AU2011202522B2 - Improved planter point - Google Patents

Abstract

A planter point (10) having a body portion (11) substantially in the shape of a triangle in side view having a pair of narrow edges (21, 22) terminating in a point or apex (12) and a pair of broad surfaces (23) characterised in that 5 there is provided a pair of wings (13) closely adjacent to one of said edges (21, 22). FK-7 18(5 22 1j i7 FIC, 2

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "IMPROVED PLANTER POINT" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1 "IMPROVED PLANTER POINT" This invention relates to an improved planter point for use in forming furrows in the ground prior to placing seeds therein. In particular the planter point of the invention is useful for direct drilling which involves planting 5 directly into unprepared or rough terrain which means that the ground is more difficult to penetrate for planting purposes. Conventional planter points are known which comprise (i) the spear point (ii) the knife point and (iii) the inverted T-point which all have points which have a configuration which are similar to these shapes. Each of these 10 conventional planter points are known as "narrow points" which means that they can only form furrows having a relatively limited or critical depth. Soil below the critical depth is not loosened and uplifted, but is compacted sideways. The spear point has a pair of relatively narrow ribs or wings which are integral with a planer body of the spear point and the inverted T point is 15 also provided with a pair of wings or plates extending outwardly from a planar body adjacent a bottom edge of the planar body which form the cross member of the T. Reference may also be made to AU 654478 which describes a planter point also having a pair of wings which each extend laterally outwardly from a 20 body of irregular shape. This planter point also includes a downwardly depending blade portion which extends into the furrow being formed. The presence of the blade portion facilitates ground penetration and assists in breaking up hard pan in the soil as it can extend relatively deeply into the hard pan. The planter point also has a forwardly extending nose having 2 regard to the direction of travel which serves to penetrate and break up the soil to facilitate entry of the laterally extending wings. The planter point of AU 654478 also had a relatively critical depth of penetration into the furrow even when the blade portion was taken into 5 account. Reference also may be made to Australian Patent Application 15623/02 which refers to a planter point having a similar shape to the conventional spear point described above. However this planter point was reversible so that there was provided a cutting portion having a cutting edge 10 which was releaseably attached to a support portion in a first and second orientation to prolong effective use of the cutting edge. However again this planter point had a relatively critical depth for forming furrows and thus could not loosen soil below this critical depth. In times of drought conventional planter points having a critical depth 15 in forming furrows were disadvantageous because they could not penetrate the ground beyond the critical depth which was 45-55 mm below ground level. Often in such dry conditions moist soil was located 150-160 mm or more below the ground and therefore was not accessible for planting purposes. The only effect that was obtained was that the dry soil after 20 planting fell back into the furrow mixing with any moist soil that was present and thus prevented germination of the seeds. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a planter point which may alleviate the abovementioned disadvantage of the prior art. The planter point of the invention has a body portion substantially in 3 the shape of a triangle in side view having a pair of narrow surfaces comprising a top surface and bottom surface respectively, wherein each narrow surface terminates in a point or apex and said body portion also includes a pair of broad side surfaces, and wherein there is provided a pair 5 of wings located closely adjacent to said narrow top surface wherein each wing of said pair extends rearwardly at an acute angle of 5 - 30* to a longitudinal axis of said narrow top surface and beyond a proximal end of the body portion. Preferably each of the wings are of constant thickness although this is 10 not essential. It is also preferred that each of the wings are relatively narrow in width having a width of between 10-30 mm and more preferably 20 mm. It is also preferred that each wing extend at an angle of 12*-16* to the longitudinal axis of the adjacent narrow top surface and most preferably 140. Preferably each of the wings extends beyond a proximal end of the 15 adjacent narrow surface for a distance of around 30-50 mm and more preferably 40 mm. The body of the point preferably has an average width of between 23 33 mm and more preferably 28 mm. The triangular body of the point of the invention may have a socket in 20 an end thereof remote from the apex for releasable attachment to an adaptor which connects the point to a type of a planter as shown hereinafter in the drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment as shown in 4 the drawings wherein: FIG 1 is a plan view of the planter point of the invention; FIG 2 is a side view of the planter point shown in FIG 1; FIG 3 is a perspective view of the planter point shown in FIGS. 1-2 5 attached to a planter tyne through an adaptor; FIG 4 is a plan view of the planter point of FIGS. 1-2 forming a furrow in the ground; FIG 5 is a similar view to FIG. 4 shown the shape of the completed furrow; and 10 FIG 6 is a similar view to FIG 4 showing the operation of a press wheel within the furrow. In the drawings as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the planter point 10 has a triangular body 11 having an apex or point 12 and a pair of wings 13. Each wing 13 extends beyond an adjacent end 15 of body 11 as shown to provide 15 rearwardly extending portions 16 having regard to the direction of travel of the planter point as shown in FIG 4. There are also provided reinforcement plates or tiles 17 made preferably from tungsten to provide an extended operational longevity of planter point 10 in use. The end 15 is enlarged compared to apex 12 and is provided with a 20 socket 18 for receiving an adaptor 19 shown in FIG 3. There is also provided an attachment aperture 20 for insertion of an elongate fastener (not shown) to attach planter point 10 to adaptor 19. Planter point 10 is also provided with opposed narrow surfaces 21 and 22 and opposed broad surfaces 23. There 5 are also provided laterally extending portions 24 adjacent surface 22. Each of wings 13 are located closely adjacent to surface 21. As shown in FIG 4 the planter point 10 engages with adaptor 19 as shown with male part 25 having attachment aperture 26 which is co-aligned 5 with attachment aperture 20 for insertion of the elongate fastener described above to attach adaptor 19 to planter point 10. Adaptor 19 is also provided with shank 27, attachment apertures 28, and intermediate part 29 which angles male part 25 to shank 27. Each of apertures 28 are hexagonally shaped as shown and may register with co-aligned holes 30 of offset end 31 10 of tyne 32 of planting implement 33. Implement 33 has pull 34, and there are also provided bracket plates 34 and 35 and attachment bolts 36 interconnecting same with the use of nuts 37 to attach pull 34 to transverse frame member 38. In similar manner bracket plates 33 and 34 attach tyne 32 to transverse frame member 38. 15 In use planter point 10 is pulled through earth as shown in FIG. 4 to create a furrow 39 having sloping sides 40 as shown in FIG 5. Seed 41 may be dropped into furrow 39 after advance of planter point 10 as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows location of seed 41 in furrow 39 and loose earth 42 lying above seed 41 in furrow 39. The sloping sides 40 of furrow 39 are caused by 20 wings 13 which move loose friable soil 42 upwardly and rearwardly away from furrow 39 which soil is then deposited in heaps 43 on either side of furrow 39. Initially heaps 43 will be formed as heaps 43A which then settle to form heaps 43 of lesser height as shown in FIG. 5 after passage of planter 6 point 10. Subsequently as shown in FIG. 6 a press wheel 44 known as a "zero pressure" press wheel made usually of soft rubber adjacent groove 45 and hard rubber 46 on each side of groove 45 may then pass along soil 42 5 whereby minimal compaction is caused in area 47 and there are provided compression zones 48 as indicated by the wavy lines. The press wheel 44 cannot extend into furrow 39 beyond junctions 49 caused by sloping sides 40 and straight sides 50. In the location occupied by seed 41 the soil 42 has been firmly pressed to facilitate germination of seed 41. As a plant emerges 10 from seed 41 it moves into the loose soil 42 in area 47 allowing the plant to complete its initial emergence through soil 42. It is also important to stress that the point 10 of the invention is also reversible so that when reversed planter point 10 can function in a similar manner to a conventional spear shaped planter point as described above. 15 This has the advantage that the planter point 10 can be used in a wide range of soils and/or conditions to achieve an optimum effect. Because of its reversibility the planter point 10 can be used equally well in both wet soils at 50 mm or for deep sowing down to 150 mm or more as shown in FIG 4. The planter point 10 can also be used at any suitable 20 planting speed e.g. between 8-12 km/h. The planter point 10 as shown in FIG 3 can be fitted via adaptors 19 or other suitable adaptors to virtually any tyned implement from cultivators to chisel ploughs. The planter point 10 can be used without press wheels but are ideal with 50 mm press wheels to get 7 optimum results. However in dry conditions because the dry soil is moved away from seedlings already placed in the furrow as described in FIG 4 this will facilitate germination of the seedlings in drought conditions because the deeper the 5 seedlings in drought conditions they are more likely to encounter moist conditions. They are more likely to penetrate the overlying soil in the furrow 39 because the dry friable soil has been moved away from the furrow 39 as shown in FIG 4. Also furrows 39 are useful in that they funnel small falls of rain to the seedlings as well as protect newly emerged seedlings from excess 10 wind, heat and cold. Thus in summary the planter point 10 of the invention creates furrows 39 150-160 mm deep wherein seeds can be placed into moist soil with only 45-55 mm and more preferably 50 mm of soil on top of the seed. The planter point 10 of the invention is also reversible as described above. These 15 features provide substantial advantages over the prior art. It will also be appreciated that relative terms such as "side" "rearwardly", "bottom" and "top" have regard to the operation of the planter point of the invention in use.

Claims (9)

1. A planter point having a body portion substantially in the shape of a triangle in side view having a pair of narrow surfaces comprising a top surface and bottom surface respectively, wherein each narrow surface 5 terminates in a point or apex and said body portion also includes a pair of broad side surfaces, and wherein there is provided a pair of wings located closely adjacent to said narrow top surface wherein each wing of said pair extends rearwardly at an acute angle of 5 - 30* to a longitudinal axis of said narrow top surface and beyond a proximal end of the body portion. 10

2. A planter point as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the wings are of constant thickness.

3. A planter point as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 2 wherein each wing extends at an angle of 12-160.

4. A planter point as claimed in claim 3 wherein each wing 15 extends at an angle of 140.

5. A planter point as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 4 wherein each wing extends beyond a proximal end of said body portion for a distance of 30-50 mm.

6. A planter point as claimed in claim 5 wherein the distance is 40 20 mm.

7. A planter point as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body portion has a socket in an end remote from the apex for releasable attachment to an adaptor.

8. A planter point as claimed in any preceding claim wherein 9 reinforcement plates or tiles are attached to each broad side surface of the body portion adjacent the apex and also a top narrow edge in use adjacent the apex.

9. A planter point substantially as herein described with reference 5 to the drawings.