AU593254B2 - Improved planting implement - Google Patents

Description

593254 J~hlS iocume~trCct~4T the *etil 49 3Cyd s :#fitrd ~lCa APPLICANTS: ;1'o6(6 IAN MALCOLM JANKE, KEVIN CHRISTIAN, JANKE and NOEL KLEASE NUMBERSti PH 0998 and PH 1523 FILIN4G DATES: 12th June, 1985 and 17th July, 1985 FORM Regulation 13(2) COMMJONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952-1973 9, 0 COMPLETE'SPECIFICATION'FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED,- "IMPROQVED PLANTING IMPLEMENT" The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- S_ 9,r* i~ 99* 49 99. t 9 41 09 THIS INVENTION relates to an improved planting implement and in one aspect to a planting implement particularly suited to minimum or no till planting applications.

The popularity of no till or minimum tilling of fields or paddocks prior to planting has increased recently as the advantages of moisture retention in the ground has been recognized. In such arrangements post harvest crop residue is left standing and is not slashed and/or cultivated in the conventional manner to incorporate it into the soil and dispose of same. Furthermore no cultivation of the soil is practised in the fallow period and weed corntrol is achieved by chemical application. The resultant protective cover of crop stubble prevents wind and rain erosion whilst conserving valuable moisture in the seed bed. The above procedure however presents difficulties in planting as means must be provided to cut through the ground cover to facilitate planting tyne penetration into the soil.

The known planting as'emblies to achieve this aim however have a number of disadvantages firstly because the respective cutting tools and planting tynes have to be secured individually onto respective transverse tool bars of an implement frame and secondly because the cutting tools and planting tynes do not always remain in alignment which can lead to -2- 99 9 9 99c 4,* 449119 I I h c 8:i 1 ~1 damage of the tyne or inefficient p.lanting.

The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate at least some of the above disadvantages by providing an improved planting implement which incorporates a coulter and tyne assembly which will operate in a reliable and efficient manner for the planting of seeds or the like. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

With the above and other objects in -;iew, the present invention resides broadly in a planting implement including a support frame assembly, coulter disc means supported rotatably on said frame assembly and operative to penetrate the ground to be planted, planting tyne means supported on said frame assembly, said tyne means being S. 1 disposed rearwardly of said coulter disc means and in substantial alignment therewith, a first biasing means associated with the frame assembly and operative to urge said coulter disc means and said tyne means downwardly into the a ground and means comprising a cylindrical surface arranged coaxially of said coulter disc means for engaging the surface of said ground to thereby determine the depth of penetration of said disc means and said tyne means into the ground.

*4 Preferably, biasing means in the form of springs are arranged to urge the disc means and tyne means into the ground 9 whilst ground engaging means suitably in the form of a cylindrical surface are associated with the coulter disc means j f, C 1 I>-

I

*to roll along the ground to determine the depth of penetration of the disc means and tyne means. Preferably, the frame assomvbly includes a parallelogram linkage to guide the Jisc means and tyne means in a vertical 0 a 0 0 -3a- I it direction.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of planting implement according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a front eleational view of the planting implement illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a planting implement 10 according to the present invention including an operatively leading 'a a a S 15 coulter assembly 11 and a trailing planting tyne assembly 12.

The planting implement 10 in this embodiment a is adapted to be mounted to a tool bar 13 or the like and thus is provided with a conventional mounting 20 clamp 14 at its leading end. Furthermore the coulter assembly 11 and planting tyne assembly 12 ae arranged to be moveable in unison in opposite vertical directions and also arranged to be pivotally mounted for horizontal tracking movement about a vertical axis. For this purpose, the support frame for the coulter and tyns assemblies includes a parallelogram linkage 16 which is supported on the 4 A) x mounting clamp 14 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. The parallelogram linkage 16 includes a pair of spaced normally upstanding forward plates 17 between which a pair of spaced forwardly extending lugs 18 are secured. The lugs 18 are disposed at opposite ends of a tubular housing 19 which is secured to the mounting clamp 14 and a pivot bolt 20 extends through the lugs 18 and housing 19 to pivotally connect the parallelogram linkage 16 to the clamp 14 and permit free pivotal movement thereof in a horizontal plane.

The linkage 16 also includes two pairs of t upper and lower parallel links 21 and 22 respectively

S

c which are pivotally connected at one end to the respective plates 17 and at their other ends to a pair of extended support arms 23 which ,rotatably support in bearings at their lower ends, a coulter disc assembly 24. This assembly 24 includes a central disc 25 and a pair of cylindrical drums 26 arranged coaxially with the disc 25 on opposite sides thereof and secured thereto which define cylindrical walls 27 of lesser diameter than the disc 25 and which serve to determine the depth of penetration of the disc 25. Suitably the walls 27 are provided with a rubberised coating on their outer surface.

Also fixed to the lower ends of the arms 23 5 r and extending forwardly thereof about the disc is a generally U- or V-shaped guard 28 which serves to deflect balls of crop residue away from the disc 25. Fixed to the arms 23 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a blade scraping assembly 29 which is suitably provided with respective sharpened edges 30 arranged on opposite sides of the cutting disc 25 to scrape adhering soil. or other material therefrom.

Respective biasing means 31 are arranged between the respective upper and lower links 21 o and 22 to urge the linkage 16 downwardly and the coulter disc 25 into the ground. Suitably the biasing means 31 are in the form of tension springs S 15 however any alternative biasing means such as air or gas rams may be provided.

The tyne assembly 12 is slidably mounted 4 e on a pair of spaced arms 32 which are fixed to and extend rearwardly from the respective support arms *20 23. For this purposr,, the tyne assembly 12 includes a transversely extending member 33 T2ovided at its opposite ends with a pair of guide sleeves 34 complimentary to the cross-section of the arms 32 and slidably engaged thereover. Respective locking screws or bolts 35 are provided to lock the sleeves 34 in a desired position along the arms 32.

A tyhe support 36 is pivotally mounted at 37 4, 4

'L/

to a lug extending from a central portion of the member 33 and extends over the member 33 to support in a vertically adjustable manner a planting tyne 38 which is substantially aligned with the disc 25 and which is provided with a rearward seed planting tube 39. The shank of the tyne 38 passes through a sleeve 40 on the support 36 and may be fixed in a desired vertical attitude by means of clamping screws 41.

The tyne assembly 12 is suitably a stump jump tyne assembly and for this purpose a biasing spring 42 extends between the tyne support 36 and a plate 43 which is secured to a member 44 which is fixed to and extends C 4 forwardly from the transverse member 33. Preferably, the biasing force of the spring 42 is varied by means of a conventional screw threaded rod adjusting mechanism In use, the planting implement 10 is attached to a tool bar or other support by means of the clamp 14 and drawn along by a prime mover over the ground to be planted. The biasing springs 31 urge t4 4 the linkage 16 and thus the coulter assembly 11 and C I tyne assembly 12 downwardly into the ground so that the drum surface 27 effectively rolls along the <2 25 surface of the ground to thereby determine the depth of penetration of the disc 25 and tyne 38 whilst the coulter disc 25 cuts into the ground and through the 7 4 t *4 t, t r *r C tC t r: (t t I

E

4I 4di 4 *4 stubble or weeds. The tyne 38 is also drawn into the ground by virtue of the inclined leading edge of its tip. As shown, the tyne 38 is in alignment with the disc 25 to follow the cut formed in the ground by the disc 25 whilst if any obstructions or undulations are met, the coulter disc 25 will ride up over the obstruction or undulation and move upwardly against the bias of the springs 31 to be guided vertically by the parallelogram linkage 16. Whilst if this action fails to clear the tyne 38 f:om the obstruction, the tyne 38 will pivot rearwardly and upwardly against the bias of the spring 42 the obstruction has been passed after which tyne 38 will be returned to its operative attitude.

15 The coulter disc may be of any external configuration such as plain, scalloped or fluted and whilst uue of the drum surfaces 27 is preferable for depth control, other means of depth control may be provided. Tho drums surface 27 may be also uncoated or coated with any material although a coating of rubberised material is preferred. As is apparent, the distance between the tyne 28 and the coulter assembly 11 may be adjusted by virtue of the sleeves 34 and screws 35, however, it will be realised that any other suitable arrangement may be provided for adjusting this distance. Similarly the operative depth of the tyne 38 may be adjusted in any suitable 8 r -r -i or 1 manner other than by use of the sleeve 40 and screws 41, Preferably the tyne assembly 12 is a spring release tyne assembly, however, the tyne may be a rigid tyne or any other conventional tyne arrangement. Whilst the arrangement illustrated is adapted for horizontal tracking movements by virtue of the pivotal connection 18, 19 and 20, the implement 10 may of course be rigidly mounted on a tool bar or the like.

In an alternative arrangement, the parallelogram linkage 16 may be eliminated and the coulter I assembly 11 and tyne assembly 12 mounted for vertical S movement in any other suitable fashion. For example, tt the coulter assembly 11 may be secured to an Sq" 15 upstanding shaft supported for linear movement in an outer bearing housing which may be provided with a clamp or bracket to secure the housing S4r to a tool bar. Suitably the bearing housing supports a linear bearing so that smooth vertical movement may be 20 achieved whilst biasing means suitably in the form of a coil spring mounted about the shaft extend between the bearing housing and coulter assembly to bias the I assembly into the ground. In this arrangement, the tyne assembly 12 may be supported to the coulter assembly 11 in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that the tyne 38 is in substantial alignment with the coulter disc 9 'fl- The outer bearing housing may be either I fixed to the tool bar or alternative2y rotatably mounted for movement about a vertical axis so that the implement may track around say a corner as in the implement of Figs. 1 and 2.

In either embodiment the biasing means for biasii.3 the coulter assembly 11 and tyne assembly 12 into the ground may comprise coil or leaf springs, or fluid biasing means such as hydraulic, water or air rams or air springs. Alternatively, the bias,,ag means may be merely provided by the weight of the coulter and tyne assemblies and associated frame assembly.

Of course, a plurality of the above planting implements may be arranged at spaced positions along a tool bar or mounted individually or collectively on combines, cultivators, chisel ploughs, scarifiers or other implements. It will be seen that the planting implement of the present invention is suitable for S 20 controlled depth planting over contour banks, melon hole terrain and heavy trash conditions with the surfaces 27 simply rolling along the ground surface to determine the depth of penetration of the disc 25 and tyne 38.

Suitably the tyne 38 is preferably located between 5 cm and 17.5 cms from the coulter disc 25 whilst the disc 25 is preferably 4 mm in thickness and sharpened on one side only.

10 Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, it will of course be realised that many modifications and variations may be made to the above described embodiment by persons skilled in the art without departing fro:n the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth and defined in the appended claims.

ii 9,, 40* a e Q4 S! 4 a0 4 44 4 ft

I

11

Claims (4)

1. A planting implement including a support frame assembly, coulter disc means supported rotatably on said frame assembly and operative to penetrate the ground to be planted, planting tyne means supported on said frame assembly, saiO tyne means being disposed zearwardly of said coulter disc means and Lj substantial alignment therewith, a first biasing means associated with the f'ame assembly and operative to urge said coulter disc means and said tyne means downwardly into the ground and means comprising a cylindrical surface arranged coaxially of said coulter disc means for engaging the surface of said ground to thereby determine the depth of pene:ration of said disc means and said tyne means into the ground. i*

2. An implement according to claim 1 wherein a pair of 94t9 said cylindrical surfaces are arranged on opposite sides of S said coulter diso and secured thereto. tr e 4 3i An implement according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said frame assembly includes parallelogram linkage means operative to guide said Coulter disc means and tyne means for movement in a vertical direction. r 4. An implement according to any on? of the preceding 9 *1 claims wherein said frame assembly includes a pair of support arms or supporting said coulter disc means rotatably therebetween, a pair of members secured to the respective said support arms and extending rearwardly therefrom, and N O0 -12- :BA4/ V* NT O -i 7' 11 r r p l, r il rc;ulr ir tyne support means operatively engaged with said members and selectively adjustable therealong to vary the spacing of said tyne means from said coulter disc means. An implement &ccording to claim 4 wherein said tyne support meanks includes a transverse support member centrally supporting said tyne means, said support member being provided with respective spaced sleeves operatively engaged about the respective said rearwardly extending members.

6. An implement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said tyne means includes a tyne pivotally supported for movement about a substantially horizontal transverse axis and a second biasing means associated with said tyne means and operative to urge said tyne means towards its operative planting attitude.

7. A planting implement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings, DATED this Twentyfirst day of November 1989. IAN MALCOLM JANKE, KEVIN CHRISTIAN JANKE and NOEL KLEASE, by their Patent Attorneys, G.R. CULLEN CO. E c r 1, t, re c t re P tf (D I rat E 4.r .4 .4 4 S ,I 4; I Ic 4t F~ -13-