Abstract:
An agricultural seed planting implement has a frame moveable in an up and down direction relative to soil over which the frame traverses. A seed trench opening assembly mounted on the frame includes disks mounted side by side and having a forming point positioned in between. A wearable insert of plastic is slidably but non-rotatably retained in the forming point to abut the disks when they are deflected. The disks are removable to enable simple replacement of the wearable insert.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to agricultural seed planting implements and to the furrow opening assemblies thereon. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Farmers utilize a wide variety of seed planting implements, including seed drills and planters. In a known type of planting implement, seed planting or row units are attached to a toolbar extending transverse to the direction of planting. The toolbar is coupled to a tractor or other work vehicle suitable for pulling the planting implement along a field that is to be seeded to a crop. Each planting unit includes a ground penetrating assembly, often including one or more discs, for opening a seed trench or furrow in the ground as the planting implement is pulled across a field. Components of the ground penetrating assembly shape the bottom and sides of the seed trench, and a seed metering device provides individual seeds at a controlled rate for deposit in the seed trench. Furrow closing components of each row unit close the seed trench in a controlled manner. 
         [0005]    One of the first functions in the planting operation is too open and form the seed trench. Typically this is done by utilizing side-by-side disks that are angled to form roughly a V there between and which pierces the soil to begin the trench forming process. A forming point, usually from steel, is mounted between the disks to form and establish the lower boundary of the trench thus formed by the opening disks. In operation, the disks deflect significantly when they are displaced through the soil to open the trench. The disks, in this deflected state, abut one another and can abut the forming point. In time, the wear between the metallic parts makes it necessary to replace the forming point and disks. Such an operation is expensive and complicated since it involves a substantial disassembly of the trench forming apparatus. 
         [0006]    What is needed in the art is a simple and effective way to accommodate wear in a trench opening assembly of a seed planter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention seeks to provide a wearable component of the seed trenching apparatus that is easily replaceable. 
         [0008]    In one form, the invention is an agricultural seed planting implement including a frame moveable in an up and down direction relative to soil over which the frame traverses. A seed trench opening assembly is mounted to the frame and includes disks positioned side-by-side and mounted on the frame. A forming point is also mounted on the frame and positioned in between the opening disks to define the bottom of the seed trench made by the opening disks. A wearable insert is slidingly mounted on the forming point and extends laterally from the forming point to abut the opening disks as they are deflected towards one another in forming the seed trench. The disks capture the wearable insert in the forming point. 
         [0009]    One advantage of the invention is an inexpensive wear component of a seed trench opening apparatus. 
         [0010]    Another advantage of the invention is an easily replaceable wear component of a seed trench opening apparatus. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a seed planting unit incorporated in a seed planting implement; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the seed planting unit, showing the unit from an angle different from the angle shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary view of the seed planting unit illustrated in  FIG. 2  taken on lines  2 - 2  and showing a forming point; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the forming point illustrated out of the seed planting unit; and, 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the forming point illustrated out of the seed planting unit. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring now to the drawings more specifically and to  FIG. 1  in particular, a seed planting unit  20  is shown. Seed planting unit  20  is part of a seed planting implement having a frame that includes a tow bar assembly, a tow bar and a connection assembly at the longitudinally forward end thereof configured for mating with a corresponding hitch of a tractor or other work vehicle (all of which are not shown) for pulling the seed planting implement through a field. A laterally extending toolbar  18  (shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 2 ) is generally transverse to the tow bar and thereby generally transverse to the direction  28  the implement is towed during planting operations. A plurality of seed planting units (or row units)  20  are connected to toolbar  18  in a side by side relationship, each of the seed planting units (row units) being substantially identical to the others. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a seed planting implement may include sixteen seed planting units  20 , only one of which is identified with reference numbers; however, it should be understood that more or fewer seed planting units can be provided on a particular seed planting implement. 
         [0019]    Referring now primarily to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each seed planting unit  20  includes a frame  22  that is connected to toolbar  18  by upper arms  24  and lower arms  26 , each arm  24 ,  26  being connected to frame  22  and to toolbar  18 . Accordingly, each seed planting unit  20  extends rearward from toolbar  18  to plant a row of seeds as the seed planting implement is towed across a field in the direction  28 . The individual planting units  20  are spaced along toolbar  18  to provide planted seed rows of a desired spacing. During a planting operation, forward movement of the seed planting implement causes each seed planting unit  20  to form a seed trench, deposit equally spaced seeds in the seed trench and close the seed trench over the deposited seeds. 
         [0020]    Each seed planting unit  20  includes a ground penetrating or seed trench opening assembly having a pair of forwardly and downwardly angled opening discs  32  that converge forwardly and downwardly to open a furrow or seed trench as the seed planting implement moves forward. As particularly seen in  FIG. 2 , the opening disks  32  are mounted on axes A 1  and A 2 , in staggered relation so that their axes are spaced by Dl. Opening disks  32  are removably retained on frame  22  by nuts  33 . 
         [0021]    A seed metering system receives seeds from a seed hopper and provides individual seeds at a controlled rate to a seed tube  38  (shown in dashed lines) for deposit in the bottom of the seed trench formed. The details of the seed metering system are not shown to enable a clearer understanding of the present invention. 
         [0022]    A seed trench closing mechanism  50  ( FIG. 1 ) at the trailing end of each seed planting unit  20  closes the seed trench after the seeds have been deposited in the seed trench. Seed trench closing mechanism  50  includes a pair of pinch wheels  52  ( FIG. 2 ) that operate on opposite sides of the seed trench to move soil back into the seed trench and over the seeds deposited in the bottom of the seed trench. A trailing press wheel (not shown) travels along the top of the closed seed trench and firms the soil replaced in the seed trench. 
         [0023]    The depth to which opening discs  32  are allowed to penetrate the ground is controlled by a depth control assembly  60  that includes a pair of gauge wheels  62 , gauge wheel arms  64  and a depth adjuster and linkage assembly  80 . One of the gauge wheels  62  is provided adjacent each opening disc  32 . Each gauge wheel  62  is rotatably mounted on one of the gauge wheel arms  64  by a wheel retention shaft  68 , which is particularly illustrated in  FIG. 2  where the near side gauge wheel  62  has been removed. The gauge wheel arms  64  are of equal length for production purposes and are pivotally connected at a pivotal attachment  66  to seed planting unit frame  22 . Pivoting gauge wheel arm  64  about pivotal attachment  66  to frame  22  changes the relative height position of gauge wheel  62 . 
         [0024]    A forming point assembly  100  is positioned between opening disks  32  and defines the contour of the bottom of the trench formed by the seed planting unit  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the forming point assembly  100  is positioned between disks  32 . The disks  32  deflect during operation and can abut and rub on the forming point assembly, causing wear since the interaction is steel to steel. In accordance with the present invention, a wearable insert is positioned between the forming point assembly  100  and the disks  32 , as described below. 
         [0025]    Referring specifically to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the forming point assembly  100  has a base  102  that has an opening  104  providing a mounting point to frame  22 . A wall section  108  is usually formed from sheet metal and has a curved leading edge connected to the downstream side of base  102  and which gives width to the trench so formed. Base  102  has a leading edge  106  which is wedge shape when viewed in the plan view of  FIG. 3  and circular in shape when viewed from the side. 
         [0026]    Base  102  has a circular opening  112  with a flat section  114  interposed in its periphery. A wearable insert  116  having a cylindrical shape and a flat  118  fits into opening  112  and is slidable laterally relative to base  102 . As shown particularly in  FIG. 3 , the insert  116  extends beyond the base  102  and into abutment with the inside of opposed disks  32 . Insert  116  is slidable laterally, but is not rotatable. 
         [0027]    In operation of the seeding unit  20 , the disks  32  deflect inward as they form the desired trench. Instead of abutting the forming point assembly  100  the opening disks  32  abut the wear insert  116 , which acts as a sacrificial element protecting the remaining components. Because the insert  116  is movable laterally it balances between the two disks  32 . When the insert  116  reaches its wear limit it may be easily removed by disconnecting one or both of the disks  32  by removing nuts  33 . At that point, the wear insert  116  may be simply replaced by pushing it out of the hole  112  and inserting a new wear insert  116 . The wear insert can be formed from any wearable plastic material such as UHMW plastic and nylon thus avoiding the replacement of more expensive steel parts in the disks  32  and forming point assembly  100 . 
         [0028]    While the wear insert  116  in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is shown as cylindrical with a flat, it may be in another form as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In that figure, the base  102  has a modified wall section  108 ′ secured to it. A rectangular opening  120  is provided in the forward edge of the wall section  108 ′ and cooperates with the base  102  to form a rectangular through opening  120  which receives a rectangular shaped wear insert  122 . In this case, the wear insert  122  may slide laterally but does not have the possibility to rotate. The configuration shown in  FIG. 5  has the same benefits as the wear insert  116  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0029]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.