AU612666B2 - Soil opening point for seed or fertilizer placement - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATIO 612666

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority **.Related Art: n APPLICANT'S REFERENCE: F-19348 of Applicant(s): Acra-Plant, Inc., *Address(es) of Applicant(s): S* 1007 Eaman Road, Garden City, Kansas, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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r Address for Service is: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: SOIL OPENING POINT FOR SEED OR FERTILIZER PLACEMENT Our Ref 99788 POF Code: 1008/36374 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 6003q/l 1 L SOIL OPENING POINT FOR SEED OR FERTILIZER PLACEMENT Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of soil opening points for farm implements, and, more particularly, to soil opening points of the type which are especially suited for preparing relatively narrow troughs in the soil in preparation for the reception of deposited seeds or fertilizer.

Background Art •Planters, "drills" and fertilizer appli- 8acations are typically provided with hoes or point openers at the lowermost ends of shanks that pene- 15 trate the soil as the machine is advanced and prepare troughs or grooves for the subsequent reception of seeds or other materials such as fertilizers, fungicides and herbicides. Such points ~have taken a 'variety of configurations over the 20 years in an effort to improve the abilities of the points to not only make the initial opening cut in the soil, but to also thereafter prepare the sides and bottom of the trough in the optimum manner for S fertilizer reception and the making of a hospitable 25 environment for the seeds and young sprouts that emerge therefrom. See, for example, U.S. Letters Patent 4,033,271 to Williams et al.; to Williams et al.; and 4,446,927 to Robertson, all assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Points such as disclosed in the Robertson '927 patent do an excellent job of opening the soil, but in some conditions it has been found that their overall pyramidal configuration and the perfectly straight edges on their upper slicing surfaces and laterally projecting wings do not yield optimum n XM 0. 1A '4 results. Providing such points with an overall beak-shape and with strategically located contours instead of straight edges has been found to produce significantly improved results, including excellent wear characteristics.

Beak-shaped points in general are known in the art.

However, all have heretofore suffered from certain shortcomings that diminish their overall effectiveness in terms of seed bed preparation, energy consumption and longevity.

Summary of the Present Invention According to the present invention there is provided a soil opening point adapted for attachment onto the lower end of mounting structure of a farm implement, said point, as considered in its intended in-use orientation, comprising: a generally beak-shaped body having a forwardmost generally downturned, pointed tip, a rearwardmost end, a leading, upper soil slicing edge extending upwardly andrearwardly from said tip to an upper extreme of said 20 rearwardmost end, a lower soil creasing edge extending rearwardly and upwardly from said tip to a lower extreme of said rearwardmost end, said edges being substantially in the same vertical plane, said body having a pair of laterally opposite sides extending between said upper and lower edges and between said tip and said rearwardmost end; and a pair of elongated, fore-and-aft extending wings projecting laterally outwardly from said opposite sides of the body beneath said upper edge and above said lower edge, 30 said wings extending downwardly and forwardly from said rearwardmost end toward said tip and converging as the tip is approached, jaid body having an upper section extending upwardly from the wings to said upper edge, and a lower section extending downwardly from the wings to said lower edge, said lower section being in the shape of a wedge which commences at said tip and progressively increases in width as the rearwardmost end of the body is approached, said lower section having a pair of opposite, '24 0 -2- 1! generally triangular, laterally outermost faces that diverge upwardly from said lower edge to the wings, said upper edge having a front segment leading convexly upwardly and rearwardly from said tip, and said wings being convexly upwardly arched as they lead rearwardly from said tip whereby to accelerate the rise of soil away from the lower, wedge-shaped section of the body as the point is forced through the soil.

0@ 0* S 4S rS C a? -2a- 1 extremity thereof. Laterally projecting win on the point, converging to the tip, a ently upwardly convex throughout their e-and-aft lengths, and downwardly convergijgsides of the lower firming wedge of the pojint-are each slightly concave as they converge-ffom the overhead wings down to the bottom- _most edge of the wedge.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a soil opening point made pursuant to the present invention and shown as part of an opening assembly mounted on the shank of a farm implement; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the 15 assembly; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view of the assembly and shank Staken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; e* Fig."4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view 20 taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5a is a side elevational view of a prior art point; Fig. 5b is a top plan view of the prior art point of Fig. 25 Fig. 5c is a front elevational view of the prior art point of Fig. Fig. 6a is a side elevational view of a second prior art point; Fig. 6b is a top plan view of the prior art point of Fig. 6a; Fig. 6c is a front elevational view of the prior art point of Fig. 6a; Fig. 7a is a side elevational view of a third prior art point; Fig. 7b is a top plan view of the prior '-1 1 art point of Fig. 7a; and Fig. 7c is a front elevational view of the prior art point of Fig. 7a.

Detailed Description 'Several prior art beak-shaped points are illustrated in Figures 5-7. In each case, the points have a forwardmost tip that overhangs and protrudes downwardly beyond the bottom edge of the point. In each case also, the upper edges of the points are either perfectly straight or slightly convex throughout their lengths, the wings are Sstraight, and downwardly converging surfaces below the wings are flat and straight.

15 As illustrated in Fig. 1, a ground penetrating tool 10 includes a normally downwardly and forwardly extending mounting adapter 12 which is attached at its upper portion 14 to an elongated, downwardly ana forwardly extending shank 16 of a 20 farm implement (not shown). The tool 10 further includes a shim 18 secured between the upper mount portion 14 and the shank 16, and a ground penetrating point 20 that is slipped onto a lower mount 25 portion 22 of the adapter 12 and attached thereto by a transverse roll pin 24.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the upper mount portion 14 is attached to the shank 16 by a pair of longitudinally spaced apart bolts 28,30 which are received by a corresponding pair of longitudinally spaced apart bolt holes 32,34 in a lower portion of shank 16. Heads 36 of bolts 28,30 are protectively and securely received within an internal cavity 38 in the upper mounting portion 14 which is accessible only from the rear of the adapter 12.

A longitudinally extending access slot 40 runs along 1 the rear of the cavity 38 for slightly less than the full length thereof and is narrower than the heads 36 so as to retain bolts 28,30 within cavity 38. An entry opening 42 at the midpoint of the slot 40 is configured in such a manner as to permit the bolt heads 36 to be manipulated therethrough into and out of the cavity 38 during initial installation of the adapter 12 and subsequent removal thereof from the shank 16.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the bolts 28,30 include shafts 48 which extend outwardly from the heads 36 and through the slot 40. Each shaft 48 includes a section 50 of rectangular cross section which is located within the slot 40 for preventing 15 rotation of the bolt 28,30.

The upper bolt 28 extends rearwardly from the adapter 12 through a shim aperture 54 and through the upper bolt hole 32 in shank 16. A nut 56 threads onto a threaded shaft section of bolt 28, 20 thereby drawing the adapter 12, the shim 18, and the shank 16 securely together. Similarly, the threaded shaft section of bolt 30 extends rearwardly through an elongated shim aperture 58 and through lower bolt hole 34 of shank 16. A nut 60 threads onto the outer end of bolt 30, thereby drawing the adapter 12, shim 18, and shank 16 securely together.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the point 20 comprises a beak-shaped body having a pair of elongated, laterally outwardly projecting, foreand-aft extending wings 64 integral therewith. The body has a forwardmost pointed tip 66 and a rear end 68. An uppermost slicing edge 70 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the tip 66 to an upper extreme of the rear end 68. The slicing edge 70 includes a front, smoothly arcuate, upwardly convex segment 72 1 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the tip 66 and L smoothly arcuate, slightly downwardly concave segment 74 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the convex segment 72 to the upper extreme of the rear end 68. A substantially straight, lowermost creasing edge 76 is normally and generally located in the same vertical plane as the slicing edge 70 and extends upwardly and rearwardly from the tip 66 to a lowermost extreme of the rear end 68. The body of point 20 increases in height and width from the tip 66 to the rear end 68.

The wings 64 converge as the tip 66 is *9 approached and project outwardly from opposite sides Sof the body. The sides of the body extend between 15 the upper edge 70 and the lower edge 76 and between 0**eo: the tip 66 and the rear end 68. The wings 64 are located generally beneath the upper edge 70 and above the lower edge 76 and extend downwardly and forwardly from the rear end 68 toward the tip 66.

The wings 64 are widest adjacent the rear end 68 and include laterally outer wing edges 80 which converge forwardly and inwardly from adjacent the rear end toward the tip 66. Each wing 64 is of essentially constant thickness throughout its length and includes an upper surface 82 which is smoothly and S"convexly arcuate. Furthermore, the front portion of each surface 82 is closer to the slicing edge 70 and convex segment 72 than to creasing edge 76, and the rear portion of each surface 82 is slightly closer to creasing edge 76 than to slicing edge The body of point 20 also has an upper section 88 disposed between slicing edge 70 and wings 64, and a lower wedge section 90 disposed between wings 64 and lower creasing edge 76. The upper body section 88 includes a pair of opposite, 1 generally triangular, mutually inwardly inclined surfaces 92 (Fig. 4) which extend downwardly and outwardly from the slicing edge 70, and a pair of substantially vertical, generally triangular surfaces 94 which extend downwardly from the lowermost extremes of the inclined surfaces 92. As illustrated in Fig. 4, a socket 96 is defined within the upper body section 88 for receiving a tongue 98 of adapter 12 to securely mount the point 20 on the adapter 12. A pin hole 100 extends transversely through the upper section 80 and socket 96 for receiving the pin 24 for securing the point 20 to the adapter 12.

o o The lower wedge-shaped section 90 includes a pair of opposite faces 102 which diverge outwardly and upwardly from the lowermost creasing edge 76 to the wings 64 and diverge outwardly and rearwardly from the tip 66 to the rear end 68. As illustrated best in Fig. 4, the faces 102 are smoothly and concavely arcuate upwardly from the lower edge 76 to the wings 64 over the full fore-and-aft length of the wedge section 90, thereby providing a wedge section that is relatively narrow adjacent its lowermost and rearmost extreme.

o• Operation In use, the ground penetrating tool L0 is drawn forwardly through the ground by the farm implement. As the point 20 penetrates the ground, the slicing edge 70 cuts through roots and dirt, the wedge section 90 forms a narrow, substantially V-shaped groove in the ground, and the wings 64 lift the penetrated soil upwardly as the upper section 88 pushes the soil outwardly and away from the newly created planting groove. Down pressure on the upper -7i 1 surfaces of the aggressively convex wings 64 holds the point 20 in the ground and assures proper action.

As the slicing edge 70 cuts through the ground, its convex and concave segments 72,74 provide effective soil penetration and slicing. Any unsliced roots and soil which flow past the convex segment 72 encounter the concave segment 74 which increases in upward slope as it extends rearwardly.

This increasing upward slope causes the edge 70 to bear against any uncut roots and soil, thereby ensuring maximum slicing of the soil before the soil encounters the adapter 12 and helping to divert soil away from aggressive impingement upon the adapter 12 so as to reduce wear of the latter.

Following opening of the soil by the slicing edge 70, the wedge section 90 enters the cut and holds the same open while also shaping the cut *and firming up its sides. The wedge-like configura- 20 tion of section 90 is especially helpful in this regard so that the soil is exposed to a progressive widening and firming action, rather than to a sudden and abrupt impact. By virtue of the concave nature of faces 102 on wedge section 90, the lower portions of the sidewalls of the cut or groove in the soil are significantly closer together than would otherwise be the case, which is especially beneficial where small seeds are being deposited which can benefit from the intimately close proximity of moisture and nutrients found in the groove sidewalls.

It is significant that the tip 66 of point does not protrude downwardly beyond the creasing edge 76 as has often been the case in prior beakshaped points. Thus, the tip 66 is not subject to untoward wear such as might otherwise be the case, -8- 1 and the shape of the point 20 is prolonged so that effective action of the point as it moves through the soil is assured.

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Claims (9)

1. A soil opening point adapted for attachment onto the lower end of mounting structure of a farm implement, said point, as considered in its intended in-use orientation, comprising: a generally beak-shaped body having a forwardmost generally downturned, pointed tip, a rearwardmost end, a leading, upper soil slicing edge extending upwardly and rearwardly from said tip to an upper extreme of said rearwardmost end, a lower soil creasing edge extending rearwardly and upwardly from said tip to a lower extreme of said rearwardmost end, said edges being substantially in the same vertical plane, said body having a pair of laterally opposite sides .extending between said upper and lower edges and between said tip and said rearwardmost end; and a pair of elongated, fore-and-aft extending wings projecting laterally outwardly from said opposite sides of- the body beneath said upper edge and above said lower edge, 20 said wings extending downwardly and forwardly from said rearwardmost end toward said tip and converging as the tip is approached, said body having an upper section extending upwardly from the wings to said upper edge, and a lower section extending downwardly from the wings to said lower edge, said lower section being in the shape of a wedge which commences at said tip and progressively increases in width as the rearwardmost end of the body is approached, said lower section having a pair of opposite, 30 generally triangular, laterally outermost faces that diverge upwardly from said lower edge to the wings, said upper edge having a front segment leading convexly upwardly and rearwardly from said tip, and said wings being convexly upwardly arched as they lead rearwardly from said tip whereby to accelerate the rise of soil away from the lower, wedge-shaped section of the body as the point is forced through the soil.

2. A point according to claim 1, said opposite faces of the lower, wedge-shaped section of the body being concave IRA 6CO 7 I. 9* 0 e as they lead upwardly from said lower edge toward the wings.

3. A point according to claim 2, said upper edge including a rear segment leading concavely upwardly and rearwardly from the convex front segment.

4. A point according to either one of claims 2 or 3, said lower edge being straight. A point according to claim 1, said upper edge including a rear segment leading concavely upwardly and rearwardly from the convex front segment.

6. A point according to claim 5, said lower edge being straight.

7. A point according to claim 1, said lower edge being straight.

8. A point according to claim 7, said opposite faces of the lower, wedge-shaped section of the body being concave as they lead upwardly from said lower edge toward the wings.

9. A point substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. DATED: 17 APRIL, 1991 9

99.9 9. .99.. 9 9 99 *9999 PHILLIPS ORMONDE Attorneys For: ACRA-PLANT INC. FITZPATRICK I4" t f 0692Z -11-