Seed tube mounting assembly for agricultural seeder
First Claim
1. An opener assembly for an agricultural seeder, comprising:
- an opener subframe;
an opener disc attached to said opener subframe for rotation about an axis, said opener disc being arranged for forming a furrow in the ground;
a seed tube arranged for guiding seeds into the furrow;
a closing wheel arm connected to said opener subframe by a pivot structure comprising a threaded bolt;
a mounting bracket for securing said seed tube to said opener subframe, said bracket comprising a first mounting part attached to said opener subframe via said threaded bolt and a second mounting part fixed to said seed tube; and
said first and second mounting parts comprising portions that mate together with each other to removably secure said seed tube to said opener subframe.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An opener assembly for an agricultural seeder has an opener disc attached to an opener subframe. The opener disc is angled to the direction of travel to create a furrow for depositing seeds. A boot is mounted to the opener subframe beside the opener disc for preventing loose soil from falling into the furrow ahead of seed deposited therein. A seed tube is mounted to the opener subframe by a two-part bracket. The bracket includes a first part attached to the opener subframe and a second part fixed to the seed tube. The first part has a channel structure for receiving and partially surrounding the seed tube, and a pair of slots formed in sidewalls of the channel structure. The second part has an L-shaped structure with a portion that mates with the pair of slots. A key ring mechanism is used to lock the first and second parts together.
47 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An opener assembly for an agricultural seeder, comprising:
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an opener subframe; an opener disc attached to said opener subframe for rotation about an axis, said opener disc being arranged for forming a furrow in the ground; a seed tube arranged for guiding seeds into the furrow; a closing wheel arm connected to said opener subframe by a pivot structure comprising a threaded bolt; a mounting bracket for securing said seed tube to said opener subframe, said bracket comprising a first mounting part attached to said opener subframe via said threaded bolt and a second mounting part fixed to said seed tube; and said first and second mounting parts comprising portions that mate together with each other to removably secure said seed tube to said opener subframe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An opener assembly for an agricultural seeder, comprising:
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an opener subframe; an opener disc attached to said opener subframe for rotation about an axis, said opener disc being arranged for forming a furrow in the ground; a seed tube arranged for guiding seeds into the furrow; a mounting bracket for securing said seed tube to said opener subframe, said bracket comprising a first mounting part attached to said opener subframe and a second mounting part fixed to said seed tube; said first mounting part comprising first and second sidewalls extending from a base wall to form a channel having an open side for receiving said seed tube, and said sidewalls having first and second slots, respectively, that are open at their top sides; and said second mounting part comprising a first portion that fits into said first slot and a second portion that fits into said second slot, whereby said first and second portions of the second mounting part mate with said first and second slots, respectively, to secure said seed tube in place on said opener subframe. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An opener assembly for an agricultural seeder, comprising:
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an opener subframe; an opener disc attached to said opener subframe for rotation about an axis, said opener disc being arranged to operate at a slight angle to the direction of travel to create a furrow for depositing seeds; a boot for preventing loose soil adjacent the side of the furrow from falling into the furrow in advance of seed deposited therein; a seed tube having a lower end extending between said boot and said opener disc; a bracket extending between said seed tube and said opener subframe for securing said seed tube to said opener subframe with the seed tube extending behind said axis of said opener disc, said bracket comprising a first mounting part attached to said opener subframe and a second mounting part fixed to said seed tube; said first mounting part comprising a channel structure for receiving said seed tube, said channel structure comprising first and second sidewalls extending from a base wall, and said sidewalls having first and second slots, respectively, that open upwardly; and said second mounting part comprising first and second portions that fit into said first and second slots, respectively, whereby said first and second portions of said second mounting part mate with said first and second slots of said first mounting part, respectively, to secure said seed tube in place on said opener subframe with said mounting bracket surrounding said seed tube. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An opener assembly for an agricultural seeder, comprising:
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an opener subframe; an opener disc attached to said opener subframe for rotation about an axis, said opener disc being arranged for forming a furrow in the ground; a seed tube arranged for guiding seeds into the furrow, said seed tube having a circular or elliptical cross-section; and a mounting bracket for securing said seed tube to said opener subframe, said bracket comprising a first mounting part attached to said opener subframe and a second mounting part fixed to said seed tube; wherein said first and second mounting parts fit together to form a rectangular box structure surrounding said seed tube, with an external surface of said seed tube contacting internal surfaces of said box structure at a plurality of distinct points about a circumference of said tube; wherein said first mounting part comprises a U-shaped channel that forms three sides of said rectangular box structure; and wherein said second mounting part is rigidly fixed to an outer surface of said seed tube and forms a fourth side of said rectangular box structure only when said seed tube is placed into said U-shaped channel and said first and second mounting parts are mated together.
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Specification