Undercutter seed planter

• US 4,393,791 A
• Filed: 01/16/1981
• Issued: 07/19/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kansas State University Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: Kansas State University Research Foundation
• Inventors: Suderman, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US06/225,469
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 111/85, 111/84, 111/86, 111/83, 111/7, 111/81, 111/34, 111/80, 111/59, 111/73
• US Class Current: 111/195
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means

Abstract

An undercutter seed planter in the form of an elongated tubular seed delivery member adapted to be pulled beneath the soil behind the blade of an undercutter plow. An air metering system supplies seeds to the seed delivery member and such seeds are released at preselected intervals beneath the soil surface from a discharge opening at the member'"'"'s trailing end. The trailing end portion of the member is formed to create a V-shaped channel to receive the discharged seeds, and a gage wheel assembly connected to the member'"'"'s trailing end rides upon the surface of the soil and maintains the seed discharge opening at a predetermined distance beneath that surface. A two-way hinge connects the leading end of the seed delivery member to the undercutter plow to permit vertical and horizontal movement of the member'"'"'s trailing end with respect to the plow.

Claims

1. A seed planting apparatus comprising an undercutter plow having a blade with horizontal leading and trailing edges;

transport means supporting said blade for substantially horizontal movement at a selected depth beneath a soil surface;

an enlongated rigid seed delivery member connected to said blade and extending rearwardly from the trailing edge thereof for longitudinal movement beneath a soil surface behind said blade;

said seed delivery member having a front portion and an elongated rear portion;

said front portion being hingedly connected to said blade for horizontal and vertical movement of said rear portion with respect to said blade;

said rear portion being tubular and rearwardly terminating in a trailing end having a seed discharge opening for releasing seeds into the soil beneath the surface thereof;

said seed delivery member communicating with seed metering means adapted to supply seeds in a flowing air stream thereto for the release of seeds into the soil from said discharge opening; and

a gage wheel assembly secured to said rear portion of said seed delivery member adjacent said trailing end;

said gage wheel assembly including a stanchion secured to said seed delivery member adjacent said rear portion, a mounting member adjustably secured to said stanchion for movement into different selected positions of vertical adjustment therealong, and a pair of wheels rotatably mounted upon and disposed on opposite sides of said mounting member above and behind said trailing end of said seed delivery member;

said seed delivery member being provided adjacent said trailing end with an upstanding air release tube for releasing air from said rear portion at a point spaced forwardly from said discharge opening;

said air release tube having an outlet spaced above said seed delivery member a distance substantially greater than the depths of the soil at which said trailing end is adapted to be supported by said gage wheel assembly;

said assembly being adapted to support said trailing end of said seed delivery member at a selected depth totally beneath the surface of the soil, with said seed delivery member forming a tunnel beneath the surface for receiving seeds from said discharge opening, when said apparatus is in operation;

said trailing end of said seed delivery member having a depending longitudinal flange for firming the soil within said tunnel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said wheels of said pair extend along downwardly and inwardly converging planes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said flange is V-shaped in cross sectional outline.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said rear portion of said seed delivery member slopes generally downwardly and rearwardly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said undercutter blade is generally V-shaped in configuration, said apparatus including a plurality of seed delivery members and gage wheel assemblies substantially identical to said first-mentioned seed delivery member and gage wheel assembly, the respective seed delivery members and gage wheel assemblies being spaced laterally apart in substantially parallel relation.