Abstract:
A planting unit for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single pass, double shoot manner includes a rotating disc that cuts a furrow in a planting surface and a trailing seed boot, having a cutting edge, that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in the furrow to form a seed bed in the planting surface. The disc has a mounting frame for mounting the disc to a linkage assembly that is, in turn, coupled to a toolbar mount. The seed boot is also attached to the mounting frame. This common attachment provides a relatively short and compact device without sacrificing fertilizer and seed stratification.
Abstract:
Aspects of the present invention involve an extension adapted to extend from a planter, such as the seed tube portion of the planter, into a seed furrow in order to engage seeds being deposited therein, where such engagement may involve deflecting the seeds toward the vertex region of the furrow and/or firming the seeds in the furrow. The extension includes or supports a fluid distribution arrangement such as a hose or the like, which may be separate or integral with the liquid supply hose of a planter. The fluid distribution arrangement is adapted to supply fluid, such as liquid fertilizer, insecticide, water, etc., to the furrow. A valve is provided in the fluid flow path in the region of the fluid distribution arrangement to control the distribution of fluid to the furrow. The valve may be a check valve that allows fluid flow therethrough when fluid pressure exceeds a value such that the valve opens, and prevents fluid flow when the pressure decreases below the valve activation pressure.
Abstract:
A trailing arm furrow opener apparatus includes a furrow opener bracket attached to the rear link of a parallel link assembly such that the furrow opener bracket and furrow opener attached thereto is maintained in a constant fore and aft angular orientation as the assembly moves up and down. A pucker wheel arm is fixed to one of the upper and lower parallel arm members of the parallel link assembly, and extends rearward from the rear link, and a packer wheel is mounted to the packer wheel arm. A bias device exerts a downward force on the assembly. The presentation angle of the furrow opener with respect to the ground is maintained constant while the assembly moves up and down.
Abstract:
A planter for planting multiple rows of seeds in which the spacing between rows and the spacing between seeds in a row can be varied includes at least two planting units, each planting unit adapted for planting a row of seeds, the planting units being mounted so that the spacing between the at least two of the planting units can be changed, and the rate of planting of at least one of the planting units being independently changeable. A method of planting seeds in a field with a multi-row planter having a plurality of planting units each adapted for planting a row of seeds, includes selectively changing at least one of the spacing between at least two adjacent planting units and the rate of operation of at least one of the planting units during the planting so that at least one of the row spacing or the seed spacing in the rows is not uniform across the planted field.
Abstract:
An agricultural implement is towed behind a tractor or other propelling vehicle and is mounted on a lifting mechanism at the rear of such vehicle so that the forward part of the implement is supported by such mechanism. In one embodiment the agricultural implement includes a seed drill that introduces seeds into the ground at a substantially constant depth below ground level, despite possible undulation in the surface profile of the field which is being seeded.
Abstract:
An opener for use in varying ground conditions, ranging from no-till to conventional full tillage conditions, includes an adjustable down pressure control and a down pressure spring and tension link assembly which selectively provide a limited free float opener condition or a conventional down pressure spring controlled bias condition. A sleeve slidably received by the opener arm and mounted over the lower portion of the tension link assembly allows the opener to free float in loose soil conditions so that only the weight of the opener provides downward bias when the down pressure control is adjusted to a minimum condition. The opener is free to ride up and down to follow irregularities in the ground surface. In harder soil conditions such as those encountered in no-till farming methods, the down pressure control is adjusted to a position wherein an enlarged portion on the sleeve bottoms against the opener arm and the spring begins to compress so that the opener operates in the conventional spring biased mode. The sleeve allows increased downward movement of the opener to follow depressions in the soil.
Abstract:
A packer is mounted on a tool shank of an agricultural cultivator. It includes a guide tube slideably and rotatably mounted on a rigid seed tube mounted directly on the shank. The guide tube is biased downwardly by a compression spring surrounding the seed tube. Provision is made for adjusting the position of the packer wheel to accommodate different seeding depths and packer pressures.
Abstract:
A seed drill has a frame, a transverse hopper and a series of triple disc coulters mounted on the frame below the hopper. The coulters are each mounted on the frame by a parallelogram linkage which maintains the proper relative positions of the front and rear discs of the coulters at different penetration depths and permits the maximum transport height of the coulters.