AU2021103456B4

AU2021103456B4 - Wear resistant fertiliser boot

Info

Publication number: AU2021103456B4
Application number: AU2021103456A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jack Michael Auldist
Original assignee: Cruel Sea Technologies Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Cruel Sea Technologies Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-18
Filing date: 2021-06-18
Publication date: 2022-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-18
Also published as: AU2021103456A4

Abstract

A fertiliser boot includes a ground engaging portion having two angled side faces. Each of the side faces has a wear resistant material affixed thereto.

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

Invention title:

"WEAR RESISTANT FERTILISER BOOT"

Applicant:

CRUEL SEA TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD

Associated provisional applications:

The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:

"WEAR RESISTANT FERTILISER BOOT"

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to agricultural machines being seeders arranged to create furrows and deposit seeds within. In particular, the present invention relates to a fertiliser boot for use as part of a seeder.

Background to the Invention

[0002] A seeder is a piece of agricultural machinery arranged to be drawn by a tractor. Generally, a seeder has a plurality of seeding units spaced across its width. Each seeding unit has a number of components: a leading 'knife' or tine arranged to penetrate the ground and create a furrow as the seeder is pulled forward; a fertiliser tube through which liquid or granular fertiliser can be deposited in the furrow, a seeding 'boot' through which seeds can be deposited into the furrow, and a trailing press wheel which acts to close the furrow.

[0003] The fertiliser tube is generally located within a fertiliser boot, which is typically bolted immediately behind the leading knife.

[0004] Atypical fertiliser boot has an internal passage through which granular fertiliser can be passed, and couplings to which a flexible tube can be attached for the provision of liquid fertiliser. The couplings are generally located on a leading edge of the fertiliser boot; that is, in use, immediately behind the leading knife.

[0005] A fertiliser boot is typically V-shaped. A leading edge of the fertiliser boot travels in the furrow created by the leading knife. Side faces of the fertiliser boot engage with sides of the furrow, thus widening the top of the furrow and ensuring that fertiliser can be deposited at the base of the furrow before side walls collapse.

[0006] The present innovation leads from a realisation that the side faces of the fertiliser boot can be subject to significant abrasive wear. It proposes a fertiliser boot with side faces which are more resistant to this wear than known fertiliser boots. In addition, it proposes a fertiliser boot arranged for provision of more than one liquid component into the soil; for instance arranged for provision of a wetting agent in addition to the fertiliser.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fertiliser boot arranged to mount to a seeding apparatus, the fertiliser boot having a ground engaging portion including a leading edge and two side faces, the side faces extending from the leading edge at an obtuse angle relative to a direction of travel of the seeding apparatus, the side faces each including a least one outer surface to which a wear-resistant material has been fixed.

[0008] Preferably the wear-resistant material is a tungsten carbide material.

[0009] The wear-resistant material may be a single unitary member on each side face. Alternatively, the wear-resistant material may be applied as a plurality of tiles to each side face.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fertiliser boot arranged to mount to a seeding apparatus, the fertiliser boot including a front face having a mounting means for connection to a leading knife of the seeding apparatus, the fertiliser boot having a hollow body portion, the fertiliser boot including a first tube mounting means located on a leading side of the body portion, the first tube mounting means arranged to receive a tube passing between the body portion and the front face; the fertiliser boot including a second tube mounting means located on a trailing side of the body portion, the second tube mounting means arranged to receive a tube passing behind the body portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings:

[0012] Figure 1 is a rendered perspective of a seeder as known in the prior art;

[0013] Figure 2 is a first perspective of a fertiliser boot in accordance with the present invention; suitable for use in the seeder of Figure 1;

[0014] Figure 3 is a second perspective of the fertiliser boot of Figure 2;

[0015] Figure 4 is a rear perspective of the fertiliser boot of Figure 2; and

[0016] Figure 5 is an under view of the fertiliser boot of Figure 2.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0017] Referring to the Figures, Figure 1 shows a seeder 10 as known in the prior art. The seeder 10 includes a leading knife assembly 12 from which extends a leading knife 14; a prior-art fertiliser boot 16 located immediately behind the leading knife 14, a seeding boot 18 located to the rear of the fertiliser boot 16, and a closing wheel 20 at the rear of the seeder 10.

[0018] Figures 2 to 4 show a fertiliser boot 30 which can be used in place of the prior-art fertiliser boot 16 in the seeder 10 of Figure 1.

[0019] The fertiliser boot 30 has a mounting means 32 including a front face 34 having two bolt holes 36. The arrangement is such that bolts can be passed through the bolt holes 36 for connection of the fertiliser boot 30 to the leading knife assembly 12.

[0020] The mounting means 32 is connected at an upper end thereof to a hollow body portion 38. The hollow body portion 38 is arranged, in use, to be a conduit for granular fertiliser. The mounting means 32 has an angled portion at its upper end, such that the front face 34 is spaced from the hollow body portion 38.

[0021] A ground engaging portion 42 of the fertiliser boot 30 is located at a lower end thereof. The ground engaging portion 42 includes a leading edge 44 which extends forward of the front face 34. The arrangement is such that when the front face 34 is bolted to the leading knife assembly 12 the leading edge 44 locates behind the leading knife 14.

[0022] The ground engaging portion 42 has two side faces 46 which extend away from the leading edge 44. The side faces 46 each form an angle of about 100 relative to a centre line of the fertiliser boot 30; in other words, each side face 46 is oriented at about 170° relative to the direction of travel of the leading edge 44.

[0023] Each side face 46 is faced with abrasion resistant tiles 48. In the embodiment of the drawing, each side face 46 has three abrasion resistant tiles 48, although it will be appreciated that a single tile 48 could be used. The abrasion resistant tiles 48 are formed from a tungsten carbide material.

[0024] The ground engaging portion 42 terminates beneath the hollow body portion 38.

[0025] The fertiliser boot 30 includes a first tube mounting means located on a leading side of the hollow body portion 38. The first tube mounting means includes a first tube support 50 fixed towards an upper end of the hollow body portion 38, a second tube support 52 formed as an aperture within the angled portion 40 of the mounting means 32, and a third tube support 54 formed as an aperture within the ground engaging portion 42 immediately behind the leading edge 44. The arrangement is such that a tube for liquid fertiliser can be mounted in the first tube mounting means as known in the prior art, with the tube passing between the front face 34 and the hollow body portion 38.

[0026] The fertiliser boot 30 includes a second tube mounting means located on a trailing side of the hollow body portion 38. The second tube mounting means includes a fourth tube support 56 fixed towards an upper end of the hollow body portion 38, and a fifth tube support 58 fixed towards a lower end of the hollow body portion 38. The arrangement is such that a tube of secondary liquid chemicals such as wetting agents can be mounted in the second tube mounting means, with the tube passing behind the hollow body portion 38 and thus the secondary liquid chemicals can be applied within the furrow on top of the fertiliser (liquid or granular) but before the seed is placed in the furrow.

[0027] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A fertiliser boot arranged to mount to a seeding apparatus, the fertiliser boot having a ground engaging portion including a leading edge and two side faces, the side faces extending from the leading edge at an obtuse angle relative to a direction of travel of the seeding apparatus, the side faces each including a least one outer surface to which at least one tile of a wear-resistant material has been fixed.
2. A fertiliser boot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wear-resistant material is a tungsten carbide material.
3. A fertiliser boot as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the wear resistant material is a single unitary member on each side face.
4. A fertiliser boot as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the wear resistant material is applied as a plurality of tiles to each side face.

CRUEL SEA TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys ARMOUR IP

P2435AU00