An undercutter seed planter in the form of an elongated tubular seed delivery member adapted to be pulled beneath the soil behind the blade of an undercutter plow. An air metering system supplies seeds to the seed delivery member and such seeds are released at preselected intervals beneath the soil surface from a discharge opening at the member's trailing end. The trailing end portion of the member is formed to create a V-shaped channel to receive the discharged seeds, and a gage wheel assembly connected to the member's trailing end rides upon the surface of the soil and maintains the seed discharge opening at a predetermined distance beneath that surface. A two-way hinge connects the leading end of the seed delivery member to the undercutter plow to permit vertical and horizontal movement of the member's trailing end with respect to the plow.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
Conventional row-crop planters, whether designed for conventional tillage, 
minimum tillage, or no tillage, are commonly equipped with forming bars or 
openers which scrape along the surface of the soil to form an open trough 
for receiving seeds deposited by a suitable seed-metering mechanism. A 
coulter in the form of a fluted or rippled cutting wheel may be used to 
slice through trash and soil ahead of the opener so that the opener is 
better able to form a firm trench for receiving the seeds. One or more 
press wheels are also commonly provided to press the seed firmly into the 
soil, and usually to close the soil around the seed, for the purpose of 
obtaining better germination and emergence. 
An object of this invention is to provide a planter which maximizes 
emergence with a minimum amount of tillage, thereby producing results 
superior to those of presently available minimum tillage planters while at 
the same time reducing energy consumption, erosion problems, and 
compaction problems. Another object is to provide a planter particularly 
suitable for use with an undercutter plow so that seeds are planted at 
prescribed intervals behind the plow without the formation of exposed 
trenches or furrows in the soil. A still further object is to provide a 
system in which seeds are delivered directly to their planting sites 
beneath the surface of the soil, immediately following, and as part of, an 
undercutter plowing operation. An additional object is to provide means 
for firming the soil along the lower portion of the tunnel or closed 
furrow, just prior to seed placement within that closed furrow, along with 
means for firming the soil above and to the side of each seed immediately 
after placement. 
In brief, the apparatus takes the form of a downwardly and rearwardly 
sloping seed delivery member hingedly connected to the trailing portion of 
an undercutter blade and equipped with a gage wheel assembly that rides 
over the surface of the soil to support the free rear end of the seed 
delivery member at the desired sub-surface elevation, and also to press or 
firm the soil following seed application. An air metering system is 
provided to supply seeds to the tubular member at a predetermined 
frequency. The seeds are carried downwardly and rearwardly through the 
tubular rear portion of the member by a stream of air until the seeds 
approach the discharge opening at the member's trailing or distal end, at 
which point much of the air is vented and the seeds continue the remainder 
of the way by reason of momentum and residual air flow. Firming of the 
soil along the lower portion of the sub-surface tunnel or furrow is 
achieved because of the downward and rearward slope of the seed delivery 
member and because of the longitudinal keel or flange provided at its 
distal end. The gage wheel assembly is connected directly to the trailing 
distal end of the tubular member and rides upon the surface of the soil to 
perform the dual functions of maintaining the discharge opening at a 
selected depth beneath the surface and of firming the soil about the seeds 
immediately after they are planted. 
At its proximal or forward end, the delivery tube or member is connected to 
a double-acting hinge which is in turn secured to the undercutter blade 
assembly. The hinge allows vertical movement of the member's trailing end 
relative to the undercutter blade, thereby permitting the seeds to be 
discharged at a depth controlled by the rear gage wheel assembly rather 
than by the depth of the undercutter blade spaced in front of that 
assembly. Horizontal movement of the member's trailing end is also 
permitted by the double hinge connection, thus insuring proper tracking 
when the planter is left in the ground while turning corners. 
Auxiliary tubes may be provided at the trailing or distal end of the seed 
delivery member for injecting liquid or granular insecticides, fungicides, 
and the like into the tunnel-like furrow along with each seed discharged 
from the delivery tube. If desired, a fertilizer discharge tube may also 
be provided, preferably forward or to the side of the seed discharge 
opening of the seed delivery member, for supplying fertilizer to the soil 
around the seed bed as it is later formed by that member. 
Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the 
specification and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 
10 generally designates an undercutter planter having a frame 11, an 
undercutter plow 12 suspended from the frame, vertically-adjustable gage 
wheels 13 alongside the plow which control the depth of the plow in use 
(FIG. 2) and also, when extended, support the apparatus for transfer to 
and from the place of operation (FIG. 1), a hopper 14 for supporting a 
quantity of seeds, an air metering mechanism 15 for metering seeds from 
the hopper into an air stream, tubular seed delivery members 16, and a 
pair of gage wheel assemblies 17 for supporting the trailing or distal 
ends of the seed delivery members 16 and for firming the soil on each side 
of the seeds discharged from such tubes. A coulter 18 may be mounted upon 
the frame in front of the undercutter plow 12 and in general alignment 
with each of the seed delivery members or tubes 16 to help cut and clear 
residue. 
It is to be understood that certain of these elements are conventional and 
well known, although not in the particular combination described. Thus, 
the rippled coulter 18 is of a construction commonly used for the purpose 
of cutting debris to facilitate the operation of an opener used to form a 
V-shaped trough or furrow in the soil. The undercutter plow 12 is of the 
type marketed by Richardson Manufacturing Co., Inc., Cawker City, Kans. as 
a conservation tillage system, and the air distributing and seed metering 
system 15 may be of the type marketed by International Harvester Co., 
Chicago, Ill. under the designation Model 500 Cyclo planter. In such an 
air delivery system, seed from the hopper is automatically fed, under air 
pressure, to a rotating drum 15a equipped with perforated pockets. The 
seeds are temporarily held in place by air escaping outwardly through such 
perforations. As the pocketed seeds are carried to the top of their path 
of travel within the drum, release wheels block the escaping air, allowing 
the seeds to drop into delivery hoses or lines 15b. Air under relatively 
low pressure (about 5 to 8 psi) then carries the seeds through the lines 
to the points of application. While such an air delivery system has been 
found particularly effective in conjunction with, and as part of, the 
apparatus of the present invention, it is to be noted that other types of 
competitive air delivery systems are also commercially available and may 
be effectively used in the manner described herein. Since such air 
delivery systems, hoppers, coulters, and associated equipment, are all 
well known in the art, it is believed that description of their structure 
and operation in greater detail is unnecessary for purposes of this 
disclosure. 
Frame 11 includes transverse and longitudinal horizontal frame members 19 
and 20, respectively. Frame extensions 21 project rearwardly from the 
frame and are pivotally connected thereto by hinges 22, as illustrated 
most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4. The hinged connections allow the free ends 
of the cantilevered frame extensions 21 to swing laterally, but not 
vertically, as the apparatus turns one way or the other during a planting 
operation, thereby allowing proper tracking action of the gage wheel and 
delivery tube assemblies 17 behind undercutter plow 12. 
The undercutter plow 12 takes the form of a generally V-shaped undercutter 
blade 23 centrally supported by a vertical support column 25 which is 
bolted or otherwise secured at its upper end to frame 11. The lateral 
portions of the V-shaped blade extend outwardly and rearwardly in 
horizontal alignment with each other and are designed to travel beneath 
the surface of the soil as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4 to perform an 
undercutting and moderate lifting operation without overturning the soil 
to any substantial extent. While referred to in this disclosure as a 
"blade" in the singular, such blade is actually an assembly of a tempered 
cutter plate 23a and an underlying support frame 23b, the two being 
secured together by bolts or by any other suitable connecting means. It 
will be observed that the blade, when viewed in side elevation or vertical 
section, slopes downwardly and forwardly at an angle less than about 30 
degrees from the horizontal, and that its leading and trailing edges 25 
and 26 are horizontally disposed when the gage wheels 13 of the apparatus 
rest upon a horizontal surface. 
The undercutter plow as so far described is of standard construction. 
However, unlike a conventional undercutter plow, plow 12 provides the 
support for one or more trailing sub-surface seed delivery tubes 16. A 
pair of such tubes is shown in the drawings along with the supporting gage 
wheel assemblies 17 therefor; however, it is to be understood that a 
greater or smaller number might be provided depending upon the size of the 
equipment as a whole, the crop to be planted, and the desired distance 
between rows. 
Each seed delivery tube 16 is of rigid construction and has a front or 
proximal end portion 16a hingedly connected to undercutter blade 23 and an 
enlongated rear or distal portion 16b sloping rearwardly and downwardly 
therefrom. A seed discharge opening 27 is provided at the rear end of the 
tube, and a flexible seed delivery hose 15b, leading from metering unit 
15, communicates with the front end portion 16a of the tube. The front and 
rear portions of the delivery tube 16 are preferably circular in cross 
sectional outline throughout most of their longitudinal extent; however, 
at its distal end the rear portion has a downwardly and longitudinally 
extending keel or flange portion 28. As depicted most clearly in FIGS. 5 
and 6, the flange portion 28 is V-shaped in outline. 
A double-acting hinge 30 joins the front end of the tube to the underside 
of the undercutter blade adjacent the trailing edge 26 thereof. The hinge 
takes the form of a hinge plate apertured to receive a generally vertical 
bolt 31 which functions as a hinge pin to permit horizontal rotation of 
the plate with respect to the undercutter blade. In addition, the hinge 
plate 30 pivotally receives a pair of horizontal pins 32 secured to and 
projecting laterally from the delivery tube's front end portion 16a (FIG. 
5) allowing vertical pivotal movement of the delivery tube in order to 
provide a controlled depth of planting. 
The elevation of the seed delivery tube's trailing rear portion 16b during 
a planting operation is controlled by gage wheel assembly 17. That 
assembly includes a rearwardly and upwardly angled stanchion 34 secured at 
its lower end to tube 16 adjacent the rear end thereof. A wheel support 
member 35 projects rearwardly from the stanchion's upper end and is 
connected thereto by bolts 36 which, by the selection of threaded openings 
in the stanchion, allow incremental adjustability of the vertical position 
of member 35 and of the wheel or wheels supported thereby. In the 
illustrated embodiment, a pair of angled gage wheels or presswheels 37 are 
carried by axles 38 projecting laterally (and slightly downwardly) from 
mounting block 39 at the rear end of support member 35. Because of their 
angled mounting, the double gage wheels tend to produce a squeezing effect 
to firm the soil from the sides around seeds 40 released from delivery 
tube 16; however, for other types of crops it may be preferable to provide 
only a single gage wheel 37 at the end of each support 35. In any event, 
the rotational axis of each such wheel is spaced above and behind th 
outlet 27 of the seed delivery tube 16, and such gage wheel(s) perform the 
dual functions of firming the soil around planted seeds and of controlling 
the depth of discharge opening 27 and the seeds released therefrom. 
An air release tube 41 projects upwardly from the rear end portion of the 
seed delivery tube 16 and is in direct communication with the passage of 
the delivery tube. The vertical portion 41a of the air release tube has a 
length sufficient to insure that the upper end of that tube extends above 
the surface of the soil during a planting operation. The air release tube 
also preferably includes a rearwardly turned portion 41b which directs air 
rearwardly and which reduces the likelihood of debris collecting in and 
clogging the air flow passage of that tube. To protect and brace the air 
release tube, that tube may be welded or otherwise secured at its upper 
end to stanchion 34. Gusset 29 may be welded or otherwise secured between 
the stanchion 34 and air release tube 41 to brace the respective elements 
and to prevent debris from accumulating therebetween. 
FIGS. 5-7 depict an optional additive tube 42 communicating with the seed 
delivery tube at a point behind (distal to) air release tube 41. Hose 43 
leads from the additive tube to a tank or hopper (not shown) containing 
liquid or granulated insecticide, herbicide, or other additive in 
finely-divided solid form. Such additive may be metered into the soil 
along with seeds 40, the use of such additive being dependent largely on 
soil condition and the crop being planted. 
In some instances, it may be desirable to introduce fertilizer into the 
soil during a planting operation. A fertilizer discharge tube 44 is shown 
in FIG. 4 in general alignment with, and in front of or to the side of 
seed delivery tube 16. Liquid or granular fertilizer may be metered from a 
suitable reservoir (not shown) and delivered to the discharge tube 44 by 
means of line 45. 
In operation of the apparatus, each seed delivery tube 16 trails behind the 
sub-surface undercutter blade and tends to form a closed furrow or tunnel 
beneath the surface of the soil. The gradual downward slope of the rear 
portion of the delivery tube causes the soil beneath the tube to be firmed 
or compacted, and the V-shaped flange or keel portion 28 at the distal end 
of the tube reshapes the bottom of the furrow into a generally V 
configuration. While it is important that the trailing rear portion 16b of 
the delivery tube have an overall rearward and downward inclination in 
order to achieve such moderate compaction and V-groove formation, it has 
been found desirable to provide the front portion 16a with a downward and 
forward slope to insure that the rear portion 16b of the tube will assume 
the proper depth for seed discharge while maintaining the desired rearward 
and downward inclination of the major portion 16b. Such configuration 
permits soil broken and displaced by the undercutter blade to fall back 
around and beneath the delivery tube so that it may be more effectively 
firmed by the downwardly sloping stretch 16b. 
Seeds 40 from the air metering mechanism 15 are carried in a stream of air 
into the front end of the seed delivery tube 16. The air stream transports 
the seeds rearwardly through the tube as generally depicted in FIG. 7. 
When the air stream reaches release tube 41, a major portion of the air is 
vented from the seed delivery tube, and the seeds continue to travel 
rearwardly through trailing portion 16b, and out through discharge opening 
27, because of momentum and residual air flow. The released seeds fall 
into the V-shaped lower portion of the tunnel or closed furrow (along with 
whatever insecticide or other additive may have been supplied through 
additive tube 42), and the presswheels or gage wheels 37 immediately 
thereafter close the tunnel-like furrow about the seeds, primarily firming 
the soil on both sides of the seeds while permitting a looser condition of 
the soil directly above such seeds for ease of emergence. 
Seed depth is controlled by the gage wheels which ride over the soil and 
insure that the discharge opening of the seed delivery tube will be 
maintained at a uniform depth beneath the soil surface regardless of 
limited variations in the elevation of undercutter gage wheels 13 and 
blade 23 resulting from soil surface irregularities. As indicated in 
broken lines in FIG. 7, such vertical movement, independent of variations 
in the elevation of the undercutter blade, is made possible by the hinged 
connection between the tube assembly and the undercutter blade. 
During a planting operation, each seed delivery tube 16 is concealed from 
view beneath the surface of the soil. Stanchion 34 and air release tube 41 
project upwardly through the surface but have little effect on the 
condition of the soil at the surface, at least partly because of coulter 
18 which cuts into the soil and debris directly ahead of the seed delivery 
tube to provide a smooth parting line for passage of the stanchion and air 
release tube following therebehind. 
The embodiment depicted in FIG. 8 is similar to the structure already 
described, the main difference being the point at which seeds and air 
enter the seed delivery member 16'. Although member 16' has the same 
general configuration as member 16 previously described, the front portion 
16a' may be solid rather than tubular. Only the trailing rear portion 16b' 
must have a passage extending therethrough and, as shown in FIG. 8, that 
passage communicates at its forward end with an upstanding conduit 50 
connected to seed delivery hose 15b'. An air release tube 41' vents air 
from the system just prior to discharge of the seeds from opening 27' at 
the distal end of member 16'. An optional additive tube 42' communicates 
with the tubular seed delivery member at a point between air release tube 
41' and discharge opening 27'. Like the previously-disclosed structure, 
the tubular seed delivery member 16' is provided with a V-shaped keel or 
flange portion 28' at its distal end, has an elongated downwardly and 
rearwardly sloping rear trailing portion 16b40 , a relatively short 
downwardly and forwardly sloping front portion 16a', and a hinged 
connection 30' which allows pivotal movement in both horizontal and 
vertical planes. In terms of function, the assembly depicted in FIG. 8 is 
similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-7. 
While in the foregoing I have disclosed an embodiment of the invention in 
considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by 
those skilled in the art that many of these details may be varied without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.