Agricultural apparatus

• US 6,886,641 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2001
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bitza Research Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Bitza Research Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Holland, Christopher Henry, Brownhill, David Peter, Ronald, David Cameron
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pechhold, Alexandra K.
• Application Number:
  US10/362,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 172/133, 172/536, 172/613, 172/13, 172/135, 172/134, 111/163, 111/164, 111/165, 111/166, 111/167, 111/168, 111/169
• US Class Current: 172/134
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 71/02 Setting or adjusting mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools

Abstract

A furrow forming tool (20) for use in agricultural apparatus, the tool (20) including a furrow forming disc (27) and a ground engaging wheel (28) associated therewith, the disc (27) and its associated ground engaging wheel (28) being assembled another with respect to the normal direction of travel of the tool (20) when in use, the disc (27) being mounted relative to the tool (20) so that its leading edge (29) is disposed forwardly of the leading edge of the ground engaging wheel (28).

Claims

1. A furrow forming tool for use in agricultural apparatus the tool including a tool frame, a furrow forming disc operatively mounted to the tool frame, the disc including a peripheral edge and opposed side faces, the disc being operatively mounted to the tool frame such that when in use the disc is disposed in a plane which is inclined with respect to the normal direction of travel of the tool such that one side face is facing generally forwardly and the other side face is facing generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel, the tool further including a ground engaging wheel associated therewith, the disc and its associated ground engaging wheel being assembled together so that they converge towards one another with respect to the normal direction of travel of the tool when in use, the disc being mounted relative to the wheel so that its leading edge is disposed forwardly of the leading edge of the ground engaging wheel with the ground engaging wheel disposed adjacent to the rearwardly facing side face of the disc.

2. A furrow forming tool according to claim 1 wherein the tool is operatively mounted to a tool frame which is adapted to be mounted to a main frame of the apparatus when in use.

3. A furrow forming tool according to claim 2 wherein the tool frame includes a disc mounting member and a wheel mounting member each operatively connected to the tool frame.

4. A furrow forming tool according claim 1 wherein the tool frame includes a support plate pivotally mounted to a main frame for pivotal movement relative thereto and a tool support arm operatively connected to the support plate, said wheel and disc being mounted to said tool support arm and disposed forwardly of the support plate so as to be spaced from the pivot mounting.

5. A furrow forming tool according to claim 4 further including an adjustment assembly which includes said plate, an adjustment link and a link mounting, the link extending between the plate and the link mounting, the link mounting including a plurality of mounting positions for selectively holding the link so that the position of the wheel relative to the disc can be held in a selected position.

6. A furrow forming tool unit for use in agricultural apparatus, the tool unit including a tool frame which is adapted to support two or more furrow forming tools according claim 1 in spaced apart relation relative to one another, the tool unit being arranged on the agricultural apparatus so that a furrow filling tool is disposed rearwardly and between adjacent tools on the unit so that it is adapted to fill both furrows.

7. A furrow forming tool unit according to claim 6 including a main frame to which the furrow forming tools are operatively connected and may further include compacting means arranged to compact the ground after the furrow has been filled.

8. A furrow forming tool unit according to claim 6 wherein said tools are mounted for adjustment relative to the frame so that they can be moved towards or away from one another.

9. A furrow forming tool according to claim 4 wherein said rotation axes of said associated wheel and discs are disposed generally side-by-side and inclined relative to one another.