Seed boot for a seeding machine

• US 7,168,376 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Johnston, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US10/632,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20050022706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 111/163, 111/167, 111/170, 111/186, 111/18, 111/81, 111/150, 111/154
• US Class Current: 111/167
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed

Abstract

An integral cast seed boot is provided with a mounting assembly for securing the seed boot to a planting unit frame. A single furrow opener disc is rotatively mounted to the planting unit frame by a bearing assembly. The seed boot defines a seed entry passage having an inlet for receiving seed from a seed meter and an outlet for depositing metered seed into a seed planting furrow formed by the furrow opener. The seed inlet is located in front of the mounting assembly. The seed entry passage slopes continuously and uniformly downwardly and rearwardly from the inlet to the outlet. The outlet is located below the bearing assembly of the furrow opener disc.

Claims

1. A seed boot for a seeding machine comprising an integral cast body having a seed entry passage extending downwardly and rearwardly from an inlet to an outlet, an integral mounting assembly for mounting the seed boot to a planting unit frame is located above the seed entry passage, the inlet is located in front of the mounting assembly and the outlet is located below and behind the mounting assembly wherein the mounting assembly comprises a clevis having a front wing and a rear wing.

2. The seed boot as defined by claim 1 wherein the seed entry passage slopes continuously and uniformly downwardly and rearwardly from the inlet to the outlet.

3. The seed boot as defined by claim 1 wherein the inlet is in front of and adjacent to the front wing.

4. The seed boot as defined by claim 3 wherein the seed boot is provided with an integral sidewall immediately downstream from the outlet.

5. The seed boot as defined by claim 4 wherein the seed boot is provided with a seed flap extending downstream from the outlet.

6. A planting unit for a seeding machine, the planting unit comprising:

a planter unit frame;

a furrow opener disc rotatively mounted to the planter unit frame by a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly defining a center axis;

a seed boot is mounted to the planting unit frame by a mounting assembly, the seed boot having a seed entry passage extending downwardly and rearwardly from an inlet to an outlet, the inlet is located in front of the mounting assembly and the outlet is located below the center axis wherein the mounting assembly comprises a clevis having a front wing and a rear wing.

7. The planting unit as defined by claim 6 wherein the mounting assembly is located in front of the bearing assembly.

8. The planting unit as defined by claim 7 wherein the seed entry passage slopes continuously and uniformly downwardly and rearwardly from the inlet to the outlet.

9. The planting unit as defined by claim 6 wherein the seed boot is secured to the planting unit frame by a mounting bolt passing through the clevis.

10. The planting unit as defined by claim 9 wherein the inlet is in front of and adjacent to the front wing.

11. The planting unit as defined by claim 10 wherein the seed boot is provided with an integral sidewall immediately downstream from the outlet.

12. The planting unit as defined by claim 11 the seed boot is provided with a seed flap extending downstream from the outlet.

13. The planting unit as defined by claim 6 wherein the seed boot is a cast integral part.