Agricultural implement for planting seeds

• US 4,307,674 A
• Filed: 07/28/1980
• Issued: 12/29/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Case Corporation (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: International Harvester Co. (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Wendte, Keith W., Jennings, Marvin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feyrer, James R.
• Application Number:
  US06/172,609
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 111/24, 111/64, 111/85, 111/87, 111/52, 111/62, 111/63, 111/88, 172/170, 172/172, 172/184, 172/417, 172/538, 172/539
• US Class Current: 111/164
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/927 Parallelogram mounting

Abstract

An implement that includes a pair of furrow forming disks, a seed tube located between the disks for depositing seed in the furrow, a seed firming wheel rotatably supported between the disks for movement in the furrow generally adjacent the tube exit and a pair of pivotally mounted furrow closing and gauge wheels located generally adjacent the seed firming wheel. The elements of the implement are particularly constructed and arranged primarily to achieve accurate seed depth control.

Claims

1. An agricultural implement for planting seeds comprising:

(a) hollow frame having open ends, said frame being adapted to be connected to a mobile power source for towing;

(b) a pair of opposed, furrow-forming disks rotatably mounted on non-parallel axes on said frame with each disk being located adjacent an opposing respective outside surface of said frame with the disks substantially contacting each other at the approximate point of entry into the ground and diverging apart rearwardly and upwardly relative to the direction of travel;

(c) a seed tube mounted in said frame, one end of said tube extending between said disks toward the furrow and the other end being adapted for connection to a seed dispenser;

(d) a seed firming wheel rotatably mounted in said frame between said disks, the forward periphery of said wheel being adjacent the rotatable mounting of said disks and said wheel being located rearward and adjacent said one end of said seed tube;

(e) a combination furrow closing and gauge wheel means, said means including an arm structure pivotally mounted in said frame above said firming wheel and a pair of rotatably mounted furrow closing and gauge wheels, with each wheel being mounted on an opposing respective outside surface of said arm structure and being located laterally outwardly said firming wheel, said wheels being located in upwardly diverging planes straddling the furrow; and

(f) adjustment means located above said firming wheel and said arm structure pivot and extending between said frame and arm structure for varying the depth of the furrow created by said disks, said means including a cam rotatably mounted in said arm structure, a cam follower mounted in said frame and means for moving said cam to selected positions and latching same, said furrow closing and gauge wheels straddling and overlapping longitudinally said firming wheel through the range of cam follower and cam contact.

2. The implement of claim 1 in which the disks are concave with the concave surfaces facing each other.

3. The implement of claim 2 in which the periphery of one disk substantially contacts the concave surface of the other disk.

4. The implement of claim 1 in which said seed firming wheel has a resilient periphery and is loosely mounted on its axis of rotation for a wobble motion in the direction of travel.

5. The implement of claim 4 in which said furrow closing and gauge wheels are mounted on a non-straight shaft which is rotatable on said frame and further comprising adjustment means to vary the inclination of the wheels to each other to control the amount of soil utilized for furrow closing.

6. An agricultural implement for planting seeds comprising

(a) a hollow frame having open ends, said frame being adapted to be connected to a mobile power source for towing;

(b) a pair of opposed, furrow-forming disks rotatably mounted on non-parallel axes on said frame with each disk being located adjacent an opposing respective outside surface of said frame with the disks substantially contacting each other at the approximate point of entry into the ground and diverging apart rearwardly and upwardly relative to the direction of travel;

(c) a seed tube mounted in said frame, one end of said tube extending between said disks toward the furrow and the other end being adapted for connection to a seed dispenser;

(d) a seed firming wheel rotatably mounted in said frame between said disks, the forward periphery of said wheel being adjacent the rotatable mounting of said disks and said wheel being located rearward and adjacent said one end of said seed tube, said seed firming wheel having a resilient periphery and being loosely mounted on its axis of rotation for a wobble motion in the direction of travel;

(e) a combination furrow closing and gauge wheel means, said means including an arm structure pivotally mounted in said frame above said firming wheel, a pair of furrow closing and gauge wheels having resilient rims for each side of the furrow, each pair of wheels being rotatably mounted on an opposing respective outside surface of said arm structure and being located laterally outwardly said firming wheel and in upwardly diverging planes and mounted on a non-straight shaft which is rotatable on said frame and further comprising adjustment means to vary the inclination of the pairs of wheels to each other to control the amount of soil utilized for furrow closing; and

(f) adjustment means located above said firming wheel and said arm structure pivot and extending between said frame and arm structure for varying the depth of the furrow created by said disks, said means including a cam rotatably mounted in said arm structure, a cam follower mounted in said frame and means for moving said cam to selected positions and latching same, said furrow closing and gauge wheels straddling and overlapping longitudinally said firming wheel through the range of cam follower and cam contact.