AU2005202432A1 - Seeding adaptor - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Osmundson Australia Pty Ltd Actual Inventors: Graeme Stanley Ward Thomas George Chapman Address for Service: MADDERNS, 1 st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: SEEDING ADAPTOR Details of Associated Provisional Application Nos: 2004903164 dated 11 th June 2004 and 2004904816 date 25 th August 2004 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

(PatAU131 SEEDING ADAPTOR FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a farming implement and more particularly to an adaptor for use with cultivation equipment particularly for the supply of seeds or fertiliser into cultivated ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Ploughs and cultivators are used to work the earth before seeding occurs for the planting of grains and the like. It is desirable that the same implement can be used for applying seed or fertiliser as for pre-working the ground.

A first stage of ground working is the use of a sweep type ground working tool to kill weeds and prepare ground for sowing. On a subsequent pass a knife point or winged seeder type tool is used to form a furrow in the ground into which seed or fertiliser is immediately placed. The latter process requires that seed or fertiliser distribution tubes and boots are mounted onto the rear of the cultivator tine and it is desirable that at least the distributor boot should not need to be removed when the sweep tool is to be used. The sweep tool works at a different depth in the soil than the knife point or winged seeder tool and if the distributor boot for seed or fertiliser is placed at a depth which is correct for the knife point or winged seeder tool, then it will be too deep as during use of the sweep tool the distributor boot would be travelling below the ground surface and would suffer excessive wear. In some circumstances it may also cause trash flow problems.

There have been proposed adaptor boots to solve this problem which have been bolted onto the distributor boot to provide effectively an extension of the distributor boot but these are very time consuming to install and it is the object of this invention to provide a simpler form of adaptor boot and mounting for the adaptor boot for this purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one form therefore the invention is said to reside in an adaptor boot for a seeding arrangement, the adaptor boot comprising a guide body and a support arrangement, the guide body providing a supply path for material supplied to a distributor boot associated with the seeding arrangement on an earth working implement, the support arrangement being adapted to engage with a distributor boot to support the adaptor boot thereon and to engage the rear of an earth working tool mounted onto a tine of the earth working implement to prevent disengagement with the distributor boot.

It is to be seen that by this invention there is provided an adaptor boot which is supported by the distributor boot and also engages against the earth working tool such as a knife or winged seeder point and as such requires no additional fixing.

When the sweep tool for instance is being taken off and the knife point or winged seeder tool being placed on for seeding, the adaptor boot can be mounted at the same time thereby saving considerable time on the part of the farmer in getting the cultivator ready for seeding. No added fastening would be necessary.

Preferably the earth working tool against which the adaptor boot engages is a knife point or winged seeder point.

Preferably the tools are mounted onto the tines of the cultivator by means of a tapered wedge locking system. Such a tapered wedge locking system is disclosed in Australian Patent Application No 2003203697 the teaching of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

The distributor boot associated with the seeding arrangement may be adapted for the supply of fertiliser, seed or both fertiliser and seed depending upon the type of crop and requirements of particular crops.

In one embodiment the support arrangement adapted to engage with a distributor boot is provided by the adaptor boot fitting in and extending up into the distributor boot and including a forward surface which engages with the rear of the earth working tool mounted onto a tine of the earth working implement thereby preventing disengagement with the distributor boot.

The movement by which the adaptor boot fits in and extends up into the distributor boot is such that it can only occur when the earth working tool is not engaged onto the tine or conversely the adaptor boot cannot become disengaged if the earth working tool is received onto the tine.

In an alternative embodiment the support arrangement adapted to engage with a distributor boot is provided by side plates which are received in a mortice on the sides of the distributor boot. The mortice may be open or closed. The movement by which the side plates engage the mortice is such that it can only occur when the earth working tool is not engaged onto the tine or conversely the side plates cannot become disengaged from the mortice if the earth working tool is received onto the tine.

In an alternative embodiment the support arrangement on the adaptor boot can be a hook arrangement on one of the components and a recess on the other component onto which the hook engages, and the movement by which the hook disengages the recess can only occur when the earth working tool is not engaged onto the tine.

Other forms of cooperative engagement between the adaptor boot and the distributor boot, which can only be engaged when the earth working tool is not present and cannot be disengaged if the earth working tool is present, are also within the scope of the invention.

There can also be provided a tongue extending upwardly and rearwardly from the adaptor boot which engages inside the distributor boot. This tongue assists with the support of the adaptor boot and also can prevent grain or fertiliser from falling out in its travel between the adaptor boot and the distributor boot.

In a further form therefore the invention is said to reside in a connection arrangement providing cooperative engagement between an adaptor boot and a distributor boot on a tine of an earth working implement, the engagement being such that it can only be engaged when an earth working tool is not present on the tine and cannot be disengaged if the earth working tool is present on the tine.

In a further form therefore the invention is said to reside in an adaptor boot for a seed distributing boot for a tine of an earth working implement, the adaptor boot comprising a substantially rectangular elongate hollow body, a foot at one end of the body, an enclosed toe extending from the foot, the enclosed toe in use engaging with a rear surface of a tine of the earth working implement, and the foot being open at its lower end to enable seed and/or fertiliser to pass therethrough.

Preferably the body has an open side to fit around fastener nuts in a distributor boot upon which the adaptor piece is mounted.

Preferably the toe has tapered sides extending back to the foot to provide less resistance when passing through the soil in use.

Preferably the foot has an open rear to prevent clogging with soil in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This generally describes the invention but to assist with understanding reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a tine of a cultivator with a sweep point mounted onto a tapered locking system and showing the approximate earth level in use; Figure 2 shows the same tine as in Figure 1 but with a knife point or winged seeder point mounted onto the quick release tapered locking system and one embodiment of an adaptor boot according to the present invention in place and again showing the approximate ground working depth for that tool; Figure 3 shows the embodiment of Figure 2 but with the adaptor boot not in place and showing the distance seed or fertiliser would have to fall; Figure 4 shows a side view of an adaptor boot according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of the adaptor boot along the line 5 in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows an underneath view of the adaptor boot shown in Figure 4; Figure 7 shows a top view of the adaptor boot shown in Figure 4; Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 and particularly showing the seed or fertiliser distribution path; Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of an adaptor boot according to the present invention; and Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment of an adaptor boot according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now looking more closely at the drawings and in particular Figure 1 it can be seen that a cultivator arrangement includes a tine 1 upon which is mounted a quick release adaptor 3. The quick release adaptor 3 is bolted onto the tine by bolts 26 and nuts 28 (see Figure 8) and has tapered sides, and an earth working tool, such as the sweep 5 in Figure 1, which has a tapered shank 7, is received onto the adaptor 3.

A locking pin 9 is used to lock the sweep tool 5 onto the tapered adaptor 3. Onto the tine and using the same bolts 26 as mount the adaptor 3 is also mounted a distributor boot 11 for seed or fertiliser application. The seed or fertiliser can be supplied by means of chute 13. A mounting bracket 17 is provided at the rear of the distributor boot 11 so that where fertiliser and seed are to be separately supplied the chute 13 can be used for supplying fertiliser and the seed supply chute can be mounted onto the bracket 17 or vice versa.

It will be noted that in the use position as shown in Figure 1 the wings 6 of the sweep 5 are just under the soil line 15 so that it can cut roots of weeds just below the surface and that the distributor boot 11 is above the soil level so that it does not wear out through engagement with the soil through soil abrasion. Generally at this stage of cultivation the distributor boot is not used for seed distribution but it is inconvenient to remove the distributor boots from the tines.

Figure 2 shows the earth working tool of Figure 1 but the sweep tool has been changed for a knife or winged seeder point tool. In Figure 2 the same reference numerals have been used for corresponding items to those shown in Figure 1.

As can be seen in Figures 2, 3 and 8 the sweep tool 5 (see Figure 1) has been changed for a knife or winged seeder point tool 21. As the knife or seeder point tool 21 is longer, the tine 1 is held further away from the soil level 15 and the gap shown as 23 in Figure 3 between the distributor boot and the soil level 15 is such that seed or fertiliser distributed by the distributor boot 11 will not all fall into the furrow made by the knife or seeder point 21 and inaccurate sowing or distribution may be obtained. An adaptor boot according to the present invention generally shown as 25 in Figure 2 is therefore used to improve the accuracy of seed or fertiliser placement.

The adaptor boot is shown mounted into the distributor boot in Figures 2 and 8 and various views of the adaptor boot are shown in Figures 4 to 7.

The adaptor boot 25 comprises a substantially U-shaped body 30 having a foot 27 at one end. The U-shaped body 30 is adapted to slide into the distributor boot 11 (see Figures 2 and 8) at an angle to the vertical with the foot 27 remaining outside the distributor boot. The base 32 of the foot is substantially parallel to the ground when it is being used. The toe 31 of the foot 27 is substantially at right angles to the base 32 and in use the toe 31 can bear against the rear 33 of the knife or seeder point tool 21 (see Figure 2) and this prevents the adaptor boot sliding out of the distributor boot. For the adaptor boot to slide out of the distributor boot it must slide at an angle forward and down but it cannot move forward to any significant degree and hence cannot move down and fall out until the knife or seeder point 21 has been removed.

The adaptor boot 25 has on its U-shaped body 30 a cut out on each side at the end opposite to the foot 27 so that the U-shaped body 30 when sliding into the distributor boot does not foul with the seed chute 13 which extends into and opens within the distributor boot. The body 30 also has an open front side 33 so that when the U-shaped body 30 is slid into the distributor boot 11 it fits around the nuts 28 (see Figures 1 and 8) within the distributor boot. The nuts 28 are on bolts 26 (see Figure 8) upon which the adaptor piece 3 and distributor boot 27 are mounted.

The foot 27 of the adaptor boot 25 has angled leading side faces 36 to assist with it shedding soil and passing through the furrow being formed by the knife or seeder point 21. The foot 27 has a closed top 38 and an open rear 39 to prevent soil from being trapped within the foot 27.

Figure 8 shows a longitudinal cross sectional view of the adaptor boot mounted into the distributor boot to particularly show the seed or fertiliser flow path through the distributor boot and adaptor boot. In Figure 8 the same reference numerals have been used for corresponding items to those shown in Figure 2.

The cultivator arrangement includes a tine 1 upon which is mounted a quick release adaptor 3. The quick release adaptor 3 is bolted onto the tine and has tapered sides, and an earth working tool such as a knife or seeder point tool 21 has a tapered shank 7 which is received onto the adaptor 3 and a locking pin 9 is used to lock the sweep tool 5 onto the tapered adaptor 3. Onto the tine and using the same bolts 26 and nuts 28 as mount the adaptor 3 is also mounted the distributor boot 11 for a seed or fertiliser application. The U-shaped body 30 of the adaptor boot 25 is slid into the distributor boot 11 at an angle to the vertical with the foot 27 remaining outside the distributor boot. The base 32 of the foot is substantially parallel to the ground 15 when it is being used. The toe 31 of the foot 27 is substantially at right angles to the base 32 and in use this can bear against the rear 33 of the knife or seeder point 21 and this engagement prevents the adaptor boot sliding out of the distributor boot. The seed flow path 42 shows the seed or fertiliser passing out of the chute 13 and through the distributor boot 11 and adaptor boot 25 to fall into a furrow formed by the knife point 21 in use.

An alternative embodiment of adaptor boot is shown in Figure 9 mounted onto a tine of an earth working tool. In Figure 9 the same reference numerals have been used for corresponding items to those shown in Figure 2.

In this embodiment the adaptor boot 50 has a main body 52 which fits around the outside of the distributor boot 11 at the sides and a tongue 54 at the rear which extends up inside the distributor boot 11. This tongue 54 prevents the rearward end of the adaptor boot 50 from falling off the distributor boot 11. At the forward end of the adaptor boot 50 there is a forward support tongue or protrusion 56 which is received in a recess 58 in the rear of the knife point 21.

A still further alternative embodiment of adaptor boot is shown in Figure mounted onto a tine of an earth working tool. In Figure 10 the same reference numerals have been used for corresponding items to those shown in Figure 2.

The adaptor boot 60 of this embodiment has a main body 62 which fits around the outside of the distributor boot 11 at the sides and a tongue (not shown) at the rear which extends up inside the distributor boot 11 in the same manner as shown in Figure 9. This tongue assists with the support of the adaptor boot 60 and also can prevent grain or fertiliser from falling out in its travel between the adaptor boot and the distributor boot. On each side of the adaptor boot 60 and as an extension of the sides 64 of the adaptor boot 60 are side plates 66 which fit between blocks 68 on the sides of the distributor boot 11. These blocks 68 on the sides of the distributor boot together define an open mortice into which the side plates engage by movement in the direction shown by the arrow 70 in Figure 2. Once the knife or seeder point 21 has been hammered into place on the tapered quick release adaptor 3 the portion 72 at the rear of the knife or seeder point 21 is engaged by the forward end 74 of the adaptor boot and this prevents the adaptor boot 60 sliding forward and down and falling off.

There may be a cover extending between the blocks 68 on each side to form a closed mortice. Alternatively there may be shaping on the edges of the side plates 66 and complementary shaping on the inner sides of the blocks 68 to provide good support. Such shaping may comprise a dovetail shape.

Throughout this specification various indications have been given as to the scope of this invention but the invention is not limited to any one of these but may reside in two or more of these combined together. The examples are given for illustration only and not for limitation.

Throughout this specification and the claims that follow unless the context requires otherwise, the words 'comprise' and 'include' and variations such as 'comprising' and 'including' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (11)

1. An adaptor boot for a seeding arrangement, the adaptor boot comprising a guide body and a support arrangement, the guide body providing a supply path for material supplied to a distributor boot associated with the seeding arrangement on an earth working implement, the support arrangement being adapted to engage with a distributor boot to support the adaptor boot thereon and to engage the rear of an earth working tool mounted onto a tine of the earth working implement to prevent disengagement with the distributor boot.

2. An adaptor boot as in Claim 1 wherein the earth working tool against which the adaptor boot engages is a knife point or winged seeder point.

3. An adaptor boot as in Claim 1 wherein the support arrangement adapted to engage with a distributor boot comprises the adaptor boot fitting in and extending up into the distributor boot and including a forward surface which engages with the rear of the earth working tool mounted onto a tine of the earth working implement thereby preventing disengagement with the distributor boot.

4. An adaptor boot as in Claim 1 wherein the support arrangement adapted to engage with a distributor boot comprises side plates which are received in a mortice on the sides of the distributor boot whereby the movement by which the side plates engage the mortice is such that it can only occur when the earth working tool is not engaged onto the tine or conversely the side plates cannot become disengaged from the mortice if the earth working tool is received onto the tine.

An adaptor boot as in Claim 1 wherein the support arrangement on the adaptor boot is adapted to engage with a distributor boot comprises a hook arrangement on one of the components and a recess on the other component onto which the hook engages and wherein the movement by which the hook engages the recess can only occur when the earth working tool is not engaged onto the tine.

6. An adaptor boot as in Claim 1 comprising a tongue extending upwardly and rearwardly from the adaptor boot which engages inside the distributor boot wherein the tongue assists with the support of the adaptor boot and also prevents grain or fertiliser from falling out in its travel between the adaptor boot and the distributor boot.

7. A connection arrangement providing cooperative engagement between an adaptor boot and a distributor boot on a tine of an earth working implement, the engagement being such that it can only be engaged when an earth working tool is not present on the tine and cannot be disengaged if the earth working tool is present on the tine.

8. An adaptor boot for a seed distributing boot for a tine of an earth working implement, the adaptor boot comprising a substantially rectangular elongate hollow body, a foot at one end of the body, an enclosed toe extending from the foot, the enclosed toe in use engaging with a rear surface of a tine of the earth working implement, and the foot being open at its lower end to enable seed and/or fertiliser to pass therethrough.

9. An adaptor boot as in Claim 8 wherein the body has an open side to fit around fastener nuts in a distributor boot upon which the adaptor piece is mounted.

An adaptor boot as in Claim 8 wherein the toe has tapered sides extending back to the foot to provide less resistance when passing through the soil in use.

11. An adaptor boot as in Claim 8 wherein the foot has an open rear to prevent clogging with soil in use. DATED this 6 t day of June, 2005. Osmundson Australia Pty Ltd By its Patent Attorneys MADDERNS