RU2632960C2 - Means for extending service life of seed spreader - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: seed spreader for seed covering in the soil is made with the possibility to be connected to a sowing machine. The seed spreader comprises a flexible arm with a covering end. The flexible arm is made with the possibility to be connected to a seed chute having an issuing end of the sowing machine and displaces the covering end into the soil next to the seed chute of the sowing machine. The lower portion of the covering end of the flexible arm, pushing the seed into the soil, is made removable and is located adjacent to the issuing end of the seed chute, so that the lower portion of the covering end of the flexible arm is made replaceable. The invention implementation versions comprise a covering pusher portion having a stopper and a guide element for accommodating a removable means for extending the service life. Other implementation versions comprise a covering pusher portion engaging the rest of the spreader arm.

EFFECT: invention will extend the service life of a seed spreader due to the easy multiple replacing of a worn-out spreader portion in contact with the soil.

15 cl, 16 dwg

Description

BACKGROUND

Description of the prior art.

Seed levelers are known and widely used in agricultural sowing systems. Such levelers increase the cost of the sowing tool, but it is believed that they fully pay for themselves by increasing productivity. US Patent No. 5,425,318 describes one type of seed leveler; US Patent Nos. 5,730,074, 5,852,982, 6,082,274 and 6,220,191 describe seed levelers having designs for dispensing liquid; and US Pat. No. 7,497,174 describes an installation system for seed levelers, and the inventive descriptions of all of these US patents are expressly incorporated by reference. Improvements in cost and leveler performance are always desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a seed leveler design that provides a replaceable tip or end to extend the leveler's life. The seed leveler usually has two components that wear during use, a flexible arm and a close-up pusher. A flexible arm usually lasts much longer than a patch pusher area, as the pusher rubs against the ground and eventually wears out. Embodiments of the invention include a terminating pusher portion that has a stopper and a guide member for accommodating replaceable life extension means. Other embodiments include a patch follower portion that engages with the rest of the leveler's arm. Thus, the plot of the leveler that wears out can easily be repeatedly replaced during the life of the flexible arm, which extends the service life of the leveler.

In one embodiment, the end of the leveler has a groove that is bounded by a locking portion. The closing pushing attachment slides into the groove and abuts against the locking portion. The lower part of the plunger pusher works in the traditional way, pushing the seed down into the ground, so that the seed is planted in the soil. During the life of the leveler, the flexible section can work with several push-in seals that attach. In another embodiment, the closure end is attached to the flexible arm, wherein the pushing attachment element detachably extends from the closure arm. In a further embodiment, the arm of the attachment portion of the leveler has a connection portion that is attached to the removable seal member.

Embodiments of the screed of the present invention further provides a passageway for a fluid to be dispensed near the end of the screed. The end of the passage opening includes a guide fastening element that guides the fluid relative to the end of the screed. Other embodiments are attached to the sowing system by either attaching to the vas deferens or attaching to the mounting bracket on the sowing machine. An additional embodiment includes a feed tube located in the walls of the embedment portion, with the end cap of the tube providing alternative passage openings for dispensing fluid.

In one embodiment, the embossing arm has a width that increases from a width approximately equal to the size of the seed at the bottom to double or triple width at the top. This narrowing of the close-up arm provides sufficient construction to maintain constant interaction with the soil when the leveler stretches through the rows of plants. The thicker portion of the closing arm provides sufficient width for an additional fluid pipe or tube.

Many embodiments include an opening at the end adjacent to the seed site. In one embodiment, a plug is used at this end. The plug may include a protrusion to protect the hole from the accumulation of dirt. In one embodiment, the plug may be drilled to form any direct return flow of the effluent, while in another embodiment, the plug may have two or more openings to form several separate flows of the effluent. Another embodiment has one plug with a through hole for the formation of a direct return flow of the outgoing fluid, with an additional cap with one or more holes that form other angled flows. The cap may be attached to the cap by snap fit or otherwise.

A portion of the leveler life extension means may be attached to the pushing portion of the leveler through a variety of physical and mechanical connections. For example, a pin joint, an adhesive based joint, and an ultrasonic welded joint are all possible embodiments of the invention. In several embodiments, a tongue and groove design is used to connect the portion to extend the life and the push portion. In one embodiment, the life extension means has a T-shaped protrusion on a surface cooperating with the pushing portion, which has a corresponding T-groove for accommodating the protrusion and connecting the two parts to each other. This allows the extension tool to slide into the groove until it abuts against the stopper. In one additional embodiment, surfaces having a tongue and groove include additional mating bulges and recesses arranged so that the adhesion of the bulge and recess restrains additional relative movement of the portion to extend the life of the pushing portion. Thus, in several embodiments, the life extension means can slide into the groove and snap into place at the exact location.

When a life extension means is placed at one end of the leveler, a flexible or pushing portion is placed at the other end and is mounted to the seeding machine in alignment with the seed chute. In one embodiment, the mounting portion of the pushing portion has elements that mate and correspond to the elements in the seed chute, so that the pushing portion is directly aligned with the seed chute. In another embodiment, the pushing portion has a flat mounting end that is engaged with the mounting device for holding the flat flange.

The fluid supply is provided by the tube and the exhaust path formed in the equalizer. In one embodiment, the monolithic leveler has a passageway shaped to accommodate a pipe, in one embodiment a curved pipe. As soon as the screed is initially cast, a curved pipe is inserted while the screed material solidifies. One end of the conduit is attached to the tube, typically a plastic tube, to receive fluid (e.g., water, fertilizer, herbicides and / or insecticides) from the source. In one embodiment, this first end of the pipe has ribs or is rough or otherwise roughened to improve the connection of the pipe. The other side of the pipeline faces the outlet area of the leveler. The inner channel leads to the exhaust passage. In one embodiment, the central outlet passage is located directly on the rear of the leveler. In another embodiment, there are many passages for guiding the discharge of fluid at an angle relative to the screed body. In yet another embodiment, the cap may be located on the central outlet passage to redirect the discharged liquid at various angles.

Other embodiments of the invention include a leveler formed by a pair of side walls. The side walls hold the fluid tube near the end of the leveler and are attached to the mounting end of the leveler. The tool for extending the service life is detachably attached to the side walls, and thus can be replaced when it is sufficiently worn out, without the need to replace other sections of the leveler.

In yet another embodiment, the screed mounting portion includes a pushing arm, and the end of the pushing arm is attached to a lengthening / plugging screed portion. An additional fluid line may be included in the extension / plug section, or may, if desired, be connected to the extension / plug section.

The present invention, in one form, relates to a seed leveler having a flexible portion and a push up portion. The flexible portion biases the embedment pushing portion into the soil. The embedment pushing portion includes a groove for accommodating the embedment pushing attachment member, a stopper bounded at the end by a retaining portion that holds the embedment pushing attachment member as it extends through the soil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and objectives of the present invention, and a method for achieving them, will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a leveling device of the present invention shown during use.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 showing a through channel.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a life extension means of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a leveler of a first embodiment of the present invention, showing the interconnection of a life extension means and a leveler body.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an end portion of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of an end for dispensing a liquid of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A and 8B are sectional views of two embodiments of a liquid delivery plug in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the interconnection of the extension tool and the screed body of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a side view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in all several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The illustrative example provided herein shows embodiments of the invention in several forms, and such illustrative examples should in no way be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the invention in the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, embodiments have been selected and described in such a way that other persons skilled in the art may apply their ideas.

In FIG. 1 shows a seed leveler 100 in operation having a sealing pushing portion 110, or a life extension means 110 disposed relative to the seed chute 10 in a conventional manner. The seed chute 10 is positioned relative to the disc 40 by means of a mounting member 30 such that the chute 10 feeds the seeds 50 into the furrow 60, while extending the life of the portion 110 so as to close the seeds 50 into the soil of the furrow 60. The leveler 100 includes the inner channel 70, which extends from the nozzles 80 to the endpoint 90 and is sized to accommodate the tube 20, which in this illustrative embodiment includes traditional liquid tubes that supply herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides water and / or mixtures of these chemicals to be applied to or next to seed 50 as soon as it is sealed.

The leveler 100 has an attachment portion, a life extension means 110, which is located in place on the leveler 100, which contacts and seals the seeds 50 in the soil forming the furrow 60. In one embodiment, the lengthening means 110 is installed in a groove 410 in the leveler 100 (see Fig. 4), while the groove 410 is limited by a solid locking portion 510 (see Fig. 5), which holds the tool 110 to extend the service life relative to the direction of movement of the leveler 100 through the soil. In this embodiment, the life extension means 110 has a tongue 420 having a T-shape that engages in sliding with the groove 410 so that when not in use, the life extension means 110 can be easily replaced. When using leveling device 100, the force exerted on the tool 110 to extend the service life pushes it into the solid stopper 510. The exact shape and design of the sliding engagement of the groove 410 and the tongue 420 may have several options, for example a round or arched tongue and groove, or tongue and groove with multiple angles.

The tool 110 to extend the service life (see Fig. 3) can be made of traditional materials, so the seeds 50 are pressed by the traditional surface, and the material wears out similar to traditional levelers. However, as soon as the sealing surface 330 wears out in such a way that the performance of the screed 100 is reduced, the life extension means 110 can be replaced. Replacement is carried out without removing the leveling device 100 from the mounting element 30. Instead, the farmer can simply remove the old extension tool 110 and install a new one. A solid stopper 510 limits the range of movement of the extension tool 110, and when the leveler 100 extends along the furrow 60, then the extension tool 110 is pressed into the solid stopper 510.

The screed 100 also has an elongated inner channel 70, which is designed and provided to accommodate the tube 72, which in the disclosed embodiment is a traditional tube for supplying liquid, for supplying liquid to or near one of the seeds 50 (see Fig. 2 and 5). The open end of the inner channel 70 is configured to accommodate a nozzle 80 that serves as a fluid transfer connection between the supply tube 20 and the inner tube 72. The inner tube 72 is located in the channel 70 and is supported by the tube holder 25, which in one embodiment includes a washer-like part having a perimeter approximately corresponding to the shape of the inner channel 70.

The end point 90 may be designed to be an outlet at one end of the channel 70, while this end of the channel 70 is initially designed so that the end point 90 covers one end of the channel 70. This allows individual adaptation of one part, thus outlet openings can be drilled according to specific application. For example, a straight hole in the front surface 94 delivers liquid directly to the seed 50 (“direct firing element”), which may be good for an insecticide, while the side surfaces 92 may have holes drilled therein so that liquid is supplied from each seed side 50 (“branched firing element”), which may be better for fertilizer. In one embodiment (not shown), a channel 70 is configured and provided to accommodate a plurality of tubes in such a way that a series of end points is connected to each tube, allowing combinations of direct firing elements and branched firing elements in a single seed leveler.

Other embodiments have a tube housed in the screed body, for example, the embodiments of FIG. 6 and 10. Embodiment FIG. 6 has a bendable portion 640 connecting the flat end 650 and the terminating arm 680. The conduit 670 extends from the embedding portion 680 and extends within the portion 680 to the spray nozzle 690. The conduit 670 is configured and provided to accommodate a flexible tube (not shown) at its open end and may have a rough, serrated or ribbed surface for additional grip with a flexible tube. The screed 600 may also have one or more parts 675 for holding the flexible tube relative to the screed 600. The life extension means 610 engages with the closing arm 680, as shown in FIG. 9 and described below. Embodiment FIG. 10 has a bend portion 1040 connecting the end of the gutter 1050 and the terminating arm 1080. The conduit 1070 extends from the embedding portion 1080 and extends inside the portion 1080 to the spray nozzle 1090. The conduit 1070 is configured and provided to accommodate a flexible tube (not shown) at its open end and may have a rough, serrated or ribbed surface for additional grip with a flexible tube. The screed 1000 may also have one or more parts 1075 for holding the flexible tube relative to the screed 1000. The life extension means 1010 engages with the closing arm 1080, as shown in FIG. 9 and described below.

Embodiments of the levelers according to the invention of the present application can be mounted on the sowing equipment in many ways. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the leveling device 1000 includes a connection section 1050 for the seed chute, made and provided for connection to external mounting means of the seed chute (not shown). In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the leveling device 600 has a flat end 650, so that the leveling device 600 can be fixed to the seed arm assembly similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned US Pat. No. 7,497,174. The embodiments disclosed herein can adapt to any type of installation.

In addition to alternative types of mounting on a seed chute (not shown), embodiments of the invention also have alternative designs for a removable sealer leveler section. In FIG. 6 shows a leveling device 600 having a sealing end 680 with a spray nozzle 690 and a life extension means 610. As shown in FIG. 6, the life extension means 610 is the lower portion of the terminating end 680. The screed also has a flat end 650 extending to a flexible arm 640 that resiliently biases the terminating end 680. A liquid, such as a pesticide, herbicide and / or fertilizer, may be directed to the terminating end the end 680 by means of a flexible tube (not shown) that engages with the hand 675 and attaches to the fixed tube 670. The fixed tube 670 passes through the sealing end 680 to the nozzle 690. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the close end 680 from the back seed. The tool 610 extend the service life is a plot of leveler 600, pushing the seed (not shown in Fig. 7) into the ground. In this embodiment, the sealing end 680 generally tapers to the normal seed size, with the nozzle 690 extending over the site of the embedded seed.

Spreader 600 may have alternative nozzle options 690. In an alternative embodiment, FIG. 8A, the central opening 800 passes through a cylindrically shaped nozzle 690 ′ and ends with angular passages 810 and 820 that are designed and provided to direct fluid to a location offset from the seed. Flange 830 extends outward to enclose a space through which angular passages 810 and 820 direct fluid. The cavity 840 is located near the open end of the Central hole 800 and is made and provided for engagement with a rib or bulge in the sealing end 680 to fix the position of the nozzle 690 '. Alternative Embodiment FIG. 8B has a central passage 850 for directing fluid to the seed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the life extension means 610 engages with the sealing end 680. One embodiment of the connection of the life extension means 610 and the sealing end 680 is shown in the structure of FIG. 9. In this design, the terminating end 680 has a T-shaped tongue 684 extending from the locking portion 682 and below the lower surface 686. The tongue 684 is configured and provided to align with the contour of the recess 614 of the life extension means 610. Near the end of the tongue 684, opposite the stopper 682, the lower surface 686 has a recessed section 688. The recessed section 688 is made and provided for engagement with the ribs 612, which extend from the means 610 extend the service life. The engagement of the ribs 612 with the recessed portion 688 allows sliding means 610 to extend the service life on the tongue 684 without any difficulty, and when the locking end 616 of the tool 6 extending the service life approaches the locking section 682, then the ribs 612 approach the engagement with the recessed section 688, and thus provides a slip and lock insert operation to fix life extension means 610 with respect to the terminating end 680.

Other embodiments of the invention include a leveler having a central portion with fastening, bending, and sealing portions connected to each other by sandwich-type arrangement between respective side walls, for example, embodiments of FIG. 11 and 12. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the leveling device 1100 has a flat end 1150, a central portion 1140 and a sealing end 1180, made in one piece. The pipe 1170 is located above the sealing portion 1180 and under the upper portion 1185, while the life extension means 1110 is adjacent to the sealing portion 1180. The side walls 1130 place these components together and in some embodiments hold them together using connectors 1145 located in holes 1135 of the side walls. In other embodiments not shown, the life extension means 1110 may have a tongue-groove connection to the sealing portion 1180 and be independent of the side walls 1130, or alternatively located between the side walls 1130. Connectors 1145, which may be in the form of a screw, a rod, sealant, or other piece of connecting material, and combinations thereof, can attach side walls 1130 as sandwich plates holding other components in their desired positions. In some embodiments, one or more connectors 1145 are detachable or otherwise modifiable, while in other embodiments, all connectors 1145 are permanent and engage side walls 1130, including through other components of screed 1100. Embodiment FIG. 12 has features similar to those of FIG. 11, except that the end 1250 of the trough is designed and provided for connection to a traditional seed trough (not shown).

A further embodiment having separate fastening and sealing portions is shown in FIG. 13. In this embodiment, the flexible portion 1340 and the flat end 1350 (which in another embodiment could be replaced by the end of the trough, not shown here) are made in one piece, and the closing arm 1380 is made as a separate part. In this embodiment, conduit 1370 extends from the connecting portion 1350 to the spray nozzle 1390, and the lower portion of the connecting portion 1350 abuts the flange 1330 of the flexible portion 1340. The life extension means 1310 is connected to the closing arm 1380 by a tongue and groove type connection similar to some previous options for implementation. A connector 1345, which may be in the form of a screw, rod, sealant, or other piece of connecting material, extends through a flange 1330 for connecting to the connecting portion 1350. In alternative embodiments (not shown), conduit 1370 may enter the plugging arm 1380 above the overlapping area with the flexible portion 1340, so the connector 1345 in this embodiment is attached from above.

Another embodiment shown in FIG. 14 has a two-piece structure for screed 1400, wherein the flexible portion 1440 has a connecting portion 1430 inserted into the receiving portion 1435 or the sealing portion 1480. In this embodiment, the flat end 1450, alternatively, may be in the form of a portion gutters (not shown), and life extension means 1410 may be attached to the embedment portion 1480 via a tongue and groove connection or other connection.

A further embodiment having a less significant sealing portion is shown as screed 1500 in FIG. 15. In this embodiment, the flat end 1550 (which, alternatively, may be the end of the gutter, not shown) has tube brackets 1575 arranged along the flexible portion 1540 and a terminating portion 1580 to provide support for the tube (not shown) along the upper housing of the leveling device 1500 to the delivery passage 1585 and the spray nozzle 1590. The life extension means 1510, in this embodiment, can be attached to the sealing portion 1580 via a tongue and groove connection and, in essence, is thicker than the means of extending the life of the previous embodiments. This design maximizes the size of the interchangeable life extension means 1510. Due to the larger size of the life extension means 1510, the size of the embedment portion 1580 is reduced. Thus, the conduit may not be feasible within the embedment portion 1580, but rather is attached to the flexible tube 1520. The flexible tube 1520 may be connected to a fluid supply system (not shown) to dispense water, nutrients, pesticides and / or herbicides.

Although the present invention has been described as having an illustrative construction, the present invention may be further modified within the scope of the idea and scope of the present description of the invention. The present application, therefore, is intended to cover any changes, applications or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Moreover, the present application is intended to cover such deviations from the present description of the invention as falling within the known or ordinary practice in the art to which the present invention relates.

Claims (15)

1. The seed leveler for planting seeds in the soil and made with the possibility of connection with the sowing machine, while the specified seed leveler contains a flexible arm with a seeding end, and the flexible arm is made with the possibility of connection with the seed chute having the issuing end of the sowing machine and biases seeding the end into the ground near the seed chute of the sowing machine, characterized in that the lower portion of the seeding end of the flexible arm pushing the seed into the soil is removable and is located next to the issuing end of the chute seed so that the lower end portion embedded flexible arm is adapted to replace it. 2. The seed leveler according to claim 1, characterized by the presence of a tube for moving the liquid, wherein said tube extends from the first end near the indicated portion of the flexible arm to the second end near the terminating end. 3. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the presence of a tube for moving fluid, wherein said tube extends from the first end next to said flexible arm to the second end next to said leveling attachment element. 4. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the presence of a cap placed on the specified second end, while the specified cap has a passage for directing the flow of fluid, made with the possibility of supplying fluid near the issuing end of the seed chute. 5. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or. 2, characterized in that said tube extends in said leveling attachment element. 6. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in by the presence of a pair of side walls, wherein said side walls place said flexible section and said leveling section between themselves. 7. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the presence of a tube for moving the liquid, while the specified tube is placed between the specified pair of side walls and separates the specified flexible section and the specified leveling section. 8. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of said flexible section and said leveling attachment element has a protrusion, and the other of said flexible section and said leveling attachment element has a section made with an interference fit specified protrusion. 9. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of said lower portion of the closing end of the flexible arm and said leveling arm has a groove, and the other of the specified lower portion of the sealing end of the flexible arm and said leveling arm has a tongue, said the groove is made and designed to accommodate the specified tongue, while the specified tongue and the specified groove, if desired, are T-shaped. 10. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of said lower portion of the closing end of the flexible arm and said leveling arm has a rib, and the other of the indicated lower portion of the sealing end of the flexible arm and said leveling arm has a recess, said the rib is made and provided for the formation of an interference fit. 11. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said flexible arm and said sealing end are made in one piece. 12. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said sealing end tapers towards the indicated lower portion of the sealing end of a flexible arm. 13. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said leveling arm includes a through passage. 14. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the presence of a tube passing in said through passage. 15. The seed leveler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the presence of a tip having an issuing passage hole, said tip being connected to the end of said tube.

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