US 5,499,685 A · Strip tillage soil conditioner apparatus and method

Abstract

A movable, row crop soil conditioner apparatus for conditioning soil prior to planting including a mechanism for first cutting a row length furrow opening in the soil when the soil conditioner is moved. A subsoiler is positioned behind the first cutting mechanism. It is selectively inserted into the furrow opening when the subsoiler is moved. The subsoiler includes a tooth, and a first pressure applicator for maintaining pressure on the soil directly and laterally on the subsoiler tooth when the tooth is inserted into the furrow opening. The tooth causes an eruption furrow in the furrow opening. The pressure applicator then controls the eruption soil wakes on either side of the subsoiler when the row crop conditioner is moved down a row. The subsoiler also includes a mechanism for turning the soil wakes on either side of the furrow inwardly towards each other to crush and shear the soil and to urge it downwardly into the eruption furrow, thereby closing the eruption furrow. A crop residue in the soil wakes is inserted downwardly into the eruption furrow to subsequently function as a wick and to pull moisture into the planted conditioned soil.

Claims33

Dependent claims

An integrated movable row crop soil conditioner for conditioning soil prior to planting, said integrated movable row crop soil conditioner comprising:

a) carrying means for supporting and moving said row crop soil conditioner along a row to be planted, said carrying means including at least one wheel contacting the soil;
b) tillage means supported by said carrying means for conditioning said soil as said row crop soil conditioner moves along a row to be planted;
c) means for positioning said tillage means and said at least one wheel in longitudinal alignment so that said tillage means follows the directional path of said at least one wheel said carrying means functioning as part of the soil conditioning operation while supporting and moving said row crop soil conditioner along a row to be planted;
and
d) means for moving said tillage means into and out of engagement with said soil while said at least one wheel remains engaged with said soil.

2 more elements

A movable crop soil conditioning apparatus for conditioning soil including multiple independent row unit assemblies which are arranged in parallel, each of said independent row unit assemblies comprising:

cutting means for cutting said soil when said conditioning apparatus is moved;
subsoiler means, positioned behind said cutting means, for breaking said soil to form soil wakes when said soil conditioner is moved;
disk means for receiving said soil wakes from said subsoiler means and for turning said soil wakes inwardly towards each other to crush and shear said soil;
seedbed means for making a seedbed from said crushed and sheared soil;
and
planting means for planting seeds in said seedbed,
said subsoiler means, said disk means, said seedbed means and said planting means being sequentially aligned.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Strip tillage soil conditioner apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Strip tillage soil conditioner apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33