US 4,377,979 A · Conservation tillage row crop planter system

Abstract

The planter includes a number of forward tillage units each followed by an aligned planting unit. Both units are independently mounted by four-bar linkages to the planter frame. Each tillage unit includes a leading banded coulter followed by a pair of rolling row cleaning discs which are, in turn, followed by a fluted coulter. The system may be used in any of the following planting modes: (1) no-till planting, in which the fluted coulter only is used to prepare a narrow band of soil for planting with no trash removal; (2) ridge planting or till-planting, in which the row cleaning discs clear a deeper wide band before the fluted coulter while leaving bands between the row crops untilled; (3) minimum tillage planting, in which the row cleaning discs may be used to clear a shallow band of surface trash before the fluted coulter; and (4) conventional planting, in which the tillage units are raised and not used. Simple field adjustment can quickly convert the system to any of these plow modes as field conditions require. In each of the first three modes, an adjustable weight may be used to set the weight on the tillage units.

Claims21

Dependent claims

Conservation tillage and row crop planting apparatus adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle comprising:

a frame;
a plurality of tillage units, one for each row of crop to be planted;
linkage means for each tillage unit for mounting said tillage units to said frame in laterally spaced relation and permitting each tillage unit to move vertically independent of the others, each tillage unit including a forward rolling coulter for cutting a slit in the soil, a pair of cooperating clearing discs located behind said coulter and each having its leading edge generally aligned with and entering the slit formed by the forward coulter associated with said pair for clearing residue and tilling soil to both sides of said slit, and rotating tillage coulter means for loosening soil in a band located approximately in the center of the cleared strip formed by said clearing discs;
a planter unit associated with each of said tillage units and mounted behind its associated tillage unit to said frame for independent vertical movement relative to said frame, each planter unit including furrow-opener means tracking in the band of loosened soil formed by said tillage coulter means of the associated tillage unit.

1 more element

Conservation tillage and planting apparatus adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle comprising:

a frame;
a plurality of tillage units laterally spaced and mounted to said frame for independent vertical movement, each tillage unit including a rolling coulter for forming a leading slit in the soil, a pair of cooperating clearing discs mounted behind said coulter for clearing residue and tilling soil to both sides of said slit, rotating tillage coulter means for loosening soil in a band located approximately in the center of the cleared strip formed by said clearing discs;
four-bar linkage means for mounting each tillage unit to said frame of said apparatus, and weight adjusting means cooperating with said four-bar linkage mounting means for adjusting the penetration force of said tillage unit;
a planter unit associated with each of said tillage units and mounted behind its associated tillage unit to said frame for independent vertical movement relative to said frame, each planter unit including furrow-opener means tracking in the band of loosened soil formed by said tillage coulter means of the associated tillage unit.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Conservation tillage row crop planter system

Life of this patent

Conservation tillage row crop planter system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21