GB1600488A - Seed deposition apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) SEED DEPOSITION APPARATUS (71) We, MASSEY - FERGUSt:)N- PERKINS LIMITED, a British Company, of 33 Davies Street, London, W1Y 2EA, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to seed deposition apparatus such as, for example, a seed drill.

We have ascertained that significantly better utilisation of available land in terms of crop harvested per hectare could be achieved if the seeds of crops such as wheat, oats, rye and other small grain cereals were planted in rows at spacings between the rows of less than 10 centimetres.

However the deposition of seeds in rows spaced at only 5 centimeters for example, raises various technical problems such as lack of space for the coulters, and insufficient clearance between the coulters for free soil flow.

An object of the invention is to provide seed deposition apparatus in which these problems are alleviated or overcome.

According to the invention there is provided a seed drill comprising:~ seed supply means; seed metering means to receive seed from said seed supply means and to dispense metered flows of seed therefrom; a plurality of coulters to part the soil; and a plurality of conduits to convey said metered flows of seed to the coulters; wherein said coulters are mounted at staggered positions which are spaced apart from each other both in the direction of operative forward motion of the drill and laterally with respect to said direction so as to deposit seed in rows at spacings between the rows of from 3.8 centimetres to 7.5 centimetres.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are diagrammatic and not to scale, and in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a seed drill from the front; Figures 2, 3 and 4 show plan views of three disc coulter assemblies for the seed drill of Figure 1; Figures 5 and 6 show side elevation and sectional views (Figure 6 shows a section on line VI-VI in Figure 5) of a Suffolk coulter assembly for the seed drill of Figure 1; Figures 7 and 8, 9 and 10, and 11 and 12 show side elevation and plan views respectively of a tyne type coulter, another tyne type coulter and a share type coulter for the seed drill of Figure 1; and Figures 13, 14 and 15 show plan views of three alternative staggered arrangements of coulters for the seed drill of Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, mobile seed deposition apparatus in the form of a seed drill 10 comprises a frame 12 mounted on wheels 14 and carrying seed supply means in the form of a seed hopper 16. A drawbar 18 is provided whereby the drill is trailed by a tractor. A series of front and rear seed metering means or mechanisms 20 and 22 respectively, are mounted on hopper 16 to receive seed therefrom and to dispense metered flows of seed through conduits in the form of flexible rubber convoluted tubes 24 connected to the metering mechanisms, so that each conduit receives its own metered flow of seed from its own seed metering mechanism. Tubes 24 are more fully described in British patent 1,347,483 and are connected to a series of disc coulters 26, one pair of seed conduits to each coulter. The coulters are actuated by single-acting hydraulic ram 28 and four return springs 30.

Metering mechanisms 20 and 22 are identical in construction and are more fully described in British patent application No. 48740/75 (Serial No. 1,599,378). Each seed metering mechanism comprises a rotatable roller formed with flutes and mounted in a housing to cooperate with an adjustable tongue.

Each coulter 26 has a pair of drop tubes 32, 34 the centres of which are spaced apart laterally, at the lower ends of the drop tubes, by 5 centimetres. One seed conduit 24 is connected to each drop tube to deliver seed from its respective metering mechanism 20 or 22 to the soil in a single stream at a spacing of 5 centimetres from the adjacent rows or streams. Thus each coulter delivers to the parted soil a pair of separate seed streams at a spacing between the streams of 5 centimetres.

A rim or flange (not shown) is provided on each coulter to limit its depth of penetration in the soil and thereby control the planting depth.

A covering device in the form of a series of springy vertical soil engaging tines (not shown) may be provided behind the coulters 26 to cover the seeds with soil after their deposition.

Coulters 26 are mounted on frame 12 through short and long mounting arms 36 and 38 respectively which are pivotally connected to the frame and arranged alternatively, the lateral spacing between successive drop tubes 32, 34 across the full width of the drill being 5 centimetres measured in direction L at right angles to the direction F of operative forward motion of the drill.

In use, metering mechanisms 20 and 22 deliver a metered flow of seed to each seed conduit 24. Each coulter 26 produces a furrow into which drop tubes 32, 34 deliver the two streams of seeds at 5 centimetre spacing between the streams (or rows thereby permitting better utilisation of available land and permitting the achievement of above average grain yields per hectare.

This is moreover, provided without the use of highly unconventional drill arrangements and without the use of expensive so-called "precision" seed dispensing mechanisms.

Figures 3 to 12 show alternative coulter assemblies for use in drill 10 in place of disc coulters 26. Figure 2 shows disc coulter 26 from Figure 1 for comparison purposes.

In each case, the lateral spacing "S" in direction L between successive drop tubes 32, 34 in Figures 2 to 12 is 5 centimetres, across the full sowing width of the drill.

In Figure 2 the disc 36 (constituting a soil parting element) of coulter 26 is journalled for rotation about axis 38, and drop tubes 32, 34 are shielded by a landside 40.

Figures 3 and 4 show two further disc coulter assemblies. In Figure 3, a pair of flat discs 42, 44 are journalled for rotation about inclined axes 46, 47 and drop tubes 32, 34 are positioned between the discs. Figure 4 shows a similar arrangement of discs but in this case two concave or saucer shaped discs 48, 49 are employed.

Figures 5 and 6 show a Suffolk-type coulter 50 in which drop tubes 32, 34 are positioned between the landsides 52, 54 of the coulter. The coulter has a replaceable leading edge 56.

Figures 7 and 8 show a tyne-type coulter 58 comprising a curved spring tyne 60 having a wide replaceable point 62 behind which drop tubes 32, 34 are secured.

Figures 9 and 10 show an alternative tyne type coulter 64 comprising a replaceable point 66 mounted on a curved shank 68 with drop tubes 32, 34 secured behind the point.

Figures 11 and 12 show a share type coulter 70 having a curved front face 72 and upright landsides 74, 76 between which drop tubes 32, 34 are positioned.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 show three alternative staggered arrangements of coulters for use in drill 10. In each case the coulters are mounted on trailing arms connected by pivots 78 to the front beam 80 of frame 12. The disc coulters are shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15 each with a single drop tube 82 for seed. However it is to be understood that the disc coulters shown diagrammatically in these Figures could be replaced coulters having side by side pairs of spaced drop tubes 32, 34, as in Figures 2 to 12. Figures 13, 14 and 15 illustrate various possible staggered relationships of the coulters.

In Figure 13 coulters 84 are arranged in three groups 86, 88, 90 of four coulters, the coulters of each group being mounted on respective trailing arms 92, 94, 96, 98 drawn by the drill, of which arm 94 is longer than 92, 96 than 94, and 98 than 96, the length differences being uniform.

Each coulter 84 comprises a flat disc 100 journalled on its respective trailing arm 92, 94, 96 or 98 for rotation about an axis 102 which is inclined with respect to direction L. A landside (not shown) similar to the landside 40 in Figure 2 may be provided to keep soil out of the furrow during seed deposition.

The arrangement shown in Figure 14 is similar to that of Figure 13 but in this case only two trailing arms 104, 106 are provided for each of the three groups 108, 110, 112 of four coulters. Thus, each trailing arm carries two coulters 114, 116 one at each side of the arm, the discs 118 of each coulter being journalled for rotation about respective parallel axes 120, 122.

The embodiment of Figure 15 is otherwise similar to that of Figure 14 but uses concave discs 124 journalled on trailing arms 126, 128 for rotation about inclined axes 130, 132.

The outer two trailing arms 134, 136 each carry only a single disc 124.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 clearly illustrate three further staggered arrangements of the coulters, in which (as in Figure 1) the coulters are spaced apart from each other both in the direction F of operative forward motion of the drill, and laterally (direction L) with respect to direction F.

Among modifications which could be made in the above embodiments, but which nevertheless fall within the scope of the invention are the following: 1. the use of different row spacings S. For example at row spacings of 10 centimetres the utilisation of land in terms of potential crop yield per hectare is comparable to the best which has been achieved with currently available drills. At row spacings of less than 10 centimetres (for example in the range 3.8 to 7.5 centimetres) the land utilisation factor is significantly improved. The preferred range of row spacings is from 3.8 to 6.3 centimetres; 2. the use of non-uniform row spacings.

Thus although in the embodiments where each coulter delivers two seed streams to the soil, it is preferable that the primary spacing between the two seed streams of any given coulter should be the same as the secondary spacing between each of those two streams and the respective adjacent seed stream from the two adjacent coulters, such equality of spacing it not essential and in practice it may be more convenient for the secondary spacing to be greater than the primary spacing though still less than 10 centimetres; 3. the use of other types of metering mechanisms such as mechanisms having a rotatable roller carrying projecting pegs, or pneumatic seed selection mechanisms.

The seed drills disclosed in this patent specification is also disclosed in our copending patent application No. 27995/77 (Serial No. 1,600,487) which claims mobile seed deposition apparatus comprising: seed supply means; seed metering means to receive seed from said seed supply means and to dispense metered flows of seed therefrom; at least two pairs of seed conduits connected to the seed metering means so that each conduit receives its own metered flow of seed from the seed metering means; and at least two coulters to part the soil; wherein each coulter is connected to its own pair of seed conduits so that said conduits deliver seed to the parted soil as a pair of separate seed streams of less than ten centimetres; and wherein the coulters are spaced apart in the lateral direction at right angles to the direction of operative forward motion of the seed deposition apparatus by a distance such that the spacing between the adjacent streams of the two pairs of seed streams is less than ten centimetres.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A seed drill comprising: seed supply means; seed metering means to receive seed from said seed supply means and to dispense metered flows of seed therefrom; a plurality of coulters to part the soil; and a plurality of conduits to convey said metered flows of seed to the coulters; wherein said coulters are mounted at staggered positions which are spaced apart from each other both in the direction of operative forward motion of the drill and laterally with respect to said direction so as to deposit seed in rows at spacings between the rows of from 3.8 centimetres to 7.5 centimetres.

2. A seed drill according to claim 1 wherein said coulters are mounted on arms drawn by the drill, at least some of said arms having two coulters mounted thereon, and said arms including some of one length and others of a different length.

3. A seed drill according to any preceding claim wherein said coulters are mounted in groups of at least three coulters, sucessive coulters in each group being mounted on arms drawn by the drill which are sucessively longer so as to provide said staggered positions of the coulters.

4. A seed drill according to claim 1 substantially as described herein and as illustrated in Figure 13 or Figure 14 or Figure 15 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. both in the direction F of operative forward motion of the drill, and laterally (direction L) with respect to direction F. Among modifications which could be made in the above embodiments, but which nevertheless fall within the scope of the invention are the following: 1. the use of different row spacings S. For example at row spacings of 10 centimetres the utilisation of land in terms of potential crop yield per hectare is comparable to the best which has been achieved with currently available drills. At row spacings of less than 10 centimetres (for example in the range 3.8 to 7.5 centimetres) the land utilisation factor is significantly improved. The preferred range of row spacings is from 3.8 to 6.3 centimetres; 2. the use of non-uniform row spacings. Thus although in the embodiments where each coulter delivers two seed streams to the soil, it is preferable that the primary spacing between the two seed streams of any given coulter should be the same as the secondary spacing between each of those two streams and the respective adjacent seed stream from the two adjacent coulters, such equality of spacing it not essential and in practice it may be more convenient for the secondary spacing to be greater than the primary spacing though still less than 10 centimetres; 3. the use of other types of metering mechanisms such as mechanisms having a rotatable roller carrying projecting pegs, or pneumatic seed selection mechanisms. The seed drills disclosed in this patent specification is also disclosed in our copending patent application No. 27995/77 (Serial No. 1,600,487) which claims mobile seed deposition apparatus comprising: seed supply means; seed metering means to receive seed from said seed supply means and to dispense metered flows of seed therefrom; at least two pairs of seed conduits connected to the seed metering means so that each conduit receives its own metered flow of seed from the seed metering means; and at least two coulters to part the soil; wherein each coulter is connected to its own pair of seed conduits so that said conduits deliver seed to the parted soil as a pair of separate seed streams of less than ten centimetres; and wherein the coulters are spaced apart in the lateral direction at right angles to the direction of operative forward motion of the seed deposition apparatus by a distance such that the spacing between the adjacent streams of the two pairs of seed streams is less than ten centimetres. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A seed drill comprising: seed supply means; seed metering means to receive seed from said seed supply means and to dispense metered flows of seed therefrom; a plurality of coulters to part the soil; and a plurality of conduits to convey said metered flows of seed to the coulters; wherein said coulters are mounted at staggered positions which are spaced apart from each other both in the direction of operative forward motion of the drill and laterally with respect to said direction so as to deposit seed in rows at spacings between the rows of from 3.8 centimetres to 7.5 centimetres.

2. A seed drill according to claim 1 wherein said coulters are mounted on arms drawn by the drill, at least some of said arms having two coulters mounted thereon, and said arms including some of one length and others of a different length.

3. A seed drill according to any preceding claim wherein said coulters are mounted in groups of at least three coulters, sucessive coulters in each group being mounted on arms drawn by the drill which are sucessively longer so as to provide said staggered positions of the coulters.

4. A seed drill according to claim 1 substantially as described herein and as illustrated in Figure 13 or Figure 14 or Figure 15 of the accompanying drawings.