Seed covering apparatus

• US 5,375,542 A
• Filed: 04/20/1993
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul E. Schaffert
• Original Assignee: Paul E. Schaffert
• Inventors: Schaffert, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARNICK IV, SPENCER K
• Application Number:
  US08/049,942
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 111/190-196, 111/900, 172/741, 172/602-604, 172/747, 384/542, 384/585, 384/157, 301/9.2, 301/10.1, 301/14, 301/128, 411/389, 411/397, 411/384, 411/383
• US Class Current: 111/192
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/066 Devices for covering drills or furrows

Abstract

A seed covering apparatus for covering seeds with soil after an agricultural seed planter places the seeds within an open seed trench and before the planter closes the seed trench. The apparatus includes a disk with a center guide hole and a sealed bearing attached within the guide hole. An adjustable mounting assembly fixes the sealed bearing to the planter so that the disk can rotate about the bearing along one side of the seed trench. The mounting assembly orients the disk at an acute angle to the seed trench so that rotation of the disk along the side of the trench transfers soil from the side into the bottom of the seed trench. The transferred soil completely covers the seeds within the trench prior to closure of the trench by the planter.

Claims

1. A seed covering apparatus for use with a seed planter having a trencher for creating a seed trench, a seed tube for placing seeds within said seed trench, and a closing device for closing said seed trench, said seed covering apparatus comprising, in combination, a disk having a first side and a second side, means defining a guide hole at the center of said disk, said first side of said disk having a beveled surface tapering to a sharp edge at the periphery thereof, a sealed bearing, a collar securing said sealed bearing to said disk in alignment with said guide hole therein, a mounting plate adapted for attachment to said planter between said seed tube and said closing device, a cylindrical sleeve secured to said mounting plate, said cylindrical sleeve aligned vertically on said mounting plate, a vertical shaft retained within said cylindrical sleeve and adjustable to regulate vertical and rotational position of said vertical shaft within said sleeve, a threaded horizontal shaft fixed to the depending end of said vertical shaft for mounting said sealed bearing, nuts threadably attached to said horizontal shaft on opposite sides of said sealed bearing for securing said sealed bearing on said horizontal shaft whereby said disk rotates about said horizontal shaft, said vertical shaft being positioned in said sleeve to orient said second side of said disk at an acute angle with respect to said seed trench along the direction of travel of said planter whereby said disk engages a side wall of said trench to transfer soil from said side wall of said trench to the bottom of said seed trench for covering said seeds in front of said closing device.

2. A seed covering apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said disk is formed substantially from a polymer material having a high density.

3. A seed covering apparatus for use with a seed planter having a trencher for creating a seed trench, a seed tube for placing seeds Within said seed trench, and a closing device for closing said seed trench, said seed covering apparatus comprising, in combination, a disk having a guide hole at a center of said disk, a bearing secured to said disk in alignment with said guide hole therein, a vertical shaft adjustably attached to said planter for longitudinal movement along a vertical axis passing through the length of the vertical shaft and rotational movement about said vertical axis, said vertical shaft aligned vertically on said planter between said seed tube and said closing device, a threaded horizontal shaft fixed to a depending end of said vertical shaft for mounting said bearing, nuts threadably attached to said horizontal shaft on opposite sides of said bearing for securing said bearing on said horizontal shaft whereby said disk rotates about said horizontal shaft, said vertical shaft positioned to orient said disk at an acute angle with respect to said seed trench along the direction of travel of said planter whereby said disk engages a side wall of said trench to transfer soil from said side wall of said trench to a bottom of said seed trench for covering said seeds in front of said closing device.

4. A seed covering apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said disk is formed substantially from a polymer material.

5. A seed covering apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said disk has a first side and a second side, said first side of said disk having a beveled surface tapering to a sharp edge at a periphery thereof.

6. A seed covering apparatus for use with a seed planter having a trencher for creating a seed trench, a seed tube for placing seeds within said seed trench, and a closing device for closing said seed trench, said seed covering apparatus comprising, in combination, a disk having a guide hole at a center of said disk, a bearing secured to said disk in alignment with said guide hole therein, a threaded horizontal shaft for mounting said bearing, nuts threadably attached to said horizontal shaft on opposite sides of said bearing for securing said bearing on said horizontal shaft whereby said disk rotates about said horizontal shaft, means for adjustably attaching said horizontal shaft to said planter between said seed tube and said closing device and orienting said disk at an acute angle with respect to said seed trench along the direction of travel of said planter whereby said disk engages a side wall of said trench to transfer soil from said side wall of said trench to a bottom of said seed trench for covering said seeds in front of said closing device.

7. A seed covering apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said disk is formed substantially from a polymer material.

8. A seed covering apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said disk has a first side and a second side, said first side of said disk having a beveled surface tapering to a sharp edge at a periphery thereof.