Planting assembly for seed drill

• US 5,685,246 A
• Filed: 04/22/1996
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• 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): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US08/636,123
• Time in Patent Office: 568 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 includes an arcuate front edge that is juxtaposed immediately behind the coulter, thereby preventing accumulation of field trash between them. The runner extends rearwardly from beneath the press wheel and is transversely guided on the supporting vehicle 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. Seed is dropped into the open slot prior to being covered with soil. Moist soil can be packed along the sides of the furrow to maintain the furrow in an open condition during seed germination and plant emergence. 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;

a rigid narrow boot having an upright arcuate front edge transversely centered and juxtaposed immediately behind the press wheel assembly, the arcuate configuration of its front edge being coaxially centered on the axis of the press wheel assembly;

a longitudinal runner formed at a lower end of the boot and extending rearwardly from beneath the press wheel assembly;

a boot frame pivotally mounting the boot about the axis of the press wheel assembly; and

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

2. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, wherein the boot is pivotally connected to the boot frame about an axis that is parallel to the axis of the press wheel assembly;

and

a shear pin transversely interconnecting the boot and boot frame at a location spaced from the location of the pivotal connection between them.

3. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1, wherein the boot frame includes a transverse rigid tool bar positioned behind the press wheel assembly and a clamp bracket releasably fixed to the tool bar, the clamp bracket being pivotally connected to the upper end of the boot about an axis that is parallel to the axis of the press wheel assembly;

and

a shear pin transversely interconnecting the boot and clamp bracket at a location spaced from the location of the pivotal connection between them.

4. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 1 wherein the boot is longitudinally aligned with the forward direction of the press wheel assembly.

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

a supporting vehicle frame carrying the press wheel assembly;

at least one spring yieldably interposed between the boot frame and the vehicle frame for urging the boot and runner downwardly relative to the press wheel assembly.

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

a supporting vehicle frame carrying the press wheel assembly;

at least one spring yieldably interposed between the boot frame and the vehicle frame for urging the boot and runner downwardly relative to the press wheel assembly; and

an adjustable stop interconnecting the boot frame and the vehicle frame for limiting downward movement of the runner relative to the press wheel assembly.

7. 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, the press wheel assembly including a coulter having a circular periphery centered about the wheel axis;

a rigid narrow boot having an upright arcuate front edge transversely centered and juxtaposed immediately behind the coulter of the press wheel assembly, the arcuate configuration of its front edge being coaxially centered on the axis of the press wheel assembly;

the boot including a longitudinal runner formed at a lower end of the boot, the runner extending rearwardly from beneath the press wheel assembly in longitudinal alignment with the coulter;

a boot frame pivotally mounting the boot about the axis of the press wheel assembly; and

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

8. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a shaft pivotally connecting the boot and the boot frame for motion about a transverse horizontal axis; and

a breakable restraining member interconnecting the boot and the boot frame for normally preventing pivotal motion between them during use of the seed drill.

9. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a shaft pivotally connecting the boot and the boot frame for motion about a transverse horizontal axis; and

a breakable restraining member interconnecting the boot and the boot frame for normally preventing pivotal motion between them during use of the seed drill, the breakable restraining member being a shear pin transversely interconnecting the boot and boot frame at a location spaced from the location of the pivotal connection between them.

10. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 7 wherein the boot frame comprises:

a transverse rigid tool bar positioned behind and spanning a plurality of press wheel assemblies rotatably mounted about a common axis.

11. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 7 wherein the boot frame comprises:

a transverse rigid tool bar positioned behind and spanning a plurality of press wheel assemblies rotatably mounted about a common axis; and

a pair of rigid supports each having one end fixed to the boot frame at spaced locations along the length of the tool bar, the remaining end of each rigid support being pivotally journalled about the common axis of the press wheel assemblies.

12. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 7 wherein the boot frame comprises:

a transverse rigid tool bar positioned behind and spanning a plurality of press wheel assemblies rotatably mounted about a common axis; and

a plurality of clamp brackets located along the tool bar, each clamp bracket being pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the boots about an axis that is parallel to the axis of the press wheel assembly.

13. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 7 wherein the boot frame comprises:

a transverse rigid tool bar positioned behind and spanning a plurality of press wheel assemblies rotatably mounted about a common axis;

a plurality of clamp brackets located along the tool bar, each clamp bracket being pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the boots about an axis that is parallel to the axis of the press wheel assembly;

a shear pin transversely interconnecting each boot and its associated boot frame at a location spaced from the location of the pivotal connection between them.

14. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 7 wherein the boot frame comprises:

a transverse rigid tool bar positioned behind and spanning a plurality of press wheel assemblies rotatably mounted about a common axis; and

a plurality of clamp brackets, each clamp bracket rigidly connecting one of the boots to the tool bar.

15. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 7 wherein the boot frame comprises:

a transverse rigid tool bar positioned behind and spanning a plurality of press wheel assemblies rotatably mounted about a common axis; and

a plurality of clamp brackets, each clamp bracket rigidly connecting one of the boots to the tool bar;

the seed drill planting assembly further comprising;

a supporting vehicle frame carrying the press wheel assemblies; and

at least one spring yieldably interposed between the tool bar and the vehicle frame for urging the boots and runners associated with the tool bar downwardly relative to the press wheel assemblies.

16. The seed drill planting assembly of claim 7 wherein the boot frame comprises:

a transverse rigid tool bar positioned behind and spanning a plurality of press wheel assemblies rotatably mounted about a common axis; and

a plurality of clamp brackets, each clamp bracket rigidly connecting one of the boots to the tool bar;

the seed drill planting assembly further comprising;

a supporting vehicle frame carrying the press wheel assemblies; and

at least one adjustable stop interconnecting the tool bar and the vehicle frame for limiting downward movement of the boots and runners associated with the tool bar relative to the press wheel assemblies.