GB2148683A

GB2148683A - A band sowing coulter

Info

Publication number: GB2148683A
Application number: GB08425082A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernhard Steenken
Original assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Priority date: 1983-10-05
Filing date: 1984-10-04
Publication date: 1985-06-05
Also published as: GB2148683B; NL8402848A; GB8425082D0; ES290319U; FR2552968B1; DE3336147C1; AT391971B; ATA312084A; ES290319Y; DK474784A; DK474784D0; NL190393B; FR2552968A1; NL190393C

Abstract

A band sowing coulter (32) includes a shoe (37), which at least partially closes the lower end of the band sowing coulter (32) and is disposed between lateral walls (35) of the band sowing coulter, and a seed deflecting member (11, 27, 40) disposed beneath a seed outlet opening (8, 28, 38) in the band sowing coulter. To improve band sowing coulters in terms of achieving simple and accurate depth control, the base or shoe (6, 31, 37) and the lower edges (34) of the lateral walls (35) of the band sowing coulter (32) extend upwardly and forwardly, at least in the front region of the band sowing coulter (32) when viewed with respect to the normal direction of travel of the coulters when on a seed drill. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A band sowing coulter The present invention relates to a band sowing coulter including a base or shoe, which at least partiallyclosesthe lower end of the band sowing coulter and is disposed between the lateral walls of the band sowing coulter, and a seed deflecting member disposed beneaththe seed outlet opening in the band sowing coulter.

A band sowingcoulter is known from our U.K.

Patent Specification No.2121662 wherein the band sowing coulter comprises a conventional sowing coulter being fitted with a coultertip and a band sowing coulter bodywhich is detachably and removably disposed on the conventional sowing coulter. By utilising this band sowing coulter, it is possible to deposit seeds in a broad band so thatthey are uniformly distributed.

It became apparent, especially on lightsoils and with soils having a high pereentage offine earth, that this prior band sowing coulter, even with considerable soil resistance, operated too deeply in the soil solely because of its inherent weight; that is to say, the seeds are deposited too deeply in the soil.

It is also known to provide depth limiting devices in front of or behind a sowing coulterto limitthe depth of penetration ofthe sowing coulter in the soil and to maintain the depth at which the seeds are deposited in the soil (cf. German Patent Specification No. 446 618).

This solution has not proved satisfactory in practice because these depth limiting devices which precede or follow the coulter encounterclods of earth and stones and, in consequence, liftthe coulterclearofthe soil. An additional disadvantage with these depth limiting devices is that the soil is not scanned or probed buy a preceding orfollowing runneratthe actual place where the seed is to be deposited.

The present invention seeks to improve the known band sowing coulter in terms of achieving simple and accurate depth control.

According to the present invention there is provided a band sowing coulter including a base or shoe which at least partially closes the lower end ofthe band sowing coulter and is disposed between the lateral walls ofthe band sowing coulter, and a seed deflecting member disposed beneath a seed outlet opening in the band sowing coulter, wherein the shoe and the lower edges ofthe lateral walls ofthe band sowing coulter extend upwardly and forwardly, at least in the front region ofthe band sowing coulterwhen viewed with respect to the direction of travel.

Also accordingtothe present invention wherein an attachment as modification of a conventional band coulter, there provided a band sowing coulter including a base or shoe, which at least partially closes the lowerendofthe band sowing coulter and is disposed;l2etweenthe lateral walls of the band sowing coulter and a seed deflecting member disposed beneath a seed outlet opening in the band sowing coulter, the band sowing coulter comprising a conventional sawing coulter and a band sowing coulter body which is detachably and removably disposed on the conventional sowing coulter having a coultertip; wherein the shoe and lower edges ofthe lateral walls ofthe band sowing coulter body extend upwardly, at least in the front region ofthe band sowing coulter body when viewed with respect to the direction of travel.

It will thus be appreciated that the object of the invention is achieved when the shoe and the lower edges ofthe lateral walls ofthe band sowing coulter extend upwardly and forwardly, at least in the front region of the band sowing coulter when viewed with respect to the direction of travel.

This measure permits an upwardly inclined sliding shoe to be obtained. This causes the soil beneath this sliding shoe to be compacted; that isto say, the loose soil is, in practice, not pushed aside, but is pressed downwardly and compacted. An upwardly directed force is thereby produced which acts upon the coulter from the soil and prevents the coulterfrom sinking too deeply into the soil.

This measure also permits the depth limiting device to be incorporated in the band sowing coulter. The upwardly inclined sliding shoe scans or probes the soil surface at the place where the seed is actually deposited because the seed is deposited directly behind the sliding shoe.

The sliding shoe, which is narrow at the front end and becomeswidertowardsthe rear end, also permits the band sowing coulterto operate extremely smoothly. The outer ends of the sliding shoe, which extend inclinedly relative to the direction of travel and are formed by the lower edges ofthe lateral walls, push aside heavy clods of earth so that the sliding shoe scans the soil surface in a region which is thus devoid of any heavy clods of earth.

The device forming the subject of the invention is not to be limited to one specific band sowing coulter, but it may, as mentioned, also be used, in particular, for a band sowing coulterwhich comprises a conventional sowing coulter having a coultertip and comprise an adapter device in the form of a band sowing coulter body which is detachably and removably disposed on said conventional sowing coulter.

The invention also provides a guide memberwhich is disposed beneath the upwardly inclined shoe ofthe band sowing coulter and extends in the direction of travel. The particular purpose ofthis guide member is to push asidethe heavy clods of earth or other large size bulk objects situated in front of the band sowing coulter in the middle ofthe seed furrow which is produced, so that said clods of earth can then be pushed aside by the lower edges ofthe lateral walls of the band sowing coulter, such edges extending inclinedly relative to the direction of travel . This ensures that the band sowing coulter operates even more smoothly, even on soils which have many heavy clods of earth. It is thus possibleforthis guide member to be a specific clod remover.

In a preferred embodiment, the band sowing coulter comprises a conventional sowing coulter and a band sowing coulter body which is detachably and removably disposed on this conventional sowing coulter, and at least part of the coultertip of the conventional sowing coulter protrudes th rough and downwardly from the shoe ofthe band sowing coulter body; the shoe has a cutaway portion through which the coulter tip protrudes; and the coultertip forms the guide member disposed beneath the shoe. In this manner, a band sowing coulter is advantageously provided with a very simple construction. Because the coultertip of the conventional sowing coulter protrudesthrough the upwardly inclined sliding shoe, the resultant coulterwhich is provided with a band sowing coulter body is no higherthan a conventional sowing coulter.

The same optimum features are thus maintained. In addition, the coultertip which protrudes th rough the shoe acts like a clod remover and pushes aside the clods of earth lying on the surface ofthe soil just like a conventional sowing coulter Compared with the depth limiting devices commonly used hitherto, the band sowing coulter of the present invention with the forwardly inclinedshoe does not adversely affectthe smooth operation of the coulter. In the region worked by the sliding shoe of the present coulter, therefore, there are no longer any heavy clods of earth; instead, the soil is predominantly fine earth. Finally, seed is also deposited closely behind the sliding shoe which scans the soil surface, thereby ensuring thatthe seed is deposited at a uniform, desired depth.

In orderto ensure that no soil or plant remains lodge between the shoe and the coultertip protruding through the shoe, the cutaway portion has across- section which corresponds to the cross-section ofthe coultertip.

To permitthe seed to be deposited at the same depth in the seed furrow which is produced, the lower edge ofthe guide member, orofthe coultertip respectively, is on the same level as the lower edges of the lateral walls ofthe band sowing coulter.

In order to enable seeds to be distributed satisfac torily and uniformly over the entire band width of the seed furrow which is produced, the invention provides a plate above the shoe and beneath the outlet opening in the band sowing coulter, and this plate is disposed at a steeper angle than the shoe. A broad distribution of seeds is hereby already achieved on this plate at a distance from the surface ofthe seed furrow. By dividing the sliding shoe and deflecting face for the seed into two different elements, it is also advan tageousthatthesliding shoe can operateata relativelyflatangle up to a maximum of 30 , so that no weed remains orwet and sticky earth can collect beneath the sliding shoe.However, the plate forming the deflecting face may be so inclined that the seed drops directly into the furrow without staying on the plate. The invention also provides the deflecting member on this plate so that seeds are distributed even more uniformly.

The invention will be described further, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. lisa side elevational view of a band sowing coulterforming first embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan viewfrom below ofthe band sowing coulter of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a further band sowing coulter forming a second embodiment; Fig. 4 is a plan viewfrom below ofthe band sowing coulter of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a rearviewofthe band sowing coulter of Fig.

3; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a band sowing coulterforming a third embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a sectional view ofthe band sowing coulter of Fig. 6taken along the line VII-VII; and Fig. 8 is a plan view from below ofthe band sowing coulter of Fig. 6.

A band sowing coulter 1 is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and is disposed on a seed drill (not shown) so asto be displaceable in a vertical plane in known manner by means of a coulter holder 2. An inlet 3forseed is provided atthe upper end of band sowing coulter 1.

The lower end of the band sowing coulter 1 is provided with lateral walls 4which are disposed in a snowplough-like arrangement and open rearwardlyatan acute angle. When the seed drill is being utilised, the lateral walls 4 produce a wide seed furrow so that the seeds can be deposited therein in a band. A base or shoe 6 is disposed on the underside of the band sowing coulter 1 between lower edges 5 of the lateral walls 4 and partially closes the lower end ofthe band sowing coulter. When viewed from the side and with respect to the direction of travel 9, the lower edges 5 of the lateral walls 4 and the shoe 6 extend upwardly and forwardlyfromfrontedge7 of a seed outlet opening 8, so that aforwardly and upwardly inclined sliding shoe 6 is produced in the front region of the band sowing coulter 1.The tapering of the lateral walls 4 extends to the front edge 7 of the outlet opening 8 in the band sowing coulter.

A plate 10 is disposed beneath the seed outlet opening 8 and lies ata steeperanglethan the shoe 6. A deflecting member 11 is welded to the plate 10. The seeds are uniformly distributed in the seed furrow produced bythe band sowing coulter by means ofthe plate 10 and the deflecting member 11.

A guide member 12, which is shown by dash-dot lines, may be disposed beneath the shoe 6 ofthe band sowing coulter 1. This guide member 12 permits heavy clods of earth situated in the region of the seed furrowto be removed in an improved manner.

A band sowing coulter 13 illustrated in Figs. 3to 5 comprises a conventional sowing coulter 14 and a band sowing coulter body 15 which is detachably and removably disposed on the conventional sowing coulter 14. In its lower region, the band sowing coulter body 15 comprises lateral walls 16, which open at an acute angle, and a chamber our pocket 17 which has a U-shaped cross-section and is connected in the front upper region and extends mainly downwardlytherefrom. The pocket 17 contains the front, narrow region oftheconventionalsowing coulter 14and has,in its upper region, the bore 18 which coincides with a bore 19 provided in the conventional sowing coulter 14.

The band sowing coulter body is secured on the conventional sowing coulter 14 by means of the securing pin 20 which is insertablethrough the bores 18 and 19withthe resilient securing pin 21.

In its lower region,the band sowing coulter body 15 is provided with the transverse connection 22 which joins together the two lateral walls 16. This transverse connection 22 is disposed on the lateral walls 16 in such a mannerthat, when the band sowing coulter body 15 is in its mounted position on the conventional sowing coulter 14, said connection abuts directly behind the rear upwardly extending edge 23 of the coultertip 24 ofthe conventional sowing coulter 14.

This transverse connection 22 serves at the sametime to support the band sowing coulter body 15 on the conventional sowing coulter 14 and also serves as a stabilising strutforthetwo lateral walls 16.

The transverse connection 22 does not extend parallel with the rear edge 23 ofthe coultertip 24 of the conventional sowing coulter 14. The upper edge 25 of the transverse connection 22 directly abuts the coulter tip 24, and the lower region of the transverse connection 22 is provided with a recess 26 which corresponds (in shape) to the coultertip 24. The coultertip24 engages in this recess 26, thereby permitting the band sowing coulter body 15to be laterally secured therein.

The band sowing coulter body 15 is easily mountable from below on the conventional sowing coulter 14 in such a mannerthat, when the band sowing coulter body 15 is moved in an upward direction, the coultertip 24 ofthe conventional sowing coulter 14 engages behind the transverse connection 22. The band sowing coulter body 15 is subsequently secured on the conventional sowing coulter by means ofthe securing pin 20. The conventional sowing coulter 14 and the band sowing coulterbody15nowform one unit. A deflecting member27 is disposed on the transverse connection 22 beneath seed outlet opening 28 in the conventional sowing coulter 14.

The lower edges 29 ofthe lateral walls 16 ofthe band sowing coulter body 15 extend forwardly and upward lyfromthecoultertip 24 of the conventional sowing coulter 14to the front edge 30 ofthe band sowing coulter body 15. A shoe 31, which closes the lower end ofthe band sowing coulter body 15, is disposed between the upwardly inclined lower edges 29 ofthe lateral walls 16 ofthe band sowing coulter body 15.

Like the lower edges 29 ofthe lateral walls 16,this shoe 31 extends forwardly and upwardlyto the front edge of the band sowing coulter body 15. Thus, the tapering of the lateral walls 1 6with the shoe 31 extends over more than half ofthe length L ofthe lower region ofthe band sowing coulter body 15. The guide member 12 shown by a dash-dot line is a clod remover and may be provided disposed beneath the shoe31.

A band sowing coulter 32 illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 comprises conventional sowing coulter 14 and a band sowing coulter body 33 which is detachably and removably secured to the conventional sowing coulter 14. The lower edges 34 of lateral walls 35 ofthe body 33 extend in their rear region parallel with the soil surface, while they extend forwardly and upwardly, substantially at an angle a of 30 , from the coulter tip 36 ofthe conventional sowing coulter 14to front edge 30 ofthe band sowing coulter body 33. A shoe 37 is disposed between the lower edges 34 ofthe lateral walls 35 and these edges 34 extend forwardly and upwardly and the shoe 37 also extends forwardly and upwardly. The shoe 37 terminates at th e I ower edges 34 ofthe lateral walls 35.

A portion ofcoultertip 36 ofthe conventional sowing coulter 14 protrudes through and downwardly from the shoe 37 of the band sowing coulter body 33.

Forthis purpose, the shoe 37 has a cutaway portion 38 which corresponds to the cross-section of the coulter tip 36. The coultertip 36 which protrudes from the shoe 37 forms the guide member disposed beneath the shoe 37. The lower edge ofthe coultertip 37 is on the same level as the lower edges 34 of the lateral walls 35 of the band sowing coulter body 33.

A plate 39 is disposed above the shoe 37 and beneath seed outlet opening 28 in the conventional sowing coulter 14. This plate 39 is disposed at a steeper angle than the shoe 37 and ensures that seed does not drop into the interior of the band sowing coulter body 33. A deflecting member 40 is welded to the plate 39. The plate 39 and the deflecting member 40 ensurethatthe seeds are uniformly distributed in the seed furrow produced bythe band sowing coulter 32.

The mode of operation and advantages of the band sowing coulter according to the invention will be described with reference to the band sowing coulter 32 illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8.

The band sowing coulter body 33 is detachably and removably disposed on the conventional sowing coulter 14 and includes the shoe 37 which is in the form of a sliding shoe and extends in a forwardly and upwardly inclined manner. This inclined sliding shoe 37 causes the soil beneath this sliding shoe 37 to be compacted, in the same way as snow is compacted beneath a ski; that isto say, the loose soil is not substantially pushed aside, but is pressed downwardly and compacted. An inclinedly and upwardly directed force is thereby produced which acts upon the coulter 32 from the soil and prevents the coulter 32 from sinking too deeply into the soil.

The sliding shoe 37 ofthe band sowing coulter 32 probes the soil surface directly before the place where the seed is deposited in the seed furrow, or atthe place where the seed furrow is produced, respectively, and thereby determines exactly the deposit depth for the seed. In consequence, therefore, the seed is deposited directly behind the sliding shoe 37 which probes the soil surface.

The coultertip 36, which extends through the sliding shoe 37, acts like a clod remover and pushes aside the heavy clods of dearth situated on the soil surface in the region ofthe seed furrowto be produced. The heavy clods of earth which are situated somewhat laterally of the coultertip 36 are engaged and pushed aside by the lower edges 34 of the lateral walls 35, so that the sliding shoe 37 slides over a flat soil surface which is devoid of clods of earth. In contrastto the depth limiting devices commonly used hitherto, therefore, the smooth operation ofthe coulter is not adversely affected bythe band sowing coulterofthe invention having such upwardly inclined sliding base or shoe.

Claims

1. A band sowing coulter including a base or shoe (61,31,37), which at least partially closes the lower end ofthe band sowing coulter (1, 13,32) and is disposed between the lateral walls (4, 16,35) of the band sowing coulter (1, 13,32), and a seed deflecting member (11,27,40) disposed beneath a seed outlet opening (8,28,38) in the band sowing coulter (1, 13, 32); wherein the shoe (6,31,37) and the lower edges (5,29,34) of the lateral walls (4, 16,35) of the band sowing coulter (1,13,32) extend upwardly and forwardly, at least in thefront region of the band sowing coulter (1,13,32) when viewed with respect to the direction of travel (9).

2. A band sowing coulter including a base or shoe (31,37), which at least partially closes the lower end of the band sowing coulter (13,32) and is disposed between the lateralwalls (16,35) ofthe band sowing coulter(13, 32), and a seed deflecting member (27,40) disposed beneath a seed outlet opening (28,38) in the band sowing coulter (13,32), the band sowing coulter (13,32) comprising a conventional sowing coulter (14) and a band sowing coulter body (15,33) which is detachably and removably disposed on the conventional sowing coulter (14) having a coultertip (24,36); wherein the shoe (31,37) and lower edges (29,34) of the lateral walls (16,35) of the band sowing coulter body (15,33) extend upwardly, at least in the front region ofthe band sowing coulter body (15,33) when viewed with respect to the direction of travel (9).

3. A band sowing coulter body as claimed in claim 1 or2, in which a guide member (12,36) is disposed beneath the upwardly inclined shoe(6,31,37) ofthe band sowing coulter (1,15,33) and extends in the direction oftravel (9).

4. A band sowing coulter as claimed in claim 3, in which this guide member (12,36) is a clod remover.

5. Abandsowing coulterasclaimed in claims2 and 3, in which at least part of the coultertip (36) ofthe conventional sowing coulter (14) protrudes down wardlyfrom the shoe (37) ofthe band sowing coulter body (33), the shoe (37) having a cutaway portion (38) through which the coultertip (36) protrudes; and in which the coultertip (36) forms the guide member disposed beneath the shoe (37).

6. Abandsowing coulteras claimed in claim 3,in which the cutaway portion (38) corresponds to the cross-section ofthe coultertip (36).

7. A band sowing coulteras claimed in claim 3, in which the lower edge ofthe guide member (36) is on the same level as the lower edges (34) ofthe lateral walls (35) ofthe band sowing coulter(32).

8. A band sowing coulter as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the shoe (6,31,37) extends to at leastthe front edge (7) ofthe seed outlet opening (8,28) in the band sowing coulter (1, 13,32).

9. A band sowing coulter as claimed in claim 3, in which the shoe (6,31,37) extends to at least the rear region oftheguide member(12,24,36).

10. A band sowing coulter as claimed in claim 8, in which the tapering ofthe lateral walls (16,35) within shoe (6,31,37) extends over at least substantially half of the length (L) of the lower region ofthe band sowing coulter(1,13,32).

11. A band sowing coulteras claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which a plate (10,39) is disposed abovetheshoe (6,37) beneath the outlet opening (8,28) in the band sowing coulter(1,32), and this plate (10,39) is disposed extending at a steeper angle than the shoe (6,37).

12. A band sowing coulteras claimed in claim 11, in which a seed distributing or deflecting member (11, 40) is disposed on said plate (10,39).

13. Abandsowing coulter as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the seed distributing or deflecting member is disposed on the shoe.

14. A band sowing coulteras claimed in ctaim 1 or 2, in which the shoe (6,31,37) extends to the front end (30) of the band sowing coulter ( 1, 13,32).

15. A band sowing coulter substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. l and 2, Figs. 3,4an-d orin Figs. 6,7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.