc having concave and convex faces and smaller in diameter than the first disc is mounted on another frame member. The third disc is mounted with respect to the first disc and a seed delivery tube so that the third disc removes trash and plant debris from the slot cut by the first disc, and guides seeds from the seed delivery tube directly into the slot.

Claims

1. A drill comprising:

a plurality of first frame members extending rearwardly with respect to the forward direction of travel of said drill, each of said plurality of first frame members being disposed in a spaced apart, substantially parallel orientation with respect to one another and each having a free end;

a plurality of first, rotatable, dished discs for cutting slots into the soil, one pair of each of said first discs being mounted to one of each said first frame members at the respective said free end thereof, said first discs of each of said one pair of first discs being mounted to opposite sides of said free end and having convex surfaces facing each other;

a plurality of third, rotatable, dished discs of smaller diameter then said first discs, one rearwardly overlapping each individual one of said first discs and having a concave surface facing the convex surface its associated first disc, the front peripheral edge of each said third disc being in close proximity thereto, each of said third discs being mounted to a cranked arm having its remote end constructed to embrace, and be rotatable about, an axle connection between its respective first disc and first frame member;

a plurality of seed delivery tubes each having a seed delivery orifice and each having its seed delivery orifice disposed vertically above the concave surface a respective third disc and rearwardly of an upright plane containing a respective axle connection between a first disc and first frame member, and a plurality of second frame members extending in a rearward direction and disposed in a spaced apart, substantially parallel orientation with respect to one another and disposed alternately between members of said plurality of first frame members, each of said second frame members having a free end positioned rearwardly of said free ends of said first frame members, and a plurality of second rotatable, dished discs, for intercepting the soil displaced by the said plurality of first discs and to mechanically guide the soil so that it tumbles into the slots cut by said first discs, one pair each of said second discs being mounted to one of each of said free ends of said second frame members, so that each individual said second disc is rearwardly overlapping the closest member said plurality of first discs, having a concave surface facing a concave surface of said member of said plurality of said first discs.

2. A coulter arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first discs are of larger diameter than said second discs, the lowermost peripheral edge of said first discs lying below the lowermost edge of said second discs.

3. A coulter arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second frame members include biasing means which urge said second discs downwardly towards the soil.

4. A coulter arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cranked arm includes biasing means for allowing upward movement of said third discs against the bias of said biasing means.

5. A coulter arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plane containing the peripheral edge of each of said first discs is inclined with respect to at least one of said forward direction and a vertical direction.

6. A coulter arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plane containing the peripheral edge of each of said third discs is inclined with respect to at least one of said forward directions and a vertical direction.

7. A coulter arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plane containing the peripheral edge of each of said second discs is inclined with respect to at least one of said forward direction and a vertical direction.