Abstract:
A soil opener has a frog mount adapted to be coupled to a shank or other mounting member of a farm implement. A spreader is removably coupled to the frog mount and includes forward and rearward product delivery channels that are intended to be flow-coupled to product delivery tubes or hoses of the farm implement. A tip is removably coupled to the spreader. The leading edges of the frog mount, the spreader, and the tip, as well as the geometry between these components are such that drift is minimized even when the soil opener is pulled through the soil at higher speeds, e.g., excess of 5 mph. The soil opener may be equipped with an optional soil gathering module that gathers soil lifted by the tip and redirects the soil to a position generally rearward of the opener.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a soil opener for cutting a furrow into a planting surface and, more particularly, to a soil opener having a soil gathering module. 
         [0002]    Conventional furrow cutting devices are designed to be pulled through the planting surface (“soil”) at speeds between three and five miles per hour. The shape, size, and geometry of the devices is such that the amount of soil thrown as the furrow is cut and the profile about which seed and/or fertilizer is deposited assumes that the implement to which the furrowing devices are attached will be pulled by a tractor, or other towing vehicle, at approximate four miles per hour. If the implement is pulled at higher pull or operating speeds, e.g., eight miles per hour, the soil displaced as the furrow is cut will be thrown much higher and farther outward compared to that when the implement is towed at about four miles per hour. 
         [0003]    The increased soil displacement resulting from the furrowing device being pulled through the soil at the higher speeds adversely affects fertilizer and seed placement as the retaining effect of the soil on the product being placed has changed. Moreover, since the displacement of the soil is substantially exaggerated at the higher speeds, less soil is available for covering the furrow after the furrowing forming device has passed. Less soil leads to improper soil covering of the seed and fertilizer as well as more pronounced furrows. Additionally, the draft requirement is increased by the soil to furrowing cutting device interaction. 
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to a furrow forming device (“soil opener”) that is suited for use at higher pull speeds, e.g., speeds in excess of five miles per hour. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the soil opener has a soil gathering module that gathers soil as the soil is lifted by the soil opener and redirects it rearward of the opener as the opener is pulled through the soil. The soil gathering module is comprised of a pair of outward and rearward extending members mounted to opposite sides a frog mount that is used to attach a furrowing tip to a shank of a farm implement. The members may be formed to have tines that cut into the soil as the opener is pulled through the soil and are shaped such that soil is pushed inward toward the center of the furrow. The soil gathering module may be pivotally attached to the frog mount so that the module may pivot in response to contact with field obstructions. In one embodiment, a damper, e.g., spring, is used to provide a consistent downforce on the members as the opener is pulled through the soil. 
         [0005]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a soil opener usable at higher speeds. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the invention to provide a soil opener that causes less soil disturbance during furrowing of soil and placement of seed and/or fertilizer. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a soil opener that gathers soil lifted during furrowing and redirects the gathered soil rearward of the soil opener. 
         [0008]    Other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout. 
           [0010]    In the drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a planting system having an air car and a farm implement incorporating a soil opener according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the soil opener of the farm implement of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is left elevation view of the soil opener of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a right elevation view of the soil opener of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the soil opener of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the soil opener of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the spreader of the soil opener of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the soil opener of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the soil opener of  FIG. 2  with an optional soil gathering module; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a rear elevation view of the soil opener of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an air hoe drill  10  is designed to form multiple furrows in a surface, e.g., farm field, and deposit seed and/or fertilizer in the furrows. The air hoe drill  10  is representative of one type of agricultural implement with which the present invention may be used. Generally, the drill  10  includes a frame  12  coupled in a known manner to a tow bar  14  that facilitates attachment of the frame  14  to a tractor (not shown) or other towing vehicle. The frame  12  is supported above the planting surface S by a series of forward wheels  16  and rear packing wheels  18 . As known in the art, the packing wheels  18  not only support the frame  12  but also serve to pack the furrows after seed and/or fertilizer has been deposited. In this regard, the packing wheels  18  are aligned with a series of soil openers  20  that are mounted in a known manner to the frame  12 . The depth of the soil openers  20  can be set and adjusted by raising and lowering the frame  12  relative to the wheels  16 ,  18  as known in the art. In one representative embodiment, the soil openers  20  are equally spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the path of travel of the drill  10 . The drill  10  further includes an air cart  22  that includes a tank  24  for carrying seed and/or fertilizer. The particulate is fed from the tank  24  to the individual soil openers. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the air hoe drill shown in  FIG. 1  is merely representative of one type of agricultural implement that can incorporate the present invention. For example, the invention may also be applicable with a precision air hoe drill where the frame is supported by a set of forward wheels and a set of rearward wheels, and having a series of trailing arms and/or parallel links to which soil openers such as those described herein may be substantially attached together with packer wheels. 
         [0022]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2-8 , an exemplary soil opener  20  according to one embodiment of the invention is generally comprised of four components or modules: a frog mount  26 , a spreader  28 , a lower tip  30 , and a soil gathering module  32 . As will be described with respect to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the soil opener  20  may also be equipped with an optional soil gathering module  32 . The spreader  28  and tip  30  are coupled to the frog mount  26 , which in turn, is coupled to a shank  34  extending downwardly from the frame  12  of the drill  10 . It will be appreciated that the modular arrangement of the soil opener  20  allows different spreaders  30  and tips  32  to be interchangeably coupled to the mount  26 . As will be explained in greater detail below, the tip  30  cuts a furrow in the soil and seed and/or fertilizer (hereinafter, “particulate matter”) is deposited into the furrow at a width defined by the spreader  28 . The interchangeability of the tip  30  and the spreader  28  thus allows new tips to be attached to the mount  26  when needed, whether because the tip has become worn or a different tip style is warranted, or a new spreader to be attached to the mount  26  if a spreader that provides a wider or narrow spread of particulate matter is desired. 
         [0023]    The mount  26 , which may be fabricated from sheet metal, is generally comprised of an upper portion  36  and a lower portion  38 . The upper portion  36  has a mounting flange  40  that is coupled to the shank  34  by a pair of bolts  42  that may be passed through openings (not numbered) in the flange  40  and shank  34 . Nuts  44  may then be used in a conventional manner to engage the ends of the bolts  42  to attach the flange  40  to the shank  34 . First and second product delivery tubes  46 ,  48 , respectively, are carried by the flange  40  and, in a preferred embodiment, are integrally formed with the flange  40 . In a preferred embodiment, the first and second delivery tubes  46 ,  48  are mounted forward and aft of the shank  34  and are flow-coupled using conduits (not shown) to the air cart  22  or other source of particulate matter as known in the art. The product delivery tubes  46 ,  48  empty into the spreader  28 . It will be appreciated that the delivery tubes  46 ,  48  are constructed to interface with a standard supply hose, such as a 1″ plastic delivery hose, and transition to a flattened profile (not shown) at the lower end of the tubes. 
         [0024]    Referring particularly now to  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the lower mount portion  38  of the frog mount  26  has a pair of delivery channels  50 ,  52  that communicate with delivery tubes  46 ,  48 , respectively. The lower mount portion  38  has a pair of housing members  54 ,  56  that when conjoined together define a hollow interior  58  within the lower mount portion  38 . The hollow interior  58  is segmented into a pair of passages  60 ,  62  that are in fluid communication with the pair of delivery tubes  46 ,  48 , respectively. More particularly, the lower mount portion  38  includes a first and a second divider  64  and  66  arranged generally upright within the interior  58  and angled toward one another such that passage  60  funnels from the delivery channel  50  to a forward outlet  68  that opens onto the spreader  28 . The lower mount portion  38  further has a third divider  70  that together with rear edges of the housing members  54 ,  56  define the rearward passage  62 , which funnels from the rearward delivery channel  52  to an outlet  72  that opens onto the spreader  28 . It will thus be appreciated that the dividers are effective in maintaining separation between the products that is passed through the respective delivery channels  50 ,  52 . In one embodiment, seed is passed through the forward delivery channel  50  and fertilizer is passed through the rearward delivery channel  52 . 
         [0025]    It will be appreciated that the shank  34  converges to a relatively narrow width, as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the frog mount  26  is attached to the lower end of the shank  34  so that it is centered on the shank  34 . As is particularly well illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the leading surface  74  of the frog mount  26  has an exposed width that is generally matched to the width of the lower end of the shank  34 . The reduced width of the frog mount  26  assists in minimizing soil disturbance as the soil opener  20  is pulled through the soil. Moreover, the mount  26  is designed such that it has a narrow cross-section extending, in one embodiment, eight (8) inches above the tip  30 . The leading surface  74  of the mount  26  converges to a narrow ridge  76  having an included angle, than in one preferred embodiment, is less forty-five (45) degrees. This angle reduces the entry angle of the mount  26  into the soil lifted by the tip  30  so to reduce lateral soil disturbance. 
         [0026]    The upper portion  36  and the lower portion  38  of the mount  26  converge at point  78  that has an interface angle between approximately ten (10) degrees and approximately twenty (20) and, in a preferred embodiment, fifteen (15) degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the interface point  78  is approximately four and one-half (4.5) and five (5) inches above a lower interface angle created at the interface, shown at  80 , between the lower end of the frog mount and the leading edge of the tip  30 . With this construction, soil interaction with the leading edge of the mount  26  is efficiently separated to flow around frog mount  26 . 
         [0027]    The frog mount  26  also has a venting structure  82  that is comprised of an expanded opening (not shown) extending horizontally across the frog mount  26  at the interface between the upper and lower mount portions  36 ,  38 . The opening is covered by a pair of angled fins  84 ,  86  extending laterally outward. The fins  84 ,  86  are preferably integrally formed with the frog mount  26  and have downward sloping upper walls  88 ,  90 , and horizontal lower walls  92 ,  94 . The width of the fins  84 ,  86  increases from front-to-rear. The venting structure  82  allows air delivered to the soil opener  20  through the delivery channels  50 ,  52  to be vented rearward. Venting the air reduces the amount of air that discharged with the product and thus reduces the extent of product disturbance when the product is deposited. 
         [0028]    The spreader  28  attaches to the lower mount portion  38  of the frog mount  26  by bolts  96  and nuts  98 . The soil opener  20  is constructed such that different spreaders may be interchangeably attached to the frog mount  26  when a wider or narrower product delivery pattern is required. The spreader  28  is constructed to have a body  100  that diverges outward in width at an angle to achieve a desired spreading width. As will be described, the tip  30  is attached to the spreader  28 . The leading edge  102  of the body  100  is coincident with the leading edge of the frog mount  26 . As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the leading edge of the spreader  28  and the leading edge of the tip  30  abut one another at interface  80 . In one embodiment, the spreader  28  and the tip  30  are constructed and oriented so that the angle between the leading edges of the spreader  28  and the tip  30  at interface  80  is between twenty-five (25) and thirty (30) degrees, and preferably approximately twenty-eight (28) degrees. Additionally, the interface  80  is approximately 3.5 to 4.5 inches above the lower edge of the spreader  28 , and preferably three (3) inches above the lower edge of the spreader  28 . The placement of the interface and the angle between the spreader  28  and the tip  30  is believed to provide even horizontal division of soil as the soil opener  20  is pulled through the soil. 
         [0029]    The lower edge or base  106  of the spreader  28  slopes upward away from the direction of travel (front to back in the figure). In one embodiment, the slope is approximately two (2) degrees. The sloping of the base  106  decreases draft as the soil opener  20  is pulled through the soil without causing significant soil buildup. The outer walls  108 ,  110  of the spreader  28  slope inwards from the base to direct soil upward and outward to also reduce drag of soil. The spreader  28  also has top panels  112 ,  114  that slope upward away from the direction of travel, and preferably at an angle of approximately five (5) degrees. It will thus be appreciated that the spreader  28  provides a growth in depth that permits sufficient volume in the soil to be developed to allow product from the forward delivery tube  46  to pass rearward and outward through the spreader  28 . Additionally, the top panels  112 ,  114  slope upwards from their outer edge to interface with the vertical wall  116  of the spreader  28  which is coincident with the sidewalls of the frog mount  26 . This rising surface is believed to reduce buildup of soil at the interface of the top panels and the vertical wall of the spreader  28 . 
         [0030]    As referenced above, product is passed through the delivery channels  50 ,  52 , into the lower section of the frog mount  26 , and out of the outlets  68 ,  72  into the spreader  28 . The hollow body of the spreader  28  has a curved delivery profile formed by curved walls  117  formed in a forward portion of the spreader  28 . The curved delivery profile is in fluid communication with the forward delivery channel  50 . The curved walls  117  are angled rearward so that product that is passed through the forward delivery channel  50  is directed rearward. The spreader  28  may also have an internal deflector (not shown) that deflects the product radially outward toward the outer walls of the spreader  28 . In this regard, the product from the forward delivery channel  50  is placed in parallel rows outwardly according to the width of the spreader  28 . 
         [0031]    The spreader  28  also has a rear curvature  119  that directs product from the rear delivery channel  52  rearward and ultimately into the trench via outlets  125 ,  127 . The rear curvature  119  is generally centered between the fins  84 ,  86  and, as such, unlike the product that is passed through the forward delivery channel  50 , product passed through the rear delivery channel  52  and outlet  129  is kept to a narrower profile and is generally centered in the trench formed by the soil opener  20 . 
         [0032]    As best shown in  FIG. 7 , the spreader  28  has a forward extending flange  118  to which tip  30  attaches via fastener  120 . More specifically, the tip  30  has hollow body  122  that effectively defines a slot that allows the tip to be slid onto the mounting flange  118 . Once slid onto the flange, an opening (not numbered) formed in the tip body  122  aligns with opening  124  of the mounting flange  118 . Once aligned, fastener  120  may be passed through the aligned openings to secure the tip  30  to the spreader  28 . 
         [0033]    The tip  30  is centered between the pair of upper panels  112 ,  114  of the spreader  28 . The tip  30  is the first point of contact of the soil opener  20  with the soil as the soil opener  20  is pulled through the soil. The construction of the tip  30  and its attachment with the spreader  28  is designed to limit the rise velocity of the soil as the tip  30  is pulled through the soil without unduly increasing the drag. 
         [0034]    The tip  30  has a nose  126  that is preferably formed of carbide or similar material. The nose  126  slopes upward and rearward at approximately fifteen (15) degrees. This sloping face, generally designated by reference numeral  128 , intersects with a continuing face  130  that slopes upward and rearward. In one embodiment, the continuing face slopes at angle of approximately forty-five (45) degrees. As best shown in  FIG. 5 , faces  128 ,  130  form a vertical wedge radiating rearward and outward, and having an included angle of approximately thirty (30) degrees; although, different angles are possible. 
         [0035]    As noted above, the soil opener  20  may be equipped with a soil gathering module  32 . As best shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the soil gathering module  32  includes wings  132 ,  134  adjacent opposite sides of the frog mount  26 . In one preferred embodiment, the wings  132 ,  134  are mounted symmetrically to the frog mount  26  at, or above, the venting structure  82 . The wings  132 ,  134  gather soil that has been lifted as the soil opener  20  is pulled through the soil and redirects the gathered soil rearward behind the opener  20 . In this regard, the wings  132 ,  134  have members  136 ,  138 , respectively, that extend outward, rearward, and downward from a point tangent to forward delivery tube  46 . Each member  136 ,  138  has a downwardly extending tine  140 ,  142  that, as shown best in  FIG. 10 , has respective points  144 ,  146  that are angled inwardly. In a preferred embodiment, the tines and points are formed by bending the outer ends of the wing members  136 ,  138 ; although, different manufacturing techniques may be used. The tines and inwardly bent points are designed to deflect flowing soil behind the opener  20 . 
         [0036]    The soil gathering module  32  further includes a pair of outer plates  148 ,  150  that are attached, e.g., weld, to a top surface of the wing members  136 ,  138 . The outer plates  148 ,  150  assist in radiating soil outward and rearward. In addition to outer plates  148 ,  150 , the soil gathering module  32  includes a pair of angled, inner plates  152 ,  154  that provide structural support. 
         [0037]    The wings  132 ,  134  are attached to the frog mount  26  by a hinge arrangement  156  that generally includes a lower linkage  158  connected to an upper linkage  160  by a pivot connection  162 . In one embodiment, a saddle  164  is fit over the rear delivery tube  48  and is coupled to an upper end of the upper linkage  160 . This connection fixes the position of the soil gathering module  32  relative to the frog mount  26 . A damper  166  is interconnected between the wings  132 ,  134  and the upper linkage  160 . The pivot connection  162  allows the wings  132 ,  134  to rotate about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the direction of travel. Thus, when the soil gathering module  32  encounters a field obstruction, the wings  132 ,  134  may rotated upward about pivot connection  162  until the field obstruction is cleared. The damper  166  returns the wings  132 ,  134  to their normal operating position quickly after the field obstruction has been cleared. Moreover, the damper  166  provides a substantially constant downpressure on the wings  132 ,  134  so that the wings  132 ,  134  do not undesirably oscillate as the soil opener  20  is pulled through the soil. It will be appreciated that different soil gathering modules may be interchangeably mounted to the soil opener  20 . This interchangeability allows a user to change the soil gathering module as desired to achieve a desired soil gathering and soil redirection profile. 
         [0038]    It will therefore be appreciated that the present invention provides a soil opener that causes less soil disturbance and less soil throwing than conventional soil openers. Moreover, the present invention provides a soil opener that causes more displaced soil to fall over the product thereby leaving less of furrow after the soil opener has passed. The soil opener also provides product placement at consistent width and elevation. The soil opener also has an optional soil gathering module. 
         [0039]    Many changes and modifications could be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. The scope of these changes will become apparent from the appended claims.