Abstract:
A residue coulter apparatus that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from a planting row, causing minimal disturbance to the soil. The residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of flat discs each having a plurality of back swept shark type teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth include a double beveled cutting edge on the outer edge of the teeth adapted to sever residue from the field. The clearing discs are oriented substantially vertical to the ground. Two clearing discs are used in combination to clear a pathway for planting seed. The clearing discs are angled toward each other so that the leading edges of the clearing discs are pointed in a toe-in orientation. The present design effectively removes crop debris without over discharge and causes minimal soil disturbance.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This invention relates to crop debris clearing devices and more particularly to a novel and improved arrangement using substantially flat rotatable clearing discs each having a plurality of teeth extending from its periphery that are adapted to completely sever crop residue for easier removal. 
   By way of background but not limitation, residue coulters typically include a pair of concave discs opposing each other and mounted at conveying angles. The residue coulters are adapted to engage the soil to cut and plow residue out from in front of the planter. Residue coulters typically are overly aggressive and cause extensive soil tillage, reducing the effectiveness of the planter. Extensive soil tillage is undesirable because excessive movement of the soil can increase erosion. The increased use of low-till and no-till farming methods has created the need for apparatus that can be attached to farm implements for clearing debris such as mulch and plant stalks from the field, particularly during planting of a row crop such as corn. In order to facilitate the proper emergence of corn plants the corn seeds are required to be planted at a precise depth and properly spaced. The depth of the planting of the seed is controlled by wheels of the planter unit. The presence of corn stalks or other debris in the row line during the planting operation can change the elevation of the wheels and effect the accuracy of the seeding. 
   In view of the above, it should be appreciated that there is a need for a residue coulter that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from the planting row while causing minimal disturbance to the soil. 
   SUMMARY 
   The invention may be described as a novel and improved residue coulter apparatus that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from a planting row, causing minimal disturbance to the soil. In the preferred embodiment, the residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of flat discs each having a plurality of back swept teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth include a cutting edge beveled on both sides and adapted to sever residue from last year&#39;s crop. The clearing discs are oriented substantially vertical to the ground. Two clearing discs are used in combination to clear a pathway for planting seed. The clearing discs are located on opposite sides of the planter and are angled toward each other so that the leading edges of the clearing discs are pointed in a toe-in orientation. The present design effectively removes crop debris and causes minimal soil disturbance. 
   Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and the accompanying drawings, wherein the embodiments of the disclosure are described and shown, and in part will become apparent upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above mentioned and other features of this disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure will be best understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a crop debris clearing device attached to a planter; 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a portion of the crop debris clearing device; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of the crop debris clearing device; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a clearing disc; 
       FIG. 5  is an end view of the clearing disc, shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the crop clearing device with the clearing discs removed. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the clearing discs in an intersecting configuration; 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of the clearing discs in an offset configuration; 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the clearing discs in a spaced apart configuration; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the clearing discs mounted for use on a trench closing device; and 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the crop debris clearing device operating with a single clearing disc. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   While the present disclosure will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a particular embodiment is shown, it is to be understood at the outset that persons skilled in the art may modify the disclosure herein described while still achieving the desired result. Accordingly, the description that follows is to be understood as a broad informative disclosure directed to persons skilled in the appropriate art and not as limitations on the present disclosure. 
   As illustrated in the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a residue coulter  10  connected in front of a crop planter  12  in accordance with the present disclosure. The entire arrangement can be connected to a tool bar  13 , which, in turn, is connected to a tractor (not shown). The residue coulter  10  of the present invention provides effective residue removal from the planting row while causing minimal soil disturbance. The residue coulter  10  also provides for superior soil depth control by permitting clearing discs  14  to be positioned closer to gauge wheels  54 . 
   The clearing discs  14  used with the residue coulter  10  of the present invention completely sever residue with minimal soil disruption. The clearing discs  14  of the residue coulter  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , are operated in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to the ground and provide desirable residue removal with the least occurrence of soil engagement. The clearing discs  14  further include sharp cutting edges  15  that completely sever hard to remove residue such as BT corn hybrids, and bio-tech corn hybrids, such as rootworm resistant corn. The residue coulter  10  is connected to the leading edge of the planter  12  by use of a mount  16 . It should be understood that farm implements may have many planters  12  for simultaneously planting many rows of crops. The configuration of the mounting brackets  16  used to attach the residue coulter  10  to the planter  14  varies depending upon the make and model of the planter  12  as can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Bolts  17  can be used to secure the mount  16  to the front of the planter  12 . Connected to the mount  16  are a pair of outwardly extending first and second brackets  18 ,  19  that are connected to the mount  16  by use of bolts  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Connected to the first and second brackets  18 ,  19  are a pair of inwardly inclined first and second arms  22 ,  24 . The first and second brackets  18 ,  19  in combination with the first and second arms  22 ,  24  form a support frame or harness. 
   The first and second brackets  18 ,  19  include a plurality of apertures  26  that are adapted to accept a set of pins  28 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first and second arms  22 ,  24  also include a plurality of apertures  30  that are adapted to accept the pins  28 . Alignment of the apertures  26  of the first and second brackets  18 ,  19  with the apertures  30  of the first and second arms  22 ,  24  permit the installation of the pins  28 . The pins  28  retain the first and second arms  22 ,  24  to the first and second brackets  18 ,  19 . Repositioning the pins  28  permits variable adjustment of the position of the clearing discs  14  with respect to the planter  12 . The apertures  26 ,  30  permit vertical and horizontal adjustment of the clearing discs  14  to control soil contact. 
   The first and second brackets  18 ,  19  in combination with the first and second arms  22 ,  24 , permit telescopic adjustment of the bracket arrangement. Adjustment of the clearing discs  14  is also accomplished by use of an adjustment slide mechanism  74 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The adjustment slide mechanism  74  utilizes an inclined plate  76  that is adapted to be slid along a fixed inclined bracket  78  to raise or lower the clearing discs  14 . The first and second arms  22 ,  24  of the mounting bracket include apertures  80  to permit the arms  22 ,  24  to be pivotally mounted so that the arms can pivot with respect to the fixed inclined bracket  78 . The inclined plate  76  is secured to the first arm  22  by use of a unshaped coupler  82  and a pin  81 . To adjust the elevation of the first arm  22 , the inclined plate  76  is slid along the first arm  22 , which in turn causes an inclined surface  82  of the inclined plate  76  to slide along an inclined surface  84  of the inclined bracket  78 . The inclined plate  76  also include a plurality of apertures  86  that are adapted to accept the pin. Once the desired height of the first arm  22  is reached, the coupler  82  is aligned so that one or more apertures  26 ,  30 ,  86  of the first arm  22 , the inclined plate  76  and coupler  82  are aligned to permit the installation of the pin. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates an alternate embodiment of a bracket arrangement to mount the clearing discs  14  to a crop planter  12 . The clearing discs  14  are secured to the planter  12  by use of a vertical post  68 . The vertical post  68  is secured to the mount  16  by use of a bracket  70 . The vertical post  68  includes a plurality of apertures  72  that permit the repositioning of the vertical post  68  with respect to the bracket  70  to raise and lower the clearing discs  14  with respect to the soil.  FIG. 11  illustrates the use of a single clearing disc  14  with the alternate bracket arrangement. Use of a single clearing disc  14  is desirable under certain crop clearing conditions. 
   The clearing discs  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , are rotatably connected at the leading end of the first and second arms  22 ,  24 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The clearing discs  14  are journaled for rotation utilizing a hub arrangement  32  that includes internal bearings and are attached to axles utilizing a construction known to those skilled in the art. The clearing discs  14  are positioned in a substantially vertical orientation, with a deviation from vertical from about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees. The slight pitch of the clearing discs  14  permit sufficient removal of debris from the planting row. The use of a modest clearing disc pitch results in significantly less disturbance of the soil and reduces the distance the debris is removed from the planting row. 
   The first and second arms  22 ,  24  include a top edge  34  and a spaced apart bottom edge  36 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first and second arms  22 ,  24  are angled inward such that the top edge  34  of the arms  22 ,  24  extend outwardly further than the bottom edge  36 . The first and second arms  22 ,  24  are also angled inward toward one another such that the clearing discs  14 , when mounted, have a toe-in orientation. The clearing discs  14  of the residue coulter  10 , when attached to the first and second arms  22 ,  24 , have an overall leading edge  38  that is positioned inward of the overall trailing edge  40  of the clearing discs  14  forming a toe-in configuration. The first and second arms  22 ,  24  each include first and second apertures  88 ,  90  that are adapted to accept the hub arrangement  32  of the clearing discs  14 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The incorporation of two apertures  88 ,  90  permit the installation of the clearing discs  14  in several configurations, which is desirable when using the discs  14  in various soil conditions and with various types of crop residue. 
     FIGS. 7–9  illustrate three separate orientations that can be implemented by altering the position of the clearing discs  14  on the first and second arms  22 ,  24 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the clearing discs  14  in an intersecting configuration. To set up this configuration, the clearing discs  14  are mounted to the forward leading apertures  88  on the first and second arms  22 ,  24 .  FIG. 8  illustrates the clearing discs  14  in an offset configuration. To set up the offset configuration the left clearing disc  14  is mounted to the forward aperture  88  on the second arm  24  and the right clearing disc  14  is mounted to the rearward aperture  90  on the first arm  24 .  FIG. 9  illustrates the clearing discs  14  in a spaced apart configuration, which may be desirable when clearing away heavier debris, such as corn stalks. To set up the spaced apart configuration both clearing discs  14  are mounted to the rearward apertures  90  on the first and second arms  22 ,  24 . 
   The clearing discs  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , lie in a substantially flat plane and define a plurality of teeth  42  that surround the periphery of the clearing discs  14 . The teeth  42  of the clearing discs  14  each include a curved leading edge  44 , a curved trailing edge  46  and a substantially linear cutting edge  48  forming a crown, interconnecting the leading edge  44  to the trailing edge  46 . As seen in, for example,  FIG. 4  cutting edge  48  is substantially perpendicular to a radius of disc  14 . The side surfaces of each tooth  42  include at least one beveled surface to define a cutting edge  48  on the top of teeth  42 . The cutting edge  48  is used to sever the crop residue. The backward slope of the teeth  42  in combination with the cutting edges  48  on each tooth  42  are used to grab, completely sever and relocate crop residue from the planting row. The tooth&#39;s engagement with the ground is nearly vertical with respect to the soil due to the overall orientation of the clearing discs  14 . While it has been found that positioning the clearing discs  14  within ten degrees of vertical to be effective, broader angles may also be utilized and are within the scope of the present invention. The design of the teeth  42  permits one of the cutting edges  48  to be in contact with the soil surface at all times to cleanly cut residue with minimal soil disturbance, creating the ideal growing environment for optimum emergence in a variety of cropping practices. 
   The teeth  42  are separated by a gap  56  that provides a space to permit the clearing discs to engage and retain the crop residue long enough to relocate the residue from the planting row. The gap  56  formed between teeth  42  is defined by the trailing edge  46  of a first tooth  42  and the leading edge  44  of a second tooth  42 . The leading edge  44 , the second tooth  42  and the trailing edge  46  of the first tooth  42  converge to form a curvilinear valley  58 . The valley  58  of the clearing disc  14  is curved to prevent debris from becoming wedged between the teeth  42  as would happen if the valley were V shaped. 
   The residue coulter  10  further includes a tie bar  64 , best shown in  FIG. 3 , that is positioned adjacent to and between the clearing discs  14 . The tie bar  64  is adapted to secure the first and second arms  22 ,  24  together by use of fasteners or by a more permanent means, such as welding. The tie bar  64  retains the orientation of the first and second arms  22 ,  24 . As a means of deflection, a pair of deflection rods  66  are used to deflect larger pieces of debris and prevent debris from re-entering the planting row. The deflection rods  66  also serve as a handle to permit the user to raise the clearing disc  14  when making height adjustments or removing debris stuck in the clearing discs  14 . 
   The clearing discs  14  also include an aperture  60  that is positioned at the center of each clearing disc  14 . The aperture  60  is adapted to permit the clearing discs to be connected to the axles of the residue coulter  10 . The clearing discs  14  further include a plurality of fingered grooves  62  extending outwardly from the center of the aperture  60 . The grooves  62  are designed to allow the passage of bolts therethrough to secure the clearing discs  14  to the mount structure  32 . 
   The clearing discs  14  are designed to limit the relocation distance of the crop residue so that narrower seed row spacing can occur. Prior concave shaped clearing discs relocate debris at a distance great enough to create a thirty inch planting row whereas the flat clearing discs  14  of the present invention greatly reduce the debris relocation to less than half of the other clearing discs. Actual relocation distances are also dependant partially upon ground speed of the planter. 
   The clearing discs  14  are mounted ahead of depth gauge wheels  54  that are used to control the placement of the clearing discs  14  with respect to the soil and maintain placement over uneven terrain, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The clearing discs  14  are designed to be located closer to the gauge wheels  54  of the planter unit  12  for improved depth control. 
   Alternatively, discs  14  may be arranged at the rear of the unit for use as a trench closing device  92 .  FIG. 10  illustrates the trench closing device  92  connected to a liquid manure injector  13  in accordance with the present disclosure. The trench closing device  92  is adapted to close the trench that had been created by the injector  13 . The trench closing device  92  includes a support bracket  94  that is attached to the liquid manure injector  13 . The support bracket  94  includes an arm  96  that extends in a rearward direction. The arm  96  includes a biasing mechanism  98  that assists in applying a downward force on the discs  14  to close the trench. The trench closing device  92  further includes a horizontal bar  100  that is perpendicularly oriented to the arm  96 . Connected to the horizontal bar  100  is a pair of L-brackets  102 . The L-brackets  102  extend downward and include apertures  104  that are adapted to accept the discs  14 . The L-brackets  102  are oriented such that the discs  14  are oriented in a toe-out configuration. The amount of disc toe-out and distance between discs  14  can be altered by repositioning the L-brackets  102  on the horizontal bar  100 . 
   While the concepts of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired and protected. 
   There are a plurality of advantages that may be inferred from the present disclosure arising from the various features of the apparatus, systems and methods described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of each of the apparatus, systems, and methods of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the inferred advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of an apparatus, system, and method that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.