Planting apparatus

Apparatus for seeding includes a first plurality of shovels disposed in a rank at uniform intervals and a second plurality of shovels disposed in a second rank at uniform intervals. The first and second ranks are disposed in generally parallel relationship with the track of the shovels in the second rank disposed intermediate the tracks of the shovels in the first rank. A plurality of press wheels are mounted for rotation. Each of the press wheels is disposed in aligned relationship with the track of one of the shovels. A chain is fixed to each of the plurality of first shovels in the first rank. A cylinder is fixed to each of the chains at the end thereof remote from the first rank. Each cylinder extends close to the press wheel which is aligned with the shovel disposed in the first rank on which the associated chain is mounted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to agricultural machines and particularly to 
apparatus for planting seeds. It will be understood that, while the 
invention has particular application to apparatus intended to be used in 
planting grain on large tracts of land, that it also has application to 
apparatus for planting other types of seed even on relatively small 
parcels of land. 
Apparatus commonly used for planting such large tracts of land typically 
includes a first plurality of plows or shovels disposed at equal intervals 
along a first line or rank and a second plurality of plows or shovels 
disposed at the same equal intervals along a second line or rank which is 
parallel to the first line. The apparatus is moved by a tractor or other 
apparatus in a direction which is perpendicular to the first and second 
rank to produce seed trenches or rows which are generally parallel and 
spaced a uniform distance apart. That distance is, more specifically, one 
half the distance between adjacent plows or shovels in either the first or 
second line. This follows since the plows or shovels in the first line are 
offset axially from the plows or shovels in the other line, a distance 
which is one half the distance between adjacent plows or shovels. 
Seeds are customarily deposited in the seed trenches or rows in the ground 
formed by the shovels or plows and thereafter they are tamped in place by 
a separate wheel which is provided for each plow or shovel so that all of 
the seeds deposited in the row generated by that plow or shovel are 
properly tamped in place. A difficulty commonly encountered in seeding in 
this manner is that loam turned up by the trailing line of shovels tends 
to fall into the seed trenches generated on either side thereof by the 
leading shovels. The practical effect is that seed, deposited thereafter 
in the seed trench in which loam has been deposited, will not be planted 
at the desired depth. This will reduce the yield from the seed and also 
adversely effect the utilization of the land in which the seed is being 
deposited. 
The above noted problems may be reduced by planting at a slower rate. This 
is not a satisfactory solution since maximum productivity is desirable. 
It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus which will 
consistently plant seeds in a substantially uniform manner so that the 
yield from a given quantity of seed is maximized and also the utilization 
of the land in which the seed is planted is also maximized. 
It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus which will 
permit faster seeding operations than are possible with conventional 
apparatus. 
It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus which may be 
easily installed on existing planting apparatus. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus which is simple 
to use. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus which is 
simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The foregoing objects and other objects and advantages which shall become 
apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment are 
attained in an apparatus which includes apparatus for seeding having a 
first plurality of shovels disposed in a first rank at uniform intervals 
and a second plurality of shovels disposed in a second rank at uniform 
intervals. The first and second ranks are disposed in generally parallel 
relationship with the tracks of the shovels in the second rank disposed 
intermediate the tracks of the shovels in the first rank. A plurality of 
press wheels are mounted for rotation. Each of the press wheels is 
disposed in aligned relationship with the track of one of the shovels. A 
chain or other flexible member is fixed to each of the plurality of first 
shovels in the first rank. A cylinder is fixed to each of the chains at 
the end thereof remote from the first rank. Each cylinder extends close to 
an associated press wheel, disposed in aligned relationship with the 
shovel disposed in the first rank, on which the associated chain is 
mounted. 
The cylinder may extend to within one inch of the associated press wheel. 
The spacing between adjacent shovels in the first rank may be the same as 
the spacing between adjacent shovels in the second rank. The tracks of at 
least some of the shovels in the first rank may be disposed at equal 
distances from the tracks of two of the second rank of shovels. The 
cylindrical member may have a conical axial extremity and the conical 
axial extremity may be joined to the chain. The cylinder may be 
approximately three inches in diameter and have a length of approximately 
fourteen inches.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a seeding apparatus 10 in 
accordance with the invention. The apparatus includes a plurality of 
shovels 12, 12, 12, which are arrayed with a uniform spacing along a first 
line (not shown) or rank. A plurality of shovels 14, 14, 14 are arrayed 
along a second line (not shown) or rank. The second rank is disposed in 
aligned relationship to the first rank and extends behind the first rank. 
The axial spacing of the individual shovels 14 is uniform between adjacent 
shovels 14 and the spacing therebetween is the same as the spacing between 
the adjacent shovels 12. The tracks of shovels 14 are disposed so that the 
track of at least some of the shovels 14 extends exactly intermediate 
adjacent tracks of adjacent shovels 12 in the first rank. 
A plurality of press wheels 16 are mounted for rotation about a common axis 
18. The function of the press wheels 16 is to tamp or press seed in place 
in the sod. It will be understood that, for simplicity, the entire 
apparatus typically used (including a Lister Drill or other seeding 
apparatus) has been omitted. Such apparatus typically includes a separate 
flexible tube (not shown) which extends down to the lower extremity of 
each of the shovels 12, 14. The shovels 12, 14 are respectively mounted on 
supports 13, 15 which are respectively mounted on a common chassis (not 
shown). Also not shown, is a hopper which is typically used to feed by 
gravity seed to the tube via a funnel shaped member. 
The apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a cylindrical body 
22. One cylindrical body 22 is secured to each shovel 12 in the first rank 
via a separate chain 24. Normally, the cylindrical body 22 and the chain 
24 will be dimensioned so as to position the body no more than one inch 
away from the press wheel 16 with which it is aligned. 
In operation the cylindrical body 22 prevents the deposition of soil, which 
is displaced by shovels 14 in the second rank, from falling into the seed 
track created by the shovels 12 in the first rank. With conventional 
apparatus which does not include the chain 24 and the cylindrical body 22, 
the maximum planting rate which is practical is about 21/2 to 3 miles per 
hour. In contrast, it is possible to use the apparatus in accordance with 
the invention for seeding grain at rates up to 4 to 5 miles per hour and 
still provide uniform deposition of seed. The apparatus has been found to 
function satisfactorily in both wet and dry soil conditions with excellent 
results. The apparatus may, for example, be used on such apparatus as a 
mulch hoe drill with 10 inch row spacing and two ranks of shovels which 
are disposed 20 inches apart. The cylindrical members 22, in the preferred 
embodiment, are about 3 inches in diameter and 14 inches long. 
For application where the apparatus in accordance with the invention is 
used with a drill having two rows with twenty four inch spacing between 
the rows for deposition of seeds in a twelve inch row pattern a 
cylindrical member of three and one half inches in diameter is suitable. 
The cylindrical member 22 may be attached to the chain 24 by a 11/8 inch by 
1 inch iron member bent to fit the tapered end of the cylindrical member 
22. The cylindrical member 22 normally will have the forward extremity 
thereof tapered. Th chain 24 is attached to the cylindrical member 22 by 
means of a 1/8 by 1 inch iron member bent to engage the tapered end of the 
cylindrical member 22. The iron member is secured by two 1/4 inch bolts. 
The chain is secured to the front shovel 12 by means of a bolt 26 about 3 
inches above the bottom of the shovel 12. 
Although the FIG. 2 illustrates only three shovels 14 and three shovels 12, 
it will be understood that typical apparatus will have many more such 
shovels and that the drawing has been simplified to improve the legibility 
thereof. Similarly, it will be understood that other geometric forms may 
be substituted for the cylindrical member 22 without departing from the 
spirit of the invention. For example, square, rectangular, oval or other 
cross-sections may be utilized. 
The more rapid seeding operations possible with the apparatus in accordance 
with the invention is of particular importance because time is critical. 
Maximum farm production is dependent on seeding at an optimum time. 
Weather may limit the possibilities for actual planting and may make time 
even more critical. The apparatus in accordance with the invention permits 
planting in approximately one half the time it would take to do the same 
job without the apparatus. Stated another way, the same acreage may be 
planted with about one half the capital investment in drills. Since the 
capital investment is very substantial the advantage is very significant.