Abstract:
A tillage shank assembly has one or more substance delivery tubes supported along the back edge of the generally upright shank of the assembly. A pair of side plates on opposite sides of the shank have rear margins that project rearwardly beyond the rear edge of the shank to define a protective gap within which the tubes are disposed. Laterally extending projections on the tubes are received within selected ones of a vertical series of holes in the side plates, depending upon the desired depth for the tubes. By temporarily removing a bolt that attaches the tops of the side plates to the shank, the side plates may be separated sufficiently to permit the projections of the tubes to be withdrawn from their current holes and reinserted into other holes to change their vertical locations. Replacing the bolt and tightening it down returns the side plates to their working positions.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to tillage equipment and, more particularly, to a tillage shank assembly having one or more substance delivery tubes that may be depth-adjusted relative to the shank of the assembly to correspondingly adjust the depth at which a substance such as fertilizer may be deposited below the surface of the ground. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     Tillage shanks are sometimes provided with a delivery tube for the purpose of placing fertilizer or other substance below the surface of the ground at the same time the moving shank is cutting through and working the soil. Some commercially available shank assemblies include a tube that has been permanently welded to the shank at a fixed location. In other situations, the farmer may obtain tubes separately from the shanks and then weld the tubes to the shanks. 
     A problem with the welded-on design is that if the farmer desires to apply fertilizer at different depths in varying conditions, he must change the depth of the shank as well, whether changing the shank depth is optimum for the situation at hand or not. Some commercially available conventional units provide fertilizer tubes that can be adjusted relative to the shank, but such adjustments are difficult to make and time-consuming. 
     Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide a way of quickly and conveniently adjusting the depth of the one or more delivery tubes relative to the shank which carries it. Another important object of the invention is to provide the desired convenience and speed of adjustment while maintaining the one or more fertilizer tubes in protected positions on the shank so as to minimize abrasive wear on the tube as the shank assembly moves through the soil. 
     A further important object of the invention is to accomplish a way of adjustably mounting one or more tubes on the shank without exposing fastening devices to wear as the shank assembly moves through the soil. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a left front isometric view of an exemplary tillage device utilizing a shank assembly having one or more adjustable fertilizer tubes in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary side elevational view of the tillage device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view through the shank assembly taken substantially along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary rear elevational view taken substantially along sight line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary, left rear isometric view of the shank assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary, left, bottom isometric view of the shank assembly with portions broken away to reveal details of construction; 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary, right rear exploded view of the shank assembly illustrating details of construction; and 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary, left rear exploded view of the shank assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate and the specification describes certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments. 
     The tillage device  10  of  FIG. 1  has been selected for purposes of illustration only and is not to be considered limiting insofar as the scope of the present invention is concerned. In the illustrated embodiment, device  10  comprises a row unit that is particularly adapted for strip till applications in which a relatively narrow strip of soil is tilled and a berm is created for subsequently receiving planted seeds. In the context of the present invention, tillage device  10  includes a special shank assembly  12  having one or more depth-adjustable delivery tubes as hereinafter explained in more detail. 
     Generally speaking, tillage device  10  comprises one of a number of such devices adapted to be mounted upon a common, transversely extending tool bar (not shown) using mounting brackets  14  at the upper front extremity of the device. A single flat coulter blade  16  at the front of the device is adapted to cut through crop residue and make a slit in the soil as the device is advanced along a path of travel, while a pair of outwardly and rearwardly diverging, concavo-convex, serrated discs  18  (only one being shown) on opposite sides of coulter blade  16  adjacent its rear extremity engage the residue and soil and generally move it laterally outwardly. Shank assembly  12  follows behind coulter blade  16  and discs  18  in fore-and-aft alignment with coulter blade  16 , moving within the slit created by coulter blade  16  to loosen and fracture the soil beneath the surface. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of rearwardly converging, wavy coulters  20  behind shank assembly  12  gather loose, erupted soil centrally into a berm. Following wavy coulters  20  is a reel  22  for further pulverizing the soil of the berm without destroying its overall shape. In the illustrated embodiment, reel  22  takes the form of a chain reel as disclosed and claimed in co-pending application Ser. No. 12/051,420 filed Mar. 19, 2008 and titled “Chain Reel For Tillage Implement.” The &#39;420 application is hereby incorporated by reference into the present specification for the purpose of disclosing details of construction of chain reel  22  and other features of the tillage device  10 . 
     With reference also to  FIGS. 2-8 , shank assembly  12  includes an elongated, generally upright, slightly rearwardly inclined, flat shank  24  that is adjustably supported by a horizontal frame  26  of device  10  for selective positioning in any one of a number of vertically adjusted positions. Shank  24  is rectangular in transverse cross-section, having a flat front edge  28 , a flat rear edge  30 , and a pair of wide, flat, left and right sides  32  and  34  respectively. Shank  24  also has a lowermost bottom edge  36  ( FIG. 6 ) and is provided with a rearwardly facing notch  38  ( FIG. 8 ) in rear edge  30  near bottom edge  36 . 
     Shank assembly  12  further includes a point or shoe broadly denoted by the numeral  40  and detachably secured to shank  24 . Point  40  is designed to make the primary contacting engagement with the soil along front edge  28  instead of shank  24  itself so as to avoid premature wear of edge  28 . Thus, point  40  is constructed of a hardened material and is designed to be a replaceable unit. 
     Point  40  is generally L-shaped when viewed in side elevation and includes a generally horizontal leg comprising a base  42  and a generally upright leg comprising a front edge guard  44 . Guard  44  and base  42  are integrally connected parts of a single, L-shaped unit. Guard  44  is slightly wider than front edge  28  of shank  24  and butts up against front edge  28  when point  40  is in place. A generally upright beveled leading edge  46  of guard  44  serves to cut through the soil in the slit made by coulter  16  and to progressively widen such slit to permit the passage therethrough of the remaining width of shank assembly  12 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, base  42  has a relatively broad, flat chisel nose  48  that progressively transitions to leading edge  46 . Base  42  is also substantially wider than guard  44  and shank  24  so as to present a pair of shelf-like wing portions that lead rearwardly from chisel nose  48  and project laterally outwardly from opposite sides of shank  24 . Immediately behind guard  44  within base  42  is a centrally disposed opening  50  ( FIG. 8 ) that receives the lower end portion of shank  24  and through which bottom edge  36  projects. A rear cross bar  52  defines the rear extremity of opening  50  and spans the two opposite wing portions of base  42  behind opening  50 . Notch  38  in shank  24  receives cross bar  52  so as to properly locate base  42  relative to the lower end of shank  24  and to provide a sturdy interconnection therebetween. At the upper end of guard  44 , point  40  is held on shank  24  by a transverse bolt  54  passing through shank  24  and a pair of ears  56  that project rearwardly from guard  44  and embrace opposite sides of shank  24 . 
     Shank assembly  12  further includes a pair of generally L-shaped, flat, side shield plates  58  and  60  held on opposite sides  32 ,  34  of shank  24 . Plates  58 ,  60  are disposed in such a position relative to shank  24  that they project rearwardly beyond shank rear edge  30  and cooperatively define a gap or generally U-shaped channel  62  immediately behind rear edge  30 . Such gap  62  is adapted to receive and protectively house a pair of generally upright delivery tubes  64  and  66  for fertilizer or other substances. 
     Side plates  58 ,  60  each have a rear margin  68  that projects rearwardly beyond rear shank edge  30  for use in defining the gap  62 . Additionally, each rear margin  68  includes a generally vertically extending series of rectangular holes  70  that serve as part of the means for adjustably supporting tubes  64 ,  66  as hereinafter explained in more detail. The upper ends of side plates  58 ,  60  are secured to shank  24  by a common transverse bolt  72  at a location determined to be normally above the surface of the ground when the shank assembly is in use. A downwardly projecting tab  74  at the lower extremity of each side plate  58 ,  60  fits into a corresponding side notch  76  in opening  50  to help in retaining the side plate interlocked with base  42 . A second downwardly projecting tab  78  at the lower end of each side plate  58 ,  60  is spaced rearwardly from front tab  74  and is received within a rearwardly opening recess  80  in the rear end of base  42  immediately behind cross bar  52 . Thus, the lower ends of side plates  58 ,  60  are securely held in place and interlocked with base  42  without the use of transverse fasteners or the like passing through shank  24  and projecting outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of plates  58 ,  60  in a region that would be susceptible to abrasive wear from the soil. 
     It will be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment, a pair of fertilizer tubes  64  and  66  are illustrated. However, shank assembly  12  could be provided with only one of such tubes, if desired. The advantage of two tubes, of course, is that two different types of materials may be delivered and, as will be seen, the delivery depths of the two tubes can be adjusted relative to each other, as well as relative to shank  24 . 
     Front tube  64  is generally C-shaped, presenting an upper inlet end  82  that projects upwardly and rearwardly from rear edge  30  of shank  24  for connection with a delivery hose or the like (not shown) from a source of material supply. A straight, intermediate portion  84  of tube  64  lies generally against rear edge  30 , and an outturned lower end  86  of tube  64  serves as a discharge end thereof. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, tube  64  is preferably constructed of metal, but that is not a requirement. Welded or otherwise secured to the rear face of intermediate tube portion  84  is a generally I-shaped, flat retainer  88  having a pair of upper oppositely projecting projections  90 ,  92  and a pair of lower oppositely projecting projections  94 ,  96 . Projections  90 - 96  are shaped complementally with respect to holes  70  and are selectively receivable within a corresponding vertically spaced pair of such holes. Preferably, the vertical distance between the upper projections  90 ,  92  and lower projections  94 ,  96 , is twice the distance between adjacent ones of the holes  70  in each series such that a “vacant” hole  70  is provided between each pair of holes occupied by projections  90 ,  94  and  92 ,  96 . This provides stable support for tube  64  within gap  62 . 
     In a similar manner, rear tube  66 , which is shorter in overall length than tube  64 , is generally C-shaped and has an upper, outturned inlet end  98  adapted to be coupled with a hose or other conduit (not shown) leading from a source of material supply. A straight intermediate portion  100  is adapted to be disposed within gap  62  behind the line of holes  70 , and an outturned, lower discharge end  102  directs materials into the ground. In the illustrated embodiment, tube  66  is preferably constructed of metal, although such is not required. 
     Welded or otherwise affixed to the front surface of intermediate portion  100  is a generally I-shaped, flat retainer  104  of identical configuration to retainer  88 . Retainer  104  has a pair of outwardly oppositely projecting upper projections  106  and  108 , and a lower pair of oppositely outwardly projecting lower projections  110  and  112 . Projections  106 - 112  are configured complementally with holes  70  so as to be matingly receivable therein. 
     It will be noted that retainer  88  of front tube  64  is disclosed on the rear surface of that tube, while retainer  104  of tube  66  is located on the front face of tube  66 . Consequently, even though rear tube  66  is disposed behind front tube  64 , retainers  88  and  104  are disposed within the same vertical plane, one above the other. Thus, both retainers  88  and  104  utilize the same series of holes  70  so as to simplify construction and usage. Retainer  104  of rear tube  66  is located higher on that tube than retainer  88  is on front tube  64 . Therefore, retainer  104  uses holes  70  in the upper half of the series while retainer  88  utilizes holes  70  in the lower half of the series. Like the retainer  88 , retainer  104  has its upper projections  106 ,  108  spaced above its lower projections  110 ,  112  by a distance that is twice the distance between adjacent ones of holes  70  in the series. 
     When side plates  58 ,  60  are in their working positions, fully secured to shank  24  by bolt  72  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 , tubes  64  and  66  are securely retained with gap  62  by the interengagement of retainers  88 ,  104  with holes  70 . If it is then desired to adjust the depth of either or both tubes  64 ,  66  relative to shank  24 , bolt  72  is removed to enable plates  58 ,  60  to be separated from one another to a certain extent by spreading their upper ends apart while their lower tabs  74 ,  78  remain within their respective notches  76  and recess  80 . With plates  58 ,  60  flared out in this manner, the projections of the corresponding tube  60  and/or  64  may be withdrawn from their current holes  70  and moved to a new set of higher or lower holes as desired. Side plates  58 ,  60  are then squeezed back together and bolt  72  is re-inserted and tightened down, returning plates  58 ,  60  to their working positions and readying shank assembly  12  for use. 
     It will therefore be appreciated that the above-described construction allows for the relatively quick and easy adjustment of either or both of the dispensing tubes  64 ,  66  relative to shank  24  without requiring that the running depth of shank  24  be adjusted. Moreover, side plates  58 ,  60  protectively enclose delivery tubes  64 ,  66  in critical areas that would otherwise be subject to premature wear from soil abrasion. Additionally, the absence of fasteners for side plates  58 ,  60  and dispensing tubes  64 ,  66  in the area below the ground surface eliminates wear of such fasteners. 
     It will also be appreciated that in the event any of the components of shank assembly  12  require replacement, such can be accomplished quickly and easily, with a minimum of effort. For example, side plates  58 ,  60  can be easily replaced by simply removing one bolt (bolt  72 ). Likewise, point  40  can be replaced by simply removing bolt  54 . 
     The inventor(s) hereby state(s) his/their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his/their invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.