US 4,407,371 AGranted

Coulter attachment for seed planting apparatus

OwnerGregory D. Hohlinventor

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Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed which facilitates the ready attachment and detachment of coulters to a standard seed planting device. The seed planting device is typically of a type that is towed behind a tractor and automatically furrows the ground, deposits the seeds in the furrows at spaced intervals and covers the seeds over. The disclosed apparatus allows an operator to readily attach a plurality of coulters to this planting device thereby enabling its use for minimum-till, or no-till farming operations. The coulters are attached to a framework which is bolted onto the planter frame. This framework may be readily removed as a unit to enable the use of the planter in its standard condition. The framework locates the coulters in a forwardmost direction to increase the downward force on same so as to enable no-till farming operations with hard or rocky soil. This location of the coulters eliminates the need for ballast weights.

Claims3

Dependent claims

Apparatus for converting a standard towed seed planter, including a frame and an associated tongue for connection to a source of motive power, into a minimum-till or no-till planter comprising:

(a) a framework including a pair of elongate tool support members;
(b) means for readily and detachably securing the framework to the frame and the tongue of the planter and spaced forwardly thereof so as not to interfere with the functions of the planter, which securing means includes:
i. means for attaching one end of each support member to the tongue;
and
ii. at least one rearwardly extending brace including a pair of diverging arms carried by each support member for attachment to the planter frame;
(c) at least one coulter having an upper mounting portion rigidly connected to each support member for engaging the ground surface upon application of downward force to the coulter;
and
(d) wherein when the framework is secured to the planter frame and tongue, the support members extend laterally from opposed sides of the tongue and are positioned sufficiently forward of the planter so as to maximize the downward force applied to the coulter resulting from torque developed by the weight of the planter about a fulcrum defined at the point of connection between the tongue and the source of motive power.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.