Self locking seed tube

• US 5,542,363 A
• Filed: 10/17/1994
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Gamino, Rolando P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warnick, IV, Spencer K.
• Application Number:
  US08/324,042
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 285/382, 285/382.2, 285/424, 285/288, 285/319, 111/170, 403/329, 403/283
• US Class Current: 111/170
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/206 Seed pipes

Abstract

An agricultural seeding machine is provided with a steel seed tube for directing seed downwardly into a planting furrow and a plastic seed supply tube for directing metered seed into the seed tube. The seed tube has a normal portion for directing seed into the planting furrow and an enlarged portion for receiving the seed supply tube. The enlarged portion is provided with inwardly projecting tangs for gripping and trapping the seed supply tube in the enlarged portion of the seed tube.

Claims

1. An agricultural seeding machine having a furrow opener for forming a planting furrow, the seeding machine comprising:

a seed tube having a normal portion and an enlarged portion, both the normal portion and the enlarged portion are cylindrical with the normal portion having a smaller inner diameter than the enlarged portion, the normal portion of the seed tube directs seed downwardly into a planting furrow, the enlarged portion of the seed tube having a funnel shaped opening and a necked down portion adjacent to the normal portion, the enlarged portion between the funnel shaped opening and the necked down portion is provided with inwardly projecting tangs, the tangs are triangular each having an apex that is pointed towards the normal portion; and

a seed supply tube mounted in the enlarged portion of the seed tube, the seed supply tube is cylindrical having an outside diameter that is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the enlarged portion, the necked down portion forming a stop for the seed supply tube, the seed supply tube is trapped in the enlarged portion by the inwardly projecting tangs, the seed supply tube supplying metered seed to the seed tube.

2. A seeding machine as defined by claim 1 wherein the seed tube is made of steel.

3. A seeding machine as defined by claim 2 wherein the seed supply tube is made of plastic.

4. A seeding machine as defined by claim 3 wherein the enlarged portion is provided with four tangs.