Composite elbows, agricultural implements having composite elbows, and methods of forming such elbows

An agricultural implement, comprising:

• a frame supported by a plurality of wheels and carrying a toolbar and at least one central hopper;
• a plurality of material applicators carried by the toolbar;
• and
• a plurality of flow lines fluidly connecting the at least one central hopper to the material applicators, wherein each flow line comprises at least one composite elbow, each composite elbow comprising:
• a polymeric body defining an inlet aligned along a central longitudinal inlet axis and an outlet aligned along a central longitudinal outlet axis, the central longitudinal outlet axis having an orientation different from the central longitudinal inlet axis;
• and
• a substantially planar wear-resistant plate within the polymeric body and having a major surface with a normal vector oriented at an acute angle relative to the central longitudinal inlet axis and the central longitudinal outlet axis, wherein the wear-resistant plate defines a portion of an exterior surface of the composite elbow when the composite elbow is fully assembled.

A composite elbow, consisting essentially of:

• a polymeric body comprising a first half and a second half, the first and second halves together defining an inlet and an outlet, the outlet having an orientation different from the inlet;
• a fastening means configured to secure the first half to the second half, the fastening means selected from the group consisting of screws, clips, retaining tabs, and an adhesive;
• and
• a substantially planar wear-resistant plate secured to the first and second halves of the polymeric body when the first and second halves are secured by the fastening means, wherein the wear-resistant plate has a major surface with a normal vector oriented at an acute angle relative to a central longitudinal axis of the inlet and a central longitudinal axis of the outlet.