Apparatus and method for controlled delivery of seeds to an open furrow

#1. Field of the Invention:

#The present invention relates generally to agricultural seed planters, and more particularly to devices for delivering seed from the planter's seed meters to the open seed furrows.

#2. Description of Related Art:

#To the accomplishment of the above objectives, features and advantages, this invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific form illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

#FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a conventional agricultural planter showing the prior art seed tube for delivering the seeds discharged from a seed meter to the seed furrow.

#FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the conventional agricultural planter of FIG. 1 with the prior art seed tube replaced by an embodiment of the seed delivery apparatus of the present invention shown receiving seeds from a seed meter.

#Drawing FIG. 1 shows part of a typical agricultural planter 10, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,668, which is incorporated herein by reference. As is conventional, the planter 10 includes a mobile main frame 12, only a portion of which is illustrated in FIG. 1. The main frame 12 is conventionally attached to and towed by a tractor (not shown) and a number of individual row units 14 are spaced at intervals along the main frame 12. Each row unit 14 includes a row unit frame 16, vertically adjustable relative to the main frame 12 by a parallel linkage 18. While only one row unit 14 is shown and described herein, the other row units on planter 10 are substantially the same. As is conventional, each row unit 14 includes a seed hopper 20 and a fertilizer hopper 22 mounted on the row unit frame 16. Each row unit 14 has a seed selection and dispensing device 24, commonly referred to as a seed meter, which receives seed from the seed hopper 20 and discharges the seeds 25 into a seed tube 26 at regular intervals. As shown in FIG. 1, and as explained in greater detail later, some planters, such as the John Deere 7000 and 7100 series planters with finger-pickup type seed meters, utilize a flighted seed belt assembly 60 disposed adjacent the seed meter to receive the seeds discharged by the seed meter 24. This flighted seed belt assembly 60 then conveys the seeds downwardly a short distance before dispensing the seeds into the seed tube 26.

#A furrow opening assembly 30, disposed at the lead end of the row unit 14, typically comprises a pair of furrow opening disks 32 that rotate on shafts 34. The shafts 34 are supported by downwardly extending brackets from a row unit subframe 38. The axes of the respective furrow opening disks 32 are slightly inclined relative to one another so that the opening disks 32 contact one another forwardly and below the disk axes, preferably at ground level. In operation, the lower portions of the furrow opening disks 32 are disposed below the surface of the soil so that the disks from a V-shaped furrow 40 as the planter 10 traverses the field. The seed tube 26 deposits the seed in furrow 40 behind the axes of furrow opening disks 32. A gauge wheel assembly 42 is mounted on the row unit subframe frame 38 adjacent the furrow opening disks 32. The gauge wheel assembly 42 comprises a pair of gauge wheels 44 disposed adjacent the outer sides of the furrow opening disks 32. A gauge wheel arm 46 connects each gauge wheel 44 to the row unit subframe 38. An adjustable stop (not shown) operates between the row unit subframe 38 and the gauge wheel arm 46 to limit the upward movement of the gauge wheel 44 relative to the row unit subframe 38. Since the gauge wheels 44 ride on the ground surface when the planter 10 is moving, the vertical position of the gauge wheels 44 relative to the furrow opening disks 32 controls the depth of the furrow 40. A furrow closing assembly 48, typically comprising a pair of rotatable canted wheels 50 supported from an arm 52 is disposed rearwardly of the furrow opening assembly 30 and the seed tube 26, for closing the furrow 40 by pushing the soil back into the furrow over the deposited seeds. For greater detail, reference is made to said U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,668.

#In regard to the furrow opening assembly 30, it should be appreciated that some conventional planters utilize a furrow opening assembly having only one furrow opening disk, while still other furrow opening assemblies utilize a shovel or the like. Thus, reference to the furrow opening assembly throughout this specification is intended to include any structure employed to create a furrow in the soil. Similarly, reference to the furrow closing assembly throughout this specification is intended to include any apparatus employed for replacing the soil over the deposited seeds in the furrow.