Straw and debris deflector for soil opening apparatus

Disclosed is an apparatus for deflecting straw and other debris from in front of a soil opening implement used in farming. The straw and debris deflector is particularly useful where the soil is generally not tilled. The straw and debris deflector includes an adjustable bracket which extends forward of the soil opening disk of the implement. Extending downwardly from the end of the bracket is a flexible oscillating tine. The tine rubs along the surface of the ground immediately in front of the soil openers to collect and deflect straw and other debris. The flexible tine oscillates forwardly and backwardly and from side to side. Periodic flexing to one or the other side of the disk removes collected debris from in front of the tine.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The technical field of this invention is apparatus for removing or 
deflecting straw and other debris from in front of a soil opening 
apparatus used in farming where the soil is not generally tilled. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In recent years there has been increased development in equipment and 
techniques for farming without generally tilling the entire surface of a 
field. These no-till farming techniques generally rely upon a disk type 
soil opener to break the surface of the soil in a localized area so that 
seed, fertilizer, and other agricultural chemicals can be placed directly 
in the soil without over generally plowing or breaking up the upper 
topsoil as is commonly done. When disk type soil openers are used, it is 
necessary for the disk to penetrate into the soil to open a furrow into 
which the seed or other materials are placed. Because the field has 
generally not been cultivated, there is usually straw or other types of 
stubble and debris remaining from the previous year's crop. This straw and 
other debris substantially impedes the efficient opening of the soil by 
disk soil openers. The disk opener oftentimes rides up on large clumps of 
straw, thereby preventing the soil from being opened. When farmers 
encounter difficulty in opening the soil, they must slow the speed of the 
equipment or add additional weight. This takes longer for the work to be 
completed and requires greater fuel because of the additional weight which 
is pulled. 
No-till farming has also suffered from difficulties caused by straw being 
tucked into the furrow by the soil opener. Other rotting debris and 
residue are also found on the soil and the soil opener also tends to turn 
this into the soil as the furrow is opened. The straw residue and rotting 
debris add to the problems associated with various plant diseases 
including the disease pythium. Debris in the furrow also inhibits good 
seed germination and seeding emergence. 
The prior art includes an apparatus called a "duff scuffer" which slid 
along the ground in front of the soil openers. Duff scuffers suffered from 
several limitations. The duff scuffers could only be used with rows having 
a spacing for which they were designed, such as the common fifteen inch 
spacing. The duff scuffers also did not remove the straw and debris as 
effectively as the current invention. 
This invention is not to be confused with harrow attachments which are 
mounted on seed drills. U.S. Pat. No. 3,631,929 to Robert B. Gates shows a 
harrow tooth attachment which extends downwardly from the seed drill frame 
and penetrates into the soil a few feet ahead of the disk soil opener so 
that the soil is cultivated shortly before seeding takes place. 
The invention is directed to solving the problems discussed above and other 
objectives and benefits of the invention will be considered below or are 
inherent in the structure and function of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The following disclosure is submitted in compliance with the constitutional 
purpose of the Patent Laws "to promote the progress of science and useful 
arts" (Article 1, Section 8). 
A soil opening apparatus generally referred to by the reference number 10 
is shown in FIG. 1. Such a soil opening apparatus is commonly used in a 
seed drill or other no-till farming equipment. The soil openers include 
disks 12 and 13 which are rotatably connected to vertical member 17 by 
rotatable hubs 15 and 16. Disk 13 is mounted forward of disk 12 to improve 
the soil cutting ability of the soil openers. Vertical member 17 is 
securely fastened to tool bar 19 using a plate 18 and mounting bolts 18a. 
Attached to vertical member 17 is a bracket generally referred to by the 
reference number 20. Bracket 20 has a first portion 21 which is welded to 
a second portion 22. Second portion 22 telescopically receives a third 
portion 23 which is securely held in second portion 22 by bolts or other 
fastening means 24. The telescopic arrangement of second portion 22 and 
third portion 23 allows the angular orientation and length of the bracket 
to be adjusted by rotating or extending third portion 23. At the distal 
end of the third portion 23 is a mounting means 29. Mounting means 29 is a 
metal plate having slots 28 for receiving one or more flexible tines 30 
therein. The tine or tines 30 are held in position by bolts 25 which are 
threadably received in holes 26. This arrangement allows the flexible 
tines to be positioned vertically and horizontally. 
The flexible tine 30 is provided with loops 31 which increase the 
flexibility of the tine. A variety of shapes and configurations can be 
incorporated into the form of the tine to provide this greater 
flexibility. The preferred form of the invention includes two 
substantially circular loops which allow the distal end 32 to oscillate 
frontward and backward and also from side to side. Tine 30 is alos 
preferably angled backwardly so that it contacts the surface of the soil 
at a point very near the disks 12 and 13. 
FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of tine 40 having a single 
substantially circular loop 41 formed centrally in the tine. FIG. 6 shows 
that tine 40 is square-shaped in cross section for fitting into a square 
slot 28a. 
The invention is used by first attaching a bracket 10 to the soil opening 
apparatus 10 in a position which allows the flexible tine 30 to be 
positioned near the front of the disks 12 and 13. The tine 30 is then 
installed in one of slots 28 and the vertical and horizontal position of 
the distal end 32 of tine 30 is adjusted using bolts 25 and also by 
adjusting the angular and extension position of third portion 23 within 
second portion 22 of the bracket. After proper adjustment is made at these 
two adjustment points, the straw and debris deflector is ready to be used 
with the soil opener. 
The straw and debris deflector operates by sliding the distal end 32 along 
the ground to catch or deflect stubble, straw, and other debris so that it 
does not lie on the ground as the disks 12 and 13 open the soil. Because 
of irregularities in the depth of the disk and in the surface contour of 
the soil, tine 30 must oscillate forwardly, backwardly and from side to 
side in order to maintain substantially continuous contact with the soil 
surface. When large amounts of straw or other debris have accumulated in 
front of the distal end 32 of tine 30, the tine tends to flex backwardly 
and to one side of the disks 12 and 13. As the tine 30 slides along the 
side of either disk, the straw and other debris is removed from in front 
of the tine 30. The tine then springs back forwardly to resume its sliding 
action along the ground deflecting straw and other debris from in front of 
the disks 12 and 13. 
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in 
language more or less specific as to structural features. It is to be 
understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific 
features shown, since the means and construction herein disclosed comprise 
a preferred form of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, 
therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper 
scope of the appended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with 
the doctrine of equivalents.