Seed drill guide assembly

• US 5,509,363 A
• Filed: 02/07/1995
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Zimmerman
• Original Assignee: Robert Zimmerman
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US08/385,154
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 111/121, 111/195, 111/140, 111/157, 111/167, 172/536, 172/538, 172/172, 172/177, 172/765, 172/770, 172/771, 172/731, 172/721
• US Class Current: 111/157
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting

Abstract

A seed drill includes a novel planting assembly combining press wheels for packing angular sides of a furrow and a runner immediately behind and longitudinally aligned with the press wheel. The runner extends rearwardly from beneath the press wheel at the lower end of an arcuate shank that is transversely guided on the press wheel structure or frame of the drill to maintain it in longitudinal alignment within an open longitudinal slot cut through the soil and intersecting the base of the packed furrow. The shank is guided by a series of rollers within a guide frame pivotally mounted on a supporting frame for motion about a transverse horizontal axis. Highly accurate planting depth control can be achieved, with provision for upward relative movement of the runner as required by encountered field conditions.

Claims

1. A seed drill planting assembly comprising:

a press wheel assembly rotatably mounted about a horizontal transverse axis for rolling soil engagement while moving in a forward direction along a field;

an arcuate shank located in a transversely centered upright position behind the press wheel assembly;

a narrow longitudinal runner mounted to a lower end of the shank and extending rearwardly from beneath the press wheel assembly;

a guide frame in engagement with the shank for permitting movement of the shank and runner along an upright arcuate path substantially centered about the transverse axis of the press wheel assembly;

a shaft pivotally connecting the guide frame to a supporting frame for motion about a horizontal transverse axis; and

seed delivery means on the runner for depositing seeds immediately behind the runner.

2. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft permits limited free transverse motion of the guide frame relative to the supporting frame along a transverse shaft axis.

3. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide frame includes at least three rollers spaced along the shank with alternate rollers respectively engaging opposed front and rear surfaces of the shank to define the arcuate path of the shank and runner.

4. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide frame includes at least three rollers spaced along the shank with alternate rollers respectively engaging opposed front and rear surfaces of the shank to define the arcuate path of the shank and runner;

at least one of the rollers being movably supported relative to the guide frame.

5. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide frame includes at least three rollers spaced along the shank with alternate rollers respectively engaging opposed front and rear surfaces of the shank to define the arcuate path of the shank and runner;

at least one of the rollers being movably supported relative to the remaining rollers for motion toward or away from the arcuate path of the shank relative to the guide frame; and

a spring operably connecting the one roller to the guide frame for yieldably urging the one roller toward the arcuate path of the shank relative to the guide frame.

6. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1 wherein the shank includes an arcuate front surface facing the press wheel assembly, the seed drill further comprising:

a transverse roller support mounted to the frame in rolling engagement with the arcuate front surface of the shank.

7. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide frame comprises:

three rollers spaced along the shank with alternate rollers respectively in opposed engagement against opposed front and rear surfaces of the shank;

the outermost two of the rollers being in engagement with the rear surface of the shank;

a center roller being in engagement with the front surface of the shank and being movably supported on the guide frame relative to the remaining rollers; and

a spring operably connected to the center roller to yieldably urge the center roller against the front surface of the shank.

8. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one spring operably connected to the shank for yieldably urging it downwardly relative to the guide frame.

9. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one spring operably connected to the shank for yieldably urging it downwardly relative to the guide frame; and

a shank positioning assembly for limiting the extent of downward movement of the shank at a preset planting position.

10. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a shank positioning assembly including first and second relatively movable elements normally in abutment with one another for limiting the extent of downward movement of the shank at a preset planting position; and

at least one spring operably connected to the shank positioning assembly for yieldably urging the shank in a downward direction relative to the guide frame.

11. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a shank positioning assembly including first and second relatively movable elements normally in abutment with one another, the first element being operably connected to the supporting frame and the second element being operably connected to the shank;

at least one spring operably connected between the first and second relatively movable elements of the shank positioning assembly for normally maintaining the first and second elements of the shank positioning assembly in abutment by yieldably urging the shank in a downward direction relative to the supporting frame; and

a longitudinally extensible member mounting the first element of the shank positioning assembly to the supporting frame for selectively adjusting the limit of downward movement of the shank relative to the guide frame without modifying the operable connection between the spring and the first and second elements of the shank positioning assembly.

12. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a telescoping assembly having first and second relatively movable tubular elements normally in abutment with one another;

the first tubular element being operably connected to the supporting frame by a lead screw coaxially extending through the first element, the lead screw being rotatably anchored to the supporting frame and threadably interconnected to the first element for selectively adjusting the limit of downward movement of the shank relative to the guide frame;

the second element coaxially surrounding the first element and being operably connected to the shank; and

at least one spring operably connected between the first and second elements of the telescoping assembly for normally maintaining the first and second elements of the shank positioning assembly in abutment by yieldably urging the shank in a downward direction relative to the supporting frame;

whereby the location of the first element relative to the supporting frame can be adjusted by rotation of the lead screw without modifying the operable connection between the spring and the first and second elements of the telescoping assembly.

13. A seed drill planting assembly comprising:

a press wheel assembly rotatably mounted about a horizontal transverse wheel axis for rolling soil engagement in a forward direction along a field, the press wheel assembly including a coulter having a circular periphery centered about the wheel axis;

a shank located behind the press wheel assembly in an upright position, the shank including an arcuate front surface located adjacent to the circular periphery of the coulter;

a narrow longitudinal runner arranged in an upright position and fixed to a lower end of the shank, the runner extending rearwardly from beneath the press wheel assembly in longitudinal alignment with the coulter;

a guide frame overlapping a portion of the arcuate shank;

a shaft pivotally connecting the guide frame to a supporting frame for motion about a horizontal transverse axis;

a plurality of guiding elements mounted on the guide frame and engaging the shank; and

seed delivery means on the runner for depositing seeds at a location immediately behind the runner.

14. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13 wherein the shaft permits limited free transverse motion of the guide frame relative to the supporting frame along a transverse shaft axis.

15. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

protruding flanges in operable engagement with opposed sides of the coulter, the flanges being staggered along the runner to clear trash and soil engaged between the runner and coulter while maintaining the runner transversely centered in longitudinal alignment behind the coulter and permitting movement of the shank relative to the guide frame along an upright arcuate path substantially centered about the wheel axis.

16. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13 wherein the guiding elements include at least three rollers spaced along the guide frame with alternate rollers respectively engaging the arcuate front surface of the shank and an opposed concentric rear surface for defining the arcuate path of the shank relative to the guide frame.

17. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13 wherein the guiding elements include at least three rollers spaced along the guide frame with alternate rollers respectively engaging the arcuate front surface of the shank and an opposed concentric rear surface for defining the arcuate path of the shank relative to the guide frame;

at least one of the rollers being movably supported on the guide frame for manual movement toward or away from the wheel axis.

18. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13 wherein the guiding elements include at least three rollers spaced along the guide frame with alternate rollers respectively engaging the arcuate front surface of the shank and an opposed concentric rear surface for defining the arcuate path of the shank relative to the guide frame;

at least one of the rollers being movably supported on the guide frame for motion toward or away from the wheel axis; and

a spring operably connecting the one roller to the guide frame for yieldably urging the one roller toward the arcuate path of the shank relative to the guide frame.

19. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13 wherein the guiding elements include three rollers spaced along the guide frame with alternate rollers respectively engaging the arcuate front surface of the shank and an opposed concentric rear surface for defining the arcuate path of the shank relative to the guide frame;

one of the rollers being movably supported on the guide frame for motion toward or away from the wheel axis; and

the remaining two rollers being supported on the guide frame for rotation about axes which are fixed to the guide frame and are located at opposite sides of the one roller of the guide frame.

20. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one spring operably connected to the shank for yieldably urging it in a downward direction relative to the guide frame.

21. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

a shank positioning assembly including first and second relatively movable elements normally in abutment with one another for limiting the extent of downward movement of the shank at a preset planting position.

22. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

a shank positioning assembly including first and second relatively movable elements normally in abutment with one another for limiting the extent of downward movement of the shank at a preset planting position; and

at least one spring operably connected to the shank positioning assembly for yieldably urging the shank in a downward direction relative to the guide frame.

23. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

a shank positioning assembly including first and second relatively movable elements normally in abutment with one another, the first element being operably connected to the supporting frame and the second element being operably connected to the shank;

at least one spring operably connected between the first and second relatively movable elements of the shank positioning assembly for normally maintaining the first and second elements of the shank positioning assembly in abutment by yieldably urging the shank in a downward direction relative to the supporting frame; and

a longitudinally extensible member mounting the first element of the shank positioning assembly to the supporting frame for selectively adjusting the limit of downward movement of the shank relative to the guide frame without modifying the operable connection between the spring and the first and second elements of the shank positioning assembly.

24. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

a telescoping assembly having first and second relatively movable tubular elements normally in abutment with one another;

the first tubular element being operably connected to the supporting frame by a lead screw coaxially extending through the first element, the lead screw being rotatably anchored to the supporting frame and threadably interconnected to the first element for selectively adjusting the limit of downward movement of the shank relative to the guide frame;

the second element coaxially surrounding the first element and being operably connected to the shank; and

at least one spring operably connected between the first and second elements of the telescoping assembly for normally maintaining the first and second elements of the shank positioning assembly in abutment by yieldably urging the shank in a downward direction relative to the supporting frame;

whereby the location of the first element relative to the supporting frame can be adjusted by rotation of the lead screw without modifying the operable connection between the spring and the first and second elements of the telescoping assembly.

25. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

a transverse roller support mounted to the supporting frame in rolling engagement against the arcuate surface of the shank.

26. A seed drill planting assembly comprising:

a supporting frame;

a press wheel assembly rotatably mounted on the supporting frame about a horizontal transverse wheel axis for rolling soil engagement in a forward direction along a field, the press wheel assembly including a coulter having a circular periphery centered about the wheel axis;

an arcuate shank movably mounted on the supporting frame at a location in an upright position rearwardly adjacent to the circular periphery of the coulter;

a narrow longitudinal runner arranged in an upright position and mounted to a lower end of the arcuate shank, the runner extending rearwardly from beneath the press wheel assembly in longitudinal alignment with the coulter;

a shank positioning assembly including first and second relatively movable elements normally in abutment with one another, the first element being operably connected to the supporting frame and the second element being operably connected to the shank;

at least one spring operably connected between the first and second relatively movable elements of the telescoping assembly for normally maintaining the first and second elements of the shank positioning assembly in abutment by yieldably urging the shank in a downward direction relative to the supporting frame; and

a longitudinally extensible member mounting the first element of the shank positioning assembly to the supporting frame for selectively adjusting the limit of downward movement of the shank relative to the guide frame without modifying the operable connection between the spring and the first and second elements of the shank positioning assembly; and

a seed delivery tube on the runner for depositing seeds at a location immediately behind the runner.

27. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 26, wherein the first and second elements of the shank positioning assembly are tubular components of a telescoping assembly;

the first tubular element being operably connected to the supporting frame by a lead screw coaxially extending through the first element, the lead screw being rotatably anchored to the supporting frame and threadably interconnected to the first element for selectively adjusting the limit of downward movement of the shank relative to the guide frame.

28. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 26, wherein the first and second elements of the shank positioning assembly are tubular components of a telescoping assembly;

the first tubular element being operably connected to the supporting frame by a lead screw coaxially extending through the first element, the lead screw being rotatably anchored to the supporting frame and threadably interconnected to the first element for selectively adjusting the limit of downward movement of the shank relative to the guide frame;

the second tubular element coaxially surrounding the first tubular element and being operably connected to the shank.

29. A seed drill planting assembly comprising:

a supporting frame;

a press wheel assembly rotatably mounted on the supporting frame about a horizontal transverse wheel axis for rolling soil engagement in a forward direction along a field, the press wheel assembly including a coulter having a circular periphery centered about the wheel axis;

a shank located behind the press wheel assembly in an upright position, the shank including an arcuate front surface located adjacent to the circular periphery of the coulter;

a narrow longitudinal runner arranged in an upright position and fixed to a lower end of the shank, the runner being movably mounted relative to the supporting frame and extending rearwardly from beneath the press wheel assembly in longitudinal alignment with the coulter;

a transverse roller support mounted to the supporting frame in rolling engagement against the arcuate front surface of the shank; and

a seed delivery tube on the runner for depositing seeds at a location immediately behind the runner.

30. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 29, further comprising:

a guide frame mounted to the supporting frame and overlapping a portion of the arcuate shank; and

a plurality of guide rollers on the guide frame in engagement with the shank.

31. A seed drill planting assembly comprising:

a supporting frame;

a press wheel assembly rotatably mounted on the frame about a transverse press wheel axis for rolling ground engagement;

a circumferential coulter rotatable about the transverse press wheel axis in unison with the press wheel assembly;

an arcuate shank movably mounted on the supporting frame at a location in an upright position rearwardly adjacent to the circular periphery of the coulter;

a runner located at the lower end of the shank in longitudinal alignment with the coulter, the runner having protruding flanges in operable engagement with opposed sides of the coulter, the flanges being staggered along the runner to clear trash and soil engaged between the runner and coulter while maintaining the runner transversely centered in longitudinal alignment behind the coulter and permitting movement of the shank relative to the guide frame along an upright arcuate path substantially centered about the wheel axis.

32. A seed drill planting assembly comprising:

a supporting frame;

a press wheel assembly rotatably mounted on the frame about a transverse press wheel axis for rolling ground engagement;

a circumferential coulter rotatable about the transverse press wheel axis in unison with the press wheel assembly;

an arcuate shank movably mounted on the supporting frame at a location in an upright position rearwardly adjacent to the circular periphery of the coulter;

a runner located at the lower end of the shank in longitudinal alignment with the coulter;

a furrow-opening shovel mounted on the support frame at a location forward of the press wheel assembly; and

a vertical blade protruding downwardly from the shovel, the blade being movably mounted on the shovel for elevational adjustment relative to it.