Seed tube guide

• US 5,664,507 A
• Filed: 06/03/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Bergland, Norman Robert, Yoder, Alfred Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US08/659,054
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 111/140, 111/164, 111/170, 111/177, 111/187, 111/195, 111/200, 111/127, 111/152, 111/124, 222/567, 222/566, 222/575, 221/211, 221/312 R, 193/2 R, 193/4, 193/5, 239/589, 239/592, 239/593, 239/597, 239/601
• US Class Current: 111/140
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/206 Seed pipes

Abstract

The present invention is a seed tube guide for maintaining the seed tube in the center of the seed planting furrow between the double disc openers. The seed tube guide comprises a unitary member having left and right forwardly extending mounting plates for engaging a seed tube guard. Each of the mounting plates has a notch for receiving the transversely extending ridge of the seed tube guard. Extending rearwardly are left and right guide members for gripping the seed tube and centering it in the seed planting furrow.

Claims

1. A seed tube guide for centering a seed tube in a seed planting furrow, the seed tube guide is mounted to a seed tube guard extending downwardly from a planter unit, the seed tube guide comprising:

left and right mounting plates, each of the mounting plates having a notch for receiving a transversely extending ridge on the seed tube guard, the plates clamping the seed tube guard;

left and right guide members joined to the left and right mounting plates for gripping a seed tube therebetween, the left and right guide members extend rearwardly from the left and right mounting plates.

2. A seed tube guide as defined by claim 1 wherein the seed tube guide is plastic.

3. A seed tube guide as defined by claim 2 wherein the left and right mounting plates are biased inwardly for clamping the seed tube guard therebetween.

4. A planter as defined by claim 2 wherein the left and right mounting plates are biased inwardly for clamping the seed tube guard therebetween.

5. A planter for planting seed in a seedbed, the planter comprising:

a frame, the frame having a downwardly extending seed tube guard;

a double disc furrow opener being mounted to the frame for opening a seed planting furrow in the seedbed;

a seed meter being mounted to the frame for metering seed into a seed tube, the seed tube directing the seed into the seed planting furrow formed by the double disc furrow opener;

a closing wheel assembly for closing the seed planting furrow after seeds have been deposited in the seed planting furrow by the seed tube; and

a seed tube guide being mounted to the seed tube guard by two notched left and right mounting plates, the plates clamping the seed tube guard therebetween, the seed tube guide having left and right rearwardly extending guide members for gripping the seed tube therebetween.

6. A planter as defined by claim 5 wherein the seed tube guide is plastic.