Abstract:
A drill ( 10 ) adapted to distribute at least one of seeds and solid fertilizer, the drill ( 10 ) comprising a support frame ( 12 ) supported by at least two rear wheels ( 16 ) aft thereof, a main reservoir ( 20 ) installed on a rear portion ( 12   b ) of the support frame ( 12 ), the main reservoir ( 20 ) forming a receptacle with an at least partially open top to receive the at least one of the seeds and the solid fertilizer, the main reservoir having an outlet in a lower portion thereof a secondary reservoir ( 32 ) installed on a front portion of the support frame ( 12 ) and having an at least partially open top, a distribution system in communication with the secondary reservoir ( 32 ) for distributing the at least one of the seeds and fertilizer; and a conveyor ( 30 ) in communication with the outlet in the main reservoir ( 20 ) and extending to the secondary reservoir ( 32 ) such as to carry the at least one of the seeds and the solid fertilizer from the main reservoir ( 20 ) to the secondary reservoir ( 32 ), whereby the at least one of the seeds and solid fertilizer travels from the main reservoir ( 20 ) to the secondary reservoir ( 32 ) via the conveyor ( 30 ), and is distributed from the secondary reservoir ( 32 ) through the distribution system ( 37 ).

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/CA2005/000038 filed on Jan. 12, 2005, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/535,517 filed on Jan. 12, 2004 which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to seed planting apparatii and fertilizer drills.  
         [0003]     More particularly, the present invention relates to a combined seed and fertilizer drill.  
         [0004]     Traditional seed planting apparatus generally have a drill adapted to be pinned to a tractor, wherein the drill has a main frame supporting a series of seed planting units located behind a set of rear wheels and extending at a width larger than a distance between the rear wheels. The planting units can generally be elevated in order to reduce the ground width of the apparatus, allowing the performance of a tighter turn. However, with this configuration, the weight of the elevated planting units acts as a lever arm with respect to the rear wheels and produces an upward force on the tractor which reduces traction of the tractor wheels and induces stress concentrations on the main frame.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,779, issued May 29, 1984 to Bailey, shows a seed drill having a main reservoir and seed planting equipment located in front of rear wheels. However, the rear wheels are located at outer lateral ends of the seed planting equipment. The drill therefore has a constant and large ground width, which prevents the performance of tight turns and is impractical in a case where the seed drill needs to travel on a public road.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,410 issued Mar. 31, 1987 to Typpi, shows a seed planter with small hoppers located in front of rear wheels. The reduced width of this seed planter facilitates public road travel. However, this reduced width as well as small seed hoppers makes it impractical for seed planting in large fields.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,858, issued Apr. 28, 1981 to Dreyer, provides a drill distributing both seed and fertilizer in front of rear wheels. However, some fertilizers need to be disposed in separate furrows from the seeds because these fertilizers will burn the seeds on contact. No provisions are made in this drill to avoid such burning since both seeds and fertilizers are distributed in close proximity. In addition, because gravity is used to distribute the seeds and fertilizers, the reservoirs need to be elevated, which makes it more complicated to fill the reservoirs since they are usually filled from an open top.  
         [0008]     It is against this background and the desire to solve the problems of the prior art that the present invention has been developed.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved seed and fertilizer drill.  
         [0010]     Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a drill adapted to distribute at least one of seeds and solid fertilizer, the drill comprising a support frame supported by at least two rear wheels aft thereof, a main reservoir installed on a rear portion of the support frame, the main reservoir forming a receptacle with an at least partially open top to receive the at least one of the seeds and the solid fertilizer, the main reservoir having an outlet in a lower portion thereof, a secondary reservoir smaller than the main reservoir, the secondary reservoir being installed on a front portion of the support frame and having an at least partially open top, a distribution system in communication with the secondary reservoir for distributing the at least one of the seeds and fertilizer, and a conveyor in communication with the outlet in the main reservoir and extending to the at least partially open top of the secondary reservoir such as to carry the at least one of the seeds and the solid fertilizer from the main reservoir to the secondary reservoir through the at least partially open top, whereby the at least one of the seeds and solid fertilizer travels from the main reservoir to the secondary reservoir through the conveyor, and is distributed from the secondary reservoir via the distribution system.  
         [0011]     Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a drill adapted to distribute at least one of seeds and solid fertilizer, the drill comprising a support frame, a plurality of planter row units extending transversally to an axis of travel of the drill and in a generally regularly spaced apart manner, the planter row units being separated in a first, second a third group, a central member supporting the first group of planter row units, the central member being attached to the main frame in a transverse manner so that the first group of planter row units are in contact with the ground in an operational position, and a first and second outer member respectively supporting the second and third group of the planter row units, the first and second outer member being attached respectively to a first and second end of the central member so that each outer member can rest in a first operational position collinear with the central member with the second and third groups of planter row units in contact with the ground, and in a second position parallel to and over the central member, and in a third position perpendicular to and over the central member.  
         [0012]     Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for distributing at least one of seeds and granular fertilizer, the method comprising the steps of providing a seed and fertilizer drill having a main reservoir located near a rear end thereof, a secondary reservoir smaller than the main reservoir and located near a front end of the drill, a conveyor adapted to transport the at least one of seeds and granular fertilizer from the main reservoir to the secondary reservoir, and a distribution system adapted to distribute the at least one of seeds and granular fertilizer from the secondary reservoir, filling the main reservoir with the at least one of seeds and granular fertilizer, transporting the at least one of seeds and granular fertilizers from the main reservoir to the secondary reservoir through the conveyor, and distributing the at least one of the seeds and granular fertilizers from the secondary reservoir with the distribution system.  
         [0013]     Further in accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a method for reducing a width of a seed and fertilizer drill having a support frame and a plurality of planter row units extending in a generally regularly spaced apart manner, the planter row units being separated in a first, second a third group respectively supported by a central member attached to the main frame and first and second outer member respectively attached to a first and a second end of the central member, the method comprising the steps of providing a first operation position where the central member and the first and second outer member extend substantially collinearly in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the drill so that the planter row units are in contact with the ground, elevating the first and second outer members in a second position parallel to and over the central member, and rotating the first and second outer members in a third position perpendicular to and over the central member such that the first and second outer members are contained within a width of the central member.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof and in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic top view of a seed and fertilizer drill according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation of the seed and fertilizer drill shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view thereof;  
         [0018]     FIGS.  4  to  6  are side elevational views of the seed and fertilizer drill of  FIG. 1  in different operating positions;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary front elevation of a detail of the drill;  
         [0020]     FIGS.  8  to  10  are fragmentary front elevational views showing different operative positions of the seed and fertilizer drill;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the seed and fertilizer drill in the operative is position shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a schematic, fragmentary side elevational view showing a further detail of the seed and fertilizer drill;  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a top elevational fragmentary view of a detail of a further embodiment of the feed and fertilizer drill.  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a fragmentary front elevational view of a further embodiment of the seed and fertilizer drill; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  is a fragmentary front elevational view similar to  FIG. 14  showing the detail in a different operative position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the seed and fertilizer drill  10  comprises a support frame  12  including two sub-frames, a front sub-frame  12   a  and a rear sub-frame  12   b  pivoted together as will be described. The support frame  12  is supported on the ground by a set of rear wheels  16  and by a set of pivoting front wheels  18 . In a preferred embodiment the support frame  12  is supported by four rear wheels  16  and two front pivoting wheels  18 . It is also contemplated to have four front wheels  18   
         [0027]     A main reservoir  20  is attached to the support frame  12  substantially over the rear wheels  16 . The main reservoir  20  can be used to receive seeds or granular fertilizer and is preferably sized so as to be able to receive approximately eight (8) metric tons of granular fertilizer. The main reservoir  20  includes a rear wall  22 , a front wall  24 , a pair of side walls  26  joining the rear and front walls  22 , 24  and a bottom wall  28 . The main reservoir  20  has an open top for loading and has an opening (not shown) in the front wall  24  in proximity to the bottom wall  28 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rear wall  22  and side walls are preferably inclined toward the front at a bottom end thereof. The reservoir  20  is preferably set as low as possible without having the bottom end  28  interfering with the ground, in order to facilitate loading.  
         [0028]     A conveyor  30  extends from inside the reservoir  20  through the opening in the front wall  24  thereof to a secondary reservoir  32 . The conveyor  30  picks up the seeds or fertilizer granules in the reservoir  20  and transfers them to the secondary reservoir  32 . The conveyor  30  is preferably in the form of an endless flexible screw turning in an appropriately sized tube. It is also considered to use other types of conveyor  30 , such as an endless belt with or without ridges to receive the seeds or fertilizer granules.  
         [0029]     The secondary reservoir  32  is attached to the front of the support frame  12   a . In the present embodiment there are two secondary reservoirs  32   a  and  32   b , smaller than the main reservoir  20  in order to limit a weight force acting on the front of the frame  12 . Preferably, the secondary reservoirs  32   a,b , are sized so as to have a volume approximately one eighth (⅛) of the volume of the main reservoir  20 . The secondary reservoirs  32   a,b  are in communication with a standard pneumatic distribution system, composed of blowers  36  producing air pressure to push the seeds or granules through an opening in the bottom of the secondary reservoirs  32   a,b  and through flexible plastic tubes  37  that will deliver the seeds or granules to a desired location. The secondary reservoirs  32   a,b  are preferably located slightly rearward of the front wheels  18 . In the embodiment of the two reservoirs  32   a ,  32   b  it is contemplated that the reservoir  20  may be split and two separate conveyors  30   a,b  would be used (see  FIGS. 2, 3 ).  
         [0030]     As shown in FIGS.  1  to  3 , a plurality of standard planting units or planter row units  38  are attached in a regularly spaced apart manner to a primary or central transverse member  39  as well as to two outer transverse members  41   a,b  located on each side thereof. The transverse members  39 ,  41   a,b  extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of frame  12  between the main reservoir  20  and the secondary reservoirs  32   a,b  forward of the rear wheels  16 . The primary transverse member  39  preferably supports six (6) planting units  38  while each outer transverse member  41   a,b  supports five (5) planting units  38 , for a total of sixteen (16) planting units  38 . As shown in  FIG. 13  it is also considered to provide additional planting units  38   a  located in each free space between adjacent planting units  38 , such as to obtain thirteen (13) planting units on the primary transverse member  39  and nine (9) planting units on each secondary transverse member  41   a,b,  for a total of thirty-one (31) planting units.  
         [0031]     The planting units  38  are of a type commonly known in the art, for example a modal 1200 manufactured by Case. As shown in FIGS.  4  to  6 , each planting unit  38  typically comprises a seed hopper  52  and wheels  54  for opening and closing furrows as well as for calibrating, such that each planting unit  38  opens a furrow, distributes seeds from the seed hopper in the furrow and closes the furrow over the distributed seeds. When the main reservoir  20 , and subsequently the secondary reservoir  32   a , is filled with seeds, the flexible plastic tubes  37  are placed so as to deliver the seeds from the secondary reservoir  32   a  to the seed hoppers  52  of the planting units  38 . The planting units then deliver the seeds to the ground in the standard manner. When the reservoirs  20 , and subsequently the secondary reservoir  32   b , are filled with granular fertilizer, flexible plastic tubes (not shown) are placed to discharge the fertilizer ahead of the seed distribution in separate furrows created by a set of removable wheels  56 .  
         [0032]     As indicated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the primary transverse member  39  is fixedly linked to a support member  58 , which is fixed to a pair of hydraulic actuators  60  and are attached to the support frame  12   a  and the support member  48 , and actuators  60  are also pivotally attached to a quadrilateral linkage made up of two pairs of parallel members  44  through pivot joints  62  on vertical posts  48  integral with the support frame  12   a.    
         [0033]     The primary transverse member  39  preferably has a width similar or close to a distance defined between the outmost rear wheels  16 .  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 12 , a hitch pole  66  is shown adapted to be connected to a tractor  68 . The hitch pole is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis on pivot shaft  72  mounted in pivot bracket  71  which is in turn fixed to the forward frame  12   a . A hydraulic actuator  70  is pivotally connected to a pivot bracket  74  on the frame  12   a ; the other end of the actuator  70  is pivoted to the hitch pole  66 . The auxiliary wheel  64  may also be connected to the hitch pole  66  but rearwardly of the pivot shaft  72 . When the seeding and fertilizer drill  10  is not connected to a tractor, or in the event the tractor is in a transport mode, pressure in the actuator  70  will be released that would allow the auxiliary wheel  64  to engage the ground to help support the weight of the drill  10  along with wheels  18 . However when the seeding and fertilizer drill  10  is being utilized in the field and the planting units are deployed, it is preferable to provide better traction to the tractor, in which case hydraulic pressure is directed to the actuator  70  while the hitch pole  66  is connected to the tractor  68 . The extension of actuator  70  has the effect of lifting the forward frame  12   a  slightly, thereby increasing the angle between the pivot bracket  71  and the hitch pole  66  which causes the weight to be transferred onto the hitch pole  66 , and thus the tractor  68 . Normally the wheel  64  is utilized solely for metering the distribution of the seed or fertilizer granules.  
         [0035]     As shown in FIGS.  5  to  7 , each outer transverse member  41   a,b  is associated to the primary transverse member  39  by means of a lift system  40 . Each lift system  40  comprises a bracket  45 , a pivot bracket  46 , an actuator  43 , and two elongated link members  42 , 47 . The bracket  45  is fixed to the outer transverse member  41   a . The pivot bracket  46  is rotationally mounted to one end of the primary transverse member  39 . Both elongated link members  42 , 47  are pivotally connected to the bracket  45  at one end and to the pivot bracket  46  at the other end, the link member  47  being the shorter link compared to the member  42 . Finally, the actuator  43  is pivotally attached to the pivot bracket  46  at one end and to the member  47  at the other end.  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIG. 6  the wheels  56  may be independently mounted on an arm  81 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the arm  81  would normally be parallel and forward of the outer transverse member  41   a . However when the drill  10  is being prepared for transport, the arm  81  will be retracted against the frame  12   a  as shown in  FIG. 6  by a conventional actuator (not shown).  
         [0037]     When the drill  10  is in operation, the transverse members  39 , 41   a,b  are deployed as shown in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  8 , with the wheels  54  of the planting units  38  in contact with the ground. However, when the drill  10  needs to execute a sharp turn, the primary and outer transverse members  39 , 41   a,b  are elevated together through the actuators  60  and the quadrilateral linkage  44 . The lift systems  40  provides a rigid connection between the primary and outer transverse members  39 , 41   a,b . This action removes the contact of the wheels  54  of the planting units  38  from the ground, thereby reducing the width of ground contact of the drill  10  and allowing a smaller radius of turn.  
         [0038]     It is also noted that the frame  12  is hinged at the very center thereof to provide a vertical pivot axis at  78 . The frame members  12   a  and  12   b  are also provided with abutments to permit 5° of rotation between the frame members  12   a  and  12   b . For the purposes of transport, locking mechanisms  80  are provided to lock the frame members  12   a  and  12   b  into a single rigid unit.  
         [0039]     When it is necessary to transport the drill  10  on a public road, or to have a reduced width for any other reason, the primary and secondary transverse members  39 , 41   a,b  are first elevated as just described, to eliminate contact between the wheels  54  of the planting units  38  and the ground. Then, each outer transverse member  41   a  and  41   b  is elevated above the primary transverse member  39  while remaining horizontal so as not to spill the seeds contained in the seed hoppers  52 , as shown in  FIGS. 5-10  The elevation of each outer transverse member  41  is produced through the extension of the actuator  43 . When the outer transverse member  41   a  for instance is at maximum height, it is rotated rearwards through a 90° rotation of the pivot bracket  46 . This allows for the planting units  38  to be contained within the width of the primary transverse member  39 , thereby minimizing the effective width of the drill  10 .  
         [0040]     The pivot bracket  46  may be mounted to a separate platform  170  which is pivotally mounted on the primary transverse member  39 , as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . The platform  170  is thus connected to the secondary transverse member  41   b  through the lift system  40 . In addition, the platform  170  is connected to a secondary actuator  172  which is attached to a support structure  174  with a slight downward angle. The support structure  174  is in turn connected to the primary transverse member  39 . Thus, the platform  170  together with the lift system  40  and secondary actuator  172  provides a link between the primary and secondary transverse members  39 , 141   b.    
         [0041]     When the drill  10  is in operation, the transverse members  39 , 41   a,b  are disposed as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , with the outer transverse member  41   b  having a slight downward angle with respect to the primary transverse member  39 . This angle is provided by the secondary actuator  172  which is extended to provide constant pressure forcing all the planting units  38  of the outer transverse member  41   b  to stay in contact with the ground. Such pressure compensates for unevenness of the ground, which could otherwise cause the outermost planting units to be lifted out of contact with the ground.  
         [0042]     When the primary and secondary transverse members  39 , 41   a,b  are elevated together through the actuators  60 , to execute a sharp turn as described above, the secondary actuators  172  are completely retracted (not shown). This has the effect of tilting the secondary transverse members  41   a,b  with an angle of approximately 5 degrees so that the outer ends thereof are slightly higher than the end in proximity to the primary transverse member  39 . The outermost planting units will therefore be more elevated, providing for an easier turn with a reduced risk of contacting uneven ground which would increase the width of ground contact of the drill  10  and the radius of turn.  
         [0043]     A further feature is also being contemplated as shown in FIGS.  1  to  3 ,  14 , and  15 , for example. This feature includes a guide member  180  mounted to the end of the respective outer transverse members  41   a,b . The guide member  180  has a pair of articulated arms  182  and  184  and a disc  186  at the end of arm  184 . A pair of hydraulic actuators  188  and  190  along with a cable  192  service to retract or deploy the guide member  180 . When the drill  10  is in operation, the guide member  180  is deployed so that the disc  186  may follow in a previously plowed furrow in order to allow for a constant distance between furrows.  
         [0044]     The present invention presents several advantages. First, the location of the planting units in front of the rear wheels allows for a better weight distribution when the planting units are elevated. The weight of the elevated planting units is distributed on all wheels as well as on the hitch in a downward direction. Better traction of tractor wheels is provided by avoiding the upward force seen in the prior art that tended to lift the tractor.  
         [0045]     Also, the folding secondary transverse members allow the drill to safely travel on public roads by reducing the width of the drill to a width comparable to that of a tractor. The width of the drill can be reduced without compromising an operational width, when the planting units are deployed in the operation position. The drill can therefore, for example, accommodate eleven (11) metric tonnes of granular fertilizer, have sixteen (16) or even thirty-one (31) planting units, and have a travel width of less than fifteen (15) feet.  
         [0046]     Finally, use of a secondary reservoir connected to the main reservoir through a conveyor allows for placement of the main reservoir very low to the ground. Many prior drills use either a pneumatic or gravity-driven distribution system directly from the main reservoir, requiring elevation of the main reservoir in order to provide the necessary downward path for the seeds or fertilizer for a correct functioning of the distribution system. The conveyor allows for an upward path of the seeds or fertilizer, thereby allowing placement of the main reservoir as low as possible, the height of the reservoir being only limited by ground interference. Thus, the loading of the main reservoir through the open top is easier while the lower weight distribution improves a stability of the drill.  
         [0047]     The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary. Those skilled in the art will therefore appreciate that the forgoing description is illustrative only, and that various alternatives and modifications can be devised without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Such alternatives include, for example, providing a separation in the reservoirs  20 , 32  to obtain two sub-reservoirs in each, with a conveyor  30  extending from each of the two main sub-reservoirs to the respective secondary sub-reservoir, in order to be able to use the distribution system both for seed and granular fertilizers at the same time. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.