Seed flap for controlling seed placement

• US 6,666,156 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CNH Canada Limited (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: New Holland North America Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Schilling, Robin, Colistro, Vince, Mayerle, Dean, Friesen, Dick
• Primary Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US10/225,422
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 111/150, 111/157, 111/176, 111/189, 111/197, 111/198, 111/149, 111/170, 111/190, 111/148
• US Class Current: 111/150
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/201 Mounting of the seeding tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/00 Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries

Abstract

A seed flap for a disc opener associates with an air seeder operable to place seed and fertilizer into a furrow formed in the ground by the disc opener. The seed flap is formed from a non-flexible material, such as an abrasion resistant steel, and pivotally mounted to the seed tube to permit the seed flap to trail behind the seed tube and control the placement of seeds and/or fertilizer discharged from the seed tube. The pivotal mounting of the seed flap will provide movement of the seed flap relative to the seed tube to permit the seed flap to more consistently align with the bottom of the furrow and better follow the furrow bottom created by the disc opener while the disc opener is moving through a turn. A spring mechanism operably coupled to the seed flap will provide a positive force for firming the placement of the seed into the soil. A retention device, such as a clip, will be operable to hold the seed flap in an elevated, inoperable position as desired by the operator.

Claims

1. In an agricultural planting apparatus having a device for forming a furrow into the ground;

a seed delivery apparatus to dispense seed into the furrow after the furrow has been formed; and

a furrow closing device to close the furrow after the seed has been deposited therein, the improvement comprising;

a rigid seed flap member pivotally attached to said seed delivery apparatus by a pivot mechanism providing generally vertical movement for said seed flap to permit said seed flap to follow ground undulations, said seed flap being positioned for engagement with the furrow to position said seed in the bottom of said furrow, wherein said seed delivery apparatus includes a seed tube positioned adjacent to said device for forming a furrow, said seed flap being mounted to said seed tube to closely follow the movement of said seed tube; and

a mounting bracket, said mounting bracket including a retaining clip positioned to engage said seed flap to restrain said seed flap in a raised inoperative position.

2. The agricultural planting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mounting bracket is detachably connected to said seed tube, said mounting bracket being formed in a manner that will allow disconnection and an associated release of said seed flap member.

3. The agricultural planting apparatus of claim 2, wherein said seed flap member further includes a spherical ball, and wherein said mounting bracket is formed in a manner that will allow disconnection and an associated release of said spherical ball of said seed flap.

4. The agricultural planting apparatus of claim 3, where said seed flap is formed with a recession defining a T-shaped top that is engageable with said retaining clip.

5. The agricultural planting apparatus of claim 4, wherein said retaining clip is formed with a pair of legs terminating in inwardly directed flanges to engage said T-shaped top portion of said seed flap.

6. The agricultural planting apparatus of claim 5, wherein said seed flap is further formed with a downwardly facing concave surface on a leading edge of said seed flap.

7. A seed flap assembly for an agricultural planter for positioning within a furrow created by said agricultural planter to restrain seed placed into said furrow through a seed tube, comprising:

a rigid seed flap member including a longitudinal extending body member pivotally attached to said seed tube by a pivot mechanism providing a single axis of movement between a lowered operative position in which said seed flap is engaged in said furrow, and a raised inoperative position; and

a retaining clip engageable with said seed flap member to restrain said seed flap member in said raised inoperative position.

8. The seed flap assembly of claim 7, further comprising a mounting bracket detachably connected to said seed tube to support said seed flap member, said mounting bracket being formed in a manner that will allow disconnection and an associated release of said seed flap member.

9. The seed flap assembly of claim 7, wherein said pivot mechanism includes a generally horizontally disposed pivot pin supported by said seed tube, said seed tube including a hole for the passage of said pivot pin, said hole having a diameter significantly larger than said pivot pin to permit said seed flap to move from side to side relative to said seed tube.

10. The seed flap assembly of claim 9, wherein said seed flap is formed with a T-shaped top that is engageable with said retaining clip, said retaining clip being formed with a pair of legs terminating in inwardly directed flanges to engage said T-shaped top portion of said seed flap.

11. The seed flap assembly of claim 9, wherein said seed flap is further formed with a downwardly facing concave surface on a leading edge of said seed flap.

12. An agricultural air seeder planting apparatus for planting seeds and other agricultural products into the ground comprising:

a tank for carrying seed;

a fan mechanism for creating a flow of air through a tube delivery system cooperable with said tank to receive a supply of seeds therefrom in a metered manner from said tank;

a disc opener assembly for creating a furrow in the ground and receiving a flow of seeds from said tube delivery system, including;

a coulter disc for forming a furrow in the ground;

a seed tube forming a terminus of said tube delivery system, said seed tube being positioned adjacent to said coulter disc to place said seed within said furrow as said coulter disc is creating said furrow;

a furrow closing device to close the furrow after the seed has been deposited therein;

a rigid seed flap member pivotally attached to the seed delivery tube by a pivot mechanism providing at least two axes of movement for said seed flap, said seed flap being positioned for engagement with the furrow to position said seed in the bottom of said furrow, wherein said seed flap member includes a longitudinal extending body member and a spherical ball positioned at a forward end of said seed flap member; and

a mounting bracket detachably connected to said seed tube to support said seed flap member, said mounting bracket defining a semi-spherical keeper engageable with said spherical ball to provide a universal pivot connection between said seed flap and said mounting bracket.

13. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a retaining clip supported on said mounting bracket and selectively engageable with said seed flap member to restrain said seed flap member in a raised inoperative position.

14. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 13, wherein said seed flap is formed with a T-shaped top that is engageable with said retaining clip, said retaining clip being formed with a pair of legs terminating in inwardly directed flanges to engage said T-shaped top portion of said seed flap.

15. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 14, wherein said seed flap is further formed with a downwardly facing concave surface on a leading edge of said seed flap.

16. An agricultural air seeder planting apparatus for planting seeds and other agricultural products into the ground comprising:

a tank for carrying seed;

a fan mechanism for creating a flow of air through a tube delivery system cooperable with said tank to receive a supply of seeds therefrom in a metered manner from said tank;

a disc opener assembly for creating a furrow in the ground and receiving a flow of seeds from said tube delivery system, including;

a coulter disc for forming a furrow in the ground;

a seed tube forming a terminus of said tube delivery system, said seed tube being positioned adjacent to said coulter disc to place said seed within said furrow as said coulter disc is creating said furrow;

a furrow closing device to close the furrow after the seed has been deposited therein; and

a unitary rigid seed flap member pivotally attached to the seed delivery tube by a pivot mechanism providing at least two axes of movement for said seed flap, said seed flap being positioned for engagement with the furrow to position said seed in the bottom of said furrow.

17. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 16, further including a mounting bracket detachably connected to said seed tube to support said seed flap member, said seed flap member including a longitudinal extending body member, said pivot mechanism positioned at a forward end of said seed flap member, said mounting bracket defining a keeper engageable with said pivot mechanism to provide a universal pivot connection between said seed flap member and said mounting bracket.

18. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a retaining clip supported on said mounting bracket and selectively engageable with said seed flap member to restrain said seed flap member in a raised inoperative position.

19. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 18, wherein said seed flap is formed with a T-shaped top that is engageable with said retaining clip, said retaining clip being formed with a pair of legs terminating in inwardly directed flanges to engage said T-shaped top portion of said seed flap.

20. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 19, wherein said seed flap is further formed with a downwardly facing concave surface on a leading edge of said seed flap.

21. An agricultural air seeder planting apparatus for planting seeds and other agricultural products into the ground comprising:

a tank for carrying seed;

a fan mechanism for creating a flow of air through a tube delivery system cooperable with said tank to receive a supply of seeds therefrom in a metered manner from said tank;

a disc opener assembly for creating a furrow in the ground and receiving a flow of seeds from said tube delivery system, including;

a coulter disc for forming a furrow in the ground;

a seed tube forming a terminus of said tube delivery system, said seed tube being positioned adjacent to said coulter disc to place said seed within said furrow as said coulter disc is creating said furrow;

a furrow closing device to close the furrow after the seed has been deposited therein; and

a rigid seed flap member, said rigid seed flap member including a longitudinally extending body member and a pivot mechanism, said pivot mechanism defining a single pivot point and positioned at a forward end of said seed flap member, said seed flap member pivotally attached to the seed delivery tube by said pivot mechanism at said single pivot point, said single pivot point of said pivot mechanism providing at least two axes of movement for said seed flap, said seed flap being positioned for engagement with the furrow to position said seed in the bottom of said furrow.

22. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 21, further including a mounting bracket detachably connected to said seed tube to support said seed flap member, said mounting bracket defining a keeper engageable with said pivot mechanism to provide a universal pivot connection between said seed flap member and said mounting bracket.

23. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a retaining clip supported on said mounting bracket and selectively engageable with said seed flap member to restrain said seed flap member in a raised inoperative position.

24. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 23, wherein said seed flap is formed with a T-shaped top that is engageable with said retaining clip, said retaining clip being formed with a pair of legs terminating in inwardly directed flanges to engage said T-shaped top portion of said seed flap.

25. The agricultural air seeder planting apparatus of claim 26, wherein said seed flap is further formed with a downwardly facing concave surface on a leading edge of said seed flap.