AGRICULTURAL COMBINED DRILL DISPENSER

Abstract: Apparatus in an agricultural combination machine for simultaneously inserting and positioning in the earth of at least two components, e.g. seed and fertilizer, primarily a combination machine for direct sowing on a field without previous soil cultivation of the ground by ploughing, harrowing or the like, and including a means cutting the earth, e.g. a disc coulter, a knife coulter or the like, and at least two tubular discharge means, one for each component, the cutting means and discharging means extending down into the earth under the earth surface. The means for cutting (2) and means for discharge (5, 6) are removably attached to a coulter arm (1) and to each other to be allowed displacement upwards and downwards such that they are mutually relatively adjustable in depth to given working depths under the earth surface.

Description: AGRICULTURAL COMBINED DRILL DISPENSER The invention relates to a combined machine in accordance with the preamble to claim 1. Combined machines for simultaneous spreading of seed and commercial fertilizer in agriculture are known, e.g. from the US Patent 3.213.812, which illustrates an apparatus with two mutually, relatively fixed outlet nozzles, arranged side by side and at different working depths under the earth surface. One condition for the apparatus is that earth can be led in between the nozzles (see Figure 5 of the patent specification), i.e. that the apparatus is intended for fields which are worked by ploughing and harrowing, or in some other way. For sowing seed directly into place in the earth, i.e. farming witho ploughing it has been necessary to supply fertilizer in a separate pass or on top of the earth. In addition, the combination sowing machines have only been able to place fertilizer between alternate rows of seed. Another known technique is apparent from SE 130.953, which is an apparatus for use in sowing directly onto unworked ground. The object of the invention is to solve the above mentioned problems and to develop an apparatus for combined dispensing, e.g. of seed and fertilizer in direct sowing by simultaneous insertion into the earth and such that the distance laterally between seed and fertilizer may be varied to desired values, while the depths of in¬ sertion under the earth surface can be adjusted to different, desired values quite independent of each other for the seed and fertilizer. This signifies a great advant- age, since different combinations of seed types and ferti¬ lizer types as well as the character and composition of different earths require different procedures for dis¬ pensing and distribution. The object is achieved by the invention having been given the characterizing features disclosed in the claims. The invention will now be described with the aid of an embodiment example and in connection with the attache drawings, where Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus seen obliquely from the front in relation to the working direc¬ tion. Figure 2 illustrates the lower part of the apparatus in Figure 1 seen from one side. Figure 3 illustrates the apparatus from behind. Figure 4 is a partially sectioned view transverse the working direction of the bottommost part of the apparatus in Figure 3 while working in the ground, Figure 5 is a section according to V-V in Figure 4 after the apparatus has completed dispensing at differen depths , Figure 6 is a schematic view from above, illustrat¬ ing lateral dispensing according to VI-VI in Figure 5, Figure 7 is a section seen from above according to VII-VII in Figure 2, Figure 8 is a corresponding view according to VIII-VIII in Figure 2. In Figure 1 the numeral 1 denotes the coulter arm of a disc coulter 2 and a combination share 7, including a discharge pipe 5 for fertilizer and a discharge pipe 6 for seed. Seed and fertilizer are fed to the outlet means 6 and 5 via the feed pipes 8 and 9. The clamp 12 is connect ed to the coulter arm 1 with the aid of three screws 13. An elastic element 18, e.g. of rubber, is arranged between the clamp 12 and the arm 1. The position and direction of the combination share 7 can be varied within certain limits by tightening the three screws 13 to different amounts. A clip 19 is provided for keeping the feed pipes 8 and 9 together. Figure 1 also illustrates a share 3, which is fixed to the forward portion of the discharge pipe 6 for seed, and this pipe has a forwardly-downwardly directed share 4 at its lower portion. When the share moves in the workin direction 15 through the earth, the share 4 will be sub¬ jected to a downwardly directed force. This facilitates the travel of the feed means in earth which is hard or which contains plant residue. In Figure 2 the denotations are the same as in Figure 1 for the same details, and the arrow 15 denotes the working direction of the disc coulter 2. Figure 3 illustrates the clamp 12 from behind and how it connects the details 3-9 to the arm 1 with the aid of a bolted joint 14. By loosening the bolted joint 14, the discharge pipe 6 and feed pipe 8 for seed, as well as the discharge pipe 5 and feed pipe 9 for fertilizer may be moved both vertically and laterally for being re-clamped in new positions relative each other and the arm 1. Figure 4 illustrates the apparatus in more detail where, apart from previous details, the outlet opening for seed is denoted by the numeral 10 and the outlet opening for fertilizer is denoted by 11. The dispensed seed is denoted by 16 and the dispensed fertilizer by 17. In an actual case, the lateral distance between seed and fertilizer can be up to 20-40 mms. Depending on the type ■ of seed and fertilizer, as well as the properties of the earth, a suitable lateral distance can be given other values. The dispensing depth for seed may be 30-40 mms and for fertilizer 50-80 mms. Of course, these values can also be varied depending on circumstances. Usually, the difference between dispensing depths for seed and fertilizer is from 20 to 60 mms, the fertilizer share 4 then being at the greater depth. The disc coulter 2 opens a furrow in the unworked ground. The combination share 7 operates in this furrow, the fertilizer discharge pipe 5, its feed pipe 9 and the lower part of the pipe 6 being situated in a protected position behind the seed share 3 when the combination share 7 traverses the ground in the working direction. Figure 5 illustrates how the seed 16 and fertilizer 17 are placed side by side, although at different depths as will be seen from Figure 4. Figure 6 illustrates how seed 16 and fertilizer 17 are situated in relation to each other and to the earth surface after the disc coulter 2 and combination share 7 have passed, and how the furrow that has been made has closed at an interface 20. Figure 7 is a section through the apparatus just above the earth surface, as is denoted in Figure 2 by the section VII-VII. The interface 20 left behind by the furrow is formed at a short distance behind the disc coulter 2 and combination share 7. Figure 8 is a section through the combination share 7 during its operation and just under the earth surface, see section VIII-VIII in Figure 2. Seed 16 and fertilizer 17 have been dispensed and the furrow is in the process of closing into the interface 20 above seed and fertilizer. Within the scope of the invention, one skilled in the art can achieve other embodiments than the one illust¬ rated for the purpose of examplification. For example, the discharge means may comprise a so-called broad shoe coulter for band drilling or a "Duck foot" share, which can have a broad share for broadcast seeding.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus in an agricultural combination machine for simultaneously inserting and positioning in the earth of at least two components, e.g. seed and fertilizer, primarily a combination machine for direct sowing on a field without previous soil cultivation by ploughing, harrowing or the like, and including a means cutting the earth, e.g. a disc coulter, a knife coulter or the like, and at least two tubular discharge means, one for each component, •the cutting means and discharging means extendi down into the earth under the earth surface, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the means for cutting (2) and means for discharge (5, 6) are removably attached ' to a coulter arm (1 ) and to each other such that they are allowed displacement upwards and downwards such that their depths are mutually relatively adjustable to individual working depths under the earth surface. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t¬ e r i z e d in that the means (2, 5, 6) are relatively adjustable laterally with the aid of loosenable connect- ion means (12, 13, 14, 18). 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t¬ e r i z e d in that the outlet means (5, 6) are loosen- ably attached to each other and are connected to the coulter arm (1 ) with the aid of a loosenable connection means (12-14, 18) which includes an elastic element (18), e.g. of rubber, such that the connection will allow vary¬ ing position and direction between the outlet means (5, 6), arm (1) and cutting means (2) carried by the arm. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t- e r i z e d in that in the working direction the outlet means (5, 6) are arranged behind the cutting means (2), and implemented such that they extend downwards into the furrow made by the cutting means. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t¬ e r i z e d in that one of the outlet means (6) is adapted for seed (16) and another outlet means (5) is adapted for fertilizer (17), and formed such that the outer portion of the means (5) is bent outwards transverse the working direction (15) such that said outward portion opens out (11) to one side of, and at a greater working depth than the depths of the outlet means (10) for the seed (16). . 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t¬ e r i z d in that one discharge means (6) has at its downward-forward end a downwardly-forwardly directed share (4) intended to engage with the earth for achieving a force acting in a downward direction on the discharge means (6) " " • such as to facilitate the travel of the means in hard earth or in earth containing plant residue. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, c h a r a c ¬ e r i z e d in that the outward portion of the outlet means for fertilizer opens out (11) laterally at prefer- ably 20-40 mms from the outlet means (10) for seed and preferably 20-60 mms deeper than this means (10).

Inventors: HANSSON KURT, HANSSON, KURT
Applicants: HANSSON KURT, HANSSON, KURT
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A01C7
IPC codes: A01C5, A01C7