GB1579218A

GB1579218A - Seed drill

Info

Publication number: GB1579218A
Application number: GB25320/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Priority date: 1977-06-15
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1980-11-12
Also published as: DE2726915B2; DE2726915A1; FR2394237A1; FR2394237B1; DE2726915C3; CA1087926A

Description

(54) A SEED DRILL (71) We, AMAZONEN-WERKE H.

DREYER GmbH & CO. KG., of Am Amazonenwerk, 4507 Hasbergen-Gaste, Federal Republic of Germany; a German Company 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:- The present invention relates to a seed drill having a storage container and a metering unit which comprises several metering devices and is adapted to be driven at varying speeds and contains sowing wheels fitted with cams and each located between two upright walls and below which wheels the base flaps are pivotally and securely located and extend with their free ends close to the sowing wheels whereby the width of the sowing wheels and of the base flaps is only slightly smaller than the spacing between the given two upright walls between which they are located.

German Offenlegungsschrift 24 59 470 already discloses a seed drill which has the disadvantage that the smaller seeds, especially those having bristles or beards, can become lodged in the narrow gaps between the sowing wheels and the upright walls, whereby these seed grains are either damaged or completely pulverized or the passages between the sowing wheels and the base flaps become constricted or even blocked with the consequence that the whole seed drill moves sluggishly.

To prevent the seed grains from settling between the sowing wheels and the upright walls, it is further known from German Offenlegungsschrift 19 06 077 for the outer surfaces of the cams located lateral to the outer surfaces of the cams adjacent to the upright walls, to form an angle with the upright walls opening towards the circumference of the cams. This arrangement however. only removes a part of the aforsaid disadvantage. The risk still exists with such seed drill of the seed grains settling between the upright walls and the base flaps, which may lead to the adverse consequences described above.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved seed drill wherein a substantially uninterrupted outflow of seed is obtained from the metering device.

According to the present invention there is provided a seed drill including a storage container and a metering device which is comprised of several metering units drivable at varying speeds and containing sowing wheels fitted with cams and each located between two upright walls, pivotal and securable base flaps are located below the cams and in their operating position extend with their free end close to the sowing wheels, wherein the width of the sowing wheels and of the base flaps is only slightly smaller than the spacing between each two upright walls between which they are located, characterised by the feature that the lateral outer surfaces of the cams adjacent to the upright walls form with the upright walls an angle (cow) opening towards the circumference of the cams, and that the base flaps are provided on both sides with extensions or shoulders pointing in the direction towards the sowing wheels; the lateral inside surfaces of the shoulders having substantially the same angle (a) relative to the upright walls as the outer surfaces of the cams.

As a result of such arrangement, seed grains engaged by the cams and first pushed along the upright walls receive an impulse in a direction extending diagonally to the circumference and to the central region of the sowing wheels, because of the cooperation of the rotary movement of the cams with the stationary upright walls. The seed grains are hence constantly moved away from the gap between the sowing wheel walls and the walls. This movement of the sowing wheels extending on both sides diagonally to the central region of the sowing wheels, is further amplified by the inclined position of the lateral inside surfaces of the base flaps, so that the seeds are simultaneously progressively moved away from the gap which is located on both sides between the upright side walls and the base flaps.

The invention moreover provides for the shoulders to face in a direction towards the sowing wheels and the cams at least have substantially the same height.The impulses produced on the seed grains by the inclined outer surfaces of the cams and also the inclined lateral inside surfaces of the base flaps, are thus amplified to an optimal extent.

In an embodiment of the invention which is preferred for reasons of weight and costs, the shoulders proceed from the free end of the base flaps and extend over only a part thereof. If the upper outer edge of each shoulder at its maximum elevation forms an acute angle with the surface of the base flaps in the direction of sowing wheels, then the impulse acting on the central region of the sowing wheels during the sliding past of the seeds along the shoulders is continuously amplified. Finally in accordance with the invention, the upper outer edge of the shoulders should merge arcuately into the surface of the base flaps.

This measure has a particularly beneficial or non-damaging effect on the seeds.

The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a metering device; and Fig. 2 is a section on the line A-B of Fig.

1.

A metering device 1 includes a sowing housing 2 which is mounted on the storage container 3 and is detachable from the outside thereof. The container 3 is shown in section and the housing 2 is mounted in front of one of outlet openings 4 of the container. A sowing wheel 7 is nonrotatably connected to sowing shaft 6 between two upright walls 5 of the sowing housing 2. The width b of the wheel 7 is only slightly less than the mutual spacing a between the two walls 5. The sowing shaft 6 is adapted in known manner (not shown) to be driven at variable speeds via the control gear in order to permit the seeds contained in the storage container to be discharged in predeterminable required quantities. The sowing wheel 7 has cams 8 located thereon in two rows and the outer surfaces 9 of which cams form an angle with the walls 5 opening towards the circumference of the cams 8.

A base flap 11 is pivotally mounted below the sowing wheel 7 on shaft 10. The width b of the flap 11 corresponds to the width of the sowing wheel 7 and its free end 12 extends close to the sowing wheels 7 in the operating position as shown. A lever 13 is non rotatably mounted on the shaft 10 to permit locking of the base flap 11 and this lever is connected by screw 15 to the downwardly projecting extension member 14 of the base flap 11. A compression spring 16 is located on the screw 15 between the extension member 14 and the lever 13 and this spring is shown in a released position in the operating position of the base flap 11. The base flap 11 may be pivoted elastically away from the sowing wheel 7 should a large foreign body be in the seeds.

The base flap I 1 is provided on its surface 17 and on both sides with shoulders 18 projecting upwards in the direction towards the sowing wheel 7. These shoulders 18 have the same height h as the cams 8 of the sowing wheel 7 and the inside surfaces 19 of which have the same angle a as the outer surfaces 9 of the cams 8 relative to the upright walls 5. The upper outer edge 20 of shoulders 18 proceeding from the free end 12 of the base flap 11 extends firstly, tangentially to the outer surface 21 of the sowing wheel 7 and, subsequently, diagonally to the surface 17 of the base flap 11 where it forms the acute angle p with such surface and merges, arcuately, into the surface 17.

Finally, reference still has to be made to the fact that shoulders 20 shown in chaindotted lines in Fig. 1 may be provided in place of shoulders 18 which shoulders 20 extend from the free end 12 of the base flap 11 over the whole surface 17 thereof. In both cases the sowing wheel 7 rotates in the direction of the arrow 23 during operation.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A seed drill including a storage container and a metering device which is comprised of several metering units drivable at varying speeds and containing sowing wheels fitted with cams and each located between two upright walls, pivotal and securable base flaps are located below the cams and on their operating position extend with their free end close to the sowing wheels, wherein the width of the sowing wheels and of the base flaps is only slightly smaller than the spacing between each two upright walls between which they are located, characterised by the feature that the lateral outer surfaces of the cams adjacent to the upright walls form with the upright walls an angle (cur) opening towards the circumference of the cams, and that the base flaps are provided on both sides with extensions or shoulders pointing in the direction towards the sowing wheels; the lateral inside surfaces of the shoulders having substantially the same angle (cur) relative to the upright walls as the outer surfaces of the cams.

2. A seed drill as claimed in claim 1, in which the shoulders and the cams are at

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. away from the gap which is located on both sides between the upright side walls and the base flaps. The invention moreover provides for the shoulders to face in a direction towards the sowing wheels and the cams at least have substantially the same height.The impulses produced on the seed grains by the inclined outer surfaces of the cams and also the inclined lateral inside surfaces of the base flaps, are thus amplified to an optimal extent. In an embodiment of the invention which is preferred for reasons of weight and costs, the shoulders proceed from the free end of the base flaps and extend over only a part thereof. If the upper outer edge of each shoulder at its maximum elevation forms an acute angle with the surface of the base flaps in the direction of sowing wheels, then the impulse acting on the central region of the sowing wheels during the sliding past of the seeds along the shoulders is continuously amplified. Finally in accordance with the invention, the upper outer edge of the shoulders should merge arcuately into the surface of the base flaps. This measure has a particularly beneficial or non-damaging effect on the seeds. The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a metering device; and Fig. 2 is a section on the line A-B of Fig. 1. A metering device 1 includes a sowing housing 2 which is mounted on the storage container 3 and is detachable from the outside thereof. The container 3 is shown in section and the housing 2 is mounted in front of one of outlet openings 4 of the container. A sowing wheel 7 is nonrotatably connected to sowing shaft 6 between two upright walls 5 of the sowing housing 2. The width b of the wheel 7 is only slightly less than the mutual spacing a between the two walls 5. The sowing shaft 6 is adapted in known manner (not shown) to be driven at variable speeds via the control gear in order to permit the seeds contained in the storage container to be discharged in predeterminable required quantities. The sowing wheel 7 has cams 8 located thereon in two rows and the outer surfaces 9 of which cams form an angle with the walls 5 opening towards the circumference of the cams 8. A base flap 11 is pivotally mounted below the sowing wheel 7 on shaft 10. The width b of the flap 11 corresponds to the width of the sowing wheel 7 and its free end 12 extends close to the sowing wheels 7 in the operating position as shown. A lever 13 is non rotatably mounted on the shaft 10 to permit locking of the base flap 11 and this lever is connected by screw 15 to the downwardly projecting extension member 14 of the base flap 11. A compression spring 16 is located on the screw 15 between the extension member 14 and the lever 13 and this spring is shown in a released position in the operating position of the base flap 11. The base flap 11 may be pivoted elastically away from the sowing wheel 7 should a large foreign body be in the seeds. The base flap I 1 is provided on its surface 17 and on both sides with shoulders 18 projecting upwards in the direction towards the sowing wheel 7. These shoulders 18 have the same height h as the cams 8 of the sowing wheel 7 and the inside surfaces 19 of which have the same angle a as the outer surfaces 9 of the cams 8 relative to the upright walls 5. The upper outer edge 20 of shoulders 18 proceeding from the free end 12 of the base flap 11 extends firstly, tangentially to the outer surface 21 of the sowing wheel 7 and, subsequently, diagonally to the surface 17 of the base flap 11 where it forms the acute angle p with such surface and merges, arcuately, into the surface 17. Finally, reference still has to be made to the fact that shoulders 20 shown in chaindotted lines in Fig. 1 may be provided in place of shoulders 18 which shoulders 20 extend from the free end 12 of the base flap 11 over the whole surface 17 thereof. In both cases the sowing wheel 7 rotates in the direction of the arrow 23 during operation. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A seed drill including a storage container and a metering device which is comprised of several metering units drivable at varying speeds and containing sowing wheels fitted with cams and each located between two upright walls, pivotal and securable base flaps are located below the cams and on their operating position extend with their free end close to the sowing wheels, wherein the width of the sowing wheels and of the base flaps is only slightly smaller than the spacing between each two upright walls between which they are located, characterised by the feature that the lateral outer surfaces of the cams adjacent to the upright walls form with the upright walls an angle (cur) opening towards the circumference of the cams, and that the base flaps are provided on both sides with extensions or shoulders pointing in the direction towards the sowing wheels; the lateral inside surfaces of the shoulders having substantially the same angle (cur) relative to the upright walls as the outer surfaces of the cams.

least substaintially of the same height (h) in the direction towards the sowing wheels.

3. A seed drill as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the shoulders proceed from the free end of the base flaps and extend only over a part thereof.

4. A seed drill as claimed in claim 3, in which the upper outer edges of the shoulders up to its maximum elevation form an acute angle ( > with the surface of the base flaps in the direction of rotation of the sowing wheels.

5. A seed drill as claimed in claims 3 and 4, in which the upper outer edges of the.

shoulders merge arcuately into the surface of the base flaps.

6. A seed drill substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.