GB2594267A

GB2594267A - Soil cultivator seed drill

Info

Publication number: GB2594267A
Application number: GB2005758.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Lole Christopher
Original assignee: Razorback Ltd
Current assignee: Razorback Ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-21
Filing date: 2020-04-21
Publication date: 2021-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-21
Also published as: GB2594267B; GB202005758D0

Abstract

A soil cultivating seed drill implement 100 having a clamp 50 for connection of the implement to a toolbar, a soil loosening member 60 having a leg inclined rearwardly and downwardly terminating in a forward-facing toe 62 and a seed sowing member 70 spaced rearwardly of the soil loosening member, the seed sowing member having a leg extending downwardly and terminating in a seed delivery foot (72, figure 1). The soil loosening member and seed sowing member are pivotably mounted with respect to the clamp, the pivot having a longitudinal axis A-B comprising a non-vertical camber angle extending substantially from the pivot to a region of the forward-facing toe. Also disclosed is a soil cultivator seed drill machine for attachment to a tractor, the machine comprising a toolbar assembly having at least two substantially parallel side members with at least one transverse crossbar, the crossbar having at least one soil cultivator seed drill attached thereto.

Description

Soil Cultivator Seed Drill

Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural apparatus, and more particularly to an improved soil cultivator seed drill, especially the type that is trailed behind a tractor.

Background

A number of different soil cultivator seed drills are available on the market to carry out cultivation of the soil and sowing of seeds in a single pass, a technique known under various names, such as direct drilling, band seeding, zero drilling/tillage and strip tillage. This process combines in a single pass of the soil, minimal cultivation of the soil by the use of seed drills or tines to break up soil only where seed is to be sowed, leaving strips of undisturbed soil therebetween, followed by means for planting the seed in cultivated soil. Thus, this process involves only cultivating a targeted area and leaving the crop residue on the surface between the tilled strips, retaining moisture and organic matter to improve the soil structure and fertility.

This technique moved away from the age-old tradition of providing a well cultivated soil, generally that had previously been ploughed, prior to casting of seed into furrows or spaced apart lines and packing of the seeds for germination and growth. These individual techniques were clearly time-consuming, costly in terms of fuel usage in carrying out a number of separate operations, environmentally unfriendly in view of the associated high CO2 emissions and also often resulted in poor seed germination due to loss of soil moisture in multiple soil-disturbing operations. The repeated movement of heavy machinery across the soil also results in its compaction, known as a "pan" which hinders both drainage through the soil and downward growth of plant roots.

Agricultural machinery that allow multiple functions of opening the soil, seeding and fertilizing have been used for in excess of twenty years, such as the multi-function draft implement described by Handy in US 5 161 472 and an apparatus for depositing seed and fertilizer in the ground described by Beaujot in US 5 331 907 and sold under the 1.

product name SeedMasterTm. Both these implements have a front soil loosening member with a fine spaced rearwardly therefrom, with both being fixed in position. This makes it difficult to go around corners effectively without causing large amounts of resistance.

A further improvement was described by Lole in GB 2484263B. This apparatus includes a couple of frame members; a front frame member for attachment to a tractor, the front frame member carrying soil-loosening members or fines extending transversely across the frame and provided in two staggered rows with a separate rear frame member connected to the front frame member by adjustable chassis members. The rear frame member carries a number of rotary members for crumbling the soil loosened by the soil-loosening members, followed by respective seed-sowing assemblies mounted on the rear frame. The seed-sowing assemblies each include a seed-sowing coulter, packing wheel and levelling tine. The soil-loosening members are fixed to the frame and the seed-sowing assemblies are connected to the frame by an upright or vertical pivot axis to enable the trailing seed-sowing coulters to move laterally when encountering obstacles in the ground and to follow a curved path if not travelling in a straight line. However, the attachment of the implement to the main frame or toolbar assembly via an upright vertical pivot results in the resistance to movement of the member being relatively equal at any angle causing the machine to bounce from side to side and not run straight. This results in reduced efficiency with the machine being more difficult to tow and provides less accuracy for inter row drilling.

All the prior art machines are fit-for-purpose but do have their potential drawbacks, such as inefficient towing of the machine. Additionally, movement of the parts from side to side causes wear on the metal pieces, requiring more frequent replacement of these parts and hence, higher operating costs. Additionally, the arrangement of the trailing members on the toolbar assembly of the prior art machines is fixed, reducing the versatility of the machines. This is a significant drawback when it is often necessary to change to distance between adjacent furrows depending upon the type of crop being sown.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide an improved agricultural soil cultivator seed drill that overcomes, or at least alleviates, the abovementioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a soil cultivating seed drill implement comprising: a toolbar connection member; a soil loosening member having a leg inclined rearwardly and downwardly terminating in a forward-facing toe; and a seed sowing member spaced rearwardly of the soil loosening member, the seed sowing member having a leg extending downwardly and terminating in a seed delivery foot; wherein the soil loosening member and seed sowing member are pivotably mounted with respect to the toolbar connection member, the pivot having a longitudinal axis comprising a camber angle extending substantially from the pivot to a region of the forward-facing toe.

The toolbar connection member may comprise a clamp and/or a bracket. Preferably, the soil loosening member and seed sowing member are each pivotally attached to a bracket and the bracket is pivotally mounted to a clamp that comprises the toolbar connection member. Preferably, the pivot with the camber angle is provided between the clamp and the bracket.

The camber angle is preferably between 10 and 45 degrees, more preferably 18-30 degrees, off vertical inclined forwardly towards the clamp. In particular, the longitudinal axis of this pivot may extend from the pivot substantially in line with the front point of the toe of the soil loosening member, albeit the exact positioning of the toe does vary with the depth of the soil loosening member.

The soil loosening member and seed sowing member are each preferably mounted to the bracket about a horizontal axis.

The bracket may include parallel side plates having means for pivotally mounting the soil loosening and/or seed sowing members extending between the plates. More preferably, the soil loosening member is pivotably attached to a lower end of the bracket about a horizontal axis and optionally an adjustable hydraulic ram is provided to apply pressure to the member to ensure consistent contact with the ground.

The seed sowing member is preferably connected to the bracket via a parallel four-bar linkage to locate the seed sowing member at a rearwardly spaced apart distance from the soil loosening member. Preferably, an upper bar of the four-bar linkage is pivotably connected at an upper horizontal axis of bracket and a lower bar of the four-bar linkage is pivotably connected at a lower horizontal axis of the bracket with the bracket forming a forwardmost bar of the four-bar linkage. The soil loosening member is preferably attached to a horizontal axis provided between these upper and lower horizontal axes and extends downwardly through the lower bar.

Preferably, the toe of the soil loosening member is pointed to enable penetration of the soil. Parallel planar flanges may extend rearwardly from the toe, substantially perpendicularly to the toe. It is preferable for at least the toe part of the member to be replaceable. Optionally, the soil loosening member may include a socket for connection to a delivery tube for delivery of seed and/or fertiliser.

The leg of the seed sowing member preferably extends downwardly from the rearmost bar of the linkage, the leg terminating in the seed delivery foot, optionally having laterally extending wings. At least part of the seed delivery foot may be replaceable. Preferably, the seed sowing member includes a socket provided in fluid communication with the foot for connecting to a seed delivery tube.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the seed sowing member includes a depth wheel located rearwardly thereof, preferably being pivotally mounted with respect to the seed sowing member. More preferably, the depth wheel is pivotably mounted to a rear end of the lower bar of the four-bar linkage about a horizontal axis via arms to allow for up and down movement of the depth wheel. An adjustable link may extend from the four-bar linkage to the arms, and the link may be varied in length to adjust the depth of the wheel, for example by means of a hydraulic ram.

Additionally, the clamp of the toolbar connection member may comprise a substantially L-shaped portion with its apex extending vertically downwardly towards the ground. Preferably, one end of the clamp has an inclined socket to receive the pivot pin of the bracket and the other end forms a lip or rim. Suitable fastening means are provided for attachment of the clamp to a box section of a toolbar assembly. Preferably, the clamp is forwardly inclined.

One or more implements according to the present invention may be connected to a toolbar assembly by its toolbar connection member such that the implement extends rearwardly from the toolbar. The toolbar assembly may form part of a single frame or be attachable thereto which may be towed behind a tractor, for example being connected thereto by means of a three-point linkage.

Preferably, the toolbar assembly comprises at least one cross member having a box-section whereby the clamp of the implement according to the invention may be fastened at any point along the length of the cross member by suitable fastening means, such as a nut and bolt.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a soil cultivator seed drill machine for attachment to a tractor, the machine comprising: a toolbar assembly having at least two substantially parallel side members with at least one transverse crossbar extending therebetween, the crossbar having at least one soil cultivator seed drill attached thereto; the soil cultivator seed drill comprising a toolbar connection member, a soil loosening member having a leg inclined rearwardly and downwardly terminating in a forward-facing toe, a seed sowing member spaced rearwardly of the soil loosening member, the seed sowing member having a leg extending downwardly and terminating in a seed delivery foot; and wherein the soil cultivator seed drill is pivotably mounted with respect to the toolbar assembly, the pivot having a longitudinal axis comprising a camber angle extending substantially from the pivot to a region of the forward-facing toe of the soil loosening member of the soil cultivator seed drill.

Preferably, the soil cultivator seed drill machine according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided with multiple spaced apart implements according to the first aspect of the present invention. The machine may include one, two or more crossbars fitted with multiple implements according to the first aspect of the present invention. Preferably, the cross bar is a box section.

The preferred clamp of the implement of the first aspect of the invention enables each implement to be attached at any location along the length of the crossbar.

Preferably, where rows of implements are provided on more than one crossbar, the implements of adjacent rows are staggered.

The toolbar assembly may form part of a frame having means for attachment to a tractor for towing. Preferably, the frame includes at least two supporting side wheels. A frame may also support at least one seed container having appropriate delivery tubes for delivering seed and/or fertiliser to the soil cultivator seed drill implements.

Optionally, but preferably, the frame includes a lever arm connected to a rear bar that includes a plurality of levelling tines. Preferably, these are locatable beyond the depth wheels of the most rearward implements located on the most rearward crossbar of the toolbar assembly.

In one embodiment, the toolbar assembly of the second aspect of the invention is hingedly mounted to a frame, thereby enabling the machine to be folded up for transport, supported by the frame.

Any suitable type of hitch may be fitted to the frame for attachment to the rear of a tractor for towing. Preferably, the hitch allows pivoting about a vertical axis.

It is to be appreciated that the implement according to the first aspect of the present invention or the machine according to the second aspect of the invention may include additional features that are conventional for such implements and machines in the art. For example, some or all of the parts may be foldable and/or liftable to allow their easy transportation when not in use and that the different types of movement of the component parts, such as folding, lifting, rotating etc are achieved by suitable actuation means. Preferably, hydraulic means is provided, ideally being controlled from within the tractor.

A metering unit may be included for delivery of seed and/or fertiliser to each implement. Preferably, an in-cab drill management system provides on-the-move seed rate adjustment plus all of the normal essential seed drill control and monitoring functions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a single soil cultivator seed drill implement according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the soil cultivator seed drill implement shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a side view of the soil cultivator seed drill implement shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side view of a soil cultivator seed drill machine having multiple soil cultivator seed drills implements as shown in Figures 1 to 3; and Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the soil cultivator seed drill machine of Figure 4. Detailed Description One aspect of the invention provides an improved soil cultivator seed drill implement 100, an embodiment of which is shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings. Multiple implements can be attached to a single frame 202 to provide a soil cultivator seed drill machine 200, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and discussed in further detail below.

Each soil cultivator seed drill implement 100 has a bracket 40 having parallel side plates 42, 44. The bracket is pivotably attached at one end to a clamp 50 and the other end of the bracket provides mountings for a soil loosening member 60 and a seed sowing member 70 having a depth wheel 80. The soil loosening member 60 is pivotably attached to a lower end of the bracket 40 about a horizontal axis 46 and an adjustable hydraulic ram 64 applies pressure to the member to ensure consistent contact with the ground. The soil loosening member or coulter 60 includes a leg inclined rearwardly and downwardly which terminates in a forward-facing pointed toe 62 with parallel planar flanges 66 extending rearwardly from the toe, substantially at right angles thereto. Optionally, seed or fertiliser may be delivered through delivery tubes (not shown) connectable to socket member 68.

The seed sowing member or coulter 70 is connected to the bracket 44 via a parallel four-bar linkage 90 to locate the member at a rearwardly spaced apart distance from the soil loosening member 60. An upper bar 90a of the four-bar linkage is pivotably connected at an upper horizontal axis 47 of bracket 40 and a lower bar 90b is pivotably connected at a lower horizontal axis 48 of the bracket with the bracket 40 forming a forwardmost bar of the four-bar linkage. The soil loosening member 60 is provided between the two upper and lower horizontal axes and extends downwardly through the lower bar. The seed sowing member 70 includes a leg extending downwardly from the rearmost bar 90c of the linkage, the leg terminating in a seed delivery foot 72 having laterally extending wings. A socket member 74 is provided in fluid communication with the foot for connecting to a seed delivery conduit (not shown for sake of simplicity) which can deliver seed into the foot for placement in the soil. The depth wheel 80 is pivotably mounted to a rear end of the lower bar 90b of the four-bar linkage 90 about a horizontal axis via arms 92 to allow for up and down movement of the depth wheel. An adjustable link 94 may be varied in length to adjust the depth of the wheel.

The pivot axis 56 that attaches the bracket 40 carrying the soil loosening member, seed sowing member and depth wheel to the clamp 50 is neither vertical nor horizontal, being a camber angle between 10 and 45 degrees, more preferably 18-30 degrees, off vertical inclined forwardly towards the clamp. In particular, the longitudinal axis A-B of this pivot extends from the pivot joint 56 substantially in line with the front point of the toe 62 of the soil loosening member, albeit the exact positioning of the toe does vary with the depth of the soil loosening member. This is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. It is to be appreciated that the pivot could be inclined rearwardly with a camber angle towards the soil loosening members but this would provide for a less smooth movement of travel. This leaning orientation of the soil loosening members provides benefits over the prior art implements, as discussed in further detail below in relation to operation of the device. Thus, the soil cultivator seed drill implement has both the soil loosening member and the seed sowing member pivotally attached to a toolbar assembly with the addition of a camber to the pivot. The angled pivot enables the action on the front soil loosening member to be minimal relative to the movement of the rearward seed sowing members spaced further from the angled pivot, thereby making it easy to tow the implement with the seed sowing member naturally following in line. This arrangement is not provided in any of the earlier devices, such as the HandyTM, SeedMasterTm and Pro-TilTm machines.

Additionally, the clamp 50 comprises a forwardly inclined, substantially L-shaped portion 50a, 50b with its apex 52 extending vertically downwardly towards the ground, along the vertical axis C-D through the centre of the clamp (see Figure 3). One end of the clamp has an inclined socket to receive the pivot pin 56 of the bracket 40 and the other end 50c forms a lip or rim. Suitable fastening means are provided for attachment of the clamp around a box section of a toolbar assembly. The configuration of the clamp 50 is such that it may be attached to a box section cross member (see Figures 4 and 5) at any point along the length of the member. This provides freedom with regard to the number and the positioning of the implements 100 provided on a cross member.

A plurality of implements described in Figures 1 to 3 are fastened at spaced apart intervals to a front transversely extending box section 204 and a rear transversely extending box section 206 of toolbar assembly of a main frame 202, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This provides a soil cultivator seed drill machine according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, having a front row of soil cultivator seed drill implements 100f and a rear row of soil cultivator seed drill implements 100r. Generally, the front and rear rows are staggered with respect to each other. The front of the main frame 202 is provided with a three-point linkage for attachment to a tractor and wheels (not shown) may be provided to support the machine. Additionally, forwardly mounted cutting discs may be provided (again not shown). The main frame 202 also supports a seed storage container 210, such as a seed hopper, which has standard delivery tubes and a metering system (not shown) to deliver seed and/or fertilizer through the pipes to the seed sowing members and/or soil loosening members. Additionally, a lever arm 212 pivotably extends from the frame 202 beyond the rear implements 100r. The lever arm carries a rear connecting member supporting a plurality of levelling tines 214.

The seed cultivator machine according to the invention and as shown in Figures 4 and is able prepare a zone of soil and discharge seed into the prepared soil in an efficient manner, with increased accuracy and reduced wear on the parts of the implements.

The multiple implements 100 are all lowered to the ground and the tractor pulls the machine across the area of soil to be cultivated and sowed. The soil loosening members 60 are lowered to a position wherein the leading toe 62 is able to cut through the soil and create a trench of loosened and upwardly displaced soil. If desired, fertilizer or seed may be fed directly into the trench via delivery pipe attached to socket 68. The seed sowing member 70 follows the soil loosening member 60 and deposits seed into the trench with the depth wheel 80 and levelling tine 214 displacing soil on top of the seed to the required depth, dictated by the depth of the depth wheel. Thus, the machine combines in a single pass of the soil, minimal cultivation of the soil by the use of seed drills or tines to break up soil only where seed is to be sowed, leaving strips of undisturbed soil therebetween, followed by means for planting the seed in cultivated soil. The process involves only cultivating a targeted area and leaving the crop residue on the surface between the tilled strips, retaining moisture and organic matter to improve the soil structure and fertility.

Each implement or plurality of implements that make up a machine according to the present invention is provided with an angled/cambered pivot 56 which sits in front of the entire seeding/drilling units (i.e. consisting of front soil loosening leg, rear seed sowing leg and a depth wheel). The angle of this pivot being set so that it is substantially on the same line as the front point of the front soil loosening leg provides for more efficient towing of the machine and more accurate sowing of the seed. Note that the angle of the pivot being in line with the front leg is only approximate as it does depend on the depth of the front member. At a shallow drilling depth, the pivot line may be slightly in front whereas at a deeper depth, the pivot line should be on or very near to the front point of the soil loosening member which is most beneficial.

Significant benefits are achieved with the arrangement of the soil loosening members, seed sowing members and depth wheels. In particular, the soil loosening members are encouraged to run straight which makes them easier to pull, reduces wear and results in greater accuracy for interrow drilling. In this respect, the soil loosening members are able to move up and down in response to an obstacle but are not able to make any significant lateral movement. The arrangement results in minimal, if any, lateral movement of the soil loosening members that are closest to the angled pivot point but greater leaning of the seed sowing members spaced further therefrom.

Additionally, the angled/cambered pivot included in each device according to the present invention encourages the seed sowing members to run straight, with the front point following the true line of travel. This is contrast to conventional pivots about a vertical axis where the resistance is relatively equal at any angle. In the present invention, the path of least resistance is always straight ahead. The angle of the pivot which leans away from the seed sowing members means that when the unit is pulled to one side to avoid a stone or such like, it has to penetrate deeper into the soil which gives more resistance than when travelling straight ahead. (If the pivot pointed towards the drilling units, when pulled to the side, the coulters would lift out of the ground and would likely continually bounce in and out of the soil). The front point has a direct relationship to the clamp 50 and the height of the toolbar 206 whereas the rear seed sowing coulter has a direct relationship to the depth wheel and both front point and rear coulter can move independently to each other and are both affected by the camber.

The camber angle enables the soil loosening member to rock around the front point and lean rather than pivot side to side. This makes the whole machine easier to pull through the soil. It also reduces the wear on the front point and the seed sowing coulter, which on all soil cultivator seed drills will wear and require replacing at various times. Because the seed sowing members on the new machine are encouraged to run straight and not bounce from side to side, the wearing metal pieces last longer and therefore the machine is cheaper to run.

This leaning can be likened to the rake on a motorbike or the steering camber of a car which helps them to drive straight. In cars, the camber is used to make the car drive straight but also to reduce tyre wear, this is a similar reason for the cambered drill, reducing wearing metal wear.

Another important aspect of the forward 'leaning' orientation of the implements is that it improves accuracy when inter row drilling. By using the adjustable implements, it is possible to shift the soil cultivator seed drill over by half a row to sit in between crop rows. An additional crop may then be planted (such as a grass crop underneath growing Maize) between the established crop rows. If the pivot was horizontal, the seeding coulters may drift into the pre-established rows damaging the crop. In contrast, by leaning the implements according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve more accuracy and the coulters should never drift into the growing crop. This may also be used to 'drill' fertiliser into the soil either side of a growing crop, which helps to reduce the nutrients lost via evaporation. The machines of the prior art provide less accuracy to stop the drill's coulters moving into the previously established rows. Thus, the new soil cultivator seed drill of the invention is very versatile.

The cambered pivot (and subsequent seed sowing member) being attached to the toolbar of the frame via a clamp allows for complete adjustment of the soil cultivator seed drill implements across the full width of the tool bar's lateral cross members. Any suitable number of box section cross members may be provided on the tool bar assembly of the frame, in the illustrated example there are two of these cross members which make up one tool bar assembly that forms the main frame but there could be one, two or three plus cross bars provided on the toolbar assembly. Its versatility is further increased by the angled L-shaped clamp 50 that fastens each implement to the box section of the main toolbar frame. Previously, U-shaped bolt type clamps were used which prevent the implements from being moved along the entire width of the lateral cross bars of the tool bar. The clamp of each soil cultivator seed drill only fits around % of the box section allowing for the clamp to slide freely past the supports for the toolbar assembly. For clamps that go around the entire box section, it is not be able to move past these supports which limits their adjustability. The benefit of adjustability to any width is that one drill can drill all arable crops. The fact that the toolbar assembly is one fixed frame also aids attachment of the parts to the frame and to a tractor. However, it is to be appreciated that the tool bar assembly could be hingedly mounted to a separate frame to enable the soil cultivator seed drill to be folded over the frame when not in use.

It is to be appreciated that modifications to the aforementioned implement and machine may be made without departing from the principles embodied in the examples described and illustrated herein.

Claims

CLAIMS.1 A soil cultivating seed drill implement comprising: a toolbar connection member; a soil loosening member having a leg inclined rearwardly and downwardly terminating in a forward-facing toe; and a seed sowing member spaced rearwardly of the soil loosening member, the seed sowing member having a leg extending downwardly and terminating in a seed delivery foot; wherein the soil loosening member and seed sowing member are pivotably mounted with respect to the toolbar connection member, the pivot having a longitudinal axis comprising a non-vertical camber angle extending substantially from the pivot to a region of the forward-facing toe.
2. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the soil loosening member and seed sowing member are each pivotally attached to a bracket and the bracket is pivotallyCD
C\I mounted to a clamp that comprises the toolbar connection member.o 3. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pivot with the non-vertical angle is provided between the clamp and the bracket.
4. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the non-vertical camber angle is between 10 and 45 degrees, more preferably 18-30 degrees, off vertical inclined forwardly towards the clamp.
5. The seed drill implement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the longitudinal axis of the pivot with the non-vertical camber angle extends from the pivot substantially in line with a front point of the toe of the soil loosening member, the exact positioning of the toe varying with the depth of the soil loosening member.
6. The seed drill implement as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the soil loosening member and seed sowing member are each mounted to the bracket about a horizontal axis. a)
7. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 6 wherein the bracket has parallel side plates having means for pivotally mounting the soil loosening and/or seed sowing members extending between the plates, preferably wherein the soil loosening member is pivotably attached to a lower end of the bracket about a horizontal axis and an adjustable hydraulic ram is provided to apply pressure to the member to ensure consistent contact with the ground.
8. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the seed sowing member is connected to the bracket via a parallel four-bar linkage to locate the seed sowing member at a rearwardly spaced apart distance from the soil loosening member.
9. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 8 wherein an upper bar of the four-bar linkage is pivotably connected at an upper horizontal axis of the bracket and a lower bar of the four-bar linkage is pivotably connected at a lower horizontal axis of the bracket with the bracket forming a forwardmost bar of the four-bar linkage.CD
C\I 10. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 9 wherein the soil loosening member is attached to a horizontal axis provided between these upper and lower horizontal axes and o extends downwardly through the lower bar.
11. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the leg of the seedCDsowing member extends downwardly from the rearmost bar of the linkage, the leg terminating in the seed delivery foot, optionally having laterally extending wings.
12. The seed drill implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the seed sowing member includes a depth wheel located rearwardly thereof, said depth wheel being pivotally mounted with respect to the seed sowing member.
13. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 12 when dependent from claim 9, wherein the depth wheel is pivotably mounted to a rear end of the lower bar of the four-bar linkage about a horizontal axis via arms to allow for up and down movement of the depth wheel.
14. The seed drill implement as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 13 wherein the clamp of the toolbar connection member is a substantially L-shaped portion with its apex extending vertically downwardly towards the ground.
15. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 14, wherein one end of the damp has an inclined socket to receive the pivot pin of the bracket and the other end forms a lip or rim.
16. The seed drill implement as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the clamp is forwardly inclined.
17. A soil cultivator seed drill machine for attachment to a tractor, the machine comprising: a toolbar assembly having at least two substantially parallel side members with at least one transverse crossbar extending therebetween, the crossbar having at least one soil cultivator seed drill attached thereto; the soil cultivator seed drill comprising a toolbar connection member, a soil loosening member having a leg inclined rearwardly and downwardly terminating in a forward-facing toe, a seed sowing member spaced rearwardly of the soil loosening o member, the seed sowing member having a leg extending downwardly and terminating in C\I a seed delivery foot; and wherein the soil cultivator seed drill is pivotably mounted with respect to the toolbar o assembly, the pivot having a longitudinal axis comprising a non-vertical camber angle extending substantially from the pivot to a region of the forward-facing toe of the soil CD loosening member of the soil cultivator seed drill.
18. The soil cultivator seed drill machine as claimed in claim 17 wherein multiple spaced apart soil cultivator seed drill implements according to any one of claims 1 to 16 are attached to the cross bar.
19. The soil cultivator seed drill machine as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the cross bar is a box section.
20. The soil cultivator seed drill machine as claimed in claim 17, 18 or 19 wherein rows of implements are provided on more than one crossbar and wherein the implements of adjacent rows are staggered with respect to each other.