Active face packer wheel

The invention provides a packer wheel to be towed behind agricultural equipment such as an air seeder, the wheel being used to pack the soil in which seed or fertilizer has been placed. The packer wheel includes a hub and a body extending from the hub to a peripheral wall. A plurality of circumferentially spaced slots extend from the peripheral wall inwardly of the wheel body. Adjacent slots define therebetween a fin which, due to the slots, is somewhat flexible. As the packer wheel rotates the fins will flex sightly, but enough to cause any mud, soil or debris that built up thereon to break away so that the packer wheel remains relatively clean, even in muddy conditions. The slots are shaped so that any mud or debris that builds up therein is automatically forced axially outwardly of the slots as the wheel rotates.

The present invention relates to agricultural equipment in general and to 
the use of packer wheels with seed planting equipment in particular. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Prairie farmers have, for many years, packed the soil after planting seed 
in order to improve germination of the seed and emergence of the plant. 
Packing is usually effected by way of a wheel which is towed behind the 
planting equipment, the wheel being loaded so as to apply a downwardly 
directed force on the soil behind the planter. The packer wheel may be 
positioned directly in line with the planter so as to pack the soil 
directly above the planted seeds or it may be positioned to one side of 
the planting line so as to pack the soil adjacent the planting line. With 
wide planting equipment used on the prairies there will typically be one 
packer wheel associated with each seeder shank or coulter although 
different manufacturers may position their components as they best see 
fit. 
There are different packer wheel constructions available, each having its 
own advantages and disadvantages. The three types of packer wheel 
presently dominating the market are the all-steel wheel, the rubber rimmed 
wheel, and the plastic wheel. The steel wheel is used in applications 
where the land is very rocky, or the loading on the packer wheel is high; 
this is also the most expensive wheel available. The rubber rimmed wheel 
may be similar to a conventional automotive tire or it may involve a metal 
hub having a solid rubber band around the periphery. These wheels are 
commonly used where the soil has a strong clay content and would tend to 
stick to rigid wheels. The rubber rimmed wheel is also expensive and 
requires additional assembly steps during manufacture. The plastic wheel 
is becoming very common as it is economical to produce and it is also 
durable. The body and the operating periphery of the plastic wheel are 
moulded of the same material and hence such wheels have a solid and rigid 
periphery. 
In clay or heavy soil conditions the steel wheel and present plastic wheel 
can have the soil build up on them, which can result in seed bed 
preparation problems for the farmer. The rubber rimmed wheel is one 
solution to this problem as the face thereof can flex and break away the 
built-up soil. The expense of the rubber rimmed wheel, however, is a 
deterrent to the widespread use of such wheels. There is a need for an 
inexpensive packer wheel which has a flexible face for use in moist and 
muddy soil conditions and which provides a desirable alternative to the 
rubber rimmed packer wheel. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides the desired alternative to the rubber rimmed 
packer wheel. The packer wheel of this invention is preferably moulded 
from a plastic material so as to have integrally formed body and 
peripheral wall portions. The peripheral wall portion is made flexible by 
providing a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots which project 
inwardly of the wheel. A flexible fin is created between adjacent slots of 
the wheel so that as the wheel rotates the peripheral wall, made up of 
circumferentially adjacent flexible fins, will flex and cause any soil 
built up thereon to break away from the peripheral wall and thus keep the 
wheel relatively clean. Preferably, at least a portion of each slot 
extends at an angle with respect to a radius of the wheel at the 
intersection of the innermost end of the slot with the radius. 
A number of different configurations for the flexible fin are available 
with this invention, the choice depending on the soil conditions expected 
to be encountered and the packing characteristics desired. For example, 
one can select from packer wheels of this invention which can provide a 
wide packing track, a smooth packing action, and/or a vibratory packing 
action. 
In its broadest form, the present invention may be considered as providing 
a packer wheel for use with agricultural equipment, comprising: central 
hub means defining a rotational axis; wheel body means defining peripheral 
wall means and side wall means extending between the hub means and the 
peripheral wall means; and a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced 
slot means extending from the peripheral wall means into the side wall 
means so as to create a flexible fin means between each pair of adjacent 
slot means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 shows very generally the positioning of a packer wheel assembly 10 
behind a seed planting implement shown by the reference number 12. In this 
configuration the seed planting implement is towed behind a tractor (not 
shown) and includes an implement frame 14, a seeder shank 16 which extends 
into the soil and a seed placement device 18 for placing seed (or 
fertilizer) in the soil at a predetermined depth. The packer wheel 
assembly is physically connected to the implement 12 by any suitable means 
and includes a frame 20, wheel mounting means 22 and a packer wheel 24 
which is used to pack the soil behind the device 18 above the planting 
line. The packer wheel may be spring loaded or otherwise mounted so that 
an adjustable vertical load may be applied thereto, the load depending on 
the seed being planted and the nature of the soil in which planting takes 
place. Usually the packer wheel is ground driven but it may be powered if 
required. 
While this invention is described with reference to seed planting it should 
be understood that packing may also be used in association with spraying, 
cultivating, fertilizer application or other operations. Also, while the 
packing function is described herein as being accomplished at the same 
time as the planting function it should be understood that it could be 
performed as a separate field operation. 
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a first embodiment of a packer wheel incorporating 
the flexible fin feature of the present invention. In this embodiment a 
packer wheel 26 has a central hub 28 defining a rotational axis 30 and a 
wheel body that extends from the hub 28 to the peripheral wall 32 of the 
wheel. The central hub 28 may be the universal hub described and claimed 
in the commonly owned co-pending application of Clint Berscheid entitled 
"Universal Hub Assembly". A plurality of circumferentially equally spaced 
slots 34 extends inwardly of the wheel from the peripheral wall 32 thereof 
into the side wall 36 of the wheel body. Each slot is angled with respect 
to a radius R of the wheel at the innermost end 38 of the slot. A fin 40 
is defined thus between each circumferentially adjacent pair of slots 34. 
As better seen in FIG. 3 each slot 34 has an outer face 42 and an inner 
face 44, these faces in this embodiment being generally parallel to each 
other. At its innermost end 38 the slot terminates in a transversely 
extending arcuate end face 46 which preferably is C-shaped and is of a 
diameter greater than the separation between the faces 42 and 44. The 
arcuate end termination of the slot may be termed as a "node". 
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of this invention in which the 
wheel 48 is provided with differently shaped slots extending inwardly from 
the peripheral wall 50 into the side wall 52 of the wheel. In this case 
each slot 54 is generally arcuate with the outer face 56 thereof having a 
radius of curvature that is greater than that of the inner face 58. The 
inner face 58 smoothly merges with the peripheral wall 50 and meets the 
outer face of the adjacent slot at a sharp edge 60 on the peripheral wall. 
It is noted that the outer and inner faces are close together at a zone of 
convergence 62 and that they then diverge inwardly towards the innermost 
end 64 of the slot. The slot 54 terminates at a transversely extending 
arcuate end face 66. In this case circumferentially adjacent slots 54 
define a fin 68 therebetween. 
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a variant 78 of the packer wheel shown in FIGS. 4 
and 5, the slot faces of the wheel 70 also being arcuate but the radii of 
curvature thereof being almost equal such that the outer and inner faces 
72 and 74 respectively are generally parallel to each other. The inner 
face 74 of one slot 76 curves smoothly into the peripheral wall 78 and 
meets the outer face 72 of the adjacent slot at an arcuate edge 80 on the 
peripheral wall. Each slot terminates at a transversely extending arcuate 
end wall 82 which preferably has a diameter greater than the separation of 
the outer and inner faces at the innermost end of the slot. 
Circumferentially adjacent slots 76 define a fin 84 therebetween. 
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
In this case, each slot 86 is generally L-shaped with a first portion 88 
of the slot extending along a radius of the wheel and then curving into a 
second portion 90 which extends generally normal to the first portion. The 
outer and inner faces 92 and 94 respectively of the slot are generally 
parallel to each other. The slot terminates at its innermost end at a 
transversely arcuate end face 96 which preferably is C-shaped and has a 
diameter greater than the separation between the outer and inner faces of 
the slot. Circumferentially adjacent slots 86 define a fin 98 
therebetween. 
The embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 is a variation on that of FIG. 8 and 9 in 
that the slots 100 thereof are generally L-shaped, although the transition 
between the radial and normal portions 102 and 104 thereof is sharp rather 
than smooth and the node for each slot is larger. In this case the node is 
in the form of a large generally circular transversely extending opening 
106, there being a radial slot face 108 extending from the innermost end 
of the slot inner face 110 to the opening 106. An angled slot face 112 
extends from the innermost end of the outer slot face 114 to the opening 
opposite the junction of the radial slot face 108 with the opening 106. As 
can be seen, the radial slot face meets the opening at a sharp edge while 
the angled slot face is generally tangential to the wall of the opening. 
Circumferentially adjacent slots 100 define a fin 116 therebetween. 
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate two designs in which the fins are not integrally 
formed as part of the wheel as they are with the first five embodiments. 
In the embodiments of FIGS. 12 and 13 the fins are removable or 
interchangeable so that they can be replaced if damaged in use. In FIG. 12 
each fin 118 is similar to that of FIGS. 6 and 7. A pocket 120 extends 
into the wheel body between adjacent slots 122, the pocket being defined 
by converging transverse pocket walls 124 and 126, those walls terminating 
at a circular recess 128. Each fin 118 has a lug portion 130 defined by 
converging lug walls 132 and 134. The lug walls terminate at a lobe 
portion 136 which is bifurcated so that each part thereof fits into the 
recess 128 on opposite sides of a central wall 138 that divides the recess 
128 in half. A pin 140 passes from one lobe part, through the central 
wall, and then through the other lobe part to fix the fin 118 to the wheel 
body. The fin can pivot slightly about the pin 140 and the pin can be 
removed so that the fin itself can be removed and replaced. 
In the embodiment of FIG. 13 the pocket 142 is defined by sharply 
converging pocket walls 144, 146 which terminate at a generally C-shaped 
recess 148 on one side of the wheel. The sharply converging lug walls 150 
and 152 of the fin lug portion 154 terminate at a mating C-shaped lobe 156 
on the same side of the fin as the recess 148. In order to connect the fin 
to the wheel body recess 148 a pin 158 passes through the lobe 156 and the 
portion 160 of the wheel body backing the recess 148. Removal of the pin 
158 will permit the lobe 156 to be removed laterally from the recess 148 
so that the fin 162 can be removed and replaced as required. 
FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate partial radial cross-sectional views taken on 
the line A--A of FIG. 2, of a packer wheel of this invention, showing the 
transverse shape of the slots. In FIG. 14 a fin 164 is shown as having a 
straight transverse outer slot face 166 parallel to the rotational axis of 
the wheel while the inner face of the slot 168 has adjacent portions 170 
which converge symmetrically radially outwardly to a rounded peak 172. 
Dirt, mud or soil trapped in the slot 168 will be forced axially outwardly 
as the fin 164 is forced radially inwardly during rotation of the packer 
wheel. 
In FIG. 15 the inner face of the slot 174 has adjacent portions 176, 178 
which converge asymmetrically radially outwardly to a peak 180 that is 
offset to one side of the longitudinal centerline 182 of the wheel. In 
this case debris caught in the slot 174 will be forced more to the left as 
seen in FIG. 15 than to the right. 
In FIGS. 16 and 17 the slots 190 extend generally radially inwardly from 
the peripheral wall of the packer wheel 192 so as to define fins 194 
therebetween. The inner and outer faces 196, 198 of the slots can be 
generally parallel, terminating at an arcuate inner end wall 200. 
In FIGS. 18 and 19 the slots 202 extend inwardly from the peripheral wall 
of the packer wheel along a slightly arcuate, non-radial line to define 
the fins 204 therebetween. The inner and outer faces 206, 208 of the slots 
are not parallel, the faces converging slightly along arcuate lines to the 
arcuate inner end wall 210. 
It will be apparent from FIGS. 1 to 11, and 14 to 19 that the packer wheel 
of this invention may be integrally moulded of a suitable plastics 
material and thus may be solid or, as seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, it may be 
moulded with a solid wheel body and a plurality of separate moulded fins 
removably attachable to the wheel body. The slots between the fins and the 
arcuate node at the end of each slot promote limited flexural movement of 
each fin as the packer wheel rotates, such movement being not unlike the 
flexing movement of a rubber rimmed wheel. The flexing movement of each 
fin allows for any mud or debris that might attach to the packer wheel in 
use to be removed therefrom as the wheel rotates and the fin flexes. The 
shape of the slots as mentioned with respect to FIGS. 14 and 15 promotes 
the automatic removal of mud or other debris from the slots as the wheel 
rotates on its axis. 
The packer wheel of this invention is economical to produce in any of its 
embodiments and it is effective in operation, providing the advantages of 
the rubber rimmed packer wheel at a fraction of its cost. It should be 
understood that the foregoing has described the preferred embodiment and 
variations thereto of the present invention. It is expected that skilled 
workmen could create further variations of the invention without departing 
from the spirit of the invention as described herein. Accordingly the 
protection to be afforded this invention is to be determined from the 
scope of the claims appended hereto.