Disc opener for an agricultural planting apparatus

• US 7,464,767 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Canada Limited (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Schilling, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad; Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US11/746,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 111/121, 111/122, 111/140, 111163-169, 111/192, 111/193, 172/518, 172/604, 172/681, 172/762, 403/300, 403/306
• US Class Current: 172/604
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 71/04 Bearings of rotating parts, e.g. for soil-working discs discs A01B15/16, A01B23/06 ; bearings in general F16C
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5741 Separate screw or pin-type connections

Abstract

A disc opener assembly for an agricultural planter includes a coulter disc formed without a pilot hole for the spindle of the mounting hub. The mounting hub is formed without the spindle such that the coulter disc is supported directly in a cantilevered manner from the mounting flange of the mounting hub. The coulter disc is formed with fastener holes aligned with mounting holes in the mounting flange for the passage of fasteners to affix the coulter disc to the mounting flange. The fasteners are countersunk into the coulter disc to present a smooth exterior surface. A seal is positioned between the mounting flange and the coulter disc to prevent the entry of dirt and debris into the mounting hub. No dust cap on the exterior surface of the coulter disc is required with this configuration which improves the operation of the disc opener assembly.

Claims

1. A disc opener assembly for an agricultural planting apparatus comprising:

a mounting hub rotatably supported on a frame, said mounting hub including a mounting flange having mounting holes therein;

a coulter disc formed with fastener holes therethrough for alignment with the mounting holes in said mounting flange, said coulter disc being supported on said mounting hub without a spindle extending through said coulter disc;

fasteners interengaging the fastener holes in said coulter disc and the mounting holes in said mounting flange to connect said coulter disc to said mounting flange; and

a seal positioned between said mounting flange and said coulter disc to prevent contaminants from entering said mounting hub.

2. The disc opener of claim 1 wherein said fastener holes are formed with a countersink area to permit said fasteners to be countersunk into said coulter disc thus presenting a substantially smooth exterior surface of said coulter disc.

3. A coulter disc assembly for use in a tillage implement, comprising:

a mounting hub rotatably supported on a frame member, said mounting hub including a mounting flange having mounting holes therein;

a coulter disc formed with fastener holes therethrough to align with the mounting holes in said mounting flange;

fasteners interengaging the fastener holes in said coulter disc and the mounting holes in said mounting flange to connect said coulter disc to said mounting flange, said coulter disc being supported in a cantilevered manner from said mounting hub; and

a seal positioned between said mounting flange and said coulter disc to prevent contaminants from entering said mounting hub.

4. The coulter disc assembly of claim 3, wherein said fastener holes are formed with a countersink area to permit said fasteners to be countersunk into said coulter disc thus presenting a substantially smooth exterior surface of said coulter disc.

5. In a disc opener assembly for an agricultural tillage implement having a mounting hub rotatably supported on a frame member, said mounting hub including a mounting flange;

and a coulter disc affixed to said mounting hub, the improvement comprising;

said coulter disc being mounted to said mounting flange without a spindle extending from said mounting hub through said coulter disc, said coulter disc being formed with holes therethrough only for the passage of fasteners to connect with said mounting flange, and a seal positioned between said mounting flange and said coulter disc to prevent the entry of contaminates into said mounting hub, wherein said holes through said coulter disc are formed with a countersink area to permit said fasteners to be countersunk into said coulter disc thus presenting a substantially smooth exterior surface of said coulter disc.