Soil control mechanism

• US 6,978,727 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ian Geddes
• Original Assignee: Ian Geddes
• Inventors: Geddes, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US10/480,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20040237863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 111/158, 111/163, 111/167, 111189-192, 111/194, 111/139, 111/140, 172558-565, 172139-142
• US Class Current: 111/167
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools

Abstract

A ground engaging seed delivery device comprising an elongate support arm 8 pivotally mounted to a driving structure via a mounting structure 7 adapted to accommodate vertical linear displacement wherein the support arm has an offset coulter disc 3 fitted along the length thereof, a back swept seed delivery tube 2, followed by a packer wheel 4 and a ground engaging control arm 1 positioned to act between the coulter disc and packer wheel so as to follow a furrow formed by the coulter disc and prevent the furrow divot from either collapsing and/or being thrown prior to delivery of seed into the furrow such that the packer wheel can replace the divot immediately following delivery of seed to the furrow.

Claims

1. A ground engaging seed delivery device comprising an elongate support arm pivotally mounted to a driving means via a mounting means adapted to accommodate vertical linear displacement, wherein said support arm has an offset coulter disc fitted at a first end thereof followed by a back swept seed delivery tube and a packer wheel at the remote end thereof adapted to follow a soil contour such that said support arm will also follow said soil contour, wherein a soil control arm comprising an elongate arm and a ground engaging foot is positioned on said support arm to act between said coulter disc and packer wheel with at least part of said foot engaging the soil between said coulter disc and said packer wheel adjacent said seed delivery tube so that said soil control arm will follow a furrow formed by said coulter disc and prevent said furrow divot from either collapsing or being thrown into the furrow prior to delivery of seed into said furrow between said coulter disc and said packer wheel, such that said packer wheel can replace said divot immediately following delivery of seed to said furrow whilst allowing said soil control arm to maintain a constant presentation to said soil notwithstanding changes in soil contour,

said control arm including a foot adapted to engage the ground adjacent said furrow from about the position of formation by said coulter disc to at least the position of said seed delivery tube.

2. A delivery device according to claim 1 wherein said control arm is biased in a downward vertical direction.

3. A delivery device according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means is a parallel motion swinging bracket such that the ground cooperating aspect of said coulter disc, control arm, seed delivery means and packer wheel are substantially maintained throughout said vertical displacement.

4. A delivery device according to claim 3 wherein said swinging bracket is biased in a downward vertical direction.

5. A delivery device according to claim 1 wherein said packer wheel is trackably adjustable to enable said packer wheel to run in a position other than the direction of travel of said device.

6. A delivery device according to claim 1 wherein said packer wheel can be adjusted vertically to determine the depth of furrow cut and seed delivery.

7. A delivery device according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a spring steel dropper bar intermediate said support arm and said mounting means.

8. A ground engaging seed delivery device comprising an elongate support arm pivotally mounted to a driving means via a mounting means adapted to accommodate vertical linear displacement wherein said support arm has an offset coulter disc fitted at a first end thereof followed by a back swept seed delivery tube and a packer wheel at the remote end thereof adapted to follow a soil contour such that said support arm will also follow said soil contour wherein a soil control arm comprising an elongate arm and a ground engaging foot is positioned on said support arm to act between said coulter disc and packer wheel with at least part of said foot engaging the soil between said coulter disc and said packer wheel adjacent said seed delivery tube so that said soil control arm will follow a furrow formed by said coulter disc and prevent said furrow divot from either collapsing or being thrown into the furrow prior to delivery of seed into said furrow between said coulter disc and said packer wheel such that said packer wheel can replace said divot immediately following delivery of seed to said furrow whilst allowing said soil control arm to maintain a constant presentation to said soil notwithstanding changes in soil contour,

said seed delivery tube including side skirts formed on either side of said tube which cooperate with the foot of said control arm to prevent said furrow divot from either collapsing or being thrown.

9. A delivery device according to claim 8 wherein said seed tube is positioned near the center of the coulter disc cut or furrow and between the coulter disc and packer wheel.

10. A ground engaging seed delivery device comprising an elongate support arm pivotally mounted to a driving means via a mounting means adapted to accommodate vertical linear displacement wherein said support arm has an offset coulter disc fitted at a first end thereof followed by a back swept seed delivery tube and a packer wheel at the remote end thereof adapted to follow a soil contour such that said support arm will also follow said soil contour wherein a soil control arm comprising an elongate arm and a ground engaging foot is positioned on said support arm to act between said coulter disc and packer wheel with at least part of said foot engaging the soil between said coulter disc and said packer wheel adjacent said seed delivery tube so that said soil control arm will follow a furrow formed by said coulter disc and prevent said furrow divot from either collapsing or being thrown into the furrow prior to delivery of seed into said furrow between said coulter disc and said packer wheel such that said packer wheel can replace said divot immediately following delivery of seed to said furrow whilst allowing said soil control arm to maintain a constant presentation to said soil notwithstanding changes in soil contour,

said support arm being provided with a preloading bias to ensure substantially constant ground engagement of said coulter and packer wheels whilst allowing pivotal rotation to accommodate stump jumping.

11. A delivery device according to claim 10 wherein said preload bias is greater than said control arm bias or said swinging bracket bias.